Stifel Financial Corp S-3ASR, filed Sep 14, 2023
Stifel Financial Corp (SF)
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 14, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| DELAWARE | 43-1273600 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
501 North Broadway
St. Louis, Missouri 63102
(Address of principal executive offices)
314-342-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
James M. Marischen
Chief Financial Officer
Stifel Financial Corp.
501 North Broadway
St. Louis, Missouri 63102
314-342-2000
(Name and address of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Mark P. Fisher, Esq. Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Stifel Financial Corp. One Montgomery Street, Suite 3700 San Francisco, California 94104 415-364-2500 |
James L. Nouss, Jr., Esq. Robert J. Endicott, Esq. Todd M. Kaye, Esq. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP 211 North Broadway, Suite 3600 St. Louis, Missouri 63102 314-259-2000 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, please check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
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PROSPECTUS
STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
Common Stock ● Preferred Stock ● Debt Securities ● Warrants
Depositary Shares ● Subscription Rights
Purchase Contracts ● Purchase Units
Common Stock
Offered by the Selling Securityholders
We may offer from time to time shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, warrants, depositary shares, subscription rights, purchase contracts or purchase units covered by this prospectus separately or together in any combination that may include other securities set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement, for sale directly to purchasers or through underwriters, dealers or agents to be designated at a future time, in one or more transactions. In addition, the selling securityholders may offer and sell shares of our common stock from time to time, together or separately.
We will provide specific terms of any offering of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The securities may be offered separately or together in any combination and as separate series. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest in any of our securities.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, and the NYSE Chicago (formerly known as the Chicago Stock Exchange) under the symbol “SF.” Unless we state otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we will not list any of the preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, depositary shares, subscription rights, purchase contracts or purchase units on any securities exchange.
Investing in these securities involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference, as well as in any of our subsequently filed quarterly or current reports that are incorporated herein by reference and in any accompanying prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We or any selling security holder may offer and sell these securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly, through agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities also will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is September 14, 2023.
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We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information other than the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of such documents.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Each prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “the Company,” “our company,” “us,” “we” and “our” refer to Stifel Financial Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Stifel Bank & Trust, or Stifel Bank.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov, from which interested persons can electronically access our SEC filings, including the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and all documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act (other than the portions provided pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC), after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2023 (which shall exclude any ratings from any of the ratings agencies); |
| • | our Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022); |
| • | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023, and for the six months ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2023 (which shall exclude any ratings from any of the rating agencies); and |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 26, 2023, June 7, 2023 and August 11, 2023 (except, in any such case, the portions thereof furnished and not filed pursuant to Item 2.02, Item 7.01 or otherwise). |
We maintain a website at www.stifel.com where general information about us is available. We are not incorporating the contents of the website into this prospectus.
Upon written or oral request, we will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should direct requests for documents by telephone to (314) 342-2000 or by mail to Stifel Financial Corp., 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102, attention: Corporate Secretary.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in it contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. We intend for these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of these safe harbor provisions. You can identify these statements from our use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “potential,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “expect” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements cover, among other things, statements made about general economic, political, regulatory, and market conditions, the investment banking and brokerage industries, our objectives and results, and also may include our belief regarding the effect of various legal proceedings, management expectations, our liquidity and funding sources, counterparty credit risk, or other similar matters. All statements in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in it not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on various assumptions. The forward-looking statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023, and Jume 30, 2023, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, under the captions “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. In addition, our past results of operations do not necessarily indicate our future results.
Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made. We do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. You should also carefully review the risk factors and cautionary statements described in the other documents we file from time to time with the SEC, specifically our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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Stifel Financial Corp. is a Delaware corporation and a financial holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. We have built a diversified business serving private clients, institutional investors, and investment banking clients located across the country. Our headquarters are located at 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102, and our telephone number is (314) 342-2000. We maintain a website at www.stifel.com where general information about us is available. We are not incorporating the contents of the website into this prospectus.
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An investment in our securities involves risks. We urge you to consider carefully the risks described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and, if applicable, in any prospectus supplement used in connection with an offering of our securities, before making an investment decision, including those risks identified under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in Item 1A of Part II in our Quarter Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and for the six months ended June 30, 2023, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports that we subsequently file with the SEC. Additional risks, including those that relate to any particular securities we offer, may be included in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus that we authorize from time to time, or that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or a prospectus supplement.
Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The market or trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business and operations or cause the price of our securities to decline.
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Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any offering of securities sold by us for general corporate purposes. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds in the event that the securities are sold by a selling security holder.
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We may offer from time to time, in one or more offerings, the following securities:
| • | shares of common stock, which may be voting or non-voting; |
| • | shares of preferred stock, which may be voting or non-voting; |
| • | debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated, convertible into shares or our capital stock and secured or unsecured; |
| • | warrants; |
| • | depositary shares; |
| • | subscription rights; |
| • | purchase contracts; or |
| • | purchase units. |
In addition, the selling securityholders to be named in a supplement to this prospectus may, from time to time, sell shares of common stock in one or more offerings.
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, depositary shares, subscription rights, purchase contracts or purchase units that may be offered under this prospectus by us or by selling security holders. The terms of the offering of securities, the initial offering price and net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement and other filings relating to such offering.
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General
We or selling security holders may sell the securities covered by this prospectus in one or more of the following ways from time to time, including without limitation:
| • | to or through underwriters for resale to the purchasers, which underwriters may act directly or through a syndicate represented by one or more managing underwriters; |
| • | directly to one or more purchasers, through a specific bidding, auction or other process; |
| • | through agents or dealers; |
| • | through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | in exchange for outstanding indebtedness; or |
| • | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
A prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:
| • | the terms of the offering; |
| • | the name or names of any underwriters or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any; |
| • | the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by us from the sale; |
| • | any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; |
| • | any delayed delivery arrangements; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed. |
If we or selling security holders use underwriters or dealers in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:
| • | privately negotiated transactions; |
| • | at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed; |
| • | in “at the market offerings” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act; |
| • | at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
| • | at negotiated prices. |
We or selling security holders may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or agents may be designated to solicit such offers. We or the selling security holders will, in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act and describe any commissions that we or the selling security holders must pay. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm
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commitment basis. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If any underwriters or agents are utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we or the selling security holders will enter into an underwriting agreement or other agreement with them at the time of sale to them, and we will set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering the names of the underwriters or agents and the terms of the related agreement with them.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which the prospectus is delivered, we or the selling security holders will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.
Remarketing firms, agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which they may enter into with us or the selling security holders to indemnification by us or the selling security holders against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
Market-Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions
In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.
There is currently no market for any of the offered securities, other than the common stock which is listed on the NYSE and the NYSE Chicago. If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intends to make a market in the offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market-making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities. We have no current plans for listing of any of the preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, depositary shares, subscription rights, purchase contracts or purchase units on any securities exchange; any such listing with respect to any particular security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.
Conflicts of Interest
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., or KBW, our broker-dealer subsidiary, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, or Stifel, our investment banking subsidiary, are members of FINRA and may participate in distributions of the offered securities. Since we own more than 10% of the common equity of KBW and Stifel, a “conflict of interest” will exist for KBW and/or Stifel within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121(f)(5)(B) if they participate in any offering of the offered securities. Additionally, KBW and/or Stifel and one or more of their respective affiliates, as defined in FINRA Rule 5121, will have a conflict of interest as defined in Rule 5121(f)(5)(C)(ii) to the extent they receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of any offering of the offered securities. Accordingly, offerings of the offered securities in which KBW or Stifel participates will be conducted
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pursuant to Rule 5121. To comply with Rule 5121, KBW or Stifel, as applicable, will not confirm sales of the offered securities to any account over which KBW or Stifel, as applicable, exercises discretionary authority without the prior written approval of the customer. In addition, pursuant to Rule 5121, a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in Rule 5121) may be required to participate in certain offerings. A qualified independent underwriter must participate in the preparation of the prospectus supplement with respect to such offerings and must exercise the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto.
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Selling security holders are persons or entities that, directly or indirectly, have acquired or will from time to time acquire from us, common stock in various private transactions. Such selling security holders may be parties to registration rights agreements with us, or we otherwise may have agreed or will agree to register their securities for resale. The initial purchasers of our securities, as well as their transferees, pledges, donees or successors, all of whom we refer to as “selling security holders,” may from time to time offer and sell the securities pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
Information about selling security holders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, and in filings we make with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we incorporate by reference into this registration statement.
In connection with particular offerings of our securities in the future, and unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of such securities will be passed upon for Stifel Financial Corp. by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, St. Louis, Missouri.
The consolidated financial statements of Stifel Financial Corp. appearing in Stifel Financial Corp.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the effectiveness of Stifel Financial Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon incorporated by reference therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth the estimated expenses (all of which will be borne by the registrant unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement) incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions (if applicable). All of the amounts shown are estimates, except the SEC registration fee.
| SEC registration fee |
$ | * | ||
| Rating agency fees |
** | |||
| Trustee fees and expenses |
** | |||
| Printing and distribution |
** | |||
| Legal fees and expenses |
** | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
** | |||
| Transfer agent fees and expenses |
** | |||
| Miscellaneous |
** | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | ** | ||
|
|
|
| * | Deferred in reliance on Rule 456(b) and 457(r). |
| ** | These fees are calculated based on the numbers of issuances and amount of securities offered and, accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time and will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Registrant is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. The following is a summary of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“Delaware Law”).
Subject to restrictions contained in Delaware Law, a corporation may indemnify any person, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in connection with any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. A present or former director or officer who is successful on the merits or otherwise in any suit or matter covered by the indemnification statute shall be indemnified and indemnification is otherwise authorized upon a determination that the person to be indemnified has met the applicable standard of conduct required. Such determination shall be made by a majority vote of the board of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by special independent counsel in a written opinion, or by the stockholders. Expenses incurred in defense may be paid in advance upon receipt by the corporation of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that the recipient is not entitled to indemnification under the statute. The indemnification provided by statute is not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person. Insurance may be purchased on behalf of any person entitled to indemnification by the corporation against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred in an official capacity regardless of whether the person could be indemnified
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under the statute. References to the corporation include all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as the resulting corporation, and anyone seeking indemnification by virtue of acting in some capacity with a constituent corporation would stand in the same position as if such person had served the resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
The Registrant’s Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides generally that no director or officer shall have any personal liability to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under Delaware Law, as the same exists or hereafter may be amended.
Section 7.1 of the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated By-Laws provides that the Registrant is obligated to indemnify each person who is or was a director or officer of the Registrant (or is or was serving as a director, officer or employee of any other enterprise at the request of the Registrant) to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware Law and the Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Section 7.3 of the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated By-Laws provides that, to the extent such person is not covered by the Section 7.1 thereof, each person who is or was an employee or agent of the Registration (or is or was serving as a employee or agent of any other enterprise at the request of the Registrant) may be indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or from time to time by the Registrant’s board of directors.
In addition, Delaware Law and the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated By-Laws authorize the Registrant to purchase insurance for its directors and officers insuring them against certain risks as to which the Registrant may be unable lawfully to indemnify them. The Registrant has purchased insurance coverage for its directors and officers as well as insurance coverage to reimburse the Registrant for potential costs of corporate indemnification of its directors and officers.
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Item 16. Exhibits.
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| Exhibit |
Description of Exhibit | |
| 4.14 | Form of Deposit Agreement (including form of Depositary Receipt).* | |
| 4.15 | Form of Subscription Rights Agreement (including form of Subscription Rights Certificate).* | |
| 4.16 | Form of Purchase Contract Agreement (including form of Purchase Contract).* | |
| 4.17 | Form of Unit Agreement (including form of Unit Certificate).* | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney. | |
| 25.1 | Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Indenture. | |
| 107 | Filing Fee Table. | |
| * | To be filed either by a post-effective amendment to the registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or Form 10-Q pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K and incorporated by reference herein. |
| (P) | Paper exhibits |
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Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made of the securities registered hereby, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a
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time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) If the warrants to be issued are to be offered to existing security holders of the registrant pursuant to warrants or rights and any securities not taken by security holders of the registrant are to be reoffered to the public, then the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(7) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the “Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
(8) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(9) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Stifel Financial Corp. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Louis, and the State of Missouri, on this 14th day of September, 2023.
| STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP. |
| /s/ Ronald J. Kruszewski |
| Ronald J. Kruszewski Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on September 14, 2023.
| Signature |
Title | |
| /s/ Ronald J. Kruszewski Ronald J. Kruszewski |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| /s/ James M. Marischen James M. Marischen |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |
| * Adam T. Berlew |
Director | |
| * Maryam S. Brown |
Director | |
| * Michael W. Brown |
Director | |
| * Lisa L. Carnoy |
Director | |
| * James P. Kavanaugh |
Director | |
| * Robert E. Grady |
Director | |
| * Daniel J. Ludeman |
Director | |
| * Maura A. Markus |
Director | |
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| Signature |
Title | |
| * David A. Peacock |
Director | |
| * Thomas W. Weisel |
Director | |
| * Michael J. Zimmerman |
Director | |
| *By | /s/ James M. Marischen | |
| James M. Marischen | ||
| Attorney-in-fact | ||
II-8
Exhibit 5.1
| September 14, 2023 |
|
Stifel Financial Corp.
501 North Broadway
St. Louis, Missouri 63102
| Re: | Stifel Financial Corp. |
Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Stifel Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to (a) common stock, par value $0.15 per share (“Common Stock”); (b) preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Preferred Stock”); (c) debt securities in one or more series (“Debt Securities”); (d) warrants, stock appreciation rights or other rights to purchase Debt Securities, Common Stock or Preferred Stock or other securities (such warrants, stock appreciation rights or other rights, “Warrants”); (e) depositary shares representing shares of Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”); (f) contracts for the purchase and sale of Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Depositary Shares or other securities (“Purchase Contracts”); (g) purchase units consisting of one or more of Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts or any combination thereof (“Purchase Units”); and (h) subscription rights (“Subscription Rights”) to purchase Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Purchase Units or other securities (all of the foregoing, the “Securities”). An indeterminate amount of the Securities may be offered at indeterminate prices from time to time by the Company as set forth in the Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”) and supplements to the Prospectus (the “Prospectus Supplements”) filed pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act.
The rights, preferences and designations of Preferred Stock (including Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares) will be set forth in a Certificate of Designations conforming to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and either by amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement. The Debt Securities will be issued under the form of Indenture (as supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”) between the Company and a trustee (the “Trustee”) and filed as Exhibit 4.9 to the Registration Statement. The Warrants will be issued under a warrant agreement to be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and a warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”). The Depositary Shares will be issued under a deposit agreement to be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement (the “Deposit Agreement”) between the Company and a depositary agent (the “Depositary Agent”). The Purchase Contracts will be issued under a purchase contract agreement to be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement (the “Purchase Contract Agreement”) between the Company and a purchase contract agent (the “Purchase Contract Agent”). The Purchase
| Stifel Financial Corp. September 14, 2023 Page 2 |
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Units will be issued under a unit agreement to be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement (the “Unit Agreement”) between the Company and a unit agent (the “Unit Agent”). The Subscription Rights will be issued under a subscription rights agreement to be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement (the “Subscription Rights Agreement”) between the Company and a subscription agent (the “Subscription Agent”).
In connection herewith, we have examined and relied without investigation as to matters of fact upon the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto and such certificates, statements and results of inquiries of public officials and officers and representatives of the Company and originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such other documents, corporate records, certificates and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed herein. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on all documents examined by us, the legal competence and capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity with authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.
We also have assumed that: (1) at the time of execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities, the related Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; (2) at the time of execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of any Warrants, the related Warrant Agreement will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Warrant Agent, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; (3) at the time of execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of depositary receipts (“Receipts”) evidencing the Depositary Shares, the related Deposit Agreement will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Depositary Agent, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; (4) at the time of the execution, issuance and delivery of the Purchase Contracts, the related Purchase Contract Agreement will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchase Contract Agent, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; (5) at the time of the execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of the Purchase Units, the related Unit Agreement will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Unit Agent, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; and (6) at the time of execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Subscription Rights, the related Subscription Rights Agreement will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Subscription Agent, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms.
We have assumed further that: (1) at the time of execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities, the related Indenture will continue to be in full force and effect and will not have been terminated or rescinded by the Company or the Trustee; (2) at the time of execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of any Warrants, the related Warrant Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent; (3) at the time of execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of any Receipts, the Deposit Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Deposit Agent; (4) at the time of execution, issuance and delivery of any Purchase Contracts, the Purchase Contract Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchase Contract Agent; (5) at the time of execution, issuance and delivery of any Purchase Units, the Unit Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Unit Agent; (6) at the time of execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of any Subscription Rights, the Subscription Rights Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Subscription Agent; and (7) at the time of the issuance and sale of any of the Securities, the terms of the Securities, and their issuance and sale, will have been established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
| Stifel Financial Corp. September 14, 2023 Page 3 |
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Based upon the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, comments, qualifications, limitations and exceptions stated herein and the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to the Common Stock, assuming the (a) taking by the Board of Directors of the Company, a duly constituted and acting committee of such board or duly authorized officers of the Company (such Board of Directors, committee or authorized officers being referred to herein as the “Board”) of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of the Common Stock and (b) due issuance and delivery of the Common Stock, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board or upon the exercise of a Warrant, the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
2. With respect to the Preferred Stock, assuming the (a) taking by the Board of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of, and establish the terms of, any particular series of Preferred Stock, (b) due filing of a Certificate of Designations conforming to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regarding such series of Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (c) due issuance and delivery of the Preferred Stock, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board or upon the exercise of a Warrant, the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3. With respect to the Debt Securities, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of any Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters by the Board and (b) due execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of such Debt Securities, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture or upon the exercise of a Warrant, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
4. With respect to the Warrants, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of the Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (b) due execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of such Warrants, upon payment of the consideration for such Warrants provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement, such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
5. With respect to the Depositary Shares, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of the related Preferred Stock in conformity with the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, (b) due filing of a certificate of amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, if necessary, (c) terms of the Depositary Shares and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the terms of a valid and legally binding Deposit Agreement conforming to the description thereof in the Prospectus, (d) due issuance and delivery of the related Preferred Stock upon payment of the consideration therefor provided in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board or upon the exercise of a Warrant and (e) due issuance and delivery of Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares against the deposit of the Preferred Stock in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, such Receipts will be validly issued and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the Deposit Agreement.
| Stifel Financial Corp. September 14, 2023 Page 4 |
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6. With respect to the Purchase Contracts, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of the Purchase Contracts, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (b) due execution, issuance and delivery of the Purchase Contracts, upon payment of the consideration for such Purchase Contracts provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement or upon the exercise of a Warrant, the Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
7. With respect to the Purchase Units, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and the terms of the Purchase Units, the related Unit Agreement and any Securities which are components of the Purchase Units, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (b) due execution, countersignature (where applicable), authentication, issuance and delivery of the Purchase Units and the Securities that are components of such Purchase Units in each case upon the payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable (i) Warrant Agreement, in the case of Warrants, (ii) Deposit Agreement, in the case of Depositary Shares, (iii) Purchase Contract Agreement, in the case of Purchase Contracts, (iv) the Indenture, in the case of Debt Securities, (v) the Subscription Agreement, in the case of Subscription Rights and (vi) purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, in case of other securities, or upon the exercise of a Warrant, such Purchase Units will be validly issued and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the Unit Agreement.
8. With respect to the Subscription Rights, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of the Subscription Rights, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (b) due execution, issuance and delivery of the Subscription Rights, upon payment of the consideration for such Subscription Rights provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Subscription Agreement or upon the exercise of a Warrant, the Subscription Rights will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
In addition to the assumptions, comments, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth above, the opinions set forth herein are further limited by, subject to and based upon the following assumptions, comments, qualifications, limitations and exceptions:
(a) Our opinions herein reflect only the application of (i) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing) and (ii) the federal laws of the United States (excluding the federal securities laws, as to which we express no opinion). The opinions set forth herein are made as of the date hereof and are subject to, and may be limited by, future changes in the factual matters set forth herein, and we undertake no duty to advise you of the same. The opinions expressed herein are based upon the law in effect (and published or otherwise generally available) on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement these opinions should such law be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise. In rendering our opinions, we have not considered, and hereby disclaim any opinion as to, the application or impact of any laws, cases, decisions, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, court or administrative agency.
| Stifel Financial Corp. September 14, 2023 Page 5 |
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(b) Our opinions herein are subject to and may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium and other similar laws affecting or relating to the rights and remedies of creditors generally including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination; (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (iv) requirements that a claim with respect to the Securities denominated other than in United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United States dollars with respect to such a claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law; and (v) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign or composite currency.
(c) Our opinions are further subject to the effect of generally applicable rules of law arising from statutes, judicial and administrative decisions, and the rules and regulations of governmental authorities that: (i) limit or affect the enforcement of provisions of a contract that purport to require waiver of the obligations of good faith, fair dealing, diligence and reasonableness; (ii) limit the availability of a remedy under certain circumstances where another remedy has been elected; (iii) limit the enforceability of provisions releasing, exculpating or exempting a party from, or requiring indemnification of a party for, liability for its own action or inaction, to the extent the action or inaction involves negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful conduct; (iv) may, where less than all of the contract may be unenforceable, limit the enforceability of the balance of the contract to circumstances in which the unenforceable portion is not an essential part of the agreed exchange; and (v) govern and afford judicial discretion regarding the determination of damages and entitlement to attorneys’ fees.
(d) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any rights to indemnification or contribution provided for in any Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Deposit Agreement, Purchase Contract Agreement, Unit Agreement, Subscription Agreement or other purchase, underwriting or similar agreement which are violative of public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) or the legality of such rights.
(e) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of (1) any provision in any Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Deposit Agreement, Purchase Contract Agreement, Unit Agreement, Subscription Agreement or other purchase, underwriting or similar agreement purporting or attempting to (A) confer exclusive jurisdiction and/or venue upon certain courts or otherwise waive the defenses of forum non conveniens or improper venue, (B) confer subject matter jurisdiction on a court not having independent grounds therefor, (C) modify or waive the requirements for effective service of process for any action that may be brought, (D) waive the right of the Company or any other person to a trial by jury, (E) provide that remedies are cumulative or that decisions by a party are conclusive, or (F) modify or waive the rights to notice, legal defenses, statutes of limitations or other benefits that cannot be waived under applicable law or (2) any choice of law provision of any Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Deposit Agreement, Purchase Contract Agreement, Unit Agreement, Subscription Agreement or other purchase, underwriting or similar agreement relating thereto.
(f) You have informed us that you intend to issue the Securities from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof. We understand that prior to issuing any Securities you will afford us an opportunity to review the operative documents pursuant to which such Securities are to be issued (including the applicable prospectus supplement) and will file such supplement or amendment to this opinion (if any) as we may reasonably consider necessary or appropriate by reason of the terms of such Securities.
We do not render any opinions except as set forth above. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. We also consent to your filing copies of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement with agencies of such states as you deem necessary in the course of complying with the laws of such states regarding the offering and sale of the Securities. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Stifel Financial Corp. for the registration of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, depositary shares, subscription rights, purchase contracts, and purchase units and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated February 17, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Stifel Financial Corp., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Stifel Financial Corp., included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Stamford, Connecticut
September 14, 2023
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Ronald J. Kruszewski and James M. Marischen, and each of them (with full power of each to act alone), severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her to execute in his or her name, place and stead (individually and in any capacity stated below) any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the offerings contemplated by this registration statement, and all documents and instruments necessary or advisable in connection therewith, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental regulatory authority), each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents to have power to act with or without the others and to have full power and authority to do and to perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as any of the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on September 14, 2023.
| Signature | Title | |
| /s/ Ronald J. Kruszewski |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| Ronald J. Kruszewski | ||
| /s/ James M. Marischen |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |
| James M. Marischen | ||
| /s/ Adam T. Berlew |
Director | |
| Adam T. Berlew | ||
| /s/ Maryam S. Brown |
Director | |
| Maryam S. Brown | ||
| /s/ Michael W. Brown |
Director | |
| Michael W. Brown | ||
| /s/ Lisa L. Carnoy |
Director | |
| Lisa L. Carnoy | ||
| /s/ James P. Kavanaugh |
Director | |
| James P. Kavanaugh | ||
| /s/ Robert E. Grady |
Director | |
| Robert E. Grady | ||
| Signature | Title | |
|
/s/ Daniel J. Ludeman |
Director | |
| Daniel J. Ludeman | ||
| /s/ Maura A. Markus |
Director | |
| Maura A. Markus | ||
| /s/ David A. Peacock |
Director | |
| David A. Peacock | ||
| /s/ Thomas W. Weisel |
Director | |
| Thomas W. Weisel | ||
| /s/ Michael J. Zimmerman |
Director | |
| Michael J. Zimmerman | ||
Exhibit 25.1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
| ☐ | Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
91-1821036
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
| 800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Brandon Bonfig
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55107
(651) 466-6619
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 43-1273600 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 501 North Broadway St. Louis, Missouri |
63102 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
| Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
| a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
| b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
| Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
| Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
| Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
| 1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. |
| 2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 3. | A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4. |
| 5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. |
| 7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2023, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of St. Paul, State of Minnesota on the 14th of September, 2023.
| By: | /s/ Brandon Bonfig | |
| Brandon Bonfig | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 1
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:
FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the
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Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
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Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
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| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
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In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
| /s/ Jeffrey T. Grubb |
| Jeffrey T. Grubb |
| /s/ Robert D. Sznewajs |
| Robert D. Sznewajs |
| /s/ Dwight V. Board |
| Dwight V. Board |
| /s/ P. K. Chatterjee |
| P. K. Chatterjee |
| /s/ Robert Lane |
| Robert Lane |
Exhibit 2
|
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency | |
| Washington, DC 20219 |
CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS
I, Michael J. Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:
1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.
2. “U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association,” Portland, Oregon (Charter No. 23412), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, July 5, 2023, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia.
2023-00931-C
Exhibit 4
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock. Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board
by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.
Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.
Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.
Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.
Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).
The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and
(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.
Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.
Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.
Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.
Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.
Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.
Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.
Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
ARTICLE VI
Corporate Seal
Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.
Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.
Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.
Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e-mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association. Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).
Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
ARTICLE IX
Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment
Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.
***
(February 8, 2021)
Exhibit 6
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: September 14, 2023
| By: | /s/ Brandon Bonfig | |
| Brandon Bonfig | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 7
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
as of 06/30/2023
| ($000’s) | ||||
| 06/30/2023 | ||||
| Assets |
||||
| Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions |
$ | 876,858 | ||
| Securities |
4,335 | |||
| Federal Funds |
0 | |||
| Loans & Lease Financing Receivables |
0 | |||
| Fixed Assets |
1,727 | |||
| Intangible Assets |
579,801 | |||
| Other Assets |
144,570 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Assets |
$ | 1,607,291 | ||
| Liabilities |
||||
| Deposits |
$ | 0 | ||
| Fed Funds |
0 | |||
| Treasury Demand Notes |
0 | |||
| Trading Liabilities |
0 | |||
| Other Borrowed Money |
0 | |||
| Acceptances |
0 | |||
| Subordinated Notes and Debentures |
0 | |||
| Other Liabilities |
82,010 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Liabilities |
$ | 82,010 | ||
| Equity |
||||
| Common and Preferred Stock |
200 | |||
| Surplus |
1,171,635 | |||
| Undivided Profits |
353,446 | |||
| Minority Interest in Subsidiaries |
0 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Equity Capital |
$ | 1,525,281 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital |
$ | 1,607,291 | ||