0001193125-14-237889.txt : 20140624 0001193125-14-237889.hdr.sgml : 20140624 20140616171235 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-14-237889 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-A12B PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20140616 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20140616 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: COMMERCE BANCSHARES INC /MO/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000022356 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022] IRS NUMBER: 430889454 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MO FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-A12B SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-36502 FILM NUMBER: 14923501 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1000 WALNUT CITY: KANSAS CITY STATE: MO ZIP: 64106 BUSINESS PHONE: 8162342000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: P O BOX 419248 CITY: KANSAS CITY STATE: MO ZIP: 64141-6248 8-A12B 1 d741982d8a12b.htm 8-A12B 8-A12B

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-A

 

 

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES

PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR (G) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Missouri   43-0889454
(State of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1000 Walnut

Kansas City, Missouri

  64106
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

to be so registered

 

Name of each exchange on which

each class is to be registered

Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest of 6.00% Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

 

 

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following box.  x

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following box.  ¨

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: Not applicable

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

 

 


Item 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

The description of the Depositary Shares and the registrant’s 6.00% Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, set forth under the headings “Description of Depositary Shares” and “Description of Series B Preferred Stock” in the Registrant’s Prospectus Supplement (i) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on June 16, 2014, and (ii) relating to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-196689) is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 2. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

Exhibit 4.1    Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated May 7, 2014).
Exhibit 4.2    Restated Bylaws, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 14, 2013).
Exhibit 4.3    Certificate of Designation, dated June 13, 2014, relating to the 6.00% Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (filed herewith).
Exhibit 4.4    Form of Deposit Agreement (filed herewith).
Exhibit 4.5    Form of Depositary Receipt evidencing depositary shares each representing a 1/1000th interest of 6.00% Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (included as Exhibit A to the Form of Deposit Agreement, filed herewith as Exhibit 4.4).
Exhibit 4.6    Form of Preferred Stock Certificate (filed herewith).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

 

    Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
Date: June 16, 2014     By:  

/s/ Charles G. Kim

      Charles G. Kim
      Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
EX-4.3 2 d741982dex43.htm EX-4.3 EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

OF

6.00% SERIES B NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK

OF

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Pursuant to Section 351.180 of the

General Business and Corporations Law of the State of Missouri

Commerce Bancshares, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Business and Corporations Law of the State of Missouri (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify that:

The Executive Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”), in accordance with the resolutions of the Committee of the Board of Directors dated June 11, 2014, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and applicable law, adopted the following resolutions on June 12, 2014, creating a series of 6,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation designated as “6.00% Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock”:

RESOLVED, that a series of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation be, and hereby is, created and designated as the “6.00% Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock” (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) and the Committee hereby fixes and determines the number of shares, and the voting power and the designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of, such series as follows:

SECTION 1. Designation. The designation of the series of preferred stock shall be 6.00% Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Series B Preferred Stock”). Series B Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock, if any, will rank junior to Senior Stock (to the extent specified in any such Senior Stock), if any, and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

SECTION 2. Number of Shares. The Series B Preferred Stock is a single series of authorized preferred stock consisting of 6,000 shares. Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of preferred stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors or


any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Business and Corporations Law of the State of Missouri stating that such increase or reduction, as the case may be, has been so authorized; provided that any such additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock are not treated as “disqualified preferred stock” within the meaning of Section 1059(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and such additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock are otherwise treated as fungible with the Series B Preferred Stock previously issued and then outstanding for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. Any such additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall form a single series with the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock. The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

SECTION 3. Definitions. As used herein with respect to Series B Preferred Stock:

Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Corporation as defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.

Articles of Incorporation” means the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended.

Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions are not authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in New York, New York.

Certificate of Designation” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series B Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.

Corporation” means Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

Dividend Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

Dividend Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

Federal Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Junior Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized over which Series B Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

 

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Liquidation Preference” means $25,000 per share of Series B Preferred Stock.

Nonpayment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d)(i) hereof.

Parity Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks equally with the Series B Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

Preferred Director” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d)(i) hereof.

Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) hereof.

Regulatory Capital Treatment Event” means the Corporation’s determination, in good faith that, as a result of any (i) amendment to, or change in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the initial issuance of any share of Series B Preferred Stock, (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the initial issuance of any share of Series B Preferred Stock, or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of Series B Preferred Stock, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation value of all shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding as “Tier 1 capital” (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the Federal Reserve Regulation Y (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of any successor Appropriate Federal Banking Agency), as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series B Preferred Stock is outstanding.

Senior Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks senior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

Series B Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

SECTION 4. Dividends. (a) Rate. Holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, if, when and as declared by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the Liquidation Preference. These dividends will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing on September 1, 2014 (each such date being referred to herein as a

 

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Dividend Payment Date”). Dividends on each share of Series B Preferred Stock will accrue on the Liquidation Preference at a rate per annum equal to 6.00%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock shall not be declared, paid or set aside for payment to the extent such act would cause the Corporation to fail to comply with laws and regulations applicable thereto, including applicable capital adequacy guidelines. Dividends will be payable to holders of record of Series B Preferred Stock as they appear on the Corporation’s books on the applicable record date, which shall be the 16th calendar day before the applicable Dividend Payment Date, or such other record date, not exceeding 30 days before the applicable Dividend Payment Date, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors. A “Dividend Period” is the period from and including a Dividend Payment Date to but excluding the next Dividend Payment Date, except that the initial Dividend Period will commence on and include the original issue date of the Series B Preferred Stock. Dividends will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. If any date on which dividends would otherwise be payable is not a Business Day, then the Dividend Payment Date will be the next succeeding Business Day and no additional dividends or other amounts will be paid in respect of any payment made on the next succeeding Business Day.

(b) Non-Cumulative Dividends. Dividends on shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be cumulative. Accordingly, if the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors does not declare a dividend on the Series B Preferred Stock payable in respect of any Dividend Period before the related Dividend Payment Date, such dividend will not be deemed to have accrued and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay a dividend for that Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date or at any future time, whether or not dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock, any Parity Stock, any Junior Stock or any other class or series of authorized Preferred Stock of the Corporation are declared for any future dividend period.

(c) Priority of Dividends. So long as any share of Series B Preferred Stock remains outstanding, (i) no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock, other than a dividend payable solely in Junior Stock, (ii) no shares of Junior Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock, or the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, and other than through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation and (iii) no shares of Parity Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series B Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock except by conversion into or exchange for Junior Stock, during any Dividend Period, unless, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the full dividends for the most recently completed Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside. When dividends are not

 

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paid in full upon the shares of Series B Preferred Stock and any outstanding Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of Series B Preferred Stock and any outstanding Preferred Stock shall be declared on a pro rata basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share shall bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on Series B Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends per share on the other outstanding Preferred Stock, bear to each other. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment on shares of Series B Preferred Stock that may be in arrears. Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, may be declared and paid on any Parity Stock or Junior Stock from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

SECTION 5. Liquidation Rights. (a) Liquidation. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of assets of the Corporation legally available for distribution to stockholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to the Corporation’s creditors, and subject to the rights of holders of any Senior Stock, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Junior Stock, a liquidating distribution in the amount of the Liquidation Preference per share plus declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation. Holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b) Partial Payment. In any such distribution, if the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay the Liquidation Preference plus declared and unpaid dividends in full to all holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and all holders of any shares of outstanding Preferred Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series B Preferred Stock and to the holders of all outstanding Preferred Stock shall be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidating distribution owed to those holders.

(c) Residual Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference plus declared and unpaid dividends has been paid in full to all holders of Series B Preferred Stock and any other shares of Parity Stock, the holders of Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d) Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 5, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Series B Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation for cash, securities or other property, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 6. Redemption. (a) Optional Redemption. The Series B Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provision. The Series B Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to September 1, 2019. On that date, and on any Dividend Payment Date thereafter, the Series B Preferred Stock will be redeemable at the Corporation’s option, in whole or in part, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below, at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share (the “Redemption Price”), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. Holders of Series B Preferred Stock will have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series B Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, the Corporation, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may provide notice of its intent to redeem as provided in Section 6(b) below and subsequently redeem, all (but not less than all) of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding at the Redemption Price plus any declared and unpaid dividends and an amount equal to the unpaid portion of the dividend (whether or not declared) for the then current Dividend Period).

(b) Notice of Redemption. If shares of the Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall be given to the holders of record of the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, either by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the Corporation’s stock register or by such other method approved by the depositary, in its reasonable discretion, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof; provided, that, if the Series B Preferred Stock are represented by depositary shares held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. Any notice mailed or transmitted as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail or other transmission, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing or transmittal thereof, to any holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Each notice of redemption shall include a statement setting forth: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the Redemption Price and the amount of any unpaid dividends and other amounts to be paid upon redemption; (iv) the place or places where the certificates evidencing such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease on the redemption date subject to necessary funds being set aside.

(c) Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series B Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series B Preferred Stock held by such holders or by lot or in such other manner as the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable or as may be required by the principal national stock exchange on which the Series B Preferred Stock is listed.

 

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(d) Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock has been duly given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the Corporation for the benefit of the holders of the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock called for redemption, then on and after the redemption date, such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of such shares shall terminate, except the right of the holders thereof to receive the Redemption Price and any unpaid dividends and other amounts payable upon redemption. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors to hold funds necessary for the redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock in trust for the benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest. Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of four years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, and in the event of such repayment to the Corporation, the holders of record of the shares so called for redemption shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for a period of two years for an amount equivalent to the amount deposited as stated above for the redemption of such shares and so repaid to the Corporation, but shall in no event be entitled to any interest. After such two-year period, the rights of such holders as unsecured creditors or otherwise shall cease.

SECTION 7. Voting Rights. Except as provided below and otherwise provided by law, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock will have no voting rights.

(a) Supermajority Voting Rights—Amendments. The affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of all of the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, shall be required to amend the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation or any other certificate amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto (including any certificate of designation or any similar document relating to any series of Preferred Stock) so as to materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of the Series B Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of the authorized or issued Series B Preferred Stock or authorized common or Preferred Stock of the Corporation or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, of other series of Parity Stock or Junior Stock will not be deemed to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of the Series B Preferred Stock.

(b) Supermajority Voting Rights—Priority. The affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of all of the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock, at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, shall be required to issue, authorize or increase the authorized amount of, or to issue or authorize any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase, any class or series of Senior Stock.

 

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(c) Supermajority Voting Rights—Consolidation or Merger. The affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of all of the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, shall be required for the Corporation to consolidate with or merge into any other entity or sell, lease or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation unless the shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding at the time of such transaction are converted into or exchanged for preferred securities having such rights, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series B Preferred Stock, taken as a whole.

(d) Special Voting Right. (i) Voting Right. Whenever dividends on any shares of Series B Preferred Stock or any other class or series of Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, shall have not been declared and paid for an amount equal to six or more dividend payments, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “Nonpayment”), the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock (together with holders of any and all other classes of Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) shall be entitled to vote as a single class for the election of a total of two additional members of the Board of Directors; provided, that, the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two such directors. In that event, the number of directors on the Board of Directors shall automatically increase by two. Each such director elected by the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and any other class or series of Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, is a “Preferred Director”.

(ii) Election. The election of the Preferred Directors will take place at any annual meeting of stockholders or any special meeting of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock and any other class or series of Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, called as provided herein. At any time after the special voting power has vested pursuant to Section 7(d)(i) above, the chairman of the Corporation may, and upon the written request of any holder of Series B Preferred Stock (addressed to the secretary at the Corporation’s principal office) must (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders, in which event such election shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), call a special meeting of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, and any such other class or series of Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, for the election of the two directors to be elected by them as provided in Section 7(d)(iii) below.

(iii) Notice for Special Meeting. Notice for a special meeting will be given in a similar manner to that provided in the Corporation’s By-laws for a special meeting of the stockholders. If the chairman of the Corporation does not call a special meeting within 20 days after receipt of any such request, then any holder of Series B Preferred Stock may (at the Corporation’s expense) call such meeting, upon notice as

 

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provided in this Section 7(d)(iii), and for that purpose will have access to the stock register of the Corporation. The Preferred Directors elected at any such special meeting will hold office until the next annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders unless they have been previously terminated or removed pursuant to Section 7(d)(iv). So long as Nonpayment shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Director (other than prior to the initial election of the Preferred Directors), may be filled by the written consent of the Preferred Director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock (together with holders of any and all other classes of the Corporation’s Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) to serve until the next annual meeting of the stockholders.

(iv) Termination; Removal. If and when full dividends have been regularly paid for at least four consecutive Dividend Periods following a Nonpayment on the Series B Preferred Stock and any other class or series of Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be divested of the foregoing voting rights (subject to revesting in the event of each subsequent Nonpayment) and the term of office of each Preferred Director so elected shall terminate and the number of directors on the Board of Directors shall automatically decrease by two. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock (together with holders of any other class or series of Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable.

(e) The vote or consent of the holders of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock and any other class or series of Parity Stock on any matter on which the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to vote shall be determined by the Corporation by reference to the specified liquidation amounts of the shares voted or covered by the consent. Holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of the Preferred Directors.

(f) The voting rights granted in Sections 7(a), (b), (c) and (d) shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been set aside by the Corporation for the benefit of the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock to effect such redemption.

SECTION 8. Conversion. The holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such Series B Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

SECTION 9. Rank. Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Articles of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors, without the vote of the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock, Parity Stock or, subject to the voting rights granted in Section 7(b), any class of Senior Stock.

 

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SECTION 10. Repurchase. Subject to the limitations imposed herein, the Corporation may purchase and sell Series B Preferred Stock from time to time to such extent, in such manner, and upon such terms as the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may determine; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not use any of its funds for any such purchase when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Corporation is, or by such purchase would be, rendered insolvent.

SECTION 11. Unissued or Reacquired Shares. Shares of Series B Preferred Stock not issued or which have been issued and converted, redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

SECTION 12. No Sinking Fund. Shares of Series B Preferred Stock are not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provision.

SECTION 13. Preemptive Rights. The holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock or any of its other securities convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase any such capital stock.

SECTION 14. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the transfer agent for the Series B Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Series B Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

SECTION 15. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail or if given in such other manner as may be permitted herein, in the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the Corporation or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Series B Preferred Stock or depositary shares representing an interest in shares of Series B Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through DTC, such notices may be given to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by DTC.

SECTION 16. Stock Certificates; Evidence of Ownership. The Corporation may at its option issue shares of Series B Preferred Stock without certificates. The Corporation may issue, or may cause to be issued any other evidences of ownership of the Series B Preferred Stock, including depositary shares, and receipts, and the holder of such evidence of ownership shall be entitled to all rights of a shareholder, in proportion to the underlying shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or fraction thereof, represented by such evidence of ownership.

 

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SECTION 17. Other Rights. The Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any powers, preferences, privileges or rights other than as set forth herein or in the Articles of Incorporation or as provided by applicable law.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock to be signed by Charles G. Kim, its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, this 13th day of June, 2014.

 

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.,
        By:  

/s/ Charles G. Kim

        Name:   Charles G. Kim
        Title:  

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

12

EX-4.4 3 d741982dex44.htm EX-4.4 EX-4.4

Exhibit 4.4

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

among

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.,

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

and

COMPUTERSHARE INC., together as Depositary,

and

THE HOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME OF

THE DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS DESCRIBED HEREIN

Dated as of                     , 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS

     1   

Section 1.1

   Definitions      1   

ARTICLE II FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS

     3   

Section 2.1

   Form and Transfer of Receipts      3   

Section 2.2

   Deposit of Series B Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof      4   

Section 2.3

   Registration of Transfer of Receipts      4   

Section 2.4

   Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Series B Preferred Stock      5   

Section 2.5

   Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts      5   

Section 2.6

   Lost Receipts, etc.      6   

Section 2.7

   Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts      6   

Section 2.8

   Redemption of Series B Preferred Stock      6   

Section 2.9

   Bank Accounts      7   

Section 2.10

   Receipts Issuable in Global Registered Form      7   

ARTICLE III CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION

     8   

Section 3.1

   Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information      8   

Section 3.2

   Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges      9   

Section 3.3

   Warranty as to Series B Preferred Stock      9   

Section 3.4

   Warranty as to Receipts      9   

ARTICLE IV THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES

     9   

Section 4.1

   Dividends and Cash Distributions      9   

Section 4.2

   Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges      9   

Section 4.3

   Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges      10   

Section 4.4

   Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Holders of Receipts      11   

Section 4.5

   Voting Rights      11   

Section 4.6

   Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc.      11   

Section 4.7

   Delivery of Reports      12   

Section 4.8

   Lists of Receipt Holders      12   

Section 4.9

   Tax and Regulatory Compliance.      12   

Section 4.10

   Withholding.      12   

ARTICLE V THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY’S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION

     12   

Section 5.1

   Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar      12   

Section 5.2

   Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar or the Corporation      13   

Section 5.3

   Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Corporation      13   

Section 5.4

   Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary      16   

Section 5.5

   Corporate Notices and Reports      17   

Section 5.6

   Indemnification by the Corporation      17   

Section 5.7

   Fees, Charges and Expenses      17   

ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     18   

Section 6.1

   Amendment      18   

Section 6.2

   Termination      18   

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

          Page  

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

     18   

Section 7.1

   Counterparts      18   

Section 7.2

   Exclusive Benefit of Parties      19   

Section 7.3

   Invalidity of Provisions      19   

Section 7.4

   Notices      19   

Section 7.5

   Depositary’s Agents      20   

Section 7.6

   Appointment of Registrar, Dividend Disbursing Agent, Transfer Agent and Redemption Agent in Respect of Receipts      20   

Section 7.7

   Holders of Receipts Are Parties      20   

Section 7.8

   Governing Law      20   

Section 7.9

   Inspection of Deposit Agreement      20   

Section 7.10

   Headings      20   

Section 7.11

   Force Majeure      20   

Section 7.12

   Further Assurances      21   

Section 7.13

   Confidentiality      21   

 

ii


DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of             , 2014, among (i) Commerce Bancshares, Inc., a Missouri corporation, (ii) Computershare Trust Company, N.A., (iii) Computershare Inc. and (iv) the Holders from time to time of the Receipts described herein.

WHEREAS, it is desired to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the Corporation from time to time with the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement and for the issuance hereunder of Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares in respect of the Series B Preferred Stock so deposited; and

WHEREAS, the Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINED TERMS

 

Section 1.1 Definitions.

The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:

“Certificate of Designation” shall mean the relevant Certificate of Designation with respect to Series B Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Missouri establishing the Series B Preferred Stock as a series of preferred stock of the Corporation.

“Computershare” shall mean Computershare Inc.

“Corporation” shall mean Commerce Bancshares, Inc., a Missouri corporation, and its successors.

“Deposit Agreement” shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Depositary” shall mean, collectively, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and Computershare, and any successor as Depositary hereunder.

“Depositary Shares” shall mean the depository shares, each representing a 1/1,000th fractional interest in one share of the Series B Preferred Stock deposited with the Depositary and the same proportionate interest in any and all other property received by the Depositary in respect of such share of Series B Preferred Stock and held under this Deposit Agreement, all as evidenced by the Receipts issued hereunder. Subject to the terms of this Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share is entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series B Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Share (including the dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights contained in the Certificate of Designation).

“Depositary’s Agent” shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary pursuant to Section 7.5.

“Depositary’s Office” shall mean the office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered, which is currently in Canton, MA.

“DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company.

“Effective Date” shall mean the date first stated above.

 

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“Exchange Event” shall mean with respect to any Global Registered Receipt:

(1) (A) the Global Receipt Depository which is the Holder of such Global Registered Receipt or Receipts notifies the Corporation that it is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities under any Letter of Representations or that it is no longer eligible or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (B) the Corporation has not appointed a qualified successor Global Receipt Depository within 90 calendar days after the Corporation received such notice, or

(2) the Corporation in its sole discretion notifies the Depositary in writing that the Receipts or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Registered Receipts shall no longer be represented by such Global Registered Receipt or Receipts.

“Global Receipt Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Receipt issued hereunder, DTC or such other entity designated as Global Receipt Depository by the Corporation in or pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, which entity must be, to the extent required by any applicable law or regulation, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Global Registered Receipts” means a global registered Receipt registered in the name of a nominee of DTC.

“Letter of Representations” means any applicable agreement among the Corporation, the Depositary and a Global Receipt Depository with respect to such Global Receipt Depository’s rights and obligations with respect to any Global Registered Receipts, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time and any successor agreement thereto.

“Officer’s Certificate” shall mean a certificate in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit B hereto, which is signed by an officer of the Corporation and which shall include the terms and conditions of the Series B Preferred Stock to be issued by the Corporation and deposited with the Depositary from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Person” shall mean any natural person, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, unincorporated association, trust or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of the foregoing.

“Receipt” shall mean one of the depositary receipts issued hereunder, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto, whether in definitive or temporary form, and evidencing the number of Depositary Shares with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock held of record by the Record Holder of such Depositary Shares.

“Record Holder” or “Holder” as applied to a Receipt shall mean the Person in whose name such Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.

“Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

“Registrar” shall mean the Depositary or such other successor bank or trust company which shall be appointed by the Corporation to register ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided; and if a successor Registrar shall be so appointed, references herein to “the books” of or maintained by the Depository shall be deemed, as applicable, to refer as well to the register maintained by such Registrar for such purpose.

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Series B Preferred Stock” shall mean the shares of the Corporation’s     % Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated in the Certificate of Designation and described in the Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof.

 

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ARTICLE II

FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS

 

Section 2.1 Form and Transfer of Receipts.

The definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided (but which do not affect the rights, duties, obligations or immunities of the Depositary as set forth in this Deposit Agreement) and shall be engraved or otherwise prepared so as to comply with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Series B Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed. Pending the preparation of definitive Receipts, the Depositary, upon the written order of the Corporation, delivered in compliance with Section 2.2, shall be authorized and instructed to, and shall execute and deliver temporary Receipts which may be printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise substantially of the tenor of the definitive Receipts in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Persons executing such Receipts may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Receipts. If temporary Receipts are issued, the Corporation and the Depositary will cause definitive Receipts to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Receipts, the temporary Receipts shall be exchangeable for definitive Receipts upon surrender of the temporary Receipts at an office described in the penultimate paragraph of Section 2.2, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Receipts, the Depositary is hereby authorized and instructed to, and shall execute and deliver in exchange therefor definitive Receipts representing the same number of Depositary Shares as represented by the surrendered temporary Receipt or Receipts registered in the name (and only in the name) of the holder of the temporary receipt; provided that, the Depositary has been provided with all necessary information that it may request in order to execute and deliver such definitive Receipts. Such exchange shall be made at the Corporation’s expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Receipts shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as definitive Receipts.

Any Receipts to be executed by the Depositary pursuant to this Deposit Agreement shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed manually or by facsimile signature by a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned by manual or facsimile signature by a duly authorized officer of such Registrar. The Depositary shall record on its books each Receipt so signed and delivered as hereinafter provided.

Receipts shall be in denominations of any number of whole Depositary Shares. All Receipts shall be dated the date of their issuance.

Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, all as may be required by the Depositary and approved by the Corporation or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Series B Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject (but which do not affect the rights, duties, obligations or immunities of the Depositary as set forth in this Deposit Agreement).

Title to Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt which is properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery of such Receipt with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures; provided, however, that until transfer of any particular Receipt shall be registered on the books of the Depositary as provided in Section 2.3, the Depositary may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the Record Holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the Person entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.

 

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Section 2.2 Deposit of Series B Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation may from time to time deposit shares of Series B Preferred Stock under this Deposit Agreement by delivering to the Depositary, including via electronic book-entry, such shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be deposited, properly endorsed or accompanied, if applicable and required by the Depositary, by a duly executed instrument of transfer or endorsement, including a guarantee of the signature thereon by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Depositary (a “Signature Guarantee”), together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and an executed Officer’s Certificate attaching the Certificate of Designation and all other information required to be set forth therein, and together with a written order of the Corporation directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the Person or Persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing such deposited Series B Preferred Stock, each in a form satisfactory to the Depositary. Each Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Depositary in accordance with the terms of this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to be incorporated into this Deposit Agreement and shall be binding on the Corporation, the Depositary (provided that it does not affect the rights, duties, obligations or indemnities of the Depositary, as set forth in this Agreement) and the Holders of Receipts to which such Officer’s Certificate relates.

The Series B Preferred Stock that is deposited shall be held by the Depositary at the Depositary’s Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine. The Depositary shall not lend any Series B Preferred Stock deposited hereunder.

Upon receipt by the Depositary of Series B Preferred Stock deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section, together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon recordation of the Series B Preferred Stock on the books of the Corporation (or its duly appointed transfer agent) in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver to or upon the order of the Person or Persons named in the written order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section, a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing the Series B Preferred Stock so deposited and registered in such name or names as may be requested by such Person or Persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or such other offices, if any, as the Depositary may designate. Delivery at other offices shall be at the risk and expense of the Person requesting such delivery.

The Corporation shall deliver to the Depositary from time to time such quantities of Receipts as the Depositary may request to enable the Depositary to perform its obligations under this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 2.3 Registration of Transfer of Receipts.

The Corporation hereby appoints the Depositary as the Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Receipts and Depositary hereby accepts such appointment, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement (and no implied terms or conditions) and, as such, the Depositary shall register on its books from time to time transfers of Receipts upon any surrender thereof by the Holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer which shall be affixed with a Signature Guarantee, together with evidence of the payment of any taxes or charges as may be required by law. Thereupon, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered and deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the Person entitled thereto. With respect to the appointment of the Depositary as Registrar and Transfer Agent in respect of the Receipts, the Depositary, in its respective capacities under such appointments, shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, immunities and benefits as the Depositary hereunder as if explicitly named in each such provision. Any references to the Depositary herein shall, to the extent applicable, mean the Depositary as the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

The Depositary may, but shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange any Receipts for a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days next preceding any selection of Depositary Shares and Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of notice of redemption, or (b) to transfer or exchange for another Receipt any Receipt called or being called for redemption in whole or in part except as provided in Section 2.8.

 

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Section 2.4 Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Series B Preferred Stock.

Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or at such other offices as it may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, and the receipt by the Depositary of all other necessary information and documents, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts in the authorized denomination or denominations requested, evidencing the aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered, and shall deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the Holder of the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered.

Any Holder of a Receipt or Receipts may withdraw the number of whole shares of Series B Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby by surrendering such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals, provided, however, that a Holder of a Receipt or Receipts may not withdraw such whole shares of Series B Preferred Stock (or money and other property, if any, represented thereby) which has previously been called for redemption. Thereafter, without unreasonable delay, (provided the Corporation has provided the Depositary with all necessary documentation and a sufficient amount of cash), the Depositary shall deliver to such Holder, or to the Person or Persons designated by such Holder as hereinafter provided, the number of whole shares of Series B Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered for withdrawal, but Holders of such whole shares of Series B Preferred Stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such Series B Preferred Stock hereunder or to receive a Receipt evidencing Depositary Shares therefor. If a Receipt delivered by the Holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be withdrawn, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such number of whole shares of Series B Preferred Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be so withdrawn, deliver to such Holder, or subject to Section 2.3 upon his order, a new Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares.

In no event will fractional shares of Series B Preferred Stock (or any cash payment in lieu thereof) be delivered by the Depositary. Delivery of the Series B Preferred Stock and money and other property, if any, being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate.

If the Series B Preferred Stock and the money and other property, if any, being withdrawn are to be delivered to a Person or Persons other than the Record Holder of the related Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of such Series B Preferred Stock, such Holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order so directing the Depositary and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or Receipts surrendered by such Holder for withdrawal of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer in blank.

Delivery of the Series B Preferred Stock and the money and other property, if any, represented by Receipts surrendered for withdrawal shall be made by the Depositary at the Depositary’s Office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the Holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the account of the Holder thereof, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designated by such Holder.

 

Section 2.5 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts.

As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any Receipt, the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents or the Corporation may require (i) payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Corporation shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any charges, taxes or expenses payable by the Holder of a Receipt pursuant to Section 5.7 (including any such tax or charge with respect to the shares of Series B Preferred Stock being deposited or withdrawn or any charges or expense pursuant to Sections 3.2 or 5.7), (ii) the production of

 

5


evidence satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature (which evidence may include a Signature Guarantee), and (iii) any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be required by the Depositary, and may also require compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Corporation may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and/or applicable law.

The deposit of the Series B Preferred Stock may be refused, the delivery of Receipts against Series B Preferred Stock may be suspended, the registration of transfer of Receipts may be refused and the registration of transfer, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts may be suspended (i) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Corporation is closed or (ii) if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents or the Corporation at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 2.6 Lost Receipts, etc.

In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary may execute and deliver in exchange therefore a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, upon (i) the filing by the Holder thereof with the Depositary of evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction or loss or theft of such Receipt, of the authenticity thereof and of his or her ownership thereof and (ii) the Holder thereof furnishing the Depositary with an affidavit and a bond satisfactory to the Depositary. Applicants for such substitute Receipts shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and pay such other reasonable charges as the Depositary may prescribe and as required by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York.

 

Section 2.7 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.

All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary’s Agent shall be cancelled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation, the Depositary is authorized and directed to destroy all Receipts so cancelled.

 

Section 2.8 Redemption of Series B Preferred Stock.

Whenever the Corporation shall be permitted and shall elect to redeem shares of Series B Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation (including on account of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, as described therein), it shall (unless otherwise agreed to in writing with the Depositary) give or cause to be given to the Depositary, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (as defined below), notice of such redemption, which shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares of Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the number of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by the Depositary to be so redeemed; (iii) the redemption price and the amount of any unpaid dividends and other amounts to be paid upon redemption; (iv) the place or places where the certificates evidencing shares of Series B Preferred Stock, if any, are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock will cease on the Redemption Date subject to necessary funds being set aside, which notice shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Corporation stating that the redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock is in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designation. In case less than all the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be so redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or by lot or in such other manner determined by the Corporation (with prompt written notice thereof to the Depositary) to be fair and equitable or as may be required by the principal national stock exchange on which the Series B Preferred Stock is listed. On the date of such redemption, the Depositary shall redeem the number of Depositary Shares representing such Series B Preferred Stock set forth in such notice, provided that the Corporation shall then have paid or caused to be paid in full to Computershare the redemption price of the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, plus an amount equal to (i) any declared and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption without accumulation of any undeclared dividends or (ii) if the redemption is in connection with a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) the unpaid portion of the dividend (whether or not declared) for the then current dividend period, all in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designation. The Depositary shall, if requested in writing and provided with all necessary information and

 

6


documents, mail notice of the Corporation’s redemption of Series B Preferred Stock and the proposed simultaneous redemption of the number of Depositary Shares representing the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed by first-class mail, postage prepaid (or another reasonably acceptable transmission method) approved by the Depositary, in its reasonable discretion, in either case, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption of such Series B Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (the “Redemption Date”), to the Record Holders of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed at their respective last addresses as they appear on the records of the Depositary; but neither failure to mail or transmit any such notice of redemption of Depositary Shares to one or more such Holders nor any defect in any notice of redemption of Depositary Shares to one or more such Holders shall affect the sufficiency of the proceedings for redemption as to the other Holders.

In the event that the Notice of redemption having been mailed or transmitted by the Depositary as aforesaid, and the Corporation has paid in full to the Depositary the redemption price (determined pursuant to the Certificate of Designation) of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock deposited with the Depositary to be redeemed, the Depositary shall redeem the number of Depositary Shares representing such Series B Preferred Stock so called for redemption by the Corporation and on and after the Redemption Date (unless the Corporation shall have failed to provide the funds necessary to redeem the Series B Preferred Stock evidenced by the Depositary Shares called for redemption) (i) all shares of Series B Preferred Stock called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding and any rights with respect to such shares shall cease and terminate (except for the right to receive the redemption price and any unpaid dividends and other amounts without interest), (ii) the Depositary Shares being redeemed from such proceeds shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding, (iii) all rights of the Holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the redemption price and any unpaid dividends without interest) shall, to the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate, and (iv) upon surrender in accordance with such redemption notice of the Receipts evidencing any such Depositary Shares called for redemption (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary or applicable law shall so require), such Depositary Shares shall be redeemed by the Depositary at a redemption price per Depositary Share equal to 1/1,000th of the redemption price per share of Series B Preferred Stock so redeemed plus all money and other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares, including all amounts of dividends in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designation.

In case less than all the Depositary Receipts are to be redeemed, the Depositary Receipts to be so redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or by lot or in such other manner determined by the Corporation (with prompt written notice thereof to the Depositary) to be fair and equitable or as may be required by the principal national stock exchange on which the Series B Preferred Stock is listed.

If fewer than all of the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the Holder of such Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the redemption payment, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called for redemption. In any such case, the Corporation shall redeem Depositary Shares only in increments of 1,000 Depositary Shares and any multiple thereof.

 

Section 2.9 Bank Accounts.

The Corporation acknowledges that the bank accounts maintained by the Depositary in connection with the services provided under this Deposit Agreement will be in Computershare’s name and that Computershare may receive investment earnings in connection with the investment at Computershare’s risk and for its benefit of funds held in those accounts from time to time. Neither the Corporation nor the Holders will receive interest on any deposits or funds held by the Depositary hereunder.

 

Section 2.10 Receipts Issuable in Global Registered Form.

If the Corporation shall determine in a writing delivered to the Depositary that the Receipts are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Registered Receipts, then the Depositary shall, if instructed and provided with all necessary information, in accordance with the other provisions of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver one or more Global Registered Receipts evidencing the Receipts of such Series, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Receipts to be represented by such Global Registered Receipt or Receipts and (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Global Receipt Depository therefor or its nominee.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise provided in the Global Registered Receipt, a Global Registered Receipt may only be transferred in whole and only by the applicable Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt to a nominee of such Global Receipt Depository, or by a nominee of such Global Receipt Depository to such Global Receipt Depository or another nominee of such Global Receipt Depository, or by such Global Receipt Depository or any such nominee to a successor Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt selected or approved by the Corporation or to a nominee of such successor Global Receipt Depository. Except as provided below, owners solely of beneficial interests in a Global Registered Receipt shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Receipts represented by such Global Registered Receipt. Neither any such beneficial owner nor any direct or indirect participant of a Global Receipt Depository shall have any rights under this Deposit Agreement with respect to any Global Registered Receipt held on their behalf by a Global Receipt Depository and such Global Receipt Depository may be treated by the Corporation, the Depositary and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or the Depositary as the holder of such Global Registered Receipt for all purposes whatsoever. Unless and until definitive Receipts are delivered to the owners of the beneficial interests in a Global Registered Receipt, (1) the applicable Global Receipt Depository will make book-entry transfers among its participants and receive and transmit all payments and distributions in respect of the Global Registered Receipts to such participants, in each case, in accordance with its applicable procedures and arrangements, and (2) whenever any notice, payment or other communication to the holders of Global Registered Receipts is required under this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation and the Depositary or Computershare, as appropriate, shall give all such notices, payments and communications specified herein to be given to such holders to the applicable Global Receipt Depository.

If an Exchange Event has occurred with respect to any Global Registered Receipt, then, in any such event, the Depositary shall, upon receipt of a written order from the Corporation authorizing and directing the Depositary to execute and deliver the individual definitive registered Receipts in exchange for such Global Registered Receipt, execute and deliver, individual definitive registered Receipts, in authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms in an aggregate par value equal to the aggregate par value of the Global Registered Receipt in exchange for such Global Registered Receipt. The Depositary shall have no duties, obligations or liability under this paragraph unless and until such written order have been received by the Depositary.

Definitive registered Receipts issued in exchange for a Global Registered Receipt pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt, pursuant to instructions from its participants, shall instruct the Depositary in writing. The Depositary shall deliver such Receipts to the Persons in whose names such Receipts are so registered.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, should the Corporation determine that the Receipts should be issued as a Global Registered Receipt, the parties hereto shall comply with the terms of any Letter of Representations.

ARTICLE III

CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION

 

Section 3.1 Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.

Any Holder of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file such proof of residence, or other matters or other information, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Corporation may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary or the Corporation may withhold the delivery, or delay the registration of transfer or redemption, of any Receipt or the withdrawal of the Series B Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares and evidenced by a Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other distribution or the sale of any rights or of the proceeds thereof until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties are made.

 

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Section 3.2 Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges.

Holders of Receipts shall be obligated to make payments to the Depositary of certain charges and expenses, as provided in Section 5.7. Registration of transfer of any Receipt or any withdrawal of Series B Preferred Stock and all money or other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be refused until any such payment due is made, and any dividends, interest payments or other distributions may be withheld or any part of or all the Series B Preferred Stock or other property represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt and not theretofore sold may be sold for the account of the Holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to notify such Holder prior to such sale), and such dividends, interest payments or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such charges or expenses, the Holder of such Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.

 

Section 3.3 Warranty as to Series B Preferred Stock.

The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Series B Preferred Stock, when issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of the Series B Preferred Stock and the issuance of the related Receipts.

 

Section 3.4 Warranty as to Receipts.

The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Receipts, when issued, will represent legal and valid interests in the Series B Preferred Stock. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of the Series B Preferred Stock and the issuance of the Receipts.

ARTICLE IV

THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES

 

Section 4.1 Dividends and Cash Distributions.

Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Series B Preferred Stock, Computershare shall, upon written instructions from the Corporation, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 such amounts of such dividend or distribution as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such Holders; provided, however, that in case the Corporation or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and shall withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the Series B Preferred Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced accordingly. Computershare shall distribute or make available for distribution, as the case may be and in accordance with the Corporation’s written instructions, only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder of Receipts a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributable shall be held by Computershare (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and be treated as part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to Record Holders of Receipts then outstanding. Each Holder of a Receipt shall provide the Depositary with its certified tax identification number on a properly completed Form W-8 or W-9, as may be applicable. Each Holder of a Receipt acknowledges that, in the event of non-compliance with the preceding sentence, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may require withholding by the Corporation or the Depositary of a portion of any of the distributions to be made hereunder.

 

Section 4.2 Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges.

Whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, preferences or privileges upon the Series B Preferred Stock, the Depositary shall, at the direction of the Corporation, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts held by such Holders, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such Record Holders in accordance with the direction of the Corporation, or

 

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if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Corporation or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or charges) the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Corporation, such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, in a commercially reasonable manner. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, be distributed or made available for distribution, as the case may be, by Computershare to Record Holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.1 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Corporation shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Depositary and the Depositary shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Holders of Receipts unless the Corporation shall have provided an opinion of counsel stating that such securities or property, as applicable, (i) have been registered under the Securities Act or do not need to be registered in connection with such distributions, and all appropriate state securities law filings have been made with respect to such securities; and (ii) are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Section 4.3 Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges.

If the Corporation shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the Persons in whose names the Series B Preferred Stock is recorded on the books of the Corporation any rights, preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences or privileges shall in each such instance be communicated to the Depositary in writing and made available by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Receipts in such manner as the Corporation shall instruct the Depositary in writing, and the Depositary shall agree, either by the issue to such Record Holders of warrants representing such rights, preferences or privileges or by such other method as may be approved by the Corporation in its discretion with the approval of the Depositary; provided, however, that (i) if at the time of issue or offer of any such rights, preferences or privileges the Corporation determines that it is not lawful or (after consultation with the Depositary) not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available to Holders of Receipts by the issue of warrants or otherwise, or (ii) if and to the extent so instructed by Holders of Receipts who do not desire to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges, then the Depository may then, if so instructed by the Corporation, and if applicable laws or the terms of such rights, preferences or privileges permit, sell such rights, preferences or privileges at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall be delivered to the Depositary and upon the written instructions of the Corporation and, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, be distributed by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Receipts entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.1 in the case of a distribution received in cash.

The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether registration under the Securities Act of the securities to which any rights, preferences or privileges relate is required in order for Holders of Receipts to be offered or sold the securities to which such rights, preferences or privileges relate, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that it will file promptly a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to such rights, preferences or privileges and securities and use its reasonable best efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such Holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the Holders of Receipts any right, preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless and until such registration statement shall have become effective, or the Corporation shall have provided to the Depositary an opinion of counsel to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to the Holders are exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act.

The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether any other action under the laws of any jurisdiction or any governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to Holders of Receipts, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that the Corporation will use its reasonable best efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such Holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges.

 

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Section 4.4 Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Holders of Receipts.

Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or if rights, preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to notice, or whenever the Depositary and the Corporation shall decide it is appropriate, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Corporation with respect to or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock) for the determination of the Holders of Receipts who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or who shall be entitled to notice of such meeting or for any other appropriate reasons.

 

Section 4.5 Voting Rights.

Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designation, upon receipt of notice from the Corporation of any meeting at which the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary shall, if requested in writing and provided with all necessary information and documents, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail or transmit by such other method approved by the Corporation and the Depositary, in each of its reasonable discretion, to the Record Holders of Receipts, as determined on the record date set forth in Section 4.4, a notice prepared by the Corporation which shall contain (i) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, (ii) a statement that the Holders of Receipts at the close of business on a specified record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 may, subject to any applicable restrictions, instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Series B Preferred Stock represented by their respective Depositary Shares (including an express indication that instructions may be given to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a Person designated by the Corporation), and (iii) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of the Holders of Receipts on the relevant record date, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum number of whole shares of Series B Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by all Receipts as to which any particular voting instructions are received. The Corporation hereby agrees to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such Series B Preferred Stock or cause such Series B Preferred Stock to be voted. In the absence of specific instructions from the Holder of a Receipt, the Depositary will not vote (but, at its discretion, may appear at any meeting with respect to such Series B Preferred Stock unless directed to the contrary by the Holders of all the Receipts) to the extent of the Series B Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. The Depositary shall not be required to exercise discretion in voting any Series B Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.

 

Section 4.6 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc.

Upon any change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or any other reclassification of the Series B Preferred Stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designation, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation affecting the Corporation or to which it is a party, the Depositary shall, upon the written instructions of the Corporation setting forth any adjustment, (i) make such adjustments as are certified by the Corporation in the fraction of an interest represented by one Depositary Share in one share of Series B Preferred Stock and in the ratio of the redemption price per Depositary Share to the redemption price per share of Series B Preferred Stock, in each case as may be necessary fully to reflect the effects of such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Series B Preferred Stock, or of such recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation and (ii) treat any securities or property (including cash) which shall be received by the Depositary in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of the Series B Preferred Stock as new deposited property so received in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of such Series B Preferred Stock. In any such case the Depositary shall, upon receipt of written instructions of the Corporation, execute and deliver additional Receipts or may call for the surrender of all outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new deposited property. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, Holders of Receipts shall have the right from and after the effective date of any such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Series B Preferred Stock or any such recapitalization,

 

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reorganization, merger or consolidation to surrender such Receipts to the Depositary with instructions to convert, exchange or surrender the Series B Preferred Stock represented thereby only into or for, as the case may be, the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property and cash into which the Series B Preferred Stock represented by such Receipts might have been converted or for which such Series B Preferred Stock might have been exchanged or surrendered immediately prior to the effective date of such transaction. The Corporation shall cause any such surviving Person (if other than the Corporation) expressly to assume the obligations of the Corporation hereunder.

 

Section 4.7 Delivery of Reports.

The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Holders of Receipts at the Depositary’s Office and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable during normal business hours any reports and communications received from the Corporation that are both received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Shares and which the Corporation is required to furnish to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Section 4.8 Lists of Receipt Holders.

Reasonably promptly upon request from time to time by the Corporation, at the sole expense of the Corporation, the Registrar shall furnish to it a list, as of the most recent practicable date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all registered Holders of Receipts.

 

Section 4.9 Tax and Regulatory Compliance.

The Depositary shall be responsible for (i) preparing and mailing of Form 1099s for all open and closed accounts, (ii) all applicable withholding related to payments made with respect to the Receipts, including, without limitation, withholding required pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 3406 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (iii) mailing Form W-9s to new holders of Receipts without a certified taxpayer identification number, (iv) processing certified Form W-9s, (v) preparing and filing of state information returns and (vi) providing escheatment services.

 

Section 4.10 Withholding.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property is subject to any tax or other charge, which the Depositary is obligated by applicable law to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes or charges, by public or private sale, and Computershare shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale or the balance of any such property after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Holders of Receipts entitled thereto in proportion to the number of Depositary Shares held by them, respectively; provided, however, that in the event the Depositary determines that such distribution of property is subject to withholding tax only with respect to some but not all Holders of Receipts, the Depositary will use its best efforts (i) to sell only that portion of such property distributable to such holders that is required to generate sufficient proceeds to pay such withholding tax and (ii) to effect any such sale in such a manner so as to avoid affecting the rights of any other Holders of Receipts to receive such distribution in property.

ARTICLE V

THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY’S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION

 

Section 5.1 Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar.

Upon execution of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall maintain at the Depositary’s Office, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration and registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, and at the offices of the Depositary’s Agents, if any, facilities for the delivery, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, all in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

 

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The Depositary shall keep books at the Depositary’s Office for the registration and registration of transfer of Receipts. Upon direction by the Corporation and with reasonable notice to the Depositary, the Depositary shall open its books for inspection by the Record Holders of Receipts as directed by the Corporation; provided that any such Holder shall be granted such right by the Corporation only after certifying that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such Person’s interest as an owner of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts.

The Depositary may close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, the Registrar, any Depositary’s Agent or the Corporation because of any requirement of law or of any government, governmental body or commission, stock exchange or any applicable self-regulatory body.

The Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, appoint a Registrar for registration of the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby. If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the Series B Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on one or more national securities exchanges, the Depositary may, with the written approval of the Corporation, appoint a Registrar (acceptable to the Corporation) for registration of the Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange. Such Registrar (which may be the Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of any such exchange) may be removed and a substitute registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the written request or with the written approval of the Corporation. If the Receipts, Depositary Shares or Series B Preferred Stock are listed on one or more other securities exchanges, the Depositary will, at the written request and expense of the Corporation, arrange such facilities for the delivery, registration or registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of the Receipts, Depositary Shares or Series B Preferred Stock as may be required by law or applicable securities exchange regulation.

 

Section 5.2 Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar or the Corporation.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor the Corporation, as the case may be, shall incur any liability to any Holder of a Receipt if by reason of any provision of any present or future law, or regulation thereunder, of the United States of America or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent or the Registrar, as the case may be, by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Corporation’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (including the Certificate of Designation), or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or the Corporation shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar or the Corporation incur liability to any Holder of a Receipt (i) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement shall provide shall or may be done or performed, or (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement except as otherwise explicitly set forth in this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 5.3 Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Corporation.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar, any Transfer Agent, nor the Corporation, as the case may be, assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to Holders of Receipts or to any other Person other than for its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, excluding the Depositary’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), the aggregate liability of the Depositary, the Registrar, any Transfer Agent and any Depositary’s Agent under this Deposit Agreement with respect to, arising from or arising in connection with this Deposit Agreement, or from all actions taken, suffered or omitted to be taken under this Deposit Agreement, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, is limited to, and shall not exceed, the amounts paid hereunder by the Corporation to the Depositary as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, neither the Depositary, nor the Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation, as the case may be, shall be liable in any event for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if they have been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation, as the case may be, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of the Series B Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation, as the case may be, shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in reliance upon the written advice of legal counsel or accountants, or information from any Person presenting the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock for deposit, any Holder of a Receipt or any other Person believed by it in the absence of bad faith to be competent to give such information. The Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar, any Transfer Agent and the Corporation, as the case may be, may each rely and shall each be protected in acting upon or omitting to act upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

The Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar, as the case may be, shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote any of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is not taken in bad faith. The Depositary undertakes, and any Depositary’s Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent, as the case may be, shall be required to undertake and to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Deposit Agreement against the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, Registrar or any Transfer Agent.

The Depositary, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiaries, any Depositary’s Agents, and any Transfer Agent and any Registrar, as the case may be, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Corporation and its affiliates and in Receipts or Depositary Shares or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Corporation or its affiliates may be interested or contract with or lend money to or otherwise act as fully or as freely as if it were not the Depositary, its parent affiliate or subsidiary of the Depositary or the Depositary’s Agent or Transfer Agent or Registrar hereunder. The Depositary may also act as transfer agent, trustee or registrar of any of the securities of the Corporation and its affiliates or act in any other capacity for the Corporation or its affiliates.

The Depositary shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Deposit Agreement or of the Receipts, the Depositary Shares or the Series B Preferred Stock nor shall it be obligated to segregate such monies from other monies held by it, except as required by law. The Depositary shall not be responsible for advancing funds on behalf of the Corporation and shall have no duty or obligation to make any payments if it has not timely received sufficient funds to make timely payments.

In the event the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar, as the case may be, believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar hereunder, or in the administration of any of the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, omitting or suffering to take any action hereunder, the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar may, in its sole discretion upon providing written notice to the Corporation, refrain from taking any action and the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Corporation, any Holders of Receipts or any other Person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar receives written instructions or a certificate signed by an officer of the Corporation which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the reasonable satisfaction of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar or which proves or establishes the applicable matter to the reasonable satisfaction of the

 

14


Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar. Such written instructions shall be full and complete authorization to the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar, as the case may be, and the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Deposit Agreement in reliance upon such written instructions.

In the event the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or the Transfer Agent, as the case may be, shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any Holders of Receipts, on the one hand, and the Corporation, on the other hand, the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or the Transfer Agent, as the case may be, shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from the Corporation, and shall incur no liability and shall be entitled to the full indemnification set forth in Section 5.6 hereof in connection with any action so taken.

It is intended that the Depositary shall not be deemed to be an “issuer” of the securities under the federal securities laws or applicable state securities laws, it being expressly understood and agreed that the Depositary is acting only in a ministerial capacity as Depositary for the deposited Series B Preferred Stock. The Depositary will not be under any duty or responsibility to ensure compliance with any applicable federal or state securities laws in connection with the issuance, transfer or exchange of the Receipts, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares.

Neither the Depositary (or its officers, directors, employees or agents), any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar or any Transfer Agent makes any representation or has any responsibility as to the validity of any registration statement pursuant to which the Depositary Shares may be registered under the Securities Act, the deposited shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares, the Receipts (except its countersignature thereon) or any instruments referred to therein or herein, or as to the correctness of any statement made in any such registration statement or herein.

The Depositary assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the description that appears in the Receipts. Notwithstanding any other provision herein or in the Receipts, the Depositary makes no warranties or representations as to the validity or genuineness of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock at any time deposited with the Depositary hereunder or of the Depositary Shares, as to the validity or sufficiency of this Deposit Agreement, as to the value of the Depositary Shares or as to any right, title or interest of the record holders of Receipts in and to the Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Corporation of the Depositary Shares or the Receipts or the proceeds thereof.

The Depositary, Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar, and any Transfer Agent hereunder:

(i) shall have no duties or obligations other than those specifically set forth herein (and no implied duties or obligations), or as may subsequently be agreed to in writing by the Depositary and the Corporation;

(ii) shall have no obligation to make payment hereunder unless the Corporation shall have provided the necessary federal or other immediately available funds or securities or property, as the case may be, to pay in full amounts due and payable with respect thereto;

(iii) shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder; if, however, the Depositary determines to take any legal or other action hereunder, and, where the taking of such action might in the Depositary’s judgment subject or expose it to any expense or liability, the Depositary shall not be required to act unless it shall have been furnished with an indemnity satisfactory to it;

(iv) may rely on and shall be authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission or other document or security delivered to the Depositary and believed by the Depositary to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof;

 

15


(v) shall not be called upon at any time to advise any Person with respect to the shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Receipts;

(vi) shall not be liable or responsible for any recital or statement contained in any documents relating hereto or the shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Receipts;

(vii) shall not be liable in any respect on account of the identity, authority or rights of the parties (other than with respect to the Depositary) executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver this Deposit Agreement or any documents or papers deposited or called for under this Deposit Agreement; and

(viii) shall not be liable for any failures, delays or losses, arising directly or indirectly out of conditions beyond their reasonable control, including, but not limited to, acts of government, exchange or market ruling, suspension of trading, work stoppages or labor disputes, civil disobedience, riots, rebellions, electrical or mechanical failure, computer hardware or software failure, communications facilities failures including telephone failure, war, terrorism, insurrection, fires, earthquakes, storms, floods, acts of God or similar occurrences.

From time to time, any officer of the Corporation may provide the Depositary with instructions concerning the services performed by the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement, and the Depositary may rely on and shall be authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon any written, telephonic, electronic and oral instructions of any such officer of the Corporation, with respect to any matter relating to the Depositary’s actions as Depositary covered by this Deposit Agreement (or supplementing or qualifying any such actions). In addition, at any time, the Depositary may apply to any officer of the Corporation for instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for the Depositary (who may be an employee of the Depositary) or the Corporation with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be authorized and indemnified by the Corporation for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Depositary in accordance or reliance upon any such Corporation instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel. The Depositary shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any Person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Corporation.

The obligations of the Corporation set forth in this Section 5.3 shall survive the replacement, removal or resignation of the Depositary, Registrar, Transfer Agent or Depositary’s Agent or termination of this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 5.4 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary.

The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by delivering notice of its election to do so to the Corporation, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Corporation by notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary hereunder and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Corporation shall, within 60 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor Depositary, which shall be (i) an entity having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus, along with its affiliates, of at least $50,000,000 or (ii) an affiliate of any such entity. In the event of such removal or resignation, the Corporation will inform the Depositary of the name and address of any successor depositary so appointed, provided that no failure by the Corporation to appoint such a successor depositary shall affect the termination of this Deposit Agreement or the discharge of the Depositary as depositary hereunder.

If no successor Depositary shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after delivery of such notice, the resigning or removed Depositary may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Depositary. Every successor Depositary shall execute and deliver to its

 

16


predecessor and to the Corporation an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Corporation, shall promptly execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Series B Preferred Stock and any moneys or property held hereunder to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Record Holders of all outstanding Receipts and such records, books and other information in its possession relating thereto. Any successor Depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Record Holders of Receipts at the Corporation’s sole expense.

Any entity into or with which the Depositary may be merged, consolidated or converted, or any entity to which all or a substantial part of the assets of the Depositary may be transferred or which succeeds to the shareholder services business of the Depositary shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act, and notice thereof shall not be required hereunder. Such successor Depositary may authenticate the Receipts in the name of the predecessor Depositary or its own name as successor Depositary.

 

Section 5.5 Corporate Notices and Reports.

The Corporation agrees that it will deliver to the Depositary, and the Depositary will, promptly after receipt of all necessary information and documents, transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts, in each case at the addresses recorded in the Depositary’s or Registrar’s books, copies of all notices and reports (including without limitation financial statements) required by law, by the rules of any national securities exchange upon which the Series B Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts are listed or by the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (including the Certificate of Designation), to be furnished to the Record Holders of Receipts. Such transmission will be at the Corporation’s expense and the Corporation will provide the Depositary with such number of copies of such documents as the Depositary may reasonably request. In addition, the Depositary will transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts at the Corporation’s expense such other documents as may be requested in writing by the Corporation. Unless otherwise required by law, the requirements set forth in this Section 5.5 may be satisfied by publicly filing or furnishing such information with or to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Section 5.6 Indemnification by the Corporation.

Notwithstanding Section 5.3 to the contrary, the Corporation shall indemnify the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent (including each of their officers, directors, agents and employees) against, and hold each of them harmless from, and against any fee, loss, claim, damage, cost, penalty, fine, judgment, liability or expense (including the reasonable costs and expenses of its legal counsel) which may arise out of acts performed, taken, suffered or omitted to be taken in connection with this Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, the enforcement of any rights or protection under this Depositary Agreement) and the Receipts by the Depositary, any Registrar or any of their respective agents (including any Depositary’s Agent) and any transactions or documents contemplated hereby, except for any liability arising out of gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) on the respective parts of any such Person or Persons. The obligations of the Corporation set forth in this Section 5.6 shall survive any succession of any Depositary, Registrar, Transfer Agent, or Depositary’s Agent or termination of this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 5.7 Fees, Charges and Expenses.

The Corporation agrees promptly to pay the Depositary the compensation to be agreed upon with the Corporation for all services rendered by the Depositary, Depositary’s Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar hereunder and to reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Depositary Depositary’s Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar without gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part (or on the part of any agent or Depositary’s Agent), each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction in connection with the services rendered by it (or

 

17


such agent or Depositary’s Agent) hereunder. The Corporation shall pay all charges of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the Series B Preferred Stock and the initial issuance of the Depositary Shares, all withdrawals of shares of Series B Preferred Stock by owners of Depositary Shares, and any redemption or exchange of the Series B Preferred Stock at the option of the Corporation. The Corporation shall pay all transfer and other taxes and charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. All other transfer and other taxes and charges shall be at the expense of Holders of Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts. If, at the request of a Holder of Receipts, the Depositary incurs charges or expenses for which the Corporation is not otherwise liable hereunder, such Holder will be liable for such charges and expenses; provided, however, that the Depositary may, at its sole option, require a Holder of a Receipt to prepay the Depositary any charge or expense the Depositary has been asked to incur at the request of such Holder of Receipts. The Depositary shall present its statement for charges and expenses to the Corporation at such intervals as the Corporation and the Depositary may agree.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

Section 6.1 Amendment.

The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Corporation and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that no such amendment which shall materially and adversely alter the rights of the Holders of Receipts shall be effective against the Holders of Receipts unless such amendment shall have been approved by the Holders of Receipts representing in the aggregate at least a two-thirds of the Depositary Shares then outstanding. Every Holder of an outstanding Receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.5 and 2.6 and Article III, of any owner of Depositary Shares to surrender any Receipt evidencing such Depositary Shares to the Depositary with instructions to deliver to the Holder the Series B Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law or the rules and regulations of any governmental body, agency or commission, or applicable securities exchange. As a condition precedent to the Depositary’s execution of any amendment, the Corporation shall deliver to the Depositary a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Corporation that states that the proposed amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 6.1.

 

Section 6.2 Termination.

This Deposit Agreement may be terminated by the Corporation or the Depositary only if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares issued hereunder have been redeemed pursuant to Section 2.8, (ii) there shall have been made a final distribution in respect of the Series B Preferred Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and such distribution shall have been distributed to the Holders of Receipts representing Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, as applicable or (iii) upon the consent of Holders of Receipts representing in the aggregate not less than two-thirds of the Depositary Shares outstanding.

Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar under Sections 5.6 and 5.7; provided further that Section 5.3 and 5.6 shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.1 Counterparts.

This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A signature to this Deposit Agreement transmitted electronically, including by facsimile or PDF, shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.

 

18


Section 7.2 Exclusive Benefit of Parties.

This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other Person whatsoever.

 

Section 7.3 Invalidity of Provisions.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

 

Section 7.4 Notices.

Any and all notices to be given to the Corporation hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, recognized next day courier service, or by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Corporation at:

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

8000 Forsyth Blvd.

Clayton, Missouri 63105

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

With a copy to:

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

8000 Forsyth Blvd.

Clayton, Missouri 63105

Attention: General Counsel

or at any other addresses of which the Corporation shall have notified the Depositary in writing.

Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, recognized next day courier service, or by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Depositary at:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

250 Royall Street

Canton, MA 02021

Attention: Client Services

or at any other addresses of which the Depositary shall have notified the Corporation in writing.

Any and all notices to be given to any Record Holder of a Receipt hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, recognized next day courier services, or facsimile transmission, confirmed by letter, addressed to such Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary, or if such Holder shall have timely filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.

Delivery of a notice sent by mail or as provided in the previous sentence shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a facsimile

 

19


transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office letter box; provided, that the Depositary or the Corporation may, however, act upon any facsimile transmission received by it from the other or from any Holder of a Receipt, notwithstanding that such facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter or as aforesaid.

 

Section 7.5 Depositary’s Agents.

The Depositary may from time to time appoint Depositary’s Agents to act in any respect for the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement and may at any time appoint additional Depositary’s Agents and vary or terminate the appointment of such Depositary’s Agents. The Depositary will promptly notify the Corporation of any such action. The Depositary shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such Depositary’s Agent or for any loss to the Corporation or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in the selection and continued employment thereof (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

Section 7.6 Appointment of Registrar, Dividend Disbursing Agent, Transfer Agent and Redemption Agent in Respect of Receipts.

The Corporation hereby appoints Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and Computershare Inc., in their respective capacities as Transfer Agent, Registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent in respect of the Receipts, and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and Computershare Inc. hereby accept such respective appointments, subject to the express terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement (and no implied terms or conditions).

 

Section 7.7 Holders of Receipts Are Parties.

The Holders of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts and of the Officer’s Certificate by acceptance of delivery thereof.

 

Section 7.8 Governing Law.

This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts of each series and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Missouri without giving effect to applicable conflicts of law principles; provided, however, that all provisions, regarding the rights, duties, obligations, immunities and liabilities of the Depositary shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.

 

Section 7.9 Inspection of Deposit Agreement.

Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Depositary’s Agents and shall be made available for inspection during business hours upon reasonable notice by any Holder of a Receipt.

 

Section 7.10 Headings.

The headings of articles and sections in this Deposit Agreement and in the form of the Receipt set forth in Exhibit A hereto have been inserted for convenience only and are not to be regarded as a part of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts or to have any bearing upon the meaning or interpretation of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.

 

Section 7.11 Force Majeure.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Depositary will not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of

 

20


God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war, or civil unrest.

 

Section 7.12 Further Assurances.

The Corporation agrees that it will, from time to time, perform, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged or delivered, all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as the Depositary may reasonably require to perform the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 7.13 Confidentiality.

The Depositary and the Corporation agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public Holder information and the fees for services, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Deposit Agreement, shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other Person, except as may be required by law or legal process.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]

 

21


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and the Depositary have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth, and all Holders of Receipts shall become parties hereto by and upon acceptance by them of delivery of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
COMPUTERSHARE INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Deposit Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT]

Unless this receipt is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to Commerce Bancshares, Inc. or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

 

DEPOSITARY SHARES      
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT NO.    FOR    DEPOSITARY SHARES,                    

EACH REPRESENTING 1/1,000th OF ONE SHARE OF

    % SERIES B NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK

OF

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI

CUSIP []

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Dividend Payment Dates: Beginning on September 1, 2014, and thereafter each on the 1st day of March, June, September, December of each year.

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Depositary (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. is the registered owner of DEPOSITARY SHARES (“Depositary Shares”), each Depositary Share representing 1/1,000th of one share of     % Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25,000 per share, par value $1.00 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the “Corporation”), on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement dated as of [                    ], 2014 (the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Corporation, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., Computershare, Inc., and the Holders from time to time of the receipts. By accepting this receipt, the Holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement. This receipt shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary, or if, a Registrar for the receipt (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depository and countersigned by a manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of such Registrar.

Dated: June     , 2014

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.,

Depositary

 

By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

 

A-1


[FORM OF REVERSE OF RECEIPT]

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH RECEIPTHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF     % SERIES B NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK OF COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. ANY SUCH REQUEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPOSITARY NAMED ON THE FACE

The Corporation will furnish without charge to each receiptholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Such request may be made to the Corporation or to the Registrar.

EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations when used in the form of ownership on the face of this certificate shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations. Abbreviations in addition to those appearing below may be used.

 

Abbreviation

  

Abbreviation

  

Abbreviation

  

Equivalent Word

JT TEN    As joint tenants, with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common    TEN BY ENT    As tenants by the entireties
TEN IN COM    As tenants in common    UNIF GIFT MIN ACT   

Uniform Gifts to

Minors Act

 

Abbreviation

  

Equivalent

Word

  

Abbreviation

  

Equivalent

Word

  

Abbreviation

  

Equivalent

Word

ADM

   Administrator(s), Administratrix    EX    Executor(s), Executrix    PL    Public Law

AGMT

   Agreement    FBO    For the benefit of    TR    (As) trustee(s), for, of

ART

   Article    FDN    Foundation    U    Under

CH

   Chapter    GDN    Guardian(s)    UA    Under Agreement

CUST

   Custodian for    GDNSHP    Guardianship    UW    Under will of, Of will of, Under last will & testament

DEC

   Declaration    MIN    Minor(s)      

EST

   Estate, of Estate of    PAR    Paragraph      

 

A-2


For value received,                      hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

Depositary Shares represented by the within Depositary Receipt, and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint             Attorney to transfer the said Depositary Shares on the books of the within named Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:

NOTICE: The signature to the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Receipt in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEED

NOTICE: If applicable, the signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations, and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

A-3


EXHIBIT B

I,                     , [title]             of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (the “Corporation”), hereby certify that pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation, effective             , 2014, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Missouri on                     , 2014 (the “Certificate of Designation”), and pursuant to resolutions adopted by Board of Directors of the Corporation on                     , 2014, the Corporation has established the Series B Preferred Stock which the Corporation desires to deposit with the Depositary for the purposes of being subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, dated as of                     , 2014, by and among the Corporation, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., Computershare Inc. and the Holders of Receipts issued thereunder from time to time (the “Deposit Agreement”). In connection therewith, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee thereof has authorized the terms and conditions with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock as described in the Certificate of Designation attached as Annex A hereto. Any terms of the Series B Preferred Stock that are not so described in the Certificate of Designation and any terms of the Receipts representing such Series B Preferred Stock that are not described in the Deposit Agreement are described below:

Aggregate number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued on the day hereof:

CUSIP Number for Receipt: []

Denomination of Depositary Share per share of Series B Preferred Stock (if different than 1/1,000th of a share of Series B Preferred Stock):

Redemption Provisions (if different than as set forth in the Deposit Agreement):

Name of Global Receipt Depositary: The Depository Trust Company

All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have such meaning as ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement.

 

B-1


Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

This certificate is dated:

 

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

Agreed and Accepted by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Depositary

 

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

B-2

EX-4.6 4 d741982dex46.htm EX-4.6 EX-4.6

Exhibit 4.6

 

6.00% SERIES B

NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL

PREFERRED STOCK

     

PAR VALUE $1.00

PER SHARE

     

Certificate

Number

PB00000000

      Shares

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT       CUSIP 200525 301
     

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN

DEFINITIONS

is the owner of

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE 6.00% SERIES B NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK OF

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation, copies of which are on file in the office of the Transfer Agent, to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents. This certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.

Witness the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

 

/s/ John W. Kemper

     DATED     DD-MMM-YYYY
President and Chief Operating Officer     
     [CORPORATE SEAL]    

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

AND COMPUTERSHARE INC.

COLLECTIVELY, TRANSFER AGENT AND

REGISTRAR

    

/s/ Thomas J. Noack

    
Vice President and Secretary     

 

     By:   

 

        AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS ON REVERSE


[REVERSE]

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common

   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—                     Custodian                      
   (Cust)                           (Minor)              

TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties

   under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act                     
   (State)                           

JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

   UNIF TRF MIN ACT—                     Custodian (until  age     )                     
   (Cust)                                                     (Minor)  

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

   under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act                     
   (State)                      

THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH STOCKHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT.

 

 

        PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

        IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

For Value Received,                  hereby sell, assign and transfer

unto                                                                                                                    

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ADDRESSEE)

 

 

 

  Shares
of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint  

 

  Attorney
to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.  

 

Dated:                      20    

Signature:  

 

Signature:  

 

Notice:   The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever.
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.

The IRS requires that we report the cost basis of certain shares acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares were covered by the legislation and you have sold or transferred the shares and requested a specific cost basis calculation method, we have processed as requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis.

If you do not keep in contact with us or do not have any activity in your account for the time periods specified by state unclaimed property law, your property could become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state.