S-3ASR 1 dp133348_s3asr.htm FORM S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2020

Registration No. 333-

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________________

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

____________________

 

Stewart Information Services Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

____________________

Delaware 74-1677330
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

1360 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77056
(713) 625-8100

 

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices) 

____________________

 

 

Frederick H. Eppinger

Chief Executive Officer

Stewart Information Services Corporation

1360 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77056

(713) 625-8100

 
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

____________________

 

With copies to:

 

John L. Killea

Chief Legal Officer

 Stewart Information Services Corporation 

1360 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77056

(713) 625-8100

Shane Tintle

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 450-4000

____________________

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

 

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.

 

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

 

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
  Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.

 

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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each
Class of Securities
to be Registered
Amount to be Registered(1)(2) Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(1)(2) Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price Per Unit(1)(2) Amount of
Registration Fee(3)
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share(4)
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Warrants
Units
Debt Securities
Purchase Contracts
Total(5)

(1)An indeterminate number of or aggregate principal amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may at various times be issued at indeterminate prices.

(2)Not applicable pursuant to General Instruction II.E of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

(3)In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. Any registration fees will be paid subsequently on a pay-as-you-go basis in accordance with Rule 457(r).

(4)In addition to any securities that may be registered hereunder, we are also registering an indeterminate number of shares of common stock as may be issued upon conversion or exercise of the securities issued directly hereunder. No separate consideration will be received for any shares of common stock so issued upon conversion or exercise.

(5)The securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or in a combination with other securities registered hereby.

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Stewart Information Services Corporation

 

Stewart Information Services Corporation - Wikipedia

 

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Units
Debt Securities
Purchase Contracts

 

By this prospectus, we may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, units, debt securities, purchase contracts or any combination thereof as described in this prospectus. The warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or preferred stock, the preferred stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock and the debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or preferred stock. You should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated in any of the foregoing by reference, before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus may also add to, update, supplement or clarify information contained in this prospectus.

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “STC.”

 

We may offer and sell our securities to or through one or more agents, underwriters, dealers or other third parties or directly to one or more purchasers on a continuous or delayed basis. If agents, underwriters or dealers are used to sell our securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of our securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from the sale of such securities will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

____________________

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before buying our securities, you should carefully read and consider the risks we describe in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the risk factors that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement from our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 5 of this prospectus.

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

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The date of this prospectus is July 31, 2020.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Page

 

About This Prospectus 1
Where You Can Find More Information 2
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference 2
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 4
Risk Factors 5
About the Company 6
Use of Proceeds 7
Description of Securities 8
Plan of Distribution 12
Legal Matters 13
Experts 13

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We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement, and in any related free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. We have not authorized anyone to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this documentation are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospectus may have changed since those dates.

 

About This Prospectus

 

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration, we may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, debt securities, purchase contracts or any combination thereof, from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the specific terms of the offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. This prospectus may not be used to sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. Each such prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” before you invest in our securities.

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information in addition to or different from that contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information not contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security.

 

1

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, throughout this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, the words “Stewart,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or similar references refer to Stewart Information Services Corporation and its subsidiaries; and the term “securities” refers collectively to our common stock, preferred stock, warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, debt securities, purchase contracts, or any combination of the foregoing securities.

 

Where You Can Find More Information

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus in accordance with the rules of the SEC. We are subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These documents may be accessed through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system, or EDGAR, via electronic means, including the SEC’s home page on the Internet (www.sec.gov).

 

We have the authority to designate and issue more than one class or series of stock having various preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption. See “Description of Securities.” We will furnish a full statement of the relative rights and preferences of each class or series of our stock which has been so designated and any restrictions on the ownership or transfer of our stock to any stockholder upon request and without charge. Written requests for such copies should be directed to Stewart Information Services Corporation, 1360 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77056, Attention: Chief Legal Officer, or by telephone request to (713) 625-8100. Our website is located at http://www.stewart.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and, therefore, is not part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any document previously incorporated by reference has been modified or superseded. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below (File No. 001-02658) and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed) between the date of this prospectus and the termination of this offering:

 

·Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020;

 

·Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on May 4, 2020;

 

·Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on January 15, 2020, February 13, 2020, May 11, 2020, June 4, 2020 and June 8, 2020; and

 

2

·The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, which was filed with the SEC on May 30, 2001, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by contacting us, either orally or in writing, at the following:

 

Stewart Information Services Corporation 

1360 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 100 

Houston, Texas 77056 

Phone: (713) 625-8100 

nat.otis@stewart.com 

Attn: Nat Otis

 

You may also access these documents free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or on our website at www.stewart.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. We have incorporated exhibits into this registration statement. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information other than what is incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus or those documents.

 

3

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus, and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein contain statements that are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements contain projections of our future results of operations or of our financial position or state other forward-looking information. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of such words or other similar words or phrases. We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to our investors. However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to accurately predict or control and that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements.

 

These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance due to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, without limitation the risk factors and cautionary statements described in other documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, specifically under “Item 1A: Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference, and the section of any accompanying prospectus supplement entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made and are not guarantees of future performance. Except as may be required by applicable law, we do not undertake or intend to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus or the respective dates of documents incorporated by reference herein that include forward-looking statements.

 

4

Risk Factors

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by the materialization of any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to the materialization of any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including (i) our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference, and (ii) other documents we file with the SEC that are deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

5

About the Company

 

We are a global real estate services company, incorporated in Delaware in 1970, and offering products and services through our direct operations, network of independent agencies and family of companies. From residential and commercial title insurance and closing and settlement services to specialized offerings for the mortgage industry, we offer the comprehensive service, deep expertise and solutions our customers need for any real estate transaction. We currently report our business in two segments: title insurance and related services (title), and ancillary services and corporate.  For a further description of our business, properties and operations, you should read our Quarterly Report and the Annual Report, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

Stewart was established in 1893 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. We primarily operate in the United States with international market presence through a network of regional offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico. Our principal executive offices are located at 1360 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77056, and our telephone number is (713) 625-8100. We maintain a website on the Internet at http://www.stewart.com. Information that you may find on our website is not part of this prospectus and the inclusion of the website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

6

Use of Proceeds

 

Unless specified otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things:

 

·acquisitions;

 

·working capital;

 

·capital expenditures;

 

·repurchases of our common stock; and

 

·repayment of debt.

 

7

Description of Securities

 

We may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt, purchase contracts, or any combination thereof from time to time in one or more offerings under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of any offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and/or free writing prospectus that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities.

 

Common Stock

 

We may issue and/or sell, as applicable, shares of our common stock from time to time. Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to the preferences that may be applicable to any then-outstanding preferred stock, the holders of our outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

We may issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series. Our board of directors will determine the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of each wholly unissued series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, including dividend rights, conversion rights, preemptive rights, terms of redemption or repurchase, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series. Convertible preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock or exchangeable for other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at the holder’s option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.

 

If we sell any series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will fix the rights, preferences and privileges of the preferred stock of such series, as well as any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of that series of preferred stock. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of preferred stock being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contains the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.

 

Warrants

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock and/or preferred stock in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock and/or preferred stock, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the particular series of warrants being offered, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants. Forms of the warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates containing the terms of the warrants being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.

 

We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue. Warrants may be issued under an applicable warrant agreement that we enter into with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent, if applicable, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of warrants being offered.

 

8

Units

 

We may issue, in one or more series, units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, and/or warrants for the purchase of common stock and/or preferred stock in any combination. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreement that contains the terms of the units. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that describe the terms of the series of units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of units.

 

We will evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue. Units may be issued under a unit agreement that we enter into with a unit agent. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent, if applicable, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of units being offered.

 

Debt Securities

 

We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the debt securities. We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the particular series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities. We have filed, or will file, as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, the form of indenture and any supplemental agreements that describe the terms of the series of debt securities we are offering before the issuance of the related series of debt securities.

 

We may evidence each series of debt securities we will issue by an indenture that we enter into with a trustee. We will indicate the name and address of the trustee, if applicable, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of debt securities being offered.

 

Purchase Contracts

 

We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:

 

·debt or equity securities issued by us or our subsidiaries or debt or equity securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices or such securities or any combination of the foregoing as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement;

 

·currencies; or

 

·commodities.

 

Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.

 

The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture.

 

9

Form of Securities

 

Each debt security or unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

 

Global Securities

 

Registered Global Securities. We may issue the registered debt securities or units in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

 

If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

 

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture or unit agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture or unit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

 

10

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to units, represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of the Company, the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any other agent of the Company, agent of the trustees or agent of the warrant agents or unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

 

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

 

If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.

 

11

Plan of Distribution

 

We may sell securities:

 

·through underwriters;

 

·on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

 

·in the over-the-counter market;

 

·in transactions other than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;

 

·through dealers;

 

·through agents;

 

·directly to purchasers;

 

·in privately negotiated transactions;

 

·in an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·in an “at the market offering”, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act; or

 

·through a combination of any of these methods or any other method permitted by law.

 

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

12

Legal Matters

 

The validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York.

 

Experts

 

The consolidated financial statements of Stewart Information Services Corporation as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance on the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2019 financial statements refers to a change in the accounting for leases.

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stewart Information Services Corporation - Wikipedia


 

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Units
Debt Securities
Purchase Contracts

 

______________________________

 

Prospectus

______________________________

 

 

 

 

July 31, 2020

 

 
 
 

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby. The registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee in reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act.

 

 

Amount to Be
Paid 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee $ *
NYSE listing fee  
Legal fees and expenses  
Accounting fees and expenses  
Trustee and Transfer Agent fees and expenses  
Printing expenses  
Miscellaneous  
Total $

_______________

*Omitted because the registration fee is being deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act.

 

These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time and will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a corporation’s board of directors to grant, and authorizes a court to award, indemnity to officers, directors, and other corporate agents.

 

Our restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for the following:

 

·any breach of their duty of loyalty to our company or our stockholders;

 

·any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

·unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

·any transaction from which they derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Any amendment to, or repeal of, these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to that amendment or repeal. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

In addition, our amended and restated bylaws provide that we will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of our directors or officers or is or was serving at our request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we may indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of our employees or agents or is or was serving at our request as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Our amended and restated bylaws also provide that we must advance expenses incurred by or on behalf of a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, subject to very limited exceptions.

 

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Further, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and executive officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service. These indemnification agreements also require us to advance all expenses incurred by the directors and executive officers in investigating or defending any such action, suit or proceeding. We believe that these agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and executive officers.

 

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that are included in our restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and in indemnification agreements that we have entered into with our directors and executive officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, we are not aware of any pending litigation or proceeding involving any person who is or was one of our directors, officers, employees or other agents or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for which indemnification is sought, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

 

We have obtained insurance policies under which, subject to the limitations of the policies, coverage is provided to our directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to us with respect to payments that may be made by us to these directors and executive officers pursuant to our indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.

 

In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number 

Description 

1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016).
3.2   Third Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016).
4.1   Form of Senior Indenture
4.2* Form of Senior Note
4.3   Form of Subordinate Indenture
4.4* Form of Subordinate Note
4.5* Specimen Common Stock Certificate
4.6* Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock
4.7* Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate
4.8* Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate
4.9* Form of Unit Agreement
4.10*  Form of Purchase Contract
5.1   Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.
23.1    Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2    Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration Statement).
25.1* Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under the Senior Indenture.
25.2* Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under the Subordinate Indenture.

_______________

*To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with the issuance of the securities.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings

 

(a)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)       To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii)       To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post- effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)       To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4)   That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(i)       Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(ii)      Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately before such effective date.

 

(5)   (a) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

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(i)       Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii)      Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii)     The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv)     Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(6)    That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7)    To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on July 31, 2020.

 

STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES
CORPORATION
 
   
   
By: /s/ David C. Hisey  
  Name:  David Hisey  
  Title:    Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer  

 

     

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Frederick H. Eppinger, David Hisey and John L. Killea, or each of them, each of whom may act without joinder of the others, his or her true and lawful agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to (i) act on, sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement together with all schedules and exhibits thereto, (ii) act on, sign and file such certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, (iii) act on and file any supplement to any prospectus included in this registration statement or any such amendment, and (iv) take any and all actions which may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, granting unto such agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby approving, ratifying and confirming all that such agents, proxies and attorneys-in-fact or any of their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on July 31, 2020.

 

Signature Title Date
     

/s/ Thomas G. Apel 

Chairman of the Board

 

July 31, 2020
Thomas G. Apel  
     

/s/ Frederick H. Eppinger 

Chief Executive Officer

 

July 31, 2020
Frederick H. Eppinger  
     

/s/ Clifford Allen Bradley Jr. 

Director

 

July 31, 2020
Clifford Allen Bradley Jr.  
     

/s/ Robert L. Clarke 

Director

 

July 31, 2020
Robert L. Clarke  
     

/s/ William S. Corey, Jr. 

Director July 31, 2020
William S. Corey, Jr.  
     

/s/ Deborah J. Matz 

Director July 31, 2020
Deborah J. Matz  
     

/s/ Matthew W. Morris 

Director July 31, 2020
Matthew W. Morris  
     

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Signature Title Date
     

/s/ Karen Pallotta 

Director July 31, 2020
Karen Pallotta  
     

/s/ Manolo Sanchez 

Director July 31, 2020
Manolo Sanchez  
     

/s/ David C. Hisey 

Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer July 31, 2020
David C. Hisey  
     

/s/ Brian K. Glaze 

Controller and Principal Accounting Officer July 31, 2020
Brian K. Glaze  

 

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