Description of Preferred Shares
CIBC is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Class A Preferred Shares and Class B Preferred Shares without nominal or par value, issuable in series, with such rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions as the Board may determine, provided that, for each class of preferred shares, the maximum aggregate consideration for all outstanding shares, at any time does not exceed $10 billion. The following series of Class A Preferred Shares are currently outstanding: Series 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53 and 54(1). No Class B Preferred Shares are currently outstanding.
(1) | The Non-Cumulative 5-Year Fixed Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 53 and 54 (NVCC) (Preferred Shares Series 53 and 54) are held by a consolidated entity, CIBC LRCN Limited Recourse Capital Trust (the Limited Recourse Trust). |
The Bank Act (Canada) requires that banks maintain adequate capital in relation to their operations. The Superintendent of Financial Institutions (the Superintendent) establishes capital adequacy requirements for issuances of regulatory capital by banks. These requirements include that all regulatory capital must be able to absorb losses in a failed financial institution. Effective January 1, 2013, in accordance with capital adequacy requirements adopted by the Superintendent, non-common capital instruments issued after January 1, 2013, including preferred shares, must include non-viability contingent capital (NVCC) provisions, providing for the full and permanent automatic conversion (an NVCC Automatic Conversion) of such non-common capital instruments into common shares upon the occurrence of certain trigger events relating to financial viability (the NVCC Provisions) in order to qualify as regulatory capital.
The following describes certain general terms and conditions of the preferred shares.
Certain Conditions of the Class A Preferred Shares as a Class
The following is a summary of certain provisions attached to the Class A Preferred Shares as a class.
Priority
The Class A Preferred Shares of each series of Class A Preferred Shares rank on a parity with every other series of Class A Preferred Shares and rank in priority to the Class B Preferred Shares and the common shares of CIBC with respect to the payment of dividends and on the distribution of assets in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of CIBC, provided that an NVCC Automatic Conversion as contemplated under the NVCC Provisions applicable to a series of Class A Preferred Shares has not occurred.
Restrictions on Creation of Additional Class A Preferred Shares
In addition to any shareholder approvals required by applicable law, the approval of the holders of the Class A Preferred Shares given in the manner described under “Modification” below, is required for any increase in the maximum aggregate consideration for which the Class A Preferred Shares may be issued and for the creation of any shares ranking prior to or on a parity with the Class A Preferred Shares.
Modification
Approval of amendments to the provisions of the Class A Preferred Shares as a class and any other authorization required to be given by the holders of Class A Preferred Shares may be given by a resolution carried by an affirmative vote of not less than 662/3% of the votes cast at a meeting at which the holders of 10% of the outstanding Class A Preferred Shares are present or represented by proxy or, if no quorum is present at such meeting, at an adjourned meeting at which the shareholders then present would form the necessary quorum.
Rights on Liquidation
In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of CIBC, provided that an NVCC Automatic Conversion as contemplated under the NVCC Provisions applicable to a series of Class A Preferred Shares has not occurred, the holders of the Class A Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive an amount equal to the price at which such shares are issued together with such premium, if any, as shall have been provided for with respect to the Class A Preferred Shares of any series, together with all declared and unpaid dividends, before any amount is paid or any assets of CIBC are distributed to the holders of any shares ranking junior to the Class A Preferred Shares. Upon payment to the holders of the Class A Preferred Shares of the amounts so payable to them, they will not be entitled to share in any further distribution of the assets of CIBC. If an NVCC Automatic Conversion as contemplated under the NVCC Provisions applicable to a series of Class A Preferred Shares has occurred, all of the Class A Preferred Shares of such series shall have been converted into common shares of CIBC in accordance with a pre-determined conversion formula specified at the time of issuance of the Class A Preferred Shares of such series and will rank on parity with all other common shares of CIBC.
Voting Rights
Subject to the provisions of the Bank Act (Canada), the directors of CIBC are empowered to set voting rights, if any, for each series of Class A Preferred Shares.
Contingent Conversion of Certain Series of Class A Preferred Shares
All of CIBC’s currently outstanding Class A Preferred Shares were issued after January 1, 2013 and, accordingly, contain NVCC Provisions in their respective share terms and conditions. The number of common shares into which such Class A Preferred Shares would be converted upon an NVCC Automatic Conversion will be determined in accordance with a pre-determined conversion formula specified at the time of issuance of such Class A Preferred Shares.
Description of Limited Recourse Capital Notes
CIBC has outstanding 4.375% Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 1 due October 28, 2080 (NVCC) (subordinated indebtedness) and 4.000% Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 2 due January 28, 2082 (NVCC) (subordinated indebtedness), collectively referred to as the “Notes”, which are reported as equity on the consolidated balance sheet, and carry standard NVCC provisions necessary for them to qualify as Tier 1 regulatory capital under Basel III.
The following describes certain general terms and conditions of the Notes.
Certain Conditions of the Limited Recourse Capital Notes
The following is a summary of certain provisions attached to the Notes.
CIBC 2021 Annual Information Form 6