Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2018
RegistrationNo. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORMS-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
POPULAR, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Puerto Rico
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
66-0667416
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
POPULAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
66-0476353
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Popular Center Building
209 Muñoz Rivera Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
(787)765-9800
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Carlos J. Vázquez
209 Muñoz Rivera Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
(787)765-9800
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Javier D. Ferrer, Esq. Jose Coleman Tio, Esq. Popular, Inc. 209 Muñoz Rivera Avenue Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918 | Donald J. Toumey, Esq. Robert W. Downes, Esq. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 125 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
Table of Contents
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 the 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, anon-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” inRule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | 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. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| ||||
Title of each class of securities to be registered | Amount to be registered/ Proposed maximum offering price per unit/ Proposed maximum offering price(1)(2) | Amount of registration fee(3) | ||
Senior Debt Securities | ||||
Subordinated Debt Securities | ||||
Preferred Stock | ||||
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | ||||
Guarantees of Debt Securities of Popular North America, Inc. by Popular, Inc. | ||||
Warrants | ||||
Purchase Contracts | ||||
Depositary Shares(4) | ||||
Units(5) | ||||
| ||||
|
(1) | An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units or represented by depositary shares. |
(2) | Includes an unspecified number of securities that may be offered by affiliates of the Registrants in market-making transactions. |
(3) | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) the Registrants are deferring payment of all of the registration fee due in connection with the securities offered hereby. The Registrants will pay the applicable registration fee on a“pay-as-you-go” basis. |
(4) | Each depositary share will be issued under a deposit agreement, will represent an interest in a fractional share or multiple shares of preferred stock and will be evidenced by a depositary receipt. |
(5) | Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement or indenture and will represent an interest in two or more debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, shares of preferred stock, depository shares and capital securities, which may or may not be separable from one another. |
Table of Contents
Senior Debt Securities Subordinated Debt Securities Preferred Stock Common Stock Warrants Purchase Contracts Depositary Shares Units of Popular, Inc. | Senior Debt Securities Subordinated Debt Securities of Popular North America, Inc. Fully and unconditionally guaranteed as described herein by Popular, Inc. |
Popular, Inc. from time to time may offer to sell senior or subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, either separately or represented by depositary shares, common stock, warrants and purchase contracts, as well as units that include any of these securities or securities of other entities. The debt securities, preferred stock, warrants and purchase contracts may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of Popular, Inc. or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities. Popular Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and trades under the ticker symbol “BPOP.”
Popular North America, Inc. from time to time may offer to sell senior or subordinated debt securities. Any senior or subordinated debt securities offered by Popular North America, Inc. will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed as described herein by Popular, Inc.
These securities may be offered and sold to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, including Popular Securities LLC, a broker-dealer subsidiary of Popular, Inc., or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. The specific terms of any securities to be offered and the specific manner in which they may be offered will be described in a supplement to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.
Investing in these securities involves risks. See “Item 1A — Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and our current and periodic reports filed pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference herein.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
These securities are not deposits or savings accounts but are unsecured obligations of Popular, Inc. or Popular North America, Inc. and may involve investment risks, including possible loss of principal. These securities are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.
Prospectus dated June 19, 2018
Table of Contents
Page | ||||
1 | ||||
2 | ||||
2 | ||||
2 | ||||
4 | ||||
5 | ||||
5 | ||||
5 | ||||
23 | ||||
27 | ||||
27 | ||||
27 | ||||
27 |
Table of Contents
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” using a shelf registration or continuous offering process. Under this shelf registration or continuous offering process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus gives you a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. A prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities or to us and may also include, if applicable, a discussion of material Puerto Rico and United States federal income tax considerations and considerations under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you must rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement can be read at the SEC’s web site or at the SEC’s public reference room described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
When you acquire any securities discussed in this prospectus, you should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference herein and therein. Reference to a prospectus supplement means the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the securities you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified. Neither we nor any underwriters or agents whom we may from time to time retain, have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not offering the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is prohibited. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, or any document incorporated by reference, is truthful or complete at any date other than the date mentioned on the cover page of these documents.
We may sell securities to underwriters who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, we may sell the securities directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time. If we, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we reserve the sole right to accept and, together with any agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any of those offers. In addition, selling security holders may sell the securities on terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Any prospectus supplement will contain the names of the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, together with the terms of offering, the compensation of those underwriters and the net proceeds to us. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the “Securities Act.”
Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “Popular,” “Popular, Inc.,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Popular, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Unless otherwise stated, currency amounts in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement are stated in United States dollars, or “$.”
1
Table of Contents
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement onForm S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of Popular, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s website.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC’s rules allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):
(1) | Annual Report onForm 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017; |
(2) | Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018; |
(3) | Current Reports onForm 8-K filed on February 14, 2018, February 23, 2018, May 8, 2018, May 11, 2018, May 24, 2018, June 5, 2018, and June 19, 2018; and |
(4) | Registration Statements filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All documents filed by the Company under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on or after the date of this prospectus and before (1) the completion of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus and (2) the date any broker-dealer subsidiaries stop offering securities pursuant to the prospectus shall be incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the date of filing of such documents.
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You can request those documents from Corporate Communications, Popular, Inc., P.O. Box 362708, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-2708.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND CERTAIN RISKS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about Popular, Inc., including without limitation statements about Popular’s
2
Table of Contents
business, financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives and future performance. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on management’s current expectations and, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions. Potential factors, some of which are beyond the Corporation’s control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation the effect of competitive and economic factors, and our reaction to those factors, the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, delinquency trends, market risk and the impact of interest rate changes, capital markets conditions, capital adequacy and liquidity, the effect of legal proceedings and new accounting standards on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations, and the impact of Hurricanes Irma and María on the Corporation. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continues,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project” and similar expressions and future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” “may” or similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Various factors, some of which are beyond Popular’s control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to:
• | the rate of growth in the economy and employment levels, as well as general business and economic conditions in the geographic areas we serve; |
• | the impact of the current fiscal and economic crisis of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the measures taken and to be taken by the Puerto Rico Government and the Federally-appointed oversight board on the economy, our customers and our business; |
• | the impact of the pending debt restructuring proceedings under Title III of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act and of other actions taken or to be taken to address Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis on the value of our portfolio of Puerto Rico government securities and loans to governmental entities and private borrowers that have relationships with the government, and the possibility that these actions may result in credit losses that are higher than currently expected; |
• | the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the measures taken to recover from these hurricanes (including the availability of relief funds and insurance proceeds), on the economy of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, and on our customers and our business; |
• | changes in interest rates and market liquidity, which may reduce interest margins, impact funding sources and affect our ability to originate and distribute financial products in the primary and secondary markets; |
• | the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies; |
• | changes in federal bank regulatory and supervisory policies, including required levels of capital and the impact of proposed capital standards on our capital ratios; |
• | the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act on our businesses, business practices and cost of operations; |
• | regulatory approvals that may be necessary to undertake certain actions or consummate strategic transactions such as acquisitions and dispositions; |
• | the length of time and the receipt of regulatory approvals necessary to consummate our acquisition and assumption of certain assets and liabilities related to Wells Fargo’s auto finance business in Puerto Rico, as well as the ability to successfully transition and integrate the business, unexpected costs, including, without limitation, costs due to exposure to any unrecorded liabilities or issues not identified during due diligence investigation of the business or that are not subject to indemnification or reimbursement, and risks that the business may suffer as a result of the transaction, including due to adverse effects on relationships with customers, employees and service providers; |
3
Table of Contents
• | the relative strength or weakness of the consumer and commercial credit sectors and of the real estate markets in Puerto Rico and the other markets in which borrowers are located; |
• | the performance of the stock and bond markets; |
• | competition in the financial services industry; |
• | additional Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation assessments; |
• | possible legislative, tax or regulatory changes; and |
• | a failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure or those of EVERTEC, Inc., our provider of core financial transaction processing and information technology services, as a result of cyberattacks, includinge-fraud,denial-of-services and computer intrusion, that might result in loss or breach of customer data, disruption of services, reputational damage or additional costs to Popular. |
Other possible events or factors that could cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements include the following:
• | negative economic conditions, including as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, that adversely affect housing prices, the job market, consumer confidence and spending habits which may affect, among other things, the level ofnon-performing assets, charge-offs and provision expense; |
• | changes in market rates and prices which may adversely impact the value of financial assets and liabilities; |
• | liabilities resulting from litigation and regulatory investigations; |
• | changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations; |
• | our ability to grow our core businesses; |
• | decisions to downsize, sell or close units or otherwise change our business mix; and |
• | management’s ability to identify and manage these and other risks |
All forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are based upon information available to Popular as of the date of this document and, other than as required by law, including the requirements of applicable securities laws, we assume no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or information which speak as of their respective dates.
Popular is a diversified, publicly-owned financial holding company, registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”), and subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). Headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Popular offers financial services in Puerto Rico, the mainland United States and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Popular was incorporated in 1984 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and is the largest financial institution based in Puerto Rico, with consolidated assets of $45.8 billion, total deposits of $37.1 billion and stockholders’ equity of $5.0 billion at March 31, 2018. Popular also owns, as of March 31, 2018, a 16.09% interest in EVERTEC, Inc., which provides transaction processing services in the Caribbean and Latin America, including servicing many of Popular’s system infrastructures and transaction processing businesses, and a 15.84% interest in Centro Financiero BHD León, S.A, a diversified financial services institution operating in the Dominican Republic. At December 31, 2017, we ranked among the top 50 U.S bank holding companies by assets. Our executive offices are located at 209 Muñoz Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918, and our telephone number is(787) 765-9800.
4
Table of Contents
Popular North America, Inc. (“PNA or Popular North America”) functions as the holding company for our operations in the mainland United States. PNA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Popular, was organized in 1991 under the laws of the State of Delaware and is a registered bank holding company under the BHC Act. As of March 31, 2018, PNA had one principal subsidiary, Popular Bank (“PB”), a full service commercial bank incorporated in the State of New York. The banking operations of PB in the United States mainland are based in New York, New Jersey and Florida.
Popular North America, Inc.’s principal executive offices are located at 209 Muñoz Rivera Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, and its telephone number is(787) 765-9800.
Condensed consolidated financial information of Popular, Inc. with separate columns for Popular, Inc., Popular North America, Inc., other subsidiaries of Popular, Inc. on a combined basis, consolidated adjustments and the total consolidated amounts are included in the notes to Popular, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Before investing in any securities offered thereby, you should consider carefully each of the risk factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report onForm 10-K and our current and periodic reports filed pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
Information About Our Debt Securities
Two different issuers may offer debt securities using this prospectus: Popular, Inc. and Popular North America, Inc. In this section, we use “we” when referring to the issuers collectively and “the issuer” when referring to the particular company that issues a particular debt security or series of debt securities.
As required by U.S. federal law for all debt securities of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities issued under this prospectus are governed by documents called indentures. The indentures are contracts between us and a trustee. The Bank of New York Mellon, currently acts as trustee under each of the indentures. The trustee has two main roles:
• | First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described below under “— Default and Remedies”; and |
• | Second, the trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending you interest payments, transferring your debt security to a new buyer if you sell and sending you notices. |
The indentures permit us to issue different series of debt securities from time to time. We may issue debt securities in such amounts, at such times and on such terms as we wish. The debt securities will differ from one another in their terms.
Popular, Inc. may issue senior debt securities under an indenture dated as of February 15, 1995, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 8, 1997 and as further supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 5, 1999, the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 10, 2008, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 25, 2008, the Fifth Supplemental
5
Table of Contents
Indenture, dated as of September 25, 2008, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2010, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2010 and the Eight Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2014, in each case between Popular, Inc. and the trustee. Popular, Inc. may issue subordinated debt securities under an indenture dated as of November 30, 1995 between Popular, Inc. and the trustee. Popular North America, Inc. may issue senior debt securities under an indenture dated as of October 1, 1991, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 28, 1995, the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 8, 1997 and the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 5, 1999, in each case among Popular, Inc., as guarantor, Popular North America, Inc., as issuer, and the trustee. If Popular North America, Inc. issues subordinated debt securities, it will enter into an appropriate indenture with a trustee. The indentures and the debt securities are governed by New York law.
The indentures mentioned in the previous paragraph are referred to collectively as the indentures. The debt securities issued under the indentures referred to in the previous paragraph are referred to collectively as the debt securities. The senior debt securities of Popular, Inc. and Popular North America, Inc. are referred to collectively as the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities of Popular, Inc. and Popular North America, Inc. are referred to collectively as the subordinated debt securities. A copy or form of each indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement relating to the debt securities.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the covenants contained in the indentures and the debt securities will not afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a recapitalization, restructuring or other highly leveraged transaction.
This section summarizes the material terms that will apply generally to a series of debt securities. Each particular debt security will have financial and other terms specific to it, and the specific terms of each debt security will be described in a prospectus supplement attached to the front of this prospectus. Those terms may vary from the terms described here. As you read this section, therefore, please remember that the specific terms of your debt security as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. The statements we make in this section may not apply to your debt security.
Amounts That We May Issue
The indentures do not limit the aggregate amount of debt securities that we may issue, nor do they limit the aggregate amount of any particular series. The indentures and the debt securities do not limit our ability to incur other indebtedness or to issue other securities. This means that we may issue additional debt securities and other securities at any time without your consent and without notifying you. Also, we are not subject to financial or similar restrictions by the terms of the debt securities, except as described under “— Restrictive Covenants” below.
How the Debt Securities Rank Against Other Debt
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be secured by any property or assets of the issuers (or any guarantor). Thus, by owning a debt security, you are one of the unsecured creditors of the issuer (and any guarantor) of your debt security. The senior debt securities will not be subordinated to any of our other debt obligations. This means that in a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding against the issuer, the senior debt securities would rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the issuer. The subordinated debt securities may be subordinated to any of our other debt obligations as described in “— Special Terms Relating to the Subordinated Debt Securities” below.
This Section Is Only a Summary
The indentures and their associated documents, including your debt security, contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section and your prospectus supplement.
6
Table of Contents
Because this section and your prospectus supplement provide only a summary, they do not describe every aspect of the indentures and your debt security. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indentures, including definitions of certain terms used in the indentures. For example, in this section and your prospectus supplement, we use terms that have been given special meaning in the indentures. In this section, however, we describe the meaning for only the more important of those terms.
Features Common to All Debt Securities
Stated Maturity and Maturity
The day on which the principal amount of your debt security is scheduled to become due and payable is called the stated maturity of the principal and is specified in your prospectus supplement. The principal may become due sooner, by reason of redemption or acceleration after a default. The day on which the principal actually becomes due, whether at the stated maturity or earlier, is called the maturity of the principal.
We also use the terms “stated maturity” and “maturity” to refer to the dates when other payments become due. For example, we may refer to a regular interest payment date when an installment of interest is scheduled to become due as the “stated maturity” of that installment. When we refer to the “stated maturity” or the “maturity” of a debt security without specifying a particular payment, we mean the stated maturity or maturity, as the case may be, of the principal.
Currency of Debt Securities
Amounts that become due and payable on your debt security will be payable in a currency, composite currency or basket of currencies specified in your prospectus supplement.
We call this currency, composite currency or basket of currencies a specified currency. The specified currency for your debt security will be U.S. dollars unless your prospectus supplement states otherwise. A specified currency may include the euro. Some debt securities may have different specified currencies for principal and interest.
You will have to pay for your debt securities by delivering the requisite amount of the specified currency for the principal to the dealer or dealers that we name in your prospectus supplement, unless other arrangements have been made between you and us or between you and that dealer or dealers. We will make payments on your debt securities in the specified currency, except as otherwise described in your prospectus supplement.
Types of Debt Securities
We may issue the following types of debt securities:
• | Fixed Rate Debt Securities. A debt security of this type will bear interest at a fixed rate described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This type includes zero coupon debt securities, which bear no interest and are instead issued at a price lower than the principal amount. |
• | Floating Rate Debt Securities. A debt security of this type will bear interest at rates that are determined by reference to an interest rate formula. In some cases, the rates may also be adjusted by adding or subtracting a spread or multiplying by a spread multiplier and may be subject to a minimum rate or a maximum rate. If your debt security is a floating rate debt security, the formula and any adjustments that apply to the interest rate will be described in your prospectus supplement. |
• | Indexed Debt Securities. A debt security of this type provides that the principal amount payable at its maturity, and/or the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, will be determined by reference to one or more currencies, commodities or stocks, including baskets of stocks and stock indices, or to any other index described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If you are a holder of |
7
Table of Contents
an indexed debt security, you may receive a principal amount at maturity that is greater than or less than the face amount of your debt security depending upon the value of the applicable index at maturity. That value may fluctuate over time. Some indexed debt securities may also be exchangeable, at the option of the holder or the applicable issuer, into stock of an issuer other than the issuer of the indexed debt securities. If you purchase an indexed debt security, your prospectus supplement will include information about the relevant index and about how amounts that are to become payable will be determined by reference to that index. If you purchase a security exchangeable into stock of an issuer other than the issuer of the indexed debt securities, your prospectus supplement will include information about the issuer and may also tell you where additional information about the issuer is available. |
A fixed rate debt security, a floating rate debt security or an indexed debt security may be an original issue discount debt security. A debt security of this type is issued at a price lower than its principal amount and provides that, upon redemption or acceleration of its maturity, an amount less than its principal amount will be payable. A debt security issued at a discount to its principal may, for United States federal and Puerto Rico income tax purposes, be considered an original issue discount debt security, regardless of the amount payable upon redemption or acceleration of maturity.
Information in your Prospectus Supplement
Your prospectus supplement will describe one or more of the following terms of your debt security:
• | the issuer of the series of debt securities; |
• | the title of the series of debt securities; |
• | the stated maturity; |
• | whether your debt security is a senior or subordinated debt security; |
• | the specified currency or currencies for principal and interest, if not U.S. dollars; and |
• | the price at which we originally issue your debt security, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount, and the original issue date. |
• | whether your debt security is a fixed rate debt security, a floating rate debt security or an indexed debt security, and also whether it is an original issue discount debt security; |
• | if your debt security is a fixed rate debt security, the rate at which your debt security will bear interest, if any, the regular record dates and the interest payment dates; |
• | if your debt security is a floating rate debt security, the interest rate basis; any applicable index, currency or maturity, spread or spread multiplier or initial, maximum or minimum rate; the interest reset, determination, calculation and payment dates; and the calculation agent; |
• | if your debt security is an original issue discount debt security, the yield to maturity; |
• | if your debt security is an indexed debt security, the principal amount the issuer will pay you at maturity, the amount of interest, if any, the issuer will pay you on an interest payment date or the formula the issuer will use to calculate these amounts, if any, and whether your debt security will be exchangeable for or payable in stock of an issuer other than the issuer of the indexed debt security or other property; |
• | whether your debt security may be redeemed or repaid by the issuer at our or the holder’s option before the stated maturity and, if so, other relevant terms such as the redemption or repayment commencement date, specific redemption or repayment date(s), redemption or repayment period(s) and redemption or repayment price(s), all of which we describe under “— Redemption and Repayment” below; |
• | whether we will issue or make available your debt security innon-book-entry form; |
8
Table of Contents
• | the denominations in which securities will be issued (if other than integral multiples of U.S. $1,000); and |
• | any other terms of your debt security that are consistent with the provisions of the indentures. |
If you purchase your note in a market-making transaction, you will receive information about the price you pay and your trade and settlement dates in a separate confirmation of sale. A market-making transaction is one in which Popular Securities LLC or another of our affiliates resells a note that it has previously acquired from another holder. A market-making transaction in a particular note occurs after the original issuance and sale of the note.
Legal Ownership of Securities
Please note that in this prospectus, the term “holders” means those who own securities registered in their own names on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose and not those who own beneficial interests in securities registered in “street name” or in securities issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company.
We refer to those who have securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose, as the holders of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names as indirect owners of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect owners are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form, which we refer to as book-entry securities, or in street name will be indirect owners.
Book-Entry Owners
Securities represented by one or more global securities are registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Under the indentures, only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Consequently, for book-entry securities, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants make these payments under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in global securities will not own debt securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as debt securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect owners, and not holders, of the securities. More information regarding the depositary, participants and indirect owners is described below under “— Special Considerations for Global Debt Securities — Information Relating to DTC.”
Street Name Owners
We may terminate a global security or issue securities initially innon-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
9
Table of Contents
For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect owners, not holders, of those securities.
If you hold debt securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
• | how it handles securities payments and notices; |
• | whether it imposes fees or charges; |
• | how it would handle a request for the holder’s consent, if ever required; |
• | whether and how you can instruct it to send you debt securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future; |
• | how it would exercise rights under the debt securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and |
• | if the debt securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters |
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee, run only to the holders of securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in street name, in global securities or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect owner of a security or has no choice because we issue the securities only in global form.
For example, once we make payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect owners but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose — e.g., to amend the indentures or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture — we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect owners, of the securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect owners is up to the holders.
What is a Global Debt Security?
We may issue each debt security only in book-entry form. Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global debt security that we will deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution, or its nominee, that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we say otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt securities issued in book-entry form.
A global debt security may represent one or any other number of individual debt securities. Generally, all debt securities represented by the same global debt security will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global debt security that represents multiple debt securities that have different terms and are issued at different times. We call this kind of global debt security a master global debt security.
A global debt security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under
10
Table of Contents
“— Special Considerations for Global Debt Securities — Special Situations When a Global Debt Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all debt securities represented by a global debt security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global debt security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose debt security is represented by a global debt security will not be a legal holder of the debt security, but only an indirect owner of a beneficial interest in the global debt security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular debt security indicates that the debt security will be issued in “global form only,” then the debt security will be represented by a global debt security at all times unless and until the global debt security is terminated under one of the special situations described below under “— Special Considerations for Global Debt Securities — Special Situations When a Global Debt Security Will Be Terminated.” The global debt security may be a master global debt security, although your prospectus supplement will not indicate whether it is a master global debt security.
Special Considerations for Global Debt Securities
As an indirect owner, an investor’s rights relating to a global debt security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution or any intermediary of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a legal holder of debt securities and instead deal only with the depositary, or its nominee, that holds the global debt security.
If debt securities are issued only in the form of a global debt security, an investor should be aware of the following:
• | An investor cannot cause the debt securities registered in his or her own name and cannot getnon-global certificates for his or her interest in the debt securities, except in the special situations we describe below; |
• | An investor will be an indirect owner and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payment deliveries on the debt securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the debt securities, as we describe under “— Legal Ownership of Securities” above; |
• | An investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities innon-book-entry form; |
• | An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; |
• | The depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in a global debt security. We and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global debt security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way; |
• | The depositary may require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global debt security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and |
• | Financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in the global debt securities, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the debt securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries. |
11
Table of Contents
Information Relating to DTC
DTC will act as securities depository for the book-entry securities. The book-entry securities will be issued as fully-registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One fully registered global debt security will be issued for each issue of book-entry securities, each in the aggregate principal amount of that issue, and will be deposited with DTC. If, however, the aggregate principal amount of any issue exceeds $500 million, one global debt security will be issued with respect to each $500 million of principal amount and an additional global debt security will be issued with respect to any remaining principal amount of that issue.
DTC has informed us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that DTC participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among DTC participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between DTC participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC participants include both U.S. andnon-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. andnon-U.S. brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through DTC participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual acquirer of each security is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. They are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the DTC participant through which they entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all securities deposited with DTC are registered in the name of the DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co, or such other name as may be requested by DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee of DTC do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. DTC’s participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTC, as the registered holder of the securities. If less than all of the securities within an issue are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such issue to be redeemed.
12
Table of Contents
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures.
Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to the relevant agent or depositary as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts such securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Distribution payments on the securities will be made by the issuer, or the issuer’s relevant payment agent or the depositary for depositary shares, to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding information from the issuer or the relevant payment agent or depositary, on the relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by DTC participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participants and not of DTC, the relevant payment agent or depositary for depository shares or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of the relevant payment agent or depositary for depository shares disbursement of such payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursements of such payments to the beneficial owners are the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be accurate, but we assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. We do not have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.
Special Situations When a Global Debt Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, a global debt security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates innon-global form representing the debt securities it represented. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the debt securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global debt security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be legal holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above under “— Legal Ownership of Securities.”
The special situations for termination of a global debt security are:
• | when the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global debt security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 60 days; |
• | when we notify the trustee that we wish to terminate that global debt security; or |
• | when an event of default has occurred with regard to debt securities represented by that global debt security and has not been cured or waived; we discuss defaults below under “— Default and Remedies.” |
When a global debt security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we or the trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the debt securities represented by the global debt security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those debt securities.
Notices
Notices to be given to holders of a global note will be given only to the depositary, in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time. Notices to be given to holders of notes not in global form will
13
Table of Contents
be sent by mail to the respective addresses of the holders as they appear in the trustee’s records, and will be deemed given when mailed. Neither the failure to give any notice to a particular holder, nor any defect in a notice given to a particular holder, will affect the sufficiency of any notice given to another holder.
IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS DESCRIPTION “YOU” MEANS DIRECT HOLDERS AND NOT BOOK ENTRY, STREET NAME OR OTHER INDIRECT OWNERS OF DEBT SECURITIES.
Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer
Debt securities may be issued:
• | only in fully registered form; and |
• | without interest coupons. |
Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated debt securities at the office of the trustee. We will initially appoint the trustee to act as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the security registrar. It will also perform transfers.
Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their debt securities, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.
If we have designated additional transfer agents for your debt security, they will be named in your prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.
If any debt securities are redeemable and we redeem less than all those debt securities, we may prohibit the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any debt security selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed.
If a debt security is issued as a global debt security, only the depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection because it will be the sole holder of the debt security.
Payment and Paying Agent
The issuer will only be required to make payment of the principal on a debt security if you surrender the debt security to the paying agent for that debt security. The issuer will only be required to make payment of principal and interest at the office of the paying agent, except that at its option, it may pay interest by mailing a check to the holder. Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the issuer will pay interest to the person who is the holder at the close of business on the record date for that interest payment, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest payment date.
We will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement the regular record date relating to an interest payment date for any fixed rate debt security and for any floating rate debt security.
14
Table of Contents
Payment When Offices Are Closed
If any payment is due on a debt security on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next day that is a business day. Payments postponed to the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indentures as if they were made on the original due date. Postponement of this kind will not result in a default under any debt security or indenture, and no interest will accrue on the postponed amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a “business day” is a day in which commercial banks settle payments and are open for general business other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday, or any other day on which banking institutions in Puerto Rico, Wilmington, Delaware or New York, New York, as applicable, are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed or are customarily closed.
Paying Agent
We will specify the paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents, rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we must maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for each series of debt securities.
Unclaimed Payments
Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to a holder will be repaid to us. After thattwo-year period, the holder may look only to the issuer (or any guarantor) for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else.
Prescription
Under New York’s statute of limitations, any legal action to enforce Popular’s payment obligations evidenced by the debt securities must be commenced within six years after payment is due. Thereafter Popular’s payment obligations will generally become unenforceable.
Redemption and Repayment
Unless otherwise indicated in your prospectus supplement, your debt security will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund — that is, we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate custodial account to repay your debt securities. In addition, except as described below, we will not be entitled to redeem your debt security before its stated maturity unless your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date. You will not be entitled to require us to buy your debt security from you, before its stated maturity, unless your prospectus supplement specifies one or more repayment dates.
If your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date or a repayment date, it will also specify one or more redemption prices or repayment prices, which will be expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of your debt security. It may also specify one or more redemption periods during which the redemption prices relating to a redemption of debt securities will apply.
If your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date, your debt security will be redeemable at our option at any time on or after that date. If we redeem your debt security, we will do so at the specified redemption price, together with interest accrued to the redemption date. If different prices are specified for different redemption periods, the price we pay will be the price that applies to the redemption period during which your debt security is redeemed.
15
Table of Contents
If your prospectus supplement specifies a repayment date, your debt security will be repayable at your option on the specified repayment date at the specified repayment price, together with interest accrued to the repayment date.
In the event that we exercise an option to redeem any debt security, we will give to the trustee and the holder written notice of the principal amount of the debt security to be redeemed, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date. Notice of this redemption will be mailed to holders at the address that appears on the register of the redeemed debt securities.
If a debt security represented by a global debt security is repayable at the holder’s option, the depositary or its nominee, as the holder, will be the only person that can exercise the rights to repayment. Any indirect owners who own beneficial interests in the global debt security and wish to exercise a repayment right must give proper and timely instructions to their banks or brokers through which they hold their interests, requesting that they notify the depositary to exercise the repayment right on their behalf. Different firms have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers, and you should take care to act promptly enough to ensure that your request is given effect by the depositary before the applicable deadline for exercise.
Street name and other indirect owners should contact their banks or brokers for information about how to exercise a repayment right in a timely manner.
If the option of the holder to elect repayment as described above is deemed to be a “tender offer” within the meaning ofRule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we will comply withRule 14e-1 as then in effect to the extent applicable.
We or our affiliates may purchase debt securities from investors who are willing to sell from time to time, either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Debt securities that we or they purchase may, at our discretion, be held, resold or canceled.
A change in law, regulation or interpretation could oblige Popular, Inc. to pay the additional amounts that are discussed below under “— Taxation by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.” If this happens, we will have the option of redeeming or repaying an entire series of the debt securities at our discretion after giving between 30 and 60 days’ notice to the holders at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the notes with the accrued interest to the redemption date, or another redemption price specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Mergers and Similar Transactions
Each issuer is generally permitted to merge or consolidate with another entity. Each issuer is also permitted to sell its assets substantially as an entirety to another firm. An issuer may not take any of these actions, however, unless all the following conditions are met:
• | If the successor firm in the transaction is not the applicable issuer, the successor firm must expressly assume that issuer’s obligations under the debt securities, the guarantees and the indentures. |
• | Immediately after the transaction, no default under the indentures or debt securities of that issuer has occurred and is continuing. For this purpose, “default under the indentures or debt securities” means an event of default or any event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice and for the issuer’s default having to continue for a specific period of time were disregarded. We describe these matters below under “— Default and Remedies.” |
These conditions will apply only if an issuer wishes to merge, consolidate or sell its assets substantially as an entirety. An issuer will not need to satisfy these conditions if it enters into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which it acquires the stock or assets of another firm, any transaction that involves a change of control of it but in which it does not merge or consolidate and any asset sale that does not constitute a sale of its assets substantially as an entirety.
16
Table of Contents
The meaning of the phrase “substantially as an entirety” as used above will be interpreted in connection with the facts and circumstances of the subject transaction and is subject to judicial interpretation. Accordingly, in certain circumstances, there may be a degree of uncertainty in ascertaining whether a particular transaction would involve a disposition of the assets of the issuer substantially as an entirety.
Restrictive Covenants
In the senior indentures, Popular, Inc. promises not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any voting stock of its principal banking subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (“BPPR”), or permit BPPR to issue, sell or otherwise dispose of any of its voting stock, unless, after giving effect to the transaction, BPPR remains a controlled subsidiary (as defined below), except as provided above under “— Mergers and Similar Transactions.”
In addition, Popular, Inc. may not permit BPPR to:
• | merge or consolidate, unless the survivor is a controlled subsidiary, or |
• | convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety, except to a controlled subsidiary. |
The senior indentures define “voting stock” as the stock of the class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of a corporation. Stock that may vote only if an event occurs that is beyond the control of its holders is not considered voting stock under the senior indentures, whether or not the event has happened. “Controlled subsidiary” means any corporation of which an issuer owns more than 80% of the outstanding voting stock.
Popular, Inc. also promises in the senior indentures not to, nor to permit any material banking subsidiary to, create, incur or permit to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a lien or other encumbrance on the voting stock of any material banking subsidiary unless Popular, Inc.’s senior debt securities, Popular, Inc.’s Guarantees of Popular North America, Inc.’s senior debt securities and, at Popular, Inc.’s discretion, any other indebtedness with a right of payment equal to Popular, Inc.’s senior debt securities and Popular, Inc.’s guarantees of Popular North America, Inc.’s senior debt securities are secured on an equal basis. “Material banking subsidiary” means any controlled subsidiary chartered as a banking corporation under federal, state or Puerto Rico law that is a significant subsidiary of Popular, Inc. as defined inRule 1-02 of RegulationS-X of the SEC. As of the date of this prospectus, BPPR and, through PNA, PB are the only material banking subsidiaries of Popular, Inc.
However, liens imposed to secure taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies are not restricted, so long as they are:
• | not then due or delinquent; |
• | being contested in good faith; |
• | less than $10,000,000 in amount; |
• | the result of any litigation or legal proceeding which is currently being contested in good faith or which involves claims of less than $10,000,000; or |
• | deposits to secure surety, stay, appeal or customs bonds. |
The subordinated indentures do not contain similar restrictions.
Default and Remedies
Every year each issuer is required to send the trustee for its debt securities a report on its performance of its obligations under the senior indentures and the subordinated indentures and on any default. You will have special rights if an event of default with respect to your senior debt security occurs and is not cured, as described in this subsection.
17
Table of Contents
Events of Default
Senior Indentures. With respect to your senior debt security, the term “event of default” means any of the following:
• | The issuer does not pay the principal or any premium, if any, on any senior debt security of that issuer on its due date; |
• | The issuer does not pay interest on any senior debt security of that issuer within 30 days after its due date; |
• | The issuer does not deposit a sinking fund payment with regard to any senior debt security of that issuer on its due date, but only if the payment is required in the applicable prospectus supplement; |
• | The issuer remains in breach of its covenants described above under “— Restrictive Covenants,” or any other covenant it makes in the senior indentures for the benefit of the debt securities of that issuer, for 60 days after it receives a notice of default stating that it is in breach. However, the breach of a covenant that the senior indentures expressly impose only on a different series of senior debt securities than the series of which your senior debt security is a part will not be an event of default with respect to your senior debt security; |
• | The issuer, the guarantor (when other than the issuer) or any material banking subsidiary of the issuer defaults under borrowed money debt (see below) totaling in excess of $10,000,000, its obligation to repay that debt is accelerated by our lenders and its repayment obligation remains accelerated, unless the debt is paid, the default is cured or waived or the acceleration is rescinded within 30 days after it receives a notice of default; |
• | The issuer, the guarantor (when other than the issuer) or any material banking subsidiary of the issuer files for bankruptcy, or other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to an issuer, the guarantor (when other than the issuer) or material banking subsidiary of the issuer; or |
• | If your prospectus supplement states that any additional event of default applies to your senior debt security, that event of default occurs. |
However, a notice of default as described in the fourth and fifth bullet points above must be sent by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of senior debt securities of the series for those events to be events of default.
“Borrowed money debt” means any of the issuer’s indebtedness for borrowed money or the indebtedness of a material banking subsidiary of the issuer, other than the series of which your senior debt security is a part.
The trustee shall give notice of any default, but notice of a default with respect to a covenant as described in the fourth bullet point above will not be given until at least 30 days after it occurs.
Subordinated Indentures. With respect to your subordinated debt security, the term “event of default” means that a filing for bankruptcy or other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the issuer occurs. The subordinated indentures do not provide for any right of acceleration of the payment of principal upon a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest or in the performance of any covenant or agreement on a series of subordinated debt securities or on the subordinated indentures.
Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs
Under certain circumstances, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series may waive a default for all the debt securities of that series. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it had not occurred.
18
Table of Contents
Senior Indentures. If an event of default on the senior debt securities of any series has occurred and has not been cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series may declare the entire principal amount of the senior debt securities of that series to be due immediately.
This situation is called an “acceleration of the maturity” of the senior debt securities. If the maturity of any senior debt securities of any series is accelerated, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the senior debt securities of that series affected by the acceleration may cancel the acceleration for all of those senior debt securities if the issuer has paid all amounts due with respect to those securities, other than amounts due because of the acceleration of the maturity, and all events of default, other than nonpayment of their accelerated principal, have been cured or waived.
Subordinated Indentures. If an event of default on the subordinated debt securities of any series has occurred and has not been cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of that series may declare the entire principal amount of that series of subordinated debt securities to be due immediately. This situation is called an acceleration of the maturity of those subordinated debt securities. If the maturity of any subordinated debt securities of any series is accelerated, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the subordinated debt securities of that series affected by the acceleration may cancel the acceleration for all the affected subordinated debt securities.
Trustee’s Indemnity
If an event of default on any series of debt securities occurs, the trustee for those securities will have special duties. In that situation, the trustee will be obligated to use those of its rights and powers under the indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in doing so, that a prudent person would use in that situation in conducting his or her own affairs.
Except as described in the prior paragraph, the trustee is not required to take any action under any of the indentures at the request of any holders unless the holders of that series offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability. This is called an “indemnity.” If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the outstanding debt securities of that series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. These majority holders of that series may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series.
Before you can bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to your debt securities, the following must occur:
• | You must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred, and the event of default must not have been cured or waived; |
• | The holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all debt securities of that series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default, and they or you must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action; |
• | The trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity; and |
• | During those 60 days, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series must not have given the trustee directions that are inconsistent with the written request of the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of that series. |
You are, however, entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security on or after its due date.
19
Table of Contents
Book-entry, street name and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of the maturity.
Modification and Waiver of the Indentures
There are three types of changes we can make to the indentures and the debt securities.
Changes Requiring Your Approval
First, there are changes that cannot be made without the approval of each holder of a debt security affected by the change. Here is a list of this type of change:
• | change the stated maturity for any principal or interest on a debt security; |
• | reduce the principal amount, the amount of principal of an original issue discount security payable on acceleration of the maturity after a default, the interest rate or the redemption price of a debt security; |
• | change the currency of any payment on a debt security; |
• | change the place of payment on a debt security; |
• | impair a holder’s right to sue for payment of any amount due on its debt security; |
• | reduce the percentage in principal amount of the debt securities of any series of debt securities, the approval of whose holders is needed to change the indentures; |
• | reduce the percentage in principal amount of the debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is needed to modify or amend the indenture or waive an issuer’s compliance with the indenture or to waive defaults; |
• | modify the subordination provision of the subordinated indentures, unless the change would not adversely affect the interests of the holders of that series of debt securities; and |
• | in the case of Popular North America’s indentures, modify the terms and conditions of the guarantor’s obligations regarding the due and punctual payment of principal or any premium, interest, additional amounts we describe below under “— Taxation by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico” or sinking fund payment. |
Changes Not Requiring Approval
The second type of change does not require any approval by holders of debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and changes that would not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities in any material respect, nor do we need your consent to make changes that affect only other debt securities to be issued after the changes take effect.
We may also make changes or obtain waivers that do not adversely affect a particular debt security, even if they affect other debt securities or series of debt securities. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of that debt security; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected debt securities or other debt securities.
Changes Requiring Majority Approval
Any other changes to the indentures and the debt securities would require the following approval:
• | If the change affects only one series of debt securities, it must be approved by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of that series. |
20
Table of Contents
• | If the change affects more than one series of debt securities, it must be approved by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of each series of the particular issuer’s debt securities affected by the change. |
In each case, the required approval may be given by written consent.
The approval of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of each affected series of an issuer would be required for the issuer to obtain a waiver of any of its covenants in the indentures. The covenants include the promises about merging and putting liens on the issuer’s interests, which we describe above under “— Mergers and Similar Transactions” and “— Restrictive Covenants.” If the required holders approve a waiver of a covenant, we will not have to comply with it. The holders, however, cannot approve a waiver of any provision in a particular debt security, or in the indenture as it affects that debt security, that we cannot change without the approval of the holder of that debt security as described above in “— Changes Requiring Your Approval,” unless that holder approves the waiver.
Book-entry, street name and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indentures or the debt securities or request a waiver.
Further Details Concerning Voting
When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal amount to attribute to a debt security:
• | For original issue discount securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of those debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default. |
• | For debt securities whose principal amount is not known, for example, because it is based on an index, we will use a special rule for that debt security determined by our board of directors or described in the prospectus supplement. |
• | For debt securities denominated in one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent. |
Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore will not be eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust for you money for their payment or redemption.
We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture.
Taxation by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
We will not withhold or deduct any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges that are imposed or levied by or on behalf of Puerto Rico or by or with any district, municipality or other political subdivision of Puerto Rico from payments to holders of the debt securities and all payments made under the guarantees unless the law requires us to withhold or deduct these taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges.
In the event that law requires the issuer to deduct or withhold any amounts in respect of these taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges, the issuer will pay additional amounts of principal, premium and interest (after deduction of these taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges) to the holders of the debt securities so that the amounts paid to the holders of the debt securities will not be less than the amounts which we would
21
Table of Contents
otherwise have paid in respect to the debt securities in the absence of deductions or withholding, which we refer to as additional amounts, except that we will not pay any additional amounts:
• | to a holder of a debt security or an interest in or rights in a debt security where deduction or withholding is required because the holder has some connection with Puerto Rico or any political subdivision or taxing authority of Puerto Rico or any political subdivision other than the mere holding of and payment in respect of the debt security; |
• | to a holder of a debt security when any deduction or withholding would not have been required but for the holder’s presentation for payment on a date more than 30 days after maturity or the date on which payment is duly provided for, whichever occurs later; or |
• | to a holder when any deduction or withholding would not have been required but for the holder’s failure to comply with any certification, identification or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with Puerto Rico, or any political subdivision or taxing authority of Puerto Rico if law requires compliance as a precondition to exemption from deduction or withholding. |
Special Terms Relating to the Subordinated Debt Securities
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following provisions apply to the subordinated debt securities and Popular, Inc.’s guarantees of the subordinated debt securities of Popular North America.
The right of a holder of subordinated debt securities to payment from any distribution of an issuer’s assets resulting from any dissolution, winding up, liquidation, bankruptcy or reorganization of the issuer are subordinated to the prior right to payment in full of all of that issuer’s senior indebtedness (as defined below). The issuer’s obligation to make payments on the subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. No payment on the issuer’s subordinated debt securities may be made during a default on any senior indebtedness of the issuer. Because the subordinated debt securities are subordinated in right of payment to any senior indebtedness of the issuer, in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, some of the issuer’s creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of subordinated debt securities of the issuer.
In addition, any amounts of cash, property or securities available after satisfaction of the rights to payment of senior indebtedness will be applied first to pay for the full payment of the issuer’s other financial obligations (as defined below) before any payment will be made to holders of the subordinated debt securities. If the maturity of any subordinated debt securities is accelerated, all senior indebtedness of the issuer would have to be repaid before any payment could be made to holders of the issuer’s subordinated debt securities. Because of this subordination, if an issuer becomes insolvent, its creditors who are holders of subordinated debt securities may recover ratably less than holders of its senior indebtedness.
“Senior indebtedness” of an issuer means an issuer’s indebtedness for money borrowed, except indebtedness that by its terms is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities.
“Other financial obligations” of an issuer are defined in the subordinated indenture of that issuer to mean obligations of that issuer to make payment pursuant to the terms of financial instruments, such as:
• | securities contracts and foreign currency exchange contracts, |
• | derivative instruments or |
• | similar financial instruments. |
Other financial obligations shall not include:
• | obligations on account of an issuer’s senior indebtedness and |
22
Table of Contents
• | obligations on account of indebtedness for money borrowed ranking equally in their priority of claim to payment with or subordinate to the claim of subordinated debt securities. |
Popular, Inc.’s Guarantee
Popular, Inc. will guarantee punctual payment on the Popular North America, Inc. senior debt securities, when and as payments are due and payable. Popular, Inc.’s guarantee is absolute and unconditional, without regard for any circumstance that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor. A guarantee executed by Popular, Inc. will evidence the guarantee and will appear on each Popular North America senior debt security. Holders of the Popular North America senior debt securities may proceed directly against Popular, Inc. in the event of default under the Popular North America senior debt securities without first proceeding against Popular North America, Inc. The guarantees will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Popular, Inc.
Popular, Inc. will guarantee the punctual payment of rights of payment under the Popular North America subordinated debt securities on a subordinated basis and otherwise on the same terms as the Popular North America senior debt securities.
Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 170,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value. The preferred stock is issuable in one or more series, with such terms, and at such times and for such consideration as our Board of Directors determines. As of March 31, 2018, there were 104,263,919 shares of common stock issued and 102,189,914 shares of common stock outstanding and 2,006,391 shares of preferred stock. The preferred stock is divided into two series with an aggregation liquidation of approximately $50 million. Shares of our common stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “BPOP.” Shares of our 6.375%Non-Cumulative Monthly Income Preferred Stock, 2003, Series A and 8.25%Non-Cumulative Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B are not publicly traded.
The following description summarizes the material provisions of our common stock. It does not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to the applicable provisions of the Puerto Rico General Corporations Act, our Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”), or the Certificates of Designation describing each series of preferred stock.
Common Stock
Subject to the rights of holders of any preferred stock outstanding, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as our Board of Directors may in its discretion declare out of legally available funds.
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters brought before the stockholders. The holders of our common stock do not have the right to cumulate their shares of our common stock in the election of directors. The Certificate provides that the approval of our merger, reorganization, or consolidation or the sale, lease or hypothecation of substantially all of our assets or the approval of our voluntary dissolution requires the vote of the holders of 75% of the total number of our outstanding shares of common stock.
23
Table of Contents
In the event of our liquidation, holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata any assets distributable to stockholders with respect to the shares held by them, after payment of liabilities and such preferential amounts as may be required to be paid to the holders of our outstanding series of preferred stock and any preferred stock we hereafter issue.
The Certificate provides that the members of our Board of Directors are divided into three classes as nearly equal as possible. Each class is elected for a three-year term. At each annual meeting of stockholders,one-third of the members of our Board of Directors will be elected for a three-year term, and the other directors will remain in office until their three-year terms expire. Therefore, control of our Board of Directors cannot be changed in one year, and at least two annual meetings must be held before a majority of the members of our Board of Directors can be changed.
The Certificate provides that a director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed by the stockholders only for cause. The Certificate and our Bylaws also provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at leasttwo-thirds of the combined voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally for the election of directors is required to remove a director or the entire Board of Directors from office for cause or to amend the Certificate. Certain portions of the Certificate described in certain of the preceding paragraphs, including those related to the classified Board of Directors, may be amended only by the affirmative vote of the holders oftwo-thirds of the total number of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Certain of the provisions contained in the Certificate have the effect of making it more difficult to change our Board of Directors, and may make our Board of Directors less responsive to stockholder control. These provisions also may tend to discourage attempts by third parties to acquire us because of the additional time and expense involved and a greater possibility of failure, and, as a result, may adversely affect the price that a potential purchaser would be willing to pay for our capital stock, thereby reducing the amount a stockholder might realize in, for example, a tender offer for our capital stock.
Pursuant to the Certificate, holders of our common stock are entitled to preferential rights to subscribe for newly issued shares of our common stock on a pro rata basis unless, in approving the issuance of our common stock, or any transaction resulting in the issuance of any of our common stock, our Board of Directors unanimously resolves otherwise. The stockholders have no preference to subscribe therefor in the event of new issues of shares of stock which may be authorized pursuant to any dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan or which may be authorized in order to exchange such new shares of stock for property which our Board of Directors may consider convenient or necessary for us to acquire, nor shall the stockholders have any right of preference therefor in the event of new issues of stock in payment of services rendered to us, or of shares of stock to be issued for sale to officers or employees, on the basis of options, as an incentive either to commence or to continue rendering services to us. There are no redemption or call provisions applicable to shares of our common stock.
The outstanding shares of our common stock are, and shares of our common stock offered hereby upon their due issuance, delivery and the receipt of payment therefor will be, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The Registrar and Transfer Agent for our common stock is BPPR.
Preferred Stock
Our Board of Directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series, with such voting powers, full or limited but not to exceed one vote per share, or without voting powers, and with such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance thereof to be adopted by our Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate or any amendment thereto.
24
Table of Contents
The issuance of shares of preferred stock could make it more difficult and more expensive for another person or entity to obtain control of us in a merger, tender offer, proxy fight or similar transaction. The ability of our Board of Directors to issue shares of preferred stock in such a situation could have the effect of discouraging a potential acquiror and may have an adverse effect on stockholders wishing to participate in a merger, tender offer or proxy fight. Our management is not aware of any person or entity currently seeking control of us.
We have two outstanding series of preferred stock, which are described below.
Title of Series | Number of Shares Outstanding | Annual Dividend Rate(1) | Liquidation Preference Per Share(2) | Accumulation of Dividends | Date First Redeemable(3) | Conversion or Exchange Rights | General Voting Rights(4) | |||||||||||||||||||||
6.375% Non-Cumulative Monthly Income Preferred Stock, 2003 Series A (the “6.375% Preferred Stock”) | 885,726 | 6.375 | % | $ | 25 | Non-cumulative | March 31, 2008 | None | No | |||||||||||||||||||
8.25%Non-Cumulative Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B (the “8.25% Preferred Stock”) | 1,120,665 | 8.25 | % | $ | 25 | Non-cumulative | May 28, 2013 | None | No |
(1) | Based on a percentage of the applicable liquidation preference per share. |
(2) | See “Liquidation Rights” below for additional information. |
(3) | See “Redemption” below for additional information. |
(4) | See “Voting Rights” below for additional information. |
Dividend Rights and Limitations
The holders of the shares of 6.375% Preferred Stock and the 8.25% Preferred Stock are entitled to receive noncumulative cash dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, at their respective annual dividend rates, payable monthly. The holders of each of the two series of preferred stock are entitled to receive such dividends prior to any payment of dividends or distribution of assets to holders of the common stock and to any other class of capital stock ranking junior to the 6.375% Preferred Stock and the 8.25% Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends. As of December 31, 2017 aggregate amount of monthly dividends on the Preferred Stock was $3.7 million.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the 6.375% Preferred Stock and the 8.25% Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of the remaining assets an amount in cash equal to their liquidation preference per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (limited to the then current monthly dividend period in the case of the two series that arenon-cumulative) to date of the distribution. This distribution must be made before any payment may be made to the holders of our common stock or any other securities ranking junior to the 6.375% Preferred Stock or the 8.25% Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation. No distribution of this type or payment on account of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up may be made to the holders of the shares of any class or series of stock ranking on a parity with the 6.375% Preferred Stock or the 8.25% Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, unless the holders of each of such series of Preferred Stock receive like amounts ratably in accordance with the full distributive amounts which they and the holders of parity stock are respectively entitled to receive upon this preferential distribution.
25
Table of Contents
After the payment to the holders of the 6.375% Preferred Stock and the 8.25% Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for above, the holders of such shares will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets.
Redemption
The 6.375% Preferred Stock and the 8.25% Preferred Stock are subject to redemption in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to $25.
Optional redemption of any of the two series of Preferred Stock by Popular is subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve.
There is no mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation with respect to either the 6.375% Preferred Stock or the 8.25% Preferred Stock.
Voting Rights
The holders of shares of 6.375% Preferred Stock and the 8.25% Preferred Stock are not entitled to any voting rights except (1) if we do not pay dividends in full on such series for 18 monthly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, (2) as required by law or (3) in connection with any changes of the terms or rights of the 6.375% Preferred Stock or the 8.25% Preferred Stock, as the case may be.
26
Table of Contents
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following table shows (1) the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and (2) the consolidated ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges including preferred stock dividends of Popular for each of the five most recent fiscal years and the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Including Interest on Deposits | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.9 | (A) | 1.9 | ||||||||||||||||
Excluding Interest on Deposits | 5.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | (A) | 2.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Including Interest on Deposits | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.8 | (A) | 1.8 | ||||||||||||||||
Excluding Interest on Deposits | 5.3 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.8 | (A) | 2.4 |
(1) | The computation of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends excludes discontinued operations. |
(A) | During 2014, earnings were not sufficient to cover fixed charges or combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and the ratios were less than 1:1. Popular would have had to generate additional earnings of approximately $161 million to achieve ratios of 1:1 in 2014. |
In connection with particular offerings of the securities in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplements, the validity of the securities may be passed upon for us by Javier D. Ferrer, our Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, or by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York or such other counsel as may be named in the applicable prospectus supplement and for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement. As of June 19, 2018, Mr. Ferrer owned directly or indirectly approximately 31,099 shares of Popular, Inc. common stock pursuant to Popular, Inc.’s employee stock ownership plan and otherwise.
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Report of Management on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to Popular, Inc.’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
27
Table of Contents
PART II
Information Not Required in Prospectus
Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The estimated expenses, other than underwriting or broker-dealer fees, discounts and commissions, in connection with the offering are as follows:
Amount to be paid | ||||
SEC registration fee | $ | * | ||
NASD fees | ** | |||
Legal fees and expenses | ** | |||
Fees and expenses of qualification under state securities laws (including legal fees) | ** | |||
Accounting fees and expenses | ** | |||
Printing fees | ** | |||
Rating agency fees | ** | |||
Trustee’s fees and expenses | ** | |||
Miscellaneous | ** | |||
|
| |||
Total | $ | ** | ||
|
|
* | Deferred pursuant to Rules 456 and 457. |
** | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances, and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Popular, Inc. is a Puerto Rico corporation (the “Corporation”).
a) Article TENTH of the Certificate of Incorporation of Popular, Inc. provides the following:
(1) | The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigate (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the written request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea ofnolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. |
(2) | The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the written request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorney’s fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the |
II-1
Table of Contents
defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such actionor-suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper. |
(3) | To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article TENTH, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. |
(4) | Any indemnification under paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article TENTH (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific ease upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth therein. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (c) by the stockholders. |
(5) | Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article TENTH. |
(6) | The indemnification provided by this Article TENTH shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any statute,by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. |
(7) | By action of its Board of Directors, notwithstanding any interest of the directors in the action, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, in such amounts as the Board of Directors deems appropriate, on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the written request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of this status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or would be required to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article TENTH or of the General Corporation Law of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or of any other State of the United States or foreign country as may be applicable. |
b) Section 9.1 of the Corporation’sBy-laws provides that expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any person entitled to indemnification under the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation in defending any such action, suit or proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by the Corporation promptly upon demand by such person, and, if any such demand is made in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding promptly upon receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking of such person to repay such expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. Any obligation to reimburse the Corporation for expense advances shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.
II-2
Table of Contents
c) Article 1.02(b)(6) of the Puerto Rico General Corporations Act (the“PR-GCA”) provides that a corporation may include in its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of members of its board of directors or governing body for breach of a director’s fiduciary duty of care. However, no such provision may eliminate or limit the liability of a director for breaching his duty of loyalty, failing to act in good faith, engaging in intentional misconduct or knowingly violating a law, paying an unlawful dividend or approving an unlawful stock repurchase or obtaining an improper personal benefit. The Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation currently does not include such a provision.
d) Article 4.08 of thePR-GCA authorizes a Puerto Rico corporation to indemnify its officers and directors against liabilities arising out of pending or threatened actions, suits or proceedings to which such officers and directors may be made parties by reason of being officers or directors. Such rights of indemnification are not exclusive of any other rights to which such officers or directors may be entitled under anyby-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or otherwise.
e) Popular, Inc. maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy.
Item 16. | Exhibits |
II-3
Table of Contents
II-4
Table of Contents
* | To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report onForm 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. |
** | Filed herewith. |
Item 17. | Undertakings |
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) | (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 of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in 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 Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the registration statement is onForm S-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in 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 of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, (i) each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and (ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2),
II-5
Table of Contents
(b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of the registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(l)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona 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 prior to such effective date.
(c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining the liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and (iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s Annual Report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona fide offering thereof.
(e) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 of whether such indemnification by the Registrant is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-6
Table of Contents
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing onForm 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 San Juan, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on the 19th day of June, 2018.
POPULAR, INC. (Registrant) | ||
By: | /s/ Carlos J. Vázquez |
Name: | Carlos J. Vázquez | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ignacio Alvarez, Carlos J. Vázquez, Javier D. Ferrer and Juan Pablo Pérez Hanley, each of them individually, his true and lawfulattorney-in-fact and agent, with full power in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file such Registration Statement and all such amendments or supplements, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto saidattorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that saidattorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated:
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Richard L. Carrión Richard L. Carrión | Chairman of the Board Executive Chairman | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Ignacio Alvarez Ignacio Alvarez | President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Joaquín E. Bacardí, III Joaquín E. Bacardí, III | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Alejandro M. Ballester Alejandro M. Ballester | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ John W. Diercksen John W. Diercksen | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ María Luisa Ferré María Luisa Ferré | Director | June 19, 2018 |
Table of Contents
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ David E. Goel David E. Goel | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ C. Kim Goodwin C. Kim Goodwin | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ William J. Teuber, Jr. William J. Teuber, Jr. | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Carlos A. Unanue Carlos A. Unanue | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Carlos J. Vázquez Carlos J. Vázquez | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Jorge J. García Jorge J. García | Senior Vice President and Corporate Comptroller (Principal Accounting Officer) | June 19, 2018 |
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing onForm 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 San Juan, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on the 19th day of June, 2018.
POPULAR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Ignacio Alvarez |
Name: | Ignacio Alvarez | |
Title: | President |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ignacio Alvarez, Carlos J. Vázquez, Javier D. Ferrer, and Juan Pablo Pérez Hanley each of them individually, his true and lawfulattorney-in-fact and agent, with full power in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file such Registration Statement and all such amendments or supplements, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto saidattorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that saidattorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated:
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Richard L. Carrión Richard L. Carrión | Chairman of the Board Executive Chairman | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Ignacio Alvarez Ignacio Alvarez | President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer), and Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Joaquín E. Bacardí III Joaquín E. Bacardí III | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Alejandro M. Ballester Alejandro M. Ballester | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ John W. Diercksen John W. Diercksen | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ María Luisa Ferré María Luisa Ferré | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ David E. Goel David E. Goel | Director | June 19, 2018 |
Table of Contents
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ C. Kim Goodwin C. Kim Goodwin | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ William J. Teuber, Jr. William J. Teuber, Jr. | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Carlos A. Unanue Carlos A. Unanue | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Carlos J. Vázquez Carlos J. Vázquez | Director | June 19, 2018 | ||
/s/ Jorge J. García Jorge J. García | Senior Vice President and Corporate Comptroller (Principal Accounting Officer) | June 19, 2018 |