Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 27, 2022 between Fifth Third Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, to the Indenture for Senior Debt Securities dated as of April 30, 2008 between Fifth Third Bancorp and the Trustee, as amended by Article 4 of the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated April 25, 2022 between Fifth Third Bancorp and the Trustee

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Indenture Agreements
EX-4.1 3 d354612dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

TO

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

Trustee

Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture

Dated as of October 27, 2022

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1

  

SCOPE OF FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

     2  

Section 1.1 Scope and Effect of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture

     2  

ARTICLE 2

  

DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 2.1 Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

     2  

Section 2.2 [Reserved.]

     9  

ARTICLE 3

  

FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES

     9  

Section 3.1 Form and Dating

     9  

Section 3.2 Terms of the Notes

     9  

ARTICLE 4

  

MISCELLANEOUS

     16  

Section 4.1 Trust Indenture Act of 1939

     16  

Section 4.2 Governing Law

     17  

Section 4.3 Duplicate Originals; Execution

     17  

Section 4.4 Separability

     17  

Section 4.5 Ratification

     17  

Section 4.6 Effectiveness

     17  

Section 4.7 Successors

     17  

Section 4.8 Trustee’s Disclaimer

     17  

EXHIBIT A

  

 

 

i


FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of October 27, 2022 between FIFTH THIRD BANCORP, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio (the “Company”), having its principal office at Fifth Third Center, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio and Wilmington Trust Company, a trust company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of April 30, 2008 and as amended by Article 4 of the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 25, 2022 (the “Base Indenture” and as supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”);

WHEREAS, Sections 201, 301 and 901 of the Base Indenture provide that the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Indenture, without the consent of any Holders, to, among other things, establish the terms of Securities of any series as permitted by the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the issuance and sale of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of a new series of the Securities of the Company designated as its 6.361% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”) have been authorized by resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue and sell $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes as of the date hereof;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish the terms of the Notes;

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture a legal and binding supplement to the Base Indenture in accordance with its terms and the terms of the Base Indenture have been done;

WHEREAS, the Company has complied with all conditions precedent provided for in the Base Indenture relating to this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE:

For and in consideration of the premises stated herein and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the Company and the Trustee covenant and agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of the Holders of the Notes, as follows:


ARTICLE 1

Scope of Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture

Section 1.1 Scope and Effect of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture. This Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture constitutes a supplement to the Base Indenture and an integral part of the Indenture and shall be read together with the Base Indenture as though all the provisions thereof are contained in one instrument. Except as expressly supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, the terms and provisions of the Base Indenture shall remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall apply only to the Notes.

ARTICLE 2

Definitions

Section 2.1 Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application. For all purposes of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise specified herein:

 

  (a)

all terms used in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings they are given in the Base Indenture;

 

  (b)

the provisions of general application stated in Sections 102 through 112 of the Base Indenture shall apply to this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, except that the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to the Base Indenture or any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of the Base Indenture or this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture;

 

  (c)

Section 101 of the Base Indenture is amended and supplemented, solely with respect to the Notes, by inserting the following additional defined term in its appropriate alphabetical position:

Issue Date” means October 27, 2022.

 

  (d)

Section 101 of the Base Indenture is amended and supplemented, solely with respect to the Notes, by supplementing the Base Indenture with, or by replacing the corresponding defined terms in the Base Indenture with, the following defined terms:

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer, transaction or other action involving a Global Security or any beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transfer, transaction or other action as in effect from time to time.

 

2


Benchmark” means, initially, Compounded SOFR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Compounded SOFR (or the published SOFR Index used in the calculation thereof) or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.

Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company or the Company’s designee as of the Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that if the Benchmark Replacement cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) below as of the Benchmark Replacement Date and the Company or the Company’s designee shall have determined that the ISDA Fallback Rate determined in accordance with clause (2) below is not an industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes at such time, then clause (2) below shall be disregarded, and the Benchmark Replacement shall be determined in accordance with clause (3) below:

(1) the sum of: (a) an alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(2) the sum of: (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or

(3) the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by the Company or the Company’s designee as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company or the Company’s designee as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

(1) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;

(2) if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; or

(3) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Company or the Company’s designee giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time.

 

3


Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definitions or interpretations of interest period, the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, the rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Company or the Company’s designee decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Company or the Company’s designee decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Company or the Company’s designee determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Company or the Company’s designee determines is reasonably practicable).

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including any daily published component used in the calculation thereof):

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.

Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the daily published component used in the calculation thereof):

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component);

(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component), the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark (or such component), an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or

 

4


such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday, and that is not a federal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in the City of New York or in the city in which the Corporate Trust Office (as defined below) is located.

Business Day Convention” means if any interest payment date, redemption date or the maturity date of the Notes falls on a day which is not a Business Day, the related payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes will be made on the next day which is a Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after such interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date, as the case may be.

Calculation Agent” means the firm appointed by the Company prior to the commencement of the floating rate period. The Company or an affiliate of the Company may assume the duties of the Calculation Agent.

Compounded SOFR means with respect to any interest period, “Compounded SOFR” will be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following formula (and the resulting percentage will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point):

 

where:

SOFR IndexStart” = For periods other than the initial interest period, the SOFR Index value on the preceding Interest Payment Determination Date, and, for the initial interest period, the SOFR Index value on the date that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the first day of such initial interest period (such first day expected to be October 27, 2027);

 

5


SOFR IndexEnd” = The SOFR Index value on the Interest Payment Determination Date relating to the applicable interest payment date (or in the final interest period, relating to the maturity date, or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, relating to the applicable redemption date); and

d” is the number of calendar days in the relevant Observation Period.

Corporate Trust Office” for administration of this Indenture means the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at Rodney Square North, 1100 N. Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware ###-###-####, Attention: Fifth Third Bancorp Administrator, or such other office, designated by the Trustee by written notice to the Company, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

Interest Payment Determination Date” means the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days before each interest payment date (or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, preceding the applicable redemption date).

ISDA” means the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto.

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by ISDA, or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.

ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.

ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.

Observation Period” means, in respect of each interest period, the period from, and including, the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the first date in such interest period to, but excluding, the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the interest payment date for such interest period (or in the final interest period, preceding the maturity date or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, preceding the applicable redemption date).

 

6


Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark, means (1) if the Benchmark is Compounded SOFR, the SOFR Index Determination Time, as such time is defined above, and (2) if the Benchmark is not Compounded SOFR, the time determined by the Company or the Company’s designee in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY or any successor thereto.

SOFR Index” means, with respect to any U.S. Government Securities Business Day:

(1) the SOFR Index value as published by the SOFR Administrator as such index appears on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on such U.S. Government Securities Business Day (the “SOFR Index Determination Time”); or

(2) if a SOFR Index value does not so appear as specified in (1) above at the SOFR Index Determination Time, then: (i) if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have not occurred with respect to SOFR, Compounded SOFR shall be the rate determined pursuant to the “SOFR Index Unavailable Provisions” set forth below; or (ii) if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to SOFR, Compounded SOFR shall be the rate determined pursuant to the “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event” provisions set forth below.

SOFR” means the daily secured overnight financing rate as provided by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.

SOFR Administrator” means the FRBNY (or a successor administrator of SOFR).

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the FRBNY, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source. The information contained on such website is not part of this prospectus supplement and is not incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference.

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) – H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities—Treasury constant maturities—Nominal” (or any successor caption or

 

7


heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to October 27, 2027 (the “reset date”) (the “remaining life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the remaining life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the remaining life—and shall interpolate to the reset date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the remaining life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the remaining life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the reset date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the reset date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the reset date, one with a maturity date preceding the reset date and one with a maturity date following the reset date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the reset date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the reset date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, we shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the treasury rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association or any successor organization recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.

 

8


Section 2.2 [Reserved.]

ARTICLE 3

Form and Terms of the Notes

Section 3.1 Form and Dating.

 

  (a)

The Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The Notes may have a legend or legends or endorsements as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules of any securities exchange or usage. The Notes shall be dated the date of their authentication.

 

  (b)

The terms contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of the Base Indenture as supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

Section 3.2 Terms of the Notes. The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

 

  (a)

Title. The Notes shall constitute a series of Securities having the title “Fifth Third Bancorp 6.361% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2028,” the CUSIP number 316773DJ6 and the ISIN number US316773DJ68.

 

  (b)

Principal Amount. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, shall be $1,000,000,000 on the Issue Date. Provided that no Event of Default or Covenant Breach has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes, the Company may, without notice to or the consent of the Holders, create and issue additional Securities having the same terms as (except as described below), and ranking equally and ratably with, the Notes in all respects and so that such additional Securities will be consolidated and form a single series with, and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as, the Notes initially issued, except for the issue date, the issue price and the initial interest payment date, provided that if such additional Securities are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional Securities will be issued with a separate CUSIP number.

 

9


  (c)

Person to Whom Interest is Payable. Interest payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date will be paid to the Person in whose name the Notes are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be 15 calendar days immediately preceding such interest payment date (whether or not a Business Day). Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name the Note is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, as provided for in the Base Indenture.

 

  (d)

Maturity Date. The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on October 27, 2028.

 

  (e)

Interest.

 

  (i)

Fixed Rate Period. During the period from, and including, October 27, 2022, to, but excluding, October 27, 2027, the Notes will bear interest at the rate of 6.361% per annum. Such interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 27 and October 27 of each year, beginning on April 27, 2023 and ending on October 27, 2027. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

  (ii)

Floating Rate Period. During the period from, and including, October 27, 2027, to, but excluding, the Maturity Date, the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to Compounded SOFR plus 2.192%, as determined in arrears by the Calculation Agent in the manner described herein. Such interest will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 27, 2028, April 27, 2028, July 27, 2028 and at the Maturity Date. Compounded SOFR for each interest period will be calculated by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the formula set forth herein with respect to the Observation Period relating to such interest period. Interest will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in each interest period (or any other relevant period) and a 360-day year. The amount of accrued interest payable on the Notes for each interest period will be computed by multiplying (i) the outstanding principal amount of the Notes by (ii) the product of (a) the interest rate for the relevant interest period multiplied by (b) the quotient of the actual number of calendar days in the applicable Observation Period relating to such interest period (or any other relevant period) divided by 360. The interest rate on the Notes will in no event be lower than zero. The Calculation Agent will determine Compounded SOFR, the interest rate and accrued interest for each interest period in arrears as soon as reasonably practicable on or after the Interest Payment Determination Date for such interest period and prior to the relevant interest payment date and will notify the Company (if not the Calculation Agent) of Compounded SOFR, such interest rate and accrued

 

10


  interest for each interest period as soon as reasonably practicable after such determination, but in any event by the Business Day immediately prior to the interest payment date. At the request of a holder of the Notes, the Company will provide Compounded SOFR, the interest rate and the amount of interest accrued with respect to any interest period, after Compounded SOFR, such interest rate and accrued interest have been determined. The Calculation Agent’s determination of any interest rate, and its calculation of interest payments for any floating rate period, will be maintained on file at the Calculation Agent’s principal offices and will be provided in writing to the Trustee. Under no circumstances will the Trustee be responsible for selecting or determining any Benchmark Replacement if the Benchmark will no longer be available following a Benchmark Transaction Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date. In the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the Company will select the Benchmark Replacement prior to the Benchmark Replacement Date and in consultation with the Calculation Agent, ensuring that the Calculation Agent will be able to meet its obligations and requirements under the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, with respect to the Benchmark Replacement. No such replacement (including any conforming changes to the Indenture) shall affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the indenture or otherwise.

 

  (f)

SOFR Index Unavailable Provisions. If a SOFR IndexStart or SOFR IndexEnd is not published on the associated Interest Payment Determination Date and a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have not occurred with respect to SOFR, “Compounded SOFR” means, for the applicable interest period for which such index is not available, the rate of return on a daily compounded interest investment calculated in accordance with the formula for SOFR Averages, and definitions required for such formula, published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at https://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/reference-rates/additional-information-about-reference-rates, or any successor source. For the purposes of this provision, references in the SOFR Averages compounding formula and related definitions to “calculation period” shall be replaced with “Observation Period” and the words “that is, 30-, 90-, or 180- calendar days” shall be removed. If SOFR (“SOFRi”) does not so appear for any day, “i” in the Observation Period, SOFRi for such day “i” shall be SOFR published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.

 

  (g)

Effect of Benchmark Transition Event.

 

  (i)

Benchmark Replacement. If the Company or its designee determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred on or prior to the Reference Time in respect of any determination of the Benchmark on any date, the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to the Notes in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.

 

11


  (ii)

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Company or its designee will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.

 

  (iii)

Decisions and Determinations. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Company or its designee pursuant to the benchmark replacement provisions set forth herein, including any determination with respect to tenor, rate or adjustment, or the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection:

 

  a.

will be conclusive and binding on the beneficial owners and Holders and the Trustee absent manifest error;

 

  b.

if made by the Company as Calculation Agent, will be made in the Company’s sole discretion;

 

  c.

if made by a Calculation Agent other than the Company or its designee (which may be the Company’s affiliate), will be made after consultation with the Company, and such Calculation Agent or designee (which may be the Company’s affiliate) will not make any such determination, decision or election to which the Company reasonably objects; and

 

  d.

notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, shall become effective without consent from the Holders of the Notes, the Trustee or any other party.

Any determination, decision or election pursuant to the benchmark replacement provisions shall be made by the Company or its designee (which may be the Company’s affiliate) on the basis as described above, and in no event shall the Calculation Agent be responsible for making any such determination, decision or election.

 

  (h)

Place of Payment of Principal and Interest. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. The Company shall make, or cause the Paying Agent to make, all payments of principal and interest on Global Securities in immediately available funds to the Depositary or its nominee, in accordance with Applicable Procedures.

 

12


  (i)

Redemption.

 

  (i)

On and after April 25, 2023 (180 days after the Issue Date) (or, if additional Notes are issued, beginning 180 days after the issue date of such additional Notes) and prior to October 27, 2027 (one year prior to the Maturity Date), the Company may redeem the Notes at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

 

  a.

(1) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes to be redeemed matured on October 27, 2027) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, less (2) interest accrued to the redemption date; and

 

  b.

100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed;

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

  (ii)

The Notes will be redeemable, in whole, but not in part, on October 27, 2027 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to but excluding, the redemption date.

 

  (iii)

On and after September 27, 2028, the Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the Company’s option at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

  (iv)

If the Company redeems Notes at its option, then notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest on the Notes being redeemed that is due and payable on any interest payment date falling on or prior to a redemption date for the Notes will be payable on that interest payment date to the registered holders thereof as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture.

 

  (v)

If the Company elects to redeem the Notes (in whole or in part), it must (A) notify the Trustee of the intended redemption date and provide a draft notice with respect to the potential redemption at least five Business Days prior to the date on which it intends to provide notice, or if requested, have the Trustee provide notice, of such redemption to Holders (unless a shorter

 

13


  period is satisfactory to the Trustee) and (B) deliver to the Trustee the final notice to be sent to Holders and an Officers’ Certificate with respect to the Company’s election to redeem the Notes (in whole or in part) on the date on which the Company provides notice. If fewer than all of the Notes are being redeemed, the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed by lot, pro rata or by any other method the Trustee in its sole discretion deems fair and appropriate, and in the case of any Global Security, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be called for redemption. Notice of redemption must be sent by the Company or at the Company’s request, by the Trustee by first class mail or, with respect to any Global Security, the Applicable Procedures, in the name and at the expense of the Company, to Holders whose Notes are to be redeemed, at least 10 days, but not more than 60 days, before the redemption date.

 

  (vi)

The notice of redemption will identify the Notes to be redeemed and will include or state the following:

 

  a.

the redemption date;

 

  b.

the redemption price, including the portion thereof representing any accrued interest;

 

  c.

the place or places where Notes are to be surrendered for redemption;

 

  d.

Notes called for redemption must be so surrendered in order to collect the redemption price;

 

  e.

on the redemption date the redemption price will become due and payable on Notes called for redemption, and interest on Notes called for redemption will cease to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

  f.

if any Note is redeemed in part, on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Note, new Notes equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion will be issued; and

 

  g.

if any Note contains a CUSIP, ISIN, or CINS number, no representation is being made as to the correctness of the CUSIP, ISIN, or CINS number either as printed on the Notes or as contained in the notice of redemption and that the Holder should rely only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes.

 

14


  (vii)

Once notice of redemption is sent to the Holders, Notes called for redemption become due and payable at the redemption price on the redemption date, and upon surrender of the Notes called for redemption, the Company shall redeem such Notes at the redemption price. Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, commencing on the redemption date Notes redeemed will cease to accrue interest. Upon surrender of any Note redeemed in part, the Holder will receive a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the surrendered Note. The principal amount after redemption in part shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

  (viii)

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. Calculations and selections in the foregoing will be made by the Company or on the Company’s behalf by a person designated by the Company. The Trustee shall have no obligation to confirm or verify any such calculation.

 

  (j)

Sinking Fund. There shall be no sinking fund for the Notes.

 

  (k)

Denomination. The Notes and any beneficial interest in the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

  (l)

Index. Payment of interest on the Notes will not be determined with reference to any index or formula.

 

  (m)

Currency of the Notes. The Notes shall be denominated, and payment of principal and interest of the Notes shall be payable in, the currency of the United States of America.

 

  (n)

Currency of Payment. The principal of and interest on the Notes shall be payable in the currency of the United States of America.

 

  (o)

Acceleration. 100% of the principal amount of the Notes shall be payable upon acceleration (whether automatic or by declaration) of the maturity thereof.

 

  (p)

[Reserved.]

 

  (q)

Defeasance. Article 13 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

 

  (r)

Registered Form. The Notes shall be issuable as registered Global Securities, and the depositary for the Notes shall be the Depository Trust Company, a New York Corporation (“DTC”), or any successor depositary appointed by the Company within 90 days of the termination of services of DTC (or any successor to DTC). Sections 204 and 305 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

 

  (s)

Events of Default. The Events of Default provided for in Section 501 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

 

15


  (t)

Covenants. The covenants set forth in Article 10 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

 

  (u)

Day Count Convention.

 

  (i)

Fixed rate interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

  (ii)

Floating rate interest will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in each interest period (or any other relevant period) and a 360-day year.

 

  (v)

Legal Holidays. Section 113 of the Base Indenture shall be deleted and shall be of no effect with respect to the Notes. The Business Day Convention shall apply.

 

  (w)

No Conversion. The Notes are not convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity securities of the Company.

 

  (x)

Conforming Amendments. The following paragraph shall be added to the end of Section 901 of the Base Indenture and shall apply to the Notes:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Holder of Securities, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities to conform the terms of the Indenture and the Securities to the description of the Securities in the prospectus supplement dated October 24, 2022 relating to the offering of the Securities.

 

  (y)

Additional Terms. Other terms applicable to the Notes are as otherwise provided for in the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 4

Miscellaneous

Section 4.1 Trust Indenture Act of 1939. This Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. If any provision of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision that is required or deemed to be included in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the required or deemed provision shall control.

Section 4.2 Governing Law. The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Notes.

 

16


Section 4.3 Duplicate Originals; Execution. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture by telecopier, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for under applicable law, including the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000 (15 U.S.C. §§ 7001-7006), the Electronic Signatures and Records Act of 1999 (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act,, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

Section 4.4 Separability. In case any provision in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture or the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 4.5 Ratification. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed. The Base Indenture and this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. All provisions included in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

Section 4.6 Effectiveness. The provisions of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

Section 4.7 Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

Section 4.8 Trustees Disclaimer. The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Notes, or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

17


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP as the Company
By:  

/s/ James C. Leonard

Name:   James C. Leonard
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Attest:
By:  

/s/ H. Samuel Lind

Name:   H. Samuel Lind
Title:   Senior Vice President,
  Associate General Counsel,
  and Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture]

 

18


WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Michael H. Wass

Name:   Michael H. Wass
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture]

 

19


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF THE NOTE]


CUSIP No. 316773DJ6

ISIN: US316773DJ68

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

BY ITS ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE, THE HOLDER HEREOF (OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN) SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT (1) IT IS NOT, AND IS NOT ACTING ON BEHALF OF, AND NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS NOTE CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT (ALSO A “PLAN”), OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

ADDITIONALLY, BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS NOTE IN THE INITIAL OFFERING, A HOLDER HEREOF THAT IS A PLAN (THE “PLAN FIDUCIARY”) SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED AT ALL TIMES NEITHER FIFTH THIRD BANCORP, THE UNDERWRITERS, NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES HAS PROVIDED OR WILL PROVIDE IMPARTIAL INVESTMENT ADVICE OR GIVE ADVICE IN A FIDUCIARY CAPACITY WITH RESPECT TO THE PURCHASER OR TRANSFEREE’S DECISION TO ACQUIRE, HOLD, SELL, EXCHANGE, VOTE OR PROVIDE ANY CONSENT WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTES BY THE ERISA PLAN’S FIDUCIARY (WITHIN THE MEANING OF ERISA OR THE CODE).

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO FIFTH THIRD BANCORP OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.


FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

6.361% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2028

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUND OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, NOR IS IT AN OBLIGATION OF, OR GUARANTEED BY, A BANK.

 

No. 1    $500,000,000

Fifth Third Bancorp, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Ohio (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of Five Hundred Million United States Dollars ($500,000,000) on October 27, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon (a) from and including October 27, 2022 (the “Original Issue Date”) to, but excluding October 27, 2027 (the “Fixed Rate Period”) at the rate of 6.361% per annum, such interest to be payable semi-annually in arrears during the Fixed Rate Period on April 27 and October 27 of each year, with payment commencing on April 27, 2023 and ending on October 27, 2027 (each, a “Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date”), and (b) from, and including October 27, 2027 to, but excluding the Maturity Date (the “Floating Rate Period”), at a floating rate per annum equal to the Compounded SOFR (determined with respect to each quarterly interest period using the SOFR Index) plus 2.192%, such interest to be payable quarterly in arrears during the Floating Rate Period on January 27, 2028, April 27, 2028, July 27, 2028 and at the Maturity Date (each, a “Floating Rate Interest Payment Date” and, together with the Fixed Rate Interest Payment Dates, each, an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, and (in each case, to the extent that the payment of such interest specified in (a) or (b) shall be legally enforceable), at the same rate per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest. Interest shall accrue from, and including, October 27, 2022 to, but excluding, the first Interest Payment Date and then from, and including, the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. Interest payable during the Fixed Rate Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest payable during the Floating Rate Period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in each interest period (or any other relevant period) and a 360-day year. The amount of accrued interest payable on this Security for each interest period during the Floating Rate Period will be computed by multiplying (x) the outstanding principal amount of this Security by (y) the product of (i) the interest rate for the relevant interest period multiplied by (ii) the quotient of the actual number of calendar days in the applicable Observation Period relating to such interest period (or any other relevant period) divided by 360. The interest rate on this Security during the Floating Rate Period will in no event be lower than

 

- 2 -


zero. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, subject to certain exceptions, will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest period, which shall be 15 calendar days, whether or not a Business Day, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such record date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such record date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

If a Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Company will postpone the interest payment or the payment of principal and interest at maturity to the next succeeding Business Day, but the payments made on such dates will be treated as being made on the date that the payment was first due and the Holder will not be entitled to any further interest or other payments with respect to such postponements. If a Floating Rate Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Company will postpone the interest payment to the next succeeding Business Day, except that, if the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, then such interest payment will be advanced to the immediately preceding day that is a Business Day and, in each case, the related interest periods also will be adjusted for such non-Business Days. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. The Company shall make, or cause the Paying Agent to make, all payments of principal and interest on Global Securities in immediately available funds to the Depositary or its nominee, in accordance with Applicable Procedures.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

- 3 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated: October 27, 2022      FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
     By:   

 

        James C. Leonard
        Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Attest:
By:  

 

  Name:   H. Samuel Lind
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Note]

 

- 4 -


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the Indenture referred to hereinafter.

 

Dated: October 27, 2022       WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
      By:   

 

         Authorized Officer

[Signature Page to Note]

 

- 5 -


[Reverse of Security]

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities” or “Notes”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of April 30, 2008 and as amended by Article 4 of the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 25, 2022 (herein called the “Base Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture) as supplemented and amended by a Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 27, 2022, between the Company and the Trustee (herein called the “Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof. The Company may, without notice to or the consent of any Holder, issue additional Securities having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Securities of this series except for the issue date, the issue price and the initial Interest Payment Date; provided that if such additional Securities are not fungible with this Security for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional Securities will be issued with a separate CUSIP number. Any such additional Securities may be considered to be part of this series of Securities. The Company may, without notice to or the consent of any Holder, issue or incur Senior Indebtedness.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default or Covenant Breaches with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable (or will automatically become due and payable, without declaration or any other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder) in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Securities are not convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity securities of the Company.

On and after April 25, 2023 (180 days after the Issue Date) (or, if additional Notes are issued, beginning 180 days after the issue date of such additional Notes) and prior to October 27, 2027 (one year prior to the Maturity Date), the Company may redeem the Notes at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes to be redeemed matured on October 27, 2027) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as such term is defined in the Indenture) plus 30 basis points, less (2) interest accrued to the redemption date; and

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

- 6 -


The Securities will be redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole, but not in part, on October 27, 2027 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to but excluding, the redemption date.

On and after September 27, 2028, the Securities will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the Company’s option at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer, transaction or other action involving a Global Security or any beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transfer, transaction or other action as in effect from time to time.

“Benchmark” means, initially, Compounded SOFR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Compounded SOFR (or the published SOFR Index used in the calculation thereof) or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.

“Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company or the Company’s designee as of the Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that if the Benchmark Replacement cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) below as of the Benchmark Replacement Date and the Company or the Company’s designee shall have determined that the ISDA Fallback Rate determined in accordance with clause (2) below is not an industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes at such time, then clause (2) below shall be disregarded, and the Benchmark Replacement shall be determined in accordance with clause (3) below:

(1) the sum of: (a) an alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(2) the sum of: (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or

(3) the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by the Company or the Company’s designee as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company or the Company’s designee as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

(1) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;

 

- 7 -


(2) if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; or

(3) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Company or the Company’s designee giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time.

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definitions or interpretations of interest period, the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, the rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Company or the Company’s designee decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Company or the Company’s designee decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Company or the Company’s designee determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Company or the Company’s designee determines is reasonably practicable).

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including any daily published component used in the calculation thereof):

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.

“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the daily published component used in the calculation thereof):

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component);

 

- 8 -


(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component), the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark (or such component), an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday, and that is not a federal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in the City of New York or in the city in which the Corporate Trust Office (as defined below) is located.

“Business Day Convention” means if any Interest Payment Date, redemption date or the maturity date of the Notes falls on a day which is not a Business Day, the related payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes will be made on the next day which is a Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date or maturity date, as the case may be.

“Calculation Agent” means the firm appointed by the Company prior to the commencement of the Floating Rate Period. The Company or an affiliate of the Company may assume the duties of the Calculation Agent.

“Compounded SOFR” means with respect to any interest period, “Compounded SOFR” will be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following formula (and the resulting percentage will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point):

 

where:

“SOFR IndexStart” = For periods other than the initial interest period, the SOFR Index value on the preceding Interest Payment Determination Date, and, for the initial interest period, the SOFR Index value on the date that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the first day of such initial interest period (such first day expected to be October 27, 2027);

“SOFR IndexEnd” = The SOFR Index value on the Interest Payment Determination Date relating to the applicable Interest Payment Date (or in the final interest period, relating to the maturity date, or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, relating to the applicable redemption date); and

 

- 9 -


“d” is the number of calendar days in the relevant Observation Period.

“Interest Payment Determination Date” means the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days before each Interest Payment Date (or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, preceding the applicable redemption date).

“Corporate Trust Office” for administration of the Indenture means the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at Rodney Square North, 1100 N. Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware ###-###-####, Attention: Fifth Third Bancorp Administrator, or such other office, designated by the Trustee by written notice to the Company, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

“ISDA” means the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto.

“ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by ISDA, or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.

“ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.

“ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.

“Observation Period” means, in respect of each interest period, the period from, and including, the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the first date in such interest period to, but excluding, the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the Interest Payment Date for such interest period (or in the final interest period, preceding the maturity date or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, preceding the applicable redemption date).

“Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is Compounded SOFR, the SOFR Index Determination Time, as such time is defined above, and (2) if the Benchmark is not Compounded SOFR, the time determined by the Company or the Company’s designee in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY or any successor thereto.

“SOFR Index” means, with respect to any U.S. Government Securities Business Day:

 

- 10 -


(1) the SOFR Index value as published by the SOFR Administrator as such index appears on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on such U.S. Government Securities Business Day (the “SOFR Index Determination Time”); or:

(2) if a SOFR Index value does not so appear as specified in (1) above at the SOFR Index Determination Time, then: (i) if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have not occurred with respect to SOFR, Compounded SOFR shall be the rate determined pursuant to the “SOFR Index Unavailable Provisions” set forth in the Indenture; or (ii) if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to SOFR, Compounded SOFR shall be the rate determined pursuant to the “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event” provisions set forth in the Indenture.

“SOFR” means the daily secured overnight financing rate as provided by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.

“SOFR Administrator” means the FRBNY (or a successor administrator of SOFR).

“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the FRBNY, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source. The information contained on such website is not part of this prospectus supplement and is not incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference.

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association or any successor organization recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.

Installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Security, or one more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Date, all as provided in the Indenture.

Notice of redemption will be given by first class mail to Holders of Securities, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, all as provided in the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture.

This Security may be redeemed in part only in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities

 

- 11 -


of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Holder of Securities, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities to conform to the terms of the Indenture and the Securities to the description of the Securities in the prospectus supplement dated October 24, 2022 relating to the offering of the Securities.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default or Covenant Breach as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

- 12 -


No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

- 13 -