Underwriting Agreement, dated June 3, 2021, by and among the Company and the Representatives named therein

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Underwriting Agreements
EX-1.1 2 d67643dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Copy

$600,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of 3.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031

WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

June 3, 2021

Piper Sandler & Co.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Piper Sandler & Co.

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10022

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Western Alliance Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the Underwriters or you) $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031 (the Securities). Piper Sandler & Co. (Piper) and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (J.P. Morgan) have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the Representatives) in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities. The Securities are to be issued pursuant to a Subordinated Debt Indenture, to be dated as of June 7, 2021 (the Base Indenture), between the Company, as issuer, and U.S. Bank, National Association, as the trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Trustee, to be dated as of June 7, 2021 (the First Supplemental Indenture with the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture). To the extent there are no additional underwriters listed on Schedule A, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriter, and the term “Underwriters” shall mean either the singular or the plural, as the context requires.

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-256120), including a base prospectus (the Base Prospectus), to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Securities. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the Securities Act), including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, is called the Registration Statement.” The preliminary prospectus supplement, dated June 3, 2021, describing the Securities and the offering thereof (the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), together with the Base Prospectus, is called the “Preliminary Prospectus,” and the Preliminary Prospectus and any other prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus in preliminary form that describes the Securities and the offering thereof and is used prior to the filing of the Prospectus (as defined below), together with the Base Prospectus, is called a preliminary prospectus. As used herein, the term Prospectus shall mean the final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the Securities and the offering thereof (the Final Prospectus Supplement”), together with the Base Prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Securities or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act. References herein to the Preliminary Prospectus, any

 

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preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus shall refer to both the prospectus supplement and the Base Prospectus components of such prospectus. As used herein, Applicable Time is 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on June 3, 2021. As used herein, free writing prospectus has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and Time of Sale Prospectus means the Preliminary Prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B hereto. As used herein, Road Show means a “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) relating to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). This Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities are collectively referred to herein as the Transaction Documents,” and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are collectively referred to herein as the Transactions.

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus shall include the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which are “contained,” “included” or “stated” in, or “part of” the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, and all other references of like import, shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the Exchange Act) that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All references in this Agreement to (i) the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, or any free writing prospectus, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR) and (ii) the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any “electronic Prospectus” provided for use in connection with the offering of the Securities as contemplated by Section 3(l) of this Agreement.

In the event that the Company has only one subsidiary, then all references herein to “subsidiaries” of the Company shall be deemed to refer to such single subsidiary, mutatis mutandis.

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:

Section 1.     Representations and Warranties.

The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), as follows:

(a)     Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act. The Company has complied, to the Commission’s satisfaction, with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information, if any. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. At the time the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the Annual Report) was filed with the Commission, or, if later, at the time the Registration Statement was originally filed with the Commission, as well as at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Securities Act, the Company was a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and became effective on May 14, 2021. The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act objecting to the Company’s use of the automatic shelf registration form. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act specified in

 

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Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Conduct Rule 5110(h)(1)(C). The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, or became effective under the Exchange Act, as the case may be, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

(b)     Disclosure. Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR, was identical (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act) to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became or becomes effective, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Trust Indenture Act) and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the Applicable Time, the Time of Sale Prospectus did not, and at the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

The Prospectus, as of its date, did not, and at the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the three immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in, or omissions from, the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that such information only consists of the information described in Section 7(b) below. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required.

(c)     Free Writing Prospectuses; Road Show. As of the determination date referenced in Rule 164(h) under the Securities Act, the Company was not, is not or will not be (as applicable) an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending, and each such free writing prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus and not superseded or modified. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B, and electronic road shows, if any, furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior written consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus. Each Road Show, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(d)     Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. Prior to the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Securities, the Company has not distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or any free writing prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representatives, and the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B hereto.

 

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(e)     Independent Accountants of the Company. RSM US LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to certain of the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is (i) an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), and (ii) a registered public accounting firm as defined by the PCAOB whose registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such registration to be withdrawn.

(f)     Additional Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to certain of the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of AmeriHome Mortgage Company, LLC (AmeriHome), incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, was, at the time it expressed such opinions, (i) an independent auditor with respect to AmeriHome as required by Rule 101 of the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct, and its interpretations and rulings, and (ii) a registered public accounting firm as defined by the PCAOB whose registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such registration to be withdrawn.

(g)     Financial Statements of the Company. The financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the respective consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents in all material respects the information called for and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus. The financial data set forth in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Actual” under the caption “Capitalization” fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any free writing prospectus that constitute non-GAAP financial measures (as defined by the rules and regulations under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) comply, in all material respects, with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable. To the Company’s knowledge, no person who has been suspended or barred from being associated with a registered public accounting firm, or who has failed to comply with any sanction pursuant to Rule 5300 promulgated by the PCAOB, has participated in or otherwise aided the preparation of, or audited, the financial statements, supporting schedules or other financial data incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(h)     Financial Statements of AmeriHome. To the Company’s knowledge, the financial statements of AmeriHome incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of AmeriHome as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules of AmeriHome are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

(i)     No Undisclosed Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations) or any other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, which have a material current, or may have a material future, effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital position or resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses.

(j)     No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein or contemplated thereby, there has not been (i) any material adverse change or any development which could reasonably be expected

 

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to have a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs, management or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a Material Adverse Change”), (ii) any transaction entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or (iii) there has not been any material decrease in the capital stock or any material increase in any long-term indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries and there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company (other than regular quarterly cash dividends consistent with past practice) or, except for dividends paid to the Company or its subsidiaries by any of the Company’s subsidiaries on any class of capital stock, or any repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

(k)     Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business.

(l)     Incorporation and Good Standing of the Principal Banking Subsidiary. Western Alliance Bank, the Company’s principal banking subsidiary (the “Principal Banking Subsidiary”), has been duly organized and is validly existing as an Arizona-chartered state member bank regulated by the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (ADFI) and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco , is in good standing under the laws of the United States of America and its charter is in full force and effect; the Principal Banking Subsidiary has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Principal Banking Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable; and 100% of the capital stock of the Principal Banking Subsidiary is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. The Principal Banking Subsidiary is the only depository institution subsidiary of the Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.

(m)     Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s “significant subsidiaries” (for purposes of this Agreement, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the power and authority (corporate or other) to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity, as applicable, to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), earnings, business, properties, operations, assets, liabilities or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (a Material Adverse Effect”). All of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity or ownership interests of each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or adverse claim. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (other than (i) any corporations, associations or other entities that, in the aggregate, do not constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X and (ii) AmeriHome).

(n)     Capital Stock Matters. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws.

 

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(o)     The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(p) Authorization, Execution, and Delivery of the Securities and the Indenture. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly completed, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to, or affecting, the rights of creditors of corporations or commercial banks, including laws relating to conservatorship and receivership of insured depository institutions, and to general equity principles, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase the Securities, and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the summary descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and such summary descriptions conform to the rights set forth in and applicable to the instruments defining the same and the Indenture is qualified under, and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of, the Trust Indenture Act. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to, or affecting, the rights of creditors of corporations or commercial banks, including laws relating to conservatorship and receivership of insured depository institutions, and to general equity principles, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase the Securities. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

(q)     Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company is not, and will not be, either after receipt of payment for the Securities or after the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act).

(r)     Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its significant subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational documents, as applicable, or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (Default) under any indenture, loan, credit agreement, note, lease, license agreement, contract, franchise or other instrument (including, without limitation, any pledge agreement, security agreement, mortgage or other instrument or agreement evidencing, guaranteeing, securing or relating to indebtedness) to which the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of their respective properties or assets are subject (each, an Existing Instrument), except for such Defaults as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Transactions and the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the use of proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational documents, as applicable, of the Company or any significant subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) such as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents and consummation of the Transaction and by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act and such as may be required under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or FINRA. As used herein, a Debt Repayment Triggering Event means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries.

 

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(s)     Compliance with Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries have been and are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, except where failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t)     Absence of Labor Dispute. No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or with the employees of any principal supplier, manufacturer, customer or contractor of the Company, exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent.

(u)     Absence of Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation brought by or before any governmental entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the consummation of the Transactions, or the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents; and the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective properties or assets is the subject, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, if determined adversely to the Company, would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v)     Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, including the ADFI, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) , is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, except as have been already obtained or as may be required under the Securities Act, the securities laws of any state or non-U.S. jurisdiction or the rules of FINRA.

(w)     Possession of Licenses and Permits. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, Governmental Licenses) issued by the appropriate governmental entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by it, except where the failure to possess such Governmental Licenses would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, is likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(x)     Company’s Accounting System. The Company and each of its subsidiaries make and keep accurate books and records and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP as applied in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(y)     Disclosure Controls and Procedures; Deficiencies in or Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act), which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and

 

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its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) have been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter; and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there have been no significant deficiencies or material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company is not aware of any change in its internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(z)     Bank Regulatory Matters. The Company and each subsidiary has been and is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of (including, without limitation, all applicable regulations and orders of, or agreements with), the Federal Reserve , the FDIC, the ADFI, and any other federal or state bank regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, the Bank Regulatory Authorities”), except where failure to be so in compliance would not be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa)     Environmental Matters. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations, including, without limitation, those applicable to emissions to the environment, waste management, and waste disposal (collectively, the Environmental Law), except where such noncompliance could not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, and to the knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances that would prevent, interfere with or materially increase the cost of such compliance in the future. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, there is no claim under any Environmental Law, including common law, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries (an Environmental Claim), which would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and, to the knowledge of the Company, under applicable law, there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, events or incidents, including without limitation, releases of any material into the environment, that are reasonably likely to form the basis of any Environmental Claim against Company or any of its subsidiaries which would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb)     Title to Properties. The Company and its significant subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all of their respective real and personal properties, reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(g) above or as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except (i) as stated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, (ii) liens or security interests arising in the ordinary course of the Company or any of its subsidiaries’ business and financing thereof or (iii) such as do not materially affect the value of such properties in the aggregate to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any notice of any claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of such entity to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.

(cc)     Intellectual Property. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, Intellectual Property) presently employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them or reasonably necessary in order to conduct such business, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, is likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(dd)     Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or would not result in a Material Adverse Effect

(ee)     ERISA Compliance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled, in all material respects, its obligations, if any, under minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and the regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to each “plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder), which is maintained by the Company and/or its subsidiaries for their employees, and each such plan is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the regulations thereunder. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have incurred any unpaid liability under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for payment of premiums in the ordinary course) or to any such plan.

(ff)     No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement.

(gg)     Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance from insurers of recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is believed to be customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries; all policies of insurance of the Company and its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect in all material respects; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of cancellation or non-renewal of any such policy.

(hh)     Anti-Money Laundering. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Company and its subsidiaries have established compliance programs to ensure compliance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and all applicable regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the USA PATRIOT Act and all applicable regulations promulgated thereunder, and there is no charge, investigation, action, suit or proceeding before any court, regulatory authority or governmental agency or body pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened regarding the compliance by the Company or its subsidiaries with the USA PATRIOT Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

(ii)     No Reliance. The Company has not relied on the Representatives or their counsel for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(jj)     Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any of the respective affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective affiliates acting in his or her capacity as such has (i) used any funds of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made an offer, payment, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign or domestic government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for public office) from funds of

 

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the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the FCPA”); or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment or benefit in violation of any applicable law, rule or regulation. The Company, its subsidiaries, and their respective affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(kk)     OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any officer, director, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other applicable sanctions authority (collectively, Sanctions), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions (each, a Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of, or business with, any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of, or business in, any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(ll)     Cybersecurity. (i) To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no material security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other compromise of any of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company or its subsidiaries) (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”), or any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have been notified of, and each of them have no knowledge of any event or condition that could result in, any material security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure or other material compromise to their IT Systems and Data; and (iii) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards designed to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except where failure in such compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(mm)     No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or otherwise.

(nn)     Related-Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

(oo)     FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities is true, complete, correct and compliant with FINRA’s rules and any letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rules or NASD Conduct Rules is true, complete and correct.

 

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(pp)    Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company, its subsidiaries and the Company’s Board of Directors are in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in all material respects, in each case to the extent applicable.

(qq)    Statistical and Market-Related Data. All statistical, demographic and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate. To the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

(rr)    Brokers. Except pursuant to this Agreement, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(ss)    Forward-Looking Statements. Each financial or operational projection or other “forward-looking statement” (as defined by Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (i) was so included by the Company in good faith and with reasonable basis after due consideration by the Company of the underlying assumptions, estimates and other applicable facts and circumstances and (ii) is accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying those factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statement. No such statement was made with the knowledge of an executive officer or director of the Company that it was false or misleading.

(tt)    Community Reinvestment Act. The Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary have no knowledge of any facts and circumstances, and have no reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, that would cause the Principal Banking Subsidiary to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder or to be assigned a CRA rating by federal or state banking regulators of lower than “satisfactory”. The Principal Banking Subsidiary is “well capitalized” (as that term is defined at 12 C.F.R. 208.43(b)(1)) and neither the Company nor the Principal Banking Subsidiary has been informed by any Bank Regulatory Authority that its status as “well-capitalized” will change within one year.

(uu)    FDIC. The deposit accounts of the Principal Banking Subsidiary are insured by the FDIC up to the legal maximum, the Principal Banking Subsidiary has paid all premiums and assessments required by the FDIC and the regulations thereunder, and no proceeding for the termination or revocation of such insurance is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Principal Banking Subsidiary, threatened.

(vv)    Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.

(ww)    Summaries of Legal Matters. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Subordinated Notes” and “Certain ERISA Considerations”, and under the captions “Business—Supervision and Regulation” and “Legal Proceedings” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, insofar as they purport to describe legal matters or provisions of the laws and regulations or documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to any Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering, or the purchase and sale, of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

The Company has a reasonable basis for making each of the representations set forth in this Section 1. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 6 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriters, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

 

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Section 2.            Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.

(a)    The Securities. Upon the terms herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Securities. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names on Schedule A at a purchase price equal to 99% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from June 7, 2021 to the Closing Date.

(b)    Closing Date. Delivery of the Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters by electronic book entry through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to the account specified by the Representatives and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representatives) at 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on June 7, 2021, or such other time and date as the Representatives shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”). The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the Representatives may provide notice to postpone the Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are not limited to, any determination by the Company or the Representatives to recirculate to the public copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 11.

(c)    Public Offering of the Securities. The Representatives hereby advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, initially on the terms set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, their respective portions of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities as soon after this Agreement has been executed as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.

(d)    Payment for the Securities. Payment for the Securities shall be made at the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company. It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own accounts and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. Each of Piper and J.P. Morgan, individually and not as a Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

(e)    Delivery of the Securities. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, by electronic book entry through the facilities of DTC, to the account specified by the Representatives, the Securities at the Closing Date, against release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The global certificate for the Securities shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be designated by DTC, and shall be made available for inspection at least two full business days prior to the Closing Date at a location in New York City as the Representatives may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.

Section 3.            Additional Covenants of the Company.

The Company further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

(a)    Delivery of Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus. The Company shall furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with sales of the Securities, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.

 

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(b)    Representatives’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), the Company (i) will furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed time of filing of any proposed amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, a copy of each such amendment or supplement and (ii) will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement (including any amendment or supplement through incorporation of any report filed under the Exchange Act) without the Representatives’ prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, prior to amending or supplementing any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement through incorporation of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the time of filing or use of the proposed amendment or supplement, a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement without the Representatives’ prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

(c)    Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto without the Representatives’ prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by or referred to by the Company as such Underwriter may reasonably request. If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period (but in any event if at any time through and including the Closing Date) there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly amend or supplement such free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict so that the statements in such free writing prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, as the case may be; provided, however, that prior to amending or supplementing any such free writing prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of such proposed amended or supplemented free writing prospectus, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or supplemented free writing prospectus without the Representatives’ prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(d)    Filing of Underwriter Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall not take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that such Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

(e)    Amendments and Supplements to Time of Sale Prospectus. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the Time of Sale Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, the Company shall (subject to Section 3(b) and Section 3(c) hereof) promptly prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a

 

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material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, not misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(f)    Certain Notifications and Required Actions. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing of: (i) the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission; (ii) the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the Prospectus; (iii) the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective; and (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the Prospectus. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 424(b), Rule 433 and Rule 430B under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission.

(g)    Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus so that the Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, the Company agrees (subject to Section 3(b) and Section 3(c)) hereof to promptly prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) to a purchaser, not misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law. Neither the Representatives’ consent to, nor delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the Company’s obligations under Section 3(b) or Section 3(c).

(h)    Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the applicable state securities or blue sky laws or the securities laws of such other jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, and shall comply with such laws and continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(i)    Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

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(j)    Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company commencing after the date of this Agreement that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(k)    Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule), file on a timely basis with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.

(l)    Company to Provide Copy of the Prospectus in Form That May be Downloaded from the Internet. If requested by the Representatives, the Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered, at its expense, within one business day from the effective date of this Agreement, to the Representatives, an “electronic Prospectus” to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities. As used herein, the term “electronic Prospectus” means a form of Time of Sale Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representatives, that may be transmitted electronically by the Representatives and the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Securities; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper Time of Sale Prospectus, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic Prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representatives, that will allow investors to store and have continuously ready access to the Time of Sale Prospectus at any future time, without charge to investors (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Time of Sale Prospectus.

(m)    Restriction on Sale of Securities. During the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company and its subsidiaries will not, without the prior consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities) or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction

(n)    Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of two years hereafter, the Company will furnish to the Representatives: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company furnished or made available generally to holders of its capital stock; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 3(n) shall be satisfied to the extent that such reports, statements, communications, financial statements or other documents are available on EDGAR.

(o)    Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Securities in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(p)    No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company will not take, and will ensure that no affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities or any reference security with respect to the Securities, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or otherwise.

 

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(q)    Final Term Sheet. The Company shall prepare a final term sheet ( the “Final Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form of Schedule C hereto (and containing such other information as the Company and the Representatives may agree), and file such Final Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 prior to the close of business two business days after the date hereof; provided that the Company shall furnish the Representatives with copies of such Final Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file any such document to which the Representatives or counsel to the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(r)    NRSRO Rating. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a rating by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act (“NRSRO”) while any Securities remain outstanding.

Section 4.            Payment of Expenses.

(a)    Expenses. The Company will pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) the preparation, printing, distributing and any filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, the Indenture and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee, (vi) the cost of obtaining all securities and regulatory approvals, (vii) the costs of blue sky qualifications (including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Underwriters’ counsel, relating thereto), (viii) any fees charged by the rating agencies for the rating of the Securities, and (ix) all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Underwriters in connection with their services to be rendered hereunder including, without limitation, marketing and syndication expenses and the fees and expenses of counsel to Underwriters. In the event the Underwriters incur any such fees and expenses on behalf of the Company, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for such fees and expenses whether or not the offering of the Securities is consummated.

(b)    Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 or Section 10(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable, actual, accountable out-of-pocket expenses, including, without limitation, the legal fees and disbursements of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, and any reasonable marketing and syndication expenses

Section 5.            Covenant of the Underwriters.

Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not, but for such actions, be required to be filed by the Company under Rule 433(d).

Section 6.            Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters.

The respective obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder to purchase and pay for the Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as though then made, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

 

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(a)    Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from FINRA.

(i)    The Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information previously omitted from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;

(ii)    no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and

(iii)    if a filing has been made with FINRA, FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

(b)    No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and through and including the Closing Date:

(i)    in the judgment of the Representatives, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change;

(ii)    there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any NRSRO; and

(iii)    the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus shall not be subject to any proceeding by any federal bank or securities regulatory authority.

(c)    Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, Representatives shall have received the opinion of Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(d)    Opinion of Internal Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the opinion of Randall S. Theisen, in-house counsel for the Company, dated as of such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(e)    Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the opinion of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, dated as of such date.

(f)    Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect set forth in Section 6(a)(ii) and further to the effect that:

(i)    for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including such date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;

(ii)    the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such date; and

(iii)    the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such date.

(g)    Chief Financial Officer’s Certificates. On the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received certificates executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company , dated the date hereof and the Closing Date, respectively, with respect to certain financial data contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, dated the date hereof and the Closing Date, respectively.

 

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(h)    Comfort Letters. On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received from each of (i) RSM US LLP, independent registered public accountants for the Company and (ii) Ernst & Young LLP, former independent auditors of AmeriHome, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountant’s “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered according to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) Auditing Standards 6101 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, and each free writing prospectus, if any.

(i)    Bring-down Comfort Letters. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received from each of (i) RSM US LLP, independent registered public accountants for the Company and (ii) Ernst & Young LLP, former independent auditors of AmeriHome, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, which letter shall: (A) reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 6(h), except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date; and (B) cover certain financial information contained in the Prospectus.

(j)    Ratings. There shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Company or any of the securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in the rating outlook for the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

(k)    Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably request for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein and in connection with the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

(l)    Indenture. The Indenture shall have been executed and delivered by each party thereto and an executed copy thereof shall have been provided to the Representatives.

(m)    DTC. The Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.

If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice from the Representatives to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 7, Section 9 and Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

Section 7.            Indemnification.

(a)    Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (x) the Underwriters, (y) each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act (each such person, a “Control Person”) and (z) the respective partners, directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriters or any Control Person as follows:

(i)    against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, any materials provided to

 

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investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any road show or written investor presentations provided to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) (“marketing material”), or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company by the Representatives in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any such free writing prospectus, any marketing material or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that such information only consists of the information described in Section 7(b) below; or (B) the breach or alleged breach of any representation, warranty and agreement of the Company contained herein;

(ii)    against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, except insofar as such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or omission to have resulted solely from the Underwriter Information; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Company; and

(iii)    against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriters), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, or breach or alleged breach of any such representation, warranty or agreement, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing).

(b)    Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each controlling person of the Company, if any, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 7(a) above, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing); provided, however, the Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Representatives have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing) are the statements set forth in the third paragraph, the third sentence in the eighth paragraph and the thirteenth paragraph in the section entitled “Underwriters” (the “Underwriter Information”) in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the Final Prospectus Supplement. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.

(c)    Actions Against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof, and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action or, if it so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim; but if it so elects to

 

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assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and approved by the indemnified parties, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or denied. In the event that an indemnifying party elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the indemnified party or parties shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel thereafter retained by such indemnified party or parties; provided, however, that the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ counsel (in addition to local counsel) to represent the indemnified party or parties who may be subject to liability arising out of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the indemnifying party if, in the reasonable judgment of counsel for the indemnified party or parties, there may be legal defenses available to such indemnified person which are different from or in addition to those available to such indemnifying person, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of appropriate separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d)    Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have validly requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt of written notice by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received written notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

Section 8.            Contribution.

In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances under which the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason held to be unenforceable by an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Securities.

The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statements of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

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The Company and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and the respective partners, directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriters shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters, and each officer and director of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

Section 9.            Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.

All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters.

Section 10.            Termination of this Agreement.

(a)    Termination; General. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Date, if, since the time of execution of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, (i) there has occurred any Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any condition specified in Section 6 hereof shall not have been fulfilled when as required to be fulfilled; (iii) there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis, or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the reasonable judgment of the Underwriters, impracticable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities; (iv) trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange; (v) trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market has been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, FINRA, or any other governmental authority; or (vi) a banking moratorium has been declared by federal or Arizona authorities.

(b)    Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 7 and 8 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

Section 11.    Effectiveness; Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters.

(a)    This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

 

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(b)    If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, in the proportions that the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the Securities and the aggregate principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, and unless the Closing Date is postponed pursuant to this Section 11, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

(c)    As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 11. Any action taken under this Section 11 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

Section 12.            Notices.

All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

 

If to the Representatives:

  

Piper Sandler & Co.

  

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor

  

New York, New York 10020

  

Facsimile: (212) 466-7796

  

E-mail: ***@***

  

Attention: General Counsel

  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  

383 Madison Avenue

  

New York, New York 10179

  

Facsimile: (212) 834-6081

  

Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk

with a copy to:

  

Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP

  

221 E. Fourth Street

  

Suite 2900

  

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

  

Facsimile: (513) 361-1260

  

Attention: James J. Barresi, Esq.

If to the Company:

  

Western Alliance Bancorporation

  

One East Washington Street

  

Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004

  

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

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with a copies to:

  

Western Alliance Bancorporation

  

One East Washington Street

  

Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004

  

Attention: General Counsel

  

Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP

  

401 9th St., NW, Suite 1000

  

Washington, DC 20004

  

Facsimile: (202) 274-2994

  

Attention: Gregory Parisi, Esq

  

Email: ***@***

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

Section 13.            Successors.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each of the Underwriters and the Company, and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and partners, officers and directors referred to in Sections 7 and 8 hereof and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and partners, officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

Section 14.            Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES OF SAID STATE OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.

THE COMPANY ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND NEW YORK STATE COURTS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT. THE COMPANY ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

Section 15.            Effect of Headings.

The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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Section 16.            Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a)    In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b)    In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(c)     For purposes of this Agreement,

(i) “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k);

(ii) “Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(A) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(B) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(C) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b);

(iii) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and

(iv) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Section 17.            General Provisions

(a)    Entire Agreement; Amendments; Counterparts. This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(b)    No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its stockholders, or its creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set

 

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forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,

WESTERN ALLIANCE

BANCORPORATION

By:  

Name:   Dale M. Gibbons
Title:  

Vice Chairman and Chief

Financial Officer


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Underwriters in New York, New York as of the date first above written.

 

PIPER SANDLER & CO.
By:  
Name:   Jennifer Docherty
Title:   Managing Director

Acting individually and as a representative of the

several Underwriters named in the attached Schedule A hereto

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

Acting individually and as a representatives of the

several Underwriters named in the attached Schedule A hereto


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Underwriters in New York, New York as of the date first above written.

 

PIPER SANDLER & CO.
By:    
Name:   Jennifer Docherty
Title:   Managing Director

Acting individually and as a representative of the

several Underwriters named in the attached Schedule A hereto

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
By:  
Name:   Stephen L. Sheiner
Title:   Executive Director

Acting individually and as a representatives of the

several Underwriters named in the attached Schedule A hereto


Schedule A

 

Underwriters

   Principal Amount of
Securities to be
Purchased
 

Piper Sandler & Co.

   $ 420,000,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $ 120,000,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   $ 15,000,000  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

   $ 15,000,000  

Jefferies LLC

   $ 15,000,000  

Wedbush Securities Inc.

   $ 15,000,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 600,000,000  
  

 

 

 


Schedule B

Free Writing Prospectuses

 

1.

Pricing Term Sheet, dated June 3, 2021

 

2.

Investor Presentation, filed with the Commission on June 3, 2021


Schedule C

Pricing Term Sheet

See attached


Free Writing Prospectus

Filed pursuant to Rule 433

Supplementing the

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated June 3, 2021

Registration No. 333-256120

 

Western Alliance Bancorporation

$600,000,000

3.00% Fixed to Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031

Term Sheet

 

Issuer:    Western Alliance Bancorporation (the “Company”)
Security:    3.00% Fixed to Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”)
Aggregate Principal Amount:    $600,000,000
Ratings:    Baa2 by Moody’s, BBB+ by KBRA, BBB+ by EJR
   A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
Trade Date:    June 3, 2021
Settlement Date:    June 7, 2021 (T + 2)
Final Maturity Date (if not previously redeemed):    June 15, 2031
Coupon:    3.00% per annum, from and including the Settlement Date, to but excluding June 15, 2026, payable semi-annually in arrears. From and including June 15, 2026 to, but excluding the maturity date or earlier redemption date, a floating per annum rate equal to the then current three-month SOFR (as defined in the prospectus supplement under “Description of the Notes — Interest”), provided, however, that in the event three-month SOFR is less than zero, three-month SOFR shall be deemed to be zero, plus 225 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears.
Interest Payment Dates:    Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year through June 15, 2026, and quarterly thereafter on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year through maturity date or earlier redemption date. The first interest payment will be made on December 15, 2021.
Record Dates:    The 15th calendar day immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date
Day Count Convention:    30/360 to but excluding June 15, 2026, and, thereafter, a 360-day year and the number of days actually elapsed.


Optional Redemption:    The Company may, at its option, beginning with the interest payment date of June 15, 2026 and on any interest payment date thereafter, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to the extent such approval is then required under the capital adequacy rules of the Federal Reserve, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.
Special Redemption:    The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part, at any time, including prior to June 15, 2026, subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to the extent such approval is then required under the capital adequacy rules of the Federal Reserve, if (i) a change or prospective change in law occurs that could prevent us from deducting interest payable on the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) a subsequent event occurs that could preclude the Notes from being recognized as Tier 2 Capital for regulatory capital purposes, or (iii) we are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, in each case, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the redemption date.
Denominations:    $1,000 minimum denominations and $1,000 integral multiples thereof.
Use of Proceeds:    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes.
Price to Public:    100.00%
Underwriters’ Discount:    1.00% of principal amount
Proceeds to Issuer (after underwriters’ discount, but before expenses):    $594,000,000
Ranking:    The Notes will be unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company and:
  

•  will rank junior in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation to any of the Company’s existing and all future Senior Debt (as defined in the indenture pursuant to which the Notes will be issued and described under “Description of the Notes” in the preliminary prospectus supplement);

  

•  will rank equal in right of payment and upon our liquidation with any of the Company’s existing and all of its future indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks equally with the Notes;

  

•  will rank senior in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation to (i) its existing junior subordinated debentures and (ii) any of its future indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks junior in right of payment to note indebtedness such as the Notes; and

  

•  will be effectively subordinated to the Company’s future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to the existing and future indebtedness of the Company’s subsidiaries, including without limitation Western Alliance Bank’s depositors, liabilities to general creditors and liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise.


  

As of March 31, 2021, the Company’s subsidiaries had, in the aggregate, outstanding debt and deposits of 39.8 billion. In addition, as of March 31, 2021, the Company had no indebtedness that would rank senior to the Notes, 464.3 million that would rank pari passu with the Notes, and 79.3 million that would rank subordinate to the Notes.

CUSIP/ISIN:    957638 AD1 / US957638AD14
Book-Running Managers:    Piper Sandler & Co.;
   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Co-Manager:    Wells Fargo Securities, LLC;
   Jefferies Group LLC
   RBC Capital Markets, LLC
   Wedbush Securities Inc.

This Pricing Term Sheet is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. The information in this Pricing Term Sheet supplements the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. Other information (including other financial information) presented in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement is deemed to have changed to the extent affected by the information contained herein. Capitalized terms used in this Pricing Term Sheet but not defined have the meanings given them in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) and a preliminary prospectus supplement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the preliminary prospectus supplement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offerings will arrange to send you the prospectus and the related preliminary prospectus supplement if you request it by emailing Piper Sandler & Co. ***@***.

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.