SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE Dated as of February 2, 2023 to the INDENTURE Dated as of February 2, 2023
Exhibit 4.2
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Trustee
Dated as of February 2, 2023
to the
INDENTURE
Dated as of February 2, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
||||||
| Section 1.01. |
Relation to Base Indenture |
1 | ||||
| Section 1.02. |
Definition of Terms |
1 | ||||
| ARTICLE II GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES |
||||||
| Section 2.01. |
Designation and Principal Amount |
2 | ||||
| Section 2.02. |
Maturity |
2 | ||||
| Section 2.03. |
Form, Payment and Appointment |
3 | ||||
| Section 2.04. |
Global Notes |
3 | ||||
| Section 2.05. |
Interest |
3 | ||||
| Section 2.06. |
No Sinking Fund |
4 | ||||
| Section 2.07. |
Satisfaction and Discharge |
4 | ||||
| ARTICLE III REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES |
||||||
| Section 3.01. |
Optional Redemption by Company |
4 | ||||
| Section 3.02. |
Notice of Redemption; Selection of Notes to be Redeemed |
4 | ||||
| Section 3.03. |
Payment of Redemption Price |
4 | ||||
| Section 3.04. |
No Other Redemption |
4 | ||||
| ARTICLE IV FORMS OF NOTES |
||||||
| Section 4.01. |
Forms of Notes |
5 | ||||
| ARTICLE V ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES |
||||||
| Section 5.01. |
Original Issue of Notes |
5 | ||||
| ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS |
||||||
| Section 6.01. |
Ratification of Indenture |
5 | ||||
| Section 6.02. |
Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals |
5 | ||||
| Section 6.03. |
Governing Law |
5 | ||||
| Section 6.04. |
Waiver of Trial by Jury |
5 | ||||
| Section 6.05. |
Table of Contents, Headings, etc |
5 | ||||
| Section 6.06. |
Execution in Counterparts |
5 | ||||
| Section 6.07. |
Separability; Benefits |
5 | ||||
| Section 6.08. |
Certain Tax Information |
6 | ||||
| EXHIBIT A |
Form of 7.250% Subordinated Notes due 2033 |
A-1 | ||||
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “First Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of February 2, 2023, is between SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation (the “Trustee”).
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of February 2, 2023, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture”), providing for the issuance from time to time of series of Securities of the Company. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture is referred to herein as the “Indenture”;
WHEREAS, Section 10.01(c) of the Base Indenture provides for the Company and the Trustee to enter into an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture, the Company wishes to provide for the issuance of a new series of Securities to be known as its 7.250% Subordinated Notes due 2033 (the “Notes”), the forms and terms of such Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in this First Supplemental Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture, and all requirements necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and enforceable instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, have been done and performed, and the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Relation to Base Indenture. This First Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture.
Section 1.02. Definition of Terms. For all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture:
(a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Base Indenture;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this First Supplemental Indenture has the same meaning throughout;
(c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
(d) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation;
(e) the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 1.02(e):
“Applicable Law” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.08.
“Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the appropriate federal banking agency with respect to the Company, as that term is defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or any successor provision.
“Business Day” shall mean, unless otherwise specified, any calendar day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open for business in The City of New York, New York.
“DTC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Global Note” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(i).
“Interest Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).
“Maturity Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
“Optional Redemption Price” shall mean, with respect to any redemption of Notes, the applicable redemption price for such Notes set forth in Section 3.01.
“Record Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(ii).
“Redemption Date” shall mean, with respect to any redemption of Notes, the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to the Indenture and such Notes.
“Regulatory Capital Treatment Event” shall mean in the good faith determination by the Company that, as a result of (i) any amendment to, or change in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the initial issuance of the Notes, (ii) any proposed change in those laws, rules or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the initial issuance of the Notes, or (iii) any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws, rules or regulations or policies with respect thereto that is announced after the initial issuance of the Notes, there is more than an insubstantial risk that we will not be entitled to treat the full principal amount of the Notes as “Tier 2” capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of any successor Appropriate Federal Banking Agency), as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any Notes are outstanding.
The terms “Base Indenture,” “Company,” “First Supplemental Indenture,” “Notes” and “Trustee” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the recitals to this First Supplemental Indenture and the paragraph preceding such recitals.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Designation and Principal Amount. The Notes may be issued from time to time upon written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of Notes pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Base Indenture.
There is hereby authorized a series of Securities designated as 7.250% Subordinated Notes due 2033, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to U.S. $750,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered in accordance with the last paragraph of Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture or upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 3.03 or 10.04 of the Base Indenture).
Section 2.02. Maturity. The date upon which the Notes shall become due and payable at final maturity, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, is February 2, 2033 (the “Maturity Date”).
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Section 2.03. Form, Payment and Appointment. Except as provided in Section 2.04, the Notes shall be issued in fully registered, certificated form. Principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable, the transfer of such Notes will be registrable, and such Notes will be exchangeable for Notes of a like aggregate principal amount bearing identical terms and provisions, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall initially be the Principal Office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the Person entitled to payment, provided that the paying agent shall have received written notice of such account designation at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment (subject to surrender of the relevant Note in the case of a payment of interest on a Redemption Date or Maturity Date).
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, but the Company may require payment from the holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
The Security Registrar and paying agent for the Notes shall initially be the Trustee. The Specified Currency of the Notes shall be U.S. Dollars.
Section 2.04. Global Notes.
(a) The Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Securities in registered form (each, a “Global Note”). The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) shall initially act as the Depositary for the Notes. Each Global Note (i) shall be deposited with the Depositary or its custodian and registered in the name of DTC or DTC’s nominee, (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions, and (iii) shall bear a legend substantially to the effect set forth in Section 2.12 of the Base Indenture.
(b) The aggregate amount of Outstanding Notes represented by any Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges or other increases or decrease in the principal amount thereof. The Trustee may make any endorsement on a Global Note to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of holders of the Notes represented thereby, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes. Each Global Note shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon.
(c) Unless and until any Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated form, such Global Note may be transferred, in whole but not in part, and any payments on the Notes evidenced by such Global Note shall be made, only to the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, or to a successor Depositary selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary, in each case as the Securityholder of such Notes.
Section 2.05. Interest.
(a) Interest payable on any Interest Payment Date, the Maturity Date or, if applicable, the Redemption Date, with respect to the Notes shall be the amount of interest accrued from, and including, the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the original issue date of February 2, 2023, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the Notes) to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date or, if applicable, Redemption Date, as the case may be (each, an “Interest Period”).
(i) Interest on the Notes shall accrue from February 2, 2023 and shall be payable semi-annually in arrears on February 2 and August 2 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), beginning on August 2, 2023 to, but excluding, the Maturity Date or, if applicable, the Redemption Date, of the Notes.
(ii) Interest shall be payable to the Persons in whose names the relevant Notes are registered at the close of business on the January 18 or July 18 (whether or not a Business Day), respectively, immediately prior to each Interest Payment Date (each, a “Record Date”) at the annual rate of 7.250% per year, except as provided in Section 2.05(b) hereof and in Section 2.04 of the Base Indenture.
3
(iii) The amount of interest payable for any full semi-annual Interest Period in respect of the Notes will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full semi-annual Interest Period in respect of the Notes will be calculated on the basis of a 30-day month and, for any period less than a month, the amount of interest will be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. If any scheduled Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after such scheduled Interest Payment Date).
(iv) In the event that the Maturity Date or a Redemption Date for any Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the related payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and no additional interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after such Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be).
(b) Interest due on the Maturity Date or a Redemption Date (in each case, whether or not an Interest Payment Date) of any Notes will be paid to the Person to whom principal of such Notes is payable.
Section 2.06. No Sinking Fund. The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
Section 2.07. Satisfaction and Discharge. Article 12 of the Base Indenture contains provisions for discharge of the Indenture and the legal and covenant defeasance of the obligations of the Company with respect to any series of Securities at any time upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions shall apply to the Notes.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES
Section 3.01. Optional Redemption by Company. The Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, at any time on or after November 2, 2032 and (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, in each case, at a redemption price (the “Optional Redemption Price”) equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date. Any such redemption of the Notes shall be subject to the Company obtaining the prior approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, if then required under capital rules applicable to the Company.
Section 3.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Notes to be Redeemed. The Company shall mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary if the Notes to be redeemed are issued in the form of one or more Global Notes) notice of any redemption to the registered holders of the Notes to be redeemed at least 10 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. If the Notes are only partially redeemed pursuant to Section 3.01, the Notes to be redeemed will be selected by the Trustee by lot; provided that if at the time of redemption the Notes to be redeemed are registered as a Global Note, the Depositary shall determine, in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed held by each of its participants that holds a position in such Notes.
Section 3.03. Payment of Redemption Price. The Optional Redemption Price for any Notes to be redeemed shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date or at such later time as is then permitted by the rules of the Depositary for the Notes (if then registered as a Global Note); provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the Optional Redemption Price for the Notes to be redeemed by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such Optional Redemption Price is to be paid.
Section 3.04. No Other Redemption. Except as set forth in Section 3.01, the Notes shall not be redeemable by the Company prior to the applicable Maturity Date. The provisions of this Article 3 shall supersede any conflicting provisions contained in Article 3 of the Base Indenture.
4
ARTICLE IV
FORMS OF NOTES
Section 4.01. Forms of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the forms attached as Exhibit A hereto, with such changes therein as the officers of the Company executing the Notes (by manual or facsimile signature) may approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof.
ARTICLE V
ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES
Section 5.01. Original Issue of Notes. The Notes having an aggregate principal amount of U.S. $750,000,000, subject to the last paragraph of Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture, may from time to time, upon execution of this First Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes to or upon the written order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Base Indenture without any further action by the Company (other than as required by the Base Indenture).
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.01. Ratification of Indenture. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
Section 6.02. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals. The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture.
Section 6.03. Governing Law. THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OR ANY NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND EACH HOLDER OF NOTES, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 6.05. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this First Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 6.06. Execution in Counterparts. This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 6.07. Separability; Benefits. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect, then, to the extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Nothing in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this First Supplemental Indenture.
5
Section 6.08. Certain Tax Information. In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”) that a foreign financial institution, or issuer, trustee, paying agent, holder or other institution is or has agreed to be subject to related to the Indenture, the Company agrees (i) to provide to the Trustee upon its written request such information that is in the Company’s possession about holders of the Notes or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under the Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this First Supplemental Indenture.
Section 6.09. Amendment of Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture relating to the Events of Default. Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture is amended and restated in its entirety with respect to the Notes, to read as follows:
“Section 6.01 Events of Default. “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) the commencement by the Company of a case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of it in a case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official in respect of it, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(b) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (i) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition by one or more Persons other than the Company or any Affiliates thereof seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official for the Company, or ordering the liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 30 consecutive days.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare the principal amount of the Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable.”
Section 6.10. Amendment of Section 4.05 of the Base Indenture relating to the Statements as to Compliance. Section 4.05 of the Base Indenture is amended and restated in its entirety with respect to the Notes, to read as follows:
“Section 4.05 Statement as to Compliance. The Company shall furnish to the Trustee on or before May 1, in each year (beginning with the first May 1 following the first date of issuance of any Securities under this Indenture) a brief certificate (which need not comply with Section 14.06) from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company as required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act, and, in the event of any Default under the Indenture with respect to the Notes, specifying such Default and the nature and status thereof to the extent of such officer’s knowledge.”
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[Signature Page Follows]
7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, as of the day and year first written above.
| SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL | ||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: Senior Vice President, Treasury - Funding, Liquidity and Investments Leader | ||
[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, as of the day and year first written above.
| THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]
EXHIBIT A
[IF THIS NOTE IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT:]
THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS NOTE IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC, OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC, TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
7.250% Subordinated Note due 2033
CUSIP: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
ISIN: US87165BAU70
$
No.
SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, [the principal sum of $__________]1 on February 2, 2033 (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from February 2, 2023 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on February 2 and August 2 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing August 2, 2023, at the rate of 7.250% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment.
The amount of interest payable for any full semi-annual Interest Period will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full semi-annual Interest Period will be calculated on the basis of a 30-day month and, for any period less than a month, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. In the event that any scheduled Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next Business Day (and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after such scheduled Interest Payment Date). The term “Business Day” means any calendar day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open for business in The City of New York, New York.
| 1 | USE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE INSTEAD FOR GLOBAL NOTES: [the principal sum as set forth in the Schedule of Increases or Decreases In Note attached hereto] |
A-1
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name the relevant Notes, or any predecessor Notes, are registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such Interest Payment Date; provided that the interest due on the Maturity Date or a Redemption Date (in each case, whether or not an Interest Payment Date) of a Note of this series will be paid to the Person to whom principal of such Note is payable.
Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall initially be the Principal Office of the Trustee located therein, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the Person entitled to payment, provided that the paying agent shall have received written notice of such account designation at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment (subject to surrender of the relevant Note in the case of a payment of interest on a Redemption Date or the Maturity Date).
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual or electronic signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
A-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
| By: |
||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Global Note]
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein described in the within-mentioned Indenture.
|
Dated: |
| THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
||
| Authorized Signatory | ||
[Signature Page to Global Note]
REVERSE OF NOTE
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Notes”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of February 2, 2023, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee), which has been amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 2, 2023, between the Company and the Trustee (the “First Supplemental Indenture”). The Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, is the “Indenture” to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $750,000,000.
All terms used but not defined in this Note that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture.
The Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, at any time on or after November 2, 2032 and (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of a “Regulatory Capital Treatment Event”), in each case, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date.
The term “Optional Redemption Price” means, with respect to any redemption of Notes of this series, the applicable redemption price for such Notes set forth in the preceding two paragraphs; the term “Redemption Date” means, with respect to any redemption of Notes of this series, the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to the Indenture and the Notes of this series; and the term “Regulatory Capital Treatment Event” shall have the meaning set forth in the First Supplemental Indenture.
The Company shall mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) notice of any redemption to the registered holders of the Notes of this series to be redeemed at least 10 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. If Notes of this series are only partially redeemed pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Notes of this series to be redeemed will be selected by the Trustee by lot; provided that if at the time of redemption the Notes of this series to be redeemed are registered as a Global Note, the Depositary shall determine, in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of the Notes of this series to be redeemed held by each of its participants that holds a position in such Notes. The Optional Redemption Price for any Notes of this series to be redeemed shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date or at such later time as is then permitted by the rules of the Depositary for the related Notes (if then registered as a Global Note); provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the Optional Redemption Price for the Notes of this series to be redeemed by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such Optional Redemption Price is to be paid.
In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. Except as set forth in the preceding paragraphs and in Article 3 of the First Supplemental Indenture, the Company may not redeem the Notes of this series at its option prior to the Maturity Date.
The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance of the obligations of the Company at any time upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions apply to the Notes of this series.
If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
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The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the holders of the Notes at any time by the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series affected thereby at the time Outstanding, voting as a single class. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes of a series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the holders of all Notes of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, except as provided for in Section 2.04 of the First Supplemental Indenture. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Except as provided in Section 8.03 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
THIS NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Company will furnish a copy of the Indenture to any holder upon written request and without charge.
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ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Note to:
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
(Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints
agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:
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| Signature Guarantee: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN NOTE
The initial principal amount of this Note is $[ ]. The following increases or decreases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:
| Date |
Amount of decrease |
Amount of increase |
Principal amount of |
Signature of |