8-KShareholder MattersCorporate ChangesOther Events+1

Bank of New York Mellon Corp 8-K Report, Rights Modification (Aug 1, 2016)

Filed August 1, 2016For Securities:BKBK-PKBNYBNY-PK

Summary

This Form 8-K filing by The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK) reports on the establishment and public offering of its Series F Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The issuance of this preferred stock, effective July 29, 2016, introduces certain restrictions on the company's ability to pay dividends on or repurchase its common stock or any junior-ranking shares if dividends on the Series F Preferred Stock are not declared and paid for the preceding dividend period. This modification to security holder rights is a key point for investors to note regarding potential future capital allocation decisions. The filing also details the underwriting agreement for the public offering of 1,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of the Series F Preferred Stock. This offering is a significant event, as it provides BK with additional capital and diversifies its funding sources. Investors should pay attention to the terms of the preferred stock, including its dividend structure and liquidation preferences, as outlined in the Certificate of Designations and associated agreements filed with this report.

Key Highlights

  • 1Establishment of Series F Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock effective July 29, 2016.
  • 2Issuance of Series F Preferred Stock imposes restrictions on common stock dividends and repurchases if Series F dividends are not met.
  • 3Public offering of 1,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of Series F Preferred Stock.
  • 4Underwriting agreement entered into on July 25, 2016, with several underwriters, including BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC.
  • 5Filing includes Certificate of Designations, Underwriting Agreement, and Deposit Agreement.
  • 6The terms of the Series F Preferred Stock are designed to align with regulatory capital requirements or strategic capital management.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of issuing the Series F Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock is likely to strengthen the company's capital base, meet regulatory capital requirements, or support strategic initiatives. This type of preferred stock is often used by financial institutions to enhance their financial flexibility without diluting common equity.

The Series F Preferred Stock introduces a conditionality to dividend payments and share repurchases for common stock. If BK fails to declare and pay dividends on the Series F Preferred Stock for a prior dividend period, its ability to pay dividends on or repurchase common stock (or other junior securities) will be restricted. This means common stockholders could see a delay or suspension of their dividends or buybacks if the company faces financial pressure that impacts its preferred stock dividend obligations.

Depositary shares are typically used to represent a fractional interest in a class of preferred stock of a company. In this case, each depositary share represents a 1/100th interest in one share of the Series F Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. This structure often makes preferred stock more accessible and marketable to a broader range of investors by allowing for smaller denominations.

The 'noncumulative' feature means that if the company misses a dividend payment on the Series F Preferred Stock in a particular period, that missed dividend is forfeited and does not accrue. The company is not obligated to pay it back later. However, for future dividend periods, dividends must be declared and paid on the Series F Preferred Stock before any dividends can be paid on common stock or other junior securities.