As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Virtu Financial, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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32-0420206
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(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006
(212) 418-0100
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006
(212) 418-0100
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Douglas A. Cifu
Chief Executive Officer
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006
(212) 418-0100
Chief Executive Officer
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006
(212) 418-0100
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a copy to:
John C. Kennedy, Esq.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6064
(212) 373-3000
John C. Kennedy, Esq.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6064
(212) 373-3000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Accelerated filer ☐
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Non-accelerated filer ☐
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
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Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐ |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of each Class of Securities to be Registered
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Amount to be
Registered(1) |
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Proposed
Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(2) |
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Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2) |
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Amount of
Registration Fee |
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Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities (collectively, “Debt Securities”)
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Preferred Stock
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Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share
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Depositary Shares
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| Warrants(3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Purchase Contracts(4)
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| Units(5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Total:
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(1)
The amount to be registered is not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction II.E and an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at currently indeterminable prices. Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder.
(2)
The proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined from time to time by the registrant or a selling stockholder in connection with the issuance or sale by the registrant or a selling stockholder of the securities registered by this registration statement. Prices, when determined, may be in U.S. dollars or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies, foreign currency units or composite currencies. If any Debt Securities or shares of preferred stock are issued at an original issue discount, then the amount registered will include the principal or liquidation amount of such securities measured by the initial offering price thereof. The registrant hereby defers payment of the registration fee required in connection with this registration statement.
(3)
The warrants covered by this registration statement may be Class A common stock warrants, preferred stock warrants, or debt securities warrants.
(4)
The purchase contracts covered by this registration statement include the rights to purchase any securities under this registration statement.
(5)
Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement or an indenture and will represent an interest in two or more securities registered hereby, including shares of Class A common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants, which may or may not be separable from one another.
PROSPECTUS
Virtu Financial, Inc.
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Class A Common Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
Preferred Stock
Class A Common Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
This prospectus contains a general description of the securities that we or selling stockholders may offer for sale. The specific terms of the securities will be contained in one or more supplements to this prospectus. Read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest.
The securities may be issued by Virtu Financial, Inc. In addition, selling stockholders named in a prospectus supplement may offer, from time to time and in one or more offerings, shares of Class A common stock.
Our shares of Class A common stock are listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “VIRT.”
Investing in our securities involves risks that are referenced under the caption “Risk Factors” on page 9 of this prospectus. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is April 30, 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
To understand the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus, you should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. You should also read the documents referred to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on us and the business conducted by us.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that Virtu Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is also referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our,” has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration procedure. Under this procedure, we may offer and sell from time to time, any of the following, in one or more series, which we refer to in this prospectus as the “securities:”
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debt securities,
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preferred stock,
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Class A common stock,
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depositary shares,
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warrants,
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purchase contracts, and
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units.
In addition, under this procedure, selling stockholders may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, shares of our Class A common stock.
The securities may be sold for U.S. dollars, foreign-denominated currency or currency units. Amounts payable with respect to any securities may be payable in U.S. dollars or foreign-denominated currency or currency units as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, or selling stockholders offer and sell shares of Class A common stock, we or selling stockholders will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement may also contain information about any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.
We and selling stockholders may sell securities to underwriters who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by us or selling stockholders directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time, which agents may be affiliates of ours. If we or selling stockholders, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we, selling stockholders and our and their agents reserve the sole right to accept and to reject, in whole or in part, any offer.
The prospectus supplement will also contain, with respect to the securities being sold, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, together with the terms of the offering, the compensation of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the net proceeds to us, or any selling stockholders, as applicable.
Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the “Securities Act.”
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STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain information included in this prospectus or in other materials we have filed or will file with the SEC (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us) includes forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business strategy. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project” or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology and expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our experience in the industry as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. As you read and consider this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, you should understand that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Although we believe that the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect our actual financial results or results of operations and cash flows and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to:
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the continuing impacts of COVID-19 and the governmental and other responses thereto, including but not limited to the risk of employees and executives contracting COVID-19 and the deployment of our business continuity plan pursuant to which a significant number of our employees currently work remotely and our return to office plan, each of which may increase operational risk, as well as increases in market, counterparty and other forms of operational risk;
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volatility in levels of overall trading activity;
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dependence upon trading counterparties and clearing houses performing their obligations to us;
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failures of our customized trading platform;
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risks inherent to the electronic market making business and trading generally;
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increased competition in market making activities and execution services;
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dependence on continued access to sources of liquidity;
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risks associated with self-clearing and other operational elements of our business, including but not limited to risks related to funding and liquidity;
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obligations to comply with applicable regulatory capital requirements;
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litigation or other legal and regulatory-based liabilities;
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changes in laws, rules or regulations, including proposed legislation that would impose taxes on certain financial transactions in the European Union, the U.S. (and certain states therein) and other jurisdictions and other potential change which could increase our corporate or other tax obligations in one or more jurisdictions;
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obligations to comply with laws and regulations applicable to our operations in the U.S. and abroad;
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enhanced media and regulatory scrutiny, including attention to electronic trading and market structure and its impact upon public perception of us or of companies in our industry;
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need to maintain and continue developing proprietary technologies;
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the effect of the acquisition of KCG Holdings, Inc. (“KGC”) and Investment Technology Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“ITG”) on ongoing business operations generally, including our ability to achieve cost-saving synergies related to these historical acquisitions, the assumption of potential liabilities and risks relating to these historical acquisitions, and the significant costs and significant indebtedness that we have incurred in connection therewith;
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capacity constraints, system failures, and delays;
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dependence on third party infrastructure or systems;
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use of open source software;
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failure to protect or enforce our intellectual property rights in our proprietary technology;
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failure to protect confidential and proprietary information;
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failure to protect our systems from internal or external cyber threats that could result in damage to our computer systems, business interruption, loss of data or other consequences;
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risks associated with international operations and expansion, including failed acquisitions or dispositions;
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the effects of and changes in economic conditions (such as volatility in the financial markets, inflation, monetary conditions and foreign currency and exchange rate fluctuations, foreign currency controls and/or government mandated pricing controls, as well as in trade, monetary, fiscal and tax policies in international markets) and political conditions (such as military actions and terrorist activities), and other global events such as fires, natural disasters, pandemics or extreme weather;
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risks associated with potential growth and associated corporate actions;
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inability to access, or delay in accessing the capital markets to sell shares or raise additional capital;
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loss of key executives and failure to recruit and retain qualified personnel; and
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risks associated with losing access to a significant exchange or other trading venue.
We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please see the documents that we have filed with the SEC, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and our proxy statement.
We undertake no obligation, and do not expect, to publicly update or publicly revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referred to above and contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
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THE COMPANY
We are a leading financial services firm that leverages cutting edge technology to deliver liquidity to the global markets and innovative, transparent trading solutions to our clients. Leveraging our global market structure expertise and scaled, multi-asset infrastructure, we provide our clients a robust product suite including offerings in execution, liquidity sourcing, analytics and broker-neutral, multi-dealer platforms in workflow technology. Our product offerings allow our clients to trade on hundreds of venues across over 50 countries and in multiple asset classes, including global equities, ETFs, foreign exchange, futures, fixed income and myriad other commodities. Our integrated, multi-asset analytics platform provides a range of pre and post-trade services, data products and compliance tools that our clients rely upon to invest, trade and manage risk across global markets. We believe that our broad diversification, in combination with our proprietary technology platform and low-cost structure, gives us the scale necessary to grow our business around the globe as we service clients and facilitate risk transfer between global capital markets participants by providing liquidity, while at the same time earning attractive margins and returns.
For a description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information regarding us, see our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For instructions on how to find copies of the filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Our principal executive office is located at One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, New York, New York 10006.
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks discussed or incorporated by reference in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all the other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” included in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, debt repayment, purchase of common equity interests in Virtu Financial, LLC (and related shares of our Class C common stock or Class D common stock), working capital and capital expenditures.
We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of our Class A common stock by selling stockholders.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
General
The following description of the terms of our senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities (together, the “debt securities”) sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Unless otherwise noted, the general terms and provisions of our debt securities discussed below apply to both our senior debt securities and our subordinated debt securities. The particular terms of any debt securities and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions will not apply to such debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.
Our debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The senior debt securities will be issued from time to time in series under an indenture to be entered into by us and US Bank National Association, as Senior Indenture Trustee (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “senior indenture”). The subordinated debt securities will be issued from time to time under a subordinated indenture to be entered into by us and US Bank National Association, as Subordinated Indenture Trustee (the “subordinated indenture” and, together with the senior indenture, the “indentures”). The Senior Indenture Trustee and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee are both referred to, individually, as the “Trustee.” The senior debt securities will constitute our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and the subordinated debt securities will constitute our unsecured and subordinated obligations. A detailed description of the subordination provisions is provided below under the caption “Ranking and Subordination — Subordination.” In general, however, if we declare bankruptcy, holders of senior debt securities will be paid in full before holders of subordinated debt securities will receive anything.
The statements set forth below are brief summaries of certain provisions contained in the indentures, which summaries do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the indentures, each of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit or filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Terms used herein that are otherwise not defined shall have the meanings given to them in the indentures. Such defined terms shall be incorporated herein by reference.
The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued under the applicable indenture and debt securities may be issued under the applicable indenture up to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized from time to time by us. Any such limit applicable to a particular series will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.
The applicable prospectus supplement will disclose the terms of each series of debt securities in respect to which such prospectus is being delivered, including the following:
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the designation and issue date of the debt securities;
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the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities is payable;
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the rate or rates (or manner of calculation thereof), if any, per annum at which the debt securities will bear interest;
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the date or dates, if any, from which interest will accrue and the interest payment date or dates for the debt securities;
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any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities which may be authenticated and delivered under the applicable indenture;
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the period or periods within which, the redemption price or prices or the repayment price or prices, as the case may be, at which and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be redeemed at the Company’s option or the option of the holder of such debt securities (a “Holder”);
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the obligation, if any, of the Company to purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder of such debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
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if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable;
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provisions, if any, with regard to the conversion or exchange of the debt securities, at the option of the Holders of such debt securities or the Company, as the case may be, for or into new securities of a different series, the Company’s Class A common stock or other securities and, if such debt securities are convertible into the Company’s Class A common stock or other Marketable Securities (as defined in the indentures), the conversion price;
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if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, such debt securities shall or may be payable;
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if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder of such debt securities, in a currency (including a composite currency) other than that in which such debt securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;
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if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities may be determined with reference to an index based on a currency (including a composite currency) other than that in which such debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
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provisions, if any, related to the exchange of the debt securities, at the option of the Holders of such debt securities, for other securities of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount or of a different authorized series or different authorized denomination or denominations, or both;
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the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities, if other than the principal amount thereof, which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof as more fully described under the section “— Events of Default, Notice and Waiver” below;
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whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary with respect to such global securities;
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with respect to subordinated debt securities only, the amendment or modification of the subordination provisions in the subordinated indenture with respect to the debt securities; and
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any other specific terms.
We may issue debt securities of any series at various times and we may reopen any series for further issuances from time to time without notice to existing Holders of securities of that series.
Some of the debt securities may be issued as original issue discount debt securities. Original issue discount debt securities bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates. These are sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. If we issue these securities, the prospectus supplement will describe any special tax, accounting or other information which we think is important. We encourage you to consult with your own competent tax and financial advisors on these important matters.
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the covenants contained in the indentures will not provide special protection to Holders of debt securities if we enter into a highly leveraged transaction, recapitalization or restructuring.
Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, interest on outstanding debt securities will be paid to Holders of record on the date that is 15 days prior to the date such interest is to be paid, or, if not a business day, the next preceding business day. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in fully registered form only. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the principal amount of the debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the Trustee in New York, New York. The debt securities may be presented for transfer or exchange at such office unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, subject to the limitations provided in the applicable indenture, without any service charge, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection therewith.
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Ranking and Subordination
Ranking
The senior debt securities will be our unsecured, senior obligations, and will rank equally with our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The subordinated debt securities will be our unsecured, subordinated obligations.
The debt securities will effectively rank junior in right of payment to any of our existing and future secured obligations to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations. The debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including indebtedness and trade payables, of our subsidiaries. The indentures do not limit the amount of unsecured indebtedness or other liabilities that can be incurred by our subsidiaries.
Subordination
If issued, the indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities is subordinate to the prior payment in full of all our Senior Indebtedness (as defined below). During the continuance beyond any applicable grace period of any default in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any of our Senior Indebtedness, we may not make any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities. In addition, upon any payment or distribution of our assets upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, and interest on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the subordinated indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all our Senior Indebtedness. Because of this subordination, if we dissolve or otherwise liquidate, Holders of our subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than Holders of our Senior Indebtedness. The subordination provisions do not prevent the occurrence of an event of default under the subordinated indenture.
The term “Senior Indebtedness” of a person means with respect to such person the principal of, premium, if any, interest on, and any other payment due pursuant to any of the following, whether outstanding on the date of the subordinated indenture or incurred by that person in the future:
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all of the indebtedness of that person for borrowed money, including any indebtedness secured by a mortgage or other lien which is (1) given to secure all or part of the purchase price of property subject to the mortgage or lien, whether given to the vendor of that property or to another lender, or (2) existing on property at the time that person acquires it;
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all of the indebtedness of that person evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments sold by that person for money;
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all of the lease obligations which are capitalized on the books of that person in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
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all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the first two bullet points above and all lease obligations of others of the kind described in the third bullet point above that the person, in any manner, assumes or guarantees or that the person in effect guarantees through an agreement to purchase, whether that agreement is contingent or otherwise; and
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all renewals, extensions or refundings of indebtedness of the kinds described in the first, second or fourth bullet point above and all renewals or extensions of leases of the kinds described in the third or fourth bullet point above; unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, lease, renewal, extension or refunding, the instrument or lease creating or evidencing it or the assumption or guarantee relating to it expressly provides that such indebtedness, lease, renewal, extension or refunding is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities. Our senior debt securities, and any unsubordinated guarantee obligations of ours to which we are a party, including Indebtedness For Borrowed Money, constitute Senior Indebtedness for purposes of the subordinated indenture.
Pursuant to the subordinated indenture, the subordinated indenture may not be amended, at any time, to alter the subordination provisions of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of the requisite holders of each outstanding series or class of Senior Indebtedness (as determined in accordance with the instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness) that would be adversely affected.
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Certain Covenants
Limitation on Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer on Certain Terms
The indentures provide that we will not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey or transfer our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:
(1)
the Person formed by such consolidation or into which our company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of our company substantially as an entirety shall be organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the debt securities and the performance of every covenant of the applicable indenture (as supplemented from time to time) on the part of our company to be performed or observed;
(2)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and
(3)
we have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of our company substantially as an entirety as set forth above, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which our company is merged or to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of our company under the applicable indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as our company in the applicable indenture. In the event of any such conveyance or transfer, our company, as the predecessor, shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the applicable indenture and the debt securities issued under such indenture and may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated at any time thereafter.
Subject to the foregoing, the indentures and the debt securities do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford Holders of debt securities protection in the event of a recapitalization or highly leveraged transaction involving our company.
Any additional covenants of our company pertaining to a series of debt securities will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.
Certain Definitions
The following are certain of the terms defined in the indentures:
“Consolidated Net Worth” means, with respect to any Person, at the date of any determination, the consolidated stockholders’ or owners’ equity of the holders of capital stock or partnership interests of such Person and its subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as such principles are in effect in the United States as of the date of the applicable indenture.
“Indebtedness For Borrowed Money” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments and (c) all guarantee obligations of such Person with respect to Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of others. The Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of any Person shall include the Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in
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or other contractual relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness For Borrowed Money provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
“Material Subsidiary” means any Person that is a Subsidiary if, at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of our company, the aggregate amount, determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, of securities of, loans and advances to, and other investments in, such Person held by us and our other Subsidiaries exceeded 10% of our Consolidated Net Worth.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation more than 50% of the voting stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by such Person, and any partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person owns more than 50% of the equity interests or has the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body.
Optional Redemption
If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may redeem the debt securities of any series, as a whole or in part, at our option on or after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we redeem the debt securities of any series, we must also pay accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to the date of redemption on such debt securities.
Satisfaction and Discharge
Each indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of the applicable series of the debt securities, as expressly provided for in the indenture) as to all outstanding debt securities of a series, when:
(1)
Either:
(a)
all of the applicable series of the debt securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed notes which have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by us and thereafter repaid to us or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b)
all of the applicable series of debt securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (1) have become due and payable or (2) will become due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of us, and we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount in the required currency sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the applicable series of debt securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the applicable series of debt securities to the date of deposit or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
(2)
we have paid all other sums payable under the indenture by us with regard to the debt securities of such series; and
(3)
we have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series have been complied with.
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Defeasance
Each indenture provides that we, at our option:
(a)
will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of any series of debt securities (except in each case for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated senior debt securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust), or
(b)
need not comply with the covenants described above under “— Certain Covenants,” and any other restrictive covenants described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities and certain Events of Default (other than those arising out of the failure to pay interest or principal on the debt securities of a particular series and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization) will no longer constitute Events of Default with respect to such series of debt securities, in each case if we deposit with the Trustee, in trust, money or the equivalent in securities of the government which issued the currency in which the debt securities are denominated or government agencies backed by the full faith and credit of such government, or a combination thereof, which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and interest on, such series on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such series.
To exercise any such option, we are required, among other things, to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the Holders of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes and, in the case of a Discharge pursuant to clause (a) above, accompanied by a ruling to such effect received from or published by the United States Internal Revenue Service.
In addition, we are required to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such deposit was not made by us with the intent of preferring the Holders over other creditors of ours or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of ours or others.
Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
Each indenture provides that, if an Event of Default specified therein with respect to any series of debt securities issued thereunder shall have happened and be continuing, either the Trustee thereunder or the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series (or 25% in aggregate principal amount of all outstanding debt securities under such indenture, in the case of certain Events of Default affecting all series of debt securities issued under such indenture) may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable.
“Events of Default” in respect of any series are defined in the indentures as being:
•
default for 30 days in payment of any interest installment with respect to such series;
•
default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, or any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to, debt securities of such series when due at their stated maturity, by declaration or acceleration, when called for redemption or otherwise;
•
default for 90 days after written notice to us by the Trustee thereunder or by Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty pertaining to debt securities of such series; and
•
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization with respect to us or any Material Subsidiary of ours which is organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or the entry of an order ordering the winding up or liquidation of our affairs.
Any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default which will be applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.
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Each indenture provides that the Trustee thereunder will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series issued under such indenture, give to the Holders of the debt securities of such series notice of all uncured and unwaived defaults known to it; provided, however, that, except in the case of default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the debt securities of such series, the Trustee thereunder will be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the debt securities of such series. The term “default” for the purpose of this provision means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of such series. Each indenture contains provisions entitling the Trustee under such indenture, subject to the duty of the Trustee during an Event of Default to act with the required standard of care, to be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the Holders of the debt securities before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the applicable indenture at the request of Holders of such debt securities.
Each indenture provides that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under such indenture may direct the time, method and place of conducting proceedings for remedies available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee in respect of such series, subject to certain conditions.
In certain cases, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive, on behalf of the Holders of all debt securities of such series, any past default or Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of such series except, among other things, a default not theretofore cured in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the senior debt securities of such series or payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligations with respect to such senior debt securities.
Each indenture includes a covenant that we will file annually with the Trustee a certificate of no default or specifying any default that exists.
Modification of the Indentures
We and the Trustee may, without the consent of the Holders of the debt securities issued under the indenture governing such debt securities, enter into indentures supplemental to the applicable indenture for, among others, one or more of the following purposes:
(1)
to evidence the succession of another Person to us and the assumption by such successor of our company’s obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt securities of any series;
(2)
to add to the covenants of our company, or to surrender any rights or powers of our company, for the benefit of the Holders of debt securities of any or all series issued under such indenture;
(3)
to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the applicable indenture which may be inconsistent with any other provision therein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such indenture or to conform the text of the indenture or the debt securities to this description of notes or the description of notes in an applicable prospectus supplement;
(4)
to add to the applicable indenture any provisions that may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or “the Act,” excluding the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Act as in effect at the date as of which the applicable indenture was executed or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted;
(5)
to establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities to be issued under the applicable indenture, to provide for the issuance of any series of debt securities and/or to add to the rights of the Holders of debt securities;
(6)
to evidence and provide for the acceptance of any successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of debt securities or to add or change any of the provisions of the applicable indenture as shall be necessary to facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by one or more trustees in accordance with the applicable indenture;
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(7)
to provide any additional Events of Default;
(8)
to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities; provided that the uncertificated securities are issued in registered form for certain federal tax purposes;
(9)
to provide for the terms and conditions of converting those debt securities that are convertible into Class A common stock or another such similar security;
(10)
to secure any series of debt securities pursuant to the applicable indenture’s limitation on liens;
(11)
to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the applicable indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Act or to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository; and
(12)
to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of the Holders of the debt securities.
No supplemental indenture for the purpose identified in clauses (2), (3), (5) or (7) above may be entered into if to do so would adversely affect the rights of the Holders of debt securities of any series issued under the same indenture in any material respect.
Each indenture contains provisions permitting us and the Trustee under such indenture, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under such indenture to be affected voting as a single class, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of the applicable indenture or modifying the rights of the Holders of the debt securities of such series to be affected, except that no such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the Holders of affected debt securities, among other things:
(1)
change the maturity of the principal of, or the maturity of any premium on, or any installment of interest on, any such debt security, or reduce the principal amount or the interest or any premium of any such debt securities, or change the method of computing the amount of principal or interest on any such debt securities on any date or change any place of payment where, or the currency in which, any debt securities or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the maturity of principal or premium, as the case may be;
(2)
reduce the percentage in principal amount of any such debt securities the consent of whose Holders is required for any supplemental indenture, waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or certain defaults under the applicable indenture;
(3)
modify any of the provisions of the applicable indenture related to (i) the requirement that the Holders of debt securities issued under such indenture consent to certain amendments of the applicable indenture, (ii) the waiver of past defaults and (iii) the waiver of certain covenants, except to increase the percentage of Holders required to make such amendments or grant such waivers; or
(4)
impair or adversely affect the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on, or with respect to, such senior debt securities on or after the maturity of such debt securities.
In addition, the subordinated indenture provides that we may not make any change in the terms of the subordination of the subordinated debt securities of any series in a manner adverse in any material respect to the Holders of any series of subordinated debt securities without the consent of each Holder of subordinated debt securities that would be adversely affected.
Pursuant to the subordinated indenture, the subordinated indenture may not be amended, at any time, to alter the subordination provisions of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of the requisite holders of each outstanding series or class of Senior Indebtedness (as determined in accordance with the instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness) that would be adversely affected.
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The Trustee
US Bank National Association is the Trustee under each indenture. The Trustee is a depository for funds and performs other services for, and transacts other banking business with, us in the normal course of business.
Governing Law
The indentures will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Global Securities
We may issue debt securities through global securities. A global security is a security, typically held by a depositary, that represents the beneficial interests of a number of purchasers of the security. If we do issue global securities, the following procedures will apply.
We will deposit global securities with the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. After we issue a global security, the depositary will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of persons who have accounts with the depositary. These account Holders are known as “participants.” The underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Only a participant or a person who holds an interest through a participant may be the beneficial owner of a global security. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants.
We and the Trustee will treat the depositary or its nominee as the sole owner or Holder of the debt securities represented by a global security. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names. They also will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or Holders of the debt securities.
Principal, any premium and any interest payments on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global security. None of us, the Trustee or any paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payments, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the depositary’s records. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street names,” and will be the responsibility of the participants.
If the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue registered securities in exchange for the global security. In addition, we may at any time in our sole discretion determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by global securities. In that event, we will issue debt securities of that series in definitive form in exchange for the global securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL STOCK
Capital Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes 1,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, 175,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, 90,000,000 shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, 175,000,000 shares of Class D common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share.
As of February 25, 2021, we had outstanding 122,186,196 shares of Class A common stock, 10,135,182 shares of Class C common stock and 60,091,740 shares of Class D common stock. As of February 25, 2021, we had no shares of Class B common stock and no shares of our preferred stock outstanding
Common Stock
Voting
The holders of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to stockholders for their vote or approval, except (i) as required by applicable law or (ii) any amendment (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) to our certificate of incorporation that would affect the rights of the Class A common stock and the Class C common stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse as compared to the Class B common stock or Class D common stock, or vice versa, in which case the holders of Class A common stock and Class C common stock or the holders of Class B common stock and Class D common stock, as applicable, shall vote together as a class.
Holders of our Class A common stock and Class C common stock are entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to stockholders for their vote or approval. Holders of our Class B common stock and Class D common stock are entitled to ten votes on all matters submitted to stockholders for their vote or approval.
TJMT Holdings LLC (the “Founder Member”), an affiliate of Mr. Vincent Viola, our Founder and Chairman Emeritus, controls approximately 81.9% of the combined voting power of our common stock as a result of its ownership of our Class C and Class D common stock. Accordingly, the Founder Member controls our business policies and affairs and can control any action requiring the general approval of our stockholders, including the election of our board or directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and by-laws and the approval of any merger or sale of substantially all of our assets. The Founder Member will continue to have such control as long as it owns at least 25% of our issued and outstanding common stock. This concentration of ownership and voting power may also delay, defer or even prevent an acquisition by a third party or other change of control of our Company and may make some transactions more difficult or impossible without the support of the Founder Member, even if such events are in the best interests of minority stockholders.
Dividends
The holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, dividends may not be declared or paid in respect of Class B common stock unless they are declared or paid in the same amount in respect of Class A common stock, and vice versa. With respect to stock dividends, holders of Class B common stock must receive Class B common stock while holders of Class A common stock must receive Class A common stock.
The holders of our Class C common stock and Class D common stock do not have any right to receive dividends other than dividends consisting of shares of our (i) Class C common stock, paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of our Class C common stock, and (ii) Class D common stock, paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of our Class D common stock, in each case in connection with stock dividends.
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Merger, Consolidation, Tender or Exchange Offer
The holders of Class B common stock and Class D common stock are not entitled to receive economic consideration for their shares in excess of that payable to the holders of Class A common stock and Class C common stock, respectively, in the event of a merger, consolidation or other business combination requiring the approval of our stockholders or a tender or exchange offer to acquire any shares of our common stock. However, in any such event involving consideration in the form of securities, the holders of Class B common stock and Class D common stock will be entitled to receive securities that have no more than ten times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holders of Class A common stock and Class C common stock.
Liquidation or Dissolution
Upon our liquidation or dissolution, the holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to share ratably in those of our assets that are legally available for distribution to stockholders after payment of liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding. Other than their par value, the holders of our Class C common stock and Class D common stock do not have any right to receive a distribution upon a liquidation or dissolution of our company.
Conversion, Transferability and Exchange
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that each share of our Class B common stock is convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into one share of Class A common stock, and each share of our Class D common stock is convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into one share of Class C common stock. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that each share of our Class B common stock will automatically convert into one share of Class A common stock, and each share of our Class D common stock will automatically convert into one share of our Class C common stock (a) immediately prior to any sale or other transfer of such share by the Founder Member or any of its affiliates or permitted transferees (collectively, “Founder Equityholders”), subject to certain limited exceptions, such as transfers to permitted transferees, or (b) if Founder Equityholders own less than 25% of our issued and outstanding common stock. Shares of our Class A common stock and Class C common stock are not subject to any conversion right.
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, “permitted transferees” of the Founder Member include (i) Vincent Viola or any of his immediate family members (which would include parents, grandparents, lineal descendants, siblings of such person or such person’s spouse, and lineal descendants of siblings of such person or such person’s spouse) or any trust, family-partnership or estate-planning vehicle so long as Mr. Viola and/or his immediate family members are the sole economic beneficiaries thereof, (ii) any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity of which all of the economic beneficial ownership thereof belongs to Mr. Viola, his immediate family members or any trust, family-partnership or estate-planning vehicle whose economic beneficiaries consist solely of Mr. Viola and/or his immediate family members, (iii) a charitable institution controlled by Mr. Viola and/or his immediate family members, (iv) an individual mandated under a qualified domestic relations order and (v) a legal or personal representative of Mr. Viola and/or his immediate family members in the event of death or disability.
Among other exceptions described in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Founder Equityholders are permitted to pledge shares of Class D common stock and/or Class B common stock that they hold from time to time without causing an automatic conversion to Class C common stock or Class A common stock, as applicable, provided that any pledged shares are not transferred to or registered in the name of the pledgee.
Subject to the terms of the Exchange Agreement (i) the Founder Member may exchange its non-voting common interest units of Virtu Financial LLC, which we refer to as “Virtu Financial Units,” and a corresponding number of shares of our Class D common stock or, after the Triggering Event (defined as the point in time when the Founder Equityholders no longer beneficially own shares representing 25% of our issued and outstanding common stock), Class C common stock, for shares of our Class B common stock (or, after the Triggering Event, Class A common stock) and (ii) the other Virtu Post-IPO Members may exchange their vested Virtu Financial Units and a corresponding number of shares of our Class C common stock for shares of our Class A common stock. Each such exchange will be on a one-for-one basis, subject
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to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. Upon exchange, each share of our Class C common stock or Class D common stock so exchanged will be cancelled.
Other Provisions
None of the Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock or Class D common stock has any pre-emptive or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock or Class D common stock.
At such time as no Virtu Financial Units remain exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock, our Class C common stock will be cancelled. At such time as no Virtu Financial Units remain exchangeable for shares of our Class B common stock, our Class D common stock will be cancelled.
Preferred Stock
We are authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, to determine the terms and conditions of the preferred stock, including whether the shares of preferred stock will be issued in one or more series, the number of shares to be included in each series and the powers, designations, preferences and rights of the shares. Our board of directors is also authorized to designate any qualifications, limitations or restrictions on the shares without any further vote or action by the stockholders. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock, which could have a negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock.
Corporate Opportunities
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the doctrine of “corporate opportunity” does not apply against the Founder Member, Mr. Viola, and certain affiliates of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited (“Temasek”), any of our non-employee directors or any of their respective affiliates in a manner that would prohibit them from investing in competing businesses or doing business with our clients or customers. In addition, subject to the restrictions on competitive activities described below, Mr. Cifu is permitted to become engaged in, or provide services to, any other business or activity in which Mr. Viola is currently engaged or permitted to become engaged, to the extent that Mr. Cifu’s level of participation in such businesses or activities is consistent with his current participation in such businesses and activities. The Virtu Financial LLC Agreement provides that Mr. Viola, in addition to our other executive officers and our employees that are Virtu Members, may not directly or indirectly engage in certain competitive activities until the third anniversary of the date on which such person ceases to be an officer, director or employee of ours. Certain affiliates of Temasek and our non-employee directors are not subject to any such restriction.
Certain Certificate of Incorporation, By-Law and Statutory Provisions
The provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws and of the Delaware General Corporation Law summarized below may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that you might consider in your best interest, including an attempt that might result in your receipt of a premium over the market price for your shares of Class A common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws contain certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of our Company unless such takeover or change in control is approved by our board of directors.
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These provisions include:
Classified Board. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors is elected each year. The classification of directors has the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors is fixed exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by our board of directors.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, following the Triggering Event (defined as the point in time when Founder Equityholders no longer beneficially own shares representing 25% of our issued and outstanding common stock), other than preferred stock directors and subject to obtaining any required stockholder votes or consents under the Stockholders Agreement, directors may only be removed for cause and by the affirmative vote of holders of 75% of the total voting power of our outstanding shares of common stock, voting together as a single class. This requirement of a super-majority vote to remove directors for cause could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such removal.
Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, following the Triggering Event, stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws also provide that, subject to any special rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock and except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can only be called by the chairman or vice chairman of the board or the chief executive officer, or pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the board of directors or, until the Triggering Event, at the request of holders of a majority of the total voting power of our outstanding shares of common stock, voting together as a single class. Except as described above, stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting or to require the board of directors to call a special meeting.
Advance Notice Procedures. Our amended and restated by-laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting are only able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although the by-laws do not give our board of directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, the by-laws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our Company.
Super-Majority Approval Requirements. The Delaware General Corporation Law generally provides that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, unless either a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws require a greater percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide that, following the Triggering Event, the affirmative vote of holders of 75% of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock eligible to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, is required to amend, alter, change or repeal specified provisions, including those relating to the classified board, actions by written consent of stockholders, calling of special meetings of stockholders, business combinations and amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws. This requirement of a super-majority vote to approve amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such amendments.
Authorized but Unissued Shares. Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized
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for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of our common stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we are not subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, an antitakeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination, such as a merger, with a person or group owning 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Accordingly, we are not subject to any anti-takeover effects of Section 203. Nevertheless, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that have the same effect as Section 203, except that it provides that the Founder Member, certain affiliates of Temasek, their respective affiliates and successors and their transferees are not deemed to be “interested stockholders,” regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by them, and accordingly are not subject to such restrictions.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares rather than full shares of the preferred stock of a series. In the event that we determine to do so, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock) of a share of a particular series of preferred stock as more fully described below.
The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under one or more deposit agreements among us, a depositary to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the holders from time to time of depositary receipts issued thereunder. Subject to the terms of the applicable deposit agreement, each holder of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented thereby (including, as applicable, dividend, voting, redemption, subscription and liquidation rights).
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of the related series of preferred stock.
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the depositary shares so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the depositary shares or the deposit agreement described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement relating to such deposited shares. The forms of deposit agreement and depositary receipt will be filed as exhibits to the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
The following summary of certain provisions of the depositary shares and deposit agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to, all the provisions of the deposit agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement, including the definitions.
Immediately following our issuance of shares of a series of preferred stock that will be offered as fractional shares, we will deposit the shares with the depositary, which will then issue and deliver the depositary receipts to the purchasers thereof. Depositary receipts will only be issued evidencing whole depositary shares. A depositary receipt may evidence any number of whole depositary shares.
Pending the preparation of definitive depositary receipts, the depositary may, upon our written order, issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to (and entitling the holders thereof to all the rights pertaining to) the definitive depositary receipts but not in definitive form. Definitive depositary receipts will be prepared thereafter without unreasonable delay, and such temporary depositary receipts will be exchangeable for definitive depositary receipts at our expense.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the related series of preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the series of preferred stock in proportion to the number of the depositary shares owned by the holders.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares entitled thereto in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines that the distribution cannot be made proportionately among the holders or that it is not feasible to make the distributions, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt any method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting the distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, at the place or places and upon those terms as it may deem proper.
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The amount distributed in any of the foregoing cases will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by us or the depositary on account of taxes or other governmental charges.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If any series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from any redemption, in whole or in part, of the series of the preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to the series of the preferred stock. If we redeem shares of a series of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If less than all of the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or a substantially equivalent method determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the moneys payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption, upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares. Any funds deposited by us with the depositary for any depositary shares that the holders thereof fail to redeem will be returned to us after a period of two years from the date the funds are so deposited.
Voting the Underlying Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any series of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the series of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the related series of preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of the series of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, provided the depositary receives the instructions sufficiently in advance of the meeting to enable it to so vote or cause to be voted the shares of preferred stock, and we will agree to take all reasonable action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing the preferred stock.
Withdrawal of Stock
Upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary and upon payment of the taxes, charges and fees provided for in the deposit agreement and subject to the terms thereof, the holder of the depositary shares evidenced thereby is entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon such holder’s order of, the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property, if any, represented by the depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive whole shares of the related series of preferred stock, but holders of the whole shares of preferred stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit the shares of preferred stock with the depositary or to receive depositary shares therefor. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder or upon such holder’s order at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.
Amendment and Termination of a Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares of any series and any provision of the applicable deposit agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between us
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and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares of any series will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares of the series then outstanding. Every holder of a depositary receipt at the time the amendment becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to hold the depositary receipt, to be bound by the deposit agreement as so amended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may any amendment impair the right of any holder of any depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares and subject to any conditions specified in the deposit agreement, to receive shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us at any time upon not less than 60 days prior written notice to the depositary, in which case, on a date that is not later than 30 days after the date of the notice, the depositary shall deliver or make available for delivery to holders of depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares, the number of whole or fractional shares of the related series of preferred stock as are represented by the depositary shares. The deposit agreement shall automatically terminate after all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or there has been a final distribution in respect of the related series of preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary shares.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay the charges of the depositary, including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the related series of preferred stock and the initial issuance of the depositary shares and all withdrawals of shares of the related series of preferred stock, except that holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us written notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the depositary. Any resignation or removal is to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary, which successor depositary must be appointed within 90 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
Miscellaneous
The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and which we are required to furnish to the holders of the related preferred stock.
The depositary’s corporate trust office will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depositary will act as transfer agent and registrar for depositary receipts and if shares of a series of preferred stock are redeemable, the depositary will also act as redemption agent for the corresponding depositary receipts.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS
The following description of the terms of the warrants sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate. We may issue warrants for the purchase of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock or Class A common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock or Class A common stock offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the warrant agreement that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such warrants.
Debt Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of debt warrants will describe the terms of such debt warrants, including the following:
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the title of such debt warrants;
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the offering price for such debt warrants, if any;
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the aggregate number of such debt warrants;
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the designation and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of such debt warrants;
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities with which such debt warrants are issued and the number of such debt warrants issued with each such debt security;
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if applicable, the date from and after which such debt warrants and any debt securities issued therewith will be separately transferable;
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the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of a debt warrant and the price at which such principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise (which price may be payable in cash, securities or other property);
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the date on which the right to exercise such debt warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
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if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such debt warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
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whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;
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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
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the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
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if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;
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the anti-dilution or adjustment provisions of such debt warrants, if any;
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the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such debt warrants; and
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any additional terms of such debt warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such debt warrants.
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Stock Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of preferred stock warrants or Class A common stock warrants will describe the terms of such warrants, including the following:
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the title of such warrants;
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the offering price for such warrants, if any;
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the aggregate number of such warrants;
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the designation and terms of the preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the offered securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such offered security;
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if applicable, the date from and after which such warrants and any offered securities issued therewith will be separately transferable;
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the number of shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise;
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the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
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if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
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the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
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if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;
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the anti-dilution provisions of such warrants, if any;
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the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such warrants; and
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any additional terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue, from time to time, purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and obligating us to deliver to the holders, a specified principal amount of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, or a specified number of shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock or any of the other securities that we may sell under this prospectus at a future date or dates. We intend to physically settle such purchase contracts by delivering the agreed principal amount or number of securities, as applicable, upon settlement. The consideration payable upon settlement of the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by a specific reference to a formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and other securities or obligations issued by us. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or units or vice versa, and the payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts.
The prospectus supplement related to any particular purchase contracts will describe, among other things, the material terms of the purchase contracts and of the securities being sold pursuant to such purchase contracts, and a discussion, if appropriate, of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts and any material provisions governing the purchase contracts that differ from those described above. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to the purchase contracts.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITS
We may, from time to time, issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time, or at any time before a specified date.
Any prospectus supplement related to any particular units will describe, among other things:
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the material terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
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any material provisions relating to the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;
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if appropriate, any special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and
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any material provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described above.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We or selling stockholders may offer and sell the securities in any one or more of the following ways:
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to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;
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directly to one or more other purchasers;
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through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
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through agents on a best-efforts basis; or
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otherwise through a combination of any of the above methods of sale.
In addition, we or selling stockholders may enter into option, share lending or other types of transactions that require us or such selling stockholders, as applicable, to deliver shares of Class A common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who will then resell or transfer the shares of Class A common stock under this prospectus. We or selling stockholders may also enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities or the securities of such selling stockholders, as applicable. For example, we or selling stockholders may:
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enter into transactions involving short sales of the shares of Class A common stock by underwriters, brokers or dealers;
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sell shares of Class A common stock short and deliver the shares to close out short positions;
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enter into option or other types of transactions that require us or selling stockholders, as applicable, to deliver shares of Class A common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who will then resell or transfer the shares of Class A common stock under this prospectus; or
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loan or pledge the shares of Class A common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who may sell the loaned shares or, in the event of default, sell the pledged shares.
Any selling stockholder will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing manner and size of each sale of shares of Class A common stock covered by this prospectus.
We or selling stockholders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or such selling stockholders, as applicable, or borrowed from us, such selling stockholders or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us or such selling stockholders in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we or selling stockholders may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or the securities of such selling stockholders, as applicable, or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
Shares of Class A common stock may also be exchanged for satisfaction of selling stockholders’ obligations or other liabilities to their creditors. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers.
Each time we or selling stockholders sell securities, we or selling stockholders will provide a prospectus supplement that will name any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities. The prospectus supplement will also set forth the terms of the offering, including:
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the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we and/or such selling stockholders will receive from the sale of the securities;
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any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
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any public offering or purchase price and any discounts or commissions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers;
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any commissions allowed or paid to agents;
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any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed;
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the method of distribution of the securities;
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the terms of any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into with the underwriters, brokers or dealers; and
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any other information we think is important.
If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account. The securities may be sold from time to time by us or selling stockholders in one or more transactions:
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at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
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at prices related to such prevailing market prices;
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at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or
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at negotiated prices.
Such sales may be effected:
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in transactions on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
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in transactions in the over-the-counter market;
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in block transactions in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or in crosses, in which the same broker acts as an agent on both sides of the trade;
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through the writing of options; or
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through other types of transactions.
The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities offered will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discount or concession allowed or re-allowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.
The selling stockholders might not sell any securities under this prospectus. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
The securities may be sold directly by us or selling stockholders, or through agents designated by us or such selling stockholders, as applicable, from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us or such selling stockholders, as applicable, to such agent will be set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus may be solicited, and sales of the securities may be made, by us or by selling stockholders directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. The terms of any offer made in this manner will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to the offer.
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If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, underwriters, dealers or agents will be authorized to solicit offers by certain institutional investors to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date. Institutional investors with which these contracts may be made include, among others:
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commercial and savings banks;
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insurance companies;
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pension funds;
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investment companies; and
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educational and charitable institutions.
In all cases, these purchasers must be approved by us or by such selling stockholders, as applicable. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any purchaser under any of these contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that (a) the purchase of the securities must not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction to which that purchaser is subject, and (b) if the securities are also being sold to underwriters, we or selling stockholders, as applicable, must have sold to these underwriters the securities not subject to delayed delivery. Underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.
Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents used by us or selling stockholders in any offering of securities under this prospectus may be customers of, engage in transactions with, and perform services for us and/or such selling stockholders, as applicable, or affiliates of ours and/or such selling stockholders, as applicable, in the ordinary course of business. Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us and/or selling stockholders to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to be reimbursed by us and/or such selling stockholders for certain expenses.
Any selling stockholder may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act.
Subject to any restrictions relating to debt securities in bearer form, any securities initially sold outside the United States may be resold in the United States through underwriters, dealers or otherwise.
Any underwriters to which offered securities are sold by us or selling stockholders for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but those underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time.
The anticipated date of delivery of the securities offered by this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering.
To comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the offered securities will be passed upon for us by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, New York.
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EXPERTS
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
In this prospectus, we “incorporate by reference” certain information that is filed with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to that information. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The following documents have been filed by us with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:
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Portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 23, 2021 that are incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020;
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Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 2021, March 18, 2021 and April 26, 2021; and
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All documents and reports that we file with the SEC (other than any portion of such filings that are furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) from the date of this prospectus until the completion of the offering under this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus by reference. The information contained on or accessible through our website (http://www.virtu.com) is not incorporated into this prospectus.
You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to these filings unless we have specifically included or incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing, from the SEC as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” or, at no cost, by writing or telephoning the Company at the following address:
Virtu Financial, Inc.
Attn: Investor Relations
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006
E-mail: investor_relations@virtu.com
Telephone: (212) 418-0100
Attn: Investor Relations
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006
E-mail: investor_relations@virtu.com
Telephone: (212) 418-0100
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize and any pricing supplement. We have not authorized any person, including any salesman or broker, to provide information other than that provided in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize or any pricing supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We do not take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize, any pricing supplement or any documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
33
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy these materials at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information about the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room. Our SEC filings are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website at http://www.virtu.com all materials that we file electronically with the SEC.
As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules we file with the SEC. You may refer to the registration statement, exhibits and schedules for more information about us and the securities. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available through the SEC’s website or at its Public Reference Room.
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Virtu Financial, Inc.
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Class A Common Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
PROSPECTUS
April 30, 2021
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14 OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The following table sets forth expenses payable by the Company in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, excluding underwriting fees and expenses. All the amounts shown are estimates except the registration fee paid to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
| |
SEC registration fee
|
| | | $ | † | | |
| |
Printing expenses
|
| | | | * | | |
| |
Legal fees and expenses
|
| | | | * | | |
| |
Accounting fees and expenses
|
| | | | * | | |
| |
Fees and expenses of trustee and counsel
|
| | | | * | | |
| |
Total
|
| | | $ | * | | |
†
Applicable SEC registration fees have been deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933 and are not estimable at this time.
*
Fees and expenses are based on the number of issuances and the amount of securities offered and, accordingly, are presently not known and cannot be estimated.
ITEM 15 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, because the person is or was a director or officer of the corporation. Such indemnity may be against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and if, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the person did not have reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 145(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor because the person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against any expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to be indemnified for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against the person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under the provisions of the law. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, a director will not be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. In addition, our amended
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and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will indemnify each director and officer and may indemnify employees and agents, as determined by our board, to the fullest extent provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
The foregoing statements are subject to the detailed provisions of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws.
Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits the limitation of directors’ personal liability to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director except for (i) any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, (iii) breaches under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which relates to unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, and (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Reference is made to Item 17 for our undertakings with respect to indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for our officers and directors.
We entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our executive officers and directors that provides, in general, that we will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by law in connection with their service to us or on our behalf.
ITEM 16 EXHIBITS
A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement is contained in the exhibits index, which is incorporated by reference.
ITEM 17 UNDERTAKINGS
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, as amended;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by a registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
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(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i)
Each prospectus filed by a registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)
Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of such undersigned registrant pursuant to the registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, such undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of such undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of such undersigned registrant or used or referred to by such undersigned registrant;
(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about such undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of such undersigned registrant; and
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by such undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b)
The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of a registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
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in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms different from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
(d)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of such registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(e)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
*
To be filed by Current Report on Form 8-K at the time of issuance and incorporated by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3ASR and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on April 30, 2021.
VIRTU FINANCIAL, INC.
/s/ DOUGLAS A. CIFU
Douglas A. Cifu
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Douglas A. Cifu, Joseph Molluso and Sean P. Galvin, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to (i) sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, (and any additional registration statement related hereto permitted by Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (and all further amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto)) together with all schedules and exhibits thereto, (ii) act on, sign and file such certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, (iii) act on and file any supplement to any prospectus included in this registration statement or any such amendment, and (iv) take any and all actions which may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, granting unto such agent, proxy and attorney in fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby approving, ratifying and confirming all that such agents, proxies and attorneys in fact or any of their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the following capacities and on the dates indicated.
| |
Signature
|
| |
Title
|
| |
Date
|
|
| |
/s/ DOUGLAS A. CIFU
Douglas A. Cifu
|
| | Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ SEAN P. GALVIN
Sean P. Galvin
|
| | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ VINCENT VIOLA
Vincent Viola
|
| | Chairman Emeritus and Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ ROBERT GREIFELD
Robert Greifeld
|
| | Chairman of the Board of Directors | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ WILLIAM F. CRUGER, JR.
William F. Cruger, Jr.
|
| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ VIRGINIA GAMBALE
Virginia Gambale
|
| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ JOSEPH J. GRANO, JR.
Joseph J. Grano, Jr.
|
| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
Signature
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| |
Title
|
| |
Date
|
|
| |
/s/ GLENN HUTCHINS
Glenn Hutchins
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| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s JOANNE MINIERI
Joanne Minieri
|
| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ JOHN D. NIXON
John D. Nixon
|
| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ CHRISTOPHER C. QUICK
Christopher C. Quick
|
| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ DAVID URBAN
David Urban
|
| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
| |
/s/ MICHAEL T. VIOLA
Michael T. Viola
|
| | Director | | |
April 30, 2021
|
|
Exhibit 5.1
212-373-3000
212-418-0100
April 30, 2021
Virtu Financial, Inc.
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006
Virtu Financial, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”) of Virtu Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Rules”), you have asked us to furnish our opinion as to the legality of the securities being registered under the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement relates to the registration under the Act of the following securities of the Company (together, the “Securities”):
| A. | senior debt securities (the “Senior Debt Securities”) and subordinated debt securities (the “Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”); |
| B. | shares of preferred stock (including shares issued upon conversion of the Debt Securities) of the Company, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); |
| C. | shares of Class A common stock (including shares issued upon conversion of the Debt Securities or Preferred Stock) of the Company, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”), which such shares of Common Stock may be offered by the Company (the “Primary Shares”) or may be offered by certain selling stockholders of the Company to be named in a prospectus supplement (the “Secondary Shares”); |
| D. | depositary shares representing a fractional share or multiple shares of Preferred Stock evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Shares”); |
| E. | warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Depositary Shares or any combination of them (the “Warrants”); |
| F. | purchase contracts representing the Company’s obligation to sell Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants or debt obligations of third parties, including government securities (the “Purchase Contracts”); and |
| G. | units consisting of any combination of two or more of Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Purchase Contracts or debt obligations of third parties, including government securities (the “Units”). |
The Securities are being registered for offering and sale from time to time as provided by Rule 415 under the Act.
The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into by and between the Company and US Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Senior Debt Indenture”). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into by and between the Company and US Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Subordinated Debt Indenture” and, together with the Senior Debt Indenture, the “Indentures”).
The Depositary Shares are to be issued under deposit agreements, each between the Company and a depositary to be identified in the applicable agreement (each, a “Depositary Agreement”). The Warrants are to be issued under warrant agreements, each between the Company and a warrant agent to be identified in the applicable agreement (each, a “Warrant Agreement”). The Purchase Contracts will be issued under purchase contract agreements, each between the Company and a purchase contract agent to be identified in the applicable agreement (each, a “Purchase Contract Agreement”). The Units are to be issued under unit agreements, each between the Company and a unit agent to be identified in the applicable agreement (each, a “Unit Agreement”).
In connection with the furnishing of this opinion, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents:
| 1. | the Registration Statement; |
| 2. | the Exchange Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2015 (the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among the Company, Virtu Financial LLC and the other parties thereto; and |
| 3. | the forms of Senior Debt Indenture and Subordinated Debt Indenture (including the form of Securities included therein) incorporated by reference therein as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 to the Registration Statement. |
In addition, we have examined (i) such corporate records of the Company that we have considered appropriate, including a copy of the certificate of incorporation, as amended, and by-laws, as amended, of the Company, and copies of resolutions of the board of directors of the Company relating to the issuance of the Securities certified by the Company, and (ii) such other certificates, agreements and documents that we deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below. We have also relied upon the factual matters contained in the representations and warranties of the Company made in the documents reviewed by us and upon certificates of public officials and the officers of the Company.
In our examination of the documents referred to above, we have assumed, without independent investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all individuals who have executed any of the documents reviewed by us, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic, reproduced or conformed copies of valid existing agreements or other documents, the authenticity of all such latter documents and that the statements regarding matters of fact in the certificates, records, agreements, instruments and documents that we have examined are accurate and complete.
We have also assumed, without independent investigation, that (i) the Indentures will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties to them in substantially the forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, (ii) each of the Depositary Agreements, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contract Agreements, the Unit Agreements and any other agreement entered into, or officer’s certificates or board resolutions delivered, in connection with the issuance of the Securities will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties to such agreements (such agreements and documents, together with the Indentures, are referred to collectively as the “Operative Agreements”), (iii) each Operative Agreement, when so authorized, executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the parties thereto (other than the Company), (iv) the Depositary Shares, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts, the Units and any related Operative Agreements will be governed by the laws of the State of New York, (v) in the case of Purchase Contracts or Units consisting at least in part of debt obligations of third parties, such debt obligations at all relevant times constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the issuers thereof enforceable against the issuers thereof in accordance with their terms and (vi) the execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Agreements and the Securities and issuance of the Securities do not conflict with or constitute a breach of the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is subject or violate applicable law or contravene any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
2
With respect to the Securities of a particular series or issuance, we have assumed that (i) the issuance, sale, number or amount, as the case may be, and terms of the Securities to be offered from time to time will be duly authorized and established, in accordance with the organizational documents of the Company, the laws of the State of New York and the State of Delaware, and any applicable Operative Agreement, (ii) prior to the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, an appropriate certificate of designation or board resolution relating to such series of Preferred Stock will have been duly authorized by the Company and filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, (iii) the Securities will be duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered by the Company and, in the case of Debt Securities, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Purchase Contracts and Units, duly authenticated or delivered by the applicable trustee or agent, in each case, against payment by the purchaser at the agreed-upon consideration, and (iv) the Securities will be issued and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement.
Based upon the above, and subject to the stated assumptions, exceptions and qualifications, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | When the specific terms of a particular issuance of Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon exercise, exchange or conversion of any Security in accordance with its terms) have been duly authorized by the Company and such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered, and, if applicable, upon exercise, exchange or conversion of any Security in accordance with its terms, such Debt Securities will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| 2. | Upon due authorization by the Company of the issuance and sale of shares of a series of Preferred Stock, and, if applicable, upon exercise, exchange or conversion of any Security in accordance with its terms, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 3. | Upon due authorization by the Company of the issuance and sale of any Primary Shares, and, if applicable, upon exercise, exchange or conversion of any Security in accordance with its terms, such Primary Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 4. | The Secondary Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and the Secondary Shares either are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable or, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement or other applicable agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 5. | When Depositary Shares evidenced by depositary receipts are issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of a Depositary Agreement against the deposit of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Preferred Stock, such Depositary Shares will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the Depositary Agreement. |
| 6. | When the specific terms of a particular issuance of Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company and such Warrants have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered, such Warrants will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| 7. | When any Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Company, such Purchase Contracts will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| 8. | When the Units have been duly authorized, issued and delivered by the Company, the Units will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
3
The opinions expressed above as to enforceability may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) requirements that a claim with respect to any Securities in denominations other than in United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than into United States dollars in respect of the claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined by applicable law.
The opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law. Our opinion is rendered only with respect to the laws, and the rules, regulations and orders under those laws, that are currently in effect.
We hereby consent to use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” contained in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required by the Act or the Rules.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON LLP | |
| PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON LLP |
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Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Virtu Financial, Inc. of our report dated February 25, 2021 relating to the financial statements, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Virtu Financial, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.
| /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
New York, NY
April 30, 2021
QuickLinks
Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Exhibit 25.1
securities and exchange commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
Statement of Eligibility Under
The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of a
Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of
a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) ¨
_______________________________________________________
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
31-0841368
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
|
800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Donald T. Hurrelbrink
U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55107
(651) 466-6308
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Virtu Financial, Inc.
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 32-0420206 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
One Liberty Plaza 165 Broadway New York, New York |
10006 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Senior Debt Securities
Subordinated Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
| Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
| a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
| b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
| Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
| Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee's knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
| Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
| 1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.* |
| 2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 3. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.** |
| 5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. |
| 7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of December 31, 2020 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7. |
* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on S-4, Registration Number 333-128217 filed on November 15, 2005.
** Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to registration statement on form S-3ASR, Registration Number 333-199863 filed on November 5, 2014.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of St. Paul, State of Minnesota on the 30 of April, 2021.
| By: | /s/ Brandon Bonfig | |
| Brandon Bonfig | ||
| Assistant Vice President |
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Exhibit 2
4
Exhibit 3
5
Exhibit 6
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: April 30, 2021
| By: | /s/ Brandon Bonfig | |
| Brandon Bonfig | ||
| Assistant Vice President |
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Exhibit 7
U.S. Bank National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
As of 12/31/2020
($000’s)
| 12/31/2020 | ||||
| Assets | ||||
| Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions | $ | 62,424,852 | ||
| Securities | 135,372,305 | |||
| Federal Funds | 149 | |||
| Loans & Lease Financing Receivables | 299,153,643 | |||
| Fixed Assets | 7,454,095 | |||
| Intangible Assets | 12,786,750 | |||
| Other Assets | 27,582,366 | |||
| Total Assets | $ | 544,774,160 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Deposits | $ | 442,835,836 | ||
| Fed Funds | 1,175,229 | |||
| Treasury Demand Notes | 0 | |||
| Trading Liabilities | 1,036,903 | |||
| Other Borrowed Money | 27,992,840 | |||
| Acceptances | 0 | |||
| Subordinated Notes and Debentures | 3,850,000 | |||
| Other Liabilities | 14,494,315 | |||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 491,385,123 | ||
| Equity | ||||
| Common and Preferred Stock | 18,200 | |||
| Surplus | 14,266,915 | |||
| Undivided Profits | 38,303,599 | |||
| Minority Interest in Subsidiaries | 800,323 | |||
| Total Equity Capital | $ | 53,389,037 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital | $ | 544,774,160 | ||
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