As a holding company, we depend on the ability of our subsidiaries, particularly the Bank, to transfer funds to us to meet our obligations, including our obligations to pay interest on the notes. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to This Offering—We are a holding company and will rely significantly on dividends, distributions and other payments from the Bank to fund payments on the notes” in this prospectus supplement. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the notes.
At September 30, 2021, Synchrony had no secured indebtedness outstanding, and $5.7 billion of indebtedness that ranked equally with the notes. The indenture does not limit our ability, or the ability of our subsidiaries, to incur senior, subordinated or secured debt, or our ability, or that of any of our subsidiaries, to incur other indebtedness and other liabilities or, subject to limited exceptions, issue preferred stock.
Optional Redemption
The notes may not be redeemed by us prior to April 28, 2022. At any time and from time to time on or after April 28, 2022 and prior to July 28, 2031 (three months prior to the maturity date of the notes), we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at our option, as set forth below. We may redeem such notes at a redemption price equal to the greater of:
(i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; and
(ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) in respect of the notes to be redeemed (assuming that the notes matured on July 28, 2031), discounted to such redemption date, on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points,
plus, in each case of (i) and (ii), accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date of the notes to be redeemed.
At any time and from time to time on or after July 28, 2031 (three months prior to the maturity date of the notes), we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date of the notes to be redeemed.
We will mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC) notice of any redemption of the notes to the registered address of each holder of the notes to be redeemed at least 10 days and not more than 60 days prior to the applicable redemption date.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed (assuming that the notes matured on July 28, 2031) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes.
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.
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