DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our capital stock is not complete. You should also read our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law. We have filed copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws with the SEC. These documents are incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
We have 325,000,000 shares of capital stock authorized, of which 320,000,000 shares are common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 5,000,000 shares are preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. As of March 31, 2021, we had 103,193,145 shares of common stock issued and outstanding (excluding treasury shares), and 0 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. All of our issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock are held by our wholly owned insurance company subsidiaries and are therefore not considered to be issued and outstanding for purposes of our consolidated financial statements.
No holders of our capital stock are entitled to preemptive rights.
Common Stock
Dividends. Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock which may at the time be outstanding, holders of common stock are entitled to such dividends as the Board of Directors may declare out of legally available funds. The issuance of dividends will depend upon, among other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors, our financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements, future prospects and regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends by our subsidiaries. There is no assurance that we will declare and pay any dividends.
Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock will possess exclusive voting rights in us, except to the extent the Board of Directors specifies voting power with respect to any preferred stock issued. Except as hereinafter described, holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock, but will not have any right to cumulate votes in the election of directors.
Liquidation and Dissolution. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive, after payment of all of our debts and liabilities and of all sums to which holders of any preferred stock may be entitled, the distribution of any of our remaining assets.
Other Rights. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, conversion, redemption or sinking fund rights.
Miscellaneous. Any shares of common stock sold hereunder will be fully paid and nonassessable. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is EQ Shareowner Services. The common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GL”.
Preferred Stock
Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, our Board of Directors has the authority, without further stockholder action, to issue a maximum of 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our Board of Directors has the authority to determine or fix the rights, preferences, privileges and other terms and conditions with respect to shares of any series of preferred stock. The following is a general description of the terms of our preferred stock. The particular terms of any series of preferred stock offered hereby will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to such securities. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including dividend rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, of the preferred stock of each series will be fixed or designated pursuant to a certificate of designations adopted by our Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of our Board of Directors. The description of preferred stock set forth below and the description of the
16