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Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No.: 333-190078

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell nor do they seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion. Dated March 9, 2016.

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus Dated July 22, 2013)

$        

 

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

    % Senior Notes due        

 

 

We will pay interest on the notes at an annual rate equal to     % and will pay interest semi-annually on              and              of each year beginning on                 , 2016. The notes will mature on                 , 20      and will accrue interest from                 , 2016.

The notes will not be subject to redemption at our option at any time prior to                 , 20      (one month prior to their maturity date). At any time on or after                 , 20     , we may, at our option, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days’ prior notice, redeem all or any portion of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed. Holders of any notes redeemed will also receive accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption. The notes will not be subject to repayment at the option of the holder at any time prior to maturity and will not be entitled to any sinking fund. See “Description of Notes—Redemption” in this prospectus supplement.

The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The notes will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. See “Description of Notes” in this prospectus supplement.

The notes will be issued only in registered book-entry form, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently there is no public market for the notes.

 

 

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and in “Item 1-A—Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to read about factors you should consider before investing in the notes.

 

Price to Public(1)

Underwriting Discounts

Proceeds, Before Expenses, to Huntington(1)

Per Note

%

%

%

Total

$

$

$

 

(1)	Plus accrued interest, if any, from                 , 2016, if settlement occurs after that date.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The notes are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any of our bank or non-bank subsidiaries and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, against payment in New York, New York on or about                 , 2016.

Our affiliates may use this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in connection with offers and sales of the notes in the secondary market. These affiliates may act as principal or agent in those transactions. Secondary market sales will be made at prices related to market prices at the time of sale.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.		BofA Merrill Lynch		Morgan Stanley		Huntington Investment Company

 

 

Prospectus Supplement dated                 , 2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT			S-ii
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			S-iii
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			S-iv
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			S-1
SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING			S-3
RISK FACTORS			S-6
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			S-10
CAPITALIZATION			S-11
USE OF PROCEEDS			S-12
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES			S-13
BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM			S-22
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS			S-27
CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS			S-31
UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)			S-33
VALIDITY OF THE NOTES			S-38
EXPERTS			S-38
		Page
PROSPECTUS
RISK FACTORS			1
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			3
EXPLANATORY NOTE			3
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE			4
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			5
HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED			5
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER			6
USE OF PROCEEDS			8
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS			8
LEGAL MATTERS			9
EXPERTS			9

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document consists of two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part is the prospectus, which describes more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus supplement to “Huntington,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Issuer” or similar references mean Huntington Bancshares Incorporated and its successors and include our consolidated subsidiaries only where specifically so stated. When we refer to the “Bank” in this document we mean our only bank subsidiary, The Huntington National Bank, and its subsidiaries.

If the information set forth in this prospectus supplement differs in any way from the information set forth in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information set forth in this prospectus supplement.

Currency amounts in this prospectus supplement are stated in U.S. dollars.

We have not, and the underwriters and their affiliates and agents have not, authorized any person to provide any information or represent anything about us other than what is contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We do not, and the underwriters and their affiliates and agents do not, take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, information that others may provide you. You should assume that information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy notes in any circumstances under which the offer or solicitation is unlawful.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and on the investor relations page of our website at http://www.huntington.com. Except for those SEC filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, none of the other information on our website is part of this prospectus supplement. You may also read and copy any document that we file with the SEC at its public reference facilities at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement and information that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus supplement and in our other filings with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or “Exchange Act,” until the termination of the offering of the notes (in each case, except as specifically included below, other than information that is deemed, under SEC rules, not to have been filed):

 

•

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on February 17, 2016;

 

•

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on January 28, 2016 and March 9, 2016; and

 

•

Our Definitive Proxy Statement filed on March 12, 2015, pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act.

You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address:

Investor Relations

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

41 South High Street

Columbus, Ohio 43287

Phone: (614) 480-5676

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference contain certain forward-looking statements, including certain plans, expectations, goals, projections, and statements, which are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Statements that do not describe historical or current facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “plan,” “target,” “goal,” or similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “would,” “could,” or similar variations. The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, below are certain factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in the forward-looking statements: (1) worsening of credit quality performance due to a number of factors such as the underlying value of collateral that could prove less valuable than otherwise assumed and assumed cash flows that may be worse than expected; (2) changes in economic, political, or industry conditions, uncertainty in U.S. fiscal and monetary policy, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve, volatility and disruptions in global capital and credit markets; (3) movements in interest rates; (4) competitive pressures on product pricing and services; (5) success, impact, and timing of our business strategies, including market acceptance of any new products or services implementing our “Fair Play” banking philosophy; (6) changes in accounting policies and principles and the accuracy of our assumptions and estimates used to prepare our financial statements; (7) extended disruption of vital infrastructure; (8) the final outcome of significant litigation or adverse legal developments in the proceedings; (9) the nature, extent, timing, and results of governmental actions, examinations, reviews, reforms, regulations, and interpretations, including those related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Basel III regulatory capital reforms, as well as those involving the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; (10) the possibility that the proposed acquisition of FirstMerit Corporation does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals are not received or other conditions to the closing are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all; (11) the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of FirstMerit Corporation are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of us and FirstMerit Corporation or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where we and FirstMerit Corporation do business; (12) the possibility that the acquisition of FirstMerit Corporation may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (13) diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities as a result of the acquisition of FirstMerit Corporation; (14) potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationship, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the acquisition of FirstMerit Corporation; (15) and our ability to complete the acquisition and integration of FirstMerit Corporation successfully. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and documents subsequently filed by us with the SEC. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For discussion of these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, look under the captions “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the SEC, and in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

We encourage you to understand forward-looking statements to be strategic objectives rather than absolute forecasts of future performance. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at that time. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by federal securities laws. As forward-looking

 

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statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements. Please carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in this document, in the accompanying prospectus and in our other reports filed with the SEC for more information about the risks and other factors that may affect our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our notes involves certain risks. You should carefully consider the risks described below and the risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment decision. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. This prospectus supplement also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks faced by us described below and elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Risks Related to the Notes

The notes are our obligations and not obligations of our subsidiaries and will be structurally subordinated to the claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors.

The notes are exclusively our obligations and not those of our subsidiaries. We are a holding company that conducts substantially all of our operations through our bank and non-bank subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make payments on the notes will depend primarily upon the receipt of dividends and other distributions from our subsidiaries. If we do not receive sufficient cash dividends and other distributions from our subsidiaries, it is unlikely that we will have sufficient funds to make payments on the notes.

Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the notes or to provide us with funds to pay our obligations on the notes, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. In addition, any dividend payments, distributions, loans or advances to us by our subsidiaries in the future will require the generation of future earnings by our subsidiaries and may require regulatory approval. There are statutory and regulatory limitations on the payment of dividends by the Bank to us, as well as by us to our stockholders. The Bank may not, without prior regulatory approval, pay a dividend in an amount greater than its undivided profits. If the Bank is unable to make dividend payments to us and sufficient capital is not otherwise available, we may not be able to make principal and interest payments on our debt, including the notes.

In addition, our right to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or otherwise will generally be subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary. Your ability as a holder of the notes to benefit indirectly from that distribution also will be subject to these prior claims. The notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. As a result, the notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, including deposits, which means that our subsidiaries’ creditors will be paid from our subsidiaries’ assets before holders of the notes would have any claims to those assets. Therefore, you should look only to our assets for payments on the notes. At December 31, 2015, the aggregate amount of all debt and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, including deposits, was approximately $63 billion. Our subsidiaries may incur additional debt and liabilities in the future, all of which would rank structurally senior to the notes.

The notes will be effectively junior to all of our and our subsidiaries’ secured indebtedness.

The notes will be effectively subordinated to any of the existing and future secured debt we or our subsidiaries may incur, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. In the event that we are declared bankrupt, become insolvent or are liquidated or reorganized, any debt that ranks ahead of the notes will be entitled to be paid in full from our assets before any payment may be made with respect to the notes. Holders of the notes will participate ratably with all holders of our unsecured indebtedness that is deemed to be of the same ranking as the notes, and potentially with all of our other general creditors, based upon the respective amounts owed to each holder or creditor, in our remaining assets. In any of the foregoing events, we may not have sufficient assets to pay amounts due on the notes. As a result, if holders of the notes receive any payments, they may receive less, ratably, than holders of secured indebtedness.

 

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There are limited covenants in the indenture pursuant to which we will issue the notes.

Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries is restricted from incurring additional debt or other liabilities, including additional senior debt, under the indenture pursuant to which we will issue the notes. If we incur additional debt or liabilities, our ability to pay our obligations on the notes could be adversely affected. We expect to incur, from time to time, additional debt and other liabilities. In addition, we are not restricted under the indenture from granting security interests over our assets, except to the extent described under “Description of Notes—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” and “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants” in this prospectus supplement, or from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our securities.

In addition, there are no financial covenants in the indenture. You are not protected under the indenture in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, a default under our existing indebtedness, restructuring, merger or similar transaction that may adversely affect you, except to the extent described under “Description of Notes—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” and “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants” included in this prospectus supplement.

The notes are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The notes are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of a bank and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

You may be unable to sell the notes because there is no public trading market for the notes.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system. Consequently, the notes will be relatively illiquid and you may be unable to sell your notes. Although the representatives of the underwriters have advised us that, following completion of the offering of the notes, one or more of the underwriters currently intend to make a secondary market in the notes, they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. Accordingly, a trading market for the notes may not develop or any such market may not have sufficient liquidity.

If a trading market for the notes develops, changes in our credit ratings or the debt markets could adversely affect the liquidity and market price of the notes.

If a trading market develops, the liquidity and prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including: (i) our credit ratings with major credit rating agencies; (ii) the prevailing interest rates being paid by other companies similar to us; (iii) our financial condition, financial performance and future prospects; and (iv) the overall condition of the financial markets.

The condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated significantly in the past and may fluctuate in the future. Such fluctuations could have an adverse effect on the liquidity and price of the notes.

In addition, credit rating agencies periodically review their ratings and ratings methodologies for the companies that they follow, including us and the Bank. A negative change in ratings or outlook could have an adverse effect on the liquidity and price of the notes.

A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be revised, suspended or withdrawn by the credit rating agency at any time.

 

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Risks Related to the Merger

Regulatory approvals for the acquisition of FirstMerit may not be received, may take longer than expected, or may impose conditions that are not presently anticipated or that could have an adverse effect on the combined company following the acquisition.

Before our acquisition of FirstMerit (the “FirstMerit acquisition”) may be completed, we and FirstMerit must obtain approvals from the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the United States Department of Justice. Other approvals, waivers, or consents from regulators may also be required. An adverse development in either party’s regulatory standing or the factors considered by relevant governmental authorities could result in an inability to obtain approval or delay receipt of required approvals. The relevant governmental entities may impose conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions on the conduct of the combined company’s business or require branch divestitures or changes to the terms of the FirstMerit acquisition. There can be no assurance that relevant government entities will not impose conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions and that such conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions will not have the effect of delaying the completion of the FirstMerit acquisition, imposing material additional costs on or materially limiting the revenues of the combined company following the FirstMerit acquisition or otherwise reduce the anticipated benefits of the FirstMerit acquisition. Additionally, the completion of the FirstMerit acquisition is conditioned on the absence of certain orders, injunctions or decrees by any court or regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction that would prohibit or make illegal the completion of the FirstMerit acquisition.

The success of the FirstMerit acquisition and integration of Huntington and FirstMerit will depend on a number of uncertain factors.

The success of the FirstMerit acquisition will depend on a number of factors, including, without limitation:

 

•

our ability to integrate the business acquired from FirstMerit Bank in the FirstMerit acquisition (which we refer to as the “acquired business”) into the Bank’s current operations;

 

•

our ability to limit the outflow of deposits held by our new customers in the acquired business and to successfully retain and manage interest-earning assets (i.e., loans) acquired in the FirstMerit acquisition;

 

•

our ability to control the incremental non-interest expense from the acquired business in a manner that enables us to maintain a favorable overall efficiency ratio;

 

•

our ability to retain and attract the key employees and appropriate personnel;

 

•

our ability to earn acceptable levels of interest and non-interest income, including fee income, from the acquired business;

 

•

our ability to retain the customer relationships from the acquired business; and

 

•

the possibility that divestitures may be required by regulatory authorities in certain markets in which we and FirstMerit compete.

Integrating the acquired business will be an operation of substantial size and expense, and may be affected by general market and economic conditions or government actions affecting the financial industry generally. Integration efforts will also likely divert our management’s attention and resources. No assurance can be given that we will be able to integrate the acquired business successfully, and the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of ongoing business, or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with clients, customers, depositors and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the FirstMerit acquisition. We may also encounter unexpected difficulties or costs during the integration that could adversely affect our earnings and financial condition, perhaps materially. Additionally, no assurance can be given that the operation of the acquired business will not adversely affect our existing profitability, that we will be able to achieve results in the future similar to those achieved by our existing banking business, or that we will be able to manage any growth resulting from the FirstMerit acquisition effectively.

 

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Combining Huntington and FirstMerit may be more difficult, costly or time consuming than expected and the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the acquisition may not be realized.

Huntington and FirstMerit have operated and, until the completion of the FirstMerit acquisition, will continue to operate, independently. The success of the FirstMerit acquisition, including anticipated benefits and cost savings, will depend, in part, on our ability to successfully combine and integrate our business and FirstMerit’s business in a manner that permits growth opportunities, and does not materially disrupt existing customer relations nor result in decreased revenues due to loss of customers. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of either company’s ongoing businesses, or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures, and policies that adversely affect the combined company’s ability to maintain relationships with clients, customers, depositors, and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the FirstMerit acquisition. The loss of key employees could adversely affect our ability to successfully conduct our business, which could have an adverse effect on our financial results. If we experience difficulties with the integration process and attendant systems conversion, the anticipated benefits of the FirstMerit acquisition may not be realized fully or at all, or may take longer to realize than expected. As with any merger of financial institutions, there also may be business disruptions that cause us and/or FirstMerit to lose customers or cause customers to remove their accounts from us and/or FirstMerit and move their business to competing financial institutions. Integration efforts between the two companies will also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on each of FirstMerit and us during this transition period and for an undetermined period after completion of the FirstMerit acquisition on the combined company. In addition, the actual cost savings of the FirstMerit acquisition could be less than anticipated.

We will be subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the FirstMerit acquisition is pending.

Uncertainty about the effect of the FirstMerit acquisition on employees and customers may have an adverse effect on us. These uncertainties may impair our ability to attract, retain, and motivate key personnel until the FirstMerit acquisition is completed, and could cause customers and others that deal with us to seek to change existing business relationships with us. Retention of certain employees by us may be challenging while the FirstMerit acquisition is pending, as certain employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles with the combined company. If key employees depart because of issues relating to the uncertainty and difficulty of integration, or a desire not to remain with us, our business could be harmed.

 

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CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The table below sets forth Huntington’s consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods presented. For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings represent income before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges include all interest expense and the portion deemed representative of the interest factor of rent expense. These ratios are presented both including and excluding interest on deposits.

 

Year Ended December 31,

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

Excluding interest on deposits

7.71x

9.01x

10.41x

8.54x

6.38x

Including interest on deposits

5.13x

5.34x

5.08x

3.99x

2.77x

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth Huntington’s consolidated cash and cash equivalents and consolidated capitalization as of December 31, 2015, on an actual basis and on an adjusted basis giving effect to the issuance and sale of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement and the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the notes as described under “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and our other offering fees and expenses. You should read the following table together with “Use of Proceeds” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Huntington’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This table does not take account for the Merger.

 

(dollar amounts in thousands, except number of shares)		December 31, 2015 (actual)				December 31, 2015 (adjusted)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	847,156			$
Liabilities
Deposits		$	55,294,979			$	55,294,979
Short-term borrowings			615,279				615,279
Long-term debt			7,067,614
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			1,472,073				1,472,073
Total liabilities		$	64,449,945			$
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred stock—authorized 6,617,808 shares:
8.50% Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, par value of $0.01 per share, $1,000 liquidation preference per share, 575,000 authorized and 362,506 outstanding on an actual basis and on an adjusted basis			362,506				362,506
Floating Rate Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value of $0.01 per share, $1,000 liquidation preference per share, 35,500 authorized and outstanding on an actual basis and on an as adjusted basis			23,785				23,785
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 1,500,000,000 authorized, 796,969,694 issued and 794,928,886 outstanding			7,970				7,970
Capital surplus			7,038,502				7,038,502
Less treasury shares, at cost			(17,932	)			(17,932	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(226,158	)			(226,158	)
Retained (deficit) earnings			(594,067	)			(594,067	)
Total shareholders’ equity			6,594,606				6,594,606
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity		$	71,044,551			$

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds to us from the sale of the notes, after the deduction of estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses payable by us, will be approximately $         , and will be used by us for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding asset growth of our subsidiaries. This offering of notes is not conditioned on the consummation of the Merger.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

General

The notes will be a series of our senior debt securities. The notes will be issued under a senior indenture, dated as of December 29, 2005, as amended and supplemented by a supplemental indenture, to be dated as of                 , 2016, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, a national banking association, as trustee. Throughout this description of the notes, we refer to both the senior indenture and supplemental indenture together as the “indenture.” The trustee’s main role is to enforce your rights against us if we default. The following description of the notes may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the indenture. Wherever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indenture, it is our intent that those sections or defined terms will be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

The notes will be issued in fully registered book-entry form without coupons and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We do not intend to apply for the listing of the notes on any securities exchange. The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated and will rank equally among themselves and with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The notes will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries may, without notice or consent of the holders of the notes, incur additional debt or liabilities in the future, all of which would rank structurally senior to the notes. Huntington may from time to time, without notice or consent of the holders of the notes, incur additional senior indebtedness ranking equally with the notes, as well as additional subordinated indebtedness ranking junior to the notes. As of December 31, 2015, the aggregate amount of all debt and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, including deposits, was approximately $63 billion.

Since we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including holders of the notes, to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries upon the liquidation or reorganization of any of our subsidiaries will be subject to prior claims of the creditors of any such subsidiary, including, in the case of the Bank, its depositors, except to the extent that we are a creditor of such subsidiary with recognized claims against the subsidiary. Claims on our subsidiaries by creditors other than us may include claims with respect to long-term debt and substantial obligations with respect to deposit liabilities, federal funds purchased, securities sold under repurchase agreements, other short-term borrowings and various other financial obligations.

The notes will be subject to defeasance under the conditions described below in “—Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.” No additional amounts or make-whole amounts, as those terms are defined in the indenture, will be payable with respect to the notes.

The notes are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any of our bank or non-bank subsidiaries and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

The notes will initially be limited to an aggregate principal amount of $         . We may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, increase the principal amount of the notes by issuing additional notes in the future with the same terms and conditions, except for any differences in the issue date, the issue price and interest accrued prior to the date of issuance of the additional notes, and with the same CUSIP number as the notes offered by this prospectus supplement; provided that if any additional notes are not fungible with the notes offered by this prospectus supplement for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional notes will be issued under a separate CUSIP number. The notes offered by this prospectus supplement and any additional notes would rank equally and ratably and would be treated as a single series for all purposes under the indenture.

The notes will mature at 100% of their principal amount on                 , 20     (the “maturity date”). The notes will not be subject to redemption at our option at any time prior to                 , 20     (             month prior to their

 

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maturity date). At any time on or after                 , 20     , we may, at our option, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days’ prior notice, redeem all or any portion of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed. Holders of any notes redeemed will also receive accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

The notes will not be subject to repayment at the option of the holder at any time prior to maturity and will not be entitled to any sinking fund.

Payments of principal and interest to owners of the book-entry interests described below are expected to be made in accordance with the procedures of The Depository Trust Company and its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System.

Interest

The notes will bear interest at an annual rate equal to     %. Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on          and          of each year, beginning on                 , 2016, to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the preceding          and                 , respectively, of each year. Interest on the notes at the maturity date will be payable to the persons to whom principal is payable. Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest payments on the notes will be the amount of interest accrued from and including                 , 2016 or the most recent interest payment date on which interest has been paid to but excluding the next such interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be.

If an interest payment date or the maturity date falls on a day that is not a business day, the related payment of interest and principal will be made on the next day that is a business day, and no interest on the notes or such payment will accrue for the period from and after such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be.

When we refer to a “business day” with respect to the notes, we mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Ranking

The notes will be senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to the existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries. Because we are a holding company, our right to participate in any distribution of the assets of our banking or nonbanking subsidiaries, upon a subsidiary’s dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, and thus the ability of a holder of notes to benefit indirectly from such distribution, is subject to prior claims of creditors of any such subsidiary, except to the extent that we may be a creditor of that subsidiary and our claims are recognized. There are legal limitations on the extent to which some of our subsidiaries, including the Bank, may extend credit, pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to, or engage in transactions with, us or some of our other subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the notes or to provide us with funds to pay our obligations on the notes, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. Our subsidiaries may, without notice or consent of the holders of the notes, incur additional debt and liabilities in the future, all of which would rank structurally senior to the notes. As of December 31, 2015, our subsidiaries had, in the aggregate, outstanding debt and other liabilities, including deposits, of approximately $63 billion. All of such debt and other liabilities would rank structurally senior to the notes in case of liquidation or otherwise. As of December 31, 2015, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (parent company only) had approximately $0.4 billion of outstanding senior debt and approximately $0.6 billion of outstanding subordinated and junior subordinated debt.

 

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Redemption

The notes will not be subject to redemption at our option at any time prior to                 , 20          (         month prior to their maturity date). At any time on or after                 , 20     , we may, at our option, redeem all or any portion of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes. Holders of any notes redeemed will also receive accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

If any notes are redeemed, the redemption price payable to the holder of any notes called for redemption will be payable on the applicable redemption date against the surrender to us or our agent of any certificate(s) evidencing the notes called for redemption.

The notes will not be subject to repayment at the option of the holder at any time prior to maturity and will not be entitled to any sinking fund.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

We may consolidate with, or sell, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of our assets to, or merge with or into, any other corporation, trust or other entity, provided that:

 

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we are the survivor in the merger, or the survivor, if not us, (1) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and (2) expressly assumes by supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all of the outstanding notes and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions to be performed by us contained in the indenture;

 

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immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating any indebtedness that becomes an obligation of ours or one of our subsidiaries as a result of the transaction, as having been incurred by us or the subsidiary at the time of the transaction, no Event of Default (as defined below) under the indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

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if, as a result of the transaction, our property or assets would be subject to a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance that would not be permitted under the indenture, we or such successor person, as the case may be, shall take steps to secure the notes equally and ratably with all indebtedness secured in the transaction; and

 

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we deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer of our properties and assets complies with the indenture and that all conditions precedent to such consolidation, merger or transfer of properties and assets have been complied with.

Upon any such consolidation, merger, or sale, the successor corporation formed, or into which we are merged or to which we are sold, shall succeed to, and be substituted for, us under the indenture.

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, change of control of us or a transaction in which we incur a large amount of additional debt unless the transactions or change of control included a merger or consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets. There are no covenants or other provisions in the indenture providing for a put or increased interest or that would otherwise afford holders of the notes additional protection in the event of a recapitalization transaction, a change of control of us or a transaction in which we incur or acquire a large amount of additional debt.

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the property or assets of a person.

 

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Certain Covenants

Maintenance of Properties. We will cause all of our material properties used or useful in the conduct of our business or the business of any of our subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair, and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and we will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments, and improvements for those properties, as we in our judgment believe is necessary so that we may carry on the business related to those properties properly and advantageously at all times; provided, however, that we will not be prevented from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in our judgment, desirable in the conduct of our business or the business of any of our subsidiaries and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the notes.

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. We will pay or discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged, before they become delinquent,

 

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all taxes, assessments, and governmental charges levied or imposed upon us or any subsidiary of ours or upon our income, profits or property or that of any subsidiary of ours; and

 

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all lawful claims for labor, materials, and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon our property or any subsidiary of ours;

provided, however, that we will not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any tax, assessment, charge or claim the amount, applicability or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate provision is made.

Waiver of Certain Covenants. We may choose not to comply with any term, provision or condition of certain covenants contained in the indenture, or with certain other terms, provisions or conditions with respect to the notes (except any such term, provision or condition which could not be amended without the consent of all holders of the notes), if before the time for compliance with the covenant, term, provision or condition, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the notes either waive compliance in that instance or generally waive compliance with that covenant, provision or condition. Unless the holders of the notes expressly waive compliance with a covenant and the waiver has become effective, our obligations and the duties of the trustee in respect of the term, provision, or condition will remain in full force and effect.

Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock in Principal Subsidiary Bank. We will not be permitted, pursuant to the covenants in the indenture, directly or indirectly, to do any of the following:

 

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sell, assign, pledge, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, or permit to be issued, any shares of capital stock of a principal subsidiary bank or any securities convertible into or rights to subscribe to such capital stock, unless, after giving effect to that transaction and the shares to be issued upon conversion of such securities or exercise of such rights into that capital stock, we will own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the outstanding shares of each class of capital stock of that principal subsidiary bank; or

 

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pay any dividend in capital stock of a principal subsidiary bank or make any other distribution in capital stock of a principal subsidiary bank, unless the principal subsidiary bank to which the transaction relates, after obtaining any necessary regulatory approvals, unconditionally guarantees payment of the principal and interest on the notes.

The term “principal subsidiary bank” means any subsidiary bank, the consolidated assets of which constitute 50% or more of our consolidated assets. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, our only principal subsidiary bank is the Bank. The indenture does not restrict the ability of the principal subsidiary bank to sell or dispose of assets.

The foregoing covenant in the indenture, however, does not prohibit any of the following:

 

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any dispositions or dividends made by us or any principal subsidiary bank acting in a fiduciary capacity for any person or entity other than us or any principal subsidiary bank or to us or any of our wholly-owned subsidiaries;

 

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the merger or consolidation of a principal subsidiary bank with and into another principal subsidiary bank;

 

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the sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition of shares of voting stock of a principal subsidiary bank made by us or any subsidiary where:

 

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the sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition is made, in the minimum amount required by law, to any person for the purpose of the qualification of such person to serve as a director;

 

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the sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition is made in compliance with an order of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction or as a condition imposed by any such court or regulatory authority to the acquisition by us or any principal subsidiary bank, directly or indirectly, of any other corporation, trust or other entity;

 

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the sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition of voting stock or any other securities convertible into or rights to subscribe to voting stock of a principal subsidiary bank, so long as:

 

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any such transaction is made for fair market value as determined by our board of directors or the board of directors of the principal subsidiary bank disposing of such voting stock or other securities or rights; and

 

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after giving effect to such transaction and to any potential dilution, we and our directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiaries will own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the voting stock of such principal subsidiary bank;

 

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any of our principal subsidiary banks selling additional shares of voting stock to its stockholders at any price, so long as immediately after such sale, we own, directly or indirectly, at least as great a percentage of the voting stock of such subsidiary bank as we owned prior to such sale of additional shares; or

 

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a pledge made or a lien created to secure loans or other extensions of credit by a principal subsidiary bank subject to Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act.

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Each of the following “Events of Default” set forth in the indenture will be applicable to the notes:

 

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we fail for 30 days to pay any installment of interest payable on the notes;

 

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we fail to pay the principal of (or premium, if any, on) the notes when due;

 

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we default in the performance of or breach any other covenant or agreement we made in the indenture with respect to the notes which default or breach has continued for 90 days after written notice as provided for in accordance with the indenture by the trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the notes;

 

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we default under a bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by us that has a principal amount outstanding that is more than $50 million (other than non-recourse indebtedness) under the terms of the instrument under which the indebtedness is issued or secured, which default has caused the indebtedness to become due and payable earlier than it would otherwise have become due and payable, and the acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled, or the indebtedness is discharged, or there is deposited in trust enough money to discharge the indebtedness, within 30 days after written notice was provided to us by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the notes in accordance with the indenture; and

 

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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or our principal banking subsidiary occur.

 

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If there is a continuing Event of Default under the indenture with respect to the notes, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the total principal amount of the notes may declare immediately due and payable the principal amount of the notes.

If an event of default occurs as a result of our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal amount of the notes shall become immediately due and payable automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.

However, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the notes then outstanding has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

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we deposit with the trustee all required payments of the principal of, and interest on the notes (and, to the extent lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest) plus certain fees, expenses, disbursements and advances of the trustee; and

 

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all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal of the notes, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture.

The indenture also provides that the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the notes may waive any past default with respect to the notes and its consequences, except a default consisting of:

 

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our failure to pay the principal of or interest on the notes; or

 

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a default relating to a covenant or provision contained in the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of each outstanding note.

The trustee is generally required to give notice to the holders of the notes within 90 days of a default of which the trustee has actual knowledge under the indenture unless the default has been cured or waived.

The indenture provides that no holder of the notes may institute a proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, unless such holder has previously given notice to the trustee of an Event of Default and the trustee fails to act for 60 days after:

 

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it has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an Event of Default from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the notes, as well as an offer of indemnity satisfactory to the trustee; and

 

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no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during that 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes.

Subject to provisions in the indenture relating to the trustee’s duties in case of default, the trustee is not under an obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any holders of the notes, unless the holders of the notes have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to these provisions for the indemnification of the trustee, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the notes will have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. However, the trustee may refuse to follow any direction which is in conflict with any law or the indenture or which may involve the trustee in personal liability.

Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, we must deliver to the trustee a certificate, signed by one of several specified officers, stating such officer’s knowledge of our compliance with all the conditions and covenants under the indenture and, in the event of any noncompliance, specifying such noncompliance and the nature and status of the noncompliance.

 

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Modification of the Indenture

Modification and amendment of the indenture may be made only with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the notes. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder affected thereby, do any of the following:

 

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change the stated maturity or due date of the principal of or interest payable on the notes or change any place of payment where or the currency in which such principal and interest is payable;

 

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reduce the principal amount of or the rate or amount of interest on the notes;

 

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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the notes (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date);

 

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reduce the percentage of the holders of the notes necessary to modify or amend the indenture or to waive compliance with certain provisions thereof or certain defaults and consequences thereunder; or

 

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modify any of the foregoing provisions or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of certain past defaults or certain covenants with respect to the notes, except to increase the required percentage to effect such action or to provide that certain other provisions may not be modified or waived without the consent of the holders of the notes.

We and the trustee may modify or amend the indenture, without the consent of any holder of the notes for any of the following purposes:

 

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to evidence the succession of another person pursuant to the terms of the indenture to us as obligor under the indenture;

 

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to add to the covenants for the benefit of the holders of the notes or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture;

 

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to add Events of Default for the benefit of the holders of the notes;

 

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to add or change any provisions of the indenture to facilitate the issuance of notes in bearer form, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of notes in uncertificated form, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the notes in any material respect;

 

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to add, change or eliminate any provisions of the indenture, provided that any such addition, change or elimination shall:

 

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neither (a) apply to any note created prior to the execution of the supplemental indenture effectuating such addition, change or elimination and entitled to the benefit of such provision, nor (b) modify the rights of the holder of such note with respect to such provision; or

 

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become effective only when there are no notes outstanding under the indenture;

 

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to secure the notes;

 

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to evidence and provide for the acceptance or appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the notes or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee;

 

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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture, provided that in each case, such provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the notes in any material respect; and

 

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to qualify, or maintain qualification of, the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Under the indenture, we may discharge certain obligations to holders of the notes that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or will become due and

 

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payable within one year. We can discharge these obligations by irrevocably depositing with the trustee funds in United States dollars in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on the notes, including the principal of and interest payable on the notes to the date of the deposit, if the notes have become due and payable, or to the maturity date, if the notes have not yet become due and payable.

We may also elect either of the following:

 

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to be defeased and discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the notes (“legal defeasance”), except our obligations, including but not limited to:

 

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to register the transfer or exchange of the notes;

 

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to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes;

 

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to maintain an office or agency for the notes; and

 

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to hold moneys for payment in trust; or

 

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to be defeased and discharged from certain of our obligations under “—Certain Covenants,” including “—Certain Covenants—Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock in Principal Subsidiary Bank,” with respect to the notes and our obligations described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the notes, our obligations with respect to any other covenant (“covenant defeasance”).

If we choose to defease and discharge our obligations under the covenants with respect to the notes, any failure to comply with the obligations imposed on us by the covenants will not constitute a default or an Event of Default with respect to the notes. However, to make either election, we must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, an amount, in United States dollars, in United States government obligations or both, that will provide sufficient funds to pay the principal of and interest on the notes on the relevant scheduled due dates.

We may defease and discharge our obligations as described in the preceding paragraphs only if, among other things:

 

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we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance described in the previous paragraphs and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. In the case of legal defeasance, the opinion of counsel must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or a change in applicable United States federal income tax laws occurring after the date of the indenture;

 

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we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that, after the 120th day following the deposit or, if longer, after the expiration of the longest preference period applicable to us under federal or state law in respect of such deposit, the trust funds deposited with the trustee to pay the principal of and interest on the notes on the relevant scheduled due dates will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally;

 

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any such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, does not result in, or constitute, a breach or violation of the indenture or any other material agreement which we are a party to or obligated under; and

 

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no Event of Default, or event that with notice or lapse of time or both will be an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing with respect to the notes.

Same-Day Settlement and Payment

Initial settlement for the notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System.

 

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Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as trustee for the notes. From time to time, we and some of our subsidiaries may maintain deposit accounts and conduct other banking transactions, including lending transactions, with the trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, we maintain banking relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business. These banking relationships include The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. serving as trustee under the indenture involving our existing debt securities, serving as trustee in connection with trust preferred securities that were issued by certain of our financing trusts, and providing us with general banking services. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default under the notes, or upon the occurrence of a default under another indenture under which The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. serves as trustee, the trustee may be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the other debt securities as to which we are not in default for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act and, accordingly, may be required to resign as trustee under the indenture. In that event, we would be required to appoint a successor trustee.

The trustee will have all of the duties and responsibilities specified under the Trust Indenture Act.

Miscellaneous

We, or our affiliates, may from time to time purchase any of the notes that are then outstanding, by tender in the open market or by private agreement.

Notices

Any notices required to be given to the holders of the notes will be given to DTC.

Governing Law

The indenture and the notes are governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM

The Depository Trust Company, which we refer to along with its successors in this capacity as “DTC,” will act as securities depository for the notes. The notes will be issued only as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One or more fully registered global security certificates, representing the total aggregate number of notes, will be issued for the notes and will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC.

Investors may elect to hold beneficial interests in the global security certificates representing the notes through either DTC, in the United States, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”), and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), if they are participants in these systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in these systems.

DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that DTC’s participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of Direct Participants of DTC and members of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation (also subsidiaries of DTCC), as well as by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Access to the depository system is also available to others, such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The DTC rules applicable to DTC’s participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com or www.dtc.org.

Purchase of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser (which we refer to as “beneficial owners”) of the notes will be recorded on the Direct or Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the notes except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global security certificates deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the notes with the trustee as custodian for DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts the notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

 

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Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct and Indirect Participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities within an issue are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to any notes unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to the issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

If DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the global securities relating to the notes or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, if so required by applicable law or regulation, we will appoint a successor depository. If we do not appoint such successor depository within 90 days after we receive such notice or become aware of such unwillingness, inability or ineligibility, or an Event of Default under the indenture with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing and the beneficial owners representing a majority in principal amount of the notes advise DTC to cease acting as depository for the notes, we will issue notes in certificated form (the “Certificated Notes”) in exchange for that global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have the notes represented by global securities. In such event, we will issue Certificated Notes in exchange for all of the notes represented by global securities. The Certificated Notes issued in exchange for those global securities will be in the same minimum denominations and be of the same aggregate principal amount and tenor as the portion of each global security to be exchanged. Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes and will not be considered the registered holders of the notes for any purpose, including receiving payments of principal or interest.

As long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the global security certificates, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global security certificates and all notes represented by these certificates for all purposes under the instruments governing the rights and obligations of holders of such notes. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in global security certificates:

 

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will not be entitled to have such global security certificates or the notes represented by these certificates registered in their names;

 

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will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities certificates in exchange for beneficial interests in global security certificates; and

 

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will not be considered to be owners or holders of the global security certificates or any notes represented by these certificates for any purpose under the instruments governing the rights and obligations of holders of such notes.

All redemption proceeds, distributions and interest payments on the notes and all transfers and deliveries of such notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee, as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from the issuer or its agent, on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of that participant and not of DTC, the

 

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trustee, the issuer or any affiliate thereof, or any of their agents, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of the issuer or its agent, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security certificates will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through institutions that have accounts with DTC or its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in global security certificates will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee, with respect to participants’ interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by the participant on their behalf. Payments, transfers, deliveries, exchanges, redemptions and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global security certificates may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by DTC from time to time. Neither Huntington nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of DTC’s or any Direct or Indirect Participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in global security certificates, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Direct or Indirect Participant’s records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

Neither Huntington, nor any of the underwriters or the trustee, will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Direct Participants or Indirect Participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing DTC.

The information in this section concerning DTC and its book-entry system has been obtained from sources that Huntington believes to be accurate, but we assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

Clearstream and Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities representing the notes will be held in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries.

Clearstream is registered as a bank in Luxembourg, and as such is subject to regulation by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and the Banque Centrale du Luxembourg, which supervise and oversee the activities of Luxembourg banks. Clearstream Participants are world-wide financial institutions including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, and may include the underwriters or their affiliates. Indirect access to Clearstream is available to other institutions that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear as the operator of the Euroclear System (the “Euroclear Operator”) in Brussels to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and the Euroclear Operator.

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream.

 

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Euroclear holds securities and book-entry interests in securities for participating organizations (“Euroclear Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Euroclear Participants, and between Euroclear Participants and participants of certain other securities intermediaries through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of such participants or other securities intermediaries. Euroclear provides Euroclear Participants, among other things, with safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement, securities lending and borrowing, and related services. Euroclear Participants are investment banks, securities brokers and dealers, banks, central banks, supranationals, custodians, investment managers, corporations, trust companies and certain other organizations, and may include the underwriters or their affiliates. Non-participants in Euroclear may hold and transfer beneficial interests in a global security through accounts with a Euroclear Participant or any other securities intermediary that holds a book-entry interest in a global security through one or more securities intermediaries standing between such other securities intermediary and Euroclear.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.

Transfers between Euroclear Participants and Clearstream Participants will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.

Cross-market transfers between DTC’s participating organizations (“DTC Participants”), on the one hand, and Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the global security in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear Participants and Clearstream Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant purchasing an interest in a global security from a DTC Participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security related to the notes by or through a Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant to a DTC Participant will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following the DTC’s settlement date.

The information in this section concerning Euroclear and Clearstream and their book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of that information.

 

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None of us, any of the underwriters or the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and they may discontinue the procedures at any time.

 

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

General

The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes applicable to U.S. and non-U.S. holders (as defined below) who acquire notes pursuant to this offering at their original “issue price” (the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes is sold for cash (excluding sales to bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers)). This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the “Code,” U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial opinions, published positions of the IRS and other applicable authorities, each as in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect), and any such change or interpretation could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth herein.

This summary is for general information only and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular investor in light of that investor’s individual circumstances, nor does it address the effects of any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws or any U.S. federal estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer or alternative minimum tax considerations. This discussion deals only with notes held as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and it does not purport to be applicable to holders subject to special rules, such as banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, grantor trusts, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities that elect the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, a U.S. holder (as defined below) whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar, entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other flow-through entities (and investors therein), subchapter S corporations, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts or other tax-deferred accounts, controlled foreign corporations, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies or passive foreign investment companies for U.S. federal income tax purposes, certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States subject to U.S. federal income tax as expatriates, persons holding the notes through a “hybrid entity” or persons holding the notes as a hedge against currency risks, as a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “wash sale,” “hedging,” “conversion,” “constructive sale” or “integrated” transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This summary does not address the tax considerations that may be relevant to subsequent purchasers of the notes and does not address any tax consequences arising under the unearned income Medicare contribution tax pursuant to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 nor any considerations with respect to any withholding required pursuant to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2010 (including the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and intergovernmental agreements entered in connection therewith). This discussion assumes that the notes will be treated as debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If a partnership or an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership or an equity interest owner of such other entity will generally depend upon the status of the person and the activities of the partnership or other entity treated as a partnership. Thus, persons who are partners in a partnership or equity interest owners of another entity treated as a partnership holding any of the notes should consult their own tax advisors. We have not sought and will not seek any ruling from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in this discussion, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions.

Under certain circumstances, we will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the indenture. Such discharge may be treated as a taxable exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, and local tax consequences of such a discharge.

THIS SUMMARY OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX ISSUES IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF ALL TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. AND NON-U.S. HOLDERS RELATING TO THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES. PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT

 

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WITH THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN INCOME, ESTATE AND OTHER TAX LAWS OR ANY TAX TREATY.

U.S. Holders of the Notes

As used in this discussion, the term “U.S. holder” means a holder that is a beneficial owner of a note and that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

•

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

•

a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (and certain non-U.S. entities taxed as U.S. corporations under specialized sections of the Code);

 

•

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

•

a trust, if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Interest on the Notes. It is expected, and this discussion assumes, that the notes will be issued with less than a statutorily defined de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal tax purposes. Accordingly, a U.S. holder will generally be required to recognize as ordinary income any interest paid or accrued on the notes in accordance with its regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Disposition of Notes. Upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note, a U.S. holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition (except to the extent of accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as ordinary income) and such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be equal to the amount that such U.S. holder paid for the note. Any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the disposition a U.S. holder has held the note for more than one year. Long-term capital gains of noncorporate U.S. holders are generally subject to tax at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. Information reporting requirements generally will apply in connection with payments of interest on the notes to, and the proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the notes by, noncorporate U.S. holders. Under the Code and applicable U.S. Treasury regulations, a U.S. holder may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) with respect to any payments on the notes, or the proceeds of a sale, exchange or other disposition of the notes, unless such U.S. holder (a) comes within certain exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact in the manner required, or (b) within a reasonable period of time, provides a correct taxpayer identification number, certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. holder will generally be allowed as a credit against such U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such U.S. holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Non-U.S. Holders of the Notes

As used in this discussion, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that is not, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder as defined above, nor an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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Interest on the Notes. Subject to the discussions below under “—Backup Withholding, Information Reporting and Other Reporting Requirements,” U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment of interest on a note to a non-U.S. holder if the interest qualifies for the “portfolio interest exemption.” This will be the case provided that the non-U.S. holder:

 

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does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

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is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related directly or constructively to us through stock ownership;

 

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is not a bank that acquired the notes in consideration for an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business; and

 

•

either (a) provides its name and address, and certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a U.S. person as defined under the Code, which certification may be made on an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or other appropriate form, or (b) holds its notes through various foreign intermediaries and satisfies the certification requirements of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations.

Special certification and other rules apply to certain non-U.S. holders that are entities rather than individuals, particularly entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and certain other flow through entities, and to non-U.S. holders acting as (or holding notes through) intermediaries.

If the portfolio interest exemption does not apply, payments of interest will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% tax rate, unless the non-U.S. holder provides us with a properly executed: (1) IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or other appropriate form, claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an income tax treaty or (2) IRS Form W-8ECI, or successor form, stating that interest paid on the note is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

If a non-U.S. holder is engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest on a note is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and, if required under an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder), such non-U.S. holder (although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax at the 30% tax rate) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a U.S. holder. In addition, if such non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% of “effectively connected earnings and profits,” as determined under the Code, for the taxable year. However, any branch profits tax that would otherwise apply may not apply, or may apply at a reduced rate, under an applicable income tax treaty.

Disposition of Notes. Subject to the discussions below under “—Backup Withholding, Information Reporting and Other Reporting Requirements,” except with respect to accrued and unpaid interest, which will be treated as described under “—Non-U.S. Holders of the Notes—Interest on the Notes,” any gain realized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note by a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless: (i) that gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the non-U.S. holder (and, if required under an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder), in which case such person will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such non-U.S. holder were a U.S. person, and if such non-U.S. holder is a corporation, such holder may be subject to the branch profits tax referred to above, unless the holder qualifies for a lower rate or an exemption from such branch profits tax under an applicable income tax treaty, or (ii) such person is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition and other conditions are met in which case such person will generally be subject to a U.S. federal income tax of 30% (or, if applicable, a lower income tax treaty rate) on such gain, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, if any, of the non-U.S. holder.

 

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Backup Withholding, Information Reporting and Other Reporting Requirements. In general, backup withholding will not apply to a payment of interest on a note to a non-U.S. holder, or to proceeds from the disposition of a note by a non-U.S. holder, in each case, if the holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person as defined under the Code and neither we nor our paying agent has actual knowledge to the contrary.

Information reporting and backup withholding generally are not required with respect to the amount of any proceeds from the sale or other disposition of notes by a non-U.S. holder outside the United States through a foreign office of a foreign broker that does not have certain specified connections to the United States unless the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States, the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to the non-U.S. holder at a United States address or the sale has some other specified connection to the United States. However, if a non-U.S. holder sells or otherwise disposes of notes through a U.S. broker or the U.S. offices of a foreign broker, the broker will generally be required to report the amount of proceeds paid to the non-U.S. holder to the IRS and also to backup withhold on that amount unless such non-U.S. holder provides appropriate certification to the broker of its status as a non-U.S. person or otherwise establishes an exemption (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a U.S. person as defined under the Code). Information reporting will also apply if a non-U.S. holder sells notes through a foreign broker which derives more than a specified percentage of its income from U.S. sources or having certain other connections to the United States, unless such broker has documentary evidence in its records that such non-U.S. holder is a non-U.S. person and certain other conditions are met, or such non-U.S. holder otherwise establishes an exemption (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a U.S. person as defined under the Code).

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a non-U.S. holder generally can be credited against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or refunded, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.

THE FOREGOING SUMMARY DOES NOT DISCUSS ALL ASPECTS OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO INVESTORS IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND INCOME TAX SITUATION. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THEIR PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF STATE, LOCAL AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.

 

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CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

Each person considering the use of plan assets of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan, individual retirement account, Keogh plan or other retirement plan, account or arrangement, or a “plan,” to acquire or hold the notes should consider whether an investment in the notes would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the plan and with its fiduciary duties, including satisfaction of applicable prudence and diversification requirements, and whether the investment would involve a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any other applicable federal, state, local or non-U.S. or other laws, rules or regulations that are similar to the provisions of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or “Similar Laws.”

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit plans subject to Title I of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, including entities such as collective investment funds, partnerships and separate accounts or insurance company pooled separate accounts or insurance company general accounts whose underlying assets include the assets of such plans, or collectively, “Plans,” from engaging in certain transactions involving “Plan assets” with persons who are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under the Code with respect to the Plan. Such parties in interest or disqualified persons could include, without limitation, Huntington, the underwriters, the trustee, the agents or any of their respective affiliates. A violation of these prohibited transaction rules may result in civil penalties or other liabilities under ERISA, loss of tax-exempt status and/or an excise tax under Section 4975 of the Code for those persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory, regulatory or administrative exemption. Certain plans including those that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and non-U.S. plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) are not subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, but may be subject to Similar Laws.

The acquisition or holding of the notes by or on behalf of a Plan with respect to which we or certain of our affiliates are or become a party in interest or a disqualified person may constitute or result in prohibited transactions under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the notes are acquired or held pursuant to and in accordance with an applicable exemption.

Certain prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the notes. Those class exemptions are PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company separate accounts) and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified asset managers). In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code may provide a limited exemption for the purchase and sale of the notes and related lending transactions, provided that neither the issuer of the notes nor any of its affiliates have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of the Plan involved in the transaction and provided, further, that the Plan pays no more, and receives no less, than adequate consideration in connection with the transaction (the so-called “service provider exemption”). There can be no assurance that any of these statutory or class exemptions will be available with respect to transactions involving the notes.

Each purchaser or holder of the notes or any interest therein, and each person making the decision to purchase or hold the notes on behalf of any such purchaser or holder, will be deemed to have represented and warranted in both its individual capacity and its representative capacity (if any), that on each day from the date on which the purchaser or holder acquires its interest in the notes to the date on which the purchaser disposes of its interest in the notes, such purchaser and holder, by its purchase or holding of the notes or any interest therein, (i) is not a Plan, governmental plan, church plan or non-U.S. plan and its purchase and holding of the notes is not made on behalf of or with “Plan assets” of any Plan or the assets of any governmental plan, church plan or non-U.S. plan, or (ii) if it is a Plan, governmental plan, church plan or non-U.S. plan or its purchase and holding of

 

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the notes is made on behalf of or with “Plan assets” of a Plan or the assets of a governmental plan, church plan or non-U.S. plan then (A) its purchase and holding of the notes will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a non-exempt violation of Similar Law, and (B) neither Huntington nor any of our affiliates is acting as a fiduciary (within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA or within the meaning of Similar Law) in connection with the purchase or holding of the notes and has not provided any advice that has formed or may form a basis for any investment decision concerning the purchase or holding of the notes.

The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive. Each Plan fiduciary (and each fiduciary for governmental, church or foreign plans subject to Similar Laws) should consult with its legal advisor concerning the potential consequences to the plan under ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or such Similar Laws of an investment in the notes.

 

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a firm commitment underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the principal amount of notes set forth opposite its name below.

 

Underwriter		Principal Amount of Notes
Goldman, Sachs & Co.		$
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith                            Incorporated
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
The Huntington Investment Company
Total		$

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the notes sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these notes are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters and their controlling persons against certain liabilities in connection with this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the notes, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the notes, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representatives have advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the notes. In addition, the underwriters may allow, and those selected dealers may re-allow, a concession of up to     % of the principal amount of the notes to certain other dealers. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed.

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $        .

New Issue of Notes

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any national securities exchange or for inclusion of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the notes after completion of the offering. However, they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without any notice. We cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the notes or that an active public market for the notes will develop. If an active public trading market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected. If the notes are

 

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traded, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our operating performance and financial condition, general economic conditions and other factors.

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell the notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales and purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater principal amount of notes than they are required to purchase in the offering. The underwriters must close out any short position by purchasing notes in the open market. A short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the notes in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the notes or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

In connection with the offering of the notes, the person (if any) named as the stabilizing manager(s) (or persons acting on their behalf) may over-allot notes or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the stabilizing managers (or persons acting on their behalf) will undertake stabilization action. Any stabilization action may begin on or after the date of adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the relevant notes is made and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than 30 days after the date on which the issuer received the proceeds of the issue or no later than 60 days after the date of allotment of the relevant notes, whichever is the earlier.

Conflicts of Interest

Our affiliate, The Huntington Investment Company, is a member of FINRA and is participating in the distribution of the notes. The distribution arrangements for this offering comply with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121, regarding a FINRA member firm’s participation in the distribution of securities of an affiliate. In accordance with that rule, no FINRA member firm that has a “conflict of interest,” as defined therein, may make sales in this offering to any discretionary account without the prior approval of the customer.

Our affiliates, including The Huntington Investment Company, may use this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in connection with offers and sales of the notes in the secondary market. These affiliates may act as principal or agent in those transactions. Secondary market sales will be made at prices related to market prices at the time of sale.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to us and to persons and entities with relationships with us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

 

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In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of us (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with us. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies.

Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend.

Selling Restrictions

Canada

The notes may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”) an offer to the public of the notes may not be made in that Relevant Member State except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State may be made at any time with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive:

(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

(b) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives of the several underwriters; or

(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

 

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provided that no such offer of notes shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State. The expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

This EEA Selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus.

This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Relevant Member State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes.

United Kingdom

Each underwriter has represented, warranted and agreed that,

(a) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and

(b) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue and sale of such notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us.

This document is for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc”) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948 of Japan, as amended, “the FIEL”). Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any Japanese person or to others, for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a Japanese person, except for persons who are “qualified institutional investors” as defined in the Cabinet Ordinance Concerning Definitions under Article 2 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Ordinance No. 14 of 1993 of the Ministry of Finance of Japan, as amended) or otherwise in compliance with the FIEL and other applicable laws, regulations and governmental guidelines in Japan. For purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese person” means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

 

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Hong Kong

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that (a) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell in Hong Kong any notes by means of any document other than (i) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (“SFO”) and any rules made thereunder or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong, or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance and (b) it has not issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not have in its possession for the purpose of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

(a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

(1) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

(2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

(3) where the transfer is by operation of law;

(4) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

(5) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

 

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VALIDITY OF THE NOTES

The validity of the notes offered hereby as well as certain legal matters relating to the offering will be passed upon for us by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Additionally, certain legal matters relating to the offering will be passed upon for us by Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland. Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Shearman & Sterling LLP.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and for the year ended December 31, 2015 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in the Report of Management’s Assessment of Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting) as of December 31, 2015 incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 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.

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of FirstMerit as of December 31, 2015 and for the year then ended, appearing in Huntington’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 9, 2016 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Senior Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities

Warrants

Purchase Contracts for Securities

Guarantees

Units

Huntington Center

41 South High Street

Columbus, Ohio 43287

(614) 480-8300

 

 

The securities listed above may be offered and sold, from time to time, by Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (which may be referred to as “we” or “us” or “our” or the “Issuer”) and/or one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future in amounts, at prices, and on other terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The Issuer will describe the specific terms and manner of offering of these securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers on a continued or delayed basis.

Our common stock is listed and traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “HBAN.” Our 8.50% Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock is listed and traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “HBANP.”

 

 

Investing in the offered securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 1 of this prospectus.

These securities will be equity securities or unsecured obligations of the Issuer and will not be savings accounts, deposits, or other obligations of any of our bank or nonbank subsidiaries and will not be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the bank insurance fund or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is July 22, 2013.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
RISK FACTORS			1
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			3
EXPLANATORY NOTE			3
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE			4
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			5
HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED			5
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER			6
USE OF PROCEEDS			8
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS			8
LEGAL MATTERS			9
EXPERTS			9

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RISK FACTORS

Prior to making any investment decision with respect to the securities that we may offer, prospective investors should carefully consider the specific factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that are incorporated by reference herein, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or in the applicable prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference into this prospectus in light of their particular investment objectives and financial circumstances.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration or continuous offering process. Under this shelf process, we or one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future may from time to time sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

The following securities may be offered from time to time:

 

•

common stock;

 

•

preferred stock;

 

•

depositary shares;

 

•

senior debt securities;

 

•

units;

 

•

subordinated debt securities;

 

•

warrants;

 

•

guarantees; or

 

•

stock purchase contracts for securities.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we or any selling security holder may offer as well as other information you should know before investing in our securities. Each time that we or any selling security holder offer securities, we will file with the SEC a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to those securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change the information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.”

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We have not, and the underwriters and their affiliates and agents have not, authorized any person to provide any information or represent anything about us other than what is contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We do not, and the underwriters and their affiliates and agents do not, take any responsibility for, and can

 

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provide no assurance as to the reliability of, information that others may provide you. The Issuer may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement which includes the specific terms of that offering. The Issuer is only offering these securities in jurisdictions where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of those documents.

The Issuer 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 the Issuer directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time. If the Issuer, directly or through agents, solicits offers to purchase the securities, the Issuer reserves the sole right to accept and, together with its agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any of those offers.

The prospectus supplement will contain the names of the underwriters, dealers, or agents, if any, together with the terms of offering, the compensation of those underwriters, dealers, or agents, and the net proceeds to us. Any underwriters, dealers, or agents participating in the offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

One or more of our subsidiaries, including The Huntington Investment Company, may buy and sell any of the securities after the securities are issued as part of their business as a broker-dealer. Those subsidiaries may use this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement in those transactions. Any sale by a subsidiary will be made at the prevailing market price at the time of sale.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and on the investor relations page of our website at http://www.huntington.com. Except for those SEC filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus, none of the other information on our website is part of this prospectus. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facilities at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.

This prospectus omits some information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits included in the registration statement for further information about us and the securities offered by us. Statements in this prospectus concerning any document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

RETROSPECTIVE PRESENTATION FOR CHANGE IN

ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

Effective January 1, 2013, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities beginning with our 2013 first quarter Form 10-Q filed on April 29, 2013. The ASU amends Topic 210 by requiring additional improved information to be disclosed regarding financial instruments and derivative instruments that are offset in accordance with the conditions under ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 810-10-45 or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement.

The following tables present the gross amounts of these assets and liabilities with any offsets to arrive at the net amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011:

 

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets (Unaudited)
														Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheet
(dollar amounts in thousands)		Gross amounts of recognized assets				Gross amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheet				Net amounts of assets presented in the consolidated balance sheet				Financial instruments				cash collateral received				Net amount
Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets
December 31, 2011 Derivatives		$	492,659			$	(96,428	)		$	396,231			$	(33,199	)		$	(610	)		$	362,422
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities
														Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheet
(dollar amounts in thousands)		Gross amounts of recognized liabilities				Gross amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheet				Net amounts of assets presented in the consolidated balance sheet				Financial instruments				cash collateral received				Net amount
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities
December 31, 2011 Derivatives		$	259,626			$	(2,346	)		$	257,280			$	(189,001	)		$	—			$	68,279

 

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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Some information contained in this prospectus updates the information incorporated by reference, and information that we file in the future with the SEC will automatically modify, supersede or update this prospectus. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information in this prospectus and/or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”) (other than those “furnished” pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 in any Current Report on Form 8-K or other information deemed to have been “furnished” rather than filed in accordance with the SEC’s rules) after the initial filing of the registration statement related to this prospectus until the termination of the offering of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (including information specifically incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement filed on March 7, 2013);

 

•

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2013;

 

•

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on May 23, 2013, April 23, 2013 and March 15, 2013;

 

•

The description of our common stock, which is registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act, in our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on April 28, 1967, including any subsequently filed amendments and reports updating such description; and

 

•

The description of our 8.50% Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, which is registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act, in our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on May 19, 2008, including any subsequently filed amendments and reports updating such description.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not incorporating any document or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules.

Upon written or oral request, we will provide — at no cost to the requester — a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. You may make a request by writing to the following address or calling the following telephone number:

Todd Beekman

Investor Relations

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

41 South High Street

Columbus, Ohio 43287

Phone: (614) 480-3878

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements about the Issuer that are intended to be subject to the safe harbors created under U.S. federal securities laws. The use of words such as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans” and “believes,” among others, generally identify forward-looking statements; however, these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.

By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual conditions, events, or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, those which may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement and those under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and other factors described in our periodic reports filed from time to time with the SEC. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, those discussed under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in other information contained in our publicly available filings with the SEC. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have a material adverse effect on us and our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We encourage you to understand forward-looking statements to be strategic objectives rather than absolute forecasts of future performance. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We are not under any obligation to, or intend to, publicly update or review any of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized. Please carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our other reports filed with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.

HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED

We are a regional bank holding company organized under Maryland law and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The Huntington National Bank, founded in 1866, and its subsidiaries (the “Bank”) provide full-service commercial, small business, and consumer banking services; mortgage banking services; treasury management and foreign exchange services; equipment leasing; wealth and investment management services; trust services; brokerage services; customized insurance brokerage and service programs; and other financial products and services. The principal market for these services is our six-state banking franchise: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The primary distribution channels include a banking network of more than 700 traditional branches and convenience branches located in grocery stores and retirement centers, and through an array of alternative distribution channels including internet and mobile banking, telephone banking, and more than 1,400 ATMs. Through automotive dealership relationships within its six-state banking franchise area and selected other Midwest and New England states, we also provide commercial banking services to the automotive dealers and retail automobile financing for dealer customers.

As a registered financial holding company, we are subject to the supervision of the Federal Reserve. We are required to file with the Federal Reserve reports and other information regarding our business operations and the business operations of our subsidiaries.

At June 30, 2013, we had, on a consolidated basis, total assets of approximately $56.1 billion, total deposits of approximately $46.3 billion and total shareholder’s equity of approximately $5.8 billion.

Our principal executive offices are located at 41 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43287, and our telephone number is (614) 480-8300.

 

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SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

We may use this prospectus to offer securities in one or more offerings. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer securities, will describe the amounts, prices and detailed terms of the securities and may describe risks associated with an investment in the securities. We will also include in the prospectus supplement, where applicable, information about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities. Terms used in this prospectus will have the meanings described in this prospectus unless otherwise specified. The securities of each class as described in this prospectus may also be offered and sold, from time to time, by one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future.

We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. We, as well as any agents acting on our behalf, reserve the sole right to accept or to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of our securities. Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of our securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

Common Stock

We may sell our common stock, par value $0.01 per share. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the aggregate number of shares offered and the offering price or prices of the shares.

Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares

We may sell shares of our preferred stock in one or more series. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the specific designation, the aggregate number of shares offered, the dividend rate or manner of calculating the dividend rate, the dividend periods or manner of calculating the dividend periods, the ranking of the shares of the series with respect to dividends, liquidation and dissolution, the stated value of the shares of the series, the voting rights of the shares of the series, if any, whether and on what terms the shares of the series will be convertible or exchangeable, whether and on what terms we can redeem the shares of the series, whether we will offer depositary shares representing shares of the series and if so, the fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by each depositary share, whether we will list the preferred stock or depositary shares on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the series of preferred stock.

Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities

Our notes, including senior notes and subordinated notes, may be senior or subordinated in priority of payment. We will provide a prospectus supplement that describes the ranking, whether senior or subordinated, the level of seniority or subordination (as applicable), the specific designation, the aggregate principal amount, the purchase price, the maturity, the redemption terms, the interest rate or manner of calculating the interest rate, the time of payment of interest, if any, the terms for any conversion or exchange, including the terms relating to the adjustment of any conversion or exchange mechanism, the listing, if any, on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the notes.

Warrants

We may sell warrants to purchase our senior notes, subordinated notes, shares of preferred stock, shares of our common stock or units. In a prospectus supplement, we will inform you of the exercise price and other specific terms of the warrants, including whether our or your obligations, if any, under any warrants may be satisfied by delivering or purchasing the underlying securities or their cash value.

 

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Purchase Contracts

We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more other securities, for the purchase or sale of our senior notes, subordinated notes, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock.

Guarantees

We may issue guarantees of indebtedness issued by our subsidiaries.

Units

We may sell any combination of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus, together as units. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the particular combination of securities constituting any units and any other specific terms of the units.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we anticipate using the net proceeds from the sale of the securities by the Issuer will be added to our general funds and will be available for general corporate purposes, including, among other things:

 

•

the repayment of existing indebtedness,

 

•

the repurchase of our common stock,

 

•

investments in, or extensions of credit to, our existing or future subsidiaries, and

 

•

the financing of possible acquisitions.

Pending such use, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in short-term securities or reduce our short-term indebtedness, or we may hold the net proceeds in deposit accounts in our subsidiary bank.

Based upon our historical and anticipated future growth and our financial needs, we may engage in additional financings of a character and amount that we determine as the need arises.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND OF

EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED

STOCK DIVIDENDS

Our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the last five fiscal years, and for the latest interim period for which financial statements are presented in this document, are indicated below.

 

(Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

2012

2011

2010

20091

2008

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Excluding interest on deposits

16.20 x

12.09 x

8.29 x

4.42 x

(22.69) x

0.16 x

Including interest on deposits

5.49 x

4.49 x

2.98 x

1.65 x

(3.43) x

0.77 x

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

Excluding interest on deposits

10.17 x

8.46 x

6.29 x

1.66 x

(10.67) x

0.14 x

Including interest on deposits

4.67 x

3.95 x

2.74 x

1.25 x

(2.84) x

0.74 x

 

1

During the first quarter of 2009, Huntington experienced a sustained decline in its stock price, which was primarily attributable to the continuing economic slowdown and increased market concern surrounding financial institutions’ credit risks and capital positions as well as uncertainty related to increased regulatory supervision and intervention. Huntington determined that these changes would more likely than not reduce the fair value of certain reporting units below their carrying amounts. Therefore, Huntington performed a goodwill impairment test, which resulted in a goodwill impairment charge of $2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2009.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Issuer by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Venable LLP. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents by their own counsel.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the effectiveness of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated and its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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    % Senior Notes due        

 

 

 

                    , 2016

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

BofA Merrill Lynch

Morgan Stanley

Huntington Investment Company