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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2024

Registration No. 333-     

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

OHIO   34-0963169

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

6300 Wilson Mills Road, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

(440) 461-5000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

David M. Stringer, Secretary

The Progressive Corporation

6300 Wilson Mills Road

Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

(440) 461-5000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Suzanne K. Hanselman

John J. Harrington

Baker & Hostetler LLP

127 Public Square, Suite 2000

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION

Common Shares

Serial Preferred Shares

Senior Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Units

Purchase Contracts

 

 

We may offer from time to time our common shares, $1.00 par value (“common shares”), our serial preferred shares, without par value (“serial preferred shares”), either separately or represented, in the case of the serial preferred shares, by depositary shares, notes, debentures or other evidences of unsecured, senior indebtedness (“senior debt securities”), notes, debentures or other evidences of unsecured, subordinated indebtedness (“subordinated debt securities”), and warrants, as further described in this prospectus. In addition, we may issue units comprised of, or purchase contracts for, these securities or other purchase contract property as described below under “Description of Units” and “Description of Purchase Contracts.” Any series of serial preferred shares, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, warrants, units or purchase contracts may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common shares or another series of serial preferred shares or other securities. We may offer and sell these securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of the applicable offering. We sometimes refer to senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities as collectively “debt securities” and to common shares, serial preferred shares, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, units and purchase contracts collectively as “securities.”

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to those securities and the general way in which they may be offered. Each time we sell securities, we will specify the terms applicable to the securities being sold, and the manner in which they will be offered, in a supplement to this prospectus (a “prospectus supplement”). We may not use this prospectus to sell securities unless this prospectus is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol “PGR.”

Our principal executive office is located at 6300 Wilson Mills Road, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143, and our telephone number is (440) 461-5000.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before buying our securities, you should carefully read and consider the risks we describe in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the risk factors that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement from our filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus.

 

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS MAY 17, 2024.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     2  

RISK FACTORS

     4  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     5  

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION

     7  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     8  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     9  

DESCRIPTION OF SERIAL PREFERRED SHARES AND DEPOSITARY SHARES

     10  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     15  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     21  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     23  

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

     24  

LEGAL OWNERSHIP AND BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

     26  

TAXATION

     30  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     31  

LEGAL MATTERS

     32  

EXPERTS

     32  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”). Under the registration statement, we may offer from time to time the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Our discussions of those securities and certain related documents are summaries only and are not necessarily complete. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

This prospectus includes certain documents and information that are incorporated by reference below, and it omits some of the information contained in the registration statement and the exhibits thereto. Before you invest, you should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and the documents and other information that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, together with the registration statement and the documents that are attached to the registration statement as exhibits. Descriptions of the documents and other information that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as information about how to obtain copies of the registration statement and related documentation from us, can be found below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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When we use the terms “Progressive,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” in this prospectus, we mean The Progressive Corporation, and not any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, unless we state or the context implies otherwise.

No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations not contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus that we may provide in connection with any offering made hereby and thereby, and if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which it relates. This prospectus also does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation may not be legally made. The delivery of this prospectus at any time does not imply that the information in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus is correct as of any time after the date hereof or thereof.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described in any prospectus supplement that we provide and in our filings with the SEC referred to below under “Where You Can Find More Information,” including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which includes a “Risk Factors” discussion at Item 1A. Our subsequent filings with the SEC may contain amended and updated discussions of significant risks.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In this section, when we use the terms “Progressive,” the “company,” “we,” “us” or “our,” we mean The Progressive Corporation and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, unless we state or the context implies otherwise.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus not based upon historical fact are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements often use words such as “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “goal,” “target,” “anticipate,” “will,” “could,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” and other words and terms of similar meaning, or are tied to future periods, in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on current expectations and projections about future events, and are subject to certain risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, uncertainties related to:

 

   

our ability to underwrite and price risks accurately and to charge adequate rates to policyholders;

 

   

our ability to establish accurate loss reserves;

 

   

the impact of severe weather, other catastrophe events, and climate change;

 

   

the effectiveness of our reinsurance programs and the continued availability of reinsurance and performance by reinsurers;

 

   

the secure and uninterrupted operation of the systems, facilities, and business functions and the operation of various third-party systems that are critical to our business;

 

   

the impacts of a security breach or other attack involving our technology systems or the systems of one or more of our vendors;

 

   

our ability to maintain a recognized and trusted brand and reputation;

 

   

whether we innovate effectively and respond to our competitors’ initiatives;

 

   

whether we effectively manage complexity as we develop and deliver products and customer experiences;

 

   

our ability to attract, develop, and retain talent and maintain appropriate staffing levels;

 

   

the impact of misconduct or fraudulent acts by employees, agents, and third parties to our business and/or exposure to regulatory assessments;

 

   

the highly competitive nature of property-casualty insurance markets;

 

   

whether we adjust claims accurately;

 

   

compliance with complex and changing laws and regulations;

 

   

litigation challenging our business practices, and those of our competitors and other companies;

 

   

the success of our business strategy and efforts to acquire or develop new products or enter into new areas of business and our ability to navigate the related risks;

 

   

how intellectual property rights affect our competitiveness and our business operations;

 

   

the success of our development and use of new technology and our ability to navigate the related risks;

 

   

the performance of our fixed-income and equity investment portfolios;

 

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the impact on our investment returns and strategies from regulations and societal pressures relating to environmental, social, governance and other public policy matters;

 

   

our continued ability to access our cash accounts and/or convert investments into cash on favorable terms;

 

   

the impact if one or more parties with which we enter into significant contracts or transact business fail to perform;

 

   

legal restrictions on our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to The Progressive Corporation;

 

   

our ability to obtain capital when necessary to support our business and potential growth;

 

   

evaluations and ratings by credit rating and other rating agencies;

 

   

the variable nature of our common share dividend policy;

 

   

whether our investments in certain tax-advantaged projects generate the anticipated returns;

 

   

the impact from not managing to short-term earnings expectations in light of our goal to maximize the long-term value of the enterprise;

 

   

the impacts of epidemics, pandemics, or other widespread health risks; and

 

   

other matters described from time to time in our releases and publications, and in our periodic reports and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2023.

Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date presented. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or otherwise.

In addition, investors should be aware that accounting principles generally accepted in the United States prescribe when a company may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when we establish reserves for one or more contingencies. Also, our regular reserve reviews may result in adjustments of varying magnitude as additional information regarding claims activity becomes known. Reported results, therefore, may be volatile in certain accounting periods.

 

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THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION

In this section, when we use the terms “Progressive,” the “company,” “we,” “us” or “our,” we mean The Progressive Corporation and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, unless we state or the context implies otherwise.

The Progressive insurance organization began business in 1937. The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, has insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries and affiliates (references in this section to subsidiaries includes affiliates as well). Our insurance subsidiaries write personal and commercial auto insurance, personal residential property insurance, business-related general liability and commercial property insurance predominantly for small businesses, workers’ compensation insurance primarily for the transportation industry, and other specialty property-casualty insurance and provide related services. Our non-insurance subsidiaries generally support our insurance and investment operations. We operate throughout the United States. Unless noted, references to “state(s)” throughout this report include the District of Columbia. The Progressive Corporation, together with its insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries and affiliates, comprise what we refer to as Progressive.

Additional information about The Progressive Corporation and its subsidiaries can be found in our documents filed with the SEC that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference, as provided below under “Where You Can Find More Information.” Our website is www.progressive.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information electronically with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of this website is https://www.sec.gov.

We also make available on our Internet website, free of charge, our annual, quarterly and current reports, including any amendments to these reports, as well as certain other SEC filings, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website address is http://www.progressive.com. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this document.

Our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PGR.” You may inspect the reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005.

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus information in other documents that we file with the SEC. This permits us to disclose information to you by referencing these filed documents. Information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede such information. Information furnished under the applicable items in our Current Reports on Form 8-K is not incorporated by reference, unless specifically stated in a prospectus supplement. The following documents, filed with Commission by us, are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference:

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (Commission File No.  001-09518), filed with the Commission on February 26, 2024;

 

   

Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (Commission File No. 001-09518), filed with the Commission on March 25, 2024 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023);

 

   

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Commission File No. 001-09518) for the quarterly period ended March  31, 2024, filed on May 6, 2024;

 

   

Our Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-09518) filed with the Commission on May 14, 2024, only to the extent filed and not furnished; and

 

   

The description of our Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, contained in Exhibit 4.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (Commission File No. 001-09518), filed with the Commission on February 26, 2024, and any amendments and reports subsequently filed for the purposes of updating that description.

 

   

Our future filings under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) which are made with the SEC prior to the termination of this offering, as of the date of the filing of each such document

We will furnish without charge to each person (including any beneficial owner) to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated in this prospectus by reference (including any exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into the requested document). Requests for such documents should be directed to: Investor Relations, The Progressive Corporation, 6300 Wilson Mills Road, Box W33, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143, or call: (440) 395-2222.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may be otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities referenced in this prospectus for general corporate purposes.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SERIAL PREFERRED SHARES AND DEPOSITARY SHARES

Our authorized capital stock at April 30, 2024 includes 20,000,000 serial preferred shares and 5,000,000 voting preference shares. No serial preferred shares or voting preference shares are outstanding as of such date.

The following summarizes briefly some of the general terms of our serial preferred shares that we may offer under a prospectus supplement, and we may “reopen” a previously issued series of serial preferred shares and issue additional shares of that series. The particular terms and provisions of the serial preferred shares offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general terms and provisions may apply to the serial preferred shares so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such serial preferred shares.

General

Under our Articles, our Board of Directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of up to 20,000,000 serial preferred shares. All series of serial preferred shares will be of equal rank and will be identical, except in respect of the following matters that may be fixed by our Board of Directors:

 

   

the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

 

   

the dividend rate or rates of the series;

 

   

the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, will be payable and the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative;

 

   

the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

   

the terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

 

   

the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the company;

 

   

whether the shares of the series will be convertible into common shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

 

   

restrictions (in addition to those provided in our Articles) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

In addition, as described below under “—Fractional or Multiple Shares of Serial Preferred Shares Issued as Depositary Shares,” we may, at our option, instead of offering whole individual shares of any series of serial preferred shares, offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts. The rights of holders of serial preferred shares may be adversely affected by the rights of holders of serial preferred shares that may be issued in the future.

Serial preferred shares when issued will be fully paid and non-assessable. No holder of serial preferred shares as such, will have any preemptive right to purchase, have offered for purchase or subscribe for any of the company’s shares or other securities of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized.

Dividends

The holders of serial preferred shares, in preference to the holders of common shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the serial preferred shares, will be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available for serial preferred shares and voting preference shares (as defined in our Articles) and when and as declared by our Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed by our Board of Directors, and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends will accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series.

 

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No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the serial preferred shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (1) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for serial preferred shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (2) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all voting preference shares of all series then outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend.

So long as any serial preferred shares shall be outstanding, no dividends, except a dividend payable in common shares or other shares ranking junior to the serial preferred shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the common shares or any other shares ranking junior to the serial preferred shares, nor shall any common shares or any other shares ranking junior to the serial preferred shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the company, except out of the proceeds of the sale of common shares or other shares of the company ranking junior to the serial preferred shares received by the company subsequent to the date of first issuance of serial preferred shares of any series, unless:

 

   

all accrued and unpaid dividends on serial preferred shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart; and

 

   

there shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of serial preferred shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with our Articles.

Redemption

Subject to the express terms of each series, we:

 

   

may, from time to time at the option of our Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of serial preferred shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of our Articles; and

 

   

shall from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of serial preferred shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of our Articles;

and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the serial preferred shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the company, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, we may deposit the aggregate redemption price of serial preferred shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000, named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the serial preferred shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the serial preferred shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the company with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest. In the event less than all of the outstanding serial preferred shares are to be redeemed, the serial preferred shares shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by our Board of Directors.

 

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If the holders of serial preferred shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the company such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the company shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

Any serial preferred shares which are (1) redeemed by the company pursuant to the above, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the company, shall resume the status of authorized but unissued serial preferred shares without serial designation.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the company, the holders of serial preferred shares of any series will be entitled to receive in full, out of our assets, including our capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of common shares or any other shares ranking junior to the serial preferred shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series, in accordance with our Articles, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the company. In the event our net assets are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding serial preferred shares and voting preference shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding serial preferred shares and voting preference shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which such share is entitled.

After payment to the holders of serial preferred shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of serial preferred shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the company.

The merger or consolidation of the company or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all assets of the company will not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for this purpose.

Voting Rights

Except as indicated below or otherwise required by law, the holders of serial preferred shares will not have any voting rights.

Right to Elect Two Directors on Nonpayment of Dividends. If and so often as the company shall be in default in the payment of the equivalent of the full dividends payable on any series of serial preferred shares at the time outstanding whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods (whether or not consecutive) which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, the holders of serial preferred shares of all series, voting separately as a class, shall be entitled to elect, as provided below, two members of our Board of Directors of the company; provided, however, that the holders of serial preferred shares shall not have or exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of the outstanding serial preferred shares of all series then outstanding are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on the serial preferred shares of all series then outstanding shall have been paid, whereupon the holders of serial preferred shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph.

In the event of default entitling the holders of serial preferred shares to elect two directors as specified in the prior paragraph, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the company upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of

 

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the serial preferred shares of all series at the time outstanding, and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the company shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 120 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of the serial preferred shares. At any meeting at which the holders of serial preferred shares shall be entitled to elect directors, the holders of 50% of the serial preferred shares of all series at the time outstanding, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of our Board of Directors which the holders of serial preferred shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any other provision of our Articles or our Code of Regulations or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the company, the two directors who may be elected by the holders of serial preferred shares pursuant to this provision shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this provision. These provisions shall not prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of directors of the company nor require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to these provisions. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the company, the two directors elected by the holders of serial preferred shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the serial preferred shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this section, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

Other Voting Rights. In addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by law or by our Articles, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the serial preferred shares at the time outstanding, voting or consenting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect any one or more of the following (but so far as the holders of serial preferred shares are concerned, such action may be effected with such vote or consent):

 

   

Amendment of Our Articles or Our Code of Regulations. Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of our Articles or of our Code of Regulations which affects adversely the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of the serial preferred shares; provided, however, neither the amendment of our Articles so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of serial preferred shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the serial preferred shares nor the amendment of the provisions of our Code of Regulations so as to change the number of directors of the company shall be deemed to affect adversely the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of serial preferred shares; and provided further, that if such amendment, alteration or repeal affects adversely the preferences or voting or other rights of one or more but not all series of serial preferred shares at the time outstanding, only the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the number of the shares at the time outstanding of the series so affected shall be required;

 

   

Authorization of Senior Shares. The authorization, creation or the increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to the serial preferred shares; or

 

   

Purchases or Redemption. The purchase or redemption (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) of less than all of the serial preferred shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of serial preferred shares, unless all dividends on all serial preferred shares then outstanding for all previous dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

 

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Fractional or Multiple Shares of Serial Preferred Shares Issued as Depositary Shares

If we issue depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts instead of issuing whole individual shares of any series of serial preferred shares, each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share or some multiple of shares of the particular series of serial preferred shares issued and deposited with a depositary agent. The fraction of a share or multiple of shares of serial preferred shares which each depositary share represents will be stated in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of serial preferred shares issued and deposited with a depositary agent.

We will deposit the shares of serial preferred shares to be represented by depositary shares under a deposit agreement. The parties to the deposit agreement will be the company, a bank or other financial institution that we select and name in the prospectus supplement, as serial preferred shares depositary agent, and the holders from time to time of depositary receipts issued under that deposit agreement. Under each deposit agreement, only the name of the person in whose name the depositary shares are registered on the records of the depositary agent is recognized as the holder of those shares.

Each holder of a depositary share will be entitled to all rights and preferences of the underlying serial preferred shares, including, where applicable, dividend, redemption, liquidation, voting and conversion rights, in proportion to the applicable fraction or multiple of a share of serial preferred shares represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. The depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional or multiple shares of serial preferred shares. A depositary receipt may evidence any number of whole depositary shares.

We will file the deposit agreement, including the form of depositary receipt, with the SEC, either as an exhibit to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K.

We will deliver all required reports and communications to holders of the serial preferred shares to the serial preferred shares depositary agent, who will forward those reports and communications to the holders of depositary shares.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities that we may offer under a prospectus supplement. The particular terms and provisions of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general terms and provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.

The senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities will represent unsecured general obligations of the company. The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will rank senior to our subordinated indebtedness, if any. The senior debt securities will be issued under our senior debt indenture described below and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be issued under our subordinated debt indenture described below and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of our “Senior Debt,” as defined in the subordinated debt indenture. Neither of the indentures limits our ability to incur additional unsecured indebtedness.

General

The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are each governed by an indenture—the senior debt indenture, in the case of the senior debt securities, and the subordinated debt indenture, in the case of the subordinated debt securities. Each indenture provides that we may issue debt securities in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount that we may authorize from time to time. The senior indenture is a contract between The Progressive Corporation and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, which acts as trustee. The subordinated debt indenture will be a contract between The Progressive Corporation and a trustee to be selected by us at or about the time we offer our subordinated debt securities. A form of the subordinated indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The indentures are substantially similar, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated debt indenture.

Reference to the indenture or the trustee with respect to any debt securities, means the indenture under which those debt securities are issued and the trustee under that indenture. The indenture and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The indenture and the debt securities are governed by New York law. Copies of the senior indenture and a form of the subordinated indenture are exhibits to our registration statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” above for information on how to obtain copies.

This section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, although the prospectus supplement which describes the terms of each series of debt securities may also describe differences from the material terms summarized here.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, including definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. In this summary, we describe the meaning of only some of the more important terms. For your convenience, we also include references in parentheses to certain sections of the indenture. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indenture in this prospectus or in the

prospectus supplement, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference here or in the prospectus supplement. You must look to the indenture for the most complete description of what we describe in summary form in this prospectus.

This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your series of debt securities described in the prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described

 

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in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities will be attached to the front of this prospectus. There may also be a further prospectus supplement, known as a pricing supplement, which contains the precise terms of debt securities you are offered.

The prospectus supplement for each series of debt securities offered under this prospectus will include information relating to the following terms, to the extent applicable:

 

   

the title, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of such debt securities;

 

   

whether it is a series of senior debt securities or a series of subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the purchase price of such debt securities (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof);

 

   

the date on which such debt securities will mature and the principal is payable;

 

   

the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum at which such debt securities will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates will be determined;

 

   

the coin or currency or units based on or relating to currencies in which such debt securities may be purchased and in which payment of principal and interest will be made;

 

   

the periods for which and the dates on which such interest, if any, will be payable;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on such debt securities will be payable;

 

   

the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption (including any sinking fund);

 

   

whether such debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, in such case, the depositary agent for such global securities and the circumstances under which any such global security may be exchanged for securities registered in the name of, and any transfer of such global security may be registered in the name of, a person other than the depositary agent;

 

   

whether, and under what circumstances, the company will pay additional amounts on such debt securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person (as defined in an appropriate prospectus supplement) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted, and if so, whether we will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than pay such additional amounts; and

 

   

any other specific terms of such series. (Section 2.3)

If a prospectus supplement specifies that debt securities are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars or U.S. currency units, such prospectus supplement will also specify the denomination in which such debt securities will be issued and the coin or currency or currency unit in which the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on such debt securities will be payable, which may be U.S. dollars based upon the exchange rate for such other currency or currency unit existing on or about the time a payment is due. (Section 2.3)

Debt securities may be presented for exchange and for transfer in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the indenture. Such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to the limitations provided in the indenture. (Section 2.8)

Global Securities

We may issue debt securities in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with a depositary, or with a nominee for a depositary, identified in an appropriate prospectus supplement and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. In such case, one or more global securities will be issued in a

 

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denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities to be represented by such global security or securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be transferred, except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary, by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary, or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Events of Default, Waiver and Notice

As to any series of debt securities, an event of default is defined in the indenture as:

 

   

a default for 30 days in payment of any interest on the debt securities of such series when due;

 

   

a default in payment of all or any part of the principal of the debt securities of such series when due either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

 

   

a default in the payment of a sinking fund installment, if any, on the debt securities of such series;

 

   

a default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty contained in the indenture for the benefit of such series which has not been remedied for a period of 90 days after notice given as specified in the indenture;

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization of us; or

 

   

any other event of default of such series. (Section 5.1)

An event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities issued under the indenture does not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued thereunder. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any default (except in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on such debt securities) if the trustee determines, in good faith, that it is in the interest of the holders of debt securities of such series to do so; provided, however, that in the case of a default of the character specified in the fourth bullet point above, no such notice to holders of debt securities of such series may be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. (Section 5.11)

The indenture provides that if an event of default described in any of the first four bullet points above with respect to a particular series of debt securities occurs and continues, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare the entire principal (or, in the case of original issue discount debt securities, the portion thereof specified in the terms thereof) of all outstanding debt securities of such series and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default described in the fifth bullet point above occurs and continues, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture (voting as one class) may declare the entire principal (or, in the case of original issue discount debt securities, the portion thereof specified in the terms thereof) of all debt securities then outstanding thereunder and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately. (Section 5.1) Upon certain conditions such declarations may be annulled and past defaults (except for defaults in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such debt securities) may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series (or of all series thereunder, as the case may be) then outstanding. (Sections 5.10 and 8.1)

The indenture provides that holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected (with each series voting as a separate class) will have the right to direct the time,

 

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method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee under the indenture with respect to debt securities of such series, or exercising any trust or power conferred by the indenture on the trustee with respect to the particular series of debt securities, subject to certain limitations specified in the indenture, provided that the holders of debt securities have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against expenses and liabilities. (Sections 5.9 and 6.2(d)) Under the terms of the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of a series of the debt securities affected thereby at the time outstanding may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of such series, waive compliance with certain covenants contained in the indenture. (Section 5.10)

The indenture requires us to deliver annually to the trustee a written certification of our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indenture. (Section 3.5) Whenever the indenture provides for an action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, or any distribution to, holders of debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars and debt securities denominated in any other currency or currency unit, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in the form of debt security of any particular series, any amount in respect of any debt security denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars will be treated for any such action, determination or distribution as the amount of U.S. dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of such date as the company reasonably specifies in a written notice to the trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the trustee may determine. (Section 11.11)

Modification of the Indenture

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may from time to time execute supplemental indentures to provide for the issuance of debt securities of any series and for other permitted purposes. (Section 8.1)

If we receive the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities affected thereby, we may enter into a supplemental indenture with the trustee to modify the indenture or any supplemental indenture or the rights of the holders of such debt securities. However, without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected thereby, no such modification may, among other things:

 

   

extend the final maturity of any debt security;

 

   

reduce the principal amount thereof or the method in which amounts of payments of principal or interest thereon are determined;

 

   

reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon;

 

   

change the currency or currency unit of payment thereof;

 

   

reduce the portion of the principal amount of an original issue discount debt security due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof or the portion of the principal amount thereof provable in bankruptcy;

 

   

reduce any amount payable upon redemption of any debt security, or impair or affect the right of a holder of any debt security to institute suit for the payment thereof or, if the debt securities provide therefor, any right of repayment at the option of the holder of a debt security; or

 

   

reduce the aforesaid percentage of debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such modification. (Section 8.2)

Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets

We may not merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person, unless either we are the continuing corporation or the successor corporation is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof and expressly assumes the payment of the principal of and interest on the debt securities and the performance and observance of all the covenants and

 

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conditions of the indenture binding upon us, and, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, we or such successor corporation are not in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition. (Article Nine)

Defeasance

The indenture provides that, unless the terms of any series of debt securities provide otherwise, we will be discharged from obligations in respect of the outstanding debt securities of any series and the provisions of the indenture with respect thereto (excluding certain obligations, such as obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such outstanding debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated certificates or coupons and to hold moneys for payment in trust) upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust, of cash or U.S. government obligations (as defined in the indenture) which, through the payment of interest and principal thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide cash in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on and mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, in respect of all outstanding debt securities of such series on the stated dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of the indenture and such outstanding debt securities, provided that we have received an opinion of counsel to the effect that such a discharge will not be deemed, or result in, a taxable event with respect to holders of such outstanding debt securities and that certain other conditions are met. (Section 10.1(B))

Satisfaction and Discharge

The indenture will cease to be of further effect and the trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the company, will execute appropriate instruments acknowledging the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture upon compliance with certain enumerated conditions, including:

 

   

We have paid all sums payable by us under the indenture, as and when the same are due and payable;

 

   

We have delivered to the trustee for cancellation all debt securities theretofore authenticated under the indenture; or

 

   

All debt securities not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year and we have deposited with the trustee sufficient cash or U.S. government obligations which, through the payment of principal and interest thereon in accordance with their terms, will provide sufficient cash to pay, at maturity or upon redemption, all debt securities of any series outstanding under the indenture. (Section 10.1(A))

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to the senior debt securities as described in an applicable prospectus supplement.

The subordinated debt indenture defines “Senior Debt” as all indebtedness and obligations of, or guaranteed or assumed by, us that are for borrowed money, evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar indebtedness, whether outstanding now or in the future, and all amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of such indebtedness and obligations of that kind. As defined in the subordinated debt indenture, Senior Debt excludes the subordinated debt securities and any other indebtedness or obligations that would otherwise constitute indebtedness if the instrument by which such indebtedness or obligations are evidenced provides that they are subordinated, or not superior, in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities.

The subordinated debt indenture provides that, unless all principal and any premium and interest on the Senior Debt has been paid in full or such payment has been duly provided for, no payment on account of principal or interest may be made on any subordinated debt securities in the following circumstances:

 

   

if, at the time of such payment or immediately giving effect thereafter, an event of default will have occurred with respect to any Senior Debt, permitting the holders of that Senior Debt to accelerate the

 

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maturity of that Senior Debt, or an event that, with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute such event of default and such event of default will not have been cured or waived; or

 

   

in the event of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, conservatorship or other similar proceedings involving our assets.

If the trustee under the subordinated debt indenture or any holders of the subordinated debt securities receive any payment or distribution that is prohibited under the subordination provisions, then the trustee or the holders will have to repay or deliver such payment or distribution to the holders of the Senior Debt.

Governing Law

The indenture is, and the debt securities will be, governed by the laws of the State of New York. (Section 11.8)

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

General

We may issue warrants to purchase one or more of the securities described in this prospectus in any combination. The applicable prospectus supplement for any warrants will describe the terms of any warrants being offered. These warrants may be issued independently, or together with any underlying securities, and may be attached to or separate from the underlying securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a warrant agreement between the company and a warrant agent that we will name in the prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as the company’s agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the warrants in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the warrant agreement, a form of which (including the form of the warrant certificate) will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your warrants described in the prospectus supplement.

We may issue warrants in one or more series. This section summarizes terms of the warrants that apply generally to all series. The description of most of the financial and other specific terms of your series will be in your prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrants that we may offer, which may include the following:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants;

 

   

the warrant agreement under which we will issue the warrants;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the price at which and the currency or currencies in which investors may purchase the underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which the right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants;

 

   

whether the warrants will be redeemable by us before their expiration date, and any applicable redemption dates or periods and the related redemption prices;

 

   

whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form, in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit;

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued, and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security;

 

   

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related underlying securities will be separately transferable;

 

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if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;

 

   

the identity of the warrant agent, any depositaries and any execution, paying, transfer, calculation or other agents or registrars;

 

   

any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed;

 

   

anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

   

the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants;

 

   

whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities, as part of units or otherwise; and

 

   

any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and warrants may be exercised at the warrant agent’s corporate trust office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for debt securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for shares of serial preferred shares or common shares will not have any rights of holders of the serial preferred shares or common shares purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the serial preferred shares or common shares purchasable upon such exercise. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for other securities described in this prospectus will not have any rights of holders of such securities purchasable upon such exercise.

Exercise of Warrants

A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.

Enforceability of Rights

The holders of warrants, without the consent of the warrant agent, may, on their own behalf and for their own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the company to enforce their rights to exercise and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of their warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. The applicable prospectus supplement for any units will describe the terms of any units being offered. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the units that apply generally to all series. The description of most of the financial and other specific terms of your series will be in your prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.

The prospectus supplement may describe:

 

   

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or transferred separately;

 

   

a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;

 

   

a description of the provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units;

 

   

a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

 

   

whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

The descriptions of the units and any applicable underlying security or pledge or depositary arrangements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of the applicable agreements, forms of which will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your units described in the prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We may issue purchase contracts obligating holders to purchase from us or sell to us, and for us to sell to or purchase from the holders, a specified amount or number of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

As may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of, or whose cash value is determined by reference or linked to the performance, level or value of, one or more of the following:

 

   

securities of one or more issuers, including our common shares or serial preferred shares, other securities described in this prospectus, or the debt or equity securities of third parties;

 

   

one or more currencies, currency units, or composite currencies;

 

   

one or more commodities;

 

   

any other financial, economic, or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance; and

 

   

one or more indices or baskets of the items described above.

We refer to each property described above as a “purchase contract property.” Each purchase contract will obligate:

 

   

the holder to purchase or sell, and us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, one or more purchase contract properties at a specified price or prices; or

 

   

the holder or us to settle the purchase contract with a cash payment determined by reference to the value, performance, or level of one or more purchase contract properties, on specified dates and at a specified price or prices.

No holder of a purchase contract will have any rights of a holder of the purchase contract property purchasable under the contract until a purchase contract is properly exercised.

The prospectus supplement relating to any purchase contracts will specify the material terms of the purchase contracts and may contain, where applicable, the following information about your purchase contract:

 

   

whether the purchase contract obligates the holder to purchase from us or sell to us, or for us to sell to or purchase from the holder, purchase contract properties and the nature and amount of each of those properties, or the method of determining those amounts;

 

   

whether the purchase contract is to be prepaid or not and the governing document for the contract;

 

   

whether the purchase contract is to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of, the purchase contract properties;

 

   

the settlement date or dates on which the holder will be obligated to purchase such purchase contract properties and any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contract;

 

   

the events, if any, that will cause the company’s obligations and the obligations of the holder under the purchase contract to terminate;

 

   

whether the purchase contracts will be issued separately or as part of a unit and, if so, the other securities comprising the unit and whether any unit securities will be subject to a security interest in our favor;

 

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the terms of the pledge arrangement relating to any underlying securities, including the terms on which distributions or payments of interest and principal on any underlying securities will be retained by a collateral agent, delivered to the company or distributed to the holder;

 

   

whether the purchase contract will be issued in fully registered or bearer form and in global or non-global form; and

 

   

the amount of the contract fee, if any, that may be payable by the company to the holder or by the holder to the company, the date or dates on which the contract fee will be payable and the extent to which the company or the holder, as applicable, may defer payment of the contract fee on those payment dates.

The descriptions of the purchase contracts and any applicable underlying security or pledge or depositary arrangements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the purchase contract agreement, pledge agreement and deposit agreement, forms of which will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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LEGAL OWNERSHIP AND BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. In this section, we describe special considerations that will apply to registered securities issued in global—i.e., book-entry—form. First, we describe the difference between legal ownership and indirect ownership of registered securities. Then we describe special provisions that apply to global securities.

Legal Owner of a Registered Security

Each security in registered form will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing such securities. We refer to those who have securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose, as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names as indirect owners of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect owners are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect owners.

Book-Entry Owners

Unless otherwise noted in your prospectus supplement, we will issue each security in book-entry form only. This means securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

Under each indenture, only the person in whose name a security is registered on the records of the registrar is recognized as the holder of that security. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary described below under “—Global Securities” as the holder of the securities and we will make all payments on the securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to that depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

As a result, investors will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect owners, and not holders, of the securities.

Street Name Owners

We may terminate an existing global security or issue securities initially in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in street name. Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities and we will make all payments on those securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect owners, not holders, of those securities.

 

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Legal Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee under any indenture and the obligations, if any, of any third parties employed by us or the trustee, run only to the holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect owner of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect owners but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose—for example, to amend an indenture for a series of securities or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture—we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect owners, of the relevant securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect owners is up to the holders.

When we refer to “you” in this prospectus, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or indirect owners of those securities. When we refer to “your securities” in this prospectus, we mean the securities in which you will hold a direct or indirect interest.

Special Considerations for Indirect Owners

If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

   

how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

   

how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;

 

   

whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future;

 

   

how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and

 

   

if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

Global Securities

Unless otherwise noted in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, we will issue each security in book-entry form only. Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of one or more financial institutions or clearing systems, or their nominees, which we select. A financial institution or clearing system that we select for any security for this purpose is called the “depositary” for that security. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify the depositary.

A global security may represent one or any other number of individual securities. Generally, all securities represented by the same global security will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global security that represents multiple securities of the same kind, such as debt securities, that have different terms and are issued at different times. We call this kind of global security a master global security. Your prospectus supplement will not indicate whether your securities are represented by a master global security.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “—Holder’s

 

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Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security: Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only indirect interests in a global security. Indirect interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect owner of an interest in the global security.

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. We describe the situations in which this can occur below under “—Holder’s Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security: Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect owner, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the rules of the depositary and those of the investor’s bank, broker, financial institution or other intermediary through which it holds its interest, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor or any intermediary as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

   

An investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her own name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;

 

   

An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank, broker or other financial institution for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above under “—Legal Owner of a Registered Security”;

 

   

An investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;

 

   

An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;

 

   

The depositary’s policies will govern payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security, and those policies may change from time to time. We and the trustee will have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s policies, actions or records of ownership interests in a global security. Neither we nor the trustee supervise the depositary in any way;

 

   

The depositary may require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your bank, broker or other financial institution may require you to do so as well; and

 

   

Financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system and through which an investor holds its interest in the global securities, directly or indirectly, may also have their own policies affecting payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities, and those policies may change from time to time.

 

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Holder’s Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security: Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

If we issue any series of securities in book-entry form but we choose to give the beneficial owners of that series the right to obtain non-global securities, any beneficial owner entitled to obtain non-global securities may do so by following the applicable procedures of the depositary, any transfer agent or registrar for that series and that owner’s bank, broker or other financial institution through which that owner holds its beneficial interest in the securities. If you are entitled to request a non-global certificate and wish to do so, you will need to allow sufficient lead time to enable us or our agent to prepare the requested certificate.

In addition, in a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form representing the securities it represented. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks, brokers or other financial institutions, to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above under “—Legal Owner of a Registered Security.”

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, the special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:

 

   

if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security;

 

   

if we determine and notify the trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or

 

   

if an event of default has occurred with regard to these securities and has not been cured or waived.

If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we or the trustee for any securities, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those securities.

 

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TAXATION

Material income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of any of the securities offered by this prospectus will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement(s) relating to the offering of those securities.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities being offered under this prospectus through agents, underwriters, or dealers, or we may sell securities directly to one or more purchasers, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. The prospectus supplement for a particular offering of securities will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including the name or names of the specific agents, dealers or underwriters (including managing underwriters, if any), the purchase price and the proceeds to us from such sales, any underwriting discounts, agency fees or commissions and other items constituting compensation to the underwriters, agents or dealers, the initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions to be allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, the securities exchange, if any, on which such securities may be listed, and the place and time of delivery of the securities offered.

Securities may be offered and sold through agents that we may designate from time to time. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), of any securities so offered and sold. Agents may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

If we use an underwriter or underwriters in the sale of any securities, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such sale is reached. Such underwriter or underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell such securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The underwriters may be entitled, under the relevant underwriting agreement, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of any securities, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters will be subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters with respect to a sale of such securities will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any are purchased.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of any securities under this prospectus, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer then may resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold. Dealers may be entitled, under agreements which may be entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The name of any such dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us, and sales of such securities may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The place and time of delivery of the applicable securities will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement relating to the securities, certain legal matters in connection with the securities will be passed upon for Progressive by Baker & Hostetler LLP, Cleveland, Ohio.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

All fees and expenses are estimated:

 

Registration Fee—Securities and Exchange Commission

   $ *  

Trustee’s Fees and Expenses

     **  

Transfer Agent’s Fees and Expenses

     **  

Accounting Fees and Expenses

     **  

Legal Fees and Expenses

     **  

Blue Sky Fees and Expenses (including related fees and expenses of counsel)

     **  

Printing Expenses

     **  

Rating Agency Fees

     **  

Miscellaneous Expenses

     **  

Total

   $ **  

 

*

Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

**

These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and the amount of securities offered and cannot be calculated at this time.

 

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Ohio Revised Code.

Section 1701.13(E)(5)(a) of the Ohio Revised Code provides that, unless prohibited by specific reference in a corporation’s articles of incorporation or code of regulations (which prohibition is not contained in our Articles of Incorporation or Code of Regulations), a corporation shall pay a director’s expenses, including attorneys’ fees, as such expenses are incurred, in defending an action, suit or proceeding brought against a director in such capacity, whether such action, suit or proceeding is brought by a third party or by or in the right of the corporation, provided the director delivers to the corporation an undertaking to: (a) repay such amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that the director’s action or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to the corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard for the best interests of the corporation, and (b) reasonably cooperate with the corporation concerning the action, suit or proceeding.

Section 1701.13(E)(7) of the Ohio Revised Code provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection for any director, officer or employee against any liability asserted against such person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person under Ohio law. Such insurance may be purchased from or maintained with a person in which the corporation has a financial interest.

Code of Regulations as Amended on May 7, 2021.

Article VI of our Code of Regulations provides for indemnification of any current or former director, officer or employee in certain instances, as permitted under Section 1701.13(E) of the Ohio Revised Code, against expenses, judgments, decrees, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement in connection with the defense of any past, pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding, criminal or civil, to which he or she was, is or may be a party by reason of his or her status as such director, officer or employee.

A current or former director, officer or employee is entitled to indemnification if he or she is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding or if a determination is made

 

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pursuant to Article VI of our Code of Regulations: (1) by the directors of Progressive acting at a meeting at which a quorum consisting of directors who neither were nor are parties to or threatened with any such action, suit or proceeding is present, or (2) by our shareholders at a meeting held for such purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of Progressive on such proposal or without a meeting by the written consent of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds of the voting power of Progressive on such proposal, that such director, officer or employee: (a) was not, and has not been adjudicated to have been, negligent or guilty of misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to us, (b) acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interest of Progressive, and (c) in any matter which is the subject of a criminal action, suit or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

The expenses of each director, officer or employee incurred in defending any such action, suit or proceeding, whether threatened or actual, may be paid by us as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, as authorized by our Board of Directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by the director, officer or employee to repay such expenses unless it is ultimately determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by us.

Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance Policies.

The Registrant maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance used most under policies issued by unaffiliated insurance companies. The risks covered by such policies include certain liabilities under the securities laws.

Indemnification Agreements.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that offer substantially the same scope of coverage afforded by Ohio law. Each indemnification agreement provides, among other things, that the Registrant will, subject to the agreement terms, indemnify a director or officer, as applicable, if, by reason of the individual’s status as a director or officer, the person incurs expenses, judgments, decrees, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement in connection with the defense of any past, pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding, criminal or civil. In addition, each indemnification agreement provides for the advancement of expenses incurred by a director or officer, as applicable, subject to certain exceptions, in connection with proceedings covered by the indemnification agreement.

See the proposed form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as an amendment or as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into this registration statement for certain provisions relating to indemnification of us and our directors and officers.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description of Exhibit

   If Incorporated by Reference,
Documents with Which Exhibit was
Previously Filed with SEC
 1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement    *
 4.1    Form of specimen certificate representing The Progressive Corporation’s common shares, $1.00 par value    *
 4.2    Indenture between the registrant and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, dated as of September 12, 2018    Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (filed on September  13,
2018, Exhibit 4.2 therein)
 4.3    Form of Subordinated Indenture    Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (filed on September  13,
2018, Exhibit 4.3 therein)

 

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Exhibit
No.
  

Description of Exhibit

   If Incorporated by Reference,
Documents with Which Exhibit was
Previously Filed with SEC
 4.4    Form of Senior Debt Security    *
 4.5    Form of Subordinated Debt Security    *
 4.6    Form of Certificate of Amendment to Amended Articles of Incorporation designating Serial Preferred Shares    *
 4.7    Form of Deposit Agreement of The Progressive Corporation    *
 4.8    Form of Warrant Agreement of The Progressive Corporation    *
 4.9    Form of Unit Agreement of The Progressive Corporation    *
 4.10    Form of Purchase Contract of The Progressive Corporation    *
 5    Opinion of Baker & Hostetler LLP regarding the legality of the securities being registered    Filed herewith
23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP    Filed herewith
23.2    Consent of Baker & Hostetler LLP    Filed herewith (included in
Exhibit 5)
24.1    Powers of Attorney    Filed herewith
25    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association    Filed herewith
107    Filing Fee Table    Filed herewith

 

*

To be filed by an amendment or as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into the registration statement in connection with a specific offering of securities.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

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provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;

(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

(4) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; and

(5) that, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Mayfield Village, State of Ohio, on May 17, 2024.

 

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ David M. Stringer

  David M. Stringer, Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Susan Patricia Griffith

Susan Patricia Griffith

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   May 17, 2024

/s/ John P. Sauerland

John P. Sauerland

   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)   May 17, 2024

/s/ Mariann Wojtkun Marshall

Mariann Wojtkun Marshall

   Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, and Assistant Secretary (Principal Accounting Officer)   May 17, 2024

*

Lawton W. Fitt

   Chairperson of the Board   May 17, 2024

*

Danelle M. Barrett

   Director   May 17, 2024

*

Philip Bleser

   Director   May 17, 2024

*

Stuart B. Burgdoerfer

   Director   May 17, 2024

*

Pamela J. Craig

   Director   May 17, 2024

*

Charles A. Davis

   Director   May 17, 2024

*

Roger N. Farah

   Director   May 17, 2024

 

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Signature

  

Title

 

Date

*

Devin C. Johnson

   Director   May 17, 2024

*

Jeffrey D. Kelly

   Director   May 17, 2024

*

Barbara R. Snyder

   Director   May 17, 2024

*

Kahina Van Dyke

   Director   May 17, 2024

 

*

David M. Stringer, by signing his name hereto, does sign this Registration Statement on behalf of the persons indicated above pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by such persons filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

By:

 

/s/ David M. Stringer

    Date: May 17, 2024
  David M. Stringer    
  Attorney-in-Fact    

 

II-7

Exhibit 5

 

     

Baker & Hostetler LLP

 

Key Tower

127 Public Square, Suite 2000

Cleveland, OH 44114-1214

 

T 216.621.0200

F 216.696.0740

www.bakerlaw.com

May 17, 2024

The Progressive Corporation

6300 Wilson Mills Road

Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3

To Whom It May Concern:

We have acted as counsel to The Progressive Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) being filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of (a) common shares of the Company, $1.00 par value per share (the “Common Shares”), (b) serial preferred shares of the Company, without par value, in one or more series (the “Preferred Shares”), (c) senior and subordinated debt securities of the Company, in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), (d) receipts for depositary shares representing fractional interests in shares of any particular series of a class of the Preferred Shares (the “Depositary Shares”), (e) warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Depositary Shares (the “Warrants”), (f) units consisting of one or more of the Debt Securities, Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares, Warrants or Purchase Contracts (as defined below) or any combination of such securities (the “Units”) and (g) purchase contracts for the purchase and sale of Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants or Units or any combination of such securities (the “Purchase Contracts”) (collectively, the “Securities”). The offering of the Securities will be as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented by one or more supplements to the Prospectus.

Atlanta Chicago Cincinnati Columbus Costa Mesa Dallas Denver Houston Los Angeles

New York Orlando Philadelphia San Francisco Seattle Washington, D.C. Wilmington


The Progressive Corporation

May 17, 2024

Page 2

 

The Debt Securities, if any, will be issued pursuant to (i) the Indenture dated September 12, 2018, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Senior Debt Trustee”) (the “Senior Debt Indenture”) or (ii) a subordinated debt indenture between the Company and a trustee to be named and qualified later, as trustee (the “Subordinated Debt Trustee and, together with the Senior Debt Trustee, the “Trustees”) (the “Subordinated Indenture,” and together with the Senior Debt Indenture, the “Indentures”).

The Depositary Shares, if any, will be issued pursuant to one or more depositary agreements (each, a “Depositary Agreement”) between the Company and the depositary as shall be named therein.

The Warrants, if any, will be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and the warrant agent as shall be named therein.

The Purchase Contracts, if any, will be issued pursuant to one or more purchase contract agreements (each, a “Purchase Contracts Agreement”) between the Company and the purchase contract agent as shall be named therein.

The Units, if any, will be issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the unit agent as shall be named therein.

In rendering this opinion, we have reviewed such records, agreements, documents, certificates and other statements of governmental officials and other instruments as we deemed necessary to render this opinion. As to facts material to the opinions and assumptions expressed herein, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

In connection with our review, we have assumed that (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) have become effective and will continue to be effective at the time of the offer or sale of any Securities; (ii) a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing any Securities offered thereby; (iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement; (iv) each Indenture will be duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by the Trustees; (v) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (vi) Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Securities being offered will have been duly authorized, established (if appropriate) and reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise (if appropriate); (vii) the genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all signatories; (viii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies; and (ix) the proper issuance and accuracy of certificates of public officials and officers and agents of the Company.


The Progressive Corporation

May 17, 2024

Page 3

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

1. When (a) all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such Common Shares proposed to be sold by the Company under the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, including upon conversion of Securities or exercise of Warrants, and (b) such Common Shares are issued, delivered and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, and in accordance with the applicable underwriting or other agreement, such Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

2. Upon (a) designation of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of any series of Preferred Shares and approval of the terms of the offering thereof and related matters by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive officer of the Company) in accordance with the Company’s Amended Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles of Incorporation”) and (b) the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio of a certificate of amendment to the Articles of Incorporation relating to such series of Preferred Shares, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company will have been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred Shares proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Preferred Shares are issued, delivered and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, and in accordance with the applicable underwriting or other agreement, such shares of Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

3. When (a) the terms of any Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive officer of the Company) in conformity with the applicable Indenture and any supplemental indenture; (b) such Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable Indenture and (c) the Debt Securities have been issued, delivered and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, then such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

4. When (a) the board of directors of the Company (or a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive officer of the Company) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and sale of Depositary Shares; (b) the Depositary Share Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (c) the terms of such Depositary Shares and of their issuance have been duly established in conformity with the Depositary Share Agreement relating to such Depositary Shares; and (c) the Depositary Shares have been issued, delivered and paid for as contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, then the Depositary Shares will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.


The Progressive Corporation

May 17, 2024

Page 4

 

5. When (a) the board of directors of the Company (or a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive officer of the Company) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve a Warrant Agreement; (b) the Warrant Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (c) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants; and (d) the Warrants have been duly executed and countersigned in accordance with the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants, and issued, delivered and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, then such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

6. When (a) the board of directors of the Company (or a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive officer of the Company) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and sale of Units; (b) the Unit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (c) the terms of the Units and of their issuance have been duly established in conformity with the Unit Agreement relating to such Units; and (c) the Units have been issued, delivered and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, then such Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

7. When (a) the board of directors of the Company (or a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive officer of the Company) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and sale of Purchase Contracts; (b) the Warrant Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (b) the terms of such Purchase Contracts and of their issuance have been duly established in conformity with the Purchase Contract Agreement relating to such Purchase Contracts; and (c) the Purchase Contracts have been issued, delivered and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, then the Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

Our opinions expressed herein are subject to (i) the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of general application affecting creditors’ rights, (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, including (without limitation) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and other similar doctrines affecting the enforceability of agreements generally (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) insofar as they relate to indemnification provisions, the effect of federal and state securities laws and public policy relating thereto.

Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred as to any other matters. This opinion is limited to matters of United States federal law and the laws of the States of New York and Ohio, and we express no opinion herein as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. This opinion is based upon currently existing statutes, rules, regulations and judicial decisions. We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion to cover, and accordingly we express no opinion as to, the application of the securities or blue sky laws to the sale of the Securities.


The Progressive Corporation

May 17, 2024

Page 5

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to the Securities and the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Sincerely,

/s/ Baker & Hostetler LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of The Progressive Corporation of our reports dated February 26, 2024, relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedules and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in The Progressive Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Cleveland, Ohio

May 17, 2024

Exhibit 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT: Each of the undersigned officers and directors of The Progressive Corporation, an Ohio corporation (“Company”), hereby make, constitute and appoint, Mariann Wojtkun Marshall, John P. Sauerland, David M. Stinger, Laurie F. Humphrey, Allyson L. Bach, Suzanne K. Hanselman and John J. Harrington, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, as attorney-in-fact and agent, to sign and file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended: (i) one or more Registration Statement(s) on Form S-8 and one or more post-effective amendments to previously filed Registration Statement(s) on Form S-8, for the registration of certain of the Company’s Common Shares, $1.00 par value, pursuant to The Progressive Corporation 2024 Equity Incentive Plan; and (ii) an automatic shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to the registration for sale of the debt and/or equity securities of the Company, and any and all amendments, post-effective amendments, supplements and exhibits with respect to any of the foregoing registration statements noted in items (i) and (ii) hereof, and any and all applications, instruments and/or other documents pertaining thereto, giving and granting unto each such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the premises, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do if personally present, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that each such attorney-in-fact and agent, or any such substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Susan Patricia Griffith   

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  May 10, 2024
Susan Patricia Griffith  
/s/ John P. Sauerland   

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  May 14, 2024
John P. Sauerland  
/s/ Mariann Wojtkun Marshall   

Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, and

Assistant Secretary (Principal Accounting Officer)

  May 14, 2024
Mariann Wojtkun Marshall  
/s/ Lawton W. Fitt    Chairperson of the Board   May 10, 2024
Lawton W. Fitt     
/s/ Danelle M. Barrett    Director   May 13, 2024
Danelle M. Barrett     
/s/ Philip Bleser    Director   May 10, 2024
Philip Bleser     


/s/ Stuart B. Burgdoerfer   

Director

  May 11, 2024
Stuart B. Burgdoerfer     
/s/ Pamela J. Craig   

Director

  May 13, 2024
Pamela J. Craig     
/s/ Charles A. Davis   

Director

  May 10, 2024
Charles A. Davis     
/s/ Roger N. Farah   

Director

  May 10, 2024
Roger N. Farah     
/s/ Devin C. Johnson   

Director

  May 10, 2024
Devin C. Johnson     
/s/ Jeffrey D. Kelly   

Director

  May 13, 2024
Jeffrey D. Kelly     
/s/ Barbara R. Snyder   

Director

  May 13, 2024
Barbara R. Snyder     
/s/ Kahina Van Dyke   

Director

  May 13, 2024
Kahina Van Dyke     

Exhibit 25

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER

THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

 

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

91-1821036

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

  55402
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Brandon Bonfig

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

60 Livingston Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55107

(651) 466-6619

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

 

Ohio   34-0963169

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

6300 Wilson Mills Road

Mayfield Village, Ohio

  44143
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Senior Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


FORM T-1

 

Item 1.

GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

  a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

  b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2.

AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

 

Items 3-15

Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16.

LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

  1.

A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1.

 

  2.

A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

 

  3.

A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2.

 

  4.

A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4.

 

  5.

A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

 

  6.

The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

 

  7.

Report of Condition of the Trustee as of March 31, 2024, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Boston, State of Massachusetts on the 9th day of May, 2024.

 

By:  

/s/ Steven J. Gomes

  Steven J.Gomes
  Vice President


Exhibit 1

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF

U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:

FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.

SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.

THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.

Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.

Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.

 

- 1 -


FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.

In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.

A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.

A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.

FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.

No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.

Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.

Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.

 

- 2 -


Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.

Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.

The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.

SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.

The board of directors shall have the power to:

 

(1)

Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association.

 

(2)

Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association.

 

(3)

Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law.

 

(4)

Dismiss officers and employees.

 

(5)

Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof.

 

(6)

Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board.

 

(7)

Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital.

 

- 3 -


(8)

Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association.

 

(9)

Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association.

 

(10)

Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders.

 

(11)

Make contracts.

 

(12)

Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform.

SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.

EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.

NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.

TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.

 

- 4 -


In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.

 

LOGO


Exhibit 2

 

LOGO  

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

  Washington, DC 20219

CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS

I, Michael J. Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:

1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.

2. “U.S. Bank Trust National Association,” Wilmington, Delaware (Charter No. 24090), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, February 20, 2024, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia.

 

  LOGO  
  Acting Comptroller of the Currency  
 

 

LOGO

 

   

   

   

   

   

2024-00560-C


Exhibit 4

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

Meetings of Shareholders

Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.

Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.

Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.

Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.

Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.

Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.


Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.

Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.

Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.

Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Directors

Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.

Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.

Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.

Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board


by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.

Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.

Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.

Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.

Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.


Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.

Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE III

Committees

Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.

Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).


The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:

(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and

(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.

Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.

Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.

Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.

Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.


ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.

Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.

Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.

Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.


Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.

Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.

ARTICLE V

Stock

Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.

ARTICLE VI

Corporate Seal

Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:


ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.

Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.

Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.

Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.

Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.

Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.


ARTICLE VIII

Indemnification

Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).

Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

ARTICLE IX

Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment

Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.

Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.


ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.

Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.

***

(February 8, 2021)


Exhibit 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Dated: May 9, 2024

 

By:  

 /s/ Steven J. Gomes

  Steven J. Gomes
  Vice President


Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

as of 3/31/2024

($000’s)

 

     3/31/2024  

Assets

  

Cash and Balances Due From

   $ 1,429,213  

Depository Institutions

  

Securities

     4,389  

Federal Funds

     0  

Loans & Lease Financing Receivables

     0  

Fixed Assets

     1,270  

Intangible Assets

     577,915  

Other Assets

     161,425  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 2,174,212  

Liabilities

  

Deposits

   $ 0  

Fed Funds

     0  

Treasury Demand Notes

     0  

Trading Liabilities

     0  

Other Borrowed Money

     0  

Acceptances

     0  

Subordinated Notes and Debentures

     0  

Other Liabilities

     361,240  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 361,240  

Equity

  

Common and Preferred Stock

     200  

Surplus

     1,171,635  

Undivided Profits

     641,137  

Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

     0  
  

 

 

 

Total Equity Capital

   $ 1,812,972  

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

   $ 2,174,212  

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

FORM S-3

(Form Type)

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

               
Security Type  

Security

Class

Title

 

Fee

 Calculation 

Rule

 

Amount

 Registered(1)

 

Proposed

 Maximum 

Offering

Price Per

Unit(2)

 

 Maximum 

Aggregate

Offering

Price(2)

 

Fee

 Rate(2)

 

Amount of

 Registration 

Fee(2)

               
Equity   Common Shares, par value
$1.00 per share
  457(r)   —    —    —    —    — 
               
Equity   Serial Preferred Shares,
without par value
  457(r)   —    —    —    —    — 
               
Debt   Senior Debt Securities   457(r)   —    —    —    —    — 
               
Debt   Subordinated Debt
Securities
  457(r)   —    —    —    —    — 
               
Other   Depositary Shares   457(r)   —    —    —    —    — 
               
Other   Warrants   457(r)   —    —    —    —    — 
               
Other   Units   457(r)   —    —    —    —    — 
               
Other   Purchase Contracts   457(r)   —    —    —    —    — 
         
Total Offering Amounts     —      — 
         
Total Fee Offsets         — 
         
Net Fee Due               — 
  (1)

An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices.

  (2)

In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.


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