DEFM14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to
Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment
No. )
Filed by the
Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
o Preliminary
Proxy Statement
o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ Definitive
Proxy Statement
o Definitive
Additional Materials
o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to
§240.14a-12
Wachovia Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
|
|
þ
|
No fee required.
|
|
o
|
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
and 0-11.
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined):
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
|
|
|
|
|
o
|
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|
|
|
o |
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Amount Previously Paid:
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
|
PROPOSED
MERGER YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
Dear Wachovia Shareholders:
We are pleased to report that the board of directors of Wachovia
Corporation has unanimously adopted a plan of merger involving
Wachovia and Wells Fargo & Company. Before we can
complete the merger, we must obtain the approval of Wachovia
shareholders. We are sending you this document to ask you to
approve the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement at
a special meeting of Wachovia shareholders to be held at the
time and place indicated in the meeting notice on the next page.
No vote of Wells Fargo stockholders is required to complete the
merger. Wachovia shareholders may also be asked to vote on a
proposal to adjourn or postpone the meeting to a later date, if
necessary or appropriate, in order to solicit additional proxies
in favor of the proposal to approve the plan of merger contained
in the merger agreement.
If the merger is completed, each of your shares of Wachovia
common stock will be converted into 0.1991 of a share of Wells
Fargo common stock, and cash instead of any fractional shares of
Wells Fargo common stock. In connection with the merger, Wells
Fargo expects to issue approximately
430 million shares of common stock and
9.9 million shares of preferred stock (the terms of
which are described starting on page 92). The number of
shares of Wells Fargo common stock that Wachovia common
shareholders will receive in the merger is fixed. The dollar
value of the consideration Wachovia common shareholders will
receive in the merger will change depending on changes in the
market price of Wells Fargo common stock and will not be known
at the time you vote on the merger. The following table
shows the closing sale prices of Wells Fargo common stock (which
trades under the symbol WFC) and Wachovia common
stock (which trades under the symbol WB) as reported
on the New York Stock Exchange on October 2, 2008, the last
trading day before public announcement of the merger, and on
November 21, 2008, the last practicable trading day before
the distribution of this document. This table also shows the
implied value of the merger consideration proposed for each
share of Wachovia common stock as of each of those dates, which
we calculated by multiplying the closing price of Wells Fargo
common stock on each of those dates by 0.1991, the exchange
ratio.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied Value of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One Share of
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
|
Wachovia Common
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
At October 2, 2008
|
|
$
|
35.16
|
|
|
$
|
3.91
|
|
|
$
|
7.00
|
|
At November 21, 2008
|
|
$
|
21.76
|
|
|
$
|
4.13
|
|
|
$
|
4.33
|
|
If the merger is completed, each share of each series of
Wachovia preferred stock will be converted into a share, or
fractional share, of Wells Fargo preferred stock of
corresponding series having rights, privileges, powers and
preferences substantially identical to those of the relevant
series of Wachovia preferred stock.
In connection with entering into the merger agreement, Wachovia
and Wells Fargo also entered into a share exchange agreement
pursuant to which Wachovia issued, on October 20, 2008,
10 shares of its Series M, Class A Preferred
Stock to Wells Fargo in exchange for the issuance by Wells Fargo
to Wachovia of 1,000 shares of Wells Fargo common stock.
The Series M, Class A Preferred Stock issued to Wells
Fargo votes together with Wachovia common stock as a single
class and represents 39.9% of the total voting power of holders
of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the special
meeting (including on the approval of the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement).
The merger is intended to qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and holders of Wachovia common stock are not expected
to recognize any gain or loss for United States federal income
tax purposes on the exchange of shares of Wachovia common stock
for shares of Wells Fargo common stock in the merger, except
with respect to any cash received instead of fractional shares
of Wells Fargo common stock. This document provides you with
important information about the proposed merger. In addition to
being a proxy statement of Wachovia, this document is also the
prospectus of Wells Fargo for Wells Fargo common and preferred
stock that will be issued in connection with the merger. We
encourage you to read the entire document carefully. Please pay
particular attention to the section entitled Risk
Factors beginning on page 19 for a discussion of
risks related to the merger and owning Wells Fargo common stock
after the merger.
We cannot complete the merger unless Wachovia shareholders
approve the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement.
Please read the attached proxy statement-prospectus carefully
for information about the matters you are being asked to
consider and vote upon. Your vote is very important. A
majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the plan of merger
consisting of all outstanding shares of Wachovia common stock
and the Series M, Class A Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single class, constitutes a quorum required for
transacting business by shareholders at the special meeting. In
order to approve the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast on the plan of merger consisting of all
outstanding shares of Wachovia common stock and the
Series M, Class A Preferred Stock, voting together as
a single class, is required. Wells Fargo has informed Wachovia
that it intends to vote its shares of Series M,
Class A Preferred Stock in favor of approval of the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement at the special meeting.
An abstention or failure to vote or to instruct your broker how
to vote will have the same effect as voting against the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement. Whether or not you
plan to attend the meeting, please promptly return your
completed proxy so that your shares are voted at the meeting.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the
special meeting. If you attend the meeting and vote in person,
your vote will supersede any proxy you may have previously
authorized. You can also vote on the Internet or by telephone by
following the instructions on the proxy card.
Your board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote
FOR approval of the plan of merger contained in the
merger agreement.
Sincerely,
Robert K. Steel
Chief Executive Officer
Wachovia Corporation
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of the
securities to be issued in the merger or determined if this
proxy statement-prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The securities to be issued in the merger are not savings and
deposit accounts and are not insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
This proxy statement-prospectus is dated November 21, 2008,
and is first being mailed to Wachovia shareholders on or about
November 21, 2008.
Wachovia Corporation
301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28288
NOTICE OF
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD DECEMBER 23,
2008
To the Shareholders of Wachovia Corporation:
A special meeting of shareholders of Wachovia Corporation will
be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at 9:30 a.m.,
EST, in the Piedmont Ballroom, at the Hilton Charlotte Center
City, 222 East Third Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
28202, to consider and vote on:
|
|
|
|
|
a proposal to approve the plan of merger contained in the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and between Wachovia
Corporation and Wells Fargo & Company, dated as of
October 3, 2008, as it may be amended from time to time,
pursuant to which Wachovia will merge with and into Wells Fargo,
with Wells Fargo surviving the merger; and
|
|
|
|
a proposal to approve the adjournment or postponement of the
special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit
additional proxies in favor of the proposal to approve the plan
of merger contained in the merger agreement.
|
Upon completion of the merger, each share of Wachovia common
stock will be converted into 0.1991 of a share of Wells Fargo
common stock and cash instead of fractional shares of Wells
Fargo common stock. Upon completion of the merger, each share of
each series of Wachovia preferred stock will be converted into a
share, or fractional share, of Wells Fargo preferred stock of
corresponding series having rights, privileges, powers and
preferences substantially identical to those of the relevant
series of Wachovia preferred stock. Holders of Wachovia common
stock do not have rights of dissent and appraisal with respect
to the merger. Holders of Wachovia preferred stock will have
rights of dissent and appraisal with respect to the merger under
Article 13 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act,
a copy of which is included as Appendix D to the
proxy statement-prospectus. Please refer to the accompanying
proxy statement-prospectus for information about the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement. A copy of the merger
agreement is included as Appendix A to the proxy
statement-prospectus and incorporated herein by reference.
The board of directors has fixed November 3, 2008 as the
record date for the special meeting. Only those holders of
record of Wachovia common stock and the Series M,
Class A Preferred Stock, as of the close of business on
that date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the special
meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the special
meeting. Except for holders of Wachovias Series M,
Class A Preferred Stock, holders of Wachovia preferred
stock and holders of depositary shares representing Wachovia
preferred stock are not, as such, entitled to and are not being
requested to vote to approve the plan of merger contained in the
merger agreement at the special meeting. The Series M,
Class A Preferred Stock was issued to Wells Fargo in
connection with the entry into the merger agreement by Wells
Fargo and Wachovia and represents 39.9% of the total voting
power of holders of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at
the special meeting (including on the approval of the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement). Wells Fargo is the
sole holder of all shares of Series M, Class A
Preferred Stock and has informed Wachovia that it intends to
vote these shares in favor of approving the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement.
Our board of directors has unanimously adopted, and
recommends our shareholders vote FOR approval of the
plan of merger contained in the merger agreement.
By order of the board of
directors,
Jane C. Sherburne
Secretary
Charlotte, North Carolina
November 21, 2008
YOUR VOTE
IS IMPORTANT
Your vote is important regardless of the number of common
shares that you own. Whether or not you plan to attend the
meeting, please complete, sign, date and return the accompanying
proxy card in the enclosed postage paid envelope. Alternatively,
you can vote by calling the toll-free telephone number indicated
on the proxy card or by visiting the website indicated on the
proxy card.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
This document incorporates important business and financial
information about Wells Fargo & Company and Wachovia
Corporation from documents that are not included in or delivered
with this document. You can obtain documents incorporated by
reference in this document without charge through the Securities
and Exchange Commission website
(http://www.sec.gov)
or upon written or oral request to Wells Fargo or Wachovia as
follows:
|
|
|
Wells Fargo & Company
|
|
Wachovia Corporation
|
MAC A0101-25
|
|
301 South College Street
|
420 Montgomery Street, 2nd Floor
|
|
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288
|
San Francisco, California 94104
|
|
Attention: Investor Relations
|
Attention: Investor Relations
|
|
Telephone: (704) 374-6782
|
Telephone:
(415) 396-3668
|
|
|
To obtain information in time for the special meeting, your
request should be received by December 16, 2008.
For additional details about where you can find information
about Wells Fargo and Wachovia, see Where You Can Find
More Information on page 124.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this document. We have not
authorized anyone to provide you with different information.
This document is dated November 21, 2008. You should not
assume that information contained or incorporated by reference
in this document is accurate as of any date other than that
date. Neither the mailing of this document to Wachovia
shareholders nor the issuance by Wells Fargo of its common stock
in the merger will create any implication to the contrary.
Wachovia has supplied all information relating to Wachovia
contained or incorporated by reference in this document, and
Wells Fargo has supplied all information relating to Wells Fargo
contained or incorporated by reference in this document.
Information on the Internet websites of Wells Fargo or Wachovia,
or any subsidiary of Wells Fargo or Wachovia, is not part of
this document. You should not rely on that information in
deciding how to vote on the proposal to approve the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
|
|
59
|
|
|
|
|
59
|
|
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
|
|
72
|
|
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
|
|
78
|
|
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
|
|
83
|
|
|
|
|
83
|
|
-i-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
|
|
87
|
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
|
91
|
|
|
|
|
91
|
|
|
|
|
91
|
|
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
|
|
94
|
|
|
|
|
116
|
|
|
|
|
124
|
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
|
|
128
|
|
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
|
|
|
B-1
|
|
|
|
|
C-1
|
|
|
|
|
D-1
|
|
-ii-
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
The following are answers to certain questions that you, as a
shareholder of Wachovia Corporation, may have regarding the
merger and the special meeting of Wachovia shareholders. We urge
you to read carefully the remainder of this proxy
statement-prospectus because the information in this section may
not provide all the information that might be important to you
with respect to the merger. Additional important information is
also contained in the appendices to, and the documents
incorporated by reference in, this proxy
statement-prospectus.
|
|
|
Q: |
|
What am I being asked to vote on? |
|
A: |
|
You are being asked to vote to approve the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement between Wachovia and Wells
Fargo. You are also being asked to vote on a proposal to approve
the adjournment or postponement of the special meeting, if
necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor
of the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement. |
|
Q: |
|
Who is entitled to vote? |
|
A: |
|
Only holders of record of our common stock and Wachovias
Series M, Class A Preferred Stock (Series M
Preferred Stock) at the close of business on November 3,
2008 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. Except for
holders of our Series M Preferred Stock, holders of
Wachovia preferred stock and holders of depositary shares
representing Wachovia preferred stock are not, as such, entitled
to vote and are not being requested to vote at the special
meeting. |
|
Q: |
|
Why is my vote important? |
|
A: |
|
We cannot complete the merger unless Wachovia shareholders
approve the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement.
Approval of the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast on the plan of merger consisting of all
outstanding shares of Wachovia common stock and the
Series M Preferred Stock, voting together as a single
class. An abstention or failure to vote or to instruct your
broker how to vote on the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement will have the same effect as a vote against approval
of the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement. As of
the record date for the special meeting, Wells Fargo held
10 shares of Series M Preferred Stock of Wachovia that
votes as a single class with Wachovias common stock,
representing 39.9% of the total voting power of holders of
Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting,
and also held 32,883,669 shares of Wachovia common stock,
representing (together with the Series M Preferred Stock)
40.8% of the total voting power of holders of Wachovia capital
stock entitled to vote at the special meeting. Wells Fargo has
informed Wachovia that it intends to vote these shares in favor
of approval of the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement. If Wells Fargo does vote its shares of Series M
Preferred Stock and Wachovia common stock in favor of approval
of the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement, the
plan of merger contained in the merger agreement will be
approved if approximately 15.5% of the voting power of the other
outstanding shares of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at
the special meeting also vote in favor of approval of the plan
of merger contained in the merger agreement. |
|
Q: |
|
When and where is the special meeting? |
|
A: |
|
The Wachovia special meeting will be held on December 23,
2008, at 9:30 a.m., EST, in the Piedmont Ballroom, at the
Hilton Charlotte Center City, 222 East Third Street,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202. |
|
Q: |
|
What should I do now? |
|
A: |
|
After you have carefully read this document, indicate on your
proxy card how you want your shares to be voted. Then complete,
sign, date and mail your proxy card in the enclosed postage paid
return envelope as soon as possible. Alternatively, you may vote
by telephone or the Internet by following the instructions on
the proxy card. This will enable your shares to be represented
and voted at the special meeting. |
-3-
|
|
|
Q: |
|
If my shares are held in street name by my broker, will my
broker automatically vote my shares for me? |
|
A: |
|
No. Without instructions from you, your broker will
not be able to vote your shares. You should instruct your broker
to vote your shares, following the directions your broker
provides. Please check the voting form used by your broker to
see if it offers telephone or Internet voting. |
|
Q: |
|
What if I abstain from voting or fail to instruct my
broker? |
|
A: |
|
If you abstain from voting or fail to instruct your broker to
vote shares you hold in street name, the abstention
or resulting broker non-vote will have the same effect as a vote
against approval of the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement. |
|
Q: |
|
Can I change my vote? |
|
A: |
|
Yes. If you have not voted through your broker, there are three
ways you can change your vote after you have submitted your
proxy (whether by mail, phone or the Internet): |
|
|
|
First, you may send a written notice to the
corporate secretary of Wachovia stating that you would like to
revoke your proxy.
|
|
|
|
Second, you may complete and submit a new proxy card
or vote again by telephone or the Internet. Your latest vote
actually received before the special meeting will be counted,
and any earlier votes will be revoked.
|
|
|
|
Third, you may attend the special meeting and vote
in person. Any earlier proxy will thereby be revoked. However,
simply attending the meeting without voting will not revoke an
earlier proxy you may have given.
|
|
|
|
If you have instructed a broker to vote your shares, you must
follow the directions you receive from your broker in order to
change or revoke your vote. |
|
Q: |
|
Am I entitled to exercise dissenters rights in
connection with the merger? |
|
A: |
|
Under North Carolina law, holders of Wachovia common stock will
not be entitled to exercise dissenters rights in
connection with the merger. Under North Carolina law, holders of
Wachovia preferred stock who perfect their dissenters
rights in accordance with applicable law will have
dissenters rights, also referred to as appraisal rights,
as a result of the merger. |
|
|
|
The depositary shares representing Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J are not a class or series of shares issued by
Wachovia and thus dissenters rights under Article 13
of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act (NCBCA) do not
independently apply to the depositary shares. However, while it
is not entirely clear under North Carolina law, Wachovia has
agreed to treat each holder of currently outstanding depositary
shares for Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J as a
beneficial owner of the Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J
represented thereby. Unless shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J are withdrawn from the depositary, the depositary,
which is currently U.S. Bank, National Association, is the
holder of record of the shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J. Accordingly, to exercise dissenters rights
with respect to Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J, holders
of depositary shares will be required to follow the procedures
for beneficial owners of preferred stock. |
|
|
|
The procedures for exercising dissenters rights are
described in Appendix D of this proxy
statement-prospectus and are summarized in the section entitled
The Merger Dissenters or Appraisal
Rights beginning on page 55. Failure to follow the
applicable procedures will result in the loss of
dissenters rights. |
|
Q: |
|
Should I send in my stock certificates now? |
|
A: |
|
No. After we complete the merger, Wells Fargo will
send instructions to you explaining how to exchange your
Wachovia shares for a certificate for your Wells Fargo shares. |
-4-
|
|
|
Q: |
|
How does the Wachovia board of directors recommend that I
vote? |
|
|
|
A: |
|
The Wachovia board of directors unanimously recommends that you
vote FOR approval of the plan of merger contained in
the merger agreement and the adjournment proposal. |
|
|
|
Q: |
|
When do you expect to complete the merger? |
|
A: |
|
We currently expect to complete the merger by the end of 2008.
However, we cannot assure you when or if the merger will occur.
We must first obtain the approval of Wachovia shareholders at
the special meeting and the necessary regulatory approvals. |
|
Q: |
|
Whom should I call with questions? |
|
A: |
|
If you have questions about the merger or the process for voting
or if you need additional copies of this document or a
replacement proxy card, please contact: |
Wachovia Investor Relations
301 South College Street NC 0206
Charlotte, NC
28288-0206
(704) 383-0798
or
Georgeson Inc.
199 Water Street-26th Floor
New York, NY 10038
1-800-255-8670
-5-
SUMMARY
This summary highlights the material information from this
proxy statement-prospectus. It does not contain all of the
information that may be important to you. You should carefully
read this entire document and the documents to which it refers
you to fully understand the merger. See Where You Can Find
More Information on page 126. Each item in this
summary refers to the page or pages of this document where that
subject is discussed in more detail.
In the
Merger, Each Share of Wachovia Corporation Common Stock Will
Automatically Be Converted into 0.1991 of a Share of Wells
Fargo & Company Common Stock (Page 26)
In the merger, Wachovia will merge with and into Wells Fargo.
Wells Fargo will be the surviving corporation in the merger.
Each share of Wachovia common stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the completion of the merger, except for
specified shares of Wachovia common stock held by Wachovia and
Wells Fargo, will automatically be converted into 0.1991 of a
share of Wells Fargo common stock. Wells Fargo will not issue
any fractional shares of Wells Fargo common stock in the merger.
Instead, a Wachovia shareholder who otherwise would have
received a fraction of a share of Wells Fargo common stock will
instead receive an amount in cash rounded to the nearest cent.
This cash amount will be determined by multiplying the fraction
of a share of Wells Fargo common stock to which the holder would
otherwise be entitled by the average of the closing sale prices
of Wells Fargo common stock on the New York Stock Exchange for
the five trading days immediately prior to the date on which the
merger is completed.
Example: If you own 100 shares of Wachovia common stock,
you will receive 19 shares of Wells Fargo common stock and
a cash payment instead of the 0.91 shares of Wells Fargo
common stock that you otherwise would have received.
The merger agreement between Wachovia and Wells Fargo governs
the merger. The merger agreement is included in this document as
Appendix A. Please read the merger agreement
carefully. All descriptions in this summary and elsewhere in
this document of the terms and conditions of the merger are
qualified by reference to the merger agreement.
What
Holders of Wachovia Stock Options and Other Equity-Based Awards
Will Receive (Page 26)
At the effective time of the merger, each option to purchase
Wachovia common stock granted by Wachovia and each other
equity-based award of Wachovia that is then outstanding will be
converted automatically into an option or other equity-based
award for shares of Wells Fargo common stock, generally subject
to the same terms and conditions that applied to the Wachovia
option or other equity-based award before the effective time of
the merger. The number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock
subject to these stock options and other equity-based awards,
and the exercise price of the Wachovia stock options, will be
adjusted based on the exchange ratio of 0.1991.
Treatment
of Wachovia Preferred Stock in the Merger
(Page 26)
Upon completion of the merger, (i) each Dividend
Equalization Preferred Share, no par value, of Wachovia,
referred to as Wachovia DEP Shares, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one one-thousandth of a Wells Fargo
Dividend Equalization Preferred Share, no par value, referred to
as Wells Fargo DEP Shares, (ii) each share of Wachovia
Class A Preferred Stock, Series G, no par value,
referred to as Wachovia Preferred Stock Series G, issued
and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger
will be automatically converted into one one-hundredth of a
share of Wells Fargo Class A Preferred Stock,
Series G, no par value, referred to as the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G, (iii) each share of Wachovia
Class A Preferred Stock, Series H, no par value,
referred to as Wachovia Preferred Stock Series H, issued
and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger
will be automatically converted into one one-hundredth of a
share of Wells Fargo Class A Preferred Stock,
Series H, no par value, referred to as the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H, (iv) each share of Wachovia
Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, no par value,
referred to as Wachovia Preferred Stock Series I, issued
and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger
will be automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo
Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, no par value,
referred to as the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I,
(v) each share of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J,
no par value, referred to as Wachovia
-6-
Preferred Stock Series J, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo 8.00%
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock,
Series J, no par value, referred to as the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J, (vi) each share of Wachovia
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A
Preferred Stock, Series K, no par value, referred to as
Wachovia Preferred Stock Series K, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo,
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A
Preferred Stock, Series K, no par value, referred to as the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K, (vii) each share
of Wachovia 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible
Class A Preferred Stock, Series L, no par value,
referred to as Wachovia Preferred Stock Series L, issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the completion of the
merger will be automatically converted into one share of Wells
Fargo 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A
Preferred Stock, Series L, no par value, referred to as the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L and (viii) each
share of Wachovia Series M, Class A Preferred Stock,
no par value, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
completion of the merger, referred to as Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series M, will be automatically converted into one share
of Wells Fargo Series M, Class A Preferred Stock, no
par value, referred to as the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series M. As of the date of this proxy
statement-prospectus, no shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series G, Wachovia Preferred Stock Series H or
Wachovia Preferred Stock Series I are issued.
The terms of each share of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series I, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J, Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series K, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L and Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series M will
be substantially identical to the terms of one share of the
corresponding series of Wachovia Class A Preferred Stock.
The terms of each one one-thousandth of a Wells Fargo DEP Share
will be substantially identical to the terms of one Wachovia DEP
Share. The terms of each one one-hundredth of a share of Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G and one one-hundredth of a
share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H will be
substantially identical to the terms of one share of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series G and Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series H, respectively. We sometimes refer to the Wells
Fargo DEP Shares, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G,
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H, Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series I, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J,
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K and Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L collectively as the New
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock. Any shares of Wachovia
preferred stock as to which preferred shareholders have
perfected their dissenters rights pursuant to North
Carolina law will not be exchanged for New Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock.
Each outstanding share of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J
is presently represented by depositary shares that are listed on
the New York Stock Exchange and that represent a
one-fortieth interest in a share of Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series J. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J will also be represented by depositary shares and
listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Holders of Wachovia preferred stock (except for the
Series M Preferred Stock issued to Wells Fargo (which
represents 39.9% of the total voting power of holders of
Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote)) and Wachovia
depositary shares are not entitled to vote on the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement or at the special meeting.
The
Merger Is Intended to Be Tax-Free to Wachovia Shareholders as to
the Shares of Wells Fargo Common Stock They Receive
(Page 53)
The merger is intended to qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code, and it is a condition to our
respective obligations to complete the merger that each of Wells
Fargo and Wachovia receive a legal opinion to that effect.
Accordingly, the merger generally will be tax-free to you for
United States federal income tax purposes as to the shares of
Wells Fargo common stock you receive in the merger, except for
any gain or loss that may result from the receipt of cash
instead of fractional shares of Wells Fargo common stock that
you would otherwise be entitled to receive.
The United States federal income tax consequences described
above may not apply to all holders of Wachovia common stock.
Your tax consequences will depend on your individual situation.
Accordingly, we strongly urge you to consult your tax advisor
for a full understanding of the particular tax consequences of
the merger to you.
-7-
Opinions
of Wachovias Financial Advisors (Page 38)
Wachovias financial advisors, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
and Perella Weinberg Partners LP, referred to as Goldman Sachs
and Perella Weinberg respectively, each rendered an opinion
dated October 3, 2008, to the board of directors of
Wachovia, that, as of such date, and based upon and subject to
the factors, limitations and assumptions set forth in their
respective written opinions, as well as the extraordinary
circumstances facing Wachovia described in their respective
written opinions, the exchange ratio of 0.1991 of a share of
Wells Fargo common stock to be received in respect of each share
of Wachovia common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was
fair from a financial point of view to the holders of Wachovia
common stock other than Wells Fargo and its affiliates.
The full text of the written opinions of Goldman Sachs and
Perella Weinberg, which set forth the factors considered,
assumptions made, procedures followed and limitations that apply
in with connection with each such opinion, are attached to this
document as Appendix B and Appendix C,
respectively. The opinions of Goldman Sachs and Perella Weinberg
were provided for the information and assistance of the board of
directors of Wachovia in connection with its consideration of
the merger and do not constitute a recommendation as to how any
holder of shares of Wachovia common stock should vote or
otherwise act with respect to the merger or any other matter.
Pursuant to engagement letters dated September 28, 2008 and
October 1, 2008, Goldman Sachs is entitled to receive a
transaction fee of $25 million for its services in
connection with the merger, of which $20 million is
contingent upon consummation of the merger. Pursuant to an
engagement letter dated September 28, 2008, Perella
Weinberg is entitled to receive fees for its services, of which
$5 million was payable upon the execution of the merger
agreement, and $20 million is contingent upon the closing
of the merger.
Wachovias
Board of Directors Unanimously Recommends that You Vote
FOR Approval of the Plan of Merger Contained in the
Merger Agreement (Page 36)
Wachovias board of directors believes that the merger is
in the best interests of Wachovia and its shareholders, has
unanimously adopted the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement and recommends that you vote FOR approval
of the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement at the
special meeting. For the factors considered by Wachovias
board in deciding to approve the merger agreement, see The
Merger Wachovias Reasons for the Merger and
Recommendation of the Wachovia Board on page 36.
Wachovias
Directors and Executive Officers May Receive Additional Benefits
from the Merger (Page 51)
Certain of Wachovias executive officers and directors have
interests in the merger as individuals that are different from,
or in addition to, the interests of Wachovia shareholders
generally. The Wachovia board of directors was aware of these
interests and considered them, among other matters, in adopting
the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement.
The Wachovia stock incentive plans generally provide for the
vesting of equity-based awards following a change in control.
The merger will constitute such a change in control of Wachovia.
Assuming that the merger is completed on December 31, 2008,
and a Wells Fargo common stock price of $21.76 (the closing
price of Wells Fargo common stock on November 21, 2008),
the aggregate cash value of the stock-based awards (which
amounts attribute no value to any unvested Wachovia stock
options, since all such stock options have exercise prices
greater than the market price based on the November 21,
2008 closing price of Wells Fargo common stock, as adjusted by
the exchange ratio) that are held by Wachovias 11
executive officers and Wachovias Chairman, Lanty L. Smith,
that would vest solely due to the completion of the merger is
approximately $2.5 million, as a group. In addition,
certain executives have employment agreements with Wachovia that
provide for severance payments in connection with a qualifying
termination of employment following a change in control.
Assuming that the merger is completed on December 31, 2008
and all Wachovia executive officers who have employment
agreements experience a qualifying termination of employment
immediately thereafter, the 10 executive officers as a group
would be entitled to receive an aggregate amount of up to
approximately $98.1 million, as severance payments.
-8-
Wachovias executive officers and directors also have
rights to indemnification and directors and officers
liability insurance that will survive completion of the merger.
Please see The Proposed Merger Interests of
Certain Wachovia Directors and Executive Officers in the
Merger on page 51 for further information on these
interests.
Holders
of Wachovia Preferred Stock, But Not Common Stock, Have
Dissenters Rights (Page 55)
Holders of Wachovia Common Stock. Under North
Carolina law, holders of Wachovia common stock are not entitled
to dissenters or appraisal rights in connection with the
merger because Wachovia common stock is listed on a national
securities exchange and Wachovia shareholders will receive
shares of Wells Fargo common stock, which is also listed on a
national securities exchange, and cash in lieu of fractional
shares.
Holders of Wachovia Preferred Stock. Holders
of shares of Wachovia preferred stock who perfect their
dissenters rights under North Carolina law will have
dissenters rights, also referred to as appraisal rights,
as a result of the merger. The Wachovia depositary shares
representing the Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J are not
a class or series of shares issued by Wachovia and thus
dissenters rights under North Carolina law do not
independently apply to the depositary shares. However, while it
is not entirely clear under North Carolina law, Wachovia has
agreed to treat each holder of currently outstanding depositary
shares for Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J as a
beneficial owner of the Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J
represented thereby. Unless shares of the Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series J are withdrawn from the depositary, the
depositary is the holder of record of the shares of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series J. Accordingly, to exercise
dissenters rights with respect to the Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series J, holders of depositary shares will be
required to follow the procedures described in this document for
beneficial owners of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J.
Additional information on dissenters rights of holders of
Wachovia preferred stock is located beginning on page 55.
Conditions
That Must Be Satisfied or Waived for the Merger to Occur
(Page 83)
Currently, we expect to complete the merger by the end of 2008.
As more fully described in this document and in the merger
agreement, the completion of the merger depends on a number of
conditions being satisfied or, where legally permissible,
waived. These conditions include, among others, approval of the
plan of merger contained in the merger agreement by Wachovia
shareholders and the receipt of certain required regulatory
approvals.
We cannot be certain when, or if, the conditions to the merger
will be satisfied or waived, or that the merger will be
completed.
Regulatory
Approvals Required for the Merger (Page 59)
Wachovia and Wells Fargo have agreed to use their reasonable
best efforts to obtain all regulatory approvals, including all
antitrust clearances, required to complete the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement. These approvals include
approval from or notices to the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve), foreign and state
securities authorities, various other federal, state and foreign
antitrust and regulatory authorities and self-regulatory
organizations, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC). Wells Fargo and Wachovia have completed,
or will complete promptly following the date of this proxy
statement-prospectus, the filing of applications and
notifications to obtain the required regulatory approvals. The
waiting period under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act) was terminated on
October 10, 2008. The Federal Reserve approved the merger
on October 12, 2008.
Although we do not know of any reason why we cannot obtain the
remaining regulatory approvals in a timely manner, we cannot be
certain when or if we will obtain them.
-9-
Termination
of the Merger Agreement (Page 84)
Wachovia and Wells Fargo may mutually agree to terminate the
merger agreement before completing the merger, even after
shareholder approval, as long as the termination is approved by
each of their respective boards of directors.
In addition, either Wachovia or Wells Fargo may decide to
terminate the merger agreement, even after shareholder approval:
|
|
|
|
|
if any of the required regulatory approvals are denied or
completion of the merger has been prohibited or made illegal by
a court or other governmental entity (and the denial or
prohibition is final and nonappealable);
|
|
|
|
if the merger has not been completed by October 3, 2009,
unless the failure to complete the merger by that date is due to
the terminating partys failure to abide by the merger
agreement;
|
|
|
|
if there is a breach by the other party that would cause the
failure of conditions to the terminating partys obligation
to complete the merger described above, unless the breach is
capable of being, and is, cured within 60 days of notice of
the breach; or
|
|
|
|
if the approval of the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement by Wachovias shareholders has not been obtained
at a meeting of Wachovias shareholders held for such
purpose.
|
In addition, Wells Fargo may terminate the merger agreement:
|
|
|
|
|
if Wachovias board of directors (1) submits the
proposal for the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement to its shareholders without a recommendation for
approval, or otherwise withdraws or materially and adversely
modifies (or discloses its intention to withdraw or materially
and adversely modify) its recommendation, or (2) recommends
to its shareholders a business combination proposal other than
the merger with Wells Fargo as contemplated by the merger
agreement; or
|
|
|
|
if an order, injunction or decree issued by a governmental or
self-regulatory entity that permanently enjoins or prohibits or
makes illegal the issuance of shares of the Series M
Preferred Stock to Wells Fargo or prevents Wells Fargo from
voting such shares in favor of approving the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement at the special meeting becomes
final and nonappealable.
|
Wells
Fargo and Wachovia Entered into a Share Exchange Agreement
(Page 85)
On October 3, 2008, Wells Fargo and Wachovia, in connection
with entering into the merger agreement, entered into a share
exchange agreement, under which Wells Fargo agreed to purchase
10 newly issued shares of Wachovia Series M Preferred
Stock, which vote together with Wachovia common stock as a
single class and have voting rights equivalent to 39.9% of the
total voting power of holders of Wachovia capital stock entitled
to vote, in exchange for the issuance of 1,000 shares of
Wells Fargo common stock to Wachovia.
Wells Fargo and Wachovia completed the transactions contemplated
by the share exchange agreement on October 20, 2008. As of
November 3, 2008, the record date for the special meeting,
Wells Fargo had the power to vote approximately 40.8% of the
total voting power of shares entitled to vote on the approval of
the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement.
Effect of
Merger on Rights of Wachovia Shareholders
(Page 116)
The rights of Wachovia shareholders are governed by North
Carolina law, as well as Wachovias restated articles of
incorporation and bylaws. After completion of the merger, the
rights of former Wachovia shareholders who receive Wells Fargo
common stock and preferred stock in the merger will be governed
by Delaware law and Wells Fargos restated certificate of
incorporation and bylaws. This document contains descriptions of
the material differences in shareholder rights beginning on
page 116.
-10-
Wells
Fargos Dividend Policy Will Determine Your Dividends After
the Merger
Holders of Wells Fargo common stock receive dividends if, when
and as declared by the Wells Fargo board of directors out of
legally available funds. The amount and timing of any future
dividends on Wells Fargo common stock will depend on the
earnings, cash requirements and financial condition of Wells
Fargo and its subsidiaries, applicable law and regulations,
including federal banking regulations, and other factors deemed
relevant by the Wells Fargo board of directors.
In addition, pursuant to a Letter Agreement and related
Securities Purchase Agreement dated October 26, 2008
between Wells Fargo and the United States Department of the
Treasury, Wells Fargo is currently subject to a general
restriction on the making of dividends on its common stock other
than regular quarterly cash dividends not in excess of $0.34 per
share. Please see Wells Fargo Capital Stock
Restrictions on Payment of Dividends on page 91 for
further information on this restriction.
Wachovia
Shareholders Will Vote on the Merger at the Special Meeting
(Page 22)
The special meeting of Wachovia shareholders will be held on
December 23, 2008, at 9:30 a.m., EST, in the Piedmont
Ballroom, at the Hilton Charlotte Center City, 222 East
Third Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202. At the special
meeting, Wachovia shareholders will be asked to:
|
|
|
|
|
approve the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement; and
|
|
|
|
approve the adjournment or postponement of the special meeting,
if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in
favor of the proposal to approve the plan of merger contained in
the merger agreement.
|
The board of directors has fixed November 3, 2008 as the
record date for the special meeting. Only those shareholders of
record of Wachovia common stock and Series M Preferred
Stock as of the close of business on that date are entitled to
notice of and to vote at the special meeting or any adjournment
or postponement of the special meeting. To approve the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement, the affirmative vote
of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the plan of
merger consisting of all outstanding shares of Wachovia common
stock and the Series M Preferred Stock, voting together as
a single class, is required.
At the record date, there were 2,161,045,006 shares of
Wachovia common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the
special meeting. Directors and executive officers of Wachovia
and their affiliates had the right to
vote 44,640,790 shares of Wachovia common stock at the
special meeting, or approximately 1.2% of the voting power of
the outstanding Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting. All of the members of the Wachovia board of
directors have indicated their intention as of November 21,
2008 to vote the shares of Wachovia common stock they own (or
have the power to vote or direct the vote) as of the record date
(if any) in favor of the approval of the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement. In addition, as of the record
date for the special meeting, Wells Fargo held 10 shares of
Series M Preferred Stock of Wachovia that votes as a single
class with Wachovias common stock representing 39.9% of
the total voting power of holders of Wachovia capital stock
entitled to vote, and also held 32,883,669 shares of
Wachovia common stock, representing (together with the
Series M Preferred Stock) 40.8% of the total voting power
of holders of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting. Wells Fargo has informed Wachovia that intends
to vote these shares in favor of the proposal to approve the
plan of merger contained in the merger agreement. If Wells Fargo
does vote such Series M Preferred Stock and Wachovia common
stock in favor of the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement, the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement
will be approved if approximately 15.5% of the other outstanding
shares of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the special
meeting also vote in favor of the proposal to approve the plan
of merger contained in the merger agreement.
No Wells
Fargo Stockholder Approval
Wells Fargo stockholders are not required to approve the plan of
merger or the issuance of shares of Wells Fargo common stock as
part of the merger consideration.
-11-
Litigation
Related to the Merger (Page 73)
Certain litigation is pending in connection with the merger. See
The Merger Litigation Related to the
Merger on page 73.
Information
about Wells Fargo and Wachovia (Page 88)
Wells Fargo & Company
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94163
(866) 878-5865
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial
services company organized under the laws of the state of
Delaware and registered as a financial holding company and a
bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956,
as amended, referred to as the Bank Holding Company Act. Its
businesses provide banking, insurance, investments, mortgages
and consumer finance through stores, the Internet and other
distribution channels across North America and elsewhere
internationally. At September 30, 2008, Wells Fargo had
assets of $622.4 billion, loans of $411.0 billion,
deposits of $353.6 billion and stockholders equity of
$47.0 billion. Based on assets, Wells Fargo was the seventh
largest bank holding company in the United States. Wells Fargo
common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol WFC.
Wachovia Corporation
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina
28288-0013
(704) 374-6565
Wachovia was incorporated under the laws of North Carolina in
1967 and is registered as a financial holding company and a bank
holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.
Wachovia provides a wide range of commercial and retail banking
and trust services through full-service banking offices in
Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi,
Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and
Washington, D.C. Wachovias primary banking affiliate,
Wachovia Bank, National Association, operates a substantial
majority of these banking offices, except those in Delaware,
which are operated by Wachovia Bank of Delaware, National
Association. Wachovia also provides various other financial
services, including mortgage banking, investment banking,
investment advisory, home equity lending, asset-based lending,
leasing, insurance, international and securities brokerage
services, through other subsidiaries. Wachovias retail
securities brokerage business is conducted through Wachovia
Securities, LLC, and operates in 50 states. At
September 30, 2008, Wachovia had assets of
$764.4 billion, loans of $482.4 billion, deposits of
$418.8 billion and stockholders equity of
$50.0 billion. Based on assets, Wachovia is the sixth
largest bank holding company in the United States. Wachovia
common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol WB.
-12-
SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA AND MARKET PRICE INFORMATION
The following selected financial information is to aid you in
understanding certain financial aspects of the merger. The
following tables present selected historical financial data for
Wells Fargo and Wachovia. The annual historical information for
Wells Fargo and Wachovia is derived from their respective
audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2003 through 2007. The selected data for
the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and
September 30, 2007 is derived from their respective
unaudited consolidated interim financial statements. The
unaudited financial statements include all adjustments,
consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which management of
Wells Fargo and Wachovia, as the case may be, consider necessary
for fair presentation of the financial position and results of
operations for such periods. The information for Wells Fargo
reflects the two-for-one stock split in the form of a 100% stock
dividend distributed on August 11, 2006. The historical
results set forth below and elsewhere in this document are not
necessarily indicative of the future performance of Wells Fargo
or Wachovia.
The information is only a summary and should be read with each
companys historical consolidated financial statements and
related notes contained in that companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Quarterly Report
on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, as well as other
information filed by the company with the SEC. See Where
You Can Find More Information on page 126. All
amounts are in U.S. dollars.
Wells Fargo common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol WFC. Wachovia common stock trades
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WB.
-13-
Wells
Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Years Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
For the Period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net interest income
|
|
$
|
18,419
|
|
|
$
|
15,486
|
|
|
$
|
20,974
|
|
|
$
|
19,951
|
|
|
$
|
18,504
|
|
|
$
|
17,150
|
|
|
$
|
16,007
|
|
Provision for credit losses
|
|
|
7,535
|
|
|
|
2,327
|
|
|
|
4,939
|
|
|
|
2,204
|
|
|
|
2,383
|
|
|
|
1,717
|
|
|
|
1,722
|
|
Noninterest income
|
|
|
13,982
|
|
|
|
13,699
|
|
|
|
18,416
|
|
|
|
15,740
|
|
|
|
14,445
|
|
|
|
12,909
|
|
|
|
12,382
|
|
Noninterest expense
|
|
|
16,839
|
|
|
|
16,924
|
|
|
|
22,824
|
|
|
|
20,837
|
|
|
|
19,018
|
|
|
|
17,573
|
|
|
|
17,190
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
5,389
|
|
|
|
6,696
|
|
|
|
8,057
|
|
|
|
8,420
|
|
|
|
7,671
|
|
|
|
7,014
|
|
|
|
6,202
|
|
Earnings per common share
|
|
|
1.63
|
|
|
|
1.99
|
|
|
|
2.41
|
|
|
|
2.50
|
|
|
|
2.27
|
|
|
|
2.07
|
|
|
|
1.84
|
|
Diluted earnings per common share
|
|
|
1.62
|
|
|
|
1.97
|
|
|
|
2.38
|
|
|
|
2.47
|
|
|
|
2.25
|
|
|
|
2.05
|
|
|
|
1.83
|
|
Dividends declared per common share
|
|
|
0.96
|
|
|
|
0.87
|
|
|
|
1.18
|
|
|
|
1.08
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
0.93
|
|
|
|
0.75
|
|
At Period End:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities available for sale
|
|
$
|
86,882
|
|
|
$
|
57,440
|
|
|
$
|
72,951
|
|
|
$
|
42,629
|
|
|
$
|
41,834
|
|
|
$
|
33,717
|
|
|
$
|
32,953
|
|
Loans
|
|
|
411,049
|
|
|
|
362,922
|
|
|
|
382,195
|
|
|
|
319,116
|
|
|
|
310,837
|
|
|
|
287,586
|
|
|
|
253,073
|
|
Allowance for loan losses
|
|
|
7,865
|
|
|
|
3,829
|
|
|
|
5,307
|
|
|
|
3,764
|
|
|
|
3,871
|
|
|
|
3,762
|
|
|
|
3,891
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
13,520
|
|
|
|
12,018
|
|
|
|
13,106
|
|
|
|
11,275
|
|
|
|
10,787
|
|
|
|
10,681
|
|
|
|
10,371
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
622,361
|
|
|
|
548,727
|
|
|
|
575,442
|
|
|
|
481,996
|
|
|
|
481,741
|
|
|
|
427,849
|
|
|
|
387,798
|
|
Deposits
|
|
|
353,574
|
|
|
|
334,956
|
|
|
|
344,460
|
|
|
|
310,243
|
|
|
|
314,450
|
|
|
|
274,858
|
|
|
|
247,527
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
107,350
|
|
|
|
95,592
|
|
|
|
99,393
|
|
|
|
87,145
|
|
|
|
79,668
|
|
|
|
73,580
|
|
|
|
63,642
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
46,957
|
|
|
|
47,566
|
|
|
|
47,628
|
|
|
|
45,814
|
|
|
|
40,660
|
|
|
|
37,866
|
|
|
|
34,469
|
|
Capital ratios:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Risk-based capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tier 1 capital
|
|
|
8.59
|
%
|
|
|
8.17
|
%
|
|
|
7.59
|
%
|
|
|
8.93
|
%
|
|
|
8.26
|
%
|
|
|
8.41
|
%
|
|
|
8.42
|
%
|
Total capital
|
|
|
11.51
|
|
|
|
11.07
|
|
|
|
10.68
|
|
|
|
12.49
|
|
|
|
11.64
|
|
|
|
12.07
|
|
|
|
12.21
|
|
Tier 1 leverage
|
|
|
7.54
|
|
|
|
7.26
|
|
|
|
6.83
|
|
|
|
7.88
|
|
|
|
6.99
|
|
|
|
7.08
|
|
|
|
6.93
|
|
Book value per common share
|
|
$
|
14.14
|
|
|
$
|
14.30
|
|
|
$
|
14.45
|
|
|
$
|
13.57
|
|
|
$
|
12.12
|
|
|
$
|
11.17
|
|
|
$
|
10.15
|
|
Common Stock Price:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
$
|
44.68
|
|
|
$
|
37.99
|
|
|
$
|
37.99
|
|
|
$
|
36.99
|
|
|
$
|
32.35
|
|
|
$
|
32.02
|
|
|
$
|
29.59
|
|
Low
|
|
|
20.46
|
|
|
|
32.66
|
|
|
|
29.29
|
|
|
|
30.31
|
|
|
|
28.81
|
|
|
|
27.16
|
|
|
|
21.64
|
|
Period End
|
|
|
37.53
|
|
|
|
35.62
|
|
|
|
30.19
|
|
|
|
35.56
|
|
|
|
31.42
|
|
|
|
31.08
|
|
|
|
29.45
|
|
-14-
Wachovia
Corporation and Subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Years Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
For the Period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net interest income
|
|
$
|
14,033
|
|
|
$
|
13,500
|
|
|
$
|
18,130
|
|
|
$
|
15,249
|
|
|
$
|
13,681
|
|
|
$
|
11,961
|
|
|
$
|
10,607
|
|
Provision for credit losses
|
|
|
15,027
|
|
|
|
764
|
|
|
|
2,261
|
|
|
|
434
|
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
|
257
|
|
|
|
586
|
|
Noninterest income
|
|
|
6,675
|
|
|
|
10,907
|
|
|
|
13,297
|
|
|
|
14,665
|
|
|
|
12,323
|
|
|
|
10,779
|
|
|
|
9,482
|
|
Noninterest expense
|
|
|
43,802
|
|
|
|
14,500
|
|
|
|
20,393
|
|
|
|
18,010
|
|
|
|
16,293
|
|
|
|
14,850
|
|
|
|
13,423
|
|
Net income available to common shareholders
|
|
|
(33,704
|
)
|
|
|
6,261
|
|
|
|
6,312
|
|
|
|
7,791
|
|
|
|
6,643
|
|
|
|
5,214
|
|
|
|
4,259
|
|
Earnings per common share
|
|
|
(16.28
|
)
|
|
|
3.31
|
|
|
|
3.31
|
|
|
|
4.72
|
|
|
|
4.27
|
|
|
|
3.87
|
|
|
|
3.21
|
|
Diluted earnings per common share
|
|
|
(16.28
|
)
|
|
|
3.26
|
|
|
|
3.26
|
|
|
|
4.63
|
|
|
|
4.19
|
|
|
|
3.81
|
|
|
|
3.18
|
|
Dividends declared per common share
|
|
|
1.07
|
|
|
|
1.76
|
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
|
2.14
|
|
|
|
1.94
|
|
|
|
1.66
|
|
|
|
1.25
|
|
At Period End:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities available for sale
|
|
$
|
107,693
|
|
|
$
|
111,827
|
|
|
$
|
115,037
|
|
|
$
|
108,619
|
|
|
$
|
113,698
|
|
|
$
|
110,597
|
|
|
$
|
100,445
|
|
Loans
|
|
|
482,373
|
|
|
|
449,206
|
|
|
|
461,954
|
|
|
|
420,158
|
|
|
|
259,015
|
|
|
|
223,840
|
|
|
|
165,571
|
|
Allowance for loan losses
|
|
|
15,351
|
|
|
|
3,505
|
|
|
|
4,507
|
|
|
|
3,360
|
|
|
|
2,724
|
|
|
|
2,757
|
|
|
|
2,348
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
18,353
|
|
|
|
38,848
|
|
|
|
43,122
|
|
|
|
38,379
|
|
|
|
21,807
|
|
|
|
21,526
|
|
|
|
11,149
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
764,378
|
|
|
|
754,168
|
|
|
|
782,896
|
|
|
|
707,121
|
|
|
|
520,755
|
|
|
|
493,324
|
|
|
|
401,188
|
|
Deposits
|
|
|
418,840
|
|
|
|
421,937
|
|
|
|
449,129
|
|
|
|
407,458
|
|
|
|
324,894
|
|
|
|
295,053
|
|
|
|
221,225
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
183,350
|
|
|
|
158,584
|
|
|
|
161,007
|
|
|
|
138,594
|
|
|
|
48,971
|
|
|
|
46,759
|
|
|
|
36,730
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
50,003
|
|
|
|
70,140
|
|
|
|
76,872
|
|
|
|
69,716
|
|
|
|
47,561
|
|
|
|
47,317
|
|
|
|
32,428
|
|
Capital ratios:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Risk-based capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tier 1 capital
|
|
|
7.49
|
%
|
|
|
7.10
|
%
|
|
|
7.35
|
%
|
|
|
7.42
|
%
|
|
|
7.50
|
%
|
|
|
8.01
|
%
|
|
|
8.52
|
%
|
Total capital
|
|
|
12.40
|
|
|
|
10.84
|
|
|
|
11.82
|
|
|
|
11.33
|
|
|
|
10.82
|
|
|
|
11.11
|
|
|
|
11.54
|
|
Tier 1 leverage
|
|
|
5.70
|
|
|
|
6.10
|
|
|
|
6.09
|
|
|
|
6.01
|
|
|
|
6.12
|
|
|
|
6.38
|
|
|
|
6.36
|
|
Book value per common share
|
|
$
|
18.59
|
|
|
$
|
36.90
|
|
|
$
|
37.66
|
|
|
$
|
36.61
|
|
|
$
|
30.55
|
|
|
$
|
29.79
|
|
|
$
|
24.71
|
|
Common Stock Price:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
$
|
38.76
|
|
|
$
|
58.77
|
|
|
$
|
58.77
|
|
|
$
|
59.85
|
|
|
$
|
56.01
|
|
|
$
|
54.52
|
|
|
$
|
46.59
|
|
Low
|
|
|
1.84
|
|
|
|
44.94
|
|
|
|
38.03
|
|
|
|
51.09
|
|
|
|
46.49
|
|
|
|
43.56
|
|
|
|
32.72
|
|
Period End
|
|
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
50.15
|
|
|
|
38.03
|
|
|
|
56.95
|
|
|
|
52.86
|
|
|
|
52.60
|
|
|
|
46.59
|
|
-15-
Comparative
Market Value of Securities
The following table shows the closing sale prices of Wells Fargo
common stock and Wachovia common stock as reported on the New
York Stock Exchange on October 2, 2008, the last trading
day before public announcement of the merger, and on
November 21, 2008, the last practicable trading day before
the date of this document. This table also shows the implied
value of the merger consideration proposed for each share of
Wachovia common stock as of each of those dates, which was
calculated by multiplying the closing price of Wells Fargo
common stock on each of those dates by 0.1991, the exchange
ratio.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied Value of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One Share of
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
|
Wachovia Common
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
As of October 2, 2008
|
|
$
|
35.16
|
|
|
$
|
3.91
|
|
|
$
|
7.00
|
|
As of November 21, 2008
|
|
$
|
21.76
|
|
|
$
|
4.13
|
|
|
$
|
4.33
|
|
For each share of Wachovia common stock, Wachovia common
shareholders will receive 0.1991 of a share of Wells Fargo
common stock and cash instead of fractional shares of Wells
Fargo common stock, based on the average closing price of Wells
Fargo common stock on the New York Stock Exchange over the five
trading days immediately prior to the date on which the merger
is completed. The market prices of both Wells Fargo common stock
and Wachovia common stock will fluctuate prior to the merger.
You should obtain current stock price quotations for Wells Fargo
common stock and Wachovia common stock. You can get these
quotations from a newspaper, on the Internet or by calling your
broker. Wells Fargo common stock trades on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol WFC. Wachovia common stock
trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
WB.
-16-
Comparative
Per Common Share Data (Unaudited)
The following table shows, for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 and the year ended December 31,
2007, selected per share information for Wells Fargo common
stock on a historical and pro forma combined basis and for
Wachovia common stock on a historical and pro forma equivalent
basis. The pro forma financial information gives effect to the
Merger involving Wells Fargo and Wachovia, Wells Fargos
issuance of capital securities to the Department of the Treasury
on October 28, 2008 and Wells Fargos common stock
offering completed on November 13, 2008. For additional
information, see Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined
Financial Information beginning on page 60. Except
for the historical information as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2007, the information in the table is
unaudited. You should read the data with the historical
consolidated financial statements and related notes of Wells
Fargo and Wachovia contained in their respective Annual Reports
on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Quarterly Reports
on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. See Where
You Can Find More Information on page 126. Amounts
are in U.S. dollars.
The Wells Fargo pro forma combined earnings per share were
calculated by dividing (1) the sum of (a) Wells
Fargos net income applicable to common stock plus
(b) Wachovias net income applicable to common stock
by (2) pro forma equivalent common shares. The Wells Fargo
pro forma combined cash dividends per common share represent
Wells Fargo historical cash dividends per common share. The
Wells Fargo pro forma combined book value per share was
calculated by dividing total combined Wells Fargo and Wachovia
common shareholders equity by pro forma equivalent common
shares. The Wachovia pro forma equivalent per common share
amounts were calculated by multiplying the Wells Fargo pro forma
combined per share amounts by the exchange ratio of 0.1991.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Combined
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Equivalent
|
|
|
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
|
|
$
|
1.63
|
|
|
$
|
(6.62
|
)
|
|
$
|
(16.28
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.32
|
)
|
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
2.41
|
|
|
|
4.08
|
|
|
|
3.31
|
|
|
|
0.81
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
|
|
|
1.62
|
|
|
|
(6.62
|
)
|
|
|
(16.28
|
)
|
|
|
(1.32
|
)
|
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
2.38
|
|
|
|
4.04
|
|
|
|
3.26
|
|
|
|
0.80
|
|
Cash Dividends Declared Per Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
|
|
|
0.96
|
|
|
|
0.96
|
|
|
|
1.07
|
|
|
|
0.19
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
1.18
|
|
|
|
1.18
|
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
|
0.23
|
|
Book Value Per Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
|
|
|
14.14
|
|
|
|
18.08
|
|
|
|
18.59
|
|
|
|
3.60
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
14.45
|
|
|
|
26.77
|
|
|
|
37.66
|
|
|
|
5.33
|
|
-17-
Recent
Developments
Department
of Treasury Investment
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
(EESA) authorizes the United States Department of
the Treasury (the Department of the Treasury) to use
appropriated funds to restore liquidity and stability to the
U.S. financial system. As part of this authority, on
October 28, 2008, at the request of the Department of the
Treasury and pursuant to a Letter Agreement dated
October 26, 2008 and Securities Purchase
Agreement Standard Terms attached thereto (the
Securities Purchase Agreement), Wells Fargo issued
to the Department of the Treasury 25,000 shares of Wells
Fargos Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock,
Series D without par value (Series D Preferred
Stock), having a liquidation value per share equal to
$1,000,000, for a total price of $25 billion. The
Series D Preferred Stock pays cumulative dividends at a
rate of 5% per year for the first five years and thereafter at a
rate of 9% per year. Wells Fargo may not redeem the
Series D Preferred Stock during the first three years
except with the proceeds from a qualified equity
offering. After three years the Series D Preferred
Stock is redeemable by Wells Fargo at par value plus accrued and
unpaid dividends. The Series D Preferred Stock has limited
voting rights. Prior to October 28, 2011, unless Wells
Fargo has redeemed all of the Series D Preferred Stock or
the Department of the Treasury has transferred all of the
Series D Preferred Stock to a party not affiliated with the
Department of the Treasury, the consent of the Department of the
Treasury will be required for Wells Fargo to increase its common
stock dividend or repurchase its common stock or other capital
stock or equity securities, other than in connection with
benefit plans consistent with past practice and certain other
circumstances specified in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
The agreement for the preferred securities includes certain
restrictions on executive compensation. Specifically, the five
senior executive officers of Wells Fargo are subject to the
following limits on compensation under Section 111(b) of
EESA for as long as the Department of the Treasury holds the
securities it acquired: (i) a prohibition on incentive
compensation arrangements that involve unnecessary or excessive
risks, (ii) a recovery of any bonus incentive compensation
paid during the period the Department of the Treasury holds its
securities based on financial statements or other criteria that
prove to be materially inaccurate, and (iii) a prohibition
of golden parachute payments, as defined under the
Internal Revenue Code, upon certain terminations of employment.
In addition, the deductibility for federal income tax purposes
of compensation paid to these five senior executive officers
will be subject to certain limitations. As part of its purchase
of the Series D Preferred Stock, the Department of the
Treasury received a warrant to purchase 110,261,688 shares
of Wells Fargo common stock at an initial per share exercise
price of $34.01. The number of shares of Wells Fargo common
stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant will be reduced by
50% if Wells Fargo receives $25 billion of proceeds from
qualified equity offerings on or prior to December 31,
2009. Wells Fargos issuance of common stock on
November 13, 2008 was not, and the issuance of common stock
in the merger will not constitute, a qualified equity offering.
The warrant provides for the adjustment of the exercise price
and the number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock issuable
upon exercise pursuant to customary anti-dilution provisions,
such as upon stock splits or distributions of securities or
other assets to holders of Wells Fargo common stock, and upon
certain issuances of Wells Fargo common stock at or below a
specified price relative to the initial exercise price. The
warrant expires ten years from the issuance date. Both the
Series D Preferred Stock and the warrant will be accounted
for as components of Tier 1 capital.
Common
Stock Offering
On November 13, 2008, Wells Fargo issued 468.5 million
shares of common stock at a public offering price of $27.00 per
share in an underwritten public offering. The net proceeds of
the offering to Wells Fargo, after underwriting discounts and
commissions, were $12,333,262,500.
-18-
RISK
FACTORS
Before deciding whether to vote for approval of the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement, you should carefully
consider the following risk factors, in addition to the other
information contained or incorporated by reference in this
document, including the matters addressed under the heading
Forward-Looking Statements beginning on page 21
and the discussion under Risk Factors in each
companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, as such discussion
may be amended or updated in the companys Quarterly Report
on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and in other
reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) after the date of this document. See
Where You Can Find More Information on
page 126.
The Wells
Fargo share price may fluctuate prior to the completion of the
merger.
Upon completion of the merger, each share of Wachovia common
stock will be converted into merger consideration consisting of
0.1991 of a share of Wells Fargo common stock. Any change in the
price of Wells Fargo common stock prior to completion of the
merger will affect the dollar value of the merger consideration
that Wachovia common shareholders will receive upon completion
of the merger. Changes in the price of Wells Fargo common stock
could result from a variety of factors, including general market
and economic conditions, changes in Wells Fargos business,
operations and prospects, and regulatory considerations.
The
merger is subject to the receipt of consents and approvals from
regulatory authorities that may impose conditions that could
have an adverse effect on Wells Fargo or, if not obtained, could
prevent completion of the merger.
Before the merger may be completed, various approvals and
consents must be obtained from regulatory entities. These
regulators may impose conditions on the completion of the merger
or require changes to the terms of the merger. Any such
conditions or changes could have the effect of delaying
completion of the merger or imposing additional costs on or
limiting the revenues of Wells Fargo following the merger.
A number of the regulatory approvals and consents required in
connection with the merger have been obtained. The waiting
period applicable to the merger under the HSR Act was terminated
on October 10, 2008. The Federal Reserve approved the
merger on October 12, 2008.
Either Wachovia or Wells Fargo may terminate the merger
agreement if the merger has not been completed by
October 3, 2009, unless the failure of the merger to be
completed has resulted from the failure of the party seeking to
terminate the merger agreement to perform its obligations.
The
merger agreement limits Wachovias ability to seek
alternative transactions to the merger.
The merger agreement prohibits Wachovia and its directors,
officers, representatives and agents from soliciting,
authorizing the solicitation of or, subject to certain
exceptions, entering into discussions with any third party
regarding alternative acquisition proposals. The prohibition
limits Wachovias ability to seek offers that may be
superior from a financial point of view from other possible
acquirers. In addition, pursuant to the share exchange
agreement, as of the record date for the special meeting Wells
Fargo held 10 shares of Series M Preferred Stock that
vote as a single class with Wachovias common stock
representing 39.9% of the total voting power of holders of
Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote, and also held 1.5% of
Wachovias common stock, representing (together with the
Series M Preferred Stock) 40.8% of the total voting power
of holders of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting, which could make it more difficult for a third
party to acquire Wachovia prior to completion of the merger or
termination of the merger agreement.
Certain
of Wachovias executive officers and directors have
additional interests in the merger.
Certain of Wachovias executive officers and directors have
interests in the merger as individuals that are different from,
or in addition to, the interests of Wachovia shareholders
generally. See The Proposed Merger Interests
of Certain Wachovia Directors and Executive Officers in the
Merger on page 51. The
-19-
Wachovia board of directors was aware of these interests and
considered them, among other matters, in approving the merger
agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement.
The value
of Wells Fargo capital stock could be adversely affected to the
extent Wells Fargo fails to realize the expected benefits of the
merger.
The merger will involve the integration of the businesses of
Wachovia and Wells Fargo. It is possible that the integration
process could result in the loss of key Wachovia employees, the
disruption of Wachovias ongoing business or
inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies
that adversely affect Wachovias ability to maintain
relationships with customers and employees. As with any
financial institution merger, there also may be disruptions that
cause Wachovia to lose customers or cause customers to take
deposits out of Wachovias banks.
The
market price of Wells Fargo capital stock may be affected by
factors different from those affecting Wachovia capital
stock.
Upon completion of the merger, holders of Wachovia common stock
and preferred stock will become holders of Wells Fargo common
stock and preferred stock. Some of Wells Fargos current
businesses and markets differ from those of Wachovia and,
accordingly, the financial results and condition of Wells Fargo
after the merger may be affected by factors different from those
currently affecting the financial results and condition of
Wachovia. For information about the businesses of Wells Fargo
and Wachovia and some factors to consider in connection with
those businesses, see each companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, as such information
and factors may be updated in each companys Quarterly
Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and in other
reports filed by each company with the SEC after the date of
this document. See Where You Can Find More
Information on page 126.
Wells
Fargos credit ratings are reviewed periodically, and could
be subject to downgrade.
Wells Fargos credit ratings are an important factor in
determining its cost of borrowing. Currently, Moodys
Investors Service rates Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as
Aaa, its highest investment grade, and rates Wells
Fargos senior debt as Aal.
Standard & Poors Ratings Services rates Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A. as AAA and Wells Fargos
senior debt rating as AA+. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is
currently the only U.S. bank to have the highest possible
credit rating from both Moodys and S&P. Following the
announcement of the Wachovia merger, Moodys and S&P
placed Wells Fargo on their respective negative credit watch
lists. Rating agencies base their ratings on many quantitative
and qualitative factors, including capital adequacy, liquidity,
asset quality, business mix, and level and quality of earnings,
and there can be no assurance that Wells Fargo will maintain the
aforementioned credit ratings.
The
shares of Wells Fargo common stock to be received by Wachovia
shareholders as a result of the merger will have different
rights than the shares of Wachovia common stock.
The rights associated with Wachovia common stock are different
from the rights associated with Wells Fargo common stock. See
the section of this proxy statement-prospectus entitled
Comparison of Shareholder Rights on Page 116
for a discussion of the different rights associated with Wells
Fargo common stock.
Current
disruption and volatility in global financial markets might
continue and governments may take measures to
intervene.
Over the last year global financial markets have experienced
extraordinary disruption and volatility following adverse
changes in the global credit markets. Governments have taken
highly significant measures in response to such events,
including enactment of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
of 2008, or EESA, in the United States. Such dislocation and
instability, and potential government responses thereto, may
continue before and after completion of the merger and could
negatively impact the operations of Wachovia and Wells Fargo and
the value of the Wells Fargo capital stock you receive in the
merger.
-20-
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This document, including information incorporated by reference,
may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking
statements, with respect to each of Wachovia, Wells Fargo and
the combined company following the merger, as well as the goals,
plans, objectives, intentions, expectations, financial
condition, results of operations, future performance and
business of Wachovia or Wells Fargo, including, without
limitation, (i) statements relating to the benefits of the
merger, and (ii) statements preceded by, followed by or
that include the words may, could,
should, would, believe,
anticipate, estimate,
expect, intend, plan,
projects, outlook or similar expressions.
Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements. They are
expectations about the future and are not guarantees.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the
document in which they are made, are based upon the current
beliefs and expectations of Wachovias
and/or Wells
Fargos management and are subject to significant risks and
uncertainties that are subject to change based on various
factors (many of which are beyond Wachovias and Wells
Fargos control). Actual results may differ from those set
forth in the forward-looking statements. Neither Wells Fargo nor
Wachovia undertakes to update forward-looking statements to
reflect changes that occur after that date.
The following factors, among others, could cause Wachovias
or Wells Fargos financial performance to differ materially
from that expressed in such forward-looking statements:
(1) the risk that the businesses of Wachovia
and/or Wells
Fargo in connection with the merger will not be integrated
successfully or such integration may be more difficult,
time-consuming or costly than expected; (2) the risk that
expected revenue synergies and cost savings from the merger may
not be fully realized or realized within the expected time
frame; (3) the risk that revenues following the merger may
be lower than expected; (4) deposit attrition, operating
costs, customer loss and business disruption before
and/or
following the merger, including, without limitation,
difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, may be
greater than expected; (5) any inability to obtain required
governmental approvals of the merger on the proposed terms and
schedule; (6) any failure of Wachovias shareholders
to vote in favor of the proposal to approve the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement; (7) the risk that the
strength of the United States economy in general and the
strength of the local economies in which Wachovia
and/or Wells
Fargo conducts operations may be different than expected
resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit
quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant
effect on Wachovias
and/or Wells
Fargos loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses;
(8) the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and
fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of
the Federal Reserve; (9) the extent and duration of
continued, potential or actual litigation; (10) inflation,
interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations;
(11) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public
debt market and other capital markets (including changes in
interest rate conditions) in the general economy and the impact
of such conditions, and governmental response, on
Wachovias brokerage and capital markets activities;
(12) the timely development of competitive new products and
services by Wachovia or Wells Fargo and the acceptance of these
products and services by new and existing customers;
(13) the willingness of customers to accept third party
products marketed by Wachovia or Wells Fargo; (14) the
willingness of customers to substitute competitors
products and services for Wachovias or Wells Fargos
products and services and vice versa; (15) the impact of
changes in financial services laws and regulations
(including laws concerning taxes, banking, securities and
insurance); (16) technological changes; (17) changes
in consumer spending and saving habits; (18) the effect of
corporate restructurings, acquisitions
and/or
dispositions, including, without limitation, the merger, and the
actual restructuring and other expenses related thereto, and the
failure to achieve the expected revenue growth
and/or
expense savings from such corporate restructurings, acquisitions
and/or
dispositions; (19) the growth and profitability of
Wachovias
and/or Wells
Fargos non-interest or fee income being less than
expected; (20) unanticipated regulatory or judicial
proceedings or rulings; (21) the impact of changes in
accounting principles; (22) adverse changes in financial
performance
and/or
condition of Wachovias
and/or Wells
Fargos borrowers which could impact repayment of such
borrowers outstanding loans; (23) the impact on
Wachovia
and/or Wells
Fargos businesses, as well as on the risks set forth
above, of various domestic or international military or
terrorist activities or conflicts; (24) the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions to complete the merger; and
(25) Wachovias
and/or Wells
Fargos success at managing the risks involved in the
foregoing.
Additional factors are described in Risk Factors
beginning on page 19. Other factors are discussed in Wells
Fargos and Wachovias reports filed with the SEC,
including under Risk Factors in their respective
Annual Reports on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, as such discussion
may be updated in each companys Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and in other
reports filed by each company with the SEC after the date of
this document. See Where You Can Find More
Information on page 126.
-21-
THE
WACHOVIA SHAREHOLDER MEETING
This section contains information for Wachovia shareholders
about the special meeting that Wachovia has called to allow its
shareholders to consider and approve the proposal to approve the
plan of merger contained in the merger agreement. Wachovia is
mailing this document to its shareholders on or about
November 21, 2008. Together with this document, Wachovia is
sending a notice of the special meeting and a form of proxy that
our board of directors is soliciting for use at the special
meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the special
meeting.
Time,
Date and Place
The Wachovia special meeting of shareholders is scheduled to be
held on on December 23, 2008, at 9:30 a.m., EST, in
the Piedmont Ballroom, at the Hilton Charlotte Center City,
222 East Third Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202.
Matters
to be Considered:
At the Wachovia special meeting, Wachovia shareholders will be
asked:
|
|
|
|
|
to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement; and
|
|
|
|
to consider and vote upon a proposal to adjourn or postpone the
meeting to a later date, if necessary or appropriate, in order
to solicit additional proxies in favor of the proposal to
approve the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement.
|
At this time, the Wachovia board of directors is unaware of any
matters, other than set forth above, that may be presented for
action at the special meeting. If other matters are properly
presented, however, the persons named as proxies will vote in
accordance with their judgment with respect to such matters.
Shares
Outstanding and Entitled to Vote; Record Date
The close of business on November 3, 2008 has been fixed by
the Wachovia board of directors as the record date for the
determination of holders of Wachovia common stock and the
Series M Preferred Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the special meeting and any adjournment or postponement of
the meeting. At the close of business on the record date, there
were 2,161,045,006 shares of Wachovia common stock
outstanding and entitled to vote held by 151,015 holders of
record. Each share of Wachovia common stock entitles the holder
to one vote at the special meeting on all matters properly
presented at the meeting. Pursuant to the share exchange
agreement, as of the record date for the special meeting Wells
Fargo held 10 shares of the Series M Preferred Stock
of Wachovia that vote as a single class with Wachovias
common stock, representing 39.9% of the total voting power of
holders of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting. In addition, as of the record date for the
special meeting, Wells Fargo also held 32,883,669 shares of
Wachovia common stock, representing (together with the
Series M Preferred Stock) 40.8% of the total voting power
of holders of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting. Wells Fargo has informed Wachovia that it
intends to vote these shares in favor of approval of the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement at the special meeting.
How to
Vote Your Shares
Wachovia shareholders of record may vote by mail, by the
telephone, through the Internet or by attending the special
meeting and voting in person. If you choose to vote by mail,
simply complete the enclosed proxy card, date and sign it, and
return it in the postage paid envelope provided.
If you are a shareholder of record, you may use the Internet to
transmit your vote up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time, on December 22, 2008. Visit
http://proxy.georgeson.com and have your proxy card in hand when
you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain
your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
-22-
If you are a shareholder of record, you may call
1-877-816-0869
and use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your vote up until
11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, on December 22,
2008. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow
the instructions.
Please note that although there is no charge to you for voting
by telephone or electronically through the Internet, there may
be costs associated with electronic access such as usage charges
for Internet service providers and telephone companies. Wachovia
will not pay for these costs; they are solely your
responsibility.
If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other
holder of record, you must provide instructions to the broker or
nominee as to how your shares should be voted. Brokers do not
have the discretion to vote on the proposals and will only vote
at the direction of the underlying beneficial owners of the
shares of Wachovia common stock. Accordingly, if you do not
instruct your broker to vote your shares, your broker will not
have the discretion to vote your shares. Your broker or nominee
will usually provide you with the appropriate instruction forms
at the time you receive this proxy statement-prospectus. If you
own your shares in this manner, you cannot vote in person at the
special meeting unless you receive a proxy to do so from the
broker or the nominee, and you bring that proxy to the special
meeting. Also, please note that if the holder of record of your
shares is a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote
those shares at the meeting, you must bring a letter from the
broker, bank or other nominee confirming that you are the
beneficial owner of the shares.
If you have any shares in Wachovias Dividend Reinvestment
and Stock Purchase Plan, the enclosed proxy card represents the
number of shares you had in that plan on the record date for the
special meeting, as well as the number of shares directly
registered in your name on the record date.
Revocability
of Proxies
Any Wachovia shareholder of record executing a proxy may revoke
it at any time before it is voted by:
|
|
|
|
|
delivering prior to the special meeting a written notice of
revocation addressed to the Corporate Secretary, Wachovia
Corporation, 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
28288;
|
|
|
|
submitting prior to the special meeting a properly executed new
proxy with a later date; or
|
|
|
|
attending the special meeting and voting in person.
|
Attendance at the special meeting will not, by itself,
constitute revocation of a proxy. If you have instructed a
broker to vote your shares, you must follow the directions you
receive from your broker in order to change or revoke your vote.
Each proxy returned (and not revoked) will be voted in
accordance with the instructions indicated thereon. If you
return your proxy but no instructions are indicated, your shares
will be voted in favor of the relevant proposal; provided,
however, that if you vote against the proposal to approve the
plan of merger contained in the merger agreement, and do not
provide instruction on voting for the adjournment or
postponement proposal, your shares will not be voted in favor of
adjourning or postponing the meeting to solicit additional votes
on the proposal to approve the plan of merger contained in the
merger agreement.
Vote
Required
A quorum, consisting of a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast on the plan of merger consisting of all outstanding shares
of Wachovia common stock and the Series M Preferred Stock,
voting together as a single class, must be present in person or
by proxy before any action may be taken at the special meeting.
Abstentions will be treated as shares that are present for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast on the plan of merger consisting of all
outstanding shares of Wachovia common stock and the
Series M Preferred Stock, voting together as a single
class, is necessary to approve the plan of merger contained in
the merger agreement. The failure to vote, either by proxy or in
person, will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal
to
-23-
approve the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement.
Shares which abstain from voting as to a particular matter will
not be voted in favor of such matters.
Brokers cannot vote the shares that they hold beneficially
either for or against the proposal to approve the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement or the proposal to approve the
adjournment or postponement of the special meeting, if necessary
or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies to approve the
plan of merger contained in the merger agreement without
specific instructions from the person who beneficially owns the
shares, so-called broker non-votes. Therefore, if
your shares are held by a broker and you do not give your broker
instructions on how to vote your shares, this will have the same
effect as voting against the proposal to approve the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement.
As of the record date, the directors and executive officers of
Wachovia owned 44,640,790 shares of Wachovia common stock,
or approximately 2.1% of the outstanding shares of Wachovia
common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting and
approximately 1.2% of the voting power of the outstanding
Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting
including the Series M Preferred Stock. All of the members
of the Wachovia board of directors have indicated their
intention as of November 21, 2008 to vote the shares of
Wachovia common stock they own (or have the power to vote or
direct the vote) as of the record date (if any) in favor of the
proposal to approve the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement.
As of the close of business on the record date for the special
meeting, Wells Fargo held 10 shares of Series M
Preferred Stock of Wachovia that votes as a single class with
Wachovias common stock, representing 39.9% of the total
voting power of holders of Wachovia capital stock entitled to
vote, and also held 32,883,669 shares of Wachovia common
stock, representing (together with the Series M Preferred
Stock) 40.8% of the total voting power of holders of Wachovia
capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting. Wells
Fargo has informed Wachovia that it intends to vote these shares
in favor of the proposal to approve the plan of merger contained
in the merger agreement. If Wells Fargo does vote such
Series M Preferred Stock and Wachovia common stock in favor
of the proposal to approve the plan of merger contained in the
merger agreement, the merger agreement will be approved if
approximately 15.5% of the voting power of the other outstanding
shares of Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the special
meeting also vote in favor of the proposal to approve the plan
of merger contained in the merger agreement.
Solicitation
of Proxies
Wachovia and Wells Fargo will share equally the costs of mailing
this proxy statement-prospectus to Wachovias shareholders,
and Wachovia will pay all other costs incurred by it in
connection with the solicitation of proxies from its
shareholders on behalf of its board of directors. In addition to
solicitation by mail, the directors, officers and regular
employees of Wachovia and its subsidiaries may solicit proxies
from shareholders in person or by telephone, telegram, facsimile
or other electronic methods without compensation other than
reimbursement for their actual expenses.
Arrangements also will be made with custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries for the forwarding of solicitation material to the
beneficial owners of stock held of record by such persons, and
Wachovia will reimburse such custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in
connection therewith.
Wachovia has retained Georgeson Inc., a professional proxy
solicitation firm, to assist it in the solicitation of proxies.
The fee payable to such firm in connection with the proxy
solicitation is $25,000 plus reimbursement for reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses.
Delivery
of Proxy Materials
To reduce the expenses of delivering duplicate proxy materials
to our shareholders, we are relying upon SEC rules that permit
us to deliver only one proxy statement-prospectus to multiple
shareholders who share an address unless we received contrary
instructions from any shareholder at that address. If you share
an address with another shareholder and have received only one
proxy statement-prospectus, you may write or call us as
specified below to request a separate copy of this document and
we will promptly send it to you at no cost to
-24-
you. For future meetings, if you hold shares directly registered
in your own name, you may request separate copies of our proxy
materials, or request that we send only one set of these
materials to you if you are receiving multiple copies, by
contacting us at: Investor Relations, Wachovia Corporation, 301
South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
28288-0206,
or by telephoning us at
(704) 374-6782.
If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker, or other
nominee and you wish to receive separate copies of our proxy
materials, or request that they send only one set of these
materials to you if you are receiving multiple copies, please
contact the bank, broker or other nominee.
Recommendation
of the Wachovia Board of Directors
The Wachovia board of directors has unanimously adopted the plan
of merger contained in the merger agreement and the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement. Based on Wachovias
reasons for the merger described in this document, the Wachovia
board of directors believes that the merger is in the best
interests of Wachovia and its shareholders. Accordingly, the
Wachovia board of directors unanimously recommends that Wachovia
shareholders vote FOR approval of the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement and the adjournment proposal.
-25-
THE
MERGER
The following discussion provides material information about
the merger. The discussion may not have all the information that
is important to you, and it is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the appendices to this document, including the
merger agreement attached as Appendix A. We urge you
to carefully read this entire document, including the
appendices, for a more complete understanding of the merger.
Merger
Structure
In the merger, Wachovia will merge with and into Wells Fargo.
Wells Fargo will be the surviving corporation in the merger.
Each share of Wachovia common stock outstanding at the time of
the merger will be automatically converted into 0.1991 of a
share of Wells Fargo common stock.
Merger
Consideration
For Shares of Wachovia Common Stock. The
merger agreement provides that, at the completion of the merger,
each share of Wachovia common stock outstanding immediately
before the merger will be converted into 0.1991 of a share of
Wells Fargo common stock. We sometimes refer to the number of
shares of Wells Fargo common stock to be exchanged for each
share of Wachovia common stock as the exchange
ratio. If the number of shares of common stock of Wells
Fargo changes before the merger is completed because of a
reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other similar
event, then an appropriate and proportionate adjustment will be
made to the number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock into
which each share of Wachovia common stock will be converted.
If the total number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock to be
received in the merger by a Wachovia shareholder does not equal
a whole number, the shareholder will receive cash instead of the
fractional share. The amount of cash will equal the fractional
share amount multiplied by the average, rounded to the nearest
one ten thousandth, of the closing sale prices of Wells Fargo
common stock on the New York Stock Exchange as reported by The
Wall Street Journal for the five trading days immediately
preceding the date of the completion of the merger.
For Wachovia Stock Options and Other Equity-Based
Awards. The merger agreement also provides that,
at the completion of the merger, each option to purchase
Wachovia common stock and each other equity-based award of
Wachovia that is then outstanding will be converted
automatically into an option or other equity-based award of or
on shares of Wells Fargo common stock, generally subject to the
same terms and conditions that applied to the Wachovia option or
other equity-based award. The number of Wachovia common shares
subject to these stock options and other equity-based awards,
and the exercise price of the stock options, will be adjusted
based on the exchange ratio of 0.1991.
For Shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock. Shares
of preferred stock issued by Wachovias subsidiaries will
remain issued and outstanding following completion of the
merger, and the terms of those preferred shares will generally
be unaffected by the merger. Except with respect to the
Series M Preferred Stock, holders of Wachovia preferred
stock, depositary shares or preferred stock issued by
Wachovias subsidiaries are not entitled to vote on the
merger or at the special meeting.
Upon completion of the merger, (i) each Dividend
Equalization Preferred Share, no par value, of Wachovia,
referred to as Wachovia DEP Shares, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one one-thousandth of a Wells Fargo
Dividend Equalization Preferred Share, no par value, referred to
as Wells Fargo DEP Shares, (ii) each share of Wachovia
Class A Preferred Stock, Series G, no par value,
referred to as Wachovia Preferred Stock Series G, issued
and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger
will be automatically converted into one one-hundredth of a
share of Wells Fargo Class A Preferred Stock,
Series G, no par value, referred to as the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G, (iii) each share of Wachovia
Class A Preferred Stock, Series H, no par value,
referred to as Wachovia Preferred Stock Series H, issued
and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger
will be automatically converted into one one-hundredth of a
share of Wells Fargo Class A Preferred Stock,
Series H, no par value, referred to as the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H, (iv) each share of Wachovia
Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, no par value,
referred to as Wachovia Preferred Stock Series I,
-26-
issued and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the
merger will be automatically converted into one share of Wells
Fargo Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, no par value,
referred to as the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I,
(v) each share of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J,
no par value, referred to as Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J, issued and outstanding immediately prior to
completion of the merger will be automatically converted into
one share of Wells Fargo 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual
Class A Preferred Stock, Series J, no par value,
referred to as the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J,
(vi) each share of Wachovia Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock,
Series K, no par value, referred to as Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series K, issued and outstanding immediately prior to
completion of the merger will be automatically converted into
one share of Wells Fargo, Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative
Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series K, no par
value, referred to as the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series K, (vii) each share of Wachovia 7.50%
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A Preferred
Stock, Series L, no par value, referred to as Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series L, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo 7.50%
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A Preferred
Stock, Series L, no par value, referred to as the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series L and (viii) each share
of Wachovia Series M, Class A Preferred Stock, no par
value, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
completion of the merger will be automatically converted into
one share of Wells Fargo Series M, Class A Preferred
Stock, no par value, referred to as the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series M. As of the date of this proxy
statement-prospectus, no shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series G, Wachovia Preferred Stock Series H or
Wachovia Preferred Stock Series I are issued.
The terms of each share of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series I, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J, Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series K, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L and Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series M will
be substantially identical to the terms of one share of the
corresponding series of Wachovia Class A Preferred Stock.
The terms of each one one-thousandth of a Wells Fargo DEP Share
will be substantially identical to the terms of one Wachovia DEP
Share. The terms of each one one-hundredth of a share of Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G and one one-hundredth of a
share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H will be
substantially identical to the terms of one share of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series G and Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series H, respectively. We sometimes refer to the Wells
Fargo DEP Shares, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G,
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H, Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series I, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J,
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K and Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L collectively as the New
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock. Any shares of Wachovia
preferred stock as to which preferred shareholders have
perfected their dissenters rights pursuant to North
Carolina law will not be exchanged for New Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock.
Each outstanding share of the Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J is presently represented by depositary shares that
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and represent a
one-fortieth interest in a share of Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J. Upon completion of the merger, Wells Fargo will
assume the obligations of Wachovia under the Deposit Agreement,
dated as of December 21, 2007, between Wachovia,
U.S. Bank, National Association as depositary, and the
holders from time to time of depositary shares. Wells Fargo will
instruct U.S. Bank, referred to as the Depositary, as
depositary under the deposit agreement, referred to as the
Series J Deposit Agreement, to treat the shares of New
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock received by it in exchange for
shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J as newly
deposited securities under the Series J Deposit Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Series J Deposit
Agreement, the Wachovia depositary shares will thereafter
represent the shares of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J. Such depositary shares will continue to be listed
on the New York Stock Exchange upon completion of the merger
under a new name and traded under a new symbol.
Holders of Wachovia preferred stock (except for the
Series M Preferred Stock issued to Wells Fargo (which
represents 39.9% of the total voting power of holders of
Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote)) and Wachovia
depositary shares are not entitled to vote on the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement or the proposal to approve the
adjournment or postponement of the special meeting, if necessary
or appropriate, in order to solicit additional proxies in favor
of the proposal to approve the plan of merger contained in the
merger agreement.
-27-
Background
of the Merger
Wachovias strategy has been to build a diversified
financial services company providing a wide range of financial
products and services to an expanded customer base. To
accomplish this objective, over the last two decades Wachovia
acquired nearly 100 banks, thrifts and broker-dealers to become
a leading banking franchise in the eastern, southern and western
United States, as well as a nationwide retail securities
brokerage business. In 2006, at a time when Wachovias
market cap was approximately $86 billion, in furtherance of
Wachovias objectives of expanding its banking franchise to
the California markets and gaining market share in
U.S. residential mortgage lending, Wachovia acquired Golden
West Financial Corporation of Oakland, California for
approximately $25.5 billion. Golden West added significant
size to Wachovias then-small California retail banking
presence and also added approximately $120 billion of
residential mortgages to Wachovias balance sheet, which at
the time had assets of about $553 billion. Substantially
all of the Golden West mortgage portfolio has consisted of a
product, referred to as option ARMs or adjustable
rate mortgages with monthly payment options. The credit quality
of this portfolio has deteriorated significantly in the current
mortgage crisis.
In the spring of 2007, the U.S. housing market began
experiencing increases in sub-prime home loan delinquencies and
declines in housing values. Throughout the remainder of 2007, in
accordance with the mark-to-market valuations required by United
States generally accepted accounting principles, these declining
asset values created valuation losses in certain types of
securities that Wachovia held on its balance sheet, including
sub-prime residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and
collateralized debt obligations whose underlying collateral
contained sub-prime RMBS (CDOs). In addition, Wachovia began to
increase its loan loss provision in response to generally
deteriorating credit conditions, including in the Golden West
mortgage portfolio. In the fourth quarter of 2007, Wachovia
reported net income of $51 million, compared to net income
of $2.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Economic conditions, and in particular the housing market,
continued to deteriorate in the first quarter of 2008. In light
of the worsening outlook for housing prices, changing borrower
behavior and mark-to-market valuation losses on Wachovias
RMBS, CDOs and leveraged lending portfolios, Wachovia reported a
loss in the first quarter of 2008 of $707 million, compared
with earnings of $2.3 billion in the first quarter of 2007.
In response to these developments and to create a stronger
capital cushion for future credit losses, Wachovia sold
$8.05 billion of common and preferred stock in mid-April
2008 and announced a 41% reduction in its quarterly common stock
dividend.
Issues relating to Wachovias declining financial
condition, including continuing credit deterioration in the
Golden West mortgage portfolio and other elements of its loan
portfolio, continued mark-to-market valuation losses on
securities positions, and a series of other negative results
that included $314 million of losses in Wachovias
bank-owned life insurance portfolio, a $144 million
regulatory settlement related to Wachovia acting as payment
processor for telemarketers, and a charge of $975 million
related to certain sale-in, lease-out leasing
transactions and other factors, preceded an announcement on
June 2, 2008, that Wachovia had terminated its Chief
Executive Officer, G. Kennedy Thompson. Wachovias board of
directors appointed its Chairman, Lanty L. Smith, as interim
Chief Executive Officer while it searched for a permanent
replacement. On July 9, Wachovia named Robert K. Steel as
its Chief Executive Officer and President.
On July 22, 2008, Wachovia reported a second quarter loss
of $9.1 billion, including $6.1 billion related to
goodwill impairment, and a $5.6 billion loan loss
provision, reflecting continuing worsened housing and economic
conditions and anticipated future losses on its loan portfolio,
primarily in the Golden West mortgage portfolio. At that time,
Wachovia also further reduced its quarterly common stock
dividend by 86% to $0.05 per share and announced a series of
measures, including balance sheet adjustments, expense
reductions and the possible sale of non-core assets, intended to
preserve capital and enhance liquidity to secure Wachovias
future as an independent company in light of weakening economic
conditions. Wachovia pursued these initiatives aggressively
by early September, Wachovia had begun the planned
elimination of close to 10,000 employee positions and
Wachovia was on track for a $20 billion reduction in
securities and loan balances by the end of 2008. Toward the end
of July, Wachovia also announced that its Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Risk Officer would be replaced. In addition,
on August 15, Wachovia announced that it had been
successful in reaching a global settlement with state and
federal securities regulators requiring Wachovia to repurchase
approximately
-28-
$8.5 billion in auction rate securities, at an expense to
Wachovia of $775 million (which was subsequently revised to
$997 million).
In the first half of September 2008, a series of unexpected and
unprecedented events occurred in rapid succession in the
financial services industry that increased the uncertainty and
stress in the financial markets. These events included the
conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Sunday,
September 7, 2008, the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers
Holdings and the acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America
announced on Monday, September 15, 2008, and growing
concerns about the viability of American International Group,
which later culminated in a transaction in which the Federal
Reserve acquired most of AIGs equity.
These events created significant turmoil as the markets and
market participants affected by such events, including Wachovia,
began absorbing the enormity of their consequences in the days
following the September 15 announcements regarding Lehman
Brothers and Merrill Lynch. The resulting degradation in the
credit markets which raised the costs of borrowing, together
with the deteriorating condition of the U.S. economy and
housing market, market perceptions, and rating agencies
outlooks, led Wachovia to intensify an analysis of potential
strategic options. Wachovias Chairman, Lanty L. Smith,
scheduled a telephonic Wachovia board meeting on
September 16, 2008, so that management could review these
events with the board and their anticipated effect on Wachovia,
including the effect on Wachovias strategic
decision-making. At that meeting, management described
Wachovias operations in the current financial environment
and discussed the following possible strategic options:
(1) exclusively pursue the strategy announced in July for
preserving and protecting capital and liquidity by continuing to
reduce risks and expenses and consider possible disposition of
non-core assets (i.e., stay-the-course);
(2) sell certain core assets
and/or
businesses; (3) raise $10 to $15 billion of capital;
(4) a combination of (2) and (3); (5) an
investment in Wachovia by a large strategic investor in an
amount of between
20-40% of
Wachovias voting equity; and (6) a combination with
another financial services company. Acknowledging a preference
for Wachovia to remain an independent company, which was
achievable under options 1-4, the board and management
determined to pursue seriously options 2, 3 and 4 but also
determined that current conditions made it prudent to remain
open to and begin exploration of options 5 and 6 as well.
In furtherance of these initiatives, Wachovia engaged Perella
Weinberg and, later, Goldman Sachs for financial and strategic
advice on Wachovias options and the law firms of
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP to provide legal counsel for
strategic alternatives. These advisors began developing the
documentation necessary to raise capital. In addition, Wachovia
created and populated an electronic data room to facilitate due
diligence activities by potential investors
and/or
combination partners. As it began pursuing all five possible
alternatives, Wachovia and a potential combination partner
initiated contact on September 17 about a possible
merger-of-equals transaction and entered confidentiality
agreements and began conducting due diligence analyses on each
other on September 18. Wachovia and the potential partner
also discussed transaction structure and management issues.
These negotiations were mutually terminated during the
succeeding weekend because, from Wachovias standpoint, of
concerns about market and investor reactions. The general
discussion of terms was about an at-market exchange of stock.
Also during that week, Wachovias senior management
received three separate unsolicited calls from Vikram Pandit,
the Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup Inc. and two other
Citigroup senior executives indicating interest in pursuing
discussions regarding a possible combination with Wachovia.
Mr. Pandit placed yet another call to Mr. Steel the
following week on September 22, 2008, to reiterate
Citigroups interest.
Wachovia also held telephonic meetings of its board of directors
on September 18 and September 19 at which management briefed the
board on developments regarding consideration of the various
alternatives.
On September 20, 2008, Wachovia received a telephone call
from U.S. government officials encouraging Wachovia to
engage in discussions with another financial institution for the
purpose of that institution acquiring Wachovia. Wachovia entered
into a confidentiality agreement with this financial institution
on September 21 and representatives of Wachovia traveled to New
York to begin due diligence and substantive discussions
regarding a possible acquisition of Wachovia in a stock
transaction that included loss protection on a portion of
Wachovias loan portfolio from the federal government on a
highly accelerated time schedule. By early evening on
September 21, Wachovia and this potential acquirer
determined not to proceed with a transaction. A primary factor
-29-
in the decision was the potential acquirers desire for a
financial backstop from the federal government with regard to
Wachovias loan portfolio, which federal regulators did not
then agree to provide.
At a telephonic meeting of its board of directors in the
afternoon of September 21, management and Wachovias
legal and financial advisors updated the board on the status of
discussions with both of the potential merger partners and the
ongoing due diligence matters. By late evening on
September 21, negotiations with both of the potential
merger partners with which Wachovia had conducted negotiations
over the weekend had ended and management provided a status
report to the Wachovia board of directors in a telephonic
meeting on September 22.
In addition to the discussions regarding the potential mergers,
throughout the weekend of September
20-21,
Wachovia continued to explore the other alternatives involving a
capital raise, asset sales and a large investment by a strategic
investor of
20-40% of
Wachovias equity. In connection with the former
alternative, the market rebound by September 19, which
followed the Administrations announcement at the end of
the week of several economic rescue initiatives (its
$700 billion economic stabilization proposal, the temporary
guarantee of money market funds against losses up to
$50 billion, and the availability of $180 billion in
currency swaps), produced a more attractive environment for a
capital raise and Wachovia intensified its efforts toward this
alternative. Wachovia engaged in preliminary discussions with
potential private investors during the period of September
19-21 in
preparation for a possible public offering that would have
followed a private placement to a single or small number of
private investors during the week of September 22;
Wachovias legal and financial advisors prepared drafts of
documentation toward that end.
In connection with the alternative involving a large investment
by a strategic investor, Wachovia signed a confidentiality
agreement with another global financial institution on
September 18, 2008. This financial institution began
conducting due diligence on Wachovia on September 18,
initially indicating to Wachovia that it could be interested in
purchasing between 20 40% of Wachovias equity;
however, discussions between that institution and Wachovia never
progressed beyond the exploratory stages and were ultimately
discontinued when Wachovia entered into merger discussions.
Wachovia continued to pursue actively the alternative strategy
of raising capital and selling assets.
On September 20, Mr. Steel had a brief conversation
with Richard Kovacevich, Chairman of Wells Fargo, about engaging
in discussions regarding a possible transaction. Mr. Steel
and representatives of Perella Weinberg, Wachovias
advisors, had two additional
follow-up
conversations with Mr. Kovacevich to make arrangements for
due diligence work and encourage him to consider the opportunity
on an accelerated basis.
Market conditions for financial institutions deteriorated
precipitously the week beginning September 22, 2008. On
September 21, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs announced
that they had been approved to convert to bank holding companies
regulated by the Federal Reserve. The Administrations
economic stabilization proposal encountered difficulty in
Congress and the breadth of the Federal Reserves
assistance to AIG became evident when details were announced on
September 23. On September 24, Mr. Steel
attempted to contact Citigroups CEO, Vikram Pandit for the
purpose of communicating that Wachovia was prepared to respond
to Citigroups invitation to discuss a possible
combination. Mr. Pandit was traveling and unable to speak
to Mr. Steel until early in the morning of
September 26, when Mr. Steel promptly responded to a
4:27 a.m. email from Mr. Pandit suggesting that he was
available.
On Thursday, September 25, the Office of Thrift Supervision
announced the seizure of the largest savings bank in the United
States, Washington Mutual Bank, FSB, and the subsequent
placement of Washington Mutual Bank into FDIC receivership,
followed by a sale to JPMorgan Chase for approximately
$1.9 billion. In that transaction, JPMorgan Chase did not
assume any equity or debt securities of the holding company for
Washington Mutual Bank or the senior and subordinated debt of
Washington Mutual Bank itself. In addition, on
September 25, the tentative agreement in the
U.S. Congress regarding the Administrations economic
stabilization proposal had collapsed in talks that evening at
the White House.
The combination of the seizure of Washington Mutual Bank and the
collapse of Congressional agreement regarding the
Administrations economic stabilization proposal preceded a
sharp downward turn in the financial markets. The cost to insure
Wachovia debt as evidenced by credit default swap spreads
increased substantially from
-30-
Thursday, September 25 to Friday, September 26. On Friday,
September 26, there was significant downward pressure on
Wachovias common stock price and deposit base, and as the
day progressed, liquidity pressure intensified as financial
institutions began declining to conduct normal financing
transactions with Wachovia. On that day, after briefing national
rating agencies, Wachovia was informed that the rating agencies
were likely to take negative ratings action in the very near
future. In light of the deteriorating market conditions during
the week of September 22, Wachovia believed it was no
longer in a position to engage in the public offering and
private placement transactions to raise capital that had been
considered as an alternative. Liquidity continued to decline and
by the end of September 26, Wachovias management was
concerned that, without accessing the Federal Reserves
discount borrowing window, Wachovias banking subsidiaries
would not be able to fund normal banking activities on Monday,
September 29. Wachovia had been regularly reviewing its
liquidity situation with the Federal Reserve and the OCC, who on
that day remained on site.
Wachovia held a telephonic board of directors meeting on Friday,
September 26 during which management advised the board of
directors of the status of Wachovias liquidity situation,
the status of the various strategic alternatives, including that
the capital raising alternative was no longer a viable option,
and the status of discussions with regulatory authorities about
Wachovias financial condition. Management also advised the
board of directors that management had begun discussions with
Citigroup and Wells Fargo regarding a possible merger and that
Wachovia intended to pursue both during the weekend of September
27-28.
Management informed the board of directors that if a combination
with another partner could not be arranged by Monday,
September 29, the FDIC would place Wachovias bank
subsidiaries in receivership.
Wachovia entered into separate confidentiality agreements with
Citigroup and Wells Fargo on September 26, related to the
possible acquisition of Wachovia. Wachovia representatives
traveled to New York for the weekend of September
27-28 and
engaged in due diligence discussions and negotiations with
Citigroup and Wells Fargo. Wachovia communicated to both parties
the need to announce a merger transaction by Monday morning,
September 29. Citigroup communicated to Wachovia that it
was not willing to acquire Wachovia itself, but only its bank
subsidiaries and further that it was not able to proceed with
any transaction without government assistance in the form of a
loss-sharing arrangement. Although Wachovia explained its
concerns that the remaining parts of Wachovia might not, after
such a proposed Citigroup transaction, be viable or solvent on
their own, Citigroup indicated that it was only prepared to
negotiate for the purchase of the bank subsidiaries.
On Saturday, September 27, and in an early morning meeting
on September 28, Mr. Kovacevich, the Chairman of Wells
Fargo, told Mr. Steel that Wells Fargo was considering an
offer to purchase all of Wachovia in a stock-for-stock
transaction, pending completion of due diligence activities.
Mr. Kovacevich commented that Wells Fargo was working on a
transaction that would not require government assistance and
that he believed Wells Fargo could meet the Monday morning
timetable.
On September 28, Wachovias counsel transmitted a
draft of a merger agreement to counsel for Wells Fargo.
Mr. Steel and Mr. Kovacevich held ongoing discussions
throughout the day regarding the status of the due diligence. In
the afternoon, Mr. Kovacevich indicated that he was
concerned that the compressed timeframe Wachovia requested would
not enable Wells Fargo to complete the due diligence it believed
necessary and prudent and at approximately 7:00 p.m.,
Mr. Kovacevich informed Mr. Steel that Wells Fargo was
not prepared on this timetable to offer to acquire Wachovia
along the lines previously discussed. That evening,
representatives of Wells Fargo proposed to, and discussed with,
representatives of the FDIC and other federal bank regulators a
possible transaction between Wells Fargo and Wachovia that would
include a loss-sharing agreement with the FDIC whereby Wells
Fargos exposure to losses would be limited with respect to
specified Wachovia assets it would not have had an opportunity
to review in depth.
Shortly after Mr. Steel spoke to Mr. Kovacevich,
Sheila Bair, the Chairman of the FDIC, contacted Mr. Steel
and advised him that the FDIC understood that Wachovia would be
unable to find a merger partner that could accomplish a
combination without government assistance. Chairman Bair
confirmed that, in the FDICs view, the Wachovia situation
posed systemic risk to the banking system and for the first time
indicated that the FDIC intended to take unprecedented action by
exercising its powers under Section 13 of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act to effect an open bank assisted
transaction with another financial institution, which
would be selected by the FDIC through a bidding process to be
conducted over the next several hours.
-31-
Wachovia held a telephonic meeting of its board of directors at
approximately 9:00 p.m. on September 28 to advise the board
of the current situation and the FDICs position. Legal
counsel discussed with the board matters regarding its fiduciary
duties relative to shareholders and, in the existing context,
creditors. Management indicated that it likely would need to
re-convene the board in several hours for the purpose of
considering an agreement with the purchaser selected by the FDIC.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Monday, September 29,
Wachovia and its financial and legal advisors proposed an
alternative transaction to the FDIC for its consideration.
Wachovia proposed that it receive FDIC assistance in the form of
loss-sharing on a designated loan portfolio, as well as granting
the FDIC equity ownership in Wachovia and raising approximately
$10 billion in capital in a public offering. Wachovia urged
the FDIC to accept this proposal, believing it involved
significantly less risk to the FDIC fund than the transaction it
understood Citigroup to be proposing, and, based on the state of
preparation for the capital raising transaction that Wachovia
had considered the prior week, indicated that it was prepared to
move very quickly to implement it.
During the evening and early morning hours, Wells Fargo had
further conversations with representatives of the FDIC
concerning the terms of a proposed acquisition of Wachovia by
Wells Fargo, including the terms on which open-bank assistance
might be provided by the FDIC.
At approximately 4:00 a.m. on Monday, September 29,
Chairman Bair informed Mr. Steel that the FDIC had
determined that Citigroup would acquire Wachovias banking
subsidiaries, that Wachovia should proceed to negotiate terms
with Citigroup, which Wachovia understood were to be signed by
Citigroup, Wachovia and the FDIC, and that there would be an
announcement before the start of business that day. Several
hours earlier, Citigroup had delivered what was styled a draft
agreement-in-principle
to Wachovia, which reflected Citigroups proposal.
Citigroups proposed
agreement-in-principle,
which by its terms was not binding on any of the parties,
provided that Citigroup would acquire the stock of
Wachovias banking subsidiaries and other mutually agreed
assets for $2.16 billion in cash
and/or stock
at Citigroups election and the assumption of approximately
$53.2 billion of Wachovias senior and subordinated
debt. Under this structure, Wachovia would attempt to continue
as an ongoing business concern with its principal businesses
being the Wachovia Securities retail brokerage business and the
Evergreen mutual fund business. Among other material terms, the
terms associated with separating the Wachovia businesses in
connection with a transaction, and supporting and funding those
businesses remaining with Wachovia after a transaction, were
left unspecified and subject to negotiation. The FDIC would
provide Citigroup with loss protection on a $312 billion
loan portfolio to be identified by Citigroup, on which Citigroup
would absorb the first $30 billion of losses and
additionally absorb up to $4 billion a year of losses for
the first three years. The non-binding
agreement-in-principle
also indicated that if definitive agreements were reached they
would provide that, in the event the resulting transaction was
not consummated, Citigroup would have an option to purchase
selected Wachovia branches in California, Florida and New Jersey
at fair market value. The non-binding
agreement-in-principle
was subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive
transaction documentation, as well as Wachovia board of
directors and shareholder approval. Efforts by Wachovia to
negotiate a number of material terms of the Citigroup proposal
and Wachovias request that Citigroup purchase Wachovia in
its entirety, were rejected by Citigroup. The non-binding
agreement-in-principle
also indicated that Citigroup would have exclusivity for seven
days from announcement.
Wachovia held a telephonic board of directors meeting at
6:30 a.m. on Monday, September 29 to advise the board of
the events that had developed during the night. Legal counsel to
Wachovia described the terms of the non-binding
agreement-in-principle.
Management informed the board that it was faced with two
options: (1) execute the
agreement-in-principle
with Citigroup and the FDIC or (2) have the FDIC place
Wachovias banking subsidiaries into receivership, which
likely would require Wachovia Corporation to file a bankruptcy
petition soon thereafter. Perella Weinberg and Goldman Sachs
both indicated that, based on the circumstances, and subject to
conducting due diligence, completing their financial analysis
and reviewing definitive documentation, and provided that the
definitive terms thereof were consistent with the
agreement-in-principle,
they believed they would be able to render an opinion that the
consideration to be received in the Citigroup proposed
transaction was fair, from a financial point of view, to
Wachovia. The Wachovia board of directors voted in favor of
proceeding with Citigroup.
-32-
Following the board of directors meeting, Citigroup provided
Wachovia with what it described as the execution copy of the
non-binding
agreement-in-principle
and also sent Wachovia a letter agreement containing certain
exclusivity covenants. In addition to the
agreement-in-principle,
Citigroup instructed Wachovia to sign the letter agreement
shortly after receiving it, rejecting Wachovias few
suggested changes, including a suggestion that there be a
provision requiring both parties to negotiate in good faith.
Faced with Citigroups unwillingness to consider changes
and the views of the regulators, Wachovia executed both the
non-binding
agreement-in-principle
and the letter agreement.
On the afternoon of September 30, Citigroup delivered a
draft acquisition agreement and other related agreements to
Wachovia, and the parties proceeded to have discussions
regarding the terms of that agreement and the other agreements
contemplated by the non-binding
agreement-in-principle.
Because the transaction contemplated by the
agreement-in-principle
involved separating Wachovias banking businesses from
Wachovia Corporation itself and the other functionally and
operationally integrated businesses within Wachovia, the
negotiations involved very complex issues. On several occasions,
Wachovia urged that Citigroup reconsider the structure and
acquire all of Wachovia to avoid the complexity inherent in the
contemplated transaction and uncertainty about whether the
remaining businesses in Wachovia would be viable, on-going
concerns. After hearing these concerns, Citigroup indicated that
it would pay an additional $2.16 billion in Citigroup
common stock. In exchange for purchasing certain additional
assets that had not been contemplated by the
agreement-in-principle,
Citigroup also indicated it would provide additional Citigroup
shares to permit Wachovia to make a tender offer deeply
discounted from par value for Wachovias outstanding
preferred stock.
As the negotiations proceeded, however, the requirement to
separate Wachovias businesses continued to raise difficult
issues, often involving potential great cost and risk to
Wachovia, as well as the fundamental question of the viability
and solvency of Wachovia after the transaction. Wachovia also
expressed concern that the Citigroup draft agreement and
Citigroups position on certain issues were inconsistent
with the non-binding
agreement-in-principle.
Nevertheless, on Wednesday, October 1, Citigroup insisted
that the parties be prepared to execute the definitive
agreements no later than Friday, October 3 in order for
Citigroup to commence a $10 billion capital raise that was
contemplated in the non-binding
agreement-in-principle.
However, as of the evening of Thursday, October 2, it had
become apparent that there were a number of significant
substantive issues of disagreement between the negotiating teams
of Citigroup and Wachovia, involving potentially billions of
dollars in exposure to the remaining Wachovia entity.
As described above, Wells Fargos prior discussions with
the FDIC regarding a possible transaction coupled with open bank
assistance occurred during a highly compressed timeframe in the
late evening and early morning hours of September
28-29.
Subsequent to these discussions, Wells Fargo continued analyzing
a possible transaction involving Wachovia, and in particular was
able to spend additional time reviewing the tax implications of
a possible transaction under various scenarios. Based on this,
Wells Fargo concluded that the ability to use Wachovias
built-in losses in an unassisted transaction had significant
value that made an assisted transaction, at the levels of
assistance that had been preliminarily discussed with the FDIC,
less attractive on a relative basis than previously believed.
Wells Fargo believed that this was the case independent of the
issuance of Notice
2008-83,
which was issued on or about September 30, 2008 by the
Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department. Notice
2008-83 was
not expected to have a material impact on the future results of
operations of the combined company, other than providing a
modest time value of money benefit attributable to its added
assurance that tax benefits resulting from any loan losses would
not be limited as to the timing of the recognitions of any such
tax benefit. At the time of signing the merger agreement, Wells
Fargos estimate of Wachovias net unrealized
built-in loss (generally defined as the excess of
Wachovias aggregated adjusted tax basis in its assets over
their fair market value) was $3 billion. Wells Fargos
contemporaneous estimate of the annual limitation under
Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code was approximately
$1 billion per year. Accordingly, under the basic statutory
provisions of Section 382 and without regard to Notice
2008-83,
only the first $3 billion of Wachovias losses would
be subject to limitation under Section 382 (which would be
used $1 billion per year in each of the first, second and
third years following the merger), and any remaining losses in
excess of Wachovias net unrealized built-in
loss would be available immediately. Wachovias
net unrealized built-in loss is not, however, a
static number and cannot ultimately be determined until closing.
If Notice
2008-83 had
not been issued, Wachovias net unrealized built-in
losses
-33-
would have needed to exceed approximately $21 billion
(based on the above estimate of the annual Section 382
limitation) in order for Wells Fargo to lose any tax benefits
under Section 382.
On Thursday, October 2, Wells Fargo had discussions
internally and with its legal counsel, Wachtell, Lipton,
Rosen & Katz, and its financial advisor, JPMorgan
Securities, regarding Wachovia and the announcement about
Wachovia and Citigroup. Noting that the announcement of
Citigroups plans for Wachovia indicated that a definitive
agreement had yet to be negotiated and that there had been no
subsequent disclosure of such an agreement or indeed of all the
details of the announced proposal, Wells Fargo and its advisors
discussed the possibility of submitting a bid for Wachovia.
Wells Fargo executives reviewed information regarding Wachovia
and analyzed the financial implications of a potential
transaction. Based on these discussions, and with the benefit of
additional time to assess its diligence findings from the
preceding weekend, Wells Fargo determined that an offer to
acquire all of Wachovia in an unassisted stock-for-stock merger
transaction could be undertaken on terms that were both likely
to be more attractive to Wachovia and its shareholders than the
terms of the Citigroup proposal, as they were understood, and
that presented acceptable economics and risk levels to Wells
Fargo. Wells Fargo also informed representatives of federal
banking regulators concerning its thinking and its renewed
consideration of a proposal and indicated that its revised
proposal would involve an acquisition of all of Wachovia and
would not require FDIC assistance.
In the evening of October 2, the Wells Fargo board of
directors met, together with management and Wells Fargos
legal and financial advisors, to consider the proposed
transaction with Wachovia. Following extensive discussion the
Wells Fargo board unanimously approved the proposed merger with
Wachovia and directed management to execute a merger agreement
and deliver it to representatives of Wachovia.
At approximately 7:15 p.m. on October 2,
Mr. Steel received a telephone call from Chairman Bair of
the FDIC, who asked if Mr. Steel had heard from
Mr. Kovacevich. Mr. Steel answered that he had not
spoken to Mr. Kovacevich since the initiation of
negotiations with Citigroup, other than a very brief
congratulatory phone call from Mr. Kovacevich regarding the
Citigroup transaction on the morning of September 29.
Chairman Bair advised Mr. Steel that it was her
understanding that Mr. Kovacevich would be calling
Mr. Steel to propose a merger transaction that would result
in Wachovia shareholders receiving $7.00 per share of Wells
Fargo common stock for each share of Wachovia common stock and
encouraged Mr. Steel to give serious consideration to that
offer. At Mr. Steels request, Chairman Bair next
telephoned Jane Sherburne, Wachovias General Counsel, and
provided additional details of the proposed Wells Fargo
transaction, including that it would not require any government
assistance, and indicating that it appeared that the Wells Fargo
transaction was superior to the Citigroup transaction from the
perspectives of both Wachovia and the government.
Ms. Sherburne advised Chairman Bair that unless Wachovia
had a signed merger agreement from Wells Fargo that had been
approved by the Wells Fargo board, it would not consider this
proposal. Chairman Bair indicated she would provide
Mr. Kovacevich that information and subsequently reported
to Ms. Sherburne that she had done so and that
Mr. Kovacevich indicated a signed, Wells Fargo
board-approved merger agreement would be forthcoming.
At approximately 9:00 p.m. on October 2,
Mr. Steel received a telephone call from
Mr. Kovacevich that he would be sending a signed, Wells
Fargo board-approved merger agreement to Mr. Steel.
Mr. Kovacevich informed Mr. Steel that, in view of the
significance of the proposal to Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo
intended to disclose its proposal publicly the following
morning. Mr. Steel received that signed agreement in an
e-mail at
9:04 p.m. The
e-mail
contained a letter outlining Wells Fargos proposal, which
involved a stock-for-stock merger with consideration valued,
based on Wells Fargos closing price that day, at $7.00 per
Wachovia common share. The signed merger agreement also attached
to the email was, with one substantive exception, in the form
that had been provided to Wells Fargo by Wachovia the preceding
weekend, on September 28. Wachovia promptly called a
meeting of its board of directors at 11:00 p.m. on
October 2.
At the Wachovia board meeting, Wachovias management
updated the board of directors on the status of the Citigroup
negotiations and the existence of significant unresolved issues.
Wachovias management expressed serious doubts about the
viability of Wachovia under the structure and terms proposed by
Citigroup as they had evolved during negotiations from what had
been set forth in the non-binding
agreement-in-principle.
Mr. Steel briefed the board on communications with Chairman
Bair and Mr. Kovacevich, including that
-34-
Wells Fargo would disclose its proposal publicly the following
morning whether or not Wachovia acted on it that evening.
Wachovias legal counsel provided advice to the board of
directors regarding its duties in the face of the Wells Fargo
proposal and the Citigroup transaction and exclusivity letter,
as well as other relevant considerations. Wachovias board
was advised that Wells Fargos proposal stated that its
willingness to proceed with the proposed merger agreement was
contingent upon it receiving a substantial voting interest via
the share exchange agreement that would not be subject to prior
shareholder approval in order to provide assurances to the
market regarding the completion of Wachovias acquisition
by Wells Fargo and a resulting mitigation in the uncertainty and
instability then faced by Wachovia. Legal counsel described the
terms of the Wells Fargo merger agreement and the conditions to
closing, which included clauses regarding the receipt of
regulatory and shareholder approval and the share exchange
agreement and its effect on receiving shareholder approval, but
excluded a material adverse change clause.
Wachovia management and members of the board of directors
expressed the view that the Wells Fargo merger proposal appeared
to be substantially superior to the Citigroup proposal in a
number of ways, including value to Wachovia shareholders and
certainty of completion due to a signed, definitive transaction
agreement with minimal conditionality. Perella Weinberg and
Goldman Sachs both indicated that, based on the circumstances
and subject to completion of due diligence and final financial
analysis and review of definitive documentation, they expected
that they would be able to render an opinion that the exchange
ratio pursuant to the Wells Fargo merger proposal was fair, from
a financial point of view, to Wachovia shareholders (other than
Wells Fargo and its affiliates). Management informed the board
that it believed that, unless an agreement was signed by the end
of the day on October 3, the FDIC was prepared to place
Wachovias banking subsidiaries in receivership over the
coming weekend.
After extensive questions, discussion and consideration by the
board of directors, on motion duly made and seconded, the
Wachovia board resolved unanimously that the Wells Fargo merger
agreement and the merger are advisable for, fair to and in the
best interest of Wachovia shareholders and voted unanimously to
approve and adopt the merger agreement and the merger and
recommend that Wachovia shareholders approve the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement, subject to receipt of the
fairness opinions from Perella Weinberg and Goldman Sachs. Early
in the morning on October 3, Perella Weinberg and Goldman
Sachs orally delivered their opinions that, as of that date, and
based upon and subject to the factors, limitations and
assumptions to be set forth in their respective written
opinions, as well as the extraordinary circumstances facing
Wachovia to be described therein, the exchange ratio pursuant to
the Wells Fargo merger agreement was fair, from a financial
point of view, to the holders of Wachovia common stock (other
than Wells Fargo and its affiliates). The opinions of Goldman
Sachs and Perella Weinberg were subsequently confirmed in
writing. For more information, see Opinions of
Wachovias Financial Advisors, beginning on
page .
Immediately following the board of directors meeting, which
concluded after midnight, the Audit Committee of Wachovias
board of directors met and determined that the delay necessary
to secure Wachovia shareholder approval otherwise required by
the general rules of the New York Stock Exchange prior to
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the share
exchange agreement would seriously jeopardize the financial
viability of Wachovia. The Audit Committee expressly approved
Wachovias decision not to seek shareholder approval for
the issuance and sale of Series M Preferred Stock to Wells
Fargo pursuant to the share exchange agreement in reliance on an
exception contained in the New York Stock Exchange rules. The
Audit Committee members were present during the board
discussions described in the preceding paragraph and had the
benefit of those discussions in making the determination
regarding Wachovias financial viability.
Following execution of the merger agreement, Mr. Steel and
Ms. Sherburne telephoned both Mr. Kovacevich and
Chairman Bair to inform them of the Wachovia board approval and
execution of the merger agreement. Thereafter, Mr. Steel,
Ms. Sherburne, and Chairman Bair next telephoned Vikram
Pandit, Chief Executive Officer for Citigroup, to inform him
that Wachovia had entered into the merger agreement with Wells
Fargo. Mr. Pandit indicated he believed Wachovia was in
breach of the exclusivity covenants and appealed to Chairman
Bair to consider the effect of this development on systemic
issues unrelated to Wachovia.
-35-
At approximately 7:00 a.m. on October 3, Wells Fargo
and Wachovia issued a joint news release announcing the merger
agreement.
Wachovias
Reasons for the Merger and Recommendation of the Wachovia
Board
By unanimous vote after careful consideration, the Wachovia
board of directors determined that the merger agreement and the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement were advisable
and in the best interests of Wachovia and its shareholders and
adopted the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement, including the merger. Accordingly,
Wachovias board unanimously recommends that Wachovia
shareholders vote FOR approval of the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement and the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement at the Wachovia special
meeting.
In reaching its decision to recommend the merger agreement and
the merger to Wachovia shareholders, Wachovias board took
into account the current and recent stresses on Wachovias
liquidity. It concluded that Wells Fargo and Wachovia have a
unique strategic fit and that the merger provides an opportunity
for enhanced financial performance and shareholder value.
In concluding that the merger is in the best interests of
Wachovia and its shareholders, Wachovias board considered,
among other things, the following factors that supported the
decision to approve the merger:
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovias and Wells Fargos strategic business,
operations, financial condition, asset quality, earnings and
prospects. In reviewing these factors, Wachovias board
concluded that Wells Fargos business and operations
complement those of Wachovia, that Wells Fargos financial
condition and asset quality are very sound, and that Wells
Fargos earnings and prospects should result in the
combined company having superior future earnings and prospects
compared to Wachovias earnings and prospects on a
stand-alone basis.
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargos strong balance sheet, asset quality and risk
management have allowed it to operate through the
2007-2008
financial crisis with relatively less negative impact than most
large U.S. financial institutions.
|
|
|
|
The benefits of the Wells Fargo transaction, in contrast to the
agreement-in-principle
with Citigroup, regarding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
The exchange ratio provided substantially greater value to
Wachovias common shareholders than the Citigroup proposal.
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargos willingness to acquire all of Wachovia,
thereby protecting Wachovias preferred shareholders,
general creditors, retirees and employees, was superior to
Citigroups proposal to acquire only portions of Wachovia
and thereby place these constituents at risk.
|
|
|
|
The assumption of all of Wachovias preferred stock and
debt by Wells Fargo, and Wells Fargos higher debt rating,
provided greater protection to Wachovias debt holders.
|
|
|
|
In light of Wells Fargos stated intention to announce
publicly its offer for Wachovia on October 3, the
likelihood that Wachovia shareholders would not vote in favor of
the Citigroup proposal, even if a definitive agreement were
reached with Citigroup.
|
|
|
|
The Wells Fargo proposal does not entail splitting apart the
integrated businesses of Wachovia, providing for greater future
earnings prospects for the combined company.
|
|
|
|
The remaining issues of disagreement with Citigroup as of
October 2, 2008, including the possibility of not being
able to obtain a solvency opinion for Wachovia at closing.
|
|
|
|
The conditionality of the purchase agreement proposed by
Citigroup, as compared to the minimal conditionality of the
Wells Fargo agreement, including its absence of a material
adverse change clause as a closing condition.
|
-36-
|
|
|
|
|
The likelihood that the FDIC would place Wachovias banking
subsidiaries into receivership if a transaction were not
announced on October 3.
|
|
|
|
The uncertainty regarding the impact of the Citigroup
transaction on the Wachovia Securities joint venture.
|
|
|
|
The considerable contingent liabilities related to acquired
assets and subsidiaries that Citigroup proposed to be left with
Wachovia.
|
|
|
|
The Wells Fargo merger agreement did not require government
assistance.
|
|
|
|
Several government agencies were aware of the Wells Fargo
proposal before it was made to Wachovia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The boards understanding of the financial treatment
expected to apply to the merger, including accounting, tax, and
regulatory capital.
|
|
|
|
The opinions of Perella Weinberg and Goldman Sachs, as described
above, as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of
the exchange ratio pursuant to the merger agreement to
Wachovias shareholders (other than Wells Fargo and its
affiliates).
|
|
|
|
The exchange ratio is fixed and will not fluctuate, as is
customary in transactions of this type in the financial services
industry.
|
|
|
|
The information presented to the board about the closing
conditions and the Share Exchange Agreement, which are designed
to enhance the probability that the merger will be consummated.
In addition, information presented about the likelihood of
receiving regulatory approval and the small amount of likely
regulatory divestitures.
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargos desire to have Wachovia representation on its
board of directors.
|
|
|
|
The strength of Wells Fargos capital condition and its
willingness to provide interim liquidity to Wachovia pending
completion of the merger. In addition, Wells Fargos credit
ratings at the time, which were higher than Wachovias
prior to entering into the merger agreement, would be a
substantial strength for the combined company in terms of
funding and liquidity.
|
|
|
|
The likelihood that Wells Fargo would successfully complete the
capital raising it proposed in connection with the merger.
|
In addition, Wachovias board considered the following
factors that potentially created risks if the board decided to
approve the merger agreement:
|
|
|
|
|
The substantial likelihood that Citigroup would pursue
litigation.
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargos plan to raise capital in connection with the
merger in view of the difficult conditions in the financial
markets.
|
|
|
|
The potential impact of the Wells Fargo merger announcement on
employees, including in light of the announcement earlier in the
week of the
agreement-in-principle
with Citigroup.
|
Wachovias board concluded that the anticipated benefits of
combining with Wells Fargo were highly likely to outweigh
substantially the preceding risks.
Although each member of Wachovias board individually
considered these and other factors, the board did not
collectively assign any specific or relative weights to the
factors considered and did not make any determination with
respect to any individual factor. The board collectively made
its determination with respect to the merger based on the
conclusion reached by its members, in light of the factors that
each of them considered appropriate, that the merger is in the
best interests of Wachovia and its shareholders.
Wachovias board of directors realized there can be no
assurance about future results, including results expected or
considered in the factors listed above. However, the board
concluded the potential positive factors outweighed the
potential risks of completing the merger.
-37-
It should be noted that this explanation of the Wachovia
boards reasoning and other information presented in this
section is forward-looking in nature and, therefore, should be
read in light of the factors discussed under the heading
Forward-Looking Statements.
For the reasons set forth above, the Wachovia board of
directors determined that the merger, the merger agreement and
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are
advisable and in the best interests of Wachovia and its
shareholders, and adopted the plan of merger contained in the
merger agreement. The Wachovia board of directors unanimously
recommends that the Wachovia shareholders vote FOR
approval of the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement.
Wells
Fargos Reasons for the Merger
Wells Fargos reasons for entering into the merger
agreement include:
|
|
|
|
|
its knowledge of the current and prospective environment in
which Wells Fargo and Wachovia operate, including economic and
market conditions;
|
|
|
|
its assessment of Wachovias businesses, prospects,
franchises, core earnings generation ability, assets and
liabilities and its view of the attractive growth and
demographic characteristics of Wachovias existing markets
and businesses;
|
|
|
|
the review by the Wells Fargo board of directors with its
advisors of the structure of the merger and the financial and
other terms of the merger and share exchange agreement;
|
|
|
|
the expectation that the complementary nature of the respective
customer bases, geographic footprints, business products and
skills of Wells Fargo and Wachovia may result in substantial
opportunities to distribute products and services throughout
North America to a broader customer base and across businesses
and to enhance the capabilities of both companies, including the
expected benefits from adding a banking franchise in areas where
Wells Fargo currently operates non-banking businesses;
|
|
|
|
the fact that the combined company will have a significantly
enhanced presence in 39 U.S. States, including leading
deposit franchises in many of those states and in many of the
nations 20 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas;
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargos view of the value inherent in Wachovias
banking, brokerage and asset management businesses, including
its strong customer service and community-oriented culture and
the capabilities of its employees;
|
|
|
|
the unique opportunity presented by the chance to acquire a
franchise of Wachovias quality, size and scope, its
assessment of the pro forma capital position, financial
condition and results of operations of the combined company, and
the expectation that the transaction will exceed Wells
Fargos internal rate of return goal and be accretive to
Wells Fargos earnings per common share by 2011;
|
|
|
|
the potential expense saving opportunities currently estimated
by Wells Fargos management to be approximately
$5 billion per year on a pre-tax basis when fully realized,
as well as the possibility of potential incremental revenue
opportunities;
|
|
|
|
the historical and current market prices of Wells Fargo common
stock and Wachovia common stock; and
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargos track record of integrating acquisitions of
banks and other financial companies and its understanding of the
opportunities and risks presented by an acquisition of a company
with the size and other characteristics of Wachovia.
|
Opinions
of Wachovias Financial Advisors
Opinion
of Goldman Sachs
On October 3, 2008, Goldman Sachs orally advised a
representative of the board of directors of Wachovia of Goldman
Sachs opinion that, as of that date, and based upon and
subject to the factors, limitations and
-38-
assumptions to be set forth in the written opinion, as well as
the extraordinary circumstances facing Wachovia to be described
in the written opinion, the exchange ratio of 0.1991 of a share
of Wells Fargo common stock to be received in respect of each
share of Wachovia common stock pursuant to the merger agreement
was fair from a financial point of view to the holders of
Wachovia common stock other than Wells Fargo and its affiliates.
The full text of the subsequently delivered written opinion of
Goldman Sachs, dated October 3, 2008, which sets forth the
assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and
limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the
opinion, is attached to this document as Appendix B.
The opinion of Goldman Sachs was provided for the information
and assistance of the board of directors of Wachovia in
connection with its consideration of the merger and does not
constitute a recommendation as to how any holder of shares of
Wachovia common stock should vote or otherwise act with respect
to the merger or any other matter.
In connection with rendering the opinion described above and
performing its financial analysis, Goldman Sachs reviewed, among
other things:
1. the merger agreement;
2. annual reports to stockholders and annual reports on
Form 10-K
of Wachovia and Wells Fargo for the five fiscal years ended
December 31, 2007;
3. certain interim reports to stockholders and quarterly
reports on Form
10-Q of
Wachovia and Wells Fargo;
4. certain other communications from Wachovia and Wells
Fargo to their respective stockholders and certain publicly
available research analyst reports for Wachovia and Wells Fargo;
5. certain internal financial analyses and forecasts for
Wachovia prepared by Wachovias management;
6. estimates by Wachovias management as to
Wachovias liquidity, as well as certain analyses prepared
by Wachovias management with respect to Wachovias
leverage and capital adequacy; and
7. publicly announced credit ratings of Wachovia and
spreads applicable to credit default swaps relating to the debt
of Wachovia and of certain other institutions that Goldman Sachs
believed to be generally relevant.
Goldman Sachs also held discussions with members of the senior
management of Wachovia regarding their assessment of the
rationale for the merger, the past and current business
operations, financial condition and future prospects of Wachovia
and the fair market value of certain key asset categories of
Wachovia. In addition, Goldman Sachs reviewed the reported price
and trading activity for shares of Wachovia common stock and
Wells Fargo common stock, compared certain financial and stock
market information for Wachovia and Wells Fargo with similar
information for certain other companies the securities of which
are publicly traded and performed such other studies and
analyses, and considered such other factors, as it considered
appropriate.
Goldman Sachs was informed by members of Wachovias
management that Wachovia had considerable exposure to risks
related to the deteriorating credit performance and declining
values of a significant portion of the loan and mortgage
portfolios and related assets of Wachovia and its subsidiaries,
and that the business and prospects of Wachovia (including its
ability to operate as a going concern on a stand-alone basis)
were severely and negatively affected as a result thereof, as
well as due to the crisis in the capital markets, the
extraordinary economic and financial environment then prevailing
and the deteriorating financial condition of Wachovia.
In particular, Goldman Sachs was informed by Wachovia that:
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovias liquidity position was severely strained due in
large part to declining customer and counterparty confidence,
and that Wachovia may have had insufficient unrestricted cash on
hand to meet its needs in the near term;
|
-39-
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovia and its principal operating subsidiaries had a limited
amount of unencumbered assets available as collateral for any
financings that Wachovia may have sought to obtain on an
immediate basis;
|
|
|
|
as a result of general market conditions and matters specific to
Wachovias financial condition, Wachovia would not at the
time have been able to raise capital through the capital markets
in amounts sufficient for its needs, and this difficulty was
expected to continue for the foreseeable future;
|
|
|
|
the United States banking regulators had not offered financial
assistance to Wachovia on a stand-alone basis to adequately
address the financial situation of Wachovia, including its
immediate and long term liquidity needs;
|
|
|
|
Wachovia projected substantial losses for the remainder of
fiscal year 2008 and for fiscal year 2009, which would put
significant strain on Wachovias ability to maintain its
capital position in the near term in light of difficulties
Wachovia faced in seeking financings and accessing the capital
markets;
|
|
|
|
the downgrades of Wachovias credit ratings that
Wachovias management expected to be announced by
Moodys Investors Service and Standard &
Poors, which remained imminent absent a transaction (such
as the merger) that would provide Wachovia with sources of
substantial ongoing liquidity and funding or that would relieve
Wachovia of the need for such liquidity and funding, would
further negatively affect customer and counterparty confidence
in Wachovia, and Wachovias liquidity and access to the
capital markets; and
|
|
|
|
absent immediately entering into a definitive transaction (such
as the merger) that would provide Wachovia with sources of
substantial ongoing liquidity and funding or that would relieve
Wachovia of the need for such liquidity and funding, Wachovia
and its subsidiaries would face intervention by the United
States federal banking regulators
and/or be
required to seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws.
|
Goldman Sachs was further advised by Wachovia that, as a result
of the foregoing, Wachovia and its board of directors were faced
with a rapidly narrowing set of alternatives, which, at the
time, were limited to a transaction such as the merger or
intervention by the United States federal banking regulators.
Accordingly, Goldman Sachs also considered recent instances
where concerns regarding the liquidity of a bank or financial
institution triggered a rapid deterioration of the
institutions financial condition, necessitating government
intervention or bankruptcy protection, and as a result of which
the common equity holders of the institution were likely to
receive substantially diminished value, if any at all, for their
equity. In light of the facts and circumstances, Goldman Sachs
also assumed, without independent verification, that if
Wachovias banking assets were taken over by the United
States federal banking regulators and Wachovias
non-banking assets liquidated under applicable bankruptcy laws,
holders of Wachovia common stock would likely receive no
material value.
For purposes of rendering its opinion, Goldman Sachs relied upon
and assumed, without assuming any responsibility for independent
verification, the accuracy and completeness of all of the
financial, legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other
information provided to, discussed with or reviewed by it.
Goldman Sachs did not receive from Wells Fargo forecasts of its
future financial performance, and it was advised by
Wachovias management that the currently available
forecasts for Wachovia no longer reflected Wachovias best
estimates of its future financial performance, as a result of
the circumstances of Wachovia at the time, as described above.
With the consent of Wachovias board of directors,
(i) Goldman Sachs diligence of Wells Fargo was
limited to publicly available information, including publicly
available estimates of certain research analysts covering Wells
Fargo, and did not include discussions with management or
representatives of Wells Fargo or other diligence that Goldman
Sachs would customarily conduct in connection with preparing a
fairness opinion, (ii) Goldman Sachs relied upon the
publicly available estimates for Wells Fargo described above and
did not rely upon any financial forecasts relating to Wachovia,
and (iii) Goldman Sachs did not perform certain analyses
that it customarily would have prepared for Wachovia in
connection with a fairness opinion because such analyses were
not meaningful as a result of the extraordinary circumstances of
Wachovia described in this discussion. Goldman Sachs assumed
with the consent of Wachovias board of directors that
-40-
the publicly available estimates for Wells Fargo described above
reflected the best currently available estimates and judgments
of the management of Wachovia with respect to Wells Fargos
future financial performance. Goldman Sachs also assumed that
the merger would be consummated in accordance with the terms set
forth in the merger agreement without any waiver or amendment
of, or delay in the fulfillment of, any terms or conditions set
forth in the merger agreement or any subsequent development
related to the merger, including, without limitation, any
litigation resulting from Wachovia having entered into the
merger, that would have an adverse effect on Wachovia or Wells
Fargo or on the expected benefits of the merger in any way
meaningful to its analysis. Goldman Sachs opinion does not
address any legal, regulatory, tax or accounting matters, as to
which matters it understood that Wachovia received such advice
as it deemed necessary from qualified professionals. Goldman
Sachs is not an expert in the evaluation of loan and mortgage
portfolios or in assessing the adequacy of allowances for losses
with respect thereto, and accordingly, it did not evaluate the
same with respect to Wachovia or Wells Fargo and assumed, with
Wachovias consent, that Wells Fargos allowances for
such losses were adequate to cover all such losses. In addition,
Goldman Sachs did not review individual credit files nor did it
make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets and
liabilities (including any contingent, derivative or
off-balance-sheet assets and liabilities) of Wachovia or Wells
Fargo or any of their respective subsidiaries, and it was not
furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal. In addition,
Goldman Sachs did not evaluate the solvency or fair value of any
party to the merger agreement under any state or federal laws
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. Goldman
Sachs did not express any opinion as to the value of any asset
of Wachovia, whether at current market prices or in the future.
It noted however, that under the ownership of a company with
adequate liquidity and capital, such as Wells Fargo, the value
of Wachovia and its subsidiaries could substantially improve,
resulting in significant returns to Wells Fargo if the merger is
consummated.
The opinion of Goldman Sachs did not address the underlying
business decision of Wachovia to engage in the merger, or the
relative merits of the merger as compared to any other strategic
alternative that may have been available to Wachovia under the
circumstances. The opinion of Goldman Sachs addressed only the
fairness from a financial point of view to the holders of
Wachovia common stock (other than Wells Fargo and its
affiliates), as of the date thereof, of the exchange ratio.
Goldman Sachs did not express any view on, and its opinion did
not address, any other term or aspect of the merger agreement or
the transaction contemplated thereby, including, without
limitation, (i) the fairness of the transaction to, or any
consideration received in connection therewith by, the holders
of any other class of securities, creditors or other
constituencies of Wachovia or Wells Fargo or (ii) the
fairness of the amount or nature of any compensation to be paid
or payable to any of the officers, directors or employees of
Wachovia or Wells Fargo, or class of such persons in connection
with the merger, whether relative to the 0.1991 of a share of
Wells Fargo common stock to be paid for each share of Wachovia
common stock pursuant to the merger agreement or otherwise.
Goldman Sachs did not express any opinion as to the prices at
which shares of Wachovia common stock or shares of Wells Fargo
common stock would trade at any time. The opinion of Goldman
Sachs was necessarily based on economic, monetary, market and
other conditions as in effect on, and the information made
available to it as of, the date thereof, including the ongoing
crisis in the capital markets, the condition of the mortgage
market and the extraordinary financial and economic environment
at the time and the related uncertainty regarding the extent and
duration of those conditions. Goldman Sachs assumed no
responsibility for updating, revising or reaffirming its opinion
based on circumstances, developments or events occurring after
the date thereof. In addition, with the consent of
Wachovias board of directors, in arriving at its opinion,
Goldman Sachs did not consider or evaluate the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or any plans then existing
for a program sponsored by the United States Federal Government
to provide support to financial institutions by purchasing
distressed mortgage-related assets, or any impact of any such
legislation, plans or programs on Wachovia, Wells Fargo or the
economic environment. The opinion of Goldman Sachs was approved
by a fairness committee of Goldman Sachs.
The following is a summary of the material financial analyses
conducted by Goldman Sachs in connection with rendering its
opinion. These analyses were not presented to the board of
directors of Wachovia. The following summary does not purport to
be a complete description of the financial analyses performed by
Goldman Sachs, nor does the order of the analyses described
herein represent relative importance or weight given them. Some
of the summaries of the financial analyses include information
presented in tabular format.
-41-
The tables must be read together with the full text of each
summary and alone are not a complete description of the
financial analyses. Except as otherwise noted, the following
quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on
market data, is based on market data as it existed on or before
October 3, 2008, and is not necessarily indicative of
current market conditions.
Goldman Sachs review of Wachovias credit default
swap spread trends, projected losses on Wachovias
portfolio of payment option mortgages and associated loan loss
provisions and estimates of Wachovias liquidity, in each
case, as described below, supported the view that financial
analyses that Goldman Sachs customarily would have prepared in
connection with a fairness opinion were not meaningful as a
result of the extraordinary circumstances of Wachovia.
Comparative
Credit Default Swap Spread Trends
Goldman Sachs reviewed the annual spreads applicable to five
year credit default swaps with respect to the debt of Wachovia
and selected financial institutions that it generally believed
to be relevant. Although none of the selected financial
institutions is directly comparable to Wachovia, each had
operations that, for purposes of Goldman Sachs review,
could be considered similar to Wachovia. The applicable spreads
with respect to such credit defaults swaps as of the respective
dates set forth below are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basis Points
|
Financial Institution
|
|
01/02/2007
|
|
07/02/2007
|
|
01/02/2008
|
|
09/25/2008
|
|
09/26/2008
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
106
|
|
|
|
670
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
115
|
|
|
|
139
|
|
Citigroup Inc.
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
204
|
|
|
|
276
|
|
Bank of America Corporation
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
133
|
|
|
|
142
|
|
U.S. Bancorp
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
Washington Mutual, Inc.
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
389
|
|
|
|
8,109
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
Goldman Sachs noted that as of the close of business on
September 26, 2008, the last business day prior to the
announcement of a potential transaction involving Wachovia, the
applicable annual spread for Wachovias five year credit
default swap was 1,500 basis points, which, Goldman Sachs
believed, reflected the public markets concerns about
Wachovias financial condition and supported the
information provided by Wachovias management about
Wachovias liquidity and capital position.
Projected
Losses on
Pick-A-Payment
Mortgage Portfolio
Goldman Sachs also reviewed projections, obtained from publicly
available investor materials and Wachovias management, for
losses on Wachovias $122 billion portfolio of payment
option mortgages referred to as
Pick-a-Payment
mortgages. Such projections are summarized below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
April 4,
|
|
July 14,
|
|
September 24-25,
|
Date of Projection
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2008
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
($ billions, except for percentages)
|
|
Projected Lifetime Loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
7-8%
|
|
12%
|
|
22%
|
Projected Annual Provisions
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
$3.2-3.8
|
|
$8.7
|
|
$12.5
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
$2.4-2.8
|
|
$5.6
|
|
$11.2
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
$2.8
|
Goldman Sachs noted the rapid increase in expected loan losses
since April 2008, and considered the impact of such losses and
associated loan loss provisions on the net tangible book value
of Wachovia, as well as the possibility of higher projected
losses in the future in view of the prevailing economic
conditions and the severe displacement in the market for such
assets. Goldman Sachs also noted that the extent of such
projected losses exceeded publicly available estimates of
research analysts, and could therefore result in a further
decline in the trading price of Wachovia common stock.
-42-
Liquidity
Review
Goldman Sachs noted the estimates of Wachovias management
with respect to Wachovias liquidity and recent trends
relating to outflow of Wachovias net core interest bearing
deposits. According to such estimates, the extent of
Wachovias excess liquidity (treasury bills or overnight
maturities) was $10 billion as of September 26, 2008,
as compared to $30 billion as of September 1, 2008. At
the same time, based on estimates of Wachovias management,
Wachovia experienced net outflow of $17 billion of core
interest bearing deposits since July 14, 2008, including an
outflow of $8 billion in the two weeks preceding
September 26, 2008. Goldman Sachs considered the rapid
decline in the extent of Wachovias liquidity, as well as
Wachovias managements view that Wachovia faced a
severe liquidity risk, potentially further aggravated by
downgrades of Wachovias credit ratings expected in the
absence of a transaction (such as the merger) that would provide
Wachovia with sources of substantial ongoing liquidity and
funding or that would relieve Wachovia of the need for such
liquidity and funding.
Comparative
Analysis of Wells Fargo Trading Multiples
Goldman Sachs also reviewed certain historical trading multiples
of Wells Fargo common stock in relation to the corresponding
median trading multiples for selected national banks and
regional banks:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Average Price/
|
|
Oct 2, 2008 Price/
|
|
|
Current Year Estimated Earnings
|
|
Estimated Earnings
|
|
|
2005
|
|
2006
|
|
2007
|
|
2008YTD
|
|
2008E
|
|
2009E
|
|
2010E
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
13.4
|
x
|
|
|
13.7
|
x
|
|
|
12.8
|
x
|
|
|
12.5
|
x
|
|
|
16.7
|
x
|
|
|
15.0
|
x
|
|
|
11.9
|
x
|
National Banks(1) Median
|
|
|
11.7
|
|
|
|
11.9
|
|
|
|
11.3
|
|
|
|
12.4
|
|
|
|
16.1
|
|
|
|
13.4
|
|
|
|
9.6
|
|
Regional Banks(2) Median
|
|
|
13.0
|
|
|
|
13.0
|
|
|
|
12.2
|
|
|
|
11.2
|
|
|
|
14.6
|
|
|
|
12.7
|
|
|
|
8.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Average Price/
|
|
|
|
|
Tangible Book Value
|
|
Oct 2, 2008 Price/
|
|
|
2005
|
|
2006
|
|
2007
|
|
2008YTD
|
|
Tangible Book
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
3.7
|
x
|
|
|
3.7
|
x
|
|
|
3.4
|
x
|
|
|
2.8
|
x
|
|
|
3.5
|
x
|
National Banks(1) Median
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
|
|
2.6
|
|
Regional Banks(2) Median
|
|
|
2.9
|
|
|
|
2.9
|
|
|
|
2.8
|
|
|
|
1.6
|
|
|
|
1.6
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
National Banks include Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase,
Citigroup and US Bancorp. |
|
(2) |
|
Regional Banks include PNC, Capital One, BB&T, SunTrust,
M&T Bank, Regions, Fifth Third, National City, KeyCorp and
Comerica. |
The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and
is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary
description. Selecting portions of the analyses or of the
summary set forth above, without considering the analyses as a
whole and the circumstances described above, could create an
incomplete view of the processes underlying Goldman Sachs
opinion. In arriving at its fairness determination, Goldman
Sachs considered the circumstances described above and the
results of all of its relevant analyses and did not attribute
any particular weight to any factor or analysis considered by
it. Rather, Goldman Sachs made its determination as to fairness
on the basis of its experience and professional judgment after
considering such circumstances and the results of all of its
relevant analyses. No company or transaction used in Goldman
Sachs analyses is directly comparable to Wachovia, Wells
Fargo or the merger.
As described above, the opinion of Goldman Sachs to the Wachovia
board of directors was one of many factors taken into
consideration by the Wachovia board of directors in making its
determination to approve the merger agreement. The foregoing
summary of the material financial analyses conducted by Goldman
Sachs in connection with rendering its opinion does not purport
to be a complete description of the analyses performed by
Goldman Sachs in connection with its fairness opinion and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the written opinion of
Goldman Sachs attached as Appendix B to this proxy
statement-prospectus.
Wachovia selected Goldman Sachs as its financial advisor because
it is an internationally recognized investment banking firm that
has substantial experience relevant to the merger. Pursuant to
engagement letters
-43-
dated September 28, 2008 and October 1, 2008, Wachovia
and Wachovia Bank retained Goldman Sachs to act as their
financial advisor in connection with the possible sale of all or
a portion of Wachovia or Wachovia Bank. Pursuant to the terms of
the engagement letters, Wachovia has agreed to pay Goldman Sachs
a transaction fee of $25 million for its services in
connection with the merger, of which $20 million is
contingent upon consummation of the merger, to reimburse Goldman
Sachs expenses incurred in connection with its engagement
and to indemnify Goldman Sachs and related persons against
various liabilities, including certain liabilities under the
federal securities laws.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are engaged in investment
banking and financial advisory services, securities trading,
investment management, principal investment, financial planning,
benefits counseling, risk management, hedging, financing,
brokerage activities and other financial and non-financial
activities and services for various persons and entities. In the
ordinary course of these activities and services, Goldman Sachs
and its affiliates may at any time make or hold long or short
positions and investments, as well as actively trade or effect
transactions, in the equity, debt and other securities (or
related derivative securities) and financial instruments
(including bank loans and other obligations) of Wachovia, Wells
Fargo and any of their respective affiliates or any currency or
commodity that may be involved in the transaction contemplated
by the merger agreement for their own account and for the
accounts of their customers. Goldman Sachs has acted as
financial advisor to Wachovia in connection with, and has
participated in certain of the negotiations on or prior to (but
not after) September 28, 2008 with Wells Fargo. In
addition, Goldman Sachs has provided certain investment banking
and other financial services to Wachovia and its affiliates from
time to time, including having (i) acted as advisor to
Wachovia and its affiliates in connection with various of their
respective mortgage securitizations from 2005 to 2006;
(ii) acted as co-lead manager for the offering of preferred
stock of Wachovia in January 2006; (iii) acted as financial
advisor to Wachovia in connection with its acquisition of
Westcorp in March 2006; (iv) acted as joint bookrunner for
the concurrent offerings of common stock and Series L
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A preferred
stock of Wachovia in April 2008; and (v) provided financial
advisory services to Wachovia since December 2007. From
October 1, 2006 through October 3, 2008, Goldman Sachs
received aggregate fees of approximately $77 million from
Wachovia for investment banking and other financial services
unrelated to the merger. In addition, Goldman Sachs has provided
certain investment banking and other financial services to Wells
Fargo and its affiliates from time to time, including having
acted as (i) advisor to Wells Fargo and its affiliates in
connection with various of their respective investment grade
debt issuances from 2004 to 2008; (ii) counterparty to
various derivatives transactions entered into by Wells Fargo in
2006; (iii) joint bookrunner for the offering of preferred
stock of an affiliate of Wells Fargo in January 2007 and
(iv) joint bookrunner for the offering of preferred stock
of Wells Fargo in September 2008. On November 6, 2008,
Goldman Sachs, with the consent of Wachovia, was engaged to act
as joint bookrunning manager for the offering of approximately
$12.6 billion of common stock of Wells Fargo, which was
consummated on November 13, 2008. Goldman Sachs also may
provide investment banking and other financial services to
Wachovia, Wells Fargo and their respective affiliates in the
future. However, Goldman Sachs is not currently engaged to
provide additional investment banking and other financial
services to Wachovia or Wells Fargo, except as specifically
disclosed above. In connection with the above-described services
Goldman Sachs has received, and may receive, compensation.
Opinion
of Perella Weinberg
On October 3, 2008, Perella Weinberg orally advised a
representative of the board of directors of Wachovia of Perella
Weinbergs opinion that, as of that date, and based upon
and subject to the factors, limitations and assumptions to be
set forth in the written opinion, as well as the extraordinary
circumstances facing Wachovia to be described in the written
opinion, the exchange ratio of 0.1991 of a share of Wells Fargo
common stock to be received in respect of each share of Wachovia
common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair from a
financial point of view to the holders of Wachovia common stock
other than Wells Fargo and its affiliates.
The full text of the subsequently delivered written opinion of
Perella Weinberg, dated October 3, 2008, which sets forth
the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered
and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the
opinion, is attached to this document as Appendix C.
The opinion of
-44-
Perella Weinberg was provided for the information and assistance
of the board of directors of Wachovia in connection with its
consideration of the merger and does not constitute a
recommendation as to how any holder of shares of Wachovia common
stock should vote or otherwise act with respect to the merger or
any other matter.
For purposes of its opinion, Perella Weinberg, among other
things:
1. reviewed certain publicly available financial statements
and other business and financial information with respect to
Wachovia and Wells Fargo, including research analyst reports;
2. reviewed certain internal financial statements, analyses
and forecasts, and other financial and operating data relating
to the business of Wachovia, in each case prepared by
Wachovias management;
3. discussed the past and current operations, financial
condition and future prospects of Wachovia with senior
executives of Wachovia;
4. reviewed estimates by Wachovias management as to
Wachovias liquidity, as well as certain analyses prepared
by Wachovias management with respect to Wachovias
leverage and capital adequacy;
5. discussed the fair market value of certain types of key
asset categories of Wachovia with senior executives of Wachovia;
6. reviewed publicly announced credit ratings of Wachovia
and spreads applicable to credit default swaps relating to the
debt of Wachovia and of certain other institutions that Perella
Weinberg believed to be generally relevant;
7. held discussions with members of the senior management
of Wachovia regarding their assessment of the rationale for the
merger;
8. compared the financial performance of Wachovia and of
Wells Fargo with that of certain publicly-traded companies which
it believed to be generally relevant;
9. reviewed the reported price and trading activity for
shares of Wachovia and Wells Fargo common stock, and compared
such price and trading activity for shares of Wachovia and Wells
Fargo common stock with that of securities of certain
publicly-traded companies which Perella Weinberg believed to be
generally relevant;
10. reviewed the merger agreement; and
11. conducted such other financial studies, analyses and
investigations, and considered such other factors, as Perella
Weinberg deemed appropriate.
Perella Weinberg was informed by members of Wachovias
management that Wachovia had considerable exposure to risks
related to the deteriorating credit performance and declining
values of a significant portion of the loan and mortgage
portfolios and related assets of Wachovia and its subsidiaries,
and that the business and prospects of Wachovia (including its
ability to operate as a going concern on a stand-alone basis)
were severely and negatively affected as a result thereof, as
well as due to the crisis in the capital markets, the
extraordinary economic and financial environment then prevailing
and the deteriorating financial condition of Wachovia.
In particular, Perella Weinberg was informed by Wachovia that:
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovias liquidity position was severely strained due in
large part to declining customer and counterparty confidence,
and that Wachovia may have had insufficient unrestricted cash on
hand to meet its needs in the near term;
|
|
|
|
Wachovia and its principal operating subsidiaries had a limited
amount of unencumbered assets available as collateral for any
financings that Wachovia may have sought to obtain on an
immediate basis;
|
-45-
|
|
|
|
|
as a result of general market conditions and matters specific to
Wachovias financial condition, Wachovia would not at the
time have been able to raise capital through the capital markets
in amounts sufficient for its needs, and this difficulty was
expected to continue for the foreseeable future;
|
|
|
|
the United States banking regulators had not offered financial
assistance to Wachovia on a stand-alone basis to adequately
address the financial situation of Wachovia, including its
immediate and long-term liquidity needs;
|
|
|
|
Wachovia projected substantial losses for the remainder of
fiscal year 2008 and for fiscal year 2009, which would put
significant strain on Wachovias ability to maintain its
capital position in the near term in light of difficulties
Wachovia faced in seeking financings and accessing the capital
markets;
|
|
|
|
downgrades of Wachovias credit ratings that
Wachovias management expected to be announced by
Moodys Investors Service and Standard &
Poors, which remained imminent absent a transaction (such
as the merger) that would provide Wachovia with sources of
substantial ongoing liquidity and funding or that would relieve
Wachovia of the need for such liquidity and funding would
further negatively affect customer and counterparty confidence
in Wachovia, and Wachovias liquidity and access to the
capital markets; and
|
|
|
|
absent immediately entering into a definitive transaction (such
as the merger) that would provide Wachovia with sources of
substantial ongoing liquidity and funding or that would relieve
Wachovia of the need for such liquidity and funding, Wachovia
and its subsidiaries would face intervention by the United
States federal banking regulators
and/or be
required to seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws.
|
Perella Weinberg was further advised by Wachovia that, as a
result of the foregoing, Wachovia and its Board of Directors
were faced with a rapidly narrowing set of alternatives, which,
at the time, were limited to a transaction such as the merger or
intervention by the United States federal banking regulators.
Accordingly, Perella Weinberg also considered recent instances
where concerns regarding the liquidity of a bank or financial
institution triggered a rapid deterioration of the
institutions financial condition, necessitating government
intervention or bankruptcy protection, and as a result of which
the common equity holders of the institution were likely to
receive substantially diminished value, if any at all, for their
equity. In light of the facts and circumstances, Perella
Weinberg also assumed, without independent verification, that if
Wachovias banking assets were taken over by the United
States federal banking regulators and Wachovias
non-banking assets liquidated under applicable bankruptcy laws,
holders of Wachovia common stock would likely receive no
material value.
In arriving at its opinion, Perella Weinberg assumed and relied
upon, without independent verification, the accuracy and
completeness of the financial and other information supplied or
otherwise made available to it (including information that is
available from generally recognized public sources) for purposes
of its opinion and further assumed that the information
furnished by the management of Wachovia for purposes of its
analysis did not contain any material omissions or misstatements
of material fact. Perella Weinberg did not receive from Wells
Fargo forecasts of its future financial performance, and it was
advised by Wachovias management that the currently
available forecasts for Wachovia no longer reflected
Wachovias best estimates of its future financial
performance, as a result of the current circumstances of
Wachovia described hereinabove. With the consent of
Wachovias board of directors, (i) Perella
Weinbergs diligence of Wells Fargo was limited to publicly
available information, including publicly available estimates of
certain research analysts covering Wells Fargo, and did not
include discussions with management or representatives of Wells
Fargo or other diligence that it would customarily conduct in
connection with preparing a fairness opinion, (ii) Perella
Weinberg relied upon the publicly available estimates for Wells
Fargo described above and did not rely upon any financial
forecasts relating to Wachovia, and (iii) Perella Weinberg
did not perform certain analyses that Perella Weinberg
customarily would have prepared for Wachovia in connection with
a fairness opinion because such analyses were not meaningful as
a result of the extraordinary circumstances of Wachovia
described in this discussion. Perella Weinberg assumed with the
consent of Wachovias board of directors that the publicly
available estimates for Wells Fargo described above reflected
the best currently available estimates and judgments of the
management of Wachovia with respect to Wells Fargos future
financial performance. In
-46-
arriving at its opinion, Perella Weinberg did not review
individual credit files nor did it make any independent
valuation or appraisal of the assets and liabilities (including
any contingent, derivative or off-balance-sheet assets and
liabilities) of Wachovia or Wells Fargo or any of their
respective subsidiaries, and it was not furnished with any such
valuations or appraisals. Perella Weinberg is not an expert in
the valuation of loan or mortgage portfolios or securities
relating to loan or mortgage portfolios, or allowances for
losses with respect thereto, and accordingly, did not evaluate
the same with respect to Wachovia or Wells Fargo, and assumed,
with the consent of Wachovias board of directors, that
Wells Fargos allowances for such losses were adequate to
cover all such losses. In addition, Perella Weinberg did not
evaluate the solvency or fair value of any party to the merger
agreement under any state or federal laws relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. Perella Weinberg did
not express any opinion as to the value of any asset of
Wachovia, whether at current market prices or in the future.
However, it noted that under the ownership of a company with
adequate liquidity and capital, such as Wells Fargo, the value
of Wachovia and its subsidiaries could substantially improve,
resulting in significant returns to Wells Fargo if the merger is
consummated.
Perella Weinbergs opinion addressed only the fairness from
a financial point of view to the holders of Wachovia common
stock, excluding Wells Fargo and its affiliates, as of the date
thereof, of the exchange ratio. Perella Weinberg was not asked
to, and it did not, offer any opinion as to any other term of
the merger agreement or the form or structure of the merger or
the likely timeframe in which the merger will be consummated.
Perella Weinberg did not participate in negotiations with
respect to the terms of the merger and related transactions. In
addition, it expressed no opinion as to the fairness of the
amount or nature of any compensation to be received by any
officers, directors or employees of any parties to the merger,
or any class of such persons, whether relative to the exchange
ratio or otherwise. Perella Weinberg assumed that the merger
would be consummated as described in the merger agreement, and
that all governmental, regulatory or other consents and
approvals necessary for the consummation of the merger would be
obtained without any adverse effect on Wachovia or Wells Fargo
or on the expected benefits of the merger in any way meaningful
to its analysis. Perella Weinbergs opinion did not address
the underlying business decision of Wachovia to enter into the
merger or the relative merits of the merger as compared to any
other strategic alternative that may have been available to
Wachovia under the circumstances, nor did it address any legal,
tax, regulatory or accounting matters, as to which matters it
understood that Wachovia received such advice as it deemed
necessary from qualified professionals. Perella Weinberg relied
as to all legal matters relevant to rendering its opinion upon
advice of counsel. Perella Weinberg was not authorized to
solicit, and it did not solicit, on a widespread basis
indications of interest in a transaction with Wachovia from any
party.
Perella Weinberg expressed no opinion as to the fairness of the
merger or any consideration to holders of any class of
securities, other than to holders of Wachovia common stock
(excluding Wells Fargo and its affiliates), or as to the
fairness of the merger or any consideration to creditors or
other constituencies of Wachovia or Wells Fargo. Perella
Weinberg did not express any opinion as to the prices at which
shares of Wachovia or Wells Fargo common stock would trade at
any time. Perella Weinbergs opinion was based on
financial, economic, market and other conditions as in effect
on, and the information made available to it as of, the date
thereof, including the ongoing crisis in the capital markets,
the condition of the mortgage market, and the extraordinary
financial and economic environment at the time and the related
uncertainty regarding the extent and duration of those
conditions. Subsequent developments, including, without
limitation, any litigation resulting from Wachovia having
entered into the merger agreement, may affect Perella
Weinbergs opinion, and it does not have any obligation to
update, revise or reaffirm its opinion. With the consent of
Wachovias board of directors, in arriving at its opinion,
Perella Weinberg did not consider or evaluate the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or any plans then existing
for a program sponsored by the United States Federal Government
to provide support to financial institutions by purchasing
distressed mortgage-related assets, or any impact of any such
legislation, plans or programs on Wachovia, Wells Fargo or the
economic environment.
The following is a summary of the material financial analyses
conducted by Perella Weinberg in connection with rendering its
opinion. These analyses were not presented to the board of
directors of Wachovia. The following summary does not purport to
be a complete description of the financial analyses performed by
Perella Weinberg, nor does the order of the analyses described
represent relative importance or
-47-
weight given them. Some of the summaries of the financial
analyses include information presented in tabular format. The
tables must be read together with the full text of each summary
and alone are not a complete description of the financial
analyses. Except as otherwise noted, the following quantitative
information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is
based on market data as it existed on or before October 3,
2008, and is not necessarily indicative of current market
conditions.
Perella Weinbergs review of Wachovias credit default
swap spread trends, certain historical bank failures resulting
in government takeovers and the pro forma tangible book value of
Wachovia, in each case, as described below, supported the view
that financial analyses that Perella Weinberg customarily would
have relied upon in connection with a fairness opinion were not
meaningful as a result of the extraordinary circumstances of
Wachovia. Customary valuation methodologies based on multiples
of tangible book value and earnings per share were not
meaningful in view of Wachovias negative pro forma
tangible book value, as implied by the analysis described below,
as well as its negative earnings per share outlook for the next
18 months, as estimated by Wachovias management.
Comparative
Trends of Credit Default Swap Spreads
Perella Weinberg reviewed the annual spreads applicable to five
year credit default swaps, referred to as CDSs, over the
preceding one-year period with respect to the debt of Wachovia
and selected financial institutions that Perella Weinberg
generally believed to be relevant under the circumstances,
although none of the selected financial institutions is directly
comparable to Wachovia. The applicable spreads with respect to
such credit default swaps as of the close of business on
selected dates are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Institution
|
|
10/10/2007
|
|
03/14/2008
|
|
09/12/2008
|
|
09/26/2008
|
|
|
Basis points
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
281
|
|
|
|
395
|
|
|
|
1,370
|
|
Bear Stearns
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
|
727
|
|
|
|
133
|
|
|
|
137
|
|
Merrill Lynch
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
292
|
|
|
|
415
|
|
|
|
371
|
|
Morgan Stanley
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
297
|
|
|
|
253
|
|
|
|
770
|
|
Goldman Sachs
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
239
|
|
|
|
183
|
|
|
|
381
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
157
|
|
|
|
141
|
|
|
|
132
|
|
JP Morgan Chase
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
164
|
|
|
|
128
|
|
|
|
133
|
|
Perella Weinberg noted that the applicable annual spread for
CDSs with respect to the debt of Wachovia on September 26,
2008, the last business day prior to the announcement of a
potential transaction involving Wachovia, was significantly
higher than the applicable annual spread with respect to the
debt of The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. on March 14, 2008,
the last business day prior to the announcement of the merger of
the Bear Stearns with JP Morgan Chase & Co., and the
applicable annual spread with respect to the debt of Merrill
Lynch & Co., Inc. on September 12, 2008, the last
business day prior to the announcement of the merger of Merrill
Lynch with Bank of America Corporation, reflecting a high market
expectation of default and supporting the information provided
by Wachovias management about Wachovias liquidity
and capital position.
Historical
Bank Failures Resulting in Government Takeovers
Perella Weinberg also reviewed the largest failures of
publicly-traded banking institutions over the last five years in
which such institutions were taken over by United States Federal
Government regulators, noting
-48-
particularly, the related decline in the value of the common
stock of such institutions. The table below summarizes such
instances:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trading Price of
|
|
Price on
|
|
Decline In Value
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
Day After
|
|
of Common
|
|
|
Takeover
|
|
Assets
|
|
One Year Prior
|
|
Takeover
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Date
|
|
($ millions)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
Washington Mutual
|
|
|
9/25/2008
|
|
|
$
|
309,731
|
|
|
$
|
35.40
|
|
|
$
|
0.16
|
|
|
|
99.5
|
%
|
IndyMac
|
|
|
7/11/2008
|
|
|
|
30,699
|
|
|
|
28.67
|
|
|
|
0.12
|
|
|
|
99.6
|
|
NetBank
|
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
|
|
2,474
|
|
|
|
6.12
|
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
99.3
|
|
Silver State Bank
|
|
|
9/5/2008
|
|
|
|
1,957
|
|
|
|
18.36
|
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
|
|
99.6
|
|
Integrity Bank
|
|
|
8/29/2008
|
|
|
|
1,108
|
|
|
|
4.42
|
|
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
|
99.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
|
99.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Median
|
|
|
|
99.5
|
%
|
Tangible
Book Value Analysis of Wachovia
Perella Weinberg calculated the pro forma tangible book value of
Wachovia, based on Wachovias tangible book value as of
June 30, 2008, as disclosed in Wachovias quarterly
report on
form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, and estimates provided
by Wachovias management regarding mark-to-market or fair
value adjustments as of the date of Perella Weinbergs
opinion that would likely be made to Wachovias loan
portfolios in the context of a sale transaction. Such analysis
yielded a negative pro forma tangible book value for Wachovia.
Analyses
of Wells Fargo Common Stock and Value Implied by Exchange
Ratio
In addition to reviewing the implied value of the exchange ratio
in relation to the historical trading price of Wells Fargo
common stock, Perella Weinberg conducted the following analyses
with respect to the value of Wells Fargo common stock and the
corresponding value implied by the exchange ratio, on the basis
of publicly available information regarding Wells Fargo, certain
historical trading multiples of Wells Fargo common stock and
other trading multiples that Perella Weinberg considered
appropriate having reviewed similar trading multiples of other
companies that Perella Weinberg believed to be relevant:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied Value
|
|
Value Implied
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
per Share of
|
|
by Exchange
|
Metric
|
|
Value
|
|
Multiple(s)
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Ratio (0.1991)
|
Historical Trading Multiples (3-Year Averages)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Next-Twelve-Month Earnings Per Share Estimate (IBES Median)
|
|
$
|
2.31
|
|
|
|
12.4
|
x
|
|
$
|
28.56
|
|
|
$
|
5.69
|
|
Book Value per Share
|
|
$
|
14.48
|
|
|
|
2.46
|
x
|
|
$
|
35.62
|
|
|
$
|
7.09
|
|
Tangible Book Value per Share
|
|
$
|
10.31
|
|
|
|
2.69
|
x
|
|
$
|
27.73
|
|
|
$
|
5.52
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Market Comparables (Selected Multiples)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009 Estimated Earnings Per Share*
|
|
$
|
2.35
|
|
|
|
13.5x - 15.5x
|
|
|
$
|
31.73 - 36.43
|
|
|
$
|
6.32 - 7.25
|
|
2010 Estimated Earnings Per Share*
|
|
$
|
2.95
|
|
|
|
11.0x - 13.0x
|
|
|
$
|
32.45 - 38.35
|
|
|
$
|
6.46 - 7.64
|
|
Book Value per Share
|
|
$
|
14.48
|
|
|
|
2.0x - 3.0x
|
|
|
$
|
28.96 - 43.44
|
|
|
$
|
5.77 - 8.65
|
|
Tangible Book Value per Share
|
|
$
|
10.31
|
|
|
|
2.5x - 3.0x
|
|
|
$
|
25.78 - 30.93
|
|
|
$
|
5.13 - 6.16
|
|
Total Deposits Premium
|
|
$
|
339,124MM
|
|
|
|
20.0% - 30.0%
|
|
|
|
$30.83 - 41.08
|
|
|
|
$6.14 - 8.18
|
|
* 2009 and 2010 estimated earnings per share are based on median
IBES estimates.
-49-
Perella Weinberg also conducted an illustrative discounted cash
flow analysis with respect to the value of Wells Fargo common
stock and the corresponding value implied by the exchange ratio,
based on estimates for earnings per share of Wells Fargo common
stock derived from publicly available equity research. Perella
Weinberg used discount rates ranging from 10%-13%, reflecting
estimates of Wells Fargos cost of equity, forecasts for
Wells Fargo earnings per share based on median IBES estimates
for the second half of 2008, 2009 and 2010, grown at the median
IBES long-term growth rate of 8.5% thereafter, a target
tier 1 capital ratio of 8.2% and terminal forward earnings
multiples ranging from 10.0x to 14.0x applied to estimated 2014
earnings. This analysis resulted in a range of implied present
value of $28 to $41 per share of Wells Fargo common stock, which
translated to $5.57 to $8.16 per share of Wachovia common stock
using the exchange ratio of 0.1991.
The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and
is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary
description. Selecting portions of the analyses or of the
summary set forth above, without considering the analyses as a
whole and the circumstances described above, could create an
incomplete view of the processes underlying Perella
Weinbergs opinion. In arriving at its fairness
determination, Perella Weinberg considered the circumstances
described above and the results of all of its relevant analyses
and did not attribute any particular weight to any factor or
analysis considered by it. Rather, Perella Weinberg made its
determination as to fairness on the basis of its experience and
professional judgment after considering such circumstances and
the results of all of its relevant analyses. No company or
transaction used in Perella Weinbergs analyses is directly
comparable to Wachovia, Wells Fargo or the merger.
As described above, the opinion of Perella Weinberg to the
Wachovia board of directors was one of many factors taken into
consideration by the Wachovia board of directors in making its
determination to approve the merger agreement. The foregoing
summary of the material financial analyses conducted by Perella
Weinberg in connection with rendering its opinion does not
purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed
by Perella Weinberg in connection with the fairness opinion and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the written opinion
of Perella Weinberg attached as Appendix C to this
proxy statement-prospectus.
Perella Weinberg was selected to act as financial advisor to the
board of directors of Wachovia in connection with the merger
because of its qualifications, expertise, reputation and
knowledge of the financial services industry, and pursuant to an
engagement letter dated September 28, 2008, will receive
fees for its services, of which $5 million was payable upon
the execution of the merger agreement, and $20 million is
contingent upon the closing of the merger. In addition, Wachovia
has agreed to indemnify Perella Weinberg for certain liabilities
and to reimburse Perella Weinberg for certain expenses arising
out of its engagement. Except pursuant to such engagement letter
between Wachovia and Perella Weinberg, Perella Weinberg has not,
in the past, provided investment banking or other financial
services to Wachovia or Wells Fargo. In the ordinary course of
its business activities, Perella Weinberg or its affiliates may
at any time hold long or short positions, and may trade or
otherwise effect transactions, for their own account or the
accounts of customers, in debt or equity or other securities (or
related derivative securities) or financial instruments
(including bank loans or other obligations) of Wachovia or Wells
Fargo or any of their respective affiliates. Perella Weinberg
also may provide investment banking and other financial services
to Wachovia, Wells Fargo and their respective affiliates in the
future, and may receive compensation in connection with such
services. However, Perella Weinberg is not currently engaged to
provide additional investment banking and other financial
services to Wachovia or Wells Fargo, except as specifically
disclosed above.
Financial
Forecasts
In the course of Wells Fargos due diligence investigations
of Wachovia prior to entering into the merger agreement,
Wachovia provided Wells Fargo and its financial advisors with
internal forecasts of Wachovias future financial
performance prepared by management in September 2008. Wells
Fargo did not consider these forecasts to be current, in view of
the fact that Wachovia was being, and since the date such
forecasts were prepared had been, severely impacted by
extraordinary market and economic conditions, and, as a result,
Wells Fargo did not rely upon them in assessing or formulating
the proposed terms of the potential transaction. As noted under
The Merger Opinions of Wachovias
Financial Advisors, each of Goldman Sachs and Perella
Weinberg, Wachovias financial advisors, was advised by
Wachovias management that the then-currently available
forecasts for Wachovia no longer reflected Wachovias best
estimates of its future financial
-50-
performance, and neither financial advisor relied upon these
financial forecasts in rendering its fairness opinion.
Wachovias internal management forecast of net operating
earnings per share (i.e. earnings excluding goodwill impairment,
merger-related and restructuring expenses, and discontinued
operations) provided at the time reflected a net loss of $0.86
for the fourth quarter of 2008, a net loss of $4.17 for the full
year 2008, and a net loss of $1.59 for the full year 2009.
Because of highly challenging market and operating conditions,
the rapidly changing state of the markets, the deteriorating
financial condition of Wachovia at the time the forecasts were
provided to Wells Fargo and other contemporaneous events in the
financial institutions sector, Wachovias management did
not consider these estimates to continue to reflect the
then-current expectations of Wachovias earnings prospects.
These financial data were not prepared with a view toward public
disclosure or with a view toward complying with the published
guidelines of the SEC, the guidelines established by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants with respect
to prospective financial Information or generally accepted
accounting principles. The financial forecasts are not facts, do
not take into account the subsequently rapidly changing market,
economic and operating conditions and should not be understood
or interpreted as being indicative of future results. In light
of the foregoing, and considering that the Wachovia special
meeting will be held months after the date the latest financial
forecasts referenced above were prepared, as well as the
uncertainties inherent in any forecasted information,
shareholders are cautioned not to rely on the financial
forecasts. This information is forward-looking
statements and actual results may differ materially from
them; see Forward-Looking Statements on page 21.
Interests
of Certain Wachovia Directors and Executive Officers in the
Merger
Wachovias executive officers and directors have interests
in the merger that are in addition to, and may be different
from, the interests of Wachovia shareholders generally. The
board of directors of Wachovia was aware of these different
interests and considered them, among other matters, in adopting
the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement and
approving the transactions it contemplates. For purposes of the
Wachovia agreements and plans described below, the completion of
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will
generally constitute a change in control.
Wachovia Stock Awards. Employees, including
executive officers, of Wachovia have received, from time to
time, grants of stock options, restricted stock awards (RSAs)
and restricted stock units (RSUs) under Wachovias
applicable stock incentive plans. Under the terms of these
plans, upon a change of control of Wachovia, unvested stock
options, RSAs and RSUs (excluding certain performance-based
RSAs) granted under the plan generally would vest and become
exercisable following the change of control. The merger will
constitute such a change in control of Wachovia. The merger
agreement provides for the conversion of Wachovia stock options
into stock options to purchase Wells Fargo common stock, as
adjusted by the exchange ratio. As of the date of this proxy
statement-prospectus, Wachovias 10 executive officers,
excluding Robert K. Steel who is discussed below, in the
aggregate held 2,974,127 unvested Wachovia stock options at a
weighted average exercise price of $29.44 per Wachovia share,
which will vest upon completion of the merger. In addition, as
of such date, such executive officers held 546,081 unvested
RSAs, which will vest upon completion of the merger. These RSA
amounts exclude the performance-based RSAs granted to
Messrs. Steel, David K. Zwiener and Kenneth J. Phelan which
are discussed below, and 524,230 performance-based RSAs which
may or may not be forfeited following completion of the merger
depending on whether the applicable 2008 performance goals are
met. Wachovia has not granted its non-employee directors
Wachovia stock options or RSAs. In connection with his service
as interim Chief Executive Officer of Wachovia, Wachovias
Chairman, Lanty L. Smith, was awarded 20,152 RSUs in June 2008,
which will vest upon completion of the merger in accordance with
the terms of the applicable stock incentive plan.
Wachovia Executive Officer Employment
Agreements. Wachovia has entered into employment
agreements with all of its executive officers, excluding Robert
K. Steel. The employment agreements generally provide for
certain severance benefits in the event of a termination of the
executives employment by Wachovia without
cause (as defined in the agreements) or by the
executive for good reason (as defined in the
agreements) following a change in control. In the event of a
qualifying termination as described above, the executives would
be entitled to (i) a pro rata incentive award for the
fiscal year in which the termination occurs, based on the
greater of the highest incentive award paid during the three
calendar years prior to termination and the executives
then
-51-
applicable target incentive award; (ii) an amount equal to
three times (two times in the case of employment agreements
entered into after 2006) the executives annual base
salary and the highest incentive award determined in accordance
with (i) above; (iii) an amount equal to three times
(two times in the case of employment agreements entered into
after 2006) the highest matching contribution made by
Wachovia for the executives benefit in Wachovias
401(k) savings plan for the preceding five years (three years in
the case of employment agreements entered into after 2006);
(iv) continued medical, dental and life insurance benefits
for the executive and executives family members for the
remainder of the executives life (continued medical
benefits only for employment agreements entered into after
2006); (v) continued participation in Wachovias
fringe benefit and perquisite plans or programs in which the
executive participated immediately prior to termination for
three years (two years in the case of employment agreements
entered into after 2006); and (vi) outplacement services in
accordance with Wachovias policies generally applicable to
involuntarily terminated employees. The severance payments,
including any applicable
gross-up
payments, owed to each executive that entered into an employment
agreement with Wachovia after 2006 are subject to the limits
imposed by the employment agreement pursuant to Wachovias
severance policy, which limits the total amount of severance to
be paid to any executive to 2.99 times the sum of the
executives base salary and annual cash incentive award.
Assuming that the merger is completed on December 31, 2008
and all Wachovia executive officers who have employment
agreements experience a qualifying termination of employment
immediately thereafter, the 10 executive officers as a group
would be entitled to receive an aggregate amount of up to
approximately $98.1 million, as severance payments
(representing payment for items (i), (ii) and
(iii) described above, as limited pursuant to
Wachovias severance policy).
The employment agreements provide that each executive will be
entitled to receive a
gross-up
payment equal to the amount of federal excise taxes owed by the
executive in connection with a change in control of Wachovia, as
a result of payments under the employment agreement or
otherwise, pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue
Code (Code), (plus the applicable federal and state income,
Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), and excise taxes due
on such
gross-up
payment) that are deemed to be excess parachute
payments for federal income tax purposes.
Severance payments and benefits are conditioned on the
executives execution of a release of claims against
Wachovia, its affiliates and personnel. In addition, pursuant to
their employment agreements, the executives are subject to an
ongoing confidentiality obligation, post-employment
non-competition and non-solicitation covenant. The
post-employment non-competition covenant is not applicable
following any termination after completion of the merger.
Pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements with
Wachovia, Messrs. Zwiener and Phelan were granted, in the
aggregate, 1.0 million performance-based Wachovia RSAs that
vest upon Wachovia common stock reaching certain price
thresholds and their continued employment with Wachovia through
October 15, 2011 and October 21, 2011, respectively.
Following the change of control as a result of the merger, these
performance-based RSAs will not vest until Wells Fargo common
stock reaches certain price thresholds, ranging from $100.45 per
share to $175.79 per share and their continued service
requirement will lapse. These price thresholds must occur prior
to October 15, 2014 and October 21, 2014,
respectively, or the unvested RSAs will be forfeited.
Robert K. Steel Agreement. Wachovia did not
enter into an employment agreement with Mr. Steel upon his
hiring in July 2008. Mr. Steel received 1,500,000 Wachovia
stock options with an exercise price of $9.08 per Wachovia share
and 1,990,089 performance-based Wachovia RSAs that vest upon
Wachovia common stock reaching certain price thresholds and his
continued employment with Wachovia through July 15, 2011.
Following the change in control as a result of the merger, all
of Mr. Steels stock options will vest and be
converted into stock options to purchase shares of Wells Fargo
common stock, as adjusted by the exchange ratio. Assuming a
Wells Fargo common stock price of $21.76 (the closing stock
price of Wells Fargo common stock on November 21, 2008),
Mr. Steels stock options that will vest following the
merger will have no value, as the exercise price of such stock
options, as converted by the exchange ratio, will be in excess
of such closing stock price. In addition, following the change
in control as a result of the merger, Mr. Steels
performance-based RSAs will not vest until Wells Fargo common
stock reaches certain price thresholds, ranging from $100.45 per
share to $175.79 per share and his continued service requirement
will lapse. These price thresholds must occur prior to
July 15, 2014 or the unvested RSAs will be forfeited.
-52-
Mr. Steel is also entitled to receive a
gross-up
payment equal to the amount of federal excise taxes under
Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (plus the
applicable federal and state income, FICA and excise taxes due
on such
gross-up
payment) payable by him in conjunction with a change in control
of Wachovia and such taxes become payable, as a result of
payments under the stock award agreement or otherwise, and are
deemed to be excess parachute payments for federal
income tax purposes. The foregoing payments, if any, to
Mr. Steel are subject to the limits imposed by
Wachovias severance policy, which limits the total amount
of severance benefits to be paid to any executive to 2.99 times
the sum of the executives base salary and annual cash
incentive award.
Operating Committee Incentive Award. Pursuant
to the terms of the Amended and Restated Wachovia Corporation
2003 Stock Incentive Plan, unless otherwise determined by
Wachovias Management Resources & Compensation
Committee (the MRCC), upon the occurrence of a
change in control, Wachovias executive officers who are
eligible for annual Operating Committee Incentive Awards under
that plan will be entitled to payment of these awards based on
Wachovias adjusted net income for the prior year. The MRCC
has determined that the change in control as a result of the
merger will not cause the Operating Committee Incentive Awards
in respect of Wachovias 2008 performance year to be
payable based on 2007 adjusted net income, but such awards may
be payable based on actual 2008 performance, if applicable
performance goals are met.
Other. Wachovia is party to insurance bonus
agreements with two of its executive officers, Stephen E.
Cummings and Stanhope A. Kelly. Following the completion of the
merger, Wachovias rights to terminate these agreements
will become more limited. Annual bonus payments under these
insurance bonus agreements are approximately $60,000 in the
aggregate.
Arrangements with Wells Fargo. As announced on
November 13, 2008, David M. Carroll, an executive officer
of Wachovia, will be Senior Executive Vice President,
responsible for Wells Fargos Wealth Management Group,
which includes wealth management, brokerage and retirement
services upon completion of the merger. Mr. Carroll
currently has an employment agreement with Wachovia. The terms
of his employment with Wells Fargo, including his compensation
arrangements, have not yet been finalized. Although there can be
no assurance that Wells Fargo and Mr. Carroll will reach an
agreement, any new arrangement with Mr. Carroll would
become effective upon the completion of the merger and would
supersede his current employment agreement with Wachovia.
Wells Fargo Board Positions. When the merger
is completed, three or four current members of Wachovias
board of directors will be appointed to Wells Fargos board
of directors. Non-employee members of Wells Fargos board
of directors who are added to Wells Fargos board of
directors will receive customary fees from Wells Fargo for being
a director in accordance with Wells Fargos current
director compensation policy. As of the date of this proxy
statement-prospectus, Wells Fargo and Wachovia have not
identified the members of Wachovias board of directors who
will be appointed to Wells Fargos board of directors.
Indemnification and Insurance. The merger
agreement provides that, upon completion of the merger, Wells
Fargo will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify,
defend and hold harmless all present and former directors,
officers and employees of Wachovia against all costs and
liabilities arising out of actions or omissions occurring at or
before the completion of the merger and will advance any
expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The merger agreement also provides that for a period of six
years after the merger is completed, Wells Fargo will provide
directors and officers liability insurance for the
present and former officers and directors of Wachovia with
respect to claims arising from facts or events occurring before
the merger is completed. This directors and officers
liability insurance will contain at least the same coverage and
amounts, and terms and conditions no less advantageous, as
Wachovias existing coverage.
Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following section is a summary of the anticipated material
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger to
U.S. holders (as defined below) of Wachovia common stock
that exchange their shares of
-53-
Wachovia common stock for shares of Wells Fargo common stock in
the merger. This discussion addresses only those Wachovia
shareholders that hold their Wachovia common stock as a capital
asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code and
does not address all the U.S. federal income tax
consequences that may be relevant to particular Wachovia
shareholders in light of their individual circumstances or to
Wachovia shareholders that are subject to special rules, such as:
|
|
|
|
|
financial institutions,
|
|
|
|
insurance companies,
|
|
|
|
mutual funds,
|
|
|
|
S corporations or other pass-through entities (or investors
in S corporations or other pass-through entities),
|
|
|
|
tax-exempt organizations,
|
|
|
|
dealers in securities or currencies,
|
|
|
|
traders in securities that elect to use a mark to market method
of accounting,
|
|
|
|
persons that hold Wachovia common stock as part of a straddle,
hedge, constructive sale or conversion transaction,
|
|
|
|
persons who are not U.S. holders (as defined below),
|
|
|
|
persons who perfect appraisal rights, and
|
|
|
|
shareholders who acquired their shares of Wachovia stock through
the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as
compensation.
|
The following is based upon the Code, its legislative history,
existing and proposed regulations under the Code and published
rulings and decisions, all as currently in effect as of the date
of this proxy statement-prospectus, and all of which are subject
to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Tax considerations
under state, local and foreign laws, or federal laws other than
those pertaining to income tax, are not addressed in this
document.
For purposes of this discussion, the term
U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of
Wachovia common stock that is for United States federal income
tax purposes (i) an individual citizen or resident of the
United States, (ii) a corporation, or entity treated as a
corporation, organized in or under the laws of the United States
or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) a
trust that (x) is subject to (I) the primary
supervision of a court within the United States and
(II) the authority of one or more United States persons to
control all substantial decisions of the trust or (y) has a
valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations
to be treated as a United States person, or (iv) an estate
that is subject to U.S. federal income tax on its income
regardless of its source.
Determining the actual tax consequences of the merger to you
may be complex. They will depend on your specific situation and
on factors that are not within Wachovias or Wells
Fargos control. You should consult with your own tax
advisor regarding the tax consequences of the merger in your
particular circumstances, including the applicability and effect
of the alternative minimum tax and any state, local or foreign
and other tax laws and of changes in those laws.
Tax Consequences of the Merger Generally. The
parties intend for the merger to qualify as a reorganization for
United States federal income tax purposes. It is a condition to
Wells Fargos obligation to complete the merger that Wells
Fargo receive an opinion from Wachtell, Lipton,
Rosen & Katz, dated the closing date of the merger,
substantially to the effect that the merger will qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. It is a condition to
Wachovias obligation to complete the merger that Wachovia
receive an opinion from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, dated
the closing date of the merger, substantially to the effect that
the merger will qualify as a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In addition, in
connection with the filing of the registration statement of
which this document is a part, each of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen
& Katz and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has delivered an
opinion to Wells Fargo and Wachovia, respectively, to the same
effect as the opinions described above. These opinions will be
based on representation letters provided by Wells Fargo and
Wachovia and on customary factual assumptions. None of the
opinions described above will be binding on the Internal Revenue
Service. Wells Fargo and Wachovia have not sought and will not
seek any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding any
matters relating to the merger, and as a result, there can be no
-54-
assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not assert, or
that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of
the conclusions set forth below.
Accordingly, and on the basis of the foregoing opinions, as a
result of the merger qualifying as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, upon
exchanging your Wachovia common stock for Wells Fargo common
stock, you generally will not recognize gain or loss, except
with respect to cash received instead of fractional shares of
Wells Fargo common stock (as discussed below). The aggregate tax
basis in the shares of Wells Fargo common stock that you receive
in the merger, including any fractional share interests deemed
received and redeemed as described below, will equal your
aggregate adjusted tax basis in the Wachovia common stock you
surrender. Your holding period for the shares of Wells Fargo
common stock that you receive in the merger (including a
fractional share interest deemed received and sold as described
below) will include your holding period for the shares of
Wachovia common stock that you surrender in the exchange. If you
acquired different blocks of Wachovia common shares at different
times or at different prices, the Wells Fargo common stock you
receive will be allocated pro rata to each block of Wachovia
common stock, and the basis and holding period of each block of
Wells Fargo common stock you receive will be determined on a
block-for-block basis depending on the basis and holding period
of the blocks of Wachovia common stock exchanged for such block
of Wells Fargo common stock.
Cash Instead of a Fractional Share. If you
receive cash instead of a fractional share of Wells Fargo common
stock, you will be treated as having received the fractional
share of Wells Fargo common stock pursuant to the merger and
then as having sold that fractional share of Wells Fargo common
stock for cash. As a result, you generally will recognize gain
or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash
received and the basis in your fractional share of Wells Fargo
common stock as set forth above. This gain or loss generally
will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain
or loss if, as of the effective date of the merger, the holding
period for the shares (including the holding period of Wachovia
common stock surrendered therefor) is greater than one year.
Long-term capital gains of individuals are generally eligible
for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital
losses is subject to limitations.
Backup Withholding and Information
Reporting. Cash and property received in exchange
for Wachovia common stock may, under certain circumstances, be
subject to information reporting and backup withholding
currently at a rate of 28%, unless the holder provides proof of
an applicable exemption or furnishes its taxpayer identification
number and otherwise complies with all applicable requirements
of the backup withholding rules. Any amounts withheld from
payments to a holder under the backup withholding rules are not
additional tax and generally will be allowed as a refund or
credit against the holders U.S. federal income tax
liability, provided the required information is timely
furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Dissenters
or Appraisal Rights
Holders of Wachovia Common Stock. Under North
Carolina law, a holder of shares of a class or series of stock
that is listed on a national securities exchange may not dissent
from a merger in which a shareholder receives cash or shares
which are also listed on a national securities exchange.
Therefore, holders of Wachovia common stock are not entitled to
appraisal or dissenters rights in connection with the
merger because Wachovias common shares and Wells
Fargos common shares are both listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.
Holders of Wachovia Preferred Stock. Holders
of Wachovia preferred stock will have dissenters rights in
connection with the merger with Wells Fargo, and therefore may
elect to be paid in cash for such shareholders shares in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Article 13 of
the NCBCA. The depositary shares representing Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series J are not a class or series of shares issued
by Wachovia and thus dissenters rights under
Article 13 of the NCBCA do not independently apply to the
depositary shares. However, while it is not entirely clear under
North Carolina law, Wachovia has agreed to treat each holder of
currently outstanding depositary shares for Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series J as a beneficial owner of the Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series J represented thereby. Unless shares
of the Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J are withdrawn from
the depositary, the depositary, which is currently
U.S. Bank National Association, is the holder of record of
the shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series J.
Accordingly, to exercise dissenters
-55-
rights with respect to the Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J, holders of depositary shares will be required to
follow the procedures described below for beneficial owners of
preferred stock.
The following is a summary of the material terms of the
statutory procedures to be followed by holders of Wachovia
preferred stock in order to dissent from the merger and perfect
dissenters rights under the NCBCA. In the following
discussion, references to Wachovia with respect to
actions taken or to be taken at any time following the
effectiveness of the merger shall mean Wells Fargo as the
surviving corporation of the merger. The following discussion is
a discussion of the material provisions but is not a complete
description of the law relating to dissenters rights
available under North Carolina law and is qualified in its
entirety by the full text of Article 13 of the NCBCA, which
is reprinted in its entirety as Appendix D to this
proxy statement-prospectus. If you wish to exercise
dissenters rights, you should review carefully the
following discussion and Appendix D. Wachovia urges
you to consult a lawyer before electing or attempting to
exercise these rights.
If the merger is completed, and you are a holder of Wachovia
preferred stock who objects to the merger and who fully complies
with Article 13 of the NCBCA, you will be entitled to
demand and receive payment in cash of an amount equal to the
fair value of your shares of Wachovia preferred stock. The
amount you would receive in connection with the exercise of
statutory dissenters rights would be the fair value of
your preferred stock immediately before the merger completion
date, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in anticipation
of the merger unless exclusion would be inequitable.
Under Article 13 of the NCBCA, all holders of Wachovia
preferred stock entitled to dissenters rights in the
merger must be notified in the meeting notice relating to the
merger that shareholders are entitled to assert dissenters
rights. This joint proxy statement-prospectus constitutes that
notice.
If you are a holder of Wachovia preferred stock and desire to
dissent and receive cash payment of the fair value of your
Wachovia preferred stock, you must:
|
|
|
|
|
deliver to Wachovia (and Wachovia must actually receive), prior
to the shareholder vote on the proposal to approve the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement, a written notice of
your intent to demand payment for your shares if the merger is
completed; and
|
|
|
|
not vote your Wachovia shares in favor of the approval of the
plan of merger contained in the merger agreement and the merger
(holders of Wachovia preferred stock, other than the
Series M Preferred Stock issued to Wells Fargo, are not
entitled to vote those shares on the approval of the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement).
|
If you do not satisfy both of those conditions and
the merger is consummated, you will not be entitled to payment
for your shares under the provisions of Article 13 of the
NCBCA.
Except as described in the following sentence, the notice of
intent to demand payment for your Wachovia preferred shares must
be executed by the holder of record of shares of Wachovia
preferred stock as to which dissenters rights are to be
exercised. A beneficial owner who is not the holder of record
may assert dissenters rights only if you (i) submit
to Wachovia the record holders consent to the dissent not
later than the time the beneficial holder asserts
dissenters rights and (ii) dissent with respect to
all shares of Wachovia preferred stock of which such person is
the beneficial owner. A record owner, such as a broker or bank,
who holds shares of Wachovia preferred stock as a nominee for
others, may exercise dissenters rights with respect to the
shares held for all or less than all beneficial owners of shares
as to which it is the record owner, provided the record owner
dissents with respect to all shares of Wachovia preferred stock
beneficially owned by any one person. In this case, the demand
notice submitted by the broker or bank, as record owner, must
set forth the name and address of the beneficial owner on whose
behalf the record holder asserts dissenters rights.
If the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement is
approved by the required vote of holders of Wachovias
capital stock, Wachovia will be required to mail by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, a written
dissenters notice to all holders of Wachovia preferred
stock who have satisfied the
-56-
requirements described above. The dissenters notice must
be sent no later than 10 days after shareholder approval of
the merger is obtained, and it must:
|
|
|
|
|
state where the payment demand described below must be sent and
where and when certificates for shares of preferred stock must
be deposited;
|
|
|
|
supply a form for demanding payment;
|
|
|
|
set a date by which Wachovia must receive the payment demand
(not fewer than 30 days nor more than 60 days after
the dissenters notice is mailed);
|
|
|
|
inform holders of uncertificated shares to what extent transfer
of the shares will be restricted after the payment demand is
received; and
|
|
|
|
include a copy of Article 13 of the NCBCA.
|
A holder of Wachovia preferred stock who receives a
dissenters notice must demand payment and deposit the
shareholders Wachovia preferred stock certificates in
accordance with the terms of the dissenters notice. A
holder of Wachovia preferred stock who demands payment and
deposits preferred stock certificates retains all other rights
of a holder of Wachovia preferred stock until those rights are
canceled or modified by the effectiveness of the merger. A
holder of Wachovia preferred stock who does not demand payment
or deposit its Wachovia preferred stock certificates where
required, each by the date set forth in the dissenters
notice, is not entitled to payment for its Wachovia preferred
stock under Article 13 the NCBCA.
Wachovia may restrict the transfer of uncertificated preferred
stock from the date the demand for payment is received until the
merger is consummated or restrictions released due to Wachovia
not merging within 60 days after the date set for demanding
payment and depositing preferred stock certificates. The person
asserting dissenters rights as to uncertificated preferred
stock retains all other rights of a shareholder until these
rights are cancelled or modified by the merger.
As soon as the merger is completed or within 30 days after
receipt of a payment demand from a dissenting holder of Wachovia
preferred stock who has complied with the statutory
requirements, whichever is later, Wachovia will pay the
dissenter the amount that Wachovia estimates to be the fair
value of the dissenting shareholders preferred stock, plus
interest accrued to the date of payment. Wachovias payment
will be accompanied by:
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovias most recent available balance sheet, an income
statement for that year, a statement of cash flows for that year
and the latest available interim financial statements, if any;
|
|
|
|
an explanation of the estimation of the fair value of the
preferred stock;
|
|
|
|
an explanation of how the interest was calculated;
|
|
|
|
a statement of the dissenting shareholders right to demand
payment of a different amount under
Section 55-13-28
of the NCBCA; and
|
|
|
|
a copy of Article 13 of the NCBCA.
|
If the merger is not consummated within 60 days after the
date set for demanding payment and depositing stock
certificates, Wachovia must return your deposited certificates
and release the transfer restrictions imposed on uncertificated
stock. If the merger is consummated after return of your
deposited certificates or release of transfer restrictions,
Wachovia must send you a new dissenters notice and repeat
the payment demand procedure.
You may, however, notify Wachovia in writing of your own
estimate of the fair value of your stock and amount of interest
due, and demand payment of the excess of your estimate of the
fair value of your stock over the amount previously paid by
Wachovia if:
|
|
|
|
|
you believe that the amount paid is less than the fair value of
Wachovia preferred stock or that the interest is incorrectly
calculated;
|
|
|
|
Wachovia fails to make payment of its estimate of fair value to
you within 30 days after receipt of a demand for
payment; or
|
-57-
|
|
|
|
|
the merger is not consummated, and Wachovia does not return your
deposited certificates or release the transfer restrictions
imposed on uncertificated stock within 60 days after the
date set for demanding payment.
|
You waive the right to demand payment unless you notify Wachovia
of your demand in writing within 30 days of Wachovias
payment of its estimate of fair value or Wachovias failure
to perform timely. If you fail to notify Wachovia of your demand
within such
30-day
period, you shall be deemed to have withdrawn your dissent and
demand for payment.
If, within 60 days of Wachovias payment or a
dissenting Wachovia preferred shareholders demand for
payment of a different amount, whichever is earlier, the payment
amount has not been settled, the dissenting holder of Wachovia
preferred stock may file an action in the Superior Court
Division of the North Carolina General Court of Justice
requesting that the fair value of the dissenting
shareholders Wachovia preferred stock and the accrued
interest be determined. The dissenting holder of Wachovia
preferred stock will not have the right to a jury trial. The
court will have discretion to make all dissenting holders of
Wachovia preferred stock whose demands remain unsettled parties
to the proceeding.
If you do not commence the proceeding within such
60-day
period, you will be deemed to have withdrawn the dissent and
demand for payment. In such an appraisal proceeding, the court
will determine all costs of the proceeding and assess the costs
as it finds equitable. The proceeding is to be tried as in other
civil actions; however, you will not have the right to a trial
by jury. The court also may assess the fees and expenses of
counsel and experts for the respective parties, in the amounts
the court finds equitable, as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
against Wachovia if the court finds that Wachovia did not
substantially comply with the procedures for the exercise of
dissenters rights prescribed by Article 13 of the
NCBCA; or
|
|
|
|
against Wachovia or the dissenting preferred stock holders, if
the court finds that the party against whom the fees and
expenses are assessed acted arbitrarily, vexatiously or not in
good faith.
|
If the court finds that the services of counsel for any
dissenting preferred stock holder were of substantial benefit to
other dissenting preferred stock holders and that the fees for
those services should not be assessed against Wachovia, the
court may award to the counsel reasonable fees to be paid out of
the amounts awarded the dissenting preferred stock holders who
were benefited.
In view of the complexity of these provisions and the
requirement that they be strictly complied with, if you hold
Wachovia preferred stock and are considering exercising your
dissenters rights under the NCBCA, you should consult a
lawyer promptly.
The NCBCA provides that the exercise of dissenters rights
will be the exclusive method for a holder of Wachovia preferred
stock to challenge the merger in the absence of a showing that
the merger are either unlawful or fraudulent as to that
preferred shareholder.
All written communications from shareholders with respect to the
exercise of dissenters rights should be mailed to:
Wachovia Corporation
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina
28288-0630
Attention: Ross E. Jeffries, Jr., Senior Vice President and
Deputy General Counsel
Wachovia recommends that such communications be sent by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
Not voting in favor of the proposal to approve and adopt the
merger agreement (holders of Wachovia preferred stock (except
for the Series M Preferred Stock issued to Wells Fargo) are
not entitled to vote on the approval of the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement at the special meeting) is not
sufficient to perfect your dissenters rights and receive
the fair value of your Wachovia preferred stock, plus accrued
interest. You must also comply with all other conditions set
forth in Article 13 of the NCBCA, including the conditions
relating to the separate written notice of intent to dissent to
the merger, the separate written demand for payment of the fair
value
-58-
of your shares of Wachovia preferred stock, the deposit of your
Wachovia preferred stock certificates, and the separate
notification and demand for payment in excess of an initial
payment made by Wachovia.
The summary set forth above does not purport to be a complete
statement of the provisions of the NCBCA relating to the rights
of dissenting shareholders and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the applicable sections of the NCBCA, which are
included as Appendix D to this proxy
statement-prospectus.
Regulatory
Approvals
Completion of the merger is subject to prior receipt of all
approvals and consents required to be obtained from applicable
governmental and regulatory authorities to complete the merger.
Wells Fargo and Wachovia have agreed to cooperate and use all
reasonable best efforts to obtain all permits, consents,
approvals and authorizations from any governmental or regulatory
authority necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement as promptly as practicable.
There can be no assurance that regulatory approvals will be
obtained, that such approvals will be received on a timely
basis, or that such approvals will not impose conditions or
requirements that, individually or in the aggregate, would or
could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the financial condition, results of operations, assets or
business of Wells Fargo or Wachovia following completion of the
merger.
Federal Reserve Approval. The Federal Reserve
must approve the merger before the merger can be completed.
Federal Reserve approval is required because Wells Fargo is a
bank holding company proposing to acquire another bank holding
company, Wachovia.
The Federal Reserve Board approved the merger on
October 12, 2008.
The approval of an application means only that the regulatory
criteria for approval have been satisfied or waived. It does not
mean that the approving authority has determined that the
consideration to be received by Wachovia shareholders is fair.
Regulatory approval does not constitute an endorsement or
recommendation of the merger.
Antitrust Approval. The merger is subject to
review by the DOJ or the FTC, to determine whether it complies
with applicable antitrust law. Under the provisions of the HSR
Act, and its related rules, the merger cannot be completed until
both Wells Fargo and Wachovia file notification of the merger
with the DOJ and the FTC and the specified waiting periods have
expired or been terminated. Each of Wells Fargo and Wachovia
filed, on October 7, 2008, its notification of the merger
with the DOJ and the FTC. Early termination of the waiting
period under the HSR Act was granted on October 10, 2008.
Other Applications and Notices. Other
applications and notices are being filed with various regulatory
authorities and self-regulatory organizations in connection with
the merger, including applications and notices in connection
with the indirect change in control, as a result of the merger,
of certain subsidiaries directly or indirectly owned by Wachovia.
Wells Fargo and Wachovia are not aware of any governmental
approvals or compliance with banking laws and regulations that
are required for the merger to become effective other than those
described above. Wells Fargo and Wachovia intend to seek any
other approval and to take any other action that may be required
to complete the merger. There can be no assurance that any
required approval or action can be obtained or taken prior to
the meeting.
Stock
Exchange Listing
The shares of Wells Fargo common stock to be issued in the
merger will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The
listing of the Wells Fargo common stock to be issued in the
merger is a condition to Wachovias obligation to complete
the merger. See The Merger Agreement
Conditions to the Merger.
Each outstanding share of Wachovia Series J Preferred Stock
is represented by Wachovia depositary shares that are listed on
the New York Stock Exchange and represent a one-fortieth
interest in a share of Wachovia Series J Preferred Stock.
Following the exchange of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J for Wachovia Series J Preferred Stock upon
completion of the merger under the Series J Deposit
Agreement, these depositary shares will continue to be listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under a new name and will be traded
under a new symbol.
-59-
WELLS
FARGO AND WACHOVIA
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information and explanatory notes show the impact on the
historical financial positions and results of operations of
Wells Fargo & Company (Wells Fargo) and Wachovia
Corporation (Wachovia) of the merger (Merger) involving Wells
Fargo and Wachovia under the purchase method of accounting.
Under the purchase method of accounting, the assets and
liabilities of Wachovia will be recorded by Wells Fargo at their
respective fair values as of the date the Merger is completed.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
combines the historical financial information of Wells Fargo and
Wachovia as of and for the nine months ended September 30,
2008, and for the year ended December 31, 2007. The
unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of
September 30, 2008, assumes the Merger was completed on
that date. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements
of income give effect to the Merger as if the Merger had been
completed at the beginning of the earliest period presented.
The Merger, which is expected to be completed in the fourth
quarter of 2008, provides for the exchange of 0.1991 shares
of Wells Fargo common stock for each share of outstanding
Wachovia common stock. Each outstanding share of each series of
Wachovia preferred stock will be converted into a share (or
fraction of a share) of a corresponding series of Wells Fargo
preferred stock having terms substantially identical to that
series of Wachovia preferred stock. At September 30, 2008,
Wells Fargo had three pending acquisitions (exclusive of the
Merger) with total assets of approximately $1.6 billion,
and it is expected that approximately 5.9 million common
shares will be issued upon consummation of these acquisitions.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined information does not
give effect to these other pending acquisitions as they are not
material to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information, either individually or in the aggregate. On
October 20, 2008 and in connection with the Merger,
Wachovia issued preferred stock to Wells Fargo representing
39.9 percent of the total voting power of Wachovia capital
stock entitled to vote at the special meeting. The unaudited pro
forma condensed combined financial information does not give
effect to this issuance which would in any event be eliminated
from the pro forma presentation as it will be fully eliminated
in consolidation.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet also
includes the effects of Wells Fargos capital issuances to
the Department of the Treasury on October 28, 2008 and
Wells Fargos common stock offering on November 13,
2008. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of
income give effect to these capital issuances at the beginning
of the earliest period presented.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with:
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargos historical unaudited financial statements as
of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008
included in Wells Fargos Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2008;
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargos historical audited financial statements as of
and for the year ended December 31, 2007 included in Wells
Fargos Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007;
|
|
|
|
Wachovias historical unaudited financial statements as of
and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 included
in Wachovias Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2008; and
|
|
|
|
Wachovias historical audited financial statements as of
and for the year ended December 31, 2007 included in
Wachovias Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007.
|
Wachovias historical unaudited financial statements as of
and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and
Wachovias historical audited financial statements as of
and for the year ended December 31, 2007 are included as
Exhibit 99.2 to Wells Fargos Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed October 30, 2008.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not
necessarily indicate the financial results of the combined
companies had the companies
-60-
actually been combined at the beginning of each period
presented. The adjustments included in these unaudited pro forma
condensed financial statements are preliminary and may be
revised. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information also does not consider any potential impacts of
current market conditions on revenues, potential revenue
enhancements, anticipated cost savings and expense efficiencies,
or asset dispositions, among other factors. Further, as
explained in more detail in the accompanying notes to the
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information,
the pro forma allocation of purchase price reflected in the
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is
subject to adjustment and may vary significantly from the actual
purchase price allocation that will be recorded at the time the
Merger is completed.
-61-
WELLS
FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
September 30,
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
before
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuances
|
|
|
Issuances
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and due from banks
|
|
$
|
12,861
|
|
|
$
|
22,233
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
35,094
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
35,094
|
|
Federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements
and other short-term investments
|
|
|
8,093
|
|
|
|
12,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,280
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,280
|
|
Trading assets
|
|
|
9,097
|
|
|
|
56,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,097
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,097
|
|
Securities available for sale
|
|
|
86,882
|
|
|
|
107,693
|
|
|
|
(294
|
)
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
|
194,281
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
194,281
|
|
Mortgages held for sale
|
|
|
18,739
|
|
|
|
2,491
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,230
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,230
|
|
Loans held for sale
|
|
|
635
|
|
|
|
6,756
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,391
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,391
|
|
Loans
|
|
|
411,049
|
|
|
|
482,373
|
|
|
|
(50,607
|
)
|
|
|
B
|
|
|
|
842,815
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
842,815
|
|
Allowance for loan losses
|
|
|
(7,865
|
)
|
|
|
(15,351
|
)
|
|
|
10,372
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
(12,844
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12,844
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loans
|
|
|
403,184
|
|
|
|
467,022
|
|
|
|
(40,235
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
829,971
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
829,971
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mortgage servicing rights:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Measured at fair value (residential MSRs)
|
|
|
19,184
|
|
|
|
628
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,812
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,812
|
|
Amortized
|
|
|
433
|
|
|
|
938
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,371
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,371
|
|
Premises and equipment, net
|
|
|
5,054
|
|
|
|
7,031
|
|
|
|
538
|
|
|
|
D
|
|
|
|
12,623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,623
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
13,520
|
|
|
|
18,353
|
|
|
|
(3,845
|
)
|
|
|
E
|
|
|
|
28,028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,028
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
44,679
|
|
|
|
63,046
|
|
|
|
13,327
|
|
|
|
F
|
|
|
|
121,052
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
121,052
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
622,361
|
|
|
$
|
764,378
|
|
|
$
|
(30,509
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,356,230
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,356,230
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noninterest-bearing deposits
|
|
$
|
89,446
|
|
|
$
|
55,752
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
145,198
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
145,198
|
|
Interest-bearing deposits
|
|
|
264,128
|
|
|
|
363,088
|
|
|
|
1,769
|
|
|
|
G
|
|
|
|
628,985
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
628,985
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total deposits
|
|
|
353,574
|
|
|
|
418,840
|
|
|
|
1,769
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
774,183
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
774,183
|
|
Short-term borrowings
|
|
|
85,187
|
|
|
|
67,867
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
153,054
|
|
|
|
(37,333
|
)
|
|
|
Q
|
|
|
|
115,721
|
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
|
|
29,293
|
|
|
|
44,318
|
|
|
|
(2,294
|
)
|
|
|
H
|
|
|
|
71,317
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71,317
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
107,350
|
|
|
|
183,350
|
|
|
|
(4,184
|
)
|
|
|
I
|
|
|
|
286,516
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
286,516
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
575,404
|
|
|
|
714,375
|
|
|
|
(4,709
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,285,070
|
|
|
|
(37,333
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,247,737
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock
|
|
|
625
|
|
|
|
9,825
|
|
|
|
(294
|
)
|
|
|
A,J
|
|
|
|
10,156
|
|
|
|
22,674
|
|
|
|
R
|
|
|
|
32,830
|
|
Common stock
|
|
|
5,788
|
|
|
|
7,124
|
|
|
|
(6,415
|
)
|
|
|
J
|
|
|
|
6,497
|
|
|
|
781
|
|
|
|
R
|
|
|
|
7,278
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
8,348
|
|
|
|
59,883
|
|
|
|
(45,920
|
)
|
|
|
J
|
|
|
|
22,311
|
|
|
|
13,878
|
|
|
|
R
|
|
|
|
36,189
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
40,853
|
|
|
|
(22,465
|
)
|
|
|
22,465
|
|
|
|
J
|
|
|
|
40,853
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,853
|
|
Cumulative other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
(2,783
|
)
|
|
|
(4,364
|
)
|
|
|
4,364
|
|
|
|
J
|
|
|
|
(2,783
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,783
|
)
|
Treasury stock
|
|
|
(5,207
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,207
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,207
|
)
|
Unearned ESOP shares
|
|
|
(667
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(667
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(667
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
46,957
|
|
|
|
50,003
|
|
|
|
(25,800
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71,160
|
|
|
|
37,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
108,493
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
622,361
|
|
|
$
|
764,378
|
|
|
$
|
(30,509
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,356,230
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,356,230
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial statements.
WELLS
FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
before
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuances
|
|
|
Issuances
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
(In millions, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTEREST INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trading assets
|
|
$
|
126
|
|
|
$
|
1,508
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,634
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,634
|
|
Securities available for sale
|
|
|
3,753
|
|
|
|
4,547
|
|
|
|
873
|
|
|
|
K
|
|
|
|
9,173
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,173
|
|
Mortgages held for sale
|
|
|
1,211
|
|
|
|
151
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,362
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,362
|
|
Loans held for sale
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
399
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
399
|
|
Loans
|
|
|
20,906
|
|
|
|
20,220
|
|
|
|
2,628
|
|
|
|
L
|
|
|
|
43,754
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,754
|
|
Other interest income
|
|
|
140
|
|
|
|
1,434
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,574
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,574
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income
|
|
|
26,170
|
|
|
|
28,225
|
|
|
|
3,501
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57,896
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57,896
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTEREST EXPENSE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deposits
|
|
|
3,676
|
|
|
|
7,348
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,024
|
|
Short-term borrowings
|
|
|
1,274
|
|
|
|
1,330
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,604
|
|
|
|
(703
|
)
|
|
|
Q
|
|
|
|
1,901
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
2,801
|
|
|
|
5,514
|
|
|
|
826
|
|
|
|
N
|
|
|
|
9,141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest expense
|
|
|
7,751
|
|
|
|
14,192
|
|
|
|
826
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,769
|
|
|
|
(703
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,066
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INTEREST INCOME
|
|
|
18,419
|
|
|
|
14,033
|
|
|
|
2,675
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,127
|
|
|
|
703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,830
|
|
Provision for credit losses
|
|
|
7,535
|
|
|
|
15,027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,562
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,562
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net interest income (loss) after provision for credit losses
|
|
|
10,884
|
|
|
|
(994
|
)
|
|
|
2,675
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,565
|
|
|
|
703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,268
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NONINTEREST INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service charges on deposit accounts
|
|
|
2,387
|
|
|
|
2,102
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,489
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,489
|
|
Trust and investment fees
|
|
|
2,263
|
|
|
|
7,253
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,516
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,516
|
|
Card fees
|
|
|
1,747
|
|
|
|
513
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,260
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,260
|
|
Other fees
|
|
|
1,562
|
|
|
|
815
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,377
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,377
|
|
Mortgage banking
|
|
|
2,720
|
|
|
|
213
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,933
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,933
|
|
Operating leases
|
|
|
365
|
|
|
|
174
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
539
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
539
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
1,493
|
|
|
|
239
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,732
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,732
|
|
Net gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale
|
|
|
316
|
|
|
|
(2,991
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,675
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,675
|
)
|
Net gains (losses) from equity investments
|
|
|
(148
|
)
|
|
|
272
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
124
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
124
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,277
|
|
|
|
(1,915
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(638
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(638
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total noninterest income
|
|
|
13,982
|
|
|
|
6,675
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,657
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,657
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries
|
|
|
6,092
|
|
|
|
4,543
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,635
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,635
|
|
Incentive compensation
|
|
|
2,005
|
|
|
|
4,293
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,298
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,298
|
|
Employee benefits
|
|
|
1,666
|
|
|
|
1,348
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,014
|
|
Equipment
|
|
|
955
|
|
|
|
879
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,834
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,834
|
|
Net occupancy
|
|
|
1,201
|
|
|
|
1,137
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,338
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,338
|
|
Operating leases
|
|
|
308
|
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
394
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
394
|
|
Goodwill impairment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,846
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,846
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,846
|
|
Intangible amortization
|
|
|
139
|
|
|
|
296
|
|
|
|
1,337
|
|
|
|
O
|
|
|
|
1,772
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,772
|
|
Other
|
|
|
4,473
|
|
|
|
6,374
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,847
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,847
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total noninterest expense
|
|
|
16,839
|
|
|
|
43,802
|
|
|
|
1,337
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,978
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,978
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)
|
|
|
8,027
|
|
|
|
(38,121
|
)
|
|
|
1,338
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(28,756
|
)
|
|
|
703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(28,053
|
)
|
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
|
|
2,638
|
|
|
|
(4,844
|
)
|
|
|
(39
|
)
|
|
|
P
|
|
|
|
(2,245
|
)
|
|
|
261
|
|
|
|
Q
|
|
|
|
(1,984
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME (LOSS)
|
|
$
|
5,389
|
|
|
$
|
(33,277
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,377
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(26,511
|
)
|
|
$
|
442
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(26,069
|
)
|
Dividends on preferred stock and accretion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
427
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
427
|
|
|
|
1,258
|
|
|
|
R
|
|
|
|
1,685
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
|
|
$
|
5,389
|
|
|
$
|
(33,704
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,377
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(26,938
|
)
|
|
$
|
(816
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(27,754
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
$
|
1.63
|
|
|
$
|
(16.28
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(7.24
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(6.62
|
)
|
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
$
|
1.62
|
|
|
$
|
(16.28
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(7.24
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(6.62
|
)
|
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
$
|
0.96
|
|
|
$
|
1.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.96
|
|
Average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
3,309.6
|
|
|
|
2,070.5
|
|
|
|
(1,658.3
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,721.8
|
|
|
|
468.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,190.3
|
|
Diluted average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
3,323.4
|
|
|
|
2,080.0
|
|
|
|
(1,665.9
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,737.5
|
|
|
|
468.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,206.0
|
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial statements.
-63-
WELLS
FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Year
Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
before
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuances
|
|
|
Issuances
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
(In millions, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTEREST INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trading assets
|
|
$
|
173
|
|
|
$
|
2,062
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,235
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,235
|
|
Securities available for sale
|
|
|
3,451
|
|
|
|
6,097
|
|
|
|
1,455
|
|
|
|
K
|
|
|
|
11,003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,003
|
|
Mortgages held for sale
|
|
|
2,150
|
|
|
|
240
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,390
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,390
|
|
Loans held for sale
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
|
1,023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,093
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,093
|
|
Loans
|
|
|
29,040
|
|
|
|
29,995
|
|
|
|
5,255
|
|
|
|
L
|
|
|
|
64,290
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,290
|
|
Other interest income
|
|
|
293
|
|
|
|
2,814
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,107
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,107
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income
|
|
|
35,177
|
|
|
|
42,231
|
|
|
|
6,710
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84,118
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84,118
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTEREST EXPENSE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deposits
|
|
|
8,152
|
|
|
|
12,961
|
|
|
|
(1,767
|
)
|
|
|
M
|
|
|
|
19,346
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,346
|
|
Short-term borrowings
|
|
|
1,245
|
|
|
|
2,849
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,094
|
|
|
|
(1,796
|
)
|
|
|
Q
|
|
|
|
2,298
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
4,806
|
|
|
|
8,291
|
|
|
|
1,376
|
|
|
|
N
|
|
|
|
14,473
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,473
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest expense
|
|
|
14,203
|
|
|
|
24,101
|
|
|
|
(391
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,913
|
|
|
|
(1,796
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,117
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INTEREST INCOME
|
|
|
20,974
|
|
|
|
18,130
|
|
|
|
7,101
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,205
|
|
|
|
1,796
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,001
|
|
Provision for credit losses
|
|
|
4,939
|
|
|
|
2,261
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
|
|
|
16,035
|
|
|
|
15,869
|
|
|
|
7,101
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,005
|
|
|
|
1,796
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,801
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NONINTEREST INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service charges on deposit accounts
|
|
|
3,050
|
|
|
|
2,686
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,736
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,736
|
|
Trust and investment fees
|
|
|
3,149
|
|
|
|
8,367
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,516
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,516
|
|
Card fees
|
|
|
2,136
|
|
|
|
581
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,717
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,717
|
|
Other fees
|
|
|
2,292
|
|
|
|
1,075
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,367
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,367
|
|
Mortgage banking
|
|
|
3,133
|
|
|
|
141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,274
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,274
|
|
Operating leases
|
|
|
703
|
|
|
|
245
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
948
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
948
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
1,530
|
|
|
|
447
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,977
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,977
|
|
Net gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale
|
|
|
209
|
|
|
|
(278
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(69
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(69
|
)
|
Net gains from equity investments
|
|
|
734
|
|
|
|
759
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,493
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,493
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,480
|
|
|
|
(726
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
754
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
754
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total noninterest income
|
|
|
18,416
|
|
|
|
13,297
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,713
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,713
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries
|
|
|
7,762
|
|
|
|
5,652
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,414
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,414
|
|
Incentive compensation
|
|
|
3,284
|
|
|
|
4,876
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,160
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,160
|
|
Employee benefits
|
|
|
2,322
|
|
|
|
1,662
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,984
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,984
|
|
Equipment
|
|
|
1,294
|
|
|
|
1,098
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,392
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,392
|
|
Net occupancy
|
|
|
1,545
|
|
|
|
1,343
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,888
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,888
|
|
Operating leases
|
|
|
561
|
|
|
|
135
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
696
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
696
|
|
Intangible amortization
|
|
|
158
|
|
|
|
424
|
|
|
|
1,980
|
|
|
|
O
|
|
|
|
2,562
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,562
|
|
Other
|
|
|
5,898
|
|
|
|
5,203
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,101
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,101
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total noninterest expense
|
|
|
22,824
|
|
|
|
20,393
|
|
|
|
1,980
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,197
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,197
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE
|
|
|
11,627
|
|
|
|
8,773
|
|
|
|
5,121
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,521
|
|
|
|
1,796
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,317
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
3,570
|
|
|
|
2,461
|
|
|
|
1,855
|
|
|
|
P
|
|
|
|
7,886
|
|
|
|
666
|
|
|
|
Q
|
|
|
|
8,552
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME
|
|
$
|
8,057
|
|
|
$
|
6,312
|
|
|
$
|
3,266
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,635
|
|
|
$
|
1,130
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
18,765
|
|
Dividends on preferred stock and accretion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,651
|
|
|
|
R
|
|
|
|
1,651
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
|
|
$
|
8,057
|
|
|
$
|
6,312
|
|
|
$
|
3,266
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,635
|
|
|
$
|
(521
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,114
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
$
|
2.41
|
|
|
$
|
3.31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4.73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4.08
|
|
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
$
|
2.38
|
|
|
$
|
3.26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4.68
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4.04
|
|
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
$
|
1.18
|
|
|
$
|
2.40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.18
|
|
Average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
3,348.5
|
|
|
|
1,907.2
|
|
|
|
(1,527.5
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,728.2
|
|
|
|
468.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,196.7
|
|
Diluted average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
3,382.8
|
|
|
|
1,934.2
|
|
|
|
(1,549.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,767.8
|
|
|
|
470.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,238.5
|
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial statements.
-64-
WELLS
FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and
for the
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
Note 1:
|
Basis of
Presentation
|
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
has been prepared using the purchase method of accounting,
giving effect to the merger involving Wells Fargo &
Company (Wells Fargo) and Wachovia Corporation (Wachovia)
(Merger) as if it had occurred as of the beginning of the
earliest period presented. The unaudited pro forma condensed
combined financial information is presented for illustrative
purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results
of operations or financial position had the Merger been
consummated at the beginning of the period presented, nor is it
necessarily indicative of the results of operations in future
periods or the future financial position of the combined
entities. Certain historical financial information has been
reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The Merger,
which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2008,
provides for issuance of 0.1991 shares of Wells Fargo
common stock for each share of outstanding Wachovia common
stock, and is subject to Wachovia shareholder approval. Each
outstanding share of each series of Wachovia preferred stock
will be converted into a share (or fraction of a share) of a
corresponding series of Wells Fargo preferred stock having terms
substantially identical to that series of Wachovia preferred
stock. At September 30, 2008, Wells Fargo had three pending
acquisitions (exclusive of the Merger) with total assets of
approximately $1.6 billion, and it is expected that
approximately 5.9 million common shares will be issued upon
consummation of these acquisitions. The unaudited pro forma
information does not give effect to these other pending
acquisitions as they are not material to the unaudited pro forma
condensed combined financial information, either individually or
in the aggregate. On October 20, 2008 and in connection
with the Merger, Wachovia issued preferred stock to Wells Fargo
representing 39.9 percent of the total voting power of
Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
does not give effect to this issuance as it will be fully
eliminated in consolidation.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
includes preliminary estimated adjustments to record assets and
liabilities of Wachovia at their respective fair values and
represents managements estimates based on available
information. The pro forma adjustments included herein are
subject to updates as additional information becomes available
and as additional analyses are performed. The final allocation
of the purchase price will be determined after the Merger is
completed and after completion of thorough analyses to determine
the fair value of Wachovias tangible and identifiable
intangible assets and liabilities as of the date the Merger is
completed. Increases or decreases in the estimated fair values
of the net assets, commitments, executory contracts, and other
items of Wachovia as compared with the information shown in the
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information may
change the amount of the purchase price allocated to goodwill
and other assets and liabilities and may impact the statement of
income due to adjustments in yield
and/or
amortization of the adjusted assets or liabilities. Any changes
to Wachovias stockholders equity including results
of operations from October 1, 2008, through the date the
Merger is completed will also change the amount of goodwill
recorded.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements
assume that the Merger will close in fourth quarter 2008.
However, if the Merger is consummated on or after
January 1, 2009, the Merger will be accounted for under
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (revised 2007),
Business Combinations (SFAS 141R). SFAS 141R
would require that the purchase price be determined based on
Wells Fargos closing stock price on the date the Merger is
consummated, that the loan portfolio consisting of both impaired
loans, as defined, and nonimpaired loans, be recorded at fair
value, with no carry-over of the allowance for credit losses,
and that contingent assets and liabilities be recorded at fair
value. Further, SFAS 141R would require that Merger-related
exit and termination costs be recorded to expense as incurred.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet also
includes the effects of Wells Fargos capital issuances to
the Department of the Treasury on October 28, 2008 and
Wells Fargos common stock
-65-
WELLS FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Continued)
As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and
for the
Year Ended December 31, 2007
offering on November 13, 2008. The unaudited pro forma
condensed combined statements of income give effect to these
capital issuances at the beginning of the earliest period
presented (see Note 7).
|
|
Note 2:
|
Accounting
Policies and Financial Statement Classifications
|
The accounting policies of both Wells Fargo and Wachovia are in
the process of being reviewed in detail. Upon completion of such
review, conforming adjustments or financial statement
reclassifications may be determined. The allowance for credit
losses could represent a significant conforming change based on
a detailed analysis of methodologies employed by Wells Fargo and
Wachovia. For example, the loss emergence periods used for
various loan product classes, the estimated probability of
default, the loss given default and the asset quality ratings
assigned to specific credits may differ and require conformity.
Further, other conforming adjustments could be determined based
on the accounting policy review. Aside from Wells Fargos
investment in preferred securities issued by Wachovia, as
further discussed below in Note 5, transactions between
Wells Fargo and Wachovia are not material in relation to the
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
|
|
Note 3:
|
Merger
Related Charges
|
In connection with the Merger, the plan to integrate Wells
Fargos and Wachovias operations is still being
developed. The total integration costs have been preliminarily
estimated to be approximately $7.9 billion
($5.0 billion after tax), of which approximately $3.1
billion ($2.0 billion after tax) are estimated to be recorded in
purchase accounting. The specific details of these plans will
continue to be refined over the next several months. Currently,
our merger integration team is assessing the two companies
operations, including information systems, premises, equipment,
benefit plans, supply chain methodologies, service contracts and
personnel to determine optimum strategies to realize cost
savings. Our merger integration decisions will impact certain
existing Wachovia facilities (both leased and owned),
information systems, supplier contracts and costs associated
with the involuntary termination of personnel. Additionally, as
part of our formulation of the merger integration plan, certain
actions regarding existing Wells Fargo information systems,
premises, equipment, benefit plans, supply chain methodologies,
supplier contracts and involuntary termination of personnel may
be taken. To the extent there are costs associated with these
actions, the costs will be recorded based on the nature and
timing of these integration actions. We expect that such
decisions will be completed after the Merger. The estimated
non-recurring charge consists of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in billions)
|
|
|
Costs associated with systems integration, operations and
customer conversions
|
|
$
|
4.2
|
|
Employee-related expense
|
|
|
1.8
|
|
Branch and administrative site consolidations, name change and
signage
|
|
|
1.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.9
|
|
Income tax benefit
|
|
|
(2.9
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total estimated non-recurring charges
|
|
$
|
5.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 4:
|
Estimated
Annual Cost Savings
|
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
does not reflect any benefit expected from revenue enhancements
or derived from potential cost savings related to the Merger.
Although management anticipates revenue enhancements and annual
cost savings of approximately $5.0 billion before taxes
that will result from the Merger, there can be no assurance
these items will be achieved.
-66-
WELLS FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Continued)
As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and
for the
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
Note 5:
|
Pro Forma
Adjustments
|
The following pro forma adjustments have been reflected in the
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
All adjustments are based on current assumptions and valuations
which are subject to change.
Balance
Sheet Adjustments
|
|
|
A |
|
Securities available for sale and preferred securities were
adjusted by $0.3 billion to reflect Wells Fargos
investment in preferred securities of Wachovia that will be
eliminated in consolidation. |
|
B |
|
Loans were adjusted by $50.6 billion consisting of: |
|
|
|
A decrease of $39.2 billion for estimated credit losses for
the loans in the scope of AICPA Statement of Position,
Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a
Transfer
(SOP 03-3).
This decrease was determined based upon the estimated credit
losses over the life of the loans;
|
|
|
A decrease of $10.5 billion to adjust to current interest
rates and spreads on the entire portfolio of loans; and
|
|
|
A net decrease of $0.9 billion to reverse the prior
purchase accounting adjustments recorded by Wachovia and to
write off the net deferred origination fees and costs recorded
by Wachovia.
|
|
|
|
The total unpaid principal balance of the loans in the scope of
SOP 03-3
is estimated at $91.1 billion. Loans were determined to be
in the scope of SOP
03-3 if
there was evidence of deterioration of credit quality since
origination and it was probable that Wells Fargo would be unable
to collect all contractually required payments. Excluded from
the scope were loans measured at fair value with changes in fair
value included in earnings, mortgage loans classified as held
for sale, leases, revolving credit agreements and loans that are
retained interests.
|
|
|
|
The estimated amount of accretable yield for loans in the scope
of
SOP 03-3
is $9.6 billion. The accretable balances were determined
based upon the expected undiscounted amount of interest income
to be recorded over the estimated life of the loans.
|
|
|
|
C |
|
Allowance for loan losses was adjusted by $10.4 billion to
reflect the reduction of Wachovias existing allowance for
loan losses for loans subject to
SOP 03-3.
Wells Fargo determined the amount of loans scoped into
SOP 03-3
by loan portfolio and then estimated the proportional amount of
allowance for loan losses attributable to both
SOP 03-3
and
non-SOP 03-3
categories, by loan portfolio, resulting in this
$10.4 billion adjustment. This amount is significantly less
than the $39.2 billion adjustment related to credit losses
recognized under
SOP 03-3
(see Balance Sheet Adjustment B) primarily due to the
different accounting requirements applicable to recognition of
credit losses for impaired loans. Wachovias existing
allowance for loan losses was determined in accordance with the
guidance in FAS 5, Accounting for Contingencies,
which requires that the allowance cover losses which are
probable, estimable and have been incurred as of the date of
the financial statements. Pursuant to the requirements of
SOP 03-3,
the adjustment of $39.2 billion reflects credit losses that
are probable and that will be incurred over the lifetime of
the loan. |
|
|
|
D |
|
Premises and equipment were adjusted by $0.5 billion to
reflect fair value adjustments for real property. |
|
|
|
E |
|
Goodwill was adjusted by $3.8 billion to reflect the write
off of Wachovias historical goodwill of $18.3 billion
and establish new goodwill of $14.5 billion estimated as a
result of the Merger. |
-67-
WELLS FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Continued)
As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and
for the
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
F |
|
Other assets were adjusted by $13.3 billion consisting of: |
|
|
|
An increase in identifiable intangibles of
$10.9 billion, which consists of recognizing
$12.8 billion for estimated core deposit and other
relationship intangibles, including intangibles for retail
brokerage and asset management, offset by the elimination of
$1.9 billion of Wachovias recorded intangible assets.
The lives of the identifiable intangibles are up to
10 years and will be amortized on an accelerated basis;
|
|
|
A decrease in other assets of $4.4 billion,
which consists of fair value adjustments of $1.1 billion
for Wachovias pension plan asset and $3.0 billion for
Wachovias bank owned life insurance, and $0.3 billion
for the elimination of Wachovias recorded debt issuance
costs;
|
|
|
An increase in deferred tax assets of
$13.0 billion, which consists of $12.5 billion related
to basis differences resulting from purchase accounting
adjustments and a $0.5 billion reduction in Wachovias
recorded deferred tax asset valuation reserve; and
|
|
|
A decrease relating to the offsetting of Wells
Fargos net deferred tax liability of $6.2 billion
against Wachovias recorded deferred tax asset and the
deferred tax asset recorded in association with the purchase
accounting adjustments.
|
|
|
|
G |
|
Interest-bearing deposits were adjusted to fair value by
$1.8 billion, which includes the reversal of prior purchase
accounting adjustments recorded by Wachovia and adjusting
interest-bearing deposits to reflect the current interest rates
and spreads. |
|
H |
|
Other liabilities were adjusted by $2.3 billion consisting
of: |
|
|
|
An increase for estimated exit reserves of
$3.1 billion as described in Note 3;
|
|
|
An increase for estimated direct acquisition costs
of $0.1 billion that will be incurred as a result of the
Merger;
|
|
|
An increase in Wachovias recorded uncertain
tax position of $0.7 billion; and
|
|
|
A decrease related to the offsetting of Wells
Fargos net deferred tax liability of $6.2 billion
against deferred tax assets reflected in other assets.
|
|
|
|
I |
|
Long term debt was adjusted by $4.2 billion to reflect
current interest rates and spreads. |
|
J |
|
Total stockholders equity has been adjusted by
$25.8 billion to reflect the adjustment of Wachovias
stockholders equity to $24.5 billion (the purchase
price per Note 8) and the elimination of $0.3 billion
in Wachovia preferred stock owned by Wells Fargo (see Balance
Sheet Adjustment A). Specifically, the adjustment to common
stock assumes that approximately 430 million shares of
Wells Fargo common stock will be issued as consideration and
recorded at its par value of
$12/3
per share or approximately $709 million, with
Wachovias retained earnings and other comprehensive income
(loss) closed out to additional
paid-in
capital. |
Income
Statement Adjustments
|
|
|
K |
|
Interest income from securities available for sale has been
adjusted to estimate the accretion of discount on the par value
of securities in excess of fair value. |
|
|
|
L |
|
Interest income from loans has been adjusted to estimate the
accretion of the purchase accounting adjustment related to
current interest rates. |
-68-
WELLS FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Continued)
As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and
for the
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
M |
|
Interest expense from deposits has been adjusted to estimate the
amortization of the accounting adjustment related to current
interest rates and spreads. The estimated weighted average life
of the deposits being marked to fair value is approximately one
year and only therefore impacts the 2007 unaudited pro forma
condensed combined statement of income. |
|
|
|
N |
|
Interest expense from long-term debt has been adjusted to
estimate the accretion of the purchase accounting adjustment
related to current interest rates. |
|
O |
|
Intangible amortization expense has been adjusted to estimate
the amortization of incremental identifiable intangible assets
recognized. |
|
|
|
P |
|
Income tax benefit for 2008 and income tax expense for 2007
reflects adjustment to consolidated effective tax rates of 7.8%
and 30.9% for 2008 and 2007, respectively. The statutory federal
tax rate of 35.0% is adjusted as follows to derive the
consolidated effective tax rate: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Statutory federal rate
|
|
|
35.0
|
%
|
|
|
35.0
|
%
|
State taxes, net
|
|
|
0.3
|
|
|
|
2.0
|
|
Tax exempts and credits
|
|
|
2.4
|
|
|
|
(3.3
|
)
|
Foreign tax differential
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
|
|
(1.0
|
)
|
Goodwill impairment
|
|
|
(29.9
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
(0.5
|
)
|
|
|
(1.8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective tax rate
|
|
|
7.8
|
%
|
|
|
30.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 6:
|
Pro Forma
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
|
The pro forma combined earnings (loss) and diluted earnings
(loss) per share for the respective periods presented are based
on the combined weighted average number of common and diluted
potential common shares of Wells Fargo and Wachovia. The number
of weighted average common shares, including all diluted
potential common shares, reflects the exchange of
0.1991 shares of Wells Fargo common stock for each share of
Wachovia stock. Amounts used in the determination of the pro
forma basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:
Pro forma
Wells Fargo before Stock Issuances
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For The
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
(In millions, except per share amounts)
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Pro forma net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(26,511
|
)
|
|
$
|
17,635
|
|
Less: Preferred stock dividends
|
|
|
427
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
|
|
$
|
(26,938
|
)
|
|
$
|
17,635
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
3,721.8
|
|
|
|
3,728.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share
|
|
$
|
(7.24
|
)
|
|
$
|
4.73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
3,721.8
|
|
|
|
3,728.2
|
|
-69-
WELLS FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Continued)
As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and
for the
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For The
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
(In millions, except per share amounts)
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Add: Stock options
|
|
|
14.2
|
|
|
|
38.4
|
|
Restricted share rights
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
3,737.5
|
|
|
|
3,767.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share (1)
|
|
$
|
(7.24
|
)
|
|
$
|
4.68
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For The
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
(In millions, except per share amounts)
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Pro forma net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(26,069
|
)
|
|
$
|
18,765
|
|
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion
|
|
|
1,685
|
|
|
|
1,651
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income available to common stockholders
|
|
$
|
(27,754
|
)
|
|
$
|
17,114
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
4,190.3
|
|
|
|
4,196.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share
|
|
$
|
(6.62
|
)
|
|
$
|
4.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
4,190.3
|
|
|
|
4,196.7
|
|
Add: Stock options
|
|
|
14.2
|
|
|
|
38.4
|
|
Common stock warrants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.2
|
|
Restricted share rights
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
4,206.0
|
|
|
|
4,238.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share (1)
|
|
$
|
(6.62
|
)
|
|
$
|
4.04
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, diluted
earnings (loss) per share was calculated using average common
shares outstanding. |
At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, options
and warrants to purchase 307.7 million and
20.3 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not
included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share
because the exercise price was higher than the market price
(antidilutive).
Effective October 28, 2008, at the request of the
Department of the Treasury, Wells Fargo issued
$25.0 billion of securities to the Department of the
Treasury, consisting of preferred stock of approximately
$22.7 billion and common stock warrants with an estimated
fair value of $2.3 billion, all of which are classified as
Tier I capital for regulatory purposes. Additionally, on
November 13, 2008, Wells Fargo issued 469 million
shares of common stock with net proceeds of approximately
$12.3 billion.
-70-
WELLS FARGO AND WACHOVIA
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Continued)
As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and
for the
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
Q |
|
Assumes that the aggregate proceeds of $37.3 billion from
the Department of the Treasury investment and the Wells Fargo
common stock offering are used to reduce short-term borrowings.
As a result, the pro forma condensed combined statements of
income reflect a reduction in interest expense (and a
corresponding increase in net interest income) based on average
short term borrowing rates of 2.51% and 4.81% for the nine
months ended September 30, 2008 and the year ended
December 31, 2007, and related tax expense at a 37.1%
marginal rate. The actual impact to net interest income would be
different as Wells Fargo expects to utilize a portion of the
proceeds to fund loan growth. However, such impact cannot be
estimated at this time as the impact would vary based on the
timing of when the loans are funded and the actual pricing of
any such loans. |
|
R |
|
Consists of dividends on preferred stock issued to the
Department of the Treasury at a 5% annual rate and accretion of
the discount on preferred stock upon issuance, which is based on
the value allocated to the warrants. The discount is accreted
back to par value using a constant effective yield of
approximately 7.2% over a five year term, which is the expected
life of the preferred stock. The estimated accretion is based on
a number of assumptions including the discount (market rate at
issuance) rate on the preferred stock, and assumptions
underlying the value of the warrants. The estimated proceeds are
allocated based on the relative fair value of the warrants as
compared with the fair value of the preferred stock. The fair
value of the warrants is determined using a valuation model
which incorporates assumptions including Wells Fargos
common stock price, dividend yield, stock price volatility and
the risk-free interest rate. The fair value of the preferred
stock is determined based on assumptions regarding the discount
rate (market rate) on the preferred stock (currently estimated
at 13%). Common stock reflects an adjustment of
$0.8 billion based on 469 million shares issued and a
par value of
$1 2/3 per
share. |
The Department of the Treasury, as part of the preferred stock
issuance, received warrants to purchase approximately
110.3 million shares of Wells Fargo common stock at an
initial exercise per share price of $34.01 (based on the
trailing 20 day Wells Fargo average stock price as of
October 10, 2008). The pro forma adjustment shows the
increase in diluted shares outstanding assuming that the
warrants had been issued on January 1, 2007 at an exercise
price of $34.01 and remained outstanding for the periods
presented. The treasury stock method was utilized to determine
dilution of the warrants for the periods presented. See
Note 6.
|
|
Note 8:
|
Preliminary
Purchase Accounting Allocation
|
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
reflects the issuance of approximately 430 million shares
of Wells Fargo common stock totaling approximately
$14.7 billion. Each outstanding share of each series of
Wachovia preferred stock will be converted into one share of a
corresponding series of Wells Fargo preferred stock having terms
substantially identical to that series of Wachovia preferred
stock. The Merger will be accounted for using the purchase
method of accounting; accordingly Wells Fargos cost to
acquire Wachovia will be allocated to the assets (including
identifiable intangible assets) and liabilities of Wachovia at
their respective estimated fair values as of the Merger date.
Accordingly, the pro forma purchase price was preliminarily
allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed
based on their estimated fair values as summarized in the
following table:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
(in billions, except per share amount)
|
|
|
Pro Forma purchase price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovia common stock and equivalents(1)
|
|
|
2.161
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange ratio
|
|
|
0.1991
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shares of Wells Fargo stock exchanged
|
|
|
0.430
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase price per share of Wells Fargo common stock(2)
|
|
$
|
34.13
|
|
|
|
|
|
-71-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
(in billions, except per share amount)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
14.7
|
|
Wachovia preferred stock converted to Wells Fargo preferred stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total pro forma purchase price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preliminary allocation of the pro forma purchase price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovia stockholders equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50.0
|
|
Wachovia goodwill and intangible assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20.2
|
)
|
Adjustments to reflect assets acquired and liabilities assumed
at fair value:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loans, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(40.2
|
)
|
Premises and equipment, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
Intangible assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.8
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4.4
|
)
|
Deposits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1.8
|
)
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (exit, termination and
other liabilities)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3.9
|
)
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
Deferred taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of net assets acquired
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preliminary pro forma goodwill resulting from the
Merger
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
14.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes 24 million shares of restricted stock. |
|
(2) |
|
The value of Wells Fargo common stock was determined by
averaging the closing price of Wells Fargo common stock for the
five trading days during the period October 1, 2008 through
October 7, 2008. |
|
|
Note 9:
|
Effect of
Hypothetical Adjustments on Wachovias Historical Financial
Statements
|
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of income
presents the pro forma results assuming the consummation
occurred at the earliest date presented, January 1, 2007.
As required by
Regulation S-X
Article 11, the pro forma financial statements for the nine
months ended September 30, 2008 do not reflect any
adjustments to eliminate Wachovias historical provision
for credit losses and goodwill impairment charges.
Had the acquisition been consummated on January 1, 2007,
the application of purchase accounting as required by
FAS 141, Business Combinations, would have resulted
in the acquired assets and liabilities being recorded at fair
value with any excess fair value recorded as goodwill as of that
date. Had the companies been combined as of the earliest date of
these pro forma financial statements, management believes that
Wachovias goodwill charges amounting to $24.8 billion
would not have been required as the assets and liabilities of
Wachovia would have been reflected at fair value due to the
application of purchase accounting.
Wachovias provision for credit losses for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008 reflects approximately
$10.4 billion that relates to loans subject to
SOP 03-3
and accordingly are adjusted for life of loan write-downs (see
Balance Sheet Adjustment C in Note 5). Management
believes that this provision would not have been recorded had
full purchase accounting under FAS 141 been applied in the
pro forma financial statements on January 1, 2007.
Accounting
Treatment
Wells Fargo will account for the merger under the purchase
method of accounting. Wells Fargo will record, at fair value,
the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of Wachovia. To the
extent the total purchase price exceeds the fair value of the
assets acquired and liabilities assumed, Wells Fargo will record
goodwill. Wells Fargo will include in its results of operations
the results of Wachovias operations after the merger.
-72-
Litigation
Related to the Merger
On October 4, 2008, Citigroup, Inc. (Citigroup) purported
to commence an action of the Supreme Court in the State of New
York, captioned Citigroup, Inc. v. Wachovia
Corp., et al., naming as defendants Wachovia, Wells Fargo,
and the directors of both companies (First State Action). The
complaint alleged that Wachovia breached an exclusivity
agreement with Citigroup, which by its terms was to expire on
October 6, 2008, by entering into negotiations and an
eventual acquisition agreement with Wells Fargo, and that Wells
Fargo and the individual defendants had tortiously interfered
with the same contract. The complaint sought an order enjoining
defendants from further negotiating or consummating the merger,
and specific enforcement of the exclusivity agreement, as well
as $40 billion in punitive damages. On October 4,
2008, defendants removed the First State Action to the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York. At
about the same time, however, Justice Ramos of the Supreme Court
issued an Order to Show Cause and Temporary Restraining Order
that did not grant the relief Citigroup sought but did extend
the period of the exclusivity agreement until further order of
the court, and set a hearing for the following Thursday.
Citigroup then purported to dismiss the First State Action which
had been removed to federal court by filing a notice of
voluntary dismissal in federal court, and purported to refile a
new, identically captioned complaint (Second State Action),
making similar allegations but omitting certain portions of an
earlier claim arising under a federal statute,
Section 126(c) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act,
just passed by Congress. Justice Ramos thereupon issued a second
Order to Show Cause and Temporary Restraining Order that was
substantively identical to his first order. On October 5,
2008, the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court
vacated Justice Ramos second Order to Show Cause and
Temporary Restraining Order, which had been issued the night
before. On October 9, 2008, Citigroup issued a press
release stating that Citigroup had ended its negotiations with
Wells Fargo. The press release further stated that Citigroup
would no longer seek to enjoin the merger, but would continue to
seek compensatory and punitive damages against Wachovia and
Wells Fargo in the Second State Action. Immediately after the
press release was sent to both the federal and state courts by
Citigroups counsel, defendants removed the Second State
Action to the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York. On October 10, 2008, Citigroup moved
to remand the removed action to State Court and purported to
file a proposed amended complaint, adding allegations that
Citigroup provided liquidity support and other services to
Wachovia during the period between September 29, 2008 and
October 2, 2008. The proposed amended complaint includes
claims for breach of contract, tortious interference with
contract, unjust enrichment, promissory estoppel, and quantum
meruit. In the proposed amended complaint, Citigroup seeks
$20 billion in compensatory damages, $20 billion in
restitutionary and unjust enrichment damages, and
$40 billion in punitive damages. On October 24, 2008,
Wells Fargo and Wachovia submitted a brief in opposition to the
motion to remand. The motion is still pending.
On October 4, 2008, Wachovia filed a complaint in the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New
York, captioned Wachovia Corp. v. Citigroup,
Inc. The complaint seeks a declaration that the merger
agreement is valid, proper, and not prohibited by the
exclusivity agreement. Thereafter Wachovia filed a motion for
preliminary injunction
and/or for
expedited trial on the merits together with supporting
affidavits and legal memoranda. The motion is fully briefed and
remains pending. On October 14, 2008, Wells Fargo filed a
related complaint in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York, captioned Wells Fargo v.
Citigroup, Inc. The complaint seeks a declaration that
the merger agreement is valid, proper, and not prohibited by the
exclusivity agreement. On October 16, 2008, Citigroup moved
to dismiss the complaint. On October 30, 2008, Wells Fargo
filed an amended complaint. Citigroup answered that amended
complaint on November 13, 2008.
On October 5, 2008, two Wachovia shareholders filed an
action against Citigroup in the Superior Court for the County of
Mecklenburg in the State of North Carolina, captioned Mary
Louise Guttmann v. Citigroup, Inc. The complaint
sought a judgment declaring the exclusivity agreement between
Citigroup and Wachovia to be unenforceable and an injunction
restraining Citigroup from attempting to enforce the agreement.
On October 10, 2008, following Citigroups
announcement that it would no longer seek to enjoin the merger,
the Guttman action was dismissed upon stipulation of all parties.
On October 8, 2008, a purported class action complaint
captioned Irving Ehrenhaus v. John D. Baker, et
al., was filed in the Superior Court for the County of
Mecklenburg in the State of North Carolina. The complaint names
as defendants Wachovia, Wells Fargo, and the directors of
Wachovia. The complaint alleges
-73-
that the Wachovia directors breached their fiduciary duties in
approving the merger at an allegedly inadequate price, and that
Wells Fargo aided and abetted the alleged breaches of fiduciary
duty. The action seeks to enjoin the merger, or to recover
compensatory or rescissory damages if the merger is consummated,
as well as an award of attorneys fees and costs. On
November 3, 2008, the North Carolina Business Court entered
an order denying plaintiffs request for expedited
discovery, but granting his request for expedited resolution of
his motion for preliminary injunction; the court set a briefing
schedule and a hearing date of November 24 to decide
whether these circumstances warrant granting plaintiffs
specific request that the court preliminarily enjoin enforcement
of the deal protection devices embedded in the merger agreement.
On October 27, 2008, a substantially similar purported
class action complaint, captioned Shirley Simon v. Wachovia
Corp., et al., was filed in the Supreme Court in the State
of New York.
-74-
THE
MERGER AGREEMENT
The following description of the material provisions of the
merger agreement is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the merger agreement, attached to this document as
Appendix A and is incorporated by reference into
this document. We urge you to read the merger agreement
carefully and in its entirety, as it is the legal document
governing this merger.
Terms of
the Merger
Each of the Wachovia board of directors and the Wells Fargo
board of directors has adopted the plan of merger contained in
the merger agreement, which provides for the merger of Wachovia
with and into Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo will be the surviving
corporation in the merger. Each share of Wachovia common stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the completion of
the merger, except for specified shares of Wachovia common stock
held by Wachovia and Wells Fargo, will be converted into 0.1991
of a share of Wells Fargo common stock. If the number of shares
of common stock of Wells Fargo changes before the merger is
completed because of a reorganization, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split, or other similar event, then an appropriate and
proportionate adjustment will be made to the number of shares of
Wells Fargo common stock into which each share of Wachovia
common stock will be converted.
Wells Fargo will not issue any fractional shares of Wells Fargo
common stock in the merger. Instead, a Wachovia shareholder who
otherwise would have received a fraction of a share of Wells
Fargo common stock will receive an amount in cash rounded to the
nearest cent. This cash amount will be determined by multiplying
the fraction of a share of Wells Fargo common stock to which the
holder would otherwise be entitled by the average closing price
of Wells Fargo common stock on the New York Stock Exchange over
the five trading days immediately prior to the date on which the
merger is completed.
At the effective time of the merger, Wells Fargos
certificate of incorporation and Wells Fargos bylaws in
effect immediately prior to the effective time will be the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws, respectively, of the
surviving corporation after completion of the merger until
thereafter amended in accordance with their respective terms and
applicable law. The merger agreement provides that Wells Fargo
may change the structure of the merger provided that no such
change will alter the amount or kind of merger consideration to
be provided under the merger agreement or materially impede or
delay completion of the merger.
Treatment
of Wachovia Stock Options and Other Equity-Based
Awards
Subject to applicable law, at the time of the merger, each
option to purchase Wachovia common stock that is then
outstanding and unexercised will be converted automatically into
an option to buy Wells Fargo common stock, and Wells Fargo will
assume each option to purchase Wachovia common stock subject to
its terms except:
|
|
|
|
|
the number of Wells Fargo shares purchasable upon exercise of
each Wachovia option will equal the number of Wachovia shares
subject to the Wachovia option multiplied by the exchange ratio,
rounded down to the nearest whole share; and
|
|
|
|
the per share exercise price of the converted Wells Fargo option
will equal the per share exercise price of the Wachovia option
divided by the exchange ratio, rounded up to the nearest cent.
|
At the time of the merger, other stock-based awards of Wachovia
will be converted into a similar award of Wells Fargo with
respect to Wells Fargo common stock generally on the same terms
that applied to the Wachovia award except the number of shares
of Wells Fargo common stock subject to the new Wells Fargo award
will equal the number of shares of Wachovia common stock subject
to the award multiplied by the exchange ratio, rounded down to
the nearest whole share.
-75-
Treatment
of Wachovia Preferred Stock in the Merger
Upon completion of the merger, (i) each Wachovia DEP Share
issued and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the
merger will be automatically converted into one one-thousandth
of a Wells Fargo DEP Share, (ii) each share of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series G, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one one-hundredth of a share of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G, (iii) each share
of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series H, issued and
outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger will
be automatically converted into one one-hundredth of a share of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H, (iv) each share
of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series I, issued and
outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger will
be automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series I, (v) each share of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series J, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J, (vi) each share of Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series K, issued and outstanding immediately prior to
completion of the merger will be automatically converted into
one share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K,
(vii) each share Wachovia Preferred Stock Series L,
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the completion of
the merger will be automatically converted into one share of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L and (viii) each share
of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series M issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series M. As of the date of this proxy
statement-prospectus, no shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series G, Wachovia Preferred Stock Series H or
Wachovia Preferred Stock Series I are issued.
The terms of each share of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series I, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J, Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series K, Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L and Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series M will
be substantially identical to the terms of one share of the
corresponding series of Wachovia Class A Preferred Stock.
The terms of each one one-thousandth of a Wells Fargo DEP Share
will be substantially identical to the terms of one Wachovia DEP
Share. The terms of each one one-hundredth of a share of Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G and one one-hundredth of a
share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H will be
substantially identical to the terms of one share of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series G and Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series H, respectively. Any shares of Wachovia preferred
stock as to which preferred shareholders have perfected their
dissenters rights pursuant to North Carolina law will not
be exchanged for New Wells Fargo Preferred Stock.
Each outstanding share of the Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J is presently represented by depositary shares that
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and represent a
one-fortieth interest in a share of Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J. Upon completion of the merger, Wells Fargo will
assume the obligations of Wachovia under the Deposit Agreement,
dated as of December 21, 2007, between Wachovia,
U.S. Bank, National Association as depositary, and the
holders from time to time of depositary shares. Wells Fargo will
instruct U.S. Bank, as depositary under the deposit
agreement, referred to as the Series J Deposit Agreement,
to treat the shares of New Wells Fargo Preferred Stock received
by it in exchange for shares of Wachovia Preferred Stock
Series J as newly deposited securities under the
Series J Deposit Agreement. In accordance with the terms of
the Series J Deposit Agreement, the Wachovia depositary
shares will thereafter represent shares of Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J. Such depositary shares will continue to be
listed on the New York Stock Exchange upon completion of the
merger under a new name and traded under a new symbol.
Holders of Wachovia preferred stock (except for the
Series M Preferred Stock issued to Wells Fargo (which
represents 39.9% of the total voting power of holders of
Wachovia capital stock entitled to vote)) and Wachovia
depositary shares are not entitled to vote on the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement or at the special meeting or
the proposal to approve the adjustment or postponement of the
special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit
additional proxies to approve the plan of merger contained in
the merger agreement.
-76-
Closing
and Effective Time of the Merger
The merger will be completed only if all of the following occur:
|
|
|
|
|
the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement is approved
by the requisite vote of Wachovia capital shareholders;
|
|
|
|
Wachovia and Wells Fargo obtain required regulatory approvals
from the Federal Reserve, under the HSR Act and any other
required regulatory approvals the failure of which to obtain
would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on either Wachovia or Wells Fargo; and
|
|
|
|
all other conditions to the merger discussed in this document
and the merger agreement are either satisfied or waived.
|
The merger will become effective when a certificate of merger is
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
However, we may agree to a different time for completion of the
merger and specify that time in the certificate of merger in
accordance with Delaware law. In the merger agreement, we have
agreed to cause the completion of the merger to occur no later
than the third business day following the satisfaction or waiver
(subject to applicable law) of the last to occur of the
conditions specified in the merger agreement, or on another
mutually agreed date.
Conversion
of Shares; Exchange of Certificates
The conversion of Wachovia common stock into the merger
consideration will occur automatically at the effective time of
the merger. As soon as reasonably practicable after completion
of the merger, the exchange agent will exchange certificates or
direct registration statements representing or evidencing shares
of Wachovia common stock for the merger consideration to be
received pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement. Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A. will be the exchange agent.
Letter of Transmittal. As soon as reasonably
practicable after the completion of the merger, the exchange
agent will mail a letter of transmittal to each record holder of
Wachovia common stock at the effective time of the merger. This
mailing will contain instructions on how to surrender Wachovia
common stock certificates in exchange for direct registration
statements indicating book-entry ownership of Wells Fargo common
stock and a check in the amount of cash to be paid instead of
fractional shares. If a holder of a Wachovia common stock
certificate makes a special request, however, the exchange agent
will issue to the requesting holder a Wells Fargo stock
certificate in lieu of book-entry shares. When you deliver your
Wachovia stock certificates to the exchange agent along with a
properly executed letter of transmittal and any other required
documents, your Wachovia stock certificates will be cancelled
and you will receive direct registration statements indicating
book-entry ownership of Wells Fargo common stock, or, if
requested, stock certificates representing the number of full
shares of Wells Fargo common stock to which you are entitled
under the merger agreement. You also will receive a cash payment
for any fractional shares of Wells Fargo common stock that would
have been otherwise issuable to you as a result of the merger.
Holders of Wachovia common stock should not submit their
Wachovia stock certificates for exchange until they receive the
transmittal instructions and a form of letter of transmittal
from the exchange agent.
If a certificate for Wachovia common stock has been lost, stolen
or destroyed, the exchange agent will issue the consideration
properly payable under the merger agreement upon receipt of
appropriate evidence as to that loss, theft or destruction and
if reasonably required by Wells Fargo, the posting of a bond
indemnifying Wells Fargo for any claim that may be made against
Wells Fargo as a result of the lost, stolen or destroyed
certificates. After completion of the merger, there will be no
further transfers on the stock transfer books of Wachovia,
except as required to settle trades executed prior to the
completion of the merger.
Withholding. The exchange agent will be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the cash in lieu of
fractional shares payable to any Wachovia shareholder the
amounts the exchange agent is required to deduct and withhold
under any applicable federal, state, local or foreign tax law.
If the exchange agent withholds any amounts, these amounts will
be treated for all purposes of the merger as having been paid to
the shareholders from whom they were withheld.
-77-
Dividends and Distributions. Until Wachovia
common stock certificates are surrendered for exchange, any
dividends or other distributions having a record date after the
effective time of the merger with respect to the whole shares of
Wells Fargo common stock into which shares of Wachovia common
stock may have been converted will accrue but will not be paid.
Wells Fargo will pay to former Wachovia shareholders any unpaid
dividends or other distributions, without interest, only after
they have duly surrendered their Wachovia stock certificates.
For example, if the merger is completed before a December record
date for a dividend declared on Wells Fargo common stock,
Wachovias shareholders would be entitled to receive this
dividend on shares of Wells Fargo common stock they receive in
respect of their shares of Wachovia common stock and hold on the
dividend record date, but would only receive this amount after
they have surrendered their Wachovia stock certificates in
accordance with the exchange instructions they will receive.
Prior to the effective time of the merger, Wachovia and its
subsidiaries may not, except with Wells Fargos prior
written consent, declare or pay any dividend or distribution on
its capital stock or repurchase any shares of its capital stock,
other than:
|
|
|
|
|
dividends paid by any wholly owned subsidiaries of Wachovia to
Wachovia or to any of Wachovias wholly owned subsidiaries;
|
|
|
|
regular quarterly dividends on Wachovias common stock at a
rate no greater than the rate paid by Wachovia during the
quarter ended September 30, 2008;
|
|
|
|
required dividends on Wachovias or its subsidiaries
preferred stock;
|
|
|
|
required dividends on the common stock of any subsidiary that is
a real estate investment trust; or
|
|
|
|
the distribution of rights under the Wachovia shareholder rights
plan in connection with transactions other than the merger.
|
Representations
and Warranties
Generally. The merger agreement contains
representations and warranties of Wachovia and Wells Fargo
relating to their respective businesses. The representations and
warranties in the merger agreement do not survive the effective
time of the merger.
The obligations of each party to complete the merger requires
that each of the other partys representations as to
corporate authority and power, absence of violations of
organizational documents and brokers fees (and Wells
Fargos representations about its capitalization) must be
true and correct in all material respects and, in the case of
Wells Fargos obligations, the completion of the merger
also requires that Wachovias representations as to the
nonoccurrence of a bankruptcy or insolvency event must be true
and correct in all respects and that specific representations
regarding Wachovias capitalization be true and correct
except to a de minimis extent.
Material Adverse Effects. Certain of
Wachovias representations and warranties are qualified to
the extent inaccuracies would not result in a material adverse
effect on Wachovia. However, the truth and accuracy of these
representations are not conditions to Wells Fargos
obligation to complete the merger. In addition, Wachovia has not
represented or warranted that no material adverse effect will
have occurred prior to the closing of the merger, and the
nonoccurrence of a material adverse effect with respect to
Wachovia is not a condition to Wells Fargos obligation to
complete the merger. It is a condition to Wells Fargos
obligation to complete the merger that Wachovias
representation as to the nonoccurrence of a bankruptcy or
insolvency event of Wachovia or any if its significant
subsidiaries be true and correct in all respects.
Scope. Each of Wells Fargo and Wachovia has
made representations and warranties to the other regarding,
among other things:
|
|
|
|
|
corporate matters, including due organization and qualification;
|
|
|
|
capitalization;
|
-78-
|
|
|
|
|
authority relative to execution and delivery of the merger
agreement and the absence of conflicts with, violations of, or
breach under organizational documents, applicable law or other
obligations as a result of the merger or entry into the merger
agreement;
|
|
|
|
required governmental and other regulatory filings and consents;
|
|
|
|
the timely filing of reports with governmental entities;
|
|
|
|
financial statements, internal controls and accountants;
|
|
|
|
brokers fees payable in connection with the merger;
|
|
|
|
compliance with applicable laws;
|
|
|
|
knowledge of ability to obtain timely regulatory
approvals; and
|
|
|
|
the accuracy of information supplied for inclusion in this
document and other similar documents.
|
In addition, Wachovia has made other representations and
warranties about itself to Wells Fargo as to:
|
|
|
|
|
the nonoccurrence of any bankruptcy or insolvency event of
Wachovia or any of its significant subsidiaries;
|
|
|
|
the inapplicability of state takeover laws; and
|
|
|
|
the receipt of opinions from its financial advisors.
|
The representations and warranties described above and included
in the merger agreement were made by each of Wells Fargo and
Wachovia to the other. These representations and warranties were
made as of specific dates, may be subject to important
qualifications and limitations agreed to by Wells Fargo and
Wachovia in connection with negotiating the terms of the merger
agreement, and may have been included in the merger agreement
for the purpose of allocating risk between Wells Fargo and
Wachovia rather than to establish matters as facts. The merger
agreement is described in, and included as an appendix to, this
document only to provide you with information regarding its
terms and conditions, and not to provide any other factual
information regarding Wachovia, Wells Fargo or their respective
businesses. Accordingly, the representations and warranties and
other provisions of the merger agreement should not be read
alone, but instead should be read only in conjunction with the
information provided elsewhere in this document and in the
documents incorporated by reference into this document. See
Where You Can Find More Information on page 126.
Covenants
and Agreements
Each of Wachovia and Wells Fargo has undertaken covenants that
place restrictions on it and its subsidiaries until the
effective time of the merger. In general, each of Wells Fargo
and Wachovia agreed to (1) conduct its business in the
ordinary course in all material respects, (2) use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact
its business organization and advantageous business
relationships and (3) take no action that is intended to or
would reasonably be expected to adversely affect or materially
delay the ability of Wachovia or Wells Fargo to obtain any
necessary regulatory approvals, perform its covenants or
complete the merger. Wachovia also agrees that, with certain
exceptions and except with Wells Fargos prior written
consent, Wachovia will not, and will not permit any of its
subsidiaries to, among other things, undertake the following
extraordinary actions:
|
|
|
|
|
with limited exceptions, including as provided under the share
exchange agreement, either (1) issue or sell or otherwise
permit to become outstanding, or dispose of or encumber or
pledge, or authorize or propose the creation of, any additional
shares of its stock or (2) permit any additional shares of
its stock to become subject to new grants;
|
|
|
|
make, declare, pay or set aside for payment any dividend on or
in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on any shares
of its stock (other than dividends from its wholly owned
subsidiaries to it or another of its wholly owned subsidiaries,
its regular quarterly dividend at the rate based on the
preceding quarter, required preferred stock dividends, required
dividends for real estate investment trust
|
-79-
|
|
|
|
|
subsidiaries or the distribution of rights under Wachovias
shareholder rights plan in connection with transactions other
than the merger);
|
|
|
|
|
|
adjust, split, combine, redeem, reclassify, purchase or
otherwise acquire any shares of its stock (other than
repurchases of common shares in the ordinary course of business
to satisfy obligations under dividend reinvestment or employee
benefit plans);
|
|
|
|
sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of or
discontinue any of its assets, deposits, business or properties,
except in the ordinary course of business and as would not be,
together with other such transactions, material to Wachovia and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole;
|
|
|
|
with limited exceptions, acquire all or any portion of the
assets, business, deposits or properties of any other entity
except in the ordinary course of business and as would not be,
together with other such transactions, material to Wachovia and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole and does not present a
material risk that the completion of the merger will be
materially delayed or that the required regulatory approvals
will be more difficult to obtain;
|
|
|
|
amend its restated articles of incorporation or bylaws or
similar governing documents of any significant subsidiaries;
|
|
|
|
implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles,
practices or methods, other than as may be required by generally
accepted accounting principles or applicable regulatory
accounting requirements;
|
|
|
|
except as required under applicable law or the terms of any
Wachovia benefit plan, (1) increase the compensation or
benefits of any current or former directors, officers,
employees, consultants, independent contractors or other service
providers, except for any increases in base salary of
non-director
and non-officer employees in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; (2) pay any current or
former directors, officers, employees, consultants, independent
contractors or other service providers any amounts not required
by existing plans or agreements or increase any amounts payable
to such persons; (3) become a party to, establish, amend,
commence participation in, terminate or commit itself to the
adoption of any stock option plan or other stock-based
compensation plan, compensation, severance, pension, retirement,
profit-sharing, welfare benefit, or other employee benefit plan
or agreement or employment agreement with or for the benefit of
any current or former directors, officers, employees,
consultants, independent contractors or other service providers
(or newly hired employees); (4) accelerate the vesting or
lapsing of restrictions with respect to any stock-based
compensation or other long-term incentive compensation under any
of Wachovias employee benefit plans; (5) cause the
funding of any rabbi trust or similar arrangement or take any
action to fund or secure the payment of compensation or benefits
under any Wachovia benefit plan; or (6) materially change
any actuarial or other assumptions used to calculate funding
obligations with respect to any Wachovia benefit plan or change
the manner in which contributions to such plans are made or the
basis on which such contributions are determined, except as may
be required by applicable law or generally accepted accounting
principles;
|
|
|
|
take, or omit to take, any action that is reasonably likely to
result in any of the conditions to the completion of the merger
not being satisfied, except as may be required by applicable
law, regulation or policies imposed by any governmental entity;
|
|
|
|
incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money other
than in the ordinary course of business; or
|
|
|
|
agree to take or adopt any resolutions by the board of directors
in support of any of the actions prohibited by the foregoing.
|
-80-
Wells Fargo agrees that, except with Wachovias prior
written consent, Wells Fargo will not, among other things,
undertake the following extraordinary actions:
|
|
|
|
|
amend any governing documents of Wells Fargo or its significant
subsidiaries in a manner that would adversely affect Wachovia or
its shareholders or the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement;
|
|
|
|
without limiting Wells Fargos ability to exercise its
rights under the share exchange agreement and with respect to
the Series M Preferred Stock, take, or omit to take, any
action that is reasonably likely to result in any of the
conditions to the merger failing to be satisfied, except as may
be required by applicable law, regulation or policies imposed by
any governmental entity; or
|
|
|
|
agree to take or adopt any resolutions by the board of directors
in support of any of the actions prohibited by the foregoing.
|
The merger agreement also contains covenants relating to the
preparation of this document and the holding of the special
meeting of Wachovia shareholders, access to information of the
other company, authorization of listing of shares of Wells Fargo
common stock on the New York Stock Exchange and public
announcements with respect to the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement.
Reasonable
Best Efforts of Wachovia to Obtain the Required Shareholder
Vote
Wachovia has agreed to take all action necessary to convene a
meeting of Wachovia shareholders as promptly as possible to
consider and vote upon approval of the plan of merger contained
in the merger agreement. The record date of the meeting will be
determined with the prior approval of Wells Fargo and will be at
least three business days after the closing of the transactions
contemplated by the share exchange agreement (as described
below). Wachovias board of directors will use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain from Wachovia shareholders the
requisite shareholder approval and adoption of the merger
agreement, including by recommending that Wachovia shareholders
approve the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement.
However, if the Wachovia board of directors, after consultation
with and based on the advice of counsel, determines in good
faith that, because of a conflict of interest or other special
circumstances, including the receipt of a Superior Proposal as
described below, it would violate its fiduciary duties under
applicable law by continuing to recommend the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement, then it may submit the plan
of merger contained in the merger agreement to Wachovia
shareholders without recommendation, in which event
Wachovias board of directors may communicate the basis for
its lack of a recommendation to the shareholders in the proxy
statement to the extent required by law. However, the Wachovia
board of directors may only withdraw their recommendation after
giving Wells Fargo at least five business days to respond to any
competing business combination proposal or other circumstances
and then taking into account any amendment or modification to
the merger agreement proposed by Wells Fargo.
Agreement
Not to Solicit Other Offers
Wachovia also has agreed that it will not, and will cause its
subsidiaries and their officers, directors, agents, advisors and
affiliates not to:
|
|
|
|
|
initiate, solicit, encourage or knowingly facilitate inquiries
or proposals for any Acquisition Proposal (as defined below);
|
|
|
|
engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any
confidential or nonpublic information or data to, or have any
discussions with, any person relating to, any Acquisition
Proposal; or
|
|
|
|
waive any provision of or amend the terms of the Wachovia
shareholder rights plan, in respect of an Acquisition Proposal.
|
However, Wachovia, its subsidiaries and their officers,
directors, agents, advisors and affiliates may furnish nonpublic
information and participate in negotiations or discussions with
respect to an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal that the Wachovia
board of directors concludes in good faith is reasonably likely
to constitute or result in a Superior Proposal (as defined
below) if (1) Wachovia has first entered into a
-81-
confidentiality agreement with the party proposing the
Acquisition Proposal on terms no less favorable to Wachovia than
Wachovias confidentiality agreement with Wells Fargo,
(2) Wachovia provides to Wells Fargo any nonpublic
information disclosed with respect to the Acquisition Proposal
and not previously provided to Wells Fargo and (3) the
Wachovia board of directors concludes in good faith (and based
on the advice of counsel) that failure to take such actions
would more likely than not result in a violation of its
fiduciary duties under applicable law.
Wachovia has agreed:
|
|
|
|
|
to immediately cease or cause to be terminated any existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with respect to any
Acquisition Proposal, and to use reasonable best efforts to
enforce any confidentiality or similar agreement relating to an
Acquisition Proposal;
|
|
|
|
to notify Wells Fargo promptly (within two business days) after
it receives any Alternative Proposal and to provide Wells Fargo
with relevant information regarding the Acquisition
Proposal; and
|
|
|
|
to keep Wells Fargo apprised, on a current basis, of any related
developments, discussions and negotiations with respect to such
an Acquisition Proposal.
|
As used in the merger agreement, Acquisition Proposal means a
tender or exchange offer, proposal for a merger, consolidation
or other business combination involving Wachovia or any of its
significant subsidiaries or any proposal or offer to acquire in
any manner more than 15% of the voting power in, or more than
15% of the fair market value of the business, assets or deposits
of, Wachovia or any of its significant subsidiaries, other than
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
As used in the merger agreement, Superior Proposal means a
written tender or exchange offer, proposal for a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving Wachovia
or any of its significant subsidiaries or any proposal or offer
to acquire in any manner 100% of the voting power in, or 100% of
the fair market value of the business, assets or deposits of,
Wachovia or any of its significant subsidiaries, other than the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement if the
Wachovia board of directors concludes in good faith that it is
more favorable from a financial point of view to Wachovia
shareholders than the merger, (1) after receiving the
advice of its financial advisors, (2) after taking into
account the likelihood of consummation of such transaction on
its terms and (3) after taking into account all legal (with
the advice of outside counsel), financial (including the
financing terms of any such proposal), regulatory and other
aspects of such proposal and any other relevant factors
permitted under applicable law.
Employee
Matters
Following completion of the merger, Wells Fargo has agreed to
maintain employee benefit plans and compensation opportunities
for employees of Wachovia and its subsidiaries (who are employed
on the closing date of the merger) that are substantially
comparable, in the aggregate, to those made available to
similarly situated employees of Wells Fargo and its
subsidiaries. This obligation will also be satisfied if Wells
Fargo provides continued coverage to these employees under
Wachovias and its subsidiaries existing plans and
compensation programs. In addition, Wells Fargo has agreed, to
the extent any Wachovia employee becomes eligible to participate
in Wells Fargo benefit plans following the merger:
|
|
|
|
|
to recognize each employees service with Wachovia prior to
the completion of the merger for purposes of eligibility,
participation, vesting and benefit accruals, in each case under
the Wells Fargo plans to the same extent such service was
recognized under comparable Wachovia plans prior to completion
of the merger; except that such service will not be recognized
(1) if it results in duplicate benefits for the same period
of service and (2) for purposes of any plan under which
similarly situated Wells Fargo employees do not receive credit
for prior services.
|
|
|
|
to use reasonable best efforts to waive any exclusion for
pre-existing conditions or eligibility waiting periods under any
Wells Fargo health, dental, vision or other welfare plans, to
the extent such limitation would have been waived or satisfied
under a corresponding Wachovia plan in which such employee
participated immediately prior to completion of the merger, and
to recognize any health, dental or
|
-82-
|
|
|
|
|
vision expenses incurred in the year in which the merger closes
(or, if later, the year in which such employee is first eligible
to participate) for purposes of applicable deductible and annual
out-of-pocket expense requirements under any health, dental or
vision plan of Wells Fargo.
|
Wells Fargo has agreed to honor each employment agreement and
change in control agreement to which Wachovia is a party and
Wachovias obligations under each deferred compensation
plan or arrangement to which it is a party in accordance with
its terms (as may be amended or terminated with the prior
written consent of Wells Fargo). Wells Fargo has the right to
amend or terminate Wachovia benefit plans to the extent
permitted under the terms of such plans, and has no obligation
to continue the employment of any Wachovia employee for any
period following the merger.
Indemnification
and Insurance
The merger agreement provides that after the merger is
completed, Wells Fargo will, to the fullest extent permitted
under applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless, and provide
advancement of expenses to (to the fullest extent permitted
under applicable law provided the person provides an
understanding to repay the expenses if the person is ultimately
not entitled to indemnification), each present and former
director, officer and employee of Wachovia and its subsidiaries
from liabilities arising out of or pertaining to matters
existing or occurring at or before the completion of the merger,
including the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement
and the share exchange agreement.
The merger agreement requires Wells Fargo to provide, for six
years after the merger is completed, directors and
officers liability insurance for the benefit of present
and former officers and directors of Wachovia or any of its
subsidiaries with respect to claims against such directors and
officers arising from facts or events occurring before
completion of the merger, including the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement and the share exchange
agreement, which insurance will contain at least the same
coverage and amounts, and contain terms and conditions no less
advantageous to such directors and officers as that coverage
currently provided by Wachovia.
Conditions
to the Merger
Wells Fargos and Wachovias respective obligations to
complete the merger are subject to the fulfillment or waiver of
the following conditions:
|
|
|
|
|
approval of the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement
by Wachovias shareholders;
|
|
|
|
approval of the listing on the New York Stock Exchange of Wells
Fargo capital stock to be issued in exchange for capital stock
of Wachovia that is currently listed on the New York Stock
Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance;
|
|
|
|
effectiveness of the registration statement of which this
document is a part with respect to the Wells Fargo capital stock
to be issued in the merger under the Securities Act, and the
absence of any stop order suspending such effectiveness or
proceedings initiated or threatened by the SEC for that purpose;
|
|
|
|
absence of any order, injunction or decree by any court or
agency of competent jurisdiction or other law that prohibits or
makes illegal completion of the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
performance of the other party in all material respects of all
obligations required to be performed by it under the merger
agreement at or prior to the effective time of the merger;
|
|
|
|
all regulatory approvals from the Federal Reserve, under the HSR
Act and any other required regulatory approvals, the failure of
which to obtain would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on Wells Fargo or Wachovia, in each case required
to complete the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement, including the merger, shall have been obtained and
shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting
periods in respect thereof shall have expired;
|
-83-
|
|
|
|
|
receipt by Wells Fargo of an opinion from Wachtell, Lipton,
Rosen & Katz, dated the closing date of the merger,
substantially to the effect that the merger will qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
|
|
|
|
receipt by Wachovia of an opinion from Sullivan &
Cromwell LLP, dated the closing date of the merger,
substantially to the effect that the merger will qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
|
The obligations of each party to complete the merger require
that each of the other partys representations as to
corporate authority and power, absence of violations of
organizational documents and brokers fees (and Wells
Fargos representations about its capitalization) must be
true and correct in all material respects and, in the case of
Wells Fargos obligations, the completion of the merger
also requires that Wachovias representations as to the
nonoccurrence of a bankruptcy or insolvency event must be true
and correct in all respects and that specific representations
regarding Wachovias capitalization be true and correct
except to a de minimis extent.
We cannot provide assurance as to when or if all of the
conditions to the merger can or will be satisfied or waived by
the appropriate party. As of the date of this document, we have
no reason to believe that any of these conditions will not be
satisfied.
Termination
of the Merger Agreement
The merger agreement can be terminated at any time prior to
completion of the merger by mutual consent if authorized by each
of our boards of directors, or by either party in the following
circumstances:
|
|
|
|
|
if any of the required regulatory approvals are denied or
completion of the merger has been prohibited or made illegal by
a court or other governmental entity (and the denial or
prohibition is final and nonappealable);
|
|
|
|
if the merger has not been completed by October 3, 2009,
unless the failure to complete the merger by that date is due to
the terminating partys failure to abide by the merger
agreement;
|
|
|
|
if there is a breach by the other party that would cause the
failure of conditions to the terminating partys obligation
to close described above, unless the breach is capable of being,
and is, cured within 60 days of notice of the
breach; or
|
|
|
|
if approval of the plan of merger contained in merger agreement
by Wachovias shareholders has not been obtained at a
meeting of Wachovias shareholders held for such purpose.
|
In addition, Wells Fargo may terminate the merger agreement:
|
|
|
|
|
if Wachovias board of directors (1) submits the plan
of merger to its shareholders without a recommendation for
approval of the plan of merger contained in the merger
agreement, or otherwise withdraws or materially and adversely
modifies (or discloses its intention to withdraw or materially
and adversely modify) its recommendation, or (2) recommends
to its shareholders an Acquisition Proposal other than the
merger with Wells Fargo as contemplated by the merger
agreement; or
|
|
|
|
if an order, injunction or decree issued by a governmental or
self-regulatory entity that permanently enjoins or prohibits or
makes illegal the issuance of shares of the Series M
Preferred Stock to Wells Fargo or prevents Wells Fargo from
voting such shares in favor of approving the plan of merger
contained in the merger agreement at the special meeting becomes
final and nonappealable.
|
Effect of
Termination
If the merger agreement is terminated, it will become void, and
there will be no liability on the part of Wells Fargo or
Wachovia, except that (1) both Wells Fargo and Wachovia
will remain liable for any knowing breach of the merger
agreement and (2) designated provisions of the merger
agreement will survive the termination, including those relating
to payment of fees and expenses, the confidential treatment of
information and publicity restrictions.
-84-
Expenses
and Fees
In general, each of Wells Fargo and Wachovia will be responsible
for all expenses incurred by it in connection with the
negotiation and completion of the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement. However, the costs and expenses of
printing and mailing this document, and all filing and other
fees paid to the SEC in connection with the merger, will be
borne equally by Wachovia and Wells Fargo and the costs of any
filing under the HSR Act will be borne by Wells Fargo.
Amendment,
Waiver and Extension of the Merger Agreement
Subject to applicable law, the parties may amend the merger
agreement by action taken or authorized by their respective
boards of directors or by written agreement. However, after any
approval of the proposal to approve the plan of merger contained
in the merger agreement by Wachovias shareholders, there
may not be, without further approval of those shareholders, any
amendment of the merger agreement that requires further approval
of such shareholders under applicable law.
At any time prior to completion of the merger, each of Wells
Fargo and Wachovia, by action taken or authorized by their
respective board of directors, to the extent legally allowed,
may:
|
|
|
|
|
extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other party;
|
|
|
|
waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of
the other party; or
|
|
|
|
waive compliance by the other party with any of the other
agreements or conditions contained in the merger agreement.
|
Share
Exchange Agreement
On October 3, 2008, Wells Fargo and Wachovia, in connection
with entering into the merger agreement, entered into a share
exchange agreement, under which Wells Fargo agreed to purchase
10 newly issued shares of Wachovia Series M Preferred
Stock, which vote together with Wachovia common stock as a
single class and have voting rights equivalent to 39.9% of the
total voting power of holders of Wachovia capital stock entitled
to vote at the special meeting, in exchange for the issuance of
1,000 shares of Wells Fargo common stock to Wachovia.
Wells Fargo and Wachovia completed the transactions contemplated
by the share exchange agreement on October 20, 2008.
-85-
PRICE
RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS
Wells
Fargo
Wells Fargo common stock is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol WFC. The following table
shows the high and low reported
intra-day
sales prices per share of Wells Fargo common stock as reported
by the New York Stock Exchange and the cash dividends declared
per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales Price Per Share
|
|
|
Cash Dividends
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
65.51
|
|
|
$
|
60.26
|
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
69.71
|
|
|
|
63.80
|
|
|
|
0.54
|
(1)
|
Third Quarter(2)
|
|
|
73.78
|
|
|
|
34.75
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
|
36.99
|
|
|
|
34.90
|
|
|
|
0.28
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
36.64
|
|
|
$
|
33.01
|
|
|
$
|
0.28
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
36.49
|
|
|
|
33.93
|
|
|
|
0.28
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
37.99
|
|
|
|
32.66
|
|
|
|
0.31
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
|
37.78
|
|
|
|
29.29
|
|
|
|
0.31
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
34.56
|
|
|
$
|
24.38
|
|
|
$
|
0.31
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
32.40
|
|
|
|
23.46
|
|
|
|
0.31
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
44.75
|
|
|
|
20.46
|
|
|
|
0.34
|
|
Fourth Quarter (through November 21, 2008)
|
|
|
38.95
|
|
|
|
19.89
|
|
|
|
0.34
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
On April 25, 2006, Wells Fargo declared a cash dividend of
$0.26 per share with a record date of May 5, 2006 and on
June 27, 2006, Wells Fargo declared a cash dividend of
$0.28 per share with a record date of August 4, 2006. |
|
(2) |
|
Wells Fargo effected a two-for-one stock split in the form of a
100% stock dividend distributed on August 11, 2006. |
-86-
Wachovia
Wachovia common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol WB. The following table shows the
high and low reported
intra-day
sales prices per share of Wachovia common stock as reported by
the New York Stock Exchange and the cash dividends declared per
share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales Price Per Share
|
|
|
Cash Dividends
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
57.86
|
|
|
$
|
50.85
|
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
60.04
|
|
|
|
51.27
|
|
|
|
0.51
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
56.85
|
|
|
|
52.20
|
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
|
57.67
|
|
|
|
53.09
|
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
58.80
|
|
|
$
|
53.39
|
|
|
$
|
0.56
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
56.90
|
|
|
|
50.84
|
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
53.10
|
|
|
|
44.83
|
|
|
|
0.64
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
|
45.02
|
|
|
|
36.69
|
|
|
|
0.64
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
40.22
|
|
|
$
|
23.77
|
|
|
$
|
0.64
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
31.20
|
|
|
|
14.70
|
|
|
|
0.375
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
19.71
|
|
|
|
0.75
|
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
Fourth Quarter (through November 21, 2008)
|
|
|
7.05
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
Past price performance is not necessarily indicative of likely
future performance. Because market prices of Wells Fargo and
Wachovia common stock will fluctuate, you are urged to obtain
current market prices for shares of Wells Fargo and Wachovia
common stock.
-87-
THE
COMPANIES
Wells
Fargo
Wells Fargo is a diversified financial services company
organized under the laws of the state of Delaware and registered
as a financial holding company and a bank holding company under
the Bank Holding Company Act. Its businesses provide banking,
insurance, investments, mortgages and consumer finance through
stores, the Internet and other distribution channels across
North America and elsewhere internationally. At
September 30, 2008, Wells Fargo had assets of
$622.4 billion, loans of $411.0 billion, deposits of
$353.6 billion and stockholders equity of
$47.0 billion. Based on assets, Wells Fargo was the seventh
largest bank holding company in the United States. Wells Fargo
common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol WFC.
Wells Fargo is a separate and distinct legal entity from its
banking and other subsidiaries. Its principal source of funds to
pay dividends on its capital stock and interest and principal on
its debt is dividends from its subsidiaries. Various federal and
state laws and regulations limit the amount of dividends Wells
Fargo subsidiaries can pay to Wells Fargo without regulatory
approval.
Wells Fargo expands its business in part by acquiring banking
institutions and other companies that engage in activities that
are financial in nature. Wells Fargo continues to explore
opportunities to acquire banking and non-banking organizations
as permitted for a financial holding company under the Bank
Holding Company Act. It is not presently known whether, or on
what terms, such discussions will result in future acquisitions.
Wells Fargo policy is not to comment on such discussions or a
possible acquisition until a definitive agreement with respect
thereto has been signed.
Financial and other information about Wells Fargo is set forth
in Wells Fargos Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007. Information regarding
the names, ages, positions and business backgrounds of the
executive officers and directors of Wells Fargo, as well as
additional information, including executive compensation,
security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management,
and certain relationships and related transactions, is set forth
in or incorporated by reference into Wells Fargos Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, and Wells
Fargos Proxy Statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. See Where You Can Find More
Information on page 126.
Information on the Internet website of Wells Fargo or any
subsidiary of Wells Fargo is not part of this document, and you
should not rely on that information in deciding how to vote on
the proposal to approve the merger agreement.
Wells Fargos executive offices are located at 420
Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94163, and its
telephone number is 1-866-878-5865.
Wachovia
Wachovia was incorporated under the laws of North Carolina in
1967 and is registered as a financial holding company and a bank
holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.
Wachovia provides a wide range of commercial and retail banking
and trust services through full-service banking offices in
Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi,
Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and
Washington, D.C. Wachovias primary banking affiliate,
Wachovia Bank, National Association, operates a substantial
majority of these banking offices, except those in Delaware,
which are operated by Wachovia Bank of Delaware, National
Association. Wachovia also provides various other financial
services, including mortgage banking, investment banking,
investment advisory, home equity lending, asset-based lending,
leasing, insurance, international and securities brokerage
services, through other subsidiaries. Wachovias retail
securities brokerage business is conducted through Wachovia
Securities, LLC, and operates in 50 states.
At September 30, 2008, Wachovia had assets of
$764.4 billion, loans of $482.4 billion, deposits of
$418.8 billion and stockholders equity of
$50.0 billion. Based on assets, Wachovia is the sixth
largest bank holding company in the United States. Wachovia
common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol WB.
-88-
Financial and other information about Wachovia is set forth in
Wachovias Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007. Information regarding
the names, ages, positions and business backgrounds of the
executive officers and directors of Wachovia, as well as
additional information, including executive compensation,
security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management,
and certain relationships and related transactions, is set forth
in or incorporated by reference into Wachovias Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, and Wachovias
Proxy Statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. See
Where You Can Find More Information on page 126.
Information on the Internet website of Wachovia or any
subsidiary of Wachovia is not part of this document, and you
should not rely on that information in deciding how to vote on
the proposal to approve the merger agreement.
Wachovias principal executive offices are located at 301
South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
28288-0013,
and its telephone number is
1-704-374-6565.
-89-
WELLS
FARGO CAPITAL STOCK
The following summary of the terms of Wells Fargo capital stock
is not complete and is qualified by reference to Wells
Fargos restated certificate of incorporation, as amended,
including any certificates of designations for Wells Fargo
preferred stock, and to Wells Fargos bylaws. You should
read these documents for complete information on Wells Fargo
capital stock. Wells Fargos restated certificate of
incorporation, as amended, including the certificates of
designations for Wells Fargo preferred stock, and Wells
Fargos bylaws are incorporated by reference into this
document.
Wells Fargo files instruments that define the rights of holders
of its capital stock as exhibits to its annual reports on
Form 10-K
and quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q
filed with the SEC. Also, from time to time Wells Fargo might
file an amendment to these documents or a new instrument that
defines the rights of holders of its capital stock as an exhibit
to a current report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC. See Where You Can Find More
Information on page 126.
General
Common Shares Authorized and Outstanding. As
of the date of this document, Wells Fargo was authorized to
issue 6,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
$12/3
per share. At September 30, 2008, Wells Fargo had issued
3,472,762,050 shares of common stock, of which
3,321,218,629 shares were outstanding and
151,543,421 shares were held as treasury shares.
Common Stock Dividends. Holders of Wells Fargo
common stock receive dividends if, when and as declared by Wells
Fargos board of directors out of funds that Wells Fargo
can legally use to pay dividends. Wells Fargo may pay dividends
in cash, stock or other property. In some cases, holders of
Wells Fargo common stock may not receive dividends until Wells
Fargo has satisfied its obligations to holders of outstanding
preferred stock. Other restrictions on Wells Fargos
ability to pay dividends are described below under
Restrictions on Payment of Dividends.
Voting Rights. Holders of Wells Fargo common
stock have the exclusive right to vote on all matters presented
to Wells Fargo stockholders unless Delaware law or the
certificate of designations for an outstanding series of
preferred stock gives the holders of that series of preferred
stock the right to vote on certain matters. Each holder of Wells
Fargo common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Holders of
Wells Fargo common stock have no cumulative voting rights for
the election of directors. Wells Fargos board of directors
is not classified.
Other Rights. If Wells Fargo voluntarily or
involuntarily liquidates, dissolves or winds up its business,
holders of its common stock will receive pro rata, according to
shares held by them, any of Wells Fargos remaining assets
available for distribution to stockholders after Wells Fargo has
provided for payment of all debts and other liabilities,
including any liquidation preference for outstanding shares of
preferred stock. When Wells Fargo issues securities in the
future, holders of Wells Fargo common stock have no preemptive
rights with respect to those securities. This means the holders
of Wells Fargo common stock have no right, as holders of Wells
Fargo common stock, to buy any portion of those issued
securities. Holders of Wells Fargo common stock have no rights
to have their shares of common stock redeemed by Wells Fargo or
to convert their shares of common stock into shares of any other
class of Wells Fargo capital stock.
Listing. Outstanding shares of Wells Fargo
common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol WFC. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
is the transfer agent and registrar for Wells Fargo common stock.
Fully Paid. Outstanding shares of Wells Fargo
common stock are fully paid and non assessable. This means the
full purchase price for the shares has been paid and the holders
of the shares will not be assessed any additional amounts for
the shares.
-90-
Restrictions
on Payment of Dividends
Wells Fargo is incorporated in Delaware and is governed by the
Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL). Delaware law allows a
corporation to pay dividends only out of surplus, as determined
under Delaware law or, if there is no surplus, out of net
profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend was declared
and for the preceding fiscal year. Under Delaware law, however,
Wells Fargo cannot pay dividends out of net profits if, after it
pays the dividend, its capital would be less than the capital
represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a
preference upon the distribution of assets.
As a bank holding company, Wells Fargos ability to pay
dividends is affected by the ability of its bank and non-bank
subsidiaries to pay dividends to it. Various federal laws limit
the amount of dividends Wells Fargos national bank
subsidiaries can pay to it without regulatory approval.
State-chartered banks are subject to state regulations that
limit dividends.
Pursuant to a Letter Agreement and related Securities Purchase
Agreement dated October 26, 2008 between Wells Fargo and
the United States Department of the Treasury, prior to
October 28, 2011 Wells Fargo is prohibited, without the
consent of the Department of the Treasury, from declaring or
paying any dividend or making any distribution on its common
stock, other than regular quarterly cash dividends not exceeding
$0.34 per share of common stock and dividends payable only in
shares of its common stock, unless prior to October 28,
2011 the shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred
Stock, Series D which Wells Fargo issued to the Department
of the Treasury under the Securities Purchase Agreement have
been redeemed in whole or the Department of the Treasury has
transferred all of that preferred stock to third parties.
Restrictions
on Ownership of Wells Fargo Common Stock
The Bank Holding Company Act requires any bank holding
company (as defined in that Act) to obtain the approval of
the Federal Reserve prior to acquiring more than 5% of Wells
Fargos outstanding common stock. Any person other than a
bank holding company is required to obtain prior approval of the
Federal Reserve to acquire 10% or more of Wells Fargos
outstanding common stock under the Change in Bank Control Act.
Any holder of 25% or more of Wells Fargos outstanding
common stock, other than an individual, is subject to regulation
as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.
Anti-takeover
Provisions in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws
Certain provisions of Wells Fargos restated certificate of
incorporation, as amended, could make it less likely that Wells
Fargo management would be changed or someone would acquire
voting control of Wells Fargo without the consent of its board
of directors. These provisions could delay, deter or prevent
tender offers or takeover attempts that stockholders might
believe are in their best interests, including tender offers or
takeover attempts that could allow stockholders to receive
premiums over the market price of their common stock.
Preferred Stock. Wells Fargos board of
directors can at any time, under Wells Fargos restated
certificate of incorporation, as amended, and without
stockholder approval, issue one or more new series of preferred
stock. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock could
discourage or make more difficult attempts to take control of
Wells Fargo through a merger, tender offer, proxy context or
otherwise. Preferred stock with special voting rights or other
features issued to persons favoring Wells Fargo management could
stop a takeover by preventing the person trying to take control
of Wells Fargo from acquiring enough voting shares to take
control.
Rights Plan. Although Wells Fargo does not
have a stockholder rights plan (commonly referred to as a
poison pill) as of the date of this document, under
Delaware law, Wells Fargos board of directors can adopt a
rights plan without stockholder approval. If adopted, a rights
plan could operate to cause substantial dilution to a person or
group that attempts to acquire Wells Fargo on terms not approved
by Wells Fargos board of directors.
-91-
Amendment of Bylaws. Under Wells Fargos
bylaws, the Wells Fargo board of directors can adopt, amend or
repeal the bylaws, subject to limitations under the DGCL, or as
provided in the bylaws. Wells Fargo stockholders also have the
power to change or repeal Wells Fargos bylaws.
Preferred
Stock
As of the date of this document, Wells Fargo was authorized to
issue, without further stockholder approval,
24,000,000 shares of preferred stock, consisting of
20,000,000 shares of preferred stock without par value and
4,000,000 shares of preference stock without par value,
including shares already issued or reserved for issuance. At
September 30, 2008, Wells Fargo had 625,444 shares of
preferred stock issued and outstanding. Wells Fargo had not
issued any shares of preference stock as of September 30,
2008. In this description of Wells Fargo capital stock,
preferred stock means preferred stock and preference
stock unless the context indicates otherwise.
Wells Fargos board of directors is authorized to issue
preferred stock in one or more series, to fix the number of
shares in each series, and to determine the designations and
voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating,
optional or other special rights, and qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of each series, all without any vote
or other action on the part of the holders of Wells Fargo common
stock. Wells Fargo can issue shares of preferred stock at any
time in any amount (including fractional shares), provided that
not more than 24,000,000 shares of preferred stock are
outstanding at any one time.
Shares of Wells Fargo common stock are subject to the rights of
holders of Wells Fargo preferred stock. Wells Fargo preferred
stockholders are entitled to payment of dividends on their
preferred stock before Wells Fargo can pay dividends on Wells
Fargo common stock. If Wells Fargo voluntarily or involuntarily
liquidates, dissolves or winds up its business, its preferred
stockholders are entitled to receive, out of any assets
remaining for distribution to stockholders, all accrued and
unpaid dividends on their preferred stock and any liquidation
preference for their preferred stock before holders of Wells
Fargo common stock receive any distribution of assets with
respect to their common stock.
ESOP Preferred Stock. There are 10 series of
ESOP preferred stock outstanding, issued in each of the years
from 1999 through 2008, representing an aggregate of 3,037,700
authorized shares of preferred stock and 625,444 outstanding
shares of preferred stock. The ESOP preferred stock has a stated
value of $1,000.00 per share and provides for cumulative
quarterly dividends at a rate that varies depending on its year
of issuance and on the Current Market Price, as that term is
used in the certificate of designations for the applicable
series of ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as
of a fixed trading date as compared with certain target prices
for one share of common stock specified in the applicable
certificate of designations. All outstanding shares of ESOP
preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf
of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan (the
Plan). The ESOP preferred stock is subject to
redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal
to the higher of:
|
|
|
|
|
$1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon
to the date fixed for redemption; and
|
|
|
|
the Fair Market Value per share of ESOP preferred
stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations
for the applicable series of ESOP preferred stock, on the date
fixed for redemption.
|
The ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any
further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into
common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as
that term is used in the certificate of designations for the
applicable series of ESOP preferred stock, when:
|
|
|
|
|
the ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated
reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the
Plan; or
|
|
|
|
when record ownership of the shares of the ESOP preferred stock
is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee
under the Plan.
|
In addition, a holder of ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at
any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares
of ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of
common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.
-92-
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of ESOP
preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets
available for distribution to stockholders, before any
distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock,
$1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.
Except as required by law, the holders of ESOP preferred stock
are not entitled to vote, except under the limited
circumstances. The ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive
rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not
otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the ESOP preferred
stock.
PPS Preferred Stock. In connection with the
issuance of preferred purchase securities by Wells Fargo and
wholly owned trust subsidiaries of Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo has
designated two series of preferred stock, consisting of 25,001
designated shares of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock,
Series A (Series A Preferred Stock) and 17,501
designated shares of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock,
Series B (Series B Preferred Stock), expected to be
issued pursuant to stock purchase contracts in the future to the
trusts as part of the preferred purchase securities offerings.
When issued, the PPS preferred stock will have a fixed
liquidation preference of $100,000 per share. If Wells Fargo
liquidates, dissolves or winds up its affairs, holders of PPS
preferred stock will be entitled to receive, out of Wells
Fargos assets available for distribution to stockholders,
an amount per share equal to the liquidation preference per
share. The Preferred Stock will not be convertible into Wells
Fargo common stock or any other class or series of Wells Fargo
securities and will not be subject to any sinking fund or any
other obligation of Wells Fargo for their repurchase or
retirement.
Dividends on shares of PPS preferred stock will not be
mandatory. Holders of the PPS preferred stock, in preference to
the holders of Wells Fargo common stock and of any other shares
of Wells Fargo stock ranking junior to the PPS preferred stock
as to payment of dividends, will be entitled to receive, only
when, as and if declared by the Wells Fargo board of directors,
out of assets legally available for payment, cash dividends.
These dividends will be payable as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
on the Series A Preferred Stock (a) if it is issued
prior to March 26, 2013, semi-annually at a rate per annum
equal to 7.70% until March 2013, and (b) thereafter,
quarterly at a rate per annum that will be reset quarterly equal
to the three-month LIBOR plus 3.89%, applied to the $100,000
liquidation preference per share; and
|
|
|
|
on the Series B Preferred Stock (a) if it is issued
prior to September 26, 2013, semi-annually at a rate per
annum equal to 9.75% until September 2013, and
(b) thereafter, quarterly at a rate per annum that will be
reset quarterly equal to the three-month LIBOR plus 5.83%,
applied to the $100,000 liquidation preference per share.
|
The Series A Preferred Stock may not be redeemed prior to
the later of March 26, 2013 and the Stock Purchase Date, as
used in the certificate of designations for the Series A
Preferred Stock. The Series B Preferred Stock may not be
redeemed prior to the later of September 26, 2013 and the
Stock Purchase Date, as used in the certificate of designations
for the Series B Preferred Stock. On the applicable date or
on any subsequent dividend payment date, subject to limitations
referenced below, the PPS preferred stock may be redeemed, in
whole or in part, at Wells Fargos option. Any such
redemption will be at a cash redemption price of $100,000 per
share, plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid
dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends. Holders
of PPS preferred stock will have no right to require the
redemption or repurchase of the PPS preferred stock.
Wells Fargos right to redeem the PPS preferred stock once
issued is subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve
and certain other contractual obligations set forth in a
replacement capital covenant entered into by Wells Fargo at the
time the preferred purchase securities were issued.
Except as required by law, the holders of PPS preferred stock
are not entitled to vote, except under the limited
circumstances. The PPS preferred stock does not have preemptive
rights.
Series D Preferred Stock. Pursuant to a
Letter Agreement and related Securities Purchase Agreement dated
October 26, 2008 (Securities Purchase Agreements), Wells
Fargo issued to the United States Department of the Treasury
25,000 shares of Wells Fargos Fixed Rate Cumulative
Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D without par value,
having a liquidation amount per share equal to $1,000,000, for a
total price of $25 billion.
-93-
The preferred securities pay cumulative dividends at a rate of
5% per year for the first five years and thereafter at a rate of
9% per year. Wells Fargo may not redeem the Series D
Preferred Stock during the first three years except with the
proceeds from a qualified equity offering, which
generally refers to an offering of common stock
and/or
perpetual preferred stock which qualifies as tier 1 capital
for us at the time of issuance, with certain exceptions. After
three years, Wells Fargo may, at its option, subject to any
necessary bank regulatory approval, redeem the Series D
Preferred Stock at par value plus accrued and unpaid dividends.
The Series D Preferred Stock is generally non-voting. Prior
to October 28, 2011, unless Wells Fargo has redeemed the
Series D Preferred Stock or the Department of the Treasury
has transferred all of the Series D Preferred Stock to
third parties, the consent of the Department of the Treasury
will be required for Wells Fargo to declare or pay any dividend
or make any distribution on Wells Fargos common stock,
other than regular quarterly cash dividends not exceeding $0.34
or dividends payable only in shares of its common stock, or
repurchase our common stock or other equity or capital
securities, other than in connection with benefit plans
consistent with past practice and certain other circumstances
specified in the Securities Purchase Agreements.
New Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock to be Issued in the Merger
The following summary of the terms and provisions of the New
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock is not complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the pertinent sections of the
certificates of designation of each series of New Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock.
Upon completion of the merger, (i) each Wachovia DEP Share
issued and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the
merger will be automatically converted into one one-thousandth
of a Wells Fargo DEP Share, (ii) each share of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series G, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one one-hundredth of a share of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G, (iii) each share
of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series H, issued and
outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger will
be automatically converted into one one-hundredth of a share of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H, (iv) each share
of Wachovia Preferred Stock Series I, issued and
outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger will
be automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series I, (v) each share of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series J, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be
automatically converted into one share of Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J, (vi) each share of Wachovia Preferred
Stock Series K, issued and outstanding immediately prior to
completion of the merger will be automatically converted into
one share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K, and
(vii) each share Wachovia Preferred Stock Series L,
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the completion of
the merger will be automatically converted into one share of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L.
Wells
Fargos Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares, no par
value
Rank. With regard to distributions upon
liquidation or dissolution, the Wells Fargo DEP Shares will rank
junior to any other class or series of Wells Fargo preferred
stock issued in exchange for preferred stock established by the
Wachovia board of directors after September 1, 2001 and
each class or series of preferred stock established by the Wells
Fargo board of directors following the issuance of the Wells
Fargo DEP Shares, and will rank senior to the common stock for
the $10.00 liquidation preference described below.
Dividends. Holders of Wells Fargo DEP Shares
will not be entitled to receive any dividends.
Redemption. The Wells Fargo DEP Shares will
not be convertible or exchangeable. The Wells Fargo DEP Shares
will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at Wells Fargos
option after December 31, 2021, for an amount equal to
$10.00 per Wells Fargo DEP Share (or $0.01 per one
one-thousandth of a Wells Fargo DEP Share, which is equivalent
to the redemption price for the Wachovia DEP Shares). Wells
Fargo must provide no less than 30 and no more than 60 days
notice prior to any date specified for redemption of Wells Fargo
DEP Shares. If Wells Fargo redeems less than all outstanding
Wells Fargo DEP Shares, then Wells Fargo must redeem all shares
held by holders of fewer than
one-tenth of
a share, or by holders that would hold fewer than
one-tenth of
a share following the redemption.
-94-
Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of
liquidation, holders of Wells Fargo DEP Shares will be entitled
to receive, before any distribution is made to the holders of
common stock or any other junior stock, but after any
distribution to any other class or series of Wells Fargo
preferred stock issued in exchange for preferred stock
established by the Wachovia board of directors after September
1, 2001, an amount equal to $10.00 per Wells Fargo DEP Share.
The holders of Wells Fargo DEP Shares will have no other right
or claim to any of the remaining assets of the company. Each one
one-thousandth of a Wells Fargo DEP Share will have a
corresponding liquidation preference of $0.01, which is
equivalent to the liquidation preference of the Wachovia DEP
Shares.
Voting. Holders of Wells Fargo DEP Shares will
not have voting rights, except those required by applicable law
or the rules of a securities exchange on which the Wells Fargo
DEP Shares may be listed. Wells Fargo does not presently intend
to list the Wells Fargo DEP Shares with any securities exchange.
The Wachovia DEP Shares are currently traded on the
over-the-counter Bulletin Board.
Wells
Fargos Class A Preferred Stock, Series G, no par
value
General. Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G will be issuable in exchange for Series A
Preferred Securities issued by Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp.,
an indirect subsidiary of Wachovia, only at the direction of the
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency under the following
specified circumstances:
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovia Bank, National Association becomes undercapitalized
under the OCCs prompt corrective action
regulations, or
|
|
|
|
Wachovia Bank is placed into conservatorship or receivership, or
|
|
|
|
the OCC, in its sole discretion, anticipates that Wachovia Bank
may become undercapitalized in the near term, or takes
supervisory action that limits the payment of dividends by
Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp. and in connection therewith
directs an exchange.
|
The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G, if and when
issued, will be represented by depositary shares of Wells Fargo,
each representing one six-hundredth of a share of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G. If and when issued, Wells
Fargos depositary shares will be validly issued, fully
paid, and non-assessable. The holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G will have no preemptive rights
with respect to any shares of Wells Fargos capital stock
or any of its other securities convertible into or carrying
rights or options to purchase any such capital stock. The Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G will be perpetual and will
not be convertible into shares of Wells Fargo common stock or
any other class or series of its capital stock, and will not be
subject to any sinking fund or other obligation for their
repurchase or retirement.
Rank. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G would rank senior to its common stock and to any
other securities which Wells Fargo may issue in the future that
are subordinate to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G. Wells Fargo may authorize and issue additional
shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to, on parity
with or senior to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G
as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding up,
or dissolution without the consent of the holders of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G.
Dividends. Holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G will be entitled to receive, if,
when, and as declared by its board of directors out of legally
available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends at the rate of
7.25% per annum of the liquidation preference, which will be
$15,000.00 per share of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G. Holders of depositary shares will receive one
six-hundredth of any such dividend and one six-hundredth of any
such liquidation preference. If authorized and declared,
dividends on the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G will
be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30,
September 30, and December 31 of each year or, if any such
day is not a business day, on the next business day without
interest, unless the next business day falls in a different
calendar year, in which case the dividend will be paid on the
preceding business day. Wells Fargo refers to each such quarter
of a calendar year as a dividend period. Dividends
in each quarterly period will accrue from the first day of such
period. The record date for payment of dividends on the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G and Wells Fargos
depositary shares will be the
-95-
15th calendar day of the last calendar month of the
applicable dividend period. No interest will be paid on any
dividend payment of depositary shares representing the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G.
The right of holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G to receive dividends will be non-cumulative. If
Wells Fargos board of directors does not declare a
dividend on the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G or
declares less than a full dividend in respect of any dividend
period, the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G will have no right to receive any dividend or a
full dividend, as the case may be, for that dividend period, and
Wells Fargo will have no obligation to pay a dividend or to pay
full dividends for that dividend period, whether or not
dividends are declared and paid for any future dividend period
with respect to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G or
Wells Fargos common stock or any other class or series of
Wells Fargos preferred stock.
Unless full dividend payments on the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G have been declared and paid for the immediately
preceding dividend period: no cash dividend or distribution may
be paid by Wells Fargo on stock junior to the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G, other than distributions or
dividends payable in such junior stock, no such junior stock may
be redeemed by Wells Fargo for any consideration, and no monies
shall be paid by Wells Fargo or made available for a sinking
fund for the redemption of such junior stock.
Redemption. Except for certain limited
circumstances described below, the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G will not be redeemable prior to December 31,
2022. On or after such date, Wells Fargo may redeem the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G for cash, in whole or in
part, at any time and from time to time at its option at the
redemption price of $15,000.00 per share, plus authorized,
declared and unpaid dividends for the current dividend period,
if any, to the date of redemption. Prior to December 31,
2022, the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G may be
redeemed in whole, but not in part, at the redemption price of
$15,000.00 per share, plus authorized, declared and unpaid
dividends for the current dividend period, if any, to the date
of redemption, at Wells Fargos discretion in the event
that Wells Fargo receives a letter or opinion of counsel which
states that there is a significant risk that the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G will no longer constitute
Tier 1 capital of Wells Fargo for purposes of the capital
adequacy guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve as a
result of any changes in applicable laws, related regulations,
official interpretations or policies, any official
administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting
or applying such laws or regulations. For redemptions after
December 31, 2022, if Wells Fargos board of directors
determines that Wells Fargo should redeem fewer than all of the
outstanding Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G, the
securities to be redeemed will be determined by lot, pro rata,
or by such other method as Wells Fargos board of directors
in its sole discretion determines to be equitable.
Dividends will cease to accrue on the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series G called for redemption on and as of the date
fixed for redemption and such Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G will be deemed to cease to be outstanding,
provided, that the redemption price, including any authorized
and declared but unpaid dividends for the current dividend
period, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, has been duly
paid or provision has been made for such payment. Notice of any
redemption will be mailed at least 30 days, but not more
than 60 days, prior to any redemption date to each holder
of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G to be redeemed
at such holders registered address.
Rights upon Liquidation. In the event Wells
Fargo voluntarily or involuntarily liquidates, dissolves, or
winds up, the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G at the time outstanding will be entitled to
receive liquidating distributions in the amount of $15,000.00
per share, or $25.00 per depositary share representing a one-six
hundredth interest in the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G, plus any authorized, declared, and unpaid
dividends for the then-current dividend period to the date of
liquidation, out of Wells Fargos assets legally available
for distribution to its shareholders, before any distribution of
assets is made to holders of Wells Fargos common stock or
any securities ranking junior to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G and subject to the rights of the holders of any
class or series of securities ranking senior to or on a parity
with the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G upon
liquidation and the rights of its depositors and or series of
securities ranking senior to or on a parity with the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G upon liquidation and the rights of
its depositors and creditors.
-96-
After payment of the full amount of the liquidating
distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G will have no right or
claim to any of Wells Fargos remaining assets. In the
event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up, Wells Fargos available assets
are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidation
distributions on all outstanding Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G and the corresponding amounts payable on any other
securities of equal ranking, then the holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G and any other securities of equal
ranking will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in
proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they
would otherwise be respectively entitled.
For such purposes, Wells Fargos consolidation or merger
with or into any other entity, the consolidation or merger of
any other entity with or into it, or the sale of all or
substantially all of Wells Fargos property or business,
will not be deemed to constitute its liquidation, dissolution,
or winding up.
Voting Rights. Holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G will not have any voting rights,
except as required by law, and will not be entitled to elect any
directors.
Description
of the Wells Fargo Series G Depositary Shares
General. Each Wells Fargo Series G
depositary share will represent a one six-hundredth interest in
one share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G. The
depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts. The
shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G underlying
the depositary shares will, upon issuance, be deposited with
Wachovia Bank, N.A., as depositary, under a deposit agreement
between Wells Fargo, the depositary and all holders from time to
time of depositary receipts issued by the depositary thereunder.
Wells Fargo does not intend to list or quote the depositary
shares or the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G on any
national securities exchange or national quotation system.
Accordingly, there will be no public trading market for the
depositary shares or the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G.
Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of
depositary shares will be entitled, through the depositary, to
all the rights, preferences and privileges of a fractional share
of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G.
The depositary will act as transfer agent and registrar and
paying agent with respect to the depositary shares.
The depositarys office at which the depositary receipts
will be administered is located at One Wachovia Center,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288.
Depositary shares may be held either directly or indirectly
through a broker or other financial institution. If you hold
depositary shares directly, by having depositary shares
registered in your name on the books of the depositary, you are
a depositary receipt holder. If you hold the depositary shares
through your broker or financial institution nominee, you must
rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution
to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in
this section. You should consult with your broker or financial
institution to find out what those procedures are.
Dividends and Other Distributions. The
depositary will distribute all cash dividends, dividends paid in
depositary shares representing fully paid and non-assessable
shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series G or other
cash distributions received in respect of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series G to the record holders of
depositary shares representing such Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G in proportion to the numbers of such depositary
shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date. In the
event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will
distribute property received by it to the record holders of
depositary shares entitled thereto, unless the depositary
determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in
which case the depositary may, after consultation with Wells
Fargo, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from
such sale to such holders.
Redemption of Depositary Shares. If the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series G underlying the depositary
shares are redeemed, the depositary shares will be redeemed with
the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the
redemption, in whole or in part, of such Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series G held by the
-97-
depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be
equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per
share payable with respect to such Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series G. If less than all the depositary shares are to be
redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected
by lot or pro rata, in Wells Fargos sole discretion.
After the date fixed for redemption (which will be the same date
as the redemption date, if any, for the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series G), the depositary shares so called for
redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all
rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease,
except the right to receive the moneys payable upon such
redemption and any money or other property to which the holders
of such depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption
upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts
evidencing such depositary shares.
Wells
Fargos Class A Preferred Stock, Series H, no par
value
General. Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H will be issuable in exchange for Series B
Preferred Securities issued by Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp.,
an indirect subsidiary of Wachovia, only at the direction of the
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency under the following
specified circumstances:
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovia Bank, National Association becomes undercapitalized
under the OCCs prompt corrective action
regulations, or
|
|
|
|
Wachovia Bank is placed into conservatorship or
receivership, or
|
|
|
|
the OCC, in its sole discretion, anticipates that Wachovia Bank
may become undercapitalized in the near term, or takes
supervisory action that limits the payment of dividends by
Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp. and in connection therewith
directs an exchange.
|
As of the date of this proxy statement-prospectus, all of the
Series B Preferred Securities issued by Wachovia Preferred
Funding Corp. are owned by Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp.
The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H, if and when
issued, will be represented by depositary shares of Wells Fargo,
each representing one eight-hundredth of a share of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H. If and when issued, Wells
Fargos depositary shares will be validly issued, fully
paid, and non-assessable. The holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H will have no preemptive rights
with respect to any shares of Wells Fargos capital stock
or any of its other securities convertible into or carrying
rights or options to purchase any such capital stock. The Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series H will be perpetual and will
not be convertible into shares of Wells Fargo common stock or
any other class or series of its capital stock, and will not be
subject to any sinking fund or other obligation for their
repurchase or retirement.
Rank. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H would rank senior to its common stock and to any
other securities which Wells Fargo may issue in the future that
are subordinate to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H. Wells Fargo may authorize and issue additional
shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to, on parity
with or senior to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H
as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding up,
or dissolution without the consent of the holders of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series H.
Dividends. Holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H will be entitled to receive, if,
when, and as declared by its board of directors out of legally
available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends at (i) a
floating rate per annum equal to 1.83% plus the three month
LIBOR rate for the related dividend period or
(ii) following any transfer through an initial public
offering, private placement or otherwise to any party who is not
affiliated with Wachovia of the Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp.
Series B Preferred Securities, a fixed rate per annum equal
to 1.83% plus the applicable three month LIBOR rate at the time
of the initial transfer, in each case expressed as a percentage
of the liquidation preference, which will be $20,000.00 per
share of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H. Holders
of depositary shares will receive one eight-hundredth of any
such dividend and one eight-hundredth of any such liquidation
preference. If authorized and declared, dividends on the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series H will be payable quarterly in
arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30, and
December 31 of each year or, if any such day is not a business
day, on the next
-98-
business day without interest, unless the next business day
falls in a different calendar year, in which case the dividend
will be paid on the preceding business day. Wells Fargo refers
to each such quarter of a calendar year as a dividend
period. Dividends in each quarterly period will accrue
from the first day of such period. The record date for payment
of dividends on the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H
and Wells Fargos depositary shares will be the
15th calendar day of the last calendar month of the
applicable dividend period. No interest will be paid on any
dividend payment of depositary shares representing the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series H.
The right of holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H to receive dividends will be non-cumulative. If
Wells Fargos board of directors does not declare a
dividend on the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H or
declares less than a full dividend in respect of any dividend
period, the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H will have no right to receive any dividend or a
full dividend, as the case may be, for that dividend period, and
Wells Fargo will have no obligation to pay a dividend or to pay
full dividends for that dividend period, whether or not
dividends are declared and paid for any future dividend period
with respect to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H or
Wells Fargos common stock or any other class or series of
Wells Fargos preferred stock.
Unless full dividend payments on the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H have been declared and paid for the immediately
preceding dividend period: no cash dividend or distribution may
be paid by Wells Fargo on stock junior to the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H, other than distributions or
dividends payable in such junior stock, no such junior stock may
be redeemed by Wells Fargo for any consideration, and no monies
shall be paid by Wells Fargo or made available for a sinking
fund for the redemption of such junior stock.
Redemption. Subject to the prior approval of
the OCC, Wells Fargo may redeem the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H for cash, in whole or in part, at any time and
from time to time at its option at the redemption price of
$20,000.00 per share, plus authorized, declared and unpaid
dividends for the current dividend period, if any, to the date
of redemption.
Rights upon Liquidation. In the event Wells
Fargo voluntarily or involuntarily liquidates, dissolves, or
winds up, the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H at the time outstanding will be entitled to
receive liquidating distributions in the amount of $20,000.00
per share, or $25.00 per depositary share representing a
one-eight hundredth interest in the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H, plus any authorized, declared, and unpaid
dividends for the then-current dividend period to the date of
liquidation, out of Wells Fargos assets legally available
for distribution to its shareholders, before any distribution of
assets is made to holders of Wells Fargos common stock or
any securities ranking junior to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H and subject to the rights of the holders of any
class or series of securities ranking senior to or on a parity
with the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H upon
liquidation and the rights of its depositors and or series of
securities ranking senior to or on a parity with the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H upon liquidation and the rights of
its depositors and creditors.
After payment of the full amount of the liquidating
distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H will have no right or
claim to any of Wells Fargos remaining assets. In the
event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up, Wells Fargos available assets
are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidation
distributions on all outstanding Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H and the corresponding amounts payable on any other
securities of equal ranking, then the holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H and any other securities of equal
ranking will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in
proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they
would otherwise be respectively entitled.
For such purposes, Wells Fargos consolidation or merger
with or into any other entity, the consolidation or merger of
any other entity with or into it, or the sale of all or
substantially all of Wells Fargos property or business,
will not be deemed to constitute its liquidation, dissolution,
or winding up.
Voting Rights. Holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H will not have any voting rights,
except as required by law, and will not be entitled to elect any
directors.
-99-
Description
of the Wells Fargo Series H Depositary Shares
General. Each Wells Fargo Series H
depositary share will represent a one eight-hundredth interest
in one share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H. The
depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts. The
shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H underlying
the depositary shares will, upon issuance, be deposited with
Wachovia Bank, N.A., as depositary, under a deposit agreement
between Wells Fargo, the depositary and all holders from time to
time of depositary receipts issued by the depositary thereunder.
Wells Fargo does not intend to list or quote the depositary
shares or the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H on any
national securities exchange or national quotation system.
Accordingly, there will be no public trading market for the
depositary shares or the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H.
Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of
depositary shares will be entitled, through the depositary, to
all the rights, preferences and privileges of a fractional share
of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H.
The depositary will act as transfer agent and registrar and
paying agent with respect to the depositary shares.
The depositarys office at which the depositary receipts
will be administered is located at One Wachovia Center,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288.
Depositary shares may be held either directly or indirectly
through a broker or other financial institution. If you hold
depositary shares directly, by having depositary shares
registered in your name on the books of the depositary, you are
a depositary receipt holder. If you hold the depositary shares
through your broker or financial institution nominee, you must
rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution
to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in
this section. You should consult with your broker or financial
institution to find out what those procedures are.
Dividends and Other Distributions. The
depositary will distribute all cash dividends, dividends paid in
depositary shares representing fully paid and non-assessable
shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H or other
cash distributions received in respect of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series H to the record holders of
depositary shares representing such Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series H in proportion to the numbers of such depositary
shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date. In the
event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will
distribute property received by it to the record holders of
depositary shares entitled thereto, unless the depositary
determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in
which case the depositary may, after consultation with Wells
Fargo, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from
such sale to such holders.
Redemption of Depositary Shares. If the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series H underlying the depositary
shares are redeemed, the depositary shares will be redeemed with
the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the
redemption, in whole or in part, of such Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series H held by the depositary. The redemption price
per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of
the redemption price per share payable with respect to such
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series H. If less than all the
depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to
be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata, in Wells
Fargos sole discretion.
After the date fixed for redemption (which will be the same date
as the redemption date, if any, for the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series H), the depositary shares so called for
redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all
rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease,
except the right to receive the moneys payable upon such
redemption and any money or other property to which the holders
of such depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption
upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts
evidencing such depositary shares.
Wells
Fargos Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, no par
value
General. Wachovia Capital Trust III, a
Delaware statutory trust, has issued 5.80% Fixed-to-Floating
Rate Normal Wachovia Income Trust Securities (WITS) which
are guaranteed by Wachovia. The WITS
-100-
include 1/100th interests in stock purchase contracts
between the trust and Wachovia under which the trust agreed to
purchase, and Wachovia agreed to sell, shares of Wachovia
Preferred Stock Series I. The sale and purchase date is
expected to be March 15, 2011 but may in certain
circumstances be an earlier date or be deferred for quarterly
periods until as late as March 15, 2012.
Rank. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series I will rank senior to Wells Fargos common
stock and to any other securities that Wells Fargo may issue in
the future that are subordinate to the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series I. Wells Fargo may authorize and issue
additional shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to, on
parity with or senior to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series I as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
winding-up,
or dissolution without the consent of the holders of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series I.
Dividends. Dividends on shares of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series I will not be mandatory. Holders of
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I will be entitled
to receive, if, when, and as declared by Wells Fargos
board of directors out of legally available assets,
non-cumulative cash dividends on the Liquidation Preference,
which is $100,000 per share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series I. These dividends will be payable (1) if the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I is issued prior to
March 15, 2011, semi-annually in arrears on each March 15
and September 15 through March 15, 2011 and (2) from
and including March 15, 2011 and the date of issuance,
quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15,
September 15, and December 15. For any dividend period
ending prior to the dividend payment date in March 2011,
dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.80%, and
for any dividend period ending after the dividend payment date
in March 2011, dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal
to the greater of (x) three-month LIBOR for the related
dividend period plus 0.93% and (y) 5.56975%. The right of
holders of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I to receive
dividends is non-cumulative.
When dividends are not paid in full upon the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series I and any other parity stock,
dividends upon that stock will be declared on a proportional
basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will
bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the
current dividend period per share on the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series I, and accrued dividends, including any
accumulations on such voting parity stock, bear to each other.
No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment
on such offered stock that may be in arrears.
Redemption. So long as full dividends on all
outstanding shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I
for the then-current dividend period have been paid or declared
and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, Wells
Fargo, at the option of Wells Fargos board of directors,
may redeem the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I in
whole or in part on any Dividend Payment Date at any time after
the later of March 15, 2001 and the date of the original
issuance of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I. Any
such redemption shall be at the redemption price of $1,000 per
share plus dividends that have been declared but not paid to the
redemption date, without interest.
Rights upon Liquidation. In the event of Wells
Fargos voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
or
winding-up,
the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I at
the time outstanding will be entitled to receive a liquidating
distribution in the amount of the Liquidation Preference of
$100,000 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends for
the then-current dividend period to the date of liquidation, out
of Wells Fargos assets legally available for distribution
to Wells Fargos stockholders, before any distribution is
made to holders of Wells Fargos common stock or any
securities ranking junior to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series I and subject to the rights of the holders of any
class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity
with the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series I upon
liquidation and the rights of Wells Fargos depositors and
other creditors.
Voting. Holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series I will not have any voting rights and will not
be entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law.
-101-
Wells
Fargos 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A
Preferred Stock, Series J, no par value
Rank. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J will rank senior to Wells Fargos common
stock and to any other securities that Wells Fargo may issue in
the future that are subordinate to the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J. Wells Fargo may authorize and issue
additional shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to or
on parity with the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J as
to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
winding-up,
or dissolution without the consent of the holders of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series J. Each series of Wells
Fargos authorized preferred stock will, with respect to
dividend rights and rights upon Wells Fargos liquidation,
dissolution or
winding-up,
rank senior to common stock. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J and any other series of Wells Fargo preferred
stock will rank equal to, but not senior to, any series of
parity stock.
Dividends. Dividends on shares of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J will not be mandatory. Holders of
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J will be entitled
to receive, if, when, and as declared by Wells Fargos
board of directors out of legally available assets,
non-cumulative cash dividends on the Liquidation Preference,
which is $1,000 per share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J. These dividends will be payable at a rate per
annum equal to 8.00%, quarterly in arrears on each
March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15,
from and including the date of issuance. The right of holders of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J to receive dividends
is non-cumulative.
When dividends are not paid in full upon the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J and any other parity stock,
dividends upon that stock will be declared on a proportional
basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will
bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the
current dividend period per share on the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J, and accrued dividends, including any
accumulations on such parity stock, bear to each other. No
interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment on
such offered stock that may be in arrears.
Redemption. So long as full dividends on all
outstanding shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J
for the then-current dividend period have been paid or declared
and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, Wells
Fargo, at the option of Wells Fargos board of directors,
may redeem the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J in
whole or in part on any Dividend Payment Date on or after
December 15, 2017. Any such redemption shall be at the
redemption price of $1,000 per share plus dividends that have
been declared but not paid to the redemption date, without
interest.
Rights upon Liquidation. In the event of Wells
Fargos voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
or
winding-up,
the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J at
the time outstanding will be entitled to receive a liquidating
distribution in the amount of the Liquidation Preference of
$1,000 per share, plus any authorized, declared and unpaid
dividends for the then-current dividend period to the date of
liquidation, out of Wells Fargos assets legally available
for distribution to Wells Fargos stockholders, before any
distribution is made to holders of Wells Fargos common
stock or any securities ranking junior to the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J and subject to the rights of the
holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to
or on parity with the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J
upon liquidation and the rights of Wells Fargos depositors
and other creditors.
Voting. Holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J will not have any voting rights and will not
be entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law
and except for the voting rights provided for below.
Right to Elect Two Directors upon
Nonpayment. If after issuance of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J Wells Fargo fails to pay, or
declare and set aside for payment, full dividends on the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series J or any other class or series
of voting parity stock for six dividend periods or their
equivalent, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of
Wells Fargos directors will be increased by two. The
holders of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J, voting
together as a single and separate class with the holders of all
outstanding voting parity stock, will have the right to elect
two directors, by a plurality of votes cast, in addition to the
directors then in office at Wells Fargos next annual
meeting of stockholders. It shall be a qualification for
election for any such director that the election of such
director shall not cause
-102-
Wells Fargo to violate the corporate governance requirement of
the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or
other trading facility on which securities of Wells Fargo may
then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must
have a majority of independent directors, and provided
further that the board of directors shall at no time include
more than two such directors (including, for purposes of this
limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of
voting parity stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like
voting rights). When dividends have been paid in full on the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J and any and all voting
parity stock for at least four consecutive dividend periods or
their equivalent, then the right of the holders of Series J
Preferred Stock to elect directors shall cease (but subject
always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any
future nonpayment of dividends), and, if and when all rights of
holders of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J and voting
parity stock to elect directors shall have ceased, the terms of
office of all the directors elected by preferred stock holders
under this provision shall forthwith terminate and the number of
directors constituting the board of directors shall
automatically be reduced accordingly.
Other Voting Rights. So long as any shares of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J are outstanding, the
vote or consent of the holders of at least
662/3%
of the shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J at
the time outstanding, voting as a class with all other series of
preferred stock ranking equal with the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J and entitled to vote thereon, given in
person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by
vote at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary
for effecting or validating any of the following actions,
whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:
|
|
|
|
|
the issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J in the payment of
dividends or in the distribution of assets on Wells Fargos
liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up;
|
|
|
|
any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of Wells
Fargos restated certificate of incorporation, as amended
(including the certificate of designations creating the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series J) or Wells Fargos
bylaws so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences,
privileges or voting powers of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J;
|
|
|
|
any amendment or alteration of Wells Fargos restated
certificate of incorporation, as amended, or bylaws to
authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any
shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any
class or series of Wells Fargos capital stock ranking
senior to the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J in the
payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any
liquidation, dissolution or Wells Fargos
winding-up; or
|
|
|
|
the consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification
involving the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J or a
merger or consolidation with another entity, except holders of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J will have no right to
vote under this provision or otherwise under Delaware law if in
each case (i) the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J
remains outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or
consolidation with respect to which Wells Fargo is not the
surviving or resulting entity, is converted into or exchanged
for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity
or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J remaining outstanding or such preference
securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences,
privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not
materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the
rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series J, taken as a whole;
|
provided, however, that any authorization, creation or
increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J or any class or series of parity
stock or junior stock or any securities convertible into any
class or series of parity stock (whether dividends payable in
respect of such parity stock are cumulative or non-cumulative)
or junior stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the
rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series J, and holders of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series J shall have no right to vote
thereon.
If an amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange,
reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would
adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting
preferred stock (including the Wells
-103-
Fargo Preferred Stock Series J for this purpose), then only
those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class
in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.
Description
of the Series J Depositary Shares
General. The shares of Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J will be deposited with U.S. Bank,
National Association, as depositary, under a deposit agreement
that Wells Fargo will assume from Wachovia on or before the
closing date. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary
will issue Depository Shares, each of which will represent a
1/40th interest in one share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J. The Depositary Shares will be evidenced by
depositary receipts.
U.S. Bank, National Association will act as transfer agent
and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Depositary
Shares.
The depositarys office at which the depositary receipts
will be administered is located at U.S. Bank National
Association, 100 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, New
York 10005.
Purchasers may hold Depositary Shares either directly or
indirectly through their broker or other financial institution.
If a purchaser holds Depositary Shares directly, by having
depositary shares registered in its name on the books of the
depositary, the purchaser is a depositary receipt holder. If a
purchaser holds the Depositary Shares through a broker or
financial institution nominee, the purchasers must rely on the
procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the
rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.
Dividends and Other Distributions. The
depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash
distributions received in respect of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series J to the record holders of Depositary Shares
in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by
such holders on the relevant record date. In the event of a
distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute
property received by it to the record holders of Depositary
Shares entitled thereto, unless the depositary determines that
it is not feasible to make such distribution after consultation
with us, in which case the depositary may, with Wells
Fargos approval, sell such property and distribute the net
proceeds from such sale to such holders.
Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters
relating to the Depositary Shares will be the same as the
corresponding record dates for the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J.
The amounts distributed to holders of Depositary Shares will be
reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary
or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.
Redemption of Depositary Shares. If the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series J underlying the Depositary
Shares is redeemed, in whole or in part, a corresponding number
of Depositary Shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received
by the depositary from the redemption of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J held by the depositary. The
redemption price per Depositary Share will be equal to
1/40th of the applicable redemption price per share payable
in respect of such Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J. If
less than all the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J is
redeemed, Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be selected by
lot or pro rata as determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for any redemption (which would be the same
date as the redemption date for the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J), the Depositary Shares so called for redemption
will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the
holders of the Depositary Shares will cease, except the right to
receive the moneys payable upon such redemption and any money or
other property to which the holders of such Depositary Shares
were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender to the
depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing such Depositary
Shares.
Voting of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J. When the depositary receives
notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J are entitled to vote, the
depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to
the record holders of the Depositary Shares relating to the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J. Each record holder of
the Depositary Shares on the record date, which will be the same
date as the record date for the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J represented by the
holders Depositary Shares. To
-104-
the extent possible, the depositary will try to vote the amount
of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series J represented by
Depositary Shares in accordance with the instructions it
receives. Wells Fargo will agree to take all reasonable actions
that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the
depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not
receive specific instructions from the holders of any Depositary
Shares representing the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series J, it will not vote the amount of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series J represented by such Depositary
Shares.
Wells
Fargos Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual
Class A Preferred Stock, Series K, no par
value
Rank. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series K will rank senior to Wells Fargos common
stock and to any other securities that Wells Fargo may issue in
the future that are subordinate to the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series K. Wells Fargo may authorize and issue
additional shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to or
on parity with the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K as
to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
winding-up,
or dissolution without the consent of the holders of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series K. Each series of Wells
Fargos authorized preferred stock will, with respect to
dividend rights and rights upon Wells Fargos liquidation,
dissolution or
winding-up,
rank senior to Wells Fargo common stock.
Dividends. Dividends on shares of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series K will not be mandatory. Holders of
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K will be entitled
to receive, if, when, and as declared by Wells Fargos
board of directors out of legally available assets,
non-cumulative cash dividends on the Liquidation Preference,
which is $1,000 per share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series K. These dividends will be payable (1) from and
including the date of issuance to but excluding March 15,
2018, semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and
September 15, at a rate per annum equal to 7.98%, beginning
on the first dividend payment date following completion of the
merger, and (2) from and including March 15, 2018,
quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15,
September 15, and December 15 at a rate per annum equal to
Three-Month LIBOR for the related dividend period plus 3.77%,
beginning on June 15, 2018. The right of holders of Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series K to receive dividends is
non-cumulative.
When dividends are not paid in full upon the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series K and any other parity stock,
dividends upon that stock will be declared on a proportional
basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will
bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the
current dividend period per share on the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series K, and accrued dividends, including any
accumulations on such voting parity stock, bear to each other.
No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment
on such offered stock that may be in arrears.
Redemption. So long as full dividends on all
outstanding shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K
for the then-current dividend period have been paid or declared
and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, Wells
Fargo, at the option of Wells Fargos board of directors,
may redeem the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K in
whole or in part on any Dividend Payment Date on or after
March 15, 2018. Any such redemption shall be at the
redemption price of $1,000 per share plus dividends that have
been declared but not paid to the redemption date, without
interest.
Rights upon Liquidation. In the event of Wells
Fargos voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
or
winding-up,
the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K at
the time outstanding will be entitled to receive a liquidating
distribution in the amount of the Liquidation Preference of
$1,000 per share, plus any authorized, declared and unpaid
dividends for the then-current dividend period to the date of
liquidation, out of Wells Fargos assets legally available
for distribution to Wells Fargos stockholders, before any
distribution is made to holders of Wells Fargos common
stock or any securities ranking junior to the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series K and subject to the rights of the
holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to
or on parity with the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K
upon liquidation and the rights of Wells Fargos depositors
and other creditors.
Voting. Holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series K will not have any voting rights and will not
be entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law
and except for the special voting rights provided for below.
-105-
Right to Elect Two Directors upon
Nonpayment. If after issuance of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series K, Wells Fargo fails to pay, or
declare and set aside for payment, full dividends on the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series K or any other class or series
of voting parity stock for six dividend periods or their
equivalent, the authorized number of Wells Fargos
directors will be increased by two. The holders of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series K, voting together as a single and
separate class with the holders of all outstanding voting parity
stock, will have the right to elect two directors, by a
plurality of votes cast, in addition to the directors then in
office at Wells Fargos next annual meeting of
stockholders. It shall be a qualification for election for any
such director that the election of such director shall not cause
Wells Fargo to violate the corporate governance requirement of
the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or
other trading facility on which securities of Wells Fargo may
then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must
have a majority of independent directors, and provided
further that the board of directors shall at no time include
more than two such directors (including, for purposes of this
limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of
voting parity stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like
voting rights). When dividends have been paid in full on the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K and any and all voting
parity stock for at least four consecutive dividend periods or
their equivalent, then the right of the holders of Series K
Preferred Stock to elect directors shall cease (but subject
always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any
future nonpayment of dividends), and, if and when all rights of
holders of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K and voting
parity stock to elect directors shall have ceased, the terms of
office of all the directors elected by preferred stock holders
under this provision shall forthwith terminate and the number of
directors constituting the board of directors shall
automatically be reduced accordingly.
Other Voting Rights. So long as any shares of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K are outstanding, the
vote or consent of the holders of at least
662/3%
of the shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K at
the time outstanding, voting as a class with all other series of
preferred stock ranking equal with the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series K and entitled to vote thereon, given in
person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by
vote at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary
for effecting or validating any of the following actions,
whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:
|
|
|
|
|
the issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K in the payment of
dividends or in the distribution of assets on Wells Fargos
liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up;
|
|
|
|
any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of Wells
Fargos restated certificate of incorporation, as amended
(including the certificate of designation creating the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series K) or Wells Fargos
bylaws that would alter or change the voting powers,
preferences, privileges or rights of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series K so as to affect them adversely;
|
|
|
|
any amendment or alteration of Wells Fargos restated
certificate of incorporation, as amended, or bylaws to authorize
or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of,
or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or
series of Wells Fargos capital stock ranking prior to the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K in the payment of
dividends or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation,
dissolution or Wells Fargos
winding-up; or
|
|
|
|
the consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification
involving the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K or a
merger or consolidation with another entity, except holders of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K will have no right to
vote under this provision or otherwise under Delaware law if in
each case (i) the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K
remains outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or
consolidation with respect to which Wells Fargo is not the
surviving or resulting entity, is converted into or exchanged
for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity
or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series K remaining outstanding or such preference
securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences,
privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not
materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the
rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series K, taken as a whole;
|
provided, however, that any authorization, creation or
increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series K or any class or series of parity
stock or junior stock or any securities
-106-
convertible into any class or series of parity stock (whether
dividends payable in respect of such parity stock are cumulative
or non-cumulative) or junior stock will be deemed not to
adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting
powers of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K, and
holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series K shall
have no right to vote thereon.
If an amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange,
reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would
adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting
preferred stock (including the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series K for this purpose), then only those series affected
and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such
series of preferred stock.
Wells
Fargos 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible
Class A Preferred Stock, Series L, no par
value
Rank. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L will rank senior to Wells Fargos common
stock and to any other securities that Wells Fargo may issue in
the future that are subordinate to the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L. Wells Fargo may authorize and issue
additional shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to or
on parity with the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L as
to dividend rights and rights upon dissolution,
winding-up
and liquidation without the consent of the holders of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series L. Each series of Wells
Fargos authorized preferred stock will, with respect to
dividend rights and rights upon Wells Fargos dissolution,
winding-up
and liquidation, rank senior to Wells Fargo common stock.
Dividends. Dividends on shares of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L will not be cumulative. Holders of
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L will be entitled
to receive, if, as and when declared by Wells Fargos board
of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative
cash dividends on the Liquidation Preference, which is $1,000
per share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L. These
dividends will be payable at a rate per annum equal to 7.50%,
quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15,
September 15 and December 15, commencing on the first
dividend payment date following completion of the merger, each a
Dividend Payment Date, from and including the date
of issuance. The right of holders of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L to receive dividends is non-cumulative.
When dividends are not paid in full upon the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L and any parity stock, all
dividends upon shares of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L and such parity stock will be declared on a
proportional basis, based upon the ratio of the amount of
dividends declared on each series to the amount that if declared
would be full dividends (including accrued and unpaid dividends
as to any parity stock that bears dividends on a cumulative
basis) through the next succeeding applicable dividend payment
date.
Redemption. The Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L is not redeemable and will not be subject to any
sinking fund or other obligation to redeem, repurchase or retire
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L.
Optional Conversion Right. Each share of the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L may be converted at
any time, at the option of the holder, into 6.3814 shares
of Wells Fargos common stock plus cash in lieu of
fractional shares, subject to anti-dilution adjustments (such
rate or adjusted rate, the conversion rate).
Mandatory Conversion at Wells Fargos
Option. On or after March 15, 2013, Wells
Fargo may, at Wells Fargos option, at any time or from
time to time cause some or all of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L to be converted into shares of Wells
Fargos common stock at the then applicable conversion rate
if, for 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive
trading days, including the last trading day of such period, the
closing price of Wells Fargos common stock exceeds 130% of
the then applicable conversion price of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L. Wells Fargo will provide notice
of Wells Fargos decision to exercise Wells Fargos
right to cause the mandatory conversion within three trading
days of the end of the 30 consecutive trading day period. The
applicable conversion price at any given time will be computed
by dividing $1,000 by the applicable conversion rate at such
time.
Limitation on Beneficial
Ownership. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
holder of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L will be
entitled to receive shares of Wells Fargos common stock
upon conversion to the extent (but only to the extent) that such
receipt would cause such converting holder to become, directly
or indirectly, a beneficial owner (within the
meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations
-107-
promulgated thereunder) of more than 9.9% of the shares of Wells
Fargos common stock outstanding at such time. Any
purported delivery of shares of Wells Fargos common stock
upon conversion of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L
shall be void and have no effect to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such delivery would result in the converting holder
becoming the beneficial owner of more than 9.9% of the shares of
Wells Fargos common stock outstanding at such time. If any
delivery of shares of Wells Fargos common stock owed to a
holder upon conversion of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of
this limitation, Wells Fargos obligation to make such
delivery shall not be extinguished and Wells Fargo shall deliver
such shares as promptly as practicable after any such converting
holder gives notice to us that such delivery would not result in
it being the beneficial owner of more than 9.9% of the shares of
Wells Fargo common stock outstanding at such time. This
limitation on beneficial ownership shall not constrain in any
event Wells Fargos ability to exercise Wells Fargos
right to cause the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L to
convert mandatorily.
Conversion Upon Certain Acquisitions. The
following provisions will apply if, prior to the conversion
date, one of the following events occur prior to the conversion
date for shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L:
|
|
|
|
|
a person or group within the meaning of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act files a Schedule TO
or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act
disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or
indirect ultimate beneficial owner, as defined in
Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act, of Wells Fargos common equity
representing more than 50% of the voting power of Wells
Fargos common stock; or
|
|
|
|
consummation of any consolidation or merger or similar
transaction or any sale, lease or other transfer in one
transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially
all of the consolidated assets of Wells Fargo and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of
Wells Fargos subsidiaries, in each case pursuant to which
Wells Fargos shares of common stock will be converted into
cash, securities or other property, other than pursuant to a
transaction in which the persons that beneficially
owned (as defined in
Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, voting shares
immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly
or indirectly, voting shares representing a majority of the
total voting power of all outstanding classes of voting shares
of the continuing or surviving person immediately after the
transaction.
|
These transactions are referred to as make-whole
acquisitions. However, a make-whole acquisition will not
be deemed to have occurred if at least 90% of the consideration
(as determined by Wells Fargos board of directors)
received by holders of Wells Fargos common stock in the
transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock
or American depositary receipts in respect of common stock that
are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or a
securities exchange in the European Economic Area or that will
be traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or on
securities exchanges in the European Economic Area when issued
or exchanged in connection with a make-whole acquisition.
The phrase all or substantially all of Wells
Fargos assets is likely to be interpreted by reference to
applicable state law at the relevant time, and will be dependent
on the facts and circumstances existing at such time. As a
result, there may be a degree of uncertainty in ascertaining
whether a sale or transfer is of all or substantially
all of Wells Fargos assets.
Upon a make-whole acquisition, Wells Fargo will, under certain
circumstances, increase the conversion rate in respect of any
conversions of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L
that occur during the period (make-whole acquisition conversion
period) beginning on the effective date of the make-whole
acquisition (effective date) and ending on the date that is
30 days after the effective date, by a number of additional
shares of Wells Fargo common stock (make-whole shares) as
described below.
Wells Fargo will notify holders, at least 20 days prior to
the anticipated effective date of such make-whole acquisition,
or within two business days of becoming aware of a make-whole
acquisition described in the first bullet of the definition of
make-whole acquisition, of the anticipated effective
date of such transaction. The notice will specify the
anticipated effective date of the make-whole acquisition and the
date
-108-
by which each holders make-whole acquisition conversion
right must be exercised, which shall be 30 days after the
effective date of the make-whole acquisition. Wells Fargo will
also notify holders on the effective date of such make-whole
acquisition, or as soon as practicable thereafter, specifying,
among other things, the date that is 30 days after the
effective date, the number of make-whole shares and the amount
of the cash, securities and other consideration receivable by
the holder upon conversion. To exercise the make-whole
acquisition conversion right, a holder must deliver to the
conversion agent, on or before the close of business on the date
specified in the notice, the certificate evidencing such
holders shares of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L, if the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L
are held in certificated form. If a holders interest is a
beneficial interest in a global certificate representing Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series L, in order to convert a
holder must comply with the requirements listed above under
Conversion Procedures and comply with
the depositarys procedures for converting a beneficial
interest in a global security. The date that the holder complies
with these requirements is referred to as the make-whole
conversion date. If a holder does not elect to exercise
the make-whole acquisition conversion right within the specified
period, such holders shares of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L will remain outstanding until otherwise
converted but will not be eligible to receive make-whole shares.
Make-Whole Shares. The following table sets
forth the number of make-whole shares per share of Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L for each stock price and effective
date set forth below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price
|
|
Effective Date
|
|
$120.54
|
|
|
$125.57
|
|
|
$138.12
|
|
|
$150.68
|
|
|
$156.71
|
|
|
$175.79
|
|
|
$203.72
|
|
|
$226.02
|
|
|
$251.13
|
|
|
$301.36
|
|
|
$401.81
|
|
|
$502.26
|
|
|
April 17, 2008
|
|
|
1.9153
|
|
|
|
1.8855
|
|
|
|
1.5191
|
|
|
|
1.1110
|
|
|
|
0.9497
|
|
|
|
0.6471
|
|
|
|
0.3962
|
|
|
|
0.2847
|
|
|
|
0.2091
|
|
|
|
0.1354
|
|
|
|
0.0757
|
|
|
|
0.0458
|
|
March 15, 2009
|
|
|
1.9153
|
|
|
|
1.8775
|
|
|
|
1.5052
|
|
|
|
1.0951
|
|
|
|
0.9437
|
|
|
|
0.6331
|
|
|
|
0.3763
|
|
|
|
0.2588
|
|
|
|
0.1852
|
|
|
|
0.1175
|
|
|
|
0.0697
|
|
|
|
0.0438
|
|
March 15, 2010
|
|
|
1.9153
|
|
|
|
1.8397
|
|
|
|
1.4913
|
|
|
|
1.0871
|
|
|
|
0.9378
|
|
|
|
0.6073
|
|
|
|
0.3365
|
|
|
|
0.2210
|
|
|
|
0.1533
|
|
|
|
0.0956
|
|
|
|
0.0577
|
|
|
|
0.0358
|
|
March 15, 2011
|
|
|
1.9153
|
|
|
|
1.7899
|
|
|
|
1.4694
|
|
|
|
1.0731
|
|
|
|
0.9238
|
|
|
|
0.5794
|
|
|
|
0.2887
|
|
|
|
0.1712
|
|
|
|
0.1075
|
|
|
|
0.0657
|
|
|
|
0.0398
|
|
|
|
0.0259
|
|
March 15, 2012
|
|
|
1.9153
|
|
|
|
1.7561
|
|
|
|
1.4355
|
|
|
|
1.0652
|
|
|
|
0.9139
|
|
|
|
0.5356
|
|
|
|
0.2051
|
|
|
|
0.0896
|
|
|
|
0.0458
|
|
|
|
0.0299
|
|
|
|
0.0199
|
|
|
|
0.0119
|
|
March 15, 2013
|
|
|
1.9153
|
|
|
|
1.6704
|
|
|
|
1.4275
|
|
|
|
1.0592
|
|
|
|
0.9119
|
|
|
|
0.5097
|
|
|
|
0.0916
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
1.9153
|
|
|
|
1.6704
|
|
|
|
1.4275
|
|
|
|
1.0592
|
|
|
|
0.9119
|
|
|
|
0.5097
|
|
|
|
0.0916
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
|
|
0.0000
|
|
The number of make-whole shares will be determined by reference
to the table above and is based on the effective date and the
price (stock price) paid per share of Wells
Fargos common stock in such transaction. If the holders of
Wells Fargos shares of common stock receive only cash (in
a single per-share amount, other than with respect to appraisal
and similar rights) in the make-whole acquisition, the stock
price shall be the cash amount paid per share. For purposes of
the preceding sentence as applied to a make-whole acquisition
described in the first bullet of the definition of that term, a
single price per share shall be deemed to have been paid only if
the transaction or transactions that caused the person or group
to become direct or indirect ultimate beneficial owners of Wells
Fargos common equity representing more than 50% of the
voting power of Wells Fargos common stock was a tender
offer for more than 50% of Wells Fargos outstanding common
stock. Otherwise, the stock price shall be the average of the
closing price per share of Wells Fargos common stock on
the 10 trading days up to but not including the effective date.
The stock prices set forth in the first row of the table (i.e.,
the column headers) will be adjusted as of any date on which the
conversion rate of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L
is adjusted. The adjusted stock prices will equal the stock
prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
conversion rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise
to the stock price adjustment and the denominator of which is
the conversion rate as so adjusted. Each of the number of
make-whole shares in the table will be subject to adjustment in
the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth under
Anti-Dilution Rate Adjustments.
Conversion Upon Fundamental Change. In lieu of
receiving the make-whole shares, if the reference price (as
defined below) in connection with a make-whole acquisition is
less than $120.54 (a fundamental change), a holder may elect to
convert each share of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L
during the period beginning on the effective date of the
fundamental change and ending on the date that is 30 days
after the effective date of the fundamental change at an
adjusted conversion price equal to the greater of (1) the
reference price and (2) $60.27 (base price). The base price will
be adjusted as of any date that the conversion rate of the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series L is adjusted. The adjusted
base price will equal the base price
-109-
applicable immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the conversion rate
immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the
conversion rate adjustment and the denominator of which is the
conversion rate as so adjusted. If the reference price is less
than the base price, holders will receive a maximum of
16.5916 shares of Wells Fargos common stock per share
of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L, subject to
adjustment, which may result in a holder receiving value that is
less than the liquidation preference of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L. In lieu of issuing Wells Fargo
common stock upon conversion in the event of a fundamental
change, Wells Fargo may at Wells Fargos option, and if
Wells Fargo obtain any necessary regulatory approval, make a
cash payment equal to the reference price for each share of
Wells Fargo common stock otherwise issuable upon conversion. The
reference price is the stock price as
defined above in the paragraph immediately succeeding the table
under Conversion Upon Certain
Acquisitions Make-Whole Shares.
To exercise the fundamental change conversion right, a holder
must comply with the requirements listed above under
Conversion Procedures on or before the
date that is 30 days following the effectiveness of the
fundamental change and indicate that it is exercising the
fundamental change conversion right. If a holder does not elect
to exercise the fundamental change conversion right, such holder
will not be eligible to convert such holders shares at the
base price and such holders shares of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L will remain outstanding until
otherwise converted.
Wells Fargo will notify holders, at least 20 days prior to
the anticipated effective date of a fundamental change, or
within two business days of becoming aware of a make-whole
acquisition described in the first bullet of the definition of
make-whole acquisition, of the anticipated effective
date of such transaction. The notice will specify the
anticipated effective date of the fundamental change and the
date by which each holders fundamental change conversion
right must be exercised. Wells Fargo also will provide notice to
holders on the effective date of a fundamental change, or as
soon as practicable thereafter, specifying, among other things,
the date that is 30 days after the effective date, the
adjusted conversion price following the fundamental change and
the amount of the cash, securities and other consideration
receivable by the holder upon conversion. To exercise the
fundamental change conversion right, a holder must comply with
the requirements listed above under Conversion
Procedures on or before the date that is 30 days
following the effectiveness of the fundamental change and
indicate that it is exercising the fundamental change conversion
right. If a holder does not elect to exercise the fundamental
change conversion right within such period, such holder will not
be eligible to convert such holders shares at the base
price and such holders shares of Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L will remain outstanding (subject to the
holder electing to convert such holders shares as
described above under Conversion Upon Certain
Acquisitions).
Reorganization Events. In the event of:
(1) any consolidation or merger of Wells Fargo with or into
another person in each case pursuant to which Wells Fargo common
stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property
of Wells Fargo or another person;
(2) any sale, transfer, lease or conveyance to another
person of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of
Wells Fargo and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case
pursuant to which Wells Fargos common stock will be
converted into cash, securities or other property;
(3) any reclassification of Wells Fargos common stock
into securities, including securities other than Wells
Fargos common stock; or
(4) any statutory exchange of Wells Fargos securities
with another person (other than in connection with a merger or
acquisition)
each of which is referred to as a reorganization
event, each share of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L outstanding immediately prior to such
reorganization event will, without the consent of the holders of
the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L, become
convertible into the types and amounts of securities, cash and
other property receivable in such reorganization event by a
holder of the shares of Wells Fargos common stock that was
not the counterparty to the reorganization event or an affiliate
of such other party (such securities, cash and other property,
the exchange property). In the event that holders of
the shares of Wells
-110-
Fargos common stock have the opportunity to elect the form
of consideration to be received in such transaction, the
consideration that the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L are entitled to receive will be deemed to be
the types and amounts of consideration received by the majority
of the holders of the shares of Wells Fargos common stock
that affirmatively make an election. Holders have the right to
convert their shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L in the event of certain acquisitions as described
under Conversion Upon Certain
Acquisitions and Conversion Upon
Fundamental Change. In connection with certain
reorganization events, holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L may have the right to vote as a class. See
Voting.
Anti-Dilution Rate Adjustments. The conversion
rate will be adjusted, without duplication, if certain events
occur:
(1) the issuance of Wells Fargos common stock as a
dividend or distribution to all holders of Wells Fargos
common stock, or a subdivision or combination of Wells
Fargos common stock (other than in connection with a
transaction constituting a reorganization event), in which event
the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following
formula:
CR1
=
CR0
x (OS 1/
OS0)
Where,
|
|
|
|
|
CR0
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the
record date
|
CR1
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
|
OS0
|
|
=
|
|
the number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock outstanding at
the close of business on the record date prior to giving effect
to such event
|
OS1
|
|
=
|
|
the number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock that would be
outstanding immediately after, and solely as a result of, such
event
|
(2) the issuance to all holders of Wells Fargos
common stock of certain rights or warrants (other than rights
issued pursuant to a shareholder rights plan or rights or
warrants issued in connection with a transaction constituting a
reorganization event) entitling them for a period expiring
60 days or less from the date of issuance of such rights or
warrants to purchase shares of Wells Fargo common stock (or
securities convertible into Wells Fargo common stock) at less
than (or having a conversion price per share less than) the
current market price of Wells Fargo common stock as of the
record date, in which event the conversion rate will be adjusted
based on the following formula:
CR
1 =
CR0
x
[(OS0
+ X) /
(OS0
+ Y)]
Where,
|
|
|
|
|
CR0
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the
record date
|
CR1
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
|
OS0
|
|
=
|
|
the number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock outstanding at
the close of business on the record date
|
X
|
|
=
|
|
the total number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock issuable
pursuant to such rights or warrants (or upon conversion of such
securities)
|
Y
|
|
=
|
|
the number of shares equal to quotient of the aggregate price
payable to exercise such rights or warrants (or the conversion
price for such securities paid upon conversion) divided by the
average of the volume-weighted average price of Wells Fargo
common stock over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted
average price trading days prior to the Business Day immediately
preceding the announcement of the issuance of such rights or
warrants
|
(3) the dividend or other distribution to all holders of
Wells Fargo common stock of shares of Wells Fargo capital stock
(other than common stock) or evidences of Wells Fargos
indebtedness or Wells Fargos assets (excluding any
dividend, distribution or issuance covered by clauses (1)
or (2) above or (4) below, any dividend or
distribution in connection with a transaction constituting a
reorganization event or any spin-off to
-111-
which the provisions set forth below in this clause (3)
apply) in which event the conversion rate will be adjusted based
on the following formula:
CR
1 =
CR0
x
[SP0
/
(SP0
FMV)]
where,
|
|
|
|
|
CR0
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the
record date
|
CR1
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
|
SP0
|
|
=
|
|
the current market price as of the record date
|
FMV
|
|
=
|
|
the fair market value (as determined by our board of directors)
on the record date of the shares of capital stock, evidences of
indebtedness or assets so distributed, applicable to one share
of Wells Fargo common stock
|
However, if the transaction that gives rise to an adjustment
pursuant to this clause (3) is one pursuant to which the
payment of a dividend or other distribution on Wells
Fargos common stock consists of shares of capital stock
of, or similar equity interests in, a subsidiary or other
business unit of Wells Fargo (i.e., a spin-off) that are, or,
when issued, will be, traded or quoted on the NYSE, the Nasdaq
Stock Market or any other national or regional securities
exchange or market, then the conversion rate will instead be
adjusted based on the following formula:
CR
1 =
CR0
x
[(FMV0
+
MP0)
/
MP0]
where,
|
|
|
|
|
CR0
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the
record date
|
CR1
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
|
FMV0
|
|
=
|
|
the average of the volume-weighted average price of the capital
stock or similar equity interests distributed to holders of our
common stock applicable to one share of Wells Fargo common stock
over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted average price
trading days commencing on and including the third
volume-weighted average price trading day after the date on
which ex-distribution trading commences for such
dividend or distribution on the NYSE or such other national or
regional exchange or association or over-the-counter market or
if not so traded or quoted, the fair market value of the capital
stock or similar equity interests distributed to holders of
Wells Fargo common stock applicable to one share of Wells Fargo
common stock as determined by Wells Fargo board of directors
|
MP0
|
|
=
|
|
the average of the volume-weighted average price of Wells Fargo
common stock over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted
average price trading days commencing on and including the third
volume-weighted average price trading day after the date on
which ex-distribution trading commences for such
dividend or distribution on the NYSE or such other national or
regional exchange or association or over-the-counter market on
which Wells Fargo common stock is then traded or quoted
|
(4) Wells Fargo make a distribution consisting exclusively
of cash to all holders of Wells Fargo common stock, excluding
(a) any regular cash dividend on Wells Fargo common stock
to the extent that the aggregate regular cash dividend per share
of Wells Fargo common stock does not exceed $0.375 / 0.1991 in
any fiscal quarter (the dividend threshold amount) and
(b) any consideration payable in connection with a tender
or
-112-
exchange offer made by us or any of its subsidiaries referred to
in clause (5) below, in which event, the conversion rate
will be adjusted based on the following formula:
CR
1 =
CR0
x
[SP0
/
(SP0
C)]
where,
|
|
|
|
|
CR0
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the
record date
|
CR1
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
|
SP0
|
|
=
|
|
the current market price as of the record date
|
C
|
|
=
|
|
the amount in cash per share equal to (1) in the case of a
regular quarterly dividend, the amount Wells Fargo distributes
to holders or pay, less the dividend threshold amount or
(2) in any other case, the amount Wells Fargo distributes
to holders or pay
|
The dividend threshold amount is subject to adjustment on an
inversely proportional basis whenever the conversion rate is
adjusted, provided that no adjustment will be made to the
dividend threshold amount for any adjustment made to the
conversion rate pursuant to this clause (4).
(5) Wells Fargo or one or more of Wells Fargos
subsidiaries make purchases of Wells Fargo common stock pursuant
to a tender offer or exchange offer by Wells Fargo or one of
Wells Fargos subsidiaries for Wells Fargo common stock to
the extent that the cash and value (as determined by Wells
Fargos board of directors) of any other consideration
included in the payment per share of Wells Fargo common stock
validly tendered or exchanged exceeds the volume-weighted
average price per share of Wells Fargo common stock on the
volume-weighted average price trading day next succeeding the
last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to
such tender or exchange offer (expiration date), in which
event the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the
following formula:
CR1
=
CR0
x [(FMV +
(SP1 x
OS1) /
(SP1
x
OS0)]
where,
|
|
|
|
|
CR0
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the
expiration date
|
CR1
|
|
=
|
|
the conversion rate in effect immediately after the expiration
date
|
FMV
|
|
=
|
|
the fair market value (as determined by Wells Fargos board
of directors), on the expiration date, of the aggregate value of
all cash and any other consideration paid or payable for shares
validly tendered or exchanged and not withdrawn as of the
expiration date
|
OS1
|
|
=
|
|
the number of shares of Wells Fargo common stock outstanding as
of the last time tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to
such tender or exchange offer (expiration time) less any
purchased shares
|
OS0
|
|
=
|
|
the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the
expiration time, including any purchased shares
|
SP1
|
|
=
|
|
the average of the volume-weighted average price of common stock
over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted average price
trading days commencing with the volume-weighted average price
trading day immediately after the expiration date
|
Record date means, for purpose of a conversion rate
adjustment, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other
transaction or event in which the holders of Wells Fargo common
stock have the right to receive any cash, securities or other
property or in which Wells Fargo common stock (or other
applicable security) is exchanged for or converted into any
combination of cash, securities or other property, the date
fixed for determination of holders of Wells Fargo common stock
entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property
(whether such date is fixed by Wells Fargos board of
directors or by statute, contract or otherwise).
Current market price of Wells Fargo common stock on
any day, means the average of the volume-weighted average price
of Wells Fargo common stock over each of the ten consecutive
volume-weighted average price trading days ending on the earlier
of the day in question and the day before the ex-date or other
specified date with respect to the issuance or distribution
requiring such computation, appropriately adjusted to
-113-
take into account the occurrence during such period of any event
described in clauses (1) through (5) above. For
purposes of the foregoing, ex-date means the first
date on which the shares of Wells Fargo common stock trade on
the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular
way, without the right to receive an issuance or distribution.
Rights upon Liquidation. In the event of Wells
Fargos voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
winding-up
and liquidation, the holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L at the time outstanding will be entitled to
receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of the
Liquidation Preference of $1,000 per share, plus any authorized,
declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current dividend
period to the date of liquidation, out of Wells Fargos
assets legally available for distribution to Wells Fargo
stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of
Wells Fargo common stock or any securities ranking junior to the
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L and subject to the
rights of the holders of any class or series of securities
ranking senior to or on parity with the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L upon liquidation and the rights of Wells
Fargos creditors. If the amounts available for
distribution upon Wells Fargos dissolution,
winding-up
and liquidation are not sufficient to satisfy the full
liquidation rights of all the outstanding Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L and all stock ranking equal to the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series L, then the holders of each
series of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L will share
ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full
respective preferential amount to which they are entitled. After
the full amount of the Liquidation Preference is paid, the
holders of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L will not be
entitled to any further participation in any distribution of
Wells Fargos assets.
Voting. Holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L will not have any voting rights and will not
be entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law
and except for the special voting rights provided for below.
Right to Elect Two Directors upon
Nonpayment. If, after issuance of the Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock Series L, Wells Fargo fails to pay, or
declare and set aside for payment, full dividends on the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series L or any other class or series
of voting parity stock for six dividend periods or their
equivalent (whether or not consecutive), the authorized number
of Wells Fargos directors will be increased by two.
Subject to satisfaction of certain qualifications for persons
serving as directors pursuant to regulations of any securities
exchange on which Wells Fargos securities are then listed
or traded, the holders of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L, voting together as a single and separate class
with the holders of all outstanding voting parity stock on which
dividends likewise have not been paid, will have the right to
elect two directors in addition to the directors then in office
at Wells Fargos next annual meeting of shareholders. When
dividends have been paid in full on the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L and any and all voting parity stock for at
least four consecutive dividend periods or their equivalent,
then the right of the holders of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L to elect directors shall cease (but subject always
to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any future
nonpayment of dividends), and, if and when all rights of holders
of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L and voting parity
stock to elect directors shall have ceased, the terms of office
of all the directors elected by preferred stock holders under
this provision shall forthwith terminate and the number of
directors constituting the board of directors shall
automatically be reduced accordingly.
Other Voting Rights. So long as any shares of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L are outstanding, the
vote or consent of the holders of at least
662/3%
of the shares of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L at
the time outstanding, voting as a class with all other series of
preferred stock ranking equally with the Wells Fargo Preferred
Stock Series L and entitled to vote thereon, given in
person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by
vote at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary
for effecting or validating any of the following actions,
whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:
|
|
|
|
|
any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of Wells
Fargos restated certificate of incorporation, as amended
(including the certificates of designations creating the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series L) or Wells Fargos
bylaws that would alter or change the voting powers, preferences
or special rights of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L so as to affect them adversely;
|
|
|
|
any amendment or alteration of Wells Fargos restated
certificate of incorporation, as amended, to authorize or
create, or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of
any shares of, or any
|
-114-
|
|
|
|
|
securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of
Wells Fargos capital stock ranking prior to the Wells
Fargo Preferred Stock Series L in the payment of dividends
or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution
or Wells Fargos
winding-up; or
|
|
|
|
|
|
the consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification
involving the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L or a
merger or consolidation with another entity, except holders of
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L will have no right to
vote under this provision or otherwise under Delaware law if, in
each case, (i) the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L remains outstanding or, in the case of any such
merger or consolidation with respect to which Wells Fargo is not
the surviving or resulting entity, is converted into or
exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or
resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such
Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L remaining outstanding
or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such
rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a
whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders
thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting
powers of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L, taken
as a whole;
|
except that any authorization, creation or increase in the
authorized amount of or issuance of Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L or any class or series of parity stock or Junior
Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of
parity stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such
parity stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock
will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences,
privileges or voting powers of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock
Series L, and, notwithstanding any provision of Delaware
law, holders of the Wells Fargo Preferred Stock Series L
shall have no right to vote thereon.
-115-
COMPARISON
OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
If the merger is completed, holders of Wachovia common stock
will receive shares of Wells Fargo common stock for their shares
of Wachovia common stock. If the merger is completed, each share
of each series of Wachovia preferred stock will be converted
into a share, or fractional share, of Wells Fargo preferred
stock of corresponding series having rights, privileges, powers
and preferences substantially identical to those of the relevant
series of Wachovia preferred stock, which are summarized in
Wells Fargo Capital Stock New Wells Fargo
Preferred Stock to be Issued in the Merger beginning on
page 94. The following is a summary of the material
differences between the rights of holders of Wachovia common
stock and holders of Wells Fargo common stock under applicable
law and the governing documents of Wells Fargo and Wachovia. The
summary is not a complete statement of the provisions affecting,
and the differences between, such rights. An indication that
some of the differences in the rights are material does not mean
that there are not other equally important differences.
The description of the rights of holders of Wachovia common
stock is qualified in its entirety by reference to the NCBCA and
Wachovias restated articles of incorporation, which are
filed as an exhibit to its Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, as amended by the
Articles of Amendment filed as exhibits to its Current Reports
on
Form 8-K
filed February 8, 2008, April 17, 2008, and
October 21, 2008; and Wachovias bylaws, that are
filed as an exhibit to its Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007. The description of
the rights of holders of Wells Fargo common stock is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the DGCL; Wells Fargos
restated certificate of incorporation which is filed as an
exhibit to its Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 as amended by the
Certificates of Designations filed as exhibits to its Current
Reports on
Form 8-K
filed March 18, 2008, May 19, 2008 and
September 10, 2008; and Wells Fargos bylaws, which is
filed as an exhibit to its Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed September 29, 2008. We urge you to read these
statutes and documents in their entirety.
Authorized
Capital Stock
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovias restated articles of incorporation authorize it
to issue up to 3 billion shares of common stock, par value
$3.331/3
per share, 10 million shares of preferred stock, no-par value
per share, 40 million shares of class A preferred stock, no-par
value per share, 2.3 million of which are designated as Class A
Preferred Stock, Series J, 3.5 million of which are designated
as class A Preferred Stock, Series K, and 4,025,000 of which are
designated as class A Preferred Stock, Series L, and 500 million
DEP Shares, no par value per share. As of September 30, 2008
there were 2,160,916,999 shares of Wachovia common stock
issued and outstanding, 2.3 million shares of Class A Preferred
Stock, Series J outstanding, which shares of Class A Preferred
Stock, Series J, are represented by 92 million depositary
shares, each representing 1/40th of an interest in a share
of Class A Preferred Stock, Series J, 3.5 million shares of
Class A Preferred Stock, Series K outstanding,
4,025,000 shares of Class A Preferred Stock, Series L
outstanding, approximately 97 million DEP Shares issued and
outstanding and, as of October 20, 2008 10 shares of
Class A Preferred Stock Series M outstanding. As of
September 30, 2008, no shares of Wachovia Class A Preferred
Stock Series G, Wachovia Class A Preferred
|
|
Wells Fargos restated certificate of incorporation
authorize it to issue up to 6 billion shares of common stock,
par value
$12/3
per share, 20 million shares of preferred stock without par
value, 75,000 shares of which are designated as 1999 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 170,000 shares of
which are designated as 2000 ESOP Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock, 192,000 shares of which are designated as
2001 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
238,0000 shares of which are designated as 2002 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 260,200 shares of
which are designated as 2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock, 321,000 shares of which are designated as
2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
363,000 shares of which are designated as 2005 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 414,000 shares of
which are designated as 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock, 484,000 shares of which are designated as
2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
520,500 shares of which are designated as 2008 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 25,001 shares of
which are designated as Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred
Stock, Series A and 17,501 shares of which are designated
as Non-
|
-116-
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Stock Series H or Wachovia Preferred Stock Series I were
issued.
|
|
Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, and 4 million
shares of preference stock. As of September 30, 2008 there were
3,321,218,629 shares of Wells Fargo common stock issued and
outstanding, 1,220 shares of 1999 ESOP Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding, 8,844 shares of
2000 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding,
16,073 shares of 2001 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock outstanding, 24,899 shares of 2002 ESOP Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding, 35,718 shares of
2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding,
53,750 shares of 2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock outstanding, 70,834 shares of 2005 ESOP Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding, 92,749 shares of
2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding,
122,659 shares of 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock outstanding, 198,708 shares of 2008 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding, no shares of
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A outstanding,
no shares of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B
outstanding, and no preference shares outstanding. See
Description of Wells Fargo Capital Stock.
|
Size of
Board of Directors
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovias restated articles of incorporation provide for
Wachovias board to consist of not less than nine nor more
than 30 directors. The exact number is fixed by
Wachovias board from time to time and is currently fixed
at 17.
|
|
Wells Fargos bylaws provide that the board of directors
shall consist of not less than three or more than
28 persons, with the exact number to be determined from
time to time by the board. Wells Fargos board of
directors currently consists of 16 members.
|
Classes
of Directors
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovias board is elected annually for one-year terms.
Holders of shares of Wachovia common stock do not have the right
to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.
|
|
Wells Fargos board is elected annually for one-year terms.
Holders of shares of Wells Fargo common stock do not have the
right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.
|
Election
of Directors
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovias restated articles of incorporation provide that
nominees for election to Wachovias board in uncontested
director elections must receive a majority of votes cast in
order to be elected. In the case of contested elections,
Wachovia directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast.
|
|
In an uncontested election (the number of nominees equals the
number of directors to be elected) a nominee is elected if the
votes cast for his or her election exceed the votes cast against
his or her election. In a contested election (the number of
candidates exceeds the number
|
-117-
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
|
to be elected) directors are elected by a plurality of the
vote.
|
Removal
of Directors
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Under NCBCA Section 55-8-08, the shareholders may remove one or
more directors with or without cause unless the articles of
incorporation provide that the directors may be removed only for
cause. Wachovias restated articles of incorporation
provided that, except for directors elected under specified
circumstances by holders of any stock class or series having a
dividend or liquidation preference over Wachovia common stock,
Wachovia directors may be removed only for cause and only by a
majority vote of the shares then entitled to vote in the
election of directors, voting together as a single class.
|
|
Under the DGCL, a Wells Fargo director, or the entire Wells
Fargo board, can be removed, with or without cause, by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at
an election of directors.
|
Filling
Vacancies on the Board of Directors
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Under Wachovias restated articles of incorporation, any
vacancy occurring in Wachovias board shall be filled by a
majority of the remaining directors unless the vacancy is a
result of the directors removal by a vote of the
shareholders. In that case, the vacancy may be filled by a
shareholder vote at the same meeting.
|
|
Any vacancy on the board created by the death, resignation,
retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise
may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.
|
Nomination
of Director Candidates by Shareholders
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovias by-laws establish procedures that shareholders
must follow to nominate persons for election to Wachovias
board. The shareholder making the nomination must deliver
written notice to Wachovias Secretary between 60 and
90 days before anniversary of the preceding years
annual meeting. However, if the annual meeting occurs more than
30 days before or more than 60 days after the
anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, any
shareholder making a nomination must deliver written notice to
Wachovias Secretary between 60 and 90 days before the
annual meeting at which directors will be elected. However, if
less than 70 days notice is given of the meeting
date, that written notice by the shareholder must be delivered
by the tenth day after the day on which the meeting date notice
was given. Notice will be deemed to have been given more than
70 days prior to the meeting if the meeting is called on
the third Tuesday of April. The
|
|
To nominate a candidate for election as a Wells Fargo director
at an annual meeting, a shareholder must submit a written notice
of the proposed nomination to Wells Fargos chief executive
officer and its corporate secretary not earlier than 120
days, and not later than 90 days, before the first
anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting.
The
written notice must set forth as to each individual whom the
shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re- election as
a director:
such individuals name;
the number of shares of Wells Fargo
common stock owned by such individual;
sufficient information about the
individuals experience and qualifications for the board,
or a committee of the board, to determine if such individual
meets the minimum qualifications for
|
-118-
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
|
|
nomination notice must set forth certain information about the
person to be nominated similar to information required for
disclosure in proxy solicitations for director election pursuant
to Exchange Act Regulation 14A, and must also include the
nominees written consent to being nominated and to serving
as a director if elected. The nomination notice must also set
forth certain information about the person submitting the
notice, including the shareholders name and address and
the class and number of Wachovia shares that the shareholder
owns of record or beneficially. The meeting chairman may, if
the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in
accordance with Wachovias by- law provisions, and the
defective nomination will be disregarded. These procedures do
not apply to any director nominated under specified
circumstances by holders of any stock class or series having a
dividend or liquidation preference over Wachovia common stock.
|
|
directors as approved and publicly disclosed by the board from
time to time or as required by law;
all other information relating to such
individual that is required to be disclosed by Wells Fargo in a
proxy statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (including such individuals written
consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and
to serving as a director if elected); and
a description of all compensation and
other material monetary agreements and arrangements during the
past three years, and any other material relationships between
or among the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial
owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and the proposed
nominee and his or her respective affiliates;
and
include a questionnaire providing information about the proposed
nominee, such as the nominees material relationships with
the shareholder giving the notice, voting commitments or other
arrangements with respect to the proposed nominees actions
as a director and any compensation or indemnification
arrangements for serving as a director, and requiring such
proposed nominee to agree not to become a party to such
arrangements.
The
notice must also set forth as to the shareholder giving the
notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the
nomination is made,
the name and address of such
shareholder, as they appear on Wells Fargos stock ledger,
and of such beneficial owner;
the class and number of shares of Wells
Fargo common stock which are owned beneficially and of record by
such shareholder and any such beneficial owner;
certain details about all ownership
interests in Wells Fargo common stock by the shareholder and any
beneficial owner, including any hedging, derivative, short or
other economic interests and any rights to vote Wells Fargo
common stock;
whether the proponent intends or is part
of a group which intends to solicit proxies from
|
-119-
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
|
|
other shareholders in support of such nomination; and
any other information relating to such
proponent and any beneficial owner that is required to be
disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings made in
connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of
directors in a contested election under Section 14 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
|
Calling
Special Meetings of Shareholders
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
A special meeting of shareholders may be called for any purpose
only by Wachovias board, by Wachovias chairman of
the board or by Wachovias president.
|
|
Wells Fargos bylaws provide that special meetings of
shareholders may be called by the board, the chief executive
officer or the secretary. Shareholders do not have the ability
to call a special meeting of shareholders unless otherwise
required by the DGCL. This restriction on who may call a
special meeting of shareholders, including the inability of
holders of common stock to call a special meeting, may deter
hostile takeovers of Wells Fargo by making it more difficult for
a person or entity to call a special meeting of shareholders for
the purpose of considering an acquisition proposal or related
matters.
|
Shareholder
Action at a Meeting
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovias bylaws provide that all matters to be voted on
at meetings of shareholders, except election of directors in
other than uncontested elections or as otherwise provided by
law, provided that a majority of the votes entitled to be cast
on the matter are present, will be approved if votes in favor of
such matter exceed the votes cast opposing the action. In all
director elections other than uncontested elections, directors
shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast.
|
|
Wells Fargos bylaws provide that all matters to be voted
on at meetings of shareholders, except for the election of
directors, amendments to Wells Fargos bylaws or as
otherwise required by law, will be approved if such matter
receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and
entitled to vote on the matter.
|
Shareholder
Action Without a Meeting
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovias bylaws provide that any action any action that
is required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the
shareholders may be taken without a meeting if one or more
written consents, describing the action so taken, is signed by
all of the shareholders who would be entitled to vote upon such
action at a meeting.
|
|
Wells Fargos bylaws provide that any action required or
permitted to be taken at a shareholders meeting may be
taken without a meeting pursuant to the written consent of the
holders of the number of shares that would have been required to
effect the action at an actual meeting of the shareholders, and
provide certain procedures to be followed in such cases.
|
-120-
Shareholder
Protection Rights Plan
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovia has a shareholder protection rights plan. The rights
plan allows holders of Wachovia common stock to purchase shares
in either Wachovia or an acquiror at a discount to market value
in response to specified takeover events that are not approved
in advance by Wachovias board. Each right allows its
holder to purchase from Wachovia one one- hundredth of a
Wachovia participating class A preferred share for $105. This
portion of a preferred share will give the shareholder
approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights
as would one share of common stock. Wachovias board may
elect to terminate the rights at any time before a flip-in
occurs. Otherwise, the rights are currently scheduled to
terminate in 2010. The rights will not prevent a takeover of
Wachovia. However, the rights may cause a substantial dilution
to a person or group that acquires 10% or more of our common
stock unless Wachovias board first terminates the rights.
Nevertheless, the rights should not interfere with a transaction
that is in Wachovias and its shareholders best
interests because the rights can be terminated by the board
before that transaction is completed. On October 3, 2008,
Wachovia amended the rights plan to provide that the rights plan
does not apply to the execution of the merger agreement or the
share exchange agreement, or the consummation of the issuance of
the Series M Preferred Stock to Wells Fargo or other
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or the share
exchange agreement.
The
complete terms of the rights are contained in the Shareholder
Protection Rights Agreement. The foregoing description of the
rights and the rights agreement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the agreement. A copy of the rights agreement can
be obtained upon written request to Wachovia Bank, National
Association, 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
28288-0206.
|
|
Wells Fargo does not have a shareholder protection rights plan.
|
Anti-Takeover
Provisions
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
North Carolina has two anti-takeover statutes, The North
Carolina Shareholder Protection Act and The North Carolina
Control Share Acquisition Act. These statutes restrict business
combinations with, and the accumulation of shares of voting
stock of, certain North Carolina corporations. In accordance
with the provisions of these statutes, Wachovia elected not to
be covered by the restrictions imposed by these statutes. As a
result, these statutes do not apply to Wachovia. In
|
|
Section 203 of the DGCL generally prohibits business
combinations, including mergers, sales and leases of
assets, issuances of securities and similar transactions by a
corporation or a subsidiary with an interested
stockholder who beneficially owns 15% or more of a
corporations voting stock, within three years after the
person or entity becomes an interested stockholder, unless:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-121-
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
addition, North Carolina has a Tender Offer Disclosure Act,
which contains certain prohibitions against deceptive practices
in connection with making a tender offer and also contains a
filing requirement with the North Carolina Secretary of State
that has been held unenforceable as to its 30-day waiting
period.
|
|
the transaction that will cause the
person or entity to become an interested stockholder is approved
by the board of directors of the target prior to the
transaction;
after the completion of the transaction
in which the person or entity becomes an interested stockholder,
the interested stockholder holds at least 85% of the voting
stock of the corporation not including (a) shares held by
officers and directors of interested stockholders and (b) shares
held by specified employee benefit plans; or
after the person or entity becomes an
interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by
the board of directors and holders of at least
66 2/ 3%
of the outstanding voting stock, excluding shares held by the
interested stockholder.
A Delaware corporation may elect not to be governed by Section
203. Wells Fargo has not made such an election.
|
Dissenters
Rights
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Because Wachovia common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange and is currently held by more than
2,000 shareholders of record, holders of Wachovia common
stock generally will not have appraisal rights in connection
with consolidations and mergers involving Wachovia. See
The Merger Dissenters or Appraisal
Rights on page 55.
|
|
Because Wells Fargo common stock is listed on the NYSE and is
currently held by more than 2,000 shareholders, holders of
Wells Fargo common stock generally will not have appraisal
rights in connection with consolidations and mergers involving
Wells Fargo.
|
Indemnification
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
The NCBCA contains specific provisions relating to
indemnification of directors and officers of North Carolina
corporations. In general, the statute provides that:
a corporation must indemnify a
director or officer who is wholly successful in his defense of a
proceeding to which he is a party because of his status as a
director or officer, unless limited by the articles of
incorporation, and
a corporation may indemnify a director
or officer if he is not wholly successful in that defense, if it
is determined as provided in the statute that the director or
officer meets a
|
|
The DGCL provides that, subject to certain limitations in the
case of derivative suits brought by a
corporations stockholders in its name, a corporation may
indemnify any person who is made a party to any third-party suit
or proceeding on account of being a director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation against expenses, including
attorneys fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with
the action, through, among other things, a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the suit
or proceeding, if the person:
acted in good faith and in a manner he
or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
|
-122-
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
certain standard of conduct, provided that when a director or
officer is liable to the corporation, the corporation may not
indemnify him.
The
statute also permits a director or officer of a corporation who
is a party to a proceeding to apply to the courts for
indemnification unless the articles of incorporation provide
otherwise, and the court may order indemnification under certain
circumstances set forth in the statute. The statute further
provides that a corporation may in its articles of incorporation
or by-laws or by contract or resolution provide indemnification
in addition to that provided by the statute, subject to certain
conditions set forth in the statute.
Wachovias by-laws provide for the indemnification of
Wachovias directors and executive officers by Wachovia
against liabilities arising out of their status as directors or
executive officers, excluding, as provided for in the NCBCA, any
liability relating to activities which were, at the time taken,
known or believed by such person to be clearly in conflict with
the best interests of Wachovia.
|
|
the best interests of the corporation or, in some
circumstances, at least not opposed to its best interests; and
in a criminal proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
To
the extent a director, officer, employee or agent is successful
in the defense of such an action, suit or proceeding, Wells
Fargo is required by the DGCL to indemnify such person for
reasonable expenses incurred thereby.
Wells
Fargos restated certificate of incorporation provides that
Wells Fargo must indemnify, to the fullest extent authorized by
the DGCL, each person who was or is made a party to, is
threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action,
suit or proceeding because he or she is or was a director or
officer of Wells Fargo (or is or was serving at the request of
Wells Fargo as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent
of another entity) while serving in such capacity against all
expenses, liabilities, or losses incurred by such person in
connection therewith, provided that indemnification in
connection with a proceeding brought by such person will be
permitted only if the proceeding was authorized by Wells
Fargos board of directors.
Wells
Fargos restated certificate of incorporation also provides
that Wells Fargo must pay expenses incurred in defending the
proceedings specified above in advance of their final
disposition, provided that, if so required by the DGCL, such
advance payments for expenses incurred by a director or officer
may be made only if he or she undertakes to repay all amounts so
advanced if it is ultimately determined that the person
receiving such payments is not entitled to be indemnified.
Wells Fargos restated certificate of incorporation
authorizes Wells Fargo to provide similar indemnification to
employees or agents of Wells Fargo.
|
Limitations
on Directors Liability
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Wachovias restated articles of incorporation eliminate
personal liability of each Wachovia director to the fullest
extent the NCBCA permits. The NCBCA does not permit eliminating
liability with respect to:
acts or omissions that the director at
the time of the breach knew or believed were clearly in
|
|
Wells Fargos restated certificate of incorporation
provides that a director of Wells Fargo shall not be liable
personally to Wells Fargo or its shareholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for
liability arising out of:
|
-123-
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
conflict with the best interests of the corporation;
any liability for unlawful
distributions;
any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit; or
acts or omissions occurring prior to the
date the provisions became effective.
|
|
any breach of the directors duty
of loyalty to Wells Fargo or its shareholders;
acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law;
payment of a dividend or approval of a
stock repurchase in violation of Section 174 of the DGCL; or
any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.
|
Amendments
to Articles/Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
|
|
|
Wachovia
|
|
Wells Fargo
|
|
Under North Carolina law, an amendment to the articles of
incorporation generally requires the board to recommend the
amendment, and either a majority of all shares entitled to vote
thereon or a majority of the votes cast thereon, to approve the
amendment, depending on the amendments nature. In
accordance with North Carolina law, Wachovias board may
condition the proposed amendments submission on any
basis. Under certain circumstances, the affirmative vote of
holders of at least two-thirds, or in some cases a majority, of
the outstanding Wachovia preferred stock or Wachovia class A
preferred stock is needed to approve an amendment to the
articles of incorporation. In addition, amendments to
provisions of Wachovias restated articles of incorporation
or Wachovias by-laws related to the maximum and minimum
number of directors, or the authority to call special
shareholders meetings, require the approval of not less
than 80% of the outstanding Wachovia shares entitled to vote in
the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
An amendment to Wachovias by-laws generally requires
either the shareholders or Wachovias board to approve the
amendment. Wachovias board generally may not amend any by-
law the shareholders approve, in addition to the other
restrictions against the board amending the by-laws.
|
|
Under the DGCL, Wells Fargos board must propose an
amendment to Wells Fargos certificate of incorporation,
and Wells Fargos stockholders must approve the amendment
by a majority of outstanding shares entitled to vote. Wells
Fargos restated certificate of incorporation provides that
it may be amended in the manner Delaware law prescribes. Wells
Fargos by-laws may be amended by Wells Fargos board
or by Wells Fargos stockholders. Generally, an amendment
to Wells Fargos bylaws will be approved if such amendment
receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting on the
amendment. Certain provisions of Wells Fargos bylaws
relating to local directors may only be amended by a vote of
eighty percent (80%) in amount of the common stock of the
company outstanding at the time of such amendment or by the
board after receipt of the written consent of the holders of at
least eighty percent (80%) of the common stock of the company.
|
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR NEXT YEAR
Wachovia will hold a 2009 annual meeting of shareholders only if
the merger is not completed. Unless changed, Wachovias
2009 annual meeting of shareholders is scheduled to be held at
9:30 am on April 21, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Under the SEC rules, holders of common stock who wish to make a
proposal to be included in Wachovias proxy statement and
proxy for Wachovias 2009 annual meeting of shareholders
must cause such proposal to be received by Wachovia at its
principal office at 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North
Carolina
28288-0013,
Attention: Corporate Secretary, on or before November 10,
-124-
2008. If, for some reason, the 2009 annual meeting is held
before March 23, 2009 or after May 22, 2009, a
shareholder proposal must be received a reasonable time before
the proxy solicitation for the 2009 annual meeting. Each
proposal submitted should be accompanied by the name and address
of the shareholder submitting the proposal, the number of shares
of common stock owned and the dates those shares were acquired
by the shareholder. If the proponent is not a shareholder of
record, proof of beneficial ownership should also be submitted.
The proponent should also state his or her intention to continue
to hold Wachovia common stock through the date of the 2009
annual meeting of shareholders and appear at Wachovias
2009 annual meeting, either in person or by representative, to
present the proposal. The proxy rules of the SEC govern the
content and form of shareholder proposals and the minimum
stockholding requirement. All proposals must be a proper subject
for action at Wachovias 2009 annual meeting of
shareholders.
Additionally, if properly requested, a shareholder may submit a
proposal for consideration at the 2009 annual meeting of
shareholders, but not for inclusion in Wachovias proxy
statement and proxy for the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders.
Each proposal submitted should set forth a brief description of
the matter and the reasons for bringing it before the meeting,
the name and address of the shareholder submitting the proposal,
the number and class of shares owned or beneficially held by the
shareholder and any material interest held by the shareholder in
the business other than the interest as a Wachovia shareholder.
Under Wachovias by-laws, for business to be properly
requested to be brought before an annual meeting of
shareholders, the Secretary of Wachovia must receive a
shareholder proposal between January 22, 2009 and
February 21, 2009. If Wachovias annual meeting is
held before March 23, 2009 or after June 21, 2009 then
the Secretary of Wachovia must receive any shareholder proposal
between ninety days and sixty days before the scheduled annual
meeting or ten days following the first public announcement of
the scheduled annual meeting. Additionally, the shareholder must
be a shareholder of record of Wachovia at the time of giving
such notice and be entitled to vote at such annual meeting. A
copy of the by-laws may be obtained from the Secretary of
Wachovia at the address on the first page of this proxy
statement-prospectus.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Wells Fargo &
Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006,
and for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 2007, and managements assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference
herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent
registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference
herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing. The audit report on the aforementioned
consolidated financial statements, dated February 25, 2008,
refers to Wells Fargos change in the method of accounting
for income taxes, leveraged lease transactions, certain
mortgages held for sale and retained interests, and Wells
Fargos additional disclosure regarding the measurement of
fair value for financial assets and liabilities in 2007 and
refers to a change in the method of accounting for residential
mortgage servicing rights and stock-based compensation in 2006.
The consolidated financial statements of Wachovia Corporation
and Subsidiaries (Wachovia Corporation) as of December 31,
2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 2007, and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting as of
December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference
herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent
registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference
herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing. The audit report on the aforementioned
consolidated financial statements, dated February 25, 2008,
refers to Wachovia Corporations change in the method of
accounting for income tax uncertainties, leveraged leases,
hybrid financial instruments, collateral associated with
derivative contracts and life insurance in 2007 and refers to a
change in the method of accounting for mortgage servicing
rights, stock-based compensation and pension and other
postretirement plans in 2006.
-125-
LEGAL
OPINIONS
James Strother, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of
Wells Fargo, or another of Wells Fargos lawyers, has
rendered a legal opinion that the shares of Wells Fargo common
and preferred stock offered hereby, when issued in accordance
with the merger agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable. Mr. Strother beneficially owns shares
of Wells Fargo common stock and options to purchase additional
shares of Wells Fargo common stock.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Registration
Statement
Wells Fargo has filed a registration statement on
Form S-4
to register with the SEC the Wells Fargo common stock and
preferred stock to be issued in the merger to Wachovia common
and preferred shareholders, respectively. This document is part
of that registration statement. The registration statement and
the exhibits to the registration statement contain additional
important information about Wells Fargo and its common and
preferred stock. As allowed by SEC rules, this document does not
contain all the information you can find in the registration
statement or the exhibits to the registration statement.
Wachovia
and Wells Fargo SEC Filings
Wells Fargo and Wachovia file annual, quarterly and special
reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.
You can read and copy any reports, statements or other
information filed by Wells Fargo or Wachovia with the SEC at the
SECs Public Reference Room located at
100 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room. Wells Fargos and Wachovias SEC filings are
also available to the public from commercial document retrieval
services and at the SECs website at
http://www.sec.gov.
Wells Fargos and Wachovias SEC filings can also be
found at our respective websites, www.wellsfargo.com and
www.wachovia.com.
Information on the Internet websites of Wells Fargo or Wachovia,
or any subsidiary of Wells Fargo or Wachovia, is not part of
this document. You should not rely on that information in
deciding how to vote on the proposal to approve the plan of
merger contained in the merger agreement.
Documents
Incorporated by Reference
The SEC allows Wells Fargo and Wachovia to incorporate by
reference into this document, which means that Wells Fargo
and Wachovia can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC.
The information incorporated by reference is considered part of
this document, except for any information superseded by
information that is included directly in this document or
contained in later filed documents that are incorporated by
reference into this document. This document incorporates by
reference the documents set forth below that Wells Fargo and
Wachovia have previously filed with the SEC.
-126-
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo SEC Filings
(File
No. 001-2979)
|
|
|
|
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed March 17, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed January 16, 2008, January 24,
2008, January 31, 2008, March 7, 2008, March 12, 2008, March 18,
2008, April 16, 2008, April 23, 2008, May 5, 2008, May 5, 2008,
May 5, 2008, May 6, 2008, May 19, 2008, May 28, 2008, June 6,
2008, June 13, 2008, July 16, 2008, August 19, 2008, August 26,
2008, August 28, 2008, September 8, 2008, September 10, 2008,
September 15, 2008, September 29, 2008, October 3, 2008,
October 9, 2008, October 15, 2008, October 30, 2008,
October 30, 2008 November 5, 2008, November 6,
2008, November 13, 2008 and November 21, 2008 (other
than the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed).
|
|
|
|
|
The description of Wells Fargo common stock contained in
Exhibit 99(e) to Wells Fargos Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, including any
amendments or reports filed to update such description.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wachovia SEC Filings
(File
No. 1-10000)
|
|
|
|
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed March 10, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed January 22, 2008, February 8,
2008, February 25, 2008, April 14, 2008, April 17, 2008, April
30, 2008, May 6, 2008, June 2, 2008, June 18, 2008, July 10,
2008, July 22, 2008, July 24, 2008, August 15, 2008, September
9, 2008, September 29, 2008, October 3, 2008, October 9, 2008,
October 10, 2008, October 21, 2008, and October 22, 2008 (other
than the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed).
|
All documents filed by Wells Fargo and Wachovia with the SEC
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the initial filing date of
this document and (i) in the case of Wells Fargo, prior to the
date the offering is terminated, and (ii) in the case of
Wachovia, prior to the date of the special meeting of Wachovia
shareholders to consider and vote on the merger agreement are
incorporated by reference into this proxy statement-prospectus
and are part of this document from the date of filing.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document that also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part hereof.
-127-
Documents
Available Without Charge
Wells Fargo and Wachovia will provide, without charge, copies of
any report incorporated by reference into this document,
excluding exhibits other than those that are specifically
incorporated by reference into this document. You may obtain a
copy of any document incorporated by reference by writing or
calling the appropriate company:
|
|
|
Wells Fargo & Company
MAC N9305-173
Sixth and Marquette
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telephone:
(612) 667-8655
|
|
Wachovia Corporation
Wachovia Investor Relations
301 South College Street
Charlotte, NC
28288-0206
Telephone: (704) 383-0798
|
To ensure delivery of the copies in time for the special
meeting, your request should be received by December 16,
2008.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this document. We have not
authorized anyone to provide you with different information.
This document is dated November 21, 2008. You should not
assume that information contained or incorporated by reference
in this document is accurate as of any date other than that
date. Neither the mailing of this document to Wachovia
shareholders nor the issuance by Wells Fargo of its common stock
or preferred stock in the merger will create any implication to
the contrary.
-128-
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and between
Wells Fargo & Company
and
Wachovia Corporation*
Dated as of
October 3, 2008
|
|
* |
This agreement is a composite version reflecting certain
modifications to the agreement as agreed by the parties.
|
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
Article I
|
|
THE MERGER
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
1.1
|
|
The Merger
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
1.2
|
|
Effective Time
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
1.3
|
|
Effects of the Merger
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
1.4
|
|
Conversion of Stock
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
1.5
|
|
Stock Options
|
|
|
A-2
|
|
1.6
|
|
Other Stock-Based Awards
|
|
|
A-3
|
|
1.7
|
|
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving Company
|
|
|
A-3
|
|
1.8
|
|
Directors and Officers
|
|
|
A-3
|
|
1.9
|
|
Company Preferred Stock
|
|
|
A-3
|
|
1.10
|
|
Effect on Parent Stock; Required Parent Action
|
|
|
A-4
|
|
Article II
|
|
DELIVERY OF MERGER CONSIDERATION
|
|
|
A-4
|
|
2.1
|
|
Exchange Agent
|
|
|
A-4
|
|
2.2
|
|
Deposit of Merger Consideration
|
|
|
A-4
|
|
2.3
|
|
Delivery of Merger Consideration
|
|
|
A-4
|
|
Article III
|
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
|
|
|
A-6
|
|
3.1
|
|
Corporate Organization
|
|
|
A-6
|
|
3.2
|
|
Capitalization
|
|
|
A-6
|
|
3.3
|
|
Authority; No Violation
|
|
|
A-8
|
|
3.4
|
|
Consents and Approvals
|
|
|
A-8
|
|
3.5
|
|
Reports; Regulatory Matters
|
|
|
A-9
|
|
3.6
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
|
A-9
|
|
3.7
|
|
Brokers Fees
|
|
|
A-10
|
|
3.8
|
|
Material Adverse Effect
|
|
|
A-10
|
|
3.9
|
|
Compliance with Applicable Law
|
|
|
A-10
|
|
3.10
|
|
Rights Agreement; State Takeover Laws
|
|
|
A-10
|
|
3.11
|
|
Approvals
|
|
|
A-10
|
|
3.12
|
|
Opinion
|
|
|
A-10
|
|
3.13
|
|
Company Information
|
|
|
A-11
|
|
Article IV
|
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
|
|
|
A-11
|
|
4.1
|
|
Corporate Organization
|
|
|
A-11
|
|
4.2
|
|
Capitalization
|
|
|
A-11
|
|
4.3
|
|
Authority; No Violation
|
|
|
A-12
|
|
4.4
|
|
Consents and Approvals
|
|
|
A-12
|
|
4.5
|
|
Reports; Regulatory Matters
|
|
|
A-13
|
|
4.6
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
|
A-13
|
|
4.7
|
|
Brokers Fees
|
|
|
A-13
|
|
4.8
|
|
Compliance with Applicable Law
|
|
|
A-14
|
|
4.9
|
|
Approvals
|
|
|
A-14
|
|
4.10
|
|
Parent Information
|
|
|
A-14
|
|
A-i
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
Article V
|
|
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
|
|
|
A-14
|
|
5.1
|
|
Conduct of Businesses Prior to the Effective Time
|
|
|
A-14
|
|
5.2
|
|
Company Forbearances
|
|
|
A-14
|
|
5.3
|
|
Parent Forbearances
|
|
|
A-16
|
|
Article VI
|
|
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
|
|
|
A-16
|
|
6.1
|
|
Regulatory Matters
|
|
|
A-16
|
|
6.2
|
|
Access to Information
|
|
|
A-17
|
|
6.3
|
|
Shareholder Approval
|
|
|
A-17
|
|
6.4
|
|
NYSE Listing
|
|
|
A-18
|
|
6.5
|
|
Employee Matters
|
|
|
A-18
|
|
6.6
|
|
Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance
|
|
|
A-19
|
|
6.7
|
|
Exemption from Liability Under Section 16(b)
|
|
|
A-20
|
|
6.8
|
|
No Solicitation
|
|
|
A-20
|
|
Article VII
|
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
7.1
|
|
Conditions to Each Partys Obligation To Effect the Merger
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
7.2
|
|
Conditions to Obligations of Parent
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
7.3
|
|
Conditions to Obligations of Company
|
|
|
A-22
|
|
Article VIII
|
|
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
|
|
|
A-22
|
|
8.1
|
|
Termination
|
|
|
A-22
|
|
8.2
|
|
Effect of Termination
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
8.3
|
|
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
8.4
|
|
Amendment
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
8.5
|
|
Extension; Waiver
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
Article IX
|
|
GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
|
|
A-24
|
|
9.1
|
|
Closing
|
|
|
A-24
|
|
9.2
|
|
Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
|
|
|
A-24
|
|
9.3
|
|
Notices
|
|
|
A-24
|
|
9.4
|
|
Interpretation
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
9.5
|
|
Counterparts
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
9.6
|
|
Entire Agreement
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
9.7
|
|
Governing Law; Jurisdiction
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
9.8
|
|
Publicity
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
9.9
|
|
Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
9.10
|
|
Specific Performance
|
|
|
A-26
|
|
9.11
|
|
Disclosure Schedule
|
|
|
A-26
|
|
Exhibit A
Share Exchange Agreement
A-ii
INDEX OF
DEFINED TERMS
|
|
|
|
|
Section
|
|
Agreement
|
|
Preamble
|
Acquisition Proposal
|
|
6.8(b)
|
Articles of Merger
|
|
1.2
|
BCA
|
|
1.1(a)
|
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception
|
|
3.3(a)
|
Certificate
|
|
1.4(d)
|
Certificate of Merger
|
|
1.2
|
Closing
|
|
9.1
|
Closing Date
|
|
9.1
|
Code
|
|
Recitals
|
Company
|
|
Preamble
|
Company Articles
|
|
3.1(b)
|
Company Benefit Plans
|
|
6.5(f)
|
Company Bylaws
|
|
3.1(b)
|
Company Capitalization Date
|
|
3.2(a)
|
Company Articles
|
|
3.1(b)
|
Company Common Stock
|
|
1.4(b)
|
Company Options
|
|
1.5(a)
|
Company Preferred Stock
|
|
3.2(a)
|
Company Requisite Regulatory Approvals
|
|
7.3(c)
|
Company Rights Agreement
|
|
3.10
|
Company SEC Reports
|
|
3.5(b)
|
Company Stock Award
|
|
1.6
|
Company Stock Option
|
|
1.5(a)
|
Company Stock Plans
|
|
1.5(a)
|
Confidentiality Agreement
|
|
6.2(b)
|
Covered Employees
|
|
6.5(a)
|
DGCL
|
|
1.1
|
Disclosure Schedule
|
|
9.11
|
Dissenting Stockholder
|
|
1.9
|
DPC Common Shares
|
|
1.4(b)
|
Effective Time
|
|
1.2
|
ERISA
|
|
6.5(f)
|
Exchange Act
|
|
3.5(b)
|
Exchange Agent
|
|
2.1
|
Exchange Agent Agreement
|
|
2.1
|
Exchange Fund
|
|
2.2
|
Exchange Ratio
|
|
1.4(c)
|
Federal Reserve
|
|
3.4
|
FINRA
|
|
3.4
|
Form S-4
|
|
3.4
|
FSA
|
|
3.4
|
GAAP
|
|
3.1
|
A-iii
|
|
|
|
|
Section
|
|
Governmental Entity
|
|
3.4
|
HSR Act
|
|
3.4
|
Indemnified Parties
|
|
6.6(a)
|
Letter of Transmittal
|
|
2.3(a)
|
Liens
|
|
3.2(c)
|
Material Adverse Effect
|
|
3.8
|
Merger
|
|
Recitals
|
Merger Consideration
|
|
1.4(c)
|
NYSE
|
|
2.3(f)
|
Parent
|
|
Preamble
|
Parent Bylaws
|
|
4.1
|
Parent Capitalization Date
|
|
4.2
|
Parent Certificate
|
|
4.1
|
Parent Common Stock
|
|
1.4(a)
|
Parent Preference Stock
|
|
4.2
|
Parent Preferred Stock
|
|
4.2
|
Parent Requisite Regulatory Approvals
|
|
7.2(c)
|
Parent SEC Reports
|
|
4.5(b)
|
Parent Stock
|
|
4.2
|
Previously Disclosed
|
|
9.11
|
Proxy Statement
|
|
3.4
|
Regulatory Approvals
|
|
3.4
|
Regulatory Agencies
|
|
3.5(a)
|
Rights
|
|
3.2(a)
|
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
|
|
3.5(b)
|
SBA
|
|
3.4
|
SEC
|
|
3.4
|
Securities Act
|
|
3.2(a)
|
Share Exchange Agreement
|
|
Recitals
|
SRO
|
|
3.4
|
Subsidiary
|
|
3.1(c)
|
Superior Proposal
|
|
6.8(b)
|
Surviving Company
|
|
Recitals
|
Takeover Statutes
|
|
3.10
|
Trust Account Common Shares
|
|
1.4(b)
|
Voting Debt
|
|
3.2(a)
|
A-iv
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 3,
2008, (this Agreement), by and between
Wachovia Corporation, a North Carolina corporation
(Company), and Wells Fargo &
Company, a Delaware corporation (Parent).
RECITALS
A. The Boards of Directors of Company and Parent have
determined that it is in the best interests of their respective
companies and their shareholders to consummate the strategic
business combination transaction provided for in this Agreement
in which Company will, on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, merge with and into,
Parent (the Merger), with Parent as the
surviving company in the Merger (sometimes referred to in such
capacity as the Surviving Company).
B. It is the intention of the parties that the Merger shall
be treated as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code) and that this Agreement shall
constitute a plan of reorganization within the
meaning of the Code.
C. Simultaneous with the entry into this Agreement, Parent
and Company are entering into a share exchange agreement in the
form set forth in Exhibit A (the Share
Exchange Agreement).
D. The parties desire to make certain representations,
warranties and agreements in connection with the Merger and also
to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants,
representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger. (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, in accordance with the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
DGCL) and the Business Corporation Act of the
State of North Carolina (the BCA), at the
Effective Time, Company shall merge with and into Parent. Parent
shall be the Surviving Company in the Merger and shall continue
its existence as a corporation under the laws of the State of
Delaware. As of the Effective Time, the separate corporate
existence of Company shall cease.
(b) Parent may at any time change the method of effecting
the combination (including by providing for the merger of
Company with and into Parent or otherwise restructuring the
transaction to qualify as a reorganization within
the meaning to Section 368(a) of the Code if and to the
extent requested by Parent, and Company agrees to enter into
such amendments to this Agreement as Parent may reasonably
request in order to give effect to such restructuring;
provided, however, that no such change or amendment shall
(i) alter or change the amount or kind of the Merger
Consideration provided for in this Agreement or
(ii) materially impede or delay consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
1.2 Effective Time. On the Closing Date, Company and
Parent will cause (i) a certificate of merger (the
Certificate of Merger) to be executed,
acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware as provided in Section 252 of the DGCL and
(ii) articles of merger (the Articles of
Merger) to be delivered to the Secretary of State of
North Carolina for filing as provided in
Section 55-11-05
of the BCA. The Merger shall become effective as set forth in
the Certificate of Merger. The term Effective
Time shall be the date and time when the Merger
becomes effective as set forth in the Certificate of Merger.
1.3 Effects of the Merger. At and after the
Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in
the DGCL.
1.4 Conversion of Stock. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
Parent, Company or the holder of any of the following securities:
(a) At the Effective Time, each share of common stock, par
value
$12/3
per share, of Parent (Parent Common Stock)
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall continue to be one
A-1
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock, par value
$12/3
per share, of the Surviving Company.
(b) All shares of common stock, par value
$3.331/3
per share, of Company issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time (together with the preferred share
purchase rights attached thereto pursuant to the Company Rights
Agreement, the Company Common Stock) that are
owned by Company or Parent (other than shares of Company Common
Stock held in trust accounts, managed accounts, mutual funds and
the like, or otherwise held in a fiduciary or agency capacity,
that are beneficially owned by third parties (any such shares,
Trust Account Common Shares) and other
than shares of Company Common Stock held, directly or
indirectly, by Company or Parent in respect of a debt previously
contracted (any such shares, DPC Common
Shares)) shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist
and no stock of Parent or other consideration shall be delivered
in exchange therefor.
(c) Subject to Section 1.4(e), each share of the
Company Common Stock, except for shares of Company Common Stock
owned by Company or Parent (other than Trust Account Common
Shares and DPC Common Shares), shall be converted, in accordance
with the procedures set forth in Article II, into 0.1991
(the Exchange Ratio) shares of Parent Common
Stock (the Merger Consideration).
(d) All of the shares of Company Common Stock converted
into the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Article I
shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
cancelled and shall cease to exist as of the Effective Time, and
each certificate previously representing any such shares of
Company Common Stock (each, a Certificate)
shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the Merger
Consideration
and/or cash
in lieu of fractional shares into which the shares of Company
Common Stock represented by such Certificate have been converted
pursuant to this Section 1.4 and Section 2.3(f), as
well as any dividends to which holders of Company Common Stock
become entitled in accordance with Section 2.3(c).
(e) If, between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock
shall have been increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged
for a different number or kind of shares or securities as a
result of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification,
stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other
similar change in capitalization, an appropriate and
proportionate adjustment shall be made to the Merger
Consideration.
1.5 Stock Options.
(a) At the Effective Time, all outstanding and unexercised
employee and director options to purchase shares of Company
Common Stock (each, a Company Stock Option)
will cease to represent an option to purchase Company Common
Stock and will be converted automatically into options to
purchase Parent Common Stock, and Parent will assume each
Company Stock Option subject to its terms; provided,
however, that after the Effective Time:
(i) the number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable
upon exercise of each Company Stock Option will equal the
product of (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock
that were purchasable under the Company Stock Option immediately
before the Effective Time and (ii) the Exchange Ratio,
rounded down to the nearest whole share; and
(ii) the per share exercise price for each Company Stock
Option will equal the quotient of (i) the per share
exercise price of the Company Stock Option in effect immediately
before the Effective Time and (ii) the Exchange Ratio,
rounded up to the nearest cent.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the exercise
price and the number of shares of Parent Common Stock
purchasable pursuant to the Company Stock Options shall be
determined in a manner consistent with any applicable
requirements of Section 409A of the Code and (ii) that
in the case of any Company Stock Option to which
Section 422 of the Code applies, the exercise price and the
number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable pursuant to
such option shall be determined in accordance with the
foregoing, subject to such adjustments as are necessary in order
to satisfy the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code.
Except as specifically provided above, following the Effective
Time, each Company Stock Option shall continue to be governed by
the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such
Company Stock
A-2
Option immediately prior to the Effective Time (after giving
effect to any rights resulting from the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement pursuant to the Company Stock
Plans and the award agreements thereunder). As used in this
Agreement, Company Stock Plans means the
Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, A.G. Edwards,
Inc. 1988 Incentive Stock Plan (2005 Restatement), as amended,
Wachovia Corporation 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, Wachovia
Employee Stock Plan (as amended April 16, 2002), Wachovia
Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, Wachovia Employee Stock
Retention Plan, Golden West Financial Corporation 1996 Stock
Option Plan, as amended, Westcorp 2001 Stock Option Plan, Everen
Capital Corporation 1996 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan,
Republic Security Financial Corp 1997 Performance Incentive
Plan, 1996 SouthTrust Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan, 2004
SouthTrust Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan and Everen
Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.
1.6 Other Stock-Based Awards. At the Effective Time,
each right of any kind, contingent or accrued, to receive shares
of Company Common Stock or benefits measured by the value of a
number of shares of Company Common Stock, and each award of any
kind consisting of shares of Company Common Stock, granted under
the Company Stock Plans (including restricted stock, restricted
stock units, deferred stock units, phantom stock units and
dividend equivalents), that is outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time (other than Company Stock Options) (each, a
Company Stock Award) shall cease to represent
a right or award with respect to shares of Company Common Stock
and shall be converted, at the Effective Time, into a right or
award with respect to Parent Common Stock, and Parent will
assume each Company Stock Award subject to its terms;
provided, however, that after the Effective Time the
number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to the Company
Stock Award will equal to the product of (a) the number of
shares of Company Common Stock subject to the Company Stock
Award immediately before the Effective Time and (b) the
Exchange Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole share. Except
as specifically provided above, following the Effective Time,
each Company Stock Award shall continue to be governed by the
same terms and conditions as were applicable under such Company
Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time (after
giving effect to any rights resulting from the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement pursuant to the Company Stock
Plans and the award agreements thereunder).
1.7 Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Surviving Company. At the Effective Time, the certificate of
incorporation of Parent in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the
Surviving Company until thereafter amended in accordance with
applicable law. The by-laws of Parent, as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be the by-laws of the
Surviving Company until thereafter amended in accordance with
applicable law and the terms of such by-laws.
1.8 Directors and Officers. Subject to applicable
law, the directors of Parent immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Company and
shall hold office until their respective successors are duly
elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or
removal. The officers of Parent immediately prior to the Closing
Date, together with such officers of Company as the Board of
Directors of Parent may determine before the Effective Time,
shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Company and shall
hold office until their respective successors are duly elected
and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or removal.
1.9 Company Preferred Stock. Each share of each
series of Company Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall automatically be converted into such
number of shares of Parent Preferred Stock as are set forth on
Schedule 1 hereto, having rights, privileges, powers and
preferences substantially identical to those of the relevant
series of Company Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding anything in
this Section 1.9 to the contrary, any holder of Company
Preferred Stock may elect to be paid the fair value
of his or her Company Preferred Stock pursuant to the procedure
set forth in Article 13 of the BCA (such holder, a
Dissenting Stockholder); provided such
Dissenting Stockholder follows the procedures and takes action
in accordance with such Article of the BCA. If any Dissenting
Stockholder gives notice to Company, Company will promptly give
Parent notice thereof, and Parent will have the right to
participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
any such demands. Neither Company nor Surviving Corporation
will, except with the prior written consent of Parent,
voluntarily make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer
to settle, any such demand for payment. If any Dissenting
Stockholder fails to perfect or effectively withdraws or loses
the right to dissent, the Company Preferred Stock held by such
Dissenting Stockholder will
A-3
thereupon be treated as though such shares had been converted
into Parent Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 1.9.
1.10 Effect on Parent Stock; Required Parent Action.
Each share of Parent Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time will remain outstanding. Before the Effective
Time, Parent will take all corporate action necessary to reserve
for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common
Stock for delivery upon exercise of Company Stock Options in
accordance with Section 1.5 and for delivery under Company
Stock Awards in accordance with Section 1.6. As soon as
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent will file one or
more appropriate registration statements (on
Form S-3
or
Form S-8
or any successor or other appropriate forms) with respect to the
Parent Common Stock underlying the Company Stock Options
pursuant to Section 1.5 and subject to the Company Stock
Awards pursuant to Section 1.6.
ARTICLE II
DELIVERY OF
MERGER CONSIDERATION
2.1 Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time
Parent shall appoint a bank or trust company Subsidiary of
Parent or another bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to
Company, or Parents transfer agent, pursuant to an
agreement (the Exchange Agent Agreement) to
act as exchange agent (the Exchange Agent)
hereunder.
2.2 Deposit of Merger Consideration. At or prior to
the Effective Time, Parent shall (i) authorize the Exchange
Agent to issue an aggregate number of shares of Parent Common
Stock equal to the aggregate Merger Consideration, and
(ii) deposit, or cause to be deposited with, the Exchange
Agent, to the extent then determinable, any cash payable in lieu
of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.3(f) (the
Exchange Fund).
2.3 Delivery of Merger Consideration.
(a) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective
Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of
Certificate(s) which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented outstanding shares of Company Common Stock whose
shares were converted into the Merger Consideration pursuant to
Section 1.4 and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock to be issued or paid in consideration
therefor (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify
that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to
Certificate(s) shall pass, only upon delivery of Certificate(s)
(or affidavits of loss in lieu of such Certificates)) to the
Exchange Agent and shall be substantially in such form and have
such other provisions as shall be prescribed by the Exchange
Agent Agreement (the Letter of Transmittal)
and (ii) instructions for use in surrendering Certificate(s) in
exchange for the Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued or paid in
consideration therefor and any dividends or distributions to
which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.3(c).
(b) Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of its Certificate
or Certificates, accompanied by a properly completed Letter of
Transmittal, a holder of Company Common Stock will be entitled
to receive promptly after the Effective Time the Merger
Consideration and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock to be issued or paid in consideration
therefor in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock
represented by its Certificate or Certificates. Until so
surrendered, each such Certificate shall represent after the
Effective Time, for all purposes, only the right to receive,
without interest, the Merger Consideration and any cash in lieu
of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued or paid
in consideration therefor upon surrender of such Certificate in
accordance with, and any dividends or distributions to which
such holder is entitled pursuant to, this Article II.
(c) No dividends or other distributions with respect to
Parent Common Stock shall be paid to the holder of any
unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of Parent
Common Stock represented thereby, in each case unless and until
the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this
Article II. Subject to the effect of applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar laws, following surrender of any
such Certificate in accordance with this Article II, the
record holder thereof shall be entitled to receive, without
interest, (i) the amount of dividends or other
distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
theretofore payable with
A-4
respect to the whole shares of Parent Common Stock represented
by such Certificate and not paid
and/or
(ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of
dividends or other distributions payable with respect to shares
of Parent Common Stock represented by such Certificate with a
record date after the Effective Time (but before such surrender
date) and with a payment date subsequent to the issuance of the
Parent Common Stock issuable with respect to such Certificate.
(d) In the event of a transfer of ownership of a
Certificate representing Company Common Stock that is not
registered in the stock transfer records of Company, the shares
of Parent Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock comprising the Merger Consideration shall be
issued or paid in exchange therefor to a person other than the
person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is
registered if the Certificate formerly representing such Company
Common Stock shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in
proper form for transfer and the person requesting such payment
or issuance shall pay any transfer or other similar taxes
required by reason of the payment or issuance to a person other
than the registered holder of the Certificate or establish to
the satisfaction of Parent that the tax has been paid or is not
applicable. The Exchange Agent (or, subsequent to the earlier of
(x) the one-year anniversary of the Effective Time and
(y) the expiration or termination of the Exchange Agent
Agreement, Parent) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from
any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock
otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of
Company Common Stock such amounts as the Exchange Agent or
Parent, as the case may be, is required to deduct and withhold
under the Code, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax
law, with respect to the making of such payment. To the extent
the amounts are so withheld by the Exchange Agent or Parent, as
the case may be, and timely paid over to the appropriate
Governmental Entity, such withheld amounts shall be treated for
all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder
of shares of Company Common Stock in respect of whom such
deduction and withholding was made by the Exchange Agent or
Parent, as the case may be.
(e) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers
on the stock transfer books of Company of the shares of Company
Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time other than to settle transfers of Company
Common Stock that occurred prior to the Effective Time. If,
after the Effective Time, Certificates representing such shares
are presented for transfer to the Exchange Agent, they shall be
cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration and any
cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to be
issued or paid in consideration therefor in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Article II.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Agreement, no fractional shares of Parent Common Stock
shall be issued upon the surrender of Certificates for exchange,
no dividend or distribution with respect to Parent Common Stock
shall be payable on or with respect to any fractional share, and
such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner
thereof to vote or to any other rights of a shareholder of
Parent. In lieu of the issuance of any such fractional share,
Parent shall pay to each former shareholder of Company who
otherwise would be entitled to receive such fractional share an
amount in cash (rounded to the nearest cent) determined by
multiplying (i) the average, rounded to the nearest one ten
thousandth, of the closing sale prices of Parent Common Stock on
the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) as
reported by The Wall Street Journal for the five trading days
immediately preceding the date of the Effective Time by
(ii) the fraction of a share (after taking into account all
shares of Company Common Stock held by such holder at the
Effective Time and rounded to the nearest thousandth when
expressed in decimal form) of Parent Common Stock to which such
holder would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to
Section 1.4.
(g) Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed
by the shareholders of Company as of the first anniversary of
the Effective Time may be paid to Parent. In such event, any
former shareholders of Company who have not theretofore complied
with this Article II shall thereafter look only to Parent
with respect to the Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of
any fractional shares and any unpaid dividends and distributions
on the Parent Common Stock deliverable in respect of each share
of Company Common Stock such shareholder holds as determined
pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, without any interest
thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Parent, the
Surviving Company, the Exchange Agent or any other person shall
be liable to any former holder of shares of Company Common Stock
for any amount delivered in good faith to a public official
pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar
laws.
A-5
(h) In the event any Certificate shall have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen
or destroyed and, if reasonably required by Parent or the
Exchange Agent, the posting by such person of a bond in such
amount as Parent may determine is reasonably necessary as
indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with
respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the
Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to
this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
Except as (i) Previously Disclosed or (ii) disclosed
in any report, schedule, form or other document filed with, or
furnished to, the SEC by Company prior to the date hereof (but
excluding any risk factor disclosures contained under the
heading Risk Factors, any disclosure of risks
included in any forward-looking statements
disclaimer or any other statements that are similarly
non-specific or predictive or forward-looking in nature),
Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows
(solely as of the date hereof except in the case of the
representations and warranties set forth in
Sections 3.2(a), 3.2(b), 3.3(a), 3.3(b)(i), 3.7 and 3.8
(solely with respect to the last sentence thereof)):
3.1 Corporate Organization.
(a) Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
North Carolina. Company has the requisite corporate power and
authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and
to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is
duly licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction
in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the
character or location of the properties and assets owned or
leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary.
(b) True, complete and correct copies of the Restated
Articles of Incorporation of Company (as amended, the
Company Articles), and the Amended and
Restated Bylaws of Company (as amended, the Company
Bylaws), as in effect as of the date of this
Agreement, have previously been publicly filed by Company and
are available to Parent.
(c) Each Subsidiary of Company (i) is duly
incorporated or duly formed, as applicable to each such
Subsidiary, and validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has the
requisite corporate (or similar) power and authority to own or
lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted and (iii) is duly
licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in
which the nature of the business conducted by it or the
character or location of the properties and assets owned or
leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary. As
used in this Agreement, the word Subsidiary,
when used with respect to either party, means any bank,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other
organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, that is
consolidated with such party for financial reporting purposes
under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP).
3.2 Capitalization. (a) The authorized capital
stock of Company consists of 3,000,000,000 shares of
Company Common Stock of which, as of September 30, 2008
(the Company Capitalization Date) no more
than 2,160,916,999 shares were issued and outstanding, and
550,000,000 shares of preferred stock of which, as of the
Company Capitalization Date, (i) 500,000,000 are designated
as Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares,
97,000,000 shares of which were issued and outstanding,
(ii) 10,000,000 are designated as Preferred Stock, no
shares of which were issued and outstanding, and
(iii) 40,000,000 are designated as Class A Preferred
Stock, of which (A) 5,000,000 are designated as
Series G, Class A Preferred Stock, no shares of which
were issued and outstanding, (B) 5,000,000 are designated
as Series H, Class A Preferred Stock, no shares of
which were issued and outstanding, (C) 25,010 are
designated as Series I, Class A Preferred Stock, no shares
of which were issued and outstanding, (D) 2,300,000 are
designated as Series J, Class A Preferred Stock,
2,300,000 shares of which were issued and outstanding,
(E) 3,500,000 are designated as Series K, Class A
Preferred Stock, 3,500,000 shares of which were issued and
outstanding, and (F) 4,025,000 are designated as
A-6
7.50% Non-cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock,
Series L, 4,025,000 shares of which were issued and
outstanding (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) collectively,
Company Preferred Stock). As of the Company
Capitalization Date, there were outstanding Company Stock
Options to purchase an aggregate of 18,982,721 shares of
Company Common Stock and outstanding Company Stock Awards in
respect of 154,250,765 shares of Company Common Stock. As
of the Company Capitalization Date, there were no more than
84,435,663 shares of Company Common Stock reserved for
issuance under the Company Stock Plans, and there were no more
than 335,416,667 shares of Company Common Stock reserved
for issuance under the terms of its convertible Preferred Stock.
All of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal
liability attaching to the ownership thereof. As of the date of
this Agreement, no bonds, debentures, notes or other
indebtedness having the right to vote on any matters on which
shareholders of Company may vote (Voting
Debt) are issued or outstanding. As of the Company
Capitalization Date, except pursuant to this Agreement as set
forth in this Section 3.2 (including as contemplated in
Section 3.2(b)), the Share Exchange Agreement and Companys
dividend reinvestment plan, Company does not have and is not
bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any character
(Rights) calling for the purchase or issuance
of, or the payment of any amount based on, any shares of Company
Common Stock, Company Preferred Stock, Voting Debt or any other
equity securities of Company or any securities representing the
right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of Company
Common Stock, Company Preferred Stock, Voting Debt or other
equity securities of Company. There are no contractual
obligations of Company or any of its Subsidiaries (x) to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital
stock of Company or any equity security of Company or its
Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to
purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any
other equity security of Company or its Subsidiaries or
(y) pursuant to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
or could be required to register shares of Company capital stock
or other securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the Securities Act).
(b) Other than awards under the Company Stock Plans that
are outstanding as of the Company Capitalization Date, no other
equity-based awards are outstanding as of the Company
Capitalization Date. Since the Company Capitalization Date
through the date hereof, Company has not (A) issued or
repurchased any shares of Company Common Stock, Company
Preferred Stock, Voting Debt or other equity securities of
Company, other than the issuance of shares of Company Common
Stock in connection with the exercise of Company Stock Options
or settlement in accordance with their terms of the Company
Stock Plans that were outstanding on the Company Capitalization
Date or (B) issued or awarded any options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units,
deferred equity units, awards based on the value of Company
capital stock or any other equity-based awards. From
June 30, 2008 through the date of this Agreement, neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) accelerated
the vesting of or lapsing of restrictions with respect to any
stock-based compensation awards or long term incentive
compensation awards, (ii) with respect to executive
officers of the Company or its Subsidiaries, entered into or
amended any employment, severance, change of control or similar
agreement (including any agreement providing for the
reimbursement of excise taxes under Section 4999 of the
Code) or (iii) adopted or amended any material Company
Benefit Plan (as defined in Section 6.5(h)).
(c) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock or other equity ownership interests of each
significant subsidiary (as defined in
Rule 1-02(w)
of
Regulation S-X)
(each a Significant Subsidiary) of Company
(other than Wachovia Securities) are owned by Company, directly
or indirectly, free and clear of any liens, pledges, charges,
claims and security interests and similar encumbrances
(Liens), and all of such shares or equity
ownership interests are duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. No
Significant Subsidiary of Company has or is bound by any
outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments
or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or
issuance of any shares of capital stock or any other equity
security of such Subsidiary or any securities representing the
right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital
stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary.
A-7
3.3 Authority; No Violation. (a) Company has
full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of Company.
The Board of Directors of Company has determined that this
Agreement is advisable and in the best interests of Company and
its shareholders and has directed that this Agreement be
submitted to Companys shareholders for approval and
adoption at a duly held meeting of such shareholders and has
adopted a resolution to the foregoing effect. Except for receipt
of the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote to adopt and
approve the plan of merger contained in this Agreement, this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been
authorized by all necessary respective corporate action. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
Company and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery
by Parent) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of
Company, enforceable against Company in accordance with its
terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws
of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights of
creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity
(the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception)).
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Company nor the consummation by Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby, nor compliance by Company with any of the
terms or provisions of this Agreement, will (i) violate any
provision of the Company Articles or Company Bylaws or
(ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings
referred to in Section 3.4 are duly obtained
and/or made,
(A) violate any law, judgment, order, injunction or decree
applicable to Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets or (B) violate, conflict
with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any
benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default)
under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or
cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or
result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective
properties or assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries
under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease,
franchise, permit, agreement, by-law or other instrument or
obligation to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which any of them or any of their respective
properties or assets is bound except, with respect to clause
(ii), any such violation, conflict, breach, default,
termination, cancellation, acceleration or creation that would
not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.
3.4 Consents and Approvals. Except for
(i) filings of applications and notices with, and receipt
of consents, authorizations, approvals, exemptions or
nonobjections from, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC), NYSE, state securities authorities, the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(FINRA), applicable securities, commodities
and futures exchanges, and other industry self-regulatory
organizations (each, an SRO), (ii) the
filing of any other required applications, filings or notices
with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
Federal Reserve), any foreign, federal or
state banking, other regulatory, self-regulatory or enforcement
authorities or any courts, administrative agencies or
commissions or other governmental authorities or
instrumentalities (each a Governmental
Entity) and approval of or non-objection to such
applications, filings and notices (taken together with the items
listed in clause (i), the Regulatory
Approvals), (iii) the filing with the SEC of a
Proxy Statement in definitive form relating to the meeting of
Companys shareholders to be held in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(the Proxy Statement) and of a registration
statement on
Form S-4
(the Form
S-4)
in which the Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus,
and declaration of effectiveness of the
Form S-4
and the filing and effectiveness of the registration statement
contemplated by Section 6.1(a), (iv) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware and the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of
State of the State of North Carolina, (v) any notices to or
filings with the Small Business Administration (the
SBA), (vi) any notices or filings under
the
Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the HSR
Act) and (vii) such filings and approvals as are
required to be made or obtained under the securities or
Blue Sky laws of various states in connection with
the issuance of the shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to
this Agreement and approval of listing of such Parent Common
Stock on the NYSE, no consents or approvals of or filings or
registrations with any Governmental Entity are necessary in
connection with the consummation by Company of the Merger and
the
A-8
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No consents
or approvals of or filings or registrations with any
Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the
execution and delivery by Company of this Agreement.
3.5 Reports; Regulatory Matters.
(a) Company and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed
all reports, registrations, statements and certifications,
together with any amendments required to be made with respect
thereto, that they were required to file since January 1,
2006 and prior to the date hereof with the Federal Reserve, SEC,
the NYSE, any state consumer finance or mortgage banking
regulatory authority or other Agency, any foreign regulatory
authority and any SRO (collectively, Regulatory
Agencies) and with each other applicable Governmental
Entity, and all other reports and statements required to be
filed by them since January 1, 2006 and prior to the date
hereof, including any report or statement required to be filed
pursuant to the laws, rules or regulations of the United States,
any state, any foreign entity, or any Regulatory Agency or other
Governmental Entity, and have paid all fees and assessments due
and payable in connection therewith.
(b) An accurate and complete copy of each (i) final
registration statement, prospectus, report, schedule and
definitive proxy statement filed with or furnished to the SEC by
Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Securities
Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act) since January 1, 2006 and
prior to the date of this Agreement (the Company SEC
Reports) and (ii) communication mailed by Company
to its shareholders since January 1, 2006 and prior to the
date of this Agreement is publicly available. No such Company
SEC Report or communication, at the time filed, furnished or
communicated (and, in the case of registration statements and
proxy statements, on the dates of effectiveness and the dates of
the relevant meetings, respectively), contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in
which they were made, not misleading, except that information as
of a later date (but before the date of this Agreement) shall be
deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. As of their
respective dates, all Company SEC Reports complied as to form in
all material respects with the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect thereto. As of the date of this
Agreement, no executive officer of Company has failed in any
respect to make the certifications required of him or her under
Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act).
3.6 Financial Statements.
(a) The financial statements of Company and its
Subsidiaries included (or incorporated by reference) in the
Company SEC Reports (including the related notes, where
applicable) (i) have been prepared from, and are in
accordance with, the books and records of Company and its
Subsidiaries, (ii) fairly present in all material respects
the consolidated results of operations, cash flows, changes in
shareholders equity and consolidated financial position of
Company and its Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods
or as of the respective dates therein set forth (subject in the
case of unaudited statements to recurring year-end audit
adjustments normal in nature and amount), (iii) complied as
to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in
all material respects with applicable accounting requirements
and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto, and (iv) have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved,
except, in each case, as indicated in such statements or in the
notes thereto. As of the date hereof, the books and records of
Company and its Subsidiaries have been maintained in all
material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other
applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect only
actual transactions. As of the date hereof, KPMG LLP has not
resigned or been dismissed as independent public accountants of
Company as a result of or in connection with any disagreements
with Company on a matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.
(b) The records, systems, controls, data and information of
Company and its Subsidiaries are recorded, stored, maintained
and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical
or photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are
under the exclusive ownership and direct control of Company or
its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access
thereto and therefrom), except for any non-exclusive
A-9
ownership and non-direct control that would not reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on Companys
system of internal accounting controls.
3.7 Brokers Fees. Neither Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective officers,
directors, employees or agents has utilized any broker, finder
or financial advisor or incurred any liability for any
brokers fees, commissions or finders fees in
connection with the Merger or any other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, other than to Goldman,
Sachs & Co. and Perella Weinberg Partners pursuant to
letter agreements, true, complete and correct copies of which
have been previously delivered to Parent.
3.8 Material Adverse Effect. As used in this
Agreement, the term Material Adverse Effect
means, with respect to Parent or Company, as the case may be, a
material adverse effect on (i) the financial condition,
results of operations or business of such party and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole (provided, however, that,
with respect to this clause (i), a Material Adverse
Effect shall not be deemed to include effects arising
out of, relating to or resulting from (A) changes in GAAP
or regulatory accounting requirements, (B) changes in laws,
rules or regulations of general applicability to companies in
the industries in which such party and its Subsidiaries operate,
(C) changes in global, national or regional political
conditions or general economic or market conditions (including
changes in prevailing interest rates, credit availability and
liquidity, currency exchange rates, and price levels or trading
volumes in the United States or foreign securities markets)
affecting other companies in the industries in which such party
and its Subsidiaries operate, (D) changes in the credit
markets, any downgrades in the credit markets, or adverse credit
events resulting in deterioration in the credit markets
generally or in respect of the customers of the Company and
including changes to any previously correctly applied asset
marks resulting therefrom, (E) failure to meet earnings
projections, including any underlying causes thereof,
(F) the impact of the Merger on relationships with
customers or employees, (G) the public disclosure of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby solely to
the extent the Company demonstrates such effect to have so
resulted from such disclosure or consummation, (H) any
outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declared or undeclared
acts of war or terrorism or (I) actions or omissions taken
with the prior written consent of the other Party or expressly
required by this Agreement or (ii) the ability of such
party to timely consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. As of any date following the date hereof,
notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary and
notwithstanding anything that may be Previously Disclosed,
neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has
filed for bankruptcy or filed for reorganization under the
U.S. federal bankruptcy laws or similar state or federal
law, become insolvent or become subject to conservatorship or
receivership.
3.9 Compliance with Applicable Law. Company and each
of its Subsidiaries hold all licenses, franchises, permits and
authorizations necessary for the lawful conduct of their
respective businesses under and pursuant to each, and have
complied with and are not in default in any respect under any,
law applicable to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for
the failure to hold or to have complied with or to not be in
default which would not reasonably be expected, individually or
in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.10 Rights Agreement; State Takeover Laws. The
Board of Directors of Company has approved this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby as required to render
inapplicable to this Agreement and such transactions
(i) the rights issued pursuant to that certain Shareholder
Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2000,
as amended, between Company and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, as Rights Agent (the Company Rights
Agreement) and (ii) the restrictions on
business combinations set forth in any
moratorium, control share, fair
price, takeover or interested
shareholder law (any such laws, Takeover
Statutes).
3.11 Approvals. As of the date of this Agreement,
Company knows of no reason why all regulatory approvals from any
Governmental Entity required for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement should not be
obtained on a timely basis.
3.12 Opinion. The Board of Directors of Company has
received the opinions of Goldman Sachs & Co. and
Perella Weinberg Partners, to the effect that, as of the date
hereof, and based upon and subject to the factors and
assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair
from a financial point of view to the holders of Company Common
Stock.
A-10
3.13 Company Information. The information relating
to Company and its Subsidiaries that is provided by Company or
its representatives for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and
Form S-4,
or in any application, notification or other document filed with
any other Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made,
not misleading. The portions of the Proxy Statement relating to
Company and its Subsidiaries and other portions within the
reasonable control of Company and its Subsidiaries will comply
in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Except as disclosed in any report, schedule, form or other
document filed with, or furnished to, the SEC by Parent prior to
the date hereof (but excluding any risk factor disclosures
contained under the heading Risk Factors, any
disclosure of risks included in any forward-looking
statements disclaimer or any other statements that are
similarly non-specific or predictive or forward-looking in
nature), Parent hereby represents and warrants to Company as
follows (solely as of the date hereof except in the case of the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.2,
4.3(a), 4.3(b)(i) and 4.7):
4.1 Corporate Organization. Parent is a corporation
duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware. Parent has the requisite
corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted, and is and will be duly licensed or qualified
to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the
business conducted by it or the character or location of the
properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing
or qualification necessary. Parent is duly registered as a bank
holding company under the BHC Act and is a financial holding
company pursuant to Section 4(1) of the BHC Act and meets
the applicable requirements for qualification as such. True,
complete and correct copies of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the Parent
Certificate), and Bylaws of Parent (the
Parent Bylaws), as in effect as of the date
of this Agreement, have previously been filed by Parent and are
publicly available to Company.
4.2 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of
Parent consists of 6,000,000,000 shares of Parent Common
Stock of which, as of June 30, 2008 (the Parent
Capitalization Date), 3,472,762,050 shares were
issued and 3,311,960,699 shares were outstanding,
4,000,000 shares of preference stock (the Parent
Preference Stock) of which, as of the Parent
Capitalization Date, no shares were outstanding, and
20,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the Parent
Preferred Stock, and together with the Parent Common
Stock and Parent Preference Stock, the Parent
Stock), of which, as of the Parent Capitalization
Date, (i) 75,000 shares are designated as 1999
ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
1,235 shares of which were issued and outstanding,
(ii) 170,000 shares are designated as 2000 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 8,929 shares
of which were issued and outstanding,
(iii) 192,000 shares are designated as 2001 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 16,243 shares
of which were issued and outstanding,
(iv) 238,000 shares are designated as 2002 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 25,179 shares
of which were issued and outstanding,
(v) 260,200 shares are designated as 2003 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 36,168 shares
of which were issued and outstanding,
(vi) 321,000 shares are designated as 2004 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 54,360 shares
of which were issued and outstanding,
(vii) 363,000 shares are designated as 2005 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 71,714 shares
of which were issued and outstanding,
(viii) 414,000 shares are designated as 2006
ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
93,766 shares of which were issued and outstanding,
(ix) 484,000 shares are designated as 2007 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
124,024 shares of which were issued and outstanding,
(x) 520,500 shares are designated as 2008 ESOP
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
291,703 shares of which were issued and outstanding,
(xi) 25,001 shares are designated as Non-Cumulative
Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, none of which
were issued and outstanding, and (xii) 17,501 shares are
A-11
designated as Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock,
Series B, none of which were issued and outstanding. All
of the issued and outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights with no personal
liability attaching to the ownership thereof. As of the date of
this Agreement, no Voting Debt of Parent is issued and
outstanding. As of the Parent Capitalization Date, Parent held
160,801,351 shares of Parent Common Stock in its treasury.
As of the Parent Capitalization Date, there were no more than
1,000,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock reserved for
issuance under the Parents equity compensation plans. As
of the Parent Capitalization Date, except pursuant to this
Agreement, Parents dividend reinvestment plan and stock
repurchase plans entered into by Parent from time to time,
Parent does not have and is not bound by any Rights calling for
the purchase or issuance of any shares of Parent Common Stock,
Parent Preferred Stock, Voting Debt of Parent or any other
equity securities of Parent or any securities representing the
right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of Parent
Common Stock, Parent Preferred Stock, Voting Debt of Parent or
other equity securities of Parent. The shares of Parent Common
Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger will be duly
authorized and validly issued and, at the Effective Time, all
such shares will be fully paid, nonassessable and free of
preemptive rights, with no personal liability attaching to the
ownership thereof.
4.3 Authority; No Violation. (a) Parent has
full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of Parent,
and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are
necessary to approve this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
and validly executed and delivered by Parent and (assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by Company) constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against
Parent in accordance with its terms (subject to the Bankruptcy
and Equity Exception).
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Parent, nor the consummation by Parent of the transactions
contemplated hereby, nor compliance with any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement, will (i) violate any
provision of the Parent Certificate or the Parent Bylaws, or
(ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings
referred to in Section 4.4 are duly obtained
and/or made,
(A) violate any law, judgment, order, injunction or decree
applicable to Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets or (B) violate, conflict
with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any
benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default)
under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or
cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or
result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective
properties or assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries under,
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or
other instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their
respective properties or assets is bound except, with respect to
clause (ii), any such violation, conflict, breach, default,
termination, cancellation, acceleration or creation that would
not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.
4.4 Consents and Approvals. Except for (i) the
Regulatory Approvals, (ii) the filing with the SEC of the
Proxy Statement and the filing and declaration of effectiveness
of the
Form S-4
and the filing and effectiveness of the registration statements
contemplated by Section 6.1(a), (iii) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware and the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of
State of the State of North Carolina, (iv) any consents,
authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection
with compliance with the rules and regulations of any applicable
SRO, and the rules of the NYSE, (v) any notices or filings
under the HSR Act, and (vi) such filings and approvals as
are required to be made or obtained under the securities or
Blue Sky laws of various states in connection with
the issuance of the shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to
this Agreement and approval of listing of such Parent Common
Stock on the NYSE, no consents or approvals of or filings or
registrations with any Governmental Entity are necessary in
connection with the consummation by Parent of the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No consents
or approvals of or filings or registrations with any
Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the
execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement.
A-12
4.5 Reports; Regulatory Matters.
(a) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed
all reports, registration statements, proxy statements and other
materials, together with any amendments required to be made with
respect thereto, that they were required to file since
January 1, 2006 and prior to the date hereof with the
Regulatory Agencies and each other applicable Governmental
Entity, and all other reports and statements required to be
filed by them since January 1, 2006 and prior to the date
of this Agreement, including any report or statement required to
be filed pursuant to the laws, rules or regulations of the
United States, any state, any foreign entity, or any Regulatory
Agency or other Governmental Entity, and have paid all fees and
assessments due and payable in connection therewith.
(b) An accurate and complete copy of each (i) final
registration statement, prospectus, report, schedule and
definitive proxy statement filed with or furnished to the SEC by
Parent pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act since
January 1, 2006 and prior to the date of this Agreement
(the Parent SEC Reports) and
(ii) communication mailed by Parent to its shareholders
since January 1, 2006 and prior to the date of this
Agreement is publicly available. No such Parent SEC Report or
communication, at the time filed, furnished or communicated
(and, in the case of registration statements and proxy
statements, on the dates of effectiveness and the dates of the
relevant meetings, respectively), contained any untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which
they were made, not misleading, except that information as of a
later date (but before the date of this Agreement) shall be
deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. As of their
respective dates, all Parent SEC Reports complied as to form in
all material respects with the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect thereto. As of the date of this
Agreement, no executive officer of Parent has failed in any
respect to make the certifications required of him or her under
Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
4.6 Financial Statements.
(a) The financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries
included (or incorporated by reference) in the Parent SEC
Reports (including the related notes, where applicable)
(i) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with,
the books and records of Parent and its Subsidiaries;
(ii) fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated results of operations, cash flows, changes in
shareholders equity and consolidated financial position of
Parent and its Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods or
as of the respective dates therein set forth (subject in the
case of unaudited statements to recurring year-end audit
adjustments normal in nature and amount); (iii) complied as
to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in
all material respects with applicable accounting requirements
and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto; and (iv) have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved,
except, in each case, as indicated in such statements or in the
notes thereto. As of the date hereof, the books and records of
Parent and its Subsidiaries have been maintained in all material
respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal
and accounting requirements and reflect only actual
transactions. As of the date hereof, KPMG LLP has not resigned
or been dismissed as independent public accountants of Parent as
a result of or in connection with any disagreements with Parent
on a matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.
(b) The records, systems, controls, data and information of
Parent and its Subsidiaries are recorded, stored, maintained and
operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or
photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are
under the exclusive ownership and direct control of Parent or
its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access
thereto and therefrom), except for any non- exclusive ownership
and non-direct control that would not reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on Parents system of
internal accounting controls.
4.7 Brokers Fees. Neither Parent nor any of
its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective officers or
directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any
liability for any brokers fees, commissions or
finders fees in connection with the Merger or related
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than as
previously disclosed to Company.
A-13
4.8 Compliance with Applicable Law. Parent and each
of its Subsidiaries hold all licenses, franchises, permits and
authorizations necessary for the lawful conduct of their
respective businesses under and pursuant to each, and have
complied with and are not in default in any respect under any,
law applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except for
the failure to hold or to have complied with which would not
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.9 Approvals. As of the date of this Agreement,
Parent knows of no reason why all regulatory approvals from any
Governmental Entity required for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement should not be
obtained on a timely basis.
4.10 Parent Information. The information relating to
Parent and its Subsidiaries that is provided by Parent or its
representatives for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and the
Form S-4,
or in any application, notification or other document filed with
any other Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made,
not misleading. The portions of the Proxy Statement relating to
Parent and its Subsidiaries and other portions within the
reasonable control of Parent and its Subsidiaries will comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder. The
Form S-4
will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
5.1 Conduct of Businesses Prior to the Effective
Time. Except as Previously Disclosed, as expressly
contemplated by or permitted by this Agreement or with the prior
written consent of the other party, during the period from the
date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, each of Company
and Parent shall, and shall cause each of its respective
Subsidiaries to, (a) conduct its business in the ordinary
course in all material respects, (b) use commercially
reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business
organization and advantageous business relationships, and
(c) take no action that is intended to or would reasonably
be expected to adversely affect or materially delay the ability
of Company or Parent to obtain any necessary approvals of any
Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity required for the
transactions contemplated hereby or to perform its covenants and
agreements under this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
5.2 Company Forbearances. During the period from the
date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as
Previously Disclosed, as expressly contemplated or permitted by
this Agreement or as required by applicable law, Company shall
not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without
the prior written consent of Parent:
(a) Other than pursuant to Rights outstanding on the date
of this Agreement, pursuant to the Company Rights Agreement, or
pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, except as Previously
Disclosed, (i) issue, sell or otherwise permit to become
outstanding, or dispose of or encumber or pledge, or authorize
or propose the creation of, any additional shares of its stock
or (ii) permit any additional shares of its stock to become
subject to new grants, except issuances under dividend
reinvestment plans or issuances of employee or director stock
options or other stock-based employee Rights, in either case, in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
not to exceed 350,000 shares and which awards will not vest
upon completion of or in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) (i) Make, declare, pay or set aside for payment
any dividend on or in respect of, or declare or make any
distribution on any shares of its stock (other than
(A) dividends from its wholly owned Subsidiaries to it or
another of its wholly owned Subsidiaries, (B) regular
quarterly dividends on its common stock at a rate no greater
than the rate paid by it during the fiscal quarter immediately
preceding the date hereof, (C) required dividends on its
preferred stock or on the preferred stock of its Subsidiaries,
(D) required dividends on the common stock of any
Subsidiary that is a real estate investment trust or
(E) the distribution of rights pursuant to the Company
Rights Agreement (other than in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby)) or
A-14
(ii) directly or indirectly adjust, split, combine, redeem,
reclassify, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of its
stock (other than repurchases of common shares in the ordinary
course of business to satisfy obligations under dividend
reinvestment or employee benefit plans).
(c) Sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose
of or discontinue any of its assets, deposits, business or
properties, except for sales, transfers, mortgages, encumbrances
or other dispositions or discontinuances in the ordinary course
of business and in a transaction that, together with other such
transactions, is not material to it and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole.
(d) Acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or
acquisitions of control in a fiduciary or similar capacity or in
satisfaction of debts previously contracted in good faith, in
each case in the ordinary course of business) all or any portion
of the assets, business, deposits or properties of any other
entity except in the ordinary course of business and in a
transaction that, together with other such transactions, is not
material to it and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and does
not present a material risk that the Closing Date will be
materially delayed or that the Company Requisite Regulatory
Approvals will be more difficult to obtain.
(e) Amend the Company Articles or the Company Bylaws or
similar governing documents of any of its Significant
Subsidiaries.
(f) Implement or adopt any change in its accounting
principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required
by GAAP or applicable regulatory accounting requirements.
(g) Except as required under applicable law or the terms of
any Company Benefit Plan existing as of the date hereof,
(i) increase in any manner the compensation or benefits of
any of the current or former directors, officers, employees,
consultants, independent contractors or other service providers
of Company or its Subsidiaries (collectively,
Employees), except for any increases in base
salary in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice (other than with respect to Employees who are directors
or officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries),
(ii) pay any amounts to Employees or increase any amounts
or rights of any Employees not required by any current plan or
agreement, (iii) become a party to, establish, amend,
commence participation in, terminate or commit itself to the
adoption of any stock option plan or other stock-based
compensation plan, compensation, severance, pension, retirement,
profit-sharing, welfare benefit, or other employee benefit plan
or agreement or employment agreement with or for the benefit of
any Employee (or newly hired employees), (iv) accelerate
the vesting of or lapsing of restrictions with respect to any
stock-based compensation or other long-term incentive
compensation under any Company Benefit Plans, (v) cause the
funding of any rabbi trust or similar arrangement or take any
action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of
compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan, or
(vi) materially change any actuarial or other assumptions
used to calculate funding obligations with respect to any
Company Benefit Plan or change the manner in which contributions
to such plans are made or the basis on which such contributions
are determined, except as may be required by GAAP or applicable
law.
(h) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, take,
or omit to take, any action that is reasonably likely to result
in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in
Article VII not being satisfied, except as may be required
by applicable law, regulation or policies imposed by any
Governmental Authority.
(i) Incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money
other than in the ordinary course of business.
(j) Agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt
any resolutions of its Board of Directors in support of, any of
the actions prohibited by this Section 5.2.
(k) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, take,
or omit to take, any action that is intended or may reasonably
be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
A-15
5.3 Parent Forbearances. Except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement or with the prior written consent of
Company, during the period from the date of this Agreement to
the Effective Time, Parent shall not, and shall not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to:
(a) Amend the Parent Certificate or Parent Bylaws or
similar governing documents of any of its Significant
Subsidiaries in a manner that would adversely affect Company,
the shareholders of Company or the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, take,
or omit to take, any action that is reasonably likely to result
in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in
Article VII not being satisfied, except as may be required
by applicable law, regulation or policies imposed by any
Governmental Authority; provided, that nothing in this
Section 5.3(b) shall preclude Parent from exercising its
rights under the Share Exchange Agreement and under the
Series M Preferred Stock of Company issued thereunder.
(c) Agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt
any resolutions of its Board of Directors in support of, any of
the actions prohibited by this Section 5.3.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, take,
or omit to take, any action that is intended or may reasonably
be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
6.1 Regulatory Matters. (a) Parent and Company
shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC the
Form S-4,
in which the Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus.
Each of Parent and Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
to have the
Form S-4
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
practicable after such filing, and Company shall thereafter mail
or deliver the Proxy Statement to its shareholders. Parent shall
also use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary
state securities law or Blue Sky permits and
approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, and Company shall furnish all information
concerning Company and the holders of Company Common Stock as
may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action.
(b) The parties shall cooperate with each other and use
their respective reasonable best efforts to promptly prepare and
file all necessary documentation, to effect all applications,
notices, petitions and filings, to obtain as promptly as
practicable all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations
of all third parties and Governmental Entities that are
necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger), and to
comply with the terms and conditions of all such permits,
consents, approvals and authorizations of all such third parties
or Governmental Entities. Company and Parent shall have the
right to review in advance, and, to the extent practicable, each
will consult the other on, in each case subject to applicable
laws relating to the confidentiality of information, all the
information relating to Company or Parent, as the case may be,
and any of their respective Subsidiaries, that appear in any
filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third
party or any Governmental Entity in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the
foregoing right, each of the parties shall act reasonably and as
promptly as practicable. The parties shall consult with each
other with respect to the obtaining of all permits, consents,
approvals and authorizations of all third parties and
Governmental Entities necessary or advisable to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each party will
keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating to
completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Each of Parent and Company shall, upon request, furnish
to the other all information concerning itself, its
Subsidiaries, directors, officers and shareholders and such
other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in
connection with the Proxy Statement, the
Form S-4
or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or
on behalf of Parent, Company or any of their respective
Subsidiaries to any Governmental Entity in connection with the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
A-16
Agreement. (d) Parent agrees to execute and deliver, or
cause to be executed and delivered, by or on behalf of the
Surviving Company, at or prior to the Effective Time, one or
more supplemental indentures, guarantees, and other instruments
required for the due assumption of Companys outstanding
debt, guarantees, securities, and (to the extent informed such
requirement by Company) other agreements to the extent required
by the terms of such debt, guarantees, securities, and other
agreements.
(e) Each of Parent and Company shall promptly advise the
other upon receiving any communication from any Governmental
Entity the consent or approval of which is required for
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
that causes such party to believe that there is a reasonable
likelihood that any Parent Requisite Regulatory Approval or
Company Requisite Regulatory Approval, respectively, will not be
obtained or that the receipt of any such approval may be
materially delayed.
6.2 Access to Information. (a) Upon reasonable
notice and subject to applicable laws relating to the
confidentiality of information, each of Company and Parent
shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to
the officers, employees, accountants, counsel, advisors, agents
and other representatives of the other party, reasonable access,
during normal business hours during the period prior to the
Effective Time, to all its properties, books, contracts,
commitments and records, and, during such period, such party
shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, make available to
the other party (i) a copy of each report, schedule,
registration statement and other document filed or received by
it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal
securities laws or federal or state banking or insurance laws
(other than reports or documents that such party is not
permitted to disclose under applicable law) and (ii) all
other information concerning its business, properties and
personnel as the other party may reasonably request. Neither
Company nor Parent, nor any of their Subsidiaries, shall be
required to provide access to or to disclose information where
such access or disclosure would jeopardize the attorney-client
privilege of such party or its Subsidiaries or contravene any
law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, fiduciary duty
or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this
Agreement. The parties shall make appropriate substitute
disclosure arrangements under circumstances in which the
restrictions of the preceding sentence apply.
(b) All information and materials provided pursuant to this
Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the
Confidentiality Agreement entered into between the parties as of
September 26, 2008 (the Confidentiality
Agreement).
(c) No investigation by a party hereto or its
representatives shall affect the representations and warranties
of the other party set forth in this Agreement.
6.3 Shareholder Approval. As of the date of this
Agreement, the Board of Directors of Company has adopted
resolutions approving the Merger, on substantially the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and directing that the
Merger, on such terms and conditions, be submitted to
Companys shareholders for their consideration. The Board
of Directors of Company will submit to its shareholders the plan
of merger contained in this Agreement and any other matters
required to be approved or adopted by its shareholders in order
to carry out the intentions of this Agreement. In furtherance of
that obligation, Company will take, in accordance with
applicable law and the Company Articles and Company Bylaws, all
action necessary to convene a meeting of its shareholders, as
promptly as practicable, to consider and vote upon approval of
the plan of merger as well as any other such matters. The record
date for any such meeting of Company shareholders shall be
determined in prior consultation with and subject to the prior
approval of Parent, and shall in any case be no fewer than 3
business days after the Share Exchange Closing. The Board of
Directors of Company will use all reasonable best efforts to
obtain from its shareholders a vote approving and adopting the
plan of merger contained in this Agreement. However, if the
Board of Directors of Company, after consultation with (and
based on the advice of) counsel, determines in good faith that,
because of a conflict of interest or other special circumstances
(it being agreed that such special circumstances will include,
for purposes of this Agreement, the receipt by Company of an
Acquisition Proposal that the Board of Directors of Company
concludes in good faith constitutes a Superior Proposal), it
would violate its fiduciary duties under applicable law to
continue to recommend the plan of merger set forth in this
Agreement, then in submitting the plan of merger to
Companys shareholders, the Board of Directors of Company
may submit the plan of merger to its shareholders without
recommendation (although the resolutions adopting this Agreement
A-17
as of the date hereof may not be rescinded or amended), in which
event the Board of Directors of Company may communicate the
basis for its lack of a recommendation to the shareholders in
the Proxy Statement or an appropriate amendment or supplement
thereto to the extent required by law; provided that it
may not take any actions under this sentence until after giving
Parent at least five business days to respond to any such
Acquisition Proposal or other circumstances giving rise to such
particular proposed action (and after giving Parent notice of
the latest material terms, conditions and identity of the third
party in any such Acquisition Proposal or describe in reasonable
detail such other circumstances) and then taking into account
any amendment or modification to this Agreement proposed by
Parent (it being agreed that paragraph six of the
Confidentiality Agreement will not preclude such a response or
proposal).
6.4 NYSE Listing. Parent shall cause the shares of
capital stock of Parent to be issued in exchange for capital
stock of the Company that is currently listed on the NYSE upon
consummation of the Merger to have been authorized for listing
on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to
the Effective Time.
6.5 Employee Matters. (a) Following the Closing
Date, Parent shall maintain or cause to be maintained employee
benefit plans and compensation opportunities for the benefit of
employees (as a group) who are actively employed by Company and
its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date (Covered
Employees) that provide employee benefits and
compensation opportunities which, in the aggregate, are
substantially comparable to the employee benefits and
compensation opportunities that are generally made available to
similarly situated employees of Parent or its Subsidiaries
(other than Company and its Subsidiaries), as applicable;
provided, that (i) in no event shall any Covered
Employee be eligible to participate in any closed or frozen plan
of Parent or its Subsidiaries; and (ii) until such time as
Parent shall cause Covered Employees to participate in the
benefit plans and compensation opportunities that are made
available to similarly situated employees of Parent or its
Subsidiaries (other than Company and its Subsidiaries), a
Covered Employees continued participation in employee
benefit plans and compensation opportunities of Company and its
Subsidiaries shall be deemed to satisfy the foregoing provisions
of this sentence (it being understood that participation in the
Parent plans may commence at different times with respect to
each Parent plan).
(b) To the extent that a Covered Employee becomes eligible
to participate in an employee benefit plan maintained by Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Company or its
Subsidiaries), Parent shall cause such employee benefit plan to
(i) recognize the service of such Covered Employee with
Company or its Subsidiaries (or their predecessor entities) for
purposes of eligibility, participation, vesting and benefit
accrual under such employee benefit plan of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, to the same extent such service was recognized
immediately prior to the Effective Time under a comparable
Company Benefit Plan in which such Covered Employee was eligible
to participate immediately prior to the Effective Time;
provided that such recognition of service (A) shall
not operate to duplicate any benefits of a Covered Employee with
respect to the same period of service, and (B) shall not
apply for purposes of any plan, program or arrangement under
which similarly-situated employees of Parent and its
Subsidiaries do not receive credit for prior service; and
(ii) with respect to any health, dental, vision plan or
other welfare of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
Company and its Subsidiaries) in which any Covered Employee is
eligible to participate for the plan year in which such Covered
Employee is first eligible to participate, use its reasonable
best efforts to (A) cause any pre-existing condition
limitations or eligibility waiting periods under such Parent or
Subsidiary plan to be waived with respect to such Covered
Employee to the extent such limitation would have been waived or
satisfied under the Company Benefit Plan in which such Covered
Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Time,
and (B) recognize any health, dental or vision expenses
incurred by such Covered Employee in the year that includes the
Closing Date (or, if later, the year in which such Covered
Employee is first eligible to participate) for purposes of any
applicable deductible and annual out-of-pocket expense
requirements under any such health, dental or vision plan of
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall, or
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, honor, in accordance with the
terms thereof as in effect as of the date hereof or as may be
amended or terminated after the date hereof with the prior
written consent of Parent, each employment agreement and change
in control agreement to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is a party and the obligations of Company and its Subsidiaries
as of the Effective Time under each deferred compensation plan
or agreement to which they are a party.
A-18
(d) Nothing in this Section 6.5 shall be construed to
limit the right of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including,
following the Closing Date, Company and its Subsidiaries) to
amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan or other employee
benefit plan, to the extent such amendment or termination is
permitted by the terms of the applicable plan, nor shall
anything in this Section 6.5 be construed to require the
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including, following the
Closing Date, Company and its Subsidiaries) to retain the
employment of any particular Covered Employee for any fixed
period of time following the Closing Date.
(e) Without limiting the generality of Section 9.9,
the provisions of this Section 6.5 are solely for the
benefit of the parties to this Agreement, and no current or
former employee, director or independent contractor or any other
individual associated therewith shall be regarded for any
purpose as a third-party beneficiary of the Agreement, and
nothing herein shall be construed as an amendment to any Company
Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan for any purpose.
(f) For purposes of this Agreement, Company
Benefit Plans means each employee benefit
plan as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(ERISA), whether or not subject to ERISA, and
each employment, consulting, bonus, incentive or deferred
compensation, vacation, stock option or other equity-based,
severance, termination, retention, change of control,
profit-sharing, fringe benefit or other similar plan, program,
agreement or commitment, whether written or unwritten, for the
benefit of any employee, former employee, director or former
director of Company or any of its Subsidiaries entered into,
maintained or contributed to by Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
obligated to contribute, or with respect to which Company or any
of its Subsidiaries has any liability, direct or indirect,
contingent or otherwise (including any liability arising out of
an indemnification, guarantee, hold harmless or similar
agreement) or otherwise providing benefits to any current,
former or future employee, officer or director of Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or to any beneficiary or dependant thereof.
6.6 Indemnification; Directors and Officers
Insurance.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall
indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted
under applicable law (and Parent shall also advance expenses as
incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law
provided the Person to whom expenses are advanced provides an
undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately
determined that such Person is not entitled to indemnification),
each present and former director, officer and employee of
Company and its Subsidiaries (in each case, when acting in such
capacity) (collectively, the Indemnified
Parties) against any costs or expenses (including
reasonable attorneys fees), judgments, fines, losses,
claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any
claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or
pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the
Effective Time, including the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Share Exchange Agreement.
(b) For a period of six years following the Effective Time,
Parent will provide directors and officers liability
insurance that serves to reimburse the present and former
officers and directors of Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(determined as of the Effective Time) (providing only for the
Side A coverage for Indemnified Parties where the existing
policies also include Side B coverage for the Company) with
respect to claims against such directors and officers arising
from facts or events occurring before the Effective Time
(including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement)
which insurance will contain at least the same coverage and
amounts, and contain terms and conditions no less advantageous
to the Indemnified Party as that coverage currently provided by
Company.
(c) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification
under Section 6.6(a), upon learning of any claim, action,
suit, proceeding or investigation described above, will promptly
notify Parent; provided that failure so to notify will
not affect the obligations of Parent under Section 6.6(a)
unless and to the extent that Parent is actually and materially
prejudiced as a consequence.
(d) If Parent or any of its successors or assigns
consolidates with or merges into any other entity and is not the
continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger
or transfers all or substantially all of its
A-19
assets to any other entity, then and in each case, Parent will
cause proper provision to be made so that the successors and
assigns of Parent will assume the obligations set forth in this
Section 6.6.
(e) The provisions of this Section 6.6 are intended to
be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each
Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and representatives.
6.7 Exemption from Liability Under
Section 16(b). Prior to the Effective Time, Parent and
Company shall each take all such steps as may be necessary or
appropriate to cause any disposition of shares of Company Common
Stock or conversion of any derivative securities in respect of
such shares of Company Common Stock in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
to be exempt under Rule
16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act, including any such actions
specified in the applicable SEC No-Action Letter dated
January 12, 1999.
6.8 No Solicitation.
(a) Company agrees that it will not, and will cause its
Subsidiaries and its and its Subsidiaries officers,
directors, agents, advisors and affiliates not to, initiate,
solicit, encourage or knowingly facilitate inquiries or
proposals with respect to, or engage in any negotiations
concerning, or provide any confidential or nonpublic information
or data to, or have any discussions with, any person relating
to, any Acquisition Proposal, or waive any provision of or amend
the terms of the Company Rights Agreement, in respect of an
Acquisition Proposal; provided that, in the event Company
receives an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal and the Board of
Directors of Company concludes in good faith that there is a
reasonable likelihood that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes
or is reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal,
Company may, and may permit its Subsidiaries and its and its
Subsidiaries Representatives to, furnish or cause to be
furnished nonpublic information and participate in such
negotiations or discussions to the extent that the Board of
Directors of Company concludes in good faith (and based on the
advice of counsel) that failure to take such actions would more
likely than not result in a violation of its fiduciary duties
under applicable law; provided that prior to providing
any nonpublic information permitted to be provided pursuant to
the foregoing proviso, it shall have entered into a
confidentiality agreement with such third party on terms no less
favorable to it than the Confidentiality Agreement as entered
into on September 26, 2008, and it shall simultaneously
provide Parent with any such nonpublic information to the extent
it has not previously provided such information to Parent.
Company will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any
activities, discussions or negotiations conducted before the
date of this Agreement with any persons other than Parent with
respect to any Acquisition Proposal and will use its reasonable
best efforts to enforce any confidentiality or similar agreement
relating to an Acquisition Proposal. Company will promptly
(within two business days) advise Parent following receipt of
any Acquisition Proposal and the substance thereof (including
the identity of the person making such Acquisition Proposal),
and will keep Parent apprised of any related developments,
discussions and negotiations (including the terms and conditions
of the Acquisition Proposal) on a current basis.
(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent
Company or its Board of Directors from complying with
Rule 14d-9
and
Rule 14e-2
under the Exchange Act with respect to an Acquisition Proposal;
provided that such Rules will in no way eliminate or
modify the effect that any action pursuant to such Rules would
otherwise have under this Agreement.
As used in this Agreement, Acquisition
Proposal means a tender or exchange offer, proposal
for a merger, consolidation or other business combination
involving Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any
proposal or offer to acquire in any manner more than 15% of the
voting power in, or more than 15% of the fair market value of
the business, assets or deposits of, Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries, other than the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
As used in this Agreement, Superior Proposal
means a written Acquisition Proposal that the Board of Directors
of Company concludes in good faith to be more favorable from a
financial point of view to its shareholders than the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby, (i) after
receiving the advice of its financial advisors (who shall be a
nationally recognized investment banking firm), (ii) after
taking into account the likelihood of consummation of such
transaction on the terms set forth therein and (iii) after
taking into account all legal (with the advice of outside
counsel), financial (including the financing terms of any such
A-20
proposal), regulatory and other aspects of such proposal and any
other relevant factors permitted under applicable law;
provided that for purposes of the definition of
Superior Proposal, the references to more than
15% in the definition of Acquisition Proposal shall be
deemed to be references to 100%.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
7.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation To Effect
the Merger. The respective obligations of the parties to
effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Shareholder Approval. This Agreement, on
substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite
affirmative vote of the shareholders of Company entitled to vote
thereon.
(b) NYSE Listing. The shares of capital stock of
Parent to be issued in exchange for capital stock of Company
that is currently listed on the NYSE upon consummation of the
Merger shall have been authorized for listing on the NYSE,
subject to official notice of issuance.
(c) Form S-4.
The
Form S-4
shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the
Form S-4
shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall
have been initiated or threatened by the SEC.
(d) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No
order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of
competent jurisdiction or other law preventing or making illegal
the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect.
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent. The
obligation of Parent to effect the Merger is also subject to the
satisfaction, or waiver by Parent, at or prior to the Effective
Time, of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of Company set forth in
(i) Section 3.2(a) shall be true and correct except to
a de minimis extent (relative to Section 3.2(a)
taken as a whole), (ii) Sections 3.2(b), 3.3(a),
3.3(b)(i) and 3.7 shall be true and correct in all material
respects, and (iii) the last sentence of Section 3.8 shall
be true and correct in all respects, in each case as of the date
of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on
and as of the Effective Time (except that representations and
warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of the date
of this Agreement or another date shall be true and correct as
of such date); and Parent shall have received a certificate
signed on behalf of Company by the Chief Executive Officer or
the Chief Financial Officer of Company to the foregoing effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Company. Company
shall have performed in all material respects all obligations
required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior
to the Effective Time; and Parent shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of Company by the Chief Executive
Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of Company to such effect.
(c) Regulatory Approvals. All regulatory approvals
from the Federal Reserve and under the HSR Act and any other
regulatory approvals set forth in Section 4.4 the failure
of which to obtain would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Parent or the Company, in each case
required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Merger, shall have been obtained and
shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting
periods in respect thereof shall have expired (all such
approvals and the expiration of all such waiting periods being
referred as the Parent Requisite Regulatory
Approvals).
(d) Opinion of Tax Counsel. Parent shall have
received an opinion of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz,
dated the Closing Date and based on facts, representations and
assumptions described in such opinion, to the effect that the
Merger will be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. In
A-21
rendering such opinion, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
will be entitled to receive and rely upon customary certificates
and representations of officers of Company and Parent.
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Company. The
obligation of Company to effect the Merger is also subject to
the satisfaction or waiver by Company at or prior to the
Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of Parent set forth in
Sections 4.2, 4.3(a), 4.3(b)(i) and 4.7 shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as
of the Effective Time (except that representations and
warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of the date
of this Agreement or another date shall be true and correct as
of such date); and Company shall have received a certificate
signed on behalf of Parent by the Chief Executive Officer or the
Chief Financial Officer of Parent to the foregoing effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent. Parent
shall have performed in all material respects all obligations
required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior
to the Effective Time, and Company shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the Chief Executive
Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of Parent to such effect.
(c) Regulatory Approvals. All regulatory approvals
from the Federal Reserve and under the HSR Act and any other
regulatory approvals set forth in Section 3.4 the failure
of which to obtain would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Parent or the Company, in each case
required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Merger, shall have been obtained and
shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting
periods in respect thereof shall have expired (all such
approvals and the expiration of all such waiting periods being
referred as the Company Requisite Regulatory
Approvals).
(d) Opinion of Tax Counsel. Company shall have
received an opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, dated
the Closing Date and based on facts, representations and
assumptions described in such opinion, to the effect that the
Merger will be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion,
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP will be entitled to receive
and rely upon customary certificates and representations of
officers of Company and Parent.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
AND AMENDMENT
8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at
any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after
approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger
by the shareholders of Company:
(a) by mutual consent of Company and Parent in a written
instrument authorized by the Boards of Directors of Company and
Parent;
(b) by either Company or Parent, if any Governmental Entity
that must grant a Parent Requisite Regulatory Approval or a
Company Requisite Regulatory Approval has denied approval of the
Merger and such denial has become final and nonappealable or any
Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued
a final and nonappealable order, injunction or decree
permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(c) by either Company or Parent, if the Merger shall not
have been consummated on or before the first anniversary of the
date of this Agreement unless the failure of the Closing to
occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the party
seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe the
covenants and agreements of such party set forth in this
Agreement;
(d) by either Company or Parent (provided that the
terminating party is not then in material breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained
herein), if there shall have been a breach of any of the
covenants or agreements or any of the representations or
warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of Company,
in the case of a termination by Parent, or Parent, in the case
of a termination by
A-22
Company, which breach, either individually or in the aggregate,
would result in, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date,
the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 or
7.3, as the case may be, and which is not cured within
60 days following written notice to the party committing
such breach or by its nature or timing cannot be cured within
such time period;
(e) by Parent, if the Board of Directors of Company submits
this Agreement (or the plan of merger contained herein) to its
shareholders without a recommendation for approval, the Board of
Directors of Company otherwise withdraws or materially and
adversely modifies (or discloses its intention to withdraw or
materially and adversely modify) its recommendation referred to
in Section 6.3, or the Board of Directors of Company
recommends to its shareholders an Acquisition Proposal other
than the Merger;
(f) by Parent, if a Governmental Entity of competent
jurisdiction shall have issued an order, injunction or decree,
which order, injunction or decree remains in effect and has
become final and nonappealable, that permanently enjoins or
prohibits or makes illegal the issuance of shares of the
Series M Preferred Stock of the Company to Parent pursuant
to the Share Exchange Agreement or prevents Parent from voting
such shares in favor of approving and adopting this Agreement at
the meeting of Company shareholders held for that
purpose; or
(g) by either Company or Parent, if the approval of the
Companys shareholders required by Section 7.1(a)
shall not have been obtained at a duly held meeting of Company
shareholders convened for the purpose of approving and adopting
this Agreement.
The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
clause (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of this
Section 8.1 shall give written notice of such termination
to the other party in accordance with Section 9.3,
specifying the provision or provisions hereof pursuant to which
such termination is effected.
8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of
termination of this Agreement by either Company or Parent as
provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith
become void and have no effect, and none of Company, Parent, any
of their respective Subsidiaries or any of the officers or
directors of any of them shall have any liability of any nature
whatsoever under this Agreement, or in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that
(i) Sections 6.2(b), 8.2, 8.3, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7,
9.8, 9.9 and 9.10 shall survive any termination of this
Agreement, and (ii) neither Company nor Parent shall be
relieved or released from any liabilities or damages arising out
of its knowing breach of any provision of this Agreement.
8.3 Fees and Expenses. Except with respect to costs
and expenses of printing and mailing the Proxy Statement and all
filing and other fees paid to the SEC in connection with the
Merger, which shall be borne equally by Company and Parent, and
all filing and other fees in connection with any filing under
the HSR Act, which shall be borne by Parent, all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the Merger, this Agreement,
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be
paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or
not the Merger is consummated.
8.4 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the
parties, by action taken or authorized by their respective
Boards of Directors, at any time before or after approval of the
matters presented in connection with Merger by the shareholders
of Company; provided, however, that after any approval of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the
shareholders of Company, there may not be, without further
approval of such shareholders, any amendment of this Agreement
that requires further approval under applicable law. This
Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of each of the parties.
8.5 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the
Effective Time, the parties, by action taken or authorized by
their respective Board of Directors, may, to the extent legally
allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of
the obligations or other acts of the other party, (b) waive
any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained
in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance with any of the
agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any
agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed
on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or failure
to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant,
agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or
estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.
A-23
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
9.1 Closing. On the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, the closing of the
Merger (the Closing) shall take place at
10:00 a.m., New York City time, at the offices of
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, 125 Broad Street, New York,
New York, on a date no later than three business days after the
satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable law) of the latest
to occur of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other
than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied
or waived at the Closing), unless extended by mutual agreement
of the parties (the Closing Date).
9.2 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and
Agreements. None of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive
the Effective Time, except for Section 6.6 and for those
other covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that
by their terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part
after the Effective Time.
9.3 Notices. All notices and other communications in
connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given if delivered personally, sent via facsimile (with
confirmation), mailed by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested) or delivered by an express courier (with
confirmation) to the parties at the following addresses (or at
such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice):
(a) if to Company, to:
Wachovia Corporation
One Wachovia Center
Charlotte, NC 28288
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile:
(704) 374-3425
with a copy to:
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
H. Rodgin Cohen
|
Mitchell S. Eitel
Facsimile:
(212) 558-3588
(b) if to Parent, to:
Wells Fargo & Company
Wells Fargo Center
MAC #N9305-173
Sixth and Marquette
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Facsimile:
(612) 667-6082
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
Edward D. Herlihy
|
Lawrence S. Makow
Facsimile: (212) 403-2000
A-24
9.4 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this
Agreement to Articles, Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such
reference shall be to an Article or Section of or Exhibit or
Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table
of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words
include, includes or
including are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words without
limitation. All schedules and exhibits hereto shall be
deemed part of this Agreement and included in any reference to
this Agreement. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
contained in this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or
state regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions
and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated. If for any reason such court
or regulatory agency determines that any provision, covenant or
restriction is invalid, void or unenforceable, it is the express
intention of the parties that such provision, covenant or
restriction be enforced to the maximum extent permitted.
9.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts (including by facsimile or other
electronic means), all of which shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have
been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other
party, it being understood that each party need not sign the
same counterpart.
9.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the
documents and the instruments referred to in this Agreement),
together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the
entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, other than the
Confidentiality Agreement.
9.7 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement
shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York applicable to contracts made and performed
entirely within such state, without regard to any applicable
conflicts of law principles; provided that the BCA,
including the provisions thereof governing the fiduciary duties
of director of a North Carolina corporation, shall govern as
applicable. The parties hereto agree that any suit, action or
proceeding brought by either party to enforce any provision of,
or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with,
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
brought in any federal or state court located in the State of
New York. Each of the parties hereto submits to the jurisdiction
of any such court in any suit, action or proceeding seeking to
enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of,
or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby and hereby irrevocably waives the benefit of
jurisdiction derived from present or future domicile or
otherwise in such action or proceeding. Each party hereto
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the
venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court
or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
9.8 Publicity. Neither Company nor Parent shall, and
neither Company nor Parent shall permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, issue or cause the publication of any press release or other
public announcement with respect to, or otherwise make any
public statement concerning, the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement without the prior consent (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) of Parent, in the case of a
proposed announcement or statement by Company, or Company, in
the case of a proposed announcement or statement by Parent;
provided, however, that either party may, without the
prior consent of the other party (but after prior consultation
with the other party to the extent practicable under the
circumstances) issue or cause the publication of any press
release or other public announcement to the extent required by
law or by the rules and regulations of the NYSE.
9.9 Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations
under this Agreement shall be assigned by either of the parties
(whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior
written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in
contravention hereof shall be null and void. Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by each of the parties and
their respective successors and assigns. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in Section 6.6, this Agreement
(including the documents and instruments
A-25
referred to in this Agreement) is not intended to and does not
confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights
or remedies under this Agreement.
9.10 Specific Performance. The parties agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance
with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that the
parties shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the
terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedies to
which they are entitled at law or equity.
9.11 Disclosure Schedule. Before entry into this
Agreement, Company delivered to Parent a schedule (a
Disclosure Schedule) that sets forth, among
other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or
appropriate either in response to an express disclosure
requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception
to one or more representations or warranties contained in
Article III, or to one or more covenants contained herein;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, (i) no such item is required to
be set forth as an exception to a representation or warranty if
its absence would not result in the related representation or
warranty being deemed untrue or incorrect and (ii) the mere
inclusion of an item as an exception to a representation or
warranty shall not be deemed an admission that such item
represents a material exception or material fact, event or
circumstance or that such item has had or would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this
Agreement, Previously Disclosed means
information set forth by Company in the applicable paragraph of
its Disclosure Schedule, or any other paragraph of its
Disclosure Schedule (so long as it is reasonably clear from the
context that the disclosure in such other paragraph of its
Disclosure Schedule is also applicable to the section of this
Agreement in question).
A-26
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Company and Parent have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto
duly authorized as of the date first above written.
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
By:
/s/ Richard
Kovacevich
Name: Richard Kovacevich
Title: Chairman
WACHOVIA CORPORATION
Name: Robert K. Steel
Title: President and CEO
A-27
Schedule 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of Company
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred Stock to
|
|
|
|
|
Parent Preferred
|
Series of Company Preferred Stock
|
|
Series of Parent Preferred Stock
|
|
Stock
|
|
Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares
|
|
Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares
|
|
1 / 1000
|
Series G, Class A Preferred Stock
|
|
Class A Preferred Stock, Series G
|
|
1 / 100
|
Series H, Class A Preferred Stock
|
|
Class A Preferred Stock, Series H
|
|
1 / 100
|
Series I, Class A Preferred Stock
|
|
Class A Preferred Stock, Series I
|
|
1
|
Series J, Class A Preferred Stock
|
|
8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series J
|
|
1
|
Series K, Class A Preferred Stock
|
|
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A
Preferred Stock, Series K
|
|
1
|
7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock,
Series L
|
|
7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A Preferred
Stock, Series L
|
|
1
|
Series M, Class A Preferred Stock
|
|
Class A Preferred Stock, Series M
|
|
1
|
A-28
APPENDIX B
[Letterhead of Goldman Sachs & Co.]
October 3, 2008
The Board of Directors
Wachovia Corporation
One Wachovia Center
Charlotte, NC 28288
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion as to the fairness from a
financial point of view to the holders, other than Wells
Fargo & Company (Parent) and its
affiliates, of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value
$3.331/3 per
share (the Shares), of Wachovia Corporation (the
Company) (the Holders) of the exchange
ratio of 0.1991 of a share of common stock, par value
$12/3 per
share (the Parent Common Stock), of Parent to be
paid for each Share (the Exchange Ratio) pursuant to
the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 3,
2008 (the Merger Agreement), by and between Parent
and the Company.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its affiliates are engaged in
investment banking and financial advisory services, securities
trading, investment management, principal investment, financial
planning, benefits counseling, risk management, hedging,
financing, brokerage activities and other financial and
non-financial activities and services for various persons and
entities. In the ordinary course of these activities and
services, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its affiliates may
at any time make or hold long or short positions and
investments, as well as actively trade or effect transactions,
in the equity, debt and other securities (or related derivative
securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans and
other obligations) of the Company, Parent and any of their
respective affiliates or any currency or commodity that may be
involved in the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement
(the Transaction) for their own account and for the
accounts of their customers. We have acted as financial advisor
to the Company in connection with, and have participated in
certain of the negotiations on or prior to (but not after)
September 28, 2008 with Parent. We expect to receive fees
for our services in connection with the Transaction, the
principal portion of which is contingent upon consummation of
the Transaction, and the Company has agreed to reimburse our
expenses and indemnify us against certain liabilities arising
out of our engagement. In addition, we have provided certain
investment banking and other financial services to the Company
and its affiliates from time to time, including having
(i) acted as advisor to the Company and its affiliates in
connection with various of their respective mortgage
securitizations from 2005 to 2006; (ii) acted as co-lead
manager for the offering of preferred stock of the Company in
January 2006; (iii) acted as financial advisor to the
Company in connection with its acquisition of Westcorp in March
2006; (iv) acted as joint bookrunner for the concurrent
offerings of common stock and Series L Non-Cumulative
Perpetual Convertible Class A preferred stock of the
Company in April 2008; and (v) provided financial advisory
services to the Company since June 2008. In addition, we have
provided certain investment banking and other financial services
to Parent and its affiliates from time to time, including having
acted as (i) advisor to Parent and its affiliates in
connection with various of their respective investment grade
debt issuances from 2004 to 2008; (ii) counterparty to
various derivatives transactions entered into by Parent in 2006;
(iii) joint bookrunner for the offering of preferred stock
of an affiliate of Parent in January 2007 and (iv) joint
bookrunner for the offering of preferred stock of Parent in
September 2008. We also may provide investment banking and other
financial services to the Company, Parent and their respective
affiliates in the future. In connection with the above-described
services we have received, and may receive, compensation.
In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, among other
things, the Merger Agreement; annual reports to stockholders and
Annual Reports on
Form 10-K
of the Company and Parent for the five fiscal years ended
December 31, 2007; certain interim reports to stockholders
and Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
of the Company and Parent; certain other communications from the
Company and Parent to their respective stockholders; certain
publicly available research analyst reports for the Company and
Parent; certain internal financial analyses and forecasts for
the Company prepared by the Companys management; estimates
by the Companys management as to the Companys
liquidity, as well as certain analyses prepared by the
Companys
B-1
Board of Directors
Wachovia Corporation
October 3, 2008
Page Two
management with respect to the Companys leverage and
capital adequacy; and publicly announced credit ratings of the
Company and spreads applicable to credit default swaps relating
to the debt of the Company and of certain other institutions
that we believe to be generally relevant. We have also held
discussions with members of the senior management of the Company
regarding their assessment of the rationale for the Transaction,
the past and current business operations, financial condition
and future prospects of the Company and the fair market value of
certain key asset categories of the Company. In addition, we
have reviewed the reported price and trading activity for the
Shares and shares of Parent Common Stock, compared certain
financial and stock market information for the Company and
Parent with similar information for certain other companies the
securities of which are publicly traded and performed such other
studies and analyses, and considered such other factors, as we
considered appropriate.
We have been informed by members of the Companys
management that the Company has considerable exposure to risks
related to the deteriorating credit performance and declining
values of a significant portion of the loan and mortgage
portfolios and related assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and that the business and prospects of the Company
(including its ability to operate as a going concern on a
stand-alone basis) have been severely and negatively affected as
a result thereof, as well as due to the ongoing crisis in the
capital markets, the extraordinary economic and financial
environment currently prevailing and the deteriorating financial
condition of the Company.
In particular, you have informed us that:
|
|
|
|
|
the Companys liquidity position is severely strained due
in large part to declining customer and counterparty confidence,
and that the Company may have insufficient unrestricted cash on
hand to meet its needs in the near term;
|
|
|
|
the Company and its principal operating subsidiaries have a
limited amount of unencumbered assets available as collateral
for any financings that the Company may seek to obtain on an
immediate basis;
|
|
|
|
as a result of general market conditions and matters specific to
the Companys financial condition, the Company presently
would not be able to raise capital through the capital markets
in amounts sufficient for its needs, and this difficulty will
continue for the foreseeable future;
|
|
|
|
the United States banking regulators have not offered financial
assistance to the Company on a stand-alone basis to adequately
address the financial situation of the Company, including its
immediate and long term liquidity needs;
|
|
|
|
the Company projects substantial losses for the remainder of
fiscal year 2008 and for fiscal year 2009, which will put
significant strain on the Companys ability to maintain its
capital position in the near term in light of difficulties the
Company faces in seeking financings and accessing the capital
markets;
|
|
|
|
the downgrades of the Companys credit ratings that the
Companys management expected to be announced by
Moodys Investors Service and Standard &
Poors, which remain imminent absent a transaction (such as
the Transaction) that would provide the Company with sources of
substantial ongoing liquidity and funding or that would relieve
the Company of the need for such liquidity and funding, would
further negatively affect customer and counterparty confidence
in the Company, and the Companys liquidity and access to
the capital markets; and
|
|
|
|
absent immediately entering into a definitive transaction (such
as the Transaction) that would provide the Company with sources
of substantial ongoing liquidity and funding or that would
relieve the Company of the need for such liquidity and funding,
the Company and its subsidiaries would face intervention by the
United States federal banking regulators
and/or be
required to seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws.
|
B-2
Board of Directors
Wachovia Corporation
October 3, 2008
Page Three
You have advised us that, as a result of the foregoing, the
Company and its Board of Directors are faced with a rapidly
narrowing set of alternatives, which, at this time, are limited
to a transaction such as the Transaction or intervention by the
United States federal banking regulators. Accordingly, we also
considered recent instances where concerns regarding the
liquidity of a bank or financial institution triggered a rapid
deterioration of the institutions financial condition,
necessitating government intervention or bankruptcy protection,
and as a result of which the common equity holders of the
institution are likely to receive substantially diminished
value, if any at all, for their equity. In light of the facts
and circumstances, we have also assumed, without independent
verification, that if the Companys banking assets were
taken over by the United States federal banking regulators and
the Companys non-banking assets liquidated under
applicable bankruptcy laws, the Holders would likely receive no
material value.
For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have relied upon and
assumed, without assuming any responsibility for independent
verification, the accuracy and completeness of all of the
financial, legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other
information provided to, discussed with or reviewed by us. As
you are aware, we did not receive from Parent forecasts of its
future financial performance, and we were advised by you that
the currently available forecasts for the Company no longer
reflect the Companys best estimates of its future
financial performance, as a result of the current circumstances
of the Company described hereinabove. With your consent,
(i) our diligence of Parent was limited to publicly
available information, including publicly available estimates of
certain research analysts of Parent (the Parent
Estimates) and did not include discussions with management
or representatives of Parent or other diligence we would
customarily conduct in connection with preparing a fairness
opinion, (ii) for purposes of rendering this opinion, we
have relied upon the Parent Estimates and did not rely upon any
financial forecasts relating to the Company, and (iii) we
did not perform certain analyses that we would customarily
prepare for the Company in connection with a fairness opinion
because such analyses are not meaningful as a result of the
extraordinary circumstances of the Company described herein. We
have assumed with your consent that the Parent Estimates reflect
the best currently available estimates and judgments of the
management of the Company with respect to Parents future
financial performance. We also have assumed that the Transaction
will be consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in
the Merger Agreement without any waiver or amendment of, or
delay in the fulfillment of, any terms or conditions set forth
in the Merger Agreement or any subsequent development related to
the Transaction, including, without limitation, any litigation
that may result from the Company having entered into the
Transaction, that would have an adverse effect on the Company,
Parent or on the expected benefits of the Transaction in any way
meaningful to our analysis. Our opinion does not address any
legal, regulatory, tax or accounting matters, as to which
matters we understand the Company has received such advice as it
deems necessary from qualified professionals. We are not experts
in the evaluation of loan and mortgage portfolios or in
assessing the adequacy of allowances for losses with respect
thereto, and accordingly, we have not evaluated the same with
respect to the Company or Parent and have assumed, with your
consent, that Parents allowances for such losses are
adequate to cover all such losses. In addition, we have not
reviewed individual credit files nor have we made an independent
evaluation or appraisal of the assets and liabilities (including
any contingent, derivative or off-balance-sheet assets and
liabilities) of the Company or Parent or any of their respective
subsidiaries, and we have not been furnished with any such
evaluation or appraisal. In addition, we have not evaluated the
solvency or fair value of any party to the Merger Agreement
under any state or federal laws relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar matters. We do not express any opinion as
to the value of any asset of the Company, whether at current
market prices or in the future. We note, however, that, under
the ownership of a company with adequate liquidity and capital,
such as Parent, the value of the Company and its subsidiaries
could substantially improve, resulting in significant returns to
Parent if the Transaction is consummated.
Our opinion does not address the underlying business decision of
the Company to engage in the Transaction, or the relative merits
of the Transaction as compared to any other strategic
alternative that may
B-3
Board of Directors
Wachovia Corporation
October 3, 2008
Page Four
be available to the Company under the circumstances. This
opinion addresses only the fairness from a financial point of
view to the Holders, as of the date hereof, of the Exchange
Ratio. We do not express any view on, and our opinion does not
address, any other term or aspect of the Merger Agreement or the
Transaction, including, without limitation, (i) the
fairness of the Transaction to, or any consideration received in
connection therewith by, the holders of any class of securities
(other than the Holders), creditors or other constituencies of
the Company or Parent or (ii) the fairness of the amount or
nature of any compensation to be paid or payable to any of the
officers, directors or employees of the Company or Parent, or
class of such persons in connection with the Transaction,
whether relative to the 0.1991 of a share of Parent Common Stock
to be paid for each Share pursuant to the Merger Agreement or
otherwise. We are not expressing any opinion as to the prices at
which the Shares or shares of Parent Common Stock will trade at
any time. Our opinion is necessarily based on economic,
monetary, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the
information made available to us as of, the date hereof,
including the ongoing crisis in the capital markets, the
condition of the mortgage market, the extraordinary financial
and economic environment currently prevailing and the related
uncertainty regarding the extent and duration of these
conditions. We assume no responsibility for updating, revising
or reaffirming this opinion based on circumstances, developments
or events occurring after the date hereof. In addition, with
your consent, we have not considered or evaluated in arriving at
our opinion current plans for a possible program sponsored by
the United States Federal Government to provide support to
financial institutions by purchasing distressed mortgage-related
assets, or any impact of any such plans or programs on the
Company or Parent or the economic environment. Our advisory
services and the opinion expressed herein are provided for the
information and assistance of the Board of Directors of the
Company in connection with its consideration of the Transaction
and such opinion does not constitute a recommendation as to how
any holder of Shares should vote or otherwise act with respect
to such Transaction or any other matter. This opinion has been
approved by a fairness committee of Goldman, Sachs &
Co.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, including the various
assumptions and limitations set forth herein, as well as the
extraordinary circumstances facing the Company described herein,
it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Exchange
Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to the Holders.
Very truly yours,
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
B-4
APPENDIX C
[Letterhead of Perella Weinberg Partners]
October 3, 2008
The Board of Directors
Wachovia Corporation
One Wachovia Center
Charlotte, NC 28288
Members of the Board of Directors:
We understand that Wachovia Corporation, a North Carolina
corporation (the Company), is considering a
transaction whereby Wells Fargo & Company
(Parent) will effect a merger involving the Company.
Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
October 3, 2008 (the Merger Agreement), by and
between Parent and the Company, a North Carolina corporation to
be formed and wholly owned by Parent will merge with and into
the Company (the Merger) as a result of which the
Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent and each
outstanding share of common stock, par value
$3.331/3 per
share, of the Company (the Shares) will be converted
into the right to receive 0.1991 of a share (the Exchange
Ratio) of common stock, par value
$12/3 per
share, of Parent (Parent Common Stock). The terms
and conditions of the Merger are more fully set forth in the
Merger Agreement.
You have requested our opinion as to the fairness from a
financial point of view to holders of the Shares other than
Parent and its affiliates (the Holders) of the
Exchange Ratio in the Merger.
For purposes of the opinion set forth herein, we have, among
other things:
|
|
|
|
1.
|
reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and
other business and financial information with respect to the
Company and Parent, including research analyst reports;
|
|
|
2.
|
reviewed certain internal financial statements, analyses and
forecasts, and other financial and operating data relating to
the business of the Company, in each case, prepared by the
Companys management;
|
|
|
3.
|
discussed the past and current operations, financial condition
and future prospects of the Company with senior executives of
the Company;
|
|
|
4.
|
reviewed estimates by the Companys management as to the
Companys liquidity, as well as certain analyses prepared
by the Companys management with respect to the
Companys leverage and capital adequacy;
|
|
|
5.
|
discussed the fair market value of certain types of key asset
categories of the Company with senior executives of the Company;
|
|
|
6.
|
reviewed publicly announced credit ratings of the Company and
spreads applicable to credit default swaps relating to the debt
of the Company and of certain other institutions that we believe
to be generally relevant;
|
|
|
7.
|
held discussions with members of the senior management of the
Company regarding their assessment of the rationale for the
Merger;
|
|
|
8.
|
compared the financial performance of the Company and of Parent
with that of certain publicly-traded companies which we believe
to be generally relevant;
|
|
|
9.
|
reviewed the reported price and trading activity for the Shares
and Parent Common Stock, and compared such price and trading
activity of the Shares and shares of Parent Common Stock with
that of securities of certain publicly-traded companies which we
believe to be generally relevant;
|
|
|
|
|
10.
|
reviewed the Merger Agreement; and
|
|
|
11.
|
conducted such other financial studies, analyses and
investigations, and considered such other factors, as we have
deemed appropriate.
|
C-1
We have been informed by members of the Companys
management that the Company has considerable exposure to risks
related to the deteriorating credit performance and declining
values of a significant portion of the loan and mortgage
portfolios and related assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and that the business and prospects of the Company
(including its ability to operate as a going concern on a
stand-alone basis) have been severely and negatively affected as
a result thereof, as well as due to the ongoing crisis in the
capital markets, the extraordinary economic and financial
environment currently prevailing and the deteriorating financial
condition of the Company.
In particular, you have informed us that:
|
|
|
|
|
the Companys liquidity position is severely strained due
in large part to declining customer and counterparty confidence,
and that the Company may have insufficient unrestricted cash on
hand to meet its needs in the near term;
|
|
|
|
the Company and its principal operating subsidiaries have a
limited amount of unencumbered assets available as collateral
for any financings that the Company may seek to obtain on an
immediate basis;
|
|
|
|
as a result of general market conditions and matters specific to
the Companys financial condition, the Company presently
would not be able to raise capital through the capital markets
in amounts sufficient for its needs, and this difficulty will
continue for the foreseeable future;
|
|
|
|
the United States banking regulators have not offered financial
assistance to the Company on a stand-alone basis to adequately
address the financial situation of the Company, including its
immediate and long term liquidity needs;
|
|
|
|
the Company projects substantial losses for the remainder of
fiscal year 2008 and for fiscal year 2009, which will put
significant strain on the Companys ability to maintain its
capital position in the near term in light of difficulties the
Company faces in seeking financings and accessing the capital
markets;
|
|
|
|
the downgrades of the Companys credit ratings that the
Companys management expected to be announced by
Moodys Investors Service and Standard &
Poors, which remain imminent absent a transaction (such as
the Merger) that would provide the Company with sources of
substantial ongoing liquidity and funding or that would relieve
the Company of the need for such liquidity and funding, would
further negatively affect customer and counterparty confidence
in the Company, and the Companys liquidity and access to
the capital markets; and
|
|
|
|
absent immediately entering into a definitive transaction (such
as the Merger) that would provide the Company with sources of
substantial ongoing liquidity and funding or that would relieve
the Company of the need for such liquidity and funding, the
Company and its subsidiaries would face intervention by the
United States federal banking regulators
and/or be
required to seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws.
|
You have advised us that, as a result of the foregoing, the
Company and its Board of Directors are faced with a rapidly
narrowing set of alternatives, which, at this time, are limited
to a transaction such as the Merger or intervention by the
United States federal banking regulators. Accordingly, we also
considered recent instances where concerns regarding the
liquidity of a bank or financial institution triggered a rapid
deterioration of the institutions financial condition,
necessitating government intervention or bankruptcy protection,
and as a result of which the common equity holders of the
institution are likely to receive substantially diminished
value, if any at all, for their equity. In light of the facts
and circumstances, we have also assumed, without independent
verification, that if the Companys banking assets were
taken over by the United States federal banking regulators and
the Companys non-banking assets liquidated under
applicable bankruptcy laws, the Holders would likely receive no
material value.
In arriving at our opinion, we have assumed and relied upon,
without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness
of the financial and other information supplied or otherwise
made available to us (including information that is available
from generally recognized public sources) for purposes of this
opinion and have further assumed that the information furnished
by the management of the Company for purposes of our analysis
does not contain any material omissions or misstatements of
material fact. As you are aware, we
C-2
did not receive from Parent forecasts of its future financial
performance, and we were advised by you that the currently
available forecasts for the Company no longer reflect the
Companys best estimates of its future financial
performance, as a result of the current circumstances of the
Company described hereinabove. With your consent, (i) our
diligence of Parent was limited to publicly available
information, including publicly available estimates of certain
research analysts of Parent (the Parent Estimates)
and did not include discussions with management or
representatives of Parent or other diligence we would
customarily conduct in connection with preparing a fairness
opinion, (ii) for purposes of rendering this opinion, we
have relied upon the Parent Estimates and did not rely upon any
financial forecasts relating to the Company and (iii) we
did not perform certain analyses that we would customarily
prepare for the Company in connection with a fairness opinion
because such analyses are not meaningful as a result of the
extraordinary circumstances of the Company described herein. We
have assumed with your consent that the Parent Estimates reflect
the best currently available estimates and judgments of the
management of the Company with respect to Parents future
financial performance. In arriving at our opinion, we have not
reviewed individual credit files nor have we made any
independent valuation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities
(including any contingent, derivative or off-balance-sheet
assets and liabilities) of the Company or Parent or any of their
respective subsidiaries, and we have not been furnished with any
such valuations or appraisals. We are not experts in the
valuation of loan or mortgage portfolios or securities relating
to loan or mortgage portfolios, or allowances for losses with
respect thereto, and accordingly, have not evaluated the same
with respect to the Company or Parent, and have assumed, with
your consent, that Parents allowances for such losses are
adequate to cover all such losses. In addition, we have not
evaluated the solvency or fair value of any party to the Merger
Agreement under any state or federal laws relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. We do not express any
opinion as to the value of any asset of the Company, whether at
current market prices or in the future. We note, however, that,
under the ownership of a company with adequate liquidity and
capital, such as Parent, the value of the Company and its
subsidiaries could substantially improve, resulting in
significant returns to Parent if the Merger is consummated.
This opinion addresses only the fairness from a financial point
of view to the Holders, as of the date hereof, of the Exchange
Ratio. We have not been asked to, nor do we, offer any opinion
as to any other term of the Merger Agreement or the form or
structure of the Merger or the likely timeframe in which the
Merger will be consummated. As you are aware, we did not
participate in negotiations with respect to the terms of the
Merger and related transactions. In addition, we express no
opinion as to the fairness of the amount or nature of any
compensation to be received by any officers, directors or
employees of any parties to the Merger, or any class of such
persons, whether relative to the Exchange Ratio or otherwise. We
have assumed that the Merger will be consummated as described in
the Merger Agreement, and that all governmental, regulatory or
other consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of
the Merger will be obtained without any adverse effect on the
Company, Parent or on the expected benefits of the Merger in any
way meaningful to our analysis. Our opinion does not address the
underlying business decision of the Company to enter into the
Merger or the relative merits of the Merger as compared to any
other strategic alternative that may be available to the Company
under the circumstances, nor does it address any legal, tax,
regulatory or accounting matters, as to which matters we
understand the Company has received such advice as it deems
necessary from qualified professionals. We have relied as to all
legal matters relevant to rendering our opinion upon advice of
counsel. We have not been authorized to solicit, and have not
solicited, on a widespread basis indications of interest in a
transaction with the Company from any party.
We have acted as financial advisor to the Board of Directors of
the Company in connection with the Merger and will receive fees
for our services, a portion of which is payable upon the
execution of definitive agreements in respect of the Merger and
a substantial portion of which is contingent upon the closing of
the Merger. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify us
for certain liabilities and other items arising out of our
engagement. In the ordinary course of our business activities,
Perella Weinberg Partners LP or its affiliates may at any time
hold long or short positions, and may trade or otherwise effect
transactions, for our own account or the accounts of customers,
in debt or equity or other securities (or related derivative
securities) or financial instruments (including bank loans or
other obligations) of the Company or Parent or any of their
respective affiliates. The issuance of this opinion was approved
by a fairness committee of Perella Weinberg Partners LP.
C-3
It is understood that this letter is for the information and
assistance of the Board of Directors of the Company in
connection with and for the purposes of their evaluation of the
Merger. This opinion is not intended to be and does not
constitute a recommendation to any holder of the Shares or any
other class of securities of the Company as to how such holder
should vote or otherwise act with respect to the Merger or any
other matter. In addition, we express no opinion as to the
fairness of the Merger to, or any consideration to, the holders
of any other class of securities (other than the Holders), the
creditors or other constituencies of the Company or Parent. We
are not expressing any opinion as to the prices at which the
Shares or shares of Parent Common Stock will trade at any time.
We consent to the reproduction and inclusion of this opinion in
full in any proxy or information statement sent to the
Companys shareholders relating to the Merger, if
(i) we and our counsel have had a reasonable opportunity to
review and approve and have approved the same before any
submission or distribution thereof (it being understood that our
approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed), and (ii) the inclusion of this opinion in such
proxy or information statement is required by applicable law.
Our opinion is based on financial, economic, market and other
conditions as in effect on, and the information made available
to us as of, the date hereof, including the ongoing crisis in
the capital markets, the condition of the mortgage market, the
extraordinary financial and economic environment currently
prevailing and the related uncertainty regarding the extent and
duration of these conditions. It should be understood that
subsequent developments, including, without limitation, any
litigation that may result from the Company having entered into
the Merger Agreement, may affect this opinion, and we do not
have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm this opinion.
With your consent, in arriving at our opinion, we have not
considered or evaluated current plans for a possible program
sponsored by the United States federal government to provide
support to financial institutions by purchasing distressed
mortgage-related assets, or any impact of any such plans or
programs on the Company, Parent or the economic environment.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, including the various
assumptions and limitations set forth herein, as well as the
extraordinary circumstances facing the Company described herein,
we are of the opinion that, on the date hereof, the Exchange
Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to the Holders.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Perella
Weinberg Partners LP
PERELLA WEINBERG PARTNERS LP
C-4
APPENDIX D
ARTICLE 13. DISSENTERS
RIGHTS
Part 1. Right
to Dissent and Obtain Payments for Shares.
§
55-13-01 Definitions.
In this Article:
(1) Corporation means the issuer of the shares
held by a dissenter before the corporate action, or the
surviving or acquiring corporation by merger or share exchange
of that issuer.
(2) Dissenter means a shareholder who is
entitled to dissent from corporate action under G.S.
55-13-02 and
who exercises that right when and in the manner required by G.S.
55-13-20
through
55-13-28.
(3) Fair value, means the value of the shares
immediately before the effectuation of the corporate action to
which the dissenter objects, excluding any appreciation or
depreciation in anticipation of the corporate action unless
exclusion would be inequitable.
(4) Interest means interest from the effective
date of the corporate action until the date of payment, at a
rate that is fair and equitable under all the circumstances,
giving due consideration to the rate currently paid by the
corporation on its principal bank loans, if any, but not less
than the rate provided in G.S.
24-1.
(5) Record shareholder means the person in
whose name shares are registered in the records of a corporation
or the beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights
granted by a nominee certificate on file with a corporation.
(6) Beneficial shareholder means the person who
is a beneficial owner of shares held in a voting trust or by a
nominee as the record shareholder.
(7) Shareholder means the record shareholder or
the beneficial shareholder.
§
55-13-02 Right
to dissent.
(a) In addition to any rights granted under Article 9,
a shareholder is entitled to dissent from, and obtain payment of
the fair value of his shares in the event of, any of the
following corporate actions:
(1) Consummation of a plan of merger to which the
corporation (other than a parent corporation in a merger whose
shares are not affected under G.S.
55-11-04) is
a party unless (i) approval by the shareholders of that
corporation is not required under G.S.
55-11-03(g)
or (ii) such shares are then redeemable by the corporation
at a price not greater than the cash to be received in exchange
for such shares;
(2) Consummation of a plan of share exchange to which the
corporation is a party as the corporation whose shares will be
acquired, unless such shares are then redeemable by the
corporation at a price not greater than the cash to be received
in exchange for such shares;
(2a) Consummation of a plan of conversion pursuant to
Part 2 of Article 11A of this Chapter;
(3) Consummation of a sale or exchange of all, or
substantially all, of the property of the corporation other than
as permitted by G.S.
55-12-01,
including a sale in dissolution, but not including a sale
pursuant to court order or a sale pursuant to a plan by which
all or substantially all of the net proceeds of the sale will be
distributed in cash to the shareholders within one year after
the date of sale;
(4) An amendment of the articles of incorporation that
materially and adversely affects rights in respect of a
dissenters shares because it
(i) alters or abolishes a preferential right of the shares;
D-1
(ii) creates, alters, or abolishes a right in respect of
redemption, including a provision respecting a sinking fund for
the redemption or repurchase, of the shares;
(iii) alters or abolishes a preemptive right of the holder
of the shares to acquire shares or other securities;
(iv) excludes or limits the right of the shares to vote on
any matter, or to cumulate votes, other than an amendment of the
articles of incorporation permitting action without meeting to
be taken by less than all shareholders entitled to vote, without
advance notice, or both, as provided in
G.S. 55-7-04;
(v) reduces the number of shares owned by the shareholder
to a fraction of a share if the fractional share so created is
to be acquired for cash under G.S.
55-6-04; or
(vi) changes the corporation into a nonprofit corporation
or cooperative organization; or
(5) Any corporate action taken pursuant to a shareholder
vote to the extent the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or a
resolution of the board of directors provides that voting or
nonvoting shareholders are entitled to dissent and obtain
payment for their shares.
(b) A shareholder entitled to dissent and obtain payment
for his shares under this Article may not challenge the
corporate action creating his entitlement, including without
limitation a merger solely or partly in exchange for cash or
other property, unless the action is unlawful or fraudulent with
respect to the shareholder or the corporation.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article,
there shall be no right of shareholders to dissent from, or
obtain payment of the fair value of the shares in the event of,
the corporate actions set forth in subdivisions (1), (2), or
(3) of subsection (a) of this section if the affected
shares are any class or series which, at the record date fixed
to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and
to vote at the meeting at which the plan of merger or share
exchange or the sale or exchange of property is to be acted on,
were (i) listed on a national securities exchange or
designated as a national market system security on an
interdealer quotation system by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., or (ii) held by at least 2,000
record shareholders. This subsection does not apply in cases in
which either:
(1) The articles of incorporation, bylaws, or a resolution
of the board of directors of the corporation issuing the shares
provide otherwise; or
(2) In the case of a plan of merger or share exchange, the
holders of the class or series are required under the plan of
merger or share exchange to accept for the shares anything
except:
a. Cash;
b. Shares, or shares and cash in lieu of fractional shares
of the surviving or acquiring corporation, or of any other
corporation which, at the record date fixed to determine the
shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the
meeting at which the plan of merger or share exchange is to be
acted on, were either listed subject to notice of issuance on a
national securities exchange or designated as a national market
system security on an interdealer quotation system by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or held by at
least 2,000 record shareholders; or
c. A combination of cash and shares as set forth in
sub-subdivisions a. and b. of this subdivision.
§
55-13-03 Dissent
by nominees and beneficial owners.
(a) A record shareholder may assert dissenters rights
as to fewer than all the shares registered in his name only if
he dissents with respect to all shares beneficially owned by any
one person and notifies the corporation in writing of the name
and address of each person on whose behalf he asserts
dissenters rights. The rights of a partial dissenter under
this subsection are determined as if the shares as to which he
dissents and his other shares were registered in the names of
different shareholders.
D-2
(b) A beneficial shareholder may assert dissenters
rights as to shares held on his behalf only if:
(1) He submits to the corporation the record
shareholders written consent to the dissent not later than
the time the beneficial shareholder asserts dissenters
rights; and
(2) He does so with respect to all shares of which he is
the beneficial shareholder.
Part 2. Procedure
for Exercise of Dissenters Rights.
§
55-13-20 Notice
of dissenters rights.
(a) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters
rights under G.S.
55-13-02 is
submitted to a vote at a shareholders meeting, the meeting
notice must state that shareholders are or may be entitled to
assert dissenters rights under this Article and be
accompanied by a copy of this Article.
(b) If corporate action creating dissenters rights
under G.S.
55-13-02 is
taken without a vote of shareholders or is taken by shareholder
action without meeting under G.S.
55-7-04, the
corporation shall no later than 10 days thereafter notify
in writing all shareholders entitled to assert dissenters
rights that the action was taken and send them the
dissenters notice described in G.S.
55-13-22. A
shareholder who consents to shareholder action taken without
meeting under G.S.
55-7-04
approving a corporate action is not entitled to payment for the
shareholders shares under this Article with respect to
that corporate action.
(c) If a corporation fails to comply with the requirements
of this section, such failure shall not invalidate any corporate
action taken; but any shareholder may recover from the
corporation any damage which he suffered from such failure in a
civil action brought in his own name within three years after
the taking of the corporate action creating dissenters
rights under G.S.
55-13-02
unless he voted for such corporate action.
§
55-13-21 Notice
of intent to demand payment.
(a) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters
rights under G.S.
55-13-02 is
submitted to a vote at a shareholders meeting, a shareholder who
wishes to assert dissenters rights:
(1) Must give to the corporation, and the corporation must
actually receive, before the vote is taken written notice of his
intent to demand payment for his shares if the proposed action
is effectuated; and
(2) Must not vote his shares in favor of the proposed
action.
(b) A shareholder who does not satisfy the requirements of
subsection (a) is not entitled to payment for his shares
under this Article.
§
55-13-22
Dissenters notice.
(a) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters
rights under G.S.
55-13-02 is
approved at a shareholders meeting, the corporation shall mail
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, a
written dissenters notice to all shareholders who
satisfied the requirements of G.S.
55-13-21.
(b) The dissenters notice must be sent no later than
10 days after shareholder approval, or if no shareholder
approval is required, after the approval of the board of
directors, of the corporate action creating dissenters
rights under G.S.
55-13-02,
and must:
(1) State where the payment demand must be sent and where
and when certificates for certificated shares must be deposited;
(2) Inform holders of uncertificated shares to what extent
transfer of the shares will be restricted after the payment
demand is received;
(3) Supply a form for demanding payment;
(4) Set a date by which the corporation must receive the
payment demand, which date may not be fewer than 30 nor more
than 60 days after the date the subsection (a) notice
is mailed; and
D-3
(5) Be accompanied by a copy of this Article.
§
55-13-23 Duty
to demand payment.
(a) A shareholder sent a dissenters notice described
in G.S.
55-13-22
must demand payment and deposit his share certificates in
accordance with the terms of the notice.
(b) The shareholder who demands payment and deposits his
share certificates under subsection (a) retains all other
rights of a shareholder until these rights are cancelled or
modified by the taking of the proposed corporate action.
(c) A shareholder who does not demand payment or deposit
his share certificates where required, each by the date set in
the dissenters notice, is not entitled to payment for his
shares under this Article.
§
55-13-24 Share
restrictions.
(a) The corporation may restrict the transfer of
uncertificated shares from the date the demand for their payment
is received until the proposed corporate action is taken or the
restrictions released under
G.S. 55-13-26.
(b) The person for whom dissenters rights are
asserted as to uncertificated shares retains all other rights of
a shareholder until these rights are cancelled or modified by
the taking of the proposed corporate action.
§
55-13-25 Payment.
(a) As soon as the proposed corporate action is taken, or
within 30 days after receipt of a payment demand, the
corporation shall pay each dissenter who complied with G.S.
55-13-23 the
amount the corporation estimates to be the fair value of his
shares, plus interest accrued to the date of payment.
(b) The payment shall be accompanied by:
(1) The corporations most recent available balance
sheet as of the end of a fiscal year ending not more than
16 months before the date of payment, an income statement
for that year, a statement of cash flows for that year, and the
latest available interim financial statements, if any;
(2) An explanation of how the corporation estimated the
fair value of the shares;
(3) An explanation of how the interest was calculated;
(4) A statement of the dissenters right to demand
payment under G.S.
55-13-28; and
(5) A copy of this Article.
§
55-13-26
Failure to take action.
(a) If the corporation does not take the proposed action
within 60 days after the date set for demanding payment and
depositing share certificates, the corporation shall return the
deposited certificates and release the transfer restrictions
imposed on uncertificated shares.
(b) If after returning deposited certificates and releasing
transfer restrictions, the corporation takes the proposed
action, it must send a new dissenters notice under G.S.
55-13-22 and
repeat the payment demand procedure.
D-4
§
55-13-27
Reserved for future codification purposes.
§
55-13-28
Procedure if shareholder dissatisfied with corporations
payment or failure to perform.
(a) A dissenter may notify the corporation in writing of
his own estimate of the fair value of his shares and amount of
interest due, and demand payment of the amount in excess of the
payment by the corporation under G.S.
55-13-25 for
the fair value of his shares and interest due, if:
(1) The dissenter believes that the amount paid under G.S.
55-13-25 is
less than the fair value of his shares or that the interest due
is incorrectly calculated;
(2) The corporation fails to make payment under G.S.
55-13-25; or
(3) The corporation, having failed to take the proposed
action, does not return the deposited certificates or release
the transfer restrictions imposed on uncertificated shares
within 60 days after the date set for demanding payment.
(b) A dissenter waives his right to demand payment under
this section unless he notifies the corporation of his demand in
writing (i) under subdivision (a)(1) within 30 days
after the corporation made payment for his shares or
(ii) under subdivisions (a)(2) and (a)(3) within
30 days after the corporation has failed to perform timely.
A dissenter who fails to notify the corporation of his demand
under subsection (a) within such
30-day
period shall be deemed to have withdrawn his dissent and demand
for payment.
§
55-13-29
Reserved for future codification purposes.
Part 3. Judicial
Appraisal of Shares.
§
55-13-30
Court action.
(a) If a demand for payment under G.S.
55-13-28
remains unsettled, the dissenter may commence a proceeding
within 60 days after the earlier of (i) the date
payment is made under G.S.
55-13-25, or
(ii) the date of the dissenters payment demand under
G.S.
55-13-28 by
filing a complaint with the Superior Court Division of the
General Court of Justice to determine the fair value of the
shares and accrued interest. A dissenter who takes no action
within the
60-day
period shall be deemed to have withdrawn his dissent and demand
for payment.
(a1) Repealed by Session Laws
1997-202, S.
4.
(b) Reserved for future codification purposes.
(c) The court shall have the discretion to make all
dissenters (whether or not residents of this State) whose
demands remain unsettled parties to the proceeding as in an
action against their shares and all parties must be served with
a copy of the complaint. Nonresidents may be served by
registered or certified mail or by publication as provided by
law.
(d) The jurisdiction of the superior court in which the
proceeding is commenced under subsection (a) is plenary and
exclusive. The court may appoint one or more persons as
appraisers to receive evidence and recommend decision on the
question of fair value. The appraisers have the powers described
in the order appointing them, or in any amendment to it. The
parties are entitled to the same discovery rights as parties in
other civil proceedings. The proceeding shall be tried as in
other civil actions. However, in a proceeding by a dissenter in
a corporation that was a public corporation immediately prior to
consummation of the corporate action giving rise to the right of
dissent under G.S.
55-13-02,
there is no right to a trial by jury.
(e) Each dissenter made a party to the proceeding is
entitled to judgment for the amount, if any, by which the court
finds the fair value of his shares, plus interest, exceeds the
amount paid by the corporation.
D-5
§
55-13-31
Court costs and counsel fees.
(a) The court in an appraisal proceeding commenced under
G.S.
55-13-30
shall determine all costs of the proceeding, including the
reasonable compensation and expenses of appraisers appointed by
the court, and shall assess the costs as it finds equitable.
(b) The court may also assess the fees and expenses of
counsel and experts for the respective parties, in amounts the
court finds equitable:
(1) Against the corporation and in favor of any or all
dissenters if the court finds the corporation did not
substantially comply with the requirements of G.S.
55-13-20
through
55-13-28; or
(2) Against either the corporation or a dissenter, in favor
of either or any other party, if the court finds that the party
against whom the fees and expenses are assessed acted
arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with respect to
the rights provided by this Article.
(c) If the court finds that the services of counsel for any
dissenter were of substantial benefit to other dissenters
similarly situated, and that the fees for those services should
not be assessed against the corporation, the court may award to
these counsel reasonable fees to be paid out of the amounts
awarded the dissenters who were benefited.
D-6
THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO VOTE YOUR PROXY
TELEPHONE VOTING INTERNET VOTING VOTING BY MAIL
This method of voting is Visit the Internet voting Web site Simply mark, sign and date available
for residents of the at http://proxy.georgeson.com. your proxy card and return it U.S. and Canada.
On a touch Have this proxy card ready and in the postage-paid envelope tone telephone, call TOLL
follow the instructions on your to Georgeson Inc., Wall Street FREE 1-877-816-0869, 24 hours
screen. You will incur only your Station, P.O. Box 1100, New a day, 7 days a week. Have this usual
Internet charges. Available York, NY 10269-0646. If you proxy card ready, then follow the until
11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard are voting by telephone or the prerecorded instructions. Your Time on
December 22, 2008. Internet, please do not mail vote will be confirmed and cast your proxy card. as
you have directed. Available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 22, 2008.
TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE
X Please mark votes as in this example.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
1. A proposal to approve the plan of merger contained in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN between Wachovia Corporation and Wells Fargo & Company, dated as of October 3, 2008, as it may be amended from time to time, pursuant to which Wachovia will merge with and into Wells Fargo, with Wells Fargo surviving the merger.
2. A proposal to approve the adjournment or postponement of the special meeting, if necessary or FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the proposal to approve the plan of merger contained in the merger agreement.
I will attend
the Special Meeting
of Shareholders
Signature
Signature (if held jointly)
Date
NOTE: Signature(s) should agree with
name(s) on proxy card. Executors,
administrators, trustees and other
fiduciaries, and persons signing on
behalf of corporations, or
partnerships, should so indicate
when signing. |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Special Meeting of Shareholders of
Wachovia Corporation Hilton Charlotte
Center City 222 East Third Street
Piedmont Ballroom Charlotte, NC 28202
December 23, 2008, 9:30 a.m.
Directions From the Airport
Take the Airport connector to first red light. Turn left onto Old
Dowd Road. Proceed to stop sign (Little Rock Road) turn right.
Proceed to first light, turn right onto Wilkinson Boulevard.
Follow Wilkinson until it turns into I-277. Take I-277 to the
College Street exit, go three blocks on College Street to Third
Street, turn right onto Third Street. The Hilton Hotel entrance
is on the right.
I-77 North From Columbia
Follow I-77 North to John Belk Freeway. At the top of the ramp,
get into the far right lane and take the College Street exit.
Follow the ramp onto College Street, proceed 3 blocks to Third
Street, turn right onto Third Street. The Hilton Hotel entrance
is on the right.
I-85 North From Atlanta
Follow I-85 North to to Brookshire Freeway East. Proceed to
Church Street exit, turn right onto Church Street. Proceed to
Third Street (7th light), turn left onto Third Street. The
Hilton Hotel entrance is 2 blocks ahead on right.
I-77 South From Mooresville and Statesville
Follow I-77 South to Brookshire Freeway East. Proceed to Church
Street exit, turn right onto Church Street. Proceed to Third
Street (7th light), turn left onto Third Street. The Hilton Hotel
entrance is 2 blocks ahead on right.
I-85 South from Greensboro
Follow I-85 South to Charlotte. Take exit for I-77 South to
Columbia. Follow I-77 South, approximately one mile, to
Brookshire Freeway East. Proceed to Church Street exit, turn
right onto Church Street. Proceed to Third Street (7th light),
turn left onto Third Street. The Hilton Hotel entrance is 2
blocks ahead on right.
TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE
WACHOVIA CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
DECEMBER 23, 2008
The undersigned holder of shares of common stock of Wachovia Corporation (the Corporation) hereby
constitutes and appoints Jane C. Sherburne and Shannon W. McFayden, or either of them, the lawful
attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, for and on behalf
of the undersigned, to vote as specified on the matters set forth on the reverse side, all of the
shares of the Corporations common stock held of record by the undersigned on November 3, 2008, at
the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Corporation to be held on December 23, 2008, at 9:30
a.m. EST, in the Piedmont Ballroom, at the Hilton Charlotte Center City, 222 East Third Street,
Charlotte, NC 28202, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED ON THE REVERSE SIDE. IF NO
SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2. IF ANY OTHER MATTERS ARE
VOTED ON AT THE MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THE PROXYHOLDERS ON SUCH MATTERS IN THEIR SOLE
DISCRETION.
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND MAIL WITHOUT DELAY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
SEE REVERSE SIDE
Return to: Georgeson Inc. Wall Street Station P.O. Box 1100 New York, NY 10269-0646 |