Voluntary Deferral and Performance Award Contribution Plan

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 2007

Registration No. 333-            


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


WACHOVIA CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

NORTH CAROLINA   56-0898180
(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

ONE WACHOVIA CENTER

CHARLOTTE, NC

  28288-0013
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings, LLC Voluntary Deferral and Performance Award Contribution Plan

Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings, LLC Performance Award Contribution Plan

(Full title of the plans)

 


Ross E. Jeffries, Jr., Esq.

Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

Wachovia Corporation

One Wachovia Center

Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0630

(Name and address of agent for service)

 


(704) 374-6611

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of securities to be registered   

Amount

to be
registered

    Proposed
maximum
offering price
per share
    Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price
   Amount of
registration fee
 

Deferred Compensation Obligations

   $ 1,500,000,000 (1)   100 %   $ 1,500,000,000    $ 46,050 (2)

 

(1) Represents additional Deferred Compensation Obligations that are unsecured obligations of Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Wachovia Corporation, to pay deferred compensation in the future under the Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings, LLC Voluntary Deferral and Performance Award Contribution Plan and Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings, LLC Performance Award Contribution Plan. Deferred Compensation Obligations of $500,000,000 were previously registered (Registration No. 333-120739) and fees of $63,350 were paid in connection with such registration. Wachovia Corporation is the guarantor of the Deferred Compensation Obligations.
(2) Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.

 



PART II. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents By Reference.

The following reports and/or documents filed by Wachovia Corporation (the “Corporation”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, except to the extent that such reports and/or documents are only “furnished” to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are not incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

 

  (i) the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006;

 

  (ii) the Corporation’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007; and

 

  (iii) the Corporation’s Current Reports on Form 8-K dated as of January 23, 2007, February 13, 2007, February 15, 2007, February 21, 2007, April 16, 2007, April 18, 2007, May 8, 2007, May 31, 2007, May 31, 2007, June 28, 2007, July 20, 2007 and August 21, 2007.

In addition, all reports and/or documents subsequently filed by the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including the rules and regulations thereunder, the “Exchange Act”), except for such reports and/or documents are only “furnished” to the Securities and Exchange Commission or that are otherwise not deemed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to such Exchange Act sections, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

The deferred compensation obligations of Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings, LLC (“Wachovia Securities”) being registered herein (the “Deferred Compensation Obligations”) are issuable under the terms of the Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings, LLC Voluntary Deferral and Performance Award Contribution Plan (the “Voluntary Deferral Plan”) and Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings, LLC Performance Award Contribution Plan (the “Performance Award Contribution Plan” and, together, the “Plans”). The Deferred Compensation Obligations represent obligations of Wachovia Securities to pay participants in the Plans certain compensation amounts in the future that have been credited to a participant’s account under the Plans and, with respect to the Voluntary Deferral Plan, that the participants have elected to defer. Wachovia Securities is a subsidiary of the Corporation. The Corporation is the guarantor of the Deferred Compensation Obligations.

The Plans are intended to be unfunded plans maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation benefits for a select group of management and other highly compensated employees of Wachovia Securities. The Voluntary Deferral Plan is intended to allow certain highly compensated employees to defer the payment of current compensation to future years for tax and financial planning purposes. The Deferred Compensation Obligations are payable in cash and generally will be paid in either a lump sum or in annual installments over a certain term upon retirement, death or other termination of service.

The obligation to pay the vested balance of a Plan participant’s account shall at all times be an unfunded and unsecured obligation of Wachovia Securities and rank pari passu with other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Wachovia Securities. The Corporation, as sponsor of the Plans, shall serve as the guarantor of the Deferred Compensation Obligations, but such guaranty shall also be unfunded and unsecured. The Deferred Compensation Obligations are not convertible into any other


security of either Wachovia Securities or the Corporation. Benefits are payable solely from Wachovia Securities’s general funds and are subject to the risk of corporate insolvency. Wachovia Securities may but is not required to establish or maintain a special or separate fund or otherwise to segregate assets to facilitate payments under the Plans, and participants will not have any interest in any particular assets of Wachovia Securities by reason of any obligation created under the Plans. Nothing in the Plans creates or may be construed as creating a trust of any kind or any other fiduciary relationship between either Wachovia Securities or the Corporation and a participant or any other person, and each participant (or person claiming through him or her) will be responsible for enforcing his or her own rights with respect to the Deferred Compensation Obligations. A participant’s right to the Deferred Compensation Obligations cannot be transferred, assigned, pledged or encumbered except by a written designation of a beneficiary under the terms of any of the Plans. Any attempt to sell, transfer, assign, pledge or encumber the Deferred Compensation Obligations will be void.

The amount of compensation to be credited to the account of or deferred by each participant is determined in accordance with the terms of the applicable Plan based on elections by the participant. Amounts in a participant’s account under both Plans will be indexed to one or more hypothetical or “deemed” investment media individually chosen by a participant from the hypothetical investment funds available under the Plans. Each participant’s account will be adjusted to reflect the investment performance of the selected investment fund(s), including any appreciation or depreciation. Amounts credited to the account of or deferred by the participants, as applicable, may be fully vested (i.e., nonforfeitable) and may be forfeitable in certain situations. There is no trading market for the Deferred Compensation Obligations.

The Plans may be amended or terminated at any time by the Corporation’s Board of Directors or by any committee appointed by the Corporation’s Board of Directors that is authorized to administer the Plans. Generally, except for such modifications, limitations or restrictions as may otherwise be required to avoid current income taxation or other adverse tax consequences to Plan participants resulting from future changes to the tax laws and regulations applicable to the Plans, no such plan amendment or plan termination shall adversely affect the benefits of Plan participants accrued to date under the Plans or otherwise reduce the then outstanding balances credited to their Plan accounts or otherwise adversely affect the vesting schedules or distribution/rollover provisions in effect for those accounts, and those Plan accounts shall, subject to the foregoing exception, continue to become due and payable in accordance with the vesting and distribution of provisions of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or termination.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

The validity of the Deferred Compensation Obligations issuable under the Plans have been passed upon by Ross E. Jeffries, Jr., Esq., Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of the Corporation.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Sections 55-8-50 through 55-8-58 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act contain specific provisions relating to indemnification of directors and officers of North Carolina corporations. In general, the statute provides that (i) 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 such, unless limited by the articles of incorporation, and (ii) a corporation may indemnify a director or officer if he is not wholly successful in such defense, if it is determined as provided in the statute that the director or officer meets a certain standard of conduct, provided when a director or officer is liable to the corporation or liable on the basis of receiving a personal benefit, 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 bylaws or by contract or resolution provide indemnification in addition to that provided by the statute, subject to certain conditions set forth in the statute.

The Corporation’s bylaws provide for the indemnification of Wachovia’s directors and executive officers by the Corporation against liabilities arising out of his status as such, excluding 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 the Corporation.

The Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation provide for the elimination of the personal liability of each director of the Corporation to the fullest extend permitted by the provisions of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, as the same may from time to time be in effect.

The Corporation maintains directors and officers liability insurance, subject to certain deductible amounts. In general, the policy insures (i) the Corporation’s directors and officers against loss by reason of any of their wrongful acts, and/or (ii) the Corporation against loss arising from claims against the directors and officers by reason of their wrongful acts, all subject to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

(3)(a)

   The Corporation’s Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(a) to The Corporation’s 2001 Third Quarter Report on Form 10-Q).

(3)(b)

   The Corporation’s Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(b) to The Corporation’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K).

(3)(c)

   The Corporation’s Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(c) to The Corporation’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K).

(3)(d)

   The Corporation’s Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to The Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 1, 2006).

(3)(e)

   The Corporation’s Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(a) to The Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 18, 2007).

(3)(f)

   The Corporation’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(b) to The Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 18, 2007).

(5)

   Opinion and consent of Ross E. Jeffries, Jr.

(23)(a)

   Consent of KPMG LLP.

(23)(b)

   Consent of Ross E. Jeffries, Jr. (included in Exhibit (5)).

(24)

   Power of Attorney.


Item 9. Undertakings.

 

  (a) Rule 415 offering.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the “Securities Act”);

 

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

 

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

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

 

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

 

  (b) Filings incorporating subsequent Exchange Act documents by reference.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report


pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (h) Request for acceleration of effective date of filing of registration statement on Form S-8.

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


SIGNATURES

The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Charlotte, State of North Carolina, on October 5, 2007.

 

WACHOVIA CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Ross E. Jeffries, Jr.

  Ross E. Jeffries, Jr.
  Senior Vice President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

      

Capacity

G. KENNEDY THOMPSON*

    Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and
G. KENNEDY THOMPSON     Director

THOMAS J. WURTZ*

    Senior Executive Vice President and Chief
THOMAS J. WURTZ     Financial Officer

PETER M. CARLSON*

    Senior Vice President and Controller (Principal
PETER M. CARLSON     Accounting Officer)

JOHN D. BAKER, II*

    Director
JOHN D. BAKER, II    

PETER C. BROWNING*

    Director
PETER C. BROWNING    

JOHN T. CASTEEN III*

    Director
JOHN T. CASTEEN III    

JEROME GITT*

    Director
JEROME GITT    

WILLIAM H. GOODWIN, JR.*

    Director
WILLIAM H. GOODWIN, JR.    

MARYELLEN C. HERRINGER*

    Director
MARYELLEN C. HERRINGER    

ROBERT A. INGRAM*

    Director
ROBERT A. INGRAM    

DONALD M. JAMES*

    Director
DONALD M. JAMES    


MACKEY J. MCDONALD*

    Director
MACKEY J. MCDONALD    

 

    Director
JOSEPH NEUBAUER    

TIMOTHY D. PROCTOR*

    Director
TIMOTHY D. PROCTOR    

ERNEST S. RADY*

    Director
ERNEST S. RADY    

VAN L. RICHEY*

    Director
VAN L. RICHEY    

RUTH G. SHAW*

    Director
RUTH G. SHAW    

LANTY L. SMITH*

    Director
LANTY L. SMITH    

JOHN C. WHITAKER, JR.*

    Director
JOHN C. WHITAKER, JR.    

DONA DAVIS YOUNG*

    Director
DONA DAVIS YOUNG    

   

*  By Ross E. Jeffries, Jr., Attorney-in-fact

   

/s/ Ross E. Jeffries, Jr.

   
Ross E. Jeffries, Jr.    
Date: October 5, 2007    


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

  

Location

(3)(a)   The Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(a) to Wachovia’s 2001 Third Quarter Report on Form 10-Q.
(3)(b)   The Corporation’s Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(b) to Wachovia’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(3)(c)   The Corporation’s Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(c) to Wachovia’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(3)(d)   The Corporation’s Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Wachovia’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 1, 2006.
(3)(e)   The Corporation’s Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(a) to Wachovia’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 18, 2007.
(3)(f)   The Corporation’s Bylaws, as amended.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(b) to Wachovia’s 2001 Third Quarter Report on Form 10-Q.
(5)   Opinion and consent of Ross E. Jeffries, Jr.    Filed herewith.
(23)(a)   Consent of KPMG LLP.    Filed herewith.
(23)(b)   Consent of Ross E. Jeffries, Jr.    Included in Exhibit (5).
(24)   Power of Attorney.    Filed herewith.