Wachovia Corporation/Wachovia Capital Trust III
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424 (b)(2)
Registration No. 333-131237 and 333-131237-01
2,500,000 WITS
Wachovia Capital
Trust III
5.80% Fixed-to-Floating
Rate Normal Wachovia Income Trust Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per
security)
fully and unconditionally guaranteed,
as described herein, by
Wachovia Corporation
The 5.80%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Normal Wachovia Income Trust Securities, or Normal
WITS, are beneficial interests in Wachovia Capital
Trust III, a Delaware statutory trust. The trust will pass
through, as distributions on or redemption price of Normal WITS,
amounts that it receives on its assets that are the
corresponding assets for the Normal WITS, and your
financial entitlements as a holder of Normal WITS generally will
correspond to the trusts financial entitlements as a
holder of corresponding assets. The corresponding assets for
each Normal WITS, with its $1,000 liquidation amount, initially
will be $1,000 principal amount of our Remarketable Junior
Subordinated Notes due 2042, or Junior Subordinated
Notes, and a 1/100th, or $1,000, interest in a stock
purchase contract between the trust and Wachovia Corporation
under which the trust agrees to purchase, and we agree to sell,
on the stock purchase date, one share of our Non-Cumulative
Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, $100,000
liquidation preference per share, or Preferred
Stock, for $100,000 and we agree to make contract
payments to the trust. The trust will pledge the Junior
Subordinated Notes and their proceeds to secure its obligation
to pay the purchase price under the related stock purchase
contracts. We expect the stock purchase date to be
March 15, 2011, but in certain circumstances it may occur
on an earlier date or as late as March 15, 2012. From and
after the stock purchase date, the corresponding asset for each
Normal WITS will be a 1/100th, or $1,000, interest in one share
of Preferred Stock.
Assuming that we do not elect to defer
contract payments or interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes or to skip dividends on the Preferred Stock,
holders of Normal WITS will receive distributions on the $1,000
liquidation amount per Normal WITS:
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from February 1, 2006 through the
later of March 15, 2011 and the stock purchase date, at a
rate per annum of 5.80%, payable semi-annually on each
March 15 and September 15 (and on the stock purchase date, if
not a March 15 or September 15), and
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thereafter at a rate per annum
equal to the greater of (x) three-month LIBOR for the
related distribution period plus 0.93% and (y) 5.56975%,
payable quarterly on each March 15, June 15,
September 15 and December 15 (or if any such date is
not a business day, on the next business day).
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Distributions will be cumulative through
the stock purchase date and non-cumulative thereafter.
The Normal WITS are perpetual and the
trust will redeem them only to the extent we redeem the
Preferred Stock. We may redeem the Preferred Stock at any time
on or after the later of March 15, 2011 and the stock
purchase date.
Investors may exchange Normal WITS and
treasury securities having a $1,000 principal amount per Normal
WITS for like amounts of Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, which
are also beneficial interests in the trust. Each Stripped WITS
corresponds to a 1/100th interest in a stock purchase
contract and $1,000 principal amount of treasury securities, and
each Capital WITS corresponds to $1,000 principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Notes.
The trust will apply to list the Normal
WITS on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
WBTP. Trading of the Normal WITS on the New York
Stock Exchange is expected to commence within a
30-day period after the
initial delivery of the Normal WITS.
See Risk Factors beginning
on page 25 of this prospectus to read about factors you
should consider before buying WITS.
These securities have not been approved
or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, any
state securities commission or the Commissioner of Insurance of
the state of North Carolina nor have these organizations
determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Per Normal |
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Discounts and |
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Total |
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WITS |
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Commissions |
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(1)(2) |
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Initial public offering price
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$ |
1,000 |
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(2) |
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$ |
2,500,000,000 |
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Proceeds, before expenses and commissions, to Wachovia
Corporation
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$ |
1,000 |
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(2) |
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$ |
2,500,000,000 |
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(1) |
The initial public offering price does not
include accrued distributions, if any, on the Normal WITS from
February 1, 2006 to the date of delivery.
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(2) |
In view of the fact that the proceeds of
the sale of the Normal WITS will be invested in the Junior
Subordinated Notes, we have agreed to pay the underwriters, as
compensation for arranging the investment therein of such
proceeds, $25 per Normal WITS (or $62,500,000 in the
aggregate). See Underwriting.
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The underwriters expect to deliver the
Normal WITS in book-entry form only, through the facilities of
The Depository Trust Company, against payment on
February 1, 2006.
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC may use this
prospectus in the initial sale of the Normal WITS and Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC or an affiliate may use this prospectus
thereafter in market-making transactions in WITS. Unless
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC or its agent informs the purchaser
otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this prospectus is being
used in a market-making transaction.
Wachovia Securities
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
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Loop Capital Markets, LLC |
Ramirez & Co., Inc. |
Prospectus dated January 25, 2006.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO
MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL
OR THE SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER
THAN THE SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR
THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF WACHOVIA OR THE
TRUST SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
ii
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This document is called a prospectus and is part of a
registration statement that we filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC. The registration
statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the
registration statement, provides additional information about us
and the securities offered under this prospectus. The
registration statement can be read at the SEC web site or at the
SEC office mentioned under the heading Where You Can Find
More Information.
When acquiring any securities discussed in this prospectus, you
should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus,
including the information incorporated by reference, and the
final term sheet, which will contain solely a description of the
Normal WITS and will be made available to you at the time of
pricing. Neither we nor any underwriters or agents have
authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We
are not offering the securities in any state where the offer is
prohibited. You should not assume that the information in this
prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate
or complete at any date other than the date mentioned on the
cover page of these documents.
One or more of our subsidiaries, including Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC, may buy and sell any of the securities after the
securities are issued as part of their business as a
broker-dealer. Those subsidiaries may use this prospectus in
those transactions. Any sale by a subsidiary will be made at the
prevailing market price at the time of sale. Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC and Wachovia Securities, LLC, another of our
subsidiaries, each conduct business under the name
Wachovia Securities. Any reference in this
prospectus to Wachovia Securities means Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC, unless otherwise mentioned or unless the
context requires otherwise.
Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires
otherwise, all references in this prospectus to
Wachovia, we, us,
our or similar references mean Wachovia
Corporation and its subsidiaries, and references to the
Trust mean Wachovia Capital Trust III.
An index of terms used in this prospectus with specific
meanings appears on the inside back cover of this prospectus.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any
document we file at the SECs public reference room at 100
F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference room. In addition,
our SEC filings are available to the public at the SECs
web site at http://www.sec.gov. You can also inspect reports,
proxy statements and other information about us at the offices
of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York,
New York.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into
this prospectus the information in documents we file with it.
This means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to those documents. The information incorporated
by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and
should be read with the same care. When we update the
information contained in documents that have been incorporated
by reference by making future filings with the SEC the
information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is
considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other
words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between
information contained in this prospectus and information
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely
on the information contained in the document that was filed
later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below
and any documents we file with the SEC in the future (except, in
either case, for such information that is deemed
furnished to the SEC) under Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or
Exchange Act, until the offering of
securities by means of this prospectus is completed:
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004; |
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Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, 2005, June 30, 2005 and
September 30, 2005; and |
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K, filed
with the SEC on the following dates, excluding in each case any
information deemed to be furnished: January 5,
2005, January 14, 2005, January 19, 2005,
April 15, 2005, May 2, 2005, June 22, 2005,
July 19, 2005, August 16, 2005, September 12,
2005, October 17, 2005, November 29, 2005,
December 22, 2005, January 3, 2006 and
January 19, 2006. |
You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in
this prospectus through our website, www.wachovia.com/investor.
In addition, you may request a copy of these filings and copies
of the documents referenced herein, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address:
Wachovia Corporation
Investor Relations
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0206
(704) 374-6782
Other than any documents expressly incorporated by reference,
the information on our website and any other website that is
referred to in this prospectus is not part of this prospectus.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains or incorporates statements that are
forward-looking statements. These statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking language such as
will likely result, may, are
expected to, is anticipated,
estimate, projected, intends
to or other similar words. Our actual results, performance
or achievements could be significantly different from the
results expressed in or implied by these forward-looking
statements. These statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to certain risks
described in the documents incorporated by reference. When
considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in
mind these risks, uncertainties and other cautionary statements
made in this prospectus. You should not place undue reliance on
any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date
made. You should refer to our periodic and current reports filed
with the SEC for specific risks which could cause actual results
to be significantly different from those expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements.
iv
SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere, or
incorporated by reference, in this prospectus. As a result, it
does not contain all of the information that may be important to
you or that you should consider before investing in the WITS or
any of their component securities. You should read this entire
prospectus, including the Risk Factors section and
the documents incorporated by reference, which are described
under Where You Can Find More Information.
Wachovia Corporation
Wachovia is a financial holding company organized under the laws
of North Carolina and registered under the Bank Holding Company
Act. Wachovia has approximately 3,100 full service financial
centers, more than 700 retail brokerage offices and
approximately 5,100 ATM locations. Wachovia offers a
comprehensive line of consumer and commercial banking products
and services, personal and commercial trust, investment
advisory, insurance, securities brokerage, investment banking,
mortgage, credit card, cash management, international banking
and other financial services.
At September 30, 2005, Wachovia had consolidated total
assets of approximately $532 billion, consolidated total
deposits of approximately $320 billion and consolidated
stockholders equity of approximately $47 billion.
Based on total assets at September 30, 2005, Wachovia was
the fourth largest bank holding company in the United States.
Wachovias principal executive office is: Wachovia
Corporation, 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
28288, telephone number: (704) 374-6782.
Wachovia Capital Trust III
Wachovia Capital Trust III, or Trust, is
a perpetual statutory trust created under Delaware law. The
Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of:
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issuing the WITS and the Trust Common Securities; |
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investing the gross proceeds of the WITS and the Trust Common
Securities in Junior Subordinated Notes; |
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entering into the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and holding
the Stock Purchase Contracts; |
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holding Junior Subordinated Notes, certain U.S. treasury
securities, and an interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank,
N.A., and pledging them to secure the Trusts obligations
under the Stock Purchase Contracts; |
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purchasing the Preferred Stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Contracts on the Stock Purchase Date and holding it thereafter; |
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selling Junior Subordinated Notes in a Remarketing; and |
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engaging in only those activities necessary or incidental
thereto. |
The Trusts business and affairs will be conducted by its
trustees, each appointed by us as sponsor of the Trust. The
trustees will be U.S. Bank National Association, as the
Property Trustee, U.S. Bank
Trust National Association, as the Delaware
Trustee, and two or more individual trustees, or
administrative trustees, who are employees or
officers of or affiliated with us.
The principal executive office of the Trust is c/o Wachovia
Corporation, 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
28288, telephone number: (704) 374-6782.
The Offering
This summary includes questions and answers that highlight
selected information from this prospectus to help you understand
the WITS, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Preferred Stock.
What are the WITS?
The WITS and the common securities issued concurrently by the
Trust to us, or Trust Common Securities,
represent beneficial interests in the Trust. The Trusts
assets consist solely of:
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Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes due 2042, or
Junior Subordinated Notes, issued by us to
the Trust; |
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contracts, or Stock Purchase Contracts, for
the Trust to purchase shares of our Non-Cumulative Perpetual
Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, $100,000
Liquidation Preference per share, or Preferred
Stock, from us on a date, or Stock Purchase
Date, that we expect 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; |
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in the event holders exchange Normal WITS and treasury
securities for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, as described
under What are Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, and how can
I exchange Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS?, treasury securities; |
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after a successful Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes,
an interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A.; and |
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after the Stock Purchase Date, shares of Preferred Stock. |
Each holder of WITS will have a beneficial interest in the Trust
but will not own any specific Junior Subordinated Note, Stock
Purchase Contract, substituted treasury security, deposit or
share of Preferred Stock. However, the Trust Agreement
under which the Trust operates defines the financial
entitlements of each class of beneficial interests in the Trust
in a manner that causes those financial entitlements to
correspond to the financial entitlements of the Trust in the
assets of the Trust that are the corresponding
assets for such class.
The Trust will issue the WITS in three classes that will
correspond to different assets of the Trust. Each WITS will have
a liquidation amount of $1,000. At completion of the offering,
the only beneficial interests in the Trust that will be
outstanding are the Normal WITS offered by this prospectus and
the Trust Common Securities. The two other classes of beneficial
interests that the Trust may issue, Stripped
WITS and Capital WITS, may be
issued only in connection with an exchange for Normal WITS as
described under What are Stripped WITS and Capital WITS,
and how can I exchange Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS?
The WITS sold in the offering are called the 5.80%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Normal Wachovia Income Trust Securities, or Normal
WITS, and each represents a beneficial interest in the
Trust initially corresponding to the following Trust assets:
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a 1/100th interest in a Stock Purchase Contract under which
the Trust agrees to purchase, and we agree to sell, for
$100,000, a share of Preferred Stock on the Stock Purchase
Date, and |
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a Junior Subordinated Note with a principal amount of $1,000,
which the Trust will pledge to us to secure its obligations
under the Stock Purchase Contract. |
After the Stock Purchase Date, each Normal WITS will correspond
to 1/100th of a share of Preferred Stock held by the Trust.
2
The following diagram shows the transactions that will happen on
the day that the Trust issues the Normal WITS in the offering:
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Investors purchase Normal WITS, each with a $1,000 liquidation
amount, from the Trust, which corresponds to $1,000 principal
amount of Junior Subordinated Notes and a 1/100th interest
in a Stock Purchase Contract having a stated amount of $100,000. |
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The Trust purchases Junior Subordinated Notes from Wachovia and
enters into the Stock Purchase Contracts with Wachovia. The
Trust pledges the Junior Subordinated Notes to Wachovia to
secure its obligation to purchase Preferred Stock on the Stock
Purchase Date. |
After the offering, you will have the right to exchange your
Normal WITS and certain U.S. treasury securities for
Stripped WITS and Capital WITS by substituting pledged treasury
securities for the pledged Junior Subordinated Notes. You will
be able to exercise this right on any business day until the
Stock Purchase Date, other than on a day in March, June,
September or December that is on or after the first day of the
month through the 15th day of the month (or the next
business day if the 15th day is not a business day) or from
3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the second business day
before any Remarketing Date and until the business day after
that Remarketing Date. You will also not be able to exercise
this right at any time after a successful Remarketing. We refer
to periods during which exchanges are permitted as
Exchange Periods and we explain how
Remarketing works and when it may occur under What is a
Remarketing? A business day means any
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which
banking institutions and trust companies in New York, New York,
Charlotte, North Carolina or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted
or required by any applicable law to close.
Each Stripped WITS will be a beneficial interest in the Trust
corresponding to a 1/100th interest in a Stock Purchase
Contract and the substituted treasury securities, and each
Capital WITS will be a beneficial interest in the Trust
corresponding to a Junior Subordinated Note with a principal
amount of $1,000. We describe the exchange process and the
Stripped WITS in more detail under What are Stripped WITS
and Capital WITS, and how can I exchange Normal WITS for
Stripped WITS and Capital WITS?
Unless indicated otherwise, as used in this prospectus
WITS will include Normal WITS, Stripped WITS
and Capital WITS.
What are the Stock Purchase Contracts?
Each Stock Purchase Contract consists of an obligation of the
Trust to purchase, and us to sell, a share of our Preferred
Stock on the Stock Purchase Date for $100,000, as well as our
obligation to pay periodic contract payments, or
Contract Payments, to the Trust as described
below. To secure its obligation under each Stock Purchase
Contract to purchase a share of Preferred Stock from us on the
Stock Purchase Date, the Trust will pledge either Junior
Subordinated Notes (which after the Remarketing Settlement Date
will be replaced by a deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A., payable
on the Stock Purchase
3
Date and bearing interest at 4.90% per annum) or
Qualifying Treasury Securities with an aggregate principal
amount equal to the stated amount of $100,000 of the
corresponding Stock Purchase Contract.
We will make Contract Payments on each Regular Distribution Date
through the Stock Purchase Date at the annual rate of
0.60% of the stated amount of $100,000 per Stock
Purchase Contract. We explain what the Regular Distribution
Dates are under What distributions or payments will be
made to holders of the Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS? The Trust will distribute these Contract Payments
when received to each holder of Normal WITS and Stripped WITS in
an amount equal to 1/100th of each Contract Payment
received on a Stock Purchase Contract for each Normal WITS or
Stripped WITS. We may defer the Contract Payments until no later
than the Stock Purchase Date. If we defer any of these payments,
we will accrue interest on the deferred amounts at the initial
rate per annum applicable to the Junior Subordinated
Notes. We will pay the deferred amounts on the Stock Purchase
Date to the Trust in the form of subordinated notes, as
described under When can the Trust defer or skip
distributions on the WITS? The Trust will in turn
distribute each payment of interest on, or principal of, these
subordinated notes to the holders of Normal WITS and Stripped
WITS as received.
What are the basic terms of the Junior Subordinated
Notes?
Maturity and Redemption. The maturity date of the
Junior Subordinated Notes is initially March 15, 2042. We
may from time to time redeem Junior Subordinated Notes, in whole
or in part, at any date on or after March 15, 2015, at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof
plus accrued and unpaid interest, including deferred interest
(if any), to the date of redemption. In connection with a
Remarketing, we may change the date after which we may redeem
Notes to a later date or change the redemption price;
provided that no redemption price may be less than the
principal plus accrued and unpaid interest (including additional
interest) on the Junior Subordinated Notes. In connection with a
Remarketing, we may also move up the maturity date to any time
on or after March 15, 2015.
Subordination. Our obligations to pay interest and
premium (if any) on, and principal of, the Junior Subordinated
Notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment and upon
liquidation to all our senior and subordinated indebtedness,
whether now outstanding or subsequently incurred, including all
of our indebtedness for money borrowed, including junior
subordinated notes underlying our trust preferred securities
currently outstanding and other subordinated indebtedness that
is not by its terms expressly made pari passu with or
junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes, indebtedness evidenced
by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, similar
obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct
credit substitutes, obligations associated with derivative
products including but not limited to interest rate and foreign
exchange contracts and foreign contracts relating to mortgages,
commodity contracts, capital lease obligations and guarantees of
any of the foregoing, but not including trade accounts payable
and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business, which will rank equally in right of payment and upon
liquidation with the Junior Subordinated Notes. We refer to our
obligations to which the Junior Subordinated Notes are
subordinate as our senior debt. All
liabilities of our subsidiaries, including trade accounts
payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course
of business, are effectively senior to the Junior Subordinated
Notes to the extent of the assets of such subsidiaries. As of
September 30, 2005, our outstanding debt with respect to
money borrowed (excluding all of the liabilities of our
subsidiaries) that would rank senior to the Junior Subordinated
Notes was approximately $29 billion and the liabilities of
our subsidiaries that would effectively rank senior to the
Junior Subordinated Notes were approximately $586 billion.
Because of the subordination, if we become insolvent, holders of
senior debt may receive more, ratably, and holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes having a claim pursuant to those securities
may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. This type
of subordination will not prevent an event of default from
occurring under the Indenture in connection with the Junior
Subordinated Notes. The Indenture places no limitation on the
amount of senior debt that we may incur. We expect from time to
time to incur additional indebtedness and other obligations
constituting senior debt. As described under What is an
Early Remarketing?, after the first Remarketing attempt in
an Early Remarketing we may remarket the Junior Subordinated
Notes as senior debt.
4
Interest Payments. We will pay interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes semi-annually on each March 15 and
September 15, at a rate equal to 5.20% per
annum. We will also pay interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes on the Stock Purchase Date, if not otherwise an interest
payment date, if they have not been successfully remarketed
prior thereto, as described under What is a
Remarketing? We will have the right under the Indenture to
defer the payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
at any time or from time to time as described under When
can the Trust defer or skip distributions on the
WITS? Interest on Junior Subordinated Notes.
In the case that any date on which interest is payable on the
Junior Subordinated Notes is not a business day, then payment of
the interest payable on that date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a business day. However, no interest or
other payment shall be paid in respect of the delay.
If on the Stock Purchase Date any interest accrued on the Junior
Subordinated Notes has not been paid in cash and there is a
Failed Remarketing, we will pay the Trust the deferred interest
on the Stock Purchase Date in subordinated notes that have a
principal amount equal to the aggregate amount of deferred
interest as of the Stock Purchase Date, mature on March 15,
2014, bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate
of interest then in effect on the Junior Subordinated Notes, are
subordinate and rank junior in right of payment to all of our
senior debt on the same basis as the Junior Subordinated Notes
and are redeemable by us at any time prior to their stated
maturity. The Trust will in turn distribute each payment of
interest on, or principal of, these subordinated notes to the
holders of Normal WITS and Capital WITS as received.
Alternative Payment Mechanism. We will covenant in
the Indenture that, if we defer payment of interest on any
interest payment date on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date:
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we will pay that interest only out of the net proceeds of the
sale of shares of our common stock or non-cumulative perpetual
preferred stock received by us during the 180 days prior to
the date of payment of such deferred interest; |
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we will notify the Federal Reserve if this covenant is
applicable; and |
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subject to the approval of the Federal Reserve, we will use our
Commercially Reasonable Efforts to sell shares of our common
stock or non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock not later than
the termination of the deferral period in an amount so that the
net proceeds of such sale, when applied to such deferred
payments of interest, will cause such unpaid deferred interest
payments to be paid in full and (unless the Federal Reserve
instructs otherwise) apply the proceeds of such sale to pay the
deferred amounts (provided that we will not in any event
be required to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at
the time when the payment of such interest would violate the
terms of any securities issued by us or one of our subsidiaries
or the terms of a contract binding on us or one of our
subsidiaries). |
We refer to these provisions as the Alternative Payment
Mechanism.
Our failure to raise sufficient eligible equity proceeds or our
use of other sources to fund interest payments would be a breach
of our obligations under the Junior Subordinated Notes, but
would not be an event of default under the Indenture. However,
an event of default under the Indenture will occur if we fail to
pay all accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes at the end of the deferral period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are required to conduct a
sale of shares of our common stock and/or non-cumulative
perpetual preferred stock in order to pay amounts due and
payable under any instruments or other securities that rank
pari passu as to interest or distributions with the
Junior Subordinated Notes, then we will apply such proceeds to
deferred interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes, on
the one hand, and such other pari passu securities, on
the other hand, on a ratable basis in proportion to the total
amounts that are due on the Junior Subordinated Notes and such
securities before we shall be relieved of our obligation to
conduct the sale of shares of our common stock and/or
non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock and apply the proceeds
thereof to such securities.
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Events of Default. If an event of default under
the Indenture occurs and continues, the Indenture Trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes may declare the entire
principal and all accrued but unpaid interest of all Junior
Subordinated Notes to be due and payable immediately. If the
Indenture Trustee or the holders of Junior Subordinated Notes do
not make such declaration and the Junior Subordinated Notes are
beneficially owned by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, the
Property Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
liquidation amount of the Capital WITS and, if such default
occurs prior to the Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the
Remarketing Settlement Date, the holders of the Normal WITS
shall have such right. An event of default
when used in the Indenture means any of the following:
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non-payment of interest after deferral for 14 or more
consecutive semi-annual interest periods or the equivalent
thereof, in the event that interest periods are other than
semi-annual; |
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termination of the Trust without redemption of the WITS,
distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes to holders of
Capital WITS and, if such termination occurs prior to the Stock
Purchase Date, or if earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date,
the holders of the Normal WITS, or assumption of Wachovias
obligations under the Junior Subordinated Notes by its successor; |
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bankruptcy of Wachovia; or |
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receivership of its lead bank. |
Events of default do not include the breach of any other
covenant in the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Indenture and,
accordingly, the breach of any other covenant would not entitle
the Indenture Trustee or holders of the Junior Subordinated
Notes to declare the Junior Subordinated Notes due and payable.
Pledge of Junior Subordinated Notes. The Trust
will pledge Junior Subordinated Notes with an aggregate
principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the Normal
WITS and Trust Common Securities to secure its obligations under
the Stock Purchase Contracts. After the creation of Stripped
WITS and Capital WITS, the Trust will also hold Junior
Subordinated Notes that are not pledged with an aggregate
principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the Capital
WITS. The pledged Junior Subordinated Notes and related Stock
Purchase Contracts are corresponding assets for Normal WITS and
Trust Common Securities and the Junior Subordinated Notes that
are not pledged are corresponding assets for the Capital WITS.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association will hold the pledged
Junior Subordinated Notes and Qualifying Treasury Securities as
collateral agent, or Collateral Agent, for us
and the other Junior Subordinated Notes as custodial agent, or
Custodial Agent, for the Trust.
What are the basic terms of the Preferred Stock?
Dividends. The holder of Preferred Stock after the
Stock Purchase Date will be the Trust unless the Trust is
dissolved. The Trust, as the sole holder of the Preferred Stock
so long as the Normal WITS are outstanding, will make
distributions on the Normal WITS out of the dividends received
on the Preferred Stock. Non-cumulative cash dividends will be
payable if, as and when declared by our board of directors, on
the following dates, or Dividend Payment
Dates: (1) if the Preferred Stock 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 the later of March 15, 2011
and the date of issuance, quarterly in arrears on each
March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15 (or, in the case of this clause (2) if
such day is not a business day, the next business day). We refer
to the period from and including the date of issuance of the
Preferred Stock or any Dividend Payment Date to but excluding
the next Dividend Payment Date as a Dividend
Period. For any Dividend Period ending prior to
March 15, 2011, dividends will accrue at a rate per
annum equal to 5.80%, which is the same rate as the combined
rate at which Contract Payments and interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes would have accrued, and for any Dividend
Period ending after March 15, 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%. Three-Month
LIBOR will be the offered rate
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per annum for three-month deposits in U.S. dollars
as that rate appears on Moneyline Telerate page 3750 as of
11:00 A.M., London time, on the second London business day
immediately preceding the first day of the Dividend Period,
except as otherwise determined by the calculation agent in the
manner described under Description of the Preferred
Stock Dividends. In the case that any date on
which dividends are payable on the Preferred Stock is not a
business day, then payment of the dividend payable on that date
will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day.
However, no interest or other payment shall be paid in respect
of the delay.
Ranking. With respect to the payment of dividends
and amounts upon liquidation, the Preferred Stock will rank
equally with any other class or series of our stock that ranks
on a par with the Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends
and in the distribution of assets on any liquidation,
dissolution or
winding-up of Wachovia,
if any, which we refer to as Parity Stock,
and will rank senior to our common stock and any other class or
series of our stock over which the Preferred Stock has
preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the
distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of Wachovia,
which we also refer to as Junior Stock. In
particular, during a Dividend Period no dividend will be paid or
declared and no distribution will be made on any Junior Stock,
other than a dividend payable solely in Junior Stock, no shares
of Junior Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise
acquired for consideration by us, directly or indirectly (other
than as a result of reclassification of Junior Stock for or into
Junior Stock, or the exchange or conversion of one share of
Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, and
other than through the use of the proceeds of a substantially
contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock), nor shall
any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for
the redemption of any such securities by us, and no shares of
Parity Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired
for consideration by us otherwise than pursuant to offers to
purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Preferred
Stock and such Parity Stock except by conversion into or
exchange for Junior Stock, unless full dividends for such
Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock
have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
thereof set aside.
No Maturity. The Preferred Stock does not have any
maturity date, and we are not required to redeem the Preferred
Stock. Accordingly, once issued pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Contracts, the Preferred Stock will remain outstanding
indefinitely, unless and until we decide to redeem it.
Redemption. Subject to a covenant in favor of
certain debtholders limiting our right to repurchase WITS or to
redeem or repurchase shares of Preferred Stock described under
What is the maturity of the WITS, and may the Trust redeem
the WITS?, so long as full dividends on all outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period
have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
thereof set aside, we may redeem the Preferred Stock in whole or
in part at any time on or after the later of March 15, 2011
and the Stock Purchase Date. Any such redemption shall be at the
redemption price of $100,000 per share plus dividends that
have been declared but not paid plus accrued and unpaid
dividends for the then-current Dividend Period to the redemption
date. The redemption price will not include any undeclared
dividends for prior Dividend Periods. The holders of Preferred
Stock will not have any right to require the redemption or
repurchase of the Preferred Stock. If the Trust is the holder of
the Preferred Stock at such redemption, it will also redeem the
Normal WITS as described in What is the maturity of the
WITS, and may the Trust redeem the WITS?
Voting. Holders of the Preferred Stock have no
voting rights with respect to matters that generally require the
approval of voting stockholders, although holders will have the
right to vote as a class on certain fundamental matters that may
affect the preference or special rights of the Preferred Stock.
Liquidation. In the event of Wachovias
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up,
the holders of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding will
be entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount
of the liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, or
Liquidation Preference, plus any authorized,
declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current Dividend
Period to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally
available for distribution to our stockholders, before any
distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any other
Junior Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any
Parity Stock or any class or series of securities ranking senior
to the Preferred Stock
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upon liquidation and the rights of our depositors and other
creditors. After the full amount of the Liquidation Preference
is paid, the holders of Preferred Stock will not be entitled to
any further participation in any distribution of our assets.
What are Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, and how can I
exchange Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS?
After the offering, you may consider it beneficial either to
hold Capital WITS, which correspond only to Junior Subordinated
Notes but not to Stock Purchase Contracts, or to realize income
from their sale. These investment choices are facilitated by
exchanging Normal WITS and certain U.S. treasury securities
for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS. At your option, at any time
during an Exchange Period, you may elect to exchange Normal WITS
for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS by substituting certain
U.S. treasury securities, which we refer to as
Qualifying Treasury Securities, for the
pledged Junior Subordinated Notes. See Description of the
WITS Exchanging Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury
Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS. The Trust
will pledge the substituted Qualifying Treasury Securities to
secure its obligations under the Stock Purchase Contracts
corresponding to the Stripped WITS and the Collateral Agent will
release the pledged Junior Subordinated Notes from the pledge,
but they will continue to be property of the Trust corresponding
to the Capital WITS.
Each Stripped WITS will have a liquidation amount of $1,000 and
will initially be a beneficial interest in the Trust
corresponding to:
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a 1/100th interest in a Stock Purchase Contract; and |
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a Qualifying Treasury Security having a principal amount of
$1,000 and maturing at least one business day prior to the next
succeeding March 15, June 15, September 15 or
December 15. |
On the Stock Purchase Date, the Trust will use the proceeds of
the Qualifying Treasury Securities to satisfy its obligations
under the Stock Purchase Contracts corresponding to the Stripped
WITS, as a result of which each Stripped WITS, like each Normal
WITS, will represent a 1/100th interest in a share of
Preferred Stock held by the Trust. On the next business day,
each Stripped WITS will automatically, without any action by
holders being necessary, be and become a Normal WITS with the
same liquidation amount. If, however, there has been a Failed
Remarketing, as described under What happens if the
Remarketing Agent cannot remarket the Junior Subordinated Notes
for settlement on or before February 15, 2012?, and
we have paid deferred interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
on the Stock Purchase Date in additional notes, as described
under When can the Trust defer or skip distributions on
the WITS?, the Stripped WITS will not become Normal WITS
until we have paid all amounts due on these additional notes.
Each Capital WITS will have a liquidation amount of $1,000 and
will represent a beneficial interest in the Trust corresponding
to a Junior Subordinated Note with a principal amount of $1,000.
The Trust will not pledge the Junior Subordinated Notes that are
the corresponding assets for the Capital WITS to secure its
obligations under Stock Purchase Contracts.
After you have exchanged Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury
Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, you may exchange
them back into Normal WITS during any Exchange Period. In that
event, Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal
to the liquidation amount of the Capital WITS will be
substituted under the pledge for the same principal amount of
Qualifying Treasury Securities, which will be released from the
pledge and delivered to you. If you elect to exchange Normal
WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS, or vice versa, you will be responsible for
any related fees or expenses incurred by the Trust, the
Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Transfer Agent.
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The following diagrams illustrate the exchange of Normal WITS
and Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS and vice versa:
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What distributions or payments will be made to holders of
the Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and Capital WITS?
General. The Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS are beneficial interests in the Trust, with the
financial entitlements of each such class corresponding to the
financial entitlements of the Trust in the corresponding assets
for such class. Accordingly, the Trust will make distributions
on Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and Capital WITS only when and to
the extent it has funds on hand available to make such
distributions from receipt of payments on the corresponding
assets for each respective class. Similarly, if we exercise our
right to defer payment of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes
or Contract Payments, or to skip dividends on the Preferred
Stock once issued, the Trust will defer or skip corresponding
distributions on the Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS, as applicable.
The distribution dates for Normal WITS and Stripped WITS, which
we call Regular Distribution Dates, are:
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each March 15 and September 15 occurring prior to and including
the later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date,
commencing March 15, 2006 (or, in the case of Stripped
WITS, the first such date on which Stripped WITS are
outstanding); |
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after the later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase
Date, each March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15, or if any such date is not a business day, the
next business day; and |
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the Stock Purchase Date if not otherwise a Regular Distribution
Date; |
provided that the last Regular Distribution Date for the
Stripped WITS shall be the Stock Purchase Date.
The distribution dates for Capital WITS, which we call
Capital WITS Distribution Dates, are:
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each March 15 and September 15, commencing with the first
such date on which Capital WITS are outstanding and continuing
through and including the last such date to occur prior to the
Remarketing Date for a successful Remarketing; and |
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thereafter for so long as Capital WITS remain outstanding each
day that is an interest payment date for the Junior Subordinated
Notes. |
Also, prior to the Stock Purchase Date, the Trust will make
additional distributions on the Stripped WITS relating to the
Qualifying Treasury Securities quarterly on each March 15,
June 15, September 15 and December 15, or if any such
date is not a business day, the next business day, or
Additional Distribution Date, or as promptly
thereafter as the Collateral Agent and the paying agent
determine to be practicable, commencing with the first such day
after Stripped WITS are outstanding.
We use the term Distribution Date to mean a
Regular Distribution Date, a Capital WITS Distribution Date or
an Additional Distribution Date. A Distribution
Period is (i) with respect to Normal WITS,
Stripped WITS and Trust Common Securities, each period of time
beginning on a Regular Distribution Date (or the date of
original issuance in the case of the Distribution Period ending
in March 2006) and continuing to but not including the next
succeeding Regular Distribution Date for such class; and
(ii) with respect to Capital WITS, each period of time
beginning on a Capital WITS Distribution Date (or the date of
original issuance of the WITS in the case of the Distribution
Period ending in March 2006) and continuing to but not including
the next succeeding Capital WITS Distribution Date. When a
Distribution Date is not a business day, the Trust will make the
distribution on the next business day without interest.
Distributions made for periods prior to the later of
March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date will be
calculated on the basis of a
360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day
months, and distributions for periods beginning on or after such
date will be calculated on the basis of a
360-day year and the
number of days actually elapsed.
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Normal WITS. Distributions on Normal WITS will be
payable on each Regular Distribution Date:
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from February 1, 2006 through the later of March 15,
2011 and the Stock Purchase Date, accruing at a rate equal to
5.80% per annum for each Distribution Period ending prior
to such date, and thereafter accruing at an annual rate equal to
the greater of (i) Three-Month LIBOR for such Distribution
Period plus 0.93% and (ii) 5.56975%; and |
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on a cumulative basis for each Regular Distribution Date to and
including the Stock Purchase Date and on a non-cumulative basis
thereafter. |
The distributions paid on any Regular Distribution Date will
include any additional amounts or deferred interest amounts
received by the Trust on the Junior Subordinated Notes or
deferred Contract Payments received by the Trust on Stock
Purchase Contracts, in each case that are corresponding assets
for the Normal WITS, as well as payments of interest on and
principal of any subordinated notes we issue to the Trust on the
Stock Purchase Date in respect of deferred interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes or deferred Contract Payments. See
When can the Trust defer or skip distributions on the
WITS?
Stripped WITS. Distributions on Stripped WITS will
be payable on each Regular Distribution Date on or prior to the
Stock Purchase Date:
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at the annual rate of 0.60%, accruing for each Stripped WITS
from the Regular Distribution Date immediately preceding its
issuance; and |
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on a cumulative basis. |
The distributions paid on any Regular Distribution Date will
include any deferred Contract Payments received by the Trust on
Stock Purchase Contracts that are corresponding assets for the
Stripped WITS. The Trust will also distribute to holders of
Stripped WITS a pro rata portion of each payment received
in respect of interest on or principal of any subordinated notes
we issue to the Trust on the Stock Purchase Date in respect of
deferred Contract Payments.
Additionally, on each Additional Distribution Date (or as
promptly thereafter as the Collateral Agent and the paying agent
determine to be practicable), each holder of Stripped WITS will
also receive a pro rata distribution from the Trust of
the amount by which the proceeds of the Qualifying Treasury
Securities pledged by the Trust in respect of Stock Purchase
Contracts maturing at least one business day prior to such date
exceed the amount required to purchase replacement Qualifying
Treasury Securities. We refer to these distributions as
Excess Proceeds Distributions.
Capital WITS. Distributions on Capital WITS will
be payable on each Capital WITS Distribution Date prior to the
Stock Purchase Date at the annual rate of 5.20%, accruing for
each Capital WITS from the Capital WITS Distribution Date
immediately preceding its issuance.
On and after the Remarketing Settlement Date or, in the event of
a Failed Remarketing, the Stock Purchase Date, holders of
Capital WITS will be entitled to receive distributions on the
dates and in the amounts that we pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, as described above under What are the
basic terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes? The
distributions paid on any distribution date for the Capital WITS
will include any additional amounts or deferred interest amounts
received by the Trust on the Junior Subordinated Notes that are
corresponding assets for the Capital WITS, as well as payments
of interest on and principal of any subordinated notes we issue
to the Trust on the Stock Purchase Date in respect of deferred
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes in the event of a
Failed Remarketing.
If we successfully remarket the Junior Subordinated Notes as
described below under What is a Remarketing? and you
do not elect to dispose of your Capital WITS in connection with
the Remarketing, any changes we make to the interest rate and
interest payment dates for the Junior Subordinated Notes will be
reflected in the distribution rate and distribution payment
dates applicable to the Capital WITS. As mentioned above under
What are the basic terms of the Junior Subordinated
Notes?, the Trust will redeem the Capital WITS in exchange
for Junior Subordinated Notes promptly after the Remarketing
Settlement Date.
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When can the Trust defer or skip distributions on the
WITS?
The Trust will make distributions on each class of WITS only to
the extent it has received payments on the corresponding assets
of such class that is, interest payments on the
Junior Subordinated Notes, Contract Payments on the Stock
Purchase Contracts and dividends on the Preferred Stock.
Accordingly, the Trust will defer or skip distributions on any
class of WITS whenever we are deferring payments on the assets
that correspond to that class. Thus, if we are deferring
Contract Payments at any time prior to the Stock Purchase Date,
the Trust will defer that portion of the distributions on the
Normal WITS and Stripped WITS that corresponds to the Contract
Payments. Similarly, if we are deferring interest payments on
the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will defer that portion
of the distributions on the Normal WITS (prior to the
Remarketing Settlement Date) that corresponds to the interest
payments, and will defer the distributions on the Capital WITS.
If we skip any dividend on the Preferred Stock, the Trust will
skip the corresponding distribution on Normal WITS after the
Stock Purchase Date. The Trust will not be entitled to defer
Excess Proceeds Distributions on the Stripped WITS. Since the
Preferred Stock is non-cumulative, the Trust will not make a
distribution on the Normal WITS on any Distribution Date to the
extent we do not declare and pay a dividend on the Preferred
Stock, and you will have no entitlement to receive these
distributions at a later date.
Stock Purchase Contracts. We may, at our option,
and will if so directed by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, or any
successor Federal bank regulatory agency having primary
jurisdiction over us, collectively referred to as
Federal Reserve, defer Contract Payments. We
may elect, and will elect if so directed by the Federal Reserve,
to defer payments on more than one occasion, but in no event may
we defer payments beyond the Stock Purchase Date. Deferred
Contract Payments will accrue interest until paid, compounded on
each Regular Distribution Date, at the rate per annum
originally applicable to the Junior Subordinated Notes. If
we elect to defer Contract Payments on the Stock Purchase
Contracts until the Stock Purchase Date, then we will pay the
Trust the deferred Contract Payments on the Stock Purchase Date
in subordinated notes that have a principal amount equal to the
aggregate amount of deferred Contract Payments as of the Stock
Purchase Date, mature on March 15, 2014, bear interest at a
rate per annum equal to the rate of interest originally
applicable to the Junior Subordinated Notes, are subordinate and
rank junior in right of payment to all of our senior debt on the
same basis as the Contract Payments and are redeemable by us at
any time prior to their stated maturity.
Interest on Junior Subordinated Notes. We may, at
our option, and will if so directed by the Federal Reserve,
defer the interest payments due on the Junior Subordinated Notes
at any time and from time to time. We may elect to defer
interest payments on more than one occasion. Deferred interest
will accrue additional interest, compounded on each Regular
Distribution Date, from the relevant interest payment date
during any deferral period, at the rate borne by the Junior
Subordinated Notes at such time, to the extent permitted by
applicable law. We may not defer interest payments that we are
otherwise obligated to pay in cash for any period of time that
exceeds seven years with respect to any deferral period or that
extends beyond the maturity date of the Junior Subordinated
Notes. If on the Stock Purchase Date any interest accrued on the
Junior Subordinated Notes has not been paid in cash and there is
a Failed Remarketing then we will pay the Trust the deferred
interest on the Stock Purchase Date in subordinated notes that
have a principal amount equal to the aggregate amount of
deferred interest as of the Stock Purchase Date, mature on
March 15, 2014, bear interest at a rate per annum
equal to the rate of interest then in effect on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, are subordinate and rank junior in right of
payment to all of our senior debt on the same basis as the
Junior Subordinated Notes and are redeemable by us at any time
prior to their stated maturity. Subject to certain exceptions,
we covenant in the Indenture that if we defer interest on any
interest payment date on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, we
will pay that deferred interest only out of proceeds of shares
of our common stock or our non-cumulative perpetual preferred
stock we receive during the 180 days prior to the date we
pay such deferred interest, but our use of other sources to fund
interest payments would not be an event of default under the
Indenture notwithstanding that it would be a breach of this
covenant. See What are the basic terms of the Junior
Subordinated Notes? Alternative Payment
Mechanism.
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Restrictions Resulting from a Deferral. Subject to
certain exceptions as described under Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes Restrictions on Certain
Payments, Including on Deferral of Interest, during any
period in which we defer interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes or Contract Payments on the Stock Purchase
Contracts, including any period prior to the payment in full of
any subordinated notes that we may issue on the Stock Purchase
Date in respect of deferred interest or deferred Contract
Payments, in general we cannot:
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declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any shares of our capital stock; |
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make any interest, principal or premium payment on, or repay,
repurchase or redeem, any of our debt securities that rank
equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes; or |
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make any payment on any guarantee that ranks equal or junior to
the Guarantee related to the WITS. |
If we exercise our right to defer payments of stated interest on
the Junior Subordinated Notes, we intend to treat the Junior
Subordinated Notes as reissued, solely for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, with original issue discount, and you would
generally be required to accrue such original issue discount as
ordinary income using a constant yield method prescribed by
Treasury regulations. As a result, the income that you would be
required to accrue would exceed the interest payments that you
would actually receive. See Certain U.S. Federal
Income Tax Consequences.
Dividends on Preferred Stock. We may pay a partial
dividend or skip a dividend on the Preferred Stock at any time.
Whenever we pay a partial dividend or skip a dividend on the
Preferred Stock for any Dividend Period, during that Dividend
Period we may not pay or declare a dividend, or make a
distribution, on any Junior Stock, other than a dividend payable
solely in Junior Stock, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire for consideration, directly or indirectly, any Junior
Stock (other than as a result of reclassification of Junior
Stock for or into Junior Stock, or the exchange or conversion of
one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior
Stock, and other than through the use of the proceeds of a
substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior
Stock), nor will we pay to or make available any monies for a
sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities, and we
will not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of other stock ranking equally as to dividends with the
Preferred Stock and having the same restrictions on the
declaration and payment of dividends as the Preferred Stock
other than pursuant to offers to purchase all, or a pro rata
portion, of the Preferred Stock and such other stock except
by conversion into or exchange for Junior Stock.
What is the maturity of the WITS, and may the Trust redeem
the WITS?
The WITS have no stated maturity. The Trust must redeem the
Normal WITS upon redemption of the Preferred Stock and it must
redeem the Capital WITS in kind in exchange for Junior
Subordinated Notes or for cash (if you have so elected) in
connection with a successful Remarketing. The consequences of an
unsuccessful Remarketing are described under Are there
limitations on our or the Trusts right to redeem or
repurchase the WITS? The redemption price of each WITS
will equal the liquidation amount of such WITS plus accumulated
and unpaid distributions to but excluding the redemption date.
The Property Trustee will give not less than 30 days
(or not less than 20 days in the case of a redemption
in kind after a successful Remarketing) nor more than
60 days notice of redemption by mail to holders of
the WITS.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on March 15, 2042
or on such earlier date on or after March 15, 2015 as we
may elect in connection with the Remarketing. We may from time
to time redeem Junior Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part,
at any date on or after March 15, 2015, at a redemption
price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued
and unpaid interest, including deferred interest (if any), to
the date of redemption. In connection with a Remarketing, we may
change the date after which we may redeem Junior Subordinated
Notes to a later date or change the redemption price. If we are
deferring interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at the time
of the Remarketing, however, we
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may not elect a maturity date or redemption date that is earlier
than seven years after commencement of the deferral period. We
will give not less than 30 days nor more than
60 days notice of redemption by mail to holders of
the Junior Subordinated Notes. We may not redeem the Junior
Subordinated Notes in part if the principal amount has been
accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded or
unless all accrued and unpaid interest has been paid in full on
all outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes for all interest
periods terminating on or before the redemption date.
Because the Trust will not purchase Preferred Stock until the
Stock Purchase Date, the Normal WITS may not be redeemed prior
to the later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date
and, because the Junior Subordinated Notes by their terms may be
redeemed no earlier than March 15, 2015, which will be
after the Stock Purchase Date, the Junior Subordinated Notes may
not be redeemed at a time when they are corresponding assets for
Normal WITS.
What is a Remarketing?
For each Normal WITS, the Trust will pledge $1,000 principal
amount of Junior Subordinated Notes to secure its obligation to
pay the purchase price for 1/100th of a share of Preferred
Stock on the Stock Purchase Date. To provide the Trust with the
funds necessary to pay the purchase price of the Preferred Stock
under the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Trust will attempt to
sell the Junior Subordinated Notes in a process we call a
Remarketing. Unless an Early Settlement Event
shall have occurred as described under What is an Early
Remarketing?, the first Remarketing will occur on the
third business day immediately preceding February 15, 2011.
If the Remarketing is successful, the Remarketing Settlement
Date will occur three business days later. We call any date on
which a Remarketing occurs a Remarketing Date
and the date on which a successful Remarketing settles, which
will always be the third business day after that Remarketing
Date, the Remarketing Settlement Date.
As a holder of Normal WITS, you are not required to take any
action in connection with a Remarketing but you may elect to
exchange your Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS if
the Remarketing is successful. If you do so, Junior Subordinated
Notes having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount
of your Normal WITS will be excluded from the Remarketing. To
make this election, you will also be required to deliver
Qualifying Treasury Securities in the same principal amount to
the Collateral Agent prior to the Remarketing. Upon a successful
Remarketing, the Trust will receive the net proceeds of the
pledged Junior Subordinated Notes sold in the Remarketing and
place them in an interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank,
N.A. This deposit will be substituted for the pledged Junior
Subordinated Notes and will provide the Trust with sufficient
cash on the Stock Purchase Date to purchase the Preferred Stock
and to make a payment to holders of Normal WITS (other than
those making the election described above) in the amount they
would have received in respect of interest accrued on the Junior
Subordinated Notes through the Stock Purchase Date had they not
been successfully remarketed and the interest rate not been
reset as described below. If we are deferring interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes at the time of a successful
Remarketing, the deposit will also enable the Trust to make a
cash payment to holders of the Normal WITS on the Stock Purchase
Date in the amount of the accrued and unpaid interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes.
If you hold Capital WITS and elect to dispose of them in the
event of a successful Remarketing as described below, your
Capital WITS will be redeemed for cash out of the proceeds of
the Remarketing. If you do not make this election, your Capital
WITS will be redeemed in exchange for Junior Subordinated Notes
promptly after the Remarketing Settlement Date.
We will enter into a remarketing agreement, or
Remarketing Agreement, with Wachovia
Securities, as remarketing agent, or Remarketing
Agent, which will agree to use its commercially
reasonable efforts as Remarketing Agent to sell the Junior
Subordinated Notes included in the Remarketing at a price that
results in proceeds, net of any remarketing fee, of at least
100% of their Remarketing Value. The Remarketing
Value of each Junior Subordinated Note will be equal
to the present value on the Remarketing Settlement Date of an
amount equal to the principal amount of, plus the interest
payable on, such Junior Subordinated Note on the next Regular
Distribution Date, including any deferred interest,
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assuming for this purpose, even if not true, that the interest
rate on the Junior Subordinated Notes remains at the rate in
effect immediately prior to the Remarketing and all accrued and
unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes is paid in cash
on such date, determined using a discount rate equal to the
interest rate on the deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A. To obtain
that value, the Remarketing Agent may reset the interest rate on
the Junior Subordinated Notes to a new fixed rate, or
Reset Rate, or to a new floating rate equal
to an index plus a spread, or Reset Spread,
that will apply to all outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes,
whether or not included in the Remarketing, and will become
effective on the Remarketing Settlement Date. If we elect a
floating rate, we also have the option to change the interest
payment dates and manner of calculation of interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes to correspond with the market
conventions applicable to notes bearing interest at rates based
on the applicable index. The Junior Subordinated Notes will bear
interest at the new rate from and after the Remarketing
Settlement Date.
As noted above, if you hold Normal WITS and prefer to retain
your economic interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes
represented by your Normal WITS if a Remarketing is successful,
you may elect to exchange them for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS. To make this election, you must, by 3:00 P.M., New
York City time, on the second business day before any
Remarketing Date, deliver your Normal WITS to the Transfer Agent
and, for each Normal WITS, deliver $1,000 principal amount of
Qualifying Treasury Securities to the Collateral Agent, all as
described in Description of the WITS
Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes Normal
WITS. If the Remarketing is successful, on the Remarketing
Settlement Date, the Qualifying Treasury Securities you
delivered will be substituted under the pledge for the Junior
Subordinated Notes, you will be deemed to have exchanged your
Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, your Normal WITS
will be cancelled and the Stripped WITS and Capital WITS will be
delivered to you. If the Remarketing is unsuccessful, your
Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities will be returned
to you.
If you hold Capital WITS, you may elect to dispose of them in
connection with the Remarketing, as a result of which you will
receive an amount in cash equal to the Remarketing Value of the
corresponding Junior Subordinated Notes on the Remarketing
Settlement Date if the Remarketing is successful. To make this
election, you must deliver your Capital WITS to the Transfer
Agent by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the second
business day before any Remarketing Date, as described in
Description of the WITS Remarketing of the
Junior Subordinated Notes Capital WITS. If the
Remarketing is not successful, your Capital WITS will be
returned to you. Since distributions on the Capital WITS
correspond to interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes, the new
rate established in a successful Remarketing will also apply to
any Capital WITS that are not disposed of in connection with the
Remarketing.
The Reset Rate or Reset Spread will be determined in the
Remarketing such that the proceeds from the Remarketing, net of
any remarketing fee, will be at least 100% of the Remarketing
Value; provided that the Reset Rate or Reset Spread may
not exceed the applicable Fixed Rate Reset Cap or Floating Rate
Reset Cap, as applicable, in connection with (i) any
Remarketing with a settlement date on or prior to
November 15, 2011 (or if such day is not a business day, on
or prior to the next business day), if no Early Settlement Event
shall have occurred, and (ii) the first four related
Remarketing attempts, if an Early Settlement Event shall have
occurred. The Fixed Rate Reset Cap will be
the prevailing market yield, as determined by the Remarketing
Agent, of the benchmark U.S. treasury security having a
remaining maturity that most closely corresponds to the period
from such date until the earliest date on which the Junior
Subordinated Notes may be redeemed at our option in the event of
a successful Remarketing, plus 350 basis points, or 3.50%,
per annum, and the Floating Rate Reset
Cap will be 301 basis points, or 3.01%, per
annum.
15
In connection with a Remarketing, we may elect:
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to change the date after which the Junior Subordinated Notes
will be redeemable at our option to any date after
March 15, 2015 and to change the redemption price;
provided that no redemption price may be less than the
principal plus accrued and unpaid interest (including additional
interest) on the Junior Subordinated Notes, or |
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to move the maturity date of the Junior Subordinated Notes up to
any date on or after March 15, 2015; |
provided that if we are deferring interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes at the time of the Remarketing, we may not
elect a maturity date or optional redemption date that is
earlier than seven years after commencement of the deferral
period.
The following diagram shows the principal features of a
Remarketing:
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(1) |
The Junior Subordinated Notes owned by the Trust and pledged to
Wachovia are remarketed to new investors. |
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Net proceeds from Remarketing are placed in an interest-bearing
deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A. that will be used to purchase
the Preferred Stock under the Stock Purchase Contracts and,
combined with the final semi-annual Contract Payment on the
Stock Purchase Contracts, make the final semi-annual payment due
to holders of the Normal WITS on the Stock Purchase Date at the
rate of 5.80% per annum of their liquidation amount. |
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What happens if the first Remarketing is not
successful? |
If the Remarketing Agent cannot remarket the Junior Subordinated
Notes on the first Remarketing Date at a price that results in
proceeds, net of any remarketing fee, of at least 100% of their
Remarketing Value, then:
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the interest rate on the Junior Subordinated Notes will not be
reset; |
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the Junior Subordinated Notes will continue to bear interest at
the interest rate originally applicable; |
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the Remarketing Agent will attempt to establish a Reset Rate or
Reset Spread meeting the requirements described under What
is a Remarketing? and remarket the Junior Subordinated
Notes on subsequent Remarketing Dates; and |
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the subsequent Remarketing Dates shall be the third business day
immediately preceding each of May 15, 2011, August 15,
2011, November 15, 2011 and February 15, 2012 and the
Remarketing Settlement Date will be the third business day after
any successful Remarketing. |
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Any Remarketing after the first one will be subject to the same
conditions and procedures described under What is a
Remarketing?, except that if a successful Remarketing has
not previously occurred and, as a result, the Remarketing Agent
attempts a Remarketing on the third business day immediately
preceding February 15, 2012, the Reset Rate or Reset Spread
for that Remarketing will not be subject to the Fixed Rate Reset
Cap or Floating Rate Reset Cap, as applicable.
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What is an Early Remarketing? |
If an Early Settlement Event occurs, as described under
What is an Early Settlement Event?, the Remarketing
process will be moved up such that the first attempted
Remarketing will take place on the third business day prior to
the February 15, May 15, August 15 or November 15 that
is at least 30 days after the occurrence of such Early
Settlement Event. We will conduct an Early
Remarketing in which:
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the first Remarketing attempt will be on the basis that the
Junior Subordinated Notes will be remarketed as deeply
subordinated securities (i.e., we will not have the
option to elect to remarket them as senior notes) and be subject
to the Floating Rate Reset Cap or Fixed Rate Reset Cap, as
applicable; |
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the second, third and fourth Remarketing attempts will be on the
basis that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be subject to the
Floating Rate Reset Cap or Fixed Rate Reset Cap, as applicable,
but may, at our election, be remarketed as senior debt; and |
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the fifth and last Remarketing attempt will be on the basis that
the Junior Subordinated Notes will not be subject to the
Floating Rate Reset Cap or Fixed Rate Reset Cap, as applicable,
and may, at our election, be remarketed as senior debt. |
If the first Remarketing attempt in an Early Remarketing is not
successful, up to four additional attempts will be made on the
third business day prior to February 15, May 15,
August 15 or November 15, as applicable, immediately
following the first Remarketing Date, with the Remarketing
Settlement Date on the third business day after a successful
Remarketing and the Stock Purchase Date on the March 15,
June 15, September 15 or December 15 immediately following
the Remarketing Settlement Date or the final unsuccessful
attempt, or on the next business day if not a business day. In
the case of an Early Settlement Event resulting from the entry
of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent
jurisdiction, however, there shall be only one Remarketing Date
and the Reset Rate or Reset Spread shall not be subject to the
Fixed Rate Reset Cap or Floating Rate Reset Cap, as applicable.
If the Remarketing conducted on that date is not successful, it
shall be deemed a Failed Remarketing and the Stock Purchase Date
shall be the next succeeding March 15, June 15,
September 15 or December 15, or if such day is not a
business day, the next business day.
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What is an Early Settlement Event? |
An Early Settlement Event shall be deemed to
occur if:
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our total risk-based capital ratio is less than 10%; |
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our tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is less
than 6%; |
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our leverage capital ratio is less than 4%; |
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the Federal Reserve, in its discretion, anticipates that we may
fail one or more of the capital tests referred to above in the
near term and delivers a notice to us so stating; or |
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the Trust is dissolved pursuant to the entry of an order for
dissolution by a court of competent jurisdiction. |
The related Early Settlement Event in the case of the tests
described in the first three bullets will be deemed to occur on
the date we file a
Form FR Y-9C
showing in
Schedule HC-R (or
successor forms) that the related capital measure has been
failed.
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If I hold Capital WITS, may I dispose of them in a
Remarketing? |
If you hold Capital WITS, you may elect to dispose of them in
the Remarketing. If the Remarketing is successful, you would
then receive an amount equal to the Remarketing Value of the
corresponding Junior Subordinated Notes on the Remarketing
Settlement Date. You may wish to make this election if you think
that you would not want to hold Capital WITS after the
Remarketing because of the changes in the distribution rate and
other terms that may occur as a result of the Remarketing. To
make this election, you must deliver your Capital WITS to the
Transfer Agent for the WITS by 3:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the second business day before any Remarketing Date, as
described in Description of the WITS
Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes Capital
WITS.
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What happens if the Remarketing Agent cannot remarket the
Junior Subordinated Notes for settlement on or before
February 15, 2012? |
If the Remarketing Agent fails to remarket the Junior
Subordinated Notes successfully on or before the fifth
Remarketing Date, which except in an Early Remarketing would be
the third business day prior to February 15, 2012, the
interest rate on the Junior Subordinated Notes will not be reset
and they will continue to accrue interest at the rate that would
otherwise apply. We refer to this situation as a Failed
Remarketing. In the event of a Failed Remarketing, we
may move up the maturity date of the Junior Subordinated Notes
to any date on or after March 15, 2015; provided
that if we are deferring interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes at the time of the Remarketing, we may not elect a
maturity date that is earlier than seven years after
commencement of the deferral period.
Following a Failed Remarketing, on the Stock Purchase Date we
will exercise our rights as a secured party and, subject to
applicable law, retain the Junior Subordinated Notes pledged to
secure the Trusts obligations under the Stock Purchase
Contracts or their proceeds under the Collateral Agreement or
sell them in one or more public or private sales. In either
case, together with the application of the proceeds at maturity
of any Qualifying Treasury Securities held by the Collateral
Agent, this would satisfy the Trusts obligations under the
Stock Purchase Contracts in full and we would deliver the
Preferred Stock to the Trust. We will pay any accrued and unpaid
interest not otherwise paid in cash on the Junior Subordinated
Notes to the Trust in unsecured notes that have a principal
amount equal to the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid
interest as of the Stock Purchase Date, mature on March 15,
2014, bear interest at the same rate as the initial interest
rate on the Junior Subordinated Notes, are subordinate and rank
junior in right of payment to all of our senior debt on the same
basis as the Contract Payments and are redeemable by us at any
time prior to their stated maturity. Holders of Normal WITS and
Capital WITS will receive distributions corresponding to
payments of principal of and interest on these notes received by
the Trust.
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The following diagrams show what will happen on and after the
Stock Purchase Date following a Failed Remarketing:
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(1) |
If five Remarketing attempts fail, Wachovia will exercise its
rights under the Collateral Agreement either to retain the
Junior Subordinated Notes or dispose of them and apply the
proceeds in settlement of the Stock Purchase Contracts. |
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In either case, the Trusts obligations under the Stock
Purchase Contracts will be satisfied in full and Wachovia will
deliver the Preferred Stock to the Trust and make a final
semi-annual Contract Payment on the Stock Purchase Contracts. |
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(2) |
The Trust uses the final semi-annual Contract Payment and the
interest payment due on the Stock Purchase Date on the Junior
Subordinated Notes to make a distribution to holders of the
Normal WITS at the rate of 5.80% per annum of their
liquidation amount, which is the initial combined distribution
rate on the Normal WITS. |
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After settlement of the Stock Purchase Contracts on the Stock
Purchase Date, for each $1,000 liquidation amount of Normal WITS
and Stripped WITS the Trust will own 1/100th of a share of
Preferred Stock. |
What happens on the Stock Purchase Date?
If there has been a successful Remarketing, on the Stock
Purchase Date, Wachovia Bank, N.A. will repay the
interest-bearing deposit and a portion of the proceeds, together
with the cash proceeds of the Qualifying Treasury Securities,
automatically will be applied towards satisfying the
Trusts obligation to purchase Preferred Stock under the
Stock Purchase Contracts, and we will issue the Preferred Stock
to the Trust. The Trust will apply the remainder of the proceeds
of the interest-bearing deposit and the Contract Payments
received from Wachovia to make the distributions due on the
Regular Distribution Date to
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holders of Normal WITS and Stripped WITS. Whether or not there
has been a successful Remarketing, you will not be required to
deliver any additional cash or securities to the Trust.
Each Stripped WITS will automatically, without any action by
holders being necessary, be and become a Normal WITS on the
business day immediately following the Stock Purchase Date,
unless there has been a Failed Remarketing and we have issued
subordinated notes to the Trust in respect of deferred interest
on the Junior Subordinated Notes, in which case the Stripped
WITS will only be and become Normal WITS on the business day
after these subordinated notes have been paid in full. The
Normal WITS, and the Stripped WITS if then outstanding, will
represent a beneficial interest in the Trust corresponding to
1/100th of a share of Preferred Stock. If we have issued
subordinated notes to the Trust in respect of deferred interest
on the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Normal WITS, but not the
Stripped WITS, will also correspond to these additional notes.
On the Stock Purchase Date, holders of the Normal WITS and the
Stripped WITS will also receive the distributions described
under What distributions or payments will be made to
holders of the Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and Capital WITS?
The following diagrams show what happens on the Stock Purchase
Date if there has been a successful Remarketing on the initially
scheduled Remarketing Date in February 2011, as well as
what assets of the Trust the Normal WITS will correspond to
after the Stock Purchase Date:
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(1) |
Wachovia Bank, N.A. repays the interest bearing deposit. |
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(2) |
The Trust purchases the Preferred Stock from Wachovia for
$100,000 per share under the Stock Purchase Contracts using
the proceeds at maturity of the Qualifying Treasury Securities
and a portion of the proceeds of the deposit. Wachovia makes the
final semi-annual Contract Payment to the Trust. |
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(3) |
The Trust uses the final semi-annual Contract Payment and the
remainder of the proceeds of the Wachovia Bank, N.A. deposit to
make a distribution to holders of the Normal WITS at the rate of
5.80% per annum of their liquidation amount, which
is the initial combined distribution rate on the Normal WITS. |
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After settlement of the Stock Purchase Contracts on the Stock
Purchase Date, for each $1,000 liquidation amount of Normal WITS
and Stripped WITS the Trust will own 1/100th of a share of
Preferred Stock. |
What happens to the Stock Purchase Contracts in the event
of a bankruptcy or merger of Wachovia?
The Stock Purchase Contracts, our and the Trusts related
rights and obligations under the Stock Purchase Contracts,
including the right and obligation to purchase Preferred Stock
and the right to receive accrued Contract Payments,
automatically will terminate upon our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization. If Wachovia Bank, N.A. is placed in receivership
while it is holding the interest-bearing deposit, and if the
Stock Purchase Contracts have not been terminated, the deposit
will be assigned to us on the Stock Purchase Date as payment for
the Preferred Stock corresponding to the Normal WITS; however,
if the Stock Purchase Contracts have been terminated, the
deposit will remain property of the Trust until the Trusts
assets are distributed to the holders of the Trust securities.
We will agree not to merge or consolidate with any other person
unless the surviving corporation assumes our obligations under
the Stock Purchase Contracts and reserves sufficient authorized
and unissued shares of preferred stock having substantially the
same terms and conditions as the Preferred Stock, such that the
Trust will receive, on the Stock Purchase Date, preferred stock
having substantially the same rights as the Preferred Stock that
it would have received had such merger or consolidation not
occurred.
What is the ranking of the Trusts claims against
Wachovia either for the Contract Payments under the Stock
Purchase Contracts or for interest or principal on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, if Wachovia were to become insolvent?
The Trusts claims against us for Contract Payments or for
payments of principal and interest on Junior Subordinated Notes
are subordinated to our indebtedness for money borrowed,
including any junior subordinated notes underlying trust
preferred securities of Wachovia that are currently outstanding
and other subordinated debt that is not by its terms expressly
made pari passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated
Notes, all as described under Description of the Junior
Subordinated Notes Subordination. As mentioned
above, your right to receive accrued and unpaid Contract
Payments automatically will terminate upon the occurrence of
particular events of Wachovias bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization.
In connection with an Early Remarketing, other than the first
attempt at Remarketing, we may elect that our obligations under
the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be senior obligations
instead of subordinated obligations, effective on or after the
Remarketing Settlement Date.
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Are there limitations on our or the Trusts right to
redeem or repurchase the WITS?
At or prior to the initial issuance of the Normal WITS, we will
enter into a Declaration of Covenant, or
Declaration, relating to the Normal WITS and
the shares of Preferred Stock the Trust will purchase under the
Stock Purchase Contracts. Our covenants in the Declaration run
only to the benefit of holders of Covered Debt, as defined in
the Declaration, and are not enforceable by holders of the WITS
or the Preferred Stock. However, those covenants could preclude
us from repurchasing the WITS or redeeming or repurchasing
shares of Preferred Stock at a time we might otherwise wish to
repurchase the WITS or redeem or repurchase shares of Preferred
Stock.
In the Declaration, we covenant to repurchase the WITS or redeem
or repurchase shares of Preferred Stock only if and to the
extent that the total redemption or repurchase price is equal to
or less than the sum, as of the date of redemption or
repurchase, of (i) 133.33% of the aggregate net cash
proceeds we or our subsidiaries have received during the
180 days prior to such date from the issuance and sale of
common stock of Wachovia plus (ii) 100% of the
aggregate net cash we or our subsidiaries have received during
the 180 days prior to such date from the issuance of other
securities or combinations of securities that, among other
things, are:
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with limited exceptions (including for certain hybrid securities
that are in form debt), pari passu with or junior to the
Preferred Stock upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up; |
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perpetual, or have a mandatory redemption or maturity date that
is not less than 40 years after the date of initial
issuance of such securities; and |
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provide for dividends or other distributions that are either
non-cumulative or, if cumulative, are subject to certain
optional or mandatory deferral provisions and explicit
replacement provisions. |
The Trust will redeem the Capital WITS in exchange for Junior
Subordinated Notes promptly after the Remarketing Settlement
Date. After the Stock Purchase Date, if the Junior Subordinated
Notes have not been successfully remarketed, or the earlier
termination of the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Trust may
redeem the Capital WITS, in whole but not in part, in exchange
for Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to
the liquidation amount of the Capital WITS so redeemed,
provided that there are no additional notes outstanding
that were issued in respect of deferred interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes. The Trust is also required to redeem the
Normal WITS upon redemption of the Preferred Stock and to redeem
any outstanding Capital WITS upon the maturity or earlier
redemption of the Junior Subordinated Notes, in each case out of
the proceeds of the corresponding security. The Declaration does
not restrict the redemption or repurchase of the Capital WITS on
or after the Stock Purchase Date.
When can the Trust be dissolved?
The Trust may only be dissolved upon a bankruptcy, dissolution
or liquidation of Wachovia, the redemption of all the WITS in
accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement or
the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of
competent jurisdiction. The dissolution of the Trust pursuant to
the entry of an order for dissolution will constitute an Early
Settlement Event if it occurs prior to the Stock Purchase Date
and the Stock Purchase Contracts have not otherwise been
terminated.
Upon the dissolution, after satisfaction of liabilities of
creditors of the Trust, holders of each class of WITS will
generally receive corresponding assets of the Trust in respect
of their WITS, which may in the case of Normal WITS consist of
depositary receipts in respect of their interests therein, and
the WITS will no longer be deemed to be outstanding.
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What is the extent of our Guarantee?
Pursuant to a guarantee, or Guarantee, that
we will execute and deliver for the benefit of holders of WITS,
we will irrevocably guarantee, on a junior subordinated basis,
the payment in full of the following:
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any accumulated and unpaid distributions required to be paid on
the WITS, to the extent the Trust has funds available to make
the payment; |
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the redemption price for any WITS called for redemption, to the
extent the Trust has funds available to make the
payment; and |
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upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
winding-up or
liquidation of the Trust, other than in connection with a
distribution of corresponding assets to the holders of the WITS,
the lesser of: |
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the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and
unpaid distributions on the WITS to the date of payment, to the
extent the Trust has funds available to make the
payment; and |
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the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for
distribution to holders of the WITS upon liquidation of the
Trust. |
Our obligations under the Guarantee are unsecured, are
subordinated to and junior in right of payment to all of our
secured and senior debt, and rank on a parity with all other
similar guarantees issued by us.
The WITS, the Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Notes do not
limit our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to incur
additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks
senior to or equally with the Junior Subordinated Notes and the
Guarantee.
The Guarantee, when taken together with our obligations under
the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Indenture, the Stock
Purchase Contracts and the Trust Agreement, including the
obligations to pay costs, expenses, debts and liabilities of the
Trust, other than liabilities with respect to the Trust
securities, has the effect of providing a full and unconditional
guarantee of amounts due on the WITS.
What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences
related to the WITS?
If you purchase Normal WITS in the offering, we will treat you
for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having acquired an
interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes and Stock Purchase
Contracts held by the Trust. You must allocate the purchase
price of the Normal WITS between those Junior Subordinated Notes
and Stock Purchase Contracts in proportion to their respective
fair market values, which will establish your initial tax basis
in the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Stock Purchase
Contracts. We expect to treat the fair market value of each
interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes as $1,000 and the fair
market value of each Stock Purchase Contract as $0. This
position generally will be binding on the beneficial owner of
each Normal WITS but not on the Internal Revenue Service.
Assuming full compliance with the terms of the
Trust Agreement, the Trust will not be classified as an
association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the
Trust intends to treat itself as one or more grantor trusts
and/or agency arrangements for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. Accordingly, for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, we will treat each U.S. holder (as defined under
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences)
of Normal WITS as purchasing and owning a beneficial interest in
the Junior Subordinated Notes and as required to take into
account its pro rata share of all items of income, gain,
loss or deduction of the Trust.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as our
indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We intend to
treat stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes as
ordinary interest income that is includible in your gross income
at the time the interest is paid or accrued, in accordance with
your regular method of tax accounting, and by purchasing a
Normal WITS you agree to report income on this
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basis. However, because there are no regulations, rulings or
other authorities that address the U.S. federal income tax
treatment of debt instruments that are substantially similar to
the Junior Subordinated Notes, other treatments of the Junior
Subordinated Notes are possible. See Certain U.S. Federal
Income Tax Consequences.
If we exercise our right to defer payments of stated interest on
the Junior Subordinated Notes, we intend to treat the Junior
Subordinated Notes as reissued, solely for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, with original issue discount, and you would
generally be required to accrue such original issue discount as
ordinary income using a constant yield method prescribed by
Treasury regulations. As a result, the income that you would be
required to accrue would exceed the interest payments that you
would actually receive. See Certain U.S. Federal
Income Tax Consequences. We intend to report Contract
Payments on the Stock Purchase Contracts as income to you, but
you may want to consult your tax advisor concerning the
U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Contract Payments.
See Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences.
What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences
related to the Preferred Stock?
Any distribution with respect to Preferred Stock that we pay out
of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as
determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will
constitute a dividend and will be includible in income by you
when received by the Trust and distributed to you as holder of a
Normal WITS after the Stock Purchase Date. Any such dividend
will be eligible for the dividends received deduction if you are
an otherwise qualifying corporate U.S. holder that meets
the holding period and other requirements for the dividends
received deduction. Dividends paid to non-corporate
U.S. holders in taxable years beginning before
January 1, 2009 are generally taxable at preferential rates
if the holder holds its interest in the Preferred Stock for more
than 60 days during the
121-day period
beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and meets
certain other requirements.
What are your expected uses of proceeds from the offering
of the WITS?
We expect to receive net proceeds from this offering of
approximately $2,436,500,000, after expenses and underwriting
commissions.
The Trust will invest all of the proceeds from the sale of the
Normal WITS and the Trust Common Securities in the Junior
Subordinated Notes.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general
corporate purposes. We expect to treat the Junior Subordinated
Notes and the Stock Purchase Contracts as tier 1
capital for federal bank holding company regulatory
purposes.
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RISK FACTORS
In considering whether to purchase the WITS, you should
carefully consider all the information we have included or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In particular, you
should carefully consider the following risk factors. In
addition, because each WITS sold in the offering will represent
a beneficial interest in the Trust, which will own our Junior
Subordinated Notes and enter into Stock Purchase Contracts with
us to acquire our Preferred Stock, you are also making an
investment decision with regard to the Junior Subordinated Notes
and the Preferred Stock, as well as our Guarantee of the
Trusts obligations. You should carefully review all the
information in this prospectus about all of these securities.
Risks Relating to the WITS
We may defer Contract Payments and interest payments on
the Junior Subordinated Notes and this may have an adverse
effect on the value of the WITS.
We may at our option, and will if directed to do so by the
Federal Reserve, defer the payment of all or part of the
Contract Payments on the Stock Purchase Contracts through the
Stock Purchase Date, in which case the Trust would defer
distributions of corresponding amounts on the Normal WITS and
the Stripped WITS. We also may at our option, and will if
directed to do so by the Federal Reserve, defer interest
payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes, in which case the
Trust would defer distributions on the Normal WITS, if the
deferral occurs prior to the Stock Purchase Date, and on the
Capital WITS.
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are successfully remarketed,
the proceeds will reflect the value of accrued and unpaid
interest and, to the extent not placed in an interest-bearing
deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A. to fund the purchase of the
Preferred Stock and the final payment under the Normal WITS,
will be paid to the holders of the Normal WITS and Trust Common
Securities and holders of Capital WITS who elected to dispose of
them in connection with the Remarketing. If the Junior
Subordinated Notes are not successfully remarketed, on the Stock
Purchase Date, the Trust will receive subordinated notes in
respect of the deferred amounts, which it will hold as
additional assets corresponding to the Normal WITS and Capital
WITS. If we defer any Contract Payments until the Stock Purchase
Date, the Trust will receive subordinated notes, in lieu of a
cash payment, which it will hold as additional assets
corresponding to the Normal WITS, the Stripped WITS and Trust
Common Securities. The subordinated notes that we issue to the
Trust in satisfaction of deferred interest or Contract Payments
will be deeply subordinated and bear interest at the rate
originally applicable to the Junior Subordinated Notes, which
could be less than our then current market rate of interest. In
addition, if we exercise our option to defer interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes, we intend to treat the Junior
Subordinated Notes as reissued, solely for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, with original issue discount. As a result,
you will be required to continue to accrue income for
U.S. federal income tax purposes even though you would not
receive current cash payments in respect of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. See Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences. Furthermore, if the Stock Purchase Contracts
are terminated due to our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, the right to receive Contract Payments and
deferred Contract Payments, if any, will also terminate.
The terms of our outstanding junior subordinated debentures
prohibit us from making any payment of principal of or interest
on the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Guarantee relating to
the WITS and from repaying, redeeming or repurchasing any Junior
Subordinated Notes if we are aware of any event that would be an
event of default under the indenture governing those debentures
or at any time when we have deferred interest thereunder.
We must obtain Federal Reserve approval before using the
Alternative Payment Mechanism.
The Indenture for the Junior Subordinated Notes provides that we
must notify the Federal Reserve if the Alternative Payment
Mechanism is applicable and that we may not sell our common
stock or perpetual non-cumulative preferred stock or apply any
eligible equity proceeds to pay interest pursuant to the
Alternative Payment Mechanism if such actions have not been
approved by the Federal Reserve.
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Accordingly, if we elect to defer interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes or we issue additional subordinated notes in
respect of deferred interest and do not obtain the prior
approval of the Federal Reserve to issue common stock or
perpetual non-cumulative preferred stock and apply the proceeds
to pay deferred interest, we will be unable to pay the deferred
interest or pay interest on or principal of the additional notes.
Our failure to raise eligible equity proceeds to pay
deferred interest is not, by itself, an event of default under
the Indenture for the Junior Subordinated Notes.
Although we are required under the terms of the Indenture for
the Junior Subordinated Notes, absent a Market Disruption Event,
to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to sell common stock or
non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock to pay deferred
interest by the end of the deferral period, our failure to raise
sufficient eligible equity proceeds or our use of other funds to
pay interest will not, by itself, constitute an event of default
under the Indenture.
If the Trust must settle the Stock Purchase Contracts
early, you may earn a smaller return on your investment.
The Remarketing process may begin before February 2011 if
certain adverse events described under Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes Early Settlement
Events occur. Although dividends will accrue on the
Preferred Stock at the same rate as the combined rate at which
Contract Payments and interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
would have accrued through March 15, 2011, Preferred Stock
dividends are non-cumulative and thus the distributions on the
Normal WITS may become non-cumulative at an earlier date than
expected. The Preferred Stock acquired by the Trust will also
rank lower on liquidation of Wachovia than the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Accordingly, if an Early Settlement Event
occurs, the Trust may skip distributions that otherwise would
have been cumulative and if Wachovia becomes insolvent prior to
the date on which the Stock Purchase Date would otherwise have
occurred, the Trusts claim against Wachovia in the
insolvency will rank lower than it would have ranked.
The Preferred Stock that the Trust purchases on the Stock
Purchase Date may be worth less than the amount it pays for
it.
The Trust must buy our Preferred Stock pursuant to the Stock
Purchase Contracts on the Stock Purchase Date at a fixed price
of $100,000 per share, or $1,000 for each
1/100th interest in a Stock Purchase Contract corresponding
to Normal WITS or Stripped WITS. Although dividends will accrue
on the Preferred Stock at a floating rate commencing on the
later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date, the
spread was established at the time of the offering. Accordingly,
adverse changes in our credit quality may cause the market value
of the Preferred Stock that the Trust will purchase on the Stock
Purchase Date to be lower than the price per share that the
Stock Purchase Contracts require it to pay. Holders of Normal
WITS and Stripped WITS are assuming the entire risk that the
market value of Preferred Stock purchased by the Trust will be
lower than the purchase price of the Preferred Stock and that
the market value of 1/100th of a share of Preferred Stock
corresponding to a Normal WITS may be less than the price they
paid for it, and that difference could be substantial.
The return of Pledged Securities on termination of the
Stock Purchase Contracts could be delayed if we become subject
to a bankruptcy proceeding.
Notwithstanding the automatic termination of the Stock Purchase
Contracts, if we become the subject of a case under the
U.S. Bankruptcy Code, imposition of an automatic stay under
Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code, if applicable, or any
court-ordered stay may delay the return to the Trust of the
securities or interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A.
being held as collateral for the Stock Purchase Contracts, and
the delay may continue until the stay has been lifted. The stay
will not be lifted until the bankruptcy judge agrees to lift it
and return the collateral to the Trust, and the Trust will not
be able to distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes or proceeds
of the Wachovia Bank, N.A. interest-bearing
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deposit held as collateral to the holders of the Normal WITS or
to distribute the Qualifying Treasury Securities held as
collateral to the holders of the Stripped WITS until they are
returned to it.
The Contract Payments and interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes beneficially owned by the Trust will be
contractually subordinated and will be effectively subordinated
to the obligations of our subsidiaries.
Our obligations with respect to Contract Payments and interest
on Junior Subordinated Notes will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment and upon liquidation to our obligations under
all of our indebtedness for money borrowed, including the junior
subordinated debt securities underlying trust preferred
securities of Wachovia currently outstanding and other debt that
is not by its terms expressly made pari passu with or
junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes, but pari passu
with trade creditors. At September 30, 2005, our
indebtedness that would be senior to our obligations with
respect to Contract Payments and payments on Junior Subordinated
Notes, excluding the liabilities of our subsidiaries, totaled
approximately $29 billion.
We receive substantially all of our revenue from dividends from
our subsidiaries. Because we are a holding company, our right to
participate in any distribution of the assets of our banking or
nonbanking subsidiaries, upon a subsidiarys dissolution,
winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, and thus
your ability to benefit indirectly from such distribution, is
subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary,
except to the extent that we may be a creditor of that
subsidiary and our claims are recognized. There are legal
limitations on the extent to which some of our subsidiaries may
extend credit, pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to, or
engage in transactions with, us or some of our other
subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal
entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay
amounts due under the contracts or otherwise to make any funds
available to us. Accordingly, the Contract Payments and payments
on our Junior Subordinated Notes, and therefore the WITS,
effectively will be subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of our subsidiaries. At September 30, 2005, our
subsidiaries had liabilities of approximately $586 billion.
A dissolution of the Trust may affect the value of your
investment.
A dissolution of the Trust may affect the market price of the
WITS. The Trust will be dissolved prior to the redemption of all
the WITS upon a bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of
Wachovia or the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust
by a court. If the Trust dissolves, holders of Normal WITS will
receive 1/100th of a share of Preferred Stock, or a
depositary receipt representing 1/100th of a share of
Preferred Stock, for each Normal WITS and holders of Capital
WITS will receive $1,000 principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Notes for each Capital WITS. Neither the Preferred Stock or
depositary receipts nor the Junior Subordinated Notes will be
listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on any
automated interdealer quotation system unless we determine to
list them and they meet the applicable criteria and are accepted
for listing and quotation. We do not believe that the Preferred
Stock or depositary receipts representing the Preferred Stock
would qualify for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under
its rules as currently in effect. For these reasons, these
securities, and in particular any fractional shares of Preferred
Stock you may receive, may be less liquid than the WITS and you
may not be able to sell them for as much as you would have been
able to sell the Normal WITS or the Capital WITS.
We guarantee distributions on the WITS only if the Trust
has cash available.
If you hold any of the WITS, we will guarantee you, on an
unsecured and junior subordinated basis, the payment of the
following:
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any accumulated and unpaid distributions required to be paid on
the WITS, to the extent the Trust has funds available to make
the payment; |
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the redemption price for any WITS called for redemption, to the
extent the Trust has funds available to make the
payment; and |
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upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
winding-up or
liquidation of the Trust, other than in connection with a
distribution of corresponding assets to holders of WITS, the
lesser of: |
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the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount and all
accumulated and unpaid distributions on the WITS to the date of
payment, to the extent the Trust has funds available to make the
payment; and |
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the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for
distribution to holders of the WITS upon liquidation of the
Trust. |
If we do not make a required Contract Payment on the Stock
Purchase Contracts or interest payment on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to
make the related payment on the WITS. The Guarantee does not
cover payments on the WITS when the Trust does not have
sufficient funds to make them. If we do not pay any amounts on
the Stock Purchase Contracts or the Junior Subordinated Notes
when due, holders of the WITS will have to rely on the
enforcement by the Property Trustee of the trustees rights
as owner of the Stock Purchase Contracts or the Junior
Subordinated Notes, or proceed directly against us for payment
of any amounts due on the Stock Purchase Contracts or the Junior
Subordinated Notes.
Our obligations under the Guarantee are unsecured and are
subordinated to and junior in right of payment to all of our
secured and senior indebtedness, and rank on a parity with all
other similar guarantees issued by us.
Holders of the WITS have limited rights under the Junior
Subordinated Notes and Stock Purchase Contracts.
Except as described below, you, as a holder of the WITS, will
not be able to exercise directly any other rights with respect
to the Junior Subordinated Notes or Stock Purchase Contracts.
If an event of default under the Trust Agreement were to
occur and be continuing, holders of the WITS would rely on the
enforcement by the Property Trustee of its rights as registered
holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Stock Purchase
Contracts against us. In addition, the holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of the relevant class or classes of WITS
would have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Property Trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Property Trustee under the
Trust Agreement, including the right to direct the Property
Trustee to exercise the remedies available to it as the holder
of the Junior Subordinated Notes and Stock Purchase Contracts.
The Indenture for the Junior Subordinated Notes provides that
the Indenture Trustee must give holders notice of all defaults
or events of default within 30 days after it becomes known
to the Indenture Trustee. However, except in the cases of a
default or an event of default in payment on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Indenture Trustee will be protected in
withholding the notice if its responsible officers determine
that withholding of the notice is in the interest of such
holders.
If the Property Trustee were to fail to enforce its rights under
the Junior Subordinated Notes in respect of an Indenture event
of default after a record holder of the Normal WITS (if prior to
the Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing
Settlement Date) or the Capital WITS had made a written request,
that record holder of the Normal WITS or the Capital WITS may,
to the extent permitted by applicable law, institute a legal
proceeding against us to enforce the Property Trustees
rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition, if we
were to fail to pay interest or principal on the Junior
Subordinated Notes on the date that interest or principal is
otherwise payable, except for deferrals permitted by the
Trust Agreement and the Indenture, and this failure to pay
were continuing, holders of the Normal WITS, if such failure
occurs prior to the Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the
Remarketing Settlement Date, and holders of the Capital WITS may
directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment of
the principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of their Normal WITS or Capital WITS (a direct
action) after the respective due dates specified in
the Junior Subordinated Notes. In connection with a direct
action, we
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would have the right under the Indenture and the
Trust Agreement to set off any payment made to that holder
by us. The Stock Purchase Contract Agreement contains similar
provisions with respect to a direct action by holders of Normal
WITS or Stripped WITS in the event of our default under the
Stock Purchase Contracts.
The Property Trustee, as holder of the Junior Subordinated
Notes on behalf of the Trust, has only limited rights of
acceleration.
The Property Trustee, as holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes
on behalf of the Trust, may accelerate payment of the principal
and accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
only upon the occurrence and continuation of an Indenture event
of default. An Indenture event of default is generally limited
to payment defaults after giving effect to our deferral rights,
and specific events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization
relating to us or the receivership of our lead bank. There is no
right to acceleration upon breaches by us of other covenants
under the Indenture or default on our payment obligations under
the Guarantee.
The secondary market for the WITS may be illiquid.
We are unable to predict how the WITS will trade in the
secondary market or whether that market will be liquid or
illiquid. There is currently no secondary market for the WITS.
Although we will apply to list the Normal WITS on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol WBTP, we can give
you no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that may
develop for the Normal WITS. In addition, in the event that
sufficient numbers of Normal WITS are exchanged for Stripped
WITS and Capital WITS, the liquidity of Normal WITS could
decrease. If Stripped WITS or Capital WITS are separately traded
to a sufficient extent that applicable exchange listing
requirements are met, we may list the Stripped WITS or Capital
WITS on the same exchange as the Normal WITS are then listed,
including, if applicable, the New York Stock Exchange, though we
are under no obligation to do so. Accordingly, if you exchange
Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, your ability to
sell them may be limited and we can give you no assurance
whether a trading market, if it develops, will continue. As
Normal WITS may only be held or transferred in amounts having an
aggregate liquidation amount of at least $1,000, the trading
market for Normal WITS may be less active than markets for
securities that may be held or transferred in smaller
denominations and may be less liquid.
The tax accounting for the Junior Subordinated Notes is
unclear.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as our
indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We
intend to treat stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
as ordinary interest income that is includible in your gross
income at the time the interest is paid or accrued, in
accordance with your regular method of tax accounting, and by
purchasing a Normal WITS you agree to report income on this
basis. However, because there are no regulations, rulings or
other authorities that address the U.S. federal income tax
treatment of debt instruments that are substantially similar to
the Junior Subordinated Notes, other treatments of the Junior
Subordinated Notes are possible. See Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.
The general level of interest rates and our credit quality
will directly affect the value of the WITS.
The trading prices of the WITS will be directly affected by,
among other things, interest rates generally and our credit
quality. It is impossible to predict whether interest rates will
rise or fall. Our operating results and prospects and economic,
financial and other factors will affect the value of the WITS.
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General market conditions and unpredictable factors could
adversely affect market prices for the WITS.
There can be no assurance about the market prices for the WITS.
Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will
influence the market value of the WITS. Factors that might
influence the market value of the WITS include:
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whether we are deferring interest or are likely to defer
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes and whether we are
deferring or are likely to defer Contract Payments on the Stock
Purchase Contracts; |
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whether we skip or are likely to skip dividends on the Preferred
Stock from time to time; |
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our creditworthiness; |
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the market for similar securities; and |
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economic, financial, geopolitical, regulatory or judicial events
that affect us or the financial markets generally. |
Accordingly, the Normal WITS that an investor purchases, whether
in this offering or in the secondary market, may trade at a
discount to their cost, and the Stripped WITS and Capital WITS
that an investor may acquire in exchange for Normal WITS and
Qualifying Treasury Securities may trade at a discount to the
cost of those Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities.
Additional Risks Related to the Normal WITS after the Stock
Purchase Date
In purchasing the WITS in the offering, you are making an
investment decision with regard to the Preferred Stock.
As described in this prospectus, on the Stock Purchase Date we
will issue Preferred Stock to the Trust. If you hold Normal WITS
or Stripped WITS on the Stock Purchase Date, your securities
will thereafter represent beneficial interests in the Trust
corresponding to 1/100th of a share of Preferred Stock for
each $1,000 liquidation amount of WITS. After the Stock Purchase
Date, the Trust will rely solely on the payments it receives on
the Preferred Stock to fund all payments on the Normal WITS,
other than payments corresponding to payments on subordinated
notes that we may issue in respect of any deferred interest on
the Junior Subordinated Notes after a Failed Remarketing or in
respect of deferred contract payments. Accordingly, you should
carefully review the information in this prospectus regarding
the Preferred Stock.
The Preferred Stock is equity and is subordinate to our
existing and future indebtedness.
The shares of Preferred Stock are equity interests in Wachovia
and do not constitute indebtedness. As such, the shares of
Preferred Stock will rank junior to all indebtedness and other
non-equity claims on Wachovia with respect to assets available
to satisfy claims on Wachovia, including in a liquidation of
Wachovia. Additionally, unlike indebtedness, where principal and
interest would customarily be payable on specified due dates, in
the case of preferred stock like the Preferred Stock
(1) dividends are payable only if declared by our board of
directors and (2) as a corporation, we are subject to
restrictions on payments of dividends and redemption price out
of lawfully available funds. Also, as a bank holding company,
Wachovias ability to declare and pay dividends is
dependent on certain federal regulatory considerations. Wachovia
has issued and outstanding debt securities under which we may
defer interest payments from time to time, but in that case we
would not be permitted to pay dividends on any of our capital
stock, including the Preferred Stock, during the deferral period.
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Investors should not expect Wachovia to redeem the
Preferred Stock on the date it becomes redeemable or on any
particular date after it becomes redeemable.
The Preferred Stock is a perpetual equity security. The
Preferred Stock has no maturity or mandatory redemption date and
is not redeemable at the option of investors. By its terms, the
Preferred Stock may be redeemed by us at our option either in
whole or in part at any time on or after the later of
March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date. However, our
right to redeem the Preferred Stock once issued is subject to
two important limitations.
First, under the Federal Reserves risk-based capital
guidelines applicable to bank holding companies, any redemption
of the Preferred Stock is subject to prior approval of the
Federal Reserve. We anticipate that the factors that the Federal
Reserve may consider in evaluating a proposed redemption include
our capital position after giving effect to the redemption and
whether the Preferred Stock will be replaced by or redeemed with
the proceeds of a like amount of a capital instrument that is of
equal or higher quality with respect to its terms and permanence.
Second, at or prior to initial issuance of the WITS, we are
entering into the Declaration, which will limit our right to
redeem or repurchase the Preferred Stock.
In the Declaration, we covenant to repurchase the WITS or redeem
or repurchase shares of Preferred Stock only if and to the
extent that the total redemption or repurchase price is equal to
or less than the sum, as of the date of redemption or
repurchase, of (i) 133.33% of the aggregate net cash
proceeds we or our subsidiaries have received during the
180 days prior to such date from the issuance and sale of
common stock of Wachovia plus (ii) 100% of the
aggregate net cash we or our subsidiaries have received during
the 180 days prior to such date from the issuance of other
securities or combinations of securities that, among other
things, are
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with limited exceptions (including for certain hybrid securities
that are in form debt), pari passu with or junior to the
Preferred Stock upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up; |
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perpetual, or have a mandatory redemption or maturity date that
is not less than 40 years after the date of initial
issuance of such securities; and |
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provide for dividends or other distributions that are either
non-cumulative or, if cumulative, are subject to certain
optional or mandatory deferral provisions and explicit
replacement provisions. |
Our ability to raise proceeds from qualifying securities during
the six months prior to a proposed redemption or repurchase will
depend on, among other things, market conditions at such time as
well as the acceptability to prospective investors of the terms
of such qualifying securities. Accordingly, there could be
circumstances where we would wish to redeem or repurchase some
or all of the Preferred Stock and sufficient cash is available
for that purpose, but we are restricted from doing so because we
have not been able to obtain proceeds from qualifying securities
sufficient for that purpose.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock are
non-cumulative.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock are non-cumulative.
Consequently, if our board of directors does not authorize and
declare a dividend for any Dividend Period, holders of the
Preferred Stock would not be entitled to receive any such
dividend, and such unpaid dividend will cease to accrue and be
payable. We will have no obligation to pay dividends accrued for
a Dividend Period after the Dividend Payment Date for such
period if our board of directors has not declared such dividend
before the related Dividend Payment Date, whether or not
dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with
respect to the Preferred Stock or any other preferred stock we
may issue.
31
If we are deferring payments on our outstanding junior
subordinated debt securities or the Junior Subordinated Notes or
are in default under the indentures governing those securities,
we will be prohibited from making distributions on or redeeming
the Preferred Stock.
The terms of our outstanding junior subordinated debt securities
prohibit us from declaring or paying any dividends or
distributions on the Preferred Stock, or redeeming, purchasing,
acquiring or making a liquidation payment with respect to our
Preferred Stock, if we are aware of any event that would be an
event of default under the indenture governing those junior
subordinated debt securities or at any time when we have
deferred interest thereunder. The Indenture governing the Junior
Subordinated Notes will contain similar provisions.
Holders of Preferred Stock will have limited voting
rights.
Holders of the Preferred Stock have no voting rights with
respect to matters that generally require the approval of voting
stockholders. However, holders of the Preferred Stock will have
the right to vote as a class on certain fundamental matters that
may affect the preference or special rights of the Preferred
Stock, as described under Description of the Preferred
Stock Voting.
Holders of Preferred Stock may be unable to use the
dividends received deduction.
Distributions paid to corporate U.S. holders out of
dividends on the Preferred Stock may be eligible for the
dividends received deduction if we have current or accumulated
earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. Although we presently have accumulated earnings
and profits, we may not have sufficient current or accumulated
earnings and profits during future fiscal years for the
distributions on the Preferred Stock to qualify as dividends for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. See Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
Acquisition and Taxation of the Preferred Stock
Dividends on the Preferred Stock. If any distributions on
the Preferred Stock with respect to any fiscal year are not
eligible for the dividends received deduction because of
insufficient current or accumulated earnings and profits, the
market value of the Preferred Stock may decline.
Risks Related to Our Business
An investment in Wachovias securities may involve risks
due to the nature of the businesses we engage in and activities
related to those businesses. The following are the most
significant risks associated with those businesses or activities:
Business risk. Wachovias business model is
based on a diversified mix of businesses that provide a broad
range of financial products and services, delivered through
multiple distribution channels. Wachovias diversified
businesses are subject to a wide range of competition, ranging
from smaller community banking institutions, financial advisors
and investment advisors to large, diversified, multi-national
financial services providers. Risks associated with our business
model include:
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the timely development of competitive new products and services
by Wachovia and the acceptance of these products and services by
new and existing customers; |
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the willingness of customers to accept third-party products
marketed by Wachovia; |
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the willingness of customers to substitute competitors
products and services for Wachovias products and services
and vice versa; |
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the impact of changes in financial services laws and
regulations (including laws concerning taxes, banking,
securities and insurance); |
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technological changes; and |
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changes in consumer spending and saving habits. |
32
Credit risk. Wachovia is one of the nations
largest lenders, and the credit quality of our portfolio can
have a significant impact on our earnings. Credit risk is the
risk of loss due to adverse changes in a borrowers ability
to meet its financial obligations under agreed upon terms. Risks
associated with our credit quality include:
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the strength of the United States economy in general and the
strength of the local economies in which Wachovia 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 loan portfolio and allowance for loan
losses; and |
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adverse changes in the financial performance and/or condition of
Wachovias borrowers which could impact repayment of such
borrowers outstanding loans. |
Market risk. Wachovias businesses are
subject to market risk. The components of market risk are
interest rate risk inherent in our balance sheet, price risk in
our principal investing portfolio and market value risk in our
trading portfolios. Risks associated with managing market risk
include:
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the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal
policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the
Federal Reserve; |
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inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; and |
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adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market
and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate
conditions) and the impact of such conditions on Wachovias
capital markets and capital management activities, including,
without limitation, Wachovias mergers and acquisition
advisory business, equity and debt underwriting activities,
private equity investment activities, derivative securities
activities, investment and wealth management advisory
businesses, and brokerage activities. |
Operational risk. Operational risk is the risk of
loss from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and
systems or from external events. Risks associated with
operational risk include:
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unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings or rulings; |
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the impact of changes in accounting principles; |
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the impact on Wachovias businesses of various domestic or
international military or terrorist activities or
conflicts; and |
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Wachovias success at managing all of the risks discussed
herein. |
Acquisitions and divestitures. When consistent
with our overall business strategy, we may consider disposing of
certain assets, branches, subsidiaries or lines of business. We
continue to routinely explore acquisition opportunities in areas
that would complement our core businesses, and frequently
conduct due diligence activities in connection with possible
acquisitions. As a result, acquisition discussions and, in some
cases, negotiations frequently take place and future
acquisitions involving cash, debt or equity securities could
occur. In the event Wachovia engages in acquisitions or
divestitures, there are risks involved. Risks associated with
acquisitions and divestitures include:
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the risk that the businesses proposed to be acquired or divested
will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be
more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; |
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the risk that expected revenue synergies and cost savings from
the businesses proposed to be acquired may not be fully realized
or realized within the expected time frames; |
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the risk that revenues following the proposed acquisition may be
lower than expected; and |
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the risk that deposit attrition, operating costs, customer loss
and business disruption following the proposed acquisition,
including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining
relationships with employees, may be greater than expected. |
33
WACHOVIA CORPORATION
Wachovia was incorporated under the laws of North Carolina in
1967. We are registered as a financial holding company and a
bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956,
as amended, and are supervised and regulated by the Federal
Reserve. Our banking and securities subsidiaries are supervised
and regulated by various federal and state banking and
securities regulatory authorities. On September 1, 2001,
the former Wachovia Corporation merged with and into First Union
Corporation, and First Union Corporation changed its name to
Wachovia Corporation.
In addition to North Carolina, Wachovias full-service
banking subsidiaries operate in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and
Washington, D.C. These full-service banking subsidiaries
provide a wide range of commercial and retail banking and trust
services. Wachovia also provides various other financial
services, including mortgage banking, home equity lending,
leasing, investment banking, insurance and securities brokerage
services through other subsidiaries.
In 1985, the Supreme Court upheld regional interstate banking
legislation. Since then, Wachovia has concentrated its efforts
on building a large regional banking organization in what it
perceives to be some of the better banking markets in the
eastern United States. Since November 1985, Wachovia has
completed over 100 banking-related acquisitions.
Wachovia continually evaluates its business operations and
organizational structures to ensure they are aligned closely
with its goal of maximizing performance in its core business
lines, Capital Management, Wealth Management, the General Bank
and Corporate and Investment Banking. When consistent with our
overall business strategy, we may consider the disposition of
certain of our assets, branches, subsidiaries or lines of
business. We continue to routinely explore acquisition
opportunities, particularly in areas that would complement our
core business lines, and frequently conduct due diligence
activities in connection with possible acquisitions. As a
result, acquisition discussions and, in some cases, negotiations
frequently take place, and future acquisitions involving cash,
debt or equity securities can be expected.
Wachovia is a separate and distinct legal entity from its
banking and other subsidiaries. Dividends received from our
subsidiaries are a source of funds to pay dividends on our
common and preferred stock and debt service on our debt. Various
federal and state statutes and regulations limit the amount of
dividends that our banking and other subsidiaries may pay to us
without regulatory approval.
Recent Developments
Fourth Quarter 2005 Results
On January 19, 2006, Wachovia announced its results of
operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2005.
Wachovias earnings were $1.71 billion in the fourth
quarter of 2005 compared with earnings of $1.45 billion in
the fourth quarter of 2004. On a per share basis, earnings were
$1.09 compared with $0.95 a year ago.
For the full year of 2005, earnings were $6.64 billion, or
$4.19 per share, compared with $5.21 billion, or
$3.81 per share, for the full year of 2004.
These results included a discontinued operations gain of $214
million after-tax, or $0.14 per share, related to the fourth
quarter 2005 sale of Wachovias corporate and institutional
trust businesses.
34
Tax-equivalent net interest income was $3.58 billion in the
fourth quarter of 2005 compared with $3.36 billion in the
fourth quarter of 2004. Fee and other income was
$2.99 billion in the fourth quarter of 2005 compared with
$2.80 billion in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Nonperforming assets were $720 million, or 0.28% of net
loans and foreclosed properties, at December 31, 2005,
compared with $1.10 billion, or 0.49%, at December 31,
2004. Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average net
loans were 0.09% in the fourth quarter of 2005 compared with
0.23% in the fourth quarter of 2004. The provision for credit
losses was $81 million in the fourth quarter of 2005
compared with $109 million a year ago.
Net loans at December 31, 2005 were $259.0 billion
compared with $223.8 billion a year ago. Total deposits
were $324.9 billion at December 31, 2005, compared
with $295.1 billion a year ago. Stockholders equity
was $47.6 billion at December 31, 2005, compared with
$47.3 billion a year ago. At December 31, 2005,
Wachovia had assets of $520.8 billion.
35
THE TRUST
The following is a summary of some of the terms of the Trust.
This summary, together with the summary of some of the
provisions of the related documents described below, contains a
description of the material terms of the Trust but is not
necessarily complete. We refer you to the documents referred to
in the following description, copies of which are available upon
request as described above under Where You Can Find More
Information.
Wachovia Capital Trust III, or Trust, is
a statutory trust created under Delaware law pursuant to a
Trust Agreement, signed by us, as sponsor of the Trust, and
the Delaware Trustee, and the filing of a certificate of trust
with the Delaware Secretary of State. The Trust Agreement
of the Trust will be amended and restated in its entirety by us,
the Delaware Trustee, the Property Trustee and the
administrative trustees before the issuance of the WITS. We
refer to the Trust Agreement, as so amended and restated,
as the Trust Agreement. The
Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or Trust Indenture
Act.
The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of:
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issuing the WITS and the common securities issued concurrently
to us by the Trust, or Trust Common
Securities, and together with the WITS, the
Trust securities, representing beneficial
interests in the Trust; |
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investing the gross proceeds of the Trust securities in Junior
Subordinated Notes; |
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entering into the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and holding
the Stock Purchase Contracts; |
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holding Junior Subordinated Notes, Qualifying Treasury
Securities and an interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank,
N.A., and pledging them to secure the Trusts obligations
under the Stock Purchase Contracts; |
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selling Junior Subordinated Notes in a Remarketing; |
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purchasing the Preferred Stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Contracts on the Stock Purchase Date and holding it
thereafter; and |
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engaging in only those activities necessary or incidental
thereto. |
We will own all of the Trust Common Securities, either directly
or indirectly. The Trust Common Securities rank equally with the
WITS and the Trust will make payment on its Trust securities
pro rata, except that upon certain events of default
under the Trust Agreement relating to payment defaults on
the Junior Subordinated Notes or non-payment of Contract
Payments, the rights of the holders of the Trust Common
Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments
upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated
to the rights of the holders of the WITS. We will acquire Trust
Common Securities in an aggregate liquidation amount equal to
$1,000,000.
The Trusts business and affairs will be conducted by its
trustees, each appointed by us as sponsor of the Trust. The
trustees will be U.S. Bank National Association, as the
property trustee, or Property Trustee,
U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as the Delaware
trustee, or Delaware Trustee, and two or more
individual trustees, or administrative
trustees, who are employees or officers of or
affiliated with us. The Property Trustee will act as sole
trustee under the Trust Agreement for purposes of
compliance with the Trust Indenture Act and will also act as
trustee under the Guarantee and the Indenture. See
Description of the Guarantee.
Unless an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and
is continuing at a time that the Trust owns any Junior
Subordinated Notes, the holders of the Trust Common Securities
will be entitled to appoint, remove or replace the Property
Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee.
The Property Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee may be removed
or replaced for cause by the holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of the WITS. In addition, holders of a
majority in liquidation amount of the Capital WITS and, if prior
to the Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing
36
Settlement Date, Normal WITS will be entitled to appoint, remove
or replace the Property Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee if
an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing and, at any time after the Stock Purchase Date, the
holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Normal WITS
will be entitled to appoint, remove or replace the Property
Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee if we have failed to declare
and pay dividends on the Preferred Stock held by the Trust for
six or more consecutive quarters.
The right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the
administrative trustees is vested exclusively in the holders of
the Trust Common Securities, and in no event will the holders of
WITS have such right.
The Trust is a finance subsidiary of us within the
meaning of Rule 3-10 of
Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act of 1933, or Securities
Act. As a result, no separate financial statements of
the Trust are included in this prospectus, and we do not expect
that the Trust will file reports with the SEC under the Exchange
Act.
The Trust is perpetual, but may be dissolved earlier as provided
in the Trust Agreement.
We will pay all fees and expenses related to the Trust and the
offering of the WITS.
37
USE OF PROCEEDS
We expect to receive net proceeds from this offering of
approximately $2,436,500,000, after expenses and underwriting
commissions. The Trust will invest substantially all of the
proceeds from the sale of the Normal WITS and all of the
proceeds from the sale of the Trust Common Securities in the
Junior Subordinated Notes issued by us.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general
corporate purposes.
38
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA
The following is selected unaudited consolidated condensed
financial information for Wachovia for the nine months ended
September 30, 2005, and the year ended December 31,
2004. The summary below should be read in conjunction with our
consolidated financial statements, and the related notes
thereto, and the other detailed information contained in our
2005 Third Quarter Report on
Form 10-Q and our
2004 Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
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Nine Months | |
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Ended | |
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Year Ended | |
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September 30, | |
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December 31, | |
(In millions, except per share data) |
|
2005 | |
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2004 | |
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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SUMMARIES OF INCOME
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Interest income
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$ |
17,215 |
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|
17,288 |
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Interest expense
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7,041 |
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|
5,327 |
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Net interest income
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10,174 |
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|
11,961 |
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Provision for credit losses
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168 |
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257 |
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Net interest income after provision for credit losses
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10,006 |
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11,704 |
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Securities gains (losses)
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163 |
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(10 |
) |
Fee and other income
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9,051 |
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|
10,789 |
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Merger-related and restructuring expenses
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234 |
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444 |
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Other noninterest expense
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|
11,430 |
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14,222 |
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Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries
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239 |
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184 |
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Income before income taxes
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7,317 |
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7,633 |
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Income taxes
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2,381 |
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|
2,419 |
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Net income
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$ |
4,936 |
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5,214 |
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PER COMMON SHARE DATA
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Basic earnings
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$ |
3.16 |
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3.87 |
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Diluted earnings
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3.10 |
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3.81 |
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Cash dividends
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$ |
1.43 |
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1.66 |
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Average common shares Basic
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1,561 |
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1,346 |
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Average common shares Diluted
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1,590 |
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|
|
1,370 |
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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED PERIOD-END BALANCE SHEETS
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$ |
42,551 |
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|
38,591 |
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Trading account assets
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49,646 |
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|
45,932 |
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Securities
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|
117,195 |
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110,597 |
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Loans, net of unearned income
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239,733 |
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|
223,840 |
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Allowance for loan losses
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(2,719 |
) |
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(2,757 |
) |
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Loans, net
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237,014 |
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|
221,083 |
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Loans held for sale
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18,038 |
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|
12,988 |
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Goodwill
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21,857 |
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21,526 |
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Other intangible assets
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1,285 |
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|
1,581 |
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Other assets
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44,795 |
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|
41,026 |
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Total assets
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$ |
532,381 |
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|
493,324 |
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
Deposits
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320,439 |
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295,053 |
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Short-term borrowings
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78,184 |
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63,406 |
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Trading account liabilities
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19,815 |
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21,709 |
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Other liabilities
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17,436 |
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|
16,262 |
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Long-term debt
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|
45,846 |
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|
46,759 |
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Total liabilities
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481,720 |
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|
443,189 |
|
Minority interest in net assets of consolidated subsidiaries
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3,904 |
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|
2,818 |
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Stockholders equity
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|
|
46,757 |
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|
|
47,317 |
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|
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Total liabilities and stockholders equity
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$ |
532,381 |
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|
493,324 |
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39
CAPITALIZATION
Our consolidated actual unaudited capitalization as of
September 30, 2005 and our capitalization as adjusted to
give effect to the sale of the securities offered hereby are
presented below. See Use of Proceeds.
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September 30, 2005 | |
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(In millions, except per share data) |
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Actual | |
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Adjusted | |
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Long-term Debt:
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Total long-term debt
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$ |
45,846 |
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|
|
48,347 |
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Stockholders Equity:
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
Dividend Equalization Preferred shares, no par value,
97 million shares issued and outstanding
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Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock,
Series I, $100,000 liquidation preference per share,
25,010 shares authorized
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|
|
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Common stock,
$3.331/3
par value, 3 billion shares authorized, 1.553 billion
shares outstanding
|
|
|
5,178 |
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|
|
5,178 |
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Paid-in capital
|
|
|
30,821 |
|
|
|
30,754 |
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
11,086 |
|
|
|
11,086 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net
|
|
|
(328 |
) |
|
|
(328 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
46,757 |
|
|
|
46,690 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total long-term debt and stockholders equity
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|
$ |
92,603 |
|
|
|
95,037 |
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|
|
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|
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REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS
As a financial holding company and a bank holding company under
the Bank Holding Company Act, the Federal Reserve regulates,
supervises and examines Wachovia. For a discussion of the
material elements of the regulatory framework applicable to
financial holding companies, bank holding companies and their
subsidiaries and specific information relevant to Wachovia,
please refer to Wachovias annual report on
Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and any subsequent
reports we file with the SEC, which are incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. This regulatory framework is
intended primarily for the protection of depositors and the
federal deposit insurance funds and not for the protection of
security holders. As a result of this regulatory framework,
Wachovias earnings are affected by actions of the Federal
Reserve and the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, which
regulate our banking subsidiaries, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, which insures the deposits of our banking
subsidiaries within certain limits, and the SEC, which regulates
the activities of certain subsidiaries engaged in the securities
business.
Wachovias earnings are also affected by general economic
conditions, our management policies and legislative action.
In addition, there are numerous governmental requirements and
regulations that affect our business activities. A change in
applicable statutes, regulations or regulatory policy may have a
material effect on Wachovias business.
Depositary institutions, like Wachovias bank subsidiaries,
are also affected by various federal laws, including those
relating to consumer protection and similar matters. Wachovia
also has other financial services subsidiaries regulated,
supervised and examined by the Federal Reserve, as well as other
relevant state and federal regulatory agencies and
self-regulatory organizations. Wachovias non-bank
subsidiaries may be subject to other laws and regulations of the
federal government or the various states in which they are
authorized to do business.
40
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT; REGULATORY CAPITAL
General
The proceeds from the sale of the WITS will be allocated between
the Stock Purchase Contracts and the Junior Subordinated Notes
in proportion to the fair market value of each at the date of
the offering.
We will recognize the present value of the Contract Payments
under the Stock Purchase Contracts as a liability with an
offsetting reduction in stockholders equity. This
liability increases over five years by interest charges to the
statement of earnings based on a constant rate calculation.
Contract Payments paid on the Stock Purchase Contracts will
reduce this liability.
The Stock Purchase Contracts are forward transactions in our
Preferred Stock. Upon settlement of a Stock Purchase Contract,
we will receive $100,000 on that Stock Purchase Contract and
will issue a share of Preferred Stock. The $100,000 we receive
will be credited to stockholders equity.
Fees and expenses incurred in connection with this offering will
be allocated between the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Stock
Purchase Contracts. The amount allocated to the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be amortized and recognized as interest
expense over the term of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The
amount allocated to the Stock Purchase Contracts will be charged
to stockholders equity.
Other Matters
Both the Financial Accounting Standards Board and its Emerging
Issues Task Force continue to study the accounting for financial
instruments and derivative instruments, including instruments
such as the WITS and the Stock Purchase Contracts. It is
possible that our accounting for the WITS and the Stock Purchase
Contracts could be affected by any new accounting rules that
might be issued by these groups.
Regulatory Capital Treatment
We expect that the Federal Reserve will treat the Normal WITS
and Stripped WITS as tier 1 capital in an amount equal to
the amount of this offering for purposes of its capital
guidelines applicable to bank holding companies such as
Wachovia. We also expect that, although the Normal WITS and
Stripped WITS will be restricted core capital
elements for purposes of the guidelines prior to issuance
of the Preferred Stock on the Stock Purchase Date, the Normal
WITS and Stripped WITS will be qualifying mandatory
convertible securities for purposes of those guidelines,
with the consequence that the Normal WITS and Stripped WITS,
taken together with the other enumerated restricted core capital
elements that in the aggregate are limited to 15% of tier 1
capital, will be subject to the separate sub-limit of 25% of
tier 1 capital for internationally active banking
organizations like Wachovia once the guidelines become fully
effective on March 31, 2009.
41
DESCRIPTION OF THE WITS
The following is a summary of some of the terms of the WITS
and of the Trust Agreement under which they are issued.
This summary, together with the summary of some of the
provisions of the related documents described below, contains a
description of the material terms of the WITS and the
Trust Agreement but is not necessarily complete. We refer
you to the documents referred to in the following description,
copies of which are available upon request as described above
under Where You Can Find More Information.
General
The WITS will be issued pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
The Property Trustee, U.S. Bank National Association, will
act as indenture trustee for the WITS under the
Trust Agreement for purposes of compliance with the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The WITS, each with a
liquidation amount of $1,000, may be either Normal WITS,
Stripped WITS or Capital WITS, and unless indicated otherwise,
as used in this prospectus the term WITS will
include all three of these classes of WITS. The WITS issued in
the offering will consist of 2,500,000 Normal WITS, which
are exchangeable for the other classes of WITS as described
herein. The terms of each class of WITS will include those
stated in the Trust Agreement, including any amendments
thereto and those made part of the Trust Agreement by the
Trust Indenture Act and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
The Trust will initially own all of our Remarketable Junior
Subordinated Notes due 2042, or Junior Subordinated
Notes, and will enter into a stock purchase contract
agreement, or Stock Purchase Contract
Agreement, with us, pursuant to which it will own
25,010 stock purchase contracts, each a Stock Purchase
Contract having a stated amount of $100,000.
In addition to the WITS, the Trust Agreement authorizes the
administrative trustees of the Trust to issue the Trust Common
Securities on behalf of the Trust. We will own directly or
indirectly all of the Trust Common Securities. The Trust Common
Securities rank on a parity, and payments upon redemption,
liquidation or otherwise will be made on a proportionate basis
with the WITS except as set forth below under
Ranking of Trust Common Securities. The
Trust Agreement does not permit the Trust to issue any
securities other than the Trust Common Securities and the WITS
or to incur any indebtedness.
Under the Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee on behalf
of the Trust:
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will own the Junior Subordinated Notes purchased by the Trust
for the benefit of the holders of the Normal WITS, Capital WITS
and Trust Common Securities; |
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will enter into the Stock Purchase Contracts and own the
Preferred Stock purchased by the Trust pursuant thereto for the
benefit of the holders of the Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and
Trust Common Securities; |
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will own the Qualifying Treasury Securities delivered upon
exchange of Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities for
Stripped WITS and Capital WITS or purchased by the Collateral
Agent with the proceeds of maturing Qualifying Treasury
Securities for the benefit of the holders of Stripped WITS; |
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will place in a deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A., payable on the
Stock Purchase Date and bearing interest at 4.90% per
annum, the cash proceeds from the Remarketing of the Junior
Subordinated Notes on the Remarketing Settlement Date for the
benefit of the holders of Normal WITS; and |
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may own the subordinated notes, if any, we issue to the Trust on
the Stock Purchase Date in respect of deferred interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes and/or deferred Contract Payments on
the Stock Purchase Contracts, as the case may be. |
The payment of distributions out of money held by the Trust, and
payments upon redemption of the WITS or liquidation of the
Trust, are guaranteed by us to the extent described under
Description of the
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Guarantee. The Guarantee, when taken together with our
obligations under the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Indenture and our obligations under
the Trust Agreement, including our obligations to pay
costs, expenses, debts and liabilities of the Trust, other than
with respect to the Trust Common Securities and the WITS, has
the effect of providing a full and unconditional guarantee of
amounts due on the WITS. U.S. Bank National Association, as
the Guarantee Trustee, will hold the Guarantee for the benefit
of the holders of the WITS. The Guarantee does not cover payment
of distributions when the Trust does not have sufficient
available funds to pay those distributions. In that case, except
in the limited circumstances in which the holder may take direct
action, the remedy of a holder of the WITS is to vote to direct
the Property Trustee to enforce the Property Trustees
rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Stock Purchase
Contracts, as the case may be.
When we use the term holder in this
prospectus with respect to a registered WITS, we mean the person
in whose name such WITS is registered in the security register.
The WITS will be held in book-entry form only, as described
under Book-Entry System, except in the circumstances
described in that section, and will be held in the name of DTC
or its nominee.
We will apply to list the Normal WITS on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol WBTP. Unless and until
Normal WITS are exchanged for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS,
the Stripped WITS and the Capital WITS will not trade
separately. If Stripped WITS or Capital WITS (or after the
Remarketing Settlement Date, Junior Subordinated Notes) are
separately traded to a sufficient extent that applicable
exchange listing requirements are met, we may list the Stripped
WITS or Capital WITS (or after the Remarketing Settlement Date,
Junior Subordinated Notes) on the same exchange as the Normal
WITS are then listed, including, if applicable, the New York
Stock Exchange, though we are under no obligation to do so.
Normal WITS
The WITS sold in the offering are called the 5.80%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Normal WITS, or Normal WITS, and each
represents a beneficial interest in the Trust initially
corresponding to the following Trust assets:
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$1,000 principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes; and |
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a 1/100th interest in a Stock Purchase Contract under which: |
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the Trust will agree to purchase from us, and we will agree to
sell to the Trust, on the Stock Purchase Date, for $100,000 in
cash, a share of our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A
Preferred Stock, Series I, $100,000 Liquidation Preference
per share, or Preferred Stock; and |
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we will pay Contract Payments to the Trust at the rate of
0.60% per annum on the liquidation amount of
$100,000, subject to our right to defer these payments. |
We describe the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Trusts
obligation to purchase our Preferred Stock and the Contract
Payments in more detail under Description of the Stock
Purchase Contracts and we describe the Junior Subordinated
Notes and how and when they will be remarketed in more detail
under Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
The stock purchase date under the Stock Purchase Contracts, or
Stock Purchase Date, is expected to be
March 15, 2011 (or, if such day is not a business day, the
next business day), but could (i) occur on an earlier date
in the circumstances described below under Description of
the Junior Subordinated Notes Early Settlement
or (ii) be deferred for quarterly periods until as late as
March 15, 2012 (or, if such day is not a business day, the
next business day) if the first four attempts to remarket the
Junior Subordinated Notes are not successful. Through the later
of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date or, if
earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date, unless we otherwise
defer such payments, we will make interest payments on the
Junior Subordinated Notes at the annual rate of
5.20% per annum, semi-annually in arrears on each
March 15 and September 15, calculated on the basis of a
360-day year consisting
of twelve
43
30-day months, and the
Trust will pass through such interest payments when received as
distributions on the Normal WITS. We will also make an interim
interest payment on the Stock Purchase Date if the Junior
Subordinated Notes have not been successfully remarketed and
such date is not otherwise an interest payment date. After the
later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date or, if
earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date, the Trust will not
pass through interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes to
holders of Normal WITS.
The purchase price of each Normal WITS will be allocated between
the interests in the corresponding Stock Purchase Contract and
the corresponding Junior Subordinated Notes in proportion to
their respective fair market values at the time of issuance. We
expect that, at the time of issuance, the fair market value of
each Junior Subordinated Note will be $1,000 and the fair market
value of each Stock Purchase Contract will be $0. This position
generally will be binding on each beneficial owner of each
Normal WITS but not on the Internal Revenue Service.
Any Junior Subordinated Notes beneficially owned by the Trust
corresponding to the Normal WITS and their proceeds will be
pledged to us under a collateral agreement, or
Collateral Agreement, between us and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, National Association, or JPMorgan
Chase, acting as collateral agent, or
Collateral Agent, to secure the Trusts
obligation to purchase Preferred Stock under the corresponding
Stock Purchase Contract. JPMorgan Chase will also act as
registrar and transfer agent, or Transfer
Agent, for the WITS and as custodial agent, or
Custodial Agent, for other property of the
Trust. If JPMorgan Chase should resign or be removed in any of
these capacities, we or the Trust will designate a successor and
the terms Collateral Agent, Transfer
Agent and Custodial Agent as used in this
prospectus will refer to that successor.
A business day means any day other than a
Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions
and trust companies in New York, New York, Charlotte, North
Carolina or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by
any applicable law to close.
Exchanging Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities for
Stripped WITS and Capital WITS
You will have the right prior to the Stock Purchase Date or, if
earlier, the successful Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated
Notes, to exchange Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury
Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS by depositing with
the Collateral Agent $1,000 principal amount of Qualifying
Treasury Securities for each $1,000 liquidation amount of Normal
WITS to be exchanged, transferring your Normal WITS to the
Transfer Agent and delivering the required notice, as described
below under Exchange Procedures. Upon
any such exchange, you will receive $1,000 liquidation amount of
Stripped WITS and $1,000 liquidation amount of Capital WITS, and
you will be able to trade them separately, although they will
not be listed on any stock exchange unless we decide to list
them. You will be able to exercise this right on any business
day until the Stock Purchase Date, other than on a day in March,
June, September or December that is on or after the first day of
the month through the 15th day of the month (or the next
business day if the 15th is not a business day) or from
3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the second business day
before any Remarketing Date and until the business day after
that Remarketing Date. You will also not be able to exercise
this right at any time after a successful Remarketing. We refer
to periods during which exchanges are permitted as
Exchange Periods.
Each Stripped WITS will be a beneficial
interest in the Trust corresponding to:
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a 1/100th interest in a Stock Purchase Contract; and |
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$1,000 principal amount of treasury securities that were
Qualifying Treasury Securities on the date they were acquired by
the Trust. |
On each Additional Distribution Date (or as promptly thereafter
as the Collateral Agent and the paying agent determine to be
practicable), each holder of Stripped WITS will also be entitled
to receive Excess Proceeds Distributions consisting of the
excess of the principal amount at maturity of the Qualifying
Treasury Securities over the cost of replacing them with new
Qualifying Treasury Securities.
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Each Capital WITS will be a beneficial
interest in the Trust corresponding to $1,000 principal amount
of Junior Subordinated Notes held by the Custodial Agent on
behalf of the Trust. The Trust will redeem the Capital WITS
promptly after the Remarketing Settlement Date in exchange for
Junior Subordinated Notes having an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of Capital WITS so
redeemed.
Qualifying Treasury Securities. In order to
determine what U.S. Treasury security is the Qualifying
Treasury Security during any Exchange Period, any administrative
trustee shall, for each March 15, June 15, September
15 and December 15, commencing on March 15, 2006 and
ending on the Stock Purchase Date or the earlier termination of
the Stock Purchase Contracts, or if any such day is not a
business day, the immediately succeeding business day, or
Additional Distribution Date, identify:
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the 13-week treasury
bill that matures at least one but not more than six business
days prior to that Additional Distribution Date, or |
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if no 13-week treasury
bill that matures at least one but not more than six business
days prior to that Additional Distribution Date is or is
scheduled to be outstanding on the immediately preceding
Additional Distribution Date, the
26-week treasury bill
that matures at least one but not more than six business days
prior to that Additional Distribution Date, or |
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if neither of such treasury bills is or is scheduled to be
outstanding on the immediately preceding Additional Distribution
Date, any other treasury security (which may be a zero coupon
treasury security) that is outstanding on the immediately
preceding Additional Distribution Date, is highly liquid and
matures at least one business day prior to such Additional
Distribution Date; provided that any treasury security
identified pursuant to this clause shall be selected in a manner
intended to minimize the cash value of the security selected. |
The administrative trustees shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to identify the security meeting the foregoing criteria
for each Additional Distribution Date promptly after the
Department of the Treasury makes the schedule for upcoming
auctions of Treasury securities publicly available and shall, to
the extent that a security previously identified with respect to
any Additional Distribution Date is no longer expected to be
outstanding on the immediately preceding Additional Distribution
Date, identify another security meeting the foregoing criteria
for such Additional Distribution Date. The security most
recently identified by the administrative trustees with respect
to any Additional Distribution Date shall be the
Qualifying Treasury Security with respect to
the period from and including its date of issuance (or if later,
the date of maturity of the Qualifying Treasury Security with
respect to the immediately preceding Additional Distribution
Date) to but excluding its date of maturity, and the
administrative trustees identification of a security as a
Qualifying Treasury Security for such period shall be final and
binding for all purposes absent manifest error. You will be able
to obtain the issue date, the maturity date and, when available,
the CUSIP number of the treasury bills or other treasury
securities that are Qualifying Treasury Securities for the
current and next Exchange Period from the Collateral Agent by
calling 1-800-275-2048.
Since this information is subject to change from time to time,
holders should confirm this information prior to purchasing or
delivering treasury securities in connection with any exchange
of Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped
WITS and Capital WITS.
Each Qualifying Treasury Security delivered to the Collateral
Agent in connection with any exchange of Normal WITS and
Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS and each Qualifying Treasury Security purchased by the
Collateral Agent with the proceeds of any maturing Qualifying
Treasury Security will be pledged to us through the Collateral
Agent to secure the Trusts obligation to purchase
Preferred Stock under the corresponding Stock Purchase
Contracts. In purchasing Qualifying Treasury Securities, the
Collateral Agent will solicit offers from at least three
U.S. government securities dealers, one of which may be
JPMorgan Chase or an affiliate of JPMorgan Chase, and will
accept the lowest offer so long as at least two offers are
available. The Collateral Agent shall have no liability to the
Trust, any trustee or any holder of the WITS in connection with
the purchase of Qualifying Treasury Securities in the absence of
gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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Exchange Procedures. To exchange Normal WITS and
Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS, for each Normal WITS you must:
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deposit with the Collateral Agent treasury securities that are
Qualifying Treasury Securities on the date of deposit, in a
principal amount of $1,000, which you must purchase on the open
market at your expense unless you already own them; |
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transfer the Normal WITS to the Transfer Agent; and |
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deliver a notice to the Collateral Agent and the Transfer Agent,
in connection with the actions specified above, stating that you
are depositing the appropriate Qualifying Treasury Securities
with the Collateral Agent, transferring the Normal WITS to the
Transfer Agent in connection with the exchange of the Normal
WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS and requesting the delivery to you of Stripped WITS
and Capital WITS. |
Upon the deposit, transfer and receipt of notice, the Collateral
Agent will release the Junior Subordinated Notes corresponding
to the exchanged Normal WITS from the pledge under the
Collateral Agreement, free and clear of our security interest,
and continue to hold them as Custodial Agent for the Trust in
connection with the Capital WITS to be delivered to you. The
Transfer Agent will cancel the exchanged Normal WITS and then
deliver the Stripped WITS and Capital WITS to you.
Exchanging Stripped WITS and Capital WITS for Normal WITS and
Qualifying Treasury Securities
If you hold Stripped WITS and Capital WITS you will have the
right, at any time during an Exchange Period, to exchange them
for Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities by
transferring your Stripped WITS and Capital WITS to the Transfer
Agent and delivering the notice specified below. The Collateral
Agent will substitute a principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Notes equal to the liquidation amount of the Stripped WITS so
exchanged for the same principal amount of Qualifying Treasury
Securities pledged to secure the Trusts obligations under
the Stock Purchase Contracts and deliver these Qualifying
Treasury Securities to you, unencumbered by the security
interest created under the Collateral Agreement, after which you
will own the Qualifying Treasury Securities separately from the
Normal WITS.
To exchange Stripped WITS and Capital WITS for Normal WITS and
Qualifying Treasury Securities, you must transfer to the
Transfer Agent Stripped WITS and Capital WITS having the same
liquidation amount, accompanied by a notice to the Transfer
Agent, which you must also deliver to the Collateral Agent,
stating that you are transferring the Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS in connection with the exchange of Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS for Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities,
requesting the release to you of pledged Qualifying Treasury
Securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation
amount of Stripped WITS and Capital WITS so exchanged and
requesting the delivery to you of Normal WITS. You must purchase
the Stripped WITS or the Capital WITS at your expense unless you
otherwise own them.
Upon the transfer of Stripped WITS and Capital WITS together
with the notice and request, the Collateral Agent will release
the corresponding Qualifying Treasury Securities from the pledge
under the Collateral Agreement, free and clear of our security
interest, and deliver them to you. The Transfer Agent will then
cancel the exchanged Stripped WITS and Capital WITS and deliver
the Normal WITS to you.
The Junior Subordinated Notes corresponding to the Capital WITS
you delivered will be pledged to us through the Collateral Agent
to secure the Trusts obligation to purchase Preferred
Stock under the Stock Purchase Contracts related to the Normal
WITS.
If you elect to exchange Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury
Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, or vice
versa, you will be responsible for any fees or expenses
payable in connection with the exchange.
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Current Payments
The Trust must make distributions on each class of WITS on the
relevant Distribution Dates to the extent that it has funds
available therefor. The Trusts funds available for
distribution to you as a holder of any class of WITS will be
limited to payments received from us on the assets held by the
Trust corresponding to that class. We will guarantee the payment
of distributions on the WITS out of moneys held by the Trust to
the extent of available Trust funds, as described under
Description of the Guarantee. Our obligation to pay
Contract Payments will be subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all our senior and subordinated indebtedness, to the
same extent as our obligations under our Junior Subordinated
Notes, as described under Description of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Our obligations under the Junior
Subordinated Notes are similarly subordinate and junior in right
of payment to all our senior and subordinated indebtedness.
The distribution dates for Normal WITS and Stripped WITS, which
we call Regular Distribution Dates, are:
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each March 15 and September 15 occurring prior to and including
the later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date,
commencing March 15, 2006 (or, in the case of Stripped
WITS, the first such date on which Stripped WITS are
outstanding); |
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after the later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase
Date, each March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15, or if any such date is not a business day, the
next business day; and |
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the Stock Purchase Date if not otherwise a Regular Distribution
Date; |
provided that the last Regular Distribution Date for the
Stripped WITS shall be the Stock Purchase Date.
The distribution dates for Capital WITS, which we call
Capital WITS Distribution Dates, are:
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each March 15 and September 15, commencing with the first
such date on which Capital WITS are outstanding and continuing
through and including the last such date to occur prior to the
Remarketing Date for a successful Remarketing (or, if any such
day is not a business day, the next succeeding business day); and |
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thereafter for so long as Capital WITS remain outstanding each
day that is an interest payment date for the Junior Subordinated
Notes. |
Also, prior to the Stock Purchase Date, the Trust will make
additional distributions on the Stripped WITS relating to the
Qualifying Treasury Securities quarterly on each March 15,
June 15, September 15 and December 15, or if any such
date is not a business day, the next business day, or
Additional Distribution Date, or as promptly
thereafter as the Collateral Agent and the paying agent
determine to be practicable, commencing with the first such day
after Stripped WITS are outstanding.
We use the term Distribution Date to mean a
Regular Distribution Date, a Capital WITS Distribution Date or
an Additional Distribution Date. A Distribution
Period is (i) with respect to Normal WITS,
Stripped WITS and Trust Common Securities, each period of time
beginning on a Regular Distribution Date (or the date of
original issuance in the case of the Distribution Period ending
in March 2006) and continuing to but not including the next
succeeding Regular Distribution Date for such class; and
(ii) with respect to Capital WITS, each period of time
beginning on a Capital WITS Distribution Date (or the date of
original issuance of the WITS in the case of the Distribution
Period ending in March 2006) and continuing to but not including
the next succeeding Capital WITS Distribution Date. When a
Distribution Date is not a business day, the Trust will make the
distribution on the next business day without interest. The term
distribution includes any interest payable on
unpaid distributions unless otherwise stated.
Distributions made for periods prior to the later of
March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date will be
calculated on the basis of a
360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day
months, and distributions for
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periods beginning on or after such date will be calculated on
the basis of a 360-day
year and the number of days actually elapsed.
Distributions on the WITS will be payable to holders as they
appear in the security register of the Trust on the relevant
record dates. The record dates will be the last day of the month
immediately preceding the month in which the Distribution Date
falls. Distributions will be paid through the Property Trustee
or paying agent, who will hold amounts received in respect of
the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Stock Purchase Contracts and
the Preferred Stock for the benefit of the holders of the WITS.
Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the
provisions of the Trust Agreement, each distribution will
be made as described in the section entitled Book-Entry
System.
Normal WITS. Subject to the deferral provisions
described below, through the later of March 15, 2011 and
the Stock Purchase Date holders of Normal WITS will be entitled
to receive cash distributions semi-annually on each Regular
Distribution Date at the rate of 5.80% per annum of
the liquidation amount, corresponding to (i) interest on
the Junior Subordinated Notes accruing for each Distribution
Period ending prior to that date at the rate of
5.20% per annum and Contract Payments accruing for
each Distribution Period ending prior to that date at the rate
of 0.60% per annum on the liquidation amount of
$1,000 per Normal WITS or (ii) if the Stock Purchase
Date occurs prior to March 15, 2011, dividends on the
Preferred Stock accruing for each Distribution Period ending
prior to that date.
Subject to the deferral provisions described below, holders of
Normal WITS will also receive on the Stock Purchase Date,
without duplication of the above payments, an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid Contract Payments and interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, whether or not the Junior Subordinated Notes
have been successfully remarketed. A portion of the net proceeds
of any successful Remarketing will be placed in the
interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A. in an amount
equal to the amount of interest that would have been payable to
the Trust on the Junior Subordinated Notes had they not been
sold in the Remarketing and the interest rate not been reset.
Holders of Normal WITS making the election described under
Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes
Normal WITS will not be entitled to this additional cash
payment due to other holders of Normal WITS if the Remarketing
is successful since their Normal WITS will automatically become
Stripped WITS and Capital WITS on the Remarketing Settlement
Date. In the case of a Failed Remarketing, the Stock Purchase
Date will be an interest payment date on the Junior Subordinated
Notes.
After the Stock Purchase Date, holders of Normal WITS will be
entitled to receive distributions corresponding to dividends on
the Preferred Stock held by the Trust. These non-cumulative cash
dividends will be payable if, as and when declared by our board
of directors, on the Dividend Payment Dates, which are:
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if the Preferred Stock is issued prior to March 15, 2011,
semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15
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from and including the later of March 15, 2011 and the date
of issuance, quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15,
September 15 and December 15 (or, if such day is not a business
day, the next business day). |
For any Dividend Period ending prior to March 15, 2011 dividends
will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.80%, which is
the same rate as the combined rate at which Contract Payments
and interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes would have
accrued, and for any Dividend Period ending after March 15,
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%.
For more information about dividends on the Preferred Stock, see
Description of the Preferred Stock
Dividends.
Stripped WITS. Subject to the deferral provisions
described below, holders of Stripped WITS will be entitled to
receive cash distributions on each Regular Distribution Date
corresponding to Contract Payments payable by us through the
Stock Purchase Date, at the rate of 0.60% per annum
on the
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liquidation amount of $1,000 per Stripped WITS, accruing
for each Stripped WITS from the Regular Distribution Date
immediately preceding its issuance. Not later than each
Additional Distribution Date on which any Stripped WITS are
outstanding, the Collateral Agent will reinvest the proceeds of
maturing Qualifying Treasury Securities on behalf of the Trust
in securities that are Qualifying Treasury Securities as of such
date, in each case having the same principal amount at maturity
as the maturing Qualifying Treasury Securities. The Collateral
Agent will invest the excess of the proceeds over the cost of
the replacement securities in cash equivalents, and deliver to
the Trust for distribution to the holders of Stripped WITS, on
each Additional Distribution Date (or as promptly thereafter as
the Collateral Agent and the paying agent determine to be
practicable), an amount, or Excess Proceeds
Distribution, equal to the excess of $1,000 per
Stripped WITS over the cost of such replacement Qualifying
Treasury Securities plus any interest earned on those cash
equivalents from the maturity date until the Additional
Distribution Date. Since the principal amount of the Qualifying
Treasury Securities will be used to pay the purchase price under
the Stock Purchase Contracts on the Stock Purchase Date, the
Excess Proceeds Distribution on the Stock Purchase Date will
consist only of interest earned from the maturity date of the
Qualifying Treasury Securities through the Stock Purchase Date,
if any.
For as long as they hold the Capital WITS, the holders of the
Stripped WITS will continue to receive the scheduled
distributions on the Capital WITS that were delivered to them
when the Stripped WITS were created, subject to our right to
defer interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes. Each
Stripped WITS will automatically, without any action by holders
being necessary, be and become a Normal WITS on the business day
following the Stock Purchase Date and be entitled to receive the
same current payments as each Normal WITS after the Stock
Purchase Date; provided that if after a Failed
Remarketing we have issued subordinated notes to the Trust in
respect of deferred interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes,
the Stripped WITS will only be and become Normal WITS on the
business day after such subordinated notes have been paid in
full. In this case, the Stripped WITS will not become Normal
WITS until we have paid all amounts due on these additional
notes, and until then the holders of Stripped WITS will be
entitled to receive on each Regular Distribution Date
non-cumulative distributions corresponding to the dividends on
the Preferred Stock.
Capital WITS. Subject to the deferral provisions
described below, holders of Capital WITS will be entitled to
receive cumulative cash distributions semi-annually on each
March 15 and September 15 corresponding to interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes accruing for each Distribution Period
ending on such date at the rate of 5.20% per annum
on the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital WITS.
If the Stock Purchase Date occurs on a date that is not a
semi-annual distribution date and the Junior Subordinated Notes
have not been successfully remarketed, that date will also be an
interest payment date on the Junior Subordinated Notes and,
accordingly, subject to the deferral provisions described below,
holders of Capital WITS will receive a distribution on that date
corresponding to interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes.
The distributions paid on any Capital WITS Distribution Date
will include any additional amounts or deferred interest amounts
received by the Trust on the Junior Subordinated Notes that are
corresponding assets for the Capital WITS, as well as payments
of interest on and principal of any subordinated notes we issue
to the Trust on the Stock Purchase Date in respect of deferred
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes, if any.
Upon a successful Remarketing, we may elect to change the rate
of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes from and after the
Remarketing Settlement Date, as described below under
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes
Remarketing. Accordingly, distributions will accrue on the
Capital WITS that are not disposed of in connection with the
Remarketing from and including the Remarketing Settlement Date
to but excluding the date on which they are redeemed in
exchanged for Junior Subordinated Notes at the rate established
in the Remarketing.
Deferral of Contract Payments and Interest
Payments. We may at our option, and will if so directed
by the Federal Reserve, defer the Contract Payments until no
later than the Stock Purchase Date as described under
Description of the Stock Purchase Contracts
Option to Defer Contract Payments.
49
As a consequence, the Trust will defer corresponding
distributions on the Normal WITS and the Stripped WITS during
the deferral period. Deferred Contract Payments will accrue
interest until paid, compounded on each Regular Distribution
Date, at the interest rate per annum originally
applicable to the Junior Subordinated Notes. If we elect to
defer the payment of Contract Payments until the Stock Purchase
Date, then we will pay the Trust the deferred Contract Payments
in subordinated notes that have a principal amount equal to the
aggregate amount of deferred Contract Payments as of the Stock
Purchase Date, mature on March 15, 2014, bear interest at
the rate per annum originally applicable to the Junior
Subordinated Notes, are subordinate and rank junior in right of
payment to all of our senior debt on the same basis as the
Contract Payments and are redeemable by us at any time prior to
their stated maturity.
Also, we may at our option, and will if so directed by the
Federal Reserve, defer cash payments of interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes that are owned by the Trust for up to 14
consecutive interest payment dates (i.e., seven years),
or the equivalent thereof if interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes are not then semi-annual, in which case the
deferred amounts will accrue additional interest at the
applicable rate then borne by the Junior Subordinated Notes. As
a consequence, the Trust will defer corresponding distributions
on the Normal WITS (prior to the Stock Purchase Date, or if
earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date) and on the Capital
WITS during the deferral period. Deferred distributions to which
you are entitled will accrue interest, from the relevant
Distribution Date during any deferral period, at the rate
originally applicable to the Junior Subordinated Notes
compounded on each interest payment date with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes, to the extent permitted by applicable
law. Subject to certain exceptions in the Indenture under which
we are issuing the Junior Subordinated Notes, as described under
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes
Alternative Payment Mechanism, we covenant that, if we
defer interest on any interest payment date on or prior to the
Stock Purchase Date:
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we will pay that deferred interest only out of the net proceeds
of shares of common stock or non-cumulative perpetual preferred
stock received by us during the 180 days prior to the date
of payment of such deferred interest; and |
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we shall use our Commercially Reasonable Efforts to sell shares
of our common stock or non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock
not later than the termination of the deferral period that will
generate net proceeds in an amount sufficient to pay such
deferred amounts and shall apply the proceeds of such sale to
such deferred amounts. |
During any period that we are deferring Contract Payments or
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes (and, accordingly, the
Trust is deferring distributions on the WITS) or have issued but
not yet repaid in full subordinated notes in respect of deferred
interest or deferred Contract Payments, we will be restricted,
subject to certain exceptions, from making certain payments,
including declaring or paying any dividends or making any
distributions on, or redeeming, purchasing, acquiring or making
a liquidation payment with respect to, shares of our capital
stock as described under Description of the Junior
Subordinated Notes Restrictions on Certain Payments,
Including on Deferral of Interest. If we have elected to
defer interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes and there is a
Failed Remarketing, then we will pay the Trust the deferred
interest in subordinated notes that have a principal amount
equal to the aggregate amount of deferred interest as of the
Stock Purchase Date, mature on March 15, 2014, bear
interest at the rate per annum originally applicable to
the Junior Subordinated Notes, are subordinate and rank junior
in right of payment to all of our senior debt on the same basis
as the Contract Payments and are redeemable by us at any time
prior to their stated maturity. If we issue any subordinated
notes in respect of deferred interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes, the foregoing covenant will also apply to the payment of
interest on and principal of these notes, except that the
reference to termination of the deferral period shall instead be
to the maturity date of the notes.
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Agreed Tax Treatment of the WITS
As a beneficial owner of WITS, by acceptance of the beneficial
interest therein, you will be deemed to have agreed, for all
U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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to treat yourself as the owner of: |
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for each Normal WITS or Stripped WITS, a 1/100th interest
in a Stock Purchase Contract; |
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for each Normal WITS or Capital WITS, $1,000 principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Notes; |
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for each Stripped WITS, $1,000 principal amount of Qualifying
Treasury Securities; |
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for each Normal WITS participating in the Remarketing, its
pro rata portion of the interest-bearing deposit with
Wachovia Bank, N.A.; |
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to treat the Trust as one or more grantor trusts and/or agency
arrangements; |
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to treat the fair market value of the $1,000 principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Notes corresponding to one Normal WITS as
$1,000 and the fair market value of a 1/100th fractional
interest in a Stock Purchase Contract corresponding to one
Normal WITS as $0 at the time of initial purchase; |
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to treat the Junior Subordinated Notes as our indebtedness; and |
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to treat stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes as
ordinary interest income that is includible in your gross income
at the time the interest is paid or accrued in accordance with
your regular method of tax accounting, and otherwise to treat
the Junior Subordinated Notes as described in Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences Treatment
of the Junior Subordinated Notes. |
Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes
The Trust will attempt to remarket the Junior Subordinated Notes
in order to fund the purchase of the Preferred Stock on the
Stock Purchase Date under the Stock Purchase Contracts in a
process we call Remarketing. If a Remarketing
is successful, the interest rate on and certain other terms of
the Junior Subordinated Notes may be changed, as a result of
which the distribution rate, distribution dates and other terms
of the Capital WITS may also change. We describe the timing of
the Remarketing and how the Remarketing will be conducted under
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes
Remarketing and Early Remarketing.
In this section we describe choices that you may make in
connection with Remarketings as a holder of Normal WITS or
Capital WITS.
Normal WITS. If you hold Normal WITS, you may
decide that, in the event a Remarketing is successful, you would
prefer to exchange your Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS instead of continuing to hold your Normal WITS. You
may make a contingent exchange election by transferring your
Normal WITS to the Transfer Agent and the notice of contingent
exchange election in the form set forth on the reverse side of
the Normal WITS certificate executed and completed as indicated
during the period that commences on the tenth business day
immediately preceding any Remarketing Date and ending at
3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day
before that Remarketing Date and depositing Qualifying Treasury
Securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation
amount of your Normal WITS on the date of deposit with the
Collateral Agent on or prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the second business day before that Remarketing Date.
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are successfully remarketed on
that Remarketing Date and you have made an effective election,
your Normal WITS will be cancelled and you will receive Stripped
WITS and Capital WITS having the same liquidation amount on or
promptly after the Remarketing Settlement Date. As with any
other exchange of Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities
for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, you will be able to trade
the Stripped WITS and Capital WITS separately. As a result of the
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successful Remarketing, the Stock Purchase Date will occur on
the March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15
next following the Remarketing Settlement Date, or if such date
is not a business day, the next business day, and on the
business day following the Stock Purchase Date each Stripped
WITS will automatically be and become a Normal WITS,
corresponding to 1/100th of a share of Preferred Stock held
by the Trust. Each Capital WITS you receive will correspond to
$1,000 principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes
beneficially owned by the Trust and the Trust will redeem the
Capital WITS promptly after the Remarketing Settlement Date in
exchange for the corresponding Junior Subordinated Notes.
If you have given notice of a contingent exchange election but
fail to deliver the Qualifying Treasury Securities to the
Collateral Agent by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
second business day before the applicable Remarketing Date, the
notice will be void and your Normal WITS will be returned to you
promptly after the Remarketing Date.
If you have given notice of a contingent exchange election and
delivered the Qualifying Treasury Securities but the Remarketing
is unsuccessful, your Qualifying Treasury Securities will be
promptly returned to you by the Collateral Agent and your Normal
WITS certificates will be promptly returned to you by the
Transfer Agent.
Capital WITS. If you hold Capital WITS, you may
decide that, in the event a Remarketing is successful, you would
prefer to dispose of your Capital WITS and receive the net cash
proceeds of the Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
You may make a contingent disposition election by transferring
your Capital WITS to the Transfer Agent and the notice of
contingent disposition election in the form set forth on the
reverse side of the Capital WITS certificate executed and
completed as indicated during the period that commences on the
tenth business day immediately preceding a Remarketing Date and
ending at 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second
business day immediately preceding any Remarketing Date. If the
Junior Subordinated Notes are successfully remarketed on that
Remarketing Date and you have made an effective election, on or
promptly after the Remarketing Settlement Date, your Capital
WITS will be cancelled and you will receive an amount in cash
equal to the net proceeds of the sale of $1,000 principal amount
of Junior Subordinated Notes in the Remarketing for each $1,000
liquidation amount of Capital WITS with respect to which you
made your election.
If you have given notice of a contingent disposition election
but the Remarketing is unsuccessful, your Capital WITS will
remain outstanding and the certificates will be promptly
returned to you by the Transfer Agent.
Stripped WITS. The timing and success or failure
of any Remarketing affects the timing of the Stock Purchase
Date, and thus the date upon which holders of Stripped WITS
cease to receive distributions corresponding to Contract
Payments and Additional Distributions and begin to receive
distributions corresponding to the non-cumulative dividends on
the Preferred Stock. Unless there has been a Failed Remarketing
and we have issued subordinated notes in respect of deferred
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes, each Stripped WITS
automatically, without any action by holders being necessary,
will be and become a Normal WITS on the business day after the
Stock Purchase Date. Otherwise, each Stripped WITS
automatically, without any action by holders being necessary,
will be and become a Normal WITS on the business day after we
have paid all amounts due on the subordinated notes issued in
respect of deferred interest.
Mandatory Redemption of Normal WITS upon Redemption of
Preferred Stock
The Normal WITS have no stated maturity but must be redeemed on
the date we redeem the Preferred Stock, and the Property Trustee
or paying agent will apply the proceeds from such repayment or
redemption to redeem a like amount, as defined below, of the
Normal WITS. The Preferred Stock is perpetual but we may redeem
it at any time on or after the later of March 15, 2011 and
the Stock Purchase Date, subject to certain limitations. See
Description of the Preferred Stock
Redemption and Description of the Preferred
Stock Redemption or Repurchase Subject to
Restrictions. The redemption price per Normal WITS will
equal the liquidation amount per Normal WITS plus accumulated
and unpaid distributions to but excluding the redemption date.
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If less than all of the shares of Preferred Stock held by the
Trust are to be redeemed on a redemption date, then the proceeds
from such redemption will be allocated pro rata to the
redemption of the Normal WITS and the Trust Common Securities,
except as set forth below under Ranking of
Trust Common Securities.
The term like amount as used above means
Normal WITS having a liquidation amount equal to that portion of
the liquidation amount of the Preferred Stock to be
contemporaneously redeemed, the proceeds of which will be used
to pay the redemption price of such Normal WITS.
Mandatory Redemption of Capital WITS upon Maturity of the
Junior Subordinated Notes
The Capital WITS have no stated maturity but must be redeemed,
if they remain outstanding, in cash upon the date the Junior
Subordinated Notes mature or are redeemed. On each date the
Capital WITS must be redeemed, or Capital WITS
Mandatory Redemption Date, the Property Trustee
or paying agent will apply the proceeds from the repayment or
redemption of Junior Subordinated Notes to redeem a like amount,
as defined below, of the Capital WITS. The initial stated
maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes is March 15, 2042
and the Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemable at our option
at any time on or after March 15, 2015, but we may move up
the stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes and,
accordingly, the Capital WITS Mandatory Redemption Date, to
any date on or after the Stock Purchase Date in the event of a
Failed Remarketing; provided that if we are deferring
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at the time of the
Failed Remarketing, any new stated maturity date and Capital
WITS Mandatory Redemption Date may not be earlier than
seven years after commencement of the deferral period. The
redemption price per Capital WITS will equal the liquidation
amount per Capital WITS plus accumulated and unpaid
distributions to but excluding the redemption date. Changes we
may make to the stated maturity or early redemption provisions
of the Junior Subordinated Notes in connection with a successful
Remarketing will not affect the redemption of the Capital WITS
since the Trust will redeem them for Junior Subordinated Notes
upon a successful Remarketing.
The term like amount as used above means
Capital WITS having a liquidation amount equal to that portion
of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes to be
contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Indenture, the
proceeds of which will be used to pay the redemption price of
such Capital WITS.
Redemption of Capital WITS for Junior Subordinated Notes in
Connection with Remarketing
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are successfully remarketed,
the Trust must redeem in kind the Capital WITS in whole but not
in part in exchange for a principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes equal to the liquidation amount of each
Capital WITS so redeemed promptly after the Remarketing
Settlement Date. On the redemption date, the Capital WITS will
be cancelled and you will receive Junior Subordinated Notes.
If a Failed Remarketing occurs but on the Stock Purchase Date
there is no deferred interest amount outstanding on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, then promptly after the Stock Purchase Date
the Trust must redeem the Capital WITS, in whole but not in
part, in kind in exchange for a like amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes. If a Failed Remarketing occurs and there is
a deferred interest amount outstanding on the Stock Purchase
Date, or if the Stock Purchase Contracts are terminated before
the Stock Purchase Date, then we may instruct the Trust at any
time thereafter when there is no deferred interest amount
outstanding to redeem the Capital WITS, in whole but not in
part, in kind in exchange for a like amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes.
Redemption Procedures
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days
(or at least 20 days for a redemption in kind after a
successful Remarketing) but not more than 60 days before
the redemption date to the registered address of each holder of
WITS to be redeemed.
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If (i) the Trust gives an irrevocable notice of redemption
of any class of WITS for cash and (ii) we have paid to the
Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with
the related redemption or maturity of the Junior Subordinated
Notes or Preferred Stock, then on the redemption date, the
Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with DTC funds
sufficient to pay the redemption price for the class of WITS
being redeemed. See Book-Entry System. The Trust
will also give DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay
the redemption amount in immediately available funds to the
beneficial owners of the global securities representing WITS or,
in the case of a redemption of Capital WITS in exchange for
Junior Subordinated Notes after the Remarketing Settlement Date,
to credit Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount
equal to the liquidation amount of the Capital WITS to the
beneficial owners of the global securities representing the
Capital WITS. Distributions to be paid on or before the
redemption date for any WITS called for redemption will be
payable to the holders as of the record dates for the related
dates of distribution. If the WITS called for redemption are no
longer in book-entry form, the Property Trustee, to the extent
funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying
agent for the WITS funds sufficient to pay the applicable
redemption price and will give such paying agent irrevocable
instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to the
holders thereof upon surrender of their certificates evidencing
the WITS.
If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds
deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit:
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all rights of the holders of such WITS called for redemption
will cease, except the right of the holders of such WITS to
receive the redemption price and any distribution payable in
respect of the WITS on or prior to the redemption date, but
without interest on such redemption price, or in the case of a
redemption of Capital WITS in exchange for Junior Subordinated
Notes after the Remarketing Settlement Date, the right to
receive the Junior Subordinated Notes; and |
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the WITS called for redemption will cease to be outstanding. |
If any redemption date is not a business day, then the
redemption amount will be payable on the next business day (and
without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay). However, if payment on the next business day causes
payment of the redemption amount to be in the next calendar
month, then payment will be on the preceding business day.
If payment of the redemption amount for any Junior Subordinated
Notes or shares of Preferred Stock called for redemption is
improperly withheld or refused and accordingly the redemption
amount of the relevant class of WITS is not paid either by the
Trust or by us under the Guarantee, then interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, or dividends on the Preferred Stock, as the
case may be, will continue to accrue and distributions on such
class of WITS called for redemption will continue to accumulate
at the applicable rate then borne by such WITS from the original
redemption date scheduled to the actual date of payment. In this
case, the actual payment date will be considered the redemption
date for purposes of calculating the redemption amount.
Redemptions of the WITS may require prior approval of the
Federal Reserve.
If less than all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock
are to be redeemed on a redemption date, then the aggregate
liquidation amount of Normal WITS and Trust Common Securities to
be redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Normal
WITS and Trust Common Securities based upon the relative
liquidation amounts of such classes, except as set forth below
under Ranking of Trust Common
Securities. The Property Trustee will select the
particular Normal WITS to be redeemed on a pro rata basis
not more than 60 days before the redemption date from the
outstanding Normal WITS not previously called for redemption by
any method the Property Trustee deems fair and appropriate, or,
if the Normal WITS are in book-entry only form, in accordance
with the procedures of DTC. The Property Trustee shall promptly
notify the Transfer Agent in writing of the Normal WITS selected
for redemption and, in the case of any Normal WITS selected for
redemption in part, the liquidation amount to be redeemed.
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If less than all of the outstanding Capital WITS are to be
redeemed on a redemption date, then the Property Trustee will
select the particular Capital WITS to be redeemed on a pro
rata basis based upon their respective liquidation amounts
not more than 60 days before the redemption date from the
outstanding Capital WITS not previously called for redemption by
any method the Property Trustee deems fair and appropriate, or,
if the Capital WITS are in book-entry only form, in accordance
with the procedures of DTC. The Property Trustee shall promptly
notify the Transfer Agent in writing of the Capital WITS
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Capital WITS
selected for partial redemption, the liquidation amount to be
redeemed.
For all purposes of the Trust Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of
WITS shall relate, in the case of any WITS redeemed or to be
redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate
liquidation amount of WITS that has been or is to be redeemed.
If less than all of the Normal WITS or Capital WITS are
redeemed, the Normal WITS or Capital WITS held through the
facilities of DTC will be redeemed pro rata in accordance
with DTCs internal procedures. See Book-Entry
System.
Subject to applicable law, including, without limitation,
U.S. federal securities laws and the Declaration, we or our
affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase
outstanding WITS of any class by tender, in the open market or
by private agreement.
Liquidation Distribution upon Dissolution
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust shall dissolve
on the first to occur of:
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certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of
Wachovia; |
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redemption of all of the WITS as described above; and |
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the entry of an order for the dissolution of the Trust by a
court of competent jurisdiction. |
Except as set forth in the next paragraph, if an early
dissolution occurs as a result of certain events of bankruptcy,
dissolution or liquidation of Wachovia, the Property Trustee and
the administrative trustees will liquidate the Trust as
expeditiously as they determine possible by distributing, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as
provided by applicable law, to each holder of WITS of each class
a like amount of corresponding assets as of the date of such
distribution. Except as set forth in the next paragraph, if an
early dissolution occurs as a result of the entry of an order
for the dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent
jurisdiction, unless otherwise required by applicable law the
Trust will not be liquidated until after the Stock Purchase Date
but, commencing promptly thereafter, the Property Trustee will
liquidate the Trust as expeditiously as it determines to be
possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to each
holder of WITS of each class a like amount of corresponding
assets as of the date of such distribution. The Property Trustee
shall give notice of liquidation to each holder of WITS at least
30 days and not more than 60 days before the date of
liquidation.
If, whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a
court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise, the Property
Trustee determines that distribution of the corresponding assets
in the manner provided above is not practical, or if the early
dissolution occurs as a result of the redemption of all the
WITS, the Property Trustee shall liquidate the property of the
Trust and wind up its affairs in such manner as it determines.
In that case, upon the
winding-up of the
Trust, except with respect to an early dissolution that occurs
as a result of the redemption of all the WITS, the holders will
be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available
for distribution to holders and after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable
law, an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount per
Trust security plus accrued and unpaid distributions to the date
of payment. If, upon any such winding-up, the Trust has
insufficient assets available to pay in full such aggregate
liquidation distribution, then the amounts payable directly by
the Trust on its Trust securities shall be paid on a pro rata
basis, except as set forth above under
Ranking of Trust Common Securities.
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The term like amount as used above means:
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with respect to a distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to
holders of any Normal WITS, Capital WITS or Trust Common
Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of
the Trust or a redemption in kind of Capital WITS, Junior
Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the
liquidation amount of the WITS or Trust Common Securities of the
holder to whom such Junior Subordinated Notes would be
distributed; and |
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with respect to a distribution of Preferred Stock to holders of
Normal WITS in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of
the Trust therefor, Preferred Stock having a Liquidation
Preference equal to the liquidation amount of the Normal WITS of
the holder to whom such Preferred Stock would be distributed. |
Distribution of Trust Assets
Upon liquidation of the Trust other than as a result of an early
dissolution upon the redemption of all the WITS and after
satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of the Trust as
provided by applicable law, the assets of the Trust will be
distributed to the holders of such Trust securities in exchange
therefor.
After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of assets
of the Trust:
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the WITS will no longer be deemed to be outstanding; |
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if the assets to be distributed are Junior Subordinated Notes or
shares of Preferred Stock, DTC or its nominee, as the record
holder of the WITS, will receive a registered global certificate
or certificates representing the Junior Subordinated Notes and
Preferred Stock to be delivered upon such distribution and if
the assets to be distributed are Qualifying Treasury Securities
that are Pledged Securities, such securities will be delivered
in book-entry form; |
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any certificates representing the Capital WITS not held by DTC
or its nominee or surrendered to the exchange agent will be
deemed to represent the Junior Subordinated Notes having a
principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the Capital
WITS, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal
to the accrued and unpaid distributions on the Capital WITS
until such certificates are so surrendered for transfer or
reissuance (and until such certificates are surrendered, no
payments of interest, principal, dividends, redemption price or
otherwise will be made to holders); |
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any certificates representing the Normal WITS not held by DTC or
its nominee or surrendered to the exchange agent will be deemed
to represent shares of Preferred Stock having a Liquidation
Preference equal to the Normal WITS until such certificates are
so surrendered for transfer and reissuance; and |
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all rights of the holders of the WITS will cease, except the
right to receive Junior Subordinated Notes, Qualifying Treasury
Securities or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, upon such
surrender. |
Since after the Stock Purchase Date each Normal WITS corresponds
to 1/100th of a share of Preferred Stock, holders of Normal
WITS may receive fractional shares of Preferred Stock or
depositary shares representing the Preferred Stock upon this
distribution. Since holders of the Preferred Stock are not
entitled to vote for the election of directors in the event we
do not pay full dividends for six quarterly Dividend Periods,
the Preferred Stock (or depositary shares representing the
Preferred Stock) would not qualify for listing on the New York
Stock Exchange under its current rules.
Ranking of Trust Common Securities
If on any Distribution Date the Trust does not have funds
available from payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes, dividends on the Preferred Stock or Contract Payments on
the Stock Purchase Contracts (as applicable) to make full
distributions on the WITS and the Trust Common Securities (other
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than as a result of the proper exercise of our deferral right in
respect of interest or Contract Payments), then:
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if such deficiency in funds results from our failure to make a
full payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes on any
interest payment date, then the available funds shall be applied
first to make distributions then due on the Normal WITS and the
Capital WITS on a pro rata basis on such Distribution
Date up to the amount of such distributions corresponding to
interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes (or, if less,
the amount of the corresponding distribution that would have
been made on the Normal WITS and Capital WITS had we made a full
payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes) before any
such amount is applied to make a distribution on the Trust
Common Securities on such Distribution Date; |
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if the deficiency in funds results from our failure to make a
full payment of Contract Payments on the Stock Purchase
Contracts on a payment date for Contract Payments, then the
available funds shall be applied first to make distributions
then due on the Normal WITS and the Stripped WITS on a pro
rata basis on such Distribution Date up to the amount of
such distributions corresponding to the Contract Payments on the
Stock Purchase Contracts (or, if less, the amount of the
corresponding distributions that would have been made on the
Normal WITS and the Stripped WITS had we made a full payment of
Contract Payments on the Stock Purchase Contracts) before any
such amount is applied to make a distribution on the Trust
Common Securities on such Distribution Date; and |
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if the deficiency in funds results from our failure to pay a
full dividend on shares of Preferred Stock on a dividend payment
date, then the available funds from dividends on the Preferred
Stock shall be applied first to make distributions then due on
the Normal WITS on a pro rata basis on such Distribution
Date up to the amount of such distributions corresponding to
dividends on the Preferred Stock (or, if less, the amount of the
corresponding distributions that would have been made on the
Normal WITS had we paid a full dividend on the Preferred Stock)
before any such amount is applied to make a distribution on
Trust Common Securities on such Distribution Date. |
If on any date where Normal WITS and Trust Common Securities
must be redeemed because we are redeeming Preferred Stock the
Trust does not have funds available from our redemption of
shares of Preferred Stock to pay the full redemption price then
due on all of the outstanding Normal WITS and Trust Common
Securities to be redeemed, then (i) the available funds
shall be applied first to pay the redemption price on the Normal
WITS to be redeemed on such redemption date and (ii) Trust
Common Securities shall be redeemed only to the extent funds are
available for such purpose after the payment of the full
redemption price on the Normal WITS to be redeemed.
If an early dissolution event occurs in respect of the Trust, no
liquidation distributions shall be made on the Trust Common
Securities until full liquidation distributions have been made
on each class of the WITS.
In the case of any event of default under the
Trust Agreement resulting from (i) an event of default
under the Indenture or (ii) our failure to comply in any
material respect with any of our obligations under the Stock
Purchase Contract Agreement or as issuer of the Preferred Stock,
including obligations set forth in our restated articles of
incorporation, as amended, or Articles of
Incorporation, or arising under applicable law, we, as
holder of the Trust Common Securities, will be deemed to have
waived any right to act with respect to any such event of
default under the Trust Agreement until the effect of all
such events of default with respect to the WITS have been cured,
waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all events of default
under the Trust Agreement have been so cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on
behalf of the holders of the WITS and not on our behalf, and
only the holders of the WITS will have the right to direct the
Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
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Events of Default; Notice
Any one of the following events constitutes an event of default
under the Trust Agreement, or a Trust Event
of Default, regardless of the reason for such event of
default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree
or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body:
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the occurrence of an event of default under the Indenture with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes beneficially owned by
the Trust; |
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the failure to comply in any material respect with our
obligations (i) under the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement
or (ii) as issuer of the Preferred Stock, under our
Articles of Incorporation or those of the Trust, or arising
under applicable law; |
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the default by the Trust in the payment of any distribution on
any Trust security of the Trust when such becomes due and
payable, and continuation of such default for a period of
30 days; |
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the default by the Trust in the payment of any redemption price
of any Trust security of the Trust when such becomes due and
payable; |
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the failure to perform or the breach, in any material respect,
of any other covenant or warranty of the trustees in the
Trust Agreement for 90 days after the defaulting
trustee or trustees have received written notice of the failure
to perform or breach in the manner specified in such
Trust Agreement; or |
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the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency
with respect to the Property Trustee and our failure to appoint
a successor Property Trustee within 90 days. |
Within 30 days after any Trust Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee occurs, the Property
Trustee will transmit notice of such Trust Event of Default
to the holders of the affected class of Trust securities and to
the administrative trustees, unless such Trust Event of
Default shall have been cured or waived. We, as depositor, and
the administrative trustees are required to file annually with
the Property Trustee a certificate as to whether or not we or
they are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants
applicable to us and to them under the Trust Agreement.
The existence of a Trust Event of Default under the
Trust Agreement, in and of itself, with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes does not entitle the holders of the
Normal WITS or the Capital WITS to accelerate the maturity of
such Junior Subordinated Notes.
Removal of Trustees
Unless an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and
is continuing, the Property Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee
may be removed at any time by the holder of the Trust Common
Securities. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be
removed by the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of
the outstanding WITS for cause or by the holders of a majority
in liquidation amount of the Normal WITS or the Capital WITS if
an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing. In no event will the holders of the WITS have the
right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the administrative
trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in us, as
the holder of the Trust Common Securities. No resignation or
removal of a trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee
shall be effective until the acceptance of appointment by the
successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the
Trust Agreement.
Co-Trustees and Separate Property Trustee
Unless an event of default under the Indenture shall have
occurred and be continuing, at any time or from time to time,
for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the
Trust property may at the time be located, we, as the holder of
the Trust Common Securities, and the administrative trustees
shall have the power to appoint one or more
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persons either to act as a co-trustee, jointly with the Property
Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust property, or to act as
separate trustee of any such property, in either case with such
powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and
to vest in such person or persons in such capacity any property,
title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to
the provisions of such Trust Agreement. If an event of
default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the
Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment.
Merger or Consolidation of Trustees
Any person into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, if not a natural person, may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any person resulting from
any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such trustee
shall be a party, or any person succeeding to all or
substantially all the corporate trust business of such trustee,
shall be the successor of such trustee under the
Trust Agreement, provided that such person shall be
otherwise qualified and eligible.
Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the
Trust
The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate,
or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties
and assets substantially as an entirety to us or any other
person, except as described below or as otherwise described in
the Trust Agreement. The Trust may, at our request, with
the consent of the administrative trustees but without the
consent of the holders of the WITS, the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate,
or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties
and assets substantially as an entirety to, the Trust organized
as such under the laws of any state if:
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such successor entity either: |
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expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with
respect to the WITS, or |
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substitutes for each class of WITS other securities having
substantially the same terms as that class of WITS, or the
Successor Securities, so long as the
Successor Securities rank the same as the corresponding class of
WITS in priority with respect to distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise; |
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a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers
and duties as the Property Trustee is appointed to hold the
Junior Subordinated Notes, the Stock Purchase Contacts,
Qualifying Treasury Securities and the Preferred Stock then held
by or on behalf of the Property Trustee; |
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such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause any class of WITS,
including any Successor Securities, to be downgraded by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization; |
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such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of any class
of WITS, including any Successor Securities, in any material
respect; |
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such successor entity has purposes substantially identical to
those of the Trust; |
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prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Property Trustee has received
an opinion from counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters
to the effect that: |
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such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of any class
of WITS, including any Successor Securities, in any material
respect, and |
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following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor such
successor entity will be required to register as an |
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investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or
Investment Company Act; |
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the Trust has received an opinion of counsel experienced in such
matters that such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
conveyance, transfer or lease will not cause the Trust or the
successor entity to be classified as an association or a
publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S.
federal income tax purposes; and |
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we or any permitted successor or assignee owns all of the common
securities of such successor entity and guarantees the
obligations of such successor entity under the Successor
Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may not, except with
the consent of holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the
WITS, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any other entity or
permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation,
merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause
the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than
one or more grantor trusts and/or agency arrangements or to be
classified as an association or a publicly traded partnership
taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
Voting Rights; Amendment of the Trust Agreement
Except as provided herein and under Description of the
Guarantee Amendments and Assignment and as
otherwise required by law and the Trust Agreement, the
holders of the WITS will have no voting rights or control over
the administration, operation or management of the Trust or the
obligations of the parties to the Trust Agreement,
including in respect of Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock
Purchase Contracts or Preferred Stock beneficially owned by the
Trust. Under the Trust Agreement, however, the Property
Trustee will be required to obtain their consent before
exercising some of its rights in respect of these securities.
Trust Agreement. We and the administrative
trustees may amend the Trust Agreement without the consent
of the holders of the WITS, the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, unless in the case of the first two bullets below such
amendment will materially and adversely affect the interests of
any holder of WITS or the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, to:
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cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in the
Trust Agreement that may be inconsistent with any other
provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to
matters or questions arising under such Trust Agreement,
which may not be inconsistent with the other provisions of the
Trust Agreement; |
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modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Trust
Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that
the Trust will be classified for U.S. federal income tax
purposes as one or more grantor trusts and/or agency
arrangements and not as an association or a publicly traded
partnership taxable as a corporation at all times that any Trust
securities are outstanding, to ensure that the Trust will not be
required to register as an investment company under
the Investment Company Act or to ensure the treatment of the
WITS as tier 1 regulatory capital under prevailing Federal
Reserve rules and regulations; |
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provide that certificates for the WITS may be executed by an
administrative trustee by facsimile signature instead of manual
signature, in which case such amendment(s) shall also provide
for the appointment by us of an authentication agent and certain
related provisions; |
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require that holders that are not U.S. persons for
U.S. federal income tax purposes irrevocably appoint a
U.S. person to exercise any voting rights to ensure that
the Trust will not be treated as a foreign trust for
U.S. federal income tax purposes; or |
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conform the terms of the Trust Agreement to the description
of the Trust Agreement, the WITS and the Trust Common
Securities in this prospectus, in the manner provided in the
Trust Agreement. |
Any such amendment shall become effective when notice thereof is
given to the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the
holders of the WITS.
We and the administrative trustees may generally amend the
Trust Agreement with:
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the consent of holders representing not less than a majority,
based upon liquidation amounts, of each outstanding class of
WITS affected by the amendments; and |
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receipt by the trustees of the Trust of an opinion of counsel to
the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power
granted to the trustees of the Trust or the administrative
trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the
Trusts status as one or more grantor trusts and/or agency
arrangements for U.S. federal income tax purposes or affect
the Trusts exemption from status as an investment
company under the Investment Company Act. |
However, without the consent of each affected holder of Trust
securities, the Trust Agreement may not be amended to:
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change the amount or timing, or otherwise adversely affect the
amount, of any distribution required to be made in respect of
Trust securities as of a specified date; or |
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restrict the right of a holder of Trust securities to institute
a suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such
date. |
Indenture and Junior Subordinated Notes. So long
as the Property Trustee holds any Junior Subordinated Notes, the
trustees of the Trust may not, without obtaining the prior
approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation
amount of all outstanding Capital WITS and prior to the Stock
Purchase Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date,
the Normal WITS, considered together as a single class:
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direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee for the Junior
Subordinated Notes, or execute any trust or power conferred on
the Indenture Trustee with respect to such Junior Subordinated
Notes; |
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waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture; |
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exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the
principal of all the Junior Subordinated Notes is due and
payable; or |
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consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
Indenture or such Junior Subordinated Notes, where such consent
by the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be
required. |
If a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of
each holder of Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby, no
such consent may be given by the Property Trustee without the
prior consent of each holder of Capital WITS and prior to the
Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing Settlement
Date, each holder of the Normal WITS.
The Property Trustee will notify each holder of the Capital WITS
and prior to the Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the
Remarketing Settlement Date, each holder of the Normal WITS of
any notice of default with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the
holders of the WITS, before taking any of the foregoing actions,
the trustees of the Trust will obtain an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that such action would
not cause the Trust to be classified as other than one or more
grantor trusts and/or agency arrangements or as an association
or a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Property Trustee may
not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a
vote of the holders of the WITS except by subsequent vote of the
holders of the same class or classes of WITS.
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Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and Collateral
Agreement. We may modify the Stock Purchase Contract
Agreement or the Collateral Agreement with the consent of the
trustees of the Trust. The trustees may consent to any amendment
or modification of these agreements without the prior consent of
the holders of any class of WITS for any of the following
purposes:
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to evidence the succession of another person to the obligations
of the Trust or the Property Trustee, |
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to add to the covenants for the benefit of the Trust or the
Property Trustee or to surrender any of our rights or powers
under those agreements, |
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a
successor Collateral Agent, Custodial Agent or securities
intermediary under the Collateral Agreement, |
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to cure any ambiguity, or to correct or supplement any
provisions that may be inconsistent, |
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to conform the terms of the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement or
the Collateral Agreement to their respective descriptions in
this prospectus, or |
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to make any other provisions with respect to such matters or
questions, provided that such action shall not adversely
affect the interest of the holders of any class of WITS in any
material respect. |
The trustees of the Trust may agree, with the consent of the
holders of not less than a majority of the holders of the Normal
WITS and Stripped WITS at the time outstanding, considered
together as a single class, to amend or modify the Stock
Purchase Contract Agreement or the Collateral Agreement.
However, no such amendment or modification may, without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Normal WITS and
Stripped WITS:
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change any payment date, |
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change the amount or type of Pledged Securities required to be
pledged, impair the right of the Trust to receive distributions
on the Pledged Securities or otherwise adversely affect the
Trusts rights in or to the Pledged Securities, |
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change the place or currency of payment or reduce any Contract
Payments, |
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impair the Property Trustees, or the holders in the
case of a direct action, right to institute suit for the
enforcement of the Stock Purchase Contract or payment of any
Contract Payments, or |
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reduce the number of shares of Preferred Stock purchasable under
the Stock Purchase Contracts, increase the price to purchase
Preferred Stock upon settlement of the Stock Purchase Contracts,
change the Stock Purchase Date or otherwise adversely affect the
Trusts rights under the Stock Purchase Contracts. |
If any amendment or proposal referred to above would adversely
affect only the Normal WITS or the Stripped WITS, then only the
affected class of holders will be entitled to consent to such
modification, and the Property Trustees consent to such
modification will not be effective except with the consent of
the holders of not less than a majority of the affected class or
of all of the holders of the affected classes, as applicable.
Preferred Stock. So long as the Preferred Stock is
held by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the
trustees of the Trust will not waive any default in respect of
the Preferred Stock without obtaining the prior approval of the
holders of at least a majority in liquidation amount of the
Normal WITS and the Stripped WITS then outstanding, considered
together as a single class. The trustees of the Trust shall also
not consent to any amendment to the Trusts or our
governing documents that would change the dates on which
dividends are payable or the amount of such dividends, without
the prior written consent of each holder of Normal WITS and
Stripped WITS. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals
from holders, the Issuer Trustee shall obtain, at our expense,
an opinion of counsel to the effect that such action shall not
cause the Issuer Trust to be taxable as a corporation or
classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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General. Any required approval of holders of any
class of WITS may be given at a meeting of holders of such class
of WITS convened for such purpose or pursuant to written
consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting
at which holders of any class of WITS are entitled to vote, or
of any matter upon which action by written consent of such
holders is to be taken, to be given to each record holder of
such WITS in the manner set forth in the Trust Agreement.
No vote or consent of the holders of WITS will be required for
the Trust to redeem and cancel the WITS in accordance with the
Trust Agreement.
Notwithstanding that holders of the WITS are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of
the WITS that are owned by us or our affiliates or the trustees
or any of their affiliates, shall, for purposes of such vote or
consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
Payment and Paying Agent
Payments on the WITS shall be made to DTC, which shall credit
the relevant accounts on the applicable Distribution Dates. If
any WITS are not held by DTC, such payments shall be made by
check mailed to the address of the holder as such address shall
appear on the register.
The paying agent shall initially be JPMorgan Chase and any
co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to
us and to the administrative trustees. The paying agent shall be
permitted to resign as paying agent upon 30 days
written notice to the administrative trustees and to the
Property Trustee. In the event that JPMorgan Chase shall no
longer be the paying agent, the Property Trustee will appoint a
successor to act as paying agent, which will be a bank or trust
company acceptable to the administrative trustees and to us.
Registrar and Transfer Agent
JPMorgan Chase will act as registrar and transfer agent, or
Transfer Agent, for the WITS.
Registration of transfers of WITS will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment of any tax
or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection
with any transfer or exchange. Neither the Trust nor the
Securities Registrar shall be required to register the transfer
of or exchange any Trust security during a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection
for redemption of Trust securities and ending at the close of
business on the day of mailing of notice of redemption or to
transfer or exchange any Trust security so selected for
redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Trust
security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be
redeemed.
Any WITS can be exchanged for other WITS of the same class so
long as such other WITS are denominated in authorized
denominations and have the same aggregate liquidation amount and
same terms as the WITS that were surrendered for exchange. The
WITS may be presented for registration of transfer, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a satisfactory written instrument of
transfer, at the office or agency maintained by us for that
purpose in a place of payment. There will be no service charge
for any registration of transfer or exchange of the WITS, but we
may require holders to pay any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection with a transfer or exchange of the WITS.
We may at any time rescind the designation or approve a change
in the location of any office or agency, in addition to the
security registrar, designated by us where holders can surrender
the WITS for registration of transfer or exchange. However, the
Trust will be required to maintain an office or agency in each
place of payment for the WITS.
Information Concerning the Property Trustee
Other than during the occurrence and continuance of a
Trust Event of Default, the Property Trustee undertakes to
perform only the duties that are specifically set forth in the
Trust Agreement. After a Trust Event of Default, the
Property Trustee must exercise the same degree of care and skill
as a prudent
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individual would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her
own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Property Trustee is
under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it
by the Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of WITS
unless it is offered indemnity satisfactory to it by such holder
against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred. If no Trust Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and the Property Trustee is required to decide
between alternative courses of action, construe ambiguous
provisions in the Trust Agreement or is unsure of the
application of any provision of the Trust Agreement, and
the matter is not one upon which holders of WITS are entitled
under the Trust Agreement to vote, then the Property
Trustee will take any action that we direct. If we do not
provide direction, the Property Trustee may take any action that
it deems advisable and in the interests of the holders of the
Trust securities and will have no liability except for its own
bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.
We and our affiliates may maintain certain accounts and other
banking relationships with the Property Trustee and its
affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Trust Expenses
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, we, as sponsor, agree to
pay:
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all debts and other obligations of the Trust (other than with
respect to the WITS); |
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all costs and expenses of the Trust, including costs and
expenses relating to the organization of the Trust, the fees and
expenses of the trustees and the cost and expenses relating to
the operation of the Trust; and |
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any and all taxes and costs and expenses with respect thereto,
other than U.S. withholding taxes, to which the Trust might
become subject. |
Governing Law
The Trust Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of Delaware.
Miscellaneous
The administrative trustees are authorized and directed to
conduct the affairs of and to operate the Trust in such a way
that it will not be required to register as an investment
company under the Investment Company Act or characterized
as other than one or more grantor trusts and/or agency
arrangements for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The
administrative trustees are authorized and directed to conduct
their affairs so that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be
treated as indebtedness of Wachovia for U.S. federal income
tax purposes.
In this regard, we and the administrative trustees are
authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable
law, the certificate of trust of the Trust or the
Trust Agreement, that we and the administrative trustees
determine to be necessary or desirable to achieve such end, as
long as such action does not materially and adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the WITS.
Holders of the WITS have no preemptive or similar rights. The
WITS are not convertible into or exchangeable for our common
stock or preferred stock.
Subject to the Declaration, we or our affiliates may from time
to time purchase any of the WITS that are then outstanding by
tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
The Trust may not borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or
pledge any of its assets except for pledges of Junior
Subordinated Notes, the interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia
Bank, N.A. and Qualifying Treasury Securities to secure its
obligations under the Stock Purchase Contracts.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
The following is a summary of some of the terms of the Stock
Purchase Contract Agreement, the Stock Purchase Contracts and
the Collateral Agreement. This summary, together with the
summary of some of the provisions of the related documents
described below, contains a description of the material terms of
the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement, the Stock Purchase
Contracts and the Collateral Agreement but is not necessarily
complete. We refer you to the documents referred to in the
following description, copies of which are available upon
request as described above under Where You Can Find More
Information.
Purchase of Preferred Stock
Each Stock Purchase Contract will obligate the Trust to
purchase, and us to sell, a newly-issued share of Preferred
Stock on the Stock Purchase Date for $100,000 in cash. The Stock
Purchase Date is expected to be March 15, 2011, but could
(i) occur on an earlier date if an Early Settlement Event
(as described below) occurs or (ii) be deferred for
quarterly periods until as late as March 15, 2012 (or, if
such day is not a business day, the next business day) if the
initial Remarketing attempts are not successful. The Stock
Purchase Date will be the March 15, June 15, September
15 or December 15 (or, if any such day is not a business day,
the next business day) immediately following the Remarketing
Settlement Date, or if no successful Remarketing has occurred by
the March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15
(or, if any such day is not a business day, by the next business
day) immediately following the fifth Remarketing attempt, then
such March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15
(or, if any such day is not a business day, the next business
day) after such fifth unsuccessful Remarketing. For example, if
no Early Settlement Event has occurred and each successive
Remarketing in May 2011, August 2011, November 2011 and February
2012, is not successful, the Stock Purchase Date would then be
on March 15, 2012 (or, if any such day is not a business
day, on the next business day).
On the Stock Purchase Date, the Trust will satisfy its
obligation to purchase the Preferred Stock for $100,000 per
Stock Purchase Contract. Unless an event described under
Termination has occurred, then the
settlement of the Stock Purchase Contracts will occur as follows:
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a portion of the cash proceeds from the Remarketing will be
withdrawn from the interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank,
N.A. and applied together with the proceeds at maturity of the
Qualifying Treasury Securities to satisfy in full the
Trusts obligation to purchase Preferred Stock under the
Stock Purchase Contracts; and |
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if there has not been a successful Remarketing, we will exercise
our rights as a secured party in accordance with applicable law,
including without limitation disposition of the Junior
Subordinated Notes pledged to secure the Trusts
obligations under the Stock Purchase Contracts or their proceeds
or applying these Junior Subordinated Notes or their proceeds
against the Trusts obligation to purchase Preferred Stock
under the Stock Purchase Contracts. |
In any event, a share of Preferred Stock will then be issued and
delivered to the Trust in respect of each Stock Purchase
Contract.
Contract Payments
We will make periodic contract payments, or Contract
Payments, to the Trust on the Stock Purchase Contracts
at the rate of 0.60% per annum of the stated amount
of $100,000 per Stock Purchase Contract. Contract Payments
will be calculated on the basis of a
360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day
months. Contract Payments will accrue from February 1, 2006
and, subject to our right to defer Contract Payments described
below, will be payable on each Regular Distribution Date through
the Stock Purchase Date. If any Regular Distribution Date is not
a business day, then payment of the Contract Payments payable on
that date will be made on the next business day, and no interest
or payment will be paid in respect of the delay.
Our obligations with respect to Contract Payments will be
subordinate and junior in right of payment to our obligations
under any of our senior debt to the same extent as the Junior
Subordinated Notes. The Stock
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Purchase Contracts do not limit the incurrence by us of other
indebtedness, including senior debt. No Contract Payments may be
made if there shall have occurred and be continuing a default in
any payment with respect to senior debt or an event of default
with respect to any senior debt resulting in the acceleration of
the maturity thereof, or if any judicial proceedings are pending
with respect to any such default.
Option to Defer Contract Payments
We may, at our option, and will at the direction of the Federal
Reserve, defer Contract Payments on the corresponding Stock
Purchase Contracts. If we defer Contract Payments, we will
provide prior written notice to the Property Trustee, who will
notify holders of Normal WITS and Stripped WITS and the
administrative trustees. We may elect to defer Contract Payments
on more than one occasion, but in no event may we defer Contract
Payments beyond the Stock Purchase Date. Deferred Contract
Payments will accrue interest until paid, compounded on each
Regular Distribution Date at the rate per annum
originally applicable to the Junior Subordinated Notes. If
we elect or are directed by the Federal Reserve to defer the
payment of Contract Payments and such deferral is continuing on
the Stock Purchase Date, then we will pay the Trust the deferred
Contract Payments in subordinated notes that have a principal
amount equal to the aggregate amount of deferred Contract
Payments as of the Stock Purchase Date, mature on March 15,
2014, bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the
originally applicable rate of interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, are subordinate and rank junior in right of
payment to all of our senior indebtedness on the same basis as
the Contract Payments and are redeemable by us at any time prior
to their stated maturity. The notes will be issued as a new
series of notes under our junior subordinated indenture
described in this prospectus under Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes. The Trust will hold these notes
as assets corresponding to the Normal WITS and Stripped WITS and
make distributions to the holders thereof corresponding to
payments of principal of, and interest on, these notes. If the
Stock Purchase Contracts are terminated upon the occurrence of
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with
respect to us, the Trusts right to receive Contract
Payments and deferred Contract Payments also will terminate.
If we elect or are directed by the Federal Reserve to defer
Contract Payments, then until the deferred Contract Payments
have been paid in cash or any notes we issue in respect of
deferred Contract Payments have been repaid in full, we will not
take any of the actions that we would be prohibited from taking
during a deferral of interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes as described under Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes Restrictions on Certain
Payments, Including on Deferral of Interest.
Direct Action by Holders of Normal WITS or Stripped WITS
Up to and including the Stock Purchase Date, or the earlier
termination of the Stock Purchase Contracts, any holder of
Normal WITS or Stripped WITS may institute a direct action if we
fail to make Contract Payments on the Stock Purchase Contracts
when due, taking into account any extension period. A direct
action may be brought without first:
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directing the Property Trustee to enforce the terms of the Stock
Purchase Contracts; or |
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suing us to enforce the Property Trustees rights under the
Stock Purchase Contracts. |
This right of direct action cannot be amended in a manner that
would impair the rights of the holders of the Normal WITS or
Stripped WITS thereunder without the consent of all such holders.
Termination
The Stock Purchase Contracts, and our rights and obligations and
the rights and obligations of the Trust under the Stock Purchase
Contracts, including the right and obligation to purchase
Preferred Stock and the right to receive deferred Contract
Payments, will immediately and automatically terminate, without
any further action, upon the termination of the Stock Purchase
Contracts as a result of our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization. In the event of a termination of the Stock
Purchase Contracts as a result of our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, the Trust will not have a claim in bankruptcy
under the Stock Purchase Contracts with respect to our issuance
of Preferred Stock or the right to receive Contract Payments.
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Upon any termination, the Collateral Agent will release the
aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes
corresponding to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Normal
WITS and the aggregate principal amount of Qualifying Treasury
Securities corresponding to the aggregate liquidation amount of
the Stripped WITS, as the case may be, held by it to the
Property Trustee for distribution to the holders of the Normal
WITS and the Stripped WITS. Upon any termination, however, the
release and distribution may be subject to the automatic stay
under Section 362 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and
claims arising out of the Junior Subordinated Notes, like all
other claims in bankruptcy proceedings, will be subject to the
equitable jurisdiction and powers of the bankruptcy court. In
the event that we become the subject of a case under the
U.S. Bankruptcy Code, a delay may occur as a result of the
automatic stay under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and continue
until the automatic stay has been lifted. We expect any such
delay to be limited. The automatic stay will not be lifted until
such time as the bankruptcy court agrees to lift it and return
your Pledged Securities to you.
If Wachovia Bank, N.A. is placed in receivership while it is
holding the interest-bearing deposit made with the net proceeds
of the Remarketing, and if the Stock Purchase Contracts have not
been terminated, the deposit will be assigned to us on the Stock
Purchase Date as payment for the Preferred Stock corresponding
to the Normal WITS; however, if the Stock Purchase Contracts
have been terminated, the deposit will remain property of the
Trust until the Trusts assets are distributed to the
holders of the Trust securities.
If your Stock Purchase Contracts are terminated as a result of
our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the Trust will
have no right to receive any accrued Contract Payments.
Pledged Securities and the Collateral Agreement
The Trust will pledge Junior Subordinated Notes and Qualifying
Treasury Securities, also referred to as the Pledged
Securities, and, after a successful Remarketing the
interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A., to us through
the Collateral Agent, for our benefit, pursuant to the
Collateral Agreement to secure the obligations of the Trust to
purchase Preferred Stock under the Stock Purchase Contracts. The
rights of the Trust (acting through the Property Trustee) to the
Pledged Securities and the interest-bearing deposit will be
subject to our security interest created by the Collateral
Agreement. The aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Notes and Qualifying Treasury Securities constituting Pledged
Securities, together with the amount of any proceeds of
Qualifying Treasury Securities held by the Collateral Agent for
reinvestment in additional Qualifying Treasury Securities and,
after a successful Remarketing, the deposit with Wachovia Bank,
N.A. must always equal the purchase price of the Preferred Stock
under the Stock Purchase Contracts. Accordingly, Pledged
Securities may not be withdrawn from the pledge arrangement
except:
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to substitute Qualifying Treasury Securities for Junior
Subordinated Notes in connection with an exchange of Normal WITS
for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, as provided for under
Description of the WITS Exchanging Normal WITS
and Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS; |
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to substitute Junior Subordinated Notes for Qualifying Treasury
Securities in connection with an exchange of Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS for Normal WITS, as provided for under
Description of the WITS Exchanging Stripped
WITS and Capital WITS for Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury
Securities; |
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to substitute the interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank,
N.A. for Junior Subordinated Notes upon completion of a
successful Remarketing; or |
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upon the termination of the Stock Purchase Contracts. |
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Subject to the security interest and the terms of the Collateral
Agreement, the Trust (acting through the Property Trustee) will
own the Pledged Securities and, subject to the terms of the
Trust Agreement, it will be entitled to exercise all rights
pertaining to the Junior Subordinated Notes and Preferred Stock,
including voting rights and, in the case of the Junior
Subordinated Notes, redemption rights. We will have no interest
other than our security interest in the Pledged Securities or
the interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A.
Except as described in Certain Other Provisions of the
Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and the Collateral
Agreement, the Collateral Agent will, upon receipt, if
any, of payments on the Pledged Securities (except to the extent
it applies the proceeds at maturity of any Qualifying Treasury
Securities to purchase replacement Qualifying Treasury
Securities), distribute the payments to the Trust, which will in
turn distribute those payments together with Contract Payments
received from us, to the persons in whose names the Normal WITS
and Stripped WITS are registered at the close of business on the
record date immediately preceding the date of payment.
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CERTAIN OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE STOCK PURCHASE
CONTRACT AGREEMENT AND THE COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of certain other provisions of the
Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and the Collateral Agreement.
This summary, together with the summary of some of the
provisions of the related documents described below, contains a
description of certain other provisions of the Stock Purchase
Contract Agreement and the Collateral Agreement but is not
necessarily complete. We refer you to the documents referred to
in the following description, copies of which are available upon
request as described above under Where You Can Find More
Information.
No Consent to Assumption
The Trust (acting through the Property Trustee) will under the
terms of the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement be deemed
expressly to have withheld any consent to the assumption
(i.e., affirmance) of the Stock Purchase Contracts by us
or our trustee if we become the subject of a case under the
U.S. Bankruptcy Code or other similar state or federal law
provision for reorganization or liquidation.
Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance
We covenant in the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement that we
will not merge with and into, consolidate with or convert into
any other entity or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all
or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person
or entity, unless:
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the successor entity is a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes our
obligations under the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Stock
Purchase Contract Agreement, the Collateral Agreement, the
Trust Agreement, the Indenture for the Junior Subordinated
Notes, the Guarantee and the Remarketing Agreement; |
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the successor entity is not, immediately after the merger,
consolidation, conversion, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or
conveyance, in default of its payment obligations under the
Stock Purchase Contracts, the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement,
the Collateral Agreement, the Trust Agreement or the
Remarketing Agreement or in material default in the performance
of any other covenants under these agreements; and |
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the successor entity reserves sufficient authorized and unissued
shares of preferred stock having substantially the same terms
and conditions as the Preferred Stock, such that the Trust will
receive, on the Stock Purchase Date, preferred stock having
substantially the same rights as the Preferred Stock that the
Trust would have received had such merger, consolidation or
other transaction not occurred. |
Governing Law
The Stock Purchase Contract Agreement, the Stock Purchase
Contracts and the Collateral Agreement will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Information Concerning the Collateral Agent
JPMorgan Chase initially will be the Collateral Agent, Custodial
Agent and securities intermediary under the Collateral
Agreement. JPMorgan Chase, in its capacity as Collateral Agent,
will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation
or relationship of agency or trust for or with the Property
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Trustee or any of the holders of the WITS, except for the
obligations owed by a pledgee of property to the owner of the
property under the Collateral Agreement and applicable law.
JPMorgan Chase, in its capacity as Custodial Agent, will act
solely as agent for the Trust and will not assume any obligation
or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the
holders of the WITS.
The Collateral Agreement will contain provisions limiting the
liability of the Collateral Agent and Custodial Agent and
provisions under which they may resign or be replaced. This
resignation or replacement would be effective upon the
acceptance of appointment by a successor.
JPMorgan Chase and its affiliates are among a number of
financial institutions with which we and our subsidiaries
maintain ordinary banking and trust relationships.
Miscellaneous
The Collateral Agreement will provide that we will pay all fees
and expenses related to the retention of the Collateral Agent
and Custodial Agent.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
The following is a summary of some of the terms of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. This summary, together with the summary of
some of the provisions of the related documents described below,
contains a description of the material terms of the Junior
Subordinated Notes but is not necessarily complete. We refer you
to the documents referred to in the following description,
copies of which are available upon request as described above
under Where You Can Find More Information.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to an
indenture, to be dated as of February 1, 2006, between us
and U.S. Bank National Association, as indenture trustee.
We refer to the indenture, as supplemented, as the
Indenture, and to U.S. Bank National
Association or its successor as indenture trustee, or
Indenture Trustee. You should read the
Indenture for provisions that may be important to you.
When we use the term holder in this
prospectus with respect to a registered Junior Subordinated
Note, we mean the person in whose name such Junior Subordinated
Note is registered in the security register. It is expected that
JPMorgan Chase, in its capacity as either Collateral Agent or
Custodial Agent, will be the registered holder of the Junior
Subordinated Notes at all times prior to the Remarketing
Settlement Date. After the Remarketing Settlement Date, we
expect that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be held in
book-entry form only, as described under Book-Entry
System, and will be held in the name of DTC or its nominee.
The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt that we or our
subsidiaries may incur either under the Indenture or other
indentures to which we are or become a party. The Junior
Subordinated Notes are not convertible into or exchangeable for
our common stock or authorized preferred stock.
General
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be unsecured, will be deeply
subordinated, including to all of our existing and future senior
debt, as defined below under
Subordination, and, in the case of our
liquidation (whether in bankruptcy or otherwise), to all of our
indebtedness for money borrowed, including junior subordinated
notes underlying trust preferred securities that are currently
outstanding and other subordinated debt that is not by its terms
expressly made pari passu with or junior to the Junior
Subordinated Notes, but pari passu with trade creditors;
provided that in connection with an Early Remarketing,
other than the first attempt at Remarketing, we may elect that
our obligations under the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be
senior obligations instead of subordinated obligations,
effective on or after the Remarketing Settlement Date.
We will have the right at any time after the Stock Purchase Date
or the earlier termination of the Stock Purchase Contracts to
dissolve the Trust and cause the Junior Subordinated Notes to be
distributed to the holders of the Capital WITS and, if the Stock
Purchase Contracts have been terminated, the holders of the
Normal WITS. If Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to
holders of the Normal WITS and Capital WITS in liquidation of
the holders interests in the Trust at any time that the
Normal WITS and Capital WITS are represented by global
securities, those Junior Subordinated Notes initially will be
issued as a global security. Unless the Trust is dissolved and
the Junior Subordinated Notes distributed to holders of the
Normal WITS and Capital WITS, JPMorgan Chase, in its capacity as
either Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, will continue to
hold legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes, subject, in
the case of Junior Subordinated Notes that are Pledged
Securities, to the pledge under the Collateral Agreement, and
until the Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing
Settlement Date.
Interest Rate and Maturity
The interest payment provisions for the Junior Subordinated
Notes correspond to the distribution provisions of the Normal
WITS described under Description of the WITS
Current Payments Normal WITS.
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The Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on March 15, 2042
(subject to change in connection with a Remarketing as described
below under Remarketing) and will bear
interest accruing from February 1, 2006 at the rate of
5.20% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on
March 15 and September 15 of each year, subject to the
deferral provisions described under Option to
Defer Interest Payments. If there is a Failed Remarketing,
interest will also be payable on the Junior Subordinated Notes
on the Stock Purchase Date if it is not otherwise an interest
payment date.
The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed
on the basis of a
360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day
months. In the case that any date on which interest is payable
on the Junior Subordinated Notes is not a business day, then
payment of the interest payable on that date will be made on the
next succeeding day that is a business day. However, no interest
or other payment shall be paid in respect of the delay.
Option to Defer Interest Payments
We will have the right under the Indenture to defer, and will
defer if directed to do so by the Federal Reserve, the payment
of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at any time or from
time to time. We may not defer interest payments for any period
of time that exceeds 14 consecutive interest payment dates (or
the equivalent if interest periods are not at the time
semi-annual), i.e., seven years, with respect to any
deferral period and to a date that is at least two years after
the latest possible Remarketing Settlement Date. If we elect to
move up the maturity date of the Junior Subordinated Notes in
connection with a Remarketing and, at the time of the
Remarketing, are deferring interest, we may not elect a maturity
date that is earlier than seven years after commencement of the
deferral period. Any deferral period must end on an interest
payment date. At the end of a deferral period, we must pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid, together with any interest on
the accrued and unpaid interest, to the extent permitted by
applicable law. If we exercise our right to defer payments of
stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes, we intend to
treat the Junior Subordinated Notes as reissued, solely for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, with original issue discount, and
you would generally be required to accrue such original issue
discount as ordinary income using a constant yield method
prescribed by Treasury regulations. As a result, the income that
you would be required to accrue would exceed the interest
payments that you would actually receive. If the Stock Purchase
Date occurs during a deferral period and we have not
successfully remarketed the Junior Subordinated Notes, we will
pay the Trust the deferred interest on the Stock Purchase Date
in subordinated notes that have a principal amount equal to the
aggregate amount of deferred interest as of the Stock Purchase
Date, mature on March 15, 2014, bear interest at a rate
per annum equal to the rate of interest originally in
effect on the Junior Subordinated Notes, are subordinate and
rank junior in right of payment to all of our senior debt on the
same basis as the Junior Subordinated Notes and are redeemable
by us at any time prior to their stated maturity.
Prior to the termination of any deferral period, we may extend
such deferral period, provided that such extension does
not:
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cause such extended deferral period to exceed the maximum
deferral period; |
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end on a date other than an interest payment date; or |
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extend beyond the stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated
Notes. |
Upon the termination of any deferral period, or any extension of
the related deferral period, and the payment of all amounts then
due, we may begin a new deferral period, subject to the
limitations described above. No interest shall be due and
payable during a deferral period except at the end thereof. We
must give the Indenture Trustee notice of our election to begin
or extend a deferral period at least 10 business days prior to
the date interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes would have
been payable except for the election to begin or extend the
deferral period.
The Indenture Trustee shall give notice of our election to begin
or extend a deferral period to the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Property Trustee will deliver a copy
of this notice to the administrative trustees and to the holders
of the Capital WITS and, if such election is made prior to the
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Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing Settlement
Date, to the holders of the Normal WITS. Subject to the
foregoing limitations, there is no limitation on the number of
times that we may begin or extend a deferral period.
As described under Restrictions on Certain
Payments, Including on Deferral of Interest, during any
such deferral period we will be restricted, subject to certain
exceptions, from making certain payments, including declaring or
paying any dividends or making any distributions on, or
redeeming, purchasing, acquiring or making a liquidation payment
with respect to, shares of our capital stock.
We have agreed not to make any payment of principal of or
interest on, repay or redeem any debt securities ranking pari
passu or junior to the junior subordinated debentures issued
under various indentures if, at that time, there is a default
under the applicable indenture or we have delayed interest
payments thereon. Currently, there is $3.1 billion
aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated debentures
outstanding under these indentures.
Alternative Payment Mechanism
We covenant in the Indenture that, if we defer payment of
interest on any interest payment date on or prior to the Stock
Purchase Date:
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we will pay that deferred interest only out of the net proceeds
of shares of common stock or non-cumulative perpetual preferred
stock received by us during the 180 days prior to the date
of payment of such deferred interest; |
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we will notify the Federal Reserve if this covenant is
applicable; and |
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subject to the approval of the Federal Reserve, we will use our
Commercially Reasonable Efforts to sell shares of our common
stock or non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock not later than
the termination of the deferral period in an amount so that the
net proceeds of such sale, when applied to such deferred
payments of interest, will cause such unpaid deferred interest
payments to be paid in full and (unless the Federal Reserve
instructs otherwise) apply the proceeds of such sale to pay the
deferred amounts (provided that we will not in any event
be required to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at
the time when the payment of such interest would violate the
terms of any securities issued by us or one of our subsidiaries
or the terms of a contract binding on us or one of our
subsidiaries). |
We refer to these provisions as the Alternative Payment
Mechanism.
Our failure to raise sufficient eligible equity proceeds or our
use of other sources to fund interest payments would be a breach
of our obligations under the Junior Subordinated Notes, but
would not be an event of default under the Indenture. However,
an event of default under the Indenture will occur if we fail to
pay all accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes at the end of the deferral period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are required to conduct a
sale of shares of our common stock and/or non-cumulative
perpetual preferred stock in order to pay amounts due and
payable under any instruments or other securities that rank
pari passu as to interest or distributions with the
Junior Subordinated Notes, then we shall apply such proceeds to
deferred interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes, on
the one hand, and such other pari passu securities, on
the other hand, on a ratable basis in proportion to the total
amounts that are due on the Junior Subordinated Notes and such
securities before we shall be relieved of our obligation to
conduct the sale of shares of our common stock and/or
non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock and apply the proceeds
thereof to such securities.
For purposes of the foregoing, the following terms have the
meanings indicated:
Commercially Reasonable Efforts by us to sell
shares of our common stock or non-cumulative perpetual preferred
stock means commercially reasonable efforts to complete the
offer and sale of shares of our common stock or non-cumulative
perpetual preferred stock, as the case may be, to third parties
that
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are not our affiliates in public offerings or private
placements; provided that we shall be deemed to have used
such Commercially Reasonable Efforts if a Market Disruption
Event occurs and for so long as it continues regardless of
whether we make any offers or sales during such period.
Market Disruption Event means the occurrence
or existence of any of the following events or sets of
circumstances:
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we would be required to obtain the consent or approval of our
stockholders or a regulatory body (including, without
limitation, any securities exchange) or governmental authority
to issue shares of our common stock or perpetual preferred stock
and we fail to obtain that consent or approval notwithstanding
our commercially reasonable efforts to obtain that consent or
approval (including, without limitation, our failing to obtain
the approval of the Federal Reserve, after having notified the
Federal Reserve and having sought such approval in accordance
with the terms of the instrument or instruments under which the
relevant securities are to be issued); |
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trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange,
the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or any
other national securities, futures or options exchange or in the
over-the-counter
market, or trading in any of our securities (or any options or
futures contracts related to such securities) on any exchange or
in the over-the-counter
market shall have been suspended or the settlement of such
trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or
minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange
or such market by the SEC, by such exchange or by any other
regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction; |
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a banking moratorium shall have been declared by the federal or
state authorities of the United States such that market trading
has been disrupted or ceased; |
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a material disruption shall have occurred in commercial banking
or securities settlement or clearance services in the United
States such that market trading has been disrupted or ceased; |
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the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities,
there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the
United States, there shall have been a declaration of a national
emergency or war by the United States or there shall have
occurred any other national or international calamity or crisis
such that market trading has been disrupted or ceased; |
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there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in
general domestic or international economic, political or
financial conditions, including without limitation as a result
of terrorist activities, or the effect of international
conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall
be such, as to make it, in our reasonable judgment,
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer and sale
of shares of our common stock or non-cumulative perpetual
preferred stock; or |
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an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the
offering document for such offer and sale of securities would,
in our judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
either (a) the disclosure of that event at such time, in
our judgment, is not otherwise required by law and would have a
material adverse effect on our business or (b) the
disclosure relates to a previously undisclosed proposed or
pending material business transaction, the disclosure of which
would impede our ability to consummate such transaction,
provided that no single suspension period contemplated by
this clause shall exceed 90 consecutive days and multiple
suspension periods contemplated by this clause shall not exceed
an aggregate of 180 days in any
360-day period. |
If we issue any subordinated notes in respect of deferred
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes, the foregoing
covenant will also apply to the payment of interest on and
principal of these notes, except that the reference to
termination of the deferral period shall instead be to the
maturity date of the notes.
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Subordination
Our obligations to pay interest and premium (if any) on, and
principal of, the Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinate and
junior in right of payment and upon liquidation to all our
senior and subordinated indebtedness, whether now outstanding or
subsequently incurred, including all of our indebtedness for
money borrowed, including junior subordinated notes underlying
our trust preferred securities currently outstanding and other
subordinated indebtedness that is not by its terms expressly
made pari passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated
Notes, indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
similar instruments, similar obligations arising from
off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes,
obligations associated with derivative products including but
not limited to interest rate and foreign exchange contracts and
foreign contracts relating to mortgages, commodity contracts,
capital lease obligations and guarantees of any of the
foregoing, but not including trade accounts payable and accrued
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, which
will rank equally in right of payment and upon liquidation with
the Junior Subordinated Notes. We refer to our obligations to
which the Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated as our
senior debt. All liabilities of our
subsidiaries including trade accounts payable and accrued
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business are
effectively senior to the Junior Subordinated Notes to the
extent of the assets of such subsidiaries. As of
September 30, 2005, our outstanding debt with respect to
money borrowed (excluding all of the liabilities of our
subsidiaries) that would rank senior to the Junior Subordinated
Notes was approximately $29 billion and the liabilities of
our subsidiaries that would effectively rank senior to the
Junior Subordinated Notes were approximately $586 billion.
In addition, we will not incur any additional indebtedness for
borrowed money that ranks pari passu with or junior to
the Junior Subordinated Notes except in compliance with
applicable Federal Reserve regulations and guidelines.
In connection with an Early Remarketing, other than the first
attempt at Remarketing, we may elect that our obligations under
the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be senior obligations
instead of subordinated obligations, effective on or after the
Remarketing Settlement Date.
If certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization
occur, we will first pay all senior debt, including any interest
accrued after the events occur, in full before we make any
payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other
property, on account of the principal of or interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes. In such an event, we will pay or
deliver directly to the holders of senior debt and of other
indebtedness described in the previous sentence, any payment or
distribution otherwise payable or deliverable to holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes. We will make the payments to the
holders of senior debt according to priorities existing among
those holders until we have paid all senior debt, including
accrued interest, in full. Notwithstanding the subordination
provisions discussed in this paragraph, we may make payments or
distributions on the Junior Subordinated Notes so long as:
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the payments or distributions consist of securities issued by us
or another company in connection with a plan of reorganization
or readjustment; and |
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payment on those securities is subordinate to outstanding senior
debt and any securities issued with respect to senior debt under
such plan of reorganization or readjustment at least to the same
extent provided in the subordination provisions of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. |
If such events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization
occur, after we have paid in full all amounts owed on senior
debt, the holders of Junior Subordinated Notes together with the
holders of any of our other obligations ranking equal with the
Junior Subordinated Notes will be entitled to receive from our
remaining assets any principal, premium or interest due at that
time on the Junior Subordinated Notes and such other obligations
before we make any payment or other distribution on account of
any of our capital stock or obligations ranking junior to the
Junior Subordinated Notes.
If we violate the Indenture by making a payment or distribution
to holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes before we have paid
all the senior debt in full, then such holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be deemed to have received the payments
or distributions in trust for the benefit
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of, and will have to pay or transfer the payments or
distributions to, the holders of the senior debt outstanding at
the time. The payment or transfer to the holders of the senior
debt will be made according to the priorities existing among
those holders. Notwithstanding the subordination provisions
discussed in this paragraph, holders of Junior Subordinated
Notes will not be required to pay, or transfer payments or
distributions to, holders of senior debt so long as:
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the payments or distributions consist of securities issued by us
or another company in connection with a plan of reorganization
or readjustment; and |
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payment on those securities is subordinate to outstanding senior
debt and any securities issued with respect to senior debt under
such plan of reorganization or readjustment at least to the same
extent provided in the subordination provisions of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. |
Because of the subordination, if we become insolvent, holders of
senior debt may receive more, ratably, and holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes having a claim pursuant to those securities
may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. This type
of subordination will not prevent an event of default from
occurring under the Indenture in connection with the Junior
Subordinated Notes.
We may modify or amend the Indenture as provided under
Modification of Indenture below.
However, the modification or amendment may not, without the
consent of the holders of all senior debt outstanding, modify
any of the provisions of the Indenture relating to the
subordination of the Junior Subordinated Notes in a manner that
would adversely affect the holders of senior debt.
The Indenture places no limitation on the amount of senior debt
that we may incur. We expect from time to time to incur
additional indebtedness and other obligations constituting
senior debt.
Additional Interest
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are owned by the Trust and if
the Trust is required to pay any taxes, duties, assessments or
governmental charges of whatever nature, other than withholding
taxes, imposed by the United States, or any other taxing
authority, then we will be required to pay additional interest
on the Junior Subordinated Notes. The amount of any additional
interest will be an amount sufficient so that the net amounts
received and retained by the Trust after paying any such taxes,
duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be not
less than the amounts that the Trust would have received had no
such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges
been imposed. This means that the Trust will be in the same
position it would have been in if it did not have to pay such
taxes, duties, assessments or other charges.
Remarketing
Remarketings will occur, and if successful, will settle in the
calendar month immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date.
More specifically, the dates on which a Remarketing will occur,
or Remarketing Dates, will be the third
business day prior to February 15, May 15, August 15
or November 15, commencing with February 2011 unless an
Early Settlement Event has occurred, and continuing until the
fifth such date or the earlier settlement of a successful
Remarketing. A successful Remarketing will settle on the date,
or Remarketing Settlement Date, that is the
third business day after the relevant Remarketing Date.
We are appointing Wachovia Securities as Remarketing
Agent pursuant to the Remarketing
Agreement with that firm. We covenant in the Indenture
to use our commercially reasonable efforts to effect the
Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes as described in
this prospectus. If in the judgment of our counsel or counsel to
the Remarketing Agent a registration statement is required to
effect the Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes, we will
use our commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that a
registration statement covering the full principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Notes to be remarketed will be effective in
a form that will enable the Remarketing Agent to rely on it in
connection with the Remarketing process or we will effect such
Remarketing pursuant to Rule 144A under
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the Securities Act, if available, or any other available
exemption from applicable registration requirements under the
Securities Act.
All of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes will be
remarketed in the Remarketing other than Junior Subordinated
Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to (i) the
liquidation amount of Normal WITS the holders of which have
elected to exchange their Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS if the Remarketing is successful and (ii) the
liquidation amount of Capital WITS the holders of which have not
elected to dispose of their Capital WITS in the Remarketing if
it is successful. We describe the procedures for these elections
under Description of the WITS Remarketing of
the Junior Subordinated Notes.
The net proceeds of Junior Subordinated Notes sold in a
successful Remarketing, to the extent not distributed to holders
of Capital WITS who have elected to dispose of their Capital
WITS in connection with the Remarketing, will be placed in an
interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A., in an amount
equal to at least 100% of the Remarketing Value, and such
deposit will be pledged under the Collateral Agreement to secure
the Trusts obligation to purchase the Preferred Stock
under the Stock Purchase Contracts. The net proceeds of the
aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes sold in
a successful Remarketing corresponding to the liquidation amount
of Capital WITS, the holders of which elected to dispose of
their Capital WITS in the Remarketing, will be distributed to
such holders promptly after the Remarketing Settlement Date and
their Capital WITS will be cancelled. Any remaining proceeds,
net of any remarketing fee, will be remitted to holders of
Normal WITS other than those who made an effective election to
exchange their Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities
for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS upon a successful Remarketing
promptly after the Remarketing Settlement Date.
Pursuant to the Remarketing Agreement, the Remarketing Agent
will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a price
for the Junior Subordinated Notes to be remarketed that results
in proceeds, net of any remarketing fee, of at least 100% of
their Remarketing Value. The Remarketing
Value of each Junior Subordinated Note will be equal
to the present value on the Remarketing Settlement Date of an
amount equal to the principal amount of, plus the interest
payable on, such Junior Subordinated Note on the next Regular
Distribution Date, including any deferred interest, assuming for
this purpose, even if not true, that the interest rate on the
Junior Subordinated Notes remains at the rate in effect
immediately prior to the Remarketing and all accrued and unpaid
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes is paid in cash on
such date, determined using a discount rate equal to the
interest rate on the deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A. We expect
that the remarketing fee will be 30 basis points (i.e.,
0.30%).
To obtain that value, the Remarketing Agent may reset the
interest rate on the Junior Subordinated Notes to a new fixed or
floating rate that will apply to all outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes, whether or not included in the Remarketing,
and will become effective on the Remarketing Settlement Date. If
the interest rate is reset as a fixed rate, the Junior
Subordinated Notes will bear interest at that rate, or
Reset Rate, from and after the Remarketing
Settlement Date, and if the interest rate is reset as a floating
rate, the Junior Subordinated Notes will bear interest at the
applicable index as in effect from time to time plus a spread,
or Reset Spread, from and after the
Remarketing Settlement Date. In addition, in connection with the
Remarketing the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes may be
moved up and the date after which the Junior Subordinated Notes
are optionally redeemable and the redemption price may be
changed. If we elect a floating rate, we also have the option to
change the interest payment dates and manner of calculation of
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes to correspond with the
market conventions applicable to notes bearing interest at rates
based on the applicable index. Any such changes will be
announced as described below prior to the Remarketing attempt.
If the Remarketing Agent cannot remarket the Junior Subordinated
Notes on the Remarketing Date at a price that results in
proceeds, net of any remarketing fee, equal to 100% of the
Remarketing Value of the Junior Subordinated Notes to be
remarketed, then:
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the Stock Purchase Date will be deferred until after the next
Remarketing Settlement Date; |
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the interest rate on the Junior Subordinated Notes will not be
reset; and |
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the Remarketing Agent will thereafter attempt to establish a new
Reset Rate or Reset Spread meeting the requirements described
above and remarket the Junior Subordinated Notes on subsequent
Remarketing Dates, which will be the third business day
immediately preceding May 15, 2011, August 15, 2011,
November 15, 2011 and February 15, 2012. |
Any subsequent Remarketing will be subject to the conditions and
procedures described above, and will settle (if successful) on
the corresponding Remarketing Settlement Date; provided
that if a successful Remarketing has not previously occurred
and, as a result, the Remarketing Agent attempts a Remarketing
for settlement on February 15, 2012 (or the fifth scheduled
Remarketing Settlement Date in the case of an Early Remarketing)
or, if such day is not a business day, on the next business day,
then the Reset Rate or Reset Spread for that Remarketing will
not be subject to the Fixed Rate Reset Cap or Floating Rate
Reset Cap, as applicable.
If the Remarketing Agent is unable to remarket the Junior
Subordinated Notes for settlement on or before February 15,
2012 (or the fifth scheduled Remarketing Settlement Date in the
case of an Early Remarketing) or, if such day is not a business
day, the next business day, a Failed
Remarketing will be deemed to have occurred. In that
case:
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The interest rate on the Junior Subordinated Notes will not be
reset, and the Normal WITS and Capital WITS will continue to
bear cash distributions at the rate otherwise applicable,
payable in arrears on each Regular Distribution Date. In the
event of a Failed Remarketing, we may move up the stated
maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes and, accordingly, the
Capital WITS Mandatory Redemption Date, to any date on or
after the Stock Purchase Date; provided that if we are
deferring interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at the time
of the Failed Remarketing, any new stated maturity date and
Capital WITS Mandatory Redemption Date may not be earlier
than seven years after commencement of the deferral period. |
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We will exercise our rights as a secured party with respect to
the Pledged Securities under the Collateral Agreement and,
subject to applicable law, retain the Pledged Securities or
their proceeds and apply them against the Trusts
obligation to us under the Stock Purchase Contract or sell them
in one or more private sales. In either case, the Trusts
obligations under the Stock Purchase Contracts would be
satisfied in full. We will issue a note, payable on the date two
years after the Stock Purchase Date and bearing interest at the
same rate (or pursuant to the same interest rate formula) that
applies to the Junior Subordinated Notes, in the amount of any
accrued and unpaid distributions on the Normal WITS and the
Stripped WITS as of the Stock Purchase Date, to the Property
Trustee for delivery to you. |
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If you hold Capital WITS and elected to dispose of them in the
Remarketing, your Capital WITS will be returned to you. |
We will cause notice of any unsuccessful Remarketings and of a
Failed Remarketing to be made publicly available.
The Reset Rate or Reset Spread will be equal to the interest
rate determined to result in proceeds from the Remarketing of
the Junior Subordinated Notes, net of any remarketing fee, of at
least 100% of the Remarketing Value; provided that the
Reset Rate or Reset Spread may not exceed the Fixed Rate Reset
Cap or Floating Rate Reset Cap, as the case may be, in
connection with (i) any ordinary Remarketing with a
settlement date on or prior to November 15, 2011 (or, if
such day is not a business day, on or prior to the next business
day) and (ii) the first four related Remarketing attempts
following the occurrence of an Early Settlement Event. For this
purpose, the Fixed Rate Reset Cap is the
prevailing market yield, as determined by the Remarketing Agent,
of the benchmark U.S. treasury security having a remaining
maturity that most closely corresponds to the period from such
date until the earliest date on which the Junior Subordinated
Notes may be redeemed at our option in the event of a successful
Remarketing, plus 350 basis points, or 3.50%, per annum
and the Floating Rate Reset Cap will be
301 basis points, or 3.01%, per annum. Since the new rate
will become effective part way through an interest period, the
first interest payment due on the Junior Subordinated Notes
after the Remarketing Settlement Date will reflect the initial
rate for the period
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from and including the immediately preceding payment date to but
excluding the Remarketing Settlement Date and the new rate for
the period from and including the Remarketing Settlement Date to
but excluding the date of payment.
If a Remarketing is attempted for settlement on or after
February 15, 2012 or after the fourth Remarketing attempt
following the occurrence of an Early Settlement Event, the Reset
Rate or Reset Spread will not be subject to the Fixed Rate Reset
Cap or Floating Rate Reset Cap, as the case may be.
In connection with a Remarketing, we may elect, in our sole
discretion, to move up the stated maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Notes to any date on or after March 15, 2015,
or in the case of a Failed Remarketing, on or after the Stock
Purchase Date, and we may change the date on and after which the
Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemable at our option to a new
date not earlier than March 15, 2015 and change the
redemption price. In the event we are deferring interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes at the time of the Remarketing, any
new maturity or redemption date of the Junior Subordinated Notes
may not be earlier than seven years after commencement of the
deferral period, and any new redemption price may not be less
than the principal plus accrued and unpaid interest (including
additional interest) on the Junior Subordinated Notes. In
addition, we may also elect, in the case of a Remarketing
following an Early Settlement Event, other than the first
attempt at Remarketing, that the Junior Subordinated Notes
underlying the WITS, and our Guarantee of the WITS, will no
longer be subordinated. Any such election would take effect,
upon a successful Remarketing, on the Remarketing Settlement
Date.
The Property Trustee will give holders of Normal WITS and
Capital WITS notice of Remarketing at least 21 calendar days
prior to any Remarketing Date. Such notice will set forth:
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the applicable Distribution Dates and record dates for cash
distributions on the Normal WITS and Capital WITS; |
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any change to the stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated
Notes if the Remarketing is successful; |
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in the case of a Remarketing following an Early Settlement Event
or any other Remarketing after an unsuccessful Remarketing on
the first scheduled Remarketing Date, whether the Junior
Subordinated Notes will no longer be subordinated to our senior
indebtedness; |
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the procedures you must follow if you hold Normal WITS to elect
to exchange your Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS
if the Remarketing is successful and the date by which such
election must be made; and |
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the procedures you must follow if you hold Capital WITS to elect
to dispose of them in connection with the Remarketing and the
date by which such election must be made. |
Early Remarketing
If an Early Settlement Event occurs, the Remarketing process
described above will begin earlier. The first attempted
Remarketing will be on the first following Remarketing Date that
is at least 30 days after the occurrence of such Early
Settlement Event. In the event of such an Early
Remarketing:
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the first Remarketing attempt will be on the basis that the WITS
will be remarketed with the underlying Junior Subordinated Notes
remaining subordinated to the same extent as when they are
originally issued (i.e., we will not have the option to
elect to remarket them as senior notes) subject to the Floating
Rate Reset Cap or the Fixed Rate Reset Cap, as applicable; |
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the second, third and fourth Remarketing attempts will be
subject to the Floating Rate Reset Cap or the Fixed Rate Reset
Cap, as applicable, but the underlying Junior Subordinated Notes
may, at our election, become senior debt; and |
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the fifth and last Remarketing attempt will not be subject to
the Floating Rate Reset Cap or the Fixed Rate Reset Cap, as
applicable, and the underlying Junior Subordinated Notes may, at
our election, become senior debt. |
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For example, if an Early Settlement Event (other than as a
result of the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by
a court of competent jurisdiction) occurs on March 10,
2007, then the first Remarketing attempt would be on the third
business day prior to May 15, 2007 for settlement on that
date as the Remarketing Settlement Date; if that Remarketing
fails, successive Remarketing attempts would be made for
settlement on the August 15, 2007, November 15, 2007
and February 15, 2008 Remarketing Settlement Dates (with
the Stock Purchase Date being the September 15, December 15
or March 15, as applicable, that is immediately thereafter,
or, if any such day is not a business day, the next business
day); and if none of those Remarketing attempts succeeds, then
the fifth and final Remarketing attempt will be made for
settlement on the May 15, 2008 Remarketing Settlement Date,
in which case the Stock Purchase Date would be June 15,
2008, or, if such day is not a business day, the next business
day.
In the case of an Early Settlement Event resulting from the
entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of
competent jurisdiction, as described under Description of
the WITS Liquidation Distribution upon
Dissolution, however, there shall be only one Remarketing
Date and the Reset Rate or Reset Spread shall not be subject to
the Fixed Rate Reset Cap or Floating Rate Reset Cap, as
applicable. If the Remarketing conducted on such date is not
successful, it shall be deemed a Failed Remarketing and the
Stock Purchase Date shall be the next succeeding March 15,
June 15, September 15 or December 15, or if such day
in not a business day, the next business day.
Except as described above, an Early Remarketing after the
occurrence of an Early Settlement Event will be conducted as
described under Remarketing.
Early Settlement Events
An Early Settlement Event shall be deemed to
occur if:
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our total risk-based capital ratio is less than 10%; |
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our tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is less
than 6%; |
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our leverage capital ratio is less than 4%; |
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the Federal Reserve, in its discretion, anticipates that we may
fail one or more of the capital tests referred to above in the
near term and delivers a notice to us so stating; or |
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the Trust is dissolved pursuant to the entry of an order for
dissolution by a court of competent jurisdiction. |
In the case of the tests described in the first three bullets,
each ratio will be determined as required pursuant to
Appendix A to Regulation Y of the Federal Reserve
Board, 12 C.F.R. Part 225. The related Early
Settlement Event will be deemed to occur on the date we file a
Form FR Y-9C showing in Schedule HC-R (or successor
form) that the related capital measure has been failed.
Payment; Exchange; Transfer
We will appoint a paying agent on or before the Remarketing
Settlement Date from whom holders of Junior Subordinated Notes
can receive payment of the principal of and any premium and
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes on and after such
date. We may elect to pay any interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes by mailing a check to the person listed as
the owner of the Junior Subordinated Notes in the security
register or by wire transfer to an account designated by that
person in writing not less than ten days before the date of the
interest payment. One of our affiliates may serve as the paying
agent under the Indenture. We will pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes:
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on an interest payment date to the person in whose name that
Junior Subordinated Note is registered at the close of business
on the record date relating to that interest payment
date; and |
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on the date of maturity or earlier redemption or repayment to
the person who surrenders such Junior Subordinated Note at the
office of our appointed paying agent. |
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Any money that we pay to a paying agent for the purpose of
making payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes and that
remains unclaimed two years after the payments were due will, at
our request, be returned to us and after that time any holder of
such Junior Subordinated Notes can only look to us for the
payments on such Junior Subordinated Notes.
Any Junior Subordinated Notes can be exchanged for other Junior
Subordinated Notes so long as such other Junior Subordinated
Notes are denominated in authorized denominations and have the
same aggregate principal amount and same terms as the Junior
Subordinated Notes that were surrendered for exchange. The
Junior Subordinated Notes may be presented for registration of
transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a satisfactory written
instrument of transfer, at the office or agency maintained by us
for that purpose in a place of payment. There will be no service
charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the
Junior Subordinated Notes, but we may require holders to pay any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a
transfer or exchange of the Junior Subordinated Notes. We may at
any time rescind the designation or approve a change in the
location of any office or agency, in addition to the security
registrar, designated by us where holders can surrender the
Junior Subordinated Notes for registration of transfer or
exchange. However, we will be required to maintain an office or
agency in each place of payment for the Junior Subordinated
Notes.
Denominations
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued only in registered
form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 each or
multiples of $1,000. After the Remarketing Settlement Date, we
expect that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be held in
book-entry form only, as described under Book-Entry
System, and will be held in the name of DTC or its nominee.
Restrictions on Certain Payments, Including on Deferral of
Interest
If:
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there shall have occurred and be continuing any event that, with
the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would be an
event of default with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes
of which we have actual knowledge and which we have not taken
reasonable steps to cure; |
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the Junior Subordinated Notes are beneficially owned by the
Trust and we shall be in default relating to our payment of any
obligations under the Guarantee; |
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we shall have given notice of our election to defer payments of
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the
interest payment period and such period, or any extension of
such period, shall be continuing; or |
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we have paid deferred interest to the Trust in the form of
additional subordinated notes and not yet repaid all amounts
outstanding on such notes; |
then:
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we shall not declare or pay any dividends or distributions on,
or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any shares of our capital stock; |
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we shall not make any payment of principal of or interest or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities issued by us that rank equally with or junior to the
Junior Subordinated Notes (except for partial payments of
interest with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes); and |
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we shall not make any payment under any guarantee that ranks
equally with or junior to our Guarantee related to the WITS. |
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The restrictions listed above do not apply to:
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any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of shares of our
capital stock in connection with: |
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any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more
employees, officers, directors, consultants or independent
contractors; |
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the satisfaction of our obligations pursuant to any contract
entered into in the ordinary course prior to the beginning of
the deferral period; |
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a dividend reinvestment or stockholder purchase plan; or |
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the issuance of our capital stock, or securities convertible
into or exercisable for such capital stock, as consideration in
an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable
event of default, default or extension period, as the case may
be; |
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any exchange, redemption or conversion of any class or series of
our capital stock, or the capital stock of one of our
subsidiaries, for any other class or series of our capital
stock, or of any class or series of our indebtedness for any
class or series of our capital stock; |
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any purchase of fractional interests in shares of our capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such
capital stock or the securities being converted or exchanged; |
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any declaration of a dividend in connection with any rights
plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under
any rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights
pursuant thereto; |
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payments by us under any guarantee agreement executed for the
benefit of the holders of the WITS; or |
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any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other
rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise
of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with
or junior to such stock. |
Redemption
We may from time to time redeem Junior Subordinated Notes, in
whole or in part, at any date on or after March 15, 2015,
at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, including deferred
interest (if any), to the date of redemption. In connection with
a Remarketing, we may change the date after which we may redeem
Junior Subordinated Notes to a later date or change the
redemption price as described under
Remarketing.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will not be subject to any sinking
fund and will not be redeemable at the option of the holder.
We may not redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes in part if the
principal amount has been accelerated and such acceleration has
not been rescinded or unless all accrued and unpaid interest has
been paid in full on all outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes
for all interest periods terminating on or before the redemption
date.
Any redemption will be subject to receipt of prior approval by
the Federal Reserve, if required.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days
but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to
each holder of Junior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed at its
registered address. However, if the Junior Subordinated Notes
are beneficially owned by the Trust, notice shall be mailed at
least 45 days but not more than 75 days before the
redemption date. Unless we default in payment of the redemption
price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to
accrue on the Junior Subordinated Notes or portions thereof
called for redemption.
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In the event of any redemption, neither we nor the Indenture
Trustee will be required to:
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issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, Junior
Subordinated Notes during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of publication or mailing
of the notice of redemption and ending at the close of business
on the day of such publication or the mailing of such
notice; or |
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transfer or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so selected
for redemption, except, in the case of any Junior Subordinated
Notes being redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be
redeemed. |
Limitation on Mergers and Sales of Assets
The Indenture generally permits a consolidation or merger
between us and another entity. It also permits the sale or
transfer by us of all or substantially all of our property and
assets. These transactions are permitted if:
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the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is
organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction
and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under
the Indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the
debt securities and performance of the covenants in the
Indenture; |
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immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the
transaction, no event of default under the Indenture
exists; and |
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certain other conditions as prescribed in the Indenture are met. |
If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or sell
or lease all or substantially all of our assets according to the
terms and conditions of the Indenture, the resulting or
acquiring entity will be substituted for us in such Indenture
with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the
Indenture. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our
rights and powers under the Indenture, in our name and, except
in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our
properties and assets, we will be released from all our
liabilities and obligations under the Indenture and under the
Junior Subordinated Notes.
Events of Default, Waiver and Notice
An event of default, when used in the
Indenture, means any of the following:
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non-payment of interest after deferral for 14 or more
consecutive semi-annual interest periods or the equivalent
thereof, in the event that interest periods are other than
semi-annual: |
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termination of the Trust without redemption of the WITS,
distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes to holders of
Capital WITS and, if such termination occurs prior to the Stock
Purchase Date, or if earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date,
the holders of the Normal WITS, or assumption of Wachovias
obligations under the Junior Subordinated Notes by its successor; |
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bankruptcy of Wachovia; or |
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receivership of its lead bank. |
If an event of default under the Indenture occurs and continues,
the Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes may declare the entire principal and all
accrued but unpaid interest of all Junior Subordinated Notes to
be due and payable immediately. If the Indenture Trustee or the
holders of Junior Subordinated Notes do not make such
declaration and the Junior Subordinated Notes are beneficially
owned by the Trust or trustee of the Trust, the Property Trustee
or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount
of the
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Capital WITS and, if such termination occurs prior to the Stock
Purchase Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date,
the holders of the Normal WITS shall have such right.
If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes can, subject to certain conditions
(including, if the Junior Subordinated Notes are held by a trust
or the trustee of the Trust, the consent of the holders of at
least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital
WITS and, if such termination occurs prior to the Stock Purchase
Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date, the Normal
WITS), rescind the declaration. If the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes do not rescind such declaration and the
Junior Subordinated Notes are beneficially owned by the Trust or
trustee of the Trust, the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the WITS shall have such right.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes may waive any past
default, except:
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a default in payment of principal of or any premium or
interest; or |
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a default under any provision of the Indenture that itself
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder
of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note. |
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are beneficially owned by the
Trust or a trustee of the Trust, any such waiver shall require a
consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate
liquidation amount of the Normal WITS and the Capital WITS. If
the holders of Junior Subordinated Notes do not waive such
default, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation
amount of the Capital WITS and, if such consent is requested
prior to the Stock Purchase Date or, if earlier, the Remarketing
Settlement Date, the Normal WITS, shall have such right.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Notes shall have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Indenture Trustee.
We are required to file an officers certificate with the
Indenture Trustee each year that states, to the knowledge of the
certifying officer, whether or not any defaults exist under the
terms of the Indenture.
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are beneficially owned by the
Trust or a trustee of the Trust, a holder of the Capital WITS
and, if such termination occurs prior to the Stock Purchase Date
or, if earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date, a holder of
Normal WITS, may institute a direct action against us if we fail
to make interest or other payments on the Junior Subordinated
Notes when due, taking into account any extension period. A
direct action may be brought without first:
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directing the Property Trustee to enforce the terms of the
Junior Subordinated Notes; or |
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suing us to enforce the Property Trustees rights under the
Junior Subordinated Notes. |
This right of direct action cannot be amended in a manner that
would impair the rights of the holders of the Capital WITS and,
if such amendment occurs prior to the Stock Purchase Date or, if
earlier, the Remarketing Settlement Date, the holders of the
Normal WITS, thereunder without the consent of all such holders.
Actions Not Restricted by Indenture
The Indenture does not contain restrictions on our ability to:
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incur, assume or become liable for any type of debt or other
obligation; |
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create liens on our property for any purpose; or |
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pay dividends or make distributions on our capital stock or
repurchase or redeem our capital stock, except as set forth
under Restrictions on Certain Payments,
Including on Deferral of Interest above. |
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The Indenture does not require the maintenance of any financial
ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In
addition, the Indenture does not contain any provisions that
would require us to repurchase or redeem or modify the terms of
any of the Junior Subordinated Notes upon a change of control or
other event involving us that may adversely affect the
creditworthiness of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
No Protection in the Event of a Highly Leveraged
Transaction
The Indenture does not protect holders from a sudden and
dramatic decline in credit quality resulting from takeovers,
recapitalizations, or similar restructurings or other highly
leveraged transactions.
Distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are owned by the Trust, under
circumstances involving the dissolution of the Trust, the Junior
Subordinated Notes may be distributed to the holders of the
Trust securities in liquidation of the Trust, provided
that any required regulatory approval is obtained. See
Description of the WITS Liquidation
Distribution upon Dissolution.
Modification of Indenture
Under the Indenture, certain of our rights and obligations and
certain of the rights of holders of the Junior Subordinated
Notes may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders
of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes. However, the following
modifications and amendments will not be effective against any
holder without its consent:
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a change in the stated maturity date of any payment of principal
or interest, including any additional interest, except as
expressly permitted in connection with a Remarketing; |
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a reduction in or change in the manner of calculating payments
due on the Junior Subordinated Notes, except as expressly
permitted in connection with a Remarketing; |
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a change in the place of payment or currency in which any
payment on the Junior Subordinated Notes is payable; |
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a limitation of a holders right to sue us for the
enforcement of payments due on the Junior Subordinated Notes; |
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a reduction in the percentage of outstanding Junior Subordinated
Notes required to consent to a modification or amendment of the
Indenture or required to consent to a waiver of compliance with
certain provisions of the Indenture or certain defaults under
the Indenture; |
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a reduction in the requirements contained in the Indenture for
quorum or voting; and |
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a modification of any of the foregoing requirements contained in
the Indenture. |
Under the Indenture, the holders of at least a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes may, on behalf of all holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes, waive compliance by us with any covenant or
condition contained in the Indenture.
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are held by or on behalf of the
Trust, no modification may be made that adversely affects the
holders of the WITS in any material respect, and no termination
of the Indenture may occur, and no waiver of any compliance with
any covenant will be effective without the prior consent of a
majority in liquidation amount of each class of WITS so
affected. If the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Junior Subordinated Note is required for such modification or
waiver, no such modification or waiver shall be effective
without the prior consent of each holder of the WITS so affected.
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We and the Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of
any holder of Junior Subordinated Notes, any supplemental
indenture for the purposes of:
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reflecting any modifications to the terms of the Notes pursuant
to the terms of the Indenture with respect to a Remarketing; |
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evidencing the succession of another corporation to us, and the
assumption by such successor of our covenants contained in the
Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes; |
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adding covenants of us for the benefit of the holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes, transferring any property to or with
the Indenture Trustee or surrendering any of our rights or
powers under the Indenture; |
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adding any additional events of default for the Junior
Subordinated Notes; |
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changing or eliminating any restrictions on the payment of
principal or premium, if any, on Junior Subordinated Notes in
registered form, provided that any such action shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series in any material respect; |
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evidencing and providing for the acceptance of appointment under
the Indenture by a successor trustee with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes; |
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curing any ambiguity, correcting or supplementing any provision
in the Indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any
other provision therein or making any other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture that
shall not be inconsistent with any provision therein,
provided that such other provisions shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of the Junior Subordinated
Notes in any material respect or, if the Junior Subordinated
Notes are beneficially owned by the Trust and for so long as any
of the WITS shall remain outstanding, the holders of the
WITS; or |
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adding to, changing or eliminating any provision of the
Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with
any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, provided that
such action shall not adversely affect the interest of the
holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes in any material respect. |
Governing Law
The Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York.
The Indenture Trustee
The Indenture Trustee will have all of the duties and
responsibilities specified under the Trust Indenture Act. Other
than its duties in a case of default, the Indenture Trustee is
under no obligation to exercise any of the powers under the
Indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders of
Junior Subordinated Notes unless offered reasonable
indemnification.
Miscellaneous
We or our affiliates may from time to time purchase any of the
Junior Subordinated Notes that are then outstanding by tender,
in the open market or by private agreement.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEE
The following is a summary of some of the terms of the
Guarantee. This summary, together with the summary of some of
the provisions of the related documents described below,
contains a description of the material terms of the Guarantee
but is not necessarily complete. We refer you to the documents
referred to in the following description, copies of which are
available upon request as described above under Where You
Can Find More Information.
General
The following payments on the WITS, also referred to as the
guarantee payments, if not fully paid by the
Trust, will be paid by us under a guarantee, or
Guarantee, that we will execute and deliver
for the benefit of the holders of WITS. Pursuant to the
Guarantee, we will irrevocably and unconditionally agree to pay
in full the guarantee payments, without duplication:
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any accumulated and unpaid distributions required to be paid on
each class of WITS, to the extent the Trust has funds available
to make the payment; |
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the redemption price for any WITS called for redemption other
than in connection with a redemption of Capital WITS in exchange
for Junior Subordinated Notes, to the extent the Trust has funds
available to make the payment; and |
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upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
winding-up or
liquidation of the Trust, other than in connection with a
distribution of a like amount of corresponding assets to the
holders of the WITS, the lesser of: |
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the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and
unpaid distributions on the WITS to the date of payment, to the
extent the Trust has funds available to make the
payment; and |
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the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for
distribution to holders of the WITS upon liquidation of the
Trust. |
Our obligation to make a guarantee payment may be satisfied by
direct payment of the required amounts by us to the holders of
the WITS or by causing the Trust to pay the amounts to the
holders.
If we do not make a required payment on the Junior Subordinated
Notes or the Stock Purchase Contracts or, after the Stock
Purchase Date, a regular dividend payment on the Preferred
Stock, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to make the
related payments on the relevant classes of WITS. The Guarantee
does not cover payments on the WITS when the Trust does not have
sufficient funds to make these payments. If we do not pay any
amounts on the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Stock Purchase
Contracts when due, holders of the relevant classes of WITS will
have to rely on the enforcement by the Property Trustee of its
rights as registered holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes and
Stock Purchase Contracts or proceed directly against us for
payment of any amounts due on the Junior Subordinated Notes and
Stock Purchase Contracts. See Status of the
Guarantee below. Because we are a holding company, our
rights to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries
upon the subsidiarys liquidation or reorganization will be
subject to the prior claims of the subsidiarys creditors
except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with
recognized claims against the subsidiary. The Guarantee does not
limit the incurrence or issuance by us of other secured or
unsecured indebtedness.
The Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act. U.S. Bank National Association will act as
Guarantee Trustee for the Guarantee for
purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee will hold the Guarantee for
the benefit of the holders of the WITS.
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Effect of the Guarantee
The Guarantee, when taken together with our obligations under
the Indenture and Stock Purchase Contracts and the Trusts
obligations under the Trust Agreement, including the
obligations to pay costs, expenses, debts and liabilities of the
Trust, other than with respect to the Trust securities, has the
effect of providing a full and unconditional guarantee on a
subordinated basis of payments due on the WITS. See
Relationship among WITS, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock
Purchase Contracts and Guarantee.
We will also agree separately to irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantee the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust
Common Securities to the same extent as the Guarantee.
Status of the Guarantee
The Guarantee will be unsecured and will rank:
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subordinate and junior in right of payment to all our senior
debt in the same manner as our Junior Subordinated Notes as set
forth in the Indenture; and |
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equally with all other guarantees for payments on WITS that we
issue in the future to the extent the related subordinated notes
by their terms rank pari passu with the Junior
Subordinated Notes, our subordinated notes that we issue in the
future to the extent that by their terms rank pari passu
with the Junior Subordinated Notes and any of our other
present or future obligations that by their terms rank pari
passu with such Guarantee. |
The Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection, which means that the guaranteed party may sue the
guarantor to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
suing any other person or entity. The Guarantee will be held for
the benefit of the holders of the WITS. The Guarantee will be
discharged only by payment of the guarantee payments in full to
the extent not paid by the Trust.
Amendments and Assignment
The Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation
amount of the outstanding WITS. The holders of Normal WITS,
Stripped WITS and Capital WITS will also be entitled to vote
separately to the extent that any proposed amendment would not
affect each class in the same or substantially the same manner.
No vote will be required, however, for any changes that do not
adversely affect the rights of holders of the WITS in any
material respect. All guarantees and agreements contained in the
Guarantee will bind our successors, assignees, receivers,
trustees and representatives and will be for the benefit of the
holders of the WITS then outstanding.
Termination of the Guarantee
The Guarantee will terminate:
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upon full payment of the redemption price of all WITS; or |
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upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Trust. |
The Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of
WITS must restore payment of any sums paid under the WITS or the
Guarantee.
Events of Default
An event of default under the Guarantee will occur if we fail to
perform any payment obligation or if we fail to perform any
other obligation under the Guarantee and such default remains
unremedied for 30 days.
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The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the relevant
class or classes of WITS have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of the Guarantee
or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon
the Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee. Any holder of WITS
may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce
the Guarantee Trustees rights and our obligations under
the Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or
entity.
As guarantor, we are required to file annually with the
Guarantee Trustee a certificate as to whether or not we are in
compliance with all applicable conditions and covenants under
the Guarantee.
Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
Prior to the occurrence of an event of default relating to the
Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee is required to perform only the
duties that are specifically set forth in the Guarantee.
Following the occurrence of an event of default, the Guarantee
Trustee will exercise the same degree of care as a prudent
individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own
affairs. Provided that the foregoing requirements have been met,
the Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of
the powers vested in it by the Guarantee at the request of any
holder of WITS, unless offered indemnity satisfactory to it
against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be
incurred thereby.
We and our affiliates may maintain certain accounts and other
banking relationships with the Guarantee Trustee and its
affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Governing Law
The Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
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RELATIONSHIP AMONG WITS, JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES, STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND GUARANTEE
As set forth in the Trust Agreement, the exclusive purposes
of the Trust are:
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issuing the Trust securities representing beneficial interests
in the Trust; |
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investing the gross proceeds of the Trust securities in the
Junior Subordinated Notes; |
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entering into the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and holding
the Stock Purchase Contracts; |
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holding Junior Subordinated Notes, certain U.S. treasury
securities and an interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank,
N.A., and pledging them to secure the Trusts obligations
under the Stock Purchase Contracts; |
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purchasing the Preferred Stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Contracts on the Stock Purchase Date and holding it thereafter; |
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selling Junior Subordinated Notes in a Remarketing; and |
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engaging in only those activities necessary or incidental
thereto. |
As long as payments of interest, Contract Payments and other
payments are made when due on the Junior Subordinated Notes and
the Stock Purchase Contracts and dividends are declared and paid
on the Preferred Stock, those payments will be sufficient to
cover the distributions and payments due on the Trust
securities. This is due to the following factors:
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prior to the Stock Purchase Date the Trust will hold an
aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes and
aggregate stated amount of Stock Purchase Contracts equal to the
sum of the aggregate liquidation amount of the Normal WITS and
Trust Common Securities, the combined interest rate on the
Junior Subordinated Notes and Contract Payment rate on the Stock
Purchase Contracts will match the distribution rate on the
Normal WITS and Trust Common Securities and the interest,
Contract Payment and other payment dates on the Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Stock Purchase Contracts will match
the Distribution Dates for the Normal WITS and Trust Common
Securities; |
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the Trust will hold an aggregate principal amount of Qualifying
Treasury Securities and aggregate stated amount of Stock
Purchase Contracts equal to the aggregate stated liquidation
amount of the Stripped WITS, the Contract Payment rate on the
Stock Purchase Contracts will match the distribution rate on the
Stripped WITS, the entitlement to additional distributions on
the Stripped WITS in respect of the Qualifying Treasury
Securities will match the amount of such distributions to which
the Trust is entitled under the Collateral Agreement and the
Contract Payment and other payment dates on the Stock Purchase
Contracts will match the Distribution Dates for the Stripped
WITS; |
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the Trust will hold an aggregate principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes equal to the aggregate stated liquidation
amount of the Capital WITS and the interest rate and interest
payment dates on the Junior Subordinated Notes will match the
distribution rate and payment dates on the Capital WITS; |
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after the Stock Purchase Date, the Trust will hold an aggregate
Liquidation Preference of Preferred Stock equal to the aggregate
liquidation amount of Normal WITS and Trust Common Securities
and the dividend payment rates and dates on the Preferred Stock
will match the distribution payment rates and dates on the
Normal WITS and the Trust Common Securities; |
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under the Guarantee Agreement, we will pay, and the Trust will
not be obligated to pay, directly or indirectly, all costs,
expenses, debts and obligations of the Trust, other than those
relating to such Trust securities; and |
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the Trust Agreement further provides that the trustees may
not cause or permit the Trust to engage in any activity that is
not consistent with the purposes of the Trust. |
To the extent that funds are available, we guarantee payments of
distributions and other payments due on the Trust securities to
the extent described in this prospectus. If we do not make
interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes, Contract
Payments on the Stock Purchase Contracts or dividend payments on
the Preferred Stock, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to
pay distributions on the Trust securities. The Guarantee is a
subordinated guarantee in relation to the Trust securities. The
Guarantee does not apply to any payment of distributions unless
and until the Trust has sufficient funds for the payment of such
distributions. See Description of the Guarantee.
We have the right to set off any payment that we are otherwise
required to make under the Indenture or the Stock Purchase
Contracts with any payment that we have previously made or are
concurrently on the date of such payment making under the
Guarantee.
The Guarantee covers the payment of distributions and other
payments on the Trust securities only if and to the extent that
we have made a payment of interest or principal or other
payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes, Contract Payments on
the Stock Purchase Contracts and dividends or redemption
payments on the Preferred Stock, as applicable. The Guarantee,
when taken together with our obligations under the Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Indenture, our obligations under the
Stock Purchase Contracts and our obligations under the
Trust Agreement, will provide a full and unconditional
guarantee of distributions, redemption payments and liquidation
payments on the Trust securities.
If we fail to make interest or other payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes when due, taking into account any deferral
period, the Trust Agreement allows the holders of the
Normal WITS and Capital WITS to direct the Property Trustee to
enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes. If the
Property Trustee fails to enforce these rights, any holder of
Normal WITS or Capital WITS may directly sue us to enforce such
rights without first suing the Property Trustee or any other
person or entity.
A holder of Normal WITS or Capital WITS may institute a direct
action if we fail to make interest or other payments on the
Junior Subordinated Notes when due, taking into account any
extension period. A direct action may be brought without first:
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directing the Property Trustee to enforce the terms of the
Junior Subordinated Notes; or |
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suing us to enforce the Property Trustees rights under the
Junior Subordinated Notes. |
If we fail to make Contract Payments on the Stock Purchase
Contracts when due, taking into account any extension period,
the Trust Agreement allows the holders of the Normal WITS
and Stripped WITS to direct the Property Trustee to enforce its
rights under the Stock Purchase Contracts. If the Property
Trustee fails to enforce these rights, any holder of Normal WITS
or Stripped WITS may directly sue us to enforce such rights
without first suing the Property Trustee or any other person or
entity.
A holder of Normal WITS or Stripped WITS may institute a direct
action if we fail to make Contract Payments on the Stock
Purchase Contracts when due, taking into account any extension
period. A direct action may be brought without first:
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directing the Property Trustee to enforce the terms of the Stock
Purchase Contracts; or |
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suing us to enforce the Property Trustees rights under the
Stock Purchase Contracts. |
We acknowledge that the Guarantee Trustee will enforce the
Guarantee on behalf of the holders of the Normal WITS, Stripped
WITS and Capital WITS. If we fail to make payments under the
Guarantee, the holders of the Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS may direct the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its
rights under such Guarantee. If the Guarantee Trustee fails to
enforce the Guarantee, any holder of Normal WITS, Stripped WITS
or Capital WITS may directly sue us to enforce the Guarantee
Trustees rights under the Guarantee. Such holder need not
first sue the Trust, the Guarantee Trustee, or any other person
or entity. A holder of Normal WITS, Stripped WITS or Capital
WITS may also directly sue us to
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enforce such holders right to receive payment under the
Guarantee. Such holder need not first direct the Guarantee
Trustee to enforce the terms of the Guarantee or sue the Trust
or any other person or entity.
We and the Trust believe that the above mechanisms and
obligations, taken together, are equivalent to a full and
unconditional guarantee by us of payments due on the Normal
WITS, Stripped WITS and Capital WITS.
Limited Purpose of Trust
The Trust securities evidence beneficial interests in the Trust.
A principal difference between the rights of a holder of a Trust
security and a holder of Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock
Purchase Contracts or Preferred Stock is that a holder of Junior
Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Preferred Stock
would be entitled to receive from the issuer the principal
amount of and interest accrued on such Junior Subordinated
Notes, Contracts Payments on and stock issued under such Stock
Purchase Contracts, and dividends, redemption payments and
payment upon liquidation in respect of Preferred Stock, as the
case may be, while a holder of Trust securities is entitled to
receive distributions from the Trust, or from us under the
Guarantee, if and to the extent the Trust has funds available
for the payment of such distributions.
Rights upon Dissolution
Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust
holders of each class of WITS will receive the distributions
described under Description of the WITS
Liquidation Distribution upon Dissolution. Upon any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of Wachovia,
the Property Trustee, as holder of the Junior Subordinated
Notes, would be a subordinated creditor of Wachovia,
subordinated in right of payment to all indebtedness senior to
the Junior Subordinated Notes as set forth in the Indenture, but
entitled to receive payment in full of principal and interest
before any of our stockholders receive distributions, and as
holder of the Preferred Stock, would also be a preferred
stockholder of Wachovia, entitled to the preferences upon
liquidation described under Description of the Preferred
Stock. Since we are the guarantor under the Guarantee and
have agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of
the Trust, other than the Trusts obligations to the
holders of the Trust securities, the positions of a holder of
WITS relative to other creditors and to our stockholders in the
event of liquidation or bankruptcy are expected to be
substantially the same as if that holder held the corresponding
assets of the Trust directly.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED STOCK
The following is a summary of some of the terms of the
Preferred Stock we will issue to the Trust pursuant to the Stock
Purchase Contracts. This summary contains a description of the
material terms of the Preferred Stock but is not necessarily
complete. We refer you to the documents referred to in the
following description, copies of which are available upon
request as described above under Where You Can Find More
Information.
Authorized Preferred Stock
Our authorized preferred stock consists of
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value,
40,000,000 shares of Class A preferred stock, no par
value (including the Preferred Stock), and 500,000,000 Dividend
Equalization Preferred shares, no par value. As of
September 30, 2005, no shares of preferred stock or
Class A preferred stock were issued and outstanding, and
approximately 97 million Dividend Equalization Preferred
shares were issued and outstanding in connection with the merger
of the former Wachovia Corporation and First Union Corporation.
Wachovia has filed articles of amendment designating the terms
of the Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State
of North Carolina. Wachovia will not issue any shares of
Preferred Stock prior to the Stock Purchase Date.
General
When issued, the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully
paid, and non-assessable. The holders of the Preferred Stock
will have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares of
Wachovias capital stock or any of its other securities
convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase any
such capital stock.
The holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive
non-cumulative cash dividends when, as and if declared out of
assets legally available for payment in respect of such
Preferred Stock by Wachovias board of directors in its
sole discretion. In the event Wachovia does not declare
dividends or does not pay dividends in full on the Preferred
Stock on any date on which dividends are due, then such unpaid
dividends will not cumulate and will no longer accrue and be
payable.
When issued, the Preferred Stock will have a fixed liquidation
preference, or Liquidation Preference, of
$100,000 per share, or $2,501,000,000 in the aggregate, on
a liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the
affairs of Wachovia, holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled
to receive such Liquidation Preference per share, together with
an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends for the
then-current Dividend Period to the date of payment. The
Preferred Stock is perpetual and will not be convertible into
shares of Wachovia 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.
We will issue the Preferred Stock to the Trust on the Stock
Purchase Date. Unless the Trust is dissolved after the Stock
Purchase Date and prior to the redemption of the Preferred
Stock, holders of Normal WITS and Stripped WITS will not receive
shares of Preferred Stock, and their interest in the Preferred
Stock will be represented from and after the Stock Purchase Date
by their Normal WITS or Stripped WITS. Since the Preferred Stock
will be held by the Property Trustee, holders of Normal WITS or
Stripped WITS will only be able to exercise voting or other
rights with respect to the Preferred Stock through the Property
Trustee.
Rank
The Preferred Stock will rank senior to our common stock and to
any other securities that we may issue in the future that are
subordinate to the Preferred Stock. As of the date hereof, there
are no shares of our authorized preferred stock that would rank
senior to the Preferred Stock authorized, issued or outstanding,
except that upon any liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of Wachovia,
the Dividend Equalization Preferred shares will be entitled to a
liquidation preference of $0.01 per share prior to the
distribution of any amounts in respect of the Preferred Stock.
We may authorize and issue additional
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shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to, on parity
with or senior to the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and
rights upon liquidation, winding-up, or dissolution without the
consent of the holders of the Preferred Stock. Each series of
our authorized preferred stock will, with respect to dividend
rights and rights upon Wachovias liquidation, dissolution
or winding-up, rank prior or superior to common stock. All
shares of each series of our authorized preferred stock will be
of equal rank with each other. The Preferred Stock and any other
series of Class A preferred stock will rank equal or junior
to, but not prior or superior to, any series of preferred stock.
With respect to the payment of dividends and amounts upon
liquidation, the Preferred Stock will rank equally with any
other class or series of our stock that ranks on a par with the
Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends and in the
distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of Wachovia,
if any, or Parity Stock, and will rank senior
to our common stock and any other class or series of our stock
over which the Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the
payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any
liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of Wachovia,
or Junior Stock. In particular, during a
Dividend Period no dividend will be paid or declared and no
distribution will be made on any Junior Stock, other than a
dividend payable solely in Junior Stock, no shares of Junior
Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for
consideration by us, directly or indirectly (other than as a
result of reclassification of Junior Stock for or into Junior
Stock, or the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior
Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, and other than
through the use of the proceeds of a substantially
contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock), nor shall
any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for
the redemption of any such securities by us, and no shares of
Parity Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired
for consideration by us otherwise than pursuant to pro
rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion,
of the Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock except by
conversion into or exchange for Junior Stock, unless full
dividends for such Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient
for the payment thereof set aside. However, the foregoing
provision shall not restrict the ability of Wachovia Securities,
or any other affiliate, to engage in any market-making
transactions in our Junior Stock or Parity Stock in the ordinary
course of business.
For any Dividend Period in which dividends are not paid in full
upon the Preferred Stock and other Parity Stock having the same
restrictions on the declaration and payment of dividends as the
Preferred Stock, all dividends declared for such Dividend Period
with respect to the Preferred Stock and such other Parity Stock
shall be declared on a pro rata basis.
Dividends
Dividends on shares of Preferred Stock will not be mandatory.
Holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, if,
when, and as declared by our board of directors out of legally
available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the
Liquidation Preference, which is $100,000 per share of
Preferred Stock. These dividends will be payable on the
following dates, or Dividend Payment Dates:
(1) if the Preferred Stock 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 the later of March 15, 2011 and
the date of issuance, quarterly in arrears on each
March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15 (or, in the case of this clause (2) if
such day is not a business day, the next business day). We refer
to the period from and including the date of issuance of the
Preferred Stock or any Dividend Payment Date to but excluding
the next Dividend Payment Date as a Dividend
Period. For any Dividend Period ending prior to
March 15, 2011, dividends will accrue at a rate per
annum equal to 5.80%, which is the same rate as the combined
rate at which Contract Payments and interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes would have accrued, and for any Dividend
Period ending after March 15, 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%. In the case that any date on which
dividends are payable on the Preferred Stock is not a business
day, then payment of the dividend payable on that date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a business day. However,
no interest or other payment shall be paid in respect of the
delay. The record date for payment of dividends on the Preferred
Stock will be the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls. The amount
of dividends payable for any Dividend
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Period prior to the later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock
Purchase Date will be calculated on the basis of a
360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day months
and dividends for periods beginning on or after such date will
be calculated on the basis of a
360-day year and the
number of days actually elapsed.
Three-Month LIBOR means, with respect to any
Dividend Period beginning on or after the later of
March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date, the rate
(expressed as a percentage per annum) for deposits in
U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the
first day of that Dividend Period that appears on Telerate
Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the second
London Banking Day preceding the first day of that Dividend
Period. If the rate described above does not appear on Telerate
Page 3750, Three-Month LIBOR will be determined on the
basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars for a
three-month period commencing on the first day of that Dividend
Period and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 are
offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four
major banks in the London interbank market selected by us, at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the second London
Banking Day preceding the first day of that Dividend Period.
Wachovia Bank, N.A., as calculation agent for the Preferred
Stock, will request the principal London office of each of such
banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two such
quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR with respect to that
Dividend Period will be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward if
necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of such quotations. If
fewer than two quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR with
respect to that Dividend Period will be the arithmetic mean
(rounded upward if necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of the
rates quoted by three major banks in New York, New York,
selected by the calculation agent, at approximately
11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first day of that
Dividend Period for loans in U.S. dollars to leading
European banks for a three-month period commencing on the first
day of that Dividend Period and in a principal amount of not
less than $1,000,000. However, if the banks selected by the
calculation agent to provide quotations are not quoting as
described above, Three-Month LIBOR for that Dividend Period will
be the same as Three-Month LIBOR as determined for the previous
Dividend Period, or in the case of the first Dividend Period,
the most recent rate that could have been determined in
accordance with the first sentence of this paragraph had the
Preferred Stock been outstanding. The calculation agents
establishment of Three-Month LIBOR and calculation of the amount
of dividends for each Dividend Period will be on file at our
principal offices, will be made available to any holder of
Preferred Stock upon request and will be final and binding in
the absence of manifest error.
London Banking Day means any day on which
commercial banks are open for general business (including
dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars) in London.
Telerate Page 3750 means the display
page so designated on the Moneyline/ Telerate Service (or such
other page as may replace that page on that service, or such
other service as may be nominated as the information vendor, for
the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to the
London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. dollar deposits).
The right of holders of Preferred Stock to receive dividends is
non-cumulative. If our board of directors does not declare a
dividend on the Preferred Stock or declares less than a full
dividend in respect of any Dividend Period, the holders of the
Preferred Stock will have no right to receive any dividend or a
full dividend, as the case may be, for that Dividend Period, and
we 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 Preferred Stock, Parity Stock, Junior Stock or any other
class or series of our authorized preferred stock.
When dividends are not paid in full upon the Preferred Stock 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 Preferred Stock, 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. If we determine not
to pay any dividend or a full dividend, we will provide prior
written notice to the Property Trustee, who will notify holders
of Normal WITS and Stripped WITS, if then outstanding, and the
administrative trustees.
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We have agreed not to make any payment of principal of or
interest on, repay or redeem any debt securities ranking pari
passu or junior to the junior subordinated debentures issued
under various indentures if, at that time, there is a default
under the applicable indenture or we have delayed interest
payments thereon. Currently, there is $3.1 billion
aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated debentures
outstanding under these indentures.
We are subject to various general regulatory policies and
requirements relating to the payment of dividends, including
requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory
minimums. The Federal Reserve is authorized to determine, under
certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a
bank holding company, such as us, that the payment of dividends
would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment
thereof. In addition, we are subject to North Carolina state
laws relating to the payment of dividends.
Redemption
So long as full dividends on all outstanding shares of Preferred
Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid or
declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside,
we, at the option of our board of directors, may redeem the
Preferred Stock in whole or in part at any time on or after the
later of March 15, 2011 and the Stock Purchase Date. Any
such redemption shall be at the redemption price of
$100,000 per share plus dividends that have been declared
but not paid plus accrued and unpaid dividends for the then
current Dividend Period to the redemption date. If fewer than
all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are to be
redeemed, the Preferred Stock to be redeemed will be selected
either pro rata from the holders of record of the
Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Preferred Stock
held by such holders or by lot or in such other manner as our
board of directors may determine to be fair and equitable.
Subject to this section, our board of directors will have the
full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions
upon which Preferred Stock will be redeemed from time to time.
We will mail notice of every redemption of Preferred Stock by
first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of
record of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective
last addresses appearing on our books. Such mailing will be at
least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the
date fixed for redemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, we may
give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. Any notice
mailed as provided in this paragraph will be conclusively
presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder
receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by
mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing of such
notice, to any holder of Preferred Stock designated for
redemption will not affect the redemption of any other Preferred
Stock. If we redeem the Preferred Stock, the Trust, as holder of
the Preferred Stock, will redeem the corresponding Normal WITS
as described under Description of the WITS
Mandatory Redemption of Normal WITS upon Redemption of Preferred
Stock.
Each notice shall state:
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the redemption date; |
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the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed; |
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the redemption price; |
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the place or places where the Preferred Stock are to be
redeemed; and |
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that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue
on the redemption date. |
All shares of Preferred Stock we redeem, purchase or acquire
shall be cancelled and restored to the status of authorized but
unissued shares of our authorized preferred stock, undesignated
as to series.
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Redemption or Repurchase Subject to Restrictions
At or prior to the initial issuance of the Normal WITS, we will
enter into a Declaration of Covenant, or
Declaration, relating to the Normal WITS and
the shares of Preferred Stock we will issue under the Stock
Purchase Contracts. Our covenants in the Declaration run only
to the benefit of holders of Covered Debt, as defined below, and
are not enforceable by holders of WITS or Preferred Stock.
However, those covenants could preclude us from repurchasing
WITS or redeeming or repurchasing shares of Preferred Stock at a
time we might otherwise wish to repurchase WITS or redeem or
repurchase shares of Preferred Stock.
In the Declaration, we covenant to repurchase the WITS or redeem
or repurchase shares of Preferred Stock only if and to the
extent that the total redemption or repurchase price is equal to
or less than the sum, as of the date of redemption or
repurchase, of (i) 133.33% of the aggregate net cash
proceeds we or our subsidiaries have received during the
180 days prior to such date from the issuance and sale of
common stock of Wachovia plus (ii) 100% of the
aggregate net cash we or our subsidiaries have received during
the 180 days prior to such date from the issuance of other
securities or combinations of securities that, among other
things, are:
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with limited exceptions (including for certain hybrid securities
that are in form debt), pari passu with or junior to the
Preferred Stock upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up; |
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perpetual, or have a mandatory redemption or maturity date that
is not less than 40 years after the date of initial
issuance of such securities; and |
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provide for dividends or other distributions that are either
non-cumulative or, if cumulative, are subject to certain
optional or mandatory deferral provisions and certain explicit
replacement provisions. |
The Federal Reserve has not approved as a tier 1 capital
instrument, in connection with the issuance of the Normal WITS,
any security or combination of securities having a mandatory
deferral provision and there can be no assurance that the
Federal Reserve at any future date will approve as a tier 1
capital instrument any security or combination of securities
having a mandatory deferral provision.
Our ability to raise proceeds from qualifying securities during
the six months prior to a proposed redemption or repurchase will
depend on, among other things, market conditions at such times
as well as the acceptability to prospective investors of the
terms of such qualifying securities.
Our covenants in the Declaration run in favor of persons that
buy, hold or sell our indebtedness during the period that such
indebtedness is Covered Debt, which is
currently comprised of our Floating Rate Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures Due January 15, 2027, owned
of record by Wachovia Capital Trust II, the trust preferred
securities of which have CUSIP No. 929768AA7. Other debt
will replace our Covered Debt under the Declaration on the
earlier to occur of (i) the date two years prior to the
maturity of such existing Covered Debt or (ii) the date we
give notice of a redemption of such existing Covered Debt such
that the date such existing Covered Debt is repurchased in such
an amount that the outstanding principal amount of such existing
Covered Debt is or will become less than $100 million.
The Declaration is subject to various additional terms and
conditions and this description is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Declaration, a copy of the form of which is
available upon request from us. The Declaration may be
terminated if the holders of at least 51% by principal amount of
each of the Covered Debt so agree, or if we no longer have
outstanding any long-term indebtedness that qualifies as Covered
Debt, without regard to whether such indebtedness is rated by a
nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
Subject to the Declaration and the terms of any preferred stock
ranking senior to the Preferred Stock or of any outstanding debt
instruments, we or our affiliates may from time to time purchase
any outstanding shares of Preferred Stock by tender, in the open
market or by private agreement.
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Rights upon Liquidation
In the event of Wachovias voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of the
Preferred Stock 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
authorized, declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current
Dividend Period to the date of liquidation, out of our assets
legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before
any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any
securities ranking junior to the Preferred Stock and subject to
the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities
ranking senior to or on parity with the Preferred Stock upon
liquidation and the rights of our depositors and other
creditors. If the amounts available for distribution upon our
liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up are not
sufficient to satisfy the full liquidation rights of all the
outstanding Preferred Stock and all stock ranking equal to the
Preferred Stock, then the holders of each series of Preferred
Stock 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 Preferred Stock will not be
entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our
assets.
For such purposes, our consolidation or merger with or into any
other entity, the consolidation or merger of any other entity
with or into us, or the sale of all or substantially all of our
property or business, will not be deemed to constitute our
liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up.
We have agreed not to make a liquidation payment relating to any
of our capital stock, including the Preferred Stock, if, at that
time, there are one or more defaults under various indentures or
related guarantees from us or we have delayed interest payments
on the junior subordinated debentures issued thereunder.
Currently, there is $3.1 billion aggregate principal amount
of junior subordinated debentures outstanding under these
indentures.
Voting
Holders of the Preferred Stock 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.
Mandatory Voting Rights under North Carolina Law.
North Carolina law attaches mandatory voting rights to classes
or series of shares that are affected by certain amendments to
the Articles of Incorporation, whether made by filing articles
of amendment or by a merger or share exchange. The holders of
the outstanding shares of a class or series are entitled to vote
as a separate voting group on any amendment that would:
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change the aggregate number of authorized shares of that class
or series; |
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effect an exchange or reclassification of any shares of that
class or series into shares of another class or series; |
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effect an exchange (or create a right of exchange) or
reclassification of any shares of another class or series into
shares of that class or series; |
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change the designation, rights, preferences, or limitations of
any shares of that class or series; |
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change any shares of that class or series into a different
number of shares of the same class or series; |
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create a new class or series of shares having rights or
preferences with respect to distributions or to dissolution that
are prior, superior, or substantially equal to the shares of
that class or series; |
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increase the rights, preferences or number of authorized shares
of any class or series that, after giving effect to the
amendment, would have rights or preferences with respect to
distributions or to dissolution that are prior, superior, or
substantially equal to the shares of that class or series; |
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limit or deny an existing preemptive right of any shares of that
class or series; |
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cancel or otherwise affect rights to distributions or dividends
that have accumulated but not yet been declared on any shares of
that class or series; or |
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change the corporation into a nonprofit corporation or a
cooperative organization. |
These mandatory voting rights apply regardless of whether the
change is favorable or unfavorable to the affected shares.
Shares of two or more series of the same class must vote
together as a single group with respect to any proposed
amendment that would affect them in the same or a substantially
similar manner. A mandatory voting right is also given to a
class or series of shares for approval of a share dividend
payable in the shares of that class or series on the shares of
another class or series. If the Preferred Stock is required to
vote as provided above, the Trust, as holder of the Preferred
Stock, will vote the shares of Preferred Stock on such matter.
Although holders of Normal WITS and Stripped WITS, if then
outstanding, will not be entitled to vote on such matter, as
holder of the Preferred Stock, the Property Trustee will not
vote for or consent to any action or amendment with respect to
which it is entitled to vote or consent without the consent of
the holders of not less than a majority of the Normal WITS and
Stripped WITS at the time outstanding, voting together as a
single class. See Description of the WITS
Voting Rights; Amendment of the Trust Agreement.
Shares of Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote after notice
of redemption is given to the holders and a sum sufficient to
redeem the shares has been deposited with a bank, trust company,
or other financial institution under an irrevocable obligation
to pay the holders the redemption price on surrender of the
shares.
Form
The Preferred Stock will be issued only in fully registered
form. No fractional shares will be issued unless the Trust is
dissolved and we deliver the shares, rather than depositary
receipts representing the shares, to the registered holders of
the Normal WITS, or Stripped WITS if then outstanding. If the
Trust is dissolved after the Stock Purchase Date and depositary
receipts or shares of Preferred Stock are distributed to holders
of Normal WITS, or Stripped WITS if then outstanding, we would
intend to distribute them in book-entry form only and the
procedures governing holding and transferring beneficial
interests in the Preferred Stock, and the circumstance in which
holders of beneficial interests will be entitled to receive
certificates evidencing their shares or depositary receipts,
will be as described under Book-Entry System below.
Title
We, the transfer agent and registrar for the Preferred Stock,
and any of their agents may treat the registered owner of the
Preferred Stock, which shall be the Property Trustee unless and
until the Trust is dissolved, as the absolute owner of that
stock, whether or not any payment for the Preferred Stock shall
be overdue and despite any notice to the contrary, for any
purpose.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
If the Trust is dissolved after the Stock Purchase Date and the
shares of Preferred Stock or depositary receipts representing
Preferred Stock are distributed to holders of Normal WITS, or
Stripped WITS if then outstanding, we may appoint a transfer
agent, registrar and dividend disbursement agent for the
Preferred Stock. The registrar for the Preferred Stock will send
notices to stockholders of any meetings at which holders of
Preferred Stock have the right to vote on any matter.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK OF WACHOVIA CORPORATION
Pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation, our authorized
capital stock consists of 3,550,000,000 shares, of which:
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3,000,000,000 shares are designated as common stock,
1,553,000,000 shares of which were outstanding as of
September 30, 2005; |
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10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, no par
value, none of which were outstanding as of September 30,
2005; |
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40,000,000 shares are designated as Class A preferred
stock, no par value, none of which were outstanding as of
September 30, 2005; and |
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500,000,000 shares are designated as Dividend Equalization
Preferred shares, no par value, 97,000,000 of which were
outstanding as of September 30, 2005. |
Common Stock
General
Our authorized common stock consists of
3,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
$3.331/3
per share. As of September 30, 2005,
1,553,000,000 shares of common stock were issued and
outstanding.
Subject to the prior rights of any of our preferred
stockholders, Class A preferred stockholders and depositary
shareholders then outstanding, our common stockholders are
entitled to receive such dividends as our board of directors may
declare out of funds legally available for these payments. In
the event of liquidation or dissolution, our common stockholders
are entitled to receive our net assets remaining after paying
all liabilities and after paying all of our preferred
stockholders, Class A preferred stockholders, holders of
our Dividend Equalization Preferred shares and depositary
shareholders the full preferential amounts to which those
holders are entitled.
Subject to the prior rights of any of our preferred
stockholders, Class A preferred stockholders and depositary
shareholders, our common stockholders have all voting rights,
each share being entitled to one vote on all matters requiring
stockholder action and in electing directors. Our common
stockholders have no preemptive, subscription or conversion
rights. All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are
fully paid and nonassessable.
Rights Plan
Under our Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, each
outstanding common stock share has a right attached to it. This
right remains attached unless a separation time occurs. At
separation time, common stockholders will receive separate
certificates for these rights. Each right entitles its owner to
purchase at separation time one one-hundredth of a share of a
participating series of Class A preferred stock for $105.
This series of Class A preferred stock would have economic
and voting terms similar to those of one common stock share.
Separation time would generally occur at the earlier of the
following two dates:
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the tenth business day after any person commences a tender or
exchange offer that, if completed, would entitle that person to
10% or more of our outstanding common stock or |
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the tenth business day after we publicly announce that a person
has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of our
outstanding common stock. |
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These rights will not trade separately from the shares of common
stock until the separation time occurs, and may be exercised on
the business day immediately after the separation time. The
rights will expire at the earliest of:
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the date on which our board of directors elects to exchange the
rights for our common stock shares as described below, |
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the close of business on December 28, 2010, unless extended
by our board of directors, or |
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the date on which the rights are terminated as described below. |
Once we publicly announce that a person has acquired 10% of our
outstanding common stock, we can allow for rights holders to buy
our common stock for half of its market value. For example, we
would sell to each rights holder common stock shares worth $210
for $105 in cash. At the same time, any rights held by the 10%
owner or any of its affiliates, associates or transferees will
be void. In addition, if we are acquired in a merger or other
business combination after a person has become a 10% owner, the
rights held by stockholders would become exercisable to purchase
the acquiring companys common stock for half of its market
value.
In the alternative, our board of directors may elect to exchange
all of the then outstanding rights for shares of common stock at
an exchange ratio of two common stock shares for one right. Upon
election of this exchange, a right will no longer be exercisable
and will only represent a right to receive two common stock
shares.
If we are required to issue common stock shares upon the
exercise of rights, or in exchange for rights, the board may
substitute shares of participating Class A preferred stock.
The substitution will be at a rate of two one-hundredths of a
share of participating Class A preferred stock for each
right exchanged.
The rights may be terminated without any payment to holders
before their exercise date. The rights have no voting rights and
are not entitled to dividends.
The rights will not prevent a takeover of us. The rights,
however, may cause substantial dilution to a person or group
that acquires 10% or more of common stock unless our board first
terminates the rights. Nevertheless, the rights should not
interfere with a transaction that is in our and our
stockholders best interests because the rights can be
terminated by the board before that transaction is completed.
The Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement containing complete
terms of the rights is described in our Annual Report
on 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, which is incorporated
by reference in this prospectus, and the description above is
qualified entirely by that document. A copy of this agreement
can be obtained upon written request to Wachovia Bank, N.A.,
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, North Carolina
28288-1153.
Other Provisions
Our Articles of Incorporation and bylaws contain various
provisions which may discourage or delay attempts to gain
control of us. Our Articles of Incorporation include provisions:
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classifying the board of directors into three classes, each
class to serve for three years, with one class elected annually; |
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authorizing the board of directors to fix the size of the board
between nine and 30 directors; |
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authorizing directors to fill vacancies on the board occurring
between annual stockholder meetings, except that vacancies
resulting from a directors removal by a stockholder vote
may only be filled by a stockholder vote; |
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providing that directors may be removed only for a valid reason
and only by majority vote of shares entitled to vote in electing
directors, voting as a single class; |
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authorizing only the board of directors, our Chairman or
President to call a special meeting of stockholders, except for
special meetings called under special circumstances for classes
or series of stock ranking superior to common stock; and |
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requiring an 80% stockholder vote by holders entitled to vote in
electing directors, voting as a single class, to alter any of
the above provisions. |
Our bylaws include specific conditions under which business may
be transacted at annual stockholders meetings, and persons
may be nominated for election as our directors at annual
stockholders meetings.
The Change in Bank Control Act prohibits a person or group of
persons from acquiring control of a bank holding
company unless:
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the Federal Reserve has been given 60 days prior
written notice of the proposed acquisition; and |
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within that time period, the Federal Reserve has not issued a
notice disapproving the proposed acquisition or extending for up
to another 30 days the period during which such a
disapproval may be issued; |
or unless the acquisition otherwise requires Federal Reserve
approval. An acquisition may be made before expiration of the
disapproval period if the Federal Reserve issues written notice
that it intends not to disapprove the action. It is generally
assumed that the acquisition of more than 10% of a class of
voting stock of a bank holding company with publicly held
securities, such as us, would constitute the acquisition of
control.
In addition, any company would be required to obtain
Federal Reserve approval before acquiring 25% or more of our
outstanding common stock. If the acquirer is a bank holding
company, this approval is required before acquiring 5% of the
outstanding common stock. Obtaining control over us
would also require Federal Reserve prior approval.
Control generally means
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the ownership or control of 25% or more of a bank holding
company voting securities class, |
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the ability to elect a majority of the bank holding
companys directors, or |
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the ability otherwise to exercise a controlling influence over
the bank holding companys management and policies. |
Two North Carolina shareholder protection statutes adopted in
1987, The North Carolina Shareholder Protection Act and The
North Carolina Control Share Acquisition Act, allowed North
Carolina corporations to elect to either be covered or not be
covered by these statutes. We elected not to be covered by these
statutes.
In addition, in certain instances the ability of our board to
issue authorized but unissued shares of common stock, preferred
stock or Class A preferred stock may have an anti-takeover
effect.
Existence of the above provisions could result in us being less
attractive to a potential acquirer, or result in our
stockholders receiving less for their shares of common stock
than otherwise might be available if there is a takeover attempt.
Preferred Stock and Class A Preferred Stock
Our authorized preferred stock consists of
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value,
40,000,000 shares of Class A preferred stock, no par
value, and 500,000,000 Dividend Equalization Preferred shares,
no par value. As of September 30, 2005, no shares of
preferred stock and no shares of Class A preferred stock
were issued and outstanding, and approximately 97 million
Dividend Equalization
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Preferred shares were issued and outstanding in connection with
the merger of the former Wachovia Corporation and First Union
Corporation.
Under our Articles of Incorporation, the preferred stock and the
Class A preferred stock may be issued from time to time in
one or more series, upon board authorization and without
stockholder approval. Within certain legal limits, the board is
authorized to determine the voting powers, designation,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including
any dividend rights, conversion rights, exchange rights,
redemption rights, liquidation preferences, voting rights and
the designation and number of shares and the terms and
conditions of their issuance of any series of preferred stock or
Class A preferred stock. Our board of directors, without
stockholder approval, could authorize preferred stock or
Class A preferred stock to be issued with voting,
conversion and other rights that could adversely affect the
voting power and other rights of common stockholders or other
outstanding series of preferred stock or Class A preferred
stock.
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BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
The Depository Trust Company, which we refer to along with its
successors in this capacity as DTC, will act
as securities depositary for the WITS. The WITS will be issued
only as fully registered securities registered in the name of
Cede & Co. (DTCs partnership nominee) or such
other name as may be requested by an authorized representative
of DTC. One or more fully registered global security
certificates, representing the total aggregate number of each
class of WITS, will be issued and will be deposited with DTC and
will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and
registration of transfer referred to below. Immediately prior to
the Remarketing Settlement Date or such other time as the Junior
Subordinated Notes may be held by persons other than the
Property Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Custodial Agent,
one or more fully registered global security certificates,
representing the total aggregate principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes, will be issued and will be deposited with
DTC and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on
exchanges and registration of transfer referred to below.
Likewise, in the event the Trust is dissolved after the Stock
Purchase Date and prior to the redemption of the Preferred
Stock, one or more fully registered global security
certificates, representing the total aggregate number of shares
of Preferred Stock, or if we issue depositary receipts to
evidence the Preferred Stock in such circumstances, the total
aggregate number of depositary receipts, will be issued and will
be deposited with DTC and will bear a legend regarding the
restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer referred
to below.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers
of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive
form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial
interests in WITS, Preferred Stock or Junior Subordinated Notes,
so long as the corresponding securities are represented by
global security certificates.
DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company
organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking
organization within the meaning of the New York
Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a
clearing corporation within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing agency
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the
Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit
with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among
participants of sales and other securities transactions,
including transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through
electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants
accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
securities certificates. Participants include securities brokers
and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and
certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its
direct participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.,
the American Stock Exchange LLC and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTCs system is also
available to others, including securities brokers and dealers,
banks and trust companies that clear transactions through or
maintain a direct or indirect custodial relationship with a
participant. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants
are on file with the SEC.
Persons that are not participants or indirect participants but
desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or
other interests in, securities may do so only through
participants and indirect participants. Under a book-entry
format, holders may experience some delay in their receipt of
payments, as such payments will be forwarded by our designated
agent to Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. DTC will
forward such payments to its participants, who will then forward
them to indirect participants or holders. Beneficial owners
other than DTC or its nominee will not be recognized by the
relevant registrar, transfer agent, paying agent or trustee as
registered holders of the securities entitled to the benefits of
the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee or the Indenture or,
in the case of the Preferred Stock, entitled to the rights of
holders thereof under our Articles of Incorporation. Beneficial
owners that are not participants will be permitted to exercise
their rights only indirectly through and according to the
procedures of participants and, if applicable, indirect
participants.
In the event that:
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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
securities depositary for the global security certificates and
no successor securities depositary has been appointed within
90 days after this notice, |
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DTC at any time ceases to be a clearing agency registered under
the Exchange Act when DTC is required to be so registered to act
as the securities depositary and no successor securities
depositary has been appointed within 90 days after we learn
that DTC has ceased to be so registered, |
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an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the
instrument governing the securities, or |
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we, in our sole discretion, determine that the global security
certificates shall be so exchangeable, |
certificates for the relevant class or classes of securities
will be printed and delivered in exchange for beneficial
interests in the global security certificates. Any global
security that is exchangeable under the preceding sentence will
be exchangeable for securities registered in such names as DTC
directs. We expect that these instructions will be based upon
directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to
ownership of beneficial interests in the global security
certificates.
Upon the occurrence of any event described in the above
paragraph, DTC is generally required to notify all participants
of the availability of definitive securities. Upon DTC
surrendering the global security representing the securities and
delivery of instructions for re-registration, the relevant
registrar and transfer agent will reissue the securities as
definitive securities, and then such persons will recognize the
holders of such definitive securities as registered holders of
securities entitled to the benefits of the instrument or
instruments governing the securities or, in the case of the
Preferred Stock, entitled to the rights of holders thereof under
our Articles of Incorporation.
As long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the
global security certificates, DTC or its nominee, as the case
may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the
global security certificates and all securities represented by
these certificates for all purposes under the instruments
governing the rights and obligations of holders of such
securities. Except in the limited circumstances referred to
above, owners of beneficial interests in global security
certificates:
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will not be entitled to have such global security certificates
or the securities represented by these certificates registered
in their names, |
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will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
securities certificates in exchange for beneficial interests in
global security certificates, and |
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will not be considered to be owners or holders of the global
security certificates or any securities represented by these
certificates for any purpose under the instruments governing the
rights and obligations of holders of such securities. |
All payments on the securities represented by the global
security certificates and all transfers and deliveries of such
securities will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may
be, as the registered holder of the securities.
Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security
certificates will be limited to participants or persons that may
hold beneficial interests through institutions that have
accounts with DTC or its nominee. Ownership of beneficial
interests in global security certificates will be shown only on,
and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected
only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee, with
respect to participants interests, or any participant,
with respect to interests of persons held by the participant on
their behalf. Procedures for exchanges of Normal WITS and
Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS and vice versa prior to the Remarketing Settlement Date,
the redemption of the Capital WITS in exchange for Junior
Subordinated Notes in connection with a successful Remarketing,
the exchange of Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities
for Stripped WITS, the disposition of Capital WITS in connection
with a successful Remarketing and the Stripped WITS
automatically becoming Normal WITS will be governed by
arrangements among DTC, participants and persons that may hold
beneficial interests through participants designed to permit
settlement without the physical movement of certificates.
Payments, transfers, deliveries, exchanges, redemptions and
other matters relating to beneficial interests in global security
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certificates may be subject to various policies and procedures
adopted by DTC from time to time. None of us, the Collateral
Agent, the Custodial Agent, the trustees of the Trust, the
Indenture Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee, or any agent for us
or any of them, will have any responsibility or liability for
any aspect of DTCs or any participants records
relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial
interests in global security certificates, or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any of DTCs records or any
participants records relating to these beneficial
ownership interests.
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to
facilitate transfer of interests in the global security
certificates among participants, DTC is under no obligation to
perform or continue to perform these procedures, and these
procedures may be discontinued at any time. We will not have any
responsibility for the performance by DTC or its direct
participants or indirect participants under the rules and
procedures governing DTC.
Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and
affecting DTC and its operations as currently in effect, DTC
will be required to make book-entry transfers of securities
among participants and to receive and transmit payments to
participants. DTCs rules require participants and indirect
participants with which beneficial securities owners have
accounts to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit
payments on behalf of their respective account holders.
Because DTC can act only on behalf of
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participants, who in turn act only on behalf of participants or
indirect participants, and |
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certain banks, trust companies and other persons approved by it, |
the ability of a beneficial owner of securities issued in global
form to pledge such securities to persons or entities that do
not participate in the DTC system may be limited due to the
unavailability of physical certificates for these securities.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a registered holder of any securities under the
Trust Agreement, the Guarantee, the Collateral Agreement,
the Indenture or our Articles of Incorporation, only at the
direction of one or more participants to whose accounts with DTC
the relevant securities are credited.
Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. as the
registered holder of the global securities. If less than all of
a series of securities are being redeemed, DTC will determine
the amount of the interest of each direct participant to be
redeemed in accordance with its then current procedures.
Except as described above, the global securities for any class
of securities may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to
a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another
nominee of DTC or to a successor depositary we appoint. Except
as described above, DTC may not sell, assign, transfer or
otherwise convey any beneficial interest in a global security
evidencing all or part of any securities unless the beneficial
interest is in an amount equal to an authorized denomination for
these securities.
The information in this section concerning DTC and its
book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we and the
trustees of the Trust believe to be accurate, but we assume no
responsibility for the accuracy thereof. None of us, the Trust,
the trustees of the Trust, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial
Agent, any registrar and transfer agent, any paying agent or any
agent of any of us or them, will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of DTCs or any participants
records relating to, or for payments made on account of,
beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
interests.
Secondary trading in notes and debentures of corporate issuers
is generally settled in clearinghouse or next-day funds. In
contrast, beneficial interests in a global security, in some
cases, may trade in DTCs same-day funds settlement system,
in which secondary market trading activity in those beneficial
interests would be required by DTC to settle in immediately
available funds. There is no assurance as to the effect, if any,
that settlement in immediately available funds would have on
trading activity in such beneficial interests. Also, settlement
for purchases of beneficial interests in a global security upon
its original issuance may be required to be made in immediately
available funds.
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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion summarizes certain of the
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase,
beneficial ownership and disposition of WITS. This summary deals
only with the beneficial owner of a WITS that is:
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a citizen or resident of the United States, |
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a corporation (or other entity that is treated as a corporation
for U.S. federal tax purposes) created or organized in or
under the laws of the United States or any State thereof
(including the District of Columbia), |
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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income taxation regardless of its source, or |
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a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise
primary supervision over its administration, and one or more
U.S. persons (as determined for U.S. federal income
tax purposes) have the authority to control all of its
substantial decisions (each, a
U.S. holder). |
This summary is based on interpretations of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the Code),
regulations issued thereunder, and rulings and decisions
currently in effect (or in some cases proposed), all of which
are subject to change. Any such change may be applied
retroactively and may adversely affect the U.S. federal
income tax consequences described herein. This summary addresses
only U.S. holders that purchase Normal WITS at initial
issuance, and own WITS as capital assets. This summary does not
discuss all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to
particular investors or to investors subject to special
treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:
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securities dealers or brokers, or traders in securities electing
mark-to-market
treatment; |
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banks, thrifts, or other financial institutions; |
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insurance companies, regulated investment companies or real
estate investment trusts; |
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small business investment companies or S corporations; |
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investors that hold their WITS through a partnership or other
entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal
tax purposes; |
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investors whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
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retirement plans or other tax-exempt entities, or persons
holding the WITS in tax-deferred or tax-advantaged accounts; |
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investors holding WITS as part of a straddle or a
conversion transaction for U.S. federal income
tax purposes or as part of some other integrated
investment; or |
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investors subject to the alternative minimum tax. |
This summary also does not address the tax consequences to
shareholders, or other equity holders in, or beneficiaries of, a
holder, or any state, local or foreign tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership or disposition of the WITS. Persons
considering the purchase of WITS should consult their own tax
advisors concerning the application of U.S. federal income
tax laws to their particular situations as well as any
consequences of the purchase, beneficial ownership and
disposition of WITS arising under the laws of any other taxing
jurisdiction.
If you are not a U.S. holder, the following discussion does
not apply to you and you should consult your own tax advisor.
Classification of the Trust
Assuming full compliance with the terms of the
Trust Agreement, in the opinion of Cadwalader,
Wickersham & Taft LLP, the Trust will not be classified
as an association or a publicly traded partnership
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taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. The Trust intends to treat itself as one or more
grantor trusts and/or agency arrangements. By purchasing a WITS,
you will be required to agree to treat the Trust as one or more
grantor trusts and/or agency arrangements. Under this treatment,
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you will be treated
as purchasing or owning an undivided beneficial ownership
interest in the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Qualifying Treasury Securities, the
interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A. and/or the
Preferred Stock, as the case may be, and will be required to
take into account your pro rata share of all the items of
income, gain, loss, or deduction of the Trust corresponding to
the class or classes of WITS certificates you own, each as
described below. The character of the income included by you as
a holder of WITS generally will reflect the character of the
Trusts income.
Although the Trust intends to treat itself as one or more
grantor trusts and/or agency arrangements, it is possible that
the portion of a Stripped WITS that represents an interest in
the Qualifying Treasury Securities could be treated as a
partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We do not
expect such treatment to materially change your
U.S. federal income tax treatment with respect to the WITS.
The balance of this summary assumes that the Trust is treated as
one or more grantor trusts and/or agency agreements.
Taxation of a Normal WITS
Each Normal WITS will be treated for U.S. federal income
tax purposes as an undivided beneficial ownership interest in
(a) the corresponding $1,000 principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes and (b) the corresponding
1/100th fractional interest in a Stock Purchase Contract,
which represents the right to receive Contract Payments and the
obligation to purchase one share of Preferred Stock on the Stock
Purchase Date. Consequently, you should allocate your purchase
price for the Normal WITS between your beneficial ownership
interests in the two components in proportion to their
respective fair market values at the time of purchase. This
allocation will establish your initial U.S. federal income
tax basis in your interest in the underlying Junior Subordinated
Notes and Stock Purchase Contracts. We will treat the fair
market value of the $1,000 principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes corresponding to one Normal WITS as $1,000
and the fair market value of a 1/100th fractional interest
in a Stock Purchase Contract corresponding to one Normal WITS as
$0 at the time of purchase. Holders of Normal WITS, by
purchasing a WITS, will be required to agree to this allocation.
This allocation is not, however, binding on the Internal Revenue
Service (the IRS). The remainder of this
summary assumes that this allocation of the purchase price will
be respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Taxation of the Junior Subordinated Notes
Treatment of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The
Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as our indebtedness
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We intend to treat the
Junior Subordinated Notes as variable rate debt
instruments that are subject to the Treasury regulations
that apply to reset bonds and which are issued with
no more than a de minimis amount of original issue
discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consistent with
this treatment, we intend to treat the Junior Subordinated
Notes, solely for purposes of the original issue discount rules
of the Code, as if they mature on the date immediately preceding
the Remarketing Settlement Date for an amount equal to the
Remarketing Value. As a result, we intend to treat the Junior
Subordinated Notes as issued with no more than a de minimis
amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. However, there are no regulations, rulings or
other authorities that address the U.S. federal income tax
treatment of debt instruments that are substantially similar to
the Junior Subordinated Notes, and therefore the
U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Junior
Subordinated Notes is unclear. See Possible
Alternative Characterizations and Treatments below.
By purchasing a Normal WITS, you agree to treat the Junior
Subordinated Notes as described above, unless the IRS requires
you to treat the Junior Subordinated Notes differently. The
balance of this summary generally assumes that the Junior
Subordinated Notes are so treated. However, different treatments
are possible. See Possible Alternative
Characterizations and Treatments below.
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Interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes. We
intend to treat stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
as ordinary interest income that is includible in your gross
income at the time the interest is paid or accrued, in
accordance with your regular method of tax accounting. However,
if we exercise our right to defer payments of stated interest on
the Junior Subordinated Notes, we intend to treat the Junior
Subordinated Notes as reissued, solely for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, with original issue discount, and you would
generally be required to accrue such original issue discount as
ordinary income using a constant yield method prescribed by
Treasury regulations. As a result, the income that you would be
required to accrue would exceed the interest payments that you
would actually receive.
Tax Basis in the Junior Subordinated Notes. Under
the treatment described above, your tax basis in the Junior
Subordinated Notes will generally be equal to the portion of the
purchase price for the Normal WITS allocated to your interest in
the Junior Subordinated Notes (as described in
Taxation of a Normal WITS). However, if
stated interest payments are deferred so that the Junior
Subordinated Notes are deemed to be reissued with original issue
discount, your tax basis in the Junior Subordinated Notes would
be increased by the amounts of accrued original issue discount,
and decreased by all payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes
after such deemed reissuance.
Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. You will recognize gain or loss on a
sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of your interest in
the Junior Subordinated Notes upon the sale or other taxable
disposition of your Normal WITS or Capital WITS or upon a
successful Remarketing of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The
gain or loss that you recognize will be equal to the difference
between the portion of the proceeds allocable to your interest
in the Junior Subordinated Notes (less any accrued and unpaid
interest) and your adjusted U.S. federal income tax basis
in your interest in your Junior Subordinated Notes. Selling
expenses (including the remarketing fee) incurred by you should
reduce the amount of gain or increase the amount of loss you
recognize upon a disposition of your interest in the Junior
Subordinated Notes.
Any gain that is recognized by you upon a sale, exchange or
other taxable disposition of the Junior Subordinated Notes
generally will be capital gain or loss, which will be long-term
capital gain or loss if you held your interest in the Junior
Subordinated Notes for more than one year immediately prior to
such disposition. The deductibility of capital losses is subject
to limitations.
Possible Alternative Characterizations and
Treatments. As mentioned above, there are no
regulations, rulings or other authorities that address the U.S.
federal income tax treatment of debt instruments that are
substantially similar to the Junior Subordinated Notes, and
therefore the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Junior
Subordinated Notes is unclear and other alternative
characterizations and treatments are possible. For example, it
is possible that the Junior Subordinated Notes could be treated
as contingent payment debt instruments. In that
event, you would be required to accrue original issue discount
income based on the comparable yield of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. In general, the comparable yield of the
Junior Subordinated Notes would be the rate at which we would
issue a fixed rate debt instrument with terms and conditions
similar to the Junior Subordinated Notes. It is possible that
the comparable yield of the Junior Subordinated Notes could
exceed the stated interest rate, in which case you may be
required to include in income amounts in excess of the stated
interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition,
if the Junior Subordinated Notes are treated as contingent
payment debt instruments, any gain that you would recognize upon
a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the Junior
Subordinated Notes would generally be treated as ordinary
interest income. Alternatively, even if the Junior Subordinated
Notes are not treated as contingent payment debt
instruments, they could be treated as issued with more
than a de minimis amount of original issue discount and you
could be required to accrue such original issue discount
(regardless of your method of accounting) at a rate that exceeds
stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes. You should
consult your tax advisor concerning alternative
characterizations and treatments of the Junior Subordinated
Notes.
109
Taxation of the Stock Purchase Contracts
There is no direct authority under current law that addresses
the treatment of the Contract Payments, and their treatment is,
therefore, unclear. We intend to report the Contract Payments as
ordinary taxable income to you. Under this treatment, you should
include the Contract Payments in income when received or
accrued, in accordance with your regular method of tax
accounting. The following discussion assumes that the Contract
Payments are so treated. However, other treatments are possible.
You should consult your tax advisor concerning the treatment of
the Contract Payments.
If we exercise our right to defer any Contract Payments and
issue subordinated notes to the Trust in satisfaction of the
Contract Payments, you should generally accrue original issue
discount on the subordinated notes equal to the interest rate on
the subordinated notes, regardless of your method of tax
accounting and before receipt of that interest.
If you dispose of a Normal WITS or Stripped WITS when the Stock
Purchase Contracts have positive value, you will generally
recognize gain equal to the sale proceeds allocable to the Stock
Purchase Contracts. If you dispose of a Normal WITS or Stripped
WITS when the Stock Purchase Contracts have negative value, you
should generally recognize loss with respect to the Stock
Purchase Contracts equal to the negative value of your interest
in the Stock Purchase Contracts and should be considered to have
received additional consideration for your interest in the
Junior Subordinated Notes or Qualifying Treasury Securities, as
the case may be, in an amount equal to such negative value. Gain
or loss from the disposition of your interest in the Stock
Purchase Contracts (upon your disposition of Normal WITS or
Stripped WITS) generally will be capital gain or loss, and such
gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if
you held the WITS for more than one year at the time of such
disposition. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
limitations.
Taxation of the Interest-Bearing Deposit with Wachovia Bank,
N.A.
The interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N. A. will be
treated as a short-term obligation for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. Interest payable on the interest-bearing deposit
will be treated as acquisition discount for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. If you are a cash basis
taxpayer, you will report this acquisition discount when it is
received, unless you elect to report the acquisition discount in
income as it accrues on a straight line basis or as original
issue discount. However, if you are a cash basis taxpayer that
does not elect to report the acquisition discount in income
currently, you may be required to defer deductions for any
interest paid on indebtedness incurred or continued by you to
purchase or carry the Normal WITS until the interest on the
interest-bearing deposit is paid. If you are an accrual basis
taxpayer, you will be required to report the acquisition
discount on the interest-bearing deposit as it accrues on a
straight line basis or, if you so elect, on a constant yield
basis.
Acquisition and Taxation of the Preferred Stock
Acquisition of Preferred Stock under the Stock Purchase
Contracts. On the Stock Purchase Date, the Trust will
purchase Preferred Stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Contracts. You generally will not recognize gain or loss with
respect to your Normal WITS or Stripped WITS on the purchase by
the Trust of Preferred Stock under the Stock Purchase Contracts.
Your aggregate initial U.S. federal income tax basis in
your interest in the Preferred Stock received by the Trust under
the Stock Purchase Contracts generally should equal your
interest in the purchase price paid for such Preferred Stock
plus the amount, if any, of any Contract Payments included in
your income but not received. The holding period for Preferred
Stock received under a Stock Purchase Contract will commence on
the date following the acquisition of such Preferred Stock and,
consequently, your holding period in your interest in the
Preferred Stock (evidenced by Normal WITS) will not include the
period you held your Normal WITS prior to and including the
Stock Purchase Date.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock. Any distribution
with respect to Preferred Stock that we pay out of our current
or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for
U.S. federal income tax purposes) will constitute a
dividend and will be includible in income by you when received
by the Trust and
110
distributed to you as holder of a Normal WITS after the Stock
Purchase Date. Any such dividend will be eligible for the
dividends received deduction if you are an otherwise qualifying
corporate U.S. holder that meets the holding period and
other requirements for the dividends received deduction.
Dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. holders in taxable
years beginning before January 1, 2009 are generally
taxable at preferential rates if the holder holds its interest
in the Preferred Stock for more than 60 days during the
121-day period
beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and meets
certain other requirements. Distributions in excess of our
current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated first
as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your basis
in the Preferred Stock, and then as capital gain. Upon a
redemption by us of the Preferred Stock, you will recognize
capital gain or loss equal to the amount received over your
adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Stock. Your adjusted tax
basis in the Preferred Stock at the time of any such redemption
should generally equal your initial tax basis in the Preferred
Stock at the time of purchase, reduced by the amount of any cash
distributions that are not treated as dividends. Such capital
gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if
you held the Normal WITS for more than one year following the
Stock Purchase Date.
Disposition of Normal WITS Corresponding to Preferred
Stock. Upon a disposition after the Stock Purchase Date
of Normal WITS corresponding to Preferred Stock, you generally
will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference
between the amount realized and your adjusted tax basis in your
interest in the Preferred Stock. Such capital gain or loss
generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you held the
Normal WITS for more than one year following the Stock Purchase
Date. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
limitations.
Separation and Recreation of Normal WITS
Exchange of Normal WITS and Qualifying Treasury Securities
for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS. You will generally
not recognize gain or loss upon an exchange of Normal WITS and
Qualifying Treasury Securities for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS. You will continue to take into account items of income or
deduction otherwise includible or deductible, respectively, by
you with respect to such Qualifying Treasury Securities (as
described below) and your interest in the Junior Subordinated
Notes, as well as your interest in the Stock Purchase Contracts,
and your adjusted tax bases in and your holding period of the
Qualifying Treasury Securities and your interest in the Stock
Purchase Contracts (as evidenced by your Stripped WITS) and your
interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes (as evidenced by your
Capital WITS) will not be affected by such delivery and exchange.
Taxation of Stripped WITS. Distributions on
Stripped WITS prior to the Stock Purchase Date will consist of
Contract Payments on the corresponding interest in the Stock
Purchase Contracts and distributions of the excess of the
proceeds of maturing Qualifying Treasury Securities over the
cost of replacing those Qualifying Treasury Securities at
maturity.
The treatment of the Stock Purchase Contracts is described above
under Taxation of a Normal WITS and
Taxation of the Stock Purchase Contracts.
Taxation of the Qualifying Treasury Securities. If
you hold a Stripped WITS, upon the maturity of the Qualifying
Treasury Securities you exchanged for your Stripped WITS, the
Trust will purchase replacement Qualifying Treasury Securities.
It is expected that the Qualifying Treasury Securities
designated for the creation of Stripped WITS will have an
original term of one year or less. To the extent that the
Qualifying Treasury Securities purchased as replacement
Qualifying Treasury Securities have an original term of one year
or less, they will be treated as short-term obligations. In
general, if you are a cash basis taxpayer, you will not be
required to report your allocable share of the difference
between the amounts payable on a Qualifying Treasury Security
that is a short-term obligation over its issue price
(acquisition discount) until the amounts are paid,
unless you so elect to report the acquisition discount in income
as it accrues on a straight line basis or as original issue
discount. However, if you are a cash basis taxpayer that does
not elect to report the acquisition discount in income
currently, you may be required to defer deductions for any
interest paid on indebtedness incurred or continued by you to
purchase or carry the Stripped WITS to the extent the Qualifying
Treasury Securities constitute short-term
111
obligations until the interest on such Qualifying Treasury
Securities is paid. If you are an accrual basis taxpayer, you
will be required to report acquisition discount on a Qualifying
Treasury Security as it accrues on a straight-line basis unless
you elect to treat the acquisition discount as original issue
discount under a constant yield method.
If and to the extent that the replacement Qualifying Treasury
Securities have an original term in excess of one year, you will
be required to report your allocable share of any original issue
discount on such Qualifying Treasury Securities. Original issue
discount on the Qualifying Treasury Securities will accrue on a
constant yield method, regardless of your method of tax
accounting.
You should generally not be additionally taxed upon the
distribution of any excess of the proceeds from maturing
Qualifying Treasury Securities over the cost of replacing those
Qualifying Treasury Securities.
You should consult your tax advisor regarding your tax treatment
in respect of any Qualifying Treasury Securities, and any
elections with respect to them.
Recreation of Normal WITS. If you exchange a
Stripped WITS and a Capital WITS for a Normal WITS and the
pledged Qualifying Treasury Securities, you will generally not
recognize gain or loss upon the exchange. You will continue to
take into account items of income or deduction otherwise
includible or deductible, respectively, by you with respect to
such Qualifying Treasury Securities and Junior Subordinated
Notes, and your adjusted tax bases in and your holding period of
the Qualifying Treasury Securities and your interests in the
Junior Subordinated Notes and the Stock Purchase Contracts will
not be affected by such exchange.
Sales, Exchanges or Other Taxable Dispositions of WITS
Upon a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of a WITS,
you will be treated as having sold, exchanged or disposed of
your pro rata interest in (i) the Stock Purchase
Contracts and the Junior Subordinated Notes or the
interest-bearing deposit with Wachovia Bank, N.A. (in the case
of a Normal WITS), (ii) the Stock Purchase Contracts and
Qualifying Treasury Securities (in the case of a Stripped WITS)
or (iii) the Junior Subordinated Notes (in the case of
Capital WITS). In the case of Normal WITS or Stripped WITS, the
proceeds realized in such disposition should be allocated
between the related Stock Purchase Contracts and the related
Junior Subordinated Notes, pro rata portion of the
deposit or Qualifying Treasury Securities, as the case may be,
in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time
of disposition. In the case of Capital WITS, all of the proceeds
received in such disposition should be allocated to the related
Junior Subordinated Notes. Your treatment upon a sale, exchange
or other taxable disposition of the Junior Subordinated Notes
(upon a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of a Normal
WITS or Capital WITS) is described in Taxation
of a Normal WITS and Taxation of the
Junior Subordinated Notes Sale, Exchange or Other
Taxable Disposition of the Junior Subordinated Notes, your
treatment upon a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of
Stock Purchase Contracts (upon a sale, exchange or other taxable
disposition of a Normal WITS or Stripped WITS) is described in
Taxation of a Normal WITS and
Taxation of the Stock Purchase Contracts and
your treatment upon a sale, exchange or other taxable
disposition of the Qualifying Treasury Securities (upon a sale,
exchange or other taxable disposition of a Normal WITS or
Stripped WITS) is described in Separation and
Recreation of Normal WITS Taxation of the Qualifying
Treasury Securities.
Dissolution of the Trust
Under certain circumstances (including a termination of the
Stock Purchase Contracts), we may dissolve the Trust and
distribute the trust assets to the holders of WITS. A
distribution of trust assets (Junior Subordinated Notes,
Preferred Stock, interest in the interest-bearing deposit or
Qualifying Treasury Securities, as the case may be) to you as a
holder of WITS upon the dissolution of the Trust will not be a
taxable event to you for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
and your tax basis in the Junior Subordinated Notes, Qualifying
Treasury Securities or shares of Preferred Stock received
generally will be the same as your tax basis in your interest in
the related trust assets. Your holding period in the Junior
Subordinated
112
Notes or shares of Preferred Stock received generally would
include your holding period in the related WITS.
If the Stock Purchase Contracts terminate, you will recognize a
capital loss equal to the amount, if any, of Contract Payments
included in your income but not paid at the time of such
termination. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
limitations.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, you will be subject to backup withholding with
respect to payments made on your WITS and the proceeds received
from the sale of your WITS unless:
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you (1) are an entity (including a corporation or a
tax-exempt entity) that is exempt from backup withholding and,
when required, demonstrate this fact or (2) provide your
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) (which, if you
are an individual, would be your Social Security Number), |
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you certify that (i) the TIN you provide is correct,
(ii) you are a U.S. person and (iii) you are
exempt from backup withholding, |
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you have not been notified by the IRS that you are subject to
backup withholding due to underreporting of interest or
dividends or you have been notified by the IRS that you are no
longer subject to backup withholding, and |
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you otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of the
backup withholding rules. |
In addition, such payments or proceeds received by you if you
are not a corporation or tax-exempt organization will generally
be subject to information reporting requirements.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any
backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a
credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and
may entitle you to a refund, provided that you furnish
the required information to the IRS.
113
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain considerations associated
with the acquisition and holding of the Normal WITS, and the
Stripped WITS and Capital WITS for which they may be exchanged,
by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of
the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended (ERISA), Keogh plans, individual
retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to
Section 4975 of the Code, and entities whose underlying
assets are considered to include plan assets of such
plans, accounts and arrangements (each, a
Plan).
General Fiduciary Matters
Each fiduciary of a Plan should consider the fiduciary standards
of ERISA in the context of the Plans particular
circumstances before authorizing an investment in Normal WITS,
or the exchange of Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital
WITS. Among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether
the investment is consistent with the documents and instruments
governing the Plan and whether the investment would satisfy the
prudence, diversification, delegation of control and prohibited
transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code. Any insurance
company proposing to invest assets of its general account in
Normal WITS, or to exchange Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS, should consult with its counsel concerning the
potential application of ERISA to such investments.
Prohibited Transaction and Related Issues
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code
prohibit Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving
plan assets with persons or entities who are
parties in interest, within the meaning of ERISA, or
disqualified persons, within the meaning of
Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available.
We, the trustees of the Trust or the Collateral Agent may be
considered a party in interest or disqualified person with
respect to a Plan to the extent we or any of our affiliates are
engaged in businesses which provide services to Plans.
A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a
non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes
and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In
addition, the fiduciary of the Plan that engages in such a
non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties
and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. Employee benefit plans
that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of
ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33)
of ERISA) and foreign plans (as described in
Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) are not subject to the
requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code. It is
possible, however, that a governmental plan may be subject to
other federal, state or local laws that contain fiduciary and
prohibited transaction provisions substantially similar to those
under Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code
(Similar Laws).
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a regulation with
regard to the circumstances in which the underlying assets of an
entity in which Plans acquire equity interests will be deemed to
be plan assets (the Plan Asset Regulation).
Under this regulation, for purposes of ERISA and
Section 4975 of the Code, the assets of the Trust would be
deemed to be plan assets of a Plan whose assets were
used to acquire the Normal WITS, Stripped WITS or Capital WITS,
if the WITS were considered to be equity interests in the Trust
and no exception were applicable under the Plan Asset
Regulation. The Plan Asset Regulation defines an equity
interest as any interest in an entity other than an
instrument that is treated as indebtedness under applicable
local law and which has no substantial equity features. Although
it is not free from doubt, the Normal WITS, Stripped WITS and
Capital WITS should be treated as equity interests in the Trust
for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulation.
An exception to plan asset status is available, however, under
the Plan Asset Regulation in the case of a class of equity
interests that are (i) widely held, i.e., held by
100 or more investors who are independent of the issuer and each
other, (ii) freely transferable, and (iii) either
(a) part of a class of securities registered under
Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, or
(b) sold as part of an offering of securities to the public
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 and such class is registered under the
Exchange Act within 120 days after the end of the fiscal
year of the
114
issuer during which the offering of such securities to the
public occurred (the Publicly Offered Securities
Exception). Although no assurance can be given, the
underwriters believe that the Publicly Offered Securities
Exception will be applicable to the Normal WITS offered hereby.
Accordingly, the assets of the Trust should not be treated as
the assets of any Plan that holds the Normal WITS.
No assurance can be given, however, that the Publicly Offered
Securities Exception will be applicable to Stripped WITS or
Capital WITS that a Plan might acquire in exchange for Normal
WITS, because the Stripped WITS or the Capital WITS may not meet
at all times the requirement that they be widely held. Moreover,
no assurance can be given that any other exception to plan asset
status under the Plan Asset Regulation will be applicable to the
Stripped WITS or the Capital WITS. Accordingly, it is possible
that the Stock Purchase Contract and any Treasury securities
beneficially owned by the Trust (or, after the Stock Purchase
Date, the Preferred Stock) could be treated proportionately as
plan assets of any Plan holding Stripped WITS, and the Junior
Subordinated Notes beneficially owned by the Trust could be
treated proportionately as plan assets of any Plan holding
Capital WITS.
If the assets of the Trust were deemed to be plan
assets under ERISA, this would result, among other things,
in the application of the prudence and other fiduciary
responsibility standards of ERISA to transactions engaged in by
the Trust and the treatment of any person who exercises any
authority or control with regard to the management or
disposition of the assets of the Trust as a fiduciary of Plan
investors. In this regard, if any person with discretionary
responsibility with respect to the Trust assets were affiliated
with us, any such discretionary actions taken with respect to
such assets could be deemed to constitute a prohibited
transaction under ERISA or the Code (e.g., the use of such
fiduciary responsibility in circumstances under which such
person has an interest that may conflict with the interests of
the Plans for which they act). In order to reduce the likelihood
of any such prohibited transaction, any Plan that acquires
Stripped WITS or Capital WITS will be deemed to have
(i) directed the Trust to invest in the Stock Purchase
Contract, Treasury securities, Preferred Stock and/or Junior
Subordinated Notes, as applicable, and (ii) appointed the
Trustees.
In addition, and whether or not the assets of the Trust are
considered to be plan assets of Plans investing in
the WITS, the acquisition and holding of the Normal WITS,
Stripped WITS or Capital WITS with plan assets of a
Plan could result in a direct or indirect prohibited
transaction. The Department of Labor has issued several
prohibited transaction class exemptions, or
PTCEs, that may provide exemptive relief for
direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the
purchase, holding and disposition of WITS. These class
exemptions include PTCE 84-14 for certain transactions
determined by independent qualified professional asset managers,
PTCE 90-1 for certain transactions involving insurance
company pooled separate accounts, PTCE 91-38 for certain
transactions involving bank collective investment funds,
PTCE 95-60 for certain transactions involving life
insurance company general accounts, and PTCE 96-23 for
certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers.
Accordingly, any purchaser or holder of Normal WITS or any
interest therein, and any person who acquires Stripped WITS or
Capital WITS in exchange for Normal WITS, will be deemed to have
represented and warranted by its acquisition and holding thereof
that either (A) it is not a Plan, or a governmental plan
subject to any Similar Law, and it is not acquiring the Normal,
Stripped or Capital WITS, as applicable, on behalf of or with
plan assets of any such Plan or governmental plan or
(B) its acquisition and holding of the Normal, Stripped or
Capital WITS, as applicable, either (i) qualifies for
exemptive relief under PTCE 84-14, 90-1, 91-38, 95-60 or
96-23 or another applicable statutory or administrative
exemption or (ii) will not result in a non-exempt
prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code (or, in the case of a governmental
plan, a violation of any Similar Law).
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may
be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited
transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or
other persons considering purchasing Normal WITS, or exchanging
Normal WITS for Stripped WITS and Capital WITS, on behalf of or
with plan assets of any Plan or governmental plan
consult with their counsel regarding the potential consequences
of the investment and the availability of exemptive relief.
115
UNDERWRITING
We, the Trust and the underwriters named below have entered into
an underwriting agreement, dated January 25, 2006, with respect
to the Normal WITS. Subject to certain conditions, each
underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of
Normal WITS indicated in the following table. Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are the
representatives of the underwriters.
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Number of Normal | |
Underwriters |
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WITS | |
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Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
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1,728,000 |
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Goldman, Sachs & Co.
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760,000 |
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Loop Capital Markets, LLC
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6,000 |
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Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.
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6,000 |
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Total
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2,500,000 |
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The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the
Normal WITS being offered, if any are taken.
In view of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the
Normal WITS and Trust Common Securities will be used to purchase
the Junior Subordinated Notes issued by us, the underwriting
agreement provides that we will pay as compensation for the
underwriters arranging the investment therein of such
proceeds the following amounts for the account of the
underwriters.
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Paid by |
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Wachovia |
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Per Normal WITS
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$ |
25 |
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Total
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$ |
62,500,000 |
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The Normal WITS sold by the underwriters to the public will
initially be offered at the initial public offering price set
forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any Normal WITS sold by
the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount
from the initial public offering price of up to $10.00 per
Normal WITS. Any such securities dealers may resell any Normal
WITS purchased from the underwriters to certain other brokers or
dealers at a discount of up to $5.00 per Normal WITS from the
initial public offering price. If all the Normal WITS are not
sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change
the offering price and the other selling terms.
Application will be made to list the Normal WITS on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol WBTP. Neither the
Stripped WITS nor the Capital WITS will initially be listed.
However, if the Stripped WITS or the Capital WITS are separately
traded to a sufficient extent so that applicable exchange
listing requirements are met, we may list the Stripped WITS or
the Capital WITS on the same exchange as the Normal WITS are
then listed, including, if applicable, the New York Stock
Exchange, though we are under no obligation to do so. The Normal
WITS are a new issue of securities with no established trading
market. We have been advised by the underwriters that they
presently intend to make a market in the Normal WITS but they
are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at
any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the
liquidity of the trading market for the Normal WITS, the
Stripped WITS or the Capital WITS.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase
and sell the Normal WITS in the open market. These transactions
may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases
to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve
the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of Normal WITS
than they are required to purchase in this offering. Stabilizing
transactions consist of certain bids for or purchases of Normal
WITS made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the
completion of this offering.
116
The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when
a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of
the underwriting discount received by it because the
representatives have repurchased Normal WITS sold by or for the
account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering
transactions.
Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions
may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the
market price of the Normal WITS, and together with the
imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or
otherwise affect the market price of the Normal WITS. As a
result, the price of the Normal WITS may be higher than the
price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these
activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the
underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in
over-the-counter market
or otherwise.
We have agreed for a period from the date of this prospectus
continuing to and including the later of February 1, 2006
and the completion of the distribution but in any event not
later than March 3, 2006, not to offer, sell, contract to
sell or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Normal
WITS (except for (x) the Normal WITS offered hereby and
(y) any securities to be offered in an exchange offer or
similar transaction in respect of securities outstanding on the
date hereof, in each case including any guarantee of such
securities), any other beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust (other than the Trust Common Securities), any similar
security issued by another trust or other limited purpose
vehicle, or any debt securities or preferred stock of Wachovia,
as the case may be, that are substantially similar to the Normal
WITS or any of the Capital WITS, the Stripped WITS, the Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Guarantee, the Stock Purchase Contracts
or the Preferred Stock (including any guarantee of such
securities) or any securities that are convertible into or
exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive
preferred securities or any such substantially similar
securities of either the Trust, a similar trust or Wachovia
without the prior written consent of the representatives of the
underwriters.
Each of the underwriters has represented and agreed that:
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it has not made or will not make an offer of Normal WITS to the
public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of
section 102B of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
(as amended) (FSMA) except to legal entities which are
authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or,
if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is
solely to invest in securities or otherwise in circumstances
which do not require the publication by Wachovia of a prospectus
pursuant to the Prospectus Rules of the Financial Services
Authority (FSA); |
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it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will
only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or
inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning
of section 21 of the FSMA) to persons who have professional
experience in matters relating to investments falling within
Article 19(5) of the FSMA Order 2005 or in circumstances in
which section 21 of the FSMA does not apply to
Wachovia; and |
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it has complied with and will comply with all applicable
provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in
relation to the Normal WITS in, from or otherwise involving the
United Kingdom. |
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area
(Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein in addition to the member
states of the European Union) that has implemented the
Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each
underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and
including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is
implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant
Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer
of Normal WITS to the public in that Relevant Member State prior
to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Normal
WITS that has been approved by the competent authority in that
Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another
Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in
that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the
Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and
117
including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of
Normal WITS to the public in that Relevant Member State at any
time:
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to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate
in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated,
whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; |
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to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average
of at least 250 employees during the last financial year;
(2) a total balance sheet of more than
43,000,000 and
(3) an annual net turnover of more than
50,000,000, as
shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or |
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in any other circumstances which do not require the publication
by the issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the
Prospectus Directive. |
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an
offer of Normal WITS to the public in relation to
any Normal WITS in any Relevant Member State means the
communication in any form and by any means of sufficient
information on the terms of the offer and the Normal WITS to be
offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or
subscribe the Normal WITS, as the same may be varied in that
Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus
Directive in that Relevant Member State, and the expression
Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/ EC and includes
any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
The Normal WITS may not be offered or sold by means of any
document other than to persons whose ordinary business is to buy
or sell shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent, or
in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public
within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance
(Cap. 32) of Hong Kong, and no advertisement,
invitation or document relating to the Normal WITS may be
issued, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere that is directed at,
or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by,
the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the
securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Normal
WITS that are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons
outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors
within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance
(Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made thereunder.
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the
Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus
and any other document or material in connection with the offer
or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the
Normal WITS may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the
Normal WITS be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an
invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or
indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an
institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities
and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the
SFA), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person
pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the
conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or
(iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the
conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Where the Normal WITS are subscribed or purchased under
Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a
corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole
business of which is to hold investments and the entire share
capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of
whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the
trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to
hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor,
shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that
corporation or the beneficiaries rights and interest in
that trust shall not be transferable for six months after
that corporation or that trust has acquired the Normal WITS
under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional
investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant
person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in
accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of
the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the
transfer; or (3) by operation of law.
The securities have not been and will not be registered under
the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan (the Securities and
Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not
offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan
or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term
as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any
corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan),
or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly,
in Japan or to a
118
resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the
registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with,
the Securities and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws,
regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
We estimate that our total
out-of-pocket expenses
of this offering, excluding underwriting commissions, will be
approximately $1,000,000.
We and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC is an indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiary of Wachovia. We conduct our retail brokerage
investment banking, institutional and capital markets businesses
through our various bank, broker-dealer and nonbank
subsidiaries, including Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, under the
trade name Wachovia Securities. Unless otherwise
mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, any
reference in this prospectus to Wachovia
Securities means Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, and
does not mean Wachovia Securities, LLC, a broker-dealer
subsidiary of Wachovia that is not participating in this
offering.
This prospectus may be used by Wachovia Securities or any other
affiliate of ours in connection with offers and sales related to
market-making or other transactions in the WITS and the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Wachovia Securities or any other such
affiliate of ours may act as principal or agent in such
transactions. Such sales will be made at prices related to
prevailing market prices at the time of sale or otherwise.
The participation of Wachovia Securities in the offer and sale
of the WITS will comply with the requirements of Rule 2720
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or
NASD, regarding underwriting securities of an
affiliate. No NASD member participating in offers
and sales will execute a transaction in the Securities in a
discretionary account without the prior specific written
approval of such members customer. Any offerings of Normal
WITS will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of
Rule 2810 of the NASD Rules of Fair Conduct or any
successor provision.
In compliance with guidelines of the NASD, the maximum
commission or discount to be received by any NASD member or
independent broker-dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate
principal amount of the securities offered pursuant to this
prospectus. It is anticipated that the maximum commission or
discount to be received in any particular offering of securities
will be significantly less than this amount.
From time to time, the underwriters engage in transactions with
us in the ordinary course of business. The underwriters have
performed investment banking services for us in the last two
years and have received fees for these services.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the WITS will be passed upon by Richards, Layton
& Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel for the Trust. The
validity of the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee will
be passed upon for us by Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
LLP, New York, New York, and the validity of the Preferred Stock
will be passed upon for us by Ross E.
Jeffries, Jr., Esq., Senior Vice President and Deputy
General Counsel of Wachovia. The validity of the Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Guarantee and the Preferred Stock will
be passed upon for the underwriters by Sullivan &
Cromwell LLP, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP will rely on the opinion of
Mr. Jeffries as to matters of North Carolina law.
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP acted as our special
tax counsel for this offering and regularly performs legal
services for us. Certain members of Cadwalader,
Wickersham & Taft LLP performing these services own
shares of our common stock. Mr. Jeffries owns shares of our
common stock and holds options to purchase additional shares of
our common stock. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP regularly
performs legal services for us. Certain members of
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP performing these legal services
own shares of our common stock.
119
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheets of Wachovia Corporation as of
December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated
statements of income, changes in stockholders equity and
cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 2004, and managements assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2004, included in Wachovias 2004 Annual
Report to Stockholders which is incorporated by reference in
Wachovias Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004, and incorporated by reference
in this prospectus, have been incorporated by reference in this
prospectus 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.
120
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
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Additional Distribution Date
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10, 45, 47 |
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administrative trustees
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1, 36 |
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Alternative Payment Mechanism
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5, 73 |
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Articles of Incorporation
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57 |
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business day
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3, 44 |
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Capital WITS
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2, 45 |
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Capital WITS Distribution Dates
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10, 47 |
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Capital WITS Mandatory Redemption Date
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53 |
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Code
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107 |
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Collateral Agent
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6, 44 |
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Collateral Agreement
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44 |
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Commercially Reasonable Efforts
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73 |
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Contract Payments
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3, 65 |
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corresponding assets
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2 |
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Covered Debt
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97 |
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Custodial Agent
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6, 44 |
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Declaration
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22, 97 |
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Delaware Trustee
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1, 36 |
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direct action
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28 |
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distribution
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47 |
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Distribution Date
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10, 47 |
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Distribution Period
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10, 47 |
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Dividend Payment Dates
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6, 94 |
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Dividend Period
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6, 94 |
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DTC
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104 |
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Early Remarketing
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17, 79 |
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Early Settlement Event
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17, 80 |
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ERISA
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114 |
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event of default
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6, 83 |
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Excess Proceeds Distributions
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11, 49 |
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Exchange Act
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iii |
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Exchange Periods
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3, 44 |
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Failed Remarketing
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18, 78 |
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Federal Reserve
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12 |
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Fixed Rate Reset Cap
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15, 78 |
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Floating Rate Reset Cap
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15, 78 |
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Guarantee
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23, 87 |
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guarantee payments
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87 |
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Guarantee Trustee
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87 |
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holder
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43, 71 |
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Indenture
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71 |
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Indenture Trustee
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71 |
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Investment Company Act
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60 |
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IRS
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108 |
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JPMorgan Chase
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44 |
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Junior Stock
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7, 94 |
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Junior Subordinated Notes
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2, 42 |
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leverage capital ratio
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17, 80 |
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like amount
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53, 56 |
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Liquidation Preference
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7, 93 |
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London Banking Day
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95 |
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Market Disruption Event
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74 |
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NASD
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119 |
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Normal WITS
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2, 43 |
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Parity Stock
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7, 94 |
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Plan
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114 |
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Plan Asset Regulation
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114 |
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Pledged Securities
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67 |
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Preferred Stock
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2, 43 |
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Property Trustee
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1, 36 |
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PTCEs
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115 |
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Publicly Offered Securities Exception
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115 |
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Qualifying Treasury Securities
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8 |
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Regular Distribution Dates
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10, 47 |
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Remarketing
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14, 51 |
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Remarketing Agent
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14, 76 |
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Remarketing Agreement
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14, 76 |
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Remarketing Date
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14, 76 |
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Remarketing Settlement Date
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14, 76 |
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Remarketing Value
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14, 77 |
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Reset Rate
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15, 77 |
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Reset Spread
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15, 77 |
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SEC
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iii |
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Securities Act
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37 |
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senior debt
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4, 75 |
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Similar Laws
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114 |
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Stock Purchase Contract
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2, 42 |
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Stock Purchase Contract Agreement
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42 |
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Stock Purchase Date
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2, 43 |
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Stripped WITS
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2, 44 |
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Successor Securities
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59 |
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Telerate Page 3750
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95 |
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Three-Month LIBOR
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6, 95 |
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tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
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17, 80 |
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TIN
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113 |
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total risk-based capital ratio
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17, 80 |
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Transfer Agent
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44, 63 |
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Trust
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iii, 1, 36 |
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Trust Agreement
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36 |
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Trust Common Securities
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2, 36 |
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Trust Event of Default
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58 |
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Trust Indenture Act
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36 |
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Trust securities
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36 |
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U.S. holder
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107 |
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Wachovia
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iii |
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Wachovia Securities
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iii, 119 |
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WITS
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37, 42 |
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121
2,500,000 WITS
Wachovia Capital
Trust III
5.80% Fixed-to-Floating
Rate Normal
Wachovia Income
Trust Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per
security)
fully and unconditionally
guaranteed,
as described herein, by
Wachovia Corporation
Sole Book-Running Manager
Wachovia Securities
Co-Managers
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Loop Capital Markets, LLC
Ramirez & Co., Inc.
Prospectus dated January 25,
2006