Wachovia Corporation
 

 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 1-10000
Wachovia Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
North Carolina   56-0898180
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)
Wachovia Corporation
One Wachovia Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0013

(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(704) 374-6565
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x                      Accelerated filer o                      Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes o No o
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
1,900,824,730 shares of Common Stock, par value $3.33 1/3 per share, were outstanding as of September 30, 2007.
 
 

 


 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Forward-Looking Statements
Wachovia Corporation (formerly named First Union Corporation, “Wachovia”) may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in Wachovia’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Exhibits hereto), in its reports to stockholders and in other Wachovia communications. These statements relate to future, not past, events.
These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to Wachovia’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business, including without limitation, (i) statements relating to the benefits of the merger between Wachovia and Golden West Financial Corporation (the “Golden West Merger”) completed on October 1, 2006, including future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues and the accretion or dilution to reported earnings that may be realized from the Golden West Merger, (ii) statements relating to the benefits of the merger between Wachovia and A.G. Edwards, Inc. (the “A.G. Edwards Merger” and together with the Golden West Merger, the “Mergers”), completed on October 1, 2007, including future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues and the accretion or dilution to reported earnings that may be realized from the A.G. Edwards Merger, (iii) statements regarding Wachovia’s goals and expectations with respect to earnings, earnings per share, revenue, expenses and the growth rate in such items, as well as other measures of economic performance, including statements relating to estimates of credit quality trends, and (iv) statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “projects”, “outlook” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Wachovia’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond Wachovia’s control). Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause Wachovia’s financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any forward-looking statements: (1) the risk that the businesses of Wachovia and Golden West in connection with the Golden West Merger or the businesses of Wachovia and A.G. Edwards in connection with the A.G. Edwards Merger will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (2) expected revenue synergies and cost savings from the Mergers may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; (3) revenues following the Mergers may be lower than expected; (4) deposit attrition, operating costs, customer loss and business disruption following the Mergers, including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, may be greater than expected; (5) 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 Wachovia’s loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (6) the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (7) inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; (8) 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 Wachovia’s capital markets and capital management activities, including, without limitation, Wachovia’s 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; (9) the timely development of competitive new products and services by Wachovia and the acceptance of these products and services by new and existing customers; (10) the willingness of customers to accept third party products marketed by Wachovia; (11) the willingness of customers to substitute competitors’ products and services for Wachovia’s products and services and vice versa; (12) the impact of changes in financial services laws and regulations (including laws concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance); (13) technological changes; (14) changes in consumer spending and saving habits; (15) the effect of corporate restructurings, acquisitions and/or dispositions we may undertake from time to time, and the actual restructuring and other expenses related thereto, and the failure to achieve the expected revenue growth and/or expense savings from such corporate restructurings, acquisitions and/or dispositions; (16) the growth and profitability of Wachovia’s noninterest or fee income being less than expected; (17) unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings or rulings; (18) the impact of changes in accounting principles; (19) adverse changes in financial performance and/or condition of Wachovia’s borrowers which could impact repayment of such borrowers’ outstanding loans; (20) the impact on Wachovia’s businesses, as well as on the risks set forth above, of various domestic or international military or terrorist activities or conflicts; and (21) Wachovia’s success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

 


 

Wachovia cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Wachovia does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of Wachovia.

 


 

Item 1. Financial Statements.
     The Consolidated Balance Sheets of Wachovia and subsidiaries at September 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006, respectively, set forth on page 72 of Wachovia’s Third Quarter 2007 Financial Supplement for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 (the “Financial Supplement”), are incorporated herein by reference.
     The Consolidated Statements of Income of Wachovia and subsidiaries for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, set forth on page 73 of the Financial Supplement, are incorporated herein by reference.
     The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of Wachovia and subsidiaries for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, set forth on page 74 of the Financial Supplement, are incorporated herein by reference.
     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, set forth on pages 75 through 92 of the Financial Supplement, are incorporated herein by reference.
     A copy of the Financial Supplement is being filed as Exhibit (19) to this Report.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appears on pages 2 through 32 of the Financial Supplement and is incorporated herein by reference.
     A copy of the Financial Supplement is being filed as Exhibit (19) to this Report.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk appears on pages 28 through 30, pages 78 and 79, and pages 88 through 92 of the Financial Supplement and is incorporated herein by reference.
     A copy of the Financial Supplement is being filed as Exhibit (19) to this Report.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
     Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As of September 30, 2007, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Wachovia’s management, including Wachovia’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon that evaluation, Wachovia’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer each concluded that as of September 30, 2007, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Wachovia maintained effective disclosure controls and procedures.
     Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Wachovia’s internal control over financial reporting.

 


 

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
     Wachovia and certain of our subsidiaries are involved in a number of judicial, regulatory and arbitration proceedings concerning matters arising from the conduct of our business activities. These proceedings include actions brought against Wachovia and/or its subsidiaries with respect to transactions in which Wachovia and/or our subsidiaries acted as banker, lender, underwriter, financial advisor or broker or in activities related thereto. In addition, Wachovia and its subsidiaries may be requested to provide information or otherwise cooperate with governmental authorities in the conduct of investigations of other persons or industry groups. It is Wachovia’s policy to cooperate in all regulatory inquiries and investigations.
     Although there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome, Wachovia and/or our subsidiaries have generally denied, or believe we have a meritorious defense and will deny, liability in all significant litigation pending against us, including the matters described below, and we intend to defend vigorously each such case. Reserves are established for legal claims when payments associated with the claims become probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The actual costs of resolving legal claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved for those claims.
     The following supplements certain matters previously reported in Wachovia’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and Wachovia’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007.
     Le-Nature’s, Inc. Wachovia Bank, N.A. is the administrative agent on a $285 million credit facility extended to Le-Nature’s, Inc. in September 2006, of which approximately $270 million was syndicated to other lenders by Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC as Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner. Le-Nature’s was the subject of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition which was converted to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in November 2006 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania following a report by a court-appointed custodian in a proceeding in Delaware that revealed fraud and significant accounting irregularities on the part of Le-Nature’s management, including maintenance of a dual set of financial records. On March 14, 2007, Wachovia filed an action against several hedge funds in Superior Court for the State of North Carolina entitled Wachovia Bank, National Association and Wachovia Capital Markets LLC v. Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd. et al., alleging that the hedge fund defendants had acquired a significant quantity of the outstanding debt with full knowledge of the Le Nature’s fraud and with the intention of pursuing alleged fraud and other tort claims against Wachovia purportedly related to its role in the Le-Nature’s credit facility. The assertion of such claims would constitute a violation of North Carolina’s legal and public policy prohibitions on champerty and maintenance. A preliminary injunction has been entered by the Court that, among other things, prohibits defendants from asserting any such claims in any other forum, but allowing these defendants to bring any claims they believe they possess against Wachovia as compulsory counterclaims in the North Carolina action. On September 18, 2007, these defendants filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Wachovia Capital Markets LLC, a third party and two members of Le-Nature’s management asserting claims arising under federal RICO laws. Three original purchasers of the debt also joined the action and asserted various tort claims, including fraud. Wachovia has filed a motion in the North Carolina court seeking to have these defendants held in contempt for violating the preliminary injunction and is seeking dismissal of the New York action. Wachovia, which itself was victimized by the Le-Nature’s fraud, will pursue its rights against Le-Nature’s and in this litigation vigorously.
     Interchange Litigation. Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Wachovia are named as defendants in seven putative class actions filed on behalf of a plaintiff class of merchants with regard to the interchange fees associated with Visa and Mastercard payment card transactions. These actions have been consolidated with more than 40 other actions, which did not name Wachovia as a defendant, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Visa, Mastercard and several banks and bank holding companies are named as defendants in various of these actions which were consolidated before the Court pursuant to orders of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The amended and consolidated complaint asserts claims against defendants based on alleged violations of federal and state antitrust laws and seeks damages, as well as injunctive relief. Plaintiff merchants allege that Visa, Mastercard and their member banks unlawfully collude to set interchange fees.

 


 

Plaintiffs also allege that enforcement of certain Visa and MasterCard rules and alleged tying and bundling of services offered to merchants are anticompetitive. The payment card association defendants and banking defendants are aggressively defending the consolidated action. Wachovia, along with other members of Visa, is a party to Loss and Judgment Sharing Agreements, which provide that Wachovia, along with other member banks of Visa, will share, based on a formula, in any losses in connection with certain litigation specified in the Agreements, including the Interchange Litigation. On November 7, Visa announced that it had reached a settlement with American Express in connection with certain litigation which is covered by Wachovia’s obligations as a Visa member bank and by the Loss Sharing Agreement. For additional information, please refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 2 of Exhibit 19 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
     Other Regulatory Matters. In connection with the previously disclosed SEC staff investigation of alleged market-timing transactions between certain of Wachovia’s investment advisory subsidiaries (including Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC, the “Evergreen entities”) and Wachovia Securities LLC, on September 19, 2007, the SEC reached a settlement with the Evergreen entities and Wachovia Securities, LLC. Without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, the firms agreed to pay a total of $28.5 million in disgorgement and $4 million in civil penalties, in final resolution of the matter. The settlement provided that the fines will be distributed to Evergreen fund shareholders pursuant to a plan to be developed by an independent distribution consultant.
     Outlook. Based on information currently available, advice of counsel, available insurance coverage and established reserves, Wachovia believes that the eventual outcome of the actions against Wachovia and/or its subsidiaries, including the matters described above, will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on Wachovia’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of those matters, if unfavorable, may be material to Wachovia’s results of operations for any particular period.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Not Applicable.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
    Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers.
In January 2004, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of 60 million shares of our common stock, which together with remaining authority from previous board authorizations in 1999 and 2000, permitted Wachovia to repurchase up to 123 million shares of our common stock as of January 15, 2004, the date that authorization was announced. In addition, on August 16, 2005, Wachovia announced that our board of directors authorized the repurchase of an additional 100 million shares of our common stock. Future stock repurchases may be private or open-market purchases, including block transactions, accelerated or delayed block transactions, forward transactions, collar transactions, and similar transactions. The amount and timing of stock repurchases will be based on various factors, such as management’s assessment of Wachovia’s capital structure and liquidity, the market price of Wachovia common stock compared to management’s assessment of the stock’s underlying value, and applicable regulatory, legal and accounting factors. In 2006, Wachovia repurchased 82 million shares of Wachovia common stock, all but 3.3 million of such repurchases were in the open market, at an average cost of $54.96 per share. Please see “Stockholders’ Equity” in the Financial Supplement, filed as Exhibit (19) to this Report, for additional information about Wachovia’s share repurchases in the third quarter of 2007. The following table sets forth information about our stock repurchases for the three months ended September 30, 2007.

 


 

Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities
                                             
 
                                      Maximum Number    
                            Total Number of       (or Approximate    
                            Shares Purchased       Dollar Value) of    
                            as Part of       Shares that May    
                            Publicly       Yet Be Purchased    
                  Average Price       Announced       Under the    
        Total Number of       Paid       Plans or       Plans or    
  Period (1)     Shares Purchased (2)       per Share       Programs (3)       Programs (3)    
 
July 1, 2007 to July 31, 2007
      1,304,000       $ 48.66         1,304,000         22,138,415    
 
August 1, 2007 to August 31, 2007
      2,646,000         47.78         2,646,000         19,492,415    
 
September 1, 2007 to September 30, 2007
                              19,492,415    
 
 
                                         
 
Total
      3,950,000       $ 48.07         3,950,000         19,492,415    
 
 
(1) Based on trade date, not settlement date.
(2) All of these shares were repurchased pursuant to publicly announced share repurchase programs. The nature of these repurchases were as follows: July 2007 — open market repurchases: 1.3 million shares; and August 2007 — open market repurchases: 2.6 million shares.
In addition to these repurchases, pursuant to Wachovia’s employee stock option plans, participants may exercise Wachovia stock options by surrendering shares of Wachovia common stock the participants already own as payment of the option exercise price. Shares so surrendered by participants in Wachovia’s employee stock option plans are repurchased pursuant to the terms of the applicable stock option plan and not pursuant to publicly announced share repurchase programs. For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, the following shares of Wachovia common stock were surrendered by participants in Wachovia’s employee stock option plans: July 2007 — 5,612 shares at an average price per share of $53.09; August 2007 — 5,616 shares at an average price per share of $48.60; and September 2007 — 10,845 shares at an average price per share of $49.19.
(3) On May 25, 1999, Wachovia announced a stock repurchase program pursuant to which Wachovia was authorized to repurchase up to 50 million shares of its common stock. On June 26, 2000, Wachovia announced a stock repurchase program pursuant to which Wachovia was authorized to repurchase up to 50 million shares of its common stock. On January 15, 2004, Wachovia announced a stock repurchase program pursuant to which Wachovia was authorized to repurchase up to 60 million shares of its common stock. On August 16, 2005, Wachovia announced a stock repurchase program pursuant to which Wachovia was authorized to repurchase up to 100 million shares of its common stock. None of these programs has an expiration date and each respective program expires upon completion of repurchases totaling the amount authorized for repurchase. During the second quarter of 2004, all remaining shares authorized under the May 1999 authorization, which totaled approximately 5.2 million shares at the beginning of the quarter, were repurchased. During the first quarter of 2005, all remaining shares authorized under the June 2000 authorization, which totaled approximately 15.7 million shares at the beginning of the quarter, were repurchased. During the first quarter of 2006, all remaining shares authorized under the January 2004 authorization, which totaled approximately 23.6 million shares at the beginning of the quarter, were repurchased. As of September 30, 2007, there are no more shares remaining under the May 1999, June 2000 and January 2004 authorizations, and approximately 19.5 million shares remaining under the August 2005 authorization.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.

 


 

Item 5. Other Information.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits.
     
Exhibit No.   Description
 
   
(4)
  Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures.*
(12)(a)
  Computations of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
(12)(b)
  Computations of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
(19)
  Wachovia’s Third Quarter 2007 Financial Supplement.
(31)(a)
  Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(31)(b)
  Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(32)(a)
  Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(32)(b)
  Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
* Wachovia agrees to furnish to the Commission upon request, copies of the instruments, including indentures, defining the rights of the holders of the long-term debt of Wachovia and its consolidated subsidiaries.


 

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
 
  Wachovia Corporation
 
       
Date: November 9, 2007
       
 
  By:   /s/ Peter M. Carlson
 
     
Peter M. Carlson
Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit No.   Description
 
   
(4)
  Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures.*
(12)(a)
  Computations of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
(12)(b)
  Computations of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
(19)
  Wachovia’s Third Quarter 2007 Financial Supplement.
(31)(a)
  Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(31)(b)
  Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(32)(a)
  Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(32)(b)
  Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
* Wachovia agrees to furnish to the Commission upon request, copies of the instruments, including indentures, defining the rights of the holders of the long-term debt of Wachovia and its consolidated subsidiaries.