-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, TijCiF7+AlGUyzxw7VOMbArYxs0sluE2DLTLwJ3bxox2DXlmI6PTR+kU25fm4zD7 IpIgu8Ou7uNEUFoufOJNTg== 0000950168-99-001657.txt : 19990624 0000950168-99-001657.hdr.sgml : 19990624 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950168-99-001657 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19990525 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19990525 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST UNION CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000036995 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021] IRS NUMBER: 560898180 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NC FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-03554 FILM NUMBER: 99633747 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE FIRST UNION CTR CITY: CHARLOTTE STATE: NC ZIP: 28288-0630 BUSINESS PHONE: 7043746565 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE FIRST UNION CENTER STREET 2: 301 S TRYON ST CITY: CHARLOTTE STATE: NC ZIP: 28288-0137 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CAMERON FINANCIAL CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19750522 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANCORP INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19721115 8-K 1 FIRST UNION CORP. 8-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 25, 1999 ----------------------------- FIRST UNION CORPORATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) North Carolina 1-10000 56-0898180 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) One First Union Center Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0013 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (704)374-6565 ----------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) Item 5. Other Events. On May 25, 1999, First Union Corporation (the "Corporation") issued a news release (the "News Release"). A copy of the News Release is being filed as Exhibit (99) to this report. The News Release is incorporated herein by reference. The News Release contains, among other things, certain forward-looking statements with respect to the goals, plans, objectives, intentions, expectations, financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business of the Corporation, including, without limitation, (i) statements relating to the Corporation's goals and expectations with respect to (a) earnings per share, (b) return on equity, (c) revenue growth, (d) expense control, and (e) its strategic plans, and (ii) statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "may", "could", "would", "should", "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Corporation's control). The following factors, among others, could cause the Corporation's financial performance to differ materially from the goals, plans, objectives, intentions, and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements: (1) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the Corporation conducts operations; (2) 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; (3) inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations (including global markets and international monetary fluctuations); (4) the timely development and acceptance of new products and services by the Corporation and the acceptance of these products and services by new and existing customers; (5) the willingness of customers to substitute competitors' products and services for the Corporation's products and services and vice versa; (6) the impact of changes in financial services' laws and regulations (including laws concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance); (7) technnological changes, including the impact of the Year 2000 computer system problems; (8) changes in consumer spending and saving habits; (9) the impact of the EVEREN Capital Corporation and other acquisitions on the Corporation, including the success of the Corporation in fully realizing or realizing within the expected time frame expected cost savings and/or revenue enhancements; (10) the growth and profitability of the Corporation's noninterest or fee income being less than expected; (11) unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings; (12) the impact of changes in accounting policies by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (13) the success of the Corporation at managing the risks involved in the foregoing. Additional information with respect to factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements is included in the reports filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and neither such list nor any such forward-looking statement takes into account the impact that any future acquisitions may have on the Corporation and any such forward-looking statement. In addition, the Corporation does not intend to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in the News Release or otherwise. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (c) Exhibits. (99) The News Release. 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. FIRST UNION CORPORATION Date: May 25, 1999 By: /s/ Kent S. Hathaway ------------------------- Name: Kent S. Hathaway Title: Senior Vice President EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- (99) The News Release. EX-99 2 EXHIBIT 99 FIRST UNION 1999 EARNINGS OUTLOOK REVISED TO $3.40 TO $3.50 PER SHARE A YEAR OF TRANSITION, CONSOLIDATION AND STRATEGIC FOCUS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charlotte, N.C - First Union Corporation (NYSE: FTU) announced today that following a strategic review and analysis, it expects earnings for 1999 will be in the range of $3.3 billion to $3.4 billion, or $3.40 to $3.50 per share. The new outlook compares with the earnings goal of approximately $4.00 per share that the company had communicated earlier this year. For the second quarter of 1999, earnings are expected to be in the range of $770 million to $800 million, or 80 to 83 cents per share. This outlook for the quarter and the year excludes the previously announced non-recurring gains of 8 cents per share in the second quarter of 1999 and 20 cents per share for the year. It also excludes merger-related and restructuring charges. In 1998 First Union reported earnings excluding merger-related and restructuring charges of $3.7 billion, or $3.77 per share, which included approximately 50 cents more per share of noncore earnings than is anticipated for 1999. "In 1999, the company's fundamental operations are strong, as evidenced by an estimated 20 percent return on shareholders' equity. However, in 1999 we are faced with overcoming the impact of substantial 1998 unusual, noncore earnings items, major acquisition integration and acceleration of spending for major new strategic initiatives as we deploy a new business model," said Edward E. Crutchfield, First Union's chairman and CEO. "This is an important transition year as we strategically reposition our company for the future," he added. "We are compressing a number of initiatives and acquisition consolidation into a short timeframe. In addition, with the developing roles of Capital Markets and Capital Management, Future Bank and now the expansion of the Internet channel, we are deploying a new business model that no longer includes bank acquisitions as a fundamental part of our strategy. "In a time of exponential change, we believe that long-range profitability and success require investment for the future - even though 1999 earnings will be affected," Crutchfield concluded. The revised earnings outlook for 1999 includes annual core revenue growth of approximately 6 to 7 percent and annual expense growth of approximately 3 percent. The resulting 20 percent return on shareholders' equity would rank among the best of the nation's 20 largest banking companies. The company remains committed to its previously announced long-term Financial Performance Guidelines. REVISED EARNINGS OUTLOOK Contributing factors to the company's revised earnings outlook for 1999 of $3.40 to $3.50 per share include: o REVENUE-RELATED FACTORS OF 27 TO 32 CENTS PER SHARE: 1) CORESTATES Revenue growth in the former CoreStates territory lags original expectations due to acquisition integration and the concurrent implementation of the Future Bank. 2) FUTURE BANK The Future Bank project represents a major redesign of First Union's traditional distribution channel and transition to an Internet strategy. Implementation of Future Bank includes approximately 25,000 people throughout 2,400 branches and involves over 800,000 hours of training as branch sales personnel are selected, trained and become seasoned in their new roles. The Future Bank implementation, when coupled with new delivery channels such as the Internet, will in time dramatically change the configuration of the traditional branch channel. 3) SECURITIES GAINS The company, which has taken $25 million in securities gains in 1999, does not plan to take the additional securities gains in 1999 contemplated in the previous outlook. o EXPENSE-RELATED FACTORS OF 21 TO 28 CENTS PER SHARE: 1) INTERNET Further development of First Union's distribution channels includes an accelerated Internet expansion strategy. The company expects to double the number of Internet customers from 700,000 currently to more than 1-1/2 million by year-end 1999. The company's goal is to grow that number to 5 million by 2001. 2) EVEREN The previously announced acquisition of EVEREN will give First Union a nationwide brokerage distribution platform and is an important part of the company's new asset gathering and securities distribution model. 3) LOAN LOSS PROVISION First Union expects that its loan loss provision will be approximately $90 million to $110 million above its earlier outlook of $600 million. At this level the provision would approximate expected net charge-offs of 0.48 to 0.52 percent of loans. This would rank among the best net charge-off ratios of the nation's 20 largest banking companies. 4) MISCELLANEOUS In addition, the revised outlook includes other miscellaneous items, principally expenses, amounting to 7 to 10 cents per share. STRATEGIC FOCUS First Union's new business model is premised on expanding its distribution capabilities, including building an Internet presence second to none in the financial services industry. The new model is also premised on nationwide brokerage activities provided by Wheat First Union, EVEREN and First Union Brokerage. The company expects continued investment in products, distribution and "intellectual capital" to support an integrated Capital Markets and Capital Management strategy. First Union's transformation to a new business model requires significant investments of approximately $500 million in 1999 in First Union Capital Markets, Capital Management, Future Bank and the Internet. These investments, which are embedded in the revised outlook, are expected to provide a platform for core revenue growth in 2000 of approximately 10 percent. Earnings in the company's Capital Markets and Capital Management businesses are expected to grow at a double digit rate annually over the next five years. STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM First Union today also announced a new authorization to repurchase up to 50 million shares of its common stock. First Union (NYSE:FTU) is a leading provider of financial services to more than 16 million customers throughout the East Coast and the nation. At March 31, 1999, First Union had assets of $223 billion and total stockholders' equity of $16 billion. The company operates full-service banking offices in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C. This news release contains various forward-looking statements. A discussion of various factors that could cause First Union's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements is included in First Union's filings with the SEC, including a Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 25, 1999. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----