-----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, MXOLm63/VsGHZKpZGkM8iqDXtM1t+1xVDP8dlAJ2HAOxjT+bS9GugF6Gj+2Hjvp6 gTgh6CDCqy8/gDOdMxfiOQ== 0000004962-08-000027.txt : 20081112 0000004962-08-000027.hdr.sgml : 20081111 20081112073247 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000004962-08-000027 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20081110 ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20081112 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20081112 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN EXPRESS CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000004962 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FINANCE SERVICES [6199] IRS NUMBER: 134922250 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-07657 FILM NUMBER: 081178104 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 VESEY STREET STREET 2: 50TH FLOOR CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10285 BUSINESS PHONE: 2126402000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 VESEY STREET STREET 2: 50TH FLOOR CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10285 8-K 1 pressreleasenov102008.txt 8-K AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY PRESS RELEASE UNITED STATES 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): November 10, 2008 American Express Company (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) New York No. 1-7657 No. 13-4922250 - ------------------------------- ---------------- --------------------- (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) World Financial Center 200 Vesey Street 10285 New York, New York - ---------------------------------------- ------------------ (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 640-2000 None ---------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: | | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 8.01 OTHER EVENTS. On November 10, 2008, American Express Company announced that the U.S. Federal Reserve had approved its application to become licensed as a bank holding company and to be regulated by the Federal Reserve. A copy of the company's press release, dated November 10, 2008, is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS. (d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is being filed as part of this Report on Form 8-K: 99.1 Press Release, dated November 10, 2008. -1- SIGNATURE 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. AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY (Registrant) By: /s/ Stephen P. Norman ------------------------- Name: Stephen P. Norman Title: Secretary Dated: November 11, 2008 -2- EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description - ----------- ------------------------------------------ 99.1 Press Release, dated November 10, 2008. -3- EX-99.1 2 exhibit99_1pressrelease.txt PRESS RELEASE RE BANK HOLDING COMPANY EXHIBIT 99.1 NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE NEWS [LOGO OF AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY] Contacts: Media: Joanna Lambert Michael O'Neill 212-640-9668 212-640-5951 joanna.g.lambert@aexp.com mike.o'neill@aexp.com Investors/Analysts: Alex Hopwood Ron Stovall 212-640-5495 212-640-5574 alex.w.hopwood@aexp.com ronald.stovall@aexp.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN EXPRESS GRANTED BANK HOLDING COMPANY STATUS NEW YORK, November 10, 2008 -- American Express announced today that the U.S. Federal Reserve has approved its application to become licensed as a bank holding company and to be regulated by the Federal Reserve. Qualifying as a bank holding company will provide American Express maximum flexibility and stability in this challenging economic environment. It aligns American Express' regulatory status with other companies in the financial services industry, further diversifies the Company's funding sources and access to capital, and provides opportunities to expand its deposit-taking capabilities. "Given the continued volatility in the financial markets, we want to be best positioned to take advantage of the various programs the federal government has introduced or may introduce to support U.S. financial institutions. We will continue to build a larger deposit base to broaden our funding sources. With Federal Reserve oversight we should gain greater access to the capital on offer under the current and any future government-sponsored programs. This decision to become a bank holding company does not fundamentally change American Express' core focus on the payments industry, nor will it require any significant divestitures," said Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, American Express Company. American Express already has two long-standing U.S. bank subsidiaries - American Express Centurion Bank, an industrial loan bank chartered in Utah, and American Express Bank FSB, a federal savings bank. Through these institutions, the Company issues proprietary credit and charge cards, funds cardmember loans and offers certificates of deposit. American Express Company is a leading global payments and travel company founded in 1850. For more information, visit www.americanexpress.com. *** -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----