As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 15, 2010

Registration File No: 333-        

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Georgia (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		58-1134883 (IRS Employer Identification No.)
1111 Bay Avenue Suite 500 Columbus, Georgia (Address of Principal Executive Offices)		31901 (Zip Code)

 

 

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

(Full title of the plan)

 

 

Alana L. Griffin

Deputy General Counsel

Synovus Financial Corp.

1111 Bay Avenue

Suite 501

Columbus, Georgia 31901

(706) 644-2485

(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Securities to be Registered		Amount to be Registered		Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price		Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock, $1.00 par value(1)		10,000,000(2)(3)		$2.065(4)		$20,650,000(4)		$1,472.35

(1)	Includes preferred stock purchase rights under the Shareholder Rights Plan, dated as of April 26, 2010, between Synovus Financial Corp. and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent.

(2)	In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of plan interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the Synovus Financial Corp. Employee Stock Purchase Plan described herein.

(3)

If, prior to the completion of the distribution of the common stock covered by this registration statement, additional shares of such common stock are issued or issuable as a result of a stock split or stock dividend, this registration statement shall be deemed to cover such additional shares resulting from the stock split or stock dividend pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(4)

The price per share and maximum aggregate offering price were estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933 solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and represents the average of the high and low prices of the common stock of Synovus Financial Corp. on the New York Stock Exchange on November 10, 2010.

 

 

 

---

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 relates to 10,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of Synovus Financial Corp. (“Synovus” or the “Company”) to be offered to eligible employees of Synovus and its subsidiaries pursuant to the Synovus Financial Corp. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”). Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, all shares of common stock so offered shall be purchased in the open market by the Plan Administrator, and Synovus will not directly issue any new shares under the Plan.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

(a) The documents containing the information specified in Part I of this Registration Statement will be sent or given to participants in the Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In accordance with the instructions of Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed with the SEC either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute the prospectus as required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

(b) Upon written or oral request, Synovus will provide, without charge, the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement. The documents are incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus. Synovus will also provide, without charge, upon written or oral request, other documents required to be delivered to employees pursuant to Rule 428(b). Requests for the above-mentioned information should be directed to the Synovus Financial Corp., Attention: Corporate Secretary, at the address and telephone number on the cover of this Registration Statement.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents have been previously filed by Synovus Financial Corp. (“Synovus” or the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and are incorporated by reference into this registration statement as of their respective dates:

(a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as amended by amendment no. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on April 26, 2010;

---

 

(b) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2010;

(c) Those portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement filed by Synovus on March 12, 2010 in connection with its 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders that are incorporated by reference into its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009;

(d) Current Reports on Form 8-K filed January 29, 2010, February 24, 2010, April 26, 2010, April 27, 2010, May 4, 2010, June 1, 2010, June 21, 2010, June 30, 2010, July 26, 2010, October 7, 2010 and November 9, 2010;

(e) The description of Synovus’ common stock, $1.00 par value per share, set forth in the registration statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on December 17, 2008, including any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating this description; and

(f) The description of Synovus’ preferred stock purchase rights, set forth in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 26, 2010, including any amendment, report or registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating this description.

All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing such documents; provided, however, that we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished (but not filed) under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Georgia Business Corporation Code

Subsection (a) of Section 14-2-851 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, or “GBCC,” provides that a corporation may indemnify or obligate itself to indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because he or she is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if such individual conducted himself or herself in good faith and such individual reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in an official capacity, that such conduct was in the

---

best interests of the corporation and, in all other cases, that such conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, in the case of any criminal proceeding, such individual had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. Subsection (d) of Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC provides that a corporation may not indemnify a director in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation except for reasonable expenses incurred if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct, or in connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct under Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC for which he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him or her, whether or not involving action in his or her official capacity.

In addition, Section 14-2-856 of the GBCC permits our articles of incorporation, bylaws, a contract, or resolution approved by the shareholders, to authorize us to indemnify a director against claims to which the director was a party, including claims by us or in our right (e.g., shareholder derivative action). However, we may not indemnify the director for liability to us for any appropriation of a corporate opportunity, intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law, unlawful distributions or receipt of an improper benefit.

Pursuant to Section 14-2-854 of the GBCC, a court may order a corporation to indemnify a director or advance expenses if such court determines that the director is entitled to indemnification under the GBCC or that the director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification or advance of expenses in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not such director met the standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC, failed to comply with Section 14-2-853 of the GBCC or was adjudged liable as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d) of Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC.

Section 14-2-852 of the GBCC provides that to the extent that a director has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party, because he or she is or was a director of the corporation, the corporation shall indemnify the director against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.

Section 14-2-856 of the GBCC permits our articles of incorporation, bylaws, a contract, or resolution approved by the shareholders, to authorize us to indemnify a director against claims to which the director was a party, including claims by us or in our right (e.g., shareholder derivative action). However, we may not indemnify the director for liability to us for any appropriation of a corporate opportunity, intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law, unlawful distributions or receipt of an improper benefit.

Section 14-2-857 of the GBCC provides that a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer of the corporation who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is an officer of the corporation to the same extent as a director and if he or she is not a director to such further extent as may be provided in its articles of incorporation, bylaws, resolution of its board of directors or contract except for liability arising out of conduct specified in Section 14-2-857(a)(2) of the GBCC. Section 14-2-857 of the GBCC also provides that an officer of the corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 14-2-852 and is entitled to apply for court ordered indemnification or advances for expenses under

---

Section 14-2-854, in each case to the same extent as a director. In addition, Section 14-2-857 provides that a corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to an employee or agent who is not a director to the extent, consistent with public policy, that may be provided by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, action of its board of directors or contract.

Section 14-2-858 of the GBCC permits us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of our directors and officers against liability incurred by them in their capacities or arising out of their status as our directors and officers, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify or advance expenses to the director or officer for the same liability under the GBCC.

Synovus’ Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; Insurance

In accordance with Article VIII of Synovus’ Bylaws, every person who is or was (and the heirs and personal representatives of such person) a director, officer, employee or agent of Synovus shall be indemnified and held harmless by Synovus from and against the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) that may be imposed upon or incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any threatened, pending, or completed, action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, formal or informal, in which he or she is, or is threatened to be made, a named defendant or respondent: (a) because he or she is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of Synovus; (b) because he or she is or was serving at the request of Synovus as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise; or (c) because he or she is or was serving as an employee of the corporation who was employed to render professional services as a lawyer or accountant to the corporation; regardless of whether such person is acting in such a capacity at the time such obligation shall have been imposed or incurred, if (i) such person acted in a manner he or she believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to the best interest of such corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful or (ii) with respect to an employee benefit plan, such person believed in good faith that his or her conduct was in the interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan.

Pursuant to Article VIII of Synovus’ Bylaws, reasonable expenses incurred in any proceeding shall be paid by Synovus in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding if authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case, or if authorized in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, upon receipt of a written undertaking executed personally by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by Synovus, and a written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct required for indemnification.

The provisions of Article VIII cover current and future proceedings and are retroactive to cover past acts or omissions or alleged acts or omissions. In the event of death of any person having a right of indemnification or advancement of expenses under Article VIII, such right shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

---

 

The foregoing rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses are not intended to be exclusive of any other right to which those indemnified may be entitled, and Synovus has reserved the right to provide additional indemnity and rights to its directors, officers, employees or agents to the extent they are consistent with law.

Synovus carries insurance for the purpose of providing indemnification to its directors and officers. Such policy provides for indemnification of Synovus for losses and expenses it might incur to its directors and officers for successful defense of claims alleging negligent acts, errors, omissions or breach of duty while acting in their capacity as directors or officers and indemnification of its directors and officers for losses and expense upon the unsuccessful defense of such claims.

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

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number
3.1		Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2010.
3.2		Bylaws of the Company, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 8, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2010.

---

 

4.1		Shareholder Rights Plan, dated as of April 26, 2010, between Synovus Financial Corp. and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent, which includes the Form of Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Synovus Financial Corp. (Series B Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock) as Exhibit A, the Summary of Terms of the Rights Agreement as Exhibit B and the Form of Right Certificate as Exhibit C, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Synovus’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 26, 2010, as filed with the SEC on April 26, 2010.
10.1		Synovus Financial Corp. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
23.1		Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2		Consent of KPMG LLP.
24		Powers of Attorney contained on the signature pages of this Registration Statement.

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

(a)

The Company hereby undertakes:

 

(1)

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

 

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii)

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

 

(iii)

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

---

 

(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)

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

(b) The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

---

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Georgia, on the 15th day of November, 2010.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Plan has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus and State of Georgia on the 15th day of November, 2010.

 

---

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Kessel D. Stelling, Jr. and Thomas J. Prescott and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s), with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s) full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s), or their substitute(s), may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Kessel D. Stelling, Jr.				Date: November 15, 2010
Kessel D. Stelling, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Thomas J. Prescott Thomas J. Prescott, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Liliana McDaniel Liliana McDaniel, Chief Accounting Officer				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Daniel P. Amos Daniel P. Amos, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Richard E. Anthony Richard E. Anthony, Chairman of the Board, Director				Date: November 15, 2010

---

 

/s/ James H. Blanchard				Date: November 15, 2010
James H. Blanchard, Director
/s/ Richard Y. Bradley Richard Y. Bradley, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Frank W. Brumley Frank W. Brumley, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Elizabeth W. Camp Elizabeth W. Camp, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr. Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr., Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ T. Michael Goodrich T. Michael Goodrich, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ V. Nathaniel Hansford V. Nathaniel Hansford, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Mason H. Lampton Mason H. Lampton, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Elizabeth C. Ogie Elizabeth C. Ogie, Director				Date: November 15, 2010

---

 

/s/ H. Lynn Page H. Lynn Page, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ J. Neal Purcell J. Neal Purcell, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Melvin T. Stith Melvin T. Stith, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ Philip W. Tomlinson Philip W. Tomlinson, Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ William B. Turner, Jr. William B. Turner, Jr. Director				Date: November 15, 2010
/s/ James D. Yancey James D. Yancey, Director				Date: November 15, 2010