As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 1997
Registration No. 333-43171
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------
POST-EFFECTIVE
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
--------------------
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
----------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEW YORK 16-0968385
- ------------------------------ --------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
ONE M&T PLAZA
BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14240
- --------------------------------------- ---------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
DIRECTORS' STOCK PLAN
----------------------
(Full title of the Plan)
RICHARD A. LAMMERT, ESQ.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
ONE M&T PLAZA
BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14240
(716) 842-5390
---------------------------------------------------------
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
COPY TO:
STEVEN KAPLAN, ESQ.
ARNOLD & PORTER
555 TWELFTH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004
(202) 942-5998
================================================================================
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated herein by
reference:
(i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996;
(ii) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended
March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997; and
(iii) Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 9, 1997, January 31,
1997, February 19, 1997, June 6, 1997, June 24, 1997 and October
28, 1997; and
(iv) The description of the Corporation's Common Stock contained in
the Corporation's Registration Statement, pursuant to Section 12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange
Act"), and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.
All documents filed by the Corporation 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 of the securities offered hereby have been sold or which withdraws from
registration such securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing such documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated
by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
II-1
<PAGE>
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
The validity of the securities of the Corporation being registered
hereby has been passed upon by Richard A. Lammert, Esq., General Counsel to the
Company. As of the close of business on December 16, 1997, Mr. Lammert was the
beneficial owner of 5,691 shares of Common Stock; he held unexercised options
granted under the Corporation's 1983 Stock Option Plan to purchase 9,000 shares
of Common Stock; and he was entitled to the payment of Deferred Compensation
Obligations equal to 224 shares of Common Stock.
The financial statements incorporated in this Registration Statement by
reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of First Empire State Corporation
for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been so incorporated in reliance on
the report of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
Documents incorporated herein by reference in the future will include
financial statements, related schedules (if required) and independent auditors'
reports, which financial statements and schedules will have been audited to the
extent and for the periods set forth in such reports by the firm or firms
rendering such reports, and, to the extent so audited and consent to
incorporation by reference is given, will be incorporated herein by reference.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Sections 722-725 of the New York Business Corporation Law permit the
indemnification of any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action
or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, other than an action brought by or in
the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director or officer of the corporation or was serving in any capacity for
another enterprise at the request of the corporation, against judgments, fines,
amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred as a result of such action or proceeding,
provided such person acted in good faith and for a purpose he or she reasonably
believed to be in, or in the case of service for another enterprise, not opposed
to, the best interests of the corporation.
With respect to a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation,
such person may be indemnified against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable
expenses (including attorneys' fees) if he or she acted in good faith and for a
purpose he or she reasonably believed to be in, or in the case of service for
another enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation. The
statute provides, however, that no indemnification is allowed with respect to a
threatened action, pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or
as to any person who is adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to
the extent that the court, upon application, determines that such person is
entitled to indemnification under the circumstances.
II-2
<PAGE>
The Bylaws of the Corporation provide that directors and officers shall
be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by the New York Business
Corporation Law or any other applicable law provided, however, that a director
or officer shall be indemnified with respect to any action or proceeding (or
part thereof) initiated by any such director or officer only if such action or
proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors. In
addition, the Corporations Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that
as to any act or omission occurring after May 7, 1997, a director of the
Corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted by the laws of the State of
New York, have no personal liability to the Corporation or any of its
stockholders for damages that may arise from any breach of duty as a director.
The Corporation has purchased insurance insuring officers and directors
of the Corporation against certain liabilities incurred in their capacities as
such to insure the Corporation against payments which it is obligated to make to
such persons under the foregoing indemnification provisions. Such liabilities
could include liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
The foregoing descriptions are general summaries only. Reference is
made to the full text of the Corporations Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
The exhibits listed on the Index of Exhibits of this Registration
Statement are filed herewith or are incorporated herein by reference to other
filings.
Item 9. Undertakings.
The undersigned Registrant 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, as amended (the "Securities Act").
(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
II-3
<PAGE>
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 a 20% change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement.
(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 (i) and (ii) do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement;
2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, 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;
4. That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or 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; and
5. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the 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
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant 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 Registrant 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.
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<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, 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 Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Buffalo, State of New York, on
December 29, 1997.
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Michael P. Pinto
-------------------------
Michael P. Pinto
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to this Registration Statement has been signed by the following
persons in the capacities indicated on December 29, 1997.
Signatures Title
- ---------- -----
*
- -------------------------- Director, Chairman of the Board,
Robert G. Wilmers President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
*
- -------------------------- Executive Vice President and
Michael P. Pinto Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
* Administrative Vice President,
- -------------------------- Controller and Assistant Secretary
Michael R. Spychola (Principal Accounting Officer)
<PAGE>
*
- --------------------------
Brent D. Baird Director
*
- --------------------------
John H. Benisch Director
*
- --------------------------
C. Angela Bontempo Director
*
- --------------------------
Robert T. Brady Director
*
- --------------------------
Patrick J. Callan Director
*
- --------------------------
Richard E. Garman Director
*
- --------------------------
James V. Glynn Director
*
- --------------------------
Roy M. Goodman Director
*
- --------------------------
Patrick W.E. Hodgson Director
<PAGE>
*
- --------------------------
Samuel T. Hubbard, Jr. Director
*
- --------------------------
Lambros J. Lambros Director
*
- --------------------------
Wilfred J. Larson Director
*
- --------------------------
Jorge G. Pereira Director
*
- --------------------------
Raymond D. Stevens, Jr. Director
*
- --------------------------
Herbert L. Washington Director
*
- --------------------------
John L. Wehle, Jr. Director
By: /s/ Richard A. Lammert
----------------------
Richard A. Lammert
(Attorney-in-Fact)
<PAGE>
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit 4.1 First Empire State Corporation Directors' Stock Plan,
effective January 1, 1998.*
Exhibit 5 Opinion of Richard A. Lammert with respect to the legality of
the Common Stock being registered.*
Exhibit 23.1 Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Auditors and
Accountants.*
Exhibit 23.2 Consent of Richard A. Lammert, contained in his opinion
filed as Exhibit 5 hereto.*
Exhibit 24.1 Powers of Attorney of certain officers and directors of the
Corporation, filed herewith.
- ----------
* Previously filed.
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Robert G. Wilmers
---------------------------------
Robert G. Wilmers
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Brent D. Baird
---------------------------------
Brent D. Baird
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ C. Angela Bontempo
---------------------------------
C. Angela Bontempo
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Patrick J. Callan
---------------------------------
Patrick J. Callan
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Michael R. Spychola
---------------------------------
Michael R. Spychola
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Lambros J. Lambros
---------------------------------
Lambros J. Lambros
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Raymond D. Stevens, Jr.
---------------------------------
Raymond D. Stevens, Jr.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Herbert L. Washington
---------------------------------
Herbert L. Washington
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ John H. Benisch
---------------------------------
John H. Benisch
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Robert T. Brady
---------------------------------
Robert T. Brady
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Richard E. Garman
---------------------------------
Richard E. Garman
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ James V. Glynn
---------------------------------
James V. Glynn
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Roy M. Goodman
---------------------------------
Roy M. Goodman
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Patrick W.E. Hodgson
---------------------------------
Patrick W.E. Hodgson
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Samuel T. Hubbard, Jr.
---------------------------------
Samuel T. Hubbard, Jr.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Wilfred J. Larson
---------------------------------
Wilfred J. Larson
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ Jorge G. Pereira
---------------------------------
Jorge G. Pereira
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Lammert, Timothy G. McEvoy, Catherine C. McCoy and Steven
Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other appropriate form),
and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, with
all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of shares of the Corporation's common stock authorized to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Corporation's Directors' Stock Plan, and of plan interests
in such plan, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and
purposes as he himself or she herself might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his or her hand as of the date specified.
Dated: December 19, 1997
/s/ John L. Wehle, Jr.
---------------------------------
John L. Wehle, Jr.