<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
--------------
FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION
----------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Pennsylvania 23-2195389
------------ ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization) Identification Number)
One Penn Square
P. O. Box 4887
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)
Fulton Financial Corporation
1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan
--------------------------------
(Full Title of the Plan)
Rufus A. Fulton, Jr., President and Copy to:
Chief Executive Officer Nancy Mayer Hughes, Esquire
Fulton Financial Corporation Barley, Snyder, Senft & Cohen
One Penn Square 126 East King Street
P. O. Box 4887 Lancaster, PA 17602-2893
Lancaster, PA 17604
- --------------------
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(717)291-2411
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
--------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
Proposed maximum Proposed maximum
Title of Securities to Amount to be offering price per aggregate offering Amount of
be Registered registered/1/ share/2/ price registration fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock $2.50 par 1,650,000 $19.875 $32,793,750.00 $11,308.19
value per share
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this Registration Statement shall be deemed to cover additional securities to be offered or issued
pursuant to terms which provide for a change in the amount of securities being offered or issued to prevent dilution
resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Determined, in accordance with Rule 457(c), upon the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the
registrant's common stock as reported on the NASDAQ National Market System as of May 30, 1996.
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<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 are incorporated in and made a part of this registration
statement by reference as of their respective dates:
(a) The registrant's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1995.
(b) The registrant's Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 1996.
(c) The description of the registrant's Common Stock in the
registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), which was declared effective on December 22,
1995.
All documents hereinafter filed by the registrant with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, 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, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference and to be a
part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
- ------- --------------------------
A description of the registrant's Common Stock to be offered is not
provided in this registration statement because such class of the registrant's
securities is registered under Section 12 of the 1934 Act.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
- ------- ---------------------------------------
Neither the registrant's independent auditors, Arthur Andersen LLP,
nor the registrant's counsel, Barley, Snyder, Senft & Cohen, nor any individual
employed by or associated with either such firm in a professional capacity, was
employed by the registrant in connection with matters described in this
registration statement on a contingent basis or has, or is to receive in
connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the
registrant or any of its subsidiaries or was connected with the registrant or
any of its subsidiaries as a promoter, managing underwriter (or any principal
underwriter, if there are no managing
2
<PAGE>
underwriters), voting trustee, officer or employee. John O. Shirk is a partner
in the law firm of Barley, Snyder, Senft & Cohen and is a member of the Board of
Directors of the registrant.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
- ------- ------------------------------------------
Under Pennsylvania law, corporations have the power to indemnify any
director or officer or former director or officer of the corporation, or any
person who may have served at its request as a director or officer of another
corporation in which it owns shares of capital stock or of which it is a
creditor, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, civil or
criminal, in which he or she is made a party by reason of being or having been
such director or officer, except in relation to matters as to which he or she
will be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding to be liable for gross
negligence or misconduct in the performance of a duty to the corporation and to
make any other indemnification that will be authorized by the articles of
incorporation or bylaws or resolution adopted after notice to the shareholders.
The Bylaws of the registrant provide for indemnification of its
directors, officers, employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, provided that the person seeking
indemnification acted in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believed
to be in the best interests of the registrant, and without willful misconduct or
recklessness. The registrant has purchased insurance to indemnify its
directors, officers, employees and agents under certain circumstances.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) may be permitted to directors, officers or
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions of
the registrant's Bylaws, the registrant has been informed that, in the opinion
of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
- ------- ------------------------------------
Restricted securities will not be reoffered or resold pursuant to this
registration statement.
3
<PAGE>
Item 8. Exhibits.
- ------- ---------
Number Exhibit
- ------ -------
4 Rights Agreement dated June 20, 1989, between Fulton
Financial Corporation and Fulton Bank -- Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 1 of the Fulton Financial
Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 21,
1989
5 and 23(a) Opinion and Consent of Barley, Snyder, Senft & Cohen,
with respect to the securities registered hereunder
23(b) Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
24 Power of Attorney
99 Fulton Financial Corporation 1996 Incentive Stock
Option Plan -- Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A
of the Fulton Financial Corporation Proxy Statement
dated March 26, 1996
Item 9. Undertakings.
- ------- -------------
(a) 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;
(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, represents a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the
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;
4
<PAGE>
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and
(a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is
on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purposes 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 undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing
of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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 at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 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 Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the 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 a 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
5
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
----------
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Lancaster, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on this 21st
day of May, 1996.
FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:/s/ Rufus A. Fulton, Jr.
------------------------
Rufus A. Fulton, Jr., President
and Chief Executive Officer
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.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TITLE DATE
----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Jeffrey G. Albertson Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Jeffrey G. Albertson
/s/ James R. Argires Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
James R. Argires
Director
- ---------------------------
Donald M. Bowman, Jr.
/s/ Thomas D. Caldwell, Jr. Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Thomas D. Caldwell, Jr.
/s/ Beth Ann L. Chivinski Senior Vice President May 21, 1996
- --------------------------- and Controller
Beth Ann L. Chivinski (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Harold D. Chubb Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Harold D. Chubb
/s/ William H. Clark, Jr. Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
William H. Clark, Jr.
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TITLE DATE
----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Frederick B. Fichthorn Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Frederick B. Fichthorn
/s/ Patrick J. Freer Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Patrick J. Freer
/s/ Rufus A. Fulton, Jr. President, Chief Executive May 21, 1996
- --------------------------- Officer and Director
Rufus A. Fulton, Jr. (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Eugene H. Gardner Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Eugene H. Gardner
/s/ Robert D. Garner Chairman of the Board May 21, 1996
- --------------------------- and Director
Robert D. Garner
/s/ Daniel M. Heisey Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Daniel M. Heisey
/s/ J. Robert Hess Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
J. Robert Hess
/s/ Carolyn R. Holleran Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Carolyn R. Holleran
/s/ Clyde W. Horst Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Clyde W. Horst
/s/ Bernard J. Metz, Sr. Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Bernard J. Metz, Sr.
/s/ Charles J. Nugent Executive Vice President and May 21, 1996
- --------------------------- Chief Financial Officer
Charles J. Nugent (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Arthur M. Peters, Jr. Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------
Arthur M. Peters, Jr.
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TITLE DATE
----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Stuart H. Raub, Jr. Director May 21, 1996
- --------------------------------
Stuart H. Raub, Jr.
/s/ Donald E. Ruhl Director May 21, 1996
- --------------------------------
Donald E. Ruhl
/s/ Mary Ann Russell Director May 21, 1996
- --------------------------------
Mary Ann Russell
/s/ William E. Rusling Director May 21, 1996
- --------------------------------
William E. Rusling
/s/ John O. Shirk Director May 21, 1996
- --------------------------------
John O. Shirk
/s/ R. Scott Smith Executive Vice President May 21, 1996
- --------------------------------
R. Scott Smith
/s/ James K. Sperry Director May 21, 1996
- --------------------------------
James K. Sperry
- -------------------------------- Director
Kenneth G. Stoudt
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5
LAW OFFICES
Barley, Snyder, Senft & Cohen
126 East King Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602-2893
Telephone (717) 299-5201
Telecopier (717) 291-4660
LAVERE C. SENFT DONN I. COHEN 100 EAST MARKET STREET
HARRY J. RUBIN ROBERT J. STEWART P.O. BOX 15012
H. ROBERT LASDAY JOHN O. SHIRK YORK, PA 17405-7012
DONALD E. LeFEVER W. JEFFREY SIDEBOTTOM TELEPHONE (717) 846-8888
CHRISTOPHER W. MATTSON DONALD D. GEYER TELECOPIER (717) 843-8492
FREDERICK S. SPANGLER JESSE C. ROBINSON
REES GRIFFITHS JAMES A. HUMPHREYS III 240 NORTH THIRD STREET
PAUL M. BROWNING KATHLEEN ANN GRAY P.O. BOX 1129
JAMES R. ADAMS GEORGE C. WERNER, JR. HARRISBURG, PA 17105-1129
DAVID R. KELLER JEFFREY D. LOBACH TELEPHONE (717) 238-8263
JAMES W. SAXTON CAROLINE M. HOFFER TELECOPIER (717) 238-8278
ROBERT W. HALLINGER STEVEN J. KOEHLER
VAL E. WINTER NEDRIC L. NISSLY RETIRED
ELAINE PENNINGTON STANKO THOMAS J. LOVELASS RALPH M. BARLEY
PAUL D. CLOUSER MICHAEL A. MOORE CHARLES R. COOPER, JR.
CHRISTOPHER A. STUMP KENDRA D. MCGUIRE JOHN T. BARBER
PAUL G. MATTAINI* TIMOTHY P. BROWN
ANNE E. DOLINER NANCY MAYER HUGHES
ERIC L. WINKLE MICHAEL S. BUTLER COUNSEL
MICHAEL W. DAVIS KATHERINE BETZ KRAVITZ PAUL A. MUELLER, JR.
HANNA A. DUNLAP RONALD H. POLLOCK, JR. ARTHUR E. WILMARTH, JR.
MELANIE A. ZAMPINI BARBARA B. MAY
RICHARD L. GRUBB BEVERLY J. POINTS RICHARD A. SNYDER
JENNIFER A. KLINE KATHLEEN M. QUARTO (1945-1992)
JENNIFER L. CRAIGHEAD SCOTT F. LANDIS
MARY ANN MOSCONY COOKE CHRISTOPHER A. HACKMAN
AUBREY L. HANFORD PAUL W. MINNICH
May 21, 1996
*ADMITTED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ONLY
WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL NUMBER (717) 399-1519
Fulton Financial Corporation
One Penn Square
P. O. Box 4887
Lancaster, PA 17604
Re: Fulton Financial Corporation
1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan
--------------------------------
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Fulton Financial Corporation (the "Company") in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
by means of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement"),
of 1,650,000 shares of the $2.50 par value common stock (the "Common Stock") of
the Company to be issued pursuant to the terms of the Company's 1996 Incentive
Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan").
This Opinion Letter is provided pursuant to the requirements of Item
601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission for
inclusion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
This Opinion Letter is governed by, and shall be interpreted in accordance
with, the Legal Opinion Accord (the "Accord") of the American Bar Association's
Section of Business Law (1991), as supplemented or modified by the Pennsylvania
Third-Party Legal Opinion Supplement (the "Pennsylvania Supplement") of the
Pennsylvania Bar Association's Section of Corporation, Banking and Business Law
(1992). As a consequence, this Opinion Letter is subject to a number of
qualifications, exceptions, definitions, limitations on coverage and other
limitations, all as more
<PAGE>
Fulton Financial Corporation
May 21, 1996
Page 2
particularly described in the Accord and the Pennsylvania Supplement and this
Opinion Letter shall be read in conjunction therewith. The Law covered by the
opinions expressed herein is limited to the federal Law of the United States of
America and the Law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Except as otherwise indicated herein, capitalized terms used in this
Opinion Letter are defined and set forth in the Option Plan, the Accord or the
Pennsylvania Supplement. In addition to conditions and assumptions set forth in
the Accord and the Pennsylvania Supplement, our opinions herein are subject to
the assumption that the shares of the Common Stock will be issued in strict
accordance with the terms of the Option Plan and the statutory laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
shares of the Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Option Plan have been
duly authorized and, when issued, will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
registration statement and to the references to this firm under Item 5 regarding
"Interests of Named Experts and Counsel."
Very truly yours,
BARLEY, SNYDER, SENFT & COHEN
By: /s/ Paul G. Mattaini
----------------------
Paul G. Mattaini
PGM/jfb/271793.1
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23(B)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
-----------------------------------------
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation
by reference in this Form S-8 Registration Statement of our report dated January
26, 1996, included in Fulton Financial Corporation's Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1995 and to all references to our firm included in this Form
S-8 Registration Statement.
Lancaster, PA /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
June 5, 1996
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned officers and directors of Fulton Financial Corporation
hereby constitute and appoint Rufus A. Fulton, Jr. and Charles J. Nugent, or
either of them individually, the true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact of
the undersigned with full power and authority to sign for the undersigned and in
their respective names, in any and all capacities, any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and
generally to take all such steps as may be necessary or appropriate to enable
Fulton Financial Corporation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission related thereto, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken by
such agents and attorneys-in-fact, as herein authorized.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Capacity Date
--------- -------- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Jeffrey G. Albertson Director May 21, 1996
- ----------------------------------
(Jeffrey G. Albertson)
/s/ James R. Argires Director May 21, 1996
- ----------------------------------
(James R. Argires)
Director
- ----------------------------------
(Donald M. Bowman, Jr.)
/s/ Thomas D. Caldwell, Jr. Director May 21, 1996
- ----------------------------------
(Thomas D. Caldwell, Jr.)
Senior Vice President May 21, 1996
/s/ Beth Ann L. Chivinski and Controller
- ---------------------------------- (Principal Accounting
(Beth Ann L. Chivinski) Officer)
/s/ Harold D. Chubb Director May 21, 1996
- ----------------------------------
(Harold D. Chubb)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Capacity Date
- --------- -------- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ William H. Clark, Jr. Director May 21, 1996
- ----------------------------------
(William H. Clark, Jr.)
/s/ Frederick B. Fichthorn Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Frederick B. Fichthorn)
/s/ Patrick J. Freer Director
- ---------------------------------
(Patrick J. Freer)
President, Chief May 21, 1996
/s/ Rufus A. Fulton, Jr. Executive Officer and
- --------------------------------- Director
(Rufus A. Fulton, Jr.) (Principal Executive
Officer)
/s/ Eugene H. Gardner Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Eugene H. Gardner)
Chairman of the Board May 21, 1996
/s/ Robert D. Garner and Director
- ---------------------------------
(Robert D. Garner)
/s/ Daniel M. Heisey Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Daniel M. Heisey)
/s/ J. Robert Hess Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(J. Robert Hess)
/s/ Carolyn R. Holleran Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Carolyn R. Holleran)
/s/ Clyde W. Horst Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Clyde W. Horst)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Capacity Date
--------- -------- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Bernard J. Metz, Sr. Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Bernard J. Metz, Sr.)
Executive Vice May 21, 1996
/s/ Charles J. Nugent President and Chief
- --------------------------------- Financial Officer
(Charles J. Nugent) (Principal Financial
Officer)
/s/ Arthur M. Peters, Jr. Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Arthur M. Peters, Jr.)
/s/ Stuart H. Raub, Jr. Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Stuart H. Raub, Jr.)
/s/ Donald E. Ruhl Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Donald E. Ruhl)
/s/ William E. Rusling Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(William E. Rusling)
/s/ Mary Ann Russell Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Mary Ann Russell)
/s/ John O. Shirk Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(John O. Shirk)
Executive Vice May 21, 1996
/s/ R. Scott Smith President
- ---------------------------------
(R. Scott Smith)
/s/ James K. Sperry Executive Vice May 21, 1996
- --------------------------------- President and
(James K. Sperry) Director
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Capacity Date
--------- -------- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Kenneth G. Stoudt Director May 21, 1996
- ---------------------------------
(Kenneth G. Stoudt)
</TABLE>
