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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2000
Registration No. 333-_____
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey 22-2433468
------------------------------------ ----------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
COMMERCE ATRIUM
1701 Route 70 East
Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
COMMERCE BANCORP, INC. 1997
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full title of the Plan)
C. EDWARD JORDAN, JR.
Executive Vice-President
Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
1701 Route 70 East
Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003
(856) 751-9000
(Name, address and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of Communications To:
LAWRENCE R. WISEMAN, ESQUIRE
Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
One Logan Square
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
(215) 569-5500
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<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=================================================================================================================================
Amount Proposed maximum Proposed maximum Amount of
Title of securities to be offering price aggregate offering registration fee
to be registered registered(1) per share(2) price (2)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
=================================================================================================================================
Common Stock, par value 5,000,000 $ 45.1875 $225,937,500 $59,646
$1.5625 per share ..................
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(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate
amount of shares as may be issued pursuant to stock splits, stock
dividends and certain anti-dilution provisions contained in the Plan.
(2) The amounts are based upon the average of the high and low sale prices
for the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June
28, 2000, and are used solely for the purpose of calculating the
registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
Rule 429 Legend: The prospectus which will be used in connection with
the sale of the securities covered by this registration statement issued
pursuant to the Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan
will also be used in connection with the sale of securities covered in
the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-57497)
filed with the Commission on June 23, 1998.
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The purpose of this registration statement is to register an additional
5,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to the Commerce Bancorp,
Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, referred to as the Plan, as a result of an
amendment to the Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the
contents of registration statement No. 333-57497, filed with the SEC on June 23,
1998, are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8. Exhibits.
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The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement
or, where so indicated have been previously filed and are incorporated herein by
reference.
Exhibit Number Description
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5.1 Opinion of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
10.1 Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock
Option Plan, as amended
23.1 Consent of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
(included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
1
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Commerce 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 Cherry
Hill, New Jersey, on this 29th day of June, 2000.
COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ Vernon W. Hill, II
-----------------------------------
Vernon W. Hill, II
Chairman of the Board and President
Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Vernon W.
Hill, II or C. Edward Jordan, Jr. to file one or more amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, which amendments may
make such changes as Vernon W. Hill, II or C. Edward Jordan, Jr. deem
appropriate, and each person whose signature appears below, individually and in
each capacity stated below hereby appoints Vernon W. Hill, II or C. Edward
Jordan, Jr. as attorney-in-fact to execute in his name and on his behalf any
such amendments to this registration statement.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration
statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the date indicated.
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<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE CAPACITY DATE
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<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Vernon W. Hill, II Chairman of the Board, President and June 29, 2000
---------------------------------------- Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Vernon W. Hill, II
/s/ C. Edward Jordan, Jr. Executive Vice President and Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
C. Edward Jordan, Jr.
/s/ Robert C. Beck Secretary and Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Robert C. Beck
/s/ David Baird, IV Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
David Baird, IV
/s/ Jack R Bershad Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Jack R Bershad
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2
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<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE CAPACITY DATE
------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Joseph E. Buckelew Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Joseph E. Buckelew
/s/ Morton N. Kerr Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Morton N. Kerr
/s/ Steven M. Lewis Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Steven M. Lewis
/s/ Daniel J. Ragone Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Daniel J. Ragone
/s/ Joseph T. Tarquini, Jr. Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Joseph T. Tarquini, Jr.
/s/ William A. Schwartz, Jr. Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
William A. Schwartz, Jr.
/s/ Frank C. Videon, Sr. Director June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Frank C. Videon, Sr.
/s/ Thomas J. Sukay Principal Financial and June 29, 2000
---------------------------------------- Accounting Officer
Thomas J. Sukay
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3
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Numbers Description
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5.1 Opinion of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
10.1 Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option
Plan, as amended
23.1 Consent of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
(included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on signature page)