<PAGE> 1
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-61575
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 13, 1998)
2,700,000 SHARES
SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.
COMMON STOCK
----------------------
Pursuant to this Prospectus Supplement, we are offering and selling
2,700,000 shares of common stock. We will receive all of the proceeds from the
sale of the common stock. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol "STI." The last reported sale price for the common
stock on the New York Stock Exchange December 4, 1998 was $74 3/4 per share.
----------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PER SHARE TOTAL
--------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Offering price..................................... $71.00 $191,700,000
Proceeds, before expenses, to SunTrust Banks,
Inc.............................................. $71.00 $191,700,000
</TABLE>
The shares of common stock are being offered and sold directly to three
purchasers at the negotiated offering price set forth above. No agent,
underwriter or dealer is participating in the sale of common stock pursuant to
this prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus supplement or the attached prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We expect that the shares of common stock will be ready for delivery to
the purchasers on or about December 9, 1998.
----------------------
The date of this prospectus supplement is December 4, 1998
----------------------
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............. S-3
The Corporation............................................. S-3
Recent Developments......................................... S-3
Use of Proceeds............................................. S-4
Plan of Distribution........................................ S-5
PROSPECTUS
Available Information....................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............. 2
The Corporation............................................. 3
Recent Developments......................................... 3
Use of Proceeds............................................. 3
Certain Regulatory Considerations........................... 4
Description of Capital Stock................................ 6
Plan of Distribution........................................ 8
Legal Matters............................................... 9
Experts..................................................... 9
</TABLE>
You should read this prospectus supplement along with the prospectus that
follows. Both documents contain information you should consider when making your
investment decision. You should rely only on information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with
different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent
information, you should not rely on it.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to by any securities
other than the common stock. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy such common stock in any such circumstances in which such offer or
solicitation is unlawful.
Information in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus
may change after the date on the front of the applicable document. You should
not interpret the delivery of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying
prospectus, or the sale of the common stock, as an indication that there has
been no change in our affairs since those dates.
S-2
<PAGE> 3
The following information may not contain all the information that may be
important to you. You should read the entire prospectus supplement and
accompanying prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making an
investment decision. All references to "we", the "Corporation" or "SunTrust" in
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus mean SunTrust Banks,
Inc. and its subsidiaries, including its subsidiary banks, except where it is
made clear that the term means only the parent company.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
We hereby incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (the "Joint Proxy Statement") of SunTrust
Banks, Inc. and Crestar Financial Corporation ("Crestar") dated November 13,
1998, which is contained in SunTrust's Registration Statement on Form S-4, as
amended, that was initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 14, 1998 (File No. 333-61539).
THE CORPORATION
We are a regional bank holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Our three principal subsidiaries are SunTrust Banks of Florida, Inc.,
headquartered in Orlando, Florida, SunTrust Banks of Georgia, Inc.,
headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and SunTrust Banks of Tennessee, Inc.,
headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
Through our subsidiary banks, we conduct a broad range of commercial
banking activities, including accepting demand, time and savings deposits,
making both secured and unsecured business and consumer loans and leases,
extending commercial lines of credit, issuing and servicing credit cards and
certain other types of revolving credit accounts, providing commercial factoring
services, cash management services, investment counseling, safe deposit
services, personal and corporate trust and other fiduciary services and engaging
in leasing, mortgage banking, correspondent banking, international banking,
investment banking, trading in U.S. government securities and municipal bonds
and underwriting certain types of securities.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
THE CRESTAR MERGER
SunTrust and Crestar have entered into a definitive amended and restated
merger agreement dated as of July 20, 1998 pursuant to which a wholly owned
subsidiary of SunTrust will be merged with and into Crestar (the "Merger"). In
the Merger, each share of common stock of Crestar then outstanding will be
converted into the right to receive 0.96 shares of common stock of SunTrust. The
Merger is intend to qualify as a tax-free exchange and will be accounted for as
a pooling-of-interests.
Completion of the Merger is subject to customary conditions, including
approval by the shareholders of SunTrust and Crestar. The shareholder meetings
for such vote are scheduled for December 23, 1998. SunTrust cannot assure you
that the Merger will be consummated.
S-3
<PAGE> 4
CRESTAR
Crestar is the holding company for Crestar Bank, which has 396 banking
offices in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Crestar provides,
through various subsidiaries, insurance, equipment and automobile leasing,
mortgage banking and full-service securities and investment advisory services.
As of September 30, 1998, Crestar had approximately $25.7 billion in total
assets, $17.0 billion in total deposits and $2.3 billion in total shareholders'
equity.
SUNTRUST DIVIDEND POLICY
After consummation of the Merger, SunTrust senior management will recommend
to the board of directors of SunTrust (which will include four current Crestar
directors) that the board increase the annual dividend on SunTrust common stock
to $1.38 per share. Crestar's current annual dividend rate is $1.32 per share.
At the dividend rate of $1.38 per share, the pro forma equivalent dividend per
share of SunTrust stock for current Crestar shareholders would be $1.3248
annually. SunTrust cannot, however, assure these payments. The board of
directors will use its discretion in deciding whether and when to declare
dividends and in what amount, and will consider all relevant factors in doing
so.
RISKS RELATING TO THE MERGER
The Merger involves the integration of two companies that have previously
operated independently. Successful integration of Crestar's operations will
depend primarily on SunTrust's ability to consolidate operations, systems and
procedures and to eliminate redundancies and costs. No assurance can be given
that SunTrust and Crestar will be able to integrate their operations without
encountering difficulties including, without limitation, the loss of key
employees and customers, the disruption of their respective ongoing businesses
or possible inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies.
Additionally, in determining that the Merger is in the best interests of
SunTrust and Crestar, as the case may be, each of the SunTrust board of
directors and the Crestar board of directors considered that enhanced earnings
may result from the Merger, primarily through the realization of an estimated
$130 million per year on a pre-tax basis in 1999 and 2000, respectively, in cost
savings from business line consolidation, infrastructure reduction and general
and administrative expense savings, and an estimated $20 million and $28
million, on a pre-tax basis, in 1999 and 2000, respectively, in incremental
income. SunTrust expects to achieve 75% of such $130 million annual cost savings
by the end of 1999 and 100% of such $130 million annual cost savings by the end
of 2000. The realization and timing of such operating efficiencies and cost
savings could be affected by a number of factors beyond SunTrust's control.
Therefore, there can be no assurance that any enhanced earnings will result from
the Merger.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Corporation currently intends to use the net proceeds from this sale of
common stock for general corporate purposes, which may include refinancing of
debt, including outstanding commercial paper and other short-term indebtedness,
investments at the holding company level, investments in, or extensions of
credit to, its banking and other subsidiaries and other banks and companies
engaged in other financial service activities, and possible acquisitions.
S-4
<PAGE> 5
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Under the terms and subject to the conditions of a stock purchase agreement
dated December 4, 1998, we have agreed to sell directly to the purchasers named
below (the "Purchasers"), and the Purchasers have collectively agreed to
purchase from us, 2,700,000 shares of our common stock at an offering price of
$71 per share. The following table shows the number of shares of common stock
that we will sell to each Purchaser:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER
PURCHASER OF SHARES
- --------- ---------
<S> <C>
Washington Mutual Investors Fund, Inc...................... 1,677,800
American Mutual Fund, Inc.................................. 400,000
The Investment Company of America.......................... 622,200
---------
Total............................................ 2,700,000
=========
</TABLE>
We are selling our common stock directly to the Purchasers. No agent,
underwriter or dealer is participating in the sale of common stock pursuant to
this prospectus supplement.
We expect to incur expenses of approximately $110,000 in connection with
this offering.
S-5
<PAGE> 6
PROSPECTUS
---------------------
SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.
COMMON STOCK
---------------------
SunTrust Banks, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Corporation"), may from
time to time offer and sell up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of its common
stock, $1.00 par value per share ("Common Stock"). See "Description of Capital
Stock." The accompanying Prospectus Supplement sets forth, with respect to the
offering of Common Stock in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered,
the specific number of shares of Common Stock and the issuance price per share.
The Common Stock may be sold directly by the Corporation to the public or
through agents, underwriters or dealers, or though a combination of such
methods. The accompanying Prospectus Supplement sets forth the names of any
agents, underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of the Common Stock in
respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, the number of shares, if
any, to be purchased by any such agents, underwriters or dealers and any
applicable discounts, concessions or commitments. See "Plan of Distribution." If
the Corporation, directly or through agents, solicits offers to purchase the
Common Stock, the Corporation reserves the sole right to accept and, together
with its agents, to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of the
Common Stock. Any agents or underwriters, dealers participating in any offering
may be deemed "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"). See "Plan of Distribution" for possible
indemnification arrangements for agents, underwriters, dealers and their
controlling persons.
The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"STI." On November 11, 1998, the last sale price of the Common Stock as reported
on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape was $68.88 per share. Any Common
Stock offered pursuant to this Prospectus and the accompanying Prospectus
Supplement will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of
official issuance.
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE THE SALE OF COMMON STOCK
UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOVEMBER 13, 1998.
<PAGE> 7
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Corporation is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and, in
accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's
Regional Offices in New York (13th Floor, 7 World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048) and Chicago (Suite 1400, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
60661-2511). Information regarding the operation of the public reference
facilities of the Commission may be obtained by calling the Commission at
1-800-SEC-0330. The Commission also maintains a Web site at http://www.sec.gov
that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding
registrants that file electronically with the Commission. In addition, such
reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Corporation can
be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005.
The Corporation has filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (together
with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration Statement") under
the Securities Act. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set
forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further
information, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits
filed as part thereof. Statements contained herein concerning any document filed
as an exhibit are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, reference is
made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Corporation hereby incorporates by reference in this Prospectus the
following reports filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act: (a)
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended
on November 13, 1998, (b) its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
ended March 31, 1998, as amended on November 13, 1998, June 30, 1998, as amended
on November 13, 1998, and September 30, 1998, and (c) its Current Reports on
Form 8-K dated January 16, 1998, March 10, 1998, July 20, 1998, August 12, 1998
and November 13, 1998.
All documents filed by the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Common Stock made hereby shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and shall be deemed a part
hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents. Any statement
contained in this Prospectus or any accompanying Prospectus Supplement or in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or
therein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Prospectus or such accompanying Prospectus Supplement to the extent that a
statement contained herein or therein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or
therein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this Prospectus.
The Corporation will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy
of this Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such
person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein,
except for exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into such documents. Written requests should be sent
to: James C. Armstrong, First Vice President -- Investor Relations, SunTrust
Banks, Inc., 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308. Telephone
requests may be directed to 404-588-7425.
2
<PAGE> 8
THE CORPORATION
The Corporation is a regional bank holding company with three principal
subsidiaries: SunTrust Banks of Florida, Inc., headquartered in Orlando, Florida
("STB of Florida"); SunTrust Banks of Georgia, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta,
Georgia ("STB of Georgia"); and SunTrust Banks of Tennessee, Inc., headquartered
in Nashville, Tennessee ("STB of Tennessee").
The Corporation, through its subsidiary banks (the "Subsidiary Banks"),
conducts a broad range of commercial banking activities, including accepting
demand, time and savings deposits, making both secured and unsecured business
and consumer loans and leases, extending commercial lines of credit, issuing and
servicing credit cards and certain other types of revolving credit accounts,
providing commercial factoring services, cash management services, investment
counseling, safe deposit services, personal and corporate trust and other
fiduciary services and engaging in leasing, mortgage banking, correspondent
banking, international banking, investment banking, trading in U.S. government
securities and municipal bonds and underwriting certain types of securities.
Under the longstanding policy of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve"), a bank holding company is expected to
act as a source of financial strength for its subsidiary banks and to commit
resources to support such banks. As a result of this policy, the Corporation may
be required to commit resources to the Subsidiary Banks in circumstances where
it might not otherwise do so.
The Corporation's principal executive offices are located at 303 Peachtree
Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, and its telephone number is 404-588-7711.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In connection with the review by the Staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission of documents relating to the Corporation's proposed acquisition of
Crestar Financial Corporation ("Crestar"), and the Staff's comments thereon, the
Corporation has lowered its provision for loan losses in 1996, 1995 and 1994 by
$40 million, $35 million and $25 million, respectively. The effect of this
action was to increase the Corporation's net income in those years by $24.4
million, $21.4 million and $15.3 million, respectively. Further, as of December
31, 1997 and 1996, the reserve for loan losses has been decreased by a total of
$100 million and shareholders' equity has been increased by a total of $61
million. All amounts included or incorporated by reference herein have been
restated to give effect to the above adjustments. The Corporation has amended
certain of its reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to reflect, among
other things, the adjustments to its historical financial statements resulting
from the foregoing. See "Available Information". All historical financial
information for the Corporation and all pro forma financial information for the
Corporation and Crestar combined included or incorporated by reference herein
have been adjusted to reflect the adjustments to the Corporation's loan loss
provision discussed above.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Corporation currently intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of
any Common Stock for general corporate purposes, which may include refinancing
of debt, including outstanding commercial paper and other short-term
indebtedness, investments at the holding company level, investments in, or
extensions of credit to, its banking and other subsidiaries and other banks and
companies engaged in other financial service activities, possible acquisitions
and such other purposes as may be stated in any Prospectus Supplement. Pending
such use, the net proceeds may be temporarily invested. The precise amounts and
timing of the application of proceeds will depend upon the funding requirements
of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and the availability of other funds.
Except as may be described in any Prospectus Supplement, specific allocations of
the proceeds to such purposes will not have been made at the date of such
Prospectus Supplement.
3
<PAGE> 9
CERTAIN REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion sets forth certain of the elements of the
comprehensive regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies and
banks and provides certain specific information relevant to the Corporation and
its subsidiaries. Federal and state regulation of financial institutions such as
the Corporation and the Subsidiary Banks is intended primarily for the
protection of depositors and the Federal deposit insurance funds rather than
shareholders or other creditors.
GENERAL
As a bank holding company, the Corporation is subject to the regulation and
supervision of the Federal Reserve. The Corporation's Subsidiary Banks are
subject to regulation, supervision and examination by applicable state and
federal banking agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency (the "Comptroller") and the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC").
The federal banking agencies have broad enforcement powers over depository
institutions, including the power to terminate deposit insurance, to impose
substantial fines and other civil and criminal penalties, and to appoint a
conservator or receiver if certain conditions are met. The federal banking
agencies also have broad enforcement powers over bank holding companies,
including the power to impose substantial fines and other civil and criminal
penalties.
Almost every aspect of the operations and financial condition of the
Subsidiary Banks is subject to extensive regulation and supervision and to
various requirements and restrictions under federal and state law, including
requirements governing capital adequacy, liquidity, earnings, dividends,
reserves against deposits, management practices, branching, loans, investments,
and the provision of services. Various consumer protection laws and regulations
also affect the operations of the Subsidiary Banks. The activities and
operations of the Corporation also are subject to extensive federal supervision
and regulation which, among other things, limit non-banking activities, impose
minimum capital requirements and require approval to acquire more than 5% of any
class of voting shares or substantially all of the assets of a bank. In addition
to the impact of regulation, banks and bank holding companies may be
significantly affected by legislation, which can change banking statutes in
substantial and unpredictable ways, and by the actions of the Federal Reserve as
it attempts to control the money supply and credit availability in order to
influence the economy.
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS
The Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from its
subsidiaries, including the Subsidiary Banks. There are various legal and
regulatory limitations under federal and state law on the extent to which the
Corporation's subsidiaries, including its bank and bank holding company
subsidiaries, can finance or otherwise supply funds to the Corporation.
The principal source of the Corporation's cash revenues is dividends from
its subsidiaries and there are certain limitations under federal, Georgia,
Florida, Tennessee and Alabama law on the payment of dividends by such
subsidiaries. The approval of the Federal Reserve or the Comptroller, as the
case may be, is required if the total of all dividends declared by any state
member bank of the Federal Reserve or any national bank in any calendar year
exceeds the bank's net income for that year combined with its retained net
income for the preceding two years, less any required transfers to surplus or a
fund for the retirement of any preferred stock. In addition, a dividend may not
be paid if a bank's losses equal or exceed its undivided profits, and a dividend
may not be paid in excess of a bank's undivided profits. The relevant federal
and state regulatory agencies also have authority to prohibit a bank holding
company, which would include STB of Florida, STB of Georgia and STB of
Tennessee, or a state or national bank from engaging in what, in the opinion of
such regulatory body, constitutes an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting
its business. The payment of dividends could, depending upon the financial
condition of the subsidiary, be deemed to constitute such an unsafe or unsound
practice.
Under Georgia law (which would apply to any payment of dividends by the
Corporation's largest subsidiary, SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, to STB of Georgia) the
prior approval of the Georgia Department of
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<PAGE> 10
Banking and Finance is required before any cash dividends may be paid by a state
bank if: (i) total classified assets at the most recent examination of such bank
exceed 80% of the equity capital (as defined, which includes the reserve for
loan losses) of such bank; (ii) the aggregate amount of dividends declared or
anticipated to be declared in the calendar year exceeds 50% of the net profits,
after taxes but before dividends, for the previous calendar year; or (iii) the
ratio of equity capital to adjusted total assets is less than 6%.
Retained earnings of the Corporation's banking subsidiaries available for
payment of cash dividends under all applicable regulations without obtaining
governmental approval were approximately $540.1 million as of December 31, 1997.
In addition, the Subsidiary Banks and their subsidiaries are subject to
limitations under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act with respect
to extensions of credit to, investments in, and certain other transactions with,
the Corporation and its other subsidiaries. Furthermore, such loans and
extensions of credit, as well as certain other transactions, are also subject to
various collateral requirements.
CAPITAL ADEQUACY
The Federal Reserve has adopted minimum risk-based and leverage capital
guidelines for bank holding companies. The minimum required risk-based capital
ratio of qualifying total capital to risk-weighted assets (including certain
off-balance-sheet items, such as standby letters of credit) is 8%, of which 4%
must consist of Tier 1 capital. As of September 30, 1998, the Corporation's
total risk-based capital ratio was 12.83%, including 7.49% of Tier 1 capital.
The minimum required leverage capital ratio (Tier 1 capital to average total
assets) is 3% for bank holding companies that meet certain specified criteria,
including that they have the highest regulatory rating. As of September 30,
1998, the Corporation's leverage capital ratio was 7.10%. Higher risk-based and
leverage ratios may apply under certain circumstances.
The Subsidiary Banks are subject to similar risk-based and leverage capital
requirements adopted by the federal banking agencies.
Failure to meet capital requirements can subject a bank to a variety of
enforcement remedies, including additional substantial restrictions on its
operations and activities, termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, and
under certain conditions the appointment of a receiver or conservator.
Federal banking regulations establish five capital categories for
depository institutions ("well capitalized," "adequately capitalized,"
"undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized" and "critically
undercapitalized"), and impose significant restrictions on the operations of an
institution that is not at least adequately capitalized. Under certain
circumstances, an institution may be downgraded to a category lower than that
warranted by its capital levels and subjected to the supervisory restrictions
applicable to institutions in the lower capital category. A depository
institution is generally prohibited from making capital distributions (including
paying dividends) or paying management fees to a holding company if the
institution would thereafter be undercapitalized.
An undercapitalized depository institution is subject to restrictions in a
number of areas, including asset growth, acquisitions, branching, new lines of
business, and borrowing from the Federal Reserve. In addition, an
undercapitalized depository institution is required to submit a capital
restoration plan. A depository institution's holding company must guarantee the
capital plan up to an amount equal to the lesser of 5% of the depository
institution's assets at the time it becomes undercapitalized or the amount
needed to restore the capital of the institution to the levels required for the
institution to be classified as adequately capitalized at the time the
institution fails to comply with the plan and any such guarantee would be
entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy. A depository institution is
treated as if it is significantly undercapitalized if it fails to submit a
capital plan that is based on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in
restoring the depository institution's capital.
Significantly undercapitalized depository institutions may be subject to a
number of additional significant requirements and restrictions, including
requirements to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized,
to replace or improve management, to reduce total assets, to cease acceptance of
correspondent bank deposits, to restrict senior executive compensation and to
limit transactions with affiliates. Critically
5
<PAGE> 11
undercapitalized depository institutions are further subject to restrictions on
paying principal or interest on subordinated debt, making investments,
expanding, acquiring or selling assets, extending credit for highly-leveraged
transactions, paying excessive compensation, amending their charters or bylaws
and making any material changes in accounting methods. In general, a receiver or
conservator must be appointed for a depository institution within 90 days after
the institution is deemed to be critically undercapitalized.
SUPPORT OF SUBSIDIARY BANKS
Under Federal Reserve policy, the Corporation is expected to serve as a
source of financial strength to, and to commit resources to support, each of the
Subsidiary Banks. This support may be required at times when, absent such
Federal Reserve policy, the Corporation may not be inclined to provide it. In
the event of a bank holding company's bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank
holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a
subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a
priority of payment.
A depository institution insured by the FDIC can be held liable for any
loss incurred by, or reasonably expected to be incurred by, the FDIC in
connection with the default of a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository
institution or any assistance provided by the FDIC to any commonly controlled
FDIC-insured depository institution "in danger of default." "Default" is defined
generally as the appointment of a conservator or receiver and "in danger of
default" is defined generally as the existence of certain conditions indicating
that a default is likely to occur in the absence of regulatory assistance.
Liability for the losses of commonly controlled depository institutions can lead
to the failure of some or all depository institutions in a holding company
structure, if the remaining institutions are unable to pay the liability
assessed by the FDIC. Any obligation or liability owed by a subsidiary bank to
its parent company or to an affiliate of the subsidiary bank is subordinate to
the subsidiary bank's cross-guarantee liability for losses of commonly
controlled depository institutions.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The Corporation is authorized by its Articles of Incorporation to issue up
to 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of which
209,568,155 shares were issued and outstanding as of October 30, 1998 and up to
50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, no par value, none of which were issued
and outstanding as of October 30, 1998.
COMMON STOCK
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to cast one vote for each share held
of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the Corporation's shareholders
and are not entitled to cumulate votes for the election of directors. Holders of
the Corporation's Common Stock do not have preemptive rights to subscribe for or
to purchase any additional shares of the Corporation. In the event of
liquidation, holders of Common Stock are entitled to share in the distribution
of assets remaining after payment of debts and expenses and after required
payments to holders of Preferred Stock, if any. Holders of the Corporation's
Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when declared by the
Corporation's Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor,
subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock.
The transfer agent and registrar for the Corporation's Common Stock is
SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, Post Office Box 4625, Atlanta, Georgia 30302-4625.
PREFERRED STOCK
The Board of Directors is empowered by the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation to designate and issue from time to time one or more series of
Preferred Stock without shareholder approval. The Board of Directors may fix and
determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of each series of
Preferred Stock so issued. Because the Board of Directors has the power to
establish the preferences and rights of each series of Preferred Stock, it may
afford the holders of any series of Preferred Stock preferences, powers and
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rights, voting or otherwise, senior to the rights of holders of Common Stock.
The issuance of Preferred Stock could have the effect of delaying or preventing
a change in control of the Company. The Board of Directors has no present plans
to issue any shares of Preferred Stock.
CHARTER AND BYLAW PROVISIONS
Shareholders' rights and related matters are governed by the Georgia
Business Corporation Code, the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and its
Bylaws. Certain provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Corporation, which are summarized below, may discourage or make more difficult
any attempt by a person or group to obtain control of the Corporation.
Classified Board of Directors. The Corporation's Board of Directors is
divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. As a
result, it will be more difficult to change the composition of the Corporation's
Board of Directors, which may discourage or make more difficult any attempt by a
person or group of persons to obtain control of the Corporation.
Shareholder Nominations. The Corporation's Bylaws require notice to the
Chairman of the Board of the Corporation, in advance of any shareholders'
meeting, of nominations by any shareholders of candidates for election as
directors. In addition, shareholders that wish to make director nominations must
provide the Corporation with certain specified information. These requirements
may have the effect of precluding director nominations if the proper procedures
are not followed and may discourage or deter a third party from conducting a
solicitation of proxies to consider matters, including issues relating to the
control of the Corporation.
Ability to Consider Other Constituencies. The Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation permit the Board of Directors, in determining what it believes to
be in the best interests of the Corporation when facing a proposed acquisition
or merger, to consider the social and economic effects on the employees,
customers, suppliers and other constituents of the Corporation, the communities
in which offices or other establishments of the Corporation are located and the
desirability of maintaining independence from any other entity, in addition to
considering the effects of any action on the Corporation or its shareholders.
Supermajority Voting Requirement. Under the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation, certain business combinations, amendments to certain provisions
of the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws or the adoption or
contrary provisions and certain other matters may not be adopted or approved by
the shareholders without the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the outstanding
shares of the Common Stock, subject, in some cases, to certain further
limitations. These provisions may render it more difficult to effect a change of
control of the Corporation and, as a result, may have the effect of deterring a
tender offer or other acquisition proposal involving the Corporation.
LIMITATION OF DIRECTORS' LIABILITY
The Corporation's Articles of Incorporation eliminate, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, the personal liability of directors to the
Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of such
Directors' duty of care or other duties as a director. This provision of the
Articles of Incorporation will limit the remedies available to a shareholder in
the event of breaches of any director's duties to such shareholder or the
Corporation. Under current Georgia law, the Articles of Incorporation do not
provide for the elimination of or any limitation on the personal liability of a
director for (i) any appropriation, in violation of the director's duties, of
any business opportunity of the Corporation, (ii) acts or omissions which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) unlawful
corporate distributions or (iv) any transactions from which the director
received an improper personal benefit.
GEORGIA ANTI-TAKEOVER STATUTES
The Georgia Business Corporation Code restricts certain business
combinations with interested shareholders and contains fair price requirements
applicable to certain mergers with certain "interested
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shareholders" that are summarized below. In accordance with the provisions of
these statutes, the Corporation has elected to be covered by the restrictions
imposed by these statutes.
The Georgia business combination statute regulates business combinations
such as mergers, consolidations, share exchanges and asset purchases where the
acquired business has at least 100 shareholders residing in Georgia and has its
principal office in Georgia, as the Corporation does, and where the acquiror
became an "interested shareholder" of the corporation, unless either (i) the
transaction resulting in such acquiror becoming an "interested shareholder" or
the business combination received the approval of the corporation's board of
directors prior to the date on which the acquiror became an interested
shareholder or (ii) the acquiror became the owner of at least 90% of the
outstanding voting stock of the corporation (excluding shares held by directors,
officers and affiliates of the corporation and shares held by certain other
persons) in the same transaction in which the acquiror became an interested
shareholder. For purposes of this statute, an "interested shareholder" generally
is any person who directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others,
beneficially owns or controls 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding
voting shares of the corporation. The law prohibits business combinations with
an unapproved interested shareholder for a period of five years after the date
on which such person became an interested shareholder. The law restricting
business combinations is broad in its scope and is designed to inhibit
unfriendly acquisitions.
The Georgia fair price statute prohibits certain business combinations
between a Georgia business corporation and an interested shareholder unless (i)
certain "fair price" criteria are satisfied, (ii) the business combination is
unanimously approved by the continuing directors, (iii) the business combination
is recommended by at least two-thirds of the continuing directors and approved
by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares,
other than voting shares beneficially owned by the interested shareholder or
(iv) the interested shareholder has been such for at least three years and has
not increased his ownership position in such three-year period by more than one
percent in any twelve month period. The fair price statute is designed to
inhibit unfriendly acquisitions that do not satisfy the specified "fair price"
requirements.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Corporation may sell the Common Stock directly to purchasers or through
agents, underwriters or dealers. The distribution of the Common Stock may be
effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or
prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale,
at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Each
Prospectus Supplement will describe the method of distribution of the Common
Stock.
In connection with the sale of the Common Stock, agents or underwriters
acting on behalf of the Corporation may receive compensation from the
Corporation or from purchasers of the Common Stock for whom they may act as
agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may
sell the Common Stock to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive
compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the
underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as
agents. Agents, underwriters and dealers that participate in the distribution of
the Common Stock may be deemed to be underwriters for purposes of the Securities
Act, and any discounts, concessions or commissions received by them from the
Corporation and any profit on the resale of Common Stock by them may be deemed
to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any such
underwriter or agent will be identified, and any such compensation received from
the Corporation will be described, in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
Common Stock.
Under agreements which may be entered into by the Corporation, agents,
underwriters, dealers and their controlling persons who participate in the
distribution of the Common Stock may be entitled to indemnification by the
Corporation against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, and to certain rights of contribution from the Corporation.
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The participation of any affiliate of the Corporation in the offer and sale
of the Common Stock will be made pursuant to and will conform with the
provisions of Rule 2720 of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
Agents, underwriters or dealers and their respective affiliates may be
customers of (including borrowers from), engage in transactions with, and/or
perform services for, the Corporation and its subsidiaries in the ordinary
course of business.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Common Stock will be passed upon for the Corporation by
Raymond D. Fortin, Senior Vice President -- Legal and Corporate Secretary. As of
September 30, 1998, Mr. Fortin beneficially owned 23,000 shares of Common Stock
and held options to purchase 4,800 shares of Common Stock.
EXPERTS
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration
Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are
incorporated herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in
giving said report.
The consolidated financial statements of Crestar Financial Corporation and
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1997, have been incorporated by reference
herein and in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG
Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public accountants, incorporated by
reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting
and auditing. The report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP refers to their reliance on
another auditors' report with respect to amounts related to Citizens Bancorp for
1996 and 1995 included in the aforementioned consolidated financial statements.
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2,700,000 SHARES
SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.
COMMON STOCK
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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DECEMBER 4, 1998
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