UNITED STATES SECURITIES and EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 10-K
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) (X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 OR ( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission file number 0-16668 -------------------------------- WSFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION Delaware 22-2866913 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) incorporation or organization) 838 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19899 Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (302) 792-6000 -------------------------------------- Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $.01 (Title of Class) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO --- ---- Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ( ) The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant, based on the closing prices of the registrant's common stock as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System as of March 14, 1997 was $109,270,617. For purposes of this calculation only, affiliates are deemed to be directors, executive officers and certain beneficial owners. As of March 14, 1997, there were issued and outstanding 12,529,639 shares of the registrant's common stock. ------------------------------- DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 24, 1997 are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof. WSFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I Page Item 1. Business .............................................................................. 3 Item 2. Properties ............................................................................ 24 Item 3. Legal Proceedings....................................................................... 25 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders..................................... 25 Part II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.................. 26 Item 6. Selected Financial Data................................................................. 27 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations............................................................... 28 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data............................................. 44 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure................................................................ 82 Part III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant...................................... 82 Item 11. Executive Compensation.................................................................. 82 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.......................... 82 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.......................................... 82 Part IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K......................... 83 Signatures................................................................................................ 85 -2- PART I Item 1. Business GENERAL WSFS Financial Corporation ("Company" or "Corporation") is a thrift holding company whose principal subsidiary is Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB (the "Bank" or "WSFS") which operates 16 branches in New Castle and Kent Counties, Delaware. Founded in 1832, the Bank is the largest thrift institution headquartered in Delaware. Reflecting its long history, the Bank estimates that it has customer relationships with almost 51,000 households, or 24%, in its principal market area of New Castle County, Delaware. The Company has no business operations independent of WSFS and its subsidiaries. Through WSFS and its subsidiaries, the Company is currently engaged in a variety of lending services, including residential, consumer and commercial lending primarily in Delaware. The principal business of the Bank consist of the solicitation of deposits through its branch networks to provide funds for lending and investment activities. In connection with its conversion to a federal savings bank in 1983, the Bank retained its then-authorized powers as a Delaware-chartered mutual savings bank. Under the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") regulations, the Bank may exercise any authority it was allowed to exercise as a mutual savings bank under state laws and regulations at the time of its conversion to a federal savings bank. In exercising such "grandfathered" powers, the Bank may continue to comply with applicable state laws and regulations in effect at the time of its conversion to a federal charter except as otherwise determined by the OTS. The Bank, however, may not use its grandfathered powers to engage in activities to a greater degree than would be allowed under the most liberal construction of either state or federal law or regulation. The Bank's grandfathered powers could be assumed by any other institution that acquires the Bank by consolidation or merger. The Bank has previously used its grandfathered powers to authorize investments above otherwise applicable limits in subsidiaries engaged in activities such as real estate and insurance brokerage. The Bank has divested certain of these subsidiaries in order to focus on the traditional savings bank businesses of lending to consumers and small businesses in its primary market area. As a federally chartered savings institution, the Bank is subject to extensive regulation by the OTS. The lending activities and other investments of the Bank must comply with various federal regulatory requirements. The OTS periodically examines the Bank for compliance with various regulatory requirements. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") also has the authority to conduct special examinations of the Bank as insurer of its deposits. The Bank is also subject to certain reserve requirements promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board. This supervision and regulation is intended primarily for the protection of depositors. See "Regulation" for a further discussion of certain of these regulatory requirements. During the 1980's, the Bank pursued an aggressive growth and diversification strategy acquiring the largest real estate brokerage business in Delaware, B. Gary Scott, Inc. in 1985, a Maryland automobile fleet leasing company, Anderson Leasing, Inc. in 1988 and Fidelity Federal Savings and Loan Association ("Fidelity Federal" or "Association") in 1990. In addition, the Bank significantly increased its exposure to commercial real estate, both as a lender and as an equity participant through its real estate development subsidiary. As a result of operating losses related to deterioration in the Company's loan portfolios, real estate investments and acquisitions, the Bank failed to meet certain regulatory capital requirements and the Board of Directors reorganized management by terminating several executive officers and appointing a new chairman of the board who was directed to head a search committee for new management. The Company took a number of steps to address the asset quality and capital problems that resulted from this previous business strategy. -3- Consistent with these goals, the Company undertook an extensive restructuring during 1991. This included the sales of loans, investment securities, mortgage servicing rights, certain real estate, subsidiary operations and the deposit accounts of eight branches. These nonrecurring sales combined with expense reduction initiatives resulted in net earnings of $11.3 million in 1991, the highest in the Company's history at the time. During 1992 and 1993, the Company's earnings stabilized as the economy began to improve and interest rates decreased. In 1992, the Company completed an offering of convertible preferred stock which increased capital by $11.8 million. Such funds were utilized to recapitalize the Bank. In December 1993, the Company completed a private placement of $32.0 million in 11% Senior Notes to provide funds for an additional capital infusion into the Bank. As a result of this capital infusion, the Bank was in compliance with all currently applicable capital requirements and it was released from the Capital Directive on December 29, 1993. The Bank's improved capital position has also allowed the Company to undertake an expansion of its business activities. During 1994, the Bank formed a new consumer finance subsidiary specializing in second mortgage lending and acquired Providential Home Income Plan, Inc. an originator of reverse annuity mortgages. During 1994, the Corporation