As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2002.

Registration No. __________



Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

DELAWARE
(State of Incorporation)
  36-3871531
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2775 Sanders Road, Suite A2, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-6127
(Address and Zip Code of principal executive office)


THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
(Full title of the Plan)


Michael J. McCabe, Vice President and General Counsel, The Allstate Corporation
2775 Sanders Road, Suite F7, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-6127
(847) 402-5000
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Securities To Be Registered

  Amount to be Registered
  Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Obligation
  Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price
  Amount of Registration Fee
Deferred Compensation Obligations1   $20,000,000   100%   $20,000,000   $1,840.002

1
The Obligations are unsecured obligations of the Registrant to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan. The Registrant may issue an indeterminate number of Obligations under the Plan from time to time, based upon the level of employee participation.

2
Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h).




PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3:    Incorporation Of Documents By Reference

        The following documents filed by The Allstate Corporation ("Allstate") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated in and made a part of this Registration Statement by reference, as of their respective dates:

        Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or replaces such statement. Except as so modified or superseded, such statement shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4:    Description Of Securities

        The following description of the Deferred Compensation Obligations (the "Obligations") is qualified by reference to the text of The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

        Under the Plan, Allstate provides eligible employees the opportunity to defer a specified percentage of their base salary and annual cash bonus. Eligibility is limited to employees, except insurance agents, whose salary and bonus exceeds the annual compensation limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The amount eligible for deferral is limited to the actual amount of such excess. Amounts deferred pursuant to the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of Allstate to pay the deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and will rank equally with Allstate's other unsecured and

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unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding. Allstate's principal sources of funds to pay its obligations are dividends from its subsidiary Allstate Insurance Company, intercompany borrowings, funds from the settlement of its benefit plans, and funds that periodically may be raised from the issuance of additional debt or stock. Dividends from Allstate Insurance Company are restricted by Illinois insurance laws and regulations. Because Allstate is a holding company, its right, and hence the right of its creditors (including participants in the Plan), to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of Allstate itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

        The Plan is unfunded. Consequently, any deferred compensation is part of Allstate's general funds, subject to all of the risks of Allstate's business, and may be deposited, invested or expended in any manner whatsoever by Allstate.

        The amount of compensation to be deferred by each participant will be determined in accordance with the Plan based on election by the participant. Compensation deferred pursuant to the Plan is credited by book entry to the participant's account. Each participant's deferred compensation will be indexed to one or more investment indices chosen by each participant as provided in the Plan for purposes of accounting, as if the deferred compensation had been so invested, and not for actual investment. The account will be adjusted to reflect the investment experience of the selected indices during the deferral period. The Obligations will be denominated and payable in United States dollars.

        The Plan is administered by a committee appointed by the board of directors of Allstate, and the committee has delegated administration duties to a plan administrator. The committee has the authority to determine the investment options available for selection by participants. Currently, the investment indices mirror certain indices available under The Savings and Profit Sharing Fund of Allstate Employees. Participants may reallocate existing account balances among the investment options available under the Plan on a daily basis.

        Benefits under the Plan are not subject to assignment, transfer, pledge or other encumbrance. A participant may designate persons or entities to receive any amounts payable under than Plan in the event of the death of the participant.

        The Obligations owed to any participant are not subject to distribution, in whole or in part, prior to the participant's separation from service or the subsequent individual payment dates specified by the participant in accordance with terms of the Plan, except (1) for demonstrated hardship, (2) in connection with an in-service withdrawal with the imposition of substantial penalties or (3) in connection with the termination of the Plan. Allstate reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, except that no such amendment or termination shall

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reduce the amount of compensation deferred or any accruals thereon up to and including the end of the month in which such action is taken.

        The Obligations are not convertible into another security of Allstate. The Obligations will not have the benefit of a negative pledge or any other affirmative or negative covenant on Allstate's part. No trustee has been appointed having the authority to take action with respect to the Obligations and each participant will be responsible for acting independently with respect to, among other things, the giving of notices, responding to any requests for consents, waivers or amendments pertaining to the Obligations, enforcing covenants and taking action upon a default.

Item 5:    Interests Of Named Experts And Counsel

        Emma M. Kalaidjian, Allstate's Assistant Secretary, has passed upon the validity of the Obligations being registered. Ms. Kalaidjian is eligible to participate in the Plan. As of September 30, 2002, Ms. Kalaidjian beneficially owns 2,349 shares of Allstate's common stock, and she holds both vested and unvested options to acquire 23,877 additional shares of Allstate's common stock. These shares and options include awards under Allstate's employee benefit plans, subject to forfeiture under certain circumstances.

Item 6:    Indemnification Of Directors And Officers

        Article IV of the by-laws of Allstate provides that Allstate will indemnify all of its directors, former directors, officers and former officers, to the fullest extent permitted under law, who were or are a party or are threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the fact that such persons were or are directors or officers of Allstate, against liabilities, expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by them. The indemnity shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which directors or officers may be entitled by law or under any articles of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. In addition, the indemnity shall inure to the benefit of the legal representatives of directors and officers or of their estates, whether such representatives are court appointed or otherwise designated, and to the benefit of the heirs of such directors and officers. The indemnity shall extend to and include claims for such payments arising out of any proceeding commenced or based on actions of such directors and officers taken prior to the effectiveness of this indemnity; provided that payment of such claims had not been agreed to or denied by Allstate before such date.

        Article Eighth of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Allstate provides that a director of Allstate shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, to the fullest extent of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

        Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may indemnify a person who was made a party to a proceeding or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director or officer of the corporation against liability actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if the

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person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful. A corporation may not indemnify a director or officer in connection with a proceeding where he is adjudged liable to the corporation, unless the court in which the proceeding is brought determines that such director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity.

        Allstate has provided liability insurance for each director and officer for certain losses arising from claims or charges made against them while acting in their capacities as directors or officers of Allstate.

Item 8:    Exhibits

        The Exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibit Index of this Registration Statement, which index is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9:    Undertakings

        Allstate hereby undertakes:

        (1)    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

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provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by Allstate pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this 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.

        Allstate hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of Allstate'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.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Allstate pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Allstate 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 Allstate of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Allstate 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, Allstate 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.

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Each director and/or officer of the registrant whose signature appears below hereby appoints Emma M. Kalaidjian, Edward M. Liddy, Michael J. McCabe, Barry S. Paul, Robert W. Pike, Samuel H. Pilch and James P. Zils and each of them severally, as his or her attorney-in-fact in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities stated below, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission. The registrant also appoints Emma M. Kalaidjian, Edward M. Liddy, Michael J. McCabe, Barry S. Paul, Robert W. Pike, Samuel H. Pilch and James P. Zils and each of them severally, as its attorney-in-fact in its name, place and stead to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission.

SIGNATURES

        The Registrant.    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Allstate certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Township of Northfield, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on October 7, 2002.


 

 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
MICHAEL J. MCCABE      
    Name:   Michael J. McCabe
    Title:   Vice President and
General Counsel

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        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date

/s/  EDWARD M. LIDDY      
Edward M. Liddy

 

Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
SAMUEL H. PILCH      
Samuel H. Pilch

 

Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) and Acting Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
F. DUANE ACKERMAN      
F. Duane Ackerman

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
JAMES G. ANDRESS      
James G. Andress

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002


Edward A. Brennan

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
W. JAMES FARRELL      
W. James Farrell

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
JACK M. GREENBERG      
Jack M. Greenberg

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
RONALD T. LEMAY      
Ronald T. LeMay

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
MICHAEL A. MILES      
Michael A. Miles

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
J. CHRISTOPHER REYES      
J. Christopher Reyes

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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/s/  
H. JOHN RILEY, JR.      
H. John Riley, Jr.

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

/s/  
JOSHUA I. SMITH      
Joshua I. Smith

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002


Judith A. Sprieser

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002


Mary Alice Taylor

 

Director

 

October 7, 2002

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number

   
  Description of Exhibit
4       The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan

5

 

 

 

Opinion of Emma M. Kalaidjian

15

 

 

 

Acknowledgment of Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information

23

(a)

 

 

Consent of Emma M. Kalaidjian (included in Exhibit 5)

23

(b)

 

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

24

 

 

 

Powers of attorney (included on signature pages)



EXHIBIT 4

         THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF OCTOBER 7, 2002


ARTICLE I

DESIGNATION OF PLAN AND DEFINITIONS

1.1
TITLE

        This Plan shall be known as "The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan." The Plan was adopted by Allstate Insurance Company effective January 1, 1995. The Plan was amended and restated by the Company, effective January 1, 1996, November 11, 1997, September 1, 1999, November 1, 2000, November 1, 2001, June 1, 2002, and October 7, 2002.

1.2
DEFINITIONS

1


2


3


4


ARTICLE II

PARTICIPATION

2.1
ELIGIBILITY

        An Employee shall be an Eligible Employee if his Eligible Compensation or his Eligible Salary is equal to or in excess of the Compensation Floor for the Plan Year.

2.2
NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY

        The Committee or its appointed representative shall notify each Eligible Employee no later than a) with respect to base salary deferrals, 30 days prior to the first business day of any Plan Year and b) with respect to Incentive deferrals, June 1, or, in either case, as soon thereafter as practicable, that he/she is entitled to become a Participant in the Plan for such Plan Year.

2.3
PARTICIPATION ELECTION

(a)
Each Eligible Employee may elect, in accordance with procedures and during the time frames established by the Committee or its representative, to defer base salary and Incentive into the Plan. The salary deferral election must be received by the Committee or its designated representative no later than the last business day of the preceding calendar year or such earlier date as determined by the Committee. The Incentive deferral election must be received by the Committee or its designated representative no later than June 30 of the Plan Year or such earlier date as determined by the Committee. These elections shall specify the percentage of base salary and/or Incentive to be deferred during the Plan Year. A Participant may not change his/her salary deferral election for the Plan Year after the Plan Year has commenced, and may not change his/her Incentive deferral election after June 30 of the Plan Year. However, a Participant may at any time irrevocably elect to suspend deferrals in the Plan for the remainder of a Plan Year, but

5


6


ARTICLE III

DEFERRALS

3.1
AMOUNT OF DEFERRAL

(a)
Each Participant may elect to defer, in whole number percentages, up to 80% of base salary for the Plan Year. No deferrals of base salary will be recognized until Compensation in the Plan Year reaches the Compensation Floor for the Plan Year.

(b)
Each Participant may elect to defer, in whole number percentages, up to 100% of the Incentive earned in the Plan Year and paid in the calendar year following the Plan Year (the "next Plan Year"). The amount of a Participant's Incentive deferral will be reduced to the portion which, when added to the Participant's base salary for the next Plan Year, exceeds the Compensation Floor for the next Plan Year.

(c)
Deferrals shall be recognized only after all other deductions required by federal or state law or elected by the Participant have been withheld. Deferrals may be reduced by the Committee to the extent necessary to permit required or elected withholdings.

(d)
Except as provided in Section 3.1(e), if a Participant has elected to defer Compensation for a Plan Year which would otherwise be includible in the calculation of the Participant's pension benefit under the Allstate Retirement Plan or the Agents Pension Plan for such Plan Year the Company shall, prior to the end of such Plan Year, refund such excess deferral to the Participant.

(e)
To the extent a Participant is on leave of absence for all or part of the Plan Year, and the Participant's Compensation less any amounts deferred is less than the Compensation Floor for such year, the Company shall, prior to the end of such Plan Year, pay the Participant the lesser of:

(1)
The amount deferred during the year; or

(2)
The difference between (i) the Compensation Floor and (ii) the

7


3.2
EFFECTIVE DATE OF DEFERRAL
3.3
USE OF AMOUNTS DEFERRED

        Amounts credited to Accounts shall be a part of the general funds of the Company, shall be subject to all the risks of the Company's business, and may be deposited, invested or expended in any manner whatsoever by the Company.

8


ARTICLE IV

ACCOUNTS AND VESTING

4.1
ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT

        The Committee shall establish, by bookkeeping entry on the books of the Company, an Account for each Participant. Accounts shall not be funded in any manner.

4.2
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACCOUNT

        The Committee shall cause deferred Compensation to be credited by bookkeeping entry to each Participant's Account as of the last day of the month in which the Compensation or any cash amounts automatically directed to this Plan otherwise would have been payable to the Participant, or as soon thereafter as is administratively practicable.

4.3
MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNT BALANCES—SUBACCOUNT ELECTIONS

(a)
Investment of deferrals shall be made among one or more of the Subaccounts described in Section 4.3(b). Each Investment shall be made in accordance with procedures established by the Committee and shall specify that portion of the Participant's deferrals on the date of such election to be invested in each Subaccount. In its sole discretion, the Committee may withhold one or more of the Subaccounts from Investment by Participants for a Plan Year or Years. Investments of deferrals must be made in whole percentage increments.

9


10


4.4
VESTING

11


ARTICLE V

PAYMENTS

5.1
EVENTS CAUSING ACCOUNTS TO BECOME DISTRIBUTABLE

(a)
A Participant's Account shall become distributable upon notification to the Plan of the Participant's Separation from Service or, at the election of the Participant pursuant to Section 5.4, in one of the first through fifth years after Separation from Service. In either event, the Participant may elect to receive payment in a lump sum or in annual installments as provided in Section 5.3.

(b)
That portion of a Participant's Account determined to be necessary to alleviate a demonstrated Hardship shall become distributable upon the date of such determination, subject to Section 5.2, and such determination shall be subject to the suspension of deferrals in the Plan by the Participant for the remainder of the Plan Year and for the next succeeding Plan Year.

(c)
A Participant may make an irrevocable election prior to September 1, 1999, to receive a distribution as of the first day of any Plan Year prior to Separation from Service, provided such date occurs subsequent to the Plan Year in which the Participant first participates in this Plan and at least three years after the date the Participant makes an election pursuant to this Section 5.1(d). In such case, that portion of the Participant's Account attributable to Compensation deferred, and accruals thereon, after the Committee receives such election shall become distributable on the date elected. Any balance in the Participant's Account remaining after any payment under this paragraph and any balance in the Account attributable to participation in the Plan in any year subsequent to the year in which a payout on such date certain occurs, shall become distributable to the Participant as provided in paragraphs (a), (b) or (d) of this Section.

(d)
Effective September 1, 1999, a Participant may at any time irrevocably elect to receive distribution of his/her entire Account balance, subject to the forfeiture to the Company of 10% of such Account balance and subject to

12


5.2
NOTICE OF ACCOUNT PAYMENT AND COMMENCEMENT OF DISTRIBUTION

        The Committee or its appointed representative shall notify a Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be, as soon as practicable after the first day of the month next following the date on which the Account becomes distributable, that he/she is entitled to receive payment from an Account, the balance of which shall be computed as of the close of business on the last day of the month in which the Account becomes distributable. Distribution of Account balances shall commence as soon as practicable after the first day of the month next following the date on which the Account becomes distributable.

5.3
FORM OF PAYMENT

(a)
Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 5.3 and Article VIII hereof, payments of Account balances to a Participant shall be in the form of one lump sum payment or annual cash installment payments over a period of from 2 to 10 years, at the election of the Participant.

(b)
The amount of each annual installment payable to a Participant who has elected to receive installment payments shall be as follows: The first annual installment payment shall, for a Participant who has elected to receive

13


5.4
DISTRIBUTION ELECTION

(a)
Each Participant shall elect his/her desired form of payment, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, at the time of his/her initial participation election set forth in Section 2.3.

14


15


ARTICLE VI

ADMINISTRATION

6.1
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION; RIGHTS AND DUTIES

        The Board shall appoint the Committee, which, subject to the express limitations of the Plan, shall be charged with the general administration of the Plan on behalf of the Participants. The Committee shall also be responsible for carrying out its provisions, and shall have all powers necessary to accomplish those purposes, including, but not by way of limitation, the following:

        The determination of the Committee as to any disputed question or controversy shall be conclusive.

16


6.2
CLAIMS PROCEDURES

        Each Participant or Beneficiary (for purposes of this Section 6.2 referred to as a "Claimant") may submit a claim for benefits to the Committee (or other person designated by the Committee) in writing in such form as is permitted by the Committee. A Claimant shall have no right to seek review of a denial of benefits, or to bring any action in any court to enforce a claim for benefits, prior to his filing a claim for benefits and exhausting his rights to review in accordance with this Section 6.2

        A properly filed claim for benefits shall be evaluated and the Claimant shall be notified in writing of the approval or the denial within ninety (90) days after the receipt of such claim unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If such an extension of time is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the termination of the initial ninety (90) day period, and such notice shall specify the special circumstances requiring an extension and the date by which a final decision will be reached (which date shall not be later than one hundred and eighty (180) days after the date on which the claim was filed). Written notice to a Claimant shall advise whether the claim is granted or denied, in whole or in part, and if denied, shall contain (1) the specific reasons for the denial, (2) references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, (3) a description of any additional material or information necessary to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and (4) the Claimant's rights to seek a review of the denial.

        If a claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Claimant shall have the right to request that the Committee (or person designated by the Committee) review the denial, provided that he files a written request for review with the Committee within sixty (60) days after the date on which he received written notice of the

17


denial. A Claimant (or his duly authorized representative) may review pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing to the Committee. Within sixty (60) days after a request for review is received, the review shall be made and the Claimant shall be advised in writing of the decision on review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the review, in which case the Claimant shall, within such initial sixty (60) day period, be given a written notice specifying the reasons for the extension and when such review shall be completed (provided that such review shall be completed within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the date on which the request for review was filed). The decision on review shall be forwarded to the Claimant in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision and references to Plan provisions upon which the decision is based. A decision on review shall be final and binding on all persons for all purposes.

18


ARTICLE VII

PLAN AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

7.1
AMENDMENTS

        The Company shall have the right to amend this Plan from time to time by resolutions of the Board or by the Committee, and to amend or rescind any such amendments; provided, however, that no action under this Section 7.1 shall in any way reduce the amount of Compensation deferred or any accruals or other adjustments provided in section 4.3 up to and including the end of the month in which such action is taken. Interest will continue to accrue as provided in Section 4.3. All amendments shall be in writing and shall be effective as provided subject to the limitations in this Section 7.1.

7.2
TERMINATION OF PLAN

        Although the Company expects that this Plan will continue indefinitely, continuance of this Plan is not a contractual or other obligation of the Company, and the Company expressly reserves its right to discontinue this plan at any time by resolutions of the Board, effective as provided by the Board in such resolutions. However, no such action shall in any way reduce the amount of Compensation deferred or any accruals thereon, up to and including the end of the month in which such action is taken. Accruals to Accounts shall continue until distribution as provided in Section 4.3.

19


ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

8.1
NOTIFICATION TO COMMITTEE

        Any election made or notification given by a Participant pursuant to this Plan shall be made in accordance with procedures established by the Committee or its designated representative, and shall be deemed to have been made or given on the date received by the Committee or such representative.

8.2
PARTICIPANT'S EMPLOYMENT

        Participation in this Plan shall not give any Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, Allstate Insurance Company of any member of the Controlled Group, or any right or interest other than as herein provided. No Participant or Employee shall have any right to any payment or benefit hereunder except to the extent provided in this Plan. The members of the Controlled Group expressly reserve the right to dismiss any Participant without any liability for any claim against them, except to the extent expressly provided herein.

8.3
STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS

        This Plan shall create only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company and shall not be construed as creating a trust or other fiduciary relationship with Participants. Participants will have only the rights of general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to Compensation deferred and interest credited to their Accounts.

8.4
OTHER PLANS

        This Plan shall not affect the right of any Employee or Participant to participate in and receive benefits under and in accordance with the provisions of any other Company plans which are now or may hereafter be in existence.

20


8.5
BENEFICIARIES AND CONTINGENT BENEFICIARIES

(a)
Each Participant shall, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, designate one or more persons or entities (including a trust or trusts or his/her estate) to receive any balance in his/her Account, including accruals thereon, payable to him/her under this Plan in the event of his/her death prior to full payment thereof. The Participant may also designate a person or persons as a Contingent Beneficiary who shall succeed to the rights of the person or persons originally designated as Beneficiary, in case the latter should die. He/she may from time to time change any designation of Beneficiary or Contingent Beneficiary so made, by submitting a new designation in accordance with procedures established by the Committee. For purposes of this Plan, any valid Beneficiary or Contingent Beneficiary designation (or any change to such designation) made under this Plan, The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Employee Agents or The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractor Exclusive Agents (collectively, the "Allstate Plans") shall be considered valid and applicable to amounts deferred under the Allstate Plans in the aggregate. The last valid designation made by a Participant under any of the Allstate Plans, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, shall be controlling.

21


8.6
TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES

        To the extent permitted by law, if the whole or any part of a Participant's Account shall become the subject of any estate, inheritance, income or other tax or other charge which the Company shall legally be required to withhold and/or pay, the Company shall have full power and authority to pay such tax or other charge out of any monies or other property in its hands and charge such amounts paid against the Account of the Participant whose interest hereunder is subject to such tax or other charge. Prior to making any such payment, the Company may require such releases or other documents from any lawful authority as the Company shall deem necessary.

8.7
BENEFITS NOT ASSIGNABLE; OBLIGATIONS BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS

        Benefits under this Plan and rights to receive the amounts credited to the Account of a Participant shall not be assignable or transferable and any purported transfer, assignment, pledge or other encumbrance or attachment of

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any payments or benefits under this Plan shall not be permitted or recognized. Obligations of the Company under this Plan shall be binding upon successors of the Company.

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8.8
ILLINOIS LAW GOVERNS; SAVING CLAUSE

        The validity of this Plan or any of its provisions shall be construed and governed in all respects under and by the laws of the State of Illinois. If any provisions of this Plan shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be fully effective.

8.9
HEADINGS NOT PART OF PLAN

        Headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for reference only, and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.


1
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EXHIBIT 5

 
 
  THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

 

2775 Sanders Road
  Northbrook, Illinois 60062-6127
 
  Emma M. Kalaidjian
  Assistant Secretary

October 7, 2002

The Allstate Corporation
2775 Sanders Road
Northbrook, IL 60062-6127

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        A Registration Statement on Form S-8 ("Registration Statement") is being filed on or about the date of this letter with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register an additional $20,000,000 of Deferred Compensation Obligations of The Allstate Corporation ("Allstate") for issuance to participants in The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). The $20,000,000 of Obligations being registered under this Registration Statement are in addition to the $10,000,000 of Obligations registered on November 8, 1995 pursuant to Registration Statement No. 33-99136 and the $20,000,000 of Obligations registered on November 14, 1997 pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-40285.

        This opinion is delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        In connection with this opinion, I, or attorneys working under my direction, have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Plan, (iii) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Allstate as currently in effect, (iv) the By-laws of Allstate as currently in effect, and (v) resolutions of the Board of Directors of Allstate relating to the filing of the Registration Statement and related matters. In addition, I, or attorneys working under my direction, have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such records of Allstate and such other agreements, instruments, and documents of Allstate, and have made such other investigations, as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

        Based upon the foregoing, it is my opinion that, when issued in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, the Obligations will be valid and binding obligations of Allstate, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights or by general principles of equity.


        I am licensed to practice law in Illinois. This opinion is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law, the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting those laws.

        I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of my name wherever appearing in the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto. In giving this consent I do not admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 
   
    Very truly yours,

 

 

/s/  
EMMA M. KALAIDJIAN      

 

 

Emma M. Kalaidjian

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EXHIBIT 15

The Allstate Corporation
2775 Sanders Road
Northbrook, IL 60062-6127

        We have reviewed, in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the unaudited interim financial information of The Allstate Corporation and subsidiaries for the periods ended March 31, 2002 and 2001 and June 30, 2002 and 2001, as indicated in our reports dated May 9, 2002 and August 9, 2002, respectively; because we did not perform an audit, we expressed no opinion on that information.

        We are aware that our reports referred to above, which were included in your Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2002 and June 30, 2002, are being used in this Registration Statement.

        We also are aware that the aforementioned reports, pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, are not considered a part of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by an accountant or a report prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.


/s/  
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP      
Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

 

Chicago, Illinois
October 7, 2002

 

 



EXHIBIT 23(b)

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of The Allstate Corporation on Form S-8 of our report dated February 20, 2002, appearing in and incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Allstate Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2001.


/s/  
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP      
Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

 

Chicago, Illinois
October 7, 2002