As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 1997
Registration No. ________
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
--------------------------
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Issuer as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE 36-3871531
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2775 Sanders Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(Address and Zip Code of principal executive offices)
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
EXCLUSIVE AGENT INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
STOCK BONUS PLAN
(Full title of the Plan)
-------------
ROBERT W. PIKE
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
The Allstate Corporation
Allstate Plaza
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(847) 402-6075
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
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E-1
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Proposed
Title of Maximum Maximum
Securities Amount Offering Aggregate Amount of
to be to be Price Offering Registration
Registered Registered Per Share 1 Price 1 Fee
- ----------------- ----------- --------- ----- ---
Common 1,000,000 $67.625 $67,625,000 $20,490.38
Stock, par shares
value $.01 per
share
================ =========== ========== ========== ============
1 Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for the purpose of calculating
the aggregate offering price and the amount of the registration fee
based upon the average of the high and low prices reported for the
shares on the New York Stock Exchange on March 11, 1997.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing information specified in Part I (plan
information and registrant information) will be sent or given to exclusive
insurance agents of Allstate Insurance Company ("Allstate") or of Allstate's
wholly-owned subsidiaries eligible to participate in The Allstate Corporation
Exclusive Agent Independent Contractors Stock Bonus Plan (the "Plan") as
specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). Such documents need not be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this Registration
Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424
under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this
Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. Allstate is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation (the "Company").
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PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3: INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are
incorporated in and made a part of this Registration Statement by reference, as
of their respective dates:
(1) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995, and Form 10-K/A filed August 27, 1996 amending the
Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995;
(2) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, June 30 and September 30, 1996;
(3) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated September 30,
October 8, December 6 and December 6, 1996;
(4) the description of the Company's common shares under the caption
"Description of Capital Stock" contained in the Company's prospectus
dated June 2, 1993, filed with the Commission on June 4, 1993 pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and deemed to be a part of
Allstate's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-59676); and
(5) from the date of filing of such documents, all documents filed by
the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior
to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold.
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.
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ITEM 4: DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5: INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
The validity of the Company's Common Stock being registered hereby has
been passed upon by Joseph T. Kane, Counsel, Corporate Law Department of
Allstate Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
ITEM 6: INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), inter
alia, empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of
the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Similar
indemnity is authorized for such persons against expenses (including attorneys'
fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or
settlement of any such threatened, pending or completed action or suit if such
person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and provided further that
(unless a court of competent jurisdiction otherwise provides) such person shall
not have been adjudged liable to the corporation. Any such indemnification may
be made only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the
shareholders or disinterested directors or by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met
the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise,
against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation
would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145. The Company
maintains policies insuring its and its subsidiaries' officers and
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directors against certain liabilities for actions taken in such capacities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Article IV of the By-laws of the Company provides for indemnification
of the directors and officers of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by
law, as now in effect or later amended. In addition, the By-laws provide for
indemnification against expenses incurred by a director or officer to be paid by
the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding; provided, however, that an advancement of expenses will be made only
upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to
repay such amount unless it shall be ultimately determined that he is entitled
to be indemnified by the Company. The By-laws further provide for a contractual
cause of action on the part of directors and officers of the Company with
respect to indemnification claims which have not been paid by the Company.
The Company also 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 the Company.
Article Ninth of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
limits, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may
be amended, the personal liability of the Company's directors to the Company or
its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of their fiduciary duty as
directors. Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL currently provides that such provisions
do not eliminate the liability of a director (i) for a breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions
not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL (relating to the declaration of
dividends and purchase or redemption of shares in violation of the DGCL), or
(iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit.
ITEM 7: EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED
Not applicable.
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
The Company hereby undertakes:
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(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10
(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the Registration
Statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the Registration Statement;
(iii) to include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the Registration Statement or any material change to
such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Company 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.
The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company'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 the
Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company 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 the Company of expenses incurred or paid
by
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a director, officer or controlling person of the Company 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, the
Company 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Cook County, State of Illinois, on March 11, 1997.
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Robert W. Pike
------------------
Name: Robert W. Pike
Title: Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in
the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Jerry D. Choate, Edward M. Liddy, Robert W. Pike
and Thomas J. Wilson, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and
agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, thereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- --------- ----- ----
/s/Jerry D. Choate Director, Chairman of the Board of March 11, 1997
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Jerry D. Choate Directors, and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
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SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
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/s/Thomas J. Wilson Vice President and Chief Financial March 11, 1997
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Thomas J. Wilson Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/Samuel H. Pilch Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) March 11, 1997
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Samuel H. Pilch
/s/James G. Andress Director March 11, 1997
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James G. Andress
/s/Warren L. Batts Director March 11, 1997
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Warren L. Batts
- ----------------- Director March 11, 1997
Edward A. Brennan
/s/James M. Denny Director March 11, 1997
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James M. Denny
- -------------------- Director March 11, 1997
Christopher F. Edley
/s/Michael A. Miles Director March 11, 1997
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Michael A. Miles
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SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- --------- ----- ----
/s/Nancy C. Reynolds Director March 11, 1997
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Nancy C. Reynolds
/s/ Joshua I. Smith Director March 11, 1997
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Joshua I. Smith
- ----------------- Director March 11, 1997
Mary Alice Taylor
Exhibit EXHIBIT INDEX Sequentially
Number Numbered Page
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Description of Exhibit
----------------------
4(a) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) of the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 1995). N/A
4(b) By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3(b) of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1995). N/A
4(c) The Allstate Corporation Exclusive Agent Independent
Contractors Stock Bonus Plan. 14
5 Opinion of Joseph T. Kane. 24
15 Acknowledgment of Deloitte & Touche LLP
regarding unaudited interim financial
information. 26
23(a) Consent of Joseph T. Kane (included in Exhibit 5). 24
23(b) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. 27
26
Exhibit 4(c)
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
EXCLUSIVE AGENT INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
STOCK BONUS PLAN
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Section 1.
Purpose The purpose of The Allstate Corporation Exclusive Agent
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Independent Contractors Stock Bonus Plan is to encourage ownership of common
stock in The Allstate Corporation by Exclusive Agent Independent Contractors of
Allstate Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, to enable such
Exclusive Agents to share in any appreciation in the value of the Company's
common stock, and to provide an incentive for such Exclusive Agents to promote
the success of the Company's business.
Section 2.
Definitions
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2.01. Allstate means Allstate Insurance Company.
--------
2.02. Company means The Allstate Corporation.
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2.03 Company Contribution means the amount, in Shares or in cash,
---------------------
contributed by the Company for each Year pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan on
behalf of each Participant who is an Exclusive Agent on December 31 of that
Year.
2.04 Compensation means all commissions and other amounts paid to an
------------
Exclusive Agent by Allstate or a Subsidiary in a Year, including compensation
for such Year the Exclusive Agent has duly elected to defer pursuant to the
Company's deferred compensation plan, but shall not include prizes and awards,
award tax offsets or commissions paid for flood business and residual market
business, including Joint Underwriting Association, Assigned Risk, Facility,
Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund and California Earthquake Authority business.
2.05 Exclusive Agent means any person who is an insurance agent under an
----------------
R3001 Exclusive Agency Agreement with Allstate or a Subsidiary or who is
designated as a "Key Person" pursuant to an R3001A or R3001B Exclusive Agency
Agreement between a corporation, a limited liability company or a partnership
and Allstate or a Subsidiary.
- 2 -
2.06 Maximum Operating Earnings Per Share means the amount of Operating
---------------------------------------
Earnings for a Year established by the Company as the level of Operating
Earnings Per Share at which the Maximum Company Contribution shall be made to a
Participant's Shares Account.
2.07 Operating Earnings shall be derived from the audited financial
-------------------
statements of the Company prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and is defined as Net Income (including catastrophe
losses, but excluding accounting changes, after tax capital gains and losses,
gains and losses from the disposition of a business and equity in net income of
unconsolidated subsidiaries), but excluding:
1. the operating results of a segment of a business, if there has been
a decision to sell or discontinue such segment of a business, as well
as the impact of any gain or loss resulting from decisions to sell or
discontinue such segment of a business (the term "a segment of a
business" refers to a component of an entity whose activities represent
a separate major line of business or whose activities service a class
of customer, or to legal entities that are 50% or more owned);
and
2. insurance ceded by the Company and its affiliates and payments made
to any governmental entity or any private entity in order to limit the
exposure of the Company and its affiliates to losses from natural
disasters.
2.08 Operating Earnings Per Share means Operating Earnings for the Year
-----------------------------
divided by the weighted average number of shares of Company Common Stock
outstanding, computed as the basis for primary Earnings Per Share in accordance
with APB (Accounting Principles Board) Opinion No. 15, during the year.
2.09 Participant means any Exclusive Agent who has elected to participate
-----------
in the Plan in the manner described in Section 4.
2.10 Plan means The Allstate Corporation Exclusive Agent Independent
----
Contractors Stock Bonus Plan.
2.11 Plan Administrator means the Board of Directors of Allstate.
------------------
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2.12 Recordkeeper means the entity appointed by the Plan Administrator
------------
pursuant to Section 11 to keep Plan and Shares Account records and to perform
other duties as delegated by the Plan Administrator.
2.13 Shares means the Company's common stock, par value $.01.
------
2.14 Shares Account means the account established for each Participant to
--------------
contain Shares contributed by the Company, Shares purchased by the Trustee with
Company cash contributions, and Shares purchased by the Trustee with dividends
paid on Shares in the Shares Account.
2.15 Subsidiary means any corporation which is wholly-owned by Allstate,
----------
whether directly or indirectly.
2.16 Target Operating Earnings Per Share means the amount of Operating
--------------------------------------
Earnings Per Share for a Year established by the Company as the level at which
the Target Company Contribution shall be made to a Participant's Shares Account.
2.17 Target Company Contribution means the lesser of (i) $8,000 or (ii) 3%
---------------------------
of the Participant's Compensation for a Year.
2.18 Threshold Operating Earnings Per Share means the amount of Operating
---------------------------------------
Earnings Per Share for a year established by the Company as the level at or
below which the Minimum Company Contribution shall be made to a Participant's
Shares Account.
2.19 Trustee means the entity appointed by the Plan Administrator pursuant
-------
to Section 11 to act as trustee with respect to the Plan and with respect to
Shares acquired for Participants, to make purchases of Shares on the open market
with Company Contributions made in cash and with dividends distributed with
respect to Shares in Shares Accounts,and to perform other duties as delegated by
the Plan Administrator.
2.20 Year means the calendar year.
----
Section 3.
Eligibility Any Exclusive Agent may participate in the Plan; provided,
----------- ---------
however, that any provision of the Plan to the contrary
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notwithstanding, no individual who is subject to the reporting requirements and
other limitations of section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with
respect to equity securities of the Company may participate in the Plan.
Section 4.
Elections to Participate and to Withdraw Participation An Exclusive
---------------------------------------------------------
Agent may enroll in the Plan by electing to do so, and by agreeing to be solely
liable for payment of all Federal, state and local taxes, including taxes on
self-employment income. The Plan Administrator or its delegate may provide for
such elections pursuant to a written authorization form or by way of a
telephonic voice election system("VES"). If a VES election is used, a written
confirmation of such VES election shall be provided to the Participant.
Elections shall be made during a time designated by the Plan Administrator.
Persons who first become Exclusive Agents during a Year will be supplied with an
election to enroll form and permitted to make an election during a time
designated on such form. An election to participate in the Plan for a Year is
irrevocable, but the Particepant may elect to withdraw from participation for a
succeeding Year. Such withdrawal shall not prevent the Exclusive Agent from
electing to enroll in the Plan for another Year.
Section 5.
Company Contribution As soon as is practical after the Company has
---------------------
computed Operating Earnings Per Share for a Year, the Company shall contribute
to the Trustee on behalf of each Participant who is an Exclusive Agent as of
December 31 of that Year, Shares of a value, or cash in an amount, equal to:
(i) 50% of the Target Company Contribution if the Company has not
exceeded Threshold Operating Earnings Per Share for such Year (the
"Minimum Company Contribution");
(ii) 100% of the Target Company Contribution if the Company has
attained Target Operating Earnings Per Share for such Year;
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(iii) 150% of the Target Company Contribution if the Company has
attained Maximum Operating Earnings Per Share for such Year (the
"Maximum Company Contribution").
If the Company elects to make the Company Contribution in Shares, each
Share shall have a value equal to the mean between the high and low price per
Share,as is reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape, on the
business day immediately preceding the date on which the Company Contribution is
made. If the Company elects to make the Company Contribution in cash, the
Trustee shall purchase Shares for the Participants on the open market as soon as
is practicable after the Custodian's receipt of such cash, and each Share
purchased shall be valued at the average purchase price of all Shares purchased
with such cash contribution.
The amount of the Company Contribution shall be increased ratably
between the Minimum Company Contribution and the Target Company Contribution to
the extent that Threshold Operating Earnings Per Share for a Year are exceeded
but Target Operating Earnings Per Share for such Year are not attained; and the
amount of the Company Contribution shall be increased ratably between the Target
Company Contribution and the Maximum Company Contribution to the extent that
Target Operating Earnings Per Share for a Year are exceeded but Maximum
Operating Earnings Per Share for such Year are not attained. In no event shall
the Company Contribution for any Year exceed the Maximum Company Contribution.
Section 6.
Accounts A separate Shares Account will be established for each
--------
Participant by the Recordkeeper appointed by the Plan Administrator pursuant to
Section 11. The Shares Account shall contain a record of Shares contributed by
the Company, or purchased by the Trustee with cash contributed by the Company
and with cash dividends on Shares in the Shares Account. The Recordkeeper will
provide each Participant with a statement of his Shares Account at least
annually, which statement will reflect the value of the Participant's Shares
Account as of the last day of the period reported. A Participant shall have a
nonforfeitable right to all Shares in his or her Shares Account, subject to
restrictions on transferability and withdrawal set forth in the Plan.
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Section 7.
Dividends on Shares Dividends with respect to Shares held in a
---------------------
Participant's Shares Account will be reinvested by the Trustee in Shares which
the Trustee shall purchase on the open market as soon as is practicable after
receipt of the dividends. Each Share purchased with dividend proceeds shall be
valued at the average purchase price of all Shares purchased with the proceeds
of such dividend.
Section 8.
Withdrawals Unless there has occurred a termination of participation as
-----------
described in Section 9, below, Shares in a Shares Account may not be withdrawn
until after the fifth anniversary of their contribution to, or their purchase
for, such account. An election for a withdrawal pursuant to this Section 8 shall
be made on a form supplied by the Recordkeeper. The Recordkeeper shall advise
the Trustee of the number of Shares to be withdrawn, and the Trustee shall
distribute the Shares to the Participant. Fractional Shares shall not be
distributed. In lieu thereof, cash in an amount equal to the value of the
fractional Share shall be distributed.
Section 9.
Termination of Participation The Plan shall terminate as to a
------------------------------
Participant upon the earlier to occur of (i) termination of the Participant's
status as an Exclusive Agent, or (ii) the Participant's death, and the Shares
shall be distributed by the Trustee to the Participant(or to the Participant's
designated beneficiary or to his estate, in case termination occurs due to
Participant's death) as soon as is practicable after the Trustee receives notice
of such event from the Company. Prior to making any distribution, the Trustee
shall consult with the Recordkeeper to verify the number of Shares in the
Participant's Shares Account. Fractional Shares shall not be distributed. In
lieu thereof, cash in an amount equal to the value of the fractional Share shall
be distributed.
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Section 10.
Transferability of Shares Shares in a Participant's Shares Account may
-------------------------
not be transferred, nor may a Participant's interest in such Shares be assigned.
A Participant may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the Shares
in his Shares Account in the event of his death. Such beneficiary designation
may be amended or revoked by the Participant at any time. Distribution by the
Trustee will be made in accordance with such designation, to the extent it is
valid and enforceable under applicable law. If there is no such valid
designation of a beneficiary who is surviving upon the death of the Participant,
distribution of the Participant's Shares shall be made by the Trustee to the
Participant's estate.
Section 11.
Administration Allstate's Board of Directors shall be the Plan
--------------
Administrator shall have full power to construe and interpret the Plan, to
establish and amend rules for its administration and to correct any defect or
omission and to reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan to the extent the Plan
Administrator deems desirable to carry the Plan into effect. Any decisions of
the Plan Administrator in the administration of the Plan shall be final and
conclusive. The Plan Administrator may delegate all or any part of its authority
to any officer or employee of Allstate or to any consultant under contract to
act as Recordkeeper or Trustee under the Plan, and may authorize any officer or
employee of Allstate to execute and deliver documents on behalf of the Plan
Administrator. The Plan Administrator and each officer or employee of Allstate
to whom duties or powers shall be delegated in connection with the Plan shall
incur no liability with respect to any action taken or omitted to be take in
connection with the Plan and shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the advice of counsel, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable
law.
Section 12.
Stockholder Rights Except for restrictions on transferability and
-------------------
withdrawal set forth in the Plan, Participants shall have all rights of
beneficial ownership of shares held in their Shares Accounts, including voting
rights attributable to the Shares. The
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Trustee will cause to be mailed to each Participant copies of the same
materials as are sent to other beneficial owners of Shares, with the request
that the Participant give voting instructions with respect to the Shares held in
the Participant's Shares Account. Participants may also attend any stockholders
meeting and vote Shares in their Shares Account at such meeting. Participants
who wish to attend such meetings should obtain written verification from the
Trustee of their status as Company stockholders.
Section 13.
Amendment or Termination of Plan The Board of Directors of the Company
---------------------------------
may at any time amend or terminate the Plan.
Section 14.
Effect on Status of Participants Neither the adoption of this Plan, its
--------------------------------
operation, nor any documents describing or referring to this Plan (or any part
thereof) shall confer upon any individual, including any Participant, any right
to continue to sell the insurance policies of Allstate or a Subsidiary or to
provide services on behalf of Allstate or a Subsidiary, or affect any right or
power of Allstate or a Subsidiary to terminate the agency relationship of any
individual, including any Participant, at any time with or without assigning a
reason therefor.
Section 15.
Administration Expenses and Brokerage Fees Brokerage fees for any
----------------------------------------------
purchases of Shares with Company Contributions made in cash and with dividend
distributions, and all expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by
Allstate.
Section 16.
Rules of Construction Headings are given to the sections of this Plan
----------------------
solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. In the construction of the
Plan, the masculine shall include the feminine and the singular the plural in
all cases where such meanings are indicated by the context.
- 9 -
Section 17.
Governing Law The Plan shall be construed, administered and enforced
-------------
in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
Section 18.
Effective Date The Plan was adopted by the Company's Board of Directors
--------------
on February 5, 1997, to be effective as of January 1, 1997.
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EXHIBIT 5
THE ALLSTATE
CORPORATION
2775 Sanders Road, Suite A8
Northbrook, Illinois 60062-6127
----------------------------------
Joseph T. Kane
Counsel
March 14, 1997
The Allstate Corporation
Allstate Plaza
Northbrook, IL 60062
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 1,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Common Stock"), of The Allstate Corporation (the "Company") which
may from time to time be offered in connection with The Allstate Corporation
Exclusive Agent Independent Contractors Stock Bonus Plan (the "Plan"). 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 have examined and am familiar with
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of
(i) the Registration Statement, ((ii) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Company as currently in effect, (iii) the By-laws of the Company as
currently in effect, and (iv) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Company relating to the filing of the Registration Statement and related
matters. I have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to my satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such other
agreements, instruments, and documents of the Company, and have made such other
investigations, as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the
opinions set forth herein.
I have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me
as originals, the conformity
to original documents of all documents submitted to me as certified to
photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter
documents. In making my examination of documents executed by parties other than
the Company, I have assumed that such parties had the power, corporate and
otherwise, to enter into and perform their respective obligations thereunder and
have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate and
otherwise, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and
the validity and binding effect thereof. As to any facts material to the opinion
expressed herein, I have relied upon oral or written statements and
representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is my opinion that the
shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and, when issued pursuant to
the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
I consent to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement referred to above and to the reference in such
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
Joseph T. Kane
Exhibit 15
The Allstate Corporation
Allstate Plaza
Northbrook, IL
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 subsidiary for the periods ended
September 30, 1996 and 1995, as indicated in our report dated November 13, 1996;
because we did not perform an audit, we expressed no opinion on that
information.
We are aware that our report referred to above, which was included in your
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, is being
used in this Registration Statement.
We are also aware that the aforementioned report, pursuant to Rule 436(c) under
the Securities Act of 1933, is 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.
Chicago, Illinois
March 11, 1997
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 reports dated March 1, 1996,
appearing in and incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
The Allstate Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1995.
Chicago, Illinois
March 11, 1997
