SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
November 21, 2005

United Bankshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

West Virginia		No. 0-13322		55-0641179
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

300 United Center
500 Virginia Street, East
Charleston, West Virginia 25301

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(304) 424-8800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

     On November 3, 2005, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of United Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company”) met (the “Compensation Meeting”) to review the performance of the Company for 2005, to establish the 2006 base salaries for the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers, to determine the cash incentive awards for the Company’s executives for 2005, and to determine the number of stock options to grant to the Company’s officers and employees under the Company’s 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan.

     The Company’s Executive Compensation program consists of three basic components: (1) base salary; (2) short-term cash incentives; and (3) long-term stock incentives. The Committee is responsible for the administration of the Company’s Executive Compensation programs, which includes recommending to the Board of Directors base salary levels, short-term cash incentives and long-term stock incentives for all executive officers of the Company. The Committee’s Executive Compensation policies are designed to provide competitive levels of compensation that integrate compensation with the Company’s annual and long-term performance goals and assist in attracting and retaining qualified executives. The Company’s compensation policies will be discussed in detail in the Report of the Compensation Committee included in the Company’s 2006 proxy statement.

Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer

     At the Compensation Meeting, the Committee recommended a new base salary for 2006, a short-term cash incentive for 2005, and a grant of stock options under the Company’s 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan for Richard M. Adams, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In determining the compensation for Mr. Adams, the Committee considered the financial performance of the Company, information relating to compensation paid to Chief Executive Officers of peer banks, and the individual performance of Mr. Adams. A more detailed explanation of the factors considered when determining Mr. Adams’ compensation will be set forth in the Compensation Committee Report in the 2006 Proxy Statement. The following table sets forth the Committee’s recommendations to the Board of Directors for Mr. Adams’ compensation:

Number of

Securities

Underlying

2006 Base

2005 Cash

Incentive Stock

Name/Position

Salary

Incentive

Options Granted (#)

Richard M. Adams Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

$

650,000

$

385,000

30,000

     These recommendations were presented to the Board of Directors for approval at its meeting on November 21, 2005. The Board of Directors approved the recommendations of the Committee.

     The cash incentive will be paid in January of 2006, and the stock options were granted on the opening bid price on November 3, 2005 of $37.19.

Compensation of the Named Executive Officers Other than the Chief Executive Officer

     At the Compensation Meeting, the Committee reviewed recommendations by the Chief Executive Officer relating to base salary for 2006, short-term cash incentives for 2005, and grants of stock options under the Company’s 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan for the Company’s named executive officers. In reviewing the recommendations, the Committee considered (i) the financial performance of the Company and (ii) a presentation by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer based his presentation and recommendations on an analysis of personal performance ratings of the named executive officers, peer group data obtained from outside consultants, and the Chief Executive Officer’s evaluation of the named executive officers.

     Based on its review of this analysis, the Committee approved the following compensation for named executive officers of the Company who had been reported in the 2005 proxy statement and those who are expected to be named executive officers in the 2006 proxy statement:

														Number of Securities
														Underlying Incentive
				2006 Base					2005 Cash					Stock Options
	Name/Position			Salary					Incentive					Granted (#)
	Steven E. Wilson Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer			$	257,348				$	112,500					15,000
	James J. Consagra, Jr. Executive Vice President				225,000					80,000					10,000
	Kendal E. Carson Executive Vice President				227,000					70,000					10,000
	James B. Hayhurst, Jr. Executive Vice President				217,350					66,500					10,000

     These recommendations were presented to the Board of Directors for approval at its meeting on November 21, 2005. The Board of Directors approved the recommendations of the Committee.

     All cash incentives will be paid in January of 2006. The stock options were granted on the opening bid price on November 3, 2005 of $37.19.

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.