APPENDIX A
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
General Description of Business
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (the “Company”), was formed in 1999 to serve as the holding company for Peoples Bank (the “Bank”). The Company is a bank holding company registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). The Company’s principal source of income is any dividends, which are declared and paid by the Bank on its capital stock. The Company has no operations and conducts no business of its own other than owning the Bank. Accordingly, the discussion of the business which follows concerns the business conducted by the Bank, unless otherwise indicated.
The Bank, founded in 1912, is a state-chartered commercial bank serving the citizens and business interests of the Catawba Valley and surrounding communities through 21 banking offices located in Lincolnton, Newton, Denver, Catawba, Conover, Maiden, Claremont, Hiddenite, Hickory, Charlotte, Monroe, Cornelius, Mooresville and Raleigh North Carolina. The Bank also operates a loan production office in Denver, North Carolina. At December 31, 2008, the Company had total assets of $968.8 million, net loans of $770.2 million, deposits of $721.1 million, total securities of $131.2 million, and shareholders’ equity of $101.1 million.
The Bank has a diversified loan portfolio, with no foreign loans and few agricultural loans. Real estate loans are predominately variable rate commercial property loans, which include residential development loans to commercial customers. Commercial loans are spread throughout a variety of industries with no one particular industry or group of related industries accounting for a significant portion of the commercial loan portfolio. The majority of the Bank's deposit and loan customers are individuals and small to medium-sized businesses located in the Bank's market area. The Bank’s loan portfolio also includes Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) mortgage loans generated thorough the Bank’s Banco de le Gente offices. Additional discussion of the Bank’s loan portfolio and sources of funds for loans can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on pages A-4 through A-29 of the Annual Report, which is included in this Form 10-K as Exhibit 13.
The operations of the Bank and depository institutions in general are significantly influenced by general economic conditions and by related monetary and fiscal policies of depository institution regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks (the "Commissioner").
At December 31, 2008, the Bank employed 270 full-time equivalent employees.
Subsidiaries
The Bank is a subsidiary of the Company. The Bank has two subsidiaries, Peoples Investment Services, Inc. and Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc. Through a relationship with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Peoples Investment Services, Inc. provides the Bank's customers access to investment counseling and non-deposit investment products such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, tax deferred annuities, and related brokerage services. Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc., provides real estate appraisal and real estate brokerage services.
In June 2006, the Company formed a wholly owned Delaware statutory trust, PEBK Capital Trust II (“PEBK Trust II”), which issued $20.0 million of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the Company’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures. All of the common securities of PEBK Trust II are owned by the Company. The proceeds from the issuance of the common securities and the trust preferred securities were used by PEBK Trust II to purchase $20.6 million of junior subordinated debentures of the Company, which pay a floating rate equal to three month LIBOR plus 163 basis points. The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the junior subordinated debentures were used in December 2006 to repay the trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust in December 2001 and for general purposes. The debentures represent the sole asset of PEBK Trust II. PEBK Trust II is not included in the consolidated financial statements.
The trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust II accrue and pay quarterly at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points. The Company has guaranteed distributions and other payments due on the trust preferred securities to the extent PEBK Trust II does not have funds with which to make the distributions and other payments. The net combined effect of the trust preferred securities transaction is that the Company is obligated to make the distributions and other payments required on the trust preferred securities.
These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the debentures on June 28, 2036, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture. The Company has the right to redeem the debentures purchased by PEBK Trust II, in whole or in part, on or after June 28, 2011. As specified in the indenture, if the debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be the principal amount and any accrued but unpaid interest.
This report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (the “Company”). These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management of the Company and on the information available to management at the time that these disclosures were prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and “believe,” variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by Peoples Bank (the “Bank”), (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| 2008 | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2004 |
Summary of Operations | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | $ | 56,323 | | 61,732 | | | 55,393 | | 41,913 | | 35,095 |
Interest expense | | 23,527 | | 27,585 | | | 23,110 | | 15,429 | | 12,335 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income | | 32,796 | | 34,147 | | | 32,283 | | 26,484 | | 22,760 |
Provision for loan losses | | 4,794 | | 2,038 | | | 2,513 | | 3,110 | | 3,256 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses | | 28,002 | | 32,109 | | | 29,770 | | 23,374 | | 19,504 |
Non-interest income | | 10,495 | | 8,816 | | | 7,554 | | 6,668 | | 6,000 |
Non-interest expense | | 28,893 | | 25,993 | | | 22,983 | | 20,330 | | 18,840 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Income before taxes | | 9,604 | | 14,932 | | | 14,341 | | 9,712 | | 6,664 |
Income taxes | | 3,213 | | 5,340 | | | 5,170 | | 3,381 | | 2,233 |
Net income | $ | 6,391 | | 9,592 | | | 9,171 | | 6,331 | | 4,431 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Selected Year-End Balances | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | $ | 968,762 | | 907,262 | | | 818,948 | | 730,280 | | 686,348 |
Available for sale securities | | 124,916 | | 120,968 | | | 117,581 | | 115,158 | | 105,598 |
Loans, net | | 770,163 | | 713,174 | | | 643,078 | | 559,239 | | 527,419 |
Mortgage loans held for sale | | - | | - | | | - | | 2,248 | | 3,783 |
Interest-earning assets | | 921,101 | | 853,878 | | | 780,082 | | 692,835 | | 653,111 |
Deposits | | 721,062 | | 693,639 | | | 633,820 | | 582,854 | | 556,522 |
Interest-bearing liabilities | | 758,334 | | 718,870 | | | 650,364 | | 576,681 | | 553,135 |
Shareholders' equity | $ | 101,128 | | 70,102 | | | 62,835 | | 54,353 | | 50,938 |
Shares outstanding* | | 5,539,056 | | 5,624,234 | | | 5,745,951 | | 5,677,328 | | 5,689,763 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Selected Average Balances | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | $ | 929,799 | | 846,836 | | | 772,585 | | 706,843 | | 684,385 |
Available for sale securities | | 115,853 | | 120,296 | | | 118,137 | | 108,690 | | 93,770 |
Loans | | 747,203 | | 665,379 | | | 604,427 | | 550,545 | | 547,753 |
Interest-earning assets | | 876,425 | | 801,094 | | | 732,244 | | 668,614 | | 650,528 |
Deposits | | 720,918 | | 659,174 | | | 605,407 | | 570,997 | | 558,142 |
Interest-bearing liabilities | | 740,478 | | 665,727 | | | 613,686 | | 563,210 | | 553,880 |
Shareholders' equity | $ | 76,241 | | 70,586 | | | 62,465 | | 55,989 | | 51,978 |
Shares outstanding* | | 5,588,314 | | 5,700,860 | | | 5,701,829 | | 5,692,290 | | 5,707,975 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Profitability Ratios | | | | | | | | | | | |
Return on average total assets | | 0.69% | | 1.13% | | | 1.19% | | 0.90% | | 0.65% |
Return on average shareholders' equity | | 8.38% | | 13.59% | | | 14.68% | | 11.31% | | 8.52% |
Dividend payout ratio | | 41.93% | | 24.30% | | | 20.78% | | 22.34% | | 28.37% |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Liquidity and Capital Ratios (averages) | | | | | | | | | |
Loan to deposit | | 103.65% | | 100.94% | | | 99.84% | | 96.42% | | 98.14% |
Shareholders' equity to total assets | | 8.20% | | 8.34% | | | 8.09% | | 7.92% | | 7.59% |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Per share of common stock* | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic net income | $ | 1.14 | | 1.68 | | | 1.61 | | 1.11 | | 0.77 |
Diluted net income | $ | 1.13 | | 1.65 | | | 1.58 | | 1.09 | | 0.77 |
Cash dividends | $ | 0.48 | | 0.41 | | | 0.33 | | 0.25 | | 0.22 |
Book value | $ | 13.73 | | 12.46 | | | 10.94 | | 9.57 | | 8.95 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
*Shares outstanding and per share computations have been retroactively restated to reflect a 10% stock dividend during first quarter 2005, a 10% stock dividend during second quarter 2006 and a 3-for-2 stock split during second quarter 2007. |
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following is a discussion of our financial position and results of operations and should be read in conjunction with the information set forth under Item 1A Risk Factors and the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto on pages A-30 through A-61.
Introduction
Management's discussion and analysis of earnings and related data are presented to assist in understanding the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Company, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. The Company is a registered bank holding company operating under the supervision of the Federal Reserve Board and the parent company of Peoples Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank is a North Carolina-chartered bank, with offices in Catawba, Lincoln, Alexander, Mecklenburg, Iredell, Union and Wake counties, operating under the banking laws of North Carolina and the rules and regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”).
Overview
Our business consists principally of attracting deposits from the general public and investing these funds in commercial loans, real estate mortgage loans, real estate construction loans and consumer loans. Our profitability depends primarily on our net interest income, which is the difference between the income we receive on our loan and investment securities portfolios and our cost of funds, which consists of interest paid on deposits and borrowed funds. Net interest income also is affected by the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. When interest-earning assets approximate or exceed interest-bearing liabilities, a positive interest rate spread will generate net interest income. Our profitability is also affected by the level of other income and operating expenses. Other income consists primarily of miscellaneous fees related to our loans and deposits, mortgage banking income and commissions from sales of annuities and mutual funds. Operating expenses consist of compensation and benefits, occupancy related expenses, federal deposit and other insurance premiums, data processing, advertising and other expenses.
Our operations are influenced significantly by local economic conditions and by policies of financial institution regulatory authorities. The earnings on our assets are influenced by the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), inflation, interest rates, market and monetary fluctuations. Lending activities are affected by the demand for commercial and other types of loans, which in turn is affected by the interest rates at which such financing may be offered. Our cost of funds is influenced by interest rates on competing investments and by rates offered on similar investments by competing financial institutions in our market area, as well as general market interest rates. These factors can cause fluctuations in our net interest income and other income. In addition, local economic conditions can impact the credit risk of our loan portfolio, in that (1) local employers may be required to eliminate employment positions of individual borrowers, and small businesses and (2) commercial borrowers may experience a downturn in their operating performance and become unable to make timely payments on their loans. Management evaluates these factors in estimating its allowance for loan losses and changes in these economic factors could result in increases or decreases to the provision for loan losses.
Our business emphasis has been to operate as a well-capitalized, profitable and independent community-oriented financial institution dedicated to providing quality customer service. We are committed to meeting the financial needs of the communities in which we operate. We believe that we can be more effective in serving our customers than many of our non-local competitors because of our ability to quickly and effectively provide senior management responses to customer needs and inquiries. Our ability to provide these services is enhanced by the stability of our senior management team.
The Federal Reserve has decreased the Federal Funds Rate 4.00% since December 31, 2007 with the rate set at 3.25% as of December 31, 2008. These decreases had a negative impact on 2008 earnings and will continue to have a negative impact on the Bank’s net interest income in the future periods. The negative impact from the decrease in the Federal Funds Rate has been partially offset by the increase in earnings realized on interest rate contracts, including both interest rate swaps and interest rate floors, utilized by the Company. Additional information regarding the Company’s interest rate contacts is provided below in the section entitled “Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management.”
On December 23, 2008, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with the United States Department of the Treasury (“UST”). Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell 25,054 shares of Series A preferred stock and warrants to purchase 357,234 shares of common stock associated with the Company’s participation in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”). Proceeds from this issuance of preferred shares were allocated between preferred stock and the warrant based on their relative fair values at the time of the sale. Of the $25.1 million in
proceeds, $24.4 million was allocated to the Series A preferred stock and $704,000 was allocated to the common stock warrant. The discount recorded on the preferred stock that resulted from allocating a portion of the proceeds to the warrant is being accreted directly to retained earnings over a five-year period applying a level yield. No dividends were declared or paid on the Series A preferred stock during 2008, and cumulative undeclared dividends at December 31, 2008 were $28,000. The CPP, created by the UST, is a voluntary program in which selected, healthy financial institutions were encouraged to participate. Approved use of the funds includes providing credit to qualified borrowers, either as companies or individuals, among other things. Such participation is intended to support the economic development of the community and thereby restore the health of the local and national economy.
The Series A preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and 9% per annum thereafter. The Series A preferred stock may be redeemed at the stated amount of $1,000 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. Under the terms of the original Purchase Agreement, the Company could not redeem the preferred shares until December 23, 2011 unless the total amount of the issuance, $25.1 million, was replaced with the same amount of other forms of capital that would qualify as Tier 1 capital. However, with the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), the Company can now redeem the preferred shares at any time, if approved by the Company’s primary regulator. The Series A preferred stock is non-voting except for class voting rights on matters that would adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Series A preferred stock.
The exercise price of the warrant is $10.52 per common share and it is exercisable at anytime on or before December 18, 2018.
The Company is subject to the following restrictions while the Series A preferred stock is outstanding: 1) UST approval is required for the Company to repurchase shares of outstanding common stock; 2) the full dividend for the latest completed CPP dividend period must declared and paid in full before dividends may be paid to common shareholders; 3) UST approval is required for any increase in common dividends per share; and 4) the Company may not take tax deductions for any senior executive officer whose compensation is above $500,000. There were additional restrictions on executive compensation added in the ARRA for companies participating in the TARP, including participants in the CPP.
It is the intent of the Company to utilize CPP funds to make loans to qualified borrowers in the Bank’s market area. The funds will also be used to absorb losses incurred when modifying loans or making concessions to borrowers in order to keep borrowers out of foreclosure. The Bank is also working with its current builders and contractors to provide financing for potential buyers who may not be able to qualify for financing in the current mortgage market in order to help these customers sell existing single family homes. The Bank will also use the CPP capital infusion as additional Tier I capital to protect the Bank from potential losses that may be incurred during this current recessionary period.
The Company qualified as an accelerated filer in accordance with Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, effective December 31, 2006. Therefore, the Company was subject to the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX 404”). The Company incurred additional consulting and audit expenses in becoming compliant with SOX 404, and will continue to incur additional audit expenses to comply with SOX 404 when SOX 404 becomes applicable to smaller reporting companies. Management does not expect expenses related to SOX 404 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. The Company qualified as a smaller reporting company effective June 30, 2008, due to a decrease in market capitalization. Management does not expect significant cost savings from this change in filing status, as certification of the effectiveness of internal controls by management will still be required.
The Bank opened a new office in Iredell County, in Mooresville, North Carolina in January 2008. Also in January 2008, the Bank opened a new Banco de la Gente office in Wake County, in Raleigh, North Carolina in a continuing effort to serve the Latino community. While there are no additional offices planned in 2009, management will continue to look for branching opportunities in nearby markets.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank, along with its wholly owned subsidiaries, Peoples Investment Services, Inc. and Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc (collectively called the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company’s accounting policies are fundamental to understanding management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition. Many of the Company’s accounting policies require significant judgment regarding valuation of assets and liabilities and/or significant interpretation of specific accounting guidance. The following is a summary of some of the more subjective and complex accounting policies of the Company. A more
complete description of the Company’s significant accounting policies can be found in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2008 Annual Report to Shareholders which is Appendix A to the Proxy Statement for the May 7, 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Many of the Company’s assets and liabilities are recorded using various techniques that require significant judgment as to recoverability. The collectability of loans is reflected through the Company’s estimate of the allowance for loan losses. The Company performs periodic and systematic detailed reviews of its lending portfolio to assess overall collectability. In addition, certain assets and liabilities are reflected at their estimated fair value in the consolidated financial statements. Such amounts are based on either quoted market prices or estimated values derived from dealer quotes used by the Company, market comparisons or internally generated modeling techniques. The Company’s internal models generally involve present value of cash flow techniques. The various techniques are discussed in greater detail elsewhere in management’s discussion and analysis and the notes to consolidated financial statements.
There are other complex accounting standards that require the Company to employ significant judgment in interpreting and applying certain of the principles prescribed by those standards. These judgments include, but are not limited to, the determination of whether a financial instrument or other contract meets the definition of a derivative in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” For a more complete discussion of policies, see the notes to consolidated financial statements.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) ratified the conclusions reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) on EITF 06-4, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements.” This issue requires companies to recognize an obligation for either the present value of the entire promised death benefit or the annual “cost of insurance” required to keep the policy in force during the post-retirement years. EITF 06-4 was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. During first quarter 2008, the Company made a $467,000 reduction to retained earnings for the cumulative effect of EITF 06-4 as of January 1, 2008 pursuant to the guidance of this pronouncement to record the portion of this benefit earned by participants prior to adoption of this pronouncement.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. This standard had no effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
SFAS No. 157 establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy for fair value measurements. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that a company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. The Company’s fair value measurements for items measured at fair value at December 31, 2008 included:
| Fair Value Measurements December 31, 2008 | | Level 1 Valuation | | Level 2 Valuation | | Level 3 Valuation |
Investment securities available for sale | $ | 124,916,349 | | 935,032 | | 122,731,317 | | 1,250,000 |
Market value of derivatives (in other assets) | $ | 4,980,701 | | - | | 4,980,701 | | - |
Fair values of investment securities available for sale are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges when available. If quoted prices are not available, fair value is determined using matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. Fair values of derivative instruments are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities.
The following is an analysis of fair value measurements of investment securities available for sale using Level 3, significant unobservable inputs, for the year ended December 31, 2008:
| | Investment Securities Available for Sale |
| | Level 3 Valuation |
Balance, beginning of period | | $ | 250,000 |
Change in book value | | | - |
Change in gain/(loss) realized and unrealized | | | - |
Purchases/(sales) | | | 1,000,000 |
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 | | | - |
Balance, end of period | | $ | 1,250,000 |
| | | |
Change in unrealized gain/(loss) for assets still held in Level 3 | | $ | 0 |
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 114, the Company has specific loan loss reserves for loans that management has determined to be impaired. These specific reserves are determined on an individual loan basis based on management’s current evaluation of the Company’s loss exposure for each credit, given the appraised value of any underlying collateral. At December 31, 2008, the Company had specific reserves of $462,000 in the allowance for loan losses on loans totaling $7.5 million. The Company’s December 31, 2008 fair value measurement for impaired loans is presented below:
| Fair Value Measurements December 31, 2008 | | Level 1 Valuation | | Level 2 Valuation | | Level 3 Valuation | | Total Gains/(Losses) for the Year Ended December 31, 2008 |
Impaired loans | $ | 7,073,045 | | - | | 5,902,848 | | 1,170,197 | | (345,000) |
Other real estate | $ | 1,866,971 | | - | | 1,866,971 | | - | | (165,630) |
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which permits entities to choose to measure financial instruments and certain other instruments at fair value. SFAS No. 159 was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. The Company did not choose this option for any asset or liability, and therefore SFAS No. 159 did not have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS No. 140-3, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Repurchase Financing Transactions.” This FSP provides guidance on accounting for a transfer of a financial asset and a repurchase financing under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.” This FSP is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 157-1, “Application of FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease Classification or Measurement under Statement 13.” This FSP amends SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” to exclude SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases” and other accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for purposes of lease classification or measurement under SFAS No. 13. This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157.” This FSP delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active.” This FSP clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” in a market that is not active. This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 161 is an amendment to SFAS No. 133, which provides for enhanced disclosures about how and why an entity uses derivatives and how and where those derivatives and related hedged items are reported in the entity’s financial statements.�� SFAS No. 161 is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2009. As this is a disclosure related standard, this standard is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations. SFAS No. 161 will result in additional disclosures related to the Company’s derivatives.
In September 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 133-1 and FIN 45-4, “Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45 and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161.” This FSP is an amendment to SFAS No. 133, which provides for enhanced disclosure requirements for credit risk derivatives. This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets.” This FSP amends SFAS No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits,” to provide guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The remainder of management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s results of operations and financial position should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes presented on pages A-30 through A-62.
Results of Operations
Summary. The Company reported earnings of $6.4 million in 2008, or $1.14 basic net earnings per common share and $1.13 diluted net earnings per common share, a 33% decrease as compared to $9.6 million, or $1.68 basic net earnings per common share and $1.65 diluted net earnings per common share, for 2007. The Company’s decrease in net earnings for 2008 is primarily attributable to a decrease in net interest income, an increase in provision for loan losses and an increase in non-interest expense, which was partially offset by an increase in non-interest income.
Net earnings for 2007 represented an increase of 5% as compared to 2006 net earnings of $9.2 million or $1.61 basic net earnings per common share and $1.58 diluted net earnings per common share. The increase in 2007 net earnings was primarily attributable to growth in interest-earning assets, which contributed to increases in net interest income and an increase in non-interest income. In addition, the Company had a decrease in the provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006. The increases in net interest income and non-interest income and the decrease in the provision for loan losses were partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense.
The return on average assets in 2008 was 0.69%, compared to 1.13% in 2007 and 1.19% in 2006. The return on average shareholders’ equity was 8.38% in 2008 compared to 13.59% in 2007 and 14.68% in 2006.
Net Interest Income. Net interest income, the major component of the Company's net income, is the amount by which interest and fees generated by interest-earning assets exceed the total cost of funds used to carry them. Net interest income is affected by changes in the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as changes in the yields earned and rates paid. Net interest margin is calculated by dividing tax-equivalent net interest income by average interest-earning assets, and represents the Company’s net yield on its interest-earning assets.
Net interest income was $32.8 million for 2008 or a 4% decrease from net interest income of $34.1 million in 2007. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in the Bank’s prime commercial lending rate. The decrease in loan interest income resulting from a decline in prime rate was partially offset by an increase in income from derivative instruments. Net income from derivative instruments was $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to a net loss of $406,000 for the same period in 2007. Net interest income increased 6% in 2007 from $32.3 million in 2006.
Table 1 sets forth for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, the average amounts outstanding, the interest incurred on such amounts and the average rate earned or incurred for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. The table also sets forth the average rate earned on total interest-earning assets, the
average rate paid on total interest-bearing liabilities, and the net yield on average total interest-earning assets for the same periods. Yield information does not give effect to changes in fair value that are reflected as a component of shareholders’ equity. Yields and interest income on tax-exempt investments have been adjusted to tax equivalent basis using an effective tax rate 38.55% for securities that are both federal and state tax exempt and an effective tax rate of 6.90% for state tax exempt securities. Non-accrual loans and the interest income that was recorded on these loans, if any, are included in the yield calculations for loans in all periods reported.
Table 1- Average Balance Table | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2008 | | | December 31, 2007 | | December 31, 2006 | |
(Dollars in thousands) | Average Balance | | Interest | | Yield / Rate | | | Average Balance | | Interest | | Yield / Rate | | | Average Balance | | Interest | | Yield / Rate | |
Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans | $ | 747,203 | | | 46,808 | | 6.26 | % | | 665,379 | | 55,109 | | 8.28 | % | | 604,427 | | 49,665 | | 8.22 | % |
Interest rate derivative contracts | | - | | | 3,403 | | 0.45 | % | | - | | (406 | ) | -0.06 | % | | - | | (698 | ) | -0.12 | % |
Loan fees | | - | | | 393 | | 0.05 | % | | - | | 698 | | 0.10 | % | | - | | 701 | | 0.12 | % |
Total loans | | 747,203 | | | 50,604 | | 6.77 | % | | 665,379 | | 55,401 | | 8.33 | % | | 604,427 | | 49,668 | | 8.22 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments - taxable | | 26,591 | | | 1,253 | | 4.71 | % | | 20,305 | | 868 | | 4.27 | % | | 29,784 | | 1,306 | | 4.38 | % |
Investments - nontaxable* | | 89,262 | | | 4,924 | | 5.52 | % | | 99,991 | | 5,470 | | 5.47 | % | | 88,353 | | 4,642 | | 5.25 | % |
Federal funds sold | | 3,050 | | | 55 | | 1.80 | % | | 7,378 | | 383 | | 5.19 | % | | 1,766 | | 85 | | 4.81 | % |
Other | | 10,319 | | | 293 | | 2.84 | % | | 8,041 | | 444 | | 5.52 | % | | 7,914 | | 424 | | 5.36 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total interest-earning assets | | 876,425 | | | 57,129 | | 6.52 | % | | 801,094 | | 62,566 | | 7.81 | % | | 732,244 | | 56,125 | | 7.66 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and due from banks | | 21,331 | | | | | | | | 20,081 | | | | | | | 17,022 | | | | | |
Other assets | | 41,626 | | | | | | | | 34,287 | | | | | | | 31,218 | | | | | |
Allowance for loan losses | | (9,583 | ) | | | | | | | (8,626 | ) | | | | | | (7,899 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | $ | 929,799 | | | | | | | | 846,836 | | | | | | | 772,585 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOW accounts | $ | 92,612 | | | 1,269 | | 1.37 | % | | 79,550 | | 1,127 | | 1.42 | % | | 87,329 | | 1,214 | | 1.39 | % |
Regular savings accounts | | 17,423 | | | 50 | | 0.29 | % | | 18,685 | | 54 | | 0.29 | % | | 19,768 | | 57 | | 0.29 | % |
Money market accounts | | 93,564 | | | 1,930 | | 2.06 | % | | 87,916 | | 2,918 | | 3.32 | % | | 66,035 | | 1,789 | | 2.71 | % |
Time deposits | | 406,127 | | | 15,008 | | 3.70 | % | | 361,859 | | 17,430 | | 4.82 | % | | 335,092 | | 14,189 | | 4.23 | % |
FHLB / FRB borrowings | | 79,417 | | | 3,616 | | 4.55 | % | | 80,058 | | 3,759 | | 4.70 | % | | 74,082 | | 3,588 | | 4.84 | % |
Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury | | 859 | | | 14 | | 1.63 | % | | 814 | | 39 | | 4.79 | % | | 722 | | 34 | | 4.71 | % |
Trust preferred securities | | 20,619 | | | 1,016 | | 4.93 | % | | 20,619 | | 1,476 | | 7.16 | % | | 24,878 | | 1,963 | | 7.89 | % |
Other | | 29,857 | | | 624 | | 2.09 | % | | 16,226 | | 782 | | 4.82 | % | | 5,780 | | 276 | | 4.78 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total interest-bearing liabilities | | 740,478 | | | 23,527 | | 3.18 | % | | 665,727 | | 27,585 | | 4.14 | % | | 613,686 | | 23,110 | | 3.77 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Demand deposits | | 111,192 | | | | | | | | 111,164 | | | | | | | 97,183 | | | | | |
Other liabilities | | 4,021 | | | | | | | | 3,022 | | | | | | | 3,044 | | | | | |
Shareholders' equity | | 76,241 | | | | | | | | 70,586 | | | | | | | 62,465 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity | $ | 931,932 | | | | | | | | 850,499 | | | | | | | 776,378 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest spread | | | | $ | 33,602 | | 3.36 | % | | | | 34,981 | | 3.67 | % | | | | 33,015 | | 3.89 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net yield on interest-earning assets | | | | | | | 3.83 | % | | | | | | 4.37 | % | | | | | | 4.51 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Taxable equivalent adjustment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | | $ | 806 | | | | | | | 834 | | | | | | | 731 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income | | | | $ | 32,796 | | | | | | | 34,147 | | | | | | | 32,284 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
*Includes U.S. government sponsored enterprises that are non-taxable for state income tax purposes of $63.6 million in 2008, $74.9 million in 2007 and $65.9 million in 2006. An effective tax rate of 6.90% was used to calculate the tax equivalent yield on these securities. | |
Changes in interest income and interest expense can result from variances in both volume and rates. Table 2 describes the impact on the Company’s tax equivalent net interest income resulting from changes in average balances and average rates for the periods indicated. The changes in interest due to both volume and rate have been allocated to volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the changes in each.
Table 2 - Rate/Volume Variance Analysis-Tax Equivalent Basis | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2008 | | December 31, 2007 | |
(Dollars in thousands) | Changes in average volume | | Changes in average rates | | Total Increase (Decrease) | | Changes in average volume | | Changes in average rates | | Total Increase (Decrease) | |
Interest Income: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans: Net of unearned income | $ | 6,177 | | (10,974 | ) | (4,797 | ) | 5,042 | | 691 | | 5,733 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments - taxable | | 282 | | 102 | | 384 | | (411 | ) | (27 | ) | (438 | ) |
Investments - nontaxable | | (589 | ) | 43 | | (546 | ) | 624 | | 204 | | 828 | |
Federal funds sold | | (151 | ) | (177 | ) | (328 | ) | 281 | | 17 | | 298 | |
Other | | 95 | | (246 | ) | (151 | ) | 7 | | 13 | | 20 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total interest income | | 5,814 | | (11,252 | ) | (5,438 | ) | 5,543 | | 898 | | 6,441 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOW accounts | | 182 | | (40 | ) | 142 | | (109 | ) | 22 | | (87 | ) |
Regular savings accounts | | (4 | ) | 0 | | (4 | ) | (3 | ) | 0 | | (3 | ) |
Money market accounts | | 152 | | (1,140 | ) | (988 | ) | 660 | | 469 | | 1,129 | |
Time deposits | | 1,884 | | (4,306 | ) | (2,422 | ) | 1,211 | | 2,030 | | 3,241 | |
FHLB / FRB Borrowings | | (30 | ) | (113 | ) | (143 | ) | 285 | | (114 | ) | 171 | |
Demand notes payable to | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury | | 1 | | (27 | ) | (26 | ) | 4 | | 1 | | 5 | |
Trust Preferred Securities | | 0 | | (459 | ) | (459 | ) | (320 | ) | (167 | ) | (487 | ) |
Other | | 471 | | (629 | ) | (158 | ) | 501 | | 5 | | 506 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total interest expense | | 2,656 | | (6,714 | ) | (4,058 | ) | 2,229 | | 2,246 | | 4,475 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income | $ | 3,158 | | (4,538 | ) | (1,380 | ) | 3,314 | | (1,348 | ) | 1,966 | |
Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis totaled $33.6 million in 2008, decreasing 4% or $1.4 million from 2007. The decrease was attributable to a reduction in the Bank’s prime commercial lending rate. The interest rate spread, which represents the rate earned on interest-earning assets less the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, was 3.36% in 2008, a decrease from the 2007 net interest spread of 3.67%. The net yield on interest-earning assets in 2008 decreased to 3.83% from the 2007 net interest margin of 4.37%.
Tax equivalent interest income decreased $5.4 million or 9% in 2008 primarily due to a reduction in the Bank’s prime commercial lending rate. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased to 6.52% in 2008 from 7.81% in 2007 as a result of a decrease in the average yield received on loans resulting from Federal Reserve interest rate decreases, which were partially offset by an increase in the average outstanding balance of loans and income from interest rate derivative contracts. Average interest-earning assets increased $75.3 million primarily as the result of an $81.8 million increase in average loans. Average investment securities in 2008 increased 4% to $115.9 million when compared to 2007. All other interest-earning assets including federal funds sold were $13.4 million in 2008 and $15.4 million in 2007.
Interest expense decreased $4.1 million or 15% in 2008 due to a decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The cost of funds decreased to 3.18% in 2008 from 4.14% in 2007. This decrease in the cost of funds was primarily attributable to decreases in the average rate paid on interest-bearing checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit. The $74.8 million growth in average interest-bearing liabilities was primarily attributable to an increase in time deposits of $44.3 million to $406.1 million in 2008 from $361.9 million in 2007 and an increase in interest-bearing checking and savings accounts of $17.4 million to $203.6 million in 2008 from $186.2 million in 2007.
In 2007 net interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased $2.0 million or 6% to $35.0 million in 2007 from $33.0 million in 2006. The interest rate spread was 3.67% in 2007, a decrease from the 2006 net interest spread of 3.89%. The net yield on interest-earning assets in 2007 decreased to 4.37% from the 2006 net interest margin of 4.51%.
Provision for Loan Losses. Provisions for loan losses are charged to income in order to bring the total allowance for loan losses to a level deemed appropriate by management of the Company based on factors such as management’s judgment as to losses within the Company’s loan portfolio, including the valuation of impaired loans in accordance with SFAS No. 114 and No. 118, loan growth, net charge-offs, changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, delinquencies and management’s assessment of the quality of the loan portfolio and general economic climate.
The provision for loan losses was $4.8 million, $2.0 million, and $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in the provision for loan losses for 2008 is primarily attributable to an increase in non-performing assets, net charge-offs and increased loan growth. Please see the section below entitled “Allowance for Loan Losses” for a more complete discussion of the Bank’s policy for addressing potential loan losses.
Non-Interest Income. Non-interest income for 2008 totaled $10.5 million, an increase of $1.7 million or 19% from non-interest income of $8.8 million for 2007. The increases in non-interest income for 2008 are primarily due to an increase in service charges and fees resulting from growth in deposit base coupled with normal pricing changes, an increase in mortgage banking income and a decrease in the loss on sale and write-down of securities for the year ended December 31, 2008 when compared to the same period last year. These increases in non-interest income were partially offset by a decrease in insurance and brokerage commissions and a net increase in losses and write-downs on foreclosed property for the year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to the same period last year. Non-interest income for 2007 increased $1.2 million or 17% from non-interest income of $8.8 million for 2006. The increase in non-interest income for 2007 is primarily due to an increase in service charges and fees resulting from growth in deposit base coupled with normal pricing changes, an increase in insurance and brokerage commissions, an increase in mortgage banking income and an increase in miscellaneous income.
Service charges on deposit accounts totaled $5.2 million during 2008, an increase of $925,000, or 22% over 2007. Service charge income increased $349,000, or 9% in 2007 compared to 2006. These increases are primarily attributable to growth in the deposit base coupled with normal pricing changes, which resulted in an increase in account maintenance fees.
Other service charges and fees increased 24% to $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to $1.9 million for the same period one year ago. This increase is primarily attributable to fee income from growth in the deposit base coupled with normal pricing changes.
The Company reported net losses on sale and write-downs of securities of $167,000, $562,000 and $592,000 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company periodically evaluates its investments for any impairment which would be deemed other than temporary. As part of its evaluation in 2008, the Company determined that the fair value of one investment was less than the original cost of the investment and that the decline in fair value was not temporary in nature. As a result, the Company wrote down its original investment by $300,000. The remaining fair value of the investment at December 31, 2008 was $22,000. Similarly, as part of its evaluation in 2007, the Company wrote down two investments by $430,000. The remaining fair value of the investments at December 31, 2007 was $348,000.
Mortgage banking income increased to $660,000 in 2008 from $560,000 in 2007 primarily due to an increase in brokered loan activity. During 2007 mortgage banking income increased $271,000 from the $289,000 reported in 2006. The increase in mortgage banking income for 2007 was primarily attributable to the $185,000 write-down of the Bank’s mortgage servicing asset in 2006. This write-down was due to Management’s assessment that there was minimal fair value in the mortgage servicing rights due to the small remaining balance in the loans serviced for others.
Net losses on other real estate and repossessed assets were $287,000 and $118,000 for 2008 and 2007, respectively. During 2006 a net loss on other real estate and repossessed assets of $108,000 was recognized. The increase in net losses on other real estate and repossessed assets during 2008 was primarily attributable to a $170,000 net increase in losses and write-downs on foreclosed property for the year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to the same period last year. Management determined that the market value of these assets had decreased significantly and charges were appropriate for 2008.
Miscellaneous income for 2008 totaled $2.3 million, an increase of 3% from $2.2 million for 2007. During 2007, miscellaneous income increased 4% from $2.1 million for 2006.
Table 3 presents a summary of non-interest income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Table 3 - Non-Interest Income | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 | |
Service charges | $ | 5,203 | | 4,279 | | 3,930 | |
Other service charges and fees | | 2,399 | | 1,938 | | 1,540 | |
Gain (loss) on sale of securities | | (167 | ) | (562 | ) | (592 | ) |
Mortgage banking income | | 660 | | 560 | | 289 | |
Insurance and brokerage commissions | | 426 | | 521 | | 389 | |
Loss on foreclosed and repossessed assets | | (287 | ) | (118 | ) | (108 | ) |
Miscellaneous | | 2,261 | | 2,198 | | 2,106 | |
Total non-interest income | $ | 10,495 | | 8,816 | | 7,554 | |
Non-Interest Expense. Total non-interest expense amounted to $28.9 million for 2008, an increase of 11% from 2007. Non-interest expense for 2007 increased 13% to $26.0 million from non-interest expense of $23.0 million for 2006.
Salary and employee benefit expense was $15.2 million in 2008, compared to $13.9 million during 2007, an increase of $1.3 million or 9%, following a $2.1 million or 18% increase in salary and employee benefit expense in 2007 over 2006. The increase in salary and employee benefits in 2008 and 2007 is primarily due to normal salary increases and expense associated with additional staff for new branches.
The Company recorded occupancy expenses of $5.0 million in 2008, compared to $4.8 million during 2007, an increase of $278,000 or 6%, following an increase of $571,000 or 14% in occupancy expenses in 2007 over 2006. The increases in 2008, 2007 and 2006 are primarily due to an increase in furniture and equipment expense and lease expense associated with new branches.
The total of all other operating expenses increased $1.3 million or 18% to $8.7 million during 2008. The increase in other expense for 2008 is primarily attributable to an increase in of $407,000 in FDIC insurance expense, an increase of $309,000 in deposit program expense and an increase of $133,000 in foreclosure expense. Other operating expense increased $336,000 or 5% in 2007 over 2006. The increase in other expense for 2007 is primarily attributable to increases of $215,000 in advertising expense.
Table 4 presents a summary of non-interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Table 4 - Non-Interest Expense | | | | | |
| | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
Salaries and wages | $ | 11,591 | | 10,276 | | 9,368 |
Employee benefits | | 3,603 | | 3,612 | | 2,417 |
Total personnel expense | | 15,194 | | 13,888 | | 11,785 |
Occupancy expense | | 5,029 | | 4,751 | | 4,180 |
Office supplies | | 564 | | 554 | | 436 |
FDIC deposit insurance | | 547 | | 140 | | 75 |
Professional services | | 422 | | 400 | | 239 |
Postage | | 360 | | 320 | | 307 |
Telephone | | 476 | | 405 | | 338 |
Director fees and expense | | 450 | | 499 | | 423 |
Advertising | | 1,076 | | 988 | | 772 |
Consulting fees | | 385 | | 460 | | 575 |
Taxes and licenses | | 193 | | 272 | | 293 |
Other operating expense | | 4,197 | | 3,316 | | 3,560 |
Total non-interest expense | $ | 28,893 | | 25,993 | | 22,983 |
Income Taxes. Total income tax expense was $3.2 million in 2008 compared with $5.3 million in 2007 and $5.2 million in 2006. The primary reason for the decrease in taxes for 2008 as compared to 2007 and 2006 was the decrease in pretax income. The Company’s effective tax rates were 33.46%, 35.76% and 36.05% in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Liquidity. The objectives of the Company’s liquidity policy are to provide for the availability of adequate funds to meet the needs of loan demand, deposit withdrawals, maturing liabilities and to satisfy regulatory requirements. Both deposit and loan customer cash needs can fluctuate significantly depending upon business cycles, economic conditions and yields and returns available from alternative investment opportunities. In addition, the Company’s liquidity is affected by off-balance sheet commitments to lend in the form of unfunded commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. As of December 31, 2008 such unfunded commitments to extend credit were $158.9 million, while commitments in the form of standby letters of credit totaled $4.3 million.
The Company uses several sources to meet its liquidity requirements. The primary source is core deposits, which includes demand deposits, savings accounts and certificates of deposits of denominations less than $100,000. The Company considers these to be a stable portion of the Company’s liability mix and the result of on-going consumer and commercial banking relationships. As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s core deposits totaled $497.2 million, or 69% of total deposits.
The other sources of funding for the Company are through large denomination certificates of deposit, including brokered deposits, federal funds purchased, securities under agreement to repurchase and FHLB borrowings. The Bank is also able to borrow from the Federal Reserve on a short-term basis.
At December 31, 2008, the Bank had a significant amount of deposits in amounts greater than $100,000, including brokered deposits of $61.0 million, which mature over the next two years. The balance and cost of these deposits are more susceptible to changes in the interest rate environment than other deposits. For additional information, please see the section below entitled “Deposits.”
The Bank has a line of credit with the FHLB equal to 20% of the Bank’s total assets, with an outstanding balance of $77.0 million at December 31, 2008. The remaining availability at FHLB was $71.2 million at December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral to the FHLB totaled approximately $244.9 million. The Bank had $5.0 million in borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) at December 31, 2008. This borrowing was a 28-day Term Auction Facility loan at an interest rate of 0.28% which matured in January 2009. The FRB borrowings are collateralized by a blanket assignment on all qualifying loans that the Bank owns which are not pledged to the FHLB. At December 31, 2008, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral to the FRB totaled approximately $280.8 million.
The Bank also had the ability to borrow up to $38.0 million for the purchase of overnight federal funds from four correspondent financial institutions as of December 31, 2008.
The liquidity ratio for the Bank, which is defined as net cash, interest-bearing deposits with banks, federal funds sold, certain investment securities and certain FHLB advances available under the line of credit, as a percentage of net deposits (adjusted for deposit runoff projections) and short-term liabilities was 26.80% at December 31, 2008, 28.04% at December 31, 2007 and 31.15% at December 31, 2007. The minimum required liquidity ratio as defined in the Bank’s Asset/Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management Policy is 20%.
As disclosed in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included elsewhere herein, net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $10.7 million during 2008. Net cash used in investing activities of $65.7 million consisted primarily of a net increase in loans of $65.2 million. Net cash provided by financing activities amounted to $53.1 million, primarily from a $27.4 million net increase in deposits and the $25.1 issuance of Series A preferred stock.
Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management. The objective of the Company’s Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk strategies is to identify and manage the sensitivity of net interest income to changing interest rates and to minimize the interest rate risk between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities at various maturities. This is done in conjunction with the need to maintain adequate liquidity and the overall goal of maximizing net interest income. Table 5 presents an interest rate sensitivity analysis for the interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Table 5 - Interest Sensitivity Analysis | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | Immediate | | 1-3 months | | 4-12 months | | | Total Within One Year | | Over One Year & Non-sensitive | | Total |
Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans | $ | 520,141 | | 6,239 | | 16,599 | | | 542,979 | | 238,209 | | 781,188 |
Investment securities | | - | | 4,354 | | 3,596 | | | 7,950 | | 116,966 | | 124,916 |
Federal funds sold | | 6,733 | | - | | - | | | 6,733 | | - | | 6,733 |
Interest-bearing deposit accounts | | 1,453 | | - | | - | | | 1,453 | | - | | 1,453 |
Other interest-earning assets | | - | | - | | - | | | - | | 6,811 | | 6,811 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total interest-earning assets | | 528,327 | | 10,593 | | 20,195 | | | 559,115 | | 361,986 | | 921,101 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOW, savings, and money market deposits | | 210,058 | | - | | - | | | 210,058 | | - | | 210,058 |
Time deposits | | 47,003 | | 145,974 | | 175,522 | | | 368,499 | | 38,057 | | 406,556 |
Other short term borrowings | | 1,600 | | - | | - | | | 1,600 | | - | | 1,600 |
FRB borrowings | | - | | 5,000 | | - | | | 5,000 | | - | | 5,000 |
FHLB borrowings | | - | | 5,000 | | - | | | 5,000 | | 72,000 | | 77,000 |
Securities sold under | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
agreement to repurchase | | 37,501 | | - | | - | | | 37,501 | | - | | 37,501 |
Trust preferred securities | | - | | 20,619 | | - | | | 20,619 | | - | | 20,619 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total interest-bearing liabilities | | 296,162 | | 176,593 | | 175,522 | | | 648,277 | | 110,057 | | 758,334 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-sensitive gap | $ | 232,165 | | (166,000 | ) | (155,327 | ) | | (89,162 | ) | 251,929 | | 162,767 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cumulative interest-sensitive gap | $ | 232,165 | | 66,165 | | (89,162 | ) | | (89,162 | ) | 162,767 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-earning assets as a percentage of | | | | | | | | | |
interest-bearing liabilities | | 178.39% | | 6.00% | | 11.51% | | | 86.25% | | 328.91% | | |
The Company manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies established by the Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”) of the Bank. The ALCO meets monthly and has the responsibility for approving asset/liability management policies, formulating and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet positioning and/or earnings and reviewing the interest rate sensitivity of the Company. ALCO tries to minimize interest rate risk between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities by attempting to minimize wide fluctuations in net interest income due to interest rate movements. The ability to control these fluctuations has a direct impact on the profitability of the Company. Management monitors this activity on a regular basis through analysis of its portfolios to determine the difference between rate sensitive assets and rate sensitive liabilities.
The Company’s rate sensitive assets are those earning interest at variable rates and those with contractual maturities within one year. Rate sensitive assets therefore include both loans and available for sale securities. Rate sensitive liabilities include interest-bearing checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, time deposits and borrowed funds. As shown in Table 5, the Company’s balance sheet is asset-sensitive, meaning that in a given period there will be more assets than liabilities subject to immediate repricing as interest rates change in the market. Because most of the Company’s loans are tied to the prime rate, they reprice more rapidly than rate sensitive interest-bearing deposits. During periods of rising rates, this results in increased net interest income. The opposite occurs during periods of declining rates. Rate sensitive assets at December 31, 2008 totaled $921.1 million, exceeding rate sensitive liabilities of $758.3 million by $162.8 million.
The Company has an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings that are caused by interest rate volatility. By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk. If the counterparty fails to perform, credit risk is equal to the extent of the fair-value gain in the derivative. The Company minimizes the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties that are reviewed periodically by the Company. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had cash flow hedges with a notional amount of $165.0 million. These derivative instruments consist of three interest rate floor contracts and one interest rate swap contract. The interest rate floor contracts are used to hedge future cash flows from payments on the first $115.0 million of certain variable rate loans
against the downward effects of their repricing in the event of a decreasing rate environment during the terms of the interest rate floor contracts. If the prime rate falls below the contract rate during the term of the contract, the Company will receive payments based on notional amount times the difference between the contract rate and the weighted average prime rate for the quarter. No payments will be received by the Company if the weighted average prime rate is equal to or higher than the contract rate. The interest rate floor contracts in effect at December 31, 2008 will expire in 2009. The interest rate swap contract is used to convert $50.0 million of variable rate loans to a fixed rate. Under the swap contract, the Company receives a fixed rate of 6.245% and pays a variable rate based on the current prime rate (3.25% at December 31, 2008) on the notional amount of $50.0 million. The swap agreement matures in June 2011. The Company recognized $3.4 million in interest income, net of premium amortization, from interest rate derivative contracts during the year ended December 31, 2008. Based on the current interest rate environment, it is expected the Company will continue to receive income on these interest rate contracts throughout 2009.
Tables 6 and 7 present additional information on the Company’s derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2008.
Table 6 - Derivative Instruments | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | | | | | | | |
Type of Derivative | Notional Amount | | Contract Rate | | | Premium | | Year-to-date Income (Net of Premium Amortization) |
Interest rate floor contact* | $ | - | | - | | | $ | - | | $ | 151 |
Interest rate floor contact* | | - | | - | | | | - | | | 456 |
Interest rate floor contact expiring 01/24/09 | | 45,000 | | 7.500% | | | | 562 | | | 871 |
Interest rate floor contact expiring 06/02/09 | | 35,000 | | 8.000% | | | | 399 | | | 914 |
Interest rate floor contact expiring 12/01/09 | | 35,000 | | 7.250% | | | | 634 | | | 523 |
Interest rate swap contact expiring 06/01/11 | | 50,000 | | 6.245% | | | | - | | | 488 |
| $ | 165,000 | | | | | $ | 1,595 | | $ | 3,403 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
* Interest rate floor contracts expired during 2008 | | | | | | | | | |
Table 7 - Fair Values of Derivative Instruments | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives |
(Dollars in thousands) | As of December 31, 2008 | As of December 31, 2007 | As of December 31, 2008 | As of December 31, 2007 |
| Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value | | Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value | | Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value | | Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value |
Interest rate derivative | | | | | | | | | | | |
contracts | Other assets | $ 4,981 | | Other assets | $ 1,907 | | N/A | $ - | | N/A | $ - |
Included in the rate sensitive assets are $506.2 million in variable rate loans indexed to prime rate subject to immediate repricing upon changes by the Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”). The Bank utilizes interest rate floors on certain variable rate loans to protect against further downward movements in the prime rate. At December 31, 2008, the Bank had $149.0 million in loans with interest rate floors. The floors were in effect on $147.0 million of these loans pursuant to the terms of the promissory notes on these loans. The weighted average rate on these loans is 1.59% higher than the indexed rate on the promissory notes without interest rate floors.
An analysis of the Company’s financial condition and growth can be made by examining the changes and trends in interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. A discussion of these changes and trends follows.
Analysis of Financial Condition
Investment Securities. All of the Company’s investment securities are held in the available-for-sale (“AFS”) category. At December 31, 2008 the market value of AFS securities totaled $124.9 million, compared to $121.0 million and $117.6 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in 2008 investment securities is the result of net securities purchases that are part of management’s objective to grow the investment portfolio in an effort to manage the credit risk in the balance sheet. This increase in AFS securities was partially offset by paydowns on mortgage-backed securities, calls and maturities. Table 8 presents the market value of the AFS securities held at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Table 8 - Summary of Investment Portfolio | | |
| | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
Obligations of United States government | | | | | |
sponsored enterprises | $ | 58,487 | | 76,992 | | 72,744 |
| | | | | | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | 26,973 | | 25,905 | | 24,366 |
| | | | | | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | 37,271 | | 16,271 | | 19,220 |
| | | | | | |
Trust preferred securities | | 1,250 | | 250 | | 750 |
| | | | | | |
Equity securities | | 935 | | 1,550 | | 501 |
| | | | | | |
Total securities | $ | 124,916 | | 120,968 | | 117,581 |
The composition of the investment securities portfolio reflects the Company’s investment strategy of maintaining an appropriate level of liquidity while providing a relatively stable source of income. The investment portfolio also provides a balance to interest rate risk and credit risk in other categories of the balance sheet while providing a vehicle for the investment of available funds, furnishing liquidity, and supplying securities to pledge as required collateral for certain deposits.
The Company’s investment portfolio consists of U.S. government sponsored enterprise securities, municipal securities, U.S. government enterprise sponsored mortgage-backed securities, and trust preferred securities and equity securities. AFS securities averaged $115.9 million in 2008, $120.3 million in 2007 and $118.1 million in 2006. Table 9 presents the amortized cost of AFS securities held by the Company by maturity category at December 31, 2008. Yield information does not give effect to changes in fair value that are reflected as a component of shareholders’ equity. Yields are calculated on a tax equivalent basis. Yields and interest income on tax-exempt investments have been adjusted to tax equivalent basis using an effective tax rate 38.55% for securities that are both federal and state tax exempt and an effective tax rate of 6.90% for state tax exempt securities.
Table 9 - Maturity Distribution and Weighted Average Yield on Investments | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | After One Year | | After 5 Years | | | | | | |
| One Year or Less | | Through 5 Years | | Through 10 Years | | After 10 Years | | Totals |
(Dollars in thousands) | Amount | Yield | | Amount | Yield | | Amount | | Yield | | Amount | Yield | | Amount | Yield |
Book value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
United States Government | $ | 3,500 | 4.60% | | 33,885 | 4.88% | | 11,817 | | 5.08% | | 6,021 | 5.52% | | 55,223 | 4.98% |
sponsored enterprises | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
States and political subdivisions | | 2,405 | 5.21% | | 10,282 | 4.77% | | 7,202 | | 6.09% | | 6,759 | 6.57% | | 26,648 | 5.62% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage backed securities | | - | - | | 521 | 4.54% | | 11,256 | | 4.68% | | 24,780 | 5.35% | | 36,557 | 5.13% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trust preferred securities | | - | - | | - | - | | 1,000 | | 3.35% | | 250 | 8.13% | | 1,250 | 4.31% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | | - | - | | - | - | | - | | - | | 1,382 | 1.49% | | 1,382 | 1.49% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total securities | $ | 5,905 | 4.85% | | 44,688 | 4.85% | | 31,275 | | 5.11% | | 39,192 | 5.47% | | 121,060 | 5.12% |
Loans. The loan portfolio is the largest category of the Company’s earning assets and is comprised of commercial loans, real estate mortgage loans, real estate construction loans and consumer loans. The Company grants loans and extensions of credit primarily within the Catawba Valley region of North Carolina, which encompasses Catawba, Alexander, Iredell and Lincoln counties and also in Mecklenburg, Union and Wake counties in North Carolina. Although the Company has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of the loan portfolio is collateralized by real estate, which is dependent upon the real estate market. Non-real estate loans also can be affected by local economic conditions. In management’s opinion, there are no significant concentrations of credit with particular borrowers engaged in similar activities.
Real estate mortgage loans include both commercial and residential mortgage loans. At December 31, 2008, the Company had $108.6 million in residential mortgage loans, $93.3 million in home equity loans and $272.8 million in commercial mortgage loans, which include $218.0 million using commercial property as collateral and $54.8 million using residential property as collateral. At December 31, 2008, real estate construction loans included $126.5 million in speculative construction and development loans.
Residential mortgage loans include $51.0 million made to customers in the Company’s traditional banking offices and $57.6 million in mortgage loans originated in the Company’s Latino banking operations. All residential mortgage loans are originated as fully amortizing loans, with no negative amortization. Also, the Company does not have credit exposure for residential mortgage loans originated that are not reflected in the Company’s assets.
The mortgage loans originated in the traditional banking offices are generally 15 to 30 year fixed rate loans with attributes that cause the loans to not be sellable in the secondary market. These factors may include higher loan-to-value ratio, limited documentation on income, non-conforming appraisal or non-conforming property type and are generally made to existing Bank customers. These loans have been originated throughout the Company’s five county service area, with no geographic concentration. At December 31, 2008 there were 12 loans with an outstanding balance of $1.1million 30 days or more past due and no loans more than 90 days past due.
The mortgage loans originated in the Company’s Latino operations are primarily adjustable rate mortgage loans that adjust annually after the end of the first five years of the loan. The loans are tied to the one-year T-Bill index and, if they were to adjust at December 31, 2008, would have a reduction in the interest rate on the loan. The underwriting on these loans includes both full income verification and no income verification, with loan-to-value ratios of up to 95% without private mortgage insurance. A majority of these loans would be considered subprime loans, as they were underwritten using stated income rather than fully documented income verification. No other loans in the Company’s portfolio would be considered subprime. The majority of these loans have been originated within the Charlotte, NC metro area. At this time, Charlotte has begun to experience a decline in values within the residential real estate market. At December 31, 2008 there were 96 loans with an outstanding balance of $10.8 million 30 days or more past due and four loans more than 90 days past due totaling $514,000. Total losses on this portfolio, since the first loans were originated in 2004 have amounted to approximately $348,000 through December 31, 2008.
As a recipient of CPP funds, the Bank will strive to work with delinquent borrowers in an attempt to mitigate foreclosure. The funds will also be used to absorb losses incurred when modifying loans or making concessions to borrowers in order to keep borrowers out of foreclosure.
The composition of the Company’s loan portfolio is presented in Table 10.
Table 10 - Loan Portfolio | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2004 |
(Dollars in thousands) | Amount | | % of Loans | | Amount | | % of Loans | | Amount | | % of Loans | | Amount | | % of Loans | | Amount | | % of Loans |
Breakdown of loan receivables: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial | $ | 76,945 | | 9.85% | | 82,190 | | 11.38% | | 85,064 | | 13.06% | | 79,902 | | 14.10% | | 79,189 | | 14.79% |
Real estate - mortgage | | 474,732 | | 60.77% | | 417,709 | | 57.83% | | 364,595 | | 55.97% | | 330,227 | | 58.28% | | 312,988 | | 58.45% |
Real estate - construction | | 216,188 | | 27.67% | | 209,644 | | 29.03% | | 187,960 | | 28.86% | | 141,420 | | 24.96% | | 127,042 | | 23.73% |
Consumer | | 13,323 | | 1.71% | | 12,734 | | 1.76% | | 13,762 | | 2.11% | | 15,115 | | 2.66% | | 16,249 | | 3.03% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total loans | $ | 781,188 | | 100.00% | | 722,277 | | 100.00% | | 651,381 | | 100.00% | | 566,664 | | 100.00% | | 535,468 | | 100.00% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Allowance for loan losses | | 11,025 | | | | 9,103 | | | | 8,303 | | | | 7,425 | | | | 8,049 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loans | $ | 770,163 | | | | 713,174 | | | | 643,078 | | | | 559,239 | | | | 527,419 | | |
As of December 31, 2008, gross loans outstanding were $781.2 million, an increase of $58.9 million or 8% from the December 31, 2007 balance of $722.3 million. Commercial loans decreased $5.2 million in 2008. Real estate mortgage loans grew $57.0 million when compared to 2007 due to an increase in non-conforming mortgage loans and commercial real estate loans. Real estate construction loans increased $6.5 million in 2008 as a result of an increase in real estate development loans. Consumer loans increased $589,000 in 2008.
Table 11 identifies the maturities of all loans as of December 31, 2008 and addresses the sensitivity of these loans to changes in interest rates.
Table 11 - Maturity and Repricing Data for Loans | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | Within one year or less | | After one year through five years | | After five years | | Total loans |
Commercial | $ | 62,205 | | 13,187 | | 1,553 | | 76,945 |
Real estate - mortgage | | 272,873 | | 149,612 | | 52,247 | | 474,732 |
Real estate - construction | | 201,041 | | 9,805 | | 5,342 | | 216,188 |
Consumer | | 6,860 | | 6,258 | | 205 | | 13,323 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total loans | $ | 542,979 | | 178,862 | | 59,347 | | 781,188 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total fixed rate loans | $ | 22,816 | | 125,666 | | 59,347 | | 207,829 |
Total floating rate loans | | 520,163 | | 53,196 | | - | | 573,359 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total loans | $ | 542,979 | | 178,862 | | 59,347 | | 781,188 |
In the normal course of business, there are various commitments outstanding to extend credit that are not reflected in the financial statements. At December 31, 2008, outstanding loan commitments totaled $158.9 million. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Additional information regarding commitments is provided below in the section entitled “Contractual Obligations” and in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses reflects management's assessment and estimate of the risks associated with extending credit and its evaluation of the quality of the loan portfolio. The Bank periodically analyzes the loan portfolio in an effort to review asset quality and to establish an allowance for loan losses that management believes will be adequate in light of anticipated risks and loan losses. In assessing the adequacy of the allowance, size, quality and risk of loans in the portfolio are reviewed. Other factors considered are:
· | the Bank’s loan loss experience; |
· | the amount of past due and non-performing loans; |
· | the status and amount of other past due and non-performing assets; |
· | underlying estimated values of collateral securing loans; |
· | current and anticipated economic conditions; and |
· | other factors which management believes affect the allowance for potential credit losses. |
Management uses several measures to assess and monitor the credit risks in the loan portfolio, including a loan grading system that begins upon loan origination and continues until the loan is collected or collectibility becomes doubtful. Upon loan origination, the Bank’s originating loan officer evaluates the quality of the loan and assigns one of nine risk grades, each grade indicating a different level of loss reserves. The loan officer monitors the loan’s performance and credit quality and makes changes to the credit grade as conditions warrant. When originated or renewed, all loans over a certain dollar amount receive in-depth reviews and risk assessments by the Bank’s Credit Administration. Before making any changes in these risk grades, management considers assessments as determined by the third party credit review firm (as described below), regulatory examiners and the Bank’s Credit Administration. Any issues regarding the risk assessments are addressed by the Bank’s senior credit administrators and factored into management’s decision to originate or renew the loan as well as the level of reserves deemed appropriate for the loan. The Bank’s Board of Directors reviews, on a monthly basis, an analysis of the Bank’s reserves relative to the range of reserves estimated by the Bank’s Credit Administration.
As an additional measure, the Bank engages an independent third party to review the underwriting, documentation and risk grading analyses. This independent third party reviews and evaluates all loan relationships greater than $1.0 million. The third party’s evaluation and report is shared with management and the Bank’s Board of Directors.
Management considers certain commercial loans with weak credit risk grades to be individually impaired and measures such impairment based upon available cash flows and the value of the collateral. Allowance or reserve levels are estimated for all other graded loans in the portfolio based on their assigned credit risk grade, type of loan and other matters related to credit risk.
Management uses the information developed from the procedures described above in evaluating and grading the loan portfolio. This continual grading process is used to monitor the credit quality of the loan portfolio and to assist management in determining the appropriate levels of the allowance for loan losses.
The allowance for loan losses is comprised of three components: specific reserves, general reserves and unallocated reserves. After a loan has been identified as impaired, management measures impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” When the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the amount of the impairment is recorded as a specific reserve. These specific reserves are determined on an individual loan basis based on management’s current evaluation of the Company’s loss exposure for each credit, given the payment status, financial condition of the borrower, and value of any underlying collateral. Loans for which specific reserves are provided are excluded from the general allowance calculations as described below. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the recorded investment in loans that were considered to be impaired under SFAS No. 114 was approximately $7.5 million and $8.0 million, respectively, with related allowance for loan losses of approximately $462,000 and $1.2 million for December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
The general allowance reflects reserves established under the provisions of SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” for collective loan impairment. These reserves are based upon historical net charge-offs using the last three years’ experience. This charge-off experience may be adjusted to reflect the effects of current conditions. The Bank considers information derived from its loan risk ratings and external data related to industry and general economic trends.
The unallocated allowance is determined through management’s assessment of probable losses that are in the portfolio but are not adequately captured by the other two components of the allowance, including consideration of current economic and business conditions and regulatory requirements. The unallocated allowance also reflects management’s acknowledgement of the imprecision and subjectivity that underlie the modeling of credit risk. Due to the subjectivity involved in determining the overall allowance, including the unallocated portion, this unallocated portion may fluctuate from period to period based on management’s evaluation of the factors affecting the assumptions used in calculating the allowance.
Management considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover the estimated losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio as of the date of the financial statements. Management believes it has established the allowance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and in consideration of the current economic environment. Although management uses the best information available to make evaluations, significant future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic and other conditions that adversely affect the operating results of the Company.
There were no significant changes in the estimation methods or fundamental assumptions used in the evaluation of the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2007. Such revisions, estimates and assumptions are made in any period in which the supporting factors indicate that loss levels may vary from the previous estimates.
Additionally, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowances for loan losses. Such agencies may require adjustments to the allowances based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examinations.
Net charge-offs for 2008 were $2.9 million. The ratio of net charge-offs to average total loans was 0.38% in 2008, 0.19% in 2007 and 0.27% in 2006. Management expects the ratio of net charge-offs to average total loans to increase again in 2009 due to the recessionary economic conditions and the decline in real estate values and new home sales. The allowance for loan losses increased to $11.0 million or 1.41% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2008. For December 31, 2007 and 2006, the allowance for loan losses amounted to $9.1 million or 1.26% of total loans outstanding and $8.3 million, or 1.27% of total loans outstanding, respectively. Management would expect the percentage of the allowance for loan losses to total loans to increase in 2009 if non-performing loans continue to increase as a result of the current recessionary economic conditions.
Table 12 presents the percentage of loans assigned to each risk grade along with the general reserve percentage applied to loans in each risk grade at December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Table 12 - Loan Risk Grade Analysis | | |
| Percentage of Loans |
| By Risk Grade* |
Risk Grade | 2008 | 2007 |
Risk 1 (Excellent Quality) | 4.08% | 11.06% |
Risk 2 (High Quality) | 17.95% | 14.06% |
Risk 3 (Good Quality) | 63.08% | 62.53% |
Risk 4 (Management Attention) | 10.42% | 9.51% |
Risk 5 (Watch) | 2.14% | 1.57% |
Risk 6 (Substandard) | 0.80% | 0.13% |
Risk 7 (Low Substandard) | 0.00% | 0.03% |
Risk 8 (Doubtful) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Risk 9 (Loss) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| | |
* Excludes non-accrual loans | | |
Table 13 presents an analysis of the allowance for loan losses, including charge-off activity.
Table 13 - Analysis of Allowance for Loan Losses | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2004 |
Reserve for loan losses at beginning | $ | 9,103 | | 8,303 | | 7,425 | | 8,049 | | 9,722 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Loans charged off: | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial | | 249 | | 414 | | 505 | | 293 | | 1,004 |
Real estate - mortgage | | 1,506 | | 471 | | 568 | | 2,141 | | 3,842 |
Real estate - construction | | 644 | | 252 | | 250 | | 1,250 | | 4 |
Consumer | | 748 | | 489 | | 636 | | 516 | | 535 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total loans charged off | | 3,147 | | 1,626 | | 1,959 | | 4,200 | | 5,385 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Recoveries of losses previously charged off: | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial | | 87 | | 86 | | 64 | | 144 | | 162 |
Real estate - mortgage | | 8 | | 21 | | 108 | | 162 | | 144 |
Real estate - construction | | 30 | | 102 | | 2 | | - | | - |
Consumer | | 150 | | 179 | | 150 | | 160 | | 150 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total recoveries | | 275 | | 388 | | 324 | | 466 | | 456 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net loans charged off | | 2,872 | | 1,238 | | 1,635 | | 3,734 | | 4,929 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Provision for loan losses | | 4,794 | | 2,038 | | 2,513 | | 3,110 | | 3,256 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Reserve for loan losses at end of year | $ | 11,025 | | 9,103 | | 8,303 | | 7,425 | | 8,049 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Loans charged off net of recoveries, as | | | | | | | | | | |
a percent of average loans outstanding | | 0.38% | | 0.19% | | 0.27% | | 0.68% | | 0.90% |
Non-performing Assets. Non-performing assets, comprised of non-accrual loans, other real estate owned, other repossessed assets and loans for which payments are more than 90 days past due totaled $14.2 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $8.5 million at December 31, 2007. Non-accrual loans were $11.8 million at December 31, 2008, an increase of $3.8 million from non-accruals of $8.0 million at December 31, 2007. As a percentage of loans outstanding, non-accrual loans were 1.51% and 1.11% at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Bank had $514,000 in loans 90 days past due and still accruing at December 31, 2008 as compared to no loans for the same period in 2007. Other real estate owned totaled $1.9 million and $483,000 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Bank had no repossessed assets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007.
At December 31, 2008, the Company had non-performing loans, defined as non-accrual and accruing loans past due more than 90 days, of $12.3 million or 1.58% of total loans. Non-performing loans for 2007 were $8.0 million, or 1.11% of total loans and $7.6 million, or 1.17% of total loans for 2006. Interest that would have been recorded on non-accrual loans for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, had they performed in accordance with their original terms, amounted to approximately $850,000, $693,000 and $429,000, respectively. Interest income on impaired loans included in the results of operations for 2008, 2007, and 2006 amounted to approximately $65,000, $29,000 and $144,000, respectively.
Management continually monitors the loan portfolio to ensure that all loans potentially having a material adverse impact on future operating results, liquidity or capital resources have been classified as non-performing. Should economic conditions deteriorate, the inability of distressed customers to service their existing debt could cause higher levels of non-performing loans. Management anticipates continued weakness in the housing market, which combined with the current recessionary economic conditions will, in all likelihood, result in higher levels of non-performing loans in 2009.
It is the general policy of the Company to stop accruing interest income and place the recognition of interest on a cash basis when a loan is placed on non-accrual status and any interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current income. Generally a loan is placed on non-accrual status when it is over 90 days past due and there is reasonable doubt that all principal will be collected.
A summary of non-performing assets at December 31 for each of the years presented is shown in Table 14.
Table 14 - Non-performing Assets | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2004 |
Non-accrual loans | $ | 11,815 | | 7,987 | | 7,560 | | 3,492 | | 5,097 |
Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing | | 514 | | - | | 78 | | 946 | | 245 |
Total non-performing loans | | 12,329 | | 7,987 | | 7,638 | | 4,438 | | 5,342 |
All other real estate owned | | 1,867 | | 483 | | 344 | | 531 | | 682 |
All other repossessed assets | | - | | - | | - | | - | | - |
Total non-performing assets | $ | 14,196 | | 8,470 | | 7,982 | | 4,969 | | 6,024 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
As a percent of total loans at year end | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-accrual loans | | 1.51% | | 1.11% | | 1.16% | | 0.62% | | 0.95% |
Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing | | 0.07% | | 0.00% | | 0.01% | | 0.17% | | 0.05% |
Total non-performing assets | | 1.82% | | 1.17% | | 1.23% | | 0.88% | | 1.12% |
Deposits. The Company primarily uses deposits to fund its loan and investment portfolios. The Company offers a variety of deposit accounts to individuals and businesses. Deposit accounts include checking, savings, money market and time deposits. As of December 31, 2008, total deposits were $721.1 million, an increase of $27.5 million or 4% increase over the December 31, 2007 balance of $693.6 million. Core deposits, which include demand deposits, savings accounts and certificates of deposits of denominations less than $100,000, increased to $497.2 million at December 31, 2008 from $490.1 million at December 31, 2007.
Time deposits in amounts of $100,000 or more totaled $220.4 million, $203.5 million and $194.2 million at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. At December 31, 2008, brokered deposits amounted to $61.0 million as compared to $53.9 million at December 31, 2007. Brokered deposits are generally considered to be more susceptible to withdrawal as a result of interest rate changes and to be a less stable source of funds, as compared to deposits from the local market. Brokered deposits outstanding as of December 31, 2008 have a weighted average rate of 3.25% with a weighted average original term of 8 months.
Table 15 is a summary of the maturity distribution of time deposits in amounts of $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2008.
Table 15 - Maturities of Time Deposits over $100,000 | |
| |
(Dollars in thousands) | 2008 |
Three months or less | $ | 106,166 |
Over three months through six months | | 58,526 |
Over six months through twelve months | | 40,819 |
Over twelve months | | 14,864 |
Total | $ | 220,375 |
Borrowed Funds. The Company has access to various short-term borrowings, including the purchase of federal funds and borrowing arrangements from the FHLB and other financial institutions. At December 31, 2008, FHLB borrowings totaled $77.0 million compared to $87.5 million at December 31, 2007 and $89.3 million at December 31, 2006. Average FHLB borrowings for 2008 were $79.2 million, compared to average balances of $80.1 million for 2007 and $74.1 million for 2006. The maximum amount of outstanding FHLB borrowings was $97.6 million in 2008, and $95.0 in 2007 and $99.5 in 2006. The FHLB borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2008 had both fixed and adjustable interest rates ranging from 3.71% to 6.49%. At December 31, 2008, all of the Bank’s FHLB borrowings had maturities exceeding one year. The FHLB has the option to convert $72.0 million of the total borrowings to a floating rate and, if converted, the Bank may repay borrowings without a prepayment fee. The Company also has an additional $5.0 million in variable rate convertible borrowings, which may be repaid without a prepayment fee if converted by the FHLB. Additional information regarding FHLB borrowings is provided in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Bank had $5.0 million in borrowings from the FRB at December 31, 2008. This borrowing was a 28-day Term Auction Facility loan at an interest rate of 0.28% which matured in January 2009.
Demand notes payable to the U. S. Treasury, which represent treasury tax and loan payments received from customers, amounted to approximately $1.6 million at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase amounted to $37.5 million, $27.6 million and $6.4 million as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Junior Subordinated Debentures (related to Trust Preferred Securities). In June 2006 the Company formed a wholly owned Delaware statutory trust, PEBK Capital Trust II (“PEBK Trust II”), which issued $20.0 million of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the Company’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures. All of the common securities of PEBK Trust II are owned by the Company. The proceeds from the issuance of the common securities and the trust preferred securities were used by PEBK Trust II to purchase $20.6 million of junior subordinated debentures of the Company, which pay a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points. The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the junior subordinated debentures were used to repay in December 2006 the trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust in December 2001 and for general purposes. The debentures represent the sole asset of PEBK Trust II. PEBK Trust II is not included in the consolidated financial statements.
The trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust II accrue and pay quarterly at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points. The Company has guaranteed distributions and other payments due on the trust preferred securities to the extent PEBK Trust II has funds with which to make the distributions and other payments. The net combined effect of the trust preferred securities transaction is that the Company is obligated to make the distributions and other payments required on the trust preferred securities.
These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the debentures on June 28, 2036, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture. The Company has the right to redeem the debentures purchased by PEBK Trust II, in whole or in part, on or after June 28, 2011. As specified in the indenture, if the debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be the principal amount and any accrued but unpaid interest.
Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. The Company’s contractual obligations and other commitments as of December 31, 2008 are summarized in Table 16 below. The Company’s contractual obligations include the repayment of principal and interest related to FHLB advances and junior subordinated debentures, as well as certain payments under current lease agreements. Other commitments include commitments to extend credit. Because not all of these commitments to extend credit will be drawn upon, the actual cash requirements are likely to be significantly less than the amounts reported for other commitments below.
Table 16 - Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) | Within One Year | | One to Three Years | | Three to Five Years | | Five Years or More | | Total |
Contractual Cash Obligations | | | | | | | | | |
Long-term borrowings | $ | - | | 12,000 | | - | | 65,000 | | 77,000 |
Junior subordinated debentures | | - | | - | | - | | 20,619 | | 20,619 |
Operating lease obligations | | 769 | | 1,191 | | 701 | | 1,893 | | 4,554 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total | $ | 769 | | 13,191 | | 701 | | 87,512 | | 102,173 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Other Commitments | | | | | | | | | | |
Commitments to extend credit | $ | 54,767 | | 14,566 | | 2,336 | | 87,270 | | 158,939 |
Standby letters of credit | | | | | | | | | | |
and financial guarantees written | | 4,294 | | 22 | | - | | - | | 4,316 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total | $ | 59,061 | | 14,588 | | 2,336 | | 87,270 | | 163,255 |
The Company enters into derivative contracts to manage various financial risks. A derivative is a financial instrument that derives its cash flows, and therefore its value, by reference to an underlying instrument, index or referenced interest rate. Derivative contracts are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet with the fair value representing the net present value of expected future cash receipts or payments based on market interest rates as of the balance sheet date. Derivative contracts are written in amounts referred to as notional amounts, which only provide the basis for calculating payments between counterparties and are not a measure of financial risk. Therefore, the derivative amounts recorded on the balance sheet do not represent the amounts that may ultimately be paid under these contracts. Further discussions of derivative instruments are included above in the section entitled “Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management” beginning on page A-13 and in Notes 1, 10, 11 and 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Capital Resources. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2008 was $101.1 million compared to $70.1 million at December 31, 2007 and $62.8 million at December 31, 2006. Unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, at December 31, 2008 and 2007 amounted to gains of $5.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively. At December 31, 2006, unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, amounted to a loss of $771,000. Average shareholders’ equity as a percentage of total average assets is one measure used to determine capital strength. Average shareholders’ equity as a percentage of total average assets was 8.20%, 8.34% and 8.09% for 2008, 2007 and 2006. The return on average shareholders’ equity was 8.38% at December 31, 2008 as compared to 13.59% and 14.68% as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. Total cash dividends paid during 2008 amounted to $2.7 million. Cash dividends totaling $2.3 million and $1.9 million were paid during 2007 and 2006, respectively.
In November 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $2.0 million in common shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock through its existing Stock Repurchase Plan effective through the end of November 2007. During 2007, the Company repurchased 100,000 shares, or $1,938,000, of its common stock under this plan.
In August 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 75,000 common shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock through its existing Stock Repurchase Plan effective through the end of August 2008. The Company repurchased 50,497 shares, or $873,000, of its common stock under this plan during 2007. The Company repurchased 25,000 shares, or $350,000, of its common stock under this plan during 2008. The Board of Directors ratified the purchase of 497 additional shares in March 2008.
In March 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 100,000 common shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock through its existing Stock Repurchase Plan effective through the end of March 2009. The Company has repurchased 65,500 shares, or $776,000, of its common stock under this plan as of December 31, 2008. Because of the Company’s participation in the CPP, discussed below, the Company can no longer repurchase shares of its common stock under the Stock Repurchase Plan without UST approval.
On December 23, 2008, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement with the UST. Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell 25,054 shares of Series A preferred stock and warrants to purchase 357,234 shares of common stock associated with the Company’s participation in the CPP under the TARP. Proceeds from this issuance of preferred shares were allocated between preferred stock and the warrant based on their relative fair
values at the time of the sale. Of the $25.1 million in proceeds, $24.4 million was allocated to the Series A preferred stock and $704,000 was allocated to the common stock warrant. The discount recorded on the preferred stock that resulted from allocating a portion of the proceeds to the warrant is being accreted directly to retained earnings over a five-year period applying a level yield. No dividends were declared or paid on the Series A preferred stock during 2008, and cumulative undeclared dividends at December 31, 2008 were $28,000. The CPP, created by the UST, is a voluntary program in which selected, healthy financial institutions were encouraged to participate. Approved use of the funds includes providing credit to qualified borrowers, either as companies or individuals, among other things. Such participation is intended to support the economic development of the community and thereby restore the health of the local and national economy.
The Series A preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and 9% per annum thereafter. The Series A preferred stock may be redeemed at the stated amount of $1,000 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. Under the terms of the original Purchase Agreement, the Company could not redeem the preferred shares until December 23, 2011 unless the total amount of the issuance, $25.1 million, was replaced with the same amount of other forms of capital that would qualify as Tier 1 capital. However, with the enactment of the ARRA, the Company can now redeem the preferred shares at any time, if approved by the Company’s primary regulator. The Series A preferred stock is non-voting except for class voting rights on matters that would adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Series A preferred stock.
The exercise price of the warrant is $10.52 per common share and it is exercisable at anytime on or before December 18, 2018.
The Company is subject to the following restrictions while the Series A preferred stock is outstanding: 1) UST approval is required for the Company to repurchase shares of outstanding common stock; 2) the full dividend for the latest completed CPP dividend period must declared and paid in full before dividends may be paid to common shareholders; 3) UST approval is required for any increase in common dividends per share; and 4) the Company may not take tax deductions for any senior executive officer whose compensation is above $500,000. There were additional restrictions on executive compensation added in the ARRA for companies participating in the TARP, including participants in the CPP.
Under regulatory capital guidelines, financial institutions are currently required to maintain a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, with a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or greater. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as shareholders' equity and trust preferred securities less all intangible assets and goodwill. Tier 1 capital at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 includes $20.0 million in trust preferred securities. The Company’s Tier 1 capital ratio was 13.65%, 11.03% and 11.70% at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Total risk-based capital is defined as Tier 1 capital plus supplementary capital. Supplementary capital, or Tier 2 capital, consists of the Company's allowance for loan losses, not exceeding 1.25% of the Company's risk-weighted assets. Total risk-based capital ratio is therefore defined as the ratio of total capital (Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets. The Company’s total risk-based capital ratio was 14.90%, 12.16% and 12.86% at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In addition to the Tier 1 and total risk-based capital requirements, financial institutions are also required to maintain a leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to total average assets of 4.0% or greater. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 12.40%, 10.43% and 10.80% at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The Bank’s Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 9.85%, 9.80% and 10.21% at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The total risk-based capital ratio for the Bank was 11.10%, 10.93% and 11.37% at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Bank’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 8.94%, 9.26% and 9.41% at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively.
A bank is considered to be "well capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0 % or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, and has a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater. Based upon these guidelines, the Bank was considered to be "well capitalized" at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
The Company’s key equity ratios as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are presented in Table 17.
Table 17 - Equity Ratios | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
Return on average assets | | 0.69% | | 1.13% | | 1.19% |
Return on average equity | | 8.38% | | 13.59% | | 14.68% |
Dividend payout ratio | | 41.93% | | 24.30% | | 20.78% |
Average equity to average assets | | 8.20% | | 8.34% | | 8.09% |
Quarterly Financial Data. The Company’s consolidated quarterly operating results for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 are presented in Table 18.
Table 18 - Quarterly Financial Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2008 | | | 2007 |
Dollars in thousands, except | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
per share amounts) | First | | Second | | Third | | Fourth | | | First | | Second | | Third | | Fourth |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total interest income | $ | 14,553 | | 14,072 | | 14,122 | | 13,576 | | | $ | 15,200 | | 15,446 | | 15,625 | | 15,461 |
Total interest expense | | 6,680 | | 5,700 | | 5,627 | | 5,520 | | | | 6,607 | | 6,735 | | 7,038 | | 7,205 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income | | 7,873 | | 8,372 | | 8,495 | | 8,056 | | | | 8,593 | | 8,711 | | 8,587 | | 8,256 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Provision for loan losses | | 391 | | 681 | | 1,035 | | 2,687 | | | | 323 | | 634 | | 296 | | 785 |
Other income | | 2,607 | | 2,802 | | 2,506 | | 2,580 | | | | 2,122 | | 2,139 | | 2,007 | | 2,548 |
Other expense | | 6,930 | | 7,113 | | 7,278 | | 7,572 | | | | 6,021 | | 6,180 | | 6,214 | | 7,578 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | 3,159 | | 3,380 | | 2,688 | | 377 | | | | 4,371 | | 4,036 | | 4,084 | | 2,441 |
Income taxes | | 1,103 | | 1,188 | | 942 | | (20 | ) | | | 1,584 | | 1,446 | | 1,471 | | 839 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | $ | 2,056 | | 2,192 | | 1,746 | | 397 | | | $ | 2,787 | | 2,590 | | 2,613 | | 1,602 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic earnings per share | $ | 0.37 | | 0.39 | | 0.31 | | 0.07 | | | $ | 0.49 | | 0.45 | | 0.46 | | 0.28 |
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.36 | | 0.39 | | 0.31 | | 0.07 | | | $ | 0.48 | | 0.44 | | 0.45 | | 0.28 |
QUANTATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk of loss can be reflected in either diminished current market values or reduced potential net interest income in future periods.
The Company’s market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk inherent in its lending and deposit taking activities. The structure of the Company’s loan and deposit portfolios is such that a significant decline (increase) in interest rates may adversely (positively) impact net market values and interest income. Management seeks to manage the risk through the utilization of its investment securities and off-balance sheet derivative instruments. During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company used interest rate contracts to manage market risk as discussed above in the section entitled “Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management.”
Table 19 presents in tabular form the contractual balances and the estimated fair value of the Company’s on-balance sheet financial instruments and the notional amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s off-balance sheet derivative instruments at their expected maturity dates for the period ended December 31, 2008. The expected maturity categories take into consideration historical prepayment experience as well as management’s expectations based on the interest rate environment at December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2008, all fixed rate advances are callable at the option of FHLB. For core deposits without contractual maturity (i.e. interest bearing checking, savings, and money market accounts), the table presents principal cash flows based on management’s judgment concerning their most likely runoff or repricing behaviors.
Table 19 - Market Risk Table | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars In thousands) | Principal/Notional Amount Maturing in Year Ended December 31, |
Loans Receivable | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2011 | | | 2012 & 2013 | | | Thereafter | | | Total | | Fair Value |
Fixed rate | $ | 33,980 | | | 32,285 | | | 20,804 | | | 80,068 | | | 40,692 | | | 207,829 | | 210,922 |
Average interest rate | | 7.25 | % | | 7.00 | % | | 6.97 | % | | 6.86 | % | | 7.34 | % | | | | |
Variable rate | $ | 241,262 | | | 84,819 | | | 31,616 | | | 50,428 | | | 165,234 | | | 573,359 | | 573,359 |
Average interest rate | | 4.09 | % | | 3.98 | % | | 4.39 | % | | 4.33 | % | | 5.99 | % | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 781,188 | | 784,281 |
Investment Securities | | . | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest bearing cash | $ | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 1,453 | | | 1,453 | | 1,453 |
Average interest rate | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 0.03 | % | | | | |
Federal funds sold | $ | 6,733 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 6,733 | | 6,733 |
Average interest rate | | 0.10 | % | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | | | |
Securities available for sale | $ | 22,806 | | | 21,907 | | | 34,228 | | | 14,346 | | | 31,629 | | | 124,916 | | 126,539 |
Average interest rate | | 4.95 | % | | 4.80 | % | | 4.38 | % | | 4.77 | % | | 4.66 | % | | | | |
Nonmarketable equity securities | $ | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 6,303 | | | 6,303 | | 6,303 |
Average interest rate | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 3.52 | % | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Debt Obligations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Deposits | $ | 368,469 | | | 23,198 | | | 12,805 | | | 2,249 | | | 314,341 | | | 721,062 | | 716,678 |
Average interest rate | | 3.17 | % | | 3.02 | % | | 2.50 | % | | 3.09 | % | | 4.08 | % | | | | |
Advances from FHLB | $ | - | | | 7,000 | | | 5,000 | | | 15,000 | | | 50,000 | | | 77,000 | | 83,038 |
Average interest rate | | - | | | 6.05 | % | | 4.21 | % | | 4.19 | % | | 4.27 | % | | | | |
Federal Reserve Borrowings | $ | 5,000 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 5,000 | | 4,999 |
Average interest rate | | 0.28 | % | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | | | |
Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury | $ | 1,600 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 1,600 | | 1,600 |
Average interest rate | | 0.12 | % | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | | | |
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase | $ | 37,501 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 37,501 | | 37,501 |
Average interest rate | | 1.34 | % | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Junior subordinated debentures | $ | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 20,619 | | | 20,619 | | 20,619 |
Average interest rate | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 3.63 | % | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative Instruments (notional amount) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest rate floor contracts | $ | 115,000 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 115,000 | | 2,254 |
Average interest rate | | 7.58 | % | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | | | |
Interest rate swap contracts | $ | - | | | - | | | 50,000 | | | - | | | - | | | 50,000 | | 2,727 |
Average interest rate | | - | | | - | | | 6.25 | % | | - | | | - | | | | | |
Table 20 presents the simulated impact to net interest income under varying interest rate scenarios and the theoretical impact of rate changes over a twelve-month period referred to as “rate ramps.” The table shows the estimated theoretical impact on the Company’s tax equivalent net interest income from hypothetical rate changes of plus and minus 1% and 2% as compared to the estimated theoretical impact of rates remaining unchanged. The table also shows the simulated impact to market value of equity under varying interest rate scenarios and the theoretical impact of immediate and sustained rate changes referred to as “rate shocks” of plus and minus 1% and 2% compared to the theoretical impact of rates remaining unchanged. The prospective effects of the hypothetical interest rate changes are based upon various assumptions, including relative and estimated levels of key interest rates. This type of modeling has limited usefulness because it does not allow for the strategies management would utilize in response to sudden and sustained rate changes. Also, management does not believe that rate changes of the magnitude presented are likely in the forecast period presented.
Table 20 - Interest Rate Risk |
| | | | |
(Dollars in thousands) |
| | | Estimated Resulting Theoretical Net Interest Income |
Hypothetical rate change (ramp over 12 months) | | | Amount | % Change |
| +2% | | | $ | 32,175 | | 3.95% |
| +1% | | | $ | 31,476 | | 1.70% |
| 0% | | | $ | 30,951 | | 0.00% |
| -1% | | | $ | 30,455 | | -1.60% |
| -2% | | | $ | 29,832 | | -3.62% |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | Estimated Resulting Theoretical Market Value of Equity |
Hypothetical rate change (immediate shock) | | | Amount | % Change |
| +2% | | | $ | 92,797 | | -10.94% |
| +1% | | | $ | 98,019 | | -5.92% |
| 0% | | | $ | 104,192 | | 0.00% |
| -1% | | | $ | 106,142 | | 1.87% |
| -2% | | | $ | 108,667 | | 4.30% |
MARKET FOR THE COMPANY’S COMMON EQUITYAND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
Peoples Bancorp common stock is traded on the over-the-counter (OTC) market and quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market, under the symbol “PEBK.” Market makers for the Company’s shares include Scott and Stringfellow, Inc. and Sterne Agee & Leach.
Although the payment of dividends by the Company is subject to certain requirements and limitations of North Carolina corporate law, neither the Commissioner nor the FDIC have promulgated any regulations specifically limiting the right of the Company to pay dividends and repurchase shares. However, the ability of the Company to pay dividends and repurchase shares may be dependent upon the Company’s receipt of dividends from the Bank. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is limited. North Carolina commercial banks, such as the Bank, are subject to legal limitations on the amounts of dividends they are permitted to pay. Dividends may be paid by the Bank from undivided profits, which are determined by deducting and charging certain items against actual profits, including any contributions to surplus required by North Carolina law. Also, an insured depository institution, such as the Bank, is prohibited from making capital distributions, including the payment of dividends, if, after making such distribution, the institution would become “undercapitalized” (as such term is defined in the applicable law and regulations). Based on its current financial condition, the Bank does not expect that this provision will have any impact on the Bank’s ability to pay dividends. Due to the Company’s participation in the CPP, the full dividend for the latest completed CPP dividend period must be declared and paid in full before dividends may be paid to common shareholders and UST approval is required for any increase in common dividends per share.
As of March 10, 2009, the Company had 707 shareholders of record, not including the number of persons or entities whose stock is held in nominee or street name through various brokerage firms or banks. The market price for the Company’s common stock was $5.55 on March 10, 2009.
Table 21 presents certain market and dividend information for the last two fiscal years. Over-the-counter quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Table 21 - Market and Dividend Data | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Cash Dividend |
2008 | Low Bid | | | High Bid | | | Per Share |
First Quarter | $ | 12.20 | | | 15.50 | | | 0.12 |
| | | | | | | | |
Second Quarter | $ | 9.56 | | | 14.19 | | | 0.12 |
| | | | | | | | |
Third Quarter | $ | 7.36 | | | 13.14 | | | 0.12 |
| | | | | | | | |
Fourth Quarter | $ | 8.51 | | | 12.00 | | | 0.12 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Cash Dividend |
2007 | Low Bid | | | High Bid | | | Per Share |
First Quarter | $ | 17.37 | | | 19.26 | | | 0.08 |
| | | | | | | | |
Second Quarter | $ | 17.89 | | | 21.15 | | | 0.09 |
| | | | | | | | |
Third Quarter | $ | 17.13 | | | 20.03 | | | 0.12 |
| | | | | | | | |
Fourth Quarter | $ | 14.75 | | | 18.00 | | | 0.12 |
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the Company’s cumulative shareholder return on its Common Stock with a NASDAQ index and with a southeastern bank index. The graph was prepared by SNL Securities, L.C., Charlottesville, Virginia, using data as of December 31, 2008.
COMPARISON OF SIX-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS
Performance Report for
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES |
Consolidated Financial Statements |
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 |
| |
| |
INDEX |
| |
| PAGE(S) |
| |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements | A-31 |
| |
Financial Statements | |
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 | A-32 |
| |
Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | A-33 |
| |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | A-34 |
| |
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | A-35 |
| |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | A-36 - A-37 |
| |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | A-38 - A-61 |
Porter Keadle Moore, LLP
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and shareholders
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
Newton, North Carolina
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, changes in shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We were not engaged to examine management's assessment of the effectiveness of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc’s. internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, included in the accompanying Management’s Report of Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion thereon.
/s/ Porter Keadle Moore, LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
March 6, 2009
Certified Public Accountants
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Suite 1800 Ÿ 235 Peachtree Street NE Ÿ Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Ÿ Phone 404-588-4200 Ÿ Fax 404-588-4222 Ÿ www.pkm.com
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |
| | | | | | |
Consolidated Balance Sheets | |
| | | | | | |
December 31, 2008 and 2007 | |
| | | | | | |
Assets | | 2008 | | | 2007 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Cash and due from banks, including reserve requirements | | $ | 19,743,047 | | | | 26,108,437 | |
of $7,257,000 and $7,439,000 | | | | | | | | |
Interest bearing deposits | | | 1,452,825 | | | | 1,539,190 | |
Federal funds sold | | | 6,733,000 | | | | 2,152,000 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 27,928,872 | | | | 29,799,627 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Investment securities available for sale | | | 124,916,349 | | | | 120,968,358 | |
Other investments | | | 6,302,809 | | | | 6,433,947 | |
Total securities | | | 131,219,158 | | | | 127,402,305 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Loans | | | 781,188,082 | | | | 722,276,948 | |
Less allowance for loan losses | | | (11,025,516 | ) | | | (9,103,058 | ) |
Net loans | | | 770,162,566 | | | | 713,173,890 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Premises and equipment, net | | | 18,296,895 | | | | 18,234,393 | |
Cash surrender value of life insurance | | | 7,019,478 | | | | 6,776,379 | |
Accrued interest receivable and other assets | | | 14,135,328 | | | | 11,875,202 | |
Total assets | | $ | 968,762,297 | | | | 907,261,796 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Deposits: | | | | | | | | |
Non-interest bearing demand | | $ | 104,448,128 | | | | 112,071,090 | |
NOW, MMDA & savings | | | 210,057,612 | | | | 196,959,895 | |
Time, $100,000 or more | | | 220,374,302 | | | | 203,499,504 | |
Other time | | | 186,182,341 | | | | 181,108,214 | |
Total deposits | | | 721,062,383 | | | | 693,638,703 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury | | | 1,600,000 | | | | 1,600,000 | |
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase | | | 37,500,738 | | | | 27,583,263 | |
Short-term Federal Reserve Bank borrowings | | | 5,000,000 | | | | - | |
FHLB borrowings | | | 77,000,000 | | | | 87,500,000 | |
Junior subordinated debentures | | | 20,619,000 | | | | 20,619,000 | |
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities | | | 4,851,750 | | | | 6,219,248 | |
Total liabilities | | | 867,633,871 | | | | 837,160,214 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shareholders' equity: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Series A preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; authorized | | | | | | | | |
5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding | | | | | | | | |
25,054 shares in 2008 and no shares | | | | | | | | |
outstanding in 2007 | | | 24,350,219 | | | | - | |
Common stock, no par value; authorized | | | | | | | | |
20,000,000 shares; issued and | | | | | | | | |
outstanding 5,539,056 shares in 2008 | | | | | | | | |
and 5,624,234 shares in 2007 | | | 48,268,525 | | | | 48,651,895 | |
Retained earnings | | | 22,985,694 | | | | 19,741,876 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | | | 5,523,988 | | | | 1,707,811 | |
Total shareholders' equity | | | 101,128,426 | | | | 70,101,582 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | $ | 968,762,297 | | | | 907,261,796 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. | | | | | | | | |
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated Statements of Earnings | |
| | | | | | | | | |
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Interest income: | | | | | | | | | |
Interest and fees on loans | | $ | 50,603,885 | | | | 55,400,514 | | | | 49,667,700 | |
Interest on federal funds sold | | | 54,765 | | | | 383,492 | | | | 85,307 | |
Interest on investment securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Government sponsored enterprises | | | 4,392,356 | | | | 4,571,571 | | | | 4,321,346 | |
States and political subdivisions | | | 904,432 | | | | 887,584 | | | | 798,185 | |
Other | | | 367,423 | | | | 488,465 | | | | 521,077 | |
Total interest income | | | 56,322,861 | | | | 61,731,626 | | | | 55,393,615 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOW, MMDA & savings deposits | | | 3,248,844 | | | | 4,098,892 | | | | 3,060,201 | |
Time deposits | | | 15,008,193 | | | | 17,430,012 | | | | 14,188,623 | |
FHLB borrowings | | | 3,616,018 | | | | 3,758,996 | | | | 3,588,169 | |
Junior subordinated debentures | | | 1,016,361 | | | | 1,475,701 | | | | 1,962,692 | |
Other | | | 637,201 | | | | 821,331 | | | | 310,188 | |
Total interest expense | | | 23,526,617 | | | | 27,584,932 | | | | 23,109,873 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income | | | 32,796,244 | | | | 34,146,694 | | | | 32,283,742 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Provision for loan losses | | | 4,794,000 | | | | 2,038,000 | | | | 2,513,282 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses | | | 28,002,244 | | | | 32,108,694 | | | | 29,770,460 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other income: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service charges | | | 5,202,972 | | | | 4,278,238 | | | | 3,929,956 | |
Other service charges and fees | | | 2,399,051 | | | | 1,938,137 | | | | 1,539,367 | |
Loss on sale and write-down of securities | | | (167,048 | ) | | | (561,832 | ) | | | (591,856 | ) |
Mortgage banking income | | | 660,288 | | | | 560,291 | | | | 289,293 | |
Insurance and brokerage commissions | | | 425,653 | | | | 521,095 | | | | 388,559 | |
Loss on sale and write-down of | | | | | | | | | | | | |
other real estate and repossessed assets | | | (287,431 | ) | | | (117,880 | ) | | | (107,712 | ) |
Miscellaneous | | | 2,261,104 | | | | 2,197,645 | | | | 2,106,188 | |
Total other income | | | 10,494,589 | | | | 8,815,694 | | | | 7,553,795 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 15,194,393 | | | | 13,887,841 | | | | 11,785,094 | |
Occupancy | | | 5,029,096 | | | | 4,750,634 | | | | 4,180,058 | |
Other | | | 8,669,465 | | | | 7,354,401 | | | | 7,017,986 | |
Total other expenses | | | 28,892,954 | | | | 25,992,876 | | | | 22,983,138 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings before income taxes | | | 9,603,879 | | | | 14,931,512 | | | | 14,341,117 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income taxes | | | 3,213,316 | | | | 5,339,541 | | | | 5,170,300 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | | $ | 6,390,563 | | | | 9,591,971 | | | | 9,170,817 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic earnings per common share | | $ | 1.14 | | | | 1.68 | | | | 1.61 | |
Diluted earnings per common share | | $ | 1.13 | | | | 1.65 | | | | 1.58 | |
Cash dividends declared per common share | | $ | 0.48 | | | | 0.41 | | | | 0.33 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. | | | | | | | | | |
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Accumulated | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Other | |
| | Stock Shares | | Stock Amount | | Retained | | Comprehensive | |
| | Preferred | Common | | Preferred | Common | | Earnings | | Income (Loss) | Total | |
Balance, December 31, 2005 | | | - | | | 3,440,805 | | $ | - | | | 41,096,500 | | | 14,656,160 | | | (1,399,666 | ) | | 54,352,994 | |
10% stock dividend | | | - | | | 343,850 | | | - | | | 9,430,532 | | | (9,430,532 | ) | | - | | | - | |
Cash paid in lieu of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
fractional shares | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (6,426 | ) | | - | | | (6,426 | ) |
Cash dividends declared | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (1,905,556 | ) | | - | | | (1,905,556 | ) |
Repurchase and retirement of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
common stock | | | - | | | (19,250 | ) | | - | | | (425,000 | ) | | - | | | - | | | (425,000 | ) |
Exercise of stock options | | | - | | | 65,229 | | | - | | | 771,325 | | | - | | | - | | | 771,325 | |
Stock option tax benefit | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 243,100 | | | - | | | - | | | 243,100 | |
Stock option compensation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
expense | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 5,690 | | | - | | | - | | | 5,690 | |
Net earnings | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 9,170,817 | | | - | | | 9,170,817 | |
Change in accumulated other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(loss), net of tax | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 628,429 | | | 628,429 | |
Balance, December 31, 2006 | | | - | | | 3,830,634 | | | - | | | 51,122,147 | | | 12,484,463 | | | (771,237 | ) | | 62,835,373 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
3 for 2 stock split | | | - | | | 1,915,147 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | |
Cash paid in lieu of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
fractional shares | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (3,355 | ) | | - | | | (3,355 | ) |
Cash dividends declared | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (2,331,203 | ) | | - | | | (2,331,203 | ) |
Repurchase and retirement of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
common stock | | | - | | | (150,497 | ) | | - | | | (2,810,907 | ) | | - | | | - | | | (2,810,907 | ) |
Exercise of stock options | | | - | | | 28,950 | | | - | | | 239,182 | | | - | | | - | | | 239,182 | |
Stock option tax benefit | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 91,815 | | | - | | | - | | | 91,815 | |
Stock option compensation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
expense | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 9,658 | | | - | | | - | | | 9,658 | |
Net earnings | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 9,591,971 | | | - | | | 9,591,971 | |
Change in accumulated other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(loss), net of tax | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 2,479,048 | | | 2,479,048 | |
Balance, December 31, 2007 | | | - | | | 5,624,234 | | | - | | | 48,651,895 | | | 19,741,876 | | | 1,707,811 | | | 70,101,582 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cumulative effect of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
adoption of EITF 06-4 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (466,917 | ) | | - | | | (466,917 | ) |
Issuance of Series A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
preferred stock | | | 25,054 | | | - | | | 24,350,219 | | | 703,781 | | | - | | | - | | | 25,054,000 | |
Cash dividends declared on | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
common stock | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (2,679,828 | ) | | - | | | (2,679,828 | ) |
Repurchase and retirement of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
common stock | | | - | | | (90,500 | ) | | - | | | (1,126,275 | ) | | - | | | - | | | (1,126,275 | ) |
Exercise of stock options | | | - | | | 5,322 | | | - | | | 43,948 | | | - | | | - | | | 43,948 | |
Stock option compensation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
expense | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (4,824 | ) | | - | | | - | | | (4,824 | ) |
Net earnings | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 6,390,563 | | | - | | | 6,390,563 | |
Change in accumulated other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(loss), net of tax | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 3,816,177 | | | 3,816,177 | |
Balance, December 31, 2008 | | | 25,054 | | | 5,539,056 | | $ | 24,350,219 | | | 48,268,525 | | | 22,985,694 | | | 5,523,988 | | | 101,128,426 | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |
| | | | | | |
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | |
| | | | | | |
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| | | | | | |
| 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net earnings | $ | 6,390,563 | | | 9,591,971 | | | 9,170,817 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income: | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized holding gains on securities | | | | | | | | | |
available for sale | | 2,144,591 | | | 1,964,861 | | | 197,569 | |
Reclassification adjustment for losses on sales and | | | | | | | | | |
write-downs of securities available for sale included | | | | | | | | | |
in net earnings | | 167,048 | | | 561,832 | | | 591,856 | |
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on derivative | | | | | | | | | |
financial instruments qualifying as cash flow | | | | | | | | | |
hedges | | 3,743,982 | | | 1,244,910 | | | (345,049 | ) |
Reclassification adjustment for losses on | | | | | | | | | |
derivative financial instruments qualifying as | | | | | | | | | |
cash flow hedges included in net earnings | | - | | | - | | | 386,285 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total other comprehensive income, | | | | | | | | | |
before income taxes | | 6,055,621 | | | 3,771,603 | | | 830,661 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense related to other | | | | | | | | | |
comprehensive income: | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized holding gains on securities | | | | | | | | | |
available for sale | | 835,318 | | | 765,313 | | | 76,953 | |
Reclassification adjustment for losses on sales and | | | | | | | | | |
write-downs of securities available for sale included | | | | | | | | | |
in net earnings | | 65,065 | | | 218,834 | | | 230,528 | |
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on derivative | | | | | | | | | |
financial instruments qualifying as cash flow | | | | | | | | | |
hedges | | 1,339,061 | | | 308,408 | | | (255,707 | ) |
Reclassification adjustment for losses on | | | | | | | | | |
derivative financial instruments qualifying as | | | | | | | | | |
cash flow hedges included in net earnings | | - | | | - | | | 150,458 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total income tax expense related to | | | | | | | | | |
other comprehensive income | | 2,239,444 | | | 1,292,555 | | | 202,232 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total other comprehensive income, | | | | | | | | | |
net of tax | | 3,816,177 | | | 2,479,048 | | | 628,429 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive income | $ | 10,206,740 | | | 12,071,019 | | | 9,799,246 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. | | | | | | | |
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. | |
| | | | | | |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | |
| | | | | | |
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| | | | | | |
| 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | |
Net earnings | $ | 6,390,563 | | | 9,591,971 | | | 9,170,817 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to | | | | | | | | | |
net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | | 1,678,913 | | | 1,553,251 | | | 1,616,558 | |
Provision for loan losses | | 4,794,000 | | | 2,038,000 | | | 2,513,282 | |
Deferred income taxes | | (485,137 | ) | | (479,806 | ) | | (615,626 | ) |
Loss on sale and write-down of investment securities | | 167,048 | | | 561,832 | | | 591,856 | |
Recognition of gain on sale of | | | | | | | | | |
derivative instruments | | - | | | - | | | 386,285 | |
Loss (gain) on sale of premises and equipment | | 1,404 | | | (10,337 | ) | | (20,896 | ) |
Loss (gain) on sale of repossessed assets | | 46,801 | | | 83,294 | | | (2,288 | ) |
Write-down of other real estate and repossessions | | 240,630 | | | 34,586 | | | 110,000 | |
Amortization of deferred issuance costs on | | | | | | | | | |
junior subordinated debentures | | - | | | - | | | 461,298 | |
Stock option compensation expense | | 12,434 | | | 9,658 | | | 5,690 | |
Change in: | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage loans held for sale | | - | | | - | | | 2,247,900 | |
Cash surrender value of life insurance | | (243,099 | ) | | (243,973 | ) | | (220,649 | ) |
Other assets | | (19,918 | ) | | (1,013,866 | ) | | (1,206,937 | ) |
Other liabilities | | (1,851,672 | ) | | 2,403,990 | | | (230,144 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | 10,731,967 | | | 14,528,600 | | | 14,807,146 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | |
Purchases of investment securities available for sale | | (41,658,966 | ) | | (15,858,155 | ) | | (30,579,262 | ) |
Proceeds from calls and maturities of investment securities | | | | | | | | | |
available for sale | | 16,488,469 | | | 7,470,991 | | | 8,562,058 | |
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available | | | | | | | | | |
for sale | | 23,448,161 | | | 8,362,525 | | | 19,871,979 | |
Purchases of other investments | | (4,179,862 | ) | | (8,356,900 | ) | | (12,748,200 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of other investments | | 4,311,000 | | | 8,424,000 | | | 11,263,500 | |
Net change in loans | | (65,188,183 | ) | | (72,815,928 | ) | | (86,825,349 | ) |
Purchases of premises and equipment | | (1,857,429 | ) | | (7,672,018 | ) | | (1,624,299 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment | | 33,545 | | | 55,630 | | | - | |
Proceeds from sale of repossessed assets | | 2,867,543 | | | 425,158 | | | 825,115 | |
Purchases of derivative financial instruments | | - | | | (634,000 | ) | | (961,500 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used by investing activities | | (65,735,722 | ) | | (80,598,697 | ) | | (92,215,958 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in deposits | | 27,423,680 | | | 59,818,414 | | | 50,966,628 | |
Net change in demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury | | - | | | - | | | 126,307 | |
Net change in securities sold under agreement to repurchase | | 9,917,475 | | | 21,165,460 | | | 5,436,753 | |
Proceeds from FHLB borrowings | | 97,100,000 | | | 275,300,000 | | | 700,800,000 | |
Repayments of FHLB borrowings | | (107,600,000 | ) | | (277,100,000 | ) | | (683,100,000 | ) |
Proceeds from FRB borrowings | | 5,000,000 | | | - | | | - | |
Proceeds from issuance of junior subordinated debentures | | - | | | - | | | 20,619,000 | |
Repayments of junior subordinated debentures | | - | | | - | | | (14,433,000 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of Series A preferred stock | | 25,054,000 | | | - | | | - | |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | | 43,948 | | | 330,997 | | | 1,014,425 | |
Common stock repurchased | | (1,126,275 | ) | | (2,810,907 | ) | | (425,000 | ) |
Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares | | - | | | (3,355 | ) | | (6,426 | ) |
Cash dividends paid | | (2,679,828 | ) | | (2,331,203 | ) | | (1,905,556 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | 53,133,000 | | | 74,369,406 | | | 79,093,131 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net change in cash and cash equivalent | | (1,870,755 | ) | | 8,299,309 | | | 1,684,319 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | 29,799,627 | | | 21,500,318 | | | 19,815,999 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 27,928,872 | | | 29,799,627 | | | 21,500,318 | |
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. | |
| | | | | | |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, continued | |
| | | | | | |
For the Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | | | | | | |
Cash paid during the year for: | | | | | | |
Interest | $ | 23,799,196 | | | 27,420,245 | | | 23,171,572 | |
Income taxes | $ | 4,165,800 | | | 5,689,500 | | | 6,398,100 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Noncash investing and financing activities: | | | | | | | | | |
Change in unrealized gain on investment securities | | | | | | | | | |
available for sale, net | $ | 1,411,256 | | | 1,542,546 | | | 481,944 | |
Change in unrealized gain on derivative financial | | | | | | | | | |
instruments, net | $ | 2,404,921 | | | 936,502 | | | 146,485 | |
Transfer of loans to other real estate and repossessions | $ | 4,538,987 | | | 681,735 | | | 746,004 | |
Financed portion of sale of other real estate | $ | 1,133,480 | | | - | | | 273,000 | |
Reclassification of an investment from other assets | | | | | | | | | |
to securities available for sale | $ | - | | | 499,995 | | | - | |
Reclassification of a security from other investments | | | | | | | | | |
to securities available for sale | $ | - | | | 600,000 | | | - | |
Transfer of retained earnings to common stock for | | | | | | | | | |
issuance of stock dividend | $ | - | | | - | | | 9,430,532 | |
Deferred gain rolled into cost basis of | | | | | | | | | |
acquired building | $ | - | | | 539,815 | | | - | |
Cumulative effect of adoption of EITF 06-4 | $ | 466,917 | | | - | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. | | | | | | | | | |
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(1) | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Organization
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (“Bancorp”) received regulatory approval to operate as a bank holding company on July 22, 1999, and became effective August 31, 1999. Bancorp is primarily regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and serves as the one-bank holding company for Peoples Bank.
Peoples Bank (the “Bank”) commenced business in 1912 upon receipt of its banking charter from the North Carolina State Banking Commission (the “SBC”). The Bank is primarily regulated by the SBC and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and undergoes periodic examinations by these regulatory agencies. The Bank, whose main office is in Newton, North Carolina, provides a full range of commercial and consumer banking services primarily in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Iredell, Union and Wake counties in North Carolina.
Peoples Investment Services, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank and began operations in 1996 to provide investment and trust services through agreements with an outside party.
Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank and began operations in 1997 to provide real estate appraisal and property management services to individuals and commercial customers of the Bank.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Bank, along with the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Peoples Investment Services, Inc. and Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc. (collectively called the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Basis of Presentation
The accounting principles followed by the Company, and the methods of applying these principles, conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with general practices in the banking industry. In preparing the financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Material estimates common to the banking industry that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term include, but are not limited to, the determination of the allowance for loan losses and valuation of real estate acquired in connection with or in lieu of foreclosure on loans.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and due from banks and federal funds sold are considered cash and cash equivalents for cash flow reporting purposes. Generally, federal funds are sold for one-day periods.
Investment Securities
The Company classifies its securities in one of three categories: trading, available for sale, or held to maturity. Trading securities are bought and held principally for sale in the near term. Held to maturity securities are those securities for which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. All other securities not included in trading or held to maturity are classified as available for sale. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company classified all of its investment securities as available for sale.
Available for sale securities are recorded at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, are excluded from earnings and are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.
A decline in the market value of any available for sale investment below cost that is deemed other than temporary is charged to earnings and establishes a new cost basis for the security.
Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related security as an adjustment to the yield. Realized gains and losses for securities classified as available for sale are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.
Other Investments
Other investments include equity securities with no readily determinable fair value. These investments are carried at cost.
Loans
Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity are reported at the principal amount outstanding, net of the allowance for loan losses. Interest on loans is calculated by using the simple interest method on daily balances of the principal amount outstanding. The recognition of certain loan origination fee income and certain loan origination costs is deferred when such loans are originated and amortized over the life of the loan.
Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan will not be collected.
Accrual of interest is discontinued on a loan when management believes, after considering economic conditions and collection efforts that the borrower’s financial condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful. Interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current period earnings and interest is recognized on a cash basis when such loans are placed on non-accrual status.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses reflects management's assessment and estimate of the risks associated with extending credit and its evaluation of the quality of the loan portfolio. The Bank periodically analyzes the loan portfolio in an effort to review asset quality and to establish an allowance for loan losses that management believes will be adequate in light of anticipated risks and loan losses. In assessing the adequacy of the allowance, size, quality and risk of loans in the portfolio are reviewed. Other factors considered are:
· | the Bank’s loan loss experience; |
· | the amount of past due and non-performing loans; |
· | the status and amount of other past due and non-performing assets; |
· | underlying estimated values of collateral securing loans; |
· | current and anticipated economic conditions; and |
· | other factors which management believes affect the allowance for potential credit losses. |
The allowance for loan losses is comprised of three components: specific reserves, general reserves and unallocated reserves. After a loan has been identified as impaired, management measures impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 114, “Accounting By Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” When the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the amount of the impairment is recorded as a specific reserve. These specific reserves are determined on an individual loan basis based on management’s current evaluation of the Company’s loss exposure for each credit, given the payment status, financial condition of the borrower, and value of any underlying collateral. Loans for which specific reserves are provided are excluded from the general allowance calculations as described below.
The general allowance reflects reserves established under the provisions of SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” for collective loan impairment. These reserves are based upon historical net charge-offs using the last three years’ experience. This charge-off experience may be adjusted to reflect the effects of current conditions. The Bank considers information derived from its loan risk ratings and external data related to industry and general economic trends.
The unallocated allowance is determined through management’s assessment of probable losses that are in the portfolio but are not adequately captured by the other two components of the allowance, including consideration of current economic and business conditions and regulatory requirements. The unallocated allowance also reflects management’s acknowledgement of the imprecision and subjectivity that underlie the modeling of credit risk. Due to the subjectivity involved in determining the overall allowance, including the unallocated portion, this unallocated portion may fluctuate from period to period based on management’s evaluation of the factors affecting the assumptions used in calculating the allowance.
Management considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover the estimated losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio as of the date of the financial statements. Management believes it has established the allowance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and in consideration of the current economic environment. Although management uses the best information available to make evaluations, significant future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic and other conditions, thus adversely affecting the operating results of the Company.
There were no significant changes in the estimation methods or fundamental assumptions used in the evaluation of the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2007. Such revisions, estimates and assumptions are made in any period in which the supporting factors indicate that loss levels may vary from the previous estimates.
Additionally, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowances for loan losses. Such agencies may require adjustments to the allowances based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examinations.
Mortgage Banking Activities
Mortgage banking income represents net gains from the sale of mortgage loans and fees received from borrowers and loan investors related to the Company’s origination of single-family residential mortgage loans.
Mortgage servicing rights (“MSR's”) represent the unamortized cost of purchased and originated contractual rights to service mortgages for others in exchange for a servicing fee. MSRs are amortized over the period of estimated net servicing income and are periodically adjusted for actual prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans. During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company fully amortized the remaining balance of the Bank’s MSRs. Management determined there was minimal fair value in the MSRs due to the small remaining balance in the loans serviced for others. The Company amortized approximately $227,000 during 2006. No new servicing assets were recognized during 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying balance sheets. The unpaid principal balances of mortgage loans serviced for others was approximately $9.3 million, $12.1 million and $14.8 million at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed primarily using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss is reflected in earnings for the period. The cost of maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful life of the respective asset is charged to earnings as incurred, whereas significant renewals and improvements are capitalized. The range of estimated useful lives for premises and equipment are generally as follows:
Buildings and improvements | | 10 - 50 years |
Furniture and equipment | | 3 - 10 years |
Foreclosed Assets
Foreclosed assets include all assets received in full or partial satisfaction of a loan and include real and personal property. Foreclosed assets are reported at the lower of carrying amount or net realizable value, and are included in other assets on the balance sheet.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Additionally, the recognition of future tax benefits, such as net operating loss carryforwards, is required to the extent that the realization of such benefits is more likely than not. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the assets and liabilities are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date.
In the event the future tax consequences of differences between the financial reporting bases and the tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities results in deferred tax assets, an evaluation of the probability of being able to realize the future benefits indicated by such asset is required. A valuation allowance is provided for the portion of the deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be
realized. In assessing the realizability of the deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies.
Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into derivative contracts to manage interest rate risk by modifying the characteristics of the related balance sheet instruments in order to reduce the adverse effect of changes in interest rates. All derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value in the financial statements.
On the date a derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a trading instrument. Changes in the fair value of instruments used as fair value hedges are accounted for in the earnings of the period simultaneous with accounting for the fair value change of the item being hedged. Changes in the fair value of the effective portion of cash flow hedges are accounted for in other comprehensive income rather than earnings. Changes in fair value of instruments that are not intended as a hedge are accounted for in the earnings of the period of the change.
If a derivative instrument designated as a fair value hedge is terminated or the hedge designation removed, the difference between a hedged item’s then carrying amount and its face amount is recognized into income over the original hedge period. Likewise, if a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge is terminated or the hedge designation removed, related amounts accumulated in other accumulated comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings over the original hedge period during which the hedged item affects income.
The Company formally documents all hedging relationships, including an assessment that the derivative instruments are expected to be highly effective in offsetting the changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
At December 31, 2008, accumulated other comprehensive income consisted of net unrealized gains on securities available for sale of $2.3 million and net unrealized gains on derivatives of $3.2 million. At December 31, 2007, accumulated other comprehensive income consisted of net unrealized gains on securities available for sale of $943,000 and net unrealized gains on derivatives of $765,000.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company has an Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) whereby certain stock-based rights, such as stock options, restricted stock, performance units, stock appreciation rights, or book value shares, may be granted to eligible directors and employees. A total of 636,687 shares are currently reserved for possible issuance under this Plan. All rights must be granted or awarded within ten years from the May 13, 1999 effective date of the plan.
Under the Plan, the Company has granted incentive stock options to certain eligible employees in order that they may purchase Company stock at a price equal to the fair market value on the date of the grant. The options granted in 1999 vested over a five-year period. Options granted subsequent to 1999 vest over a three-year period.
All options expire after ten years. A summary of the activity in the Plan is presented below:
Stock Option Activity |
For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Shares | | | Weighted Average Option Price Per Share | | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) | | Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
Outstanding, December 31, 2005 | | | 319,692 | | | $ | 8.13 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted during the period | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | |
Forfeited during the period | | | (164 | ) | | $ | 7.38 | | | | |
Exercised during the period | | | (97,854 | ) | | $ | 7.87 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding, December 31, 2006 | | | 221,674 | | | $ | 8.24 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted during the period | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | |
Forfeited during the period | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | |
Exercised during the period | | | (28,949 | ) | | $ | 8.26 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding, December 31, 2007 | | | 192,725 | | | $ | 8.24 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted during the period | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | |
Forfeited during the period | | | (2,458 | ) | | $ | 8.02 | | | | |
Exercised during the period | | | (5,322 | ) | | $ | 8.26 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding, December 31, 2008 | | | 184,945 | | | $ | 8.24 | | 3.08 | | $ 174,002 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Exercisable, December 31, 2008 | | | 184,945 | | | $ | 8.24 | | 3.08 | | $ 174,002 |
Options outstanding at December 31, 2008 are exercisable at option prices ranging from $6.99 to $10.57. Such options have a weighted average remaining contractual life of approximately three years.
The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS 123(R)), on January 1, 2006 using the “modified prospective” method. Under this method, awards that are granted, modified, or settled after December 31, 2005, are measured and accounted for in accordance with SFAS 123(R). Also under this method, expense is recognized for unvested awards that were granted prior to January 1, 2006, based upon the fair value determined at the grant date under SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123). The Company recognized compensation expense for employee stock options and restricted stock awards of $12,000 and $10,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested employee stock options.
No options were granted during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. The total intrinsic value (amount by which the fair market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of an option on exercise date) of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $26,000 and $285,000, respectively. There were no options vested during the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2,420 options vested during the year ended December 31, 2007. Cash received from option exercises for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $44,000 and $239,000, respectively. There were no tax deductions from options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2008. The tax benefit for the tax deductions from option exercises totaled $92,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007.
The Company granted 3,000 shares of restricted stock in 2007 at a grant date fair value of $17.40 per share. The Company granted 1,750 shares of restricted stock at a grant date fair value of $12.80 per share during third quarter 2008 and 2,000 shares of restricted stock at a fair value of $11.37 per share during fourth quarter 2008. The Company recognizes compensation expense on the restricted stock over the period of time the restrictions are in place (three years from the grant date for the grants to date). The amount of expense recorded each period reflects the changes in the Company’s stock price during the period. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, there was $47,000 and $48,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock grants, respectively, which is expected to be recognized over a period of three years.
Net Earnings Per Share
Net earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period while the effects of potential common shares outstanding during the period are included in diluted earnings per common share. The average market price during the year is used to compute equivalent shares.
The reconciliations of the amounts used in the computation of both “basic earnings per common share” and “diluted earnings per common share” for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:
For the year ended December 31, 2008: | | | Net Earnings | | | Common Shares | | | Per Share Amount |
Basic earnings per common share | $ | | 6,390,563 | | | 5,588,314 | | $ | 1.14 |
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | | | | |
Stock options | | | - | | | 58,980 | | | |
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | | 6,390,563 | | | 5,647,294 | | $ | 1.13 |
| | | | | | | | | |
For the year ended December 31, 2007: | | | Net Earnings | | | Common Shares | | | Per Share Amount |
Basic earnings per common share | $ | | 9,591,971 | | | 5,700,860 | | $ | 1.68 |
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | | | | |
Stock options | | | - | | | 109,455 | | | |
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | | 9,591,971 | | | 5,810,315 | | $ | 1.65 |
| | | | | | | | | |
For the year ended December 31, 2006: | | | Net Earnings | | | Common Shares | | | Per Share Amount |
Basic earnings per common share | $ | | 9,170,817 | | | 5,701,829 | | $ | 1.61 |
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | | | | |
Stock options | | | - | | | 100,495 | | | |
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | | 9,170,817 | | | 5,802,324 | | $ | 1.58 |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, which permits entities to choose to measure financial instruments and certain other instruments at fair value. SFAS No.159 was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. The Company did not choose this option for any asset or liability, and therefore SFAS No. 159 did not have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (‘FSP”) FAS No. 140-3, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Repurchase Financing Transactions.” This FSP provides guidance on accounting for a transfer of a financial asset and a repurchase financing under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.” This FSP is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 157-1, “Application of FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease Classification or Measurement under Statement 13.” This FSP amends SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” to exclude SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases” and other accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for purposes of lease classification or measurement under SFAS No. 13. This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157.” This FSP delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active.” This FSP clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” in a market that is not active. This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 161 is an amendment to SFAS No. 133, which provides for enhanced disclosures about how and why an entity uses derivatives and how and where those derivatives and related hedged items are reported in the entity’s financial statements. SFAS No. 161 is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2009. As this is a disclosure related standard, this standard is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations. SFAS No. 161 will result in additional disclosures related to the Company’s derivatives.
In September 2008, the FASB FSP FAS No. 133-1 and FIN 45-4, “Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45 and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161.” This FSP is an amendment to SFAS No. 133, which provides for enhanced disclosure requirements for credit risk derivatives. This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets.” This FSP amends SFAS No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits,” to provide guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. This FSP is not expected to have any effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
(2) | Investment Securities |
Investment securities available for sale at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
| | December 31, 2008 |
| | Amortized Cost | | Gross Unrealized Gains | | Gross Unrealized Losses | | Estimated Fair Value |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | 36,556,684 | | | | 854,237 | | | | 139,840 | | | | 37,271,081 |
U.S. government sponsored enterprises | | | 55,222,788 | | | | 3,266,198 | | | | 2,324 | | | | 58,486,662 |
State and political subdivisions | | | 26,648,553 | | | | 459,546 | | | | 134,525 | | | | 26,973,574 |
Trust preferred securities | | | 1,250,000 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,250,000 |
Equity securities | | | 1,382,184 | | | | - | | | | 447,152 | | | | 935,032 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 121,060,209 | | | | 4,579,981 | | | | 723,841 | | | | 124,916,349 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2007 |
| | Amortized Cost | | Gross Unrealized Gains | | Gross Unrealized Losses | | Estimated Fair Value |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | 16,469,053 | | | | 6,423 | | | | 204,509 | | | | 16,270,967 |
U.S. government sponsored enterprises | | | 75,155,693 | | | | 1,839,143 | | | | 3,035 | | | | 76,991,801 |
State and political subdivisions | | | 25,856,311 | | | | 250,483 | | | | 201,406 | | | | 25,905,388 |
Trust preferred securities | | | 250,000 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 250,000 |
Equity securities | | | 1,692,799 | | | | 246,000 | | | | 388,597 | | | | 1,550,202 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 119,423,856 | | | | 2,342,049 | | | | 797,547 | | | | 120,968,358 |
The current fair value and associated unrealized losses on investments in debt securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are summarized in the tables below, with the length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous loss position.
| December 31, 2008 |
| Less than 12 Months | | 12 Months or More | | Total |
| Fair Value | | Unrealized Losses | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Losses | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Losses |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage-backed securities | $ | 10,017,250 | | | 139,840 | | | - | | | - | | | 10,017,250 | | | 139,840 |
U.S. government sponsored enterprises | | - | | | - | | | 614,289 | | | 2,324 | | | 614,289 | | | 2,324 |
State and political subdivisions | | 2,748,094 | | | 75,172 | | | 2,373,145 | | | 59,353 | | | 5,121,239 | | | 134,525 |
Equity securities | | 528,000 | | | 72,000 | | | 407,032 | | | 375,152 | | | 935,032 | | | 447,152 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | $ | 13,293,344 | | | 287,012 | | | 3,394,466 | | | 436,829 | | | 16,687,810 | | | 723,841 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2007 |
| Less than 12 Months | | 12 Months or More | | Total |
| Fair Value | | Unrealized Losses | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Losses | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Losses |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage-backed securities | $ | 24,591 | | | 104 | | | 14,320,043 | | | 204,405 | | | 14,344,634 | | | 204,509 |
U.S. government sponsored enterprises | | - | | | - | | | 689,775 | | | 3,035 | | | 689,775 | | | 3,035 |
State and political subdivisions | | 2,059,746 | | | 33,781 | | | 11,188,720 | | | 167,625 | | | 13,248,466 | | | 201,406 |
Equity securities | | 425,620 | | | 88,134 | | | 278,581 | | | 300,463 | | | 704,201 | | | 388,597 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | $ | 2,509,957 | | | 122,019 | | | 26,477,119 | | | 675,528 | | | 28,987,076 | | | 797,547 |
At December 31, 2008, unrealized losses in the investment securities portfolio related to debt securities totaled $277,000. The unrealized losses on these debt securities arose due to changing interest rates and are considered to be temporary. From the December 31, 2008 tables above, 13 out of 74 securities issued by state and political subdivisions contained unrealized losses and 7 out of 59 securities issued by U.S. government sponsored enterprises, including mortgage-backed securities, contained unrealized losses. These unrealized losses are considered temporary because of acceptable investment grades on each security and the repayment sources of principal and interest are government backed.
The Company periodically evaluates its investments for any impairment which would be deemed other than temporary. As part of its evaluation in 2008, the Company determined that the fair value of one investment was less than the original cost of the investment and that the decline in fair value was not temporary in nature. As a result, the Company wrote down its original investment by $300,000. The remaining fair value of the investment at December 31, 2008 was $22,000. Similarly, as part of its evaluation in 2007, the Company wrote down two investments by $430,000. The remaining fair value of the investments at December 31, 2007 was $348,000.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities available for sale at December 31, 2008, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities of mortgage-backed securities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
| | Amortized Cost | | | Estimated Fair Value |
| | | | | |
Due within one year | | $ | 5,904,880 | | | | 6,015,036 |
Due from one to five years | | | 44,167,067 | | | | 46,804,084 |
Due from five to ten years | | | 20,019,656 | | | | 20,602,860 |
Due after ten years | | | 13,029,738 | | | | 13,288,256 |
Mortgage-backed securities | | | 36,556,684 | | | | 37,271,081 |
Equity securities | | | 1,382,184 | | | | 935,032 |
| | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 121,060,209 | | | | 124,916,349 |
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale during 2008 were $23.4 million and resulted in a gross gain of $160,000. During 2007 and 2006, the proceeds from sales of securities available for sale were $8.4 million and $19.9 million, respectively. Gross losses of $132,000 and $592,000 for 2007 and 2006, respectively, were realized on those sales.
Securities with a fair value of approximately $65.2 million and $50.4 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were pledged to secure public deposits and for other purposes as required by law.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. This standard had no effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
SFAS No. 157 establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy for fair value measurements. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that a company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. The Company’s fair value measurements for items measured at fair value at December 31, 2008 included:
| Fair Value Measurements December 31, 2008 | | Level 1 Valuation | | Level 2 Valuation | | Level 3 Valuation |
Investment securities available for sale | $ | 124,916,349 | | 935,032 | | 122,731,317 | | 1,250,000 |
Market value of derivatives (in other assets) | $ | 4,980,701 | | - | | 4,980,701 | | - |
Fair values of investment securities available for sale are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges when available. If quoted prices are not available, fair value is determined using matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. Fair values of derivative instruments are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities.
The following is an analysis of fair value measurements of investment securities available for sale using Level 3, significant unobservable inputs, for the year ended December 31, 2008:
| Investment Securities Available for Sale |
| Level 3 Valuation |
Balance, beginning of period | $ | 250,000 |
Change in book value | | - |
Change in gain/(loss) realized and unrealized | | - |
Purchases/(sales) | | 1,000,000 |
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 | | - |
Balance, end of period | $ | 1,250,000 |
| | |
Change in unrealized gain/(loss) for assets still held in Level 3 | $ | 0 |
Major classifications of loans at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are summarized as follows:
| 2008 | | 2007 |
| | | |
Commercial | $ | 76,945,143 | | 82,190,391 |
Real estate - mortgage | | 474,732,433 | | 417,708,750 |
Real estate - construction | | 216,187,811 | | 209,643,836 |
Consumer | | 13,322,695 | | 12,733,971 |
| | | | |
Total loans | | 781,188,082 | | 722,276,948 |
| | | | |
Less allowance for loan losses | | 11,025,516 | | 9,103,058 |
| | | | |
Total net loans | $ | 770,162,566 | | 713,173,890 |
The Company grants loans and extensions of credit primarily within the Catawba Valley region of North Carolina, which encompasses Catawba, Alexander, Iredell and Lincoln counties and also in Mecklenburg, Union and Wake counties. Although the Bank has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of the loan portfolio is collateralized by improved and unimproved real estate, the value of which is dependent upon the real estate market.
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 114, the Company has specific loan loss reserves for loans that management has determined to be impaired. These specific reserves are determined on an individual loan basis based on management’s current evaluation of the Company’s loss exposure for each credit, given the appraised value of any underlying collateral. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the recorded investment in loans that were considered to be impaired was approximately $7.5 million and $8.0 million, respectively. In addition, the Company had approximately $514,000 and $0 in loans past due more than ninety days and still accruing interest at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company had specific reserves on impaired loans of $462,000 and $1.2 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The average recorded investment in impaired loans for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $8.8 million and $7.3 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized approximately $57,000, $29,000 and $144,000, respectively, of interest income on impaired loans.
The Company’s December 31, 2008 fair value measurement for impaired loans is presented below:
| Fair Value Measurements December 31, 2008 | | Level 1 Valuation | | Level 2 Valuation | | Level 3 Valuation | | Total Gains/(Losses) for the Year Ended December 31, 2008 |
Impaired loans | $ | 7,073,045 | | - | | 5,902,848 | | 1,170,197 | | (345,000) |
Other real estate | $ | 1,866,971 | | - | | 1,866,971 | | - | | (165,630) |
Changes in the allowance for loan losses were as follows:
| 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 9,103,058 | | | 8,303,432 | | | 7,424,782 | |
Amounts charged off | | (3,146,939 | ) | | (1,626,458 | ) | | (1,958,551 | ) |
Recoveries on amounts previously charged off | | 275,397 | | | 388,084 | | | 323,919 | |
Provision for loan losses | | 4,794,000 | | | 2,038,000 | | | 2,513,282 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Balance at end of year | $ | 11,025,516 | | | 9,103,058 | | | 8,303,432 | |
(4) | Premises and Equipment |
Major classifications of premises and equipment are summarized as follows:
| 2008 | | 2007 |
| | | |
Land | $ | 3,572,799 | | 3,572,241 |
Buildings and improvements | | 14,709,218 | | 14,700,078 |
Furniture and equipment | | 17,156,190 | | 15,496,630 |
| | | | |
Total premises and equipment | | 35,438,207 | | 33,768,949 |
| | | | |
Less accumulated depreciation | | 17,141,312 | | 15,534,556 |
| | | | |
Total net premises and equipment | $ | 18,296,895 | | 18,234,393 |
Depreciation expense was approximately $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company recognized approximately $1.7 and $1.5 million in depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
At December 31, 2008, the scheduled maturities of time deposits are as follows:
2009 | $ | 368,499,249 |
2010 | | 23,010,748 |
2011 | | 12,797,281 |
2012 | | 1,156,885 |
2013 and thereafter | | 1,092,480 |
| | |
Total | $ | 406,556,643 |
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company has approximately $61.0 million and $53.9 million, respectively, in time deposits purchased through third party brokers. The weighted average rate of brokered deposits as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 3.25% and 5.06%, respectively.
(6) | Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank Borrowings |
The Bank has borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”) with monthly or quarterly interest payments at December 31, 2008. The FHLB borrowings are collateralized by a blanket assignment on all residential first mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, home equity lines of credit and loans secured by multi-family real estate that the Bank owns. At December 31, 2008, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral totaled approximately $244.9 million.
Borrowings from the FHLB outstanding at December 31, 2008 consist of the following:
Maturity Date | Call Date | | Rate | | Rate Type | | Amount |
| | | | | | | |
March 30, 2010 | September 30, 2000 and every | | | | | | |
| three months thereafter | | 5.880% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
May 24, 2010 | May 24, 2001 and every three | | | | | | | |
| months thereafter | | 6.490% | | Convertible | | | 2,000,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
June 24, 2015 | June 24, 2010 | | 3.710% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
March 25, 2019 | March 25, 2009 | | 4.360% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
March 31, 2016 | March 31, 2009 and every three | | | | | | | |
| months thereafter | | 4.620% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
October 5, 2016 | October 5, 2009 | | 4.450% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
December 12, 2011 | December 12, 2007 and every | | 4.210% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| three months thereafter | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
January 30, 2017 | October 30, 2008 and every | | 4.500% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| three months thereafter | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
June 8, 2017 | December 8, 2008 and every | | 4.713% | | Convertible | | | 15,000,000 |
| three months thereafter | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
June 9, 2014 | February 11, 2008 and every | | 4.685% | | Convertible | | | 15,000,000 |
| month thereafter | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
July 11, 2017 | January 11, 2008 and every | | 4.440% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| three months thereafter | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
July 24, 2017 | April 24, 2008 and every | | 4.420% | | Convertible | | | 5,000,000 |
| month thereafter | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | $ | 77,000,000 |
The FHLB has the option to convert $72.0 million of the total borrowings to a floating rate and, if converted, the Bank may repay borrowings without payment of a prepayment fee. The Company also has an additional $5.0 million in variable rate convertible borrowings, which may be repaid without a prepayment fee if converted by the FHLB.
The Bank is required to purchase and hold certain amounts of FHLB stock in order to obtain FHLB borrowings. No ready market exists for the FHLB stock, and it has no quoted market value. The stock is redeemable at $100 per share subject to certain limitations set by the FHLB. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Bank owned FHLB stock amounting to $5.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively.
The Bank had $5.0 million in borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) at December 31, 2008. This borrowing was a 28-day Term Auction Facility loan at an interest rate of 0.28% which matured in January 2009. The FRB borrowings are collateralized by a blanket assignment on all qualifying loans that the Bank owns which are not pledged to the FHLB. At December 31, 2008, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral totaled approximately $280.8 million.
(7) | Junior Subordinated Debentures |
In June 2006, the Company formed a second wholly owned Delaware statutory trust, PEBK Capital Trust II (“PEBK Trust II”), which issued $20.0 million of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the Company’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures. All of the common securities of PEBK Trust II are owned by the Company. The proceeds from the issuance of the common securities and the trust preferred securities were used by PEBK Trust II to purchase $20.6 million of junior subordinated debentures of the Company, which pay a floating rate equal to three month LIBOR plus 163 basis points. The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the junior subordinated debentures were used to repay in December 2006 the trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust in December 2001 and for general purposes. The debentures represent the sole asset of PEBK Trust II. PEBK Trust II is not included in the consolidated financial statements.
The trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust II accrue and pay quarterly at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points. The Company has guaranteed distributions and other payments due on the trust
preferred securities to the extent PEBK Trust II has funds with which to make the distributions and other payments. The net combined effect of all the documents entered into in connection with the trust preferred securities is that the Company is liable to make the distributions and other payments required on the trust preferred securities.
These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the debentures on June 28, 2036, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture. The Company has the right to redeem the debentures purchased by PEBK Trust II, in whole or in part, on or after June 28, 2011. As specified in the indenture, if the debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be the principal amount and any accrued but unpaid interest.
The provision for income taxes in summarized as follows:
| 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Current | $ | 3,698,453 | | | 5,819,347 | | | 5,785,926 | |
Deferred | | (485,137 | ) | | (479,806 | ) | | (615,626 | ) |
Total | $ | 3,213,316 | | | 5,339,541 | | | 5,170,300 | |
The differences between the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to earnings before income taxes are as follows:
| 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Pre-tax income at statutory rates (34%) | $ | 3,265,319 | | | 5,076,714 | | | 4,875,980 | |
Differences: | | | | | | | | | |
Tax exempt interest income | | (313,083 | ) | | (307,169 | ) | | (280,826 | ) |
Nondeductible interest and other expense | | 59,310 | | | 55,871 | | | 45,872 | |
Cash surrender value of life insurance | | (82,654 | ) | | (82,951 | ) | | (75,021 | ) |
State taxes, net of federal benefits | | 257,213 | | | 559,905 | | | 576,444 | |
Other, net | | 27,211 | | | 37,170 | | | 27,851 | |
Total | $ | 3,213,316 | | | 5,339,541 | | | 5,170,300 | |
The following summarized the tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. The net deferred tax asset is included as a component of other assets at December 31, 2008 and 2007.
| 2008 | | 2007 |
Deferred tax assets: | | | |
Allowance for loan losses | $ | 4,280,854 | | 3,531,076 |
Amortizable intangible assets | | 43,703 | | 76,398 |
Accrued retirement expense | | 1,184,373 | | 819,246 |
Income from non-accrual loans | | 36,973 | | 50,219 |
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges | | - | | 20,525 |
Premises and equipment | | - | | 9,757 |
Total gross deferred tax assets | | 5,545,903 | | 4,507,221 |
| | | | |
Deferred tax liabilities: | | | | |
Deferred loan fees | | 1,654,311 | | 1,346,322 |
Premises and equipment | | 194,463 | | - |
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities | | 1,501,966 | | 601,583 |
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges | | 1,318,536 | | - |
Other | | 84,100 | | 12,482 |
Total gross deferred tax liabilities | | 4,753,376 | | 1,960,387 |
Net deferred tax asset | $ | 792,527 | | 2,546,834 |
(9) Related Party Transactions
The Company conducts transactions with its directors and executive officers, including companies in which they have beneficial interests, in the normal course of business. It is the policy of the Company that loan transactions with directors and officers are made on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time made for comparable loans to other persons. The following is a summary of activity for related party loans for 2008:
Beginning balance | $ | 5,615,899 |
New loans | | 3,734,377 |
Repayments | | 3,692,009 |
| | |
Ending balance | $ | 5,658,267 |
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had deposit relationships with related parties of approximately $20.0 million and $15.7 million, respectively.
(10) | Commitments and Contingencies |
The Company leases various office spaces for banking and operational facilities and equipment under operating lease arrangements. Future minimum lease payments required for all operating leases having a remaining term in excess of one year at December 31, 2008 are as follows:
Year ending December 31, | |
2009 | $ | 769,569 |
2010 | | 626,965 |
2011 | | 563,901 |
2012 | | 444,834 |
2013 | | 255,909 |
Thereafter | | 1,893,313 |
| | |
Total minimum obligation | $ | 4,554,491 |
Total rent expense was approximately $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $959,000 for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The Company is party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees. Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The contract amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Company has in particular classes of financial instruments.
The exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.
In most cases, the Company requires collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk.
| Contractual Amount |
| 2008 | | 2007 |
Financial instruments whose contract amount represent credit risk: | | | |
| | | |
Commitments to extend credit | $ | 158,939,113 | | 190,653,583 |
| | | | |
Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written | $ | 4,316,012 | | 3,894,259 |
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates and because they may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amount of $163.3 million does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to businesses in the Company’s delineated market area. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. The Company holds real estate, equipment, automobiles and customer deposits as collateral supporting those commitments for which collateral is deemed necessary.
The Company has an overall interest rate-risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings that are caused by interest rate volatility. By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk. If the counterparty fails to perform, credit risk is equal to the extent of the fair-value gain in the derivative. The Company attempts to minimize the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with counterparties that are reviewed periodically by the Company and are believed to be of high quality.
In the normal course of business, the Company is a party (both as plaintiff and defendant) to a number of lawsuits. In the opinion of management and counsel, none of these cases should have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Bank or the Company.
The Company has employment agreements with certain key employees. The agreements, among other things, include salary, bonus, incentive stock option, and change in control provisions.
The Company has $38.0 million available for the purchase of overnight federal funds from four correspondent financial institutions.
(11) | Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Transactions |
The Company has an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings that are caused by interest rate volatility. By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk. If the counterparty fails to perform, credit risk is equal to the extent of the fair-value gain in the derivative. The Company minimizes the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties that are reviewed periodically by the Company.
As of December 31, 2008, the Company had cash flow hedges with a notional amount of $165.0 million. These derivative instruments consist of three interest rate floor contracts and one interest rate swap contract. The interest rate floor contracts are used to hedge future cash flows from payments on the first $115.0 million of certain variable rate loans against the downward effects of their repricing in the event of a decreasing rate environment during the terms of the interest rate floor contracts. If the prime rate falls below the contract rate during the term of the contract, the Company will receive payments based on notional amount times the difference between the contract rate and the weighted average prime rate for the quarter. No payments will be received by the Company if the weighted average prime rate is equal to or higher than the contract rate. The interest rate floor contracts in effect at December 31, 2008 will expire in 2009. The interest rate swap contract is used to convert $50.0 million of variable rate loans to a fixed rate. Under the swap contract, the Company receives a fixed rate of 6.245% and pays a variable rate based on the current prime rate (3.25% at December 31, 2008) on the notional amount of $50.0 million. The swap agreement matures in June 2011. The Company recognized $3.4 million in interest income, net of premium amortization, from interest rate derivative contracts during the year ended December 31, 2008. Based on the current interest rate environment, it is expected the Company will continue to receive income on these interest rate contracts throughout 2009.
The following tables present additional information on the Company’s derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2008.
Type of Derivative | | Notional Amount | | Contract Rate | | | Premium | | Year-to-date Income (Net of Premium Amortization) |
Interest rate floor contact* | | $ | - | | | - | | | $ | - | | $ | 151,180 |
Interest rate floor contact* | | | - | | | - | | | | - | | | 455,766 |
Interest rate floor contact expiring 01/24/09 | | | 45,000,000 | | | 7.500% | | | | 562,000 | | | 870,517 |
Interest rate floor contact expiring 06/02/09 | | | 35,000,000 | | | 8.000% | | | | 399,000 | | | 914,017 |
Interest rate floor contact expiring 12/01/09 | | | 35,000,000 | | | 7.250% | | | | 634,000 | | | 523,191 |
Interest rate swap contact expiring 06/01/11 | | | 50,000,000 | | | 6.245% | | | | - | | | 488,451 |
| | $ | 165,000,000 | | | | | | $ | 1,595,000 | | $ | 3,403,122 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* Interest rate floor contracts expired during 2008 | | | | | | | | | | |
Fair values of derivatives designated as hedging instruments under SFAS 133 are as follows:
| Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives |
| As of December 31, 2008 | | As of December 31, 2007 | | As of December 31, 2008 | | As of December 31, 2007 |
| Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value | | Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value | | Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value | | Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value |
Interest rate | | | | | | | | | | | |
derivative | | | | | | | | | | | |
contracts | Other assets | $ 4,981,000 | | Other assets | $ 1,907,000 | | N/A | $ - | | N/A | $ - |
(12) | Employee and Director Benefit Programs |
The Company has a profit sharing and 401(k) plan for the benefit of substantially all employees subject to certain minimum age and service requirements. Under this plan, the Company matches employee contributions to a maximum of five percent of annual compensation. The Company’s contribution pursuant to this formula was approximately $483,000, $424,000 and $405,000 for the years of 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Investments of the plan are determined by the compensation committee consisting of selected outside directors and senior executive officers. No investments in Company stock have been made by the plan. The vesting schedule for the plan begins at 20 percent after two years of employment and graduates 20 percent each year until reaching 100 percent after six years of employment.
In September 2006, the FASB released SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” which requires employers to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit postretirement plans. The effective date for public companies was for years ending after December 15, 2006. Management has compared the accrued postretirement benefit expense and the charge to other comprehensive income, as calculated in accordance with prior accounting standards to the requirement under SFAS 158 and determined that the difference is immaterial.
In December 2001, the Company initiated a postretirement benefit plan to provide retirement benefits to key officers and its Board of Directors and to provide death benefits for their designated beneficiaries. Under the plan, the Company purchased life insurance contracts on the lives of the key officers and each director. The increase in cash surrender value of the contracts constitutes the Company’s contribution to the plan each year. Plan participants are to be paid annual benefits for a specified number of years commencing upon retirement. Expenses incurred for benefits relating to this plan, which include EITF 06-4 expense, were approximately $365,000, $258,000 and $240,000 during 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The Company is currently paying medical benefits for certain retired employees. Postretirement benefits expense, including amortization of the transition obligation, as applicable, was approximately $23,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
The following table sets forth the change in the accumulated benefit obligation for the Company’s two postretirement benefit plans described above:
| | 2008 | |
| | | |
Benefit obligation at beginning of period | | $ | 1,528,488 | |
Service cost | | | 180,162 | |
Interest cost | | | 99,569 | |
Benefits paid | | | (28,931 | ) |
Benefit obligation at end of period | | $ | 1,779,288 | |
The amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008 are shown in the following two tables:
| | 2008 | |
| | | |
Benefit obligation | | $ | 1,779,288 | |
Fair value of plan assets | | | - | |
| | | | |
| | 2008 | |
| | | | |
Funded status | | $ | (1,779,288 | ) |
Unrecognized prior service cost/benefit | | | - | |
Unrecognized net actuarial loss | | | - | |
Net amount recognized | | $ | (1,779,288 | ) |
| | | | |
Unfunded accrued liability | | $ | (1,779,288 | ) |
Intangible assets | | | - | |
Net amount recognized | | $ | (1,779,288 | ) |
Net periodic benefit cost of the Company's two post retirement benefit plans for the year ended December 31, 2008 consisted of the following:
| | 2008 | |
| | | |
Service cost | | $ | 180,162 | |
Interest cost | | | 99,569 | |
Net periodic cost | | $ | 279,731 | |
Weighted average discount rate assumption used to | | |
determine benefit obligation | | 6.68% |
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company paid benefits totaling $46,000. Information about the expected benefit payments for the Company’s two postretirement benefit plans is as follows:
Year ending December 31, | | |
2009 | | $ | 58,713 |
2010 | | $ | 62,690 |
2011 | | $ | 86,858 |
2012 | | $ | 199,328 |
2013 | | $ | 204,735 |
Thereafter | | $ | 9,459,971 |
Members of the Board of Directors are eligible to participate in the Company’s Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Stock Benefits Plan”). Each director has been awarded 9,737 book value shares (adjusted for stock dividends and stock splits) under the Stock Benefits Plan. The book value of the shares awarded range from $6.31 to $8.64. All book value shares will be fully vested on May 6, 2009. The Company recorded expenses of approximately $136,000, $159,000 and $128,000 associated with the benefits of this plan in the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
A summary of book value shares activity under the Stock Benefits Plan for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 is presented below.
| 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
| Shares | | Weighted Average Price of Book Value Shares | | Shares | | Weighted Average Price of Book Value Shares | | Shares | | Weighted Average Price of Book Value Shares |
Outstanding, beginning of period | 97,377 | | $ | 7.38 | | 97,377 | | $ | 7.38 | | 97,377 | | $ | 7.38 |
Exercised during the period | - | | $ | - | | - | | $ | - | | - | | $ | - |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding, end of period | 97,377 | | $ | 7.38 | | 97,377 | | $ | 7.38 | | 97,377 | | $ | 7.38 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of shares exercisable | 89,580 | | $ | 7.27 | | 81,791 | | $ | 7.89 | | 73,998 | | $ | 6.98 |
In September 2006, the FASB ratified the conclusions reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) on EITF 06-4, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements.” This issue requires companies to recognize an obligation for either the present value of the entire promised death benefit or the annual “cost of insurance” required to keep the policy in force during the post-retirement years. EITF 06-4 was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. The Company made a $467,000 reduction to retained earnings for the cumulative effect of EITF 06-4 as of January 1, 2008 pursuant to the guidance of this pronouncement to record the portion of this benefit earned by participants prior to adoption of this pronouncement.
The Company is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of capital in relation to both on- and off-balance sheet items at various risk weights. Total capital consists of two tiers of capital. Tier 1 Capital includes common shareholders’ equity and trust preferred securities less adjustments for intangible assets. Tier 2 Capital consists of the allowance for loan losses up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets and other adjustments. Management believes, as of December 31, 2008, that the Company and the Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.
As of December 31, 2008, the most recent notification from the FDIC categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Bank’s category.
The Company’s and the Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios are presented below:
| | Actual | | For Capital Adequacy Purposes | | To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amount | | Ratio | | Amount | | Ratio | | Amount | | Ratio |
| | (dollars in thousands) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2008: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated | | $ | 125,871 | | 14.90% | | 67,589 | | 8.00% | | N/A | | N/A |
Bank | | $ | 93,530 | | 11.10% | | 67,411 | | 8.00% | | 84,264 | | 10.00% |
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated | | $ | 115,332 | | 13.65% | | 33,794 | | 4.00% | | N/A | | N/A |
Bank | | $ | 82,991 | | 9.85% | | 33,705 | | 4.00% | | 50,558 | | 6.00% |
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated | | $ | 115,332 | | 12.40% | | 37,192 | | 4.00% | | N/A | | N/A |
Bank | | $ | 82,991 | | 8.94% | | 37,137 | | 4.00% | | 46,421 | | 5.00% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2007: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated | | $ | 97,410 | | 12.16% | | 64,071 | | 8.00% | | N/A | | N/A |
Bank | | $ | 87,393 | | 10.93% | | 63,940 | | 8.00% | | 79,926 | | 10.00% |
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated | | $ | 88,307 | | 11.03% | | 32,035 | | 4.00% | | N/A | | N/A |
Bank | | $ | 78,290 | | 9.80% | | 31,970 | | 4.00% | | 47,955 | | 6.00% |
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated | | $ | 88,307 | | 10.43% | | 33,873 | | 4.00% | | N/A | | N/A |
Bank | | $ | 78,290 | | 9.26% | | 33,827 | | 4.00% | | 42,284 | | 5.00% |
(14) | Shareholders’ Equity |
On April 19, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a 3-for-2 stock split that was paid in conjunction with the Company’s regular cash dividend for the second quarter of 2007. As a result of the stock split, each shareholder received three new shares of stock for every two shares of stock they held as of the record date. Shareholders received a cash payment in lieu of any fractional shares resulting from the stock split. The cash dividend was paid based on the number of shares held by shareholders as adjusted by the stock split. All previously reported per share amounts have been restated to reflect this stock split.
In November 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $2.0 million in common shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock through its existing Stock Repurchase Plan effective through the end of November 2007. No shares of common stock were repurchased under this plan during 2006. During 2007 the Company repurchased 100,000 shares, or $1,938,000, of its common stock under this plan.
In August 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 75,000 common shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock through its existing Stock Repurchase Plan effective through the end of August 2008. The Company repurchased 50,497 shares, or $873,000, of its common stock under this plan during 2007. The Company repurchased 25,000 shares, or $350,000, of its common stock under this plan during 2008. The Board of Directors ratified the purchase of 497 additional shares in March 2008.
In March 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 100,000 common shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock through its existing Stock Repurchase Plan effective through the end of March 2009. The Company has repurchased 65,500 shares, or $776,000, of its common stock under this plan as of December 31, 2008. Because of the Company's participation inthe U.S. Treasury Department's Capital Purchase Program ("CPP"), discussed below, the Company can no longer repurchase shares of its common stock under the Stock Repurchase Plan without United States Department of the Treasury ("UST") approval.
The Board of Directors, at its discretion, can issue shares of preferred stock up to a maximum of 5,000,000 shares. The Board is authorized to determine the number of shares, voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights.
On December 23, 2008, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with the United States Department of the Treasury (“UST”). Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell 25,054 shares of Series A preferred stock and warrants to purchase 357,234 shares of common stock associated with the Company’s participation in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”). Proceeds from this issuance of preferred shares were allocated between preferred stock and the warrant based on their relative fair values at the time of the sale. Of the $25.1 million in proceeds, $24.4 million was allocated to the Series A preferred stock and $704,000 was allocated to the common stock warrant. The discount recorded on the preferred stock that resulted from allocating a portion of the proceeds to the warrant is being accreted directly to retained earnings over a five-year period applying a level yield. No dividends were declared or paid on the Series A preferred stock during 2008, and cumulative undeclared dividends at December 31, 2008 were $28,000. The CPP, created by the UST, is a voluntary program in which selected, healthy financial institutions were encouraged to participate. Approved use of the funds includes providing credit to qualified borrowers, either as companies or individuals, among other things. Such participation is intended to support the economic development of the community and thereby restore the health of the local and national economy.
The Series A preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and 9% per annum thereafter. The Series A preferred stock may be redeemed at the stated amount of $1,000 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. Under the terms of the original Purchase Agreement, the Company could not redeem the preferred shares until December 23, 2011 unless the total amount of the issuance, $25.1 million, was replaced with the same amount of other forms of capital that would qualify as Tier 1 capital. However, with the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), the Company can now redeem the preferred shares at any time, if approved by the Company’s primary regulator. The Series A preferred stock is non-voting except for class voting rights on matters that would adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Series A preferred stock.
The exercise price of the warrant is $10.52 per common share and it is exercisable at anytime on or before December 18, 2018.
The Company is subject to the following restrictions while the Series A preferred stock is outstanding: 1) UST approval is required for the Company to repurchase shares of outstanding common stock; 2) the full dividend for the latest completed CPP dividend period must be declared and paid in full before dividends may be paid to common shareholders; 3) UST approval is required for any increase in common dividends per share; and 4) the Company may not take tax deductions for any senior executive officer whose compensation is above $500,000. There were additional restrictions on executive compensation added in the ARRA for companies participating in the TARP.
The Board of Directors of the Bank may declare a dividend of all of its retained earnings as it may deem appropriate, subject to the requirements of the General Statutes of North Carolina, without prior approval from the requisite regulatory authorities. As of December 31, 2008, this amount was approximately $37.8 million.
(15) | Other Operating Expense |
Other operating expense for the years ended December 31 included the following items that exceeded one percent of total revenues:
| 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
| | | | | |
Advertising | $ | 1,076,461 | | 988,116 | | 772,917 |
(16) | Fair Value of Financial Instruments |
The Company is required to disclose fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized on the face of the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The assumptions used in the estimation of the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments are detailed below. Where quoted prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using discounted cash flows and other valuation techniques. The use of discounted cash flows can be significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. The following disclosures should not be considered a surrogate of the liquidation
value of the Company, but rather a good faith estimate of the increase or decrease in value of financial instruments held by the Company since purchase, origination, or issuance.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For cash, due from banks, interest bearing deposits and federal funds sold, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Investment Securities Available for Sale
Fair values for investment securities are based on quoted market prices.
Other Investments
For other investments, the carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Loans
The fair value of fixed rate loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. For variable rate loans, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance
For cash surrender value of life insurance, the carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Derivative Instruments
For derivative instruments, fair value is estimated as the amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the contracts at the reporting date, taking into account the current unrealized gains or losses on open contracts.
Deposits and Demand Notes Payable
The fair value of demand deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, savings, and demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of certificates of deposit is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.
Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase
For securities sold under agreements to repurchase, the carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
FHLB and Short-term FRB Borrowings
The fair value of FHLB and FRB borrowings is estimated based upon discounted future cash flows using a discount rate comparable to the current market rate for such borrowings.
Junior Subordinated Debentures
Because the Company’s junior subordinated debentures were issued at a floating rate, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Commitments to Extend Credit and Standby Letters of Credit
Commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are generally short-term and at variable interest rates. Therefore, both the carrying value and estimated fair value associated with these instruments are immaterial.
Limitations
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on many judgments. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.
Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. Significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments include the deferred income taxes and premises and equipment. In addition, the tax
ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in the estimates.
The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
| 2008 | | 2007 |
| Carrying Amount | | Estimated Fair Value | | Carrying Amount | | Estimated Fair Value |
| (dollars in thousands) |
| | | | | | | |
Assets: | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 27,929 | | 27,929 | | 29,800 | | 29,800 |
Investment securities available for sale | $ | 124,916 | | 126,539 | | 120,968 | | 120,968 |
Other investments | $ | 6,303 | | 6,303 | | 6,434 | | 6,434 |
Loans, net | $ | 770,163 | | 773,256 | | 713,174 | | 713,689 |
Cash surrender value of life insurance | $ | 7,019 | | 7,019 | | 6,776 | | 6,776 |
Derivative instruments | $ | 4,981 | | 4,981 | | 1,907 | | 1,907 |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Deposits and demand notes payable | $ | 722,662 | | 718,278 | | 695,239 | | 695,659 |
Securities sold under agreements | | | | | | | | |
to repurchase | $ | 37,501 | | 37,501 | | 27,583 | | 27,583 |
Short-term FRB borrowings | $ | 5,000 | | 4,999 | | - | | - |
FHLB borrowings | $ | 77,000 | | 83,038 | | 87,500 | | 90,223 |
Junior subordinated debentures | $ | 20,619 | | 20,619 | | 20,619 | | 20,619 |
(17) Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (Parent Company Only) Condensed Financial Statements
Balance Sheets |
| | | |
December 31, 2008 and 2007 |
| | | |
Assets | 2008 | | 2007 |
| | | |
Cash | $ | 25,599,529 | | 725,416 |
Interest-bearing time deposit | | 5,000,000 | | 8,000,000 |
Investment in subsidiaries | | 89,406,831 | | 80,703,540 |
Investment securities available for sale | | 1,811,123 | | 1,374,581 |
Other assets | | 415,483 | | 251,724 |
| | | | |
Total assets | $ | 122,232,966 | | 91,055,261 |
| | | | |
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | | | | |
| | | | |
Accrued expenses | $ | 485,540 | | 334,679 |
Junior subordinated debentures | | 20,619,000 | | 20,619,000 |
Shareholders' equity | | 101,128,426 | | 70,101,582 |
| | | | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 122,232,966 | | 91,055,261 |
| | | | | |
Statements of Earnings |
| | | | | |
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 |
| | | | | |
Revenues: | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
| | | | | |
Dividends from subsidiaries | $ | 1,929,455 | | | 4,811,203 | | | 3,855,556 |
Interest and dividend income | | 442,693 | | | 463,866 | | | 672,922 |
Loss on sale of securities | | (327,013 | ) | | (235,950 | ) | | - |
| | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | 2,045,135 | | | 5,039,119 | | | 4,528,478 |
| | | | | | | | |
Expenses: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Interest | | 1,016,361 | | | 1,475,701 | | | 1,962,692 |
Other operating expenses | | 243,849 | | | 266,146 | | | 786,014 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total expenses | | 1,260,210 | | | 1,741,847 | | | 2,748,706 |
| | | | | | | | |
Earnings before income tax benefit and equity in | | | | | | | | |
undistributed earnings of subsidiaries | | 784,925 | | | 3,297,272 | | | 1,779,772 |
| | | | | | | | |
Income tax benefit | | 389,200 | | | 514,800 | | | 705,800 |
| | | | | | | | |
Earnings before undistributed earnings in subsidiaries | | 1,174,125 | | | 3,812,072 | | | 2,485,572 |
| | | | | | | | |
Equity in undistributed earnings in subsidiaries | | 5,216,438 | | | 5,779,899 | | | 6,685,245 |
| | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | $ | 6,390,563 | | | 9,591,971 | | | 9,170,817 |
Statements of Cash Flows | |
| | | | | | | | |
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | $ | 6,390,563 | | | 9,591,971 | | | 9,170,817 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net | | | | | | | | | |
cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | | |
Amortization | | - | | | - | | | 461,298 | |
Book value shares accrual | | 136,130 | | | 158,678 | | | 128,444 | |
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries | | (5,216,438 | ) | | (5,779,899 | ) | | (6,685,245 | ) |
Deferred income tax benefit | | (52,855 | ) | | (61,551 | ) | | (49,520 | ) |
Loss on sale of investment securities | | 327,013 | | | 235,950 | | | - | |
Change in: | | | | | | | | | |
Other assets | | (3,167 | ) | | - | | | - | |
Accrued income | | (16,876 | ) | | 1,603 | | | (1,421 | ) |
Accrued expense | | 14,731 | | | (253,748 | ) | | 25,975 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | 1,579,101 | | | 3,893,004 | | | 3,050,348 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale | | 3,167 | | | - | | | (6,000,000 | ) |
Purchases of investment securities available for sale | | (1,000,000 | ) | | - | | | - | |
Net change in interest-bearing time deposit | | 3,000,000 | | | - | | | (6,000,000 | ) |
Purchases of other investments | | - | | | - | | | (600,000 | ) |
Purchase of equity in PEBK Capital Trust II | | - | | | - | | | (619,000 | ) |
Proceeds from liquidation of PEBK Capital Trust I | | - | | | - | | | 433,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used by investing activities | | 2,003,167 | | | - | | | (6,786,000 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from issuance of trust preferred securities | | - | | | - | | | 20,619,000 | |
Repayments of trust preferred securities | | - | | | - | | | (14,433,000 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock | | 25,054,000 | | | - | | | - | |
Cash dividends paid | | (2,679,828 | ) | | (2,331,203 | ) | | (1,905,556 | ) |
Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares | | - | | | (3,355 | ) | | (6,426 | ) |
Common stock repurchased | | (1,126,275 | ) | | (2,810,907 | ) | | (425,000 | ) |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | | 43,948 | | | 330,997 | | | 1,014,425 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | | 21,291,845 | | | (4,814,468 | ) | | 4,863,443 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net change in cash | | 24,874,113 | | | (921,464 | ) | | 1,127,791 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash at beginning of year | | 725,416 | | | 1,646,880 | | | 519,089 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash at end of year | $ | 25,599,529 | | | 725,416 | | | 1,646,880 | |
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
DIRECTORS
Robert C. Abernethy – Chairman
Chairman of the Board, Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. and Peoples Bank;
President, Secretary and Treasurer, Carolina Glove Company, Inc. (glove manufacturer)
James S. Abernethy
President and Assistant Secretary, Midstate Contractors, Inc. (paving company)
Douglas S. Howard
Vice President, Howard Ventures, Inc. (private equity firm)
John W. Lineberger, Jr.
President, Lincoln Bonded Warehouse Company (commercial warehousing facility)
Gary E. Matthews
President and Director, Matthews Construction Company, Inc. (general contractor)
Billy L. Price, Jr. MD
Practicing Internist and Partner, Catawba Valley Internal Medicine, PA
Larry E. Robinson
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Blue Ridge Distributing Co., Inc. (beer and wine distributor)
William Gregory (Greg) Terry
Executive Vice President, Drum & Willis-Reynolds Funeral Homes and Crematory
Dan Ray Timmerman, Sr.
President/CEO, Timmerman Manufacturing, Inc. (wrought iron furniture, railings and gates manufacturer)
Benjamin I. Zachary
President, Treasurer and Director, Alexander Railroad Company
OFFICERS
Tony W. Wolfe
President and Chief Executive Officer
A. Joseph Lampron
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Treasurer
Joseph F. Beaman, Jr.
Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary
Lance A. Sellers
Executive Vice President and Assistant Corporate Secretary
William D. Cable, Sr.
Executive Vice President and Assistant Corporate Treasurer
APPENDIX B
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
OMNIBUS STOCK OWNERSHIP AND
LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
February 19, 2009
THIS IS THE OMNIBUS STOCK OWNERSHIP AND LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN (“Plan”) of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (the “Company”), a North Carolina corporation with its principal office in Newton, Catawba County, North Carolina, under which Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Options to acquire Shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, and/or Book Value Shares may be granted from time to time to Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees of the Company and of any of its Subsidiaries, subject to the following provisions.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below. Additional terms defined in this Plan shall have the meanings ascribed to them when first used herein.
Award. An award, grant or issuance of any of the Rights available under this Plan.
Award Agreement. The agreement between the Company and/or the Bank and the Grantee that evidences and sets out the terms and conditions of an Award.
Bank. | Peoples Bank, Newton, North Carolina. |
Board. The Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
Book Value Share. The Right of a Grantee to receive cash compensation under such terms and conditions as described in Article VII.
Book Value Share Agreement. The agreement between the Company and the Grantee with respect to Book Value Shares granted to such Grantee, including such terms and provisions as are necessary or appropriate under Article VII.
Change In Control. Any one of the following corporate events: (i) a Change of Ownership; (ii) a Change in Effective Control; or (iii) a Change of Asset Ownership; in each case, as defined herein and as further defined and interpreted in Section 409A.
(i) “Change of Ownership” shall mean the date one person (or group) acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock previously held, constitutes
more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided that such person (or group) did not previously own 50% or more of the value or voting power of the stock of the Company.
(ii) “Change in Effective Control” means the date either (A) one person (or group) acquires (or has acquired during the proceeding 12 months) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the Company stock or (B) a majority of the board of directors of the Company is replaced during any 12 month period by directors whose election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company prior to such election.
(iii) “Change of Asset Ownership” means the date one person (or group) acquires (or has acquired during the preceding 12 months) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value that is equal to or exceeds 40% of the total gross fair market value of all the Company’s assets immediately prior to such acquisition.
(iv) For purposes of determining whether the Company has undergone a Change in Control under the Plan, the term “Company” shall include any corporation that is a majority shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A (i.e., owning more than 50% of the total fair market value and total voting power of the Company).
Code. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Committee. The Compensation Committee of the Board, which shall be composed solely of two or more members of the Board who are “non-employee directors” as described in Rule 16(b)(3) of the Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Common Stock. The Common Stock, no par value, of the Company.
Corporate Transaction. Any one or more of the following transactions:
| (i) | a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated; |
(ii) | the sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including without limitation the capital stock of the Company’s Subsidiaries); |
(iii) | approval by the Company’s shareholders of any plan or proposal for the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; |
(iv) | any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty (50%) percent of the total combined voting |
| power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or entity or persons or entities different from those that held such securities immediately prior to such merger; or |
(v) | acquisition by any person or entity or related group of persons or entities (other than the Company or a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficiary ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty (50%) percent of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities (whether or not in a transaction also constituting a Change in Control). |
Death. The date and time of death of an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee who has received Rights, as established by the relevant death certificate.
Disability. The date on which an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee who has received Rights is:
| (i) | Unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or |
| (ii) | By reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment (which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months) receiving income replacement benefits for a period of 3 or more months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company and/or the Bank, or |
| (iii) | Determined to be disabled by the Social Security Administration. |
Effective Date. Pursuant to the action of the Board adopting the Plan, the date as of which this Plan is effective is the date it is approved by the Company’s shareholders.
Eligible Directors. Those individuals who are duly elected directors of the Company or any Subsidiary who are serving in such capacity and who have been selected by the Committee as a person to whom a Right or Rights shall be granted under the Plan.
Eligible Employees. Those individuals who meet the following eligibility requirements:
| (i) | Such individual must be a full time employee of the Company or a Subsidiary. For this purpose, an individual shall be considered to be an “employee” only if there exists between the Company or a Subsidiary and the individual the legal and bona fide relationship of employer and employee. In determining whether such relationship exists, the regulations of the United States Treasury Department |
| | relating to the determination of such relationship for the purpose of collection of income tax at the source on wages shall be applied. |
| (ii) | If the Registration shall not have occurred, such individual must have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment involved in the receipt and/or exercise of a Right. |
| (iii) | Such individual, being otherwise an Eligible Employee under the foregoing items, shall have been selected by the Committee as a person to whom a Right or Rights shall be granted under the Plan. |
Fair Market Value. With respect to the Company’s Common Stock, the market price per share of such Common Stock determined by the Committee, consistent with the requirements of Sections 409 and 422 of the Code and to the extent consistent therewith, determined as follows, as of the date specified in the context within which such term is used:
| (i) | When there is a public market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by (A) the closing price for a share on the market trading day on the date of the determination (and if a closing price was not reported on that date, then the arithmetic mean of the closing bid and asked prices at the close of the market on that date, and if these prices were not reported on that date, then the closing price on the last trading date on which a closing price was reported) on the stock exchange or national market system that is the primary market for the Shares; and (B) if the shares are not traded on such stock exchange or national market system, the arithmetic mean of the closing bid and asked prices for a share on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the day prior to the date of the determination (and if these prices were not reported on that date, then on the last date on which these prices were reported), in each case as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source that the Committee considers reliable in its exclusive discretion. |
| (ii) | If the Committee, in its exclusive discretion, determines that the foregoing methods do not apply or produce a reasonable valuation, then Fair Market Value shall be determined by an independent appraisal that satisfies the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(28)(C) as of a date within twelve (12) months before the date of the transaction for which the appraisal is used, e.g., the date of grant of an Award (the “Appraisal”). If the Committee, in its exclusive discretion, determines that the Appraisal does not reflect information available after the date of the Appraisal that may materially affect the value of the shares, then Fair Market Value shall be determined by a new Appraisal. |
| (iii) | The Committee shall maintain a written record of its method of determining Fair Market Value. |
Grantee. A person who receives or holds an Award under the Plan.
ISO. An “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
Non-Qualified Option. Any Option granted under Article III whether designated by the Committee as a Non-Qualified Option or otherwise, other than an Option designated by the Committee as an ISO, or any Option so designated but which, for any reason, fails to qualify as an ISO pursuant to Section 422 of the Code and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Option Agreement. The agreement between the Company and a Grantee with respect to Options granted to such Grantee, including such terms and provisions as are necessary or appropriate under Article III.
Options. ISOs and Non-Qualified Options are collectively referred to herein as “Options;” provided, however, whenever reference is specifically made only to ISOs or Non-Qualified Options, such reference shall be deemed to be made to the exclusion of the other.
Parent. A corporation, other than the Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if on the date of grant of an Award each corporation, other than the Company, owns stock possessing at least fifty (50%) percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
Performance Units. The Right of a Grantee to receive a combination of cash and Shares under such terms and conditions as described in Article V.
Performance Unit Agreement. The agreement between the Company and a Grantee with respect to the award of Performance Units to the Grantee, including such terms and conditions as are necessary or appropriate under Article V.
Plan Pool. A total of 360,000 shares of authorized but unissued Common Stock, as such number may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
Registration. The registration by the Company under the 1933 Act and applicable state “Blue Sky” and securities laws of this Plan, the offering of Rights under this Plan, the offering of Shares under this Plan, and/or the Shares acquirable under this Plan.
Related Entity. A corporation or other entity, other than the Company, to which the Grantee primarily provides services on the date of grant of an Award, and any corporation or other entity, other than the Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations or other entities beginning with the Company in which each corporation or other entity has a controlling interest in another corporation or other entity in the chain, ending with the corporation or other entity that has a controlling interest in the corporation or other entity to which the Grantee primarily provides services on the date of grant of an Award. For a corporation, a controlling interest means ownership of stock possessing at least fifty (50%) percent of total combined voting power of all classes of stock, or at least fifty (50%) percent of the total value of all classes of stock. For a partnership or limited liability company, a controlling interest means ownership of at least fifty
(50%) percent of the profits interest or capital interest of the entity. In determining ownership, the rules of Treasury Regulation §§1.414(c)-3 and 1.414(c)-4 apply.
Related Entity Disposition. The sale, distribution, or other disposition by the Company, Parent, or a Subsidiary of all or substantially all of the interests of the Company, Parent, or a Subsidiary in any Related Entity effected by a sale, merger, consolidation, or other transaction involving that Related Entity, or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of that Related Entity, other than any Related Entity Disposition to the Company, Parent, or a Subsidiary.
Restricted Stock. The Shares which a Grantee shall be entitled to receive under such terms and conditions as described in Article IV.
Restricted Stock Agreement. The agreement between the Company and a Grantee with respect to Rights to receive Restricted Stock, including such terms and provisions as are necessary or appropriate under Article IV.
Restricted Stock Units. The Right of a Grantee to receive cash and/or Shares under such terms and conditions as described in Article IV.
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. The agreement between the Company and a Grantee with respect to Rights to receive the value of Shares, either in the form of cash or Shares, including such terms and provisions as are necessary or appropriate under Article IV.
Rights. The rights to exercise, purchase or receive the Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, SARs and Book Value Shares described herein.
SAR. The Right of a Grantee to receive cash under such terms and conditions as described in Article VI.
SAR Agreement. The agreement between the Company and a Grantee with respect to the SAR awarded to the Grantee, including such terms and conditions as are necessary or appropriate under Article VI.
SEC. The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 409A. Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, including guidance and regulations issued thereunder.
Section 424 Corporate Transaction. The occurrence, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following: (i) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) a sale or other disposition of more than fifty (50%) percent of the outstanding stock of the Company; (iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, or similar transaction after which the Company is not the surviving corporation; (iv) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, or similar transaction after which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares outstanding
immediately preceding the merger, consolidation, or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by reason of the transaction into other stock, property, or cash; or (v) a distribution by the Company (excluding an ordinary dividend or a stock split or stock dividend described in Treasury Regulation §1.424-1(e)(4)(v)).
Separation from Service. When an employee, director, and contractor to the Company, Bank, and all Parents and Related Entities has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, including when the Grantee dies, retires or has a termination of service in as explained in the following provisions:
| (i) | The employment relationship is treated as continuing intact while the Grantee is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence, if the period of leave does not exceed six (6) months or, if longer, as long as the employee’s right to reemployment with the Company, Bank, a Parent or a Related Entity is provided by statute or contract. A leave of absence is bona fide only if there is a reasonable expectation that the employee will return to perform services for the Company, Bank, Parent, or Related Entity. If the period of leave exceeds six (6) months and the Grantee’s right to reemployment is not provided by statute or contract, the employment relationship is deemed to terminate on the first day immediately following the six (6) month period; |
(ii) | A director or contractor has a separation from service upon the expiration of the contract, and if there is more than one contract, all contracts, under which the director or contractor performs services as long as the expiration is a good faith and complete termination of the contractual relationship; and |
| (iii) | If a Grantee performs services in more than one capacity, the Grantee must separate from service in all capacities as an employee, director, and contractor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Grantee provides services both as an employee and a director, the services provided as a director are not taken into account in determining whether the Grantee has a separation from service as an employee under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which the Grantee participates as an employee and that is not aggregated under Section 409A with any plan in which the Grantee participates as a director. In addition, if a Grantee provides services both as an employee and a director, the services provided as an employee are not taken into account in determining whether the Grantee has a separation from service as a director under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which the Grantee participates as a director and that is not aggregated under Section 409A with any plan in which the Grantee participates as an employee. |
Share. A share of Common Stock.
Specified Employee. A “specified employee” as defined by Section 409A. As of the date of the adoption of this amended and restated Plan, Section 409A provides that if the
Company’s Common Stock is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, then “specified employee” means senior officers who make $130,000 or more annually (indexed) (limited to the top 3 such officers or, if greater (up to a maximum of 50), the top 10%)); 1% owners whose compensation is $150,000 or more annually; and 5% owners regardless of their compensation).
Subsidiary. A subsidiary corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, under Code Section 424(f).
Tax Withholding Liability. All federal and state income taxes, social security tax, and any other taxes applicable to the compensation income arising from the transaction required by applicable law to be withheld by the Company.
Termination of Employment. In this Plan, all references to termination of employment mean that the Eligible Employee or Eligible Director has had a Separation from Service.
Transfer. The sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, loan, gift, attachment, levy upon, assignment for the benefit of creditors, by operation of law (by will or descent and distribution), transfer by a qualified domestic relations order, a property settlement or maintenance agreement, transfer by result of the bankruptcy laws or otherwise of a Share or of a Right.
1933 Act. The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
1934 Act. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL
Section 2.1. Purpose. The purposes of this Plan are to encourage and motivate directors and key employees to contribute to the successful performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the growth of the market value of the Common Stock; to achieve a unity of purpose among such directors, key employees and the Company’s shareholders by providing ownership opportunities, and a unity of interest among such parties in the achievement of the Company’s primary long term performance objectives; and to retain key employees by rewarding them with potentially tax-advantageous future compensation. These objectives will be promoted through the granting of Rights to designated Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees pursuant to the terms of this Plan.
Section 2.2. Administration.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which meets, and shall continue to meet, the standards of Rule 16b-3(d)(1) promulgated by the SEC under the 1934 Act. Subject to the provisions of SEC Rule 16b-3(d)(1), the Committee may designate any officers or employees of the Company or any Subsidiary to assist in the administration of the Plan, to execute documents on behalf of the Committee and to perform such other ministerial duties as may be delegated to them by the Committee.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the determinations and the interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the Committee shall be final and conclusive upon all persons affected thereby. By way of illustration and not of limitation, the Committee shall have the discretion (a) to construe and interpret the Plan and all Rights granted hereunder and to determine the terms and provisions (and amendments thereof) of the Rights granted under the Plan (which need not be identical); (b) to define the terms used in the Plan and in the Rights granted hereunder; (c) to prescribe, amend and rescind the rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (d) to determine the Eligible Employees to whom and the time or times at which such Rights shall be granted, the number of Shares, as and when applicable, to be subject to each Right, the exercise, other relevant purchase price or value pertaining to a Right, and the determination of leaves of absence which may be granted to Eligible Employees without constituting a termination of their employment for the purposes of the Plan, provided that the determination must be in compliance with Section 409A if Section 409A applies to the Rights; and (e) to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Provided, however, that the Committee shall administer and interpret the Plan in a manner so as to comply with Section 409A to the extent that Section 409A applies to any portion(s) of the Plan. Only the full Board has the discretion to determine the Eligible Directors to whom and the time or times at which such Rights shall be granted, the number of Shares, as and when applicable, to be subject to each Right, the exercise, and other relevant purchase price or value pertaining to a Right. References to the Committee contained in this Agreement will also mean the Board wherever Rights of Eligible Directors are addressed.
(c) It shall be in the discretion of the Committee to grant Options to purchase Shares which qualify as ISOs under the Code or which will be given tax treatment as Non-Qualified Options. Any Options granted which fail to satisfy the requirements for ISOs shall become Non-Qualified Options.
(d) The intent of the Company is to register the (i) offering of Shares pertaining to or underlying the Rights and the offering of Rights pursuant to this Plan, (ii) this Plan and (iii) the Rights, to the extent required, under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities and “Blue Sky” laws. In such event, the Company shall make available to Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees receiving Rights, and/or Shares in connection therewith, all disclosure documents required under such federal and state laws. If such Registration shall not occur, the Committee shall be responsible for supplying the recipient of a Right, and/or Shares in connection therewith, with such information about the Company as is contemplated by the federal and state securities laws in connection with exemptions from the registration requirements of such laws, as well as providing the recipient of a Right with the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of the Rights granted under this Plan. In addition, if such Registration shall not occur, the Committee shall be responsible for determining the maximum number of Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees and the suitability of particular persons to be Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees in order to comply with applicable federal and state securities statutes and regulations governing such exemptions.
(e) In determining the Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees to whom Rights shall be granted and the number of Shares to be covered by each Right, the Committee shall take into account the nature of the services rendered by such Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and/or the Subsidiaries and such other factors as the Committee shall deem relevant. An Eligible Director or Eligible Employee who has been granted a Right under the Plan may be granted additional Rights under the Plan if the Committee shall so determine.
If, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, or otherwise in connection with the Plan, it is necessary that the percentage of stock ownership of an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee be determined, the ownership attribution provisions set forth in Section 424(d) of the Code shall be controlling.
(f) The granting of Rights pursuant to this Plan is in the exclusive discretion of the Committee, and until the Committee acts, no individual shall have any rights under this Plan. The terms of this Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with this intent.
Section 2.3. Stock Matters.
(a) Shares Available for Rights. Shares shall be subject to, or underlying, grants of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, SARs, Performance Units and Book Value Shares under this Plan. The total number of Shares for which, or with respect to which, Rights may be granted (including the number of Shares in respect of which Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, SARs, Performance Units and Book Value Shares may be granted) under this Plan shall be those designated in the Plan Pool. In the event that a Right granted under the Plan to any Eligible Director or Eligible Employee expires or is terminated unexercised as to any Shares covered thereby, such Shares thereafter shall be deemed available in the Plan Pool for the granting of Rights under this Plan; provided, however, if the expiration or termination date of a Right is beyond the term of the Plan as described in Section 8.3, then any Shares covered by unexercised or terminated Rights shall not reactivate the existence of this Plan and therefore shall not be available for additional grants of Rights under this Plan.
(b) Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the Company’s shareholders, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or that have been returned to the Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each such outstanding Award, as well as any other terms that the Committee determines in its exclusive discretion require adjustment, may be proportionately adjusted for (a) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination, or reclassification of the Shares, or similar event affecting the Shares; (b) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; or (c) as the Committee determines in its exclusive discretion, any other transaction with respect to Common Stock to which Code Section 424(a) applies or any similar transaction; provided, however, that conversion of any convertibles securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been effected without receipt of consideration. Such adjustment, if any, shall be made by the Committee in its exclusive discretion, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as the Committee determines in its exclusive discretion, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award.
(c) Corporate Transactions/Changes in Control/Related Entity Dispositions. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement:
| (i) | On the specified effective date of a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control, each Award that is at the time outstanding automatically shall become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any restrictions on transfer (other than transfer restrictions applicable to ISOs) and repurchase or forfeiture rights, immediately prior to the specified effective |
| | date of such Corporate Transaction or Change in Control, for all the Shares at the time represented by such Award (except to the extent that such acceleration of exercisability would result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Committee may, in its exclusive discretion, provide as part of a Section 424 Corporate Transaction that any one or more of the foregoing provisions shall not apply. |
(ii) | On the specified effective date of a Related Entity Disposition, for each Grantee who on such specified effective date is engaged primarily in service to the Related Entity that is the subject of the Related Entity Disposition, each Award that is at the time outstanding automatically shall become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any restrictions on transfer (other than transfer restrictions applicable to ISOs) and repurchase and forfeiture rights, immediately prior to the specified effective date of such Related Entity Disposition, for all the Shares at the time represented by such Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Committee may, in its exclusive discretion, provide as part of a Section 424 Corporate Transaction that any one or more of the foregoing provisions shall not apply. |
(iii) | The Committee may provide in any Award, Award Agreement, or as part of a Section 424 Corporate Transaction, that if the requirements of Treas. Reg. §1.424-1 (without regard to the requirement described in Treas. Reg. §1.424-1(a)(2) that an eligible corporation be the employer of the optionee) would be met if the stock right were an ISO, the substitution of a new stock right pursuant to a Section 424 Corporate Transaction for an outstanding stock right or the assumption of an outstanding stock right pursuant to a Section 424 Corporate Transaction shall not be treated as the grant of a new stock right or a change in the form of payment. The requirement of Treas. Reg. §1.424-1(a)(5)(iii) is deemed satisfied if the ratio of the exercise price to the Fair Market Value of the Shares immediately after the substitution or assumption is not greater than the ratio of the exercise price to the Fair Market Value of the Shares immediately before the substitution or assumption. In the case of a transaction described in Code Section 355 in which the stock of the distributing corporation and the stock distributed in the transaction are both readily tradable on an established securities market immediately after the transaction, the requirements of Treas. Reg. §1.424-1(a)(5) may be satisfied by: |
(1) | using the last sale before or the first sale after the specified date as of which such valuation is being made, the closing price on the last trading day before or the trading day of a specified date, the arithmetic |
| mean of the high and low prices on the last trading day before or the trading day of such specified date, or any other reasonable method using actual transactions in such stock as reported by such market on a specified date, for the stock of the distributing corporation and the stock distributed in the transaction, provided the specified date is designated before such specified date, and such specified date is not more than sixty (60) days after the transaction; |
(2) | using the arithmetic mean of such market price on trading days during a specified period designated before the beginning of such specified period, when such specified period is not longer than thirty (30) days and ends no later than sixty (60) days after the transaction; or |
(3) | using an average of such prices during such prespecified period weighted based on the volume of trading of such stock on each trading day during such prespecified period. |
(d) No Limitations on Power of Company. The grant of a Right pursuant to this Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassification, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge or to consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate or sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
(e) No fractional Shares shall be issued under this Plan for any adjustment under Section 2.3(b).
Section 2.4. Section 409A Matters. The Plan and the Awards issued hereunder are intended to fall within available exemptions from the application of Section 409A of the Code (the incentive stock option exemption, the exemption for certain nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights issued at Fair Market Value, the restricted property exemption, and/or the short-term deferral exemption). Thus, it is intended that the Awards fall outside the scope of Section 409A and are not required to comply with the Section 409A requirements. The Plan and the Awards will be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with the intent set forth herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan or in any Award Agreement, (i) this Plan and each Award Agreement may be amended from time to time as the Committee may determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to avoid any grant of any Rights, this Plan, or any Award Agreement from resulting in the inclusion of any compensation in the gross income of any Participant under Section 409A as amended from time to time, and (ii) if any provision of this Plan or of any Award Agreement would otherwise result in the inclusion of any compensation in the gross income of any Participant under Section 409A as amended from time to time, then such provision shall not apply as to such Participant and the Committee, in its discretion, may apply in lieu thereof another provision that (in the judgment of the Committee) accomplishes the intent of this Plan or such Award Agreement without resulting in such inclusion so long as such action by the Committee does not violate Section 409A. The Company makes no representation or warranty regarding the treatment of this Plan or the benefits payable
under this Plan or any Award Agreement under federal, state or local income tax laws, including Section 409A.
Section 2.5. Amendment and Discontinuance. The Board may at any time alter, suspend, terminate or discontinue the Plan, subject to Section 409A, and subject to any applicable regulatory requirements and any required shareholder approval or any shareholder approval which the Board may deem advisable for any reason, such as for the purpose of obtaining or retaining any statutory or regulatory benefits under tax, securities or other laws or satisfying applicable stock exchange or quotation system listing requirements. The Board may not, without the consent of the Grantee of an Award previously granted, make any alteration which would deprive the Grantee of his rights with respect thereto, except to the extent an amendment is required in order for the Award to comply with Section 409A, if applicable to the Award, or to fall within an exemption from Section 409A.
Section 2.6. Compliance with Rule 16b-3. With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, transactions under this Article III are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act. To the extent any provision of this Article III or action by the Board or the Committee fails so to comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.
Section 2.7. Term and Termination of Awards other than Performance Units.
(a) The Committee shall determine, and each Award Agreement shall state, the expiration date or dates of each Award, but such expiration date shall be not later than ten (10) years after the date such Award is granted (the “Award Period”). In the event an ISO is granted to a 10% Shareholder, the expiration date or dates of each Award Period shall be not later than five (5) years after the date such ISO is granted. The Committee, in its discretion, may extend the expiration date or dates of an Award Period after such date was originally set; provided, however, such expiration date may not exceed the maximum expiration date described in this Section 2.7(a). Provided further that no extension will be granted if it would violate Section 409A to the extent that Section 409A applies to the Award.
(b) To the extent not previously exercised, each Award will terminate upon the expiration of the Award Period specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that each such Award will terminate upon the earlier of: (i) twelve (12) months after the date that the Grantee ceases to be an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee by reason of Death or Disability; or (ii) immediately as of the date that the Grantee ceases to be an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee for any reason other than Death or Disability. Any portions of Awards not exercised within the foregoing periods shall terminate.
(c) This Section 2.7 applies to all Awards other than Performance Units.
Section 2.8. Delay of Certain Payments Upon Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, to the extent any Right is subject to Section
409A, and payment or exercise of such Right is on account of a Termination of Employment, such payment or exercise shall only be effectuated if the Grantee incurs a Separation from Service. Payment will occur on the 60th day after the Separation from Service. Provided, however, that if the Grantee is a Specified Employee, payment or exercise shall be effectuated on the first day of the seventh month following the Separation from Service.
ARTICLE III
OPTIONS
Section 3.1. Grant of Options.
(a) The Company may grant Options to Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees as provided in this Article III. Options will be deemed granted pursuant to this Article III only upon (i) authorization by the Committee, and (ii) the execution and delivery of an Option Agreement by the Grantee and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Options will not be deemed granted hereunder merely upon authorization of such grant by the Committee. The aggregate number of Shares potentially acquirable under all Options granted shall not exceed the total number of Shares in the Plan Pool, less all Shares potentially acquired under, or underlying, all other Rights outstanding under this Plan.
(b) The Committee shall designate Options at the time a grant is authorized as either ISOs or Non-Qualified Options. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time an ISO is granted) of the Shares as to which an ISO may first become exercisable by a Grantee in a particular calendar year (pursuant to Article III and all other plans of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries) may not exceed $100,000 (the “$100,000 Limitation”). If a Grantee is granted Options in excess of the $100,000 Limitation, or if such Options otherwise become exercisable with respect to the number of Shares which would exceed the $100,000 Limitation, such excess Options shall be Non-Qualified Options.
Section 3.2. Exercise Price. The exercise price of each Option granted under the Plan (the “Exercise Price”) shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option. In the case of ISOs granted to a shareholder who owns capital stock of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of the capital stock of the Company (a “10% Shareholder”), the Exercise Price of each Option granted under the Plan to such 10% Shareholder shall not be less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option.
Section 3.3. Terms and Conditions of Options.
(a) All Options must be granted within ten (10) years of the Effective Date.
(b) The Committee may grant ISOs and Non-Qualified Options, either separately or jointly, to an Eligible Employee. The Committee may grant Non-Qualified Options to an Eligible Director but may not grant ISOs to an Eligible Director.
(c) The grant of Options shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its discretion, consistent with the provisions of this Article III, and the Option Agreement will fix the number of Shares subject to the Option.
(d) At the discretion of the Committee, a Grantee, as a condition to the granting of the Option, must execute and deliver to the Company a confidential information agreement approved by the Committee.
(e) Nothing contained in Article III, any Option Agreement or in any other agreement executed in connection with the granting of an Option under this Article III will confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the continuation of his or her status as an employee or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(f) Except as otherwise provided herein, each Option Agreement may specify the period or periods of time within which each Option or portion thereof will first become exercisable (the “Vesting Period”) with respect to the total number of Shares acquirable thereunder. Such Vesting Periods will be fixed by the Committee in its discretion, and may be accelerated or shortened by the Committee in its discretion.
(g) Not less than one hundred (100) Shares may be purchased at any one time through the exercise of an Option unless the number purchased is the total number at that time purchasable under all Options granted to the Grantee.
(h) A Grantee shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any Shares underlying such Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price by such Grantee for the stock being purchased. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares is fully paid for, except as provided in Sections 2.3(b) and 2.3(c).
(i) All Shares obtained pursuant to an Option which is designated and qualifies as an ISO shall be held in escrow for a period which ends on the later of (i) two (2) years from the date of the granting of the ISO or (ii) one (1) year after the issuance of such Shares pursuant to the exercise of the ISO. Such Shares shall be held by the Company or its designee. The Grantee who has exercised the ISO shall have all rights of a shareholder, including, but not limited, to the rights to vote, receive dividends and sell such shares. The sole purpose of the escrow is to inform the Company of a disqualifying disposition of the Shares acquired within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, and it shall be administered solely for this purpose.
(j) When Non-Qualified Options are transferred or exercised, the transfer or exercise shall be subject to taxation under Code Section 83 and Treasury Regulation §1.83-7. No Non-Qualified Option awarded hereunder shall contain any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the later of exercise or disposition of the Option under Treasury Regulation §1.83-7 or the time the stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the option first becomes substantially vested as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.83-3(b). Further, each Non-Qualified Option will comply with any other applicable Section 409A requirement in order to maintain the status of the Non-Qualified Option as exempt from the requirements of Section 409A.
Section 3.4. Exercise of Options.
(a) A Grantee must at all times be an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee from the date of grant until the exercise of the Options granted, except as provided in Section 2.7(b).
(b) An Option may be exercised to the extent exercisable (i) by giving written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased and, if applicable, accompanied by full payment of the Exercise Price thereof and the amount of withholding taxes pursuant to Section 3.4(c) below; and (ii) by giving assurances satisfactory to the Company that the Shares to be purchased upon such exercise are being purchased for investment and not with a view to resale in connection with any distribution of such Shares in violation of the 1933 Act; provided, however, that in the event of the prior occurrence of the Registration or in the event resale of such Shares without such Registration would otherwise be permissible, the second condition will be inoperative if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such condition is not required under the 1933 Act or any other applicable law, regulation or rule of any governmental agency.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of the Shares upon full or partial exercise of a Non-Qualified Option, the Grantee will pay to the Company in cash, or in such other form as the Committee may determine in its discretion, the amount of the Company’s Tax Withholding Liability required in connection with such exercise.
(d) The Exercise Price of an Option shall be payable to the Company either (i) in United States dollars, in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company, or (ii) at the discretion of the Committee, through the delivery of outstanding shares of the Common Stock owned by the Grantee with a Fair Market Value at the date of delivery equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Option(s) being exercised, or (iii) at the discretion of the Committee by a combination of (i) and (ii) above. No Shares shall be delivered until full payment has been made. Except as provided in Sections 2.3(b) and 2.3(c), the Committee may not approve a reduction of such Exercise Price in any such Option, or the cancellation of any such Options and the regranting thereof to the same Grantee at a lower Exercise Price, at a time when the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock is lower than it was when such Option was granted.
Section 3.5. Restrictions On Transfer. An Option granted under Article III may not be Transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and, during the lifetime of the Grantee to whom it was granted, may be exercised only by such Grantee.
Section 3.6. Stock Certificates. Certificates representing the Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of Options will bear all legends required by law and necessary to effectuate the provisions hereof. The Company may place a “stop transfer” order against such Shares until all restrictions and conditions set forth in this Article III, the applicable Option Agreement, and in the legends referred to in this Section 3.6 have been complied with.
ARTICLE IV
RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANTS
Section 4.1. Grants of Restricted Stock.
(a) The Company may grant Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees as provided in this Article IV. Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units will be deemed granted only upon (i) authorization by the Committee and (ii) the execution and delivery of a Restricted Stock Agreement or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, as applicable, by the Grantee and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will not be deemed to have been granted merely upon authorization by the Committee. The aggregate number of Shares potentially acquirable under all Restricted Stock Agreements and all Restricted Stock Unit Agreements shall not exceed the total number of Shares in the Plan Pool, less all Shares potentially acquirable under, or underlying, all other Rights outstanding under this Plan.
(b) Each grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units pursuant to this Article IV will be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, as applicable, between the Company and the Grantee in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its sole discretion, consistent with this Article IV. Each Restricted Stock Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement will specify the purchase price per share (the “Purchase Price”), if any, with respect to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to be issued to the Grantee thereunder. The Purchase Price will be fixed by the Committee in its exclusive discretion. The Purchase Price will be payable to the Company in United States dollars in cash or by check or such other legal consideration as may be approved by the Committee, in its exclusive discretion.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, each Restricted Stock Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall include the following terms and conditions:
(i) Nothing contained in this Article IV, any Restricted Stock Agreement, any Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, or in any other agreement executed in connection with the issuance of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under this Article IV will confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the
continuation of his or her status as an employee or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(ii) Except as otherwise provided herein, each Restricted Stock Agreement and each Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall specify the period or periods of time within which each share of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit or portion thereof will first become exercisable (the "Vesting Period") with respect to the total number of shares of Restricted Stock acquirable thereunder. Such Vesting Period will be fixed by the Committee in its discretion, but generally shall be at least two (2) years and one day of continued service with the Company. The Committee may, in its discretion, establish a shorter Vesting Period by specifically providing for such shorter period in the Restricted Stock Agreement; provided, however, that the Vesting Period shall not be less than one (1) year and one day of continued service with the Company after the date on which the Restricted Stock Right is granted.
(iii) Each Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall specify whether the distribution will be in the form of cash, shares or a combination of cash and shares.
(iv) Upon satisfaction of the Vesting Period and any other applicable restrictions, terms and conditions, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive his Restricted Stock or payment of his Restricted Stock Unit(s) on or before the sixtieth (60th) day following satisfaction of the Vesting Period as provided in the Restricted Stock Agreement or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, as applicable.
Section 4.2. Restrictions on Transfer of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.
(a) Restricted Stock Units may not be Transferred, and shares of Restricted Stock acquired by a Grantee may be Transferred only in accordance with the specific limitations on the Transfer of Restricted Stock imposed by applicable state or federal securities laws and set forth below, and subject to certain undertakings of the transferee set forth in Section 4.2(c). All Transfers of Restricted Stock not meeting the conditions set forth in this Section 4.2(a) are expressly prohibited.
(b) Any Transfer of Restricted Stock Units and any prohibited Transfer of Restricted Stock is void and of no effect. Should such a Transfer purport to occur, the Company may refuse to carry out the Transfer on its books, attempt to set aside the Transfer, enforce any undertaking or right under this Section 4.2, or exercise any other legal or equitable remedy.
(c) Any Transfer of Restricted Stock that would otherwise be permitted under the terms of this Plan is prohibited unless the transferee executes such documents as the Company may reasonably require to ensure the Company’s rights under a Restricted Stock Agreement and this Article IV are adequately protected with respect to the
Restricted Stock so Transferred. Such documents may include, without limitation, an agreement by the transferee to be bound by all of the terms of this Plan applicable to Restricted Stock, and of the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement, as if the transferee were the original Grantee of such Restricted Stock.
(d) To facilitate the enforcement of the restrictions on Transfer set forth in this Article IV, the Committee may, at its discretion, require the Grantee of shares of Restricted Stock to deliver the certificate(s) for such shares with a stock power executed in blank by the Grantee and the Grantee’s spouse, to the Secretary of the Company or his or her designee, to hold said certificate(s) and stock power(s) in escrow and to take all such actions and to effectuate all such Transfers and/or releases as are in accordance with the terms of this Plan and the Restricted Stock Agreement. The certificates may be held in escrow so long as the shares of Restricted Stock whose ownership they evidence are subject to any restriction on Transfer under this Article IV or under a Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Grantee acknowledges that the Secretary of the Company (or his or her designee) is so appointed as the escrow holder with the foregoing authorities as a material inducement to the issuance of shares of Restricted Stock under this Article IV, that the appointment is coupled with an interest, and that it accordingly will be irrevocable. The escrow holder will not be liable to any party to a Restricted Stock Agreement (or to any other party) for any actions or omissions unless the escrow holder is grossly negligent relative thereto. The escrow holder may rely upon any letter, notice or other document executed by any signature purported to be genuine.
Section 4.3. Compliance with Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be issued pursuant to this Article IV only after there has been compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and such issuance will be subject to this overriding condition. The Company may include shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units in a Registration, but will not be required to register or qualify Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units with the SEC or any state agency, except that the Company will register with, or as required by local law, file for and secure an exemption from such registration requirements from, the applicable securities administrator and other officials of each jurisdiction in which an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee would be issued Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units hereunder prior to such issuance.
Section 4.4. Stock Certificates. Certificates representing the Restricted Stock issued pursuant to this Article IV will bear all legends required by law and necessary to effectuate the provisions hereof. The Company may place a “stop transfer” order against shares of Restricted Stock until all restrictions and conditions set forth in this Article IV, the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement and in the legends referred to in this Section 4.4, have been complied with.
Section 4.5. Market Standoff. To the extent requested by the Company and any underwriter of securities of the Company in connection with a firm commitment underwriting, no Grantee of any shares of Restricted Stock will sell or otherwise Transfer any such shares not included in such underwriting, or not previously registered in a Registration, during the one
hundred twenty (120) day period following the effective date of the registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with such offering.
Section 4.6. Rights of Grantees of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.
(a) A Grantee shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until he receives Restricted Shares at the conclusion of the Vesting Period.
(b) A Grantee shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(c) Unless the Committee otherwise provides in a dividend agreement awarded to the Grantee at the time of the Award Agreement, the Grantee shall have no rights to dividends, whether cash or stock, until the Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units vest and Shares are delivered to the Grantee except as provided in Sections 2.3(b) and 2.3(c).
ARTICLE V
PERFORMANCE UNITS
Section 5.1. Awards of Performance Units.
(a) The Committee may grant awards of Performance Units to Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees as provided in this Article V. Performance Units will be deemed granted only upon (i) authorization by the Committee and (ii) the execution and delivery of a Performance Unit Agreement by the Grantee and an authorized officer of the Company. Performance Units will not be deemed granted merely upon authorization by the Committee. Performance Units may be granted in such amounts and to such Grantees as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion subject to the limitation in Section 5.2 below.
(b) Each grant of Performance Units pursuant to this Article V will be evidenced by a Performance Unit Agreement between the Company and the Grantee in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its sole discretion, consistent with this Article V.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, Performance Units will be distributed only after the end of a performance period of two or more years (“Performance Period”) beginning with the year in which such Performance Units were awarded. The Performance Period shall be set by the Committee for each year’s awards.
(d) The percentage of the Performance Units awarded under this Section 5.1 that will be distributed to Grantees shall depend on the levels of financial performance and other performance objectives achieved during each year of the Performance Period;
provided, however, that the Committee may adopt one or more performance categories or eliminate all performance categories other than financial performance. Financial performance shall be based on the consolidated results of the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared on the same basis as the financial statements published for financial reporting purposes and determined in accordance with Section 5.1(e) below. Other performance categories adopted by the Committee shall be based on measurements of performance as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
(e) Distributions of Performance Units awarded will be based on the Company’s financial performance with results from other performance categories applied as a factor, not exceeding one, against financial results. The annual financial and other performance results will be averaged over the Performance Period and translated into percentage factors according to graduated criteria established by the Committee for the entire Performance Period. The resulting percentage factors shall determine the percentage of Units to be distributed.
No distributions of Performance Units, based on financial performance and other performance, shall be made if a minimum average percentage of the applicable measurement of performance, to be established by the Committee, is not achieved for the Performance Period. The performance levels achieved for each Performance Period and percentage of Performance Units to be distributed shall be conclusively determined by the Committee.
(f) The percentage of Performance Units awarded and which Grantees become entitled to receive based on the levels of performance will be determined as soon as practicable after each Performance Period and are called “Retained Performance Units.”
(g) On or before the 60th day after determination of the number of Retained Performance Units, such Retained Performance Units shall be distributed in the form of a combination of shares and cash. The Committee, in its sole discretion, will determine how much of the Retained Performance Unit will be distributed in cash and how much will be distributed in Shares. The Performance Units awarded, but which Grantees do not become entitled to receive, shall be cancelled.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V, the Committee, if it determines in its sole discretion that it is necessary or advisable under the circumstances, may adopt rules pursuant to which Eligible Employees by virtue of hire, or promotion or upgrade to a higher employee grade classification, or special individual circumstances, may be granted the total award of Performance Units or any portion thereof, with respect to one or more Performance Periods that began in prior years and at the time of the awards have not yet been completed.
Section 5.2. Limitations. The aggregate number of Shares potentially distributable under all Units granted shall not exceed the total number of Shares in the Plan Pool, less all Shares potentially acquirable under, or underlying, all other Rights outstanding under this Plan.
Section 5.3. Terms and Conditions.
(a) All awards of Performance Units must be made within ten (10) years of the original Effective Date.
(b) The award of Performance Units shall be evidenced by a Performance Unit Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its discretion, consistent with the provisions of this Article V.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article V, any Performance Unit Agreement or in any other agreement executed in connection with the award of Performance Units under this Article V will confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the continuation of his or her status as an employee or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.4. Special Distribution Rules.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.4, a Grantee must be an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee from the date a Unit is awarded to him or her continuously through and including the date of distribution of such Unit.
(b) In case of the Death or Disability of a Grantee prior to the end of any Performance Period, whether before or after any event set forth in Section 2.3(c), the number of Performance Units awarded to the Grantee for such Performance Period shall be reduced pro rata based on the number of months remaining in the Performance Period after the month of Death or Disability. The remaining Performance Units, reduced in the discretion of the Committee to the percentage indicated by the levels of performance achieved prior to the date of Death or Disability, if any, shall be distributed within a reasonable time after Death or Disability. All other Units awarded to the Grantee for such Performance Period shall be cancelled.
(c) In case of the termination of the Grantee’s status as an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee prior to the end of any Performance Period for any reason other than Death or Disability, all Performance Units awarded to the Grantee with respect to any such Performance Period shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled.
(d) Upon a Grantee’s promotion to a higher employee grade classification, the Committee may award to the Grantee the total Performance Units, or any portion thereof, which are associated with the higher employee grade classification for the current Performance Period.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee may reduce or eliminate awards to a Grantee who has been demoted to a lower employee grade classification, and where circumstances warrant, may permit continued participation, proration or early distribution, or a combination thereof, of awards which would otherwise be cancelled.
Section 5.5. Rights of Grantees of Performance Units.
(a) A Grantee shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until he receives Shares, if any.
(b) A Grantee shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Performance Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(c) Unless the Committee otherwise provides in a dividend agreement awarded to the Grantee at the time of the Performance Unit Agreement, the Grantee shall have no rights to dividends, whether cash or stock, unless and until Shares are delivered to the Grantee except as provided in Sections 2.3(b) and 2.3(c).
Section 5.6. Extraordinary Adjustment. In addition to the provisions of Section 2.3(b), if an extraordinary change occurs during a Performance Period which significantly alters the basis upon which the performance levels were established under Section 5.1 for that Performance Period, to avoid distortion in the operation of this Article V, but subject to Section 5.2, the Committee may make adjustments in such performance levels to preserve the incentive features of this Article V, whether before or after the end of the Performance Period, to the extent it deems appropriate in its sole discretion, which adjustments shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties concerned. Provided, however, that such adjustment must comply with Section 409A. Such changes may include, without limitation, adoption of, or changes in, accounting practices, tax laws and regulatory or other laws or regulations; economic changes not in the ordinary course of business cycles; or compliance with judicial decrees or other legal authorities.
Section 5.7. Other Conditions.
(a) No person shall have any claim to be granted an award of Performance Units under this Article V and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Directors, Eligible Employees or Grantees under this Article V. Performance Units under this Article V may not be Transferred.
(b) The Company shall have the right to deduct from any distribution or payment in cash under this Article V, and the Grantee or other person receiving Shares under this Article V shall be required to pay to the Company, any Tax Withholding Liability. The number of Shares to be distributed to any individual Grantee may be reduced by the number of Shares, the Fair Market Value on the Distribution Date (as defined in Section 5.7(d) below) of which is equivalent to the cash necessary to pay any Tax Withholding Liability, where the cash to be distributed is not sufficient to pay such Tax Withholding Liability or the Grantee may deliver to the Company cash sufficient to pay such Tax Withholding Liability.
(c) Any distribution of Shares under this Article V may be delayed until the requirements of any applicable laws or regulations, and any stock exchange or Nasdaq National Market requirements, are satisfied. The Shares distributed under this Article V shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions on disposition as counsel for the Company shall determine to be desirable or necessary under applicable law.
(d) For the purpose of distribution of Performance Units in cash, the value of a Performance Unit shall be the Fair Market Value on the Distribution Date. The “Distribution Date” shall be the first business day of April in the year of distribution, except that in the case of special distributions the Distribution Date shall be the first business day of the month in which the Committee determines the distribution.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V and subject also to Section 5.5(c), no dividends shall accrue and no distributions of Performance Units shall be made if at the time a dividend would otherwise have accrued or distribution would otherwise have been made:
(i) The regular quarterly dividend on the Common Stock has been omitted and not subsequently paid or there exists any default in payment of dividends on any such outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company;
(ii) The rate of dividends on the Common Stock is lower than at the time the Performance Units to which the accrued dividend relates were awarded, adjusted for any change of the type referred to in Section 2.3(b).
(iii) Estimated consolidated net income of the Company for the twelve-month period preceding the month the dividend would otherwise have accrued distribution would otherwise have been made is less than the sum of the amount of the accrued dividends and Performance Units eligible for distribution under this Article V in that month plus all dividends applicable to such period on an accrual basis, either paid, declared or accrued at the most recently paid rate, on all outstanding shares of Common Stock; or
(iv) The dividend accrual or distribution would result in a default in any agreement by which the Company is bound.
(f) In the event net income available under Section 5.7(e) above for accrued dividends and awards eligible for distribution under this Article V is sufficient to cover part but not all of such amounts, the following order shall be applied in making payments: (i) accrued dividends, and (ii) Performance Units eligible for distribution under this Article V.
Section 5.8. Restrictions On Transfer. Performance Units granted under Article V may not be Transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise provided in Section 5.9, and during the lifetime of the Grantee to whom it was awarded, cash and Shares receivable with respect to Performance Units may be received only by such Grantee.
Section 5.9. Designation of Beneficiaries. A Grantee may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive all or part of the Shares and/or cash to be distributed to the Grantee under this Article V in case of Death. A designation of beneficiary may be replaced by a new designation or may be revoked by the Grantee at any time. A designation or revocation shall be on a form to be provided for that purpose and shall be signed by the Grantee and delivered to the Company prior to the Grantee’s Death. In case of the Grantee’s Death, the amounts to be distributed to the Grantee under this Article V with respect to which a designation of beneficiary has been made (to the extent it is valid and enforceable under applicable law) shall be distributed in accordance with this Article V to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries. The amount distributable to a Grantee upon Death and not subject to such a designation shall be distributed to the Grantee’s estate. If there shall be any question as to the legal right of any beneficiary to receive a distribution under this Article V, the amount in question may be paid to the estate of the Grantee, in which event the Company shall have no further liability to anyone with respect to such amount.
ARTICLE VI
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
Section 6.1. Grants of SARs.
(a) The Company may grant SARs to Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees under this Article VI. SARs will be deemed granted only upon (i) authorization by the Committee and (ii) the execution and delivery of a SAR Agreement by the Grantee and a duly authorized officer of the Company. SARs will not be deemed granted merely upon authorization by the Committee. The aggregate number of Shares which shall underlie SARs granted hereunder shall not exceed the total number of Shares in the Plan Pool, less all Shares potentially acquirable under, or underlying, all other Rights outstanding under this Plan.
(b) Each grant of SARs pursuant to this Article VI shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the Company and the Grantee, in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its sole discretion, consistent with this Article VI.
Section 6.2. Terms and Conditions of SARs.
(a) All SARs must be granted within ten (10) years of the Effective Date.
(b) Each SAR issued pursuant to this Article VI shall have an initial base value (the “Base Value”) equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of issuance of the SAR (the “SAR Issuance Date”).
(c) Nothing contained in this Article VI, any SAR Agreement or in any other agreement executed in connection with the granting of a SAR under this Article VI will confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the continuation of his or her status as an employee or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d) Except as otherwise provided herein, each SAR Agreement shall specify the number of Shares covered by the SAR and the period or periods of time within which each SAR or portion thereof will first become exercisable (the “SAR Vesting Period”) with respect to the total Cash Payment (as defined in Section 6.4(b)) receivable thereunder. Such SAR Vesting Period will be fixed by the Committee in its discretion, and may be accelerated or shortened by the Committee in its discretion.
(e) SARs relating to no less than one hundred (100) Shares may be exercised at any one time unless the number exercised is the total number at that time exercisable under all SARs granted to the Grantee.
(f) A Grantee shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any Shares covered by such SAR. No adjustment shall be made to a SAR for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property).
| (g) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no SAR shall contain any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the right to receive compensation equal to the difference between the Base Value on the date of grant and the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date of Exercise. |
Section 6.3. Restrictions on Transfer of SARs. Each SAR granted under this Article VI may not be Transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, and during the lifetime of the Grantee to whom it was granted, may be exercised only by such Grantee.
Section 6.4. Exercise of SARs.
(a) A Grantee, or his or her executors or administrators, or heirs or legatees, shall exercise a SAR of the Grantee by giving written notice of such exercise to the Company (the “SAR Exercise Date”). SARs may be exercised only upon the completion of the SAR Vesting Period applicable to such SAR.
(b) Within ten (10) days of the SAR Exercise Date applicable to a SAR exercised in accordance with Section 6.4(a), the Grantee shall be paid in cash the difference between the Base Value of such SAR and the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the SAR Exercise Date (the “Cash Payment”), reduced by the Tax Withholding Liability arising from such exercise.
Section 6.5. Designation of Beneficiaries. A Grantee may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive all or part of the cash to be paid to the Grantee under this Article VI in case of Death. A designation of beneficiary may be replaced by a new designation or may be revoked by the Grantee at any time. A designation or revocation shall be on a form to be provided for that purpose and shall be signed by the Grantee and delivered to the Company prior to the Grantee’s Death. In case of the Grantee’s Death, the amounts to be distributed to the Grantee under this Article VI with respect to which a designation of beneficiary has been made (to the extent it is valid and enforceable under applicable law) shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries. The amount distributable to a Grantee upon Death and not subject to such a designation shall be distributed to the Grantee’s estate. If there shall be any question as to the legal right of any beneficiary to receive a distribution under this Article VI, the amount in question may be paid to the estate of the Grantee, in which event the Company shall have no further liability to anyone with respect to such amount.
ARTICLE VII
BOOK VALUE SHARES
Section 7.1. Grant of Book Value Shares. The Company may grant Book Value Shares to Eligible Directors and Eligible Employees as provided in this Article VII. Book Value Shares will be deemed granted only (i) authorization by the Committee and (ii) the execution and delivery of a Book Value Share Agreement by the Grantee and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Book Value Shares will not be deemed granted hereunder merely upon authorization of such grant by the Committee. The aggregate number of Book Value Shares potentially granted shall not exceed the total number of shares in the Plan Pool, less all Shares potentially acquirable under, or underlying, all other Rights outstanding under this Plan.
Section 7.2. Initial Value. The initial value of each Book Value Share granted under this Plan (the “Initial Value”) shall be the book value of the Common Stock on the day of issuance.
Section 7.3. Terms and Conditions of Book Value Shares.
(a) All Book Value Shares must be granted within ten (10) years of the Effective Date.
(b) The Committee may make more than one grant of Book Value Shares to a Grantee.
(c) Each grant of Book Value Shares shall be evidenced by a Book Value Share Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its discretion, consistent with the provisions of this Article VII.
(d) Nothing contained in Article VII, any Book Value Share Agreement or in any other agreement executed in connection with the granting of Book Value Shares under
this Article VII will confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the continuation of his or her status as an employee or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(e) Except as otherwise provided herein, each Book Value Share Agreement may specify the period or periods of time within which each Book Value Share or portion thereof will first become redeemable (the “Vesting Period”) with respect to the total number of Book Value Shares acquirable thereunder. Such Vesting Periods will be fixed by the Committee in its discretion, and may be accelerated or shortened by the Committee in its discretion provided that such acceleration is consistent with Section 409A.
Section 7.4. Redemption of Book Value Shares.
(a) A Grantee must be an Eligible Employee or Eligible Director at all times from the date of grant until the redemption of the Book Value Shares granted, except as provided in Section 2.7(b).
(b) A Book Value Share may be redeemed to the extent redeemable by giving written notice of redemption to the Company, specifying the number of full Book Value Shares to be redeemed and, if applicable, accompanied by full payment of the amount of the Tax Withholding Liability pursuant to Section 7.4(c) below.
(c) As a condition to the redemption, in full or in part, of the Book Value Shares, the Grantee will pay to the Company in cash, or in such other form as the Committee may determine in its discretion, the amount of the Tax Withholding Liability required in connection with such exercise.
(d) Book Value Shares shall be redeemed for (i) the then current book value of the Common Stock and the mark to market valuation of the Company’s investment securities portfolio in accordance with FASB 115 less (ii) the Initial Value per share.
(e) The monies due shall be payable to the Grantee either in United States dollars, in cash or by check, draft or money order payable to the order of the Grantee.
Section 7.5. Rights of Grantees of Book Value Shares.
(a) A Grantee shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until he receives Book Value Shares at the conclusion of the Vesting Period.
(b) A Grantee shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Book Value Shares represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(c) Unless the Committee otherwise provides in a dividend agreement awarded to the Grantee at the time of the Book Value Agreement, the Grantee shall have
no rights to dividends, whether cash or stock, or an adjustment for dividends, except as provided in Sections 2.3(b) and 2.3(c). No adjustment shall be made if the adjustment would cause the Book Value Shares granted hereunder to be considered deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A, or would otherwise subject the Book Value Shares to Section 409A.
Section 7.6. Restrictions on Transfer. A Book Value Share granted under Article VII may not be Transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise provided in Section 7.7, and during the lifetime of the Grantee to whom it was granted, may be exercised only by such Grantee.
Section 7.7. Designation of Beneficiaries. A Grantee may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive all or part of the cash to be distributed to the Grantee under this Article VII in case of Death. A designation of beneficiary may be replaced by a new designation or may be revoked by the Grantee at any time. A designation or revocation shall be on a form to be provided for that purpose and shall be signed by the Grantee and delivered to the Company prior to the Grantee’s Death. In case of the Grantee’s Death, the amounts to be distributed to the Grantee under this Article VII with respect to which a designation of beneficiary has been made (to the extent it is valid and enforceable under applicable law) shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VII to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries. The amount distributable to a Grantee upon Death and not subject to such a designation shall be distributed to the Grantee’s estate. If there shall be any question as to the legal right of any beneficiary to receive a distribution under this Article VII, the amount in question may be paid to the estate of the Grantee, in which event the Company shall have no further liability to anyone with respect to such amount.
Section 7.8. Evidence of Participation. In lieu of certificates representing the Book Value Shares issued pursuant to this Plan, the Book Value Share Agreement shall serve as evidence of ownership.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1. Application of Funds. The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Shares pursuant to the exercise of Rights will be used for general corporate purposes.
Section 8.2. No Obligation to Exercise Right. The granting of a Right shall impose no obligation upon the recipient to exercise such Right.
Section 8.3. Term of Plan. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, Rights may be granted pursuant to this Plan from time to time within ten (10) years from the Effective Date.
Section 8.4. Captions and Headings; Gender and Number. Captions and paragraph headings used herein are for convenience only, do not modify or affect the meaning of any provision herein, are not a part, and shall not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Plan. As used herein, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, and the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa, whenever such meanings are appropriate.
Section 8.5. Expenses of Administration of Plan. All costs and expenses incurred in the operation and administration of this Plan shall be borne by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries. The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold each member of the Committee harmless against all claims, expenses and liabilities arising out of or related to the exercise of the Committee’s powers and the discharge of the Committee’s duties hereunder.
Section 8.6. Governing Law. Without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws, the laws of the State of North Carolina shall govern and control the validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this Plan.
Section 8.7. Inspection of Plan. A copy of this Plan, and any amendments thereto, shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Company and shall be shown to any proper person making inquiry about it.
Section 8.8. Severable Provisions. The Company intends that the provisions of Articles III, IV, V, VI and VII, in each case together with Articles I, II and VIII, shall each be deemed to be effective on an independent basis, and that if one or more of such Articles, or the operative provisions thereof, shall be deemed invalid, void or voidable, the remainder of such Articles shall continue in full force and effect.