Total stockholders’ equity increased by $3,947,000, from $95,561,000 at December 31, 2006 to $99,508,000 at September 30, 2007. The increase is largely attributable to net income of $8,444,000, as partially offset by $3,254,000 in cash dividends declared and $2,527,000 expended for share repurchases. Also contributing to the increase, but to a much lesser extent, are proceeds from the exercise of stock options, stock-based compensation and unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities. Stock Repurchase Program and Market Liquidity. Since 1988, the Corporation has had a stock repurchase program under which it has purchased, from time to time, shares of its own common stock in market or private transactions. The Corporation’s market transactions are generally intended to comply with the manner, timing, price and volume conditions set forth in SEC Rule 10b-18 and therefore, with respect to such transactions, provide the Corporation with safe harbor from liability for market manipulation under section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Corporation periodically reevaluates whether it wants to continue purchasing shares of its own common stock in open market transactions under Rule 10b-18 or otherwise. Because the trading volume in the Corporation’s common stock is limited, the Corporation believes that a reduction or discontinuance of its share repurchase program could adversely impact market liquidity for its common stock, the price of its common stock, or both. The publicly reported trading volume in the Corporation’s common stock for the year ended September 30, 2007 was 628,547 shares, 4.6% of which resulted from open market purchases by the Corporation under its share repurchase program. Russell Microcap Index.Frank Russell Company maintains a family of U.S. equity indices. The indices are reconstituted in June of each year based on market capitalization and do not reflect subjective opinions. All Indices are subsets of the Russell 3000E Index, which represents most of the investable U. S. equity market. The Corporation’s common stock is included in the Russell Microcap Index. The average market capitalization of companies in the Russell Microcap Index is $300.9 million, the median market capitalization is $260.1 million, the capitalization of the largest company in the index is $711.4 million, and the capitalization of the smallest company in the index is $78.6 million. The Corporation’s market capitalization as of September 30, 2007 was approximately $158 million. The Corporation believes that inclusion in the Russell Microcap Index positively impacts the price, trading volume and liquidity of its common stock. Conversely, if the Corporation’s market capitalization falls below the minimum necessary to be included in the Russell Microcap Index at any future annual reconstitution date, the Corporation believes that this could adversely affect the price, volume and liquidity of its common stock. Cash Flows and Liquidity Cash Flows. The Corporation’s primary sources of cash are deposit growth, maturities and amortization of loans and investment securities, operations, and borrowing. The Corporation uses cash from these and other sources to first fund loan growth. Any remaining cash is used primarily to purchase a combination of short, intermediate, and longer-term investment securities, pay cash dividends, and repurchase common stock under the Corporation’s share repurchase program. During the first nine months of 2007, the Corporation’s cash and cash equivalent position increased by $17,902,000. The increase occurred primarily because cash provided by deposit growth, securities runoff, borrowed funds and operations exceeded the cash needed to grow loans. |