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| DISCLAIMER2Statementsincludedinthiscommunication,whicharenothistoricalinnatureareintendedtobe,andareherebyidentifiedas,forward-lookingstatementsforpurposesofthesafeharborprovidedbySection27AoftheSecuritiesActof1933andSection21EoftheSecuritiesExchangeActof1934.Forward-lookingstatementsarebasedon,amongotherthings,management’sbeliefs,assumptions,currentexpectations,estimatesandprojectionsaboutthefinancialservicesindustry,theeconomyandSouthState.Wordsandphrasessuchas“may,”“approximately,”“continue,”“should,”“expects,”“projects,”“anticipates,”“islikely,”“lookahead,”“lookforward,”“believes,”“will,”“intends,”“estimates,”“strategy,”“plan,”“could,”“potential,”“possible”andvariationsofsuchwordsandsimilarexpressionsareintendedtoidentifysuchforward-lookingstatements. SouthStatecautionsreadersthatforward-lookingstatementsaresubjecttocertainrisks,uncertaintiesandassumptionsthataredifficulttopredictwithregardto,amongotherthings,timing,extent,likelihoodanddegreeofoccurrence,whichcouldcauseactualresultstodiffermateriallyfromanticipatedresults.Suchrisks,uncertaintiesandassumptions,include,amongothers,thefollowing:(1)economicdownturnrisk,potentiallyresultinginthenumberandpaceofhigherinterestrates,deteriorationinthecreditmarkets,inflation,greaterthanexpectednoninterestexpenses,excessiveloanlossesandothernegativeconsequences,whichriskscouldbeexacerbatedbypotentialcontinuednegativeeconomicdevelopmentsresultingfromtheCovid19pandemic,orfromfederalspendingcutsand/oroneormorefederalbudget-relatedimpassesoractions;(2)interestrateriskprimarilyresultingfromtheinterestrateenvironment,thenumberandpaceofrisinginterestrates,andtheirimpactontheBank’searnings,includingfromthecorrespondentandmortgagedivisions,housingdemand,themarketvalueofthebank’sloanandsecuritiesportfolios,andthemarketvalueofSouthState’sequity;(3)risksrelatedtothemergerandintegrationofSouthStateandAtlanticCapitalincluding,amongothers,(i)theriskthatthecostsavingsandanyrevenuesynergiesfromthemergermaynotbefullyrealizedormaytakelongerthananticipatedtoberealized,(ii)theriskthattheintegrationofAtlanticCapital’soperationsintoSouthState’soperationswillbemateriallydelayedorwillbemorecostlyordifficultthanexpectedorthatthepartiesareotherwiseunabletosuccessfullyintegrateAtlanticCapital’sbusinessesintoSouthState’sbusinesses,(iii)theamountofthecosts,fees,expensesandchargesrelatedtothemerger,and(iv)reputationalriskandthereactionofeachcompany'scustomers,suppliers,employeesorotherbusinesspartnerstothemerger;(4)risksrelatingtothecontinuedimpactoftheCovid19pandemicontheCompany,includingpossibleimpacttotheCompanyanditsemployeesfromcontractingCovid19,andtoefficienciesandthecontrolenvironmentduetothechangingworkenvironmentandtoourresultsofoperationsduetofurtherinterventionstomitigatetheimpactofthepandemic;(5)theimpactofincreasingdigitizationofthebankingindustryandmovementofcustomerstoon-lineplatforms,andthepossibleimpactontheBank’sresultsofoperations,customerbase,expenses, suppliersandoperations;(6)controlsandproceduresrisk,includingthepotentialfailureorcircumventionofourcontrolsandproceduresorfailuretocomplywithregulationsrelatedtocontrolsandprocedures;(7)potentialdeteriorationinrealestatevalues;(8)theimpactofcompetitionwithotherfinancialinstitutions,includingdepositandloanpricingpressures(includingthoseresultingfromtheCARESAct)andtheresultingimpact,includingasaresultofcompressiontonetinterestmargin;(9)risksrelatingtotheabilitytoretainourcultureandattractandretainqualifiedpeople;(10)creditrisksassociatedwithanobligor’sfailuretomeetthetermsofanycontractwiththeBankorotherwisefailtoperformasagreedunderthetermsofanyloan-relateddocument;(11)risksrelatedtotheabilityoftheCompanytopursueitsstrategicplanswhichdependuponcertaingrowthgoalsinourlinesofbusiness;(12)liquidityriskaffectingtheBank’sabilitytomeetitsobligationswhentheycomedue;(13)risksassociatedwithananticipatedincreaseinSouthState’sinvestmentsecuritiesportfolio,includingrisksassociatedwithacquiringandholdinginvestmentsecuritiesorpotentiallydeterminingthattheamountofinvestmentsecuritiesSouthStatedesirestoacquirearenotavailableontermsacceptabletoSouthState;(14)priceriskfocusingonchangesinmarketfactorsthatmayaffectthevalueoftradedinstrumentsin“mark-to-market”portfolios;(15)transactionriskarisingfromproblemswithserviceorproductdelivery;(16)complianceriskinvolvingrisktoearningsorcapitalresultingfromviolationsofornonconformancewithlaws,rules,regulations,prescribedpractices,orethicalstandards;(17)regulatorychangeriskresultingfromnewlaws,rules,regulations,accountingprinciples,proscribedpracticesorethicalstandards,including,withoutlimitation,thepossibilitythatregulatoryagenciesmayrequirehigherlevelsofcapitalabovethecurrentregulatory-mandatedminimumsandincludingtheimpactoftheCARESAct,theConsumerFinancialProtectionBureauregulations,andthepossibilityofchangesinaccountingstandards,policies,principlesandpractices,includingchangesinaccountingprinciplesrelatingtoloanlossrecognition(CECL);(18)strategicriskresultingfromadversebusinessdecisionsorimproperimplementationofbusinessdecisions;(19)reputationriskthatadversely affectsearningsorcapitalarisingfromnegativepublicopinion;(20)cybersecurityriskrelatedtothedependenceofSouthStateoninternalcomputersystemsandthetechnologyofoutsideserviceproviders,aswellasthepotentialimpactsofinternalorexternalsecuritybreaches,whichmaysubjectthecompanytopotentialbusinessdisruptionsorfinanciallossesresultingfromdeliberateattacksorunintentionalevents;(21)reputationalandoperationalrisksassociatedwithenvironment,socialandgovernance(ESG)matters,includingtheimpactofrecentlyissuedproposedregulatoryguidanceandregulationrelatingtoclimatechange;(22)greaterthanexpectednoninterestexpenses;(23)excessiveloanlosses;(24)potentialdepositattrition,higherthanexpectedcosts,customerlossandbusinessdisruptionassociatedwiththeAtlanticCapitalintegration,andpotentialdifficultiesinmaintainingrelationshipswithkeypersonnel;(25)reputationalriskandpossiblehigherthanestimatedreducedrevenuefromannouncedchangesintheBank’sconsumeroverdraftprograms;(26)therisksoffluctuationsinmarketpricesforSouthStatecommonstockthatmayormaynotreflecteconomicconditionorperformanceofSouthState;(27)thepaymentofdividendsonSouthStatecommonstock,whichissubjecttolegalandregulatorylimitationsaswellasthediscretionoftheboardofdirectorsofSouthState,SouthState’sperformanceandotherfactors;(28)ownershipdilutionriskassociatedwithpotentialacquisitionsinwhichSouthState’sstockmaybeissuedasconsiderationforanacquiredcompany;(29)operational,technological,cultural,regulatory,legal,creditandotherrisksassociatedwiththeexploration,consummationandintegrationofpotentialfutureacquisitions,whetherinvolvingstockorcashconsideration;(30)majorcatastrophessuchashurricanes,tornados,earthquakes,floodsorothernaturalorhumandisasters,includinginfectiousdiseaseoutbreaks,suchastheongoingCovid19pandemic,andtherelateddisruptiontolocal,regionalandglobaleconomicactivityandfinancialmarkets,andtheimpactthatanyoftheforegoingmayhaveonSouthStateanditscustomersandotherconstituencies;(31)terroristactivitiesriskthatresultsinlossofconsumerconfidenceandeconomicdisruptions;and(32)otherfactorsthatmayaffectfutureresultsofSouthState,asdisclosedinSouthState’sAnnualReportonForm10-K,QuarterlyReportsonForm10-Q,andCurrentReportsonForm8-K,filed bySouthStatewiththeU.S.SecuritiesandExchangeCommission(“SEC”)andavailableontheSEC’swebsiteathttp://www.sec.gov,anyofwhichcouldcauseactualresultstodiffermateriallyfromfutureresultsexpressed,impliedorotherwiseanticipatedbysuchforward-lookingstatements. Allforward-lookingstatementsspeakonlyasofthedatetheyaremadeandarebasedoninformationavailableatthattime.SouthStatedoesnotundertakeanyobligationtoupdateorotherwisereviseanyforward-lookingstatements,whetherasaresultofnewinformation,futureevents,orotherwise,exceptasrequiredbyfederalsecuritieslaws.Asforward-lookingstatementsinvolvesignificantrisksanduncertainties,cautionshouldbeexercisedagainstplacingunduerelianceonsuchstatements. |