Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
In this Current Report on Form 8-K, unless the context suggests otherwise, the terms “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Atlantic Union Bank.
During our first quarter earnings conference call held on April 25, 2023, we discussed our intent to take certain actions to seek to reduce our operating expenses in light of the prevailing operating environment and our lower revenue growth expectations for 2023.
In the second quarter of 2023, we completed a review of our operating expenses and we are announcing a series of cost saving measures expected to reduce these expenses. These measures include our recent:
| ● | reorganization of certain management teams and personnel, which is expected to reduce employee headcount by approximately 4% by the end July 2023, as compared to March 31, 2023, and |
| ● | exit from our indirect automobile financing business. |
We are also planning additional cost saving measures, including:
| ● | the renegotiation of certain contracts with third-party vendors, and |
| ● | reducing our excess corporate office space by terminating certain existing leases. |
We expect these initiatives to reduce our annual expense run rate by approximately $17 million. We also expect these initiatives to result in total pre-tax one-time expenses of approximately $11.9 million, or $9.4 million on an after-tax basis, that will be recognized over the next two quarters with approximately $4.4 million pre-tax, or approximately $3.5 million after-tax, expected to occur in the second quarter of 2023 and approximately $7.5 million pre-tax, or approximately $5.9 million after-tax, expected to occur in the third quarter of 2023. These estimates and the timing thereof are subject to a number of assumptions, and actual outcomes may differ materially. We may also incur charges or expenses not currently contemplated due to unanticipated events that may occur in connection with these initiatives.
The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of such section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “intent,” “expect,” “seek to,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” or words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of our management about future events. Examples of forward-looking statement include, among others, statements regarding our expense reduction initiatives, including certain expected financial impacts of these actions and the timing thereof. Such forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions as of the time they are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the number of employee terminations; factors related to contracts, such as early termination costs; ongoing negotiations with third-party vendors; changes in management’s assumptions; our ability to accurately estimate and effectively manage the costs relating to exiting our indirect automobile financing business; unexpected delays; increased costs; regulatory restrictions; and the other factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and our other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements.
