FORM 11-K UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: THE FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. SHARING THRIFT PLAN B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: First Financial Holdings, Inc. 34 Broad Street Charleston, SC 29401 THE PLAN IS SUBJECT TO THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"). IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM NO. 4 OF REQUIRED INFORMATION, THE PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES ATTACHED HERETO WERE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF ERISA. FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. SHARING THRIFT PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1998 and 1997 CONTENTS Page(s) Report of Independent Auditors 1 Financial Statements for 1998 and 1997: Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund 2 Information Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, 3-4 With Fund Information Notes to Financial Statements 5-11 Schedules Supporting 1998 Financial Statements: Schedule I - Assets Held for Investment Purposes - Item 27a 12 Schedule II - Summary of Reportable Transactions - Item 27d 13 Signature 14 Consent of Independent Auditors 15 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Plan Trustees First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits, with fund information, of First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits, with fund information, for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trustees of the Plan. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits 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 that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits, with fund information, of the Plan as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the changes in net assets available for benefits, with fund information, for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplementary information included in Schedules I and II is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Trustees of the Plan. The Fund Information in the statements of net assets available for benefits and the statements of changes in net assets available for benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the net assets available for plan benefits and changes in net assets available for benefits of each fund. The supplemental schedules and Fund Information have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ MCLAIN, MOISE & ASSOCIATES, PC June 25, 1999 FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. SHARING THRIFT PLAN Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information December 31, 1998 and 1997 December 31, 1998 Balanced Fixed Growth Equity Income Stock Equity Bond Loan Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Total Assets: Investments, at fair value $ 8,790,518 $ 3,003,925 $15,787,444 $ 5,049,409 $ 324,429 $ - $32,955,725 Employer contributions receivable 77,099 30,524 251,980 81,881 7,838 - 449,322 Loans receivable from participants - - - - - 430,887 430,887 Net assets available for benefits $ 8,867,617 $ 3,034,449 $16,039,424 $ 5,131,290 $ 332,267 $ 430,887 $33,835,934 December 31, 1997 Balanced Fixed Growth Equity Income Stock Equity Bond Loan Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Total Assets: Investments, at fair value $ 7,541,278 $ 3,269,673 $21,102,703 $ 4,349,696 $ 301,845 $ - $36,565,195 Employer contributions receivable 75,547 33,896 222,854 74,102 8,302 - 414,701 Loans receivable from participants - - - - - 254,140 254,140 Net assets available for benefits $ 7,616,825 $ 3,303,569 $21,325,557 $ 4,423,798 $ 310,147 $ 254,140 $37,234,036 See accompanying notes to financial statements. FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. SHARING THRIFT PLAN Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information Year Ended December 31, 1998 Balanced Fixed Growth Equity Income Stock Equity Bond Loan Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Total Additions to net assets attributable to: Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ 985,243 $ - $(6,046,621) $ (66,312) $ 2,908 $ - $(5,124,782) Interest - 174,271 6,023 - 18,714 48,828 247,836 Dividends 271,650 - 349,942 51,663 - - 673,255 Total investment income (loss) 1,256,893 174,271 (5,690,656) (14,649) 21,622 48,828 (4,203,691) Contributions: Participants 404,662 147,640 286,304 420,786 26,042 - 1,285,434 Cafeteria credits - 55,796 - - - - 55,796 Employer match - - 719,281 - - - 719,281 Employer profit sharing 294,323 126,141 220,270 318,133 29,869 - 988,736 Total contributions 698,985 329,577 1,225,855 738,919 55,911 - 3,049,247 Total additions 1,955,878 503,848 (4,464,801) 724,270 77,533 48,828 (1,154,444) Deductions from net assets attributable to: Benefits and withdrawals paid to participants 560,331 434,426 983,549 256,978 29,545 - 2,264,829 Administrative fees 20,744 7,996 33,903 12,667 802 - 76,112 Total deductions 581,075 442,422 1,017,452 269,645 30,347 - 2,340,941 Net increase (decrease) before transfers 1,374,803 61,426 (5,482,253) 454,625 47,186 48,828 (3,495,385) Transfers: Rollover contributions 20,693 - 63,523 11,020 2,047 - 97,283 Interfund transfers (144,704) (330,546) 132,597 241,847 (27,113) 127,919 - Total transfers (124,011) (330,546) 196,120 252,867 (25,066) 127,919 97,283 Net increase (decrease) 1,250,792 (269,120) (5,286,133) 707,492 22,120 176,747 (3,398,102) Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 7,616,825 3,303,569 21,325,557 4,423,798 310,147 254,140 $37,234,036 End of year $ 8,867,617 $ 3,034,449 $16,039,424 $ 5,131,290 $ 332,267 $ 430,887 $33,835,934 See accompanying notes to financial statements. FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. SHARING THRIFT PLAN Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information Year Ended December 31, 1997 Balanced Fixed Growth Equity Income Stock Equity Bond Loan Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Total Additions to net assets attributable to: Investment income: Net appreciation in fair value of investments $ 1,083,850 $ - $11,839,631 $ 640,073 $ 2,905 $ - $13,566,459 Interest - 188,681 5,533 - 20,746 26,717 241,677 Dividends 242,007 - 284,457 32,983 - - 559,447 Total investment income 1,325,857 188,681 12,129,621 673,056 23,651 26,717 14,367,583 Contributions : Participants 387,501 163,381 208,847 330,816 28,188 - 1,118,733 Cafeteria credits - 47,044 - - - - 47,044 Employer match - - 582,831 - - - 582,831 Employer profit sharing 267,480 134,268 145,602 238,579 31,607 - 817,536 Total contributions 654,981 344,693 937,280 569,395 59,795 - 2,566,144 Total additions 1,980,838 533,374 13,066,901 1,242,451 83,446 26,717 16,933,727 Deductions from net assets attributable to: Benefits and withdrawals paid to participants 226,158 226,790 423,151 149,039 7,872 - 1,033,010 Administrative fees 19,513 10,090 11,616 10,899 858 - 52,976 Total deductions 245,671 236,880 434,767 159,938 8,730 - 1,085,986 Net increase before transfers 1,735,167 296,494 12,632,134 1,082,513 74,716 26,717 15,847,741 Transfers: Rollover contributions 2,064 - 1,022 12 2,048 - 5,146 Interfund transfers 77,351 (383,271) 192,971 209,865 (100,173) 3,257 - Total transfers 79,415 (383,271) 193,993 209,877 (98,125) 3,257 5,146 Net increase (decrease) 1,814,582 (86,777) 12,826,127 1,292,390 (23,409) 29,974 15,852,887 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 5,802,243 3,390,346 8,499,430 3,131,408 333,556 224,166 21,381,149 End of year $ 7,616,825 $ 3,303,569 $21,325,557 $ 4,423,798 $ 310,147 $ 254,140 $37,234,036 See accompanying notes to financial statements. FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. SHARING THRIFT PLAN Notes to Financial Statements Years Ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 1. Description of Plan The following description of First Financial Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") Sharing Thrift Plan (the "Plan") provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. The Company is the holding company for First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Charleston, South Carolina and subsidiaries (First Federal) and Peoples Federal Savings and Loan Association in Conway, South Carolina and subsidiaries (Peoples Federal) (together the "Thrifts"). The Plan is administered by a Committee of Trustees appointed by the Company s Board of Directors. The Committee contracts with an outside service organization for certain participant account record-keeping and administrative services. A. General The Plan is a defined contribution plan consisting of both a tax- deferred 401(k) program and a tax-deferred profit sharing program. The Plan covers all eligible hourly and salaried employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Employees who have completed six months of service and who are expected to complete a year of service are eligible to make tax-deferred contributions. Employees, 21 years of age and older, who have completed a year of service in which they worked at least 1,000 hours are eligible to receive profit sharing contributions. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). B. Contributions The Plan permits eligible participants to contribute a maximum of 15% of their annual compensation (as defined and not to exceed limitations prescribed by law). The Company matches part or all of the participant s tax-deferred contributions up to 5% of the participant's base compensation, and makes a profit sharing contribution up to 6% of the participant's base compensation. Company contributions are made quarterly. The percentage for the Company's matching and profit sharing contributions is determined for each of the Thrifts based on the individual Thrift's annualized return on equity as of the beginning of the quarter as follows: Match and Profit Sharing Return on Equity Percentages Less than 4% 0% 4% to less than 8% 25% 8% to less than 12% 50% 12% to less than 16% 75% 16% or more 100% The Plan currently provides that regardless of the return on equity, each eligible employee will receive a profit sharing contribution equal to at least 1% of their base compensation on an annual basis. However, profit sharing contributions can be changed in amount or suspended at any time. C. Participant Accounts Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution and allocations of (a) the Company's contributions and, (b) Plan earnings, and charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. Forfeited balances of terminated participants' nonvested accounts are in addition to Company contributions. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account. D. Vesting The participant contributions and Company-match contributions are immediately vested. The participants vest in the profit sharing contributions at 10% per year for the first four years and at 20% per year thereafter, until fully vested at seven years, or upon their earlier death, disability or retirement at age 65 or older. E. Investment Options Upon enrollment in the Plan, participating employees may elect for their contributions and allocated employer profit sharing contributions to be invested in any of five investment funds as follows: Participant-directed funds: - The Balanced Equity Fund is a managed mutual fund invested in a combination of equity, debt and money market issues. During 1997 the Balanced Equity Fund represented interests in the Fidelity Puritan Fund. During 1998, five Fidelity Freedom Funds were also included in the Balanced Equity Fund. - The Fixed Income Fund consists of investments in certificates of deposit and/or interest-bearing deposit accounts of the Thrifts. - The Stock Fund invests in common stock of First Financial Holdings, Inc. Investments in the Stock Fund are generally not available for transfer to other investment options. Effective July 1, 1997 any participant, who had attained 10 years of service and 50 years of age, may make a one-time transfer of amounts held in their Stock Fund to other investment funds options. In the event of this transfer, a twelve month waiting period applies for further investments in the Stock Fund. - The Growth Equity Fund is an unsegregated diversified managed balanced fund that seeks to provide long-term growth of capital. During 1998 and 1997 the Growth Equity Fund was invested in the Fidelity Value Fund. - The Bond Fund is an unsegregated diversified managed fixed income fund that invests primarily in investment grade bonds and seeks to provide a high level of current income consistent with the maintenance of principal and liquidity. During 1998 and 1997 the Bond Fund was invested in the Fidelity Intermediate Bond Fund. During 1998 and 1997, participants could change their investment options quarterly. Nonparticipant-directed funds: The Company's matching contributions are invested in common stock of First Financial Holdings, Inc. Information is not available to report all changes in the Stock Fund separately for participant-directed and nonparticipant directed amounts. As of December 31, 1998, 70% of the investments in the Stock Fund had been funded by employer contributions. F. Loans Receivable from Participants Participants may borrow from the Plan after one year of participation. A participant must borrow at least $2,500 with the maximum amount being the lesser of (1) $50,000 less any outstanding balance on Plan loans over the last 12 months, or (2) the greater of $10,000 or one-half of the participant's Plan account balance. Generally, Plan loans are limited to one-half of the Participant's Plan account balance. In addition, the amounts invested in the Stock Fund are not available for borrowing. G. Benefits and Withdrawals On termination of service due to death, disability or retirement, a participant will receive the value of the participant's vested interest in his or her account. A participant is no longer eligible to participate in the Plan after retirement or termination. A participant may also receive a hardship withdrawal upon meeting certain immediate financial need requirements and receiving approval of the Plan's Trustees. Funds derived from matching and profit sharing contributions are not available for hardship withdrawals. 2. Summary of Accounting Policies A. Basis of Accounting The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. B. Investment Valuation and Income Recognition The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Shares of registered investment companies are valued at quoted market prices which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. The First Financial Holdings, Inc. stock in the Stock Fund is valued at the average of the bid and asked quoted market price. Loans receivable from participants are valued at cost which approximates fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. C. Payment of Benefits and Withdrawals Benefits are recorded when paid. Vested account balances attributable to terminated employees at December 31, 1998 and 1997, which were paid in the subsequent year, were $3,057,000 and $400,000, respectively. Certain of these amounts represent benefit claims that had been processed and approved for payment prior to year end, but were disbursed in 1999 subsequent to allocating the fourth quarter employer profit sharing and matching contribution. Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants may be recorded on the Form 5500 for benefit claims that have been processed and approved for payment prior to December 31 but not yet paid as of that date. 3. Investments Plan assets are held in a trust established pursuant to an agreement between the Company and the Trustees, who are officers of the Company or Thrifts. The Trustees direct the investment activities of the trust and have full discretionary authority for the purchase and sale of investments, subject to the participants' investment elections and certain other specified limitations. The fair values of the investments of the trust at December 31, 1998 and 1997, were as follows: 1998 1997 Cash demand deposits held by: First Financial Holdings, Inc. $ 112,302 $ 90,758 Mutual Funds: Fidelity Puritan Fund 8,604,513 7,541,278 Fidelity Intermediate Bond Fund 324,429 301,845 Fidelity Value Fund 5,049,409 4,349,696 Fidelity Freedom Fund 766 - Fidelity Freedom 2000 959 - Fidelity Freedom 2010 14,663 - Fidelity Freedom 2020 81,661 - Fidelity Freedom 2030 87,956 - Certificates of deposit accounts: First Federal or Peoples Federal 2,938,776 3,178,915 Equity securities: First Financial Holdings, Inc., common stock 15,740,291 21,102,703 Total investments $ 32,955,725 $ 36,565,195 Certificates of deposit at December 31, 1998 consisted of amounts on deposit with the Thrifts with interest rates ranging from 4.5% to 8.35%, with original maturities of fourteen months to five years. During 1998 and 1997, the Plan's mutual funds appreciated in value in the amounts of $921,839 and $1,726,828, respectively. During 1998 and 1997, the Plan's stock fund appreciated (depreciated) in value in the amounts of $(6,046,621) and $11,839,631, respectively. These amounts represent the total of the net realized gains or losses from investment transactions and the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments. The method used in calculating realized gains and losses is based on average net cost. The investments of the Stock Fund on the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits, include certain invested cash to be used for future purchases of equity securities. 4. Contributions The Thrifts quarterly return on equity resulted in the following estimated average employer matching contributions (for those participants contributing at least 5%) and employer profit sharing contributions. 1998 1997 Employer matching contributions: First Federal 5.00% 4.38% Peoples Federal 3.75% 3.75% Employer profit sharing contributions: First Federal 6.00% 5.25% Peoples Federal 4.50% 4.50% These estimates represent the multiplication of the average return on beginning equity percentages (in accordance with the schedule in Note 1.B.) times the 5% maximum matching percentage and 6% profit sharing percentage, respectively. Contributions receivable at December 31, 1998 and 1997 represent the employer s matching and profit sharing contributions for the previous fourth quarter. 5. Related Party Transactions The Trustees select the investment options available to the participants. Officers of the Company initiate transactions to purchase and sell common stock of the Company and purchase and redeem certificates of deposit for the Plan. Common stock transactions are at market value by registered investment brokers. Expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan are paid by the Plan. Administrative expenses paid by the Plan during 1998 and 1997 amounted to $76,112 and $52,976, respectively. 6. Tax Status The Internal Revenue Service has previously informed the Plan's administrators that the Plan is qualified under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, and of the exempt status of the trust under Section 501(a) of the Code. The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on May 20, 1996 in which the IRS stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS has extended until the last day of the first year beginning on or after January 1, 2000, the remedial amendment period for amending plans that are qualified under Section 401(a) for changes made by the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 and for other recent changes in the law. Prior to the expiration of the remedial period, the Company intends to amend the Plan so that the form of the Plan will comply with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Further, the continued qualification of the Plan is dependent on its effect in operations. The Plan administrator and the Plan s legal counsel believe that the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, they believe that the Plan was qualified and that related trust was tax exempt as of the financial statement date. 7. Amendments to the Plan In connection with the Company s acquisition of Investors Savings Bank of S.C. (Investors) on November 7, 1997, the Plan was amended effective January 1, 1998, to admit as participants on January 1, 1998 any Investors employees as of October 15, 1997, who were employed by the Company on December 31, 1997. All previous qualifying service with Investors qualified as service under the Plan for vesting purposes. Also effective July 1, 1997 special eligibility provisions permitted certain part-time employees to participate in the Plan. 8. Plan Termination Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100 percent vested in their accounts. FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. SHARING THRIFT PLAN Schedule I Assets Held for Investment Purposes - Item 27a December 31, 1998 Identity of issue, borrower, Current lessor, or similar party Description of investment Cost Value Cash on deposit with: First Federal or Peoples Federal(1) 4.3% Interest-bearing deposits $ 112,302 $ 112,302 Mutual Funds (2): Fidelity Puritan Fund 428,732 Units 7,541,278 8,604,513 Fidelity Intermediate Bond Fund 31,605 Units 301,845 324,429 Fidelity Value Fund 108,942 Units 4,349,696 5,049,409 Fidelity Freedom 69 Units - 766 Fidelity Freedom 2000 77 Units - 959 Fidelity Freedom 2010 1,096 Units - 14,663 Fidelity Freedom 2020 5,850 Units - 81,661 Fidelity Freedom 2030 6,319 Units - 87,956 Certificates of deposit: First Federal or Peoples Federal(1) 2,938,776 2,938,776 Common stock: First Financial Holdings, Inc.(1) 828,436 Shares of common stock 7,276,306 15,740,291 Total investments on balance sheet 22,520,203 32,955,725 Loans due from participants Bearing various interest rates and maturities 430,887 430,887 Total investments $22,951,090 $33,386,612 (1) Parties-in-interest to the Plan. (2) For purpose of this schedule, cost data for mutual funds is defined as the market value at the beginning of the year. Original cost information is not available for mutual funds. See accompanying report of independent auditors. FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. SHARING THRIFT PLAN Schedule II Schedule of Reportable Transactions - Item 27d Year Ended December 31, 1998 Sales Net Gain Identity of Party Involved Description of Assets Purchases Proceeds Cost (Loss) First Federal or Peoples Federal(1) Certificates of deposits $ 705,000 $ 945,139 $ 945,139 - First Financial Holdings(1) Common Stock $ 1,396,598 $ 267,489 $ 81,421 $ 186,068 (1)Parties-in-interest to the Plan See accompanying report of independent auditors. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan Date: June 28, 1999 By: /s/ Susan Baham Susan Baham Member of The First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan Trustees CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Plan Trustees First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement No. 33-22837 on Form S-8 pertaining to the First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan of our report dated June 25, 1999 with respect to the financial statements of the First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan included on this Annual Report (Form 11-k) for the year ended December 31, 1998. /s/ MCLAIN, MOISE & ASSOCIATES, PC Charleston, South Carolina June 28, 1999