1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549 FORM 10-Q [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1998 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number 0-6198 FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) TENNESSEE 62-0799975 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation or organization) Identification No.) FIRST AMERICAN CENTER, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37237 (address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 615/748-2000 Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No . ----- ----- Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. Common shares outstanding: 110,067,071 as of October 31, 1998. 2 FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX Part I. Financial Information Page - -------------------------------- ---- Item 1 Financial Statements (unaudited) Consolidated Income Statements for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1997 3 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1998 and 1997 and December 31, 1997 4 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1997 5 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1997 6 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 7 Item 2 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 12 Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 24 Part II. Other Information - ----------------------------- Item 1 Legal Proceedings 25 Item 6 Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 25 2 3 FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30 September 30 ------------------------- ----------------------- (in thousands, except per share amounts) 1998 1997 1998 1997 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEREST INCOME Interest and fees on loans $226,550 $244,200 $706,394 $704,685 Interest and dividends on securities 97,720 64,026 249,321 200,591 Interest on federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell 1,253 1,332 3,847 4,317 Interest on time deposits with other banks and other interest 1,408 1,351 3,843 3,819 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest income 326,931 310,909 963,405 913,412 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEREST EXPENSE Interest on deposits: NOW accounts 10,508 10,436 30,161 30,873 Money market accounts 27,569 30,532 87,141 89,988 Regular savings 4,714 5,496 14,331 16,489 Certificates of deposit under $100,000 35,527 39,893 109,811 119,486 Certificates of deposit $100,000 and over 20,326 16,322 57,359 46,455 Other time and foreign 11,928 11,720 34,692 34,712 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest on deposits 110,572 114,399 333,495 338,003 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest on short-term borrowings 32,224 23,642 84,758 64,205 Interest on long-term debt 12,813 7,121 31,343 20,175 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest expense 155,609 145,162 449,596 422,383 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INTEREST INCOME 171,322 165,747 513,809 491,029 PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES 7,000 1,875 18,000 5,625 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses 164,322 163,872 495,809 485,404 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NONINTEREST INCOME Investment services income 37,832 31,108 115,867 92,819 Service charges on deposit accounts 33,454 28,721 93,083 82,497 Mortgage banking 11,021 8,048 35,870 25,730 Commissions and fees on fiduciary activities 10,669 9,874 31,153 28,687 Merchant discount fees 1,162 985 2,926 2,775 Net realized gain on sales of securities 2,154 1,479 5,297 2,871 Trading account revenue 2,751 744 6,810 3,264 Other income 26,445 19,126 62,693 49,948 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total noninterest income 125,488 100,085 353,699 288,591 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NONINTEREST EXPENSE Salaries and employee benefits 78,895 82,802 248,750 247,168 Subscribers' commissions 22,444 18,165 69,421 53,126 Net occupancy expense 12,411 11,940 37,033 35,239 Equipment expense 10,803 10,993 33,370 31,632 Systems and processing expense 3,864 3,980 11,160 12,104 Communication expense 6,791 6,310 20,602 18,890 Marketing expense 4,353 5,515 14,576 15,598 Supplies expense 2,527 3,726 8,498 11,207 Goodwill amortization 4,124 4,252 12,572 12,061 Merger and integration costs 37,159 - 109,202 - Other expenses 21,042 20,638 66,415 61,619 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total noninterest expense 204,413 168,321 631,599 498,644 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE 85,397 95,636 217,909 275,351 Income tax expense 30,473 35,140 81,881 100,942 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME $ 54,924 $ 60,496 $136,028 $174,409 =========================================================================================================================== PER COMMON SHARE: Net income: Basic $ .52 $ .57 $1.29 $1.63 Diluted .51 .56 1.26 1.60 Dividends declared .25 .20 .70 .555 =========================================================================================================================== Average common shares outstanding: Basic 105,839 106,190 105,465 106,946 Diluted 107,801 108,393 107,698 109,222 =========================================================================================================================== See notes to consolidated financial statements. 3 4 FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS September 30 December 31 --------------------------- ------------- (dollars in thousands, except share amounts) 1998 1997 1997 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Cash and due from banks $ 855,815 $ 948,261 $ 987,520 Time deposits with other banks 18,114 13,186 13,463 Securities: Held to maturity (fair value $1,845,928, $810,481, and $723,228, respectively) 1,830,530 805,915 715,027 Available for sale (amortized cost $4,588,508, $3,108,019, and $3,392,894, respectively) 4,610,754 3,111,159 3,395,494 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities 6,441,284 3,917,074 4,110,521 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell 35,542 110,351 189,542 Trading account securities 48,698 72,559 64,469 Loans: Commercial 4,684,429 4,447,835 4,570,941 Consumer--amortizing mortgages 1,570,368 2,783,776 2,783,097 Consumer--other 2,504,770 2,543,184 2,524,577 Real estate--construction 511,584 403,649 400,557 Real estate--commercial mortgages and other 1,252,583 1,330,943 1,374,661 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total loans 10,523,734 11,509,387 11,653,833 Unearned discount (11,180) (11,067) (12,101) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loans, net of unearned discount 10,512,554 11,498,320 11,641,732 Allowance for loan losses (180,137) (180,362) (180,043) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total net loans 10,332,417 11,317,958 11,461,689 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Premises and equipment, net 343,443 354,251 362,047 Other assets 788,259 694,309 645,185 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $18,863,572 $17,427,949 $17,834,436 =========================================================================================================================== LIABILITIES Deposits: Demand (noninterest-bearing) $ 2,642,565 $ 2,579,572 $ 2,647,765 NOW accounts 2,154,669 1,777,547 1,879,520 Money market accounts 2,613,471 2,796,889 2,875,958 Regular savings 792,211 864,432 859,690 Certificates of deposit under $100,000 2,672,579 2,987,590 2,929,845 Certificates of deposit $100,000 and over 1,358,211 1,173,245 1,390,148 Other time 723,781 732,177 718,349 Foreign 248,489 114,510 104,182 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deposits 13,205,976 13,025,962 13,405,457 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Short-term borrowings 2,445,675 2,099,847 1,969,639 Long-term debt 1,252,068 386,500 596,218 Other liabilities 363,958 402,284 319,145 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities 17,267,677 15,914,593 16,290,459 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued: 106,937,996 shares at September 30, 1998; 106,131,209 shares at September 30, 1997; and 106,032,013 shares at December 31, 1997 267,345 265,328 265,080 Additional paid-in capital 145,768 175,795 163,902 Retained earnings 1,199,518 1,084,824 1,126,803 Deferred compensation on restricted stock (30,943) (14,645) (13,341) Employee stock ownership plan obligation - (224) (163) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Realized shareholders' equity 1,581,688 1,511,078 1,542,281 Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax 14,207 2,278 1,696 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total shareholders' equity 1,595,895 1,513,356 1,543,977 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $18,863,572 $17,427,949 $17,834,436 =========================================================================================================================== See notes to consolidated financial statements. 4 5 FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, COMMON DEFERRED EMPLOYEE ACCUMULATED 1997 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 SHARES COMPENSATION STOCK OTHER ISSUED ADDITIONAL ON OWNERSHIP COMPREHENSIVE (dollars in thousands except per AND COMMON PAID-IN RETAINED RESTRICTED PLAN INCOME (LOSS), share amounts) OUTSTANDING STOCK CAPITAL EARNINGS STOCK OBLIGATION NET OF TAX TOTAL - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, January 1, 1997 105,109,909 $262,775 $239,661 $ 953,062 $ (2,066) $ (443) $ (3,016) $1,449,973 Comprehensive income: Net income - - - 174,409 - - - Other comprehensive income, net of tax - - - - - - 5,294 Comprehensive income 179,703 Issuance of common shares in connection with Employee Benefit Plans, net of discount on Dividend Reinvestment Plan 1,005,435 2,513 15,538 - - - - 18,051 Issuance of shares of restricted common stock 459,674 1,149 14,002 - (15,151) - - - Repurchase of shares of common stock (5,954,855) (14,887) (164,899) - - - - (179,786) Issuance of common shares for purchase of Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. 350,522 876 9,223 - - - - 10,099 Issuance of common shares for acquisitions of pooled company 5,160,436 12,901 58,929 13,938 - - - 85,768 Amortization of deferred compensation on restricted stock - - - - 2,572 - - 2,572 Reduction in employee stock ownership plan obligation - - - - - 219 - 219 Cash dividends declared ($.555 per - common share) - - - (32,710) - - (32,710) Cash dividends declared by pooled - company - - - (23,875) - - (23,875) Tax benefit from stock option and award plans - - 3,312 - - - - 3,312 Other 88 1 29 - - - - 30 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, September 30, 1997 106,131,209 $265,328 $175,795 $1,084,824 $(14,645) $ (224) $ 2,278 $1,513,356 =================================================================================================================================== Balance, January 1, 1998 106,032,013 $265,080 $163,902 $1,126,803 $(13,341) $ (163) $ 1,696 $1,543,977 Comprehensive income: Net income - - - 136,028 - - - Other comprehensive income, net of tax - - - - - - 12,493 Comprehensive income 148,521 Issuance of common shares in connection with Employee Benefit Plans, net of discount on Dividend Reinvestment Plan 735,551 1,839 11,998 - - - - 13,837 Issuance of shares of restricted common stock 481,377 1,203 21,456 - (22,659) - - - Repurchase of shares of common stock (1,182,099) (2,955) (61,538) - - - - (64,493) Issuance of common shares for - acquisition of pooled company 871,156 2,178 5,524 (1,206) - 18 6,514 Amortization of deferred compensation on restricted stock - - - - 5,057 - - 5,057 Reduction in employee stock ownership plan obligation - - - - - 163 - 163 Cash dividends declared ($.70 per - common share) - - - (52,722) - - (52,722) Cash dividends declared by pooled - company - - - (9,384) - - (9,384) Tax benefit from stock option and award plans - - 4,428 - - - - 4,428 Other (2) - (2) (1) - - - (3) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, September 30, 1998 106,937,996 $267,345 $145,768 $1,199,518 $(30,943) $ - $ 14,207 $1,595,895 =================================================================================================================================== See notes to consolidated financial statements. 5 6 FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine Months Ended September 30 ----------------------------- (in thousands) 1998 1997 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $136,028 $174,409 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities: Provision for loan losses 18,000 5,625 Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment 28,063 28,273 Amortization of intangible assets 26,712 22,485 Other amortization, net 4,421 1,139 Deferred income tax expense 7,622 12,479 Net loss (gain) on sales and writedowns of other real estate owned 1,143 (4,063) Net realized gains on sales and write-downs of securities (5,297) (2,871) Net loss (gain) on sales and writedowns of premises and equipment 448 (37) Net gain on sales of branches, business operations and subsidiaries (8,294) (2,105) Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: (Increase) decrease in mortgage warehouse loans (3,675) 4,758 Increase in accrued interest receivable (14,742) (9,972) (Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable (4,210) 8,802 Decrease (increase) in trading account securities 15,771 (9,265) Increase in other assets (187,199) (5,682) Increase in other liabilities 47,219 11,549 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash provided by operating activities 62,010 235,524 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale 1,286,619 1,770,597 Proceeds from maturities of securities available for sale 1,287,778 377,360 Purchases of securities available for sale (3,708,646) (1,973,234) Proceeds from maturities of securities held to maturity 438,279 345,928 Purchases of securities held to maturity (386,685) (190,210) Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned 8,208 14,510 Acquisitions, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired 11,262 76,597 Sales of branches, business operations and subsidiaries, net of cash and cash equivalents disposed of 11,793 2,007 Net increase in loans, net of repayments and sales (23,590) (473,144) Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment 7,868 4,849 Purchases of premises and equipment (17,169) (58,430) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash used in investing activities (1,084,283) (103,170) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES Net decrease in deposits (277,266) (470,114) Net increase in other short-term borrowings 636,941 151,281 Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank 489,979 208,516 Net repayment of other long-term debt (101) (136) Proceeds from early termination of swap contract on long-term debt - 2,038 Issuance of common shares under Employee Benefit and Dividend Reinvestment Plans 13,837 18,051 Repurchase of common stock (64,493) (179,786) Tax benefit related to stock options 4,428 3,312 Cash dividends paid (62,106) (56,870) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 741,219 (323,708) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (281,054) (191,354) Cash and cash equivalents, January 1 1,190,525 1,263,152 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and cash equivalents, September 30 $ 909,471 $1,071,798 =========================================================================================================================== Cash paid during the year for: Interest expense $ 453,806 $ 413,581 Income taxes 46,179 66,497 Non-cash transactions: Foreclosures 3,021 3,861 Stock issued for acquisitions 6,514 94,636 Mortgage loans securitized and retained 1,206,958 - =========================================================================================================================== See notes to consolidated financial statements. 6 7 FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and general practices within the banking industry. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with First American Corporation's (the "Corporation" or "First American") consolidated financial statements which include the accounts of Deposit Guaranty Corp. ("Deposit Guaranty") for all periods presented in accordance with the pooling-of-interests method of accounting for business combinations. The quarterly consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for interim periods. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the complete fiscal year. (2) ACQUISITIONS Effective May 1, 1998, the Corporation completed the merger of Deposit Guaranty with and into the Corporation by exchanging approximately 48.7 million shares of First American common stock for all of the outstanding shares of Deposit Guaranty (based on an exchange ratio of 1.17 shares of First American common stock for each share of Deposit Guaranty common stock). Deposit Guaranty was a $7.2 billion asset financial services holding company headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, with banking offices in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The transaction was accounted for as a pooling of interests, and accordingly, the consolidated financial statements have been restated to include the results of Deposit Guaranty for all periods presented. Merger and integration costs of $72.6 million, net of tax, which are comprised primarily of investment banking, severance, and systems conversions costs, have been recognized in 1998. In April 1998 and in conjunction with the Deposit Guaranty business combination, the number of authorized shares was increased from 100 million to 200 million. Net interest income, noninterest income, and net income as originally reported by First American and Deposit Guaranty for the three months and the nine months ended September 30, 1997 are presented in the table below: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997 September 30, 1997 --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- First Deposit First Deposit (in thousands) American Guaranty Combined American Guaranty Combined - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net interest income $ 95,896 $ 69,851 $165,747 $282,379 $208,650 $491,029 Noninterest income 64,250 35,835 100,085 188,840 99,751 288,591 Net income 37,233 23,263 60,496 106,604 67,805 174,409 ================================================================================================================ 7 8 Other mergers and acquisitions completed by First American since January 1, 1997, are presented in the following table (in millions): Common Shares Cash Accounting Financial Institution State Date Assets Issued Paid Treatment - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jefferson Guaranty Bancorp, Inc. LA Jan. 1997 $299 2.1 $10 Purchase - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. TN Jan. 1997 90 0.4 - Purchase - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Capital Bancorp, Inc. LA Mar. 1997 186 1.8 - Pooling - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NBC Financial Corporation LA July 1997 69 0.5 - Purchase - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CitiSave Financial Corporation LA Aug. 1997 75 - 19 Purchase - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Victory Bancshares, Inc. TN Mar. 1998 131 0.9 - Pooling ============================================================================================================== For the acquisitions accounted for as pooling-of-interests combinations, the results of operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements from the beginning of the year acquired or from the date of the acquisition when preacquisition amounts were not material. Prior period financial statements have not been restated since the changes would have been immaterial. For acquisitions accounted for as purchase business combinations, the results of operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements from the respective dates of acquisition. The purchase price in excess of the net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 years. The proforma effect on prior financial statements of these acquisitions is not significant. On June 1, 1997, the Corporation issued .8 million shares of its common stock in exchange for the 2 percent interest in Deposit Guaranty National Bank ("DGNB") owned by minority shareholders. With this acquisition the Corporation became the sole shareholder of DGNB. Subsequent to September 30, 1998, the following business combinations have been completed or are pending (in millions): Common Assets Shares at Financial Institution State Effective Date Issued 9/30/98 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Completed: Peoples Bank of Dickson TN October 1, 1998 .9 $ 142 The Middle Tennessee Bank TN October 1, 1998 1.2 225 CSB Financial Corporation TN October 1, 1998 .9 148 Pending: Pioneer Bancshares, Inc. TN November 20, 1998 - (1) 991 ======================================================================================================= (1) The terms of the agreement provide for shareholders of Pioneer Bancshares, Inc. ("Pioneer") to receive 1.65 shares of First American common stock for each outstanding share of Pioneer common stock. Pioneer is subject to shareholder approval. The business combinations noted in the table above will be accounted for as poolings of interests. The Corporation's financial statements will be restated as a result of the Pioneer combination. 8 9 (3) NONPERFORMING ASSETS Nonperforming assets were as follows: September 30 December 31 ---------------------------------------------- (dollars in thousands) 1998 1997 1997 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nonaccrual loans $ 30,303 $ 42,214 $ 36,294 Foreclosed properties 5,580 7,197 7,023 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total nonperforming assets $ 35,883 $ 49,411 $ 43,317 ========================================================================================================= Loans on accrual past due 90 days or more $41,076 $ 32,323 $ 29,382 ========================================================================================================= Nonperforming assets as a percent of loans and foreclosed properties (excluding loans on accrual past due 90 days or more) .34% .43% .37% ========================================================================================================= (4) ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES Transactions in the allowance for loan losses and the allowance ratios were as follows: Nine Months Ended September 30 --------------------------------- (in thousands) 1998 1997 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, January 1 $180,043 $185,470 Provision charged to operating expenses 18,000 5,625 Allowance of subsidiary sold - (252) Allowance of business combinations except Deposit Guaranty 1,317 8,252 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 199,360 199,095 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loans charged off 38,853 39,005 Recoveries of loans previously charged off 19,630 20,272 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net charge-offs 19,223 18,733 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, September 30 $180,137 $180,362 =================================================================================================== Allowance end of period to net loans outstanding 1.71% 1.57% Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized) .23 .23 =================================================================================================== (5) ACCOUNTING MATTERS Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," was adopted by the Corporation on January 1, 1998. SFAS No. 130 establishes standards for reporting comprehensive income. Comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income which is defined as non-owner related transactions in equity. Prior periods have been reclassified to reflect the application of the provisions of SFAS No. 130. SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," is effective for financial statements for years beginning after December 15, 1997. SFAS No. 131 establishes standards for the way that public business enterprises report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires that those enterprises report selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports to shareholders. Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Adoption of SFAS No. 131 will expand disclosures related to the consolidated financial statements. The Corporation plans to adopt SFAS No. 131 for 1998 and is currently evaluating its operations to determine the appropriate disclosures with respect to SFAS No. 131. 9 10 SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits," revises and standardizes the disclosure requirements for employers' pensions and other postretirement benefits plans. This standard does not change the measurement or recognition of such plans. SFAS No. 132 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. Restatement of disclosures for earlier periods presented is required unless the information is not readily available, in which case, all available information and a description of the information not available shall be included in the notes to the financial statements. The disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 132 are intended to provide information that is more comparable, understandable, and concise for the users of this information. The Corporation adopted SFAS No. 132 on January 1, 1998. SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and for Hedging Activities," establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities. SFAS No. 133 requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value. Gains or losses resulting from changes in the values of derivatives will be accounted for depending on the use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting with the key criterion for hedge accounting being that the hedging relationship must be highly effective in achieving offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows. SFAS No. 133 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999, and shall not be applied retroactively to financial statements of prior periods. At this time, the Corporation is evaluating when and how it will adopt SFAS No. 133 as well as the possible impact of the statement on the Corporation's consolidated financial statements. (6) COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30 September 30 -------------------------- --------------------------- (in thousands, except per share amounts) 1998 1997 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basic Average common shares outstanding 105,839 106,190 105,465 106,946 ========================================================================================================================= Net income $ 54,924 $ 60,496 $136,028 $174,409 ========================================================================================================================= Per share amount $ .52 $ .57 $1.29 $1.63 ========================================================================================================================= Diluted Average common shares outstanding 105,839 106,190 105,465 106,946 Dilutive common stock options at average market price 1,962 2,203 2,233 2,276 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average diluted shares outstanding 107,801 108,393 107,698 109,222 ========================================================================================================================= Net income $ 54,924 $ 60,496 $136,028 $174,409 ========================================================================================================================= Per share amount $ .51 $ .56 $1.26 $1.60 ========================================================================================================================= (7) LEGAL AND REGULATORY MATTERS Following the adoption of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, Charter Federal Savings Bank ("Charter" or now "FAFSB" which was subsequently acquired by First American), brought an action against the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation seeking injunctive and other relief, contending that Congress' elimination of supervisory goodwill required rescission of certain supervisory transactions. The Federal District Court found in Charter's favor, but in 1992 the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied Charter's petition for certiorari. In 1995, the Federal Circuit Court found in favor of another thrift institution in a similar case (Winstar Corp. v. United States) in which the association sought damages for breach of contract. Charter also filed suit against the United States Government ("Government") in the Court of Federal Claims based on breach of contract. Pending the Supreme Court's review of the Winstar decision, FAFSB's action was stayed. In July 1996, the 10 11 Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's decision in Winstar. The stay was automatically lifted and FAFSB's suit is now proceeding. The Government filed a motion to dismiss the suit based on the prior Fourth Circuit decision, and FAFSB filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. These motions have not yet been decided by the Federal Claims Court. The value of FAFSB's claims against the Government, as well as their ultimate outcome, are contingent upon a number of factors, some of which are outside of FAFSB's control, and are highly uncertain as to substance, timing and the dollar amount of any damages which might be awarded should FAFSB finally prevail. Under the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization as amended by and between FAFSB and the Corporation, in the event that FAFSB is successful in this litigation, the Charter shareholders as of December 1, 1995, will be entitled to receive additional consideration equal in value to 50% of any recovery, net of all taxes and certain other expenses, including the costs and expenses of such litigation, received on or before December 1, 2000, subject to certain limitations in the case of certain business combinations. Such additional consideration, if any, is payable in the common stock of the Corporation, based on the average per share closing price on the date of receipt by FAFSB of the last payment constituting a recovery from the Government. Also, there are from time to time other legal proceedings pending against the Corporation and its subsidiaries. In the opinion of management and counsel, liabilities, if any, arising from such proceedings presently pending would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation. 11 12 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of First American Corporation (the "Corporation" or "First American") appearing within this report and by reference to the Corporation's consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis contained in the Form 8-K filed on July 14, 1998. To the extent that statements in this discussion relate to the plans, objectives, or future performance of First American, these statements may be deemed to be forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and the current economic environment. Actual strategies and results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected due to various risks and uncertainties. OVERVIEW Net income for the third quarter of 1998 was $54.9 million with diluted earnings per share of $.51. Operating earnings, exclusive of merger and integration costs in connection with the business combination with Deposit Guaranty of $37.2 million ($22.8 million, net of tax) and a gain on the sale of the Deposit Guaranty corporate trust business of $7 million ($4.4 million, net of tax), were up 21 percent to $73.3 million from $60.5 million in the third quarter of 1997. Diluted earnings per share, exclusive of the merger and integration costs and the corporate trust gain, also increased 21 percent to $.72 from $.56 in the third quarter of 1997. Excluding the merger and integration costs and the corporate trust gain, return on average assets ("ROA") improved to 1.59 percent in the third quarter of 1998 compared to 1.41 percent in the third quarter of 1997 and return on average equity ("ROE") improved to 18.57 percent in the third quarter of 1998 compared to 16.08 percent in the third quarter of 1997. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 1998, was $136 million with diluted earnings per share of $1.26. Excluding merger and integration costs of $109.2 million ($72.6 million, net of tax) and the corporate trust gain, net income for the nine months ended September 30, 1998, was $204.2 million, up 17 percent from $174.4 million earned during the first nine months of 1997. Diluted earnings per share, exclusive of the merger and integration costs and the corporate trust gain, rose 19 percent during the first nine months of 1998 to $1.90 from $1.60 during the same time period last year. Excluding the merger and integration costs and the corporate trust gain, ROA improved to 1.52 percent during the first nine months of 1998 versus 1.38 percent during the first nine months of 1997 and ROE increased to 17.61 percent compared to 15.72 percent. Effective May 1, 1998, the Corporation completed the merger of Deposit Guaranty with and into the Corporation by exchanging approximately 48.7 million shares of First American common stock for all of the outstanding shares of Deposit Guaranty. Deposit Guaranty was a $7.2 billion asset financial services holding company headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, with banking offices in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The transaction was accounted for under the pooling-of-interests method of accounting for business combinations and, accordingly, the consolidated financial statements have been restated to include the results of Deposit Guaranty for all periods presented. The $109.2 million of merger and integration costs recognized during 1998 in connection with the integration of Deposit Guaranty into First American included $26 million of severance and retention costs, $21 million of systems-related costs, $19 million of investment banking fees, $15 million to establish a charitable foundation for the Deposit Guaranty markets, and $28.2 million of other expenses. Expected synergies to be gained from the Deposit Guaranty merger are on target and are expected to approximate $88 million, which is the amount previously reported in the Corporation's 1997 Annual Report. Cost and revenue enhancement initiatives accounting for $77 million of annualized synergies have already been implemented during the first nine months of 1998. The expected benefits of the initiatives include workforce reduction ($31 million), systems conversion- 12 13 related savings ($15 million), enhanced product lines and pricing changes ($14 million), sale of First Mortgage and McAfee Mortgage adjusted for lost revenue ($4 million), revenue enhancements due to doubling of annuities sales force ($6 million), branch closures ($2 million), and other ($5 million). The Corporation expects to achieve the full $88 million of synergies in 1999. Effective March 23, 1998, First American acquired Victory Bancshares, Inc. ("Victory"), a bank holding company in West Tennessee with $131 million in assets by exchanging approximately .9 million shares of the Corporation's common stock for all of the outstanding shares of Victory. The acquisition was accounted for as a pooling of interests. Results of operations of Victory were included in the Corporation's financial statements from the date of acquisition, as prior amounts were not material. NOTE 2 to the consolidated financial statements presents details of acquisition activity during 1997. On April 3, 1998, First American completed the sale of three branches in Virginia with total deposits of approximately $37 million for a pre-tax gain of $2.7 million. The sale of the three branches were a part of the implementation of First American's Distribution Management System ("DMS"), which is designed to reconfigure First American's distribution system to determine the best mix of distribution alternatives for clients and to maximize return on capital investment. Effective July 11, 1998, First American sold First Mortgage Corp., a mortgage subsidiary operating in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma, and recognized a pretax loss of approximately $2.4 million, which was included in second quarter results. On August 16, 1998, First American Corporation completed the sale of McAfee Mortgage, a mortgage subsidiary in Texas, and recognized a gain, net of tax, of $73 thousand, which finalized the strategic process of focusing the Corporation's mortgage operations on primarily in-market mortgage businesses. The sale of DGNB's corporate trust business to The Bank of New York, which was completed on August 31, 1998, resulted in a gain of $7 million ($4.4 million net of tax), involved the transfer of approximately 900 bond trustee and agency relationships representing $8 billion in outstanding securities for municipalities and corporations located primarily in Mississippi and Louisiana. On October 1, 1998, First American completed the merger with CSB Financial Corporation ("CSB Financial") by exchanging .9 million shares of First American common stock for all of the outstanding shares of CSB Financial in a transaction accounted for as a pooling of interests. CSB Financial was a $148 million asset bank holding company headquartered in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, with four banking offices in Cheatham County. In addition to a community bank, CSB Financial subsidiaries included a lease financing subsidiary; a financial planning and insurance, annuity, mutual fund, and securities sales subsidiary; and a mobile home financing subsidiary. On October 1, 1998 First American completed the merger with The Middle Tennessee Bank ("Middle Tennessee") by exchanging 1.2 million shares of First American common stock for all of the outstanding shares of Middle Tennessee in a transaction accounted for as a pooling of interests. Middle Tennessee was a $225 million asset bank headquartered in Columbia, Tennessee, with seven banking offices. On October 1, 1998, First American completed the merger with Peoples Bank of Dickson ("Peoples Bank") by exchanging .9 million shares of First American common stock for all of the outstanding shares of Peoples Bank in a transaction accounted for as a pooling of interests. Peoples Bank was a $142 million asset bank headquartered in Dickson, Tennessee, with six banking offices in Middle Tennessee. On May 28, 1998, First American entered into a definitive agreement to merge Pioneer, a $991 million bank holding company headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, into First American. Pioneer is the parent company of Pioneer Bank, Valley Bank, and Pioneer Bank f. s. b., a federal savings bank, with 34 banking offices in southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia. Terms of the agreement provide for Pioneer's shareholders to receive 1.65 shares of First American's common stock for each outstanding share of Pioneer common stock in a transaction to be accounted for as a pooling of 13 14 interests. The transaction is subject to approval by Pioneer's shareholders and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 1998. The Corporation's financial statements will be restated as a result of the Pioneer combination. INCOME STATEMENT ANALYSIS NET INTEREST INCOME For purposes of this discussion, total revenues consist of the sum of net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis and noninterest income. Net interest income is the difference between total interest income earned on earning assets, such as loans and securities, and total interest expense paid on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits. Net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis represented 58 percent of total revenues in the third quarter of 1998 versus 63 percent in the third quarter of 1997 and 60 percent of total revenues in the first nine months of 1998 versus 63 percent in the first nine months of 1997, which is reflective of the Corporation's continuing transformation from a traditional bank holding company to a financial services company. Net interest income was $173.9 million in the third quarter of 1998, up $5.4 million, or 3 percent, from $168.5 million in the third quarter of 1997. The $5.4 million increase in net interest income resulted primarily from an increase in the volume of earning assets ($13.4 million net interest income impact) offset by a decrease in the net interest spread ($8 million net interest income impact). Net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis was $521.8 million in the first nine months of 1998, up $22.7 million, or 5 percent, from $499.1 million in the first nine months of 1997. The $22.7 million increase in net interest income resulted primarily from an increase in the volume of earning assets ($30.9 million net interest income impact) offset by a decrease in the net interest spread ($8.2 million net interest income impact). During the third quarter of 1998 average earning assets increased $1.32 billion, or 9 percent, to $16.72 billion from $15.40 billion in the third quarter of 1997. Average earning assets increased $1.01 billion, or 7 percent, for the first nine months of 1998 to $16.30 billion from $15.29 billion for the same period in 1997. Average investment securities increased $2.19 billion, or 58 percent, during the third quarter of 1998 compared to the third quarter of 1997 and $1.06 billion, or 27 percent, during the first nine months of 1998 compared to the first nine months of 1997. Given loan repayments and relatively softer loan demand during 1998 as compared with 1997 and in anticipation of a continuing declining long-term interest rate environment with accelerated prepayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities, the Corporation strategically increased its investment securities portfolio. Average loans decreased $829.9 million, or 7 percent, during the third quarter of 1998 compared to the third quarter of 1997 and $17.6 million, or .2 percent, during the first nine months of 1998 compared to the first nine months of 1997. During 1998 $1.21 billion of mortgage loans were securitized and retained. Approximately half of the increase in average investment securities was due to the securitization of mortgage loans and the contribution to a real estate investment trust, which is a subsidiary of the Corporation. Interest-bearing liabilities averaged $14.01 billion during the third quarter of 1998, an increase of $1.19 billion, or 9 percent, from $12.82 billion in the third quarter of 1997. Interest-bearing liabilities averaged $13.62 billion during the first nine months of 1998, an increase of $906.9 million, or 7 percent, from $12.72 billion in the first nine months of 1997. In order to fund an increased level of earning assets in the most economically desirable manner, the Corporation placed more reliance on noncore interest-bearing liabilities during 1998 as compared to 1997. Interest-bearing deposits were up $170.9 million, or 2 percent, during the third quarter of 1998, and federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings increased $600 million, or 33 percent, and long-term debt increased $415.7 million, or 93 percent. During the first nine months of 1998 compared to the same period in 1997, federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings increased $476.3 million, or 28 14 15 percent, and long-term debt increased $255.8 million, or 60 percent, while interest-bearing deposits increased $174.8 million, or 2 percent. The net interest spread was 3.41 percent for the third quarter of 1998 and 3.56 percent for the first nine months of 1998 which compared to 3.59 percent for the third quarter of 1997 and 3.62 percent for the first nine months of 1997. The decrease in the net interest spread from the third quarter of 1997 to the third quarter of 1998 reflected a 26 basis point decrease in the average yield on earning assets and an 8 basis point decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The decrease in the net interest spread from the first nine months of 1997 to the first nine months of 1998 reflected a 9 basis point decrease in the average yield on earning assets and a 3 basis point decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The decrease in the yield on earning assets to 7.82 percent during the third quarter of 1998 (from 8.08 percent during the third quarter of 1997) and the decrease in the average yield on earning assets to 7.97 percent during the first nine months of 1998 (from 8.06 percent for the comparative period in 1997) was essentially due to decreases in yields on investment securities and the relative size of the investment securities portfolio to total earning assets. The interest rate environment impacts the rates that First American earns on investment securities, charges for loans, and pays on interest-bearing liabilities. As rates for home mortgages significantly declined in 1998, mortgage prepayments increased at a rapid pace, which resulted in a decrease in the average yield on the investment securities portfolio as lower yielding mortgage-backed securities replaced higher yielding mortgage-backed securities. Also contributing to the lower yield on the investment securities portfolio was the increase in volume of investment securities during 1998 at lower yields compared to 1997. The yield on loans was relatively unchanged at 8.51 percent for the third quarter of 1998 versus 8.52 percent for the third quarter of 1997 and increased to 8.54 percent during the first nine months of 1998 compared to 8.52 percent during the first nine months of 1997. Factors contributing to the decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities to 4.41 percent in the third quarter of 1998 from 4.49 percent in the third quarter of 1997 and to 4.41 percent in the first nine months of 1998 from 4.44 percent in the first nine months of 1997 were deposit pricing actions offset by funding mix changes and an increase in the average rate paid on noncore sources of funds. Through the use of VISION, a customer information system that captures product utilization, transaction behavior, profitability, and buying preferences, the Corporation reviewed its deposit products and adjusted rates accordingly and offered updated products, including the Tailored Money Sweep account. The net interest margin decreased to 4.12 percent and 4.28 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of 1998, respectively, from 4.34 percent and 4.36 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of 1997, respectively, due primarily to a decline in the net interest spread and a slightly lower contribution from the benefit of noninterest-bearing deposits. PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES This topic is addressed under the caption, "Allowance and Provision for Loan Losses." NONINTEREST INCOME Total noninterest income represented 42 percent of total revenues in the third quarter of 1998 compared with 37 percent in the third quarter of 1997 and 40 percent of total revenues during the first nine months of 1998 compared to 37 percent in the same time period in 1997. Total noninterest income increased $25.4 million, or 25 percent, to $125.5 million in the third quarter of 1998 from $100.1 million in the third quarter of 1997 and $65.1 million, or 23 percent, to $353.7 million in the first nine months of 1998 compared to $288.6 million in the first nine months of 1997. During the third quarter of 1998 First American completed the sale of Deposit Guaranty's corporate trust business for a gain of $7 million. Noninterest income, exclusive of the gain on the sale of the corporate trust business, totaled $118.5 million in the third quarter of 1998, an increase of $18.4 million, or 18 15 16 percent, from the third quarter of 1997 and totaled $346.7 million in the first nine months of 1998, an increase of $58.1 million, or 20 percent, from the first nine months of 1997. All major categories of noninterest income experienced solid increases for the third quarter and for the first nine months of 1998. Significant changes in noninterest income were attributable to increases in investment services income, service charges on deposit accounts, mortgage banking income, trading account revenue, and commissions and fees on fiduciary activities. Investment services income increased $6.7 million, or 22 percent, during the third quarter of 1998 over the third quarter of 1997 and $23 million, or 25 percent, during the first nine months of 1998 over the first nine months of 1997. The increase in investment services income was substantially due to growth in retail brokerage commissions related to mutual funds, equities, and annuities sales of IFC Holdings, Inc. ("IFC"). IFC is the nation's largest marketer of mutual funds, annuities, and other investment products sold through financial institutions. The $4.7 million, or 16 percent, increase in service charges on deposit accounts for the third quarter of 1998 and the $10.6 million, or 13 percent, increase for the first nine months of 1998 reflected fee increases and product changes in conjunction with the utilization of a customer information system called VISION. Increases primarily occurred in overdraft charges and commercial analysis fees. Mortgage banking income was up $3 million, or 37 percent, in the third quarter of 1998 and $10.1 million, or 39 percent, in the first nine months of 1998. The substantial increases were due to a larger volume of mortgage loans processed and to an increase in net gains on the sale of mortgage warehouse loans of $1.5 million in the third quarter of 1998 and $4.6 million in the first nine months of 1998 compared with the respective time periods in 1997. Trading account revenue increased $2 million, or 270 percent, in the third quarter of 1998 and $3.5 million, or 109 percent, in the first nine months of 1998 due to increased activity as the Corporation benefited from an active securities market. Commissions and fees on fiduciary activities increased $.8 million, or 8 percent, during the third quarter of 1998 and $2.5 million, or 9 percent, during the first nine months of 1998, principally as the result of a growth in customers and assets under management and increased fees on the existing customer base, which reflected an increase in the value of assets under management due to favorable market conditions. Net realized gains on sales of securities were up $.7 million, or 46 percent, in the third quarter of 1998 and $2.4 million, or 85 percent, in the first nine months of 1998. Excluding net realized gains on sales of securities and the gain on the sale of Deposit Guaranty's corporate trust business, noninterest income was up $17.7 million, or 18 percent in the third quarter of 1998 and $55.7 million, or 19 percent, in the first nine months of 1998. Other income (exclusive of the gain on the sale of Deposit Guaranty's corporate trust business) increased $.3 million, or 1 percent, in the third quarter of 1998 and $5.7 million, or 11 percent, in the first nine months of 1998. Other income during the third quarter and first nine months of 1997 included a $2.1 million gain on the sale of Tennessee Credit Corporation and First City Life Insurance Company. Increases in the third quarter of 1998 from the third quarter of 1997 included a $.9 million increase in other corporate service fees and a $.6 million increase in open-end non-loan fees. Significant changes in other income in the first nine months of 1998 compared to the same period in 1997 resulted from a $2.7 million gain on the sale of three branches in Virginia, a $2.2 million increase in open-end non-loan fees, a $2 million increase in other corporate service fees, a $1 million increase in collection expenses and related bank fees, and a $.9 million additional gain on the fourth quarter 1997 sale of First American's corporate trust assets offset by a $2.4 million loss on the sale of First Mortgage's operations. Increases in open-end non-loan fees were pushed up by interchange fees generated by the "Check Card" product for both the third quarter of 1998 and the first nine months of 1998. Increases in other corporate service fees were essentially due to automated teller 16 17 ("ATM") transactions. The $1 million increase in collection expenses and related bank fees was primarily attributable to official check fees and syndication fees. NONINTEREST EXPENSE Total noninterest expense increased $36.1 million, or 21 percent, to $204.4 million for the third quarter of 1998 compared with $168.3 million for the same period in 1997 and $133 million, or 27 percent, to $631.6 million for the first nine months of 1998 compared with $498.6 million for the same period in 1997. Excluding merger and integration costs of $37.2 million in the third quarter of 1998 and $109.2 million in the first nine months of 1998, noninterest expense decreased $1.1 million, or .6 percent, in the third quarter of 1998 and increased $23.8 million, or 5 percent, during the first nine months of 1998. First American's productivity ratio in the traditional banking business, excluding the merger and integration costs and the gain on the sale of Deposit Guaranty's corporate trust business, improved to 52.83 percent for the third quarter of 1998 and 55.91 percent for the first nine months of 1998 compared to 58.78 percent and 59.44 percent for the respective time periods in 1997. The improvement in the productivity ratio was the result of improved expense control and the effect of cost savings in connection with the merger with Deposit Guaranty. The largest increase in noninterest expense (exclusive of merger and integration costs) was due to First American's fee-generating business of IFC. The increase in IFC's subscribers' commissions comprised approximately 69 percent of the increase in noninterest expense (exclusive of merger and integration costs) for the first nine months of 1998. Subscribers' commissions were up $4.3 million, or 24 percent, in the third quarter of 1998 and $16.3 million, or 31 percent, from the respective time periods in 1997, reflecting increases in IFC's brokerage activities. Salaries and benefits expense decreased $3.9 million, or 5 percent, for the third quarter of 1998 and increased only $1.6 million, or less than 1 percent, for the first nine months of 1998. The decrease in salaries and benefits expense for the third quarter of 1998 was due to a reduction in the number of employees, which reflected synergies in connection with the merger with Deposit Guaranty. The slight increase in salaries and benefits expense for the first nine months of 1998 was attributable to increases in merit pay and incentive program expenses offset by decreases resulting from a reduction in the number of employees. Net occupancy expense was up $.5 million, or 4 percent, for the third quarter of 1998 and $1.8 million, or 5 percent, for the first nine months of 1998 primarily due to increased leased space and rental rates. Equipment expense was down $.2 million, or 2 percent, for the third quarter of 1998 and was up $1.7 million, or 5 percent, for the first nine months of 1998. The increase in equipment expense for the first nine months of 1998 over the comparable period in 1997 was attributable to rental expense which was up due to the rental of personal computers and expansion of branch teller automation equipment. Systems and processing expense was down $.1 million, or 3 percent, for the third quarter of 1998 and was down $.9 million, or 8 percent, for the first nine months of 1998, which was essentially due to the renegotiation of the equipment component of an outsourcing contract. Communication expense was up $.5 million, or 8 percent, for the third quarter of 1998 and was up $1.7 million, or 9 percent, for the first nine months of 1998. The increases for both periods resulted from higher expenditures for network telecommunications and courier services offset by decreases in postage expense. Marketing expense was down $1.2 million, or 21 percent, for the third quarter of 1998 and was down $1 million, or 7 percent, for the first nine months of 1998. Marketing synergies gained from the merger with Deposit Guaranty are reflected in the decrease in marketing expense. Supplies expense was down $1.2 million, or 32 percent, for the third quarter of 1998 and was down $2.7 million, or 24 percent, for the first nine months of 1998, which reflected the effect of higher expenditures in 1997 related to purchase acquisitions and a reduction in expenditures in 1998 17 18 prior to the merger of DGNB into First American National Bank, which occurred on September 1, 1998. Other expense consists of many smaller expense categories such as legal fees, directors' fees, contributions, travel and entertainment, other real estate expenses, and others. Other expense was up $.4 million, or 2 percent, for the third quarter of 1998 and was up $4.8 million, or 8 percent, for the first nine months of 1998 over the respective time periods in 1997. The increase in other expenses during the third quarter of 1998 was reduced by the effect of synergies in connection with the Deposit Guaranty merger. Contributing to the $4.8 million increase in other expenses for the first nine months of 1998 were increases in the amortization of mortgage servicing rights ($1.7 million, or 32 percent) and other real estate ($2.9 million, or 78 percent) offset by decreases in numerous other categories of other noninterest expense. The increase in the amortization of mortgage servicing rights was primarily attributable to an increased portfolio of mortgage servicing rights. The term "Year 2000 issue" refers to the necessity of converting computer information systems so that such systems recognize more than two digits to identify a year in any given date field, and are thereby able to differentiate between years in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries ending with the same two digits (e.g. 1900 and 2000). To address the Year 2000 issue, First American has adopted a broad-based approach designed to encompass First American's total environment. First American has appointed a project manager from its information technology ("IT") group and a project team comprised of managers from various areas of the organization to address the Year 2000 issue. Overseeing the project is a steering committee made up of senior management. The project team is responsible for evaluating Year 2000 impact to each area's products and systems, developing a plan for bringing those products and systems to compliant levels, and testing or verifying that compliance. Areas being addressed by the project team include: - Business Systems Applications--This involves Year 2000 remediation of application software that is used to perform specific business functions such as deposits or loan systems. - Technical Infrastructure--This involves Year 2000 remediation of the hardware and software environment used to run application software, and includes PC networks, telecommunications, mainframe computers, operating systems, and productivity software. - Credit Administration--In this area, the project team is reviewing the risk associated with Year 2000 status of the Corporation's clients and depositors. - Facilities Systems--This involves Year 2000 remediation of systems such as elevators, HVAC systems, security systems, lighting systems, and utilities. - Vendor and Third Party Assessment--In this area, the project team has conducted an inventory of the systems and products provided by third parties and has contacted the providers regarding the status of their Year 2000 compliance. This has been a broad-based effort including IT vendors, nonIT vendors, and public utilities. First American's project team is using a 5-phase approach in its Year 2000 project made up of awareness, assessment, remediation, validation, and implementation phases. For IT systems, all in-house programs were remediated as of December, 1997 and are now being tested for Year 2000 compliance. For vendor supplied systems, First American has contacted the suppliers and determined the compliance of these systems. Necessary upgrades to these systems are in process, but are not yet complete. The project team is in the process of testing the Corporation's vendor supplied systems, and anticipates having substantially completed the testing of all mission critical applications by the end of 1998. For nonIT systems, the project team has contacted vendors to establish the Year 2000 compliance of these products, and anticipates having substantially completed testing of these products by the end of 1998. First American estimates that the cost of its Year 2000 project will not exceed $5 million dollars in the aggregate and that the cost will not be material to earnings. Actual expenditures to date and anticipated future expenditures are within this estimate. First American management believes its 18 19 approach to the Year 2000 issue to be comprehensive, and does not expect the Year 2000 issue to have a material impact on its results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. However, given the widespread nature of the problem, and the number of factors outside of the Corporation's direct control, management is continuously evaluating the risks associated with Year 2000. In order to help mitigate these risks, a Year 2000 element is being developed for the existing corporate contingency plan, which will focus on mission critical systems (both IT and nonIT) that are believed to be at high risk for noncompliance. INCOME TAXES During the third quarters of 1998 and 1997, income tax expense was $30.5 million (effective tax rate of 35.7 percent) and $35.1 million (effective tax rate of 36.7 percent), respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 1998, and 1997, income tax expense was $81.9 million (effective tax rate of 37.6 percent) and $100.9 million (effective tax rate of 36.7 percent), respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the third quarter of 1998 compared to the third quarter of 1997 was primarily attributable to a more favorable effective state income tax rate. The increase in the effective tax rate for the first nine months of 1998 over the first nine months of 1997 was primarily due to nondeductible merger and integration costs in connection with the business combination with Deposit Guaranty. BALANCE SHEET REVIEW ASSETS Total assets of First American rose $1.43 billion, or 8 percent, to $18.86 billion at September 30, 1998, from $17.43 billion at September 30, 1997. The growth in total assets was primarily due to a $2.52 billion, or 64 percent, increase in investment securities, offset by a $985.7 million, or 9 percent, decrease in loans. Total assets of First American increased $1.03 billion, or 6 percent, from $17.83 billion at December 31, 1997, to $18.86 billion at September 30, 1998. The increase in total assets from December 31, 1997, to September 30, 1998, was primarily due to a $2.33 billion, or 57 percent, increase in investment securities offset by a $1.13 billion, or 10 percent, decrease in loans. Average investment securities increased $1.06 billion, or 27 percent, and average loans decreased $17.6 million, or .2 percent, during the first nine months of 1998 compared to the first nine months of 1997. Excluding the effect of the securitizations and retention, average investment securities increased $561.3 million, or 14 percent, between September 30, 1997, and September 30, 1998. Excluding the effect of securitizations, loan sales, loan purchases, divestures and business combinations (except Deposit Guaranty), average loans during the first nine months of 1998 increased $294 million, or 3 percent, when compared to the first nine months of 1997. Total average loans exclusive of consumer mortgages increased $433.6 million, or 5 percent, during the first nine months of 1998 compared to the first nine months of 1997. ALLOWANCE AND PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES Management's policy is to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level which is adequate to absorb estimated loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The provision for loan losses is a charge to earnings necessary, after loan charge-offs and recoveries, to maintain the allowance at an appropriate level. Determining the appropriate level of the allowance and the amount of the provision for loan losses involves uncertainties and matters of judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. The allowance for loan losses was $180.1 million at September 30, 1998, $180.4 million at September 30, 1997, and $180 million at December 31, 1997. The allowance for loan losses was 1.71 percent and 1.57 percent of net loans at September 30, 1998, and 1997, respectively, and 1.55 percent of net loans at December 31, 1997. The allowance was maintained at approximately $180 million based upon management's assessment that economic conditions affecting borrowers remain essentially unchanged. 19 20 In the third quarter of 1998, the allowance was increased by a provision of $7 million and decreased by net charge-offs of $7 million compared to a provision of $1.9 million and net charge-offs of $10.1 million in the third quarter of 1997. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans on an annualized basis amounted to .26 percent and .35 percent, respectively, in the third quarters of 1998 and 1997. During the first nine months of 1998, the allowance was increased by a provision of $18 million and reduced by net charge-offs of $19.2 million compared to a provision of $5.6 million and net charge-offs of $18.7 million in the first nine months of 1997. For the nine months ended September 30, 1998, and 1997, activity in the allowance for loan losses also included increases of $1.3 million and $8.3 million, respectively, which consisted of the allowance of acquisitions. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans on an annualized basis amounted to .23 percent for both the nine months ended September 30, 1998, and 1997. ASSET QUALITY First American's asset quality remains strong as evidenced by the decline in the ratio of nonperforming assets (excluding loans 90 days past due on accrual status) to total loans and foreclosed properties to .34 percent at September 30, 1998, from .43 percent at September 30, 1997, and .37 percent at December 31, 1997. Nonperforming assets were $35.9 million at September 30, 1998, $49.4 million at September 30, 1997, and $43.3 million at December 31, 1997. At September 30, 1998, nonperforming assets consisted of $30.3 million of nonaccrual loans and $5.6 million of foreclosed properties. First American has not experienced asset quality problems related to foreign markets and hedge funds due to a lack of exposure in those areas. Other potential problem loans consist of loans that are currently not considered nonperforming but on which information about possible credit problems has caused management to doubt the ability of the borrowers to comply fully with present repayment terms. At September 30, 1998, such loans totaled approximately $87.1 million. Depending on the economy and other factors, these loans and others, which may not be presently identified, could become nonperforming assets in the future. LIABILITIES Total deposits increased $180 million, or 1 percent, to $13.21 billion at September 30, 1998, from $13.03 billion at September 30, 1997. Average deposits for the first nine months of 1998 compared to the first nine months of 1997 increased 2 percent. Short-term borrowings increased $345.8 million, or 16 percent, to $2.45 billion at September 30, 1998, from $2.10 billion at September 30, 1997, which was primarily due to an increase in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase ($671.7 million) offset by a decrease in borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") ($276.9 million). The level of federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements can fluctuate significantly on a daily basis depending on funding needs and availability of sources of funds to meet those needs. Long-term debt increased $865.6 million, or 224 percent, to $1.25 billion at September 30, 1998, from $386.5 million at September 30, 1997, which reflected the addition of $930 million variable rate borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB"). In order to fund an increased level of earning assets in the most economically desirable manner, the Corporation placed more reliance on non-core sources of funds during the first nine months of 1998 compared to the first nine months of 1997. Total deposits decreased $199.5 million, or 1 percent, from $13.41 billion at December 31, 1997, to $13.21 billion at September 30, 1998. Short-term borrowings increased $476 million, or 24 percent, from $1.97 billion at December 31, 1997, which was primarily attributable to increases in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase ($635.1 million) offset by a decrease in borrowings from the FHLB ($158.7 million). Long-term debt increased $655.9 million, or 110 percent, which resulted primarily from the addition of $645 million variable rate borrowings from the FHLB. 20 21 DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS First American has utilized off balance sheet derivative products for a number of years in managing its interest rate sensitivity. Generally, a derivative transaction is a payments exchange agreement whose value derives from an underlying asset or underlying reference rate or index. The use of non-complex, non-leveraged derivative products has reduced the Company's exposure to changes in the interest rate environment. By using derivative products such as interest rate swaps and futures contracts to effectively alter the interest rate characteristics of specific assets or liabilities on the balance sheet (for example to change a variable to a fixed rate obligation), the derivative product offsets fluctuations in net interest income from the otherwise unhedged position. In other words, if net interest income from the otherwise unhedged position changes (increases or decreases) by a given amount, the derivative product should produce close to the opposite result, making the combined amount (otherwise unhedged position impact plus the derivative product position impact) essentially unchanged. Derivative products have enabled First American to improve its balance between interest-sensitive assets and interest-sensitive liabilities by managing interest rate sensitivity, while continuing to meet the lending and deposit needs of its customers. In conjunction with managing interest rate sensitivity, at September 30, 1998, First American had derivatives with notional values totaling $3.24 billion. These derivatives had a net positive fair value (unrealized net pre-tax gain) of $.8 million. Notional amounts are key elements of derivative financial instrument agreements. However, notional amounts do not represent the amounts exchanged by the parties to derivatives and do not measure First American's exposure to credit or market risks. The amounts exchanged are based on the notional amounts and the other terms of the underlying derivative agreements. At September 30, 1997, First American had derivatives with notional values totaling $2.55 billion. These derivatives had a net positive fair value (unrealized pre-tax gain) of $11.4 million at September 30, 1997. The instruments utilized are noted in the following table along with their notional amounts and fair values at September 30, 1998 and 1997. Weighted Average Weighted Average Rate Maturity Related Variable Rate Notional ----------------------------- ---------- Fair (in thousands) Asset/Liability Amount Paid Received Years Value - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 Interest rate swaps Money market deposits $ 150,000 5.97% (1) 5.59% (2) 1.4 $ (1,998) Interest rate swaps Available for sale securities 110,100 5.04 (1) 5.77 (2) 4.2 (1,234) Interest rate swaps Available for sale securities 50,000 5.69 (2) 5.33 (3) 4.1 (304) Interest rate swaps Loans 825,000 5.69 (2) 6.61 (1) 3.7 47,413 Interest rate swaps FHLB borrowings 85,000 6.33 (1) 5.63 (2) 6.0 (6,365) Interest rate swaps Mortgages 20,100 6.65 (1) 5.63 (4) 8.8 (1,176) Forward interest rate swaps Money market deposits 450,000 6.06 (1) 5.63 (2,5) 2.1 (7,762) Forward interest rate swaps Available for sale securities 1,300,000 6.10 (1) 5.56 (2,6) 2.2 (31,228) Floors Loans 250,000 5.45 (1) 5.67 (2) 2.6 3,450 ---------- --------- $3,240,200 $ 796 ================================================================================================================================= September 30, 1997 Interest rate swaps Money market deposits $ 250,000 5.80% (1) 5.74% (7) 1.8 $ 1,012 Interest rate swaps Loans 675,000 5.73 (2) 6.66 (1) 4.5 11,821 Forward interest rate swaps Available for sale securities 250,000 6.53 (1) N/A (2,8) 3.0 (919) Forward interest rate swaps Money market deposits 850,000 6.36 (1) 5.73 (2,9) 1.4 (1,018) Interest rate swaps FHLB borrowings 75,000 6.36 (1) 5.73 (2) 6.9 (257) Interest rate swaps Available for sale securities 25,000 5.78 (2) 5.83 (3) 5.0 (271) Interest rate swaps Mortgages 21,585 6.65 (1) 5.66 (4) 9.8 (307) Caps Certificates of deposits 100,000 6.88 (1) 5.72 (2) .2 - Floors Loans 300,000 5.37 (1) 5.76 (2) 3.0 1,320 ---------- --------- $2,546,585 $ 11,381 ================================================================================================================================= (1) Fixed rate. (2) Variable rate which reprices quarterly based on 3-month LIBOR. 21 22 (3) Variable rate which reprices quarterly based on the constant maturity treasury index. (4) Variable rate which reprices monthly based on 1-month LIBOR. (5) Forward swap periods have become effective for $150 million and will begin at various dates during 1999 for $300 million. Variable rates were unknown at September 30, 1998, for forward swaps which were not yet effective. (6) Forward swap periods have become effective for $250 million and will begin at various dates during 1998 and 1999 for $1.05 billion. Variable rates were unknown at September 30, 1998, for forward swaps which were not yet effective. (7) Variable rate which reprices quarterly based on 3-month LIBOR, except for $25 million which reprices semi-annually based on 6-month LIBOR. (8) Forward swap periods begin in September 1998. Variable rates were unknown at September 30, 1997, since their related forward swap periods had not yet begun. (9) Forward swap periods have become effective for $200 million and will begin at various dates during 1998 and 1999 for $650 million. Variable rates were unknown at September 30, 1997, for forward swaps which were not yet effective. As First American's individual derivative contracts approach maturity, they may be terminated and replaced with derivatives with longer maturities which offer more interest rate risk protection. At September 30, 1998, there were $1.9 million of deferred net gains related to terminated derivatives contracts, and there were $3.0 million of deferred net gains at September 30, 1997. Deferred gains and losses on off balance sheet derivative activities are recognized as interest income or interest expense over the original covered periods. Net interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and 1997, was increased by derivative products income of $1.0 million and $.3 million, respectively. Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997, was increased by derivative products income of $3.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The increase in derivative products net interest income for year-to-date 1998 over year-to-date 1997 was primarily due to actions taken in mid-1997 to create a derivatives position more balanced between pay-fixed and receive-fixed interest rate swaps. Credit risk exposure due to off-balance-sheet hedging is closely monitored, and counterparts to these contracts are selected on the basis of their credit worthiness, as well as their market-making ability. As of September 30, 1998, all outstanding derivative transactions were with counterparts with credit ratings of A-2 or better. Enforceable bilateral netting contracts between First American and its counterparts allow for the netting of gains and losses in determining net credit exposure. First American's net credit exposure on outstanding derivatives on September 30, 1998 was $28.8 million. Given the credit standing of the counterparts to the derivative contracts, management believes that this credit exposure is reasonable in light of its objectives. CAPITAL POSITION Total shareholders' equity was $1.60 billion, or 8.46 percent of total assets, at September 30, 1998, $1.51 billion, or 8.68 percent of total assets, at September 30, 1997, and $1.54 billion, or 8.66 percent of total assets, at December 31, 1997. Total shareholder's equity increased $82.5 million, or 5 percent, from September 30, 1997, to September 30, 1998, resulting principally from comprehensive income (net income plus unrealized gains on securities available for sale) and issuance of shares for employee benefit plans offset by dividends to shareholders and common stock repurchases. Total shareholders' equity increased $51.9 million, or 3 percent, from December 31, 1997, to September 30, 1998, which was primarily due to comprehensive income and issuance of shares in connection with employee benefit plans offset by common stock repurchases and dividends to shareholders. During the third quarter of 1998, First American declared cash dividends on its common stock of $.25 per common share compared to $.20 per common share in the third quarter of 1997, an increase of 25 percent. Cash dividends for the first nine months of 1998 were $.70 per share, an increase of 26 percent over the same time period last year. The Federal Reserve Board and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") promulgate risk-based capital guidelines and regulations which require bank holding companies and national banks to maintain minimum capital ratios. As of September 30, 1998, the Corporation and FANB had ratios which exceeded the regulatory requirements to be classified as "well capitalized," the highest regulatory rating. At September 30, 1998, the Corporation and FANB had total risk-based capital ratios of 11.17 percent and 11.53 percent, respectively, Tier I risk-based capital ratios of 9.26 22 23 percent and 10.31 percent, respectively, and Tier I leverage capital ratios of 7.47 percent and 11.24 percent, respectively. In order to be considered well capitalized, the total risk-based capital ratio must be a minimum of 10 percent, the Tier I risk-based capital ratio must equal or exceed 6 percent, and the Tier I leverage capital ratio must equal or exceed 5 percent. First American Federal Savings Bank ("FAFSB") is subject to capital requirements adopted by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"), which are similar but not identical to those issued by the Federal Reserve Board and the OCC. At June 30, 1998, FAFSB had ratios which exceeded the regulatory requirements to be classified as "well capitalized." LIQUIDITY Liquidity management consists of maintaining sufficient cash levels to fund operations and to meet the requirements of borrowers, depositors, and creditors. Liquid assets include cash and cash equivalents (which consist of cash and due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in banks, and federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell) less Federal Reserve Bank reserve requirements in addition to trading account securities and securities that are estimated to mature within one year. Liquid assets totaled $1.45 billion and $1.17 billion at September 30, 1998, and 1997, respectively, which was approximately 8.5 percent and 7.5 percent of earning assets, respectively. Available for sale securities maturing after one year, which can be sold to meet liquidity needs, had a balance of $3.95 billion at September 30, 1998, compared to $3.08 billion at September 30, 1997. The overall liquidity position of First American is further enhanced by a high proportion of core deposits, which provide a stable funding base. Core deposits comprised 88 percent of total deposits at September 30, 1998, versus 90 percent at September 30, 1997. An additional source of liquidity is First American's three-year $100 million revolving credit agreement which became effective in July 1998 and replaced the 1994 $70 million revolving credit agreement. First American had no borrowings under either revolving agreement during 1998 or 1997. 23 24 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk were included in the Management's discussion and analysis contained in First American's Form 8-K filed on July 14, 1998. There have been no significant changes in the contractual balances and the estimated fair value of First American's on-balance sheet derivative financial instruments, the notional amount and estimated fair value of the company's off-balance sheet derivative financial instruments, or weighted-average interest rates. 24 25 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings The information called for by this item is incorporated by reference to Item 3 of the Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and Note 7 to the Corporation's Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 included herein. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K (a) Exhibits Number Description ------ ------------------------------------------------------------- 3.1 Restated Charter of the Registrant currently in effect as amended and corrected is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1998. 3.2 By-laws of the Registrant currently in effect as amended September 17, 1998, are included herein. 10 Rights Agreement dated July 16, 1998 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 under Item 2 of Form 8-A filed November 10, 1998. 11 "Computation of Earnings per Common Share" is included in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1997. See Part 1, Item 1. 15 Letter regarding unaudited interim financial information from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP dated October 15, 1998 included herein. 27.1 Financial Data Schedule for interim year-to-date period ended September 30, 1998 included herein. 27.2 Restated Financial Data Schedule for interim year-to-date period ended September 30, 1997 included herein. 25 26 (b) Reports on Form 8-K (1) A report on Form 8-K dated July 14, 1998 was filed under Item 5 ("Other Events") that includes as Exhibit 99 thereto the following giving retroactive effect to the merger of Deposit Guaranty Corp. into First American Corporation on May 1, 1998 in a transaction accounted for as a pooling of interest: Selected Financial Data Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk Supplementary Financial Data Independent Auditors' Report Supplemental Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 Notes to the Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements 26 27 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION (Registrant) /s/ Allan R. Landon ------------------------------------------- Allan R. Landon Executive Vice President, CFO and Principal Financial Officer Date: November 13, 1998 ------------------------------------- /s/ Marvin J. Vannatta, Jr. ------------------------------------------- Marvin J. Vannatta, Jr. Executive Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer Date: November 13, 1998 ------------------------------------- 27