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 June 30, 2016

 

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 001-35032

 

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

North Carolina

27-4107242

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

   
1043 E. Morehead Street, Suite 201  
Charlotte, North Carolina 28204
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(704) 716-2134

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

___________________________


I ndicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) 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 ☒ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated Filer ☒ 

Non-accelerated filer ☐

Smaller reporting company ☐

 

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No ☒

 

As of August 8, 2016, the registrant had outstand ing 53,361,119 sha res of common stock, $1.00 par value per share.


 

 
 

 

   

PARK STERLING CORPORATION


Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page No.
     

Part I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 
     

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 
     
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

2

     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 

3

     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

4

     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

5

     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

6

     
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

     

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and   Results of Operations

46
     

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

67
     

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

67
     

Part II.

Other Information

 
     

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

67
     

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

67
     

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

68
     

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

68
     

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

68
     

Item 5.

Other Information

68
     

Item 6.

Exhibits

69

   

 
 

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

   

June 30,

2016

   

December 31,

2015 *

 
                 

ASSETS

               
                 

Cash and due from banks

  $ 33,348     $ 53,840  

Interest-earning balances at banks

    34,955       16,451  

Federal funds sold

    1,570       235  

Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value

    393,131       384,934  

Investment securities held-to-maturity (fair value of $106,763 and $107,629 at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

    102,125       106,458  

Nonmarketable equity securities

    14,420       11,366  

Loans held for sale

    11,967       4,943  

Loans:

               

Non-covered

    2,311,775       1,724,164  

Covered

    15,122       17,651  

Less allowance for loan losses

    (10,873 )     (9,064 )

Net loans

    2,316,024       1,732,751  
                 

Premises and equipment, net

    65,711       55,658  

Bank-owned life insurance

    69,695       58,633  

Deferred tax asset

    28,985       28,971  

Other real estate owned - noncovered

    2,866       4,211  

Other real estate owned - covered

    380       1,240  

Goodwill

    63,197       29,197  

FDIC indemnification asset

    1,165       943  

Core deposit intangible

    12,354       9,571  

Accrued interest receivable

    6,842       5,082  

Other assets

    15,340       9,776  
                 

Total assets

  $ 3,174,075     $ 2,514,260  
                 
                 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

               

Deposits:

               

Noninterest-bearing

  $ 496,195     $ 350,836  

Interest-bearing

    1,977,228       1,601,826  

Total deposits

    2,473,423       1,952,662  
                 

Short-term borrowings

    200,000       185,000  

Long-term borrowings

    64,714       29,996  

Subordinated debt

    33,176       24,262  

Accrued interest payable

    568       515  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    47,744       37,121  

Total liabilities

    2,819,625       2,229,556  
                 
                 

Shareholders' equity:

               

Common stock, $1.00 par value 200,000,000 shares authorized; 53,332,369 and 44,854,509 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively

    53,332       44,854  

Additional paid-in capital

    275,246       222,596  

Retained earnings

    25,219       20,117  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

    653       (2,863 )

Total shareholders' equity

    354,450       284,704  
                 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

  $ 3,174,075     $ 2,514,260  

 

* Derived from audited financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 
2

 

P ARK STERLING CORPORATION  


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

   

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 

Interest income

                               

Loans, including fees

  $ 26,729     $ 19,667     $ 53,853     $ 38,778  

Federal funds sold

    5       -       13       -  

Taxable investment securities

    2,640       2,508       5,327       5,299  

Tax-exempt investment securities

    137       143       284       281  

Nonmarketable equity securities

    153       122       307       249  

Interest on deposits at banks

    34       18       76       36  

Total interest income

    29,698       22,458       59,860       44,643  
                                 

Interest expense

                               

Money market, NOW and savings deposits

    1,014       532       2,032       1,052  

Time deposits

    1,449       752       2,847       1,459  

Short-term borrowings

    251       76       545       152  

Long-term borrowings

    440       131       850       259  

Subordinated debt

    494       351       940       679  

Total interest expense

    3,648       1,842       7,214       3,601  

Net interest income

    26,050       20,616       52,646       41,042  
                                 

Provision for loan losses

    882       134       1,438       314  

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

    25,168       20,482       51,208       40,728  
                                 

Noninterest income

                               

Service charges on deposit accounts

    1,528       1,107       3,017       2,126  

Income from fiduciary activities

    580       774       1,244       1,506  

Commissions and fees from investment brokerage

    283       132       422       262  

Income from capital markets

    767       394       835       792  

Loss on sale of securities available for sale

    (87 )     -       (93 )     -  

ATM and card income

    776       629       1,349       1,323  

Mortgage banking income

    873       956       1,648       1,907  

Income from bank-owned life insurance

    526       553       1,514       1,321  

Amortization of indemnification asset and true-up liability expense

    (25 )     (165 )     (172 )     (559 )

Other noninterest income

    154       (88 )     338       115  

Total noninterest income

    5,375       4,292       10,102       8,793  
                                 

Noninterest expense

                               

Salaries and employee benefits

    11,774       10,021       24,792       20,452  

Occupancy and equipment

    3,041       2,491       6,166       5,046  

Advertising and promotion

    367       304       788       678  

Legal and professional fees

    950       660       1,675       1,458  

Deposit charges and FDIC insurance

    478       433       910       825  

Data processing and outside service fees

    2,224       1,640       7,747       3,288  

Communication fees

    505       541       988       1,119  

Core deposit intangible amortization

    458       347       916       695  

Net cost of operation of other real estate owned

    70       232       336       267  

Loan and collection expense

    273       242       310       396  

Postage and supplies

    191       116       364       265  

Other noninterest expense

    1,615       1,205       3,107       2,882  

Total noninterest expense

    21,946       18,232       48,099       37,371  
                                 

Income before income taxes

    8,597       6,542       13,211       12,150  
                                 

Income tax expense

    3,045       2,273       4,919       4,098  
                                 

Net income

  $ 5,552     $ 4,269     $ 8,292     $ 8,052  
                                 

Basic earnings per common share

  $ 0.11     $ 0.10     $ 0.16     $ 0.18  
                                 

Diluted earnings per common share

  $ 0.11     $ 0.10     $ 0.16     $ 0.18  
                                 

Dividends per common share

  $ 0.03     $ 0.03     $ 0.06     $ 0.06  
                                 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

                               

Basic

    52,394,397       43,971,007       52,340,772       43,944,638  

Diluted

    52,704,537       44,301,895       52,650,886       44,287,424  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
3

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)  

   

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                 

Net income

  $ 5,552     $ 4,269     $ 8,292     $ 8,052  
                                 

Securities available for sale and transferred securities:

                               

Change in net unrealized gains (losses) during the period

    2,118       (3,150 )     6,809       (165 )

Change in net unrealized gain on securities transferred to held to maturity

    26       73       52       209  

Reclassification adjustment for net losses recognized in net income

    87       -       93       -  

Total securities available for sale and transferred securities

    2,231       (3,077 )     6,954       44  
                                 

Derivatives:

                               

Change in the accumulated gain (loss) on effective cash flow hedge derivatives

    (475 )     646       (1,700 )     (610 )

Change in the accumulated loss on terminated cash flow hedge derivatives

    93       -       186       -  

Reclassification adjustment for interest payments

    88       103       177       206  

Total derivatives

    (294 )     749       (1,337 )     (404 )
                                 

Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax

    1,937       (2,328 )     5,617       (360 )
                                 

Deferred tax expense (benefit) related to other comprehensive income (loss)

    729       (864 )     2,101       (135 )
                                 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

    1,208       (1,464 )     3,516       (225 )
                                 

Total comprehensive income

  $ 6,760     $ 2,805     $ 11,808     $ 7,827  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 
4

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)  

 

 

    Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015                    
   

Common Stock

   

Additional

Paid-In

   

Accumulated

   

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

   

Total

Shareholders'

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Capital

   

Earnings

   

Income (Loss)

   

Equity

 
                                                 
                                                 

Balance at December 31, 2014

    44,859,798     $ 44,860     $ 222,819     $ 8,901     $ (1,475 )   $ 275,105  
                                                 

Issuance of restricted stock grants

    212,300       212       (212 )     -       -       -  
                                                 

Forfeitures of restricted stock grants

    (8,917 )     (9 )     9       -       -       -  
                                                 

Exercise of stock options

    28,963       29       112       -       -       141  
                                                 

Share-based compensation expense

    1,182       1       589       -       -       590  
                                                 

Common stock repurchased or reacquired

    (182,640 )     (182 )     (1,046 )     -       -       (1,228 )
                                                 

Dividends on common stock

    -       -       -       (2,692 )     -       (2,692 )
                                                 

Net income

    -       -       -       8,052       -       8,052  
                                                 

Other comprehensive loss

    -       -       -       -       (225 )     (225 )
                                                 

Balance at June 30, 2015

    44,910,686     $ 44,911     $ 222,271     $ 14,261     $ (1,700 )   $ 279,743  
                                                 

Balance at December 31, 2015

    44,854,509     $ 44,854     $ 222,596     $ 20,117     $ (2,863 )   $ 284,704  
                                                 

Shares issued for First Capital merger

    8,376,094       8,376       52,937       -       -       61,313  
                                                 

Issuance of restricted stock grants

    236,534       236       (236 )     -       -       -  
                                                 

Forfeitures of restricted stock grants

    (38,783 )     (39 )     39       -       -       -  
                                                 

Exercise of stock options

    274,890       275       1,512       -       -       1,787  
                                                 

Share-based compensation expense

    1,300       1       682       -       -       683  
                                                 

Common stock repurchased or reacquired

    (372,175 )     (371 )     (2,284 )     -       -       (2,655 )
                                                 

Dividends on common stock

    -       -       -       (3,190 )     -       (3,190 )
                                                 

Net income

    -       -       -       8,292       -       8,292  
                                                 

Other comprehensive income

    -       -       -       -       3,516       3,516  
                                                 

Balance at June 30, 2016

    53,332,369     $ 53,332     $ 275,246     $ 25,219     $ 653     $ 354,450  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 
5

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

   

Six Months Ended

 
   

June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities

               

Net income

  $ 8,292     $ 8,052  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

               

Accretion on acquired loans

    (4,902 )     (3,720 )

Net amortization on investments

    1,258       1,209  

Other depreciation and amortization

    5,045       5,433  

Provision for loan losses

    1,438       314  

Share-based compensation expense

    683       590  

Deferred income taxes

    (171 )     3,695  

Amortization of FDIC indemnification asset

    142       514  

Net losses on sales of investment securities available-for-sale

    93       -  

Net gains on sales of loans held for sale

    (846 )     (830 )

Net losses on sales of fixed assets

    274       349  

Net gains on sales of other real estate owned

    (171 )     (307 )

Writedowns on other real estate owned

    294       485  

Income from bank-owned life insurance

    (1,514 )     (1,321 )

Proceeds from loans held for sale

    44,460       54,326  

Disbursements for loans held for sale

    (50,638 )     (52,595 )

Change in assets and liabilities:

               

Decrease in FDIC indemnification asset

    333       90  

Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable

    96       (385 )

Increase in other assets

    (1,460 )     (352 )

Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable

    12       (23 )

Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

    4,374       746  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    7,092       16,270  
                 

Cash flows from investing activities

               

Net increase in loans

    (81,816 )     (79,027 )

Purchases of premises and equipment

    (2,558 )     (2,401 )

Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment

    -       169  

Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale

    (76,247 )     (56,061 )

Purchases of investment securities held-to-maturity

    -       (4,958 )

Proceeds from sales of investment securities available-for-sale

    124,381       -  

Proceeds from maturities, calls and paydowns of investment securities available-for-sale

    26,929       28,115  

Proceeds from maturities, calls and paydowns of investment securities held-to-maturity

    4,292       9,040  

Proceeds from life insurance death benefit

    534       1,054  

FDIC payment (reimbursement) of recoverable covered asset losses

    (697 )     2,151  

Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned

    3,674       5,701  

Net (purchases) redemptions of nonmarketable equity securities

    1,289       (1,968 )

Termination of cash flow hedge

    (1,855 )     -  

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

    (12,067 )     -  

Net cash used by investing activities

    (14,141 )     (98,185 )
                 

Cash flows from financing activities

               

Net increase in deposits

    13,627       23,646  

Advances of long-term borrowings

    35,000       -  

Repayments of long-term borrowings

    (45,503 )     -  

Net advances in short-term borrowings

    7,379       55,000  

Repayments of junior subordinated debt

    (49 )     -  

Exercise of stock options

    1,787       141  

Repurchase of common stock

    (2,655 )     (1,228 )

Dividends on common stock

    (3,190 )     (2,692 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

    6,396       74,867  
                 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

    (653 )     (7,048 )
                 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning

    70,526       51,390  
                 

Cash and cash equivalents, ending

  $ 69,873     $ 44,342  
                 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

               

Cash paid for interest

  $ 7,161     $ 3,624  

Cash paid for income taxes

    760       338  
                 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:

               

Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax

  $ 6,935     $ 27  

Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge, net of tax

    (429 )     (252 )

Loans transferred to other real estate owned

    1,592       3,677  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
6

 

   

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

   

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

 

Park Sterling Corporation (the “Company”) was formed on October 6, 2010 to serve as the holding company for Park Sterling Bank (the “Bank”) and is a bank holding company registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”). At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company’s primary operations and business were that of owning the Bank.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information or footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with GAAP. Because the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP, they should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes (the “2015 Audited Financial Statements”) included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 6, 2016 (the “2015 Form 10-K”).

 

In management’s opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which consist of normal, recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the results of its operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. Operating results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year or for other interim periods.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are susceptible to significant change in the near term are the valuation of purchased credit-impaired (“PCI”) loans, the valuation of the allowance for loan losses, the determination of the need for a deferred tax asset valuation allowance, the fair value of financial instruments and other accounts and the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired in the acquisition of First Capital Bancorp, Inc. (“First Capital”).

 

Tabular information, other than share and per share data, is presented in thousands of dollars. Certain amounts reported in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

 

Note 2 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement Period Adjustments” (“ASU 2015-16”). ASU 2015-16 simplifies the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination by eliminating the requirement to retrospectively account for those adjustments. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 were effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. This guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company also adopted ASU 2015-03, “Interest- Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-300: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs)” (“ASU 2015-03”). The amendments in this ASU require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015 and interim periods within that year. This guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

On January 5, 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments–Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”). Changes to the current GAAP model primarily affect the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. In addition, the FASB clarified guidance related to the valuation allowance assessment when recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities. The guidance will be effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company is evaluating the impact of this update on its financial statements.

 

 
7

 

   

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”), which is intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions. ASU 2016-02 will require organizations (“lessees”) that lease assets with lease terms of more than twelve months to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. Financial reporting for organizations that own the assets leased by lessees (“lessors”) will remain largely unchanged from current GAAP. In addition, the ASU will require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The effective date of this ASU is for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018 and interim periods within that year. The Company is evaluating the impact of this standard on its financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation- Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”), which is intended to improve accounting for share-based payment award transactions. ASU 2016-09 will simplify share-based transactions including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. The effective date of this ASU is for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the impact of this update on its financial statements.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”) as part of its project on financial instruments. ASU 2016-13 introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. It also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale (AFS) debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. The effective date of this ASU is for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The implementation of ASU 2016-13 will have a significant impact on both the method of estimating credit losses as well as the amount of credit losses reflected in the financial statements. The Company is currently in a planning phase for implementation of the new standard and its expected impact on its financial statements.

 

Note 3– Business Combinations and Goodwill

 

Business Combinations

 

Generally, acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations . Both the purchased assets and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective acquisition date fair values. Determining the fair value of assets and liabilities, especially the loan portfolio, is a complicated process involving significant judgment regarding methods and assumptions used to calculate estimated fair values. Fair values are preliminary and subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of the acquisition as additional information regarding the closing date fair values becomes available.

 

First Capital

 

On January 1, 2016, the Company acquired First Capital pursuant to the merger agreement dated September 30, 2015. Upon completion of the merger, First Capital common shareholders received either $5.54 in cash or 0.7748 Park Sterling shares for each First Capital share they held, subject to the limitation that the total consideration for shareholders consisted of 30.0% in cash and 70.0% in Park Sterling shares; First Capital warrant holders received either $1.77 in cash or 0.24755 Park Sterling shares for each First Capital warrant they held, subject to the limitation that the total consideration for warrant holders consisted of 30.0% in cash and 70.0% in Park Sterling shares; and each outstanding option to purchase shares of First Capital common stock was converted into the right to receive cash equal to the product of (a) $5.54 minus the per share exercise price of such option, and (b) the number of shares of First Capital common stock subject to the option. After application of the elections made by the holders of First Capital’s common stock and warrants and the allocation procedures contained in the merger agreement, the aggregate merger consideration consisted of approximately 8,376,094 shares of the Company’s common stock and approximately $25.8 million in cash. Based upon the $7.32 per share closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2015, the transaction value was approximately $87.1 million.

 

 
8

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed from First Capital were recorded at their fair value as of the closing date of the merger. Fair values are preliminary and subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of the acquisition as additional information regarding the closing date fair values becomes available. Goodwill of $34.5 million was initially recorded at the time of the acquisition. As a result of refinements to the fair value mark on nonmarketable equity securities, deferred tax asset, other assets and other liabilities, goodwill as indicated below is $0.5 million less than the goodwill estimated at the time of acquisition. The following table summarizes the consideration paid by the Company in the merger with First Capital and the amounts of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed recognized at the acquisition date:

 

   

As Recorded

by

First Capital

   

Fair Value and Other

Merger Related

Adjustments

   

As Recorded

by the Company

 

Consideration Paid

                       

Cash

                  $ 25,834  

Common shares issued

                    61,313  
                         

Fair Value of Total Consideration Transferred

                  $ 87,147  
                         

Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

                       
                         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 13,767     $ -     $ 13,767  

Securities

    77,404       69       77,473  

Nonmarketable equity securities

    4,161       27       4,188  

Loans, net of allowance

    500,265       (56 )     500,209  

Premises and equipment

    11,699       (393 )     11,306  

Core deposit intangibles

    -       3,700       3,700  

Interest receivable

    1,856       -       1,856  

Bank owned life insurance

    10,216       -       10,216  

Deferred tax asset

    3,956       (722 )     3,234  

Other assets

    2,962       (124 )     2,838  
                         

Total assets acquired

    626,286       2,501       628,787  
                         

Deposits

    506,060       1,683       507,743  

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

    45,000       503       45,503  

Junior Subordinated Debt

    9,963       (1,372 )     8,591  

Short term borrowings

    7,621       -       7,621  

Other liabilities

    5,994       188       6,182  
                         

Total liabilities assumed

  $ 574,638     $ 1,002     $ 575,640  
                         

Total identifiable assets

  $ 51,648     $ 1,499     $ 53,147  
                         

Goodwill resulting from acquisition

                  $ 34,000  

 

 
9

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The following table presents certain proforma information as if First Capital had been acquired on January 1, 2015. These results combine the historical results of First Capital in the Company’s consolidated statement of income and, while certain adjustments were made for the estimated impact of certain fair value adjustments and other acquisition-related activity, they are not indicative of what would have occurred had the acquisition taken place on January 1, 2015. Acquisition-related costs of $6.5 million are included in the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and are not included in the proforma information below. In particular, no adjustments have been made to eliminate the amount of First Capital recovery of loan losses of $145 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Furthermore, additional expenses related to systems conversions and other costs of integration are expected to be recorded during 2016. Additionally, the Company expects to achieve further operating cost savings and other business synergies as a result of the acquisition which are not reflected in the proforma amounts below:

 

   

Proforma Results for the

Six Months Ended June 30, 2015

   

Actual Results

Six Months End ed

 
   

Park Sterling

   

First Capital

   

Combined

   

June 30, 2016

 

Total revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income)

  $ 49,835     $ 11,035     $ 60,870     $ 62,748  

Net income

    8,052       2,231       10,283       8,292  

Basic earnings per common share

  $ 0.18     $ 0.18     $ 0.19     $ 0.16  

   

Note 4 – Investment Securities

 

The amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses, and estimated fair value of securities available-for-sale at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:  

 

Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Investment Portfolio

 

   

Amortized

Cost

   

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

   

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

   

Fair

Value

 

June 30, 2016

                               

Securities available-for-sale:

                               

U.S. Government agencies

  $ 501     $ 3     $ -     $ 504  

Municipal securities

    13,244       974       -       14,218  

Residential agency pass-through securities

    177,979       4,366       -       182,345  

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

    104,412       2,454       -       106,866  

Asset-backed securities

    86,417       811       (731 )     86,497  

Corporate and other securities

    1,471       -       (111 )     1,360  

Equity securities

    1,250       91       -       1,341  

Total securities available-for-sale

  $ 385,274     $ 8,699     $ (842 )   $ 393,131  
                                 

Securities held-to-maturity:

                               

Residential agency pass-through securities

  $ 38,196     $ 1,577     $ -     $ 39,773  

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

    7,305       316       -       7,621  

Commercial mortgage-backed obligations

    53,425       1,226       -       54,651  

Asset-backed securities

    4,757       -       (40 )     4,717  

Total securities held-to-maturity

  $ 103,683     $ 3,119     $ (40 )   $ 106,762  
                                 

December 31, 2015

                               

Securities available-for-sale:

                               

U.S. Government agencies

  $ 503     $ 11     $ -     $ 514  

Municipal securities

    14,049       747       -       14,796  

Residential agency pass-through securities

    130,041       1,500       (81 )     131,460  

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

    151,928       646       (943 )     151,631  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

    4,856       -       (100 )     4,756  

Asset-backed securities

    79,941       104       (925 )     79,120  

Corporate and other securities

    1,463       37       -       1,500  

Equity securities

    1,250       -       (93 )     1,157  

Total securities available-for-sale

  $ 384,031     $ 3,045     $ (2,142 )   $ 384,934  
                                 

Securities held-to-maturity:

                               

Residential agency pass-through securities

  $ 41,012     $ 831     $ (53 )   $ 41,790  

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

    7,723       69       -       7,792  

Commercial mortgage-backed obligations

    54,028       -       (1,367 )     52,661  

Asset-backed securities

    5,394       -       (8 )     5,386  

Total securities held-to-maturity

  $ 108,157     $ 900     $ (1,428 )   $ 107,629  

   

 
10

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

In the second quarter of 2014, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) with a fair market value of $58.5 million were transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity. These securities had an aggregate unrealized loss of $2.2 million ($1.5 million, net of tax) on the date of transfer. The net unamortized, unrealized loss on the transferred securities included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the accompanying balance sheet as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 totaled $1.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively. This amount will be amortized out of accumulated other comprehensive income over the remaining life of the underlying securities as an adjustment of the yield on those securities. As a result, the amortized cost of these investments of $53.4 million is higher than the $51.9 million carrying value of the securities as of June 30, 2016. There were no transfers of securities from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 or 2015.

 

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, investment securities with a fair market value of $171.9 million and $154.9 million, respectively, were pledged to secure public and trust deposits, to secure interest rate swaps, and for other purposes as required and permitted by law.

 

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, commercial MBS include $45.8 million and $51.1 million, respectively, of delegated underwriting and servicing (“DUS”) bonds collateralized by multi-family properties and backed by an agency of the U.S. government, and $6.0 million of private-label securities collateralized by commercial properties.

 

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, asset-backed securities include a $4.8 million security that is approximately 45% collateralized by the Federal family education loan program and 55% collateralized by a private student loan program.   

 

 
11

 

   

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Maturities of Investment Portfolio

 

The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity at June 30, 2016 by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. All of the Company’s residential agency pass-through securities and residential collateralized mortgage obligations are backed by an agency of the United States government. None of our residential agency pass-through securities or residential collateralized mortgage obligations are private-label securities.

 

   

June 30, 2016

 
   

Amortized

Cost

   

Fair

Value

 

Securities available-for-sale:

               

U.S. Government agencies

               

Due after one year through five years

  $ 501     $ 504  

Municipal securities

               

Due after five years through ten years

    4,376       4,663  

Due after ten years

    8,868       9,555  

Residential agency pass-through securities

               

Due after five years through ten years

    7,732       8,072  

Due after ten years

    170,247       174,273  

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

               

Due after five years through ten years

    15,558       16,037  

Due after ten years

    88,854       90,829  

Commercial mortgage-backed obligations

               

Due after one year through five years

    -       -  

Asset-backed securities

               

Due after five years through ten years

    59,004       58,975  

Due after ten years

    27,413       27,522  

Corporate and other securities

               

Due after ten years

    1,471       1,360  

Equity securities

               

No maturity

    1,250       1,341  

Total securities available-for-sale

  $ 385,274     $ 393,131  
                 

Securities held-to-maturity:

               

Residential agency pass-through securities

               

Due after ten years

  $ 38,196     $ 39,773  

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

               

Due after ten years

    7,305       7,621  

Commercial mortgage-backed obligations

               

Due after five years through ten years

    53,425       54,651  

Asset-backed securities

               

Due after ten years

    4,757       4,717  

Total securities held-to-maturity

  $ 103,683     $ 106,762  

 

Securities available-for-sale of $24.3 million and $124.4 million were sold in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. Gross realized losses on the sale of securities for the three months ended June 30, 2016 were $87 thousand. Gross realized losses on the sale of securities for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were $187 thousand. Gross realized gains on the sale of securities for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were $94 thousand. There were no sales of securities in the three and six months ended June 30, 2015. The significant amount of sales of securities during the first quarter of 2016 is due to the sale of securities held by First Capital immediately following the acquisition.

 

Management evaluates its investments quarterly for other than temporary impairment, relying primarily on industry analyst reports, observation of market conditions and interest rate fluctuations. The following table shows gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for securities with unrealized losses at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. None of the securities are deemed to be other than temporarily impaired since none of the unrealized losses relate to the marketability of the securities or the issuer’s ability to honor redemption obligations, as all but one of the bonds are issued by United States government agencies with the remaining bond being partially guaranteed by a government agency, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis. At June 30, 2016, there were six securities in a loss position for twelve months or more. At December 31, 2015, there were 18 securities in a loss position for twelve months or more.

 

 
12

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Pursuant to the “Volcker Rule” adopted by the federal banking regulatory agencies effective April, 2014, banks and their affiliates are prohibited from engaging in proprietary trading and investing in and sponsoring a covered fund (such as a hedge fund or private equity fund). Banking entities have until July 21, 2017 to conform their activities to the requirements of the rule. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company held a collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) with a fair value of $5.0 million, which was included in asset-backed securities, which currently would be prohibited under the Volcker Rule. The net unrealized loss of the prohibited CLO was $68,250 and $57,300 at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company will determine any disposition plans for this security as the documentation is, or is not, amended. Unless the documentation is amended to avoid inclusion within the rule’s prohibitions, the Company would have to recognize other-than-temporary-impairment with respect to this security in conformity with GAAP rules and dispose of the security by July 21, 2017. The Company held no other security types potentially affected by the Volcker Rule at June 30, 2016.

 

Investment Portfolio Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value

 

   

Less Than 12 Months

   

12 Months or More

   

Total

 
   

Fair

Value

   

Unrealized

Losses

   

Fair

Value

   

Unrealized

Losses

   

Fair

Value

   

Unrealized

Losses

 

June 30, 2016

                                               

Securities available-for-sale:

                                               

Asset-backed securities

  $ 15,492     $ (356 )   $ 27,622     $ (375 )   $ 43,114     $ (731 )

Corporate and other securities

    1,360       (111 )     -       -       1,360       (111 )
                                                 

Total temporarily impaired available-for-sale securities

  $ 16,852     $ (467 )   $ 27,622     $ (375 )   $ 44,474     $ (842 )
                                                 

Securities held-to-maturity:

                                               

Asset-backed securities

  $ -     $ -     $ 4,717     $ (40 )   $ 4,717     $ (40 )
                                                 

Total temporarily impaired held-to-maturity securities

  $ -     $ -     $ 4,717     $ (40 )   $ 4,717     $ (40 )
                                                 

December 31, 2015

                                               

Securities available-for-sale:

                                               

Residential agency pass-through securities

  $ 14,785     $ (37 )   $ 3,489     $ (44 )   $ 18,274     $ (81 )

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

    43,563       (306 )     27,718       (637 )     71,281       (943 )

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

    4,756       (100 )     -       -       4,756       (100 )

Asset-backed securities

    18,651       (190 )     45,263       (735 )     63,914       (925 )

Equity Securities

    1,157       (93 )     -       -       1,157       (93 )

Total temporarily impaired available-for-sale securities

  $ 82,912     $ (726 )   $ 76,470     $ (1,416 )   $ 159,382     $ (2,142 )
                                                 

Securities held-to-maturity:

                                               

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

  $ 4,456     $ (53 )   $ -     $ -     $ 4,456     $ (53 )

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

    18,736       (370 )     33,925       (997 )     52,661       (1,367 )

Asset-backed securities

    -       -       5,386       (8 )     5,386       (8 )
                                                 

Total temporarily impaired held-to-maturity securities

  $ 23,192     $ (423 )   $ 39,311     $ (1,005 )   $ 62,503     $ (1,428 )

 

The Company has nonmarketable equity securities consisting of investments in several unaffiliated financial institutions, as well as investments in five statutory trusts related to trust preferred securities issued by predecessor companies. These investments totaled $14.4 million at June 30, 2016 and $11.4 million at December 31, 2015. Included in these amounts at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $12.8 million and $10.0 million, respectively, of Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock. All nonmarketable equity securities were evaluated for impairment as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company estimated that the fair values of nonmarketable equity securities equaled or exceeded the cost of each of these investments, and, therefore, the investments were not impaired.

 

 
13

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Note 5 – Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The Company’s loan portfolio was comprised of the following at:  

 

   

June 30, 2016

   

December 31, 2015

 
   

PCI loans

   

All other

loans

   

Total

   

PCI loans

   

All other

loans

   

Total

 

Commercial:

                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ 4,340     $ 330,304     $ 334,644     $ 4,825     $ 242,082     $ 246,907  

Commercial real estate (CRE) - owner-occupied

    20,179       356,261       376,440       21,388       309,834       331,222  

CRE - investor income producing

    33,003       731,165       764,168       32,371       473,739       506,110  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    813       99,791       100,604       465       31,797       32,262  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    9,584       85,102       94,686       4,797       39,614       44,411  

AC&D - CRE

    220       125,246       125,466       -       87,452       87,452  

Other commercial

    1,727       8,683       10,410       1,870       6,731       8,601  

Total commercial loans

    69,866       1,736,552       1,806,418       65,716       1,191,249       1,256,965  
                                                 

Consumer:

                                               

Residential mortgage

    23,396       220,667       244,063       23,420       200,464       223,884  

Home equity lines of credit (HELOC)

    1,783       179,237       181,020       1,580       155,798       157,378  

Residential construction

    3,137       62,730       65,867       3,685       68,486       72,171  

Other loans to individuals

    488       26,087       26,575       516       28,300       28,816  

Total consumer loans

    28,804       488,721       517,525       29,201       453,048       482,249  

Total loans

    98,670       2,225,273       2,323,943       94,917       1,644,297       1,739,214  

Deferred costs

    -       2,954       2,954       -       2,601       2,601  

Total loans, net of deferred costs

  $ 98,670     $ 2,228,227     $ 2,326,897     $ 94,917     $ 1,646,898     $ 1,741,815  

 

Included in the June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 loan totals are $15.1 million and $17.7 million, respectively, of covered loans pursuant to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) loss share agreements. Of these amounts, at June 30, 2016, approximately $13.2 million is included in PCI loans and $1.9 million is included in all other loans. At December 31, 2015, $15.6 million is included in PCI loans and $2.1 million is included in all other loans.

 

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had sold participations in loans aggregating $24.1 million and $12.5 million, respectively, to other financial institutions on a nonrecourse basis. Of the $24.1 million in participation loans outstanding at June 30, 2016, approximately half were acquired in connection with the First Capital merger. Collections on loan participations and remittances to participating institutions conform to customary banking practices.

 

The Bank accepts residential mortgage loan applications and funds loans of qualified borrowers. Funded loans are sold with limited recourse to investors under the terms of pre-existing commitments. The Bank executes all of its loan sales agreements under best efforts contracts with investors. From time to time, the Company may choose to hold certain mortgage loans on balance sheet. The Company serviced $2.5 million and $2.8 million of residential mortgage loans for the benefit of others as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

Loans sold are 1-4 family residential mortgages originated by the Company and sold to various other financial institutions. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the loan is represented by the contractual notional amount of the loan. Since only a few of the loans have ever been returned to the Company, the amount of total loans sold does not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Total loans sold in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 were $26.0 million and $43.6 million, respectively. Total loans sold in the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 were $27.9 million and $53.5 million, respectively.

 

 
14

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

At June 30, 2016, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral to the FHLB on borrowings and to the Federal Reserve totaled $880.7 million. At December 31, 2015, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral to the FHLB and the Federal Reserve totaled $693.0 million.

 

Concentrations of Credit - Loans are primarily made within the Company’s operating footprint of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. Real estate loans can be affected by the condition of the local real estate market. Commercial and industrial loans can be affected by the local economic conditions. The commercial loan portfolio has concentrations in business loans secured by real estate and real estate development loans. Primary concentrations in the consumer loan portfolio include home equity lines of credit and residential mortgages. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had no loans outstanding with foreign entities.

 

 
15

 

   

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses - The following table presents, by portfolio segment, the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

   

Commercial and industrial

   

CRE - owner-

occupied

   

CRE - investor

income

producing

   

AC&D - 1-4

family

construction

   

AC&D - lots,

land &

development

   

AC&D - CRE

   

Other

commercial

   

Residential

mortgage

   

HELOC

   

Residential construction

   

Other loans to individuals

   

Total

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2016

                                                                                               

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                                                                                               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 2,047     $ 1,108     $ 2,217     $ 381     $ 398     $ 808     $ 67     $ 724     $ 1,393     $ 449     $ 240     $ 9,832  

Provision for loan losses

    66       123       348       91       (70 )     28       3       104       130       (12 )     71       882  

Charge-offs

    (1 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       (15 )     (56 )     -       (21 )     (93 )

Recoveries

    16       -       7       13       121       -       -       8       66       2       19       252  

Net (charge-offs) recoveries

    15       -       7       13       121       -       -       (7 )     10       2       (2 )     159  
                                                                                                 

Total Allowance for Loan Losses

  $ 2,128     $ 1,231     $ 2,572     $ 485     $ 449     $ 836     $ 70     $ 821     $ 1,533     $ 439     $ 309     $ 10,873  
                                                                                                 

For the six months ended June 30, 2016

                                                                                               

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                                                                                               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 1,821     $ 1,135     $ 2,099     $ 247     $ 278     $ 679     $ 69     $ 672     $ 1,337     $ 461     $ 266     $ 9,064  

Provision for loan losses

    283       96       451       221       16       157       (37 )     129       95       (39 )     66       1,438  

Charge-offs

    (15 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       (32 )     (56 )     (11 )     (61 )     (175 )

Recoveries

    39       -       22       17       155       -       38       52       157       28       38       546  

Net (charge-offs) recoveries

    24       -       22       17       155       -       38       20       101       17       (23 )     371  
                                                                                                 

Total Allowance for Loan Losses

  $ 2,128     $ 1,231     $ 2,572     $ 485     $ 449     $ 836     $ 70     $ 821     $ 1,533     $ 439     $ 309     $ 10,873  

 

 
16

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

   

Commercial and industrial

   

CRE - owner-occupied

   

CRE - investor income producing

   

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

   

AC&D - lots,

land & development

   

AC&D - CRE

   

Other commercial

   

Residential mortgage

   

HELOC

   

Residential construction

   

Other loans to individuals

   

Total

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2015

                                                                                               

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                                                                                               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 2,045     $ 781     $ 1,988     $ 141     $ 179     $ 475     $ 38     $ 531     $ 1,843     $ 458     $ 111     $ 8,590  

Provision for loan losses

    (597 )     519       42       99       (31 )     195       22       145       (478 )     (77 )     161       -  

Charge-offs

    (67 )     (220 )     -       -       -       -       -       (46 )     (67 )     (3 )     (15 )     (418 )

Recoveries

    13       -       7       -       119       -       -       22       62       3       21       247  

Net (charge-offs) recoveries

    (54 )     (220 )     7       -       119       -       -       (24 )     (5 )     -       6       (171 )

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,394     $ 1,080     $ 2,037     $ 240     $ 267     $ 670     $ 60     $ 652     $ 1,360     $ 381     $ 278     $ 8,419  
                                                                                                 

PCI Impairment Allowance for Loan Losses:

                                                                                               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

PCI Impairment charge-offs

    (51 )     -       (39 )     -       -       -       -       (66 )     -       -       -     $ (156 )

PCI impairment recoveries

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Net PCI impairment charge-offs

    (51 )     -       (39 )     -       -       -       -       (66 )     -       -       -       (156 )

PCI provision for loan losses

    51       -       88       -       -       -       -       66       -       -       -       205  

Benefit attributable to FDIC loss share agreements

    -       -       (71 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (71 )

Total provision for loan losses charged to operations

    51       -       17       -       -       -       -       66       -       -       -       134  

Provision for loan losses recorded through FDIC loss share receivable

    -       -       71                               -       -       -       -       -       71  

Balance, end of period

  $ -     $ -     $ 49     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 49  
                                                                                                 

Total Allowance for Loan Losses

  $ 1,394     $ 1,080     $ 2,086     $ 240     $ 267     $ 670     $ 60     $ 652     $ 1,360     $ 381     $ 278     $ 8,468  
                                                                                                 

For the six months ended June 30, 2015

                                                                                               

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                                                                                               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 1,563     $ 721     $ 1,751     $ 458     $ 591     $ 395     $ 32     $ 443     $ 1,651     $ 542     $ 115     $ 8,262  

Provision for loan losses

    (78 )     578       80       (218 )     (567 )     275       28       296       (285 )     (87 )     158       180  

Charge-offs

    (154 )     (220 )     -       -       -       -       -       (117 )     (80 )     (78 )     (34 )     (683 )

Recoveries

    63       1       206       -       243       -       -       30       74       4       39       660  

Net (charge-offs) recoveries

    (91 )     (219 )     206       -       243       -       -       (87 )     (6 )     (74 )     5       (23 )

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,394     $ 1,080     $ 2,037     $ 240     $ 267     $ 670     $ 60     $ 652     $ 1,360     $ 381     $ 278     $ 8,419  
                                                                                                 

PCI Impairment Allowance for Loan Losses:

                                                                                               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

PCI Impairment charge-offs

    (51 )     -       (39 )     -       -       -       -       (66 )     -       -       -       (156 )

PCI impairment recoveries

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Net PCI impairment charge-offs

    (51 )     -       (39 )     -       -       -       -       (66 )     -       -       -       (156 )

PCI provision for loan losses

    51       -       88       -       -       -       -       66       -       -       -       205  

Benefit attributable to FDIC loss share agreements

    -       -       (71 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (71 )

Total provision for loan losses charged to operations

    51       -       17       -       -       -       -       66       -       -       -       134  

Provision for loan losses recorded through FDIC loss share receivable

    -       -       71                               -       -       -       -       -       71  

Balance, end of period

  $ 0     $ -     $ 49     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 0     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 49  
                                                                                                 

Total Allowance for Loan Losses

  $ 1,394     $ 1,080     $ 2,086     $ 240     $ 267     $ 670     $ 60     $ 652     $ 1,360     $ 381     $ 278     $ 8,468  

     

 
17

 

   

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The following table presents, by portfolio segment, the balance in the allowance for loan losses disaggregated on the basis of the Company’s impairment measurement method and the related recorded investment in loans at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  

 

   

Commercial

and industrial

   

CRE - owner-occupied

   

CRE - investor income producing

   

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

   

AC&D - lots,

land & development

   

AC&D - CRE

   

Other commercial

   

Residential mortgage

   

HELOC

   

Residential construction

   

Other loans to individuals

   

Total

 

At June 30, 2016

                                                                                               

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                                                                                               

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 194     $ 20     $ -     $ 214  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

    2,128       1,231       2,572       485       449       836       70       821       1,339       419       309       10,659  
      2,128       1,231       2,572       485       449       836       70       821       1,533       439       309       10,873  

Purchased credit-impaired

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total

  $ 2,128     $ 1,231     $ 2,572     $ 485     $ 449     $ 836     $ 70     $ 821     $ 1,533     $ 439     $ 309     $ 10,873  
                                                                                                 

Recorded Investment in Loans:

                                                                                               

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ -     $ 866     $ 883     $ -     $ 677     $ -     $ 211     $ 2,071     $ 1,224     $ 242     $ -     $ 6,174  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

    330,304       355,395       730,282       99,791       84,425       125,246       8,472       218,596       178,013       62,488       26,087       2,219,099  
      330,304       356,261       731,165       99,791       85,102       125,246       8,683       220,667       179,237       62,730       26,087       2,225,273  

Purchased credit-impaired

    4,340       20,179       33,003       813       9,584       220       1,727       23,396       1,783       3,137       488       98,670  

Total

  $ 334,644     $ 376,440     $ 764,168     $ 100,604     $ 94,686     $ 125,466     $ 10,410     $ 244,063     $ 181,020     $ 65,867     $ 26,575     $ 2,323,943  
                                                                                                 

At December 31, 2015

                                                                                               

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                                                                                               

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 192     $ -     $ -     $ 192  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

    1,821       1,135       2,099       247       278       679       69       672       1,145       461       266       8,872  
      1,821       1,135       2,099       247       278       679       69       672       1,337       461       266       9,064  

Purchased credit-impaired

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total

  $ 1,821     $ 1,135     $ 2,099     $ 247     $ 278     $ 679     $ 69     $ 672     $ 1,337     $ 461     $ 266     $ 9,064  
                                                                                                 

Recorded Investment in Loans:

                                                                                               

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ -     $ 1,266     $ 440     $ -     $ 723     $ -     $ -     $ 1,304     $ 1,381     $ 238     $ -     $ 5,352  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

    242,082       308,568       473,299       31,797       38,891       87,452       6,731       199,160       154,417       68,248       28,300       1,638,945  
      242,082       309,834       473,739       31,797       39,614       87,452       6,731       200,464       155,798       68,486       28,300       1,644,297  

Purchased credit-impaired

    4,825       21,388       32,371       465       4,797       -       1,870       23,420       1,580       3,685       516       94,917  

Total

  $ 246,907     $ 331,222     $ 506,110     $ 32,262     $ 44,411     $ 87,452     $ 8,601     $ 223,884     $ 157,378     $ 72,171     $ 28,816     $ 1,739,214  

 

 
18

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The Company’s loan loss allowance methodology includes four components, as described below:

 

 

1)

          Specific Reserve Component . Specific reserves represent the current impairment estimate on specific loans, for which it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to contractual terms based on current information and events. Impairment measurement reflects only a deterioration of credit quality and not changes in market rates that may cause a change in the fair value of the impaired loan. The amount of impairment may be measured in one of three ways, including (i) calculating the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s interest rate implicit in the original document and deducting estimated selling costs, if any; (ii) observing quoted market prices for identical or similar instruments traded in active markets, or employing model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market; and (iii) determining the fair value of collateral, which is utilized for both collateral-dependent loans and for loans when foreclosure is probable.

 

        In the second quarter of 2015 as part of management’s annual review of the allowance for loan loss methodology, management modified the methodology used for the determination of allowance for loan losses to collectively review impaired loans with a balance of less than or equal to $150 thousand. These loans are no longer individually reviewed for specific impairment but rather are reviewed on a pooled basis in a manner consistent with unimpaired loans with additional qualitative factors applied when necessary to reflect the additional risk characteristics of these loans.

   

 

2)

          Quantitative Reserve Component . Quantitative reserves represent the current loss contingency estimate on pools of loans, which is an estimate of the amount for which it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due on homogeneous groups of loans according to contractual terms should one or more events occur, excluding those loans specifically identified above.

 

        The historical loss experience of the Company is collected quarterly by evaluating internal loss data. The estimated historical loss rates are grouped by loan product type. The Company utilizes average historical losses to represent management’s estimate of losses inherent in a particular portfolio. The historical look back period is estimated by loan type, and the Company applies the appropriate historical loss period which best reflects the inherent loss in the applicable portfolio considering prevailing market conditions. The historic look back periods utilized by management for all loan types was 15 quarters at both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

        The Company also performs a quantitative calculation on the purchased performing loan portfolio. There is no allowance for loan losses established at the acquisition date for purchased performing loans. The historical loss experience discussed above is applied to the purchased performing loan portfolio and the result is compared to the remaining fair value mark on this portfolio. A provision for loan losses is recorded for any further deterioration in these loans subsequent to the acquisition. This analysis indicated a need for a $262 thousand and $178 thousand provision for loan losses for the purchased performing portfolio at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The remaining mark on the purchased performing loan portfolio was $5.0 million and $2.1 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Approximately $3.4 million of the remaining mark at June 30, 2016 on the purchased performing loan portfolio was associated with the First Capital merger.

 

 

3)

        Qualitative Reserve Component . Qualitative reserves represent an estimate of the amount for which it is probable that environmental or other relevant factors will cause the aforementioned loss contingency estimate to differ from the Company’s historical loss experience or other assumptions. These factors include portfolio trends, portfolio concentrations, economic and market conditions, changes in lending practices, changes in loan review systems, geographical considerations and other factors. Each of the factors, except other factors, can range from 0.00% (not applicable) to 0.15% (very high). Other factors are reviewed on a situational basis and are adjusted in 5 basis point increments, up or down, with a maximum of 0.50%. Details of the seven environmental factors for inclusion in the allowance methodology are as follows:

 

 

i.

Portfolio trends, which may relate to such factors as type or level of loan origination activity, changes in asset quality (i.e., past due, special mention, non-performing) and/or changes in collateral values;

   

 
19

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

 

ii.

Portfolio concentrations, which may relate to individual borrowers and/or guarantors, geographic regions, industry sectors, loan types and/or other factors;

 

 

iii.

Economic and market trends, which may relate to trends and/or levels of gross domestic production, unemployment, bankruptcies, foreclosures, housing starts, housing prices, equity prices, competitor activities and/or other factors;

 

 

iv.

Changes in lending practices, which may relate to changes in credit policies, procedures, systems or staff;

 

 

v.

Changes in loan review system, which may introduce variation in loan grading, collateral adequacy and valuation and impairment classification;

 

 

vi.

Geographical considerations, which may relate to economic and/or environmental issues unique to a geographical area including but not limited to elimination of a major employer, natural disaster, or long-term states of emergency; and

 

 

vii.

Other factors, which is intended to capture the incremental adjustment, by loan type, to internally calculated minimum reserves (as discussed above) as well as environmental factors not specifically identified above.

 

In addition, qualitative reserves on purchased performing loans are based on the Company’s judgment around the timing difference expected to occur between accretion of the fair market value credit adjustment and realization of actual loan losses.

 

 

4)

        Reserve on PCI loans. In determining the acquisition date fair value of PCI loans, and in subsequent accounting, the Company generally aggregates purchased loans into pools of loans with common risk characteristics. Expected cash flows at the acquisition date in excess of the fair value of loans are recorded as interest income over the life of the loans using a level yield method if the timing and amount of the future cash flows of the pool is reasonably estimable. Subsequent to the acquisition date, significant increases in cash flows over those expected at the acquisition date are recognized as interest income prospectively. Decreases in expected cash flows after the acquisition date are recognized by recording an allowance for loan losses. In pools where impairment has already been recognized, an increase in cash flows will result in a reversal of prior impairment. Management analyzes these acquired loan pools using various assessments of risk to determine and calculate an expected loss. The expected loss is derived using an estimate of a loss given default based upon the collateral type and/or specific review by loan officers of loans generally greater than $1.0 million, and the probability of default that was determined based upon management’s review of the loan portfolio. Trends are reviewed in terms of traditional credit metrics such as accrual status, past due status, and weighted-average grade of the loans within each of the accounting pools. In addition, the relationship between the change in the unpaid principal balance and change in the fair value mark is assessed to correlate the directional consistency of the expected loss for each pool. There were no outstanding reserves on PCI loans as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

The allowance for loan losses is increased by provisions charged to operations and reduced by loans charged off, net of recoveries. The increase in the allowance for loan losses from December 31, 2015 to June 30, 2016 was a function of the following:

 

 

(1)

a decrease of $1.0 million in the quantitative component of the allowance due to a decrease in historical loss rates applied to the portfolio as older periods with higher rates of net charge-offs are replaced with more recent periods with higher rates of net recoveries;

 

 

(2)

an increase of $2.8 million in the qualitative component of the allowance primarily due to an increase in the economic and market trends factor in light of market volatility and heightened uncertainty which emerged at the end of the quarter, organic loan growth and additional provision recorded for the purchased performing loans; and

   

 
20

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

 

(3)

an increase of $22 thousand in specific reserves on a single residential construction loan relationship.

 

The Company evaluates and estimates off-balance sheet credit exposure at the same time it estimates credit losses for loans by a similar process. These estimated credit losses are not recorded as part of the allowance for loan losses, but are recorded to a separate liability account by a charge to income, if material. Loan commitments, unused lines of credit and standby letters of credit make up the off-balance sheet items reviewed for potential credit losses. At both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $125 thousand was recorded as an other liability for off-balance sheet credit exposure.

 

Credit Quality Indicators - The Company uses several credit quality indicators to manage credit risk in an ongoing manner. The Company's primary credit quality indicator is an internal credit risk rating system that categorizes loans into pass, special mention, or classified categories. Credit risk ratings are applied individually to those classes of loans that have significant or unique credit characteristics that benefit from a case-by-case evaluation. These are typically loans to businesses or individuals in the classes that comprise the commercial portfolio segment. Groups of loans that are underwritten and structured using standardized criteria and characteristics, such as statistical models (e.g., credit scoring or payment performance), are typically risk rated and monitored collectively. These are typically loans to individuals in the classes that comprise the consumer portfolio segment.

 

The following are the definitions of the Company's credit quality indicators:

 

 

Pass:

 

Loans in classes that comprise the commercial and consumer portfolio segments that are not adversely rated, are contractually current as to principal and interest, and are otherwise in compliance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. PCI loans that were recorded at estimated fair value on the acquisition date are generally assigned a “pass” loan grade because their net financial statement value is based on the present value of expected cash flows. Management believes there is a low likelihood of loss related to those loans that are considered pass.

       


 

Special Mention:


 

Loans in classes that comprise the commercial and consumer portfolio segments that have potential weaknesses that deserve management's close attention. If not addressed, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan. Management believes there is a moderate likelihood of some loss related to those loans that are considered special mention.

       


 

Classified:


 

Loans in the classes that comprise the commercial and consumer portfolio segments that are inadequately protected by the sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower or of the collateral pledged, if any. Management believes that there is a distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies related to classified loans are not corrected in a timely manner.

 

 
21

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The Company's credit quality indicators are periodically updated on a case-by-case basis. The following tables present the recorded investment in the Company's loans as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, by loan class and by credit quality indicator.

 

   

As of June 30, 2016

 
   

Commercial

and industrial

   

CRE - owner-

occupied

   

CRE -

investor

income

producing

   

AC&D - 1-4

family

construction

   

AC&D -

lots, land & development

   

AC&D -

CRE

   

Other

commercial

   

Total

Commercial

 

Pass

  $ 331,214     $ 365,653     $ 759,337     $ 100,604     $ 93,644     $ 125,466     $ 10,072     $ 1,785,990  

Special mention

    3,314       9,658       2,862       -       443       -       -       16,277  

Classified

    116       1,129       1,969       -       599       -       338       4,151  

Total

  $ 334,644     $ 376,440     $ 764,168     $ 100,604     $ 94,686     $ 125,466     $ 10,410     $ 1,806,418  

 

   

Residential

mortgage

   

HELOC

   

Residential construction

   

Other loans to individuals

                           

Total

Consumer

 

Pass

  $ 237,729     $ 172,605     $ 65,123     $ 26,415                             $ 501,872  

Special mention

    3,816       7,165       448       16                               11,445  

Classified

    2,518       1,250       296       144                               4,208  

Total

  $ 244,063     $ 181,020     $ 65,867     $ 26,575                             $ 517,525  
                                                                 

Total Loans

                                                          $ 2,323,943  

   

   

As of December 31, 2015

 
   

Commercial

and

industrial

   

CRE - owner-

occupied

   

CRE -

investor

income

producing

   

AC&D - 1-4

family

construction

   

AC&D -

lots, land & development

   

AC&D -

CRE

   

Other

commercial

   

Total

Commercial

 

Pass

  $ 243,228     $ 316,706     $ 500,964     $ 32,262     $ 43,454     $ 87,452     $ 8,467     $ 1,232,533  

Special mention

    3,571       11,986       3,824       -       404       -       -       19,785  

Classified

    108       2,530       1,322       -       553       -       134       4,647  

Total

  $ 246,907     $ 331,222     $ 506,110     $ 32,262     $ 44,411     $ 87,452     $ 8,601     $ 1,256,965  

 

   

Residential

mortgage

   

HELOC

   

Residential construction

   

Other loans to individuals

                           

Total

Consumer

 

Pass

  $ 217,463     $ 150,217     $ 71,225     $ 28,762                             $ 467,667  

Special mention

    4,690       6,213       457       23                               11,383  

Classified

    1,731       948       489       31                               3,199  

Total

  $ 223,884     $ 157,378     $ 72,171     $ 28,816                             $ 482,249  
                                                                 

Total Loans

                                                          $ 1,739,214  

 

 
22

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Aging Analysis of Accruing and Non-Accruing Loans The Company considers a loan to be past due or delinquent when the terms of the contractual obligation are not met by the borrower. PCI loans are included as a single category in the table below as management believes, regardless of their age, there is a lower likelihood of aggregate loss related to these loan pools. Additionally, PCI loans are discounted to allow for the accretion of income on a level yield basis over the life of the loan based on expected cash flows. Regardless of payment status, the associated discount on these loan pools results in income recognition. The increase in loans 60-89 days past due is primarily the result of two relationships that are fully collateralized and for which full repayment is currently expected. The following presents, by class, an aging analysis of the Company’s accruing and non-accruing loans as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

   

   

30-59

Days

Past Due

   

60-89

Days

Past Due

   

Past Due

90 Days

or More

   

PCI

Loans

   

Current

   

Total Loans

 

As of June 30, 2016

                                               

Commercial:

                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ 212     $ 772     $ 66     $ 4,340     $ 329,254     $ 334,644  

CRE - owner-occupied

    -       1,809       271       20,179       354,181       376,440  

CRE - investor income producing

    -       246       608       33,003       730,311       764,168  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       -       -       813       99,791       100,604  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    -       -       -       9,584       85,102       94,686  

AC&D - CRE

    -       -       -       220       125,246       125,466  

Other commercial

    -       -       211       1,727       8,472       10,410  

Total commercial loans

    212       2,827       1,156       69,866       1,732,357       1,806,418  
                                                 

Consumer:

                                               

Residential mortgage

    -       628       1,623       23,396       218,416       244,063  

HELOC

    628       1,215       443       1,783       176,951       181,020  

Residential construction

    -       1,166       276       3,137       61,288       65,867  

Other loans to individuals

    5       51       25       488       26,006       26,575  

Total consumer loans

    633       3,060       2,367       28,804       482,661       517,525  

Total loans

  $ 845     $ 5,887     $ 3,523     $ 98,670     $ 2,215,018     $ 2,323,943  
                                                 

As of December 31, 2015

                                               

Commercial:

                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ 18     $ 28     $ 78     $ 4,825     $ 241,958     $ 246,907  

CRE - owner-occupied

    1,273       -       176       21,388       308,385       331,222  

CRE - investor income producing

    -       -       1,369       32,371       472,370       506,110  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       -       -       465       31,797       32,262  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    -       -       -       4,797       39,614       44,411  

AC&D - CRE

    -       -       -       -       87,452       87,452  

Other commercial

    -       212       -       1,870       6,519       8,601  

Total commercial loans

    1,291       240       1,623       65,716       1,188,095       1,256,965  
                                                 

Consumer:

                                               

Residential mortgage

    48       1,037       1,023       23,420       198,356       223,884  

HELOC

    132       139       204       1,580       155,323       157,378  

Residential construction

    12       -       306       3,685       68,168       72,171  

Other loans to individuals

    284       51       -       516       27,965       28,816  

Total consumer loans

    476       1,227       1,533       29,201       449,812       482,249  

Total loans

  $ 1,767     $ 1,467     $ 3,156     $ 94,917     $ 1,637,907     $ 1,739,214  

 

 
23

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)  

 

Impaired Loans - All classes of loans are considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled principal and interest payments. Impaired loans may include all classes of nonaccrual loans and loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). If a loan greater than $150 thousand is impaired, a specific valuation allowance is allocated, if necessary, so that the loan is reported net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the rate implicit in the original loan agreement or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral. Additionally, a portion of the Company’s qualitative factors accounts for potential impairment on loans generally less than $150 thousand. Interest payments on impaired loans are typically applied to principal unless collectability of the principal amount is reasonably assured, in which case interest is recognized on a cash basis. Impaired loans, or portions thereof, are charged off when deemed uncollectible. There was no impairment of PCI loans as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

 
24

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The table below presents impaired loans, by class, and the corresponding allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

   

June 30, 2016

   

December 31, 2015

 
   

Recorded

Investment

   

Unpaid

Principal

Balance

   

Related

Allowance For

Loan Losses

   

Recorded

Investment

   

Unpaid

Principal

Balance

   

Related

Allowance For

Loan Losses

 

Impaired Loans with No Related Allowance Recorded:

                                               

Commercial:

                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

CRE - owner-occupied

    866       927       -       1,266       1,312       -  

CRE - investor income producing

    883       925       -       440       440       -  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    677       799       -       723       842       -  

AC&D - CRE

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Other commercial

    211       211       -       -       -       -  

Total commercial loans

    2,637       2,862       -       2,429       2,594       -  

Consumer:

                                               

Residential mortgage

    2,071       2,084       -       1,304       1,339       -  

HELOC

    -       -       -       157       278       -  

Residential construction

    -       -       -       238       376       -  

Other loans to individuals

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total consumer loans

    2,071       2,084       -       1,699       1,993       -  

Total impaired loans with no related allowance recorded

  $ 4,708     $ 4,946     $ -     $ 4,128     $ 4,587     $ -  
                                                 

Impaired Loans with an Allowance Recorded:

                                               

Commercial:

                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

CRE - owner-occupied

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

CRE - investor income producing

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - CRE

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Other commercial

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total commercial loans

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Consumer:

                                               

Residential mortgage

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

HELOC

    1,224       1,247       194       1,224       1,248       192  

Residential construction

    242       242       20       -       -       -  

Other loans to individuals

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total consumer loans

    1,466       1,489       214       1,224       1,248       192  

Total impaired loans with an allowance recorded

  $ 1,466     $ 1,489     $ 214     $ 1,224     $ 1,248     $ 192  
                                                 

Total Impaired Loans Individually Reviewed for Impairment

                                               

Commercial:

                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

CRE - owner-occupied

    866       927       -       1,266       1,312       -  

CRE - investor income producing

    883       925       -       440       440       -  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    677       799       -       723       842       -  

AC&D - CRE

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Other commercial

    211       211       -       -       -       -  

Total commercial loans

    2,637       2,862       -       2,429       2,594       -  

Consumer:

                                               

Residential mortgage

    2,071       2,084       -       1,304       1,339       -  

HELOC

    1,224       1,247       194       1,381       1,526       192  

Residential construction

    242       242       20       238       376       -  

Other loans to individuals

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total consumer loans

    3,537       3,573       214       2,923       3,241       192  
                                                 

Total Impaired Loans Individually Reviewed for Impairment

  $ 6,174     $ 6,435     $ 214     $ 5,352     $ 5,835     $ 192  
                                                 
                                                 

Total Impaired Loans Collectively Reviewed for Impairment

  $ 2,241     $ 2,580     $ 10     $ 2,429     $ 2,863     $ 368  

   

 
25

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 , the Company recognized $33 thousand and $76 thousand, respectively, of interest income with respect to impaired loans, specifically accruing TDRs, within the period the loans were impaired. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recognized $47 thousand and $103 thousand, respectively, of interest income with respect to impaired loans. The average recorded investment and interest income recognized on impaired loans, by class, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 are shown in the table below.

 

   

Three Months Ended June 30,

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
   

Average

Recorded

Investment

   

Interest

Income

Recognized

   

Average

Recorded

Investment

   

Interest

Income

Recognized

   

Average

Recorded

Investment

   

Interest

Income

Recognized

   

Average

Recorded

Investment

   

Interest

Income

Recognized

 

Impaired Loans with No Related Allowance Recorded:

                                                               

Commercial:

                                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ 449     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 299     $ -     $ -     $ -  

CRE - owner-occupied

    1,256       -       2,163       -       1,259       -       2,360       -  

CRE - investor income producing

    888       6       599       5       738       13       650       13  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    691       9       940       14       701       20       920       26  

AC&D - CRE

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Other commercial

    211       -       -       -       141       -       -       -  

Total commercial loans

    3,495       15       3,702       19       3,138       33       3,930       39  

Consumer:

                                                               

Residential mortgage

    1,929       5       850       -       1,720       10       922       -  

Home equity lines of credit

    78       -       434       -       104       -       468       2  

Residential construction

    121       -       247       -       160       4       272       -  

Other loans to individuals

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total consumer loans

    2,128       5       1,531       -       1,984       14       1,662       2  

Total impaired loans with no related allowance recorded

  $ 5,623     $ 20     $ 5,233     $ 19     $ 5,122     $ 47     $ 5,592     $ 41  
                                                                 

Impaired Loans with an Allowance Recorded:

                                                               

Commercial:

                                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

CRE - owner-occupied

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

CRE - investor income producing

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    -       -       91       -       -       -       122       3  

AC&D - CRE

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Other commercial

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total commercial loans

    -       -       91       -       -       -       122       3  

Consumer:

                                                               

Residential mortgage

    139       -       677       8       92       -       691       14  

Home equity lines of credit

    1,224       10       1,226       10       1,224       19       1,226       21  

Residential construction

    121       -       -       -       81       -       -       -  

Other loans to individuals

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total consumer loans

    1,484       10       1,903       18       1,397       19       1,917       35  

Total impaired loans with an allowance recorded

  $ 1,484     $ 10     $ 1,994     $ 18     $ 1,397     $ 19     $ 2,039     $ 38  
                                                                 

Total Impaired Loans Individually Reviewed for Impairment

                                                               

Commercial:

                                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ 449     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 299     $ -     $ -     $ -  

CRE - owner-occupied

    1,256       -       2,163       -       1,259       -       2,360       -  

CRE - investor income producing

    888       6       599       5       738       13       650       13  

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    691       9       1,031       14       701       20       1,042       29  

AC&D - CRE

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Other commercial

    211       -       -       -       141       -       -       -  

Total commercial loans

    3,495       15       3,793       19       3,138       33       4,052       42  

Consumer:

                                                               

Residential mortgage

    2,068       5       1,527       8       1,812       10       1,613       14  

Home equity lines of credit

    1,302       10       1,660       10       1,328       19       1,694       23  

Residential construction

    242       -       247       -       241       4       272       -  

Other loans to individuals

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total consumer loans

    3,612       15       3,434       18       3,381       33       3,579       37  
                                                                 

Total Impaired Loans Individually Reviewed for Impairment

  $ 7,107     $ 30     $ 7,227     $ 37     $ 6,519     $ 66     $ 7,631     $ 79  
                                                                 

Total Impaired Loans Collectively Reviewed for Impairment

  $ 2,211     $ 3     $ 2,953     $ 10     $ 2,283     $ 10     $ 2,894     $ 24  

 

 
26

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans - It is the general policy of the Company to place a loan on nonaccrual status when there is probable loss or when there is reasonable doubt that all principal will be collected, or when it is over 90 days past due. At June 30, 2016, there were no loans past due 90 days or more and accruing interest. At December 31, 2015, there was $1.2 million in loans past due 90 days or more and accruing interest. These loans were considered fully collectible at December 31, 2015. The recorded investment in nonaccrual loans at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was as follows:  

 

   

June 30,

2016

   

December 31,

2015

 

Commercial:

               

Commercial and industrial

  $ 107     $ 97  

CRE - owner-occupied

    961       1,266  

CRE - investor income producing

    795       318  

AC&D - lots, land & development

    5       6  

Other commercial

    211       -  

Total commercial loans

    2,079       1,687  

Consumer:

               

Residential mortgage

    2,107       1,333  

HELOC

    651       762  

Residential construction

    276       467  

Other loans to individuals

    71       77  

Total consumer loans

    3,105       2,639  

Total nonaccrual loans

  $ 5,184     $ 4,326  

 

Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans PCI loans had an unpaid principal balance of $125.0 million and $121.0 million and a carrying value of $98.7 million and $94.9 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. PCI loans represented 3.1% and 3.8% of total assets at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Determining the fair value of the PCI loans at the time of acquisition required the Company to estimate cash flows expected to result from those loans and to discount those cash flows at appropriate rates of interest and taking into account prepayment assumptions. For such loans, the excess of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is recognized as interest income over the remaining lives of the loans and is called the accretable yield. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition reflects the impact of estimated credit losses and is called the nonaccretable difference. The servicing income and accretion to interest income shown in the table below are both reported in the interest income on loans line of the income statement. In accordance with GAAP, there was no carryover of previously established allowance for loan losses from acquired companies.

 

The PCI loan portfolio attributable to the First Capital acquisition was accounted for at fair value as follows:

 

   

January 1, 2016

 
         

Contractual principal and interest at acquisition

  $ 23,023  

Nonaccretable difference

    (3,120 )

Expected cash flows at acquisition

    19,903  

Accretable yield

    (1,663 )
         

Basis in PCI loans at acquisition - estimated fair value

  $ 18,240  

 

 

 
27

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

A summary of changes in the accretable yield for PCI loans for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 follows:  

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 
                 

Accretable yield, beginning of period

  $ 32,509     $ 40,540  

Addition from the First Capital acquisition

    1,663       -  

Servicing income

    (2,985 )     (3,351 )

Accretion to interest income

    (2,814 )     (3,300 )

Reclassification of nonaccretable difference due to improvement in expected cash flows

    1,515       2,808  

Other changes, net

    489       76  

Accretable yield, end of period

  $ 30,377     $ 36,773  

 

Troubled Debt Restructuring - In situations where, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower's financial difficulties, management may grant a concession for other than an insignificant period of time to the borrower that would not otherwise be considered, the related loan is classified as a TDR. Management strives to identify borrowers in financial difficulty early and work with them to modify to more affordable terms. These modified terms may include rate reductions, principal forgiveness, payment forbearance and other actions intended to minimize the economic loss and to avoid foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. All loan modifications are made on a case-by-case basis.

 

As of June 30, 2016, the Company had 12 TDR loans totaling $3.1 million, of which $560 thousand were nonaccrual loans. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had 14 TDR loans totaling $3.3 million, of which $466 thousand were nonaccrual loans. The Company had allocated $194 thousand and $192 thousand, respectively, of specific reserves to customers whose loan terms have been modified in a TDR as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

The following tables represent a breakdown of the types of concessions made by loan class for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

   

Three months ended

June 30, 2016

   

Six months ended

June 30, 2016

 
   

Number of

loans

   

Pre-Modification

Outstanding

Recorded

Investment

   

Post-Modification

Outstanding

Recorded

Investment

   

Number of

loans

   

Pre-Modification

Outstanding

Recorded Investment

   

Post-Modification

Outstanding

Recorded

Investment

 

Extended payment terms

                                               

CRE - investor income producing

    1     $ 91     $ 91       1     $ 91     $ 91  

Total

    1     $ 91     $ 91       1     $ 91     $ 91  

 

 

   

Three months ended

June 30, 2015

   

Six months ended

June 30, 2015

 
   

Number of

loans

   

Pre-Modification

Outstanding

Recorded

Investment

   

Post-Modification

Outstanding

Recorded

Investment

   

Number of

loans

   

Pre-Modification

Outstanding

Recorded

Investment

   

Post-Modification

Outstanding

Recorded

Investment

 

Extended payment terms

                                               

Commercial and industrial

    1     $ 15     $ 15       1     $ 15     $ 15  

CRE - owner occupied

    -       -       -       1       84       84  

CRE - investor income producing

    -       -       -       1       209       209  

Residential mortgage

    -       -       -       1       12       12  

Total

    1     $ 15     $ 15       4     $ 320     $ 320  

 

 
28

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

There were no loans modified as TDRs within the 12 months ended June 30, 2016 for which there was a payment default during the six months ended June 30, 2016. One loan was modified as a commercial TDR within the 12 months ended June 30, 2015 for which there was a payment default during the six months ended June 30, 2015, as listed below.

 

   

Six months ended

June 30, 2015

 
   

Number of loans

   

Recorded

Investment

 

Extended payment terms

               

CRE - investor income producing

    1     $ 84  

Total

    1     $ 84  

 

The Company does not deem a TDR successful until it has been re-established as an accruing loan. The following table presents the successes and failures of the types of modifications indicated within the 12 months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

    Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2016                  
   

Paid in full

   

Paying as restructured

   

Foreclosure/Default

 
   

Number of

loans

   

Recorded

Investment

   

Number of

l oans

   

Recorded

Investment

   

Number of

loans

   

Recorded

Investment

 
                                                 

Extended payment terms

    -     $ -       1     $ 91       -     $ -  

Total

    -     $ -       1     $ 91       -     $ -  

  

    Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2015                  
   

Paid in full

   

Paying as restructured

   

Foreclosure/Default

 
   

Number of

loans

   

Recorded

Investment

   

Number of

loans

   

Recorded

Investment

   

Number of

loans

   

Recorded

Investment

 
                                                 

Below market interest rate

    -     $ -       1     $ 180       -     $ -  

Extended payment terms

    1       636       3       236       1       84  

Total

    1     $ 636       4     $ 416       1     $ 84  

 

Note 6 – FDIC Loss Share Agreements

 

In connection with the acquisition of Citizens South Banking Corporation (“Citizens South”) in 2012, the Bank assumed two purchase and assumption agreements with the FDIC that cover approximately $15.1 million and $17.7 million of covered loans as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and $0.4 million and $1.2 million of covered OREO as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Citizens South acquired these assets in prior transactions with the FDIC.

 

Within the first purchase and assumption agreement are two loss share agreements that originated in March 2010, related to Citizen South’s acquisition of Bank of Hiawassee, a Georgia state-chartered bank headquartered in Hiawassee, Georgia. Under these loss-share agreements, the FDIC will cover 80% of net loan losses up to $102 million and 95% of net loan losses that exceed $102 million. The term of the loss-share agreements is ten years for losses and recoveries on residential real estate loans, and five years for losses and eight years for recoveries on all other loans. The agreement related to Bank of Hiawassee’s non-single family assets expired on March 31, 2015. On April 1, 2015, the remaining balance of $19.6 million associated with the Bank of Hiawassee non-single family loans and $816,000 associated with non-single family foreclosed assets were transferred from the covered portfolio to the non-covered portfolio. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Bank recorded an estimated receivable from the FDIC in the amount of $1.0 million and $551 thousand, respectively, related to the remaining single-family loss share agreement.

 

 
29

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Within the second purchase and assumption agreement are two loss share agreements that originated in April 2011, related to Citizens South’s acquisition of New Horizons Bank, a Georgia state-chartered bank headquartered in East Ellijay, Georgia. The first loss share agreement covers certain residential loans and OREO for a period of ten years. The other loss-share agreement covers all remaining covered assets for a period of five years. The agreement related to New Horizon’s non-single family assets expired on June 30, 2016. On July 1, 2016, the remaining balance of $8.0 million associated with the New Horizon non-single family loans and $836,000 associated with non-single family foreclosed assets were transferred from the covered portfolio to the non-covered portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of these loss share agreements, the FDIC is obligated to reimburse the Bank for 80% of all eligible losses, which begins with the first dollar of loss incurred, and certain collection and disposition expenses with respect to covered assets. The Bank has a corresponding obligation to reimburse the FDIC for 80% of eligible recoveries with respect to covered assets for a period of ten years for residential properties and eight years for all other covered assets. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Bank recorded an estimated receivable from the FDIC in the amount of $161 thousand and $392 thousand, respectively, related to these loss share agreements.

 

The following table provides changes in the estimated receivable from the FDIC:  

 

   

For the six months ended

June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 
                 

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 943     $ 3,964  

Increase (decrease) in expected losses on loans

    35       71  

Additional losses to OREO

    -       (6 )

Reimbursable expenses (income)

    (368 )     (154 )

Amortization discounts and premiums, net

    (142 )     (515 )

Payments to (reimbursements from) the FDIC

    697       (2,151 )

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,165     $ 1,209  

 

The estimated receivable from the FDIC is measured separately from the related covered assets and is recorded at carrying value. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the projected cash flows related to the FDIC receivable for losses on covered loans and assets were approximately $1.4 million and $925 thousand, respectively. Included in the estimated receivable above is a component of amortization, which will be recognized over the life of the agreement, with increases or decreases based on estimated performance of the underlying loans.

 

In relation to the FDIC indemnification asset is an expected “true-up” with the FDIC related to the loss share agreements described above. The loss share agreements between the Bank and the FDIC with respect to New Horizons Bank and Bank of Hiawassee each contain a provision that obligates the Company to make a true-up payment to the FDIC if the realized losses of each of these acquired banks are less than expected. An estimate of this amount is determined each reporting period. At both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the “true-up” amount was estimated to be approximately $5.8 million at the end of the loss share agreements. These amounts are recorded in other liabilities on the balance sheet. The actual payment will be determined at the end of the term, including any recovery period, of the loss sharing agreements and will be based on the negative bid, expected losses, intrinsic loss estimate, and assets covered under the loss share agreements.

 

 
30

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Note 7 – Other Real Estate Owned

 

The Company owned $3.2 million and $5.5 million in OREO at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The portion of OREO covered under the loss share agreements with the FDIC at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 totaled $0.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively. The Company’s loss share agreement related to New Horizon’s non-single family assets expired on June 30, 2016, and on July 1, 2015, the remaining balance of $836,000 associated with the New Horizon non-single family foreclosed assets was transferred from the covered portfolio to the non-covered portfolio. Therefore, after June 30, 2016, the Company bears all future losses on that portfolio of foreclosed properties. The Company’s loss share agreement related to Bank of Hiawassee’s non-single family assets expired on March 31, 2015, and on April 1, 2015, the remaining balance of $816,000 associated with the Bank of Hiawassee non-single family foreclosed assets was transferred from the covered portfolio to the non-covered portfolio. Therefore, after March 31, 2015, the Company bears all future losses on that portfolio of foreclosed properties.

 

Transactions in OREO for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 are summarized below:

 

   

Three months ended

June 30,

   

Six months ended

June 30,

 

Non-Covered OREO

 

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                 

Beginning balance

  $ 3,425     $ 8,570     $ 4,211     $ 8,979  

Additions

    36       1,413       1,593       3,001  

Transfers from covered to non-covered

    -       812       -       812  

Sales

    (503 )     (1,510 )     (2,666 )     (3,404 )

Writedowns

    (92 )     (381 )     (272 )     (484 )

Ending balance

  $ 2,866     $ 8,904     $ 2,866     $ 8,904  

  

Covered OREO

 

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                 

Beginning balance

  $ 985     $ 1,713     $ 1,240     $ 3,011  

Additions

    -       197       -       676  

Transfers from covered to non-covered

    -       (812 )     -       (812 )

Sales

    (562 )     (214 )     (782 )     (1,990 )

Writedowns

    (43 )     -       (78 )     (1 )

Ending balance

  $ 380     $ 884     $ 380     $ 884  

 

As of June 30, 2016, the Company has $3.3 million of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process.

 

Note 8 – Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are provided based on the asset-liability method of accounting, which includes the recognition of deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) and liabilities for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. In general, the Company records a DTA when the event giving rise to the tax benefit has been recognized in the consolidated financial statements.

 

As of both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had a net DTA in the amount of approximately $29.0 million. The unchanged balance reflects the increase in deferred tax assets related to the merger with First Capital in the first quarter, which was offset by 2016 earnings. The Company evaluates the carrying amount of the DTA on a quarterly basis in accordance with the guidance provided in FASB ASC Topic 740, in particular, applying the criteria set forth therein to determine whether it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion, or all, of the DTA will not be realized within its life cycle, based on the weight of available evidence. In most cases, the realization of the DTA is dependent upon generating a sufficient level of taxable income in future periods, which can be difficult to predict. In addition to projected earnings, the Company also considers projected asset quality, liquidity, its strong capital position, which could be leveraged to increase earning assets and generate taxable income, its growth plans and other relevant factors. Based on the weight of available evidence, the Company determined as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 that it is more likely than not that it will be able to fully realize the existing DTA and therefore considered it appropriate not to establish a DTA valuation allowance at either June 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

 

 
31

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Note 9 - Per Share Results

 

Basic earnings per share represent income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the relevant period. Diluted earnings per share reflect additional shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential shares had been issued or vested. Potential shares that may be issued by the Company or vested relate solely to outstanding stock options and restricted shares (non-vested shares), and are determined using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the number of incremental shares is determined by assuming the issuance of stock for the outstanding stock options and vesting of restricted shares reduced by the number of shares assumed to be repurchased from the issuance proceeds, using the average market price for the period of the Company's stock. Weighted-average shares for the basic and diluted EPS calculations have been reduced by the average number of unvested restricted shares. Anti-dilutive shares represent those options whose weighted average exercise price is less than the closing stock price at the reporting date and those restricted stock awards that are unvested and not dilutive, as described above, as of the reporting date.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company issued 212,434 restricted stock awards, repurchased 150,000 shares in open market transactions and acquired 31,207 shares in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock. For the three months ended June 30, 2015, the Company issued 205,800 restricted stock awards, issued 3,885 shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options, repurchased 145,809 shares in open market transactions and acquired 23,366 shares in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company issued 236,544 restricted stock awards and 1,300 shares of common stock to employees under the 2014 Long-term Incentive Plan, repurchased 248,349 shares of Common Stock in open market transactions and acquired 123,826 shares in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company issued 212,300 restricted stock awards, issued 28,963 shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options, issued 1,182 shares of common stock to employees under the 2014 Long-term Incentive Plan, repurchased 149,609 shares in open market transactions and acquired 33,031 shares in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock.

 

Basic and diluted earnings per common share have been computed based upon net income as presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding or assumed to be outstanding as summarized below:  

 

Weighted-Average Shares for Earnings Per Share Calculation

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excluding unvested restricted shares

    52,394,397       43,971,007       52,340,772       43,944,638  
                                 

Effect of dilutive stock options and unvested restricted shares

    310,140       330,888       310,114       342,786  
                                 

Weighted-average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding

    52,704,537       44,301,895       52,650,886       44,287,424  

   

 
32

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

There were 1,579,453 outstanding options and 889,409 outstanding unvested restricted shares that were anti-dilutive for the three months ended June 30, 2016. There were 237,650 dilutive stock options and 72,489 dilutive unvested restricted shares outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2016.

 

There were 1,863,294 outstanding options and 911,281 outstanding unvested restricted shares that were anti-dilutive for the three months ended June 30, 2015. There were 256,825 dilutive stock options and 74,063 dilutive unvested restricted shares outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

 

There were 1,593,556 outstanding options and 875,331 outstanding unvested restricted shares that were anti-dilutive for the six months ended June 30, 2016. There were 223,547 dilutive stock options and 86,567 dilutive unvested restricted shares outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2016.

 

There were 1,867,290 outstanding options and 895,387 outstanding unvested restricted shares that were anti-dilutive for the six months ended June 30, 2015. There were 252,829 dilutive stock options and 89,957 dilutive unvested restricted shares outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

 

At June 30, 2016, 436,590 of the outstanding unvested restricted shares had stock price-based performance conditions, which will vest one-third each when the Company’s share price achieves, for 30 consecutive trading days, $8.125, $9.10 and $10.40, respectively.

 

Note 10 - Commitments a nd Continge ncies

 

In the normal course of business, there are various outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities, such as commitments to extend credit, which are not reflected in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. At June 30, 2016, the Company had $754.3 million of pre-approved but unused lines of credit, $10.0 million of standby letters of credit and $12.2 million of commercial letters of credit. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $514.8 million of pre-approved but unused lines of credit, $9.1 million of standby letters of credit and $267 thousand of commercial letters of credit. In management’s opinion, these commitments represent no more than normal lending risk to the Company and will be funded from normal sources of liquidity.

 

Note 11 - Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

The Company uses certain derivative instruments, including interest rate floors and swaps, to meet the needs of its customers as well as to manage the interest rate risk associated with certain transactions. The following table summarizes the derivative financial instruments utilized by the Company:  

 

       

June 30, 2016

   

December 31, 2015

 
                                                     
               

Estimated Fair Value

           

Estimated Fair Value

 
   

Balance Sheet Location

 

Notional

Amount

   

Gain

   

Loss

   

Notional

Amount

   

Gain

   

Loss

 
                                                     

Cash flow hedges:

                                                   
Interest rate contracts:   Other assets and                                                
Pay fixed swaps with counterparty   other liabilities   $ 45,000     $ -     $ 3,597     $ 70,000     $ -     $ 3,788  
                                                     
                                                     

Fair value hedges:

                                                   

Interest rate contracts:

                                                   

Pay fixed rate swaps with counterparty

 

Other liabilities

    23,088       -       807       23,118       -       344  
                                                     

Not designated as hedges:

                                                   

Customer-related interest rate contracts:

                                                   

Matched interest rate swaps with borrower

 

Other assets

    148,332       8,083       -       97,571       3,174       -  

Matched interest rate swaps with counterparty

 

Other liabilities

    148,332       -       8,600       97,571       -       3,174  

Matched foreign exchange contract with borrower

 

Other assets

    272       8       -       662       19       -  

Matched foreign exchange contract with counterparty

 

Other liabilities

    272       -       8       662       -       19  
          297,208       8,091       8,608       196,466       3,193       3,193  
                                                     

Total derivatives

  $ 365,296     $ 8,091     $ 13,012     $ 289,584     $ 3,193     $ 7,325  

   

 
33

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement during October 2013 with a notional amount of $20.0 million. This derivative instrument is used to protect the Company from future interest rate risk on a portion of its floating rate FHLB borrowings. This derivative instrument is a $20.0 million three-year forward starting, five-year interest rate swap with an effective date of October 21, 2016. The instrument carries a fixed rate of 3.439% with quarterly payments commencing in January 2017. This derivative instrument is accounted for as a cash flow hedge with effective changes in fair market value recorded in other comprehensive income net of tax. This derivative instrument is carried at a fair market value of $(871) thousand and $(1.4) million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and is included in other liabilities.

 

The Company entered into three interest rate swap agreements during December 2013 with an aggregate notional amount of $50.0 million. These derivative instruments are used to protect the Company from future interest rate risk related to a seven-year commitment of floating rate broker-dealer sweep accounts through a brokered deposit program. These derivative instruments are a combination of a $12.5 million forward starting, five-year interest rate swap; a $12.5 million forward starting, seven-year interest rate swap; and a $25.0 million two-year forward starting swap. Effective dates for these derivative instruments are January 2, 2014, January 2, 2014 and January 4, 2016, respectively. These instruments carry a fixed rate of 1.688% with monthly payments commencing February 3, 2014, a fixed rate of 2.341% with monthly payments commencing February 3, 2014, and a fixed rate of 3.104% with monthly payments commencing February 1, 2016, respectively. These derivative instruments are accounted for as cash flow hedges with effective changes in fair market value recorded in other comprehensive income net of tax. In January 2016, the $25.0 million two-year forward starting swap was terminated, resulting in a $1.9 million breakage fee. This breakage fee will be amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the underlying instruments of approximately 60 months. The remaining derivative instruments are carried at a fair market value of $(2.7) million and $(2.4) million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and are included in other liabilities.

 

At both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had loan swaps, with an aggregate notional amount of $23.1 million, accounted for as fair value hedges in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging . These derivative instruments are used to protect the Company from interest rate risk caused by changes in the LIBOR curve in relation to certain designated fixed rate loans. The derivative instruments are used to convert these fixed rate loans to an effective floating rate. If the variable rate is below the stated fixed rate of the loan for a given period, the Company will owe the floating rate payer the notional amount times the difference between the variable rate and the stated fixed rate. If the variable rate is above the stated rate for any given period during the term of the contract, the Company will receive payments based on the notional amount times the difference between the variable rate and the stated fixed rate..

 

To meet the needs of the Company’s customers, at June 30, 2016 the Company had interest rate swap agreements in place to convert certain fixed-rate receivables to floating rates. To offset this interest rate risk, the Company has entered into substantially identical agreements with a third party to swap these fixed rate agreements into variable rates. The interest rate swaps are used to provide the customer fixed rate financing while managing interest rate risk and were not designated as hedges. The interest rate swaps pay and receive interest based on a floating rate based on one month LIBOR plus credit spread, with payments being calculated on the notional amount. The interest rate swaps are settled monthly, with varying maturities. The interest rate swaps had a notional amount of $148.3 million at June 30, 2016 and are included in other assets and other liabilities at their fair values of $8.1 million and $8.6 million, respectively. All changes in fair value are recorded as other income within non-interest income. Fair values for interest rate swap agreements are based upon the amounts required to settle the contracts. At December 31, 2015, the interest rate swaps had a notional amount of $97.6 million representing the amount of fixed-rate receivables outstanding and liabilities outstanding, and are included in other assets and other liabilities at their fair values of $2.9 million.

 

In 2015, the Company began entering into foreign exchange contracts to convert Euros to U.S. Dollars on behalf of the Company’s customers. To offset this foreign exchange risk, the Company has entered into substantially identical agreements with a third party to hedge these foreign exchange contracts. The contracts are used to offset exposure to foreign currency risk associated with non-U.S. dollar transactions. The foreign exchange contracts had a notional amount of $272 thousand at June 30, 2016 representing the amount of contracts outstanding in U.S. dollars, and are included in other assets and other liabilities at their fair value of $8 thousand. All changes in fair value are recorded as other noninterest income and other noninterest expense. The notional amount of foreign exchange contracts at December 31, 2015 were $662 thousand, and were included in other assets and other liabilities at their fair value of $19 thousand.

 

 
34

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The following table details the location and amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income:

 

   

Effective Portion

 
   

Pre-tax gain (loss)

recognized in OCI

       

Pre-tax gain (loss) reclassified

from AOCI into income

 
   

For the three months ended

   

For the six months ended

    Location of amounts  

For the three months ended

   

For the six months ended

 
   

June 30,

   

June 30,

   

reclassified from

 

June 30,

   

June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

   

AOCI into Income

 

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                                                     

Cash flow hedges:

                                                                   

Interest rate contracts

  $ (475 )   $ 646     $ (1,700 )   $ (610 )  

Total interest expense

  $ 88     $ 103     $ 177     $ 206  

   

       

Pre-tax gain (loss)

recognized in income

 
       

For the three months ended

   

For the six months ended

 
   

Location of amounts

 

June 30,

   

June 30,

 
   

recognized in income

 

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 

Fair value hedges:

                                   

Interest rate contracts

                                   

Pay fixed rate swaps with counterparty

 

Total interest income

  $ (80 )   $ (96 )   $ (153 )   $ (200 )
                                     

Not designated as hedges:

                                   

Client-related interest rate contracts

 

Other income

    (143 )     43       (288 )   $ (33 )
        $ (223 )   $ (53 )   $ (441 )   $ (233 )

 

Because of the unfavorable position of outstanding swap instruments at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company posted collateral of approximately $15.8 million and $10.5 million in securities, respectively, with the related counterparties.

 

 
35

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Note 12 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

The before and after tax amounts allocated to each component of other comprehensive income are presented in the following table. Reclassification adjustments related to securities available for sale are included in gain on sale of securities available-for-sale in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Amortization of net unrealized losses on securities transferred to held-to-maturity is included in interest income on taxable investment securities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

   

For the Three Months Ended

June 30, 2016

   

For the Three Months Ended

June 30, 2015

 
   

Before Tax Amount

   

Tax Expense (Benefit)

   

Net of Tax Amount

   

Before Tax Amount

   

Tax Expense (Benefit)

   

Net of Tax Amount

 

Securities available for sale and transferred securities:

                                               

Change in net unrealized gains (losses) during the period

  $ 2,118     $ 838     $ 1,280     $ (3,150 )   $ (1,175 )   $ (1,975 )

Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities transferred to held to maturity

    26       37       (11 )     73       28       45  

Reclassification adjustment for net gains recognized in net income

    87       (33 )     120       -       -       -  

Total securities available for sale and transferred securities

    2,231       842       1,389       (3,077 )     (1,147 )     (1,930 )
                                                 

Derivatives:

                                               

Change in the accumulated loss on effective cash flow hedge derivatives

    (475 )     (114 )     (361 )     646       322       324  

Change in the accumulated loss on terminated cash flow hedge derivatives

    93       33       60       -       -       -  

Reclassification adjustment for interest payments

    88       (32 )     121       103       (39 )     142  

Total derivatives

    (294 )     (113 )     (181 )     749       283       466  
                                                 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 1,937     $ 729     $ 1,208     $ (2,328 )   $ (864 )   $ (1,464 )

 

   

For the Six Months Ended

June 30, 2016

   

For the Six Months Ended

June 30, 2015

 
   

Before Tax Amount

   

Tax Expense (Benefit)

   

Net of Tax Amount

   

Before Tax Amount

   

Tax Expense (Benefit)

   

Net of Tax Amount

 

Securities available for sale and transferred securities:

                                               

Change in net unrealized gains (losses) during the period

  $ 6,809     $ 2,504     $ 4,305     $ (165 )   $ (69 )   $ (96 )

Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities transferred to held to maturity

    52       64       (12 )     209       86       123  

Reclassification adjustment for net gains recognized in net income

    93       33       60       -       -       -  

Total securities available for sale and transferred securities

    6,954       2,601       4,353       44       17       27  
                                                 

Derivatives:

                                               

Change in the accumulated loss on effective cash flow hedge derivatives

    (1,700 )     46       (1,746 )     (610 )     (230 )     (380 )

Change in the accumulated loss on terminated cash flow hedge derivatives

    186       (611 )     797       -       -       -  

Reclassification adjustment for interest payments

    177       65       112       206       78       128  

Total derivatives

    (1,337 )     (500 )     (837 )     (404 )     (152 )     (252 )
                                                 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 5,617     $ 2,101     $ 3,516     $ (360 )   $ (135 )   $ (225 )

 

 
36 

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

 The following table presents activity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, by component for the periods indicated.

 

   

Securities

Available for

Sale

   

Securities

Transferred

from Available

for Sale to Held

to Maturity

   

Derivatives

   

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

Balance, January 1, 2016

  $ 564     $ (1,065 )   $ (2,362 )   $ (2,863 )

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

    4,293       -       (1,746 )     2,547  

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

    60       -       112       173  

Transfer of securities from available for sale to held to maturity

    12       (12 )     -       -  

Terminated cash flow hedge derivatives

    -       -       797       797  

Net other comprehensive income (loss) during the period

    4,365       (12 )     (837 )     3,516  

Balance, June 30, 2016

  $ 4,929     $ (1,077 )   $ (3,199 )   $ 653  
                                 

Balance, January 1, 2015

  $ 1,313     $ (1,282 )   $ (1,506 )   $ (1,475 )

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

    27       -       (380 )     (353 )

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

    -       -       128       128  

Transfer of securities from available for sale to held to maturity

    (123 )     123       -       -  

Net other comprehensive income (loss) during the period

    (96 )     123       (252 )     (225 )

Balance, June 30, 2015

  $ 1,217     $ (1,159 )   $ (1,758 )   $ (1,700 )

 

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company is required to disclose the estimated fair value of financial instruments, both assets and liabilities on and off the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate fair value. These fair value estimates are made at each balance sheet date, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. Fair value estimates are intended to represent the price at which an asset could be sold or the price for which a liability could be settled in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. However, given there is no active market or observable market transactions for many of the Company’s financial instruments, the Company has made estimates of many of these fair values which are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimated values. The methodologies used for estimating the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities are discussed below:

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, which are comprised of cash and due from banks, interest-earning balances at banks and Federal funds sold, approximate their fair value.

 

Investment Securities Available-for-sale and Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity - Fair value for investment securities is based on the quoted market price if such information is available. If a quoted market price is not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments.

 

Nonmarketable Equity Securities Cost is a reasonable estimate of fair value for nonmarketable equity securities because no quoted market prices are available and the securities are not readily marketable. The carrying amount is adjusted for any other than temporary declines in value.

 

Loans Held for Sale - For certain homogenous categories of loans, such as residential mortgages, fair value is estimated using the quoted market prices for securities backed by similar loans, adjusted for differences in loan characteristics.

 

 
37

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Loans, net of allowance - The fair value of other types of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities. Further adjustments are made to reflect current market conditions. There is no discount for liquidity included in the expected cash flow assumptions.

 

FDIC Indemnification Asset – The fair values for the FDIC indemnification asset are estimated based on discounted future cash flows using current discount rates.

 

Accrued Interest Receivable - The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Deposits - The fair value of deposits with no stated maturities, including demand deposits, savings, money market and NOW accounts, is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of deposits that have stated maturities, primarily time deposits, is estimated by discounting expected cash flows using the rates currently offered for instruments of similar remaining maturities.

 

Borrowings - The fair values of short-term and long-term borrowings are based on discounting expected cash flows at the interest rate currently offered for debt with the same or similar remaining maturities and collateral requirements.

 

Accrued Interest Payable - The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Derivative Instruments – The fair value of derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps and swap fair value hedges, is based on discounted cash flow models. All future floating cash flows are projected and both floating and fixed cash flows are discounted to the valuation date.

 

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk - With regard to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, it is not practicable to estimate the fair value of future financing commitments.

 

The Company utilizes fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. Securities available-for-sale and derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, the Company may be required to record other assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve application of lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets.

 

The Company groups assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value.

 

 

Level 1

Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

 

 

Level 2

Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

 

 

Level 3

Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques may include the use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

   

 
38

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, none of which are held for trading purposes, at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

Financial Instruments Carrying Amounts and Estimated Fair Values                                         

 

                   

Fair Value Measurements

 
   

Carrying

Amount

   

Estimated

Fair Value

   

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets

for Identical

Assets or

Liabilities

(Level 1)

   

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

   

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

June 30, 2016

                                       

Financial assets:

                                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 69,873     $ 69,873     $ 69,873     $ -     $ -  

Investment securities available-for-sale

    393,131       393,131       1,341       390,430       1,360  

Investment securities held-to-maturity

    102,125       106,762       -       106,762          

Nonmarketable equity securities

    14,420       14,420       -       14,420       -  

Loans held for sale

    11,967       11,967       -       11,967       -  

Loans, net of allowance

    2,316,024       2,289,239       -       148,332       2,140,907  

FDIC indemnification asset

    1,165       1,370       -       -       1,370  

Accrued interest receivable

    6,842       6,842       -       6,842       -  

Derivative instruments

    8,091       8,091       -       8,091       -  
                                         

Financial liabilities:

                                       

Deposits with no stated maturity

    1,725,235       1,725,235       -       1,725,235       -  

Deposits with stated maturities

    748,188       749,850       -       749,850       -  

Borrowings

    297,890       297,832       -       297,832       -  

Accrued interest payable

    568       568       -       568       -  

Derivative instruments

    13,012       13,012       -       13,012       -  
                                         

December 31, 2015

                                       

Financial assets:

                                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 70,526     $ 70,526     $ 70,526     $ -     $ -  

Investment securities available-for-sale

    384,934       384,934       -       383,434       1,500  

Investment securities held-to-maturity

    106,458       107,629       -       107,629       -  

Nonmarketable equity securities

    11,366       11,366       -       11,366       -  

Loans held for sale

    4,943       4,943       -       4,943       -  

Loans, net of allowance

    1,732,751       1,674,081       -       32,117       1,641,964  

FDIC indemnification asset

    943       925       -       -       925  

Accrued interest receivable

    5,082       5,082       -       5,082       -  

Derivative instruments

    3,193       3,193       -       3,193       -  
                                         

Financial liabilities:

                                       

Deposits with no stated maturity

    1,412,882       1,412,882       -       1,412,882       -  

Deposits with stated maturities

    539,780       541,823       -       541,823       -  

Borrowings

    239,258       239,159       -       239,159       -  

Accrued interest payable

    515       515       -       515       -  

Derivative instruments

    7,325       7,325       -       7,325       -  

 

 

 
39

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)\

 

The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value:

 

Investment Securities - Investment securities available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Investment securities held-to-maturity are valued at quoted market prices or dealer quotes similar to securities available-for-sale. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using independent pricing models or other model-based valuation techniques such as present value of future cash flows, adjusted for the security’s credit rating, prepayment assumptions and other factors such as credit loss assumptions. Level 1 securities include those traded on an active exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, United States Treasury securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets and money market funds. Level 2 securities include MBS issued by government-sponsored entities or private label entities, municipal bonds and corporate debt securities that are valued using quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. Securities classified as Level 3 include a corporate debt security in a less liquid market whose value is determined by reference to the going rate of a similar debt security if it were to enter the market at period end. The derived market value requires significant management judgment and is further substantiated by discounted cash flow methodologies.

 

Derivative Instruments - Derivative instruments held or issued by the Company for risk management purposes are traded in over-the-counter markets where quoted market prices are not readily available. For those derivatives, the Company uses a third party to measure the fair value on a recurring basis. The Company classifies derivative instruments held or issued for risk management purposes as Level 2. The Company’s derivative instruments consist of interest rate swaps and swap fair value hedges.

 

Loans - Loans for which it is probable that payment of interest and principal will not be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement are considered impaired. Once a loan is identified as individually impaired, management measures it for the estimated impairment. The fair value of impaired loans is estimated using one of several methods, including collateral value, discounted cash flows or a pooled probability of default and loss given default calculation. Those impaired loans not requiring a specific allowance represent loans for which the fair value exceeds the recorded investments in such loans. Impaired loans where a specific allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral require classification in the fair value hierarchy. The Company records such impaired loans as nonrecurring Level 3.

 

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, substantially all of the total impaired loans were evaluated based on the fair value of the collateral. The Company records loans involved in fair value hedges at fair market value on a recurring basis. The Company does not record other loans at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

Loans held for sale Loans held for sale are adjusted to lower of cost or market upon transfer from the loan portfolio to loans held for sale. Subsequently, loans held for sale are carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value. Fair value is based upon independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral, management’s estimation of the value of the collateral or commitments on hand from investors within the secondary market for loans with similar characteristics. The fair value adjustments for loans held for sale are recorded as nonrecurring Level 2.

 

Other real estate owned - OREO is adjusted to fair value upon transfer of the loans to OREO. Subsequently, OREO is carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. Fair value is based upon independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral or management’s estimation of the value of the collateral. When the fair value of the collateral is measured due to further deterioration in the value of the OREO since initial recognition, the Company records the foreclosed asset as nonrecurring Level 3.

 

 

 
40

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

The table below presents, by level, the recorded amount of assets and liabilities at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

Description

 

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets for

Identical Assets

(Level 1)

   

Significant

Other

Observable Inputs

(Level 2)

   

Significant

Unobservable Inputs

(Level 3)

   

Assets/Liabilities

at Fair Value

 

June 30, 2016

                               

U.S. Government agencies

  $ -     $ 504     $ -     $ 504  

Municipal securities

    -       14,218       -       14,218  

Residential agency pass-through securities

    -       182,345       -       182,345  

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

    -       106,866       -       106,866  

Asset-backed securities

    -       86,497       -       86,497  

Corporate and other securities

    -       -       1,360       1,360  

All other equity securities

    1,341       -       -       1,341  

Fair value loans

    -       148,332       -       148,332  

Derivative instruments

    -       (4,921 )     -       (4,921 )
                                 

December 31, 2015

                               

U.S. Government agencies

  $ -     $ 514     $ -     $ 514  

Municipal securities

    -       14,796       -       14,796  

Residential agency pass-through securities

    -       131,460       -       131,460  

Residential collateralized mortgage obligations

    -       151,631       -       151,631  

Commercial mortgage-backed obligations

    -       4,756       -       4,756  

Asset-backed securities

    -       79,120       -       79,120  

Corporate and other securities

    -       -       1,500       1,500  

All other equity securities

    1,157       -       -       1,157  

Fair value loans

    -       32,117       -       32,117  

Derivative instruments

    -       (4,132 )     -       (4,132 )

 

Securities measured on a Level 3 recurring basis at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include a corporate debt security whose value is determined by the going rate of a similar debt security if it were to enter the market at period end with additional liquidity discounts applied due to a smaller available market.  There were no transfers between valuation levels for any accounts for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. If different valuation techniques were deemed necessary, we would consider those transfers to occur at the end of the period that the accounts are valued.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

   

Securities Available for Sale

(in thousands)

 
   

Three Months Ended June 30,

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                 

Fair value, beginning of the period

  $ 1,360     $ 1,568     $ 1,500     $ 1,570  

Change in unrealized gain recognized in other comprehensive income

    -       (6 )     (140 )     (8 )

Fair value, end of the period

  $ 1,360     $ 1,562     $ 1,360     $ 1,562  

 

 
41

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

 

The Company may be required, from time to time, to measure certain other financial assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP. These adjustments to fair value usually result from application of lower of cost or market accounting or impairment charges of individual assets. Processes are in place for overseeing the valuation procedures for Level 3 measurements of OREO and impaired loans. The assets are reviewed on a quarterly basis to determine the accuracy of the observable inputs, generally third party appraisals, auction values, values derived from trade publications and data submitted by the borrower, and the appropriateness of the unobservable inputs, generally discounts due to current market conditions and collection issues. Discounts are based on asset type and valuation source; deviations from the standard are documented. The discounts are periodically reviewed to determine whether they remain appropriate. Consideration is given to current trends in market values for the asset categories and gain and losses on sales of similar assets.

 

Discounts range from 0% to 100% depending on the nature of the assets and source of value. Real estate is valued based on appraisals or evaluations, discounted by 8% at a minimum with higher discounts for property in poor condition or property with characteristics that may make it more difficult to market. Commercial loans secured by receivables or non-real estate collateral are generally valued using the discounted cash flow method. Inputs are determined on a borrower-by-borrower basis.

 

Impaired loans and related write-downs are based on the fair value of the underlying collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral or using a pooled probability of default and loss given default calculation. Collateral values are reviewed quarterly and estimated using customized discounting criteria and appraisals.

 

Other real estate owned is based on the lower of the cost or fair value of the underlying collateral less expected selling costs. Collateral values are estimated primarily using appraisals and reflect a market value approach. Fair values are reviewed quarterly and new appraisals are generally obtained annually.

 

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

   

Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

 

Description

 

Quoted Prices

in Active

Markets for

Identical

Assets

(Level 1)

   

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

   

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

   

Assets/

(Liabilities)

at Fair Value

 

June 30, 2016

                               

OREO

  $ -     $ -     $ 1,947     $ 1,947  

Impaired loans:

                               

Residential construction

    -       -       266       266  
                                 

December 31, 2015

                               

OREO

  $ -     $ -     $ 5,451     $ 5,451  

Impaired loans:

                               

CRE - investor income producing

    -       -       365       365  

Residential mortgage

    -       -       725       725  

Residential construction

    -       -       251       251  

 

In accordance with accounting for foreclosed property, the carrying value of OREO is periodically reviewed and written down to fair value and any loss is included in earnings. During the three months ended June 30, 2016, OREO with a carrying value of $0.6 million was written down by $0.1 million to $0.5 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2016, OREO with a carrying value of $3.6 million was written down by $0.3 million to $3.3 million. During the three months ended June 30, 2015, OREO with a carrying value of $2.5 million was written down by $375 thousand to $2.2 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, OREO with a carrying value of $3.3 million was written down by $485 thousand to $2.8 million.

 

 
42

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

The table below presents the valuation methodology and unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at June 30, 2016.

 

   

Fair Value

   

Valuation Methodology

 

Unobservable Inputs

 

Range of Inputs

   

Weighted

Average Discount

 
                                     

OREO

  $ 1,947    

Appraisals

 

Discount to reflect current market conditions

    0% - 30%       17.94 %
                                     

Impaired loans

    266    

Collateral based measurements

 

Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability

    0% - 60%       23.88 %
               

 

                   
    $ 2,213                              

   

Note 14 – Shareholde rs’ Equity

 

The Company maintains share-based plans for directors and employees to attract, retain and provide incentives for key employees in the form of incentive and non-qualified stock options and restricted stock. As a result of the First Capital merger, the Company assumed the First Capital Bancorp, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (renamed the Park Sterling Corporation 2010 Stock Incentive Plan) which at the effective date of the merger had 184,789 shares available for future awards to be issued under the plan. The total number of shares available for issuance under all outstanding share-based plans is 612,035 as of June 30, 2016.

 

Activity in the Company’s share-based plans is summarized in the following table:  

 

   

Outstanding Options

   

Nonvested Restricted Shares

 
           

Weighted

   

Weighted

                   

Weighted

         
           

Average

   

Average

                   

Average

   

Aggregate

 
   

Number

   

Exercise

   

Contractual

   

Intrinsic

   

Number

   

Grant Date

   

Intrinsic

 
   

Outstanding

   

Price

   

Term (Years)

   

Value

   

Outstanding

   

Fair Value

   

Value

 
                                                         
At December 31, 2015     2,094,493     $ 7.43       3.73     $ 1,518,937       959,309     $ 5.02     $ 6,966,295  

Restricted shares granted

    -       -       -       -       236,534       7.34       -  

Options exercised

    (274,890 )     -       -       -       -       -       -  

Restricted shares vested

    -       -       -       -       (188,895 )     6.43       -  

Expired and forfeited

    (2,500 )     -       -       -       (38,783 )     6.82       -  
                                                         
At June 30, 2016      1,817,103     $ 7.57       3.09     $ 1,000,653       968,165     $ 5.23     $ 6,819,858  
                                                         
Exercisable at June 30, 2016      1,812,936                                                  

 

At June 30, 2016, unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options of $9 thousand is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.73 years. There was no net compensation expense for stock options for the three months ended June 30, 2016 due to a forfeiture that offset the expense. Total compensation expense for stock options was $5 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Total compensation expense for stock options was $13 thousand and $16 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

At June 30, 2016, unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted shares of $2.5 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.46 years. Total compensation expense for restricted shares was $387 thousand and $284 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Total compensation expense for restricted shares was $670 thousand and $574 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  

 

 
43

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(table amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

 

Note 15 – Subsequ ent Event

 

Dividend Declaration

 

On July 27, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per common share, payable on August 23, 2016 to all common shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 9, 2016.

 

 
44

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains, and Park Sterling Corporation (the “Company”) and its management may make, certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and often use words such as “may,” “plan,” “contemplate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “continue,” “expect,” “project,” “predict,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “goal,” “target” and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements express management’s current expectations or forecasts of future events, results and conditions, including financial and other estimates and expectations regarding the Company’s merger with First Capital Bancorp, Inc. (“First Capital”), the general business strategy of engaging in bank mergers, organic growth, branch openings and closings, expansion in new markets, hiring of additional personnel, expansion or addition of product capabilities, expected footprint of the banking franchise and anticipated asset size; anticipated loan growth; changes in loan mix and deposit mix; capital and liquidity levels; net interest income; provision expense; noninterest income and noninterest expenses; realization of deferred tax asset; credit trends and conditions, including loan losses, allowance for loan loss, charge-offs, delinquency trends and nonperforming asset levels; the amount, timing and prices of any share repurchases; the payment of common stock dividends; and other similar matters. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and by their nature involve certain risks and uncertainties that are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on the information available to management at the time that these disclosures were prepared. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any of these forward-looking statements.

   

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider all of the following uncertainties and risks, as well as those more fully discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 4, 2016 (the “2015 Form 10-K”) and in any of the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC: failure to realize synergies and other financial benefits from the First Capital merger within expected time frames; increases in expected costs or decreases in expected savings or difficulties related to merger integration matters; inability to identify and successfully negotiate and complete additional combinations with other potential merger partners or to successfully integrate such businesses into the Company, including the Company’s ability to adequately estimate or to realize the benefits and cost savings from and limit any unexpected liabilities acquired as a result of any such business combination; failure to generate an adequate return on investment related to new branches or other hiring initiatives; inability to generate future organic growth in loan balances, retail banking, wealth management, mortgage banking or capital markets results through the hiring of new personnel, development of new products, including new online and mobile banking platforms for treasury services, opening of de novo branches, or otherwise; inability to capitalize on identified revenue enhancements or expense management opportunities; inability to generate future ATM and card income from marketing expenses; variability in the performance of covered loans and associated loss-share related expenses; the effects of negative or soft economic conditions, including stress in the commercial real estate markets or failure of continued recovery in the residential real estate markets; changes in consumer and investor confidence and the related impact on financial markets and institutions; changes in interest rates; failure of assumptions underlying noninterest expense levels; failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of allowances for loan losses; deterioration in the credit quality of the loan portfolio or in the value of the collateral securing those loans; deterioration in the value of securities held in the investment securities portfolio; the possibility of recognizing other than temporary impairments on holdings of collateralized loan obligation securities as a result of the Volcker Rule; the impacts on the Company of a potential increasing rate environment; the potential impacts of any government shutdown or debt ceiling impasse, including the risk of a United States credit rating downgrade or default, or continued global economic instability, which could cause disruptions in the financial markets, impact interest rates, and cause other potential unforeseen consequences; fluctuations in the market price of the common stock, regulatory, legal and contractual requirements, other uses of capital, the Company’s financial performance, market conditions generally, and future actions by the board of directors, in each case impacting repurchases of common stock or declaration of dividends; legal and regulatory developments including changes in the federal risk-based capital rules; increased competition from both banks and nonbanks; changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations, inaccurate estimates or assumptions in accounting, including acquisition accounting fair market value assumptions and accounting for purchased credit-impaired loans, and the impact on the Company’s financial statements; and management’s ability to effectively manage credit risk, market risk, operational risk, legal risk, and regulatory and compliance risk.  

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made.

 

 
45

 

   

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The purpose of this discussion and analysis is to focus on significant changes in our financial condition as of and results of operations during the three- and six-month period ended June 30, 2016. This discussion and analysis highlights and supplements information contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, particularly the preceding unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes (the “Unaudited Financial Statements”).

 

Executive Overview

 

The Company reported net income of $8.3 million, or $0.16 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $8.1 million, or $0.18 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Changes in net income from the first six months of 2015 include a 25.7% increase in net interest income and a 14.9% increase in noninterest income, which were partially offset by a 28.7% increase in all noninterest expense levels driven by the acquisition of First Capital Bancorp, Inc. (“First Capital”) on January 1, 2016, and a $1.3 million increase in provision for loan losses driven by an increase in qualitative factors following the added market volatility and heightened uncertainty which emerged at the end of the second quarter.

 

The Company reported adjusted net income, which excludes merger-related expenses and gain or loss on sale of securities, of $12.6 million, or $0.24 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, compared to $8.2 million, or $0.19 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase in adjusted net income resulted from higher net interest and noninterest income, partially offset by the increase in noninterest expenses, again driven primarily by the acquisition of First Capital and the increase in provision for loan losses.

 

Net interest margin was 3.73% for the six months ended June 30, 2016, representing an 8 basis point decrease from 3.81% for the six months ended June 30, 2015. This decrease in net interest margin reflects primarily the lower interest rates on new loans and core net interest margin compression, partially offset by the additional accretion of fair value marks on purchased performing loans acquired from First Capital.

 

Total assets increased $659.8 million, or 26.2%, to $3.2 billion at June 30, 2016, compared to total assets of $2.5 billion at December 31, 2015. Cash and equivalents decreased 0.9% and total investment securities increased 1.8%. Total loans, excluding loans held for sale, increased 33.6%, to $2.3 billion due primarily to the acquisition of First Capital, as well as continued success in origination efforts.

 

Asset quality remains a point of strength for the Company with nonperforming loans to total loans of 0.33% and nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.35% at June 30, 2016. Nonperforming loans decreased 6%, to $7.8 million, at June 30, 2016, compared to $8.3 million, or 0.47% of total loans, at December 31, 2015. Nonperforming assets decreased to $11.0 million, at June 30, 2016, compared to $13.7 million, or 0.54% of total assets, at December 31, 2015.

 

Total deposits increased 26.7%, to $2.5 billion at June 30, 2016, compared to $2.0 billion at December 31, 2015, due to the acquisition of First Capital and growth in both retail and commercial banking as the Company has continued to emphasize growing transaction account relationships. Total shareholders’ equity increased 24.5%, to $354.5 million at June 30, 2016 compared to $284.7 million at December 31, 2015, driven by the issuance of shares in connection with the acquisition of First Capital, retained earnings and an increase in unrealized gains in the marketable securities portfolio and cash flow hedges. The Company’s ratio of total common equity to total assets decreased to 11.17% at June 30, 2016 from 11.32% at December 31, 2015. The Company’s ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets decreased to 9.00% at June 30, 2016 from 9.93% at December 31, 2015. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio decreased to 10.06% at June 30, 2016 from 11.00% at December 31, 2015, primarily due to higher intangible assets as a result of the First Capital acquisition.

 

Adjusted net income and related per share measures, as well as tangible common equity and tangible assets, and related ratios, are non-GAAP financial measures. For reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

 

Business Overview

 

The Company, a North Carolina corporation, was formed in October 2010 to serve as the holding company for the Bank and is a bank holding company registered with the Federal Reserve Board. The Bank was incorporated in September 2006 as a North Carolina-chartered commercial nonmember bank. On January 1, 2011, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of the Bank in exchange for shares of the Company’s Common Stock, on a one-for-one basis, in a statutory share exchange transaction effected under North Carolina law pursuant to which the Company became the bank holding company for the Bank.

 

 
46

 

 

On January 1, 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of First Capital pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 30, 2015 (the “Agreement”), under which First Capital, a bank holding company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, was merged with and into the Company with the Company as the surviving entity. Pursuant to the Agreement, upon completion of the merger, First Capital common shareholders received either $5.54 in cash or 0.7748 Park Sterling shares for each First Capital share they held, subject to the limitation that the total consideration for shareholders consisted of 30.0% in cash and 70.0% in Park Sterling shares; First Capital warrant holders received either $1.77 in cash or 0.24755 Park Sterling shares for each First Capital warrant they held, subject to the limitation that the total consideration for warrant holders consisted of 30.0% in cash and 70.0% in Park Sterling shares; and each outstanding option to purchase shares of First Capital common stock was converted into the right to receive cash equal to the product of (a) $5.54 minus the per share exercise price of such option, and (b) the number of shares of First Capital common stock subject to the option. Simultaneously with completion of the merger, First Capital Bank merged into the Bank. The merger helps us achieve our strategic goal of building out our Richmond presence by significantly enhancing our local branch network and adding talented bankers and leadership to our local team while increasing our operating scale to drive efficiencies and position the Company for accelerated revenue growth opportunities to further strengthen financial returns to shareholders.

 

The Company serves professionals, individuals, and small and mid-sized businesses by offering a full array of financial services, including deposit, mortgage banking, cash management, consumer and business finance, capital markets and wealth management services with a commitment to “Answers You Can Bank On SM .” The Company prides itself on being large enough to help customers achieve their financial aspirations, yet small enough to care that they do. Our focus is on building a banking franchise that is noted for sound risk management, strong community focus and exceptional customer service.

 

Non-GAAP Fina ncial Measures

 

In addition to traditional measures, management uses tangible assets, tangible common equity, adjusted allowance for loan losses, adjusted net income, and adjusted noninterest expenses, and related ratios and per-share measures, including adjusted return on average assets and adjusted return on average equity, each of which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management uses (i) tangible assets and tangible common equity (which exclude goodwill and other intangibles from equity and assets) and related ratios to evaluate the adequacy of shareholders' equity and to facilitate comparisons with peers; (ii) adjusted allowance for loan losses (which includes net fair market value adjustments related to acquired loans) to evaluate both its asset quality and asset quality trends, and to facilitate comparisons with peers; and (iii) adjusted net income and adjusted noninterest expense (which exclude merger-related expenses and gain or loss on sale of securities, as applicable) to evaluate its core earnings and to facilitate comparisons with peers.

 

 
47

 

 

The following table presents these non-GAAP financial measures and provides a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements:

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

   

June 30,

2016

(Unaudited)

   

December 31,

2015

(Unaudited)

 
   

(dollars in thousands, except per

share amounts)

 

Tangible common equity to tangible assets

               

Total assets

  $ 3,174,075     $ 2,514,260  

Less: intangible assets

    (75,551 )     (38,768 )

Tangible assets

  $ 3,098,524     $ 2,475,492  
                 

Total common equity

  $ 354,450     $ 284,704  

Less: intangible assets

    (75,551 )     (38,768 )

Tangible common equity

  $ 278,899     $ 245,936  
                 

Tangible common equity

    278,899       245,936  

Divided by: tangible assets

    3,098,524       2,475,492  

Tangible common equity to tangible assets

    9.00 %     9.93 %

Common equity to assets

    11.17 %     11.32 %
                 

Adjusted allowance for loan losses (1)

               

Allowance for loan losses

  $ 10,873     $ 9,064  

Plus: acquisition accounting net FMV adjustments to acquired loans

    31,277       28,173  

Adjusted allowance for loan losses

  $ 42,150     $ 37,237  

Divided by: total loans (excluding LHFS before FMV adjustments)

    2,358,174       1,769,988  

Adjusted allowance for loan losses to total loans

    1.79 %     2.10 %

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

    0.47 %     0.51 %

 

   

Three months ended

   

Six months ended

 
   

June 30,

2016

(Unaudited)

   

June 30,

2015

(Unaudited)

   

June 30,

2016

(Unaudited)

   

June 30,

2015

(Unaudited)

 

Adjusted net income

                               

Pretax income (as reported)

  $ 8,597     $ 6,542     $ 13,211     $ 12,150  

Plus: merger-related expenses

    1,268       167       6,461       289  

(gain) loss on sale of securities

    87       -       93       -  

Adjusted pretax income

    9,952       6,709       19,765       12,439  

Tax expense

    3,509       2,331       7,155       4,196  

Adjusted net income

  $ 6,443     $ 4,378     $ 12,610     $ 8,243  
                                 

Divided by: weighted average diluted shares

    52,704,537       44,301,895       52,650,886       44,287,424  

Adjusted net income per share

  $ 0.12     $ 0.10     $ 0.24     $ 0.19  

Estimated tax rate

    34.26 %     34.75 %     36.20 %     33.73 %
                                 

Adjusted noninterest expense

                               

Noninterest expense

  $ 21,946     $ 18,232     $ 48,099     $ 37,371  

Less: merger-related expenses

    (1,268 )     (167 )     (6,461 )     (289 )

Adjusted noninterest expense

  $ 20,678     $ 18,065     $ 41,638     $ 37,082  
                                 

Adjusted return on average assets

                               

Adjusted net income

  $ 6,443     $ 4,378     $ 12,610     $ 8,243  

Divided by: average assets

    3,135,031       2,406,671       3,133,828       2,395,150  

Multiplied by: annualization factor

    4.02       4.01       2.01       2.02  

Adjusted return on average assets

    0.83 %     0.73 %     0.81 %     0.69 %

Return on average assets

    0.71 %     0.71 %     0.53 %     0.68 %
                                 

Adjusted return on average equity

                               

Adjusted net income

  $ 6,443     $ 4,378     $ 12,610     $ 8,243  

Divided by: average common equity

    352,505       280,676       350,531       279,436  

Multiplied by: annualization factor

    4.02       4.01       2.01       2.02  

Adjusted return on average equity

    7.35 %     6.26 %     7.23 %     5.95 %

Return on average equity

    6.33 %     6.10 %     4.76 %     5.81 %

  

 

(1)

Provided merely as supplemental information for comparing the combined allowance and fair market value adjustments to the combined acquired and non-acquired loan portfolios; fair market adjustments are available only for losses on acquired loans.

 

 
48

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 2 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements, to the Unaudited Financial Statements for a description of recent accounting pronouncements including the respective expected dates of adoption and effects on results of operations and financial condition.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

In the preparation of our financial statements, we have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and in accordance with general practices within the banking industry. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes (the “2015 Audited Financial Statements”) included in the 2015 Form 10-K. While all of these policies are important to understanding the Unaudited Financial Statements, certain accounting policies described below involve significant judgment and assumptions by management that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities. We consider these accounting policies to be critical accounting policies. The judgment and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the nature of the judgment and assumptions we make, actual results could differ from these judgments and assumptions that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.

 

PCI Loans. Loans purchased with evidence of credit deterioration since origination and for which it is probable that all contractually required payments will not be collected are considered credit impaired. Evidence of credit quality deterioration as of the purchase date may include statistics such as internal risk grade, past due and nonaccrual status, recent borrower credit scores and recent loan-to-value (“LTV”) percentages. Purchased credit-impaired (“PCI”) loans are initially measured at fair value, which includes estimated future credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the loan. Accordingly, the associated allowance for credit losses related to these loans is not carried over at the acquisition date. We estimate the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition using specific credit review of certain loans, quantitative credit risk, interest rate risk and prepayment risk models, and qualitative economic and environmental assessments, each of which incorporates our best estimate of current key relevant factors, such as property values, default rates, loss severity and prepayment speeds.

 

Under the accounting guidance for PCI loans, the excess of the present value of cash flows expected to be collected over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized in interest income over the remaining life of the loan, or pool of loans, in situations where there is a reasonable expectation about the timing and amount of cash flows to be collected. The difference between the contractually required payments and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition, considering the impact of prepayments, is referred to as the nonaccretable difference and is available to absorb future charge-offs.

 

In addition, subsequent to acquisition, we periodically evaluate our estimate of cash flows expected to be collected. These evaluations, performed quarterly, require the continued usage of key assumptions and estimates, similar to the initial estimate of fair value. In the current economic environment, estimates of cash flows for PCI loans require significant judgment given the impact of home price and property value changes, changing loss severities, prepayment speeds and other relevant factors. Decreases in the expected cash flows will generally result in a charge to the provision for credit losses resulting in an increase to the allowance for loan losses. Significant increases in the expected cash flows will generally result in an increase in interest income over the remaining life of the loan, or pool of loans. Disposals of loans, which may include sales of loans to third parties, receipt of payments in full or part from the borrower or foreclosure of the collateral, result in removal of the loan from the PCI loan portfolio at its carrying amount.

 

At June 30, 2016, PCI loans represent loans acquired in connection with the acquisitions of Community Capital Corporation (“Community Capital”), Citizens South Banking Corporation (“Citizens South”), Provident Community Bancshares, Inc. (“Provident Community”) and First Capital, that were deemed credit impaired at the time of acquisition. PCI loans that had been classified as nonperforming loans by these institutions are no longer classified as nonperforming so long as, at acquisition and quarterly re-estimation periods, we believe we will fully collect the new carrying value of these loans. It is important to note that judgment regarding the timing and amount of cash flows to be collected is required to classify PCI loans as performing, even if the loan is contractually past due.

 

 
49

 

   

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is based upon management's ongoing evaluation of the loan portfolio and reflects an amount considered by management to be its best estimate of known and inherent losses in the portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The determination of the allowance for loan losses involves a high degree of judgment and complexity. In making the evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, management considers current economic and market conditions, independent loan reviews performed periodically by third parties, portfolio trends and concentrations, delinquency information, management's internal review of the loan portfolio, internal historical loss rates and other relevant factors. While management uses the best information available to make evaluations, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the evaluations. In addition, regulatory examiners may require us to recognize changes to the allowance for loan losses based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. Although provisions have been established by loan segments based upon management's assessment of their differing inherent loss characteristics, the entire allowance for losses on loans, other than the portion related to PCI loans and specific reserves on impaired loans, is available to absorb further loan losses in any segment. Further information regarding our policies and methodology used to estimate the allowance for possible loan losses is presented in Note 5 – Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses to the 2015 Audited Financial Statements, and Note 5 – Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses to the Unaudited Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.

 

OREO. Other real estate owned (“OREO”), consisting of real estate acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosures, is recorded at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs when acquired. Fair value is determined based on independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral or management’s estimation of the value of the collateral. Management also considers other factors, including changes in absorption rates, length of time the property has been on the market and anticipated sales values, which have resulted in adjustments to the collateral value estimates indicated in certain appraisals. At the time of foreclosure or initial possession of collateral, any excess of the loan balance over the fair value of the real estate held as collateral is treated as a charge against the allowance for loan losses.

 

Subsequent declines in the fair value of OREO below the new cost basis are recorded through valuation adjustments. Significant judgments and complex estimates are required in estimating the fair value of OREO, and the period of time within which such estimates can be considered current is significantly shortened during periods of market volatility. In response to market conditions and other economic factors, management may utilize liquidation sales as part of its problem asset disposition strategy. As a result of the significant judgments required in estimating fair value and the variables involved in different methods of disposition, the net proceeds realized from sales transactions could differ significantly from appraisals, comparable sales, and other estimates used to determine the fair value of other real estate. Management reviews the value of OREO periodically and adjusts the values as appropriate. Revenue and expenses from OREO operations as well as gains or losses on sales and any subsequent adjustments to the value are recorded as net cost (earnings) of operation of OREO, a component of non-interest expense.

 

FDIC Indemnification Asset. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, the FDIC indemnification asset was initially recorded at its fair value, and is measured separately from the related covered assets because the indemnification asset is not contractually embedded in them or transferrable with them in the event of disposal. The FDIC indemnification asset is measured at carrying value subsequent to initial measurement. Improved cash flows of the underlying covered assets will result in impairment of the FDIC indemnification asset and thus amortization through noninterest income. Impairment of the underlying covered assets will increase the cash flows of the FDIC indemnification asset and result in a credit to the provision for loan losses for acquired loans. Impairment and, when applicable, its subsequent reversal are included in the provision for loan losses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

The purchase and assumption agreements between the Bank and the FDIC, as discussed in Note 6 – FDIC Loss Share Agreements to the 2015 Audited Financial Statements, and Note 6 – FDIC Loss Share Agreements to the Unaudited Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q, each contain a provision that obligates the Bank to make a true-up payment to the FDIC if the realized losses of each of the applicable acquired banks are less than expected. Any such true-up payment that is materially higher than current estimates could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. These amounts are recorded in other liabilities on the balance sheet. The actual payment will be determined at the end of the term of the loss sharing agreements and is based on the negative bid, expected losses, intrinsic loss estimate, and assets covered under the loss share agreements.

 

Our loss share agreement related to New Horizon’s non-single family assets expired on June 30, 2016. On July 1, 2016, the remaining balances associated with the New Horizon non-single family loans and foreclosed properties were transferred from the covered portfolio to the non-covered portfolio. Therefore, after June 30, 2016, we will bear all future losses on that portfolio of loans and foreclosed properties. Our loss share agreement related to Bank of Hiawassee’s non-single family assets expired on March 31, 2015. On April 1, 2015, the remaining balances associated with the Bank of Hiawassee non-single family loans and foreclosed properties were transferred from the covered portfolio to the non-covered portfolio. Therefore, after March 31, 2015, we will bear all future losses on that portfolio of loans and foreclosed properties.

 

 
50

 

   

Income Taxes. Income taxes are provided based on the asset-liability method of accounting, which includes the recognition of deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) and liabilities for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. In general, we record a DTA when the event giving rise to the tax benefit has been recognized in the consolidated financial statements.

 

As of both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had a net DTA in the amount of approximately $29.0 million. The unchanged balance reflects the increase in deferred tax assets related to the merger with First Capital in the first quarter, which was offset by 2016 earnings. We evaluate the carrying amount of our DTA quarterly in accordance with the guidance provided in FASB ASC Topic 740, in particular, applying the criteria set forth therein to determine whether it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion, or all, of the DTA will not be realized within its life cycle, based on the weight of available evidence. In most cases, the realization of the DTA is dependent upon the Company generating a sufficient level of taxable income in future periods, which can be difficult to predict. If our forecast of taxable income within the carry forward periods available under applicable law is not sufficient to cover the amount of net deferred assets, such assets may be impaired. Based on the weight of available evidence, we have determined that it is more likely than not that we will be able to fully realize the existing DTA. Accordingly, we considered it appropriate not to establish a DTA valuation allowance at either June 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

 

Additional information regarding our income taxes is presented in Note 12 —Income Taxes to the 2015 Audited Financial Statements and Note 8 — Income Taxes to the Unaudited Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.

 

 
51

 

 

Financial Condition at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

 

Total assets increased $659.8 million to $3.2 billion at June 30, 2016 compared to total assets of $2.5 billion at December 31, 2015. During the six months, cash and equivalents decreased $0.7 million, or 0.9%, to $69.9 million at June 30, 2016 from $70.5 million at December 31, 2015; total loans, excluding loans held for sale, increased $585.1million, or 33.6%, to $2.3 billion at June 30, 2016 from $1.7 billion at December 31, 2015; and investment securities, which include available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities, increased slightly to $495.3 million at June 30, 2016 from $491.4 million at December 31, 2015. These changes were driven by the acquisition of First Capital and organic growth during the period.

 

Total liabilities of $2.8 billion at June 30, 2016 increased $590.1 million, or 26.5%, compared to total liabilities of $2.2 billion at December 31, 2015. Total deposits increased $520.8 million, or 26.7%, to $2.5 billion at June 30, 2016 reflecting both the acquisition of First Capital as well as growth in commercial and retail banking. Total borrowings increased $58.6 million, or 24.5%, to $297.9 million at June 30, 2016 from $239.3 million at December 31, 2015, including an increase of $8.6 million in trust preferred subordinated debt, net of acquisition accounting fair market value adjustments, assumed in the First Capital acquisition and the incurrence of an additional $50 million of FHLB borrowings.

 

Total shareholders’ equity increased $69.7 million, or 26.2%, during the first half of the year to $354.5 million at June 30, 2016. The $69.7 million increase was due to $61.3 million related to the 8,376,094 shares issued in connection with the acquisition of First Capital, $8.3 million of net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016, a $3.5 million improvement in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from unrealized securities gains and $683 thousand of net share-based compensation. Additionally, there were 274,890 stock options exercised during the first six months of 2016, resulting in total proceeds of $1.8 million. These increases were partially offset by the repurchase of 248,349 shares of Common Stock in open market transactions pursuant to our previously announced share repurchase program, the acquisition of 123,826 shares in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock and payment of $3.2 million of dividends on common stock.

 

The following table presents selected ratios for the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 and for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

Selected Ratios

 

   

Three months ended

June 30,

(annualized)

   

Six months ended

June 30,

(annualized)

   

Twelve months

ended

December 31,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

   

2015

 

Return on Average Assets

    0.71 %     0.71 %     0.53 %     0.68 %     0.68 %
                                         

Return on Average Equity

    6.33 %     6.10 %     4.76 %     5.81 %     5.90 %
                                         

Period End Equity to Total Assets

    11.17 %     11.32 %     11.17 %     11.32 %     11.32 %

     

Investment Securities and Other Earning Assets

 

We use investment securities to generate interest income through the employment of excess funds, to provide liquidity, to fund loan demand or deposit liquidation, and to pledge as collateral, where required. The composition of our investment portfolio changes from time to time as we consider our liquidity needs, interest rate expectations, asset/liability management strategies, and capital requirements.

 

Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair market value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. Securities held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost. At June 30, 2016, investment securities totaled $495.3 million compared to $491.4 million at December 31, 2015. Securities available-for-sale of $24.3 million were sold in the three months ended June 30, 2016 resulting in gross losses of $87 thousand. Securities available-for-sale of $124.4 million were sold in the six months ended June 30, 2016 resulting in gross gains of $94 thousand and gross losses of $187 thousand. There were no sales of securities during the three or six months ended June 30, 2015. The significant amount of sales of securities during the first quarter of 2016 is due to the sale of securities held by First Capital immediately following the acquisition.

 

 
52

 

 

At June 30, 2016, our available-for-sale investment portfolio had a net unrealized gain of $7.9 million compared to a $903 thousand net unrealized gain at December 31, 2015. The improvement in the unrealized gain is a result of an improvement in market rates at period end. There were no securities with an unrealized loss deemed to be other than temporary at June 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

 

The “Volcker Rule” under the Dodd Frank Act generally prohibits banks and their affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading and investing in and sponsoring a covered fund (such as a hedge fund and or private equity fund). At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company held a collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) with a fair value of $5.0 million, which was included in asset-backed securities, that currently would be prohibited under the Volcker Rule unless the collateral eligibility language in the CLO is amended to comply with the new bank investment criteria under the Volcker Rule. The net unrealized loss of the prohibited CLO was $68,250 and $57,300 at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company will determine any disposition plans for this security as the documentation is, or is not, amended. Unless the documentation is amended to avoid inclusion within the rule’s prohibitions, the Company would have to recognize other-than-temporary-impairment with respect to this security in conformity with GAAP rules and dispose of the security by July 21, 2017. The Company held no other security types potentially affected by the Volcker Rule at June 30, 2016.

 

At June 30, 2016, we had $35.0 million in interest-bearing deposits at correspondent banks, all of which was on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank, compared to $16.5 million in interest-bearing deposits at correspondent banks at December 31, 2015. This increase reflects the deposit of cash that was maintained on hand at December 31, 2015 in anticipation of the First Capital merger, which ultimately was funded with proceeds from a senior unsecured term loan.

 

Loans

 

We consider asset quality to be of primary importance, and employ seasoned credit professionals and documented processes to ensure effective oversight of credit approvals and asset quality monitoring. Our internal loan policy is reviewed by our board of directors’ Loan and Risk Committee on an annual basis and our underwriting guidelines are reviewed and updated on a periodic basis. A formal loan review process is maintained both to ensure adherence to lending policies and to ensure accurate loan grading and is reviewed by our board of directors. Since inception, we have promoted the separation of loan underwriting from the loan production staff through our credit department. Currently, credit administration analysts or portfolio managers are responsible for underwriting and assigning proper risk grades for all commercial loans with exposure in excess of $500 thousand. Underwriting is completed on standardized forms including a loan approval form and supporting documents which outline the loan's structure and a detailed analysis of loan purpose, borrower strength (including individual and global cash flow worksheets), repayment sources and, when applicable, collateral positions and guarantor strength. The credit memorandum further identifies exceptions to policy and/or regulatory limits, total exposure, internal risk grades and other relevant credit information. Loans are approved or denied by varying levels of signature authority based on total customer relationship exposure. A management-level loan committee reviews all loans greater than $3 million and is responsible for approving all credits in excess of the chief credit officer and senior credit officers’ lending authority, which was $5 million at June 30, 2016.

 

Our loan underwriting policy contains LTV limits that are at or below levels required under regulatory guidance, when such guidance is available, including limitations for non-real estate collateral, such as accounts receivable, inventory and marketable securities. When applicable, we compare LTV with loan-to-cost guidelines and usually limit loan amounts to the lower of the two ratios. We also consider FICO scores and strive to uphold a high standard when extending loans to individuals. We have not underwritten any subprime, hybrid, no-documentation or low-documentation products.

  

All acquisition, construction and development (“AC&D”) loans, whether related to commercial or consumer borrowers, are subject to policies, guidelines and procedures specifically designed to properly identify, monitor and mitigate the risk associated with these loans. Loan officers receive and review a cost budget from the borrower at the time an AC&D loan is originated. Loan draws are monitored against the budgeted line items during the development period in order to identify potential cost overruns. Individual draw requests are verified through review of supporting invoices as well as site inspections performed by an external inspector. Additional periodic site inspections are performed by loan officers at times that do not coincide with draw requests in order to keep abreast of ongoing project conditions. Our current AC&D loan origination is focused on 1–4 family residential construction for retail customers and 1-4 family residential home construction to selected well-qualified builders, as well as owner-occupied commercial and pre-leased commercial build-to-suit properties. Concentrations as a percent of capital are reported to the board of directors on a quarterly basis. Market conditions for AC&D loans continued to improve over the past three years due to increasing new home sales in our primary markets. As of June 30, 2016, approximately 1% of our AC&D loan portfolio, commercial and consumer, falls under the watch list.

 

 
53

 

   

Our second mortgage exposure is primarily attributable to our home equity lines of credit (“HELOC”) portfolio, which totaled approximately $181.0 million as of June 30, 2016. HELOCs typically have a draw period of 10 years followed by a 10- or 15- year repayment period. During the draw period, a borrower is only required to make interest payments. Once the draw period has concluded, the line is typically placed on a 1% repayment schedule or is renewed. Management closely monitors HELOCs for end-of-draw periods and works with customers as the end-of-draw approaches. Reviews of all outstanding HELOCs are performed on at least a semi-annual basis.

 

All loans are assigned an internal risk grade and are reviewed continuously for payment performance and updated through annual portfolio reviews. Loans on the Bank’s watch list are monitored through quarterly watch meetings and monthly impairment meetings. Classified loans are generally managed by a dedicated special asset team who is experienced in various loan rehabilitation and work out practices. Special asset loans are generally managed with a least-loss strategy.

 

At June 30, 2016, total loans, net of deferred fees and excluding loans held for sale, increased $585.1 million compared to December 31, 2015 due to the acquisition of First Capital and organic loan growth. The acquisition of First Capital led to shifts in the allocation of the loan portfolio from December 31, 2015 to June 30, 2016. The combination of commercial and industrial and owner-occupied real estate loans decreased to 31% of total loans at June 30, 2016 from 32% of total loans at December 31, 2015. Investor income producing commercial real estate increased to 33% from 29% of total loans and AC&D loans increased to 14% of total loans as compared to 10% of total loans at December 31, 2015. Total consumer loans decreased to 22% from 28% of total loans, with residential mortgages decreasing to 10%, home equity lines of credit decreasing to 8% and residential construction decreasing to 3%, of total loans.

 

Asset Quality and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

Our Allowance for Loan Losses Committee is responsible for overseeing our allowance and works with our chief executive officer, senior financial officers, senior risk management officers and the Audit Committee of the board of directors in developing and achieving our allowance methodology and practices. Our allowance for loan loss methodology includes four components – specific reserves, quantitative reserves, qualitative reserves and reserves on PCI loans.

 

 
54

 

 

The following table presents a breakdown of our allowance for loan losses, by component and by loan product type, as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Details of the seven environmental factors for consideration in the qualitative component of the allowance methodology as well as additional information about the four components and our policies and methodology used to estimate the allowance for loan losses are presented in Note 5 – Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses to the Unaudited Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.

 

Allowance Allocation by Component

 

   

June 30, 2016

 
   

Specific Reserve

   

Quantitative Reserve

   

Qualitative Reserve

   

PCI Reserve

 
    $    

% of Total

Allowance

    $    

% of Total

Allowance

    $    

% of Total

A llowance

    $    

% of Total

Allowance

 
   

(dollars in thousands)

 

Commercial:

                                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ -       0.00 %   $ 479       4.41 %   $ 1,649       15.17 %   $ -       0.00 %

CRE - owner-occupied

    -       0.00 %     143       1.32 %     1,088       10.01 %     -       0.00 %

CRE - investor income producing

    -       0.00 %     202       1.86 %     2,370       21.80 %     -       0.00 %

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       0.00 %     -       0.00 %     485       4.46 %     -       0.00 %

AC&D - lots, land & development

    -       0.00 %     1       0.01 %     448       4.12 %     -       0.00 %

AC&D - CRE

    -       0.00 %     44       0.40 %     792       7.28 %     -       0.00 %

Other commercial

    -       0.00 %     -       0.00 %     70       0.64 %     -       0.00 %

Consumer:

                                                               

Residential mortgage

    -       0.00 %     200       1.84 %     621       5.71 %     -       0.00 %

Home equity lines of credit

    194       1.78 %     394       3.62 %     945       8.69 %     -       0.00 %

Residential construction

    20       0.18 %     99       0.91 %     320       2.94 %     -       0.00 %

Other loans to individuals

    -       0.00 %     10       0.09 %     299       2.75 %     -       0.00 %

Total

  $ 214       1.97 %   $ 1,572       14.46 %   $ 9,087       83.57 %   $ -       0.00 %

 

   

December 31, 2015

 
   

Specific Reserve

   

Quantitative Reserve

   

Qualitative Reserve

   

Reserve on PCI Loans

 
    $    

% of Total

Allowance

    $    

% of Total

Allowance

    $    

% of Total

Allowance

    $    

% of Total

Allowance

 
   

(dollars in thousands)

 

Commercial:

                                                               

Commercial and industrial

  $ -       0.00 %   $ 745       8.22 %   $ 1,076       11.87 %   $ -       0.00 %

CRE - owner-occupied

    -       0.00 %     116       1.28 %     1,019       11.24 %     -       0.00 %

CRE - investor income producing

    -       0.00 %     726       8.01 %     1,373       15.15 %     -       0.00 %

AC&D - 1-4 family construction

    -       0.00 %     -       0.00 %     247       2.73 %     -       0.00 %

AC&D - lots, land, & development

    -       0.00 %     -       0.00 %     278       3.07 %     -       0.00 %

AC&D - CRE

    -       0.00 %     37       0.41 %     642       7.08 %     -       0.00 %

Other commercial

    -       0.00 %     -       0.00 %     69       0.76 %     -       0.00 %

Consumer:

                                            0 %                

Residential mortgage

    -       0.00 %     169       1.86 %     503       5.55 %     -       0.00 %

HELOC

    192       2.12 %     286       3.16 %     859       9.48 %     -       0.00 %

Residential construction

    -       0.00 %     253       2.79 %     208       2.29 %     -       0.00 %

Other loans to individuals

    -       0.00 %     -       0.00 %     266       2.93 %     -       0.00 %
                                                                 

Total

  $ 192       2.12 %   $ 2,332       25.73 %   $ 6,540       72.15 %   $ -       0.00 %

 

The allowance for loan losses was $10.9 million, or 0.47% of total loans, at June 30, 2016 compared to $9.1 million, or 0.52% of total loans, at December 31, 2015. The allowance for loan losses is increased by provisions charged to operations and reduced by loans charged off, net of recoveries. The increase in the allowance for loan losses was a function of an increase of $2.8 million in the qualitative component of the allowance primarily due to due to an increase in the economic and market trends factor in light of market volatility and heightened uncertainty which emerged at the end of the quarter, organic loan growth and additional provision recorded for the purchased performing loans. This increase was partially offset by a decrease of $1.0 million in the quantitative component of the allowance due to a decrease in historical loss rates applied to the portfolio as older periods with higher rates of net charge-offs are replaced with more recent periods with higher rates of net recoveries. There was also an increase of $22 thousand in specific reserves for the six months ended June 30, 2016 on a single residential construction loan relationship.

 

In accordance with GAAP, loans acquired from Community Capital, Citizens South, Provident Community and First Capital were adjusted to reflect estimated fair market value at acquisition and the associated allowance for loan losses was eliminated. At June 30, 2016, acquired loans comprised 33% of our total loans, compared to 22% at December 31, 2015. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans was 0.47% at June 30, 2016 and 0.52% at December 31, 2015. The ratio of the adjusted allowance for loan losses to total loans, which includes the remaining acquisition accounting fair market value adjustments for acquired loans, was 1.79% at June 30, 2016 and 2.10% at December 31, 2015. Adjusted allowance for loan losses to loans is a non-GAAP financial measure which is provided as supplemental information for comparing the combined allowance and fair market value adjustments to the combined acquired and non-acquired loan portfolios. Fair market value adjustments are available only for losses on acquired loans. For a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” above.

 

 
55

 

   

While management believes that it uses the best information available to determine the allowance for loan losses, and that the Company’s allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level appropriate in light of the risk inherent in our loan portfolio based on an assessment of various factors affecting the loan portfolio, unforeseen market conditions could result in adjustments to the allowance for loan losses, and net income could be significantly affected, if circumstances differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the final determination. The allowance for loan losses to total loans may increase if our loan portfolio deteriorates due to economic conditions or other factors.

 

We evaluate and estimate off-balance sheet credit exposure at the same time we estimate credit losses for loans by a similar process, including an estimate of commitment usage levels. These estimated credit losses are not recorded as part of the allowance for loan losses, but are recorded to a separate liability account by a charge to income, if material. Loan commitments, unused lines of credit and standby letters of credit make up the off-balance sheet items reviewed for potential credit losses. At both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $125 thousand was recorded as an other liability for off-balance sheet credit exposure.

 

Nonperforming Assets

 

Nonperforming assets, which consist of nonaccrual loans, accruing troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”), accruing loans for which payments are 90 days or more past due, and OREO, totaled $11.0 million, or 0.35% of total assets at June 30, 2016 compared to $13.7 million, or 0.54%, of total assets at December 31, 2015. Nonperforming loans, which consist of nonaccrual loans, accruing TDRs and accruing loans for which payments are 90 days or more past due, decreased $0.5 million, or 6%, to $7.8 million, or 0.33% of total loans at June 30, 2016, compared to $8.3 million, or 0.47% of total loans at December 31, 2015. Nonperforming loans continue to remain at low levels and, when presented, are resolved as expeditiously as possible by management. Nonperforming assets at June 30, 2016 include $0.4 million of covered OREO representing 3% of total nonperforming assets at June 30, 2016, compared to $1.2 million of covered OREO representing 9% of total nonperforming assets at December 31, 2015.

 

It is our general policy to place a loan on nonaccrual status when it is over 90 days past due and there is reasonable doubt that all principal and interest will be collected. Nonaccrual loans increased $0.9 million, or 20%, in the first half of 2016 from $4.3 million at December 31, 2015 to $5.2 million at June 30, 2016. Nonaccrual TDRs are included in the nonaccrual loan amounts noted. At June 30, 2016, nonaccrual TDR loans were $560 thousand and had no related allowance recorded. At December 31, 2015, nonaccrual TDR loans were $466 thousand and had no related allowances recorded. Accruing TDRs totaled $2.6 million at June 30, 2016 and $2.8 million at December 31, 2015 and had related allowances of $194 thousand recorded at both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

We grade loans with an internal risk grade scale of 10 through 90, with grades 10 through 50 representing “pass” loans, grade 60 representing “special mention” and grades 70 and higher representing “classified” credit grades, respectively. Loans are reviewed on a regular basis internally, and at least annually by an external loan review group, to ensure loans are graded appropriately. Credits are reviewed for past due trends, declining cash flows, significant decline in collateral value, weakened guarantor financial strength, management concerns, market conditions and other factors that could jeopardize the repayment performance of the loan. Documentation deficiencies including collateral perfection and outdated or inadequate financial information are also considered in grading loans.

 

All loans graded 60 or worse are included on our list of “watch loans,” which represent potential problem loans, and are updated periodically and reported to both management and the Loan and Risk Committee of the board of directors quarterly. Impairment analyses are performed on all classified loans (risk grade of 70 or worse) generally greater than $150 thousand as well as selected other loans as deemed appropriate. At June 30, 2016, we maintained “watch loans” totaling $29.8 million compared to $31.2 million at December 31, 2015. Approximately $24.5 million and $26.8 million of the watch loans at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, were acquired loans. The future level of watch loans cannot be predicted, but rather will be determined by several factors, including overall economic conditions in the markets served.

 

We employ one of three potential methods to determine the fair value of impaired loans:

 

1) Fair value of collateral method. This is the most common method and is used when the loan is collateral dependent. In most cases, we will obtain an “as is” appraisal from a third-party appraisal group. The fair value from that appraisal may be adjusted downward for liquidation discounts for foreclosure or quick sale scenarios, as well as any applicable selling costs.

 

 
56

 

 

2) Cash flow method. This method is used when we believe that we will collect the loan primarily from cash flows generated by the borrower.

 

3) Observable market value method. This is the method used least often by us. Fair value is based on the offering price from a note buyer, in either the local community or a national loan sale advisor.

 

With respect to nonaccrual commercial and nonaccrual consumer AC&D loans, we typically utilize an “as-is,” or “discounted,” value to determine an appropriate fair value. When appraising projects with an expected cash flow to be received over a period of time, such as acquisition and development/land development loans, fair value is determined using a discounted cash flow methodology. We also account for expected selling and holding costs when determining an appropriate property value.

 

At June 30, 2016, OREO totaled $3.2 million, all of which is recorded at values based on our most recent appraisals. Included in that total is $0.4 million of OREO covered under the FDIC loss share agreements. At December 31, 2015, OREO totaled $5.5 million, all of which was recorded at values based on the most recent appraisals then available. Included in that total was $1.2 million of OREO covered under the FDIC loss share agreements. The Company currently expects 80% of losses and associated expenses on covered OREO to be reimbursed under its FDIC loss share agreements.

 

Deposits and Other Borrowings

 

We offer a broad range of deposit instruments, including personal and business checking accounts, individual retirement accounts, business and personal money market accounts and certificates of deposit, at competitive interest rates. Deposit account terms vary according to the minimum balance required, the time periods the funds must remain on deposit, and the interest rate, among other factors. We regularly evaluate the internal cost of funds, survey rates offered by competing institutions, review cash flow requirements for lending and liquidity and execute rate changes when deemed appropriate.

 

Total deposits at June 30, 2016 were $2.5 billion, an increase of $520.8 million, or 26.7%, from December 31, 2015. Noninterest bearing demand deposits increased $145.4 million, or 41.4% at June 30, 2016. Non-brokered money market, NOW and savings deposits increased $172.3 million, or 17.3%. Non-brokered time deposits increased $179.3 million, or 37.6%, and brokered deposits, which consist of brokered interest-bearing deposits, brokered money market accounts, and brokered certificates of deposits, increased $23.8 million, or 18.5%. Increases were primarily due to the acquisition of First Capital and retail sales efforts. The following is a summary of deposits at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

   

June 30,

2016

   

December 31,

2015

 
   

(dollars in thousands)

 

Noninterest bearing demand deposits

  $ 496,195     $ 350,836  

Interest-bearing demand deposits

    429,145       407,204  

Money market deposits

    644,992       500,569  

Savings

    95,174       89,271  

Brokered deposits

    152,202       128,390  

Certificates of deposit and other time deposits

    655,715       476,392  

Total deposits

  $ 2,473,423     $ 1,952,662  

 

Total borrowings increased $58.6 million to $297.9 million at June 30, 2016 compared to $239.3 million at December 31, 2015. Borrowings at June 30, 2016 include $33.2 million (after acquisition accounting fair market value adjustments) of Tier 1-eligible subordinated debt related to trust preferred securities, of which $8.6 million was assumed in connection with the acquisition of First Capital, a $29.7 million senior unsecured term loan and $235.0 million of FHLB borrowings.

 

 

 
57

 

 

The following table details short and long-term borrowings at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:    

 

               

June 30, 2016

   

December 31, 2015

 
                       

Weighted

           

Weighted

 
       

Interest

           

Average

           

Average

 
   

Maturity

 

Rate

   

Balance

   

Interest Rate

   

Balance

   

Interest Rate

 
Short-term borrowings:                                            

FHLB Daily Rate Credit

 

1/6/2016

    0.4900 %     -             $ 10,000          

FHLB Fixed Rate Credit

 

1/7/2016

    0.3532 %     -               10,000          

FHLB Fixed Rate Credit

 

1/7/2016

    0.3532 %     -               10,000          

FHLB Adjustable Rate Credit

 

1/11/2016

    0.3900 %     -               80,000          

FHLB Adjustable Rate Credit

 

1/21/2016

    0.3800 %     -               40,000          

FHLB Adjustable Rate Credit

 

1/21/2016

    0.3567 %     -               15,000          

FHLB Fixed Rate Credit

 

7/5/2016

    0.4300 %     60,000               -          

FHLB Fixed Rate Credit

 

7/7/2016

    0.3800 %     20,000               -          

FHLB Fixed Rate Credit

 

7/18/2016

    0.4000 %     80,000                          

FHLB Fixed Rate Credit

 

7/20/2016

    0.4000 %     20,000                          

FHLB Fixed Rate Hybrid

 

9/26/2016

    1.9050 %     5,000               5,000          

FHLB Fixed Rate Hybrid

 

9/26/2016

    2.0675 %     5,000               5,000          

FHLB Fixed Rate Hybrid

 

9/26/2016

    2.2588 %     5,000               5,000          

FHLB Fixed Rate Hybrid

 

9/26/2016

    2.0250 %     5,000               5,000          
Total short-term borrowings                 200,000       0.37 %     185,000       0.57 %
                                             
Long-term borrowings:                                            

FHLB Adjustable Rate Credit

 

7/7/2017

    0.6566 %     20,000               -          

FHLB Adjustable Rate Credit

 

7/21/2017

    0.6649 %     15,000               -          
Total Federal Home Loan Bank                 35,000       0.66 %     -       0.00 %
Junior subordinated debt  

12/15/35

    2.2039 %     9,885               9,743          
Junior subordinated debt  

01/10/24

    4.8012 %     4,760               -          
Junior subordinated debt  

03/01/37

    2.3751 %     5,490               5,424          
Junior subordinated debt  

10/01/36

    2.3522 %     2,758               2,724          
Junior subordinated debt  

09/21/36

    2.3339 %     3,816               -          
Junior subordinated debt  

06/15/36

    2.1839 %     6,467               6,371          
Senior unsecured term loan  

12/18/22

    4.7500 %     29,714               30,000          
Total long-term borrowings                 62,890       3.63 %     54,262       3.56 %
    Total borrowings           $ 297,890             $ 239,262          

   

 
58

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table summarizes components of net income and the changes in those components for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:  

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

                   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

                 
   

2016

   

2015

   

Change

   

2016

   

2015

   

Change

 
   

(Unaudited)

       $    

%

   

(Unaudited)

         

%

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

   

(Dollars in thousands)

                 

Gross interest income

  $ 29,698     $ 22,458     $ 7,240       32.2 %   $ 59,860     $ 44,643     $ 15,217       34.1 %

Gross interest expense

    3,648       1,842       1,806       98.0 %     7,214       3,601       3,613       100.3 %

Net interest income

    26,050       20,616       5,434       26.4 %     52,646       41,042       11,604       28.3 %
                                                                 

Provision for loan losses

    882       134       748       558.2 %     1,438       314       1,124       358.0 %
                                                                 

Noninterest income

    5,375       4,292       1,083       25.2 %     10,102       8,793       1,309       14.9 %

Noninterest expense

    21,946       18,232       3,714       20.4 %     48,099       37,371       10,728       28.7 %

Net income before taxes

    8,597       6,542       2,055       31.4 %     13,211       12,150       1,061       8.7 %
                                                                 

Income tax expense

    3,045       2,273       772       34.0 %     4,919       4,098       821       20.0 %
                                                                 

Net income

  $ 5,552     $ 4,269     $ 1,283       30.1 %   $ 8,292     $ 8,052     $ 240       3.0 %

 

Net Income . Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $5.6 million, compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Changes in net income from the second quarter of 2015 include a 26.4% increase in net interest income and a 25.2% increase in noninterest income, which were partially offset by a 20.4% increase in noninterest expense levels and a $748 thousand increase in provision for loan losses. Annualized return on average assets remained flat during the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 at 0.71% compared to the same period in 2015. Adjusted annualized return on average assets improved to 0.83% during the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 compared to 0.73% for the same period in 2015. Annualized return on average equity increased to 6.33% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 from 6.10% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2015. Adjusted annualized return on average equity improved to 7.35% during the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 compared to 6.26% for the same period in 2015.

 

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016, was $8.3 million compared to $8.1 million for the same period in 2015. This increase in net income is due to increases in net interest income and noninterest income, offset by an increase in noninterest expenses and provision for loan losses. Annualized return on average assets for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was 0.53% and 0.68%, respectively. Adjusted annualized return on average assets for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was 0.81% and 0.69%, respectively. Annualized return on average equity decreased to 4.76% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 from 5.81% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015. Adjusted annualized return on average equity increased to 7.23% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 from 5.95% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015.

 

Changes in the return on average assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 were a function of the slower rate of increase on net income compared to the rate of increase on average assets due to merger related expenses. Changes in the return on average equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 were a function of the rate of increase on net income compared to the rate of increase on average equity due to merger related share issuances. Increases in adjusted return on average assets and adjusted return on average equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 were due to improved earnings. Adjusted return on average assets and adjusted return on average equity are non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” above.  For a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” above.

 

Net Interest Income . Our largest source of earnings is net interest income, which is the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets and interest expense paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities. The primary factors that affect net interest income are changes in volume and yields of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, which are affected in part by management’s responses to changes in interest rates through asset/liability management. Net interest income increased to $26.1 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $20.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. The increase is primarily due to an increase in average interest earning assets, which represented both the acquisition of First Capital and organic loan growth, as well as additional interest income driven by the recognition of $0.7 million of the purchased performing fair value mark related to the acquisition of First Capital loans into income during the period. Net interest income increased to $52.6 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $41.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase is again due to an increase in average interest earning assets, which represented organic loan growth as well as the acquisition of First Capital, and the recognition of $1.8 million of the purchased performing fair value mark from that acquisition during the first six months of 2016.

 

 
59

 

 

Total average interest-earning assets increased to $2.8 billion in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $2.2 billion in the three and six months ended June 30, 2015. Average balances of total interest-bearing liabilities increased to $2.3 billion in the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016, compared to $1.8 billion in the same periods in 2015. The increases in average balances are the result of the First Capital merger and organic growth. Our net interest margin decreased from 3.78% in the three-month period ended June 30, 2015 to 3.69% in the corresponding period in 2016. This decrease in net interest margin reflects primarily the lower interest rates on new loans and core net interest margin compression, partially offset by the additional accretion of fair value marks on purchased performing loans acquired from First Capital. Our net interest margin decreased from 3.81% in the six-month period ended June 30, 2015 to 3.73% in the corresponding period in 2016 for reasons consistent with the three-month period decline noted above.

 

The following table summarizes net interest income and average yields and rates paid for the periods indicated:

 

Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis

 

   

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 
   

Average

Balance

   

Income/

Expense

   

Yield/

Rate (3)

   

Average

Balance

   

Income/

Expense

   

Yield/

Rate (3)

 
    (dollars in thousands)  

Assets

     

Interest-earning assets:

                                               

Loans, including fees (1)(2)

  $ 2,298,569     $ 26,729       4.68 %   $ 1,643,844     $ 19,667       4.80 %

Federal funds sold

    3,848       5       0.52 %     730       -       0.00 %

Taxable investment securities

    484,057       2,640       2.18 %     474,807       2,508       2.11 %

Tax-exempt investment securities

    14,131       137       3.88 %     13,960       143       4.10 %

Nonmarketable equity securities

    12,832       153       4.80 %     12,177       122       4.02 %

Other interest-earning assets

    29,727       34       0.46 %     39,921       18       0.18 %

Total interest-earning assets

    2,843,164       29,698       4.20 %     2,185,439       22,458       4.12 %

Allowance for loan losses

    (9,961 )                     (8,895 )                

Cash and due from banks

    35,011                       16,356                  

Premises and equipment

    66,029                       58,912                  

Other assets

    200,788                       154,859                  

Total assets

  $ 3,135,031                     $ 2,406,671                  
                                                 

Liabilities and shareholders' equity

                                               

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                               

Interest-bearing demand

  $ 426,427     $ 81       0.08 %   $ 411,806     $ 71       0.07 %

Savings and money market

    744,945       840       0.45 %     525,359       405       0.31 %

Time deposits - core

    686,003       1,272       0.75 %     458,139       632       0.55 %

Brokered deposits

    139,164       270       0.78 %     133,981       176       0.53 %

Total interest-bearing deposits

    1,996,539       2,463       0.50 %     1,529,285       1,284       0.34 %

Short-term borrowings

    163,132       251       0.62 %     148,901       76       0.20 %

Long-term FHLB borrowings

    64,808       440       2.73 %     55,000       131       0.96 %

Subordinated debt

    33,102       494       6.00 %     23,833       351       5.91 %

Total borrowed funds

    261,042       1,185       1.83 %     227,734       558       0.98 %

Total interest-bearing liabilities

    2,257,581       3,648       0.65 %     1,757,019       1,842       0.42 %

Net interest rate spread

            26,050       3.55 %             20,616       3.70 %

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

    483,465                       338,092                  

Other liabilities

    41,480                       30,884                  

Shareholders' equity

    352,505                       280,676                  

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

  $ 3,135,031                     $ 2,406,671                  

Net interest margin

                    3.69 %                     3.78 %

 

(1) Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans.

(2) Interest income and yields include accretion from acquisition accounting adjustments associated with acquired loans.

(3) Yield/rate calculated on Actual/Actual day count basis, except for yield on investments which is calculated on a 30/360 day count basis.

 

 
60

 

 

Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis

 

   

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 
   

Average

Balance

   

Income/

Expense

   

Yield/

Rate (3)

   

Average

Balance

   

Income/

Expense

   

Yield/

Rate (3)

 
    (dollars in thousands)  

Assets

     

Interest-earning assets:

                                               

Loans, including fees (1)(2)

  $ 2,286,696     $ 53,853       4.74 %   $ 1,623,279     $ 38,778       4.82 %

Federal funds sold

    5,372       13       0.49 %     596       -       0.00 %

Taxable investment securities

    485,605       5,327       2.19 %     477,255       5,299       2.22 %

Tax-exempt investment securities

    15,089       284       3.76 %     13,409       281       4.19 %

Nonmarketable equity securities

    13,340       307       4.63 %     12,371       249       4.06 %

Other interest-earning assets

    32,326       76       0.47 %     43,887       36       0.17 %

Total interest-earning assets

    2,838,428       59,860       4.24 %     2,170,797       44,643       4.15 %
                                                 

Allowance for loan losses

    (9,912 )                     (8,633 )                

Cash and due from banks

    35,885                       16,646                  

Premises and equipment

    66,271                       59,133                  

Other assets

    203,156                       157,207                  

Total assets

  $ 3,133,828                     $ 2,395,150                  
                                                 

Liabilities and shareholders' equity

                                               

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                               

Interest-bearing demand

  $ 426,610     $ 168       0.08 %   $ 409,863     $ 139       0.07 %

Savings and money market

    739,124       1,671       0.45 %     521,374       800       0.31 %

Time deposits - core

    698,146       2,492       0.72 %     459,713       1,220       0.54 %

Brokered deposits

    132,994       548       0.83 %     137,254       352       0.52 %

Total interest-bearing deposits

    1,996,874       4,879       0.49 %     1,528,204       2,511       0.33 %

Short-term borrowings

    177,417       545       0.62 %     150,055       152       0.20 %

Long-term FHLB borrowings

    65,316       850       2.62 %     53,950       259       0.00 %

Subordinated debt

    33,015       940       5.73 %     23,749       679       5.77 %

Total borrowed funds

    275,748       2,335       1.70 %     227,754       1,090       0.97 %

Total interest-bearing liabilities

    2,272,622       7,214       0.64 %     1,755,958       3,601       0.41 %

Net interest rate spread

            52,646       3.60 %             41,042       3.73 %

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

    469,961                       328,805                  

Other liabilities

    40,714                       30,951                  

Shareholders' equity

    350,531                       279,436                  

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

  $ 3,133,828                     $ 2,395,150                  

Net interest margin

                    3.73 %                     3.81 %

 

(1) Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans.

(2) Interest income and yields include accretion from acquisition accounting adjustments associated with acquired loans.

(3) Yield/rate calculated on Actual/Actual day count basis, except for yield on investments which is calculated on a 30/360 day count basis.

 

Provision for Loan Losses . Our provision for loan losses increased $748 thousand to $882 thousand during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared to $134 thousand during the corresponding period in 2015. Our provision for loan losses increased $1.1 million, or 358%, to a provision of $1.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016, from a $0.3 million provision during the corresponding period in 2015. Included in the loan loss provision for both periods of 2016 was an increase in allowance for loan losses of $2.8 million to the qualitative component of the allowance primarily due to an increase in the economic and market trends factor in light of market volatility and heightened uncertainty which emerged at the end of the second quarter, organic loan growth and additional provision recorded for the purchased performing loans.

 

 
61

 

 

We had $159 thousand in net recoveries during the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to net charge-offs of $327 thousand during the corresponding period in 2015. We had $371 thousand in net recoveries during the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to net charge-offs of $179 thousand during the corresponding period in 2015. The net recoveries in the first half of 2016 reflected the continued resolution of problem assets from the legacy Park Sterling portfolio. There were no charge-offs in excess of fair market value adjustments on PCI loans during the three- or six-months ended June 30, 2016.

 

Noninterest Income . The following table presents components of noninterest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

Noninterest Income

 

   

Three months ended

June 30,

                   

Six months ended

June 30,

                 
   

2016

   

2015

   

Change

   

2016

   

2015

   

Change

 
   

(Unaudited)

         

%

   

(Unaudited)

         

%

 
   

(dollars in thousands)

 

Service charges on deposit accounts

  $ 1,528     $ 1,107     $ 421       38.0 %   $ 3,017     $ 2,126     $ 891       41.9 %

Income from fiduciary activities

    580       774       (194 )     -25.1 %     1,244       1,506       (262 )     -17.4 %

Commissions and fees from investment brokerage

    283       132       151       114.4 %     422       262       160       61.1 %

Income from capital markets

    767       394       373       94.7 %     835       792       43       5.4 %

Gain (loss) on sale of securities available for sale

    (87 )     -       (87 )     100.0 %     (93 )     -       (93 )     100.0 %

ATM and card income

    776       629       147       23.4 %     1,349       1,323       26       2.0 %

Mortgage banking income

    873       956       (83 )     -8.7 %     1,648       1,907       (259 )     -13.6 %

Income from bank-owned life insurance

    526       553       (27 )     -4.9 %     1,514       1,321       193       14.6 %

Amortization of indemnification asset and true-up liability expense

    (25 )     (165 )     140       -84.8 %     (172 )     (559 )     387       -69.2 %

Other noninterest income

    154       (88 )     242       -275.0 %     338       115       223       193.9 %
                                                                 

Total noninterest income

  $ 5,375     $ 4,292     $ 1,083       25.2 %   $ 10,102     $ 8,793     $ 1,309       14.9 %

   

Noninterest income increased $1.1 million, or 25.2%, for the three months ended June 30, 2016 when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2015. Noteworthy changes among categories include (i) a $421 thousand increase in service charges on deposit accounts due to an increase in deposits from First Capital; (ii) a $194 thousand decrease in income from fiduciary activities due to declines in assets under management; (iii) a $151 thousand increase in commissions and fees from investment brokerage due to higher second quarter volumes; (iv) a $373 increase in income from capital markets due to strong business volumes originated in the second quarter; (v) a $147 thousand increase in ATM and card income due to steady volume and a year-to-date adjustment for chip card conversion costs; and (vi) a $242 thousand increase in other noninterest income as the three months ended June 30, 2015 included a $196 thousand reduction of capital on certain limited partnership investments based on final 2014 partnership documentation received. Also included in the second quarter of 2016 were losses on sale of securities of $87 thousand. There were no gains or losses on the sale of securities during the second quarter of 2015.

 

Noninterest income increased $1.3 million, or 14.9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2015. Noteworthy changes among categories include (i) an $891 thousand increase in service charges on deposit accounts, as a direct contribution of the First Capital merger; (ii) a $262 thousand decrease in income from fiduciary activities due to declines in assets under management; (iii) a $160 thousand increase in commissions and fees from investment brokerage due to higher volumes; (iv) a $259 thousand decrease in mortgage banking income due to decreased activity in loan closings and the period end pipeline; (vi) a $193 thousand increase in income from bank-owned life insurance due primarily to death benefits received in the first quarter of 2016; and (vii) a $223 thousand increase in other noninterest income primarily as a result of a $196 thousand reduction of capital on certain limited partnership investments based on final 2014 partnership documentation received, which was included during the 2015 period. Also included in the first six months of 2016 were losses on sale of securities of $93 thousand. There were no gains or losses on the sale of securities during the first six months of 2015.

 

 

 
62

 

 

Noninterest Expense . The following table presents components of noninterest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:  

 

Noninterest Expense

 

   

Three months ended

June 30,

                   

Six months ended

June 30,

                 
   

2016

   

2015

   

Change

   

2016

   

2015

   

Change

 
   

(Unaudited)

    $    

%

   

(Unaudited)

    $    

%

 
   

(dollars in thousands)

 

Salaries and employee benefits

  $ 11,774     $ 10,021     $ 1,753       17.5 %   $ 24,792     $ 20,452     $ 4,340       21.2 %

Occupancy and equipment

    3,041       2,491       550       22.1 %     6,166       5,046       1,120       22.2 %

Advertising and promotion

    367       304       63       20.7 %     788       678       110       16.2 %

Legal and professional fees

    950       660       290       43.9 %     1,675       1,458       217       14.9 %

Deposit charges and FDIC insurance

    478       433       45       10.4 %     910       825       85       10.3 %

Data processing and outside service fees

    2,224       1,640       584       35.6 %     7,747       3,288       4,459       135.6 %

Communication fees

    505       541       (36 )     -6.7 %     988       1,119       (131 )     -11.7 %

Core deposit intangible amortization

    458       347       111       32.0 %     916       695       221       31.8 %

Net cost of operation of other real estate owned

    70       232       (162 )     -69.8 %     336       267       69       25.8 %

Loan and collection expense

    273       242       31       12.8 %     310       396       (86 )     -21.7 %

Postage and supplies

    191       116       75       64.7 %     364       265       99       37.4 %

Other noninterest expense

    1,615       1,205       410       34.0 %     3,107       2,882       225       7.8 %
                                                                 

Total noninterest expense

  $ 21,946     $ 18,232     $ 3,714       20.4 %   $ 48,099     $ 37,371     $ 10,728       28.7 %

 

Total noninterest expense increased to $21.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, an increase of $3.7 million, or 20.4%, from $18.2 million for the corresponding period in 2015. Excluding merger-related expenses of $1.3 million and $167 thousand for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, adjusted noninterest expense increased $2.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. Merger expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2016 included $263 thousand of salary and employee benefit expenses, $249 thousand of data processing charges related to the termination of First Capital’s core processing contract, $313 thousand of professional fees, $80 thousand of advertising expense and $361 thousand of other expenses. Merger expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2015 included $60 thousand of professional fees and $106 thousand of other expenses related to previous mergers. Total noninterest expense increased to $48.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, an increase of $10.7 million, or 28.7%, from $37.4 million for the corresponding period in 2015. Excluding merger-related expenses of $6.5 million and $289 thousand for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, adjusted noninterest expense increased $4.6 million, or 12.3%, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. A djusted noninterest expenses is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” above.

 

Three-month comparison a nd analysis

 

Salaries and employee benefits expenses increased $1.8 million, or 17.5%, to $11.8 million in the second quarter of 2016, compared to $10.0 million in the comparable period of 2015, primarily as a result of increased headcount associated with the acquisition of First Capital and organic growth and merger and non-merger related compensation expense of $416 thousand. Total full-time equivalents increased to 529 at June 30, 2016 from 503 at June 30, 2015. Compensation expense for share-based compensation plans was $389 thousand in the second quarter of 2016 compared to $290 thousand in the comparable period of 2015.

 

Other notable variances during the second quarter of 2016 include (i) an increase in occupancy and equipment expense of $550 thousand, or 22.1%; (ii) a $290 thousand increase in legal and professional fees; (iii) an increase in data processing fees of $584 thousand, or 35.6% due to the expenses associated with the First Capital core system conversion; (iv) an $111 thousand increase in core deposit intangible amortization; and (v) an increase of $410 thousand, or 34.0% in other noninterest expense as the second quarter of 2016 included $320 thousand in other merger-related expenses. The majority of these increases were related to the acquisition of First Capital, as well as organic growth. Offsetting these increases was a $162 thousand decrease in net cost of operation of other real estate owned, as management continues to sell OREO properties and thus reduce costs.

 

Six-month comparison and analysis

 

Salaries and employee benefits expenses increased $4.3 million, or 21.2%, to $24.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $20.5 million in the comparable period of 2015. These increases are primarily due to merger-related compensation expenses of $1.4 million, non-merger related severance expense of $334 thousand, an increase in incentive based compensation of $816 thousand and increased headcount.

 

 
63

 

 

Other notable changes between categories during the six months ended June 30, 2016 when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2015 include (i) an increase in occupancy and equipment expense of $1.1 million, or 22.2%, to $6.2 million primarily due to the addition of the First Capital branches as well as improvements to our Wilmington and Charleston locations; (ii) an increase in data processing fees of $4.5 million, or 135.6%; (iii) an increase in core deposit intangible amortization of $221 thousand, or 31.8%; and (vii) a $225 thousand, or 7.8%, increase in other noninterest expense. These increases were primarily related to the acquisition of First Capital.

 

Income Taxes. We generate non-taxable income from tax-exempt investment securities and loans as well as from bank-owned life insurance. Accordingly, the level of such income in relation to income before taxes affects our effective tax rate. For the three months ended June 30, 2016, we recognized income tax expense of $3.0 million compared to income tax expense of $2.2 million for the same period in 2015. The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2016 is 35.42% compared to 34.74% for the same period in 2015. The change in the effective tax rate was due in part to certain non-deductible merger-related expenses.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2016, we recognized income tax expense of $4.9 million compared to income tax expense of $4.1 million for the same period in 2015. The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2016 is 37.23% compared to 33.73% for the same period in 2015. The change in the effective tax rate was due in part to certain non-deductible merger-related expenses as well as adjustments made to deferred tax assets for the true-up in tax rates and a re-measurement due to the First Capital acquisition. 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Liquidity refers to the ability to manage future cash flows to meet the needs of depositors and borrowers and to fund operations. We strive to maintain sufficient liquidity to fund future loan demand and to satisfy fluctuations in deposit levels. This is achieved primarily in the form of available lines of credit from various correspondent banks, the FHLB, the Federal Reserve Discount Window and through our investment portfolio. In addition, we may have short-term investments at our primary correspondent bank in the form of Federal funds sold. Liquidity is governed by an asset/liability policy approved by the board of directors and administered by an internal Asset-Liability Management Committee (the “ALCO”). The ALCO reports monthly asset/liability-related matters to the Loan and Risk Committee of the board of directors and is charged with monitoring our asset / liability mix, interest rate sensitivity and liquidity risk management.  

 

Our ongoing philosophy is to remain in a liquid position as reflected by such indicators as the composition of our earning assets, typically including some level of federal funds sold, balances at the Federal Reserve Bank, and/or other short-term investments; asset quality; well-capitalized position; and profitable operating results. Cyclical and other economic trends and conditions can disrupt our desired liquidity position at any time. We expect that these conditions would generally be of a short-term nature. At June 30, 2016, we had $344.3 million of credit available from the FHLB, $301.4 million of credit available from the Federal Reserve Discount Window, and available lines totaling $70.0 million from correspondent banks. We believe that our liquidity position continues to be very adequate and readily available. At December 31, 2015, we had total Federal funds credit lines of $371.0 million with no outstanding advances. If additional liquidity were needed, we would turn to short-term borrowings as an alternative immediate funding source and would consider other appropriate actions such as promotions to increase core deposits or the sale of a portion of our investment portfolio. At June 30, 2016, we had $754.3 million of pre-approved but unused lines of credit, $10.0 million of standby letters of credit and $12.2 million of commercial letters of credit. In management's opinion, these commitments represent no more than normal lending risk to us and will be funded from normal sources of liquidity.

 

Our contingency funding plan describes several potential stages based on stressed liquidity levels. Our board of directors reviews liquidity benchmarks quarterly. Also, we review on at least an annual basis our liquidity position and our contingency funding plans with our principal banking regulators. We maintain various wholesale sources of funding. If our deposit retention efforts were to be unsuccessful, the bank would utilize these alternative sources of funding. Under such circumstances, depending on the external source of funds, our interest cost would vary based on the range of interest rates charged to us. This could increase our cost of funds, impacting net interest margins and net interest spreads.

 

 
64

 

 

Our capital position is reflected in our shareholders’ equity, subject to certain adjustments for regulatory purposes. Shareholders’ equity, or capital, is a measure of our net worth, soundness and viability. We continue to remain in a well-capitalized position. Shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2016 was $354.5 million, compared to $284.7 million at December 31, 2015. The $69.7 million increase was due to $61.3 million related to the 8,376,094 shares issued in connection with the acquisition of First Capital, $8.3 million of net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016, a $3.5 million improvement in accumulated other comprehensive income from unrealized securities gains and cash flow hedges and $683 thousand of net share-based compensation. Additionally, there were 274,890 stock options exercised during the first six months of 2016, resulting in total proceeds of $1.8 million. These increases were partially offset by the repurchase of 248,349 shares of Common Stock in open market transactions pursuant to our previously announced share repurchase program, the acquisition of 123,826 shares in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock and the payment of $3.2 million of dividends on common stock.

 

Risk-based capital regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC require bank holding companies and banks to achieve and maintain specified ratios of capital to risk-weighted assets. The risk-based capital rules are designed to measure different components of capital in relation to the credit risk of both on- and off-balance sheet items. Under the guidelines, one of four risk weights is applied to the various on-balance sheet items. Off-balance sheet items, such as loan commitments, are also subject to risk weighting after conversion to balance sheet equivalent amounts. These guidelines also specify that banks that are experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels.

 

Effective January 2, 2015, the Company and Bank are now subject to the new regulatory risk-based capital rules adopted by the federal banking agencies implementing Basel III. Under the new capital guidelines, applicable regulatory capital components consist of (1) common equity Tier 1 capital (common stock, including related surplus, and retained earnings, plus limited amounts of minority interest in the form of common stock, net of goodwill and other intangibles (other than mortgage servicing assets), deferred tax assets arising from net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards above certain levels, mortgage servicing rights above certain levels, gain on sale of securitization exposures and certain investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions, and adjusted by unrealized gains or losses on cash flow hedges and accumulated other comprehensive income items (subject to the ability of a non-advanced approaches institution to make a one-time irrevocable election to exclude from regulatory capital most components of AOCI)), (2) additional Tier 1 capital (qualifying non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, including related surplus, plus qualifying Tier 1 minority interest and, in the case of holding companies with less than $15 billion in consolidated assets at December 31, 2009, certain grandfathered trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock in limited amounts, net of mortgage servicing rights, deferred tax assets related to temporary timing differences, and certain investments in financial institutions) and (3) Tier 2 capital (the allowance for loan and lease losses in an amount not exceeding 1.25% of standardized risk-weighted assets, plus qualifying preferred stock, qualifying subordinated debt and qualifying total capital minority interest, net of Tier 2 investments in financial institutions). Total Tier 1 capital, plus Tier 2 capital, constitutes total risk-based capital. The required minimum ratios are as follows:

 

 

common equity Tier 1 capital ratio (common equity Tier 1 capital to standardized total risk-weighted assets) of 4.5%;

 

Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital to standardized total risk-weighted assets) of 6%;

 

total capital ratio (total capital to standardized total risk-weighted assets) of 8%; and

 

leverage ratio (Tier 1 capital to average total consolidated assets) of 4%.

 

The new capital guidelines also provide that all covered banking organizations must maintain a new capital conservation buffer of common equity Tier 1 capital in an amount greater than 2.5% of total risk-weighted assets to avoid being subject to limitations on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The phase-in of the capital conservation buffer requirement began on January 1, 2016.

 

The final regulatory capital rules also incorporate these changes in regulatory capital into the prompt corrective action framework, under which the thresholds for “adequately capitalized” banking organizations are equal to the new minimum capital requirements. Under this framework, in order to be considered “well capitalized”, insured depository institutions are required to maintain a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5%, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital measure of 6.5%, a Tier 1 risked-based capital ratio of 8% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 10%.

 

 
65

 

 

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, both the Company and the Bank were “well capitalized”.     Actual and required capital levels at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are presented below:

 

   

Capital Ratios at June 30, 2016

 
   

Actual

   

Minimum Basel III Phase In

Requirement

   

Minimum Basel III Fully Phased In

Requirements

   

Well Capitalized

Requirement

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount

   

Ratio

   

Amount

   

Ratio

   

Amount

   

Ratio

   

Amount

   

Ratio

 

The Bank

                                                               

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

  $ 340,424       13.42 %   $ 202,940       8.00 %   $ 266,359       10.50 %   $ 253,675       10.00 %

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

    329,510       12.99 %     152,205       6.00 %     215,624       8.50 %     202,940       8.00 %

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

    329,510       12.99 %     114,154       4.50 %     177,572       7.00 %     164,889       6.50 %

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

    329,510       10.81 %     121,949       4.00 %     121,949       4.00 %     152,436       5.00 %

Risk Weighted Assets

    2,536,749                                                          

Average Assets for Tier 1

    3,048,719                                                          
                                                                 

The Company

                                                               

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

  $ 318,650       12.55 %   $ 203,077       8.00 %   $ 266,538       10.50 %     N/A       N/A  

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

    307,736       12.12 %     152,308       6.00 %     215,769       8.50 %     N/A       N/A  

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

    282,721       11.14 %     114,231       4.50 %     177,692       7.00 %     N/A       N/A  

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

    307,736       10.06 %     122,350       4.00 %     122,350       4.00 %     N/A       N/A  

Risk Weighted Assets

    2,538,461                                                          

Average Assets for Tier 1

    3,058,742                                                          

 

 

   

Capital Ratios at December 31, 2015

 
   

Actual

   

Minimum Basel III Phase In

Requirement

   

Minimum Basel III Fully Phased In

Requirements

   

Well Capitalized

Requirement

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount

   

Ratio

   

Amount

   

Ratio

   

Amount

   

Ratio

   

Amount

   

Ratio

 

The Bank

                                                               

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

  $ 268,354       13.86 %   $ 154,840       8.00 %   $ 203,228       10.50 %   $ 193,550       10.00 %

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

    259,290       13.40 %     116,130       6.00 %     164,518       8.50 %     154,840       8.00 %

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

    259,290       13.40 %     87,098       4.50 %     135,485       7.00 %     125,808       6.50 %

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

    259,290       10.66 %     97,255       4.00 %     97,255       4.00 %     121,568       5.00 %

Risk Weighted Assets

    1,935,503                                                          

Average Assets for Tier 1

    2,431,369                                                          
                                                                 

The Company

                                                               

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

  $ 277,669       14.30 %   $ 155,334       8.00 %   $ 203,877       10.50 %     N/A       N/A  

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

    268,605       13.83 %     116,501       6.00 %     165,043       8.50 %     N/A       N/A  

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

    251,807       12.97 %     87,376       4.50 %     135,918       7.00 %     N/A       N/A  

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

    268,605       11.00 %     97,672       4.00 %     97,672       4.00 %     N/A       N/A  

Risk Weighted Assets

    1,941,681                                                          

Average Assets for Tier 1

    2,441,811                                                          

 

Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

In the ordinary course of operations, we may enter into certain contractual obligations. Such obligations include the funding of operations through debt issuances as well as leases for premises and equipment.

 

Information about our off-balance sheet risk exposure is presented in Note 15 - Off-Balance Sheet Risk of the 2015 Audited Financial Statements. As part of ongoing business, we have not participated in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as special purpose entities (“SPE”s), which generally are established for facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of June 30, 2016, we were not involved in any unconsolidated SPE transactions.    

 
66

 

 

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

As a financial institution, we have an asset and liability make-up that is distinctly different from that of an entity with substantial investments in plant and inventory because the major portions of a commercial bank’s assets are monetary in nature. As a result, our performance may be significantly influenced by changes in interest rates. Although we, and the banking industry, are more affected by changes in interest rates than by inflation in the prices of goods and services, inflation is a factor that may influence interest rates. However, the frequency and magnitude of interest rate fluctuations do not necessarily coincide with changes in the general inflation rate. Inflation does affect operating expenses in that personnel expenses and the cost of supplies and outside services tend to increase more during periods of high inflation.

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

There have been no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk as of June 30, 2016 from those disclosed or incorporated in Part II, Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.” presented our 2015 Form 10-K.

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the management of the Company, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of 2016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company may be a party to various legal proceedings from time to time. There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its property is subject. In addition, the Company is not aware of any threatened litigation, unasserted claims or assessments that could have a material adverse effect on its business, operating results or financial condition.

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes in risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s 2015 Form 10-K.

 

 
67

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s purchases of common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2016:

 

Period

 

(a) Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased (1)

   

(b) Average

Price Paid

per Share (1)

   

(c) Total Number

of Shares

Purchased as Part

of Publicly

Announced Plans

or Programs

   

(d) Maximum

Number of Shares

that May Yet Be

Purchased Under

the Plans or

Programs (2)

 
                                 

Repurchases from April 1, 2016 through April 30, 2016

    6,506     $ 6.89       -       1,900,000  
                                 

Repurchases from May 1, 2016 through May 31, 2016

    24,009       7.35       5,000       1,895,000  
                                 

Repurchases from June 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016

    150,692       7.41       145,000       1,750,000  
                                 

Total

    181,207       7.38       150,000       1,750,000  

  

 

(1)

Included in the total number of shares purchased are 6,506, 19,009, and 5,692 shares of the Company’s Common Stock acquired by the Company in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock in April, May and June, respectively.

 

(2)

On October 29, 2014, the board of directors approved a new share repurchase program, which will expire on November 1, 2016, to repurchase up to 2,200,000 of our common shares from time to time, depending on market conditions and other factors. The new share repurchase program replaced the prior share repurchase program which expired on November 1, 2014.

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company did not have any unregistered sales of equity securities.

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

Not applicable.  

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.

Other Information

 

Not applicable.

   

 
68

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

The following documents are filed or furnished as exhibits to this report:

 

Exhibit

Number

Description of Exhibits

   

3.1

Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended

   

3.2

Bylaws of the Company, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35032) filed May 6, 2016

   

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

101

Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 
69

 

 

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.

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION

       

Date: August 9, 2016

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ James C. Cherry

 

 

 

 

 

 

James C. Cherry

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer (authorized officer)

       

Date: August 9, 2016

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Donald K. Truslow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donald K. Truslow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 
70

 

   

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit

Number

Description of Exhibits

   

3.1

Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended

   

3.2

Bylaws of the Company, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35032) filed May 6, 2016

   

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

101

Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 71

Exhibit 3.1  

 

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
PARK STERLING CORPORATION

 

Pursuant to §55-2-02 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, the undersigned does make and submit these Articles of Incorporation for the purpose of forming a business corporation.

 

Article 1. Name

 

The name of the corporation is PARK STERLING CORPORATION.

 

Article 2. Duration

 

The period of duration of the corporation shall be perpetual.

 

Article 3. Purposes

 

The purposes for which the corporation is organized are: To act as a holding company of one or more banks and other corporations and to exercise all the rights, powers, and privileges incident to the ownership and control of such bank or banks and other corporations, including furnishing services to and for such bank or banks and other corporations.

 

Article 4. Authorized Shares

 

(a) The aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue is two hundred and five million (205,000,000) shares, divided into two (2) classes as follows:

 

 

Class

 

Number of

Shares

 

Par

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

200,000,000

 

$1.00 /share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

 

5,000,000

 

No par value

 

The Common Stock shall be entitled to vote as provided by law, and the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, after payment to the holders of all shares of Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts to which such holders are entitled, the net assets of the corporation upon any involuntary or voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the corporation.

 

(b) The Board of Directors of the corporation is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this Article 4, to provide for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in series, and by filing Articles of Amendment with the North Carolina Secretary of State, as required by law, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and relative rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, or restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

 

 

(i)

 

The number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series;

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

 

The dividend rate on the shares of that series, whether dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payments of dividends on shares of that series;

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

 

Whether that series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

 

 

 

 

 

(iv)

 

Whether that series shall have conversion privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provisions for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;

 

 

 

 

 

(v)

 

Whether or not the shares of that series shall be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption rates;

 

 
 

 

   

 

(vi)

 

Whether that series shall have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund;

 

 

 

 

 

(vii)

 

The rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and

 

 

 

 

 

(viii)

 

Any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series.

 

Article 5. Registered Agent and Registered and Principal Office  

 

The street address and county of the initial registered and principal office of the corporation and the name of the initial registered agent at such address is:

 

 

 

Name  

 

Address

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James C. Cherry

 

1043 E. Morehead Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suite 201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte, North Carolina 28204

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Mecklenburg County, North Carolina)

 

Article 6. Board of Directors  

 

(a) The number of directors shall be determined from time to time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, but the number of directors shall not be less than six (6) nor more than nineteen (19), provided that no decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any director then in office.

 

(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three (3) classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, which shall be as nearly equal in number as possible. Each director in Class I shall be elected to an initial term of one (1) year, each director in Class II shall be elected to an initial term of two (2) years, each director in Class III shall be elected to an initial term of three (3) years, and each director shall serve until the election and qualification of his or her successor or until his or her earlier resignation, death or removal from office. Upon the expiration of the initial terms of office for each class of directors, the directors of each class shall be elected for terms of three (3) years, to serve until the election and qualification of their successors or until their earlier resignation, death or removal from office.

 

(c) Vacancies in the board of directors that occur between annual meetings of shareholders at which directors are elected, including vacancies resulting from an enlargement of the board within the authorized number of six to 19 directors, shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors even though less than a quorum or by a sole remaining director. The directors elected to fill such vacancies shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders at which the term of the class of directors to which they have been elected expires and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.

 

 
 

 

 

(d) Any director or directors may be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Cause for removal shall be deemed to exist only if the director(s) whose removal is proposed has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable for fraudulent or dishonest conduct, or gross abuse of authority or discretion, with respect to the corporation, and such conviction or adjudication has become final and nonappealable. A director may not be removed by the shareholders at a meeting unless the notice of the meeting states that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of the director. If any directors are so removed, new directors may be elected to fill the resulting vacancies at the meeting.

 

(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the corporation (and as permitted under North Carolina law to require higher voting percentages than otherwise prescribed by law), the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision (in these Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the corporation or otherwise) or take any action inconsistent with or (as to any matter covered by this Article 6) in a manner other than as prescribed by, this Article 6.

  

Article 7. Incorporator  

 

The name and address of the incorporator is:

 

 

 

Name:  

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.T. Atkinson

 

One Wachovia Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

301 S. College Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suite 3700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Mecklenburg County, North Carolina)

 

Article 8. Interested Shareholder Provision  

 

(a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or these Articles of Incorporation:

 

 

(i)

Any merger or consolidation of the corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with (i) any Interested Shareholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested Shareholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Shareholder;  

         

 

(ii)

Any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder of any assets of the corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) of $1,000,000 or more;  

         

 

(iii)

The issuance or transfer by the corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any equity securities (including any securities that are convertible into equity securities) of the corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $1,000,000 or more to any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder in exchange for cash, securities, or other property (or combination thereof);  

 

 
 

 

 

 

(iv)

The adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder; or  

         

 

(v)

Any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the corporation with any of its Subsidiaries, or any other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested Shareholder) that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities (including any securities that are convertible into equity securities) of the corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than (i) 66-2/3% of the voting power of the Voting Stock not beneficially owned by any Interested Shareholder, voting together as a single class, and (ii) 80% of the voting power of all Voting Stock, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that no such vote shall be required for any transaction approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined).  

 

(b) For the purpose of this Article 8:

 

 

(i)

A “person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, or other entity,

 

 

(ii)

“Voting Stock” shall mean all outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and each reference to a proportion of shares of Voting Stock shall refer to such proportion of the votes entitled to be cast by such shares.

       

 

(iii)

“Interested Shareholder” shall mean any person who or which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 5% or more of the outstanding Voting Stock.

       

 

(iv)

A person shall be a “beneficial owner” of any shares of Voting Stock:

  

 

(A)

that such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates (as hereinafter defined) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;  

         

 

(B)

that such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (a) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (b) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding; or  

         

 

(C)

that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement, or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting, or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.  

  

 

(v)

For the purposes of determining whether a person is an Interested Shareholder, the number of shares of Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed owned through application of subparagraph (b)(iv) of this Article 8, but shall not include any other shares of Voting Stock that may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.  

         

 

(vi)

“Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on September 1, 2010.  

         

 

(vii)

“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation of which a majority of the shares thereof entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation.  

         

 
 

 

 

 

(viii)

“Market Price” shall mean: the last closing sale price immediately preceding the time in question of a share of the stock in question on the NASDAQ Stock Market, or if such stock is not quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on which such stock is listed, or if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the last closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such stock immediately preceding the time in question on any system of reporting or ascertaining quotations then available, or if such stock is not so quoted, the Fair Market Value at the time in question of a share of such stock as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.  

         

 

(ix)  

“Fair Market Value” shall mean:  

 

 

(A)

in the case of stock, the Market Price, and  

         

 

(B)

in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.  

 

 

(x)

“Disinterested Director” shall mean any member of the Board of Directors of the corporation who is not an Affiliate or Associate of an Interested Shareholder and was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the time that the Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder, and any successor of a Disinterested Director who is not an Affiliate or Associate of an Interested Shareholder and is recommended to succeed a Disinterested Director by a majority of Disinterested Directors then on the Board of Directors.  

           

 

(c)

A majority of the Disinterested Directors shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article 8, on the basis of information known to them after reasonable inquiry, whether a person is an Interested Shareholder, or a transaction or series of transactions constitutes one of the transactions described in subparagraph (a) of this Article 8.

       

 

(d)

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles of Incorporation (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the corporation), the affirmative vote of not less than 80% of the voting power of all Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with this Article 8.

 

Article 9. Shareholder Protection Act and Control Share Acquisition Act

 

The provisions of Article 9 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act (the “Act”) entitled “The North Carolina Shareholder Protection Act” and Article 9A of the Act entitled “The North Carolina Control Share Acquisition Act,” respectively, shall not apply to the corporation.

 

Article 10. Limitation of Director Liability  

 

The personal liability of each director of the corporation is eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of the Act, as presently in effect or as the same may hereafter from time to time be in effect. No amendment, modification or repeal of this Article 10 shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director that exists at the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

Article 11. Indemnification of Officers and Directors  

 

The corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of the Act, as the same may be amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under the Act from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities, or other matters referred to in or covered by the Act. Any indemnification effected under this provision shall not be deemed exclusive of rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any Bylaw, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.

 

 
 

 

 

Article 12. Effective Date  

 

These Articles of Incorporation shall be effective upon filing with the North Carolina Secretary of State.

 

 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed these Articles of Incorporation, this the 6th day of October, 2010.

 

 

 

/s/ B. T. Atkinson

 

 

 

 

 

B.T. Atkinson

 

 

 

 

 

Incorporator

 

 

 
 

 

 

ARTICLES OF SHARE EXCHANGE

BETWEEN

PARK STERLING CORPORATION

AND

PARK STERLING BANK

 

 

 

Pursuant to §55-11-05 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, the undersigned corporation does hereby submit the following Articles of Share Exchange as the acquiring corporation in a share exchange between two domestic business corporations.

 

1.

The name of the acquiring corporation is Park Sterling Corporation, a business corporation organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina.

 

2.

The name of the corporation whose shares will be acquired is Park Sterling Bank, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina.

  

3.

The mailing address of the acquiring corporation is: 1043 E. Morehead Street, Suite 201, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204.

 

4.

The Agreement and Plan of Share Exchange has been approved by the corporation whose shares will be acquired and by the acquiring corporation in the manner required by law.

 

5.

These articles will be effective at 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on January 1, 2011.

 

[Signatures Appear on Next Page]

 

 
 

 

 

This is the 14 th day of December 2010.

 

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James C. Cherry

 

 

 

James C. Cherry

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 
 

 

 

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKS

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY

FOR

ARTICLES OF SHARE EXCHANGES

 

 

Park Sterling Corporation (the “Company”), has submitted to me as Chief Deputy Commissioner of Banks for the State of North Carolina, Articles of Share Exchange between Park Sterling Bank, a North Carolina state-chartered bank headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Company, a North Carolina corporation organized and existing as a bank holding company, for the purpose of effecting an exchange of shares in Park Sterling Bank for shares of the Company, so as to allow Park Sterling Bank to move to a holding company structure.

 

I hereby certify that Park Sterling Bank is a North Carolina chartered bank in good standing with the Office of the Commissioner of Banks and permitted by law to effect such an exchange of its shares for the purpose herein stated. Authority to file the Articles of Share Exchange is, therefore, granted effective on the date and at the time specified therein.

 

This the 21 st day of December, 2010

 

 

 

/s/ Ray Grace

 

 

Ray Grace 

 

 

Chief Deputy Commissioner of Banks 

 

 

 
 

 

 

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

ARTICLES OF MERGER

 

 

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 55-11-05(a), the undersigned entity does hereby submit the following Articles of Merger as the surviving business entity in a merger between two or more business entities.

 

1.

The name of the surviving entity is Park Sterling Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of North Carolina (the “ Surviving Corporation ”).

 

2.

The address of the surviving entity is: 1043 East Morehead Street, Suite 201, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204, County of Mecklenburg.

 

3.

The name of the merged entity is Community Capital Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of South Carolina (the “ Merged Corporation ”).

 

4.

The Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “ Merger Agreement ”), whereby the Merged Corporation will merge with and into the Surviving Corporation (the “ Merger ”) does not provide for, and there are no, amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

 

5.

The Merger Agreement has been duly approved in the manner required by law by each of the Surviving Corporation and the Merged Corporation.

 

6.

These Articles of Merger and the Merger will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on November 1, 2011.

 

Park Sterling Corporation has caused these Articles of Merger to be signed by the authorized officer below as of October 31, 2011.

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  

 

 

 

 

 

By: /s/ JAMES C. CHERRY

 

Name: James C. Cherry

 

Title: Executive Vice President

 

 
 

 

 

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

ARTICLES OF MERGER

 

 

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 55-11-05(a), the undersigned entity does hereby submit the following Articles of Merger as the surviving business entity in a merger between two or more business entities.

 

1.

The name of the surviving entity is Park Sterling Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of North Carolina (the “Surviving Corporation”).

 

2.

The address of the surviving entity is: 1043 East Morehead Street, Suite 201, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204, County of Mecklenburg.

 

3.

The name of the merged entity is Citizens South Banking Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Merged Corporation”).

 

4.

The Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), whereby the Merged Corporation will merge with and into the Surviving Corporation (the “Merger”) provides for the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, the text of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

5.

The Merger Agreement has been duly approved by each of the Surviving Corporation and the Merged Corporation in the manner required by law.

 

6.

These Articles of Merger and the Merger will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2012.

 

Park Sterling Corporation has caused these Articles of Merger to be signed by the authorized officer below as of September 28, 2012.

 

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION

 

By: /s/ James C. Cherry

Name: James C. Cherry

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 
 

 

   

Exhibit A

 

Park Sterling Corporation is hereby amending its Articles of Incorporation by adding the following as a new section (c) to Article 4 of the Articles of Incorporation:

 

“(c) There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock of the corporation a series of Preferred Stock designated as the “Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C” (the “Designated Preferred Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be 20,500.

 

The Standard Provisions contained in Schedule A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of the Articles of Incorporation to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

 

The following terms are used herein (including the Standard Provisions in Schedule A hereto) as defined below:

 

(i) “Issuer” means Park Sterling Corporation.

 

(ii) “Citizens South” means Citizens South Banking Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

 

(iii) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Issuer.

 

(iv) “Definitive Agreement” means that certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and between Issuer (as successor by merger to Citizens South) and Treasury, dated as of the Signing Date.

 

(v) “Junior Stock” means the Common Stock, and any other class or series of stock of the Issuer the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend and redemption rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.

 

(vi) “Liquidation Amount” means $1,000 per share of Designated Preferred Stock.

 

(vii) “Minimum Amount” means (i) the amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Designated Preferred Stock issued on the Original Issue Date or (ii) all of the outstanding Designated Preferred Stock, if the aggregate liquidation preference of the outstanding Designated Preferred Stock is less than the amount set forth in the preceding clause (i).

 

(viii) “Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Issuer (other than Designated Preferred Stock) the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer (in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or non-cumulatively).

 

(ix) “Signing Date” means September 22, 2011.

 

(x) “Treasury” means the United States Department of the Treasury and any successor in interest thereto.

 

Holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written consent.”

 

 
 

 

 

 

Schedule A

 

STANDARD PROVISIONS

 

Section 1. General Matters. Each share of Designated Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Designated Preferred Stock. The Designated Preferred Stock shall be perpetual, subject to the provisions of Section 5 of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Articles of Incorporation of the Issuer. The Designated Preferred Stock shall rank equally with Parity Stock and shall rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Issuer, as set forth below.

 

Section 2. Standard Definitions. As used herein with respect to Designated Preferred Stock:

 

(a) “Acquiror,” in any Holding Company Transaction, means the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent in the case of a merger or consolidation or the transferee in the case of a sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(b) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such other person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, of the power to cause the direction of management and/or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities by contract or otherwise.

 

(c) “Applicable Dividend Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

(d) “Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Issuer as defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.

 

(e) “Bank Holding Company” means a company registered as such with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pursuant to 12 U.S.C. §1842 and the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System thereunder.

 

(f) “Baseline” means the “Initial Small Business Lending Baseline” set forth on the Initial Supplemental Report (as defined in the Definitive Agreement), subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3(a).

 

(g) “Business Combination” means a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Issuer’s shareholders.

 

(h) “Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the District of Columbia generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

 

(i) “Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Issuer, as they may be amended from time to time.

 

(j) “Call Report” has the meaning set forth in the Definitive Agreement.

 

(k) “Certificate of Designation” means the Certificate of Designation or comparable instrument relating to the Designated Preferred Stock, of which these Standard Provisions form a part, as it may be amended from time to time. 

 

 
 

 

 

(l) “Charge-Offs” means the net amount of loans charged off by the Issuer or, if the Issuer is a Bank Holding Company or a Savings and Loan Holding Company, by the IDI Subsidiary(ies) during quarters that begin on or after the Signing Date, determined as follows:

 

 

(i)

if the Issuer or the applicable IDI Subsidiary is a bank, by subtracting (A) the aggregate dollar amount of recoveries reflected on line RIAD4605   of its Call Reports for such quarters from (B) the aggregate dollar amount of charge-offs reflected on line RIAD4635 of its Call Reports for such quarters (without duplication as a result of such dollar amounts being reported on a year-to-date basis); or

 

 

(ii)

if the Issuer or the applicable IDI Subsidiary is a thrift, by subtracting (A) the sum of the aggregate dollar amount of recoveries reflected on line VA140 of its Call Reports for such quarters and the aggregate dollar amount of adjustments reflected on line VA150 of its Call Reports for such quarters from (B) the aggregate dollar amount of charge-offs reflected on line   VA160 of its Call Reports for such quarters.

 

(m) “Charter” means the Issuer’s certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association, or similar organizational document.

 

(n) “CPP Lending Incentive Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(e).

 

(o) “Current Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(i)(2).

 

(p) “Dividend Payment Date” means January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year.

 

(q) “Dividend Period” means the period from and including any Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date; provided, however , the initial Dividend Period shall be the period from and including the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date (the “Initial Dividend Period”).

 

(r) “Dividend Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).

 

(s) “Dividend Reference Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(i)(2).

 

(t) “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

 

(u) “Holding Company Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(d)(v).

 

(v) “Holding Company Transaction” means the occurrence of (a) any transaction (including, without limitation, any acquisition, merger or consolidation) the result of which is that a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (i) becomes the direct or indirect ultimate “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under that Act, of common equity of the Issuer representing more than 50% of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock or (ii) is otherwise required to consolidate the Issuer for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or (b) any consolidation or merger of the Issuer or similar transaction or any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Issuer’s subsidiaries; provided that, in the case of either clause (a) or (b), the Issuer or the Acquiror is or becomes a Bank Holding Company or Savings and Loan Holding Company.

 

(w) “IDI Subsidiary” means any Issuer Subsidiary that is an insured depository institution.

 

(x) “Increase in QSBL” means:

 

 

(i)

with respect to the first (1st) Dividend Period, the difference obtained by subtracting (A) the Baseline from (B) QSBL set forth in the Initial Supplemental Report (as defined in the Definitive Agreement); and

 

 

(ii)

with respect to each subsequent Dividend Period, the difference obtained by subtracting (A) the Baseline from (B) QSBL for the Dividend Reference Period for the Current Period.

 

 
 

 

 

(y) “Initial Dividend Period” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Dividend Period”.

 

(z) “Issuer Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Issuer.

 

(aa) “Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 

(bb) “Non-Qualifying Portion Percentage” means, with respect to any particular Dividend Period, the percentage obtained by subtracting the Qualifying Portion Percentage from one (1).

 

(cc) “Original Issue Date” means the Signing Date, the date on which shares of Designated Preferred Stock were first issued by Citizens South.

 

(dd) “Percentage Change in QSBL” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(ii).

 

(ee) “Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company or trust.

 

(ff) “Preferred Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).

 

(gg) “Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock of the Issuer, including the Designated Preferred Stock.

 

(hh) “Previously Acquired Preferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Definitive Agreement.

 

(ii) “Private Capital” means, if the Issuer is Matching Private Investment Supported (as defined in the Definitive Agreement), the equity capital received by the Issuer or the applicable Affiliate of the Issuer from one or more non-governmental investors in accordance with Section 1.3(m) of the Definitive Agreement.

 

(jj) “Publicly-traded” means a company that (i) has a class of securities that is traded on a national securities exchange and (ii) is required to file periodic reports with either the Securities and Exchange Commission or its primary federal bank regulator.

 

(kk) “Qualified Small Business Lending” or “QSBL” means, with respect to any particular Dividend Period, the “Quarter-End Adjusted Qualified Small Business Lending” for such Dividend Period set forth in the applicable Supplemental Report.

 

(ll) “Qualifying Portion Percentage” means, with respect to any particular Dividend Period, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the Increase in QSBL for such Dividend Period by (ii) the aggregate Liquidation Amount of then-outstanding Designated Preferred Stock.

 

(mm) “Savings and Loan Holding Company” means a company registered as such with the Office of Thrift Supervision pursuant to 12 U.S.C. §1467a(b) and the regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision promulgated thereunder.

 

(nn) “Share Dilution Amount” means the increase in the number of diluted shares outstanding (determined in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, and as measured from the date of the Issuer’s most recent consolidated financial statements prior to the Signing Date) resulting from the grant, vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation to employees and equitably adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar transaction.

 

 
 

 

 

(oo) “Signing Date Tier 1 Capital Amount” means $72,113,000.

 

(pp) “Standard Provisions” mean these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designation relating to the Designated Preferred Stock.

 

(qq) “Supplemental Report” means a Supplemental Report delivered by the Issuer to Treasury pursuant to the Definitive Agreement.

  

(rr) “Tier 1 Dividend Threshold” means, as of any particular date, the result of the following formula:

 

( ( A + B - C ) * 0.9 ) - D

 

where:

 

 

A=

Signing Date Tier 1 Capital Amount;

 

 

B=

the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Designated Preferred Stock issued to Treasury;

 

 

C=

the aggregate amount of Charge-Offs since the Signing Date; and

 

 

D =

 (i) beginning on the first day of the eleventh (11th) Dividend Period, the amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Designated Preferred Stock issued to Treasury as of the Effective Date (without regard to any redemptions of Designated Preferred Stock that may have occurred thereafter) for every one percent (1%) of positive Percentage Change in Qualified Small Business Lending between the ninth (9th) Dividend Period and the Baseline; and (ii) zero (0) at all other times.

 

(ss) “Voting Parity Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Section 7(d) of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designation, any and all series of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.

 

Section 3. Dividends.

 

 

(a)

Rate.

 

 

(i)

The “Applicable Dividend Rate” shall be determined as follows:

 

 

(1)

With respect to the Initial Dividend Period, the Applicable Dividend Rate shall be 4.8400976%.

 

 

(2)

With respect to each of the second (2nd) through the tenth (10th) Dividend Periods, inclusive (in each case, the “Current Period”), the Applicable Dividend Rate shall be:

 

 

(A)

(x) the applicable rate set forth in column “A” of the table in Section 3(a)(iii), based on the Percentage Change in QSBL between the Dividend Period that was two Dividend Periods prior to the Current Period (the “Dividend Reference Period”) and the Baseline, multiplied by (y) the Qualifying Portion Percentage; plus

 

 

(B)

(x) five percent (5%) multiplied by (y) the Non-Qualifying Portion Percentage.

 

 
 

 

 

 

In each such case, the Applicable Dividend Rate shall be determined at the time the Issuer delivers a complete and accurate Supplemental Report to Treasury with respect to the Dividend Reference Period.

 

 

(3)

With respect to the eleventh (11th) through the eighteenth (18th) Dividend Periods, inclusive, and that portion of the nineteenth (19th) Dividend Period prior to, but not including, the four and one half (4½) year anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Applicable Dividend Rate shall be:

 

 

(A)

(x) the applicable rate set forth in column “B” of the table in Section 3(a)(iii), based on the Percentage Change in QSBL between the ninth (9th) Dividend Period and the Baseline, multiplied by (y) the Qualifying Portion Percentage, calculated as of the last day of the ninth (9th) Dividend Period; plus

 

 

(B)

(x) five percent (5%) multiplied by (y) the Non-Qualifying Portion Percentage, calculated as of the last day of the ninth (9th) Dividend Period.

 

 

In such case, the Applicable Dividend Rate shall be determined at the time the Issuer delivers a complete and accurate Supplemental Report to Treasury with respect to the ninth (9th) Dividend Period.

 

 

(4)

With respect to (A) that portion of the nineteenth (19th) Dividend Period beginning on the four and one half (4½) year anniversary of the Original Issue Date and (B) all Dividend Periods thereafter, the Applicable Dividend Rate shall be nine percent (9%).

 

 

(5)

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Issuer fails to submit a Supplemental Report that is due during any of the second (2nd) through tenth (10th) Dividend Periods on or before the sixtieth (60th) day of such Dividend Period, the Issuer’s QSBL for the Dividend Period that would have been covered by such Supplemental Report shall be zero (0) for purposes hereof.

 

 

(6)

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to Section 3(a)(i)(5) above, if the Issuer fails to submit the Supplemental Report that is due during the tenth (10th) Dividend Period, the Issuer’s QSBL for the shall be zero (0) for purposes of calculating the Applicable Dividend Rate pursuant to Section 3(a)(i)(3) and (4). The Applicable Dividend Rate shall be re-determined effective as of the first day of the calendar quarter following the date such failure is remedied, provided it is remedied prior to the four and one half (4½) anniversary of the Original Issue Date.

 

 

(7)

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Issuer fails to submit any of the certificates required by Sections 3.1(d)(ii) or 3.1(d)(iii) of the Definitive Agreement when and as required thereby, the Issuer’s QSBL for the shall be zero (0) for purposes of calculating the Applicable Dividend Rate pursuant to Section 3(a)(i)(2) or (3) above until such failure is remedied.

 

 

(ii)

The “Percentage Change in Qualified Lending” between any given Dividend Period and the Baseline shall be the result of the following formula, expressed as a percentage:

 

(

(QSBL for the Dividend Period - Baseline)

)

 x 100

 

 

 

Baseline

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

   

 

(iii)

The following table shall be used for determining the Applicable Dividend Rate:

  

 

The Applicable Dividend Rate shall be:

 

If the Percentage Change in Qualified Lending is:

Column “A”

(each of the

2nd - 10th

Dividend Periods)

Column “B”

(11th - 18th, and the first

part of the 19th, Dividend

Periods)

0% or less

5%

7%

More than 0%, but less than 2.5%

5%

5%

2.5% or more, but less than 5%

4%

4%

5% or more, but less than 7.5%

3%

3%

7.5% or more, but less than 10%

2%

2%

10% or more

1%

1%

 

 

(iv)

If the Issuer consummates a Business Combination, a purchase of loans or a purchase of participations in loans and the Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding thereafter, then the Baseline shall thereafter be the “Quarter-End Adjusted Small Business Lending Baseline” set forth on the Quarterly Supplemental Report (as defined in the Definitive Agreement).

 

(b) Payment. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each share of Designated Preferred Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends with respect to:

 

 

(i)

each Dividend Period (other than the Initial Dividend Period) at a rate equal to one-fourth (¼) of the Applicable Dividend Rate with respect to each Dividend Period on the Liquidation Amount per share of Designated Preferred Stock, and no more, payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date; and

 

 

(ii)

the Initial Dividend Period, on the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur at least twenty (20) calendar days after the Original Issue Date, an amount equal to (A) the Applicable Dividend Rate with respect to the Initial Dividend Period multiplied by (B) the number of days from the Original Issue Date to the last day of the Initial Dividend Period (inclusive) divided by 360.

 

In the event that any Dividend Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, the dividend payment due on that date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that postponement. For avoidance of doubt, “payable quarterly in arrears” means that, with respect to any particular Dividend Period, dividends begin accruing on the first day of such Dividend Period and are payable on the first day of the next Dividend Period.

 

The amount of dividends payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of four 90-day quarters, and actual days elapsed over a 90-day quarter.

 

Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of Designated Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Issuer on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.

 

 
 

 

 

 

Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any) declared and payable on Designated Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 3 (subject to the other provisions of the Certificate of Designation).

 

(c) Non-Cumulative. Dividends on shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative. If the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors does not declare a dividend on the Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period:

 

 

(i)

the holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive any dividend for such Dividend Period, and the Issuer shall have no obligation to pay a dividend for such Dividend Period, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock; and

 

 

 

(ii)

the Issuer shall, within five (5) calendar days, deliver to the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock a written notice executed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Issuer stating the Board of Directors’ rationale for not declaring dividends.

 

 

 

(d)

Priority of Dividends; Restrictions on Dividends.

 

 

 

(i)

Subject to Sections 3(d)(ii), (iii) and (v) and any restrictions imposed by the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency or, if applicable, the Issuer’s state bank supervisor (as defined in Section 3(r) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. § 1813(q)), so long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, the Issuer may declare and pay dividends on the Common Stock, any other shares of Junior Stock, or Parity Stock, in each case only if (A) after giving effect to such dividend the Issuer’s Tier 1 capital would be at least equal to the Tier 1 Dividend Threshold , and (B) full dividends on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock for the most recently completed Dividend Period have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid.

 

 

 

(ii)

If a dividend is not declared and paid in full on the Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period, then from the last day of such Dividend Period until the last day of the third (3rd) Dividend Period immediately following it, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock; provided, however , that in any such Dividend Period in which a dividend is declared and paid on the Designated Preferred Stock, dividends may be paid on Parity Stock to the extent necessary to avoid any material breach of a covenant by which the Issuer is bound.

 

 

 

(iii)

When dividends have not been declared and paid in full for an aggregate of four (4) Dividend Periods or more, and during such time the Issuer was not subject to a regulatory determination that prohibits the declaration and payment of dividends, the Issuer shall, within five (5) calendar days of each missed payment, deliver to the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock a certificate executed by at least a majority of the Board of Directors stating that the Board of Directors used its best efforts to declare and pay such dividends in a manner consistent with (A) safe and sound banking practices and (B) the directors’ fiduciary obligations.

 

 

 

(iv)

Subject to the foregoing and Section 3(e) below and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

 

 
 

 

 

 

(v)

If the Issuer is not Publicly-Traded, then after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Signing Date, so long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock.

 

 

(e) Special Lending Incentive Fee Related to CPP. If Treasury held Previously Acquired Preferred Shares immediately prior to the Original Issue Date and the Issuer did not apply to Treasury to redeem such Previously Acquired Preferred Shares prior to December 16, 2010, and if the Issuer’s Supplemental Report with respect to the ninth (9th) Dividend Period reflects an amount of Qualified Small Business Lending that is less than or equal to the Baseline (or if the Issuer fails to timely file a Supplemental Report with respect to the ninth (9th) Dividend Period), then beginning on January 1, 2014 and on all Dividend Payment Dates thereafter ending on April 1, 2016, the Issuer shall pay to the Holders of Designated Preferred Stock, on each share of Designated Preferred Stock, but only out of assets legally available therefor, a fee equal to 0.5% of the Liquidation Amount per share of Designated Preferred Stock (“CPP Lending Incentive Fee”). All references in Section 3(d) to “dividends” on the Designated Preferred Stock shall be deemed to include the CPP Lending Incentive Fee.

 

Section 4. Liquidation Rights.

 

(a) Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Issuer, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of Designated Preferred Stock, out of the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to shareholders of the Issuer, subject to the rights of any creditors of the Issuer, before any distribution of such assets or proceeds is made to or set aside for the holders of Common Stock and any other stock of the Issuer ranking junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, payment in full in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends on each such share (such amounts collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”).

 

(b) Partial Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 4(a) above the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the holders of such other stock shall share ratably in any such distribution in proportion to the full respective distributions to which they are entitled.

 

 

(c) Residual Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution has been paid in full, the holders of other stock of the Issuer shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Issuer (or proceeds thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.

 

(d) Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Is Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 4, the merger or consolidation of the Issuer with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.

 

Section 5. Redemption.

 

 

(a)

Optional Redemption.

 

 
 

 

 

 

(i)

Subject to the other provisions of this Section 5:

 

 

 

(1)

The Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, out of funds legally available therefor, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding; and

 

 

 

(2)

If, after the Signing Date, there is a change in law that modifies the terms of Treasury’s investment in the Designated Preferred Stock or the terms of Treasury’s Small Business Lending Fund program in a materially adverse respect for the Issuer, the Issuer may, after consultation with the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, redeem all of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding.

 

 

 

(ii)

The per-share redemption price for shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be equal to the sum of:

 

 

 

(1)

the Liquidation Amount per share,

 

 

 

(2)

the per-share amount of any unpaid dividends for the then current Dividend Period at the Applicable Dividend Rate to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared for that Dividend Period; and

 

 

 

(3)

the pro rata amount of CPP Lending Incentive Fees for the current Dividend Period.

 

The redemption price for any shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be payable on the redemption date to the holder of such shares against surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Issuer or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends for the then current Dividend Period payable on a redemption date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid to the holder entitled to receive the redemption price on the redemption date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 3 above.

 

(b) No Sinking Fund. The Designated Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock will have no right to require redemption or repurchase of any shares of Designated Preferred Stock.

   

(c) Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Issuer. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Designated Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Designated Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice of redemption given to a holder shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.

 

 
 

 

 

(d) Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of part of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other manner as the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable, but in any event the shares to be redeemed shall not be less than the Minimum Amount. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.

 

(e) Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been deposited by the Issuer, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, with a bank or trust company doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital and surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board of Directors, so as to be and continue to be available solely therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date dividends shall cease to accrue on all shares so called for redemption, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released to the Issuer, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Issuer for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

 

(f) Status of Redeemed Shares. Shares of Designated Preferred Stock that are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock ( provided that any such cancelled shares of Designated Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Designated Preferred Stock).

 

Section 6. Conversion. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shares shall have no right to exchange or convert such shares into any other securities.

 

Section 7. Voting Rights.

 

(a) General. The holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.

 

(b) Board Observation Rights. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid in full within five (5) Business Days after each Dividend Payment Date for an aggregate of five (5) Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the Issuer shall invite a representative selected by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock, voting as a single class, to attend all meetings of its Board of Directors in a nonvoting observer capacity and, in this respect, shall give such representative copies of all notices, minutes, consents, and other materials that it provides to its directors in connection with such meetings; provided , that the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock shall not be obligated to select such a representative, nor shall such representative, if selected, be obligated to attend any meeting to which he/she is invited. The rights of the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock set forth in this Section 7(b) shall terminate when full dividends have been timely paid on the Designated Preferred Stock for at least four consecutive Dividend Periods, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.

 

 
 

 

 

(c) Preferred Stock Directors. Whenever, at any time or times, (i) dividends on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid in full within five (5) Business Days after each Dividend Payment Date for an aggregate of six (6) Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, and (ii) the aggregate liquidation preference of the then-outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock is greater than or equal to $25,000,000, the authorized number of directors of the Issuer shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock, voting as a single class, shall have the right, but not the obligation, to elect two directors (hereinafter the “Preferred Directors” and each a “Preferred Director”) to fill such newly created directorships at the Issuer’s next annual meeting of shareholders (or, if the next annual meeting is not yet scheduled or is scheduled to occur more than thirty days later, the President of the Company shall promptly call a special meeting for that purpose) and at each subsequent annual meeting of shareholders until full dividends have been timely paid on the Designated Preferred Stock for at least four consecutive Dividend Periods, at which time such right shall terminate with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Issuer to violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Issuer may then be listed or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock to vote for directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock, voting as a single class, may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

 

(d) Class Voting Rights as to Particular Matters. So long as any shares of Designated Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by law or by the Charter, the written consent of (x) Treasury if Treasury holds any shares of Designated Preferred Stock, or (y) the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock, voting as a single class, if Treasury does not hold any shares of Designated Preferred Stock, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

 

 

(i)

Authorization of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Designation for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Issuer ranking senior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to either or both the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer;

 

 

(ii)

Amendment of Designated Preferred Stock. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Designation for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter (including, unless no vote on such merger or consolidation is required by Section 7(d)(iii) below, any amendment, alteration or repeal by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Designated Preferred Stock;

 

 

(iii)

Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Subject to Section 7(d)(v) below, any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Designated Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Issuer with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Designated Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Issuer is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof that are the same as the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Designated Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole; provided, that in all cases, the obligations of the Issuer are assumed (by operation of law or by express written assumption) by the resulting entity or its ultimate parent;

 

 
 

 

   

 

(iv)

Certain Asset Sales. Any sale of all, substantially all, or any material portion of, the assets of the Company, if the Designated Preferred Stock will not be redeemed in full contemporaneously with the consummation of such sale; and

 

 

(v)

Holding Company Transactions. Any consummation of a Holding Company Transaction, unless as a result of the Holding Company Transaction each share of Designated Preferred Stock shall be converted into or exchanged for one share with an equal liquidation preference of preference securities of the Issuer or the Acquiror (the “Holding Company Preferred Stock”). Any such Holding Company Preferred Stock shall entitle holders thereof to dividends from the date of issuance of such Holding Company Preferred Stock on terms that are equivalent to the terms set forth herein, and shall have such other rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof that are the same as the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Designated Preferred Stock immediately prior to such conversion or exchange, taken as a whole;

 

 

provided , however , that for all purposes of this Section 7(d), any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized amount of Designated Preferred Stock necessary to satisfy preemptive or similar rights granted by the Issuer to other persons prior to the Signing Date, or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, whether pursuant to preemptive or similar rights or otherwise, of any other series of Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any other series of Preferred Stock, ranking equally with and/or junior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers, and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock.

 

(e) Changes after Provision for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(d) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 5 above.

 

(f) Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Charter, the Bylaws, and applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which Designated Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

 

Section 8. Restriction on Redemptions and Repurchases.

 

(a) Subject to Sections 8(b) and (c), so long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, the Issuer may repurchase or redeem any shares of Capital Stock (as defined below), in each case only if (i) after giving effect to such dividend, repurchase or redemption, the Issuer’s Tier 1 capital would be at least equal to the Tier 1 Dividend Threshold and (ii) dividends on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock for the most recently completed Dividend Period have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid (or have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for the benefit of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock on the applicable record date).

 

 
 

 

 

(b) If a dividend is not declared and paid on the Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period, then from the last day of such Dividend Period until the last day of the third (3rd) Dividend Period immediately following it,   neither the Issuer nor any Issuer Subsidiary shall, redeem, purchase or acquire any shares of Common Stock, Junior Stock, Parity Stock or other capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of the Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary, or any trust preferred securities issued by the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer (“Capital Stock”), (other than (i) redemptions, purchases, repurchases or other acquisitions of the Designated Preferred Stock and (ii) repurchases of Junior Stock or Common Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business (including purchases to offset any Share Dilution Amount pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan) and consistent with past practice; provided that any purchases to offset the Share Dilution Amount shall in no event exceed the Share Dilution Amount, (iii) the acquisition by the Issuer or any of the Issuer Subsidiaries of record ownership in Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Issuer or any other Issuer Subsidiary), including as trustees or custodians, (iv) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock or trust preferred securities for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case set forth in this clause (iv), solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock, (v) redemptions of securities held by the Issuer or any wholly-owned Issuer Subsidiary or (vi) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of any Issuer Subsidiary required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to (x) if Treasury held Previously Acquired Preferred Shares immediately prior to the Original Issue Date, the original issue date of such Previously Acquired Preferred Shares, or (y) otherwise, the Signing Date).

  

(c) If the Issuer is not Publicly-Traded, then after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Signing Date, so long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no Common Stock, Junior Stock or Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Section 9. No Preemptive Rights. No share of Designated Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities of the Issuer, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.

 

Section 10. References to Line Items of Supplemental Reports. If Treasury modifies the form of Supplemental Report, pursuant to its rights under the Definitive Agreement, and any such modification includes a change to the caption or number of any line item on the Supplemental Report, then any reference herein to such line item shall thereafter be a reference to such re-captioned or re-numbered line item.

 

Section 11. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Issuer and the transfer agent for Designated Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Designated Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Issuer nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

Section 12. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of Designated Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designation, in the Charter or Bylaws or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any similar facility, such notices may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by such facility.

 

Section 13. Replacement Certificates. The Issuer shall replace any mutilated certificate at the holder’s expense upon surrender of that certificate to the Issuer. The Issuer shall replace certificates that become destroyed, stolen or lost at the holder’s expense upon delivery to the Issuer of reasonably satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, stolen or lost, together with any indemnity that may be reasonably required by the Issuer.

 

Section 14. Other Rights. The shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Charter or as provided by applicable law.

 

 
 

 

 

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

ARTICLES OF MERGER

 

 

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 55-11-05(a), the undersigned entity does hereby submit the following Articles of Merger as the surviving business entity in a merger between two or more business entities.

 

1.

The name of the surviving entity is Park Sterling Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of North Carolina (the “ Surviving Corporation ”).

 

2.

The address of the surviving entity is: 1043 East Morehead Street, Suite 201, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204, County of Mecklenburg.

 

3.

The name of the merged entity is Provident Community Bancshares, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “ Merged Corporation ”). The mailing address of the Merged Corporation is 2700 Celanese Road, Rock Hill, South Carolina, 29732.

 

4.

The Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “ Merger Agreement ”), whereby the Merged Corporation will merge with and into the Surviving Corporation (the “ Merger ”) provides that the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation will not be amended by the merger.

 

5.

The Merger Agreement has been duly approved by each of the Surviving Corporation and the Merged Corporation in the manner required by law.

 

6.

These Articles of Merger and the Merger will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 1, 2014.

 

Park Sterling Corporation has caused these Articles of Merger to be signed by the authorized officer below as of April 30, 2014.

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ James C. Cherry

 

Name:

 

James C. Cherry

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 
 

 

 

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

ARTICLES OF MERGER

 

 

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 55-11-05(a), the undersigned entity does hereby submit the following Articles of Merger as the surviving business entity in a merger between two or more business entities.

 

1.

The name of the surviving entity is Park Sterling Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of North Carolina (the “ Surviving Corporation ”).

 

2.

The address of the surviving entity is: 1043 East Morehead Street, Suite 201, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204, County of Mecklenburg.

 

3.

The name of the merged entity is First Capital Bancorp, Inc. a corporation organized under the laws of Virginia (the “ Merged Corporation ”).

 

4.

The Agreement and Plan of Merger between the Surviving Corporation and the Merged Corporation has been duly approved by each of the Surviving Corporation and the Merged Corporation in the manner required by law.

 

5.

These Articles of Merger and the Merger will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2016.

 

 

[Signature page follows]

 

 
 

 

 

Park Sterling Corporation has caused these Articles of Merger to be signed by the authorized officer below as of December 30, 2015.

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ James C. Cherry                         

 

Name:

 

James C. Cherry

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 
 

 

 

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

OF

PARK STERLING CORPORATION

 

Park Sterling Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina, in accordance with the provisions of Section 55-10-06 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, hereby submits the following Articles of Amendment for purposes of amending its Articles of Incorporation.

 

1.             The name of the corporation is Park Sterling Corporation.

 

2.             The Articles of Incorporation of the corporation are hereby amended to add a new Article 13 which shall read as follows (the “Amendment”):

 

Article 13. Election of Directors

 

Each director to be elected by the shareholders shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election (with abstentions and “broker non-votes” not counted as a vote cast either for or against that nominee’s election) by the shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present; provided , however , that if, as of the record date for the meeting, the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected at the meeting, the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at such meeting at which a quorum is present.”

 

3.           The Amendment was adopted by the Board of Directors of the corporation on March 23, 2016.

 

4.           The Amendment was approved by shareholder action, and such shareholder approval was obtained as required by Chapter 55 of the North Carolina General Statutes.

 

5.            These Articles of Amendment will be effective upon filing.

 

 

Park Sterling Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment to be signed by the authorized officer below this 26th day of May, 2016.

 

 

 

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ James C. Cherry

 

 

James C. Cherry

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Exhibit 31.1  

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

I, James C. Cherry, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Park Sterling Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

                          

 

Date: August 9, 2016

 

/s/ JAMES C. CHERRY                    

 

 

 

James C. Cherry, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

                         

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

   

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

I, Donald K. Truslow, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Park Sterling Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date: August 9, 2016

/s/ DONALD K. TRUSLOW                    

 

Donald K. Truslow, Chief Financial Officer

                    

 

Exhibit 32.1  

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Park Sterling Corporation (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, James C. Cherry, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1)     The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

(2)     The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Date: August 9, 2016

/s/ JAMES C. CHERRY                                            

 

James C. Cherry

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

                                   

 

 

 

  Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Park Sterling Corporation (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Donald K. Truslow, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1)     The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

(2)     The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

   

 

Date: August 9, 2016

/s/ DONALD K. TRUSLOW               

 

Donald K. Truslow

 

Chief Financial Officer