SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

 

(Amendment No. 1)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

Filed by the Registrant x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

x Preliminary Proxy Statement

¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

¨ Definitive Proxy Statement

¨ Definitive Additional Materials

¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x No fee required.

 

¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

(1)Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

(2)Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

(3)Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

(4)Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

(5)Total fee paid:

 

¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

(1)Amount Previously Paid:

 

(2)Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

(3)Filing Party:

 

(4)Date Filed:

 

 

 

 

The First Bancshares, Inc.

Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders

to be held on December 29, 2016

 

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

 

We cordially invite you to attend a Special Meeting (the “Special Meeting”) of Shareholders of The First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), the holding company for The First, A National Banking Association. We hope that you can attend the meeting and look forward to seeing you there.

 

This letter serves as your official notice that the Company will hold the Special Meeting on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. at the Company’s main office located at 6480 U.S. Highway 98 West, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39402. At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on the following matters:

 

1. Conversion of Convertible Preferred Stock. To approve, for purposes of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635, the Company’s issuance of 3,563,380 shares of common stock upon the conversion of an equivalent number of Mandatorily Convertible Non-Cumulative Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E, as contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreements described in the accompanying proxy statement.
2.Adjournment of Special Meeting if Necessary or Appropriate. To approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to adopt Proposal 1.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote in favor of Proposals 1 and 2.

 

Pursuant to the Company’s bylaws, the only business permitted to be conducted at the Special Meeting are the matters set forth in this letter and notice of the meeting.

 

Shareholders owning shares of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on November 17, 2016, are the only persons entitled to attend and vote at the meeting. A complete list of these shareholders will be available at The First Bancshares, Inc.’s main office prior to and during the meeting.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 29, 2016

 

The Proxy Statement for the special meeting is available at www.edocumentview.com/FBMS

 

Please use this opportunity to take part in the affairs of your company by voting on the business to come before this meeting. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, the Company encourages you to complete and return the enclosed proxy to us as promptly as possible.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors,
     
  M. Ray “Hoppy” Cole, Jr. E. Ricky Gibson
  President and CEO Chairman of the Board

 

Dated and Mailed on or about November [●], 2016, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

 

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The First Bancshares, Inc.

6480 U.S. Highway 98 West

Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39402

 

Proxy Statement for the Special Meeting of

Shareholders to be Held on December 29, 2016

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Date, Time, and Place of Meeting

 

A Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Special Meeting") of The First Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company"),a Mississippi corporation and the holding company for The First, A National Banking Association (the “Bank”) will be held at the main office of the Company located at 6480 U.S. Highway 98 West, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39402, on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at 4:30 p.m., local time, or any adjournment(s) thereof, for the purpose of considering and voting upon the matters set out in the foregoing Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders. This Proxy Statement is furnished to the shareholders of the Company in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of proxies to be voted at the Meeting.

 

The mailing address of the principal executive office of the Company is Post Office Box 15549, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39404-5549.

 

The approximate date on which this Proxy Statement and form of proxy are first being sent or given to shareholders is [●], 2016.

 

The matters to be considered and voted upon at the Special Meeting will be:

 

1. Conversion of Convertible Preferred Stock. To approve, for purposes of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635, the issuance of 3,563,380 shares of common stock upon the conversion of an equivalent number of Mandatorily Convertible Non-Cumulative Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E, as contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreements described below.

 

2. Adjournment of Special Meeting if Necessary or Appropriate. To approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies from shareholders who have not submitted proxies at the time of the initially convened Special Meeting if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to adopt Proposal 1.

 

Record Date; Quorum; Voting Rights; Vote Required

 

The record date for determining holders of outstanding common stock of the Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting is November 17, 2016 (the "Record Date"). Only holders of the Company's common stock of record on the books of the Company at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. As of the Record Date, there were 5,428,017 shares of the Company's common stock issued and outstanding, each of which is entitled to one vote on all matters. In order for the Special Meeting to be duly convened, a quorum must be present, and a quorum requires that the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock be present in person or by proxy at the meeting Approval of Proposals 1 and 2 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at a duly convened meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted only for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Meeting.

 

In addition, Mississippi law does not provide dissenters’ or appraisal rights to our stockholders in connection with either of the proposals.

 

Proxies

 

Shares of common stock represented by properly executed proxies, unless previously revoked, will be voted at the Special Meeting in accordance with the directions therein. If no direction is specified, such shares will be voted in the discretion of the person named as the proxy holder with respect to any other business that may come before the Special Meeting. A proxy may be revoked by a shareholder at any time prior to its exercise by filing with the Secretary of the Company a written revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. A proxy shall also be revoked if the shareholder is present and elects to vote in person.

 

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PROPOSAL 1

 

APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UPON THE CONVERSION OF THE COMPANY’S SERIES E NONVOTING CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK INTO COMMON STOCK

 

Background and Reasons for Requesting Shareholder Approval

 

On October 12, 2016, the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements (each a “Security Purchase Agreement”) with a limited number of institutional and other accredited investors (the “Purchasers” and each, a “Purchaser”) pursuant to which the Company sold in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) 3,563,380 shares of newly authorized Series E Nonvoting Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series E Preferred Stock”) at a purchase price of $17.75 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $63,249,995. The terms of the Series E Preferred Stock provide for their mandatory conversion into an equivalent number of shares of the Company’s common stock upon approval of this proposal. The Company paid $3,162,499.75 in fees to its financial advisors who acted as placement agents in the private placement. The Private Placement transaction was completed on October 14, 2016. The material terms of the Series Preferred Stock are discussed below.

 

Because our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, we are subject to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(d), which requires shareholder approval prior to the issuance of securities in connection with a transaction, other than a public offering, involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance by a company of common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock) equal to 20% or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock or 20% or more of the voting power before the issuance of such additional shares at a price that is less than the greater of book or market value of the stock.

 

Upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock, the Company will issue 3,563,380 shares of common stock, which is 65.6% of the Company’s 5,428,017 shares of common stock outstanding on October 11. The closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on October 11th, the day the Series E Preferred Stock offering was priced, was $18.29 per share on the NASDAQ Global Market.

 

The proposed conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock for shares of our common stock is subject to this NASDAQ rule because the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock exceed 20% of both the voting power and number of shares of our common stock outstanding before the issuance, and the negotiated price per share of common stock on an as-converted basis was less than the book value and market value of our common stock at the time of issuance.

 

The Private Placement of the Series E Preferred Stock was exempt from Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

Consequences of Approval of Proposal 1

 

Shareholder approval of Proposal 1 will have the following consequences:

 

Conversion of Series E Preferred Stock into Common Stock at the Initial Conversion Price. Each share of Series E Preferred Stock will be automatically converted into one share of common stock on the third business day following shareholder approval.

 

Elimination of Dividend and Liquidation Preference of Holders of Series E Preferred Stock. All shares of Series E Preferred Stock will be cancelled upon conversion, resulting in the elimination of the dividend rights and liquidation preference existing in favor of the Series E Preferred Stock. For more information regarding such dividend rights and liquidation preferences, see “Series E Preferred Stock Terms and Provisions” in this proxy statement.

 

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Elimination of Separate Voting Rights of Holders of Series E Preferred Stock.. Holders of Series E Preferred Stock have approval rights for certain Company actions, and the conversion of Series E Preferred Stock into common stock will eliminate these separate voting rights. For more information regarding such voting, see “Series E Preferred Stock Terms and Provisions” in this proxy statement.

 

Market Effects. Despite the existence of certain restrictions on transfer relating to securities law, the issuance of shares of our common stock upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. If significant quantities of our common stock issued upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock are sold (or if it is perceived by the market that they may be sold) after their registration into the public market, the trading price of our common stock could be materially adversely affected.

 

Dilution. We will issue, through the conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock, approximately 3,563,380 shares of common stock (in addition to the 5,428,017 shares of common stock currently outstanding). As a result, we expect there to be a dilutive effect on the earnings per share of our common stock. In addition, our existing shareholders will incur substantial dilution to their voting interests and will own a smaller percentage of our outstanding common stock.

 

Consequences of Failure to Approve Proposal 1

 

Series E Preferred Stock Will Remain Outstanding. Unless the shareholder approval is received or unless our shareholders approve a similar proposal at a subsequent meeting, the Series E Preferred Stock will remain outstanding in accordance with its terms, and incur the potential following effects.

 

Continued Dividend Payment and Potential Market Effects. We would expect that the shares of Series E Preferred Stock will remain outstanding for the foreseeable future and, beginning six months from the issuance of the Series E Preferred Stock, or approximately April 14, 2017, and for so long as such shares remain outstanding, we would be required to pay dividends on the Series E Preferred Stock, on a non-cumulative basis, at an annual rate of 6% of the liquidation value of the Series E Preferred Stock, which is $17.75.

 

Continued Separate Voting Rights of Holders of Series E Preferred Stock. Holders of Series E Preferred Stock have certain separate voting rights, and the holders of our common stock will be unable to take certain actions without approval by the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock. For more information regarding such voting, see “Series E Preferred Stock Terms and Provisions” in this proxy statement.

 

Additional Shareholder Meetings. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, we would be required to call additional shareholder meetings every three months and recommend approval of Proposal 1 at each meeting to the shareholders, if necessary, until such approval is obtained. We will bear the costs of soliciting the approval of our shareholders in connection with these meetings.

 

Restriction on Payment of Dividends. If shareholder approval is not obtained, the shares of Series E Preferred Stock will remain outstanding and, beginning six months from the issuance of the Series E Preferred Stock, or approximately April 12, 2017, and for so long as such shares remain outstanding, if dividends payable on all outstanding shares of the Series E Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid, or declared and funds set aside therefor, we will not be permitted to declare or pay dividends with respect to, or redeem, purchase, or acquire any of our junior securities, or redeem, purchase or acquire any parity securities, subject to limited exceptions.

 

Participation in Dividends on Common Stock. So long as any shares of Series E Preferred Stock are outstanding, if we declare any dividends on our common stock or make any other distribution to our common shareholders, the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock will be entitled to participate in such distribution on an as-converted basis.

 

Liquidation Preference. For as long as the Series E Preferred Stock remains outstanding, it will retain a senior liquidation preference over shares of our common stock in connection with any liquidation of us and, accordingly, no payments will be made to holders of our common stock upon any liquidation of us unless the full liquidation preference on the Series E Preferred Stock is paid.

 

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Pro Forma Financial Information

 

To assist in your understanding of the impact of the Private Placement relating to Proposal No. 1, we are providing the following pro forma financial information. The following table sets forth our capitalization and regulatory capital ratios on a consolidated basis as of September 30, 2016 on:

 

(1) an actual basis; and

 

(2) an adjusted basis to give effect to the issuance of 3,563,380 shares of the Series E Preferred Stock in the offering on a (i) non-converted basis and (ii) converted basis.

 

The table should be read in conjunction with and is qualified in its entirety by our audited and unaudited financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference into this proxy. For more information, see “Incorporation by Reference of Information About the Company, Financial Statements and Related Information” below.

 

    As of September 30, 2016 (in thousands)  
          As Adjusted for the Offering  
    Actual     If the Preferred
Stock IS NOT
converted to
Common Stock
    If the Preferred
Stock IS
converted to
Common Stock
 
Stockholders' Equity:                        
                         
Common Stock - $1.00 par value per share; 20,000,000 shares authorized, 5,454,511 shares issued (including treasury shares held by our Company); 9,017,891 shares issued and outstanding as adjusted for this offering.   $ 5,455     $ 5,455     $ 9,018  
                         
Preferred stock, no par value, $1,000 per share liquidation, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 17,123 issued and outstanding     17,123       17,123       17,123  
                         
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, $17.75 per share liquidation, 3,563,380 shares authorized; 3,563,380 issued and outstanding and related surplus       -       63,250       -  
                         
Capital surplus     44,996       44,996       104,683  
                         
Retained earnings     42,543       42,543       42,543  
                         
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net     3,005       3,005       3,005  
                         
Treasury stock, at cost, 26,494 shares     (464 )     (464 )     (464 )
                         
Total stockholders' equity   $ 112,658     $ 175,908     $ 175,908  
                         
Consolidated Capital Ratios:                        
                         
Tangible common equity to tangible assets     6.39 %     6.08 %     10.89 %
                         
Tangible equity to tangible assets     7.8 %     12.2 %     12.2 %
                         
Tier 1 leverage     8.5 %     13.1 %     13.1 %
                         
Tier 1 risk based capital ratio     10.5 %     16.2 %     16.2 %
                         
Total risk based capital ratio     11.2 %     16.9 %     16.9 %
                         
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio     7.8 %     7.8 %     13.6 %

 

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Series E Preferred Stock Terms and Provisions

 

The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the preferences, limitations, voting powers and relative rights of the Series E Preferred Stock as contained in the Certificate of Designation for the Series E Preferred Stock which has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Mississippi. Shareholders are urged to carefully read the Certificate of Designation in its entirety. Although we believe this summary covers the material terms and provisions of the Series E Preferred Stock as contained in the Certificate of Designation, it may not contain all of the information that is important to you.

 

Authorized Shares, Par Value and Liquidation Preference. We have designated 3,563,380 shares as “Mandatorily Convertible Non-Cumulative Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E,” each of which has a $1.00 par value and a liquidation preference of $17.75 per share.

 

Mandatory Conversion. The Series E Preferred Stock of each holder will convert into shares of common stock on the third business day following the approval by the holders of our common stock of the conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock into common stock as required by the applicable NASDAQ rules. Assuming shareholder approval of Proposal 1 at the Special Meeting, the number of shares of common stock into which each share of Series E Preferred Stock shall be converted will be determined on a one-to-one basis.

 

Dividends. If shareholder approval is not obtained, the shares of Series E Preferred Stock will remain outstanding and, beginning six months from the issuance of the Series E Preferred Stock, or approximately April 12, 2017, and for so long as such shares remain outstanding, we will be required to pay dividends on the Series E Preferred Stock, on a non-cumulative basis, at an annual rate of 6% of the liquidation value of the Series E Preferred Stock, which is $17.75. Dividends after the six month anniversary of issuance will be payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31, beginning on June 30, 2017. If all dividends payable on the Series E Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid for an applicable dividend period, the Company shall not declare or pay any dividends on any stock which ranks junior to the Series E Preferred Stock, or redeem, purchase or acquire any stock which ranks pari passu or junior to the Series E Preferred Stock, subject to customary exceptions. If all dividends payable on the Series E Preferred Stock have not been paid in full, any dividend declared on stock which ranks pari passu to the Series E Preferred Stock shall be declared and paid pro rata with respect to the Series E Preferred Stock and such pari passu stock.

 

Participation in Dividends on Common Stock. So long as any shares of Series E Preferred Stock are outstanding, if we declare any dividends on our common stock or make any other distribution to our common shareholders, the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock will be entitled to participate in such distribution on an as-converted basis.

 

Ranking. The Series E Preferred Stock will rank senior to all of the Company’s common stock and pari passu to the Company’s outstanding Series CD Preferred Stock and will rank pari passu or senior to all future issuances of the Company’s preferred stock and junior to the Company’s outstanding Trust Preferred Securities.

 

Voting Rights. The holders of the Series E Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights other than as required by law, except that the approval of the holders of a majority of the Series E Preferred Stock, voting as a single class, will be required with respect to certain matters, including (A) charter amendments adversely affecting the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series E Preferred Stock, (B) the consummation of a reorganization event in connection with which the Series E Preferred Stock is not converted or otherwise treated as provided in the Certificate of Designation, or (C) the creation of any series of equal or senior equity securities.

 

Liquidation. In the event the Company voluntarily or involuntarily liquidates, dissolves or winds up, the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock shall be entitled to liquidating distributions equal to $17.75 per share plus any declared and unpaid dividends.

 

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Redemption. The Series E Preferred Stock shall be perpetual unless converted in accordance with the Certificate of Designation. The Series E Preferred Stock will not be redeemable at the option of the Company or any holder of Series E Preferred Stock at any time.

 

Preemptive Rights. Holders of the Series E Preferred Stock have no preemptive rights.

 

Fundamental Change. If the Company enters into a transaction constituting a consolidation or merger of the Company or similar transaction or any sale or other transfer of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (in each case pursuant to which its common stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property) or for certain reclassifications or exchanges of its common stock, then each share of Series E Preferred Stock will convert, effective on the day on which such share would automatically convert into common stock of the Company, into the securities, cash and other property receivable in the transaction by the holder of the number of shares of common stock into which such share of Series E Preferred Stock would then be convertible, assuming receipt of any applicable regulatory approval.

 

The Securities Purchase Agreements

 

The following is a summary of the material terms of the Securities Purchase Agreements.

 

Purchase and Sale of Stock. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreements, we issued and sold 3,563,380 shares of the Series E Preferred Stock, in the aggregate, to the Purchasers (defined therein).

 

Representations and Warranties. We made customary representations and warranties to the Purchasers relating to us, our business and our capital stock, including with respect to the shares of Series E Preferred Stock issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreements. The representations and warranties in the Securities Purchase Agreements were made for purposes of the Securities Purchase Agreements and are subject to qualifications and limitations agreed to by the respective parties in connection with negotiating the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreements, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk. In addition, certain representations and warranties were made as of a specific date, may be subject to a contractual standard of materiality different from what might be viewed as material to shareholders, or may have been used for purposes of allocating risk between the respective parties rather than establishing matters as facts. The representations and warranties and other provisions of the Securities Purchase Agreements should not be read alone, but instead should only be read together with the information provided elsewhere in this document and in the documents incorporated by reference into this document, including the periodic and current reports and statements that we file with the SEC.

 

Agreement to Seek Shareholder Approval. We agreed to call the Special Meeting, as promptly as reasonably practicable but in no event later than December 31, 2016, and to recommend and seek shareholder approval of Proposal 1. In addition, we agreed to prepare and file this proxy statement with the SEC and to cause the proxy statement to be mailed to shareholders within specified timeframes. If such approval is not obtained at the Special Meeting, we have agreed to call additional meetings and recommend approval of Proposal 1 to the shareholders every three (3) months thereafter until such approval is obtained.

 

Transfer Restrictions. The Series E Preferred Stock issued in the Private Placement constitutes “restricted securities” under federal securities laws and is accordingly subject to significant restrictions on transfer. The Company committed, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement into which it also entered with each Purchaser, to register both the Series E Preferred Stock and the Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock, for resale under the Securities Act. See “The Registration Rights Agreement.”

 

Other Covenants. We also agreed to a number of customary covenants, including covenants with respect to the reservation and listing on NASDAQ of the common stock to be issued upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock.

 

Indemnity. We have agreed to customary indemnification provisions for the benefit of each Purchaser relating to certain losses suffered by each Purchaser arising from breaches of our representations, warranties and covenants in the Securities Purchase Agreements or relating to certain losses arising from actions, suits or claims relating to the Securities Purchase Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

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Expenses. The Purchasers and the Company will be solely responsible for and bear all of their own expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of legal counsel, accountants and other advisors (including financial intermediaries and advisors), incurred at any time in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreements.

 

The Registration Rights Agreement

 

On October 12, 2016, we also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Purchasers pursuant to which we agreed to (i) file a registration statement with the SEC within 90 days of October 14, 2016, to register the Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock, for resale under the Securities Act; (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 120 days of October 14, 2016 (or 150 days in the event of an SEC review), subject to specified exceptions; and (iii) continue to take certain steps to maintain effectiveness of the registration statement and facilitate certain other matters.

 

Failure to meet these deadlines and certain other events may result in the Company’s payment to the Purchasers of liquidated damages in the monthly amount of 0.5% of the purchase price. The Company will bear all expenses incident to performing its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement regardless of whether any securities are sold pursuant to a relevant registration statement, including registration and filing fees, printing expenses, legal fees, and other incidental expenses. The Company is not responsible for any underwriting discounts, broker or similar fees or commissions, or legal fees, of any Purchaser. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides for customary reciprocal indemnification provisions relating to certain losses suffered by either party arising from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, or material omission, in any relevant registration statement or prospectus.

 

Board of Directors’ Recommendation and Required Vote

 

Approval of Proposal 1 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock represented and voting at a duly convened Special Meeting. The directors and executive officers of the Company, owning or controlling the vote with respect to an aggregate of 638,373 voting shares, or approximately 11.76% of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of the Record Date, are expected to vote in favor of Proposal 1. The directors who purchased and are also holders of Series E Preferred Stock recognize that they have a personal interest in the approval of Proposal 1 (see “Interests of Certain Persons in the Share Conversion and Other Matters”).

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 1.

 

PROPOSAL 2

 

APPROVAL OF AN ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE MEETING

 

If we fail to receive a sufficient number of votes to constitute a quorum to hold the Special Meeting or to approve Proposal 1 at the Special Meeting, we may propose to adjourn or postpone the Special Meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, for a period of not more than 45 days, to (i) constitute a quorum for purposes of the Special Meeting or (ii) solicit additional Proxies from shareholders who have not submitted proxies in favor of the approval of Proposal 1, as necessary. The only business that may be transacted at any reconvened meeting is business that could have been transacted at the meeting that was adjourned, for example, Proposal 1, unless further notice of the adjourned meeting has been given in compliance with the requirements for a special meeting that specifies the additional purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. During the reconvened meeting, votes that have previously been cast either in person or by proxy at the adjourned or postponed meeting will continue to be counted in the manner voted at the adjourned or postponed meeting.

 

We currently do not intend to propose adjourning or postponing the Special Meeting if there are sufficient votes represented at the Special Meeting to approve Proposal 1.

 

Board of Directors’ Recommendation and Required Vote

 

Approval of Proposal 2 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock represented and voting at the Special Meeting, assuming that a quorum is present.

 

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 2.

 

INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Certain of the Company’s directors and executive officers participated in the Private Placement and therefore have an interest in the outcome of the Proposals. The following directors purchased shares of Series E Preferred Stock in the private placement in the following amounts: David W. Bomboy, M.D., 14,085 shares; M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr., 2,000 Shares; E. Ricky Gibson, 3,775 shares; Charles R. Lightsey, 28,169 shares; Fred A. McMurry, 5,634 shares (1), Ted E. Parker, 9,859 shares; J. Douglas Seidenburg, 11,584 shares and 2,500(2) shares, and Andrew D. Stetelman, 5,634 shares.

 

(1)Shares held of record by Oak Grove Land Company, Inc. Fred A. McMurry is 33% owner of the company. Fred A. McMurry disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Oak Grove Land Company, Inc. except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(2)Shares held of record by M.D. Outdoor, LLC. J. Douglas Seidenburg is a 50% owner of the company. J. Douglas Seidenburg disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by M.D. Outdoor, LLC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

 

Assuming shareholder approval of Proposal 1 and the resulting issuance of common stock as described above, none of these individuals will have beneficial ownership in excess of five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the common stock.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN

BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of common stock in the Company owned by the directors, nominees for director, and executive officers, as of October 21, 2016.

 

Name of  Amount and Nature   Unvested   Percent of 
Beneficial Owner  of Beneficial Ownership(1)   Restricted Stock(2)   Class(3) 
             
David W. Bomboy, M.D.   106,995    4,000    2.04%
                
M. Ray (Hoppy)  Cole, Jr.   33,539    29,597    1.16%
                
E. Ricky Gibson   84,744    8,500    1.72%
                
Charles R. Lightsey   47,987    4,000    0.96%
                
Fred A. McMurry   79,885    4,000    1.55%
                
Gregory H. Mitchell   5,001    4,000    0.17%
                
Ted E. Parker   66,813    4,000    1.30%
                
J. Douglas Seidenburg   78,656    4,000    1.52%
                
Andrew D. Stetelman   38,283    4,000    0.78%
                
Dee Dee Lowery   19,282    11,091    0.56%
                
Executive Officers, Directors, and Nominees as a group   561,185    77,188    11.76%

 

 10 

 

 

(1)Includes shares for which the named person:
-has sole voting and investment power,
-has shared voting and investment power with a spouse, or
-holds in an IRA or other retirement plan program, unless otherwise indicated in these footnotes.
(2)Restricted Stock granted under The First Bancshares, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan
(3)Calculated based on 5,428,017 shares outstanding

 

 

 

Financial Statements

 

Our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements (including Notes thereto) at December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, as included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, are attached to the proxy statement as Appendix A and thereby incorporated by reference herein. Our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (including Notes thereto) at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, as included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, are attached to this proxy statement as Appendix B and thereby incorporated by reference herein. See “Incorporation by Reference of Information About the Company, Financial Statements and Related Information” below.

 

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

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and Results of Operations for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, as included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A and thereby incorporated by reference herein. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and Results of Operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, as included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix B and thereby incorporated by reference herein. See “Incorporation by Reference of Information About the Company, Financial Statements and Related Information” below.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

There have been no changes in or disagreements with our accountants required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 304 of Regulation S-K.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Information regarding our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk is contained in the section entitled “Liquidity and Market Risk Management” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, which is attached hereto as Appendix C. See “Incorporation by Reference of Information About the Company, Financial Statements and Related Information” below.

 

T. E. Lott & Company

 

Representatives of T. E. Lott & Company, the Company’s accounting firm are expected to be present at the meeting to respond to appropriate questions, and those representatives will also have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so.

 

 11 

 

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this document important business and financial information about the Company from other documents we file with the SEC and that are being provided with this proxy statement. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this document. Sections of the following documents are incorporated herein by reference:

 

· Our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements (including Notes thereto), and independent auditor’s reports thereto, at December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 on (i) on pages 30 through 74 of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2015 and (ii) pages 30 through 76 of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2014, which are included as Appendix A to this proxy statement;

 

· Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and Results of Operations for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 on (i) on pages 6 through 28 of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2015 and (ii) on pages 6 through 28 of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2014, which are included as Appendix A to this proxy statement;

 

· Our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (including Notes thereto) at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015 on pages 2 through 28 (Item 1 of Part I) of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, which is included as Appendix B to this proxy statement;

 

· Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and Results of Operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015 on pages 29 through 48 (Item 2 of Part I) of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, which is included as Appendix B to this proxy statement; and

 

· Information regarding our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk is contained in the section entitled “Liquidity and Market Risk Management” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on page 49 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, which is included as Appendix B to this proxy statement.

 

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

 

The cost of soliciting proxies from shareholders will be borne by the Company. The initial solicitation will be by mail. Thereafter, proxies may be solicited by directors, officers and employees of the Company or the bank, by means of telephone, telegraph or personal contact, but without additional compensation therefore. The Company will reimburse brokers and other persons holding shares as nominees for their reasonable expenses in sending proxy soliciting material to the beneficial owners.

 

The accompanying Proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2017 ANNUAL MEETING

 

SEC Rule 14a-8. If you are a shareholder who would like us to include your proposal in our notice of the 2017 annual meeting and related proxy materials, you must follow SEC Rule 14a-8. In submitting your proposal, our Corporate Secretary must receive your proposal, in writing, at our principal executive offices, no later than December 16, 2016. If you do not follow Rule 14a-8, we will not consider your proposal for inclusion in next year's proxy statement.

 

Director Nomination Procedures. Under our Bylaws, a shareholder who wishes to nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors directly at an annual meeting, or to propose any business to be considered at an annual meeting, must deliver advance notice of such nomination or business to the Company. The shareholder must be a shareholder as of the date the notice is delivered and at the time of the annual meeting and must be entitled to vote at the meeting. The notice must be in writing and contain the information specified in our Bylaws for a director nomination, and director nominees must satisfy the requirements specified in our Bylaws. If you would like to receive a printed copy of our Bylaws at no cost you may request these by contacting our Corporate Secretary in writing at The First Bancshares, Inc., 6480 US Highway 98 West, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39402 or by phone at 601-268-8998.

 

 12 

 

 

Based on this year's annual meeting date, to be timely, the written notice must be delivered not earlier than February 25, 2017 (the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of this year's annual meeting) and not later than April 6, 2017 (the 50th day prior to the first anniversary of this year's annual meeting) to the Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices by mail.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and we are required to file reports and proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, including Center Financial Corporation, that file electronically with the SEC. You may access the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at www.thefirstbank.com.

 

 13 

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

ANNUAL REPORTS ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
2015 ANNUAL REPORT

 

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

    December 31,  
    2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  
Earnings:                                        
Net interest income   $ 36,994     $ 33,398     $ 28,401     $ 22,194     $ 19,079  
Provision for loan losses     410       1,418       1,076       1,228       1,468  
                                         
Noninterest income     7,588       7,803       7,083       6,324       4,598  
Noninterest expense     32,161       30,734       28,165       22,164       18,870  
Net income     8,799       6,614       4,639       4,049       2,871  
Net income applicable to common stockholders     8,456       6,251       4,215       3,624       2,529  
                                         
Per  common share data:                                        
Basic net income per share   $ 1.57     $ 1.20     $ .98     $ 1.17     $ .83  
                                         
Diluted net income per share     1.55       1.19       .96       1.16       .82  
Per share data:                                        
Basic net income per share   $ 1.64     $ 1.27     $ 1.07     $ 1.31     $ .94  
Diluted net income per share     1.62       1.25       1.06       1.29       .93  
                                         
Selected Year End Balances:                                        
                                         
Total assets   $ 1,145,131     $ 1,093,768     $ 940,890     $ 721,385     $ 681,413  
Securities     254,959       270,174       258,023       226,301       221,176  
Loans, net of allowance     769,742       700,540       577,574       408,970       383,418  
Deposits     916,695       892,775       779,971       596,627       573,394  
Stockholders’ equity     103,436       96,216       85,108       65,885       60,425  

  

 5 

 

 

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Purpose

 

The purpose of management's discussion and analysis is to make the reader aware of the significant components, events, and changes in the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Company and The First during the year ended December 31, 2015, when compared to the years 2014 and 2013. The Company's consolidated financial statements and related notes should also be considered.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

In the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements, certain significant amounts are based upon judgment and estimates. The most critical of these is the accounting policy related to the allowance for loan losses. The allowance is based in large measure upon management's evaluation of borrowers' abilities to make loan payments, local and national economic conditions, and other subjective factors. If any of these factors were to deteriorate, management would update its estimates and judgments which may require additional loss provisions.

 

Companies are required to perform periodic reviews of individual securities in their investment portfolios to determine whether decline in the value of a security is other than temporary. A review of other-than-temporary impairment requires companies to make certain judgments regarding the materiality of the decline, its effect on the financial statements and the probability, extent and timing of a valuation recovery and the company’s intent and ability to hold the security. Pursuant to these requirements, Management assesses valuation declines to determine the extent to which such changes are attributable to fundamental factors specific to the issuer, such as financial condition, business prospects or other factors or market-related factors, such as interest rates. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are recorded in earnings as realized losses.

 

Goodwill is assessed for impairment both annually and when events or circumstances occur that make it more likely than not that impairment has occurred. As part of its testing, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount using these qualitative factors, the Company then compares the fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount, and then measures impaired loss by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. No impairment was indicated when the annual test was performed in 2015.

 

Overview

 

The First Bancshares, Inc. (the Company) was incorporated on June 23, 1995, and serves as a bank holding company for The First, A National Banking Association (“The First”), located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The First began operations on August 5, 1996, from its main office in the Oak Grove community, which is on the western side of Hattiesburg. The First has 30 locations in South Mississippi, South Alabama and Louisiana. See Note C of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding branch acquisitions. The Company and The First engage in a general commercial and retail banking business characterized by personalized service and local decision-making, emphasizing the banking needs of small to medium-sized businesses, professional concerns, and individuals.

 

 6 

 

 

The Company’s primary source of revenue is interest income and fees, which it earns by lending and investing the funds which are held on deposit. Because loans generally earn higher rates of interest than investments, the Company seeks to employ as much of its deposit funds as possible in the form of loans to individuals, businesses, and other organizations. To ensure sufficient liquidity, the Company also maintains a portion of its deposits in cash, government securities, deposits with other financial institutions, and overnight loans of excess reserves (known as “Federal Funds Sold”) to correspondent banks. The revenue which the Company earns (prior to deducting its overhead expenses) is essentially a function of the amount of the Company’s loans and deposits, as well as the profit margin (“interest spread”) and fee income which can be generated on these amounts.

 

The Company increased from approximately $1.1 billion in total assets, and $892.8 million in deposits at December 31, 2014 to approximately $1.1 billion in total assets, and $916.7 million in deposits at December 31, 2015. Loans net of allowance for loan losses increased from $701.0 million at December 31, 2014 to approximately $769.7 million at December 31, 2015. The Company increased from $96.2 million in stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2014 to approximately $103.4 million at December 31, 2015. The First reported net income of $9,620,000 and $7,385,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company reported consolidated net income applicable to common stockholders of $8,456,000 and $6,251,000, respectively. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto and the other financial data included elsewhere.

 

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

    December 31,  
    2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  
Earnings:                                        
Net interest income   $ 36,994     $ 33,398     $ 28,401     $ 22,194     $ 19,079  
Provision for loan losses     410       1,418       1,076       1,228       1,468  
Noninterest income     7,588       7,803       7,083       6,324       4,598  
Noninterest expense     32,161       30,734       28,165       22,164       18,870  
Net income     8,799       6,614       4,639       4,049       2,871  
Net income applicable to common stockholders     8,456       6,251       4,215       3,624       2,529  
                                         
Per common share data:                                        
Basic net income per share   $ 1.57     $ 1.20     $ .98     $ 1.17     $ .83  
Diluted net income per share     1.55       1.19       .96       1.16       .82  
Per share data:                                        
Basic net income per share   $ 1.64     $ 1.27     $ 1.07     $ 1.31     $ .94  
Diluted net income per share     1.62       1.25       1.06       1.29       .93  
                                         
Selected Year End Balances:                                        
                                         
Total assets   $ 1,145,131     $ 1,093,768     $ 940,890     $ 721,385     $ 681,413  
Securities     254,959       270,174       258,023       226,301       221,176  
Loans, net of allowance     769,742       700,540       577,574       408,970       383,418  
Deposits     916,695       892,775       779,971       596,627       573,394  
Stockholders’ equity     103,436       96,216       85,108       65,885       60,425  

 

 7 

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following is a summary of the results of operations by The First for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

    2015     2014  
    (In thousands)  
             
Interest income   $ 40,196     $ 36,365  
Interest expense     3,022       2,791  
Net interest income     37,174       33,574  
                 
Provision for loan losses     410       1,418  
                 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     36,764       32,156  
                 
Other income     7,589       7,439  
                 
Other expense     31,032       29,477  
                 
Income tax expense     3,701       2,733  
                 
Net income   $ 9,620     $ 7,385  

 

 8 

 

 

The following reconciles the above table to the amounts reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Company at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

 

    2015     2014  
    (In thousands)  
             
Net interest income:                
Net interest income of The First   $ 37,174     $ 33,574  
Intercompany eliminations     (180 )     (176 )
    $ 36,994     $ 33,398  
                 
Net income applicable to common stockholders:                
Net income of  The First   $ 9,620     $ 7,385  
Net loss of the Company, excluding intercompany accounts     (1,164 )     (1,134 )
    $ 8,456     $ 6,251  

 

Consolidated Net Income

 

The Company reported consolidated net income applicable to common stockholders of $8,456,242 for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to a consolidated net income of $6,250,743 for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in income was attributable to an increase in net interest income of $3.6 million or 10.8%, which was offset by an increase in other expenses of $1.4 million or 4.6%.

 

Consolidated Net Interest Income

 

The largest component of net income for the Company is net interest income, which is the difference between the income earned on assets and interest paid on deposits and borrowings used to support such assets. Net interest income is determined by the rates earned on the Company’s interest-earning assets and the rates paid on its interest-bearing liabilities, the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the degree of mismatch and the maturity and repricing characteristics of its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Consolidated net interest income was approximately $36,994,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to $33,398,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. This increase was the direct result of increased loan volumes during 2015 as compared to 2014. Average interest-bearing liabilities for the year 2015 were $822,708,000 compared to $746,025,000 for the year 2014. At December 31, 2015, the net interest spread, the difference between the yield on earning assets and the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities, was 3.55% compared to 3.50% at December 31, 2014. The net interest margin (which is net interest income divided by average earning assets) was 3.63% for the year 2015 compared to 3.58% for the year 2014. Rates paid on average interest-bearing liabilities decreased to .39% for the year 2015 compared to .40% for the year 2014. Interest earned on assets and interest accrued on liabilities is significantly influenced by market factors, specifically interest rates as set by Federal agencies. Average loans comprised 71.7% of average earning assets for the year 2015 compared to 67.8% for the year 2014.

 

 9 

 

 

Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates. The following tables depict, for the periods indicated, certain information related to the average balance sheet and average yields on assets and average costs of liabilities. Such yields are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of the corresponding assets or liabilities. Average balances have been derived from daily averages.

 

Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2015     2014     2013  
    Average
Balance
    Income/
Expenses
    Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
    Income/
Expenses
    Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
    Income/
Expenses
    Yield/
Rate
 
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Assets                                                                        
Earning Assets                                                                        
Loans (1)(2)   $ 730,326     $ 34,242       4.69 %   $ 632,049     $ 30,276       4.79 %   $ 583,200     $ 25,736       4.41 %
Securities     256,462       5,803       2.26 %     271,247       5,957       2.20 %     248,237       5,419       2.18 %
Federal funds sold (3)     24,582       64       .26 %     24,845       53       .21 %     18,564       62       .33 %
Other     7,585       93       1.23 %     3,827       85       2.22 %     7,404       101       1.36 %
Total earning assets     1,018,955       40,202       3.94 %     931,968       36,371       3.90 %     857,405       31,318       3.65 %
                                                                         
Cash and due from banks     31,378                       30,657                       25,447                  
Premises and  equipment     33,797                       33,252                       30,816                  
Other assets     44,375                       40,428                       33,314                  
Allowance for loan losses     (6,313 )                     (5,983 )                     (5,240 )                
Total assets   $ 1,122,192                     $ 1,030,322                     $ 941,742                  
                                                                         
Liabilities                                                                        
Interest-bearing liabilities   $ 822,708     $ 3,208       .39 %   $ 746,025     $ 2,973       .40 %   $ 728,322     $ 2,917       .40 %
Demand deposits (1)     196,284                       184,037                       115,909                  
Other liabilities     4,594                       11,990                       12,430                  
Stockholders’ equity     98,606                       88,270                       85,081                  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,122,192                     $ 1,030,322                     $ 941,742                  
                                                                         
Net interest spread                     3.55 %                     3.50 %                     3.25 %
Net yield on interest-earning assets           $ 36,994       3.63 %           $ 33,398       3.58 %           $ 28,401       3.31 %

 

 

(1) All loans and deposits were made to borrowers in the United States. Includes nonaccrual loans of $7,368, $6,056, and $3,181, respectively, during the periods presented. Loans include held for sale loans.
(2) Includes loan fees of $692, $717, and $525, respectively.
(3) Includes EBA-MNBB and Federal Reserve – New Orleans.

 

Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income. The following table presents the consolidated dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in volume and to changes in rate. The combined effect in both volume and rate which cannot be separately identified has been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and due to rate.

 

 10 

 

 

Analysis of Changes in Consolidated Net Interest Income

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

    Year Ended December 31,  
   

2015 versus 2014

Increase (decrease) due to

   

2014 versus 2013

Increase (decrease) due to

 
    Volume     Rate     Net     Volume     Rate     Net  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Earning Assets                                                
Loans   $ 3,826     $ 140     $ 3,966     $ 2,154     $ 2,386     $ 4,540  
Securities     (298 )     144       (154 )     502       36       538  
Federal funds sold     19       (8 )     11       21       (30 )     (9 )
Other short-term investments     3       5       8       (49 )     33       (16 )
Total interest income     3,550       281       3,831       2,628       2,425       5,053  
Interest-Bearing Liabilities                                                
Interest-bearing transaction accounts     204       66       270       88       (31 )     57  
Money market accounts and savings     6       (24 )     (18 )     82       (57 )     25  
Time deposits     (108 )     50       (58 )     59       62       121  
Borrowed funds     77       (36 )     41       1,113       (1,260 )     (147 )
Total interest expense     179       56       235       1,342       (1,286 )     56  
Net interest income   $ 3,371     $ 225     $ 3,596     $ 1,286     $ 3,711     $ 4,997  

 

Interest Sensitivity. The Company monitors and manages the pricing and maturity of its assets and liabilities in order to diminish the potential adverse impact that changes in interest rates could have on its net interest income. A monitoring technique employed by the Company is the measurement of the Company's interest sensitivity "gap," which is the positive or negative dollar difference between assets and liabilities that are subject to interest rate repricing within a given period of time. The Company also performs asset/liability modeling to assess the impact varying interest rates and balance sheet mix assumptions will have on net interest income. Interest rate sensitivity can be managed by repricing assets or liabilities, selling securities available-for-sale, replacing an asset or liability at maturity, or adjusting the interest rate during the life of an asset or liability. Managing the amount of assets and liabilities repricing in the same time interval helps to hedge the risk and minimize the impact on net interest income of rising or falling interest rates. The Company evaluates interest sensitivity risk and then formulates guidelines regarding asset generation and repricing, funding sources and pricing, and off-balance sheet commitments in order to decrease interest rate sensitivity risk.

 

 11 

 

 

The following tables illustrate the Company's consolidated interest rate sensitivity and consolidated cumulative gap position at December 31, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

 

    December 31, 2013  
   

Within

Three

Months

   

After Three

Through

Twelve

Months

   

Within

One

Year

   

Greater Than

One Year or

Nonsensitive

    Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Assets                                        
Earning Assets:                                        
Loans   $ 89,314     $ 98,315     $ 187,629     $ 395,673     $ 583,302  
Securities (2)     10,114       16,006       26,120       231,903       258,023  
Funds sold and other     967       14,205       15,172       -       15,172  
Total earning assets   $ 100,395     $ 128,526     $ 228,921     $ 627,576     $ 856,497  
Liabilities                                        
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                        
Interest-bearing deposits:                                        
NOW accounts (1)   $ -     $ 240,513     $ 240,513     $ -     $ 240,513  
Money market accounts     107,564       -       107,564       -       107,564  
Savings deposits (1)     -       55,113       55,113       -       55,113  
Time deposits     46,875       87,475       134,350       68,637       202,987  
Total interest-bearing deposits     154,439       383,101       537,540       68,637       606,177  
Borrowed funds (3)     37,000       4,000       41,000       11,000       52,000  
Total interest-bearing liabilities     191,439       387,101       578,540       79,637       658,177  
Interest-sensitivity gap per period   $ (91,044 )   $ (258,575 )   $ (349,619 )   $ 547,939     $ 198,320  
Cumulative gap at December 31, 2013   $ (91,044 )   $ (349,619 )   $ (349,619 )   $ 198,320     $ 198,320  
Ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets at December 31, 2013     (10.6 )%     (40.8 )%     (40.8 )%     23.2 %        

 

    December 31, 2014  
   

Within

Three

Months

   

After Three

Through

Twelve

Months

   

Within

One

Year

   

Greater Than

One Year or

Nonsensitive

    Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Assets                                        
Earning Assets:                                        
Loans   $ 99,183     $ 82,644     $ 181,827     $ 524,808     $ 706,635  
Securities (2)     14,266       14,880       29,146       241,028       270,174  
Funds sold and other     386       13,899       14,285       -       14,285  
Total earning assets   $ 113,835     $ 111,423     $ 225,258     $ 765,836     $ 991,094  
Liabilities                                        
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                        
Interest-bearing deposits:                                        
NOW accounts (1)   $ -     $ 301,721     $ 301,721     $ -     $ 301,721  
Money market accounts     117,018       -       117,018       -       117,018  
Savings deposits (1)     -       66,615       66,615       -       66,615  
Time deposits     53,529       78,581       132,110       73,949       206,059  
Total interest-bearing deposits     170,547       446,917       617,464       73,949       691,413  
Borrowed funds (3)     40,004       40,464       80,468       8,982       89,450  
Total interest-bearing liabilities     210,551       487,381       697,932       82,931       780,863  
Interest-sensitivity gap per period   $ (96,716 )   $ (375,958 )   $ (472,674 )   $ 682,905     $ 210,231  
Cumulative gap at December 31, 2014   $ (96,716 )   $ (472,674 )   $ (472,674 )   $ 210,231     $ 210,231  
Ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets at  December 31, 2014     (9.8 )%     (47.7 )%     (47.7 )%     21.2 %        

 

 12 

 

 

    December 31, 2015  
   

Within

Three

Months

   

After Three

Through

Twelve

Months

   

Within

One

Year

   

Greater Than

One Year or

Nonsensitive

    Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Assets                                        
Earning Assets:                                        
Loans   $ 101,160     $ 76,996     $ 178,156     $ 598,333     $ 776,489  
Securities (2)     14,831       18,100       32,931       222,028       254,959  
Funds sold and other     321       17,303       17,624       -       17,624  
Total earning assets   $ 116,312     $ 112,399     $ 228,711     $ 820,361     $ 1,049,072  
Liabilities                                        
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                        
Interest-bearing deposits:                                        
NOW accounts (1)   $ -     $ 373,686     $ 373,686     $ -     $ 373,686  
Money market accounts     105,434       -       105,434       -       105,434  
Savings deposits (1)     -       68,657       68,657       -       68,657  
Time deposits     37,222       83,549       120,771       58,702       179,473  
Total interest-bearing deposits     142,656       525,892       668,548       58,702       727,250  
Borrowed funds (3)     81,130       21,191       102,321       8,000       110,321  
Total interest-bearing liabilities     223,786       547,083       770,869       66,702       837,571  
Interest-sensitivity gap per period   $ (107,474 )   $ (434,684 )   $ (542,158 )   $ 753,659     $ 211,501  
Cumulative gap at December 31, 2015   $ (107,474 )   $ (542,158 )   $ (542,158 )   $ 211,501     $ 211,501  
Ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets at  December 31, 2015     (10.2 )%     (51.7 )%     (51.7 )%     20.2 %        

 

 

 

 

(1) NOW and savings accounts are subject to immediate withdrawal and repricing. These deposits do not tend to immediately react to changes in interest rates and the Company believes these deposits are a stable and predictable funding source. Therefore, these deposits are included in the repricing period that management believes most closely matches the periods in which they are likely to reprice rather than the period in which the funds can be withdrawn contractually.
(2) Securities include mortgage backed and other installment paying obligations based upon stated maturity dates.
(3) Does not include subordinated debentures of $10,310,000

 

The Company generally would benefit from increasing market rates of interest when it has an asset-sensitive gap and generally from decreasing market rates of interest when it is liability sensitive. The Company currently is liability sensitive within the one-year time frame. However, the Company's gap analysis is not a precise indicator of its interest sensitivity position. The analysis presents only a static view of the timing of maturities and repricing opportunities, without taking into consideration that changes in interest rates do not affect all assets and liabilities equally. For example, rates paid on a substantial portion of core deposits may change contractually within a relatively short time frame, but those rates are viewed by management as significantly less interest-sensitive than market-based rates such as those paid on non-core deposits. Accordingly, management believes a liability sensitive-position within one year would not be as indicative of the Company’s true interest sensitivity as it would be for an organization which depends to a greater extent on purchased funds to support earning assets. Net interest income is also affected by other significant factors, including changes in the volume and mix of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The Company has developed policies and procedures for evaluating the overall quality of its credit portfolio and the timely identification of potential problem loans. Management’s judgment as to the adequacy of the allowance is based upon a number of assumptions about future events which it believes to be reasonable, but which may not prove to be accurate. Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the loan loss allowance will not be required.

 

 13 

 

 

The Company’s allowance consists of two parts. The first part is determined in accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the FASB regarding the allowance. The Company’s determination of this part of the allowance is based upon quantitative and qualitative factors. A loan loss history based upon the prior three years is utilized in determining the appropriate allowance. Historical loss factors are determined by criticized and uncriticized loans by loan type. These historical loss factors are applied to the loans by loan type to determine an indicated allowance. The loss factors of peer groups are considered in the determination of the allowance and are used to assist in the establishment of a long-term loss history for areas in which this data is unavailable and incorporated into the qualitative factors to be considered. The historical loss factors may also be modified based upon other qualitative factors including but not limited to local and national economic conditions, trends of delinquent loans, changes in lending policies and underwriting standards, concentrations, and management’s knowledge of the loan portfolio. These factors require judgment upon the part of management and are based upon state and national economic reports received from various institutions and agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank, United States Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, meetings with the Company’s loan officers and loan committees, and data and guidance received or obtained from the Company’s regulatory authorities.

 

The second part of the allowance is determined in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB regarding impaired loans. Impaired loans are determined based upon a review by internal loan review and senior loan officers. Impaired loans are loans for which the Bank does not expect to receive contractual interest and/or principal by the due date. A specific allowance is assigned to each loan determined to be impaired based upon the value of the loan’s underlying collateral. Appraisals are used by management to determine the value of the collateral.

 

The sum of the two parts constitutes management’s best estimate of an appropriate allowance for loan losses. When the estimated allowance is determined, it is presented to the Company’s audit committee for review and approval on a quarterly basis.

 

Our allowance for loan losses model is focused on establishing a loss history within the Bank and relying on specific impairment to determine credits that the Bank feels the ultimate repayment source will be liquidation of the subject collateral.  Our model takes into account many other factors as well such as local and national economic factors, portfolio trends, non performing asset, charge off, and delinquency trends as well as underwriting standards and the experience of branch management and lending staff.   These trends are measured in the following ways:

 

Local Trends: (Updated quarterly usually the month following quarter end)

Local Unemployment Rate
Insurance Issues (Windpool Areas)
Bankruptcy Rates (Increasing/Declining)
Local Commercial R/E Vacancy Rates
Established Market/New Market
Hurricane Threat

 

 14 

 

 

National Trends: (Updated quarterly usually the month following quarter end)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Home Sales
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Interest Rate Environment (Increasing/Steady/Declining)
Single Family Construction Starts
Inflation Rate
Retail Sales

 

Portfolio Trends: (Updated monthly as the ALLL is calculated)

Second Mortgages
Single Pay Loans
Non-Recourse Loans
Limited Guaranty Loans
Loan to Value Exceptions
Secured by Non-Owner Occupied Property
Raw Land Loans
Unsecured Loans

 

Measurable Bank Trends: (Updated quarterly)

Delinquency Trends
Non-Accrual Trends
Net Charge Offs
Loan Volume Trends
Non-Performing Assets
Underwriting Standards/Lending Policies
Experience/Depth of Bank Lending Management

 

Our model takes into account many local and national economic factors as well as portfolio trends.  Local and national economic trends are measured quarterly, typically in the month following quarter end to facilitate the release of economic data from the reporting agencies.  These factors are allocated a basis point value ranging from -25 to +25 basis points and directly affect the amount reserved for each branch.  As of December 31, 2015, most economic indicators both local and national pointed to a weak economy thus most factors were assigned a positive basis point value. This increased the amount of the allowance that was indicated by historical loss factors.  Portfolio trends are measured monthly on a per branch basis to determine the percentage of loans in each branch that the Bank has determined as having more risk.  Portfolio risk is defined as areas in the Bank’s loan portfolio in which there is additional risk involved in the loan type or some other area in which the Bank has identified as having more risk.  Each area is tracked on bank-wide as well as on a branch-wide basis.  Branches are analyzed based on the gross percentage of concentrations of the Bank as a whole.  Portfolio risk is determined by analyzing concentrations in the areas outlined by determining the percentage of each branch’s total portfolio that is made up of the particular loan type and then comparing that concentration to the Bank as a whole. Branches with concentrations in these areas are graded on a scale from – 25 basis points to + 25 basis points. Second mortgages, single pay loans, loans secured by raw land, unsecured loans and loans secured by non owner occupied property are considered to be of higher risk than those of a secured and amortizing basis. LTV exceptions place the Bank at risk in the event of repossession or foreclosure. 

 

 15 

 

 

Measurable Bank Wide Trends are measured on a quarterly basis as well. This consists of data tracked on a bank wide basis in which we have identified areas of additional risk or the need for additional allocation to the allowance for loan loss.   Data is updated quarterly, each area is assigned a basis point value from -25 basis points to + 25 basis points based on how each area measures to the previous time period.  Net charge offs, loan volume trends and non performing assets have all trended upwards therefore increasing the need for increased funds reserved for loan losses.  Underwriting standards/ lending standards as well as experience/ depth of bank lending management is evaluated on a per branch level. 

 

Loans are reviewed for impairment when, in the Bank’s opinion, the ultimate source of repayment will be the liquidation of collateral through foreclosure or repossession.  Once identified updated collateral values are obtained on these loans and impairment worksheets are prepared to determine if impairment exists.  This method takes into account any expected expenses related to the disposal of the subject collateral.  Specific allowances for these loans are done on a per loan basis as each loan is reviewed for impairment.  Updated appraisals are ordered on real estate loans and updated valuations are ordered on non real estate loans to determine actual market value. 

 

At December 31, 2015, the consolidated allowance for loan losses amounted to approximately $6.7 million, or .87% of outstanding loans. Including valuation accounting adjustments on acquired loans, the total valuation plus ALLL was 1.11% of loans at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2014, the allowance for loan losses amounted to approximately $6.1 million, which was .86% of outstanding loans. The Company’s provision for loan losses was $410,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to $1,418,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis. Impaired loans not deemed collateral dependent are analyzed according to the ultimate repayment source, whether that is cash flow from the borrower, guarantor or some other source of repayment. Impaired loans are deemed collateral dependent if in the Bank’s opinion the ultimate source of repayment will be generated from the liquidation of collateral.

 

The Company discontinues accrual of interest on loans when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that a borrower’s financial condition is such that the collection of interest is doubtful. Generally, the Company will place a delinquent loan in nonaccrual status when the loan becomes 90 days or more past due. At the time a loan is placed in nonaccrual status, all interest which has been accrued on the loan but remains unpaid is reversed and deducted from earnings as a reduction of reported interest income. No additional interest is accrued on the loan balance until the collection of both principal and interest becomes reasonably certain.

 

 16 

 

 

The following tables illustrate the Company’s past due and nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

    December 31, 2015  
    (In thousands)  
    Past Due 30 to
89 Days
    Past Due 90 days or
more and still accruing
    Non-Accrual  
                   
Real Estate-construction   $ 311     $ -     $ 2,956  
Real Estate-mortgage     3,339       29       2,055  
Real Estate-nonfarm nonresidential     736       -       2,225  
Commercial     97       -       100  
Consumer     70       -       32  
Total   $ 4,553     $ 29     $ 7,368  

 

    December 31, 2014  
    (In thousands)  
    Past Due 30 to
89 Days
    Past Due 90 days or
more and still accruing
    Non-Accrual  
                   
Real Estate-construction   $ 428     $ -     $ 2,747  
Real Estate-mortgage     3,208       208       2,164  
Real Estate-nonfarm nonresidential     3,408       461       1,102  
Commercial     29       -       5  
Consumer     90       -       38  
Total   $ 7,163     $ 669     $ 6,056  

 

Total nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2015, amounted to $7.4 million which was an increase of $1.3 million from the December 31, 2014, amount of $6.1 million. Management believes these relationships were adequately reserved at December 31, 2015. Restructured loans not reported as past due or nonaccrual at December 31, 2015, amounted to $2.8 million.

 

A potential problem loan is one in which management has serious doubts about the borrower’s future performance under the terms of the loan contract. These loans are current as to principal and interest and, accordingly, they are not included in nonperforming asset categories. The level of potential problem loans is one factor used in the determination of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. At December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, The First had potential problem loans of $17,878,000 and $20,946,000, respectively.

 

 17 

 

 

Consolidated Allowance For Loan Losses

(In thousands)

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  
                               
Average loans outstanding   $ 730,326     $ 632,049     $ 583,200     $ 388,012     $ 354,295  
Loans outstanding at year end   $ 776,489     $ 706,635     $ 583,302     $ 413,697     $ 387,929  
                                         
Total nonaccrual loans   $ 7,368     $ 6,056     $ 3,181     $ 3,401     $ 5,125  
                                         
Beginning balance of allowance   $ 6,095     $ 5,728     $ 4,727     $ 4,511     $ 4,617  
Loans charged-off     (843 )     (1,459 )     (759 )     (1,190 )     (1,987 )
Total loans charged-off     (843 )     (1,459 )     (759 )     (1,190 )     (1,987 )
Total recoveries     1,085       408       684       178       413  
Net loans (charged-off) recoveries     242       (1,051 )     (75 )     (1,012 )     (1,574 )
Provision for loan losses     410       1,418       1,076       1,228       1,468  
Balance at year end   $ 6,747     $ 6,095     $ 5,728     $ 4,727     $ 4,511  
                                         
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans     (.03 )%     .17 %     .01 %     .26 %     .44 %
Allowance as percent of total loans     .87 %     .86 %     .98 %     1.14 %     1.16 %
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans     .95 %     .86 %     .55 %     .82 %     1.32 %
Allowance as a multiple of nonaccrual loans     .92 X     1.0 X     1.8 X     1.4 X     .88 X

 

At December 31, 2015, the components of the allowance for loan losses consisted of the following:

 

    Allowance  
    (In thousands)  
Allocated:        
Impaired loans   $ 957  
Graded loans     5,790  
    $ 6,747  

 

Graded loans are those loans or pools of loans assigned a grade by internal loan review.

 

 18 

 

 

The following table represents the activity of the allowance for loan losses for the years 2015 and 2014.

 

Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2015     2014  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
             
Balance at beginning of  year   $ 6,095     $ 5,728  
Charge-offs:                
Real Estate-construction     (162 )     (47 )
Real Estate-mortgage     (372 )     (1,156 )
Real Estate-nonfarm  nonresidential     (- )     (- )
Commercial     (183 )     (89 )
Consumer     (126 )     (167 )
Total     (843 )     (1,459 )
Recoveries:                
Real Estate-construction     63       96  
Real Estate-mortgage     827       212  
Real Estate-nonfarm  nonresidential     15       17  
Commercial     99       15  
Consumer     81       68  
Total     1,085       408  
Net (Charge-offs) Recoveries     242       (1,051 )
Provision for Loan Losses     410       1,418  
Balance at end of year   $ 6,747     $ 6,095  

 

The following tables represent how the allowance for loan losses is allocated to a particular loan type as well as the percentage of the category to total loans at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses

 

    December 31, 2015  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
    Amount    

% of loans

in each category

to total loans

 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 895       17.1 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,018       58.4 %
Consumer Real Estate     1,477       21.9 %
Consumer     141       2.5 %
Unallocated     1,216       0.1 %
Total   $ 6,747       100 %

 

    December 31, 2014  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
    Amount    

% of loans

in each category

to total loans

 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 713       15.3 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,355       57.9 %
Consumer Real Estate     1,852       24.2 %
Consumer     175       2.6 %
Unallocated     -       -  
Total   $ 6,095       100 %

 

 19 

 

 

Noninterest Income and Expense

 

Noninterest Income. The Company’s primary source of noninterest income is service charges on deposit accounts. Other sources of noninterest income include bankcard fees, commissions on check sales, safe deposit box rent, wire transfer fees, official check fees and bank owned life insurance income.

 

Noninterest income decreased $215,000 or 2.8% during 2015 to $7,589,000 from $7,803,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. The deposit activity fees were $5,014,000 for 2015 compared to $4,262,000 for 2014. Other service charges decreased by $392,000 or 20.2% from $1,938,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, to $1,546,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Impairment losses on investment securities were $0 for 2015 and 2014.

 

Noninterest expense increased from $30.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, to $32.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company experienced slight increases in most expense categories. The largest increase was in salaries and employee benefits, which increased by $1.1 million in 2015 as compared to 2014. These increases were due in part to a full year of the Bay Bank branches and the addition of the Mortgage Connection.

 

The following table sets forth the primary components of noninterest expense for the periods indicated:

 

Noninterest Expense

 

    Years ended December 31,  
    2015     2014     2013  
    (In thousands)  
                   
Salaries and employee benefits   $ 18,537     $ 17,462     $ 14,855  
Occupancy     3,422       3,141       2,648  
Equipment     1,199       1,541       1,452  
Marketing and public relations     497       445       451  
Data processing     150       161       169  
Supplies and printing     300       498       455  
Telephone     631       616       731  
Correspondent services     104       83       74  
Deposit and other insurance     1,051       1,048       834  
Professional and consulting fees     1,332       1,618       2,433  
Postage     400       302       303  
ATM expense     763       689       639  
Other     3,775       3,130       3,121  
                         
Total   $ 32,161     $ 30,734     $ 28,165  

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense consists of two components. The first is the current tax expense which represents the expected income tax to be paid to taxing authorities. The Company also recognizes deferred tax for future income/deductible amounts resulting from differences in the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities.

 

 20 

 

 

Analysis of Financial Condition

 

Earning Assets

 

Loans. Loans typically provide higher yields than the other types of earning assets, and thus one of the Company's goals is for loans to be the largest category of the Company's earning assets. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, average loans accounted for 71.7% and 67.8% of average earning assets. Management attempts to control and counterbalance the inherent credit and liquidity risks associated with the higher loan yields without sacrificing asset quality to achieve its asset mix goals. Loans averaged $730.3 million during 2015, as compared to $632.0 million during 2014, and $583.2 million during 2013.

 

The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio by category:

 

Composition of Loan Portfolio

 

    December 31,  
    2015     2014     2013  
    Amount    

Percent

Of Total

    Amount    

Percent

of Total

    Amount    

Percent

of Total

 
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Mortgage loans held for sale   $ 3,974       0.5 %   $ 2,103       0.3 %   $ 3,680       0.6 %
Commercial, financial and agricultural     129,197       16.6 %     106,109       15.0 %     81,792       14.0 %
Real Estate:                                                
Mortgage-commercial     253,309       32.6 %     238,602       33.8 %     212,388       36.4 %
Mortgage-residential     272,180       35.1 %     256,406       36.3 %     202,343       34.7 %
Construction     99,161       12.8 %     84,935       12.0 %     67,287       11.5 %
Lease Financing Receivable     2,650       0.3 %                                
Consumer and other     16,018       2.1 %     18,480       2.6 %     15,812       2.8 %
Total loans     776,489       100 %     706,635       100 %     583,302       100 %
Allowance for loan losses     (6,747 )             (6,095 )             (5,728 )        
Net loans   $ 769,742             $ 700,540             $ 577,574          

 

In the context of this discussion, a "real estate mortgage loan" is defined as any loan, other than loans for construction purposes, secured by real estate, regardless of the purpose of the loan. The Company follows the common practice of financial institutions in the Company’s market area of obtaining a security interest in real estate whenever possible, in addition to any other available collateral. This collateral is taken to reinforce the likelihood of the ultimate repayment of the loan and tends to increase the magnitude of the real estate loan portfolio component. Generally, the Company limits its loan-to-value ratio to 80%. Management attempts to maintain a conservative philosophy regarding its underwriting guidelines and believes it will reduce the risk elements of its loan portfolio through strategies that diversify the lending mix.

 

Loans held for sale consist of mortgage loans originated by the Bank and sold into the secondary market. Commitments from investors to purchase the loans are obtained upon origination.

 

 21 

 

 

The following table sets forth the Company's commercial and construction real estate loans maturing within specified intervals at December 31, 2015.

 

Loan Maturity Schedule and Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates

 

    December 31, 2015  
Type  

One Year

or Less

   

Over One Year

Through

Five Years

   

Over Five

Years

    Total  
    (In thousands)  
                         
Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 44,176     $ 63,078     $ 21,943     $ 129,197  
Real estate – construction     44,720       36,189       18,252       99,161  
    $ 88,896     $ 99,267     $ 40,195     $ 228,358  
                                 
Loans maturing after one year with:                                
Fixed interest rates                           $ 115,777  
Floating interest rates                             23,685  
                            $ 139,462  

 

The information presented in the above table is based on the contractual maturities of the individual loans, including loans which may be subject to renewal at their contractual maturity. Renewal of such loans is subject to review and credit approval, as well as modification of terms upon their maturity.

 

Investment Securities. The investment securities portfolio is a significant component of the Company's total earning assets. Total securities averaged $256.5 million in 2015, as compared to $271.2 million in 2014 and $248.2 million in 2013. This represents 25.2%, 29.1%, and 29.0% of the average earning assets for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2015, investment securities were $255.0 million and represented 24.5% of earning assets. The Company attempts to maintain a portfolio of high quality, highly liquid investments with returns competitive with short-term U.S. Treasury or agency obligations. This objective is particularly important as the Company focuses on growing its loan portfolio. The Company primarily invests in securities of U.S. Government agencies, municipals, and corporate obligations with maturities up to five years.

 

The following table summarizes the carrying value of securities for the dates indicated.

 

Securities Portfolio

 

      December 31,  
      2015       2014       2013  
    (In thousands)  
Available-for-sale        
U. S. Government agencies and Mortgage-backed Securities   $ 118,536     $ 120,407     $ 108,148  
States and municipal subdivisions     97,889       104,582       108,079  
Corporate obligations     22,346       28,785       26,852  
Mutual finds     961       972       972  
Total available-for-sale     239,732       254,746       244,051  
Held-to-maturity                        
U.S. Government agencies     1,092       2,193       2,438  
States and municipal subdivisions     6,000       6,000       6,000  
Total held-to-maturity     7,092       8,193       8,438  
Total   $ 246,824     $ 262,939     $ 252,489  
                         

 

 22 

 

 

The following table shows, at carrying value, the scheduled maturities and average yields of securities held at December 31, 2015.

 

Investment Securities Maturity Distribution and Yields (1)

 

    December 31, 2015  
          After One But     After Five But        
(Dollars in thousands)   Within One Year     Within Five Years     Within Ten Years     After Ten Years  
    Amount     Yield     Amount     Yield     Amount     Yield     Amount     Yield  
Held-to-maturity:                                                                
U.S. Government agencies (2)   $ -       -     $ -       -     $ -       -     $ -       -  
States and municipal subdivisions     -       -       -       -       6,000,000       .93 %     -       -  
Total investment securities held-to-maturity   $ -             $ -             $ 6,000,000             $ -          
Available-for-sale:                                                                
U.S. Government agencies (3)   $ 7,034,600       .85 %   $ 9,602,910       1.25 %   $ 469,976       2.78 %   $ 2,503,464       3.20 %
States and municipal subdivisions     11,873,559       2.39 %     33,931,040       3.07 %     39,538,380       4.09 %     12,546,352       4.70 %
Corporate obligations and other     3,520,980       2.24 %     16,291,456       1.91 %     2,476,187       2.0 %     1,018,402       2.00 %
Total investment securities available-for-sale   $ 22,429,139             $ 59,825,406             $ 42,484,543             $ 16,068,218          

 

 

(1) Investments with a call feature are shown as of the contractual maturity date.
(2) Excludes mortgage-backed securities totaling $1.1 million with a yield of 2.63%.
(3) Excludes mortgage-backed securities totaling $98.9 million with a yield of 2.34% and mutual funds of $.9 million.

 

Short-Term Investments. Short-term investments, consisting of Federal Funds Sold, funds in due from banks and interest-bearing deposits with banks, averaged $24.6 million in 2015, $24.8 million in 2014, and $18.6 million in 2013. At December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, short-term investments totaled $321,000 and $386,000, respectively. These funds are a primary source of the Company's liquidity and are generally invested in an earning capacity on an overnight basis.

 

Deposits

 

Deposits. Average total deposits increased $109.8 million, or 14.3% in 2014. Average total deposits increased $75.2 million, or 8.6% in 2015. At December 31, 2015, total deposits were $916.7 million, compared to $892.8 million a year earlier, an increase of $23.9 million, or 2.7%.

 

 23 

 

 

The following table sets forth the deposits of the Company by category for the period indicated.

 

Deposits

 

    December 31,  
(Dollars in thousands)   2015     2014     2013  
          Percent of           Percent of           Percent of  
    Amount     Deposits     Amount     Deposits     Amount     Deposits  
                                     
Noninterest-bearing accounts   $ 189,445       20.6 %   $ 201,362       22.6 %   $ 173,793       22.3 %
NOW accounts     373,686       40.8 %     301,721       33.8 %     240,514       30.8 %
Money market accounts     105,434       11.5 %     117,018       13.1 %     107,564       13.8 %
Savings accounts     68,657       7.5 %     66,615       7.5 %     55,113       7.1 %
Time deposits less than $100,000     73,868       8.1 %     85,365       9.6 %     86,363       11.1 %
Time deposits of $100,000 or over     105,605       11.5 %     120,694       13.4 %     116,624       14.9 %
Total deposits   $ 916,695       100 %   $ 892,775       100 %   $ 779,971       100 %

 

The Company’s loan-to-deposit ratio was 84.3% at December 31, 2015 and 78.9% at December 31, 2014. The loan-to-deposit ratio averaged 76.8% during 2015. Core deposits, which exclude time deposits of $100,000 or more, provide a relatively stable funding source for the Company's loan portfolio and other earning assets. The Company's core deposits were $811.1 million at December 31, 2015 and $772.1 million at December 31, 2014. Management anticipates that a stable base of deposits will be the Company's primary source of funding to meet both its short-term and long-term liquidity needs in the future. The Company has purchased brokered deposits from time to time to help fund loan growth. Brokered deposits and jumbo certificates of deposit generally carry a higher interest rate than traditional core deposits. Further, brokered deposit customers typically do not have loan or other relationships with the Company. The Company has adopted a policy not to permit brokered deposits to represent more than 10% of all of the Company’s deposits.

 

The maturity distribution of the Company's certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more at December 31, 2015, is shown in the following table. The Company did not have any other time deposits of $100,000 or more.

 

Maturities of Certificates of Deposit

of $100,000 or More

 

          After Three              
    Within Three     Through     After Twelve        
(In thousands)   Months     Twelve Months     Months     Total  
                                 
December 31, 2015   $ 22,363     $ 48,497     $ 34,745     $ 105,605  

 

Borrowed Funds

 

Borrowed funds consist of advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, federal funds purchased and reverse repurchase agreements. At December 31, 2015, advances from the FHLB totaled $100.0 million compared to $84.5 million at December 31, 2014. The advances are collateralized by a blanket lien on the first mortgage loans in the amount of the outstanding borrowings, FHLB capital stock, and amounts on deposit with the FHLB. There were $5.3 million and $0 federal funds purchased at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

 24 

 

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements consist of one $5,000,000 agreement. The agreement is secured by securities with a fair value of $5,501,503 at December 31, 2015 and $7,443,951 at December 31, 2014. The maturity date of the remaining agreement is September 26, 2017, with a rate of 3.81%.

 

Subordinated Debentures

 

In 2006, the Company issued subordinated debentures of $4,124,000 to The First Bancshares, Inc. Statutory Trust 2 (Trust 2). The Company is the sole owner of the equity of the Trust 2. The Trust 2 issued $4,000,000 of preferred securities to investors. The Company makes interest payments and will make principal payments on the debentures to the Trust 2. These payments will be the source of funds used to retire the preferred securities, which are redeemable at any time beginning in 2011 and thereafter, and mature in 2036. The Company entered into this arrangement to provide funding for expected growth.

 

In 2007, the Company issued subordinated debentures of $6,186,000 to The First Bancshares, Inc. Statutory Trust 3 (Trust 3). The Company is the sole owner of the equity of the Trust 3. The Trust 3 issued $6,000,000 of preferred securities to investors. The Company makes interest payments and will make principal payments on the debentures to the Trust 3. These payments will be the source of funds used to retire the preferred securities, which are redeemable at any time beginning in 2012 and thereafter, and mature in 2037. The Company entered into this arrangement to provide funding for expected growth.

 

Capital

 

Total stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2015, was $103.4 million, an increase of $7.2 million or approximately 7.5%, compared with stockholders' equity of $96.2 million as of December 31, 2014.

 

The Federal Reserve Board and bank regulatory agencies require bank holding companies and financial institutions to maintain capital at adequate levels based on a percentage of assets and off-balance sheet exposures, adjusted for risk weights ranging from 0% to 600%. Under the risk-based standard, capital is classified into two tiers. Tier 1 capital consists of common stockholders' equity, excluding the unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, minus certain intangible assets. Tier 2 capital consists of the general reserve for loan losses, subject to certain limitations. An institution’s total risk-based capital for purposes of its risk-based capital ratio consists of the sum of its Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. The risk-based regulatory minimum requirements are 6% for Tier 1 and 8% for total risk-based capital.

 

Bank holding companies and banks are also required to maintain capital at a minimum level based on total assets, which is known as the leverage ratio. The minimum requirement for the leverage ratio is 4%. All but the highest rated institutions are required to maintain ratios 100 to 200 basis points above the minimum. The Company and The First exceeded their minimum regulatory capital ratios as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

 25 

 

 

The Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation approved final capital rules in July 2013, that substantially amend the existing capital rules for banks. These new rules reflect, in part, certain standards initially adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010 (which standards are commonly referred to as “Basel III”) as well as requirements contemplated by the Dodd-Frank Act.

 

Under the new capital rules, the Company is required to meet certain minimum capital requirements that differ from past capital requirements. The rules implement a new capital ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets. Common equity Tier 1 capital generally consists of retained earnings and common stock (subject to certain adjustments) as well as accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), except to the extent that the Company exercised a one-time irrevocable option to exclude certain components of AOCI as of March 31, 2015. The Company will also be required to establish a “conservation buffer,” consisting of a common equity Tier 1 capital amount equal to 2.5% of risk-weighted assets to be phased in by 2019. An institution that does not meet the conservation buffer will be subject to restrictions on certain activities including payment of dividends, stock repurchases, and discretionary bonuses to executive officers.

 

The prompt corrective action rules are modified to include the common equity Tier 1 capital ratio and to increase the Tier 1 capital ratio requirements for the various thresholds. For example, the requirements for the Company to be considered well-capitalized under the rules will be a 5.0% leverage ratio, a 6.5% common equity Tier 1capital ratio, an 8.0% Tier 1 capital ratio, and a 10.0% total capital ratio. To be adequately capitalized, those ratios are 4.0%, 4.5%, 6.0%, and 8.0%, respectively.

 

The rules modify the manner in which certain capital elements are determined. The rules make changes to the methods of calculating the risk-weighting of certain assets, which in turn affects the calculation of the risk-weighted capital ratios. Higher risk weights are assigned to various categories of assets, including commercial real estate loans, credit facilities that finance the acquisition, development or construction of real property, certain exposures or credit that are 90 days past due or are nonaccrual, securitization exposures, and in certain cases mortgage servicing rights and deferred tax assets.

 

The Company was required to comply with the new capital rules on January 1, 2015, with a measurement date of March 31, 2015. The conservation buffer will be phased-in beginning in 2016, and will take full effect on January 1, 2019. Certain calculations under the rules will also have phase-in periods.

 

Analysis of Capital

 

    Adequately     Well     The Company     The First  
Capital Ratios   Capitalized     Capitalized     December 31,     December 31,  
                2015     2014     2015     2014  
                               
Leverage     4.0 %     5.0 %     8.7 %     8.4 %     8.6 %     8.4 %
Risk-based capital:                                                
Common equity Tier 1     4.5 %     6.5 %     -       -       -       -  
Tier 1     6.0 %     8.0 %     11.1 %     11.5 %     11.0 %     11.4 %
Total     8.0 %     10.0 %     11.9 %     12.3 %     11.8 %     12.2 %
                                                 

 

 26 

 

 

Ratios

 

    2015     2014     2013  
Return on assets (net income applicable to common stockholders divided by average total assets)     .75 %     .61 %     .45 %
                         
Return on equity (net income applicable to common stockholders divided by average equity)     8.58 %     7.1 %     5.0 %
                         
Dividend payout ratio (dividends per share divided by net income per common share)     9.7 %     12.6 %     15.6 %
                         
Equity to asset ratio (average equity divided by average total assets)     8.8 %     8.6 %     9.0 %

 

Liquidity Management

 

Liquidity management involves monitoring the Company's sources and uses of funds in order to meet its day-to-day cash flow requirements while maximizing profits. Liquidity represents the ability of a company to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss and to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities. Liquidity management is made more complicated because different balance sheet components are subject to varying degrees of management control. For example, the timing of maturities of the investment portfolio is very predictable and subject to a high degree of control at the time investment decisions are made; however, net deposit inflows and outflows are far less predictable and are not subject to the same degree of control. Asset liquidity is provided by cash and assets which are readily marketable, which can be pledged, or which will mature in the near future. Liability liquidity is provided by access to core funding sources, principally the ability to generate customer deposits in the Company’s market area.

 

The Company's Federal Funds Sold position, which includes funds in due from banks and interest-bearing deposits with banks, is typically its primary source of liquidity, averaged $24.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 and totaled $17.6 million at December 31, 2015. Also, the Company has available advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Advances available are generally based upon the amount of qualified first mortgage loans which can be used for collateral. At December 31, 2015, advances available totaled approximately $342.9 million of which $100.0 million had been drawn, or used for letters of credit.

 

Management regularly reviews the liquidity position of the Company and has implemented internal policies which establish guidelines for sources of asset-based liquidity and limit the total amount of purchased funds used to support the balance sheet and funding from non-core sources.

 

 27 

 

 

Subprime Assets

 

The Bank does not engage in subprime lending activities targeted towards borrowers in high risk categories.

 

Accounting Matters

 

Information on new accounting matters is set forth in Footnote B to the Consolidated Financial Statements included at Item 8 in this report. This information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Impact of Inflation

 

Unlike most industrial companies, the assets and liabilities of financial institutions such as the Company are primarily monetary in nature. Therefore, interest rates have a more significant effect on the Company's performance than do the effects of changes in the general rate of inflation and change in prices. In addition, interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services. As discussed previously, management seeks to manage the relationships between interest sensitive assets and liabilities in order to protect against wide interest rate fluctuations, including those resulting from inflation.

 

 28 

 

 

REPORT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders

The First Bancshares, Inc.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

 

 

We have audited The First Bancshares, Inc.’s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

29 

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders

The First Bancshares, Inc.

Page 2

 

 

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, The First Bancshares, Inc., maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements of The First Bancshares, Inc., as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015, and our report dated March 30, 2016, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

 

 

  /s/ T. E. Lott & Company

 

 

 

 

Columbus, Mississippi

October 11, 2016

 

30 

 

 

   

REPORT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

The First Bancshares, Inc.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The First Bancshares, Inc., as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015. The management of The First Bancshares, Inc. is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of The First Bancshares, Inc., as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

  /s/ T. E. LOTT & COMPANY

 

Columbus, Mississippi

March 30, 2016

 

31 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

 

    2015     2014  
ASSETS                
                 
Cash and due from banks   $ 23,634,536     $ 30,332,502  
Interest-bearing deposits with banks     17,303,381       13,899,287  
Federal funds sold     321,000       386,000  
Total cash and cash equivalents     41,258,917       44,617,789  
Held-to-maturity securities (fair value of  $8,547,832 in 2015 and $9,993,816 in 2014)     7,092,120       8,192,741  
Available-for-sale securities     239,732,426       254,746,446  
Other securities     8,134,850       7,234,350  
Total securities     254,959,396       270,173,537  
Loans held for sale     3,973,765       2,103,351  
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $6,747,103 in 2015 and $6,095,001 in 2014     765,768,073       698,436,345  
Interest receivable     3,953,338       3,659,006  
Premises and equipment     33,623,011       34,809,843  
Cash surrender value of life insurance     14,871,742       14,463, 207  
Goodwill     13,776,040       12,276,040  
Other real estate owned     3,082,694       4,654,604  
Other assets     9,863,743       8,573,997  
Total assets   $ 1,145,130,719     $ 1,093,767,719  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
                 
Deposits:                
Noninterest-bearing   $ 189,444,815     $ 201,362,468  
Interest-bearing     727,250,297       691,413,018  
Total deposits     916,695,112       892,775,486  
Interest payable     245,732       315,844  
Borrowed funds     110,321,245       89,450,067  
Subordinated debentures     10,310,000       10,310,000  
Other liabilities     4,122,540       4,700,738  
Total liabilities     1,041,694,629       997,552,135  
Stockholders’ Equity:                
Preferred stock, no par value, $1,000 per share liquidation, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 17,123 shares issued and outstanding in 2015 and 2014, respectively     17,123,000       17,123,000  
Common stock, par value $1 per share: 20,000,000 shares authorized; 5,403,159 shares issued and outstanding in 2015; 10,000,0000 shares authorized; 5,342,670 shares issued and outstanding in 2014.     5,403,159       5,342,670  
Additional paid-in capital     44,650,274       44,420,149  
Retained earnings     35,624,715       27,975,049  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     1,098,587       1,818,361  
Treasury stock, at cost     (463,645 )     (463,645 )
Total stockholders’ equity     103,436,090       96,215,584  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1.145,130,719     $ 1,093,767,719  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

32 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

 

    2015     2014  
INTEREST INCOME                
Interest and fees on loans   $ 34,242,067     $ 30,276,477  
Interest and dividends on securities:                
Taxable interest and dividends     3,948,459       3,884,321  
Tax-exempt interest     1,854,213       2,071,782  
Interest on federal funds sold     63,841       52,945  
Interest on deposits in banks     93,276       85,257  
Total interest income     40,201,856       36,370,782  
                 
INTEREST EXPENSE                
Interest on time deposits of $100,000 or more     762,119       782,441  
Interest on other deposits     1,800,122       1,586,897  
Interest on borrowed funds     645,207       603,469  
Total interest expense     3,207,448       2,972,807  
Net interest income     36,994,408       33,397,975  
Provision for loan losses     410,069       1,418,260  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     36,584,339       31,979,715  
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Service charges on deposit accounts     5,013,983       4,261,795  
Other service charges and fees     1,545,960       1,938,079  
Bank owned life insurance income     408,535       369,804  
Gain on sale of premises     133,339       110,734  
Gain on sale of securities     -       237,174  
Loss on sale of other real estate     (246,859 )     (85,256 )
Other     733,574       971,138  
Total other income     7,588,532       7,803,468  
                 
OTHER EXPENSE                
Salaries     15,089,136       14,207,216  
Employee benefits     3,447,367       3,254,399  
Occupancy     3,422,116       3,140,738  
Furniture and equipment     1,198,930       1,540,796  
Supplies and printing     300,022       497,755  
Professional and consulting fees     1,331,928       1,617,828  
Marketing and public relations     496,638       445,451  
FDIC and OCC assessments     965,642       938,378  
ATM expense     763,248       688,766  
Telephone     631,261       616,160  
Other     4,514,834       3,786,121  
Total other expense     32,161,122       30,733,608  

 

33 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

 

Continued:   2015     2014  
             
Income before income taxes     12,011,749       9,049,575  
Income taxes     3,213,047       2,435,879  
                 
Net income     8,798,702       6,613,696  
Preferred dividends and stock accretion     342,460       362,953  
Net income applicable to common stockholders   $ 8,456,242     $ 6,250,743  
                 
Net income per share:                
Basic   $ 1.64     $ 1.27  
Diluted     1.62       1.25  
Net income applicable to common stockholders:                
Basic   $ 1.57     $ 1.20  
Diluted     1.55       1.19  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

34 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

 

    2015     2014  
             
Net income   $ 8,798,702     $ 6,613,696  
                 
Other comprehensive income:                
Unrealized gains on securities:                
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period     (1,093,182 )     4,804,818  
Less reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income     -       (237,173 )
      (1,093,182 )     4,567,645  
                 
Unrealized holding gains on loans held for sale     2,753       83,826  
                 
Income tax benefit (expense)     370,655       (1,584,266 )
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)     (719,774 )     3,067,205  
                 
Comprehensive income   $ 8,078,928     $ 9,680,901  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

35 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

 

    Common
Stock
    Preferred
Stock
    Stock
Warrants
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accum-
ulated
Other
Compre-
hensive
Income
(Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  
Balance, January 1, 2014   $ 5,122,941     $ 17,102,507     $ 283,738     $ 41,802,725     $ 22,508,918     $ (1,248,844 )   $ (463,645 )   $ 85,108,340  
                                                                 
Net income 2014     -       -       -       -       6,613,696       -       -       6,613,696  
Other comprehensive income     -       -       -       -       -       3,067,205       -       3,067,205  
Dividends on preferred stock     -       -       -       -       (342,460 )     -       -       (342,460 )
Cash dividend declared, $.15 per common share     -       -       -       -       (784,612 )     -       -       (784,612 )
Grant of restricted stock     67,627       -       -       (67,627 )     -       -       -       -  
Compensation cost on restricted stock     -       -       -       617,779       -       -       -       617,779  
Preferred stock accretion     -       20,493       -       -       (20,493 )     -       -       -  
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (5,981 )     -       -       (79,551 )     -       -       -       (85,532 )
Issuance of 158,083 common shares for BCB Holding     158,083       -       -       1,863,085       -       -       -       2,021,168  
Balance, December 31, 2014   $ 5,342,670     $ 17,123,000     $ 283,738     $ 44,136,411     $ 27,975,049     $ 1,818,361     $ (463,645 )   $ 96,215,584  
                                                                 
Net income 2015     -       -       -       -       8,798,702       -       -       8,798,702  
Other comprehensive (loss)     -       -       -       -       -       (719,774 )     -       (719,774 )

 

36 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

 

Continued:   Common
Stock
    Preferred
Stock
    Stock
Warrants
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accum-
ulated
Other
Compre-
hensive
Income
(Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  
                                                 
Dividends on preferred stock     -       -       -       -       (342,460 )     -       -       (342,460 )
Cash dividend declared, $.15 per common share     -       -       -       -       (806,576 )     -       -       (806,576 )
Grant of restricted stock     69,327       -       -       (69,327 )     -       -       -       -  
Compensation cost on restricted stock     -       -       -       721,124       -       -       -       721,124  
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (6,324 )     -       -       (86,066 )     -       -       -       (92,390 )
Adjustment to consideration issued in BCB Holding acquisition     (2,514 )     -       -       (33,196 )     -       -       -       (35,710 )
Repurchase warrants     -       -       (283,738 )     (18,672 )     -       -       -       (302,410 )
Balance, December 31, 2015   $ 5,403,159     $ 17,123,000     $ -     $ 44,650,274     $ 35,624,715     $ 1,098,587     $ (463,645 )   $ 103,436,090  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

37 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

 

    2015     2014  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES                
Net income   $ 8,798,702     $ 6,613,696  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization     2,296,985       2,182,630  
FHLB Stock dividends     (8,600 )     (6,000 )
Provision for loan losses     410,069       1,418,260  
Deferred income taxes     255,638       331,399  
Restricted stock expense     721,124       617,779  
Increase in cash value of life insurance     (408,535 )     (369,804 )
Amortization and accretion, net     921,853       900,913  
Gain on sale of land/bank premises     (133,339 )     (110,734 )
Gain on sale of securities     -       (237,174 )
Loss on sale/writedown of other real estate     386,590       395,379  
Changes in:                
Loans held for sale     (1,867,661 )     1,659,996  
Interest receivable     (294,332 )     (152,307 )
Other assets     135,620       2,643,956  
Interest payable     (70,112 )     (109,218 )
Other liabilities     (1,406,347 )     (8,721,513 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     9,737,655       7,057,258  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES                
Purchases of available-for-sale securities     (29,571,287 )     (38,459,683 )
Purchases of other securities     (4,079,400 )     (3,296,800 )
Proceeds from maturities and calls of available-for-sale securities     42,569,677       42,723,486  
Proceeds from maturities and calls of held-to-maturity securities     1,099,898       246,980  
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale     -       10,909,239  
Proceeds from redemption of other securities     3,187,500       2,514,485  
Increase in loans     (68,588,377 )     (89,190,269 )
Net additions to premises and equipment     (1,230,531 )     (988,736 )
Purchase of bank owned life insurance     -       (7,500,000 )
Proceeds from sale of land/bank premises     949,516       76,375  
Cash received (paid) in excess of cash paid for acquisition     (843,895 )     4,272,735  
Net cash used in investing activities     (56,506,899 )     (78,692,188 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES                
Increase in deposits     24,090,591       53,845,509  
Proceeds from borrowed funds     194,340,000       180,000,000  
Repayment of borrowed funds     (173,468,821 )     (155,653,580 )
Dividends paid on common stock     (778,428 )     (763,143 )
Dividends paid on preferred stock     (342,460 )     (342,460 )
Repurchase of shares issued in BCB acquisition     (35,710 )     -  
Repurchase of warrants     (302,410 )     -  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

38 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

 

Continued:   2015     2014  
             
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (92,390 )     (85,532 )
Net cash provided by financing activities     43,410,372       77,000,794  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     (3,358,872 )     5,365,864  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     44,617,789       39,251,925  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year   $ 41,258,917     $ 44,617,789  
                 
Supplemental disclosures:                
                 
Cash paid during the year for:                
Interest   $ 3,448,525     $ 3,056,939  
Income taxes     4,152,050       275,075  
                 
Non-cash activities:                
Transfers of loans to other real estate     1,050,342       2,208,010  
Issuance of restricted stock grants     69,327       67,627  
Loans originated to facilitate the sale of land     -       402,982  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

39 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE A - NATURE OF BUSINESS

 

The First Bancshares, Inc. (the Company) is a bank holding company whose business is primarily conducted by its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First, A National Banking Association (the Bank). The Bank provides a full range of banking services in its primary market area of South Mississippi, South Alabama, and Louisiana. The Company is regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank. Its subsidiary bank is subject to the regulation of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

 

NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Company and the Bank follow accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America including, where applicable, general practices within the banking industry.

 

1. Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

2. Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the valuation of deferred tax assets.

 

3. Cash and Due From Banks

 

Included in cash and due from banks are legal reserve requirements which must be maintained on an average basis in the form of cash and balances due from the Federal Reserve. The reserve balance varies depending upon the types and amounts of deposits. At December 31, 2015, the required reserve balance on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank was approximately $11,621,000.

 

4. Securities

 

Investments in securities are accounted for as follows:

 

Available-for-Sale Securities

 

Securities classified as available-for-sale are those securities that are intended to be held for an indefinite period of time, but not necessarily to maturity. Any decision to sell a security classified as available-for-sale would be based on various factors, including movements in interest rates, liquidity needs, security risk assessments, changes in the mix of assets and liabilities and other similar factors. These securities are carried at their estimated fair value, and the net unrealized gain or loss is reported net of tax, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity, until realized. Premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method. Gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined using the adjusted cost of the specific security sold.

 

40 

 

 

Securities to be Held-to-Maturity

 

Securities classified as held-to-maturity are those securities for which there is a positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are carried at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, computed by the interest method.

 

Trading Account Securities

 

Trading account securities are those securities which are held for the purpose of selling them at a profit. There were no trading account securities on hand at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Other Securities

 

Other securities are carried at cost and are restricted in marketability. Other securities consist of investments in the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Federal Reserve Bank and First National Bankers’ Bankshares, Inc. Management reviews for impairment based on the ultimate recoverability of the cost basis.

 

Other-than-Temporary Impairment

 

Management evaluates investment securities for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis. A decline in the fair value of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities below cost that is deemed other-than-temporary is charged to earnings for a decline in value deemed to be credit related and a new cost basis for the security is established. The decline in value attributed to non-credit related factors is recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

5. Loans held for sale

 

The Bank originates fixed rate single family, residential first mortgage loans on a presold basis. The Bank issues a rate lock commitment to a customer and concurrently “locks in” with a secondary market investor under a best efforts delivery mechanism. Such loans are sold without the servicing retained by the Bank. The terms of the loan are dictated by the secondary investors and are transferred within several weeks of the Bank initially funding the loan. The Bank recognizes certain origination fees and service release fees upon the sale, which are included in other income on loans in the consolidated statements of income. Between the initial funding of the loans by the Bank and the subsequent purchase by the investor, the Bank carries the loans held for sale at the lower of cost or fair value in the aggregate as determined by the outstanding commitments from investors.

 

6. Loans

 

Loans are carried at the principal amount outstanding, net of the allowance for loan losses. Interest income on loans is recognized based on the principal balance outstanding and the stated rate of the loan. Loan origination fees and certain direct origination costs are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method.

 

A loan is considered impaired, in accordance with the impairment accounting guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Section 310-10-35, Receivables, Subsequent Measurement, when—based upon current events and information—it is probable that the scheduled payments of principal and interest will not be collected in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral values, and the probability of collecting scheduled payments of principal and interest when due. Generally, impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis using the fair value of the supporting collateral.

 

41 

 

 

Loans are generally placed on a nonaccrual status when principal or interest is past due ninety days or when specifically determined to be impaired. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, interest accrued but not received is generally reversed against interest income. If collectibility is in doubt, cash receipts on nonaccrual loans are used to reduce principal rather than recorded in interest income. Past due status is determined based upon contractual terms.

 

7. Allowance for Loan Losses

 

For financial reporting purposes, the provision for loan losses charged to operations is based upon management's estimation of the amount necessary to maintain the allowance at an adequate level. Allowances for any impaired loans are generally determined based on collateral values. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes the collectibility of the principal is unlikely.

 

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a regular basis. These evaluations are based upon a periodic review of the collectibility considering historical experience, the nature and value of the loan portfolio, underlying collateral values, internal and independent loan reviews, and prevailing economic conditions. In addition, the OCC, as a part of the regulatory examination process, reviews the loan portfolio and the allowance for loan losses and may require changes in the allowance based upon information available at the time of the examination. The allowance consists of two components: allocated and unallocated. The components represent an estimation performed pursuant to either ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, or ASC Subtopic 310-10, Receivables. The allocated component of the allowance reflects expected losses resulting from an analysis developed through specific credit allocations for individual loans, including any impaired loans, and historical loan loss history. The analysis is performed quarterly and loss factors are updated regularly.

 

The unallocated portion of the allowance reflects management’s estimate of probable inherent but undetected losses within the portfolio due to uncertainties in economic conditions, changes in collateral values, unfavorable information about a borrower’s financial condition, and other risk factors that have not yet manifested themselves. In addition, the unallocated allowance includes a component that explicitly accounts for the inherent imprecision in the loan loss analysis.

 

8. Premises and Equipment

 

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. The depreciation policy is to provide for depreciation over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. Repairs and maintenance expenditures are charged to operating expenses; major expenditures for renewals and betterments are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Upon retirement, sale, or other disposition of property and equipment, the cost and accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts, and any gains or losses are included in operations.

 

9. Other Real Estate

 

Other real estate, carried in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, consists of properties acquired through foreclosure and, as held for sale property, is recorded at the lower of the outstanding loan balance or current appraisal less estimated costs to sell. Any write-down to fair value required at the time of foreclosure is charged to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent gains or losses on other real estate are reported in other operating income or expenses. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, other real estate totaled $3,082,694 and $4,654,604, respectively.

 

42 

 

 

10. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill totaled $13,776,040 and $12,276,040 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Goodwill totaling $1,500,000 acquired during the year ended December 31, 2015, was a result of the acquisition of The Mortgage Connection. Footnote C to these consolidated financial statements provides additional information on the acquisition during 2015.

 

The Company performed the required annual impairment tests of goodwill as of December 1, 2015. The Company’s annual impairment test did not indicate impairment as of the testing date, and subsequent to that date, management is not aware of any events or changes in circumstances since the impairment test that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired.

 

The Company’s acquisition method recognized intangible assets, which are subject to amortization, and included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, include core deposit intangibles, amortized on a straight-line basis, over a 10 year average life. The definite-lived intangible assets had the following carrying values at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

    2015     2014  
    Gross           Net     Gross           Net  
    Carrying     Accumulated     Carrying     Carrying     Accumulated     Carrying  
    Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amount     Amortization     Amount  
(Dollars in thousands)                                    
                                                 
Core deposit intangibles   $ 4,000     $ (1,885 )   $ 2,115     $ 4,000     $ (1,486 )   $ 2,514  

 

The related amortization expense of business combination related intangible assets is as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)      
    Amount  
Aggregate amortization expense for the year ended December 31:        
         
2014   $ 387  
2015     399  
         
Estimated amortization expense for the year ending December 31:        
         
2016   $ 383  
2017     331  
2018     331  
2019     331  
2020     331  
Thereafter     408  
    $ 2,115  

 

43 

 

 

11. Other Assets and Cash Surrender Value

 

Financing costs related to the issuance of junior subordinated debentures are being amortized over the life of the instruments and are included in other assets. The Company invests in bank owned life insurance (BOLI). BOLI involves the purchasing of life insurance by the Company on a chosen group of employees. The Company is the owner of the policies and, accordingly, the cash surrender value of the policies is reported as an asset, and increases in cash surrender values are reported as income.

 

12. Stock Options

 

The Company accounts for stock based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. Compensation cost is recognized for all stock options granted based on the weighted average fair value stock price at the grant date.

 

13. Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of the transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently payable plus deferred taxes related primarily to differences between the bases of assets and liabilities as measured by income tax laws and their bases as reported in the financial statements. The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled.

 

The Company and its subsidiary file consolidated income tax returns. The subsidiary provides for income taxes on a separate return basis and remits to the Company amounts determined to be payable.

 

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, provides guidance on financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in tax returns. ASC Topic 740 requires an evaluation of tax positions to determine if the tax positions will more likely than not be sustainable upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority. The Company at December 31, 2015 and 2014, had no uncertain tax positions that qualify for either recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

14. Advertising Costs

 

Advertising costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, was $437,085 and $394,363, respectively.

 

15. Statements of Cash Flows

 

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash, amounts due from banks, interest-bearing deposits with banks and federal funds sold. Generally, federal funds are sold for a one to seven day period.

 

16. Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments

 

In the ordinary course of business, the subsidiary bank enters into off-balance sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit, credit card lines and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements when they are exercised.

 

44 

 

 

17. Earnings Applicable to Common Stockholders

 

Per share amounts are presented in accordance with ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share. Under ASC Topic 260, two per share amounts are considered and presented, if applicable. Basic per share data is calculated based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted per share data includes any dilution from potential common stock, such as outstanding stock options.

 

The following table discloses the reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted computations applicable to common stockholders:

 

    For the Year Ended
December 31, 2015
    For the Year Ended
December 31, 2014
 
    Net
Income
(Numerator)
    Shares
(Denominator)
    Per Share
Amount
    Net
Income
(Numerator)
    Shares
(Denominator)
    Per Share
Amount
 
                                     
Basic per common Share   $ 8,456,242       5,371,111     $ 1.57     $ 6,250,743       5,227,768     $ 1.20  
                                                 
Effect of dilutive shares:                                                
 Restricted Stock             70,939                       42,901          
    $ 8,456,242       5,442,050     $ 1.55     $ 6,250,743       5,270,669     $ 1.19  

 

The diluted per share amounts were computed by applying the treasury stock method.

 

18. Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2014 financial statements to conform with the classifications used in 2015. These reclassifications did not impact the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

19. Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-01, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), “Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects,” which permits reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit). For those investments in qualified affordable housing projects not accounted for using the proportional method, the investment should be accounted for as an equity method investment or a cost method investment. The decision to apply the proportional amortization method of accounting is an accounting policy decision that should be applied consistently to all qualifying affordable housing project investments rather than a decision to be applied to individual investments. This amendment should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. A reporting entity that uses the effective yield method to account for its investments in qualified affordable housing projects before the date of adoption may continue to apply the effective yield method for those preexisting investments. ASU 2014-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted this standard, which had no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

45 

 

 

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40), “Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans Upon Foreclosure,” which will eliminate diversity in practice regarding the timing of derecognition for residential mortgage loans when a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan. Under ASU 2014-04, physical possession of residential real estate property is achieved when either the creditor obtains legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or the borrower conveys all interest in the residential real estate property through completion of a deed in lieu or foreclosure in order to satisfy the loan. Once physical possession has been achieved, the loan is derecognized and the property recorded within other assets at the lower of cost or fair value (less estimated costs to sell). In addition, the guidance requires both interim and annual disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure. The additional disclosure requirements are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods with retrospective disclosure necessary for all comparative periods presented. The adoption of this standard did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-14, Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40), “Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure,” which will eliminate diversity in practice relating to how creditors classify government-guaranteed mortgage loans, including Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guaranteed loans, upon foreclosure. Under ASU 2014-14 a mortgage must be derecognized and a separate other receivable recognized upon foreclosure when the loan possesses a non-separable government guarantee that the creditor has both the intent and ability to exercise and for which any amount of the claim determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed. Other receivables recognized under this guidance are to be measured based on the amount of the principal and interest expected to be recovered from the guarantor. ASU 2014-14 allows for a modified retrospective or prospective adoption in conjunction with ASU 2014-04 and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods with early adoption permitted. The Company has adopted this accounting standard; however, ASU 2014-14 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-02 “Consolidation (Topic 810) – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis.” ASU 2015-02 includes amendments that are intended to improve targeted areas of consolidation for legal entities including reducing the number of consolidation models from four to two and simplifying the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. ASU 2015-02 is effective for annual and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. The amendments may be applied retrospectively in previously issued financial statements for one or more years with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first year restated. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is assessing the impact of ASU 2015-02 on its accounting and disclosures.

 

46 

 

 

NOTE C – BUSINESS COMBINATION

 

The Company accounts for its acquisitions using the acquisition method. Acquisition accounting requires the total purchase price to be allocated to the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including certain intangible assets that must be recognized. Typically, this allocation results in the purchase price exceeding the fair value of net assets acquired, which is recorded as goodwill. Core deposit intangibles are a measure of the value of checking, money market and savings deposits acquired in business combinations accounted for under the acquisition method. Core deposit intangibles and other identified intangibles with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight line method over their estimated useful lives of up to ten years. Loans that the Company acquires in connection with acquisitions are recorded at fair value with no carryover of the related allowance for credit losses. Fair value of the loans involves estimating the amount and timing of principal and interest cash flows expected to be collected on the loans and discounting those cash flows at a market rate of interest. The excess or deficit of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable discount or amortizable premium and is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loan.

 

The Mortgage Connection

 

On December 14, 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, a Mississippi corporation, which included two loan production offices located in Madison and Brandon, Mississippi.

 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $1.5 million of goodwill.

 

The amounts of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Purchase price:        
Cash   $ 844  
Payable     800  
Total purchase price     1,644  
Identifiable assets:        
Intangible     100  
Personal property     44  
Total assets     144  
Liabilities and equity:        
Net assets acquired   $ 144  
Goodwill resulting from acquisition   $ 1,500  

 

Expenses associated with the acquisition were $13,000 for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2015, respectively. These costs included charges for legal and consulting expenses.

 

47 

 

 

BCB Holding Company, Inc.

 

On March 3, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement”) with BCB Holding Company, Inc., an Alabama corporation (“BCB”) and parent of Bay Bank, Mobile, Alabama. The Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Agreement, BCB will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and Bay Bank will merge with and into The First, A National Banking Association (“Bank Merger”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of the Company and BCB, each outstanding share of BCB common stock, other than shares held by the Company or BCB, or, shares with respect to which the holders thereof have perfected dissenters’ rights, received (i) for the BCB common stock that was outstanding prior to August 1, 2013, $3.60 per share and one non-transferable contingent value right (“CVR”) of the CVR Consideration, and (ii) for the BCB common stock that was issued on August 1, 2013, $2.25 per share in cash. Each CVR is eligible to receive a cash payment equal to up to $0.40, with the exact amount based on the resolution of certain identified BCB loans over a three-year period following the closing of the transaction. Payout of the CVR will be overseen by a special committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The total consideration to be paid in connection with the acquisition will range between approximately $6.2 million and $6.6 million depending upon the payout of the CVR. An estimated liability of $174,000 has been accrued for the CVR and a payment of $8,000 was made during the second quarter of 2015 leaving an accrual of $166,000.

 

As of the closing on July 1, 2014, the Company and BCB entered into an agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which BCB’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Bay Bank, was merged with and into the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, the Bank.

 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $1.7 million of goodwill and $.2 million of core deposit intangible. The core deposit intangible is being expensed over 10 years.

 

The Company acquired the $40.1 million loan portfolio at a fair value discount of $1.7 million. The discount represents expected credit losses, adjusted for market interest rates and liquidity adjustments.

 

The amounts of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date were as follows

(dollars in thousands):

 

Purchase price:        
Cash and fair value of common stock   $ 6,300  
Total purchase price     6,300  
Identifiable assets:        
Cash and due from banks     8,307  
Investments     23,423  
Loans and leases     38,393  
Other Real Estate     571  
Core deposit intangible     225  
Personal and real property     3,670  
Deferred tax asset     2,502  
Other assets     305  
Total assets     77,396  
Liabilities and equity:        
Deposits     59,321  
Borrowed funds     13,104  
Other liabilities     326  
Total liabilities     72,751  
Net assets acquired     4,645  
Goodwill resulting from acquisition   $ 1,655  

 

48 

 

 

The outstanding principal balance and the carrying amount of these loans included in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Outstanding principal balance   $ 26,639  
Carrying amount     25,332  

 

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality are detailed in Note E – Loans.

 

Expenses associated with the acquisition were $29,000 and $508,000 for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2014, respectively. These costs included system conversion and integrating operations charges as well as legal and consulting expenses, which have been expensed as incurred.

 

NOTE D – SECURITIES

 

A summary of the amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities and held-to- maturity securities at December 31, 2015 and 2014, follows:

 

    December 31, 2015  
    Amortized
Cost
    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-sale securities:                                
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies   $ 19,479,107     $ 144,408     $ 12,565     $ 19,610,950  
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     95,631,123       2,361,599       103,391       97,889,331  
Mortgage-backed securities     98,222,658       1,127,562       425,100       98,925,120  
Corporate obligations     23,494,670       62,408       1,210,996       22,346,082  
Other     1,255,483       -       294,540       960,943  
    $ 238,083,041     $ 3,695,977     $ 2,046,592     $ 239,732,426  
Held-to-maturity securities:                                
Mortgage-backed securities   $ 1,092,120     $ 15,712     $ -     $ 1,107,832  
Taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     6,000,000       1,440,000       -       7,440,000  
    $ 7,092,120     $ 1,455,712     $ -     $ 8,547,832  

 

49 

 

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Amortized
Cost
    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-sale securities:                                
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies   $ 27,225,335     $ 199,851     $ 53,550     $ 27,371,636  
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     101,873,361       2,896,657       187,598       104,582,420  
Mortgage-backed securities     91,697,199       1,579,218       240,805       93,035,612  
Corporate obligations     29,952,502       140,556       1,307,782       28,785,276  
Other     1,255,483       -       283,981       971,502  
    $ 252,003,880     $ 4,816,282     $ 2,073,716     $ 254,746,446  
Held-to-maturity securities:                                
Mortgage-backed securities   $ 2,192,741     $ 20,875     $ -     $ 2,213,616  
Taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     6,000,000       1,780,200       -       7,780,200  
    $ 8,192,741     $ 1,801,075     $ -     $ 9,993,816  

 

The scheduled maturities of securities at December 31, 2015, were as follows:

 

    Available-for-Sale     Held-to-Maturity  
    Amortized
Cost
    Estimated
Fair
Value
    Amortized
Cost
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 
                         
Due less than one year   $ 22,350,096     $ 22,429,139     $ -     $ -  
Due after one year through five years     59,279,860       59,825,406       -       -  
Due after five years through ten years     41,007,663       42,484,543       6,000,000       7,440,000  
Due after ten years     17,222,764       16,068,218       -       -  
Mortgage-backed securities     98,222,658       98,925,120       1,092,120       1,107,832  
    $ 238,083,041     $ 239,732,426     $ 7,092,120     $ 8,547,832  

 

Actual maturities can differ from contractual maturities because the obligations may be called or prepaid with or without penalties.

 

No gain or loss was realized from the sale of available-for-sale securities in 2015 and a gain of $237,173 was realized in 2014. No other-than-temporary impairment losses were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Securities with a carrying value of $215,726,751 and $191,534,036 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, were pledged to secure public deposits, repurchase agreements, and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

 

The details concerning securities classified as available-for-sale with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, were as follows:

 

50 

 

 

    2015  
    Losses < 12 Months     Losses 12 Months or >     Total  
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Obligations of U.S. government agencies   $ 4,975,580     $ 12,565     $ -     $ -     $ 4,975,580     $ 12,565  
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     12,762,528       50,055       3,049,129       53,336       15,811,657       103,391  
Mortgage-backed securities     36,024,587       370,514       2,507,036       54,586       38,531,623       425,100  
Corporate obligations     8,531,765       28,627       3,144,333       1,182,369       11,676,098       1,210,996  
Other     -       -       960,943       294,540       960,943       294,540  
    $ 62,294,460     $ 461,761     $ 9,661,441     $ 1,584,831     $ 71,955,901     $ 2,046,592  

 

    2014  
    Losses < 12 Months     Losses 12 Months or >     Total  
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Obligations of U.S. government agencies   $ 5,510,325     $ 16,481     $ 3,451,215     $ 37,069     $ 8,961,540     $ 53,550  
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     9,191,726       28,694       10,667,122       158,904       19,858,848       187,598  
Mortgage-backed securities     156,589       5,207       19,319,269       235,598       19,475,858       240,805  
Corporate obligations     6,910,425       32,096       6,580,925       1,275,686       13,491,350       1,307,782  
Other     -       -       971,502       283,981       971,502       283,981  
    $ 21,769,065     $ 82,478     $ 40,990,033     $ 1,991,238     $ 62,759,098     $ 2,073,716  

 

Approximately 18% of the number of securities in the investment portfolio at December 31, 2015, reflected an unrealized loss. Management is of the opinion the Company has the ability to hold these securities until such time as the value recovers or the securities mature. Management also believes the deterioration in value is attributable to changes in market interest rates and lack of liquidity in the credit markets. We have determined that these securities are not other-than-temporarily impaired based upon anticipated cash flows.

 

NOTE E - LOANS

 

Loans typically provide higher yields than the other types of earning assets, and thus one of the Company's goals is for loans to be the largest category of the Company's earning assets. At December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, loans accounted for 74.0% and 71.3% of earning assets. The Company controls and mitigates the inherent credit and liquidity risks through the composition of its loan portfolio.

 

51 

 

 

The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio by category:

 

    December 31, 2015     December 31, 2014  
    Amount     Percent
of
Total
    Amount    

Percent
of
Total

 
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Mortgage loans held for sale   $ 3,974       0.5 %   $ 2,103       0.3 %
Commercial, financial and agricultural     129,197       16.6       106,109       15.0  
Real Estate:                                
Mortgage-commercial     253,309       32.6       238,602       33.8 9  
Mortgage-residential     272,180       35.1       256,406       36.3  
Construction     99,161       12.8       84,935       12.0  
Lease financing receivable     2,650       0.3       -       -  
Consumer and other     16,018       2.1       18,480       2.6  
Total loans     776,489       100 %     706,635       100 %
Allowance for loan losses     (6,747 )             (6,095 )        
Net loans   $ 769,742             $ 700,540          

 

In the context of this discussion, a "real estate mortgage loan" is defined as any loan, other than a loan for construction purposes, secured by real estate, regardless of the purpose of the loan. The Company follows the common practice of financial institutions in the Company’s market area of obtaining a security interest in real estate whenever possible, in addition to any other available collateral. This collateral is taken to reinforce the likelihood of the ultimate repayment of the loan and tends to increase the magnitude of the real estate loan portfolio component. Generally, the Company limits its loan-to-value ratio to 80%. Management attempts to maintain a conservative philosophy regarding its underwriting guidelines and believes it will reduce the risk elements of its loan portfolio through strategies that diversify the lending mix.

 

Loans held for sale consist of mortgage loans originated by the Bank and sold into the secondary market. Commitments from investors to purchase the loans are obtained upon origination.

 

Activity in the allowance for loan losses for December 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

    2015     2014  
             
Balance at beginning of period   $ 6,095     $ 5,728  
Loans charged-off:                
Real Estate     (534 )     (1,203 )
Installment and Other     (126 )     (167 )
Commercial, Financial and Agriculture     (183 )     (89 )
Total     (843 )     (1,459 )
Recoveries on loans previously charged-off:                
Real Estate     905       325  
Installment and Other     81       68  
Commercial, Financial and Agriculture     99       15  
Total     1,085       408  
Net (Charge-offs) Recoveries     242       (1,051 )
Provision for Loan Losses     410       1,418  
Balance at end of period   $ 6,747     $ 6,095  

 

52 

 

 

The following tables represent how the allowance for loan losses is allocated to a particular loan type as well as the percentage of the category to total loans at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

 

Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses

 

    December 31, 2015  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
    Amount     % of loans
in each
category
to total loans
 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 895       17.1 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,018       58.4  
Consumer Real Estate     1,477       21.9  
Consumer     141       2.5  
Unallocated     1,216       .1  
Total   $ 6,747       100 %

 

    December 31, 2014  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
    Amount    

% of loans

in each
category
to total loans

 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 713       15.3 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,355       57.9  
Consumer Real Estate     1,852       24.2  
Consumer     175       2.6  
Unallocated     -       -  
Total   $ 6,095       100 %

 

The following table represents the Company’s impaired loans at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. This table includes performing troubled debt restructurings.

 

    December 31,     December 31,  
    2015     2014  
    (In thousands)  
Impaired Loans:                
Impaired loans without a valuation allowance   $ 6,020     $ 4,702  
Impaired loans with a valuation allowance     4,107       4,858  
Total impaired loans   $ 10,127     $ 9,560  
Allowance for loan losses on impaired loans at period end     957       968  
Total nonaccrual loans     7,368       6,056  
                 
Past due 90 days or more and still accruing     29       669  
Average investment in impaired loans     9,652       7,077  

 

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The following table is a summary of interest recognized and cash-basis interest earned on impaired loans for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

 

    2015     2014  
             
Interest income recognized during impairment     -       129  
Cash-basis interest income recognized     211       256  

 

The gross interest income that would have been recorded in the period that ended if the nonaccrual loans had been current in accordance with their original terms and had been outstanding throughout the period or since origination, if held for part of the twelve months for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, was $116,000 and $92,000, respectively. The Company had no loan commitments to borrowers in non-accrual status at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

The following tables provide the ending balances in the Company's loans (excluding mortgage loans held for sale) and allowance for loan losses, broken down by portfolio segment as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The tables also provide additional detail as to the amount of our loans and allowance that correspond to individual versus collective impairment evaluation. The impairment evaluation corresponds to the Company's systematic methodology for estimating its Allowance for Loan Losses.

 

December 31, 2015

 

          Installment     Commercial,        
    Real Estate     and
Other
    Financial and Agriculture     Total  
    (In thousands)  
Loans                                
Individually evaluated   $ 9,782     $ 39     $ 306     $ 10,127  
Collectively evaluated     610,996       19,591       131,801       762,388  
Total   $ 620,778     $ 19,630     $ 132,107     $ 772,515  
                                 
Allowance for Loan Losses                                
Individually evaluated   $ 882     $ 25     $ 50     $ 957  
Collectively evaluated     3,613       1,332       845       5,790  
Total   $ 4,495     $ 1,357     $ 895     $ 6,747  

 

December 31, 2014

 

          Installment     Commercial,        
    Real Estate     And
Other
    Financial and Agriculture     Total  
    (In thousands)  
Loans                                
Individually evaluated   $ 9,282     $ 38     $ 240     $ 9,560  
Collectively evaluated     568,952       18,610       107,410       694,972  
Total   $ 578,234     $ 18,648     $ 107,650     $ 704,532  
                                 
Allowance for Loan Losses                                
Individually evaluated   $ 922     $ 29     $ 17     $ 968  
Collectively evaluated     4,285       146       696       5,127  
Total   $ 5,207     $ 175     $ 713     $ 6,095  

 

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The following tables provide additional detail of impaired loans broken out according to class as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The recorded investment included in the following table represents customer balances net of any partial charge-offs recognized on the loans, net of any deferred fees and costs. As nearly all of our impaired loans at December 31, 2015 are on nonaccrual status, recorded investment excludes any insignificant amount of accrued interest receivable on loans 90-days or more past due and still accruing. The unpaid balance represents the recorded balance prior to any partial charge-offs.

 

December 31, 2015

 

                      Average     Interest  
                      Recorded     Income  
    Recorded     Unpaid     Related     Investment     Recognized  
    Investment     Balance     Allowance     YTD     YTD  
    (In thousands)  
Impaired loans with no related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 2     $ -  
Commercial real estate     5,790       5,828       -       5,099       50  
Consumer real estate     223       223       -       205       -  
Consumer installment     7       7       -       8       -  
Total   $ 6,020     $ 6,058     $ -     $ 5,314     $ 50  
                                         
Impaired loans with a related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 306     $ 306     $ 50     $ 264     $ 14  
Commercial real estate     2,927       2,927       444       2,891       132  
Consumer real estate     842       842       438       1,152       15  
Consumer installment     32       32       25       31       -  
Total   $ 4,107     $ 4,107     $ 957     $ 4,338     $ 161  
                                         
Total Impaired Loans:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 306     $ 306     $ 50     $ 266     $ 14  
Commercial real estate     8,717       8,755       444       7,990       182  
Consumer real estate     1,065       1,065       438       1,357       15  
Consumer installment     39       39       25       39       -  
Total Impaired Loans   $ 10,127     $ 10,165     $ 957     $ 9,652     $ 211  

 

55 

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

                      Average     Interest  
                      Recorded     Income  
    Recorded     Unpaid     Related     Investment     Recognized  
    Investment     Balance     Allowance     YTD     YTD  
    (In thousands)  
Impaired loans with no related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 50     $ -  
Commercial real estate     4,665       4,665       -       2,654       142  
Consumer real estate     27       27       -       179       -  
Consumer installment     10       10       -       11       -  
Total   $ 4,702     $ 4,702     $ -     $ 2,894     $ 142  
                                         
Impaired loans with a related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 240     $ 240     $ 18     $ 189     $ 20  
Commercial real estate     2,558       2,558       315       2,415       59  
Consumer real estate     2,032       2,032       607       1,546       33  
Consumer installment     28       28       28       33       2  
Total   $ 4,858     $ 4,858     $ 968     $ 4,183     $ 114  
                                         
Total Impaired Loans:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 240     $ 240     $ 18     $ 239     $ 20  
Commercial real estate     7,223       7,223       315       5,069       201  
Consumer real estate     2,059       2,059       607       1,725       33  
Consumer installment     38       38       28       44       2  
Total Impaired Loans   $ 9,560     $ 9,560     $ 968     $ 7,077     $ 256  
                                         

 

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality are those purchased in the BCB Holding Company, Inc. acquisition (See Note C -Business Combination for further information). These loans were recorded at estimated fair value at the acquisition date with no carryover of the related allowance for loan losses. The acquired loans were segregated as of the acquisition date between those considered to be performing (acquired non-impaired loans) and those with evidence of credit deterioration (acquired impaired loans). Acquired loans are considered impaired if there is evidence of credit deterioration and if it is probable, at acquisition, all contractually required payments will not be collected.

 

The following table presents information regarding the contractually required payments receivable, cash flows expected to be collected and the estimated fair value of loans acquired in the BCB acquisition as of July 1, 2014, the closing date of the transaction:

 

56 

 

 

    July 1, 2014  
    (In thousands)  
    Commercial,
financial and
agricultural
    Mortgage-
Commercial
    Mortgage-
Residential
    Commercial
and other
    Total  
Contractually required payments   $ 1,519     $ 29,648     $ 7,933     $ 976     $ 40,076  
Cash flows expected to be collected     1,570       37,869       9,697       1,032       50,168  
Fair value of loans acquired     1,513       28,875       7,048       957       38,393  

  

Total outstanding acquired impaired loans were $3,039,840 as of December 31, 2015. The outstanding balance of these loans is the undiscounted sum of all amounts, including amounts deemed principal, interest, fees, penalties, and other under the loans, owed at the reporting date, whether or not currently due and whether or not any such amounts have been charged off.

 

Changes in the carrying amount and accretable yield for acquired impaired loans were as follows for the year ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

    Accretable
Yield
    Carrying
Amount of
Loans
 
Balance at beginning of period   $ 1,417     $ 2,063  
Accretion     (198 )     198  
Payments received, net     -       (440 )
Balance at end of period   $ 1,219     $ 1,821  

 

The following tables provide additional detail of troubled debt restructurings during the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

    December 31, 2015  
    Outstanding
Recorded
    Outstanding
Recorded
          Interest  
    Investment
Pre-Modification
    Investment
Post-Modification
    Number of
Loans
    Income
Recognized
 
    (in thousands except number of loans)  
                         
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -       -     $ -  
Commercial real estate     499       492       2       10  
Consumer real estate     45       40       1       -  
Consumer installment     -       -       -       -  
Total   $ 544     $ 532       3     $ 10  

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Outstanding
Recorded
    Outstanding
Recorded
          Interest  
    Investment
Pre-Modification
    Investment
Post-Modification
    Number of
Loans
    Income
Recognized
 
    (in thousands except number of loans)  
                         
Commercial installment   $ 239     $ 176       1     $ 15  
Commercial real estate     1,345       1,342       7       26  
Consumer real estate     94       94       1       1  
Consumer installment     -       -       -       -  
Total   $ 1,678     $ 1,612       9     $ 42  

 

57 

 

 

The TDRs presented above did increase the allowance for loan losses but resulted in -0- charge-offs for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

The balance of troubled debt restructurings at December 31, 2015 and 2014, was $6.9 million and $6.8 million, respectively, calculated for regulatory reporting purpose. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no additional amount committed on any loan classified as troubled debt restructuring.

 

All loans were performing as agreed with modified terms.

 

During the twelve month period ending December 31, 2015 and 2014, the terms of 3 and 9 loans, respectively, were modified as TDRs. The modifications included one of the following or a combination of the following: maturity date extensions, interest only payments, amortizations were extended beyond what would be available on similar type loans, and payment waiver. No interest rate concessions were given on these nor were any of these loans written down.

 

    December 31, 2015  
    Current
Loans
   

Past Due

30-89

   

Past Due 90

days and still

accruing

    Non-Accrual     Total  
                               
Commercial installment   $ 206,237     $ -     $ -     $ 50,221     $ 256,458  
Commercial real estate     1,823,217       -       -       2,933,287       4,756,504  
Consumer real estate     721,110       -       -       1,134,816       1,855,926  
Consumer installment     7,894       -       -       29,435       37,329  
Total   $ 2,758,458     $ -     $ -     $ 4,147,759     $ 6,906,217  
Allowance for loan losses   $ 106,028     $ -     $ -     $ 197,338     $ 303,366  

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Current
Loans
   

Past Due

30-89

   

Past Due 90

days and still

accruing

    Non-Accrual     Total  
                                         
Commercial installment   $ 233,340     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 233,340  
Commercial real estate     1,684,755       -       -       2,729,170       4,413,925  
Consumer real estate     952,162       622,302       -       448,796       2,023,260  
Consumer installment     9,983       -       -       103,109       113,092  
Total   $ 2,880,240     $ 622,302     $ -     $ 3,281,075     $ 6,783,617  
Allowance for loan losses   $ 120,220     $ 11,206     $ 102,657     $ -     $ 234,083  

 

58 

 

 

The following tables summarize by class our loans classified as past due in excess of 30 days or more in addition to those loans classified as non-accrual:

 

    December 31, 2015  
    (In thousands)  
   

Past Due

30 to 89
Days

    Past Due
90 Days or
More and
Still Accruing
    Non-Accrual    

Total

Past Due and

Non-Accrual

   

Total

Loans

 
                                         
Real Estate-construction   $ 311     $ -     $ 2,956     $ 3,267     $ 99,161  
Real Estate-mortgage     3,339       29       2,055       5,423       272,180  
Real Estate-nonfarm nonresidential     736       -       2,225       2,961       253,309  
Commercial     97       -       100       197       129,197  
Lease financing receivable     -       -       -       -       2,650  
Consumer     70       -       32       102       16,018  
Total   $ 4,553     $ 29     $ 7,368     $ 11,950     $ 772,515  

 

    December 31, 2014  
    (In thousands)  
   

Past Due

30 to 89

Days

   

Past Due 90
Days or More
and Still

Accruing

    Non-Accrual    

Total

Past Due and

Non-Accrual

   

Total

Loans

 
                                         
Real Estate-construction   $ 428     $ -     $ 2,747     $ 3,175     $ 84,935  
Real Estate-mortgage     3,208       208       2,164       5,580       256,406  
Real Estate- nonfarm nonresidential     3,408       461       1,102       4,971       238,602  
Commercial     29       -       5       34       106,109  
Consumer     90       -       38       128       18,480  
Total   $ 7,163     $ 669     $ 6,056     $ 13,888     $ 704,532  

 

The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings, which are consistent with the definitions used in supervisory guidance:

 

Special Mention.    Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the Company’s credit position at some future date.

 

Substandard.    Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

 

59 

 

 

Doubtful.    Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

 

Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered to be pass rated loans.

 

As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans (excluding mortgage loans held for sale) was as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

December 31, 2015

  

                      Commercial,        
    Real Estate
Commercial
    Real Estate
Mortgage
    Installment and
Other
    Financial and
Agriculture
    Total  
                                         
Pass   $ 434,638     $ 167,394     $ 19,556     $ 132,101     $ 753,689  
Special Mention     681       153       -       168       1,002  
Substandard     16,655       1,453       75       178       18,361  
Doubtful     -       327       -       -       327  
Subtotal     451,974       169,327       19,631       132,447       773,379  
Less:                                        
Unearned Discount     448       76       -       340       864  
Loans, net of unearned discount   $ 451,526     $ 169,251     $ 19,631     $ 132,107     $ 772,515  

 

December 31, 2014

 

                      Commercial,        
    Real Estate
Commercial
    Real Estate
Mortgage
    Installment and
Other
    Financial and
Agriculture
    Total  
                                         
Pass   $ 388,569     $ 167,827     $ 18,558     $ 107,126     $ 682,080  
Special Mention     4,756       191       -       498       5,445  
Substandard     14,727       2,567       90       63       17,447  
Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -  
Subtotal     408,052       170,585       18,648       107,687       704,972  
Less:                                        
Unearned Discount     320       82       -       38       440  
Loans, net of unearned discount   $ 407,732     $ 170,503     $ 18,648     $ 107,649     $ 704,532  

  

60 

 

 

NOTE F - PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

 

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization as follows:

 

    2015     2014  
Premises:                
Land   $ 10,352,314     $ 10,565,633  
Buildings and improvements     26,164,412       25,872,002  
Equipment     10,927,780       11,663,195  
Construction in progress     76,920       188,146  
      47,521,426       48,288,976  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     13,898,415       13,479,133  
    $ 33,623,011     $ 34,809,843  

 

The amounts charged to operating expense for depreciation were $1,645,081 and $1,552,297 in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

NOTE G - DEPOSITS

 

The aggregate amount of time deposits in denominations of $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, was $105,605,438 and $120,693,807, respectively.

 

At December 31, 2015, the scheduled maturities of time deposits included in interest-bearing deposits were as follows (in thousands):

 

Year   Amount  
       
2016   $ 120,771  
2017     25,924  
2018     12,154  
2019     8,408  
2020     12,216  
Thereafter     -  
    $ 179,473  

 

NOTE H - BORROWED FUNDS

 

Borrowed funds consisted of the following:

 

    December 31,  
    2015     2014  
             
Reverse Repurchase Agreement   $ 5,000,000     $ 5,000,000  
Fed Funds purchased     5,340,000       -  
FHLB advances     99,981,245       84,450,067  
    $ 110,321,245     $ 89,450,067  

 

Advances from the FHLB have maturity dates ranging from January 2016 through June 2019. Interest is payable monthly at rates ranging from .31% to 5.47%. Advances due to the FHLB are collateralized by a blanket lien on first mortgage loans in the amount of the outstanding borrowings, FHLB capital stock, and amounts on deposit with the FHLB. At December 31, 2015, FHLB advances available and unused totaled $242,945,692.

 

61 

 

 

Future annual principal repayment requirements on the borrowings from the FHLB at December 31, 2015, were as follows:

 

Year   Amount  
       
2016   $ 91,981,245  
2017     5,000,000  
2018     -  
2019     3,000,000  
Total   $ 99,981,245  

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements consist of one $5,000,000 agreement. The agreement is secured by securities with a fair value of $5,501,503 at December 31, 2015 and $7,443,951 at December 31, 2014. The maturity date of the remaining agreement is September 26, 2017, with a rate of 3.81%.

 

NOTE I – LEASE OBLIGATIONS

 

The Company is committed under several long-term operating leases which provide for minimum lease payments. Certain leases contain options for renewal. Total rental expense under these operating leases amounted to $530,000 and $421,000 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

The Company is also committed under two long-term capital lease agreements. One capital lease agreement had an outstanding balance of $1,018,000 and $1,154,000 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively (included in other liabilities). This lease has a remaining term of 6 years at December 31, 2015. Assets related to the capital lease are included in premises and equipment and the cost consists of $2.6 million less accumulated depreciation of approximately $1,127,913 and $866,313 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The second capital lease agreement had an outstanding balance of $309,000 at December 31, 2015. This lease has a remaining term of 4 years at December 31, 2015. Assets related to the capital lease are included in premises and equipment and the cost consists of $0.3 million less accumulated depreciation of approximately $1,000 at December 31, 2015.

 

Minimum future lease payments for the operating and capital leases at December 31, 2015, were as follows:

 

    Operating        
    Leases     Capital Leases  
    (In thousands)  
             
2016     503       252  
2017     214       275  
2018     141       275  
2019     141       275  
2020     130       191  
Thereafter     556       175  
                 
Total Minimum Lease Payments   $ 1,685     $ 1,443  
                 
Less: Amount representing interest             (116 )
                 
Present value of minimum lease payments           $ 1,327  

 

62 

 

 

NOTE J - REGULATORY MATTERS

 

The Company and its subsidiary bank are subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and its subsidiary bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgment by regulators about components, risk weightings, and other related factors.

 

To ensure capital adequacy, quantitative measures have been established by regulators, and these require the Company and its subsidiary bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier I capital (as defined) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), Tier I capital to adjusted total assets (leverage) and common equity Tier 1. Management believes, as of December 31, 2015, that the Company and its subsidiary bank exceeded all capital adequacy requirements.

 

In 2013, the Federal Reserve voted to adopt final capital rules implementing Basel III requirements for U.S. Banking organizations. Under the final rule, minimum requirements increased for both the quantity and quality of capital held by banking organizations. The final rule includes a new minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital (Tier 1 Common) to risk-weighted assets and a Tier 1 Common capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets that will apply to all supervised financial institutions. The rule also raises the minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets and includes a minimum leverage ratio of 4% for all banking organizations. These new minimum capital ratios are effective on January 1, 2015, and will be fully phased in on January 1, 2019.

 

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the subsidiary bank was categorized by regulators as well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. Under Basel III requirements, a financial institution is considered to be well-capitalized if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10% or more, has a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 8% or more, has a common equity Tier 1 of 6.5%, and has a Tier I leverage capital ratio of 5% or more. There are no conditions or anticipated events that, in the opinion of management, would change the categorization. The actual capital amounts and ratios at December 31, 2015 and 2014, are presented in the following table. No amount was deducted from capital for interest-rate risk exposure.

 

    Company     Subsidiary  
    (Consolidated)     The First  
    Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
December 31, 2015                                
Total risk-based   $ 103,403       11.9 %   $ 102,911       11.8 %
Common equity Tier 1     70,587       8.1 %     96,164       11.0 %
Tier I risk-based     96,656       11.1 %     96,164       11.0 %
Tier I leverage     96,656       8.7 %     96,164       8.6 %
December 31, 2014                                
Total risk-based   $ 95,419       12.3 %   $ 94,888       12.2 %
Tier I risk-based     89,324       11.5 %     88,793       11.4 %
Tier I leverage     89,324       8.4 %     88,793       8.4 %

 

63 

 

 

The minimum amounts of capital and ratios as established by banking regulators at December 31, 2015 and 2014, were as follows:

 

    Company     Subsidiary  
    (Consolidated)     The First  
    Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
December 31, 2015                                
Total risk-based   $ 69,753       8.0 %   $ 69,698       8.0 %
Common equity Tier 1     39,236       4.5 %     39,205       4.5 %
Tier I risk-based     52,315       6.0 %     52,274       6.0 %
Tier I leverage     44,661       4.0 %     44,625       4.0 %
                                 
December 31, 2014                                
Total risk-based   $ 62,272       8.0 %   $ 62,208       8.0 %
Tier I risk-based     31,136       4.0 %     31,104       4.0 %
Tier I leverage     42,363       4.0 %     42,325       4.0 %

 

The Company’s dividends, if any, are expected to be made from dividends received from its subsidiary bank. The OCC limits dividends of a national bank in any calendar year to the net profits of that year combined with the retained net profits for the two preceding years.

 

NOTE K - INCOME TAXES

 

The components of income tax expense are as follows:

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2015     2014  
Current:                
Federal   $ 2,484,372     $ 1,757,098  
State     473,037       347,382  
Deferred     255,638       331,399  
    $ 3,213,047     $ 2,435,879  

 

The Company's income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the federal income tax statutory rates to income before income taxes. A reconciliation of the differences is as follows:

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2015     2014  
    Amount     %     Amount     %  
                         
Income taxes at statutory rate   $ 4,083,995       34 %   $ 3,076,856       34 %
Tax-exempt income     (831,141 )     (7 )%     (863,204 )     (10 )%
Nondeductible expenses     161,176       1 %     238,638       3 %
State income tax, net of federal tax effect     307,951       3 %     215,803       2 %
Tax credits     (295,800 )     (2 )%     (337,716 )     (4 )%
Other, net     (213,134 )     (2 )%     105,502       2 %
    $ 3,213,047       27 %   $ 2,435,879       27 %

 

64 

 

 

The components of deferred income taxes included in the consolidated financial statements were as follows:

 

    December 31,  
    2015     2014  
Deferred tax assets:                
Allowance for loan losses   $ 2,516,669     $ 2,273,435  
Net operating loss carryover     2,426,903       2,615,552  
Other real estate     275,530       357,873  
Other     1,194,345       1,200,419  
      6,413,447       6,447,279  
Deferred tax liabilities:                
Securities accretion     (112,050 )     (124,942 )
Premises and equipment     (554,103 )     (443,080 )
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities     (560,791 )     (932,473 )
Core deposit intangible     (149,109 )     (238,562 )
Goodwill     (929,316 )     (716,188 )
      (2,305,369 )     (2,455,245 )
Net deferred tax asset, included in other assets   $ 4,108,078     $ 3,992,034  

 

With the acquisition of Wiggins in 2006, Baldwin in 2013, and Bay in 2014, the Company assumed federal tax net operating loss carryovers. These net operating losses are available to the Company through the years 2023, 2033, and 2034, respectively.

 

The Company follows the guidance of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Topic 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no uncertain tax positions that it believes should be recognized in the financial statements. The tax years still subject to examination by taxing authorities are years subsequent to 2011.

 

NOTE L - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

 

The Company and its subsidiary bank provide a deferred compensation arrangement (401(k) plan) whereby employees contribute a percentage of their compensation. For employee contributions of six percent or less, the Company and its subsidiary bank provide a 50% matching contribution. Contributions totaled $287,055 in 2015 and $255,716 in 2014.

 

The Company sponsors an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for employees who have completed one year of service for the Company and attained age 21. Employees become fully vested after five years of service. Contributions to the plan are at the discretion of the Board of Directors. At December 31, 2015, the ESOP held 5,902 shares of Company common stock and had no debt obligation. All shares held by the plan were considered outstanding for net income per share purposes. Total ESOP expense was $25,506 for 2015 and $26,267 for 2014.

 

During 2014, the Company established a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for three active key executives. Pursuant to the SERP, these officers are entitled to receive 180 equal monthly payments commencing at the later of obtaining age 65 or separation from service. The costs of such benefits, assuming a retirement date at age 65, will be accrued by the Company at such retirement date. During 2015, the Company accrued $88,992 for future benefits payable under the SERP. The SERP is an unfunded plan and is considered a general contractual obligation of the Company.

 

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NOTE M - STOCK PLANS

 

In 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.  The 2007 Plan provided for the issuance of up to 315,000 shares of Company Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share.  In 2015, the Company adopted an amendment to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan which provided for the issuance of an additional 300,000 shares of Company Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, for a total of 615,000 shares. Shares issued under the 2007 Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.  During the year ended December 31, 2014, 69,627 nonvested restricted stock awards were granted under the Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2015, 69,327 nonvested restricted stock awards were granted under the Plan and no stock awards were forfeited due to separation. During 2015, 6,324 shares were repurchased for payment of taxes. The weighted average grant-date fair value for these shares was $14.06 per share. Compensation costs in the amount of $721,124 was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $617,779 for the year ended December 31, 2014. Shares of restricted stock granted to employees under this stock plan are subject to restrictions as to the vesting period. The restricted stock award becomes 100% vested on the earliest of 1) the three or five year vesting period provided the Grantee has not incurred a termination of employment prior to that date, 2) the Grantee’s retirement, or 3) the Grantee’s death. During this period, the holder is entitled to full voting rights and dividends, which are held until vested. As of December 31, 2015, there was approximately $1,266,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to this Plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over the remaining term of the vesting period (approximately 4 years).

 

NOTE N - SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

 

On June 30, 2006, the Company issued $4,124,000 of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to The First Bancshares Statutory Trust 2 in which the Company owns all of the common equity. The debentures are the sole asset of the Trust. The Trust issued $4,000,000 of Trust Preferred Securities (TPSs) to investors. The Company’s obligations under the debentures and related documents, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. The preferred securities were redeemable by the Company at its option. The preferred securities must be redeemed upon maturity of the debentures in 2036. Interest on the preferred securities is the three month London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) plus 1.65% and is payable quarterly. The terms of the subordinated debentures are identical to those of the preferred securities. On July 27, 2007, the Company issued $6,186,000 of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to The First Bancshares Statutory Trust 3 in which the Company owns all of the common equity. The debentures are the sole asset of Trust 3. The Trust issued $6,000,000 of Trust Preferred Securities (TPSs) to investors. The Company’s obligations under the debentures and related documents, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. The preferred securities are redeemable by the Company at its option. The preferred securities must be redeemed upon maturity of the debentures in 2037. Interest on the preferred securities is the three month LIBOR plus 1.40% and is payable quarterly. The terms of the subordinated debentures are identical to those of the preferred securities. In accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, the trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements.

 

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NOTE O - TREASURY STOCK

 

Shares held in treasury totaled 26,494 at December 31, 2015, and 2014.

 

NOTE P - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

In the normal course of business, the Bank makes loans to its directors and executive officers and to companies in which they have a significant ownership interest. In the opinion of management, these loans are made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other parties, are consistent with sound banking practices, and are within applicable regulatory and lending limitations. Such loans amounted to approximately $7,957,000 and $8,442,000 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The activity in loans to current directors, executive officers, and their affiliates during the year ended December 31, 2015, is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Loans outstanding at beginning of year   $ 8,442  
New loans     362  
Repayments     (847 )
Loans outstanding at end of year   $ 7,957  

 

NOTE Q - COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES, AND CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

 

In the normal course of business, there are outstanding various commitments and contingent liabilities, such as guaranties, commitments to extend credit, etc., which are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The subsidiary bank had outstanding letters of credit of $1,135,000 and $986,000

at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and had made loan commitments of approximately $144,086,000 and $128,086,000 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Commitments to extend credit and letters of credit include some exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance of the customer. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit policies and procedures for such commitments are the same as those used for lending activities. Because these instruments have fixed maturity dates and because a number expire without being drawn upon, they generally do not present any significant liquidity risk. No significant losses on commitments were incurred during the two years ended December 31, 2015, nor are any significant losses as a result of these transactions anticipated.

 

The primary market area served by the Bank is Forrest, Lamar, Jones, Pearl River, Jackson, Hancock, Stone, and Harrison Counties within South Mississippi, as well as Washington Parish, St. Tammany Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana and Baldwin and Mobile Counties in South Alabama. Management closely monitors its credit concentrations and attempts to diversify the portfolio within its primary market area. As of December 31, 2015, management does not consider there to be any significant credit concentrations within the loan portfolio. Although the Bank’s loan portfolio, as well as existing commitments, reflects the diversity of its primary market area, a substantial portion of a borrower's ability to repay a loan is dependent upon the economic stability of the area.

 

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NOTE R - FAIR VALUES OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

The Company follows the guidance of ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, that establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

 

The guidance defines the fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

 

In accordance with the guidance, the Company groups its financial assets and financial liabilities measured 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. These levels are:

 

  Level 1: Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange.  Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or liabilities.
     
  Level 2: Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer or broker markets. Valuations are obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities which use observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets and liabilities.
     
  Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

Available-for-Sale Securities

 

The fair value of available-for-sale securities is determined by various valuation methodologies. Where quoted market prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1. Level 1 securities include mutual funds. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies, obligations of states and political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. In certain cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

 

The following table presents the Company’s available-for-sale securities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fell as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

  

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          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
For
Identical Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
December 31, 2015                        
                         
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies   $ 19,611     $ -     $ 19,611     $ -  
Municipal securities     97,889       -       97,889       -  
Mortgage-backed securities     98,925       -       98,925       -  
Corporate obligations     22,346       -       19,789       2,557  
Other     961       961       -       -  
Total   $ 239,732     $ 961     $ 236,214     $ 2,557  

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
For
Identical Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
December 31, 2014                        
                         
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies   $ 27,372     $ -     $ 27,372     $ -  
Municipal securities     104,582       -       104,582       -  
Mortgage-backed securities     93,036       -       93,036       -  
Corporate obligations     28,784       -       25,983       2,801  
Other     972       972       -       -  
Total   $ 254,746     $ 972     $ 250,973     $ 2,801  

 

69 

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of activity for assets measured at fair value based on significant unobservable (non-market) information.

 

(In thousands)   Bank-Issued Trust
Trust Preferred
Securities
 
    2015     2014  
Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at January 1   $ 2,801     $ 2,798  
Transfers into Level 3     -       -  
Transfers out of Level 3     -       -  
Unrealized income (loss) included in comprehensive income     (244 )     3  
Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at December 31   $ 2,557     $ 2,801  

 

The following table presents quantitative information about recurring Level 3 fair value measurements (in thousands):

 

Trust Preferred
Securities
  Fair Value     Valuation Technique   Significant
Unobservable Inputs
  Range of Inputs
                   
December 31, 2015   $ 2,557     Discounted cash flow   Discount rate   1.08% - 2.77%
December 31, 2014   $ 2,801     Discounted cash flow   Discount rate   .79% - 2.49%

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

 

Impaired Loans

 

Loans for which it is probable that the Company will not collect all principal and interest due according to contractual terms are measured for impairment. Allowable methods for estimating fair value include using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans or, where a loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, using the discounted cash flow method.

 

If the impaired loan is identified as collateral dependent, then the fair value method of measuring the amount of impairment is utilized. This method requires obtaining a current independent appraisal of the collateral and applying a discount factor to the value. If the impaired loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, then the discounted cash flow method is used. This method requires the impaired loan to be recorded at the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. The effective interest rate of a loan is the contractual interest rate adjusted for any net deferred loan fees or costs, premiums or discounts existing at origination or acquisition of the loan. Impaired loans are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

Other real estate owned consists of properties obtained through foreclosure. The adjustment at the time of foreclosure is recorded through the allowance for loan losses. Fair value of other real estate owned is based on current independent appraisals. Due to the subjective nature of establishing the fair value when the asset is acquired, the actual fair value of the other real estate owned or foreclosed asset could differ from the original estimate. If it is determined the fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through other income. Operating costs associated with the assets after acquisition are also recorded as non-interest expense. Gains and losses on the disposition of other real estate owned and foreclosed assets are netted and posted to other income. Other real estate owned measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2015, amounted to $3,083,000. Other real estate owned is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

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The following table presents the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fell at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in thousands).

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
For
Identical Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
December 31, 2015                        
                         
Impaired loans   $ 10,127     $ -     $ 10,127     $ -  
Other real estate owned     3,083       -       3,083       -  
                                 
December 31, 2014                                
                                 
Impaired loans   $ 9,560     $ -     $ 9,560     $ -  
Other real estate owned     4,655       -       4,655       -  

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents – For such short-term instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Investment in securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity – The fair value measurement for securities available-for-sale was discussed earlier. The same measurement approach was used for securities held-to-maturity and other securities.

 

Loans – The fair value 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.

 

Bank-owned Life Insurance – The fair value of bank-owned life insurance approximates the carrying amount, because upon liquidation of these investments, the Company would receive the cash surrender value which equals the carrying amount.

 

Deposits – The fair values of demand deposits are, as required by ASC Topic 825, equal to the carrying value of such deposits. Demand deposits include noninterest-bearing demand deposits, savings accounts, NOW accounts, and money market demand accounts. The fair value of variable rate term deposits, those repricing within six months or less, approximates the carrying value of these deposits. Discounted cash flows have been used to value fixed rate term deposits and variable rate term deposits repricing after six months. The discount rate used is based on interest rates currently being offered on comparable deposits as to amount and term.

 

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Short-Term Borrowings – The carrying value of any federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings approximates their fair values.

 

FHLB and Other Borrowings – The fair value of the fixed rate borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows, based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. The carrying amount of any variable rate borrowing approximates its fair value.

 

Subordinated Debentures – The subordinated debentures bear interest at a variable rate and the carrying value approximates the fair value.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Instruments – Fair values of off-balance sheet financial instruments are based on fees charged to enter into similar agreements. However, commitments to extend credit do not represent a significant value until such commitments are funded or closed. Management has determined that these instruments do not have a distinguishable fair value and no fair value has been assigned.

 

As of December 31, 2015               Fair Value Measurements  
    Carrying
Amount
    Estimated
Fair Value
    Quoted
Prices
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                               
Financial Instruments:                                        
Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 41,259     $ 41,259     $ 41,259     $ -     $ -  
Securities available-for-sale     239,732       239,732       961       236,214       2,557  
Securities held-to-maturity     7,092       8,548       -       8,548       -  
Other securities     8,135       8,135       -       8,135       -  
Loans, net     769,742       784,113       -       -       784,113  
Bank-owned life insurance     14,872       14,872       -       14,872       -  
                                         
Liabilities:                                        
Noninterest-bearing deposits   $ 189,445     $ 189,445     $ -     $ 189,445     $ -  
Interest-bearing deposits     727,250       726,441       -       726,441       -  
Subordinated debentures     10,310       10,310       -       -       10,310  
FHLB and other borrowings     110,321       110,321       -       110,321       -  

 

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As of December 31, 2014               Fair Value Measurements  
    Carrying
Amount
    Estimated
Fair Value
    Quoted
Prices
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                               
Financial Instruments:                                        
Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 44,618     $ 44,618     $ 44,618     $ -     $ -  
Securities available-for-sale     254,746       254,746       972       250,973       2,801  
Securities held-to-maturity     8,193       9,994       -       9,994       -  
Other securities     7,234       7,234       -       7,234       -  
Loans, net     700,540       715,849       -       -       715,849  
Bank-owned life insurance     14,463       14,463       -       14,463       -  
                                         
Liabilities:                                        
Noninterest-bearing deposits   $ 201,362     $ 201,362     $ -     $ 201,362     $ -  
Interest-bearing deposits     691,413       691,036       -       691,036       -  
Subordinated debentures     10,310       10,310       -       -       10,310  
FHLB and other borrowings     89,450       89,450       -       89,450       -  

 

NOTE S - SENIOR PREFERRED STOCK

 

Pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”), the Company issued 17,123 CDCI Preferred Shares.

 

The Letter Agreement contains limitations on the payment of dividends on the common stock to no more than 100% of the aggregate per share dividend and distributions for the immediate prior fiscal year (dividends of $0.15 per share were declared and paid 2011 through 2015) and on the Company’s ability to repurchase its common stock in the event of a non-payment of our dividend, and continues to subject the Company to certain of the executive compensation limitations included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), as previously disclosed by the Company. The CDCI Preferred Shares entitle the holder to an annual dividend of 2% for 8 years of the liquidation value of the shares, payable quarterly in arrears.

 

On Wednesday, May 13, 2015, The First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Letter Agreement, including Schedule A thereto (the “Letter Agreement”), with the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”), pursuant to which the Company redeemed the Warrant to purchase up to 54,705 shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”) issued to Treasury on February 6, 2009 under the Capital Purchase Program. In connection with this redemption, on May 13, 2015, the Company paid Treasury an aggregate redemption price of $302,410.

 

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NOTE T - PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The balance sheets, statements of income and cash flows for The First Bancshares, Inc. (parent company only) follow.

 

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

    December 31,  
    2015     2014  
Assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 213,621     $ 63,707  
Investment in subsidiary bank     112,943,885       105,685,727  
Investments in statutory trusts     310,000       310,000  
Other     686,409       808,132  
    $ 114,153,915     $ 106,867,566  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:                
Subordinated debentures   $ 10,310,000     $ 10,310,000  
Other     407,825       341,982  
Stockholders’ equity     103,436,090       96,215,584  
    $ 114,153,915     $ 106,867,566  

 

Condensed Statements of Income

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2015     2014  
Income:                
Interest and dividends   $ 5,573     $ 5,453  
Dividend income     1,650,000       5,109,668  
Other     -       364,719  
      1,655,573       5,479,840  
Expenses:                
Interest on borrowed funds     185,351       181,330  
Legal     295,637       504,130  
Other     833,502       752,027  
      1,314,490       1,437,487  
                 
Income before income taxes and equity in undistributed income of subsidiary     341,083       4,042,353  
Income tax benefit     487,853       296,388  
Income before equity in undistributed income of subsidiary     828,936       4,338,741  
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiary     7,969,766       2,274,955  
                 
Net income   $ 8,798,702     $ 6,613,696  

 

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Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2015     2014  
Cash flows from operating activities:                
Net income   $ 8,798,702     $ 6,613,696  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:                
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiary     (7,969,766 )     (2,274,955 )
Restricted stock expense     721,124       617,779  
Gain on sale of assets     -       (364,719 )
Other, net     151,251       689,740  
Net cash provided by operating activities     1,701,311       5,281,541  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:                
Investment in subsidiary bank     -       -  
Outlays for acquisition     (35,709 )     (4,034,668 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (35,709 )     (4,034,668 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
Dividends paid on common stock     (778,428 )     (763,488 )
Dividends paid on preferred stock     (342,460 )     (342,460 )
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (92,390 )     (85,532 )
Repurchase of warrants     (302,410 )     -  
Net cash used in financing activities     (1,515,688 )     (1,191,480 )
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     149,914       55,393  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     63,707       8,314  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year   $ 213,621     $ 63,707  

 

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NOTE U - SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS (UNAUDITED)

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
                         
2015                                
Total interest income   $ 9,683     $ 10,022     $ 10,080     $ 10,417  
Total interest expense     804       806       793       804  
Net interest income     8,879       9,216       9,287       9,613  
Provision for loan losses     150       -       250       10  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     8,729       9,216       9,037       9,603  
Total non-interest income     1,850       1,854       1,982       1,903  
Total non-interest expense     7,818       8,092       7,977       8,275  
Income tax expense     732       793       815       873  
Net income     2,029       2,185       2,227       2,358  
Preferred dividends     85       86       86       85  
                                 
Net income applicable to common stockholders   $ 1,944     $ 2,099     $ 2,141     $ 2,273  
Per common share:                                
Net income, basic   $ .36     $ .39     $ .40     $ .42  
Net income, diluted     .36       .39       .39       .42  
Cash dividends declared     .0375       .0375       .0375       .0375  
                                 
2014                                
Total interest income   $ 8,447     $ 8,574     $ 9,688     $ 9,662  
Total interest expense     623       726       833       791  
Net interest income     7,824       7,848       8,855       8,871  
Provision for loan losses     358       277       631       152  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     7,466       7,571       8,224       8,719  
Total non-interest income     1,672       2,055       2,021       2,055  
Total non-interest expense     7,227       7,384       8,071       8,051  
Income tax expense     484       629       641       682  
Net income     1,427       1,613       1,533       2,041  
Preferred dividends and stock accretion     106       86       85       86  
Net income applicable to common Stockholders   $ 1,321     $ 1,527     $ 1,448     $ 1,955  
Per common share:                                
Net income, basic   $ .26     $ .30     $ .27     $ .37  
Net income, diluted     .25       .29       .27       .36  
Cash dividends declared     .0375       .0375       .0375       .0375  

 

76 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

 

 
 

  

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

    December 31,  
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  
Earnings:                                        
Net interest income   $ 33,398     $ 28,401     $ 22,194     $ 19,079     $ 16,334  
Provision for loan losses     1,418       1,076       1,228       1,468       983  
                                         
Noninterest income     7,803       7,083       6,324       4,598       3,895  
Noninterest expense     30,734       28,165       22,164       18,870       15,843  
Net income     6,614       4,639       4,049       2,871       2,549  
Net income applicable to common stockholders     6,251       4,215       3,624       2,529       2,233  
                                         
Per  common share data:                                        
Basic net income per share   $ 1.20     $ .98     $ 1.17     $ .83     $ .74  
                                         
Diluted net income per share     1.19       .96       1.16       .82       .74  
Per share data:                                        
Basic net income per share   $ 1.27     $ 1.07     $ 1.31     $ .94     $ .84  
Diluted net income per share     1.25       1.06       1.29       .93       .84  
                                         
Selected Year End Balances:                                        
                                         
Total assets   $ 1,093,768     $ 940,890     $ 721,385     $ 681,413     $ 503,045  
Securities     270,174       258,023       226,301       221,176       107,136  
Loans, net of allowance     700,540       577,574       408,970       383,418       327,956  
Deposits     892,775       779,971       596,627       573,394       396,479  
Stockholders’ equity     96,216       85,108       65,885       60,425       57,098  

 

5
 

 

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Purpose

 

The purpose of management's discussion and analysis is to make the reader aware of the significant components, events, and changes in the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Company and The First during the year ended December 31, 2014, when compared to the years 2013 and 2012. The Company's consolidated financial statements and related notes should also be considered.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

In the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements, certain significant amounts are based upon judgment and estimates. The most critical of these is the accounting policy related to the allowance for loan losses. The allowance is based in large measure upon management's evaluation of borrowers' abilities to make loan payments, local and national economic conditions, and other subjective factors. If any of these factors were to deteriorate, management would update its estimates and judgments which may require additional loss provisions.

 

Companies are required to perform periodic reviews of individual securities in their investment portfolios to determine whether decline in the value of a security is other than temporary. A review of other-than-temporary impairment requires companies to make certain judgments regarding the materiality of the decline, its effect on the financial statements and the probability, extent and timing of a valuation recovery and the company’s intent and ability to hold the security. Pursuant to these requirements, Management assesses valuation declines to determine the extent to which such changes are attributable to fundamental factors specific to the issuer, such as financial condition, business prospects or other factors or market-related factors, such as interest rates. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are recorded in earnings as realized losses.

 

Goodwill is assessed for impairment both annually and when events or circumstances occur that make it more likely than not that impairment has occurred. As part of its testing, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount using these qualitative factors, the Company then compares the fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount, and then measures impaired loss by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. No impairment was indicated when the annual test was performed in 2014.

 

Overview

 

The First Bancshares, Inc. (the Company) was incorporated on June 23, 1995, and serves as a bank holding company for The First, A National Banking Association (“The First”), located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The First began operations on August 5, 1996, from its main office in the Oak Grove community, which is on the western side of Hattiesburg. The First has 31 locations in South Mississippi, South Alabama and Louisiana. See Note C of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding branch acquisitions. The Company and The First engage in a general commercial and retail banking business characterized by personalized service and local decision-making, emphasizing the banking needs of small to medium-sized businesses, professional concerns, and individuals.

 

6
 

 

The Company’s primary source of revenue is interest income and fees, which it earns by lending and investing the funds which are held on deposit. Because loans generally earn higher rates of interest than investments, the Company seeks to employ as much of its deposit funds as possible in the form of loans to individuals, businesses, and other organizations. To ensure sufficient liquidity, the Company also maintains a portion of its deposits in cash, government securities, deposits with other financial institutions, and overnight loans of excess reserves (known as “Federal Funds Sold”) to correspondent banks. The revenue which the Company earns (prior to deducting its overhead expenses) is essentially a function of the amount of the Company’s loans and deposits, as well as the profit margin (“interest spread”) and fee income which can be generated on these amounts.

 

The Company increased from approximately $940.9 million in total assets, and $780.0 million in deposits at December 31, 2013 to approximately $1.1 billion in total assets, and $892.8 million in deposits at December 31, 2014. Loans net of allowance for loan losses increased from $577.6 million at December 31, 2013 to approximately $701.0 at December 31, 2014. The Company increased from $85.1 million in stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2013 to approximately $96.2 million at December 31, 2014. The First reported net income of $7,385,000 and $5,895,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company reported consolidated net income applicable to common stockholders of $6,251,000 and $4,215,000, respectively. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto and the other financial data included elsewhere.

 

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

    December 31,  
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  
Earnings:                                        
Net interest income   $ 33,398     $ 28,401     $ 22,194     $ 19,079     $ 16,334  
Provision for loan losses     1,418       1,076       1,228       1,468       983  
Noninterest income     7,803       7,083       6,324       4,598       3,895  
Noninterest expense     30,734       28,165       22,164       18,870       15,843  
Net income     6,614       4,639       4,049       2,871       2,549  
Net income applicable to common stockholders     6,251       4,215       3,624       2,529       2,233  
                                         
Per common share data:                                        
Basic net income per share   $ 1.20     $ .98     $ 1.17     $ .83     $ .74  
Diluted net income per share     1.19       .96       1.16       .82       .74  
Per share data:                                        
Basic net income per share   $ 1.27     $ 1.07     $ 1.31     $ .94     $ .84  
Diluted net income per share     1.25       1.06       1.29       .93       .84  
                                         
Selected Year End Balances:                                        
                                         
Total assets   $ 1,093,768     $ 940,890     $ 721,385     $ 681,413     $ 503,045  
Securities     270,174       258,023       226,301       221,176       107,136  
Loans, net of allowance     700,540       577,574       408,970       383,418       327,956  
Deposits     892,775       779,971       596,627       573,394       396,479  
Stockholders’ equity     96,216       85,108       65,885       60,425       57,098  

 

7
 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following is a summary of the results of operations by The First for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

    2014     2013  
    (In thousands)  
             
Interest income   $ 36,365     $ 31,312  
Interest expense     2,791       2,731  
Net interest income     33,574       28,581  
                 
Provision for loan losses     1,418       1,076  
                 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     32,156       27,505  
                 
Other income     7,439       7,083  
                 
Other expense     29,477       26,578  
                 
Income tax expense     2,733       2,115  
                 
Net income   $ 7,385     $ 5,895  

 

8
 

 

The following reconciles the above table to the amounts reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Company at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    2014     2013  
    (In thousands)  
             
Net interest income:                
Net interest income of The First   $ 33,574     $ 28,581  
Intercompany eliminations     (176 )     (180 )
    $ 33,398     $ 28,401  
                 
Net income applicable to common stockholders:                
Net income of  The First   $ 7,385     $ 5,895  
Net loss of the Company, excluding intercompany accounts     (1,134 )     (1,680 )
    $ 6,251     $ 4,215  

 

Consolidated Net Income

 

The Company reported consolidated net income applicable to common stockholders of $6,250,743 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to a consolidated net income of $4,215,067 for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in income was attributable to an increase in net interest income of $5.0 million or 17.6%, and an increase of $.7 million or 10.2% in other income which were offset by an increase in other expenses of $2.6 million or 9.1%.

 

Consolidated Net Interest Income

 

The largest component of net income for the Company is net interest income, which is the difference between the income earned on assets and interest paid on deposits and borrowings used to support such assets. Net interest income is determined by the rates earned on the Company’s interest-earning assets and the rates paid on its interest-bearing liabilities, the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the degree of mismatch and the maturity and repricing characteristics of its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Consolidated net interest income was approximately $33,398,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to $28,401,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase was the direct result of increased loan volumes during 2014 as compared to 2013. Average interest-bearing liabilities for the year 2014 were $746,025,000 compared to $728,322,000 for the year 2013. At December 31, 2014, the net interest spread, the difference between the yield on earning assets and the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities, was 3.50% compared to 3.25% at December 31, 2013. The net interest margin (which is net interest income divided by average earning assets) was 3.58% for the year 2014 compared to 3.31% for the year 2013. Rates paid on average interest-bearing liabilities remained constant at ..40% for the year 2013 and for the year 2014. Interest earned on assets and interest accrued on liabilities is significantly influenced by market factors, specifically interest rates as set by Federal agencies. Average loans comprised 67.8% of average earning assets for the year 2014 compared to 68.0% for the year 2013.

 

9
 

 

Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates. The following tables depict, for the periods indicated, certain information related to the average balance sheet and average yields on assets and average costs of liabilities. Such yields are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of the corresponding assets or liabilities. Average balances have been derived from daily averages.

 

Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013     2012  
    Average
Balance
    Income/
Expenses
    Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
    Income/
Expenses
    Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
    Income/
Expenses
    Yield/
Rate
 
Assets   (Dollars in thousands)  
Earning Assets                                                                        
Loans (1)(2)   $ 632,049     $ 30,276       4.79 %   $ 583,200     $ 25,736       4.41 %   $ 388,012     $ 21,412       5.52 %
Securities     271,247       5,957       2.20 %     248,237       5,419       2.18 %     235,833       4,785       2.03 %
Federal funds sold (3)     24,845       53       .21 %     18,564       62       .33 %     19,670       51       .26 %
Other     3,827       85       2.22 %     7,404       101       1.36 %     4,845       83       1.71 %
Total earning assets     931,968       36,371       3.90 %     857,405       31,318       3.65 %     648,360       26,331       4.06 %
                                                                         
Cash and due from banks     30,657                       25,447                       16,699                  
Premises and  equipment     33,252                       30,816                       22,633                  
Other assets     40,428                       33,314                       32,337                  
Allowance for loan losses     (5,983 )                     (5,240 )                     (4,457 )                
Total assets   $ 1,030,322                     $ 941,742                     $ 715,572                  
                                                                         
Liabilities                                                                        
Interest-bearing liabilities   $ 746,025     $ 2,973       .40 %   $ 728,322     $ 2,917       .40 %   $ 534,998     $ 4,137       .77 %
Demand deposits (1)     184,037                       115,909                       107,392                  
Other liabilities     11,990                       12,430                       10,036                  
Stockholders’ equity     88,270                       85,081                       63,146                  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,030,322                     $ 941,742                     $ 715,572                  
                                                                         
Net interest spread                     3.50 %                     3.25 %                     3.29 %
Net yield on interest-earning assets           $ 33,398       3.58 %           $ 28,401       3.31 %           $ 22,194       3.42 %

 

_________________

(1) All loans and deposits were made to borrowers in the United States. Includes nonaccrual loans of $6,056, $3,181, and $3,589, respectively, during the periods presented. Loans include held for sale loans.
(2) Includes loan fees of $717, $525, and $430 respectively.
(3) Includes EBA-MNBB and Federal Reserve – New Orleans.

 

Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income. The following table presents the consolidated dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in volume and to changes in rate. The combined effect in both volume and rate which cannot be separately identified has been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and due to rate.

 

10
 

 

Analysis of Changes in Consolidated Net Interest Income

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    2014 versus 2013
Increase (decrease) due to
    2013 versus 2012
Increase (decrease) due to
 
    Volume     Rate     Net     Volume     Rate     Net  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Earning Assets                                                
Loans   $ 2,154     $ 2,386     $ 4,540     $ 10,774     $ (6,450 )   $ 4,324  
Securities     502       36       538       270       374       644  
Federal funds sold     21       (30 )     (9 )     (3 )     13       10  
Other short-term investments     (49 )     33       (16 )     35       (26 )     9  
Total interest income     2,628       2,425       5,053       11,076       (6,089 )     4,987  
Interest-Bearing Liabilities                                                
Interest-bearing transaction accounts     88       (31 )     57       460       (748 )     (288 )
Money market accounts     73       (70 )     3       123       (154 )     (31 )
Savings deposits     9       13       22       3       (10 )     (7 )
Time deposits     59       62       121       172       (886 )     (714 )
Borrowed funds     1,113       (1,260 )     (147 )     97       (277 )     (180 )
Total interest expense     1,342       (1,286 )     56       855       (2,075 )     (1,220 )
Net interest income   $ 1,286     $ 3,711     $ 4,997     $ 10,221     $ (4,014 )   $ 6,207  

 

Interest Sensitivity. The Company monitors and manages the pricing and maturity of its assets and liabilities in order to diminish the potential adverse impact that changes in interest rates could have on its net interest income. A monitoring technique employed by the Company is the measurement of the Company's interest sensitivity "gap," which is the positive or negative dollar difference between assets and liabilities that are subject to interest rate repricing within a given period of time. The Company also performs asset/liability modeling to assess the impact varying interest rates and balance sheet mix assumptions will have on net interest income. Interest rate sensitivity can be managed by repricing assets or liabilities, selling securities available-for-sale, replacing an asset or liability at maturity, or adjusting the interest rate during the life of an asset or liability. Managing the amount of assets and liabilities repricing in the same time interval helps to hedge the risk and minimize the impact on net interest income of rising or falling interest rates. The Company evaluates interest sensitivity risk and then formulates guidelines regarding asset generation and repricing, funding sources and pricing, and off-balance sheet commitments in order to decrease interest rate sensitivity risk.

 

11
 

 

The following tables illustrate the Company's consolidated interest rate sensitivity and consolidated cumulative gap position at December 31, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

 

    December 31, 2012  
    Within
Three
Months
    After Three
Through
Twelve
Months
    Within
One
Year
    Greater Than
One Year or
Nonsensitive
    Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Assets                                        
Earning Assets:                                        
Loans   $ 72,670     $ 78,168     $ 150,838     $ 262,859     $ 413,697  
Securities (2)     11,185       15,504       26,689       199,612       226,301  
Funds sold and other     1,064       9,588       10,652       -       10,652  
Total earning assets   $ 84,919     $ 103,260     $ 188,179     $ 462,471     $ 650,650  
Liabilities                                        
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                        
Interest-bearing deposits:                                        
NOW accounts (1)   $ -     $ 230,588     $ 230,588     $ -     $ 230,588  
Money market accounts     47,325       -       47,325       -       47,325  
Savings deposits (1)     -       48,153       48,153       -       48,153  
Time deposits     32,624       70,883       103,507       57,429       160,936  
Total interest-bearing deposits     79,949       349,624       429,573       57,429       487,002  
Borrowed funds (3)     20,000       1,771       21,771       15,000       36,771  
Total interest-bearing liabilities     99,949       351,395       451,344       72,429       523,773  
Interest-sensitivity gap per period   $ (15,030 )   $ (248,135 )   $ (263,165 )   $ 390,042     $ 126,877  
Cumulative gap at December 31, 2012   $ (15,030 )   $ (263,165 )   $ (263,165 )   $ 126,877     $ 126,877  
Ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets at December 31, 2012     (2.3 )%     (40.4 )%     (40.4 )%     19.5 %        

 

    December 31, 2013  
    Within
Three
Months
    After Three
Through
Twelve
Months
    Within
One
Year
    Greater Than
One Year or
Nonsensitive
    Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Assets                                        
Earning Assets:                                        
Loans   $ 89,314     $ 98,315     $ 187,629     $ 395,673     $ 583,302  
Securities (2)     10,114       16,006       26,120       231,903       258,023  
Funds sold and other     967       14,205       15,172       -       15,172  
Total earning assets   $ 100,395     $ 128,526     $ 228,921     $ 627,576     $ 856,497  
Liabilities                                        
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                        
Interest-bearing deposits:                                        
NOW accounts (1)   $ -     $ 240,513     $ 240,513     $ -     $ 240,513  
Money market accounts     107,564       -       107,564       -       107,564  
Savings deposits (1)     -       55,113       55,113       -       55,113  
Time deposits     46,875       87,475       134,350       68,637       202,987  
Total interest-bearing deposits     154,439       383,101       537,540       68,637       606,177  
Borrowed funds (3)     37,000       4,000       41,000       11,000       52,000  
Total interest-bearing liabilities     191,439       387,101       578,540       79,637       658,177  
Interest-sensitivity gap per period   $ (91,044 )   $ (258,575 )   $ (349,619 )   $ 547,939     $ 198,320  
Cumulative gap at December 31, 2013   $ (91,044 )   $ (349,619 )   $ (349,619 )   $ 198,320     $ 198,320  
Ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets at December 31, 2013     (10.6 )%     (40.8 )%     (40.8 )%     23.2 %        

 

12
 

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Within
Three
Months
    After Three
Through
Twelve
Months
    Within
One
Year
    Greater Than
One Year or
Nonsensitive
    Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Assets                                        
Earning Assets:                                        
Loans   $ 99,183     $ 82,644     $ 181,827     $ 524,808     $ 706,635  
Securities (2)     14,266       14,880       29,146       241,028       270,174  
Funds sold and other     386       13,899       14,285       -       14,285  
Total earning assets   $ 113,835     $ 111,423     $ 225,258     $ 765,836     $ 991,094  
Liabilities                                        
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                        
Interest-bearing deposits:                                        
NOW accounts (1)   $ -     $ 215,107     $ 215,107     $ 86,614     $ 301,721  
Money market accounts     117,018       -       117,018       -       117,018  
Savings deposits (1)     -       66,615       66,615       -       66,615  
Time deposits     53,529       78,581       132,110       73,949       206,059  
Total interest-bearing deposits     170,547       360,303       530,850       160,563       691,413  
Borrowed funds (3)     40,004       40,464       80,468       8,982       89,450  
Total interest-bearing liabilities     210,551       400,767       611,318       169,545       780,863  
Interest-sensitivity gap per period   $ (96,716 )   $ (289,344 )   $ (386,060 )   $ 596,291     $ 210,231  
Cumulative gap at December 31, 2014   $ (96,716 )   $ (386,060 )   $ (386,060 )   $ 210,231     $ 210,231  
Ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets at  December 31, 2014     (9.8 )%     (38.9 )%     (38.9 )%     21.2 %        

 

______________

 

(1) NOW and savings accounts are subject to immediate withdrawal and repricing. These deposits do not tend to immediately react to changes in interest rates and the Company believes these deposits are a stable and predictable funding source. Therefore, these deposits are included in the repricing period that management believes most closely matches the periods in which they are likely to reprice rather than the period in which the funds can be withdrawn contractually.
(2) Securities include mortgage backed and other installment paying obligations based upon stated maturity dates.
(3) Does not include subordinated debentures of $10,310,000.

 

The Company generally would benefit from increasing market rates of interest when it has an asset-sensitive gap and generally from decreasing market rates of interest when it is liability sensitive. The Company currently is liability sensitive within the one-year time frame. However, the Company's gap analysis is not a precise indicator of its interest sensitivity position. The analysis presents only a static view of the timing of maturities and repricing opportunities, without taking into consideration that changes in interest rates do not affect all assets and liabilities equally. For example, rates paid on a substantial portion of core deposits may change contractually within a relatively short time frame, but those rates are viewed by management as significantly less interest-sensitive than market-based rates such as those paid on non-core deposits. Accordingly, management believes a liability sensitive-position within one year would not be as indicative of the Company’s true interest sensitivity as it would be for an organization which depends to a greater extent on purchased funds to support earning assets. Net interest income is also affected by other significant factors, including changes in the volume and mix of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The Company has developed policies and procedures for evaluating the overall quality of its credit portfolio and the timely identification of potential problem loans. Management’s judgment as to the adequacy of the allowance is based upon a number of assumptions about future events which it believes to be reasonable, but which may not prove to be accurate. Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the loan loss allowance will not be required.

 

13
 

 

The Company’s allowance consists of two parts. The first part is determined in accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the FASB regarding the allowance. The Company’s determination of this part of the allowance is based upon quantitative and qualitative factors. A loan loss history based upon the prior three years is utilized in determining the appropriate allowance. Historical loss factors are determined by criticized and uncriticized loans by loan type. These historical loss factors are applied to the loans by loan type to determine an indicated allowance. The loss factors of peer groups are considered in the determination of the allowance and are used to assist in the establishment of a long-term loss history for areas in which this data is unavailable and incorporated into the qualitative factors to be considered. The historical loss factors may also be modified based upon other qualitative factors including but not limited to local and national economic conditions, trends of delinquent loans, changes in lending policies and underwriting standards, concentrations, and management’s knowledge of the loan portfolio. These factors require judgment upon the part of management and are based upon state and national economic reports received from various institutions and agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank, United States Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, meetings with the Company’s loan officers and loan committees, and data and guidance received or obtained from the Company’s regulatory authorities.

 

The second part of the allowance is determined in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB regarding impaired loans. Impaired loans are determined based upon a review by internal loan review and senior loan officers. Impaired loans are loans for which the Bank does not expect to receive contractual interest and/or principal by the due date. A specific allowance is assigned to each loan determined to be impaired based upon the value of the loan’s underlying collateral. Appraisals are used by management to determine the value of the collateral.

 

The sum of the two parts constitutes management’s best estimate of an appropriate allowance for loan losses. When the estimated allowance is determined, it is presented to the Company’s audit committee for review and approval on a quarterly basis.

 

Our allowance for loan losses model is focused on establishing a loss history within the Bank and relying on specific impairment to determine credits that the Bank feels the ultimate repayment source will be liquidation of the subject collateral.  Our model takes into account many other factors as well such as local and national economic factors, portfolio trends, non performing asset, charge off, and delinquency trends as well as underwriting standards and the experience of branch management and lending staff.   These trends are measured in the following ways:

 

Local Trends: (Updated quarterly usually the month following quarter end)

Local Unemployment Rate

Insurance Issues (Windpool Areas)

Bankruptcy Rates (Increasing/Declining)

Local Commercial R/E Vacancy Rates

Established Market/New Market

Hurricane Threat

 

14
 

 

National Trends: (Updated quarterly usually the month following quarter end)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Home Sales

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Interest Rate Environment (Increasing/Steady/Declining)

Single Family Construction Starts

Inflation Rate

Retail Sales

 

Portfolio Trends: (Updated monthly as the ALLL is calculated)

Second Mortgages

Single Pay Loans

Non-Recourse Loans

Limited Guaranty Loans

Loan to Value Exceptions

Secured by Non-Owner Occupied Property

Raw Land Loans

Unsecured Loans

 

Measurable Bank Trends: (Updated quarterly)

Delinquency Trends

Non-Accrual Trends

Net Charge Offs

Loan Volume Trends

Non-Performing Assets

Underwriting Standards/Lending Policies

Experience/Depth of Bank Lending

Management

 

Our model takes into account many local and national economic factors as well as portfolio trends.  Local and national economic trends are measured quarterly, typically in the month following quarter end to facilitate the release of economic data from the reporting agencies.  These factors are allocated a basis point value ranging from -25 to +25 basis points and directly affect the amount reserved for each branch.  As of December 31, 2014, most economic indicators both local and national pointed to a weak economy thus most factors were assigned a positive basis point value. This increased the amount of the allowance that was indicated by historical loss factors.  Portfolio trends are measured monthly on a per branch basis to determine the percentage of loans in each branch that the Bank has determined as having more risk.  Portfolio risk is defined as areas in the Bank’s loan portfolio in which there is additional risk involved in the loan type or some other area in which the Bank has identified as having more risk.  Each area is tracked on bank-wide as well as on a branch-wide basis.  Branches are analyzed based on the gross percentage of concentrations of the Bank as a whole.  Portfolio risk is determined by analyzing concentrations in the areas outlined by determining the percentage of each branch’s total portfolio that is made up of the particular loan type and then comparing that concentration to the Bank as a whole. Branches with concentrations in these areas are graded on a scale from – 25 basis points to + 25 basis points. Second mortgages, single pay loans, loans secured by raw land, unsecured loans and loans secured by non owner occupied property are considered to be of higher risk than those of a secured and amortizing basis. LTV exceptions place the Bank at risk in the event of repossession or foreclosure. 

 

15
 

 

Measurable Bank Wide Trends are measured on a quarterly basis as well. This consists of data tracked on a bank wide basis in which we have identified areas of additional risk or the need for additional allocation to the allowance for loan loss.   Data is updated quarterly, each area is assigned a basis point value from -25 basis points to + 25 basis points based on how each area measures to the previous time period.  Net charge offs, loan volume trends and non performing assets have all trended upwards therefore increasing the need for increased funds reserved for loan losses.  Underwriting standards/ lending standards as well as experience/ depth of bank lending management is evaluated on a per branch level. 

 

Loans are reviewed for impairment when, in the Bank’s opinion, the ultimate source of repayment will be the liquidation of collateral through foreclosure or repossession.  Once identified updated collateral values are obtained on these loans and impairment worksheets are prepared to determine if impairment exists.  This method takes into account any expected expenses related to the disposal of the subject collateral.  Specific allowances for these loans are done on a per loan basis as each loan is reviewed for impairment.  Updated appraisals are ordered on real estate loans and updated valuations are ordered on non real estate loans to determine actual market value. 

 

At December 31, 2014, the consolidated allowance for loan losses amounted to approximately $6.1 million, or .86% of outstanding loans or 1.01% of loans excluding those booked at fair value due to business combination. At December 31, 2013, the allowance for loan losses amounted to approximately $5.7 million, which was .98% of outstanding loans. The Company’s provision for loan losses was $1,418,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $1,076,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis. Impaired loans not deemed collateral dependent are analyzed according to the ultimate repayment source, whether that is cash flow from the borrower, guarantor or some other source of repayment. Impaired loans are deemed collateral dependent if in the Bank’s opinion the ultimate source of repayment will be generated from the liquidation of collateral.

 

16
 

 

The Company discontinues accrual of interest on loans when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that a borrower’s financial condition is such that the collection of interest is doubtful. Generally, the Company will place a delinquent loan in nonaccrual status when the loan becomes 90 days or more past due. At the time a loan is placed in nonaccrual status, all interest which has been accrued on the loan but remains unpaid is reversed and deducted from earnings as a reduction of reported interest income. No additional interest is accrued on the loan balance until the collection of both principal and interest becomes reasonably certain.

 

The following tables illustrate the Company’s past due and nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

    December 31, 2014  
    (In thousands)  
    Past Due 30 to
89 Days
    Past Due 90 days or
more and still accruing
    Non-Accrual  
                   
Real Estate-construction   $ 428     $ -     $ 2,747  
Real Estate-mortgage     3,208       208       2,164  
Real Estate-nonfarm nonresidential     3,408       461       1,102  
Commercial     29       -       5  
Consumer     90       -       38  
Total   $ 7,163     $ 669     $ 6,056  

 

    December 31, 2013  
    (In thousands)  
    Past Due 30 to
89 Days
    Past Due 90 days or
more and still accruing
    Non-Accrual  
                   
Real Estate-construction   $ 478     $ -     $ 212  
Real Estate-mortgage     4,696       143       2,453  
Real Estate-nonfarm nonresidential     252       -       507  
Commercial     12       -       9  
Consumer     115       16       -  
Total   $ 5,553     $ 159     $ 3,181  

 

Total nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2014, amounted to $6.1 million which was an increase of $2.9 million from the December 31, 2013, amount of $3.2 million. Management believes these relationships were adequately reserved at December 31, 2014. Restructured loans not reported as past due or nonaccrual at December 31, 2014, amounted to $2.9 million.

 

 

A potential problem loan is one in which management has serious doubts about the borrower’s future performance under the terms of the loan contract. These loans are current as to principal and interest and, accordingly, they are not included in nonperforming asset categories. The level of potential problem loans is one factor used in the determination of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, The First had potential problem loans of $20,946,000 and $17,070,000, respectively. This represents an increase of $3,876,000 of which $3,480,000 are acquired loans from Bay Bank.

 

17
 

 

Consolidated Allowance For Loan Losses

(In thousands)

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  
                               
Average loans outstanding   $ 632,049     $ 583,200     $ 388,012     $ 354,295     $ 328,950  
Loans outstanding at year end   $ 706,635     $ 583,302     $ 413,697     $ 387,929     $ 332,573  
                                         
Total nonaccrual loans   $ 6,056     $ 3,181     $ 3,401     $ 5,125     $ 4,212  
                                         
Beginning balance of allowance   $ 5,728     $ 4,727     $ 4,511     $ 4,617     $ 4,762  
Loans charged-off     (1,459 )     (759 )     (1,190 )     (1,987 )     (1,370 )
Total loans charged-off     (1,459 )     (759 )     (1,190 )     (1,987 )     (1,370 )
Total recoveries     408       684       178       413       242  
Net loans charged-off     (1,051 )     (75 )     (1,012 )     (1,574 )     (1,128 )
Acquisition     -       -       -       -       -  
Provision for loan losses     1,418       1,076       1,228       1,468       983  
Balance at year end   $ 6,095     $ 5,728     $ 4,727     $ 4,511     $ 4,617  
                                         
Net charge-offs to average loans     .17 %     .01 %     .26 %     .44 %     .34 %
Allowance as percent of total loans     .86 %     .98 %     1.14 %     1.16 %     1.39 %
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans     .86 %     .55 %     .82 %     1.32 %     1.27 %
Allowance as a multiple of nonaccrual loans     1.0 X     1.8 X     1.4 X     .88 X     1.1 X

 

At December 31, 2014, the components of the allowance for loan losses consisted of the following:

 

    Allowance  
    (In thousands)  
Allocated:      
Impaired loans   $ 968  
Graded loans     5,127  
    $ 6,095  

 

Graded loans are those loans or pools of loans assigned a grade by internal loan review.

 

18
 

 

The following table represents the activity of the allowance for loan losses for the years 2014 and 2013.

 

Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses
 
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
             
Balance at beginning of  year   $ 5,728     $ 4,727  
Charge-offs:                
Real Estate-construction     (47 )     (305 )
Real Estate-mortgage     (1,156 )     (152 )
Real Estate-nonfarm  nonresidential     (- )     (- )
Commercial     (89 )     (105 )
Consumer     (167 )     (197 )
Total     (1,459 )     (759 )
Recoveries:                
Real Estate-construction     96       133  
Real Estate-mortgage     212       393  
Real Estate-nonfarm  nonresidential     17       74  
Commercial     15       18  
Consumer     68       66  
Total     408       684  
Net Charge-offs     (1,051 )     (75 )
Provision for Loan Losses     1,418       1,076  
Balance at end of year   $ 6,095     $ 5,728  

 

The following tables represent how the allowance for loan losses is allocated to a particular loan type as well as the percentage of the category to total loans at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses
 
    December 31, 2014  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
    Amount     % of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 713       15.3 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,355       57.9 %
Consumer Real Estate     1,852       24.2 %
Consumer     175       2.6 %
Unallocated     -       -  
        Total   $ 6,095       100 %

 

    December 31, 2013  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
    Amount     % of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 582       14.0 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,384       57.2 %
Consumer Real Estate     1,427       25.4 %
Consumer     173       3.4 %
Unallocated     162       -  
Total   $ 5,728       100 %

 

19
 

 

Noninterest Income and Expense

 

Noninterest Income. The Company’s primary source of noninterest income is service charges on deposit accounts. Other sources of noninterest income include bankcard fees, commissions on check sales, safe deposit box rent, wire transfer fees, official check fees and bank owned life insurance income.

 

Noninterest income increased $720,000 or 10.2% during 2014 to $7,803,000 from $7,083,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013. The deposit activity fees were $4,262,000 for 2014 compared to $3,979,000 for 2013. Other service charges decreased by $24,000 or 1.1% from $2,187,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, to $2,163,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. Impairment losses on investment securities were $0 for 2014 and 2013.

 

Noninterest expense increased from $28.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, to $30.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company experienced slight increases in most expense categories. The largest increase was in salaries and employee benefits, which increased by $2.6 million in 2014 as compared to 2013. These increases were due in part to the addition of the Bay Bank branches and staff and a full year of the Baldwin branches.

 

The following table sets forth the primary components of noninterest expense for the periods indicated:

 

Noninterest Expense

 

    Years ended December 31,  
    2014     2013     2012  
    (In thousands)  
                   
Salaries and employee benefits   $ 17,462     $ 14,855     $ 12,001  
Occupancy     2,805       2,351       1,797  
Equipment     1,721       1,568       1,435  
Marketing and public relations     445       451       329  
Data processing     161       169       85  
Supplies and printing     498       455       425  
Telephone     616       731       533  
Correspondent services     83       74       96  
Deposit and other insurance     1,048       834       734  
Professional and consulting fees     1,618       2,433       747  
Postage     302       303       252  
ATM fees     623       575       434  
Other     3,352       3,366       3,296  
                         
Total   $ 30,734     $ 28,165     $ 22,164  

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense consists of two components. The first is the current tax expense which represents the expected income tax to be paid to taxing authorities. The Company also recognizes deferred tax for future income/deductible amounts resulting from differences in the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities.

 

20
 

 

Analysis of Financial Condition

 

Earning Assets

 

Loans. Loans typically provide higher yields than the other types of earning assets, and thus one of the Company's goals is for loans to be the largest category of the Company's earning assets. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, average loans accounted for 67.8% and 68.0% of average earning assets. Management attempts to control and counterbalance the inherent credit and liquidity risks associated with the higher loan yields without sacrificing asset quality to achieve its asset mix goals. Loans averaged $632.0 million during 2014, as compared to $583.2 million during 2013, and $388.0 million during 2012.

 

The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio by category:

 

Composition of Loan Portfolio

 

    December 31,  
    2014     2013     2012  
    Amount     Percent
Of Total
    Amount     Percent
of Total
    Amount     Percent
of Total
 
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Mortgage loans held for sale   $ 2,103       0.3 %   $ 3,680       0.6 %   $ 5,585       1.4 %
Commercial, financial and agricultural     106,109       15.0 %     81,792       14.0 %     53,234       12.9 %
Real Estate:                                                
Mortgage-commercial     238,602       33.8 %     212,388       36.4 %     142,046       34.3 %
Mortgage-residential     256,406       36.3 %     202,343       34.7 %     140,703       34.0 %
Construction     84,935       12.0 %     67,287       11.5 %     57,529       13.9 %
Consumer and other     18,480       2.6 %     15,812       2.8 %     14,600       3.5 %
Total loans     706,635       100 %     583,302       100 %     413,697       100 %
Allowance for loan losses     (6,095 )             (5,728 )             (4,727 )        
Net loans   $ 700,540             $ 577,574             $ 408,970          

 

In the context of this discussion, a "real estate mortgage loan" is defined as any loan, other than loans for construction purposes, secured by real estate, regardless of the purpose of the loan. The Company follows the common practice of financial institutions in the Company’s market area of obtaining a security interest in real estate whenever possible, in addition to any other available collateral. This collateral is taken to reinforce the likelihood of the ultimate repayment of the loan and tends to increase the magnitude of the real estate loan portfolio component. Generally, the Company limits its loan-to-value ratio to 80%. Management attempts to maintain a conservative philosophy regarding its underwriting guidelines and believes it will reduce the risk elements of its loan portfolio through strategies that diversify the lending mix.

 

Loans held for sale consist of mortgage loans originated by the Bank and sold into the secondary market. Commitments from investors to purchase the loans are obtained upon origination.

 

21
 

 

The following table sets forth the Company's commercial and construction real estate loans maturing within specified intervals at December 31, 2014.

 

Loan Maturity Schedule and Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates

 

    December 31, 2014  
Type   One Year
or Less
    Over One Year
Through
Five Years
    Over Five
Years
    Total  
    (In thousands)  
                         
Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 47,491     $ 50,706     $ 7,912     $ 106,109  
Real estate – construction     49.932       30,942       4,061       84,935  
    $ 97,423     $ 81,648     $ 11,973     $ 191,044  
                                 
Loans maturing after one year with:                                
Fixed interest rates                           $ 72,492  
Floating interest rates                             21,129  
                            $ 93,621  

 

The information presented in the above table is based on the contractual maturities of the individual loans, including loans which may be subject to renewal at their contractual maturity. Renewal of such loans is subject to review and credit approval, as well as modification of terms upon their maturity.

 

Investment Securities. The investment securities portfolio is a significant component of the Company's total earning assets. Total securities averaged $271.2 million in 2014, as compared to $248.2 million in 2013 and $235.8 million in 2012. This represents 29.1%, 29.0%, and 36.4% of the average earning assets for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. At December 31, 2014, investment securities were $270.2 million and represented 27.3% of earning assets. The Company attempts to maintain a portfolio of high quality, highly liquid investments with returns competitive with short-term U.S. Treasury or agency obligations. This objective is particularly important as the Company focuses on growing its loan portfolio. The Company primarily invests in securities of U.S. Government agencies, municipals, and corporate obligations with maturities up to five years.

 

The following table summarizes the carrying value of securities for the dates indicated.

 

Securities Portfolio

 

    December 31,  
    2014     2013     2012  
    (In thousands)  
Available-for-sale                        
U. S. Government agencies and Mortgage-backed Securities   $ 120,407     $ 108,148     $ 98,326  
States and municipal subdivisions     104,582       108,079       98,910  
Corporate obligations     28,785       26,852       16,187  
Mutual finds     972       972       970  
Total available-for-sale     254,746       244,051       214,393  
Held-to-maturity                        
U.S. Government agencies     2,193       2,438       2,470  
States and municipal subdivisions     6,000       6,000       6,000  
Total held-to-maturity     8,193       8,438       8,470  
Total   $ 262,939     $ 252,489     $ 222,863  

 

22
 

 

The following table shows, at carrying value, the scheduled maturities and average yields of securities held at December 31, 2014.

 

Investment Securities Maturity Distribution and Yields (1)

 

    December 31, 2014  
          After One But     After Five But        
(Dollars in thousands)   Within One Year     Within Five Years     Within Ten Years     After Ten Years  
    Amount     Yield     Amount     Yield     Amount     Yield     Amount     Yield  
Held-to-maturity:                                                                
U.S. Government agencies (2)   $ -       -     $ -       -     $ -       -     $ -       -  
States and municipal subdivisions     -       -       -       -       -       -       6,000       .93 %
Total investment securities held-to-maturity   $ -             $ -             $ -             $ 6,000          
Available-for-sale:                                                                
U.S. Government agencies (3)   $ 4,367       .71 %   $ 19,788       1.06 %   $ 3,217       2.77 %   $ -       -  
States and municipal subdivisions     10,094       2.86 %     41,678       2.93 %     33,146       4.05 %     19,665       4.87 %
Corporate obligations and other     4,543       1.67 %     19,115       2.01 %     3,914       1.59 %     2,184       1.82 %
Total investment securities available-for-sale   $ 19,004             $ 80,581             $ 40,277             $ 21,849          

_______________

(1) Investments with a call feature are shown as of the contractual maturity date.
(2) Excludes mortgage-backed securities totaling $2.2 million with a yield of 2.63%.
(3) Excludes mortgage-backed securities totaling $93.0 million with a yield of 2.34% and mutual funds of $1.0 million.

 

Short-Term Investments. Short-term investments, consisting of Federal Funds Sold, funds in due from banks and interest-bearing deposits with banks, averaged $24.8 million in 2014, $18.6 million in 2013, and $19.7 million in 2012. At December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, short-term investments totaled $386,000 and $967,000, respectively. These funds are a primary source of the Company's liquidity and are generally invested in an earning capacity on an overnight basis.

 

Deposits

 

Deposits. Average total deposits increased $160.0 million, or 26.6% in 2013. Average total deposits increased $109.8 million, or 14.3% in 2014. At December 31, 2014, total deposits were $892.8 million, compared to $780.0 million a year earlier, an increase of $112.8 million, or 14.5%.

 

23
 

 

The following table sets forth the deposits of the Company by category for the period indicated.

 

    Deposits  
       
    December 31,  
(Dollars in thousands)   2014     2013     2012  
          Percent
of
          Percent
of
          Percent
of
 
    Amount     Deposits     Amount     Deposits     Amount     Deposits  
                                     
Noninterest-bearing accounts   $ 201,362       22.6 %   $ 173,793       22.3 %   $ 109,624       18.4 %
NOW accounts     301,721       33.8 %     240,514       30.8 %     230,589       38.6 %
Money market accounts     117,018       13.1 %     107,564       13.8 %     47,325       7.9 %
Savings accounts     66,615       7.5 %     55,113       7.1 %     48,153       8.1 %
Time deposits less than $100,000     85,365       9.6 %     86,363       11.1 %     69,115       11.6 %
Time deposits of $100,000 or over     120,694       13.4 %     116,624       14.9 %     91,821       15.4 %
Total deposits   $ 892,775       100 %   $ 779,971       100 %   $ 596,627       100 %

 

The Company’s loan-to-deposit ratio was 78.9% at December 31, 2014 and 74.3% at December 31, 2013. The loan-to-deposit ratio averaged 71.1% during 2014. Core deposits, which exclude time deposits of $100,000 or more, provide a relatively stable funding source for the Company's loan portfolio and other earning assets. The Company's core deposits were $772.1 million at December 31, 2014 and $663.3 million at December 31, 2013. Management anticipates that a stable base of deposits will be the Company's primary source of funding to meet both its short-term and long-term liquidity needs in the future. The Company has purchased brokered deposits from time to time to help fund loan growth. Brokered deposits and jumbo certificates of deposit generally carry a higher interest rate than traditional core deposits. Further, brokered deposit customers typically do not have loan or other relationships with the Company. The Company has adopted a policy not to permit brokered deposits to represent more than 10% of all of the Company’s deposits.

 

The maturity distribution of the Company's certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more at December 31, 2014, is shown in the following table. The Company did not have any other time deposits of $100,000 or more.

 

Maturities of Certificates of Deposit

of $100,000 or More

 

          After Three              
    Within Three     Through     After Twelve        
(In thousands)   Months     Twelve Months     Months     Total  
                         
December 31, 2014   $ 36,356     $ 43,516     $ 40,822     $ 120,694  

 

Borrowed Funds

 

Borrowed funds consist of advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, federal funds purchased and reverse repurchase agreements. At December 31, 2014, advances from the FHLB totaled $84.5 million compared to $47.0 million at December 31, 2013. The advances are collateralized by a blanket lien on the first mortgage loans in the amount of the outstanding borrowings, FHLB capital stock, and amounts on deposit with the FHLB. There were no federal funds purchased at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

24
 

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements consist of one $5,000,000 agreement. The agreement is secured by securities with a fair value of $7,443,951 at December 31, 2014 and $6,530,592 at December 31, 2013. The maturity date of the remaining agreement is September 26, 2017, with a rate of 3.81%.

 

Subordinated Debentures

 

In 2006, the Company issued subordinated debentures of $4,124,000 to The First Bancshares, Inc. Statutory Trust 2 (Trust 2). The Company is the sole owner of the equity of the Trust 2. The Trust 2 issued $4,000,000 of preferred securities to investors. The Company makes interest payments and will make principal payments on the debentures to the Trust 2. These payments will be the source of funds used to retire the preferred securities, which are redeemable at any time beginning in 2011 and thereafter, and mature in 2036. The Company entered into this arrangement to provide funding for expected growth.

 

In 2007, the Company issued subordinated debentures of $6,186,000 to The First Bancshares, Inc. Statutory Trust 3 (Trust 3). The Company is the sole owner of the equity of the Trust 3. The Trust 3 issued $6,000,000 of preferred securities to investors. The Company makes interest payments and will make principal payments on the debentures to the Trust 3. These payments will be the source of funds used to retire the preferred securities, which are redeemable at any time beginning in 2012 and thereafter, and mature in 2037. The Company entered into this arrangement to provide funding for expected growth.

 

Capital

 

Total stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2014, was $96.2 million, an increase of $11.1 million or approximately 13.1%, compared with stockholders' equity of $85.1 million as of December 31, 2013.

 

The Federal Reserve Board and bank regulatory agencies require bank holding companies and financial institutions to maintain capital at adequate levels based on a percentage of assets and off-balance sheet exposures, adjusted for risk weights ranging from 0% to 100%. Under the risk-based standard, capital is classified into two tiers. Tier 1 capital consists of common stockholders' equity, excluding the unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, minus certain intangible assets. Tier 2 capital consists of the general reserve for loan losses, subject to certain limitations. An institution’s total risk-based capital for purposes of its risk-based capital ratio consists of the sum of its Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. The risk-based regulatory minimum requirements are 4% for Tier 1 and 8% for total risk-based capital.

 

Bank holding companies and banks are also required to maintain capital at a minimum level based on total assets, which is known as the leverage ratio. The minimum requirement for the leverage ratio is 4%. All but the highest rated institutions are required to maintain ratios 100 to 200 basis points above the minimum. The Company and The First exceeded their minimum regulatory capital ratios as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

25
 

 

The Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation approved final capital rules in July 2013, that substantially amend the existing capital rules for banks. These new rules reflect, in part, certain standards initially adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010 (which standards are commonly referred to as “Basel III”) as well as requirements contemplated by the Dodd-Frank Act.

 

Under the new capital rules, the Company will be required to meet certain minimum capital requirements that differ from current capital requirements. The rules implement a new capital ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets. Common equity Tier 1 capital generally consists of retained earnings and common stock (subject to certain adjustments) as well as accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), except to the extent that the Company exercises a one-time irrevocable option to exclude certain components of AOCI as of March 31, 2015. The Company will also be required to establish a “conservation buffer,” consisting of a common equity Tier 1 capital amount equal to 2.5% of risk-weighted assets to be phased in by 2019. An institution that does not meet the conservation buffer will be subject to restrictions on certain activities including payment of dividends, stock repurchases, and discretionary bonuses to executive officers.

 

The prompt corrective action rules are modified to include the common equity Tier 1 capital ratio and to increase the Tier 1 capital ratio requirements for the various thresholds. For example, the requirements for the Company to be considered well-capitalized under the rules will be a 5.0% leverage ratio, a 6.5% common equity Tier 1capital ratio, an 8.0% Tier 1 capital ratio, and a 10.0% total capital ratio. To be adequately capitalized, those ratios are 4.0%, 4.5%, 6.0%, and 8.0%, respectively.

 

The rules modify the manner in which certain capital elements are determined. The rules make changes to the methods of calculating the risk-weighting of certain assets, which in turn affects the calculation of the risk-weighted capital ratios. Higher risk weights are assigned to various categories of assets, including commercial real estate loans, credit facilities that finance the acquisition, development or construction of real property, certain exposures or credit that are 90 days past due or are nonaccrual, securitization exposures, and in certain cases mortgage servicing rights and deferred tax assets.

 

The Company is required to comply with the new capital rules on January 1, 2015, with a measurement date of March 31, 2015. The conservation buffer will be phased-in beginning in 2016, and will take full effect on January 1, 2019. Certain calculations under the rules will also have phase-in periods.

 

Analysis of Capital

 

    Adequately     Well     The Company     The First  
Capital Ratios   Capitalized     Capitalized     December 31,     December 31,  
                2014     2013     2014     2013  
                               
Leverage     4.0 %     5.0 %     8.4 %     9.0 %     8.4 %     8.9 %
Risk-based capital:                                                
Tier 1     4.0 %     6.0 %     11.5 %     12.5 %     11.4 %     12.4 %
Total     8.0 %     10.0 %     12.3 %     13.4 %     12.2 %     13.3 %

 

26
 

 

Ratios

 

    2014     2013     2012  
Return on assets (net income applicable to common stockholders divided by average total assets)     .61 %     .45 %     .51 %
                         
Return on equity (net income applicable to common stockholders divided by average equity)     7.1 %     5.0 %     5.7 %
                         
Dividend payout ratio (dividends per share divided by net income per common share)     12.6 %     15.6 %     12.9 %
                         
Equity to asset ratio (average equity divided  by average total assets)     8.6 %     9.0 %     8.8 %

 

Liquidity Management

 

Liquidity management involves monitoring the Company's sources and uses of funds in order to meet its day-to-day cash flow requirements while maximizing profits. Liquidity represents the ability of a company to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss and to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities. Liquidity management is made more complicated because different balance sheet components are subject to varying degrees of management control. For example, the timing of maturities of the investment portfolio is very predictable and subject to a high degree of control at the time investment decisions are made; however, net deposit inflows and outflows are far less predictable and are not subject to the same degree of control. Asset liquidity is provided by cash and assets which are readily marketable, which can be pledged, or which will mature in the near future. Liability liquidity is provided by access to core funding sources, principally the ability to generate customer deposits in the Company’s market area.

 

The Company's Federal Funds Sold position, which includes funds in due from banks and interest-bearing deposits with banks, is typically its primary source of liquidity, averaged $24.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 and totaled $14.3 million at December 31, 2014. Also, the Company has available advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Advances available are generally based upon the amount of qualified first mortgage loans which can be used for collateral. At December 31, 2014, advances available totaled approximately $228.4 million of which $84.5 million had been drawn, or used for letters of credit.

 

Management regularly reviews the liquidity position of the Company and has implemented internal policies which establish guidelines for sources of asset-based liquidity and limit the total amount of purchased funds used to support the balance sheet and funding from non-core sources.

 

EESA also increased FDIC deposit insurance on most accounts from $100,000 to $250,000.  However, with the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, this increase in the basic coverage limit has been made permanent.

 

27
 

 

Subprime Assets

 

The Bank does not engage in subprime lending activities targeted towards borrowers in high risk categories.

 

Accounting Matters

 

Information on new accounting matters is set forth in Footnote B to the Consolidated Financial Statements included at Item 8 in this report. This information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Impact of Inflation

 

Unlike most industrial companies, the assets and liabilities of financial institutions such as the Company are primarily monetary in nature. Therefore, interest rates have a more significant effect on the Company's performance than do the effects of changes in the general rate of inflation and change in prices. In addition, interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services. As discussed previously, management seeks to manage the relationships between interest sensitive assets and liabilities in order to protect against wide interest rate fluctuations, including those resulting from inflation.

 

28
 

 

 

REPORT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

The First Bancshares, Inc.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The First Bancshares, Inc., as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2014. The management of The First Bancshares, Inc. is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of The First Bancshares, Inc., as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

  /s/ T. E. LOTT & COMPANY

 

Columbus, Mississippi

March 31, 2015

 

29
 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

 

    2014     2013  
ASSETS                
Cash and due from banks   $ 30,332,502     $ 24,079,590  
Interest-bearing deposits with banks     13,899,287       14,205,335  
Federal funds sold     386,000       967,000  
Total cash and cash equivalents     44,617,789       39,251,925  
Held-to-maturity securities (fair value of  $9,993,816 in 2014 and $9,624,427 in 2013)     8,192,741       8,438,435  
Available-for-sale securities     254,746,446       244,050,671  
Other securities     7,234,350       5,533,850  
Total securities     270,173,537       258,022,956  
Loans held for sale     2,103,351       3,679,521  
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $6,095,001 in 2014 and $5,727,800 in 2013     698,436,345       573,894,868  
Interest receivable     3,659,006       3,291,887  
Premises and equipment     34,809,843       32,071,741  
Cash surrender value of life insurance     14,463, 207       6,593,403  
Goodwill     12,276,040       10,620,814  
Other assets     13,228,601       13,462,960  
Total assets   $ 1,093,767,719     $ 940,890,075  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
                 
Deposits:                
Noninterest-bearing   $ 201,362,468     $ 173,793,894  
Interest-bearing     691,413,018       606,177,141  
Total deposits     892,775,486       779,971,035  
Interest payable     315,844       399,976  
Borrowed funds     89,450,067       52,000,000  
Subordinated debentures     10,310,000       10,310,000  
Other liabilities     4,700,738       13,100,724  
Total liabilities     997,552,135       855,781,735  
Stockholders’ Equity:                
Preferred stock, no par value, $1,000 per share liquidation, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 17,123 shares issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively     17,123,000       17,102,507  
Common stock, par value $1 per share: 10,000,000 shares authorized; 5,342,670 and 5,122,941 shares issued and outstanding  in 2014 and 2013, respectively     5,342,670       5,122,941  
Additional paid-in capital     44,420,149       42,086,463  
Retained earnings     27,975,049       22,508,918  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     1,818,361       (1,248,844 )
Treasury stock, at cost     (463,645 )     (463,645 )
Total stockholders’ equity     96,215,584       85,108,340  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,093,767,719     $ 940,890,075  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

30
 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

 

    2014     2013  
INTEREST INCOME                
Interest and fees on loans   $ 30,276,477     $ 25,736,169  
Interest and dividends on securities:                
Taxable interest and dividends     3,884,321       3,279,367  
Tax-exempt interest     2,071,782       2,140,084  
Interest on federal funds sold     52,945       62,244  
Interest on deposits in banks     85,257       100,169  
Total interest income     36,370,782       31,318,033  
                 
INTEREST EXPENSE                
Interest on time deposits of $100,000 or more     520,373       698,580  
Interest on other deposits     1,848,965       1,601,024  
Interest on borrowed funds     603,469       617,654  
Total interest expense     2,972,807       2,917,258  
Net interest income     33,397,975       28,400,775  
Provision for loan losses     1,418,260       1,075,983  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     31,979,715       27,324,792  
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Service charges on deposit accounts     4,261,795       3,979,159  
Other service charges and fees     2,162,958       2,187,229  
Bank owned life insurance income     369,804       152,294  
Loss on sale of other real estate     (85,256 )     (76,532 )
Other     1,094,167       841,147  
Total other income     7,803,468       7,083,297  
                 
OTHER EXPENSE                
Salaries     14,207,216       12,216,098  
Employee benefits     3,254,399       2,638,558  
Occupancy     2,805,157       2,351,009  
Furniture and equipment     1,721,170       1,568,113  
Supplies and printing     497,755       455,443  
Professional and consulting fees     1,617,828       2,433,111  
Marketing and public relations     445,451       451,018  
FDIC and OCC assessments     938,378       766,503  
Other     5,246,254       5,285,148  
Total other expense     30,733,608       28,165,001  

 

31
 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

 

Continued:   2014     2013  
             
Income before income taxes     9,049,575       6,243,088  
Income taxes     2,435,879       1,603,593  
                 
Net income     6,613,696       4,639,495  
Preferred dividends and stock accretion     362,953       424,428  
Net income applicable to common stockholders   $ 6,250,743     $ 4,215,067  
                 
Net income per share:                
Basic   $ 1.27     $ 1.07  
Diluted     1.25       1.06  
Net income applicable to common stockholders:                
Basic   $ 1.20     $ .98  
Diluted     1.19       .96  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

32
 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

 

    2014     2013  
             
Net income   $ 6,613,696     $ 4,639,495  
                 
Other comprehensive income:                
Unrealized gains on securities:                
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period     4,804,818       (5,676,942 )
Less reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income     (237,173 )     -  
      4,567,645       (5,676,942 )
                 
Unrealized holding losses on loans held for sale     (83,826 )     (55,967 )
                 
Income tax benefit (expense)     (1,416,614 )     1,951,037  
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)     3,067,205       (3,781,872 )
                 
Comprehensive income   $ 9,680,901     $ 857,623  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

33
 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

 

    Common
Stock
    Preferred
Stock
    Stock
Warrants
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accum-
ulated
Other
Compre-
hensive
Income (Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  
Balance, January 1, 2013   $ 3,133,596     $ 17,020,539     $ 283,738     $ 23,427,037     $ 19,951,173     $ 2,533,028     $ (463,645 )   $ 65,885,466  
                                                                 
Net income 2013     -       -       -       -       4,639,495       -       -       4,639,495  
Other comprehensive income (loss)     -       -       -       -       -       (3,781,872 )     -       (3,781,872 )
Dividends on preferred stock     -       -       -       -       (342,460 )     -       -       (342,460 )
Cash dividend declared, $.15 per common share     -       -       -       -       (615,781 )     -       -       (615,781 )
Grant of restricted stock     39,913       -       -       (39,913 )     -       -       -       -  
Compensation cost on restricted stock     -       -       -       391,777       -       -       -       391,777  
Preferred stock accretion     -       81,968       -       -       (81,968 )     -       -       -  
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (1,788 )     -       -       (24,961 )     -       -       -       (26,749 )
Issuance of 1,951,220 common shares     1,951,220       -       -       18,048,785       (1,041,541 )     -       -       18,958,464  
Balance, December 31, 2013   $ 5,122,941     $ 17,102,507     $ 283,738     $ 41,802,725     $ 22,508,918     $ (1,248,844 )   $ (463,645 )   $ 85,108,340  
                                                                 
Net income 2014     -       -       -       -       6,613,696       -       -       6,613,696  
Other comprehensive income     -       -       -       -       -       3,067,205       -       3,067,205  

 

34
 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

 

Continued:   Common
Stock
    Preferred
Stock
    Stock
Warrants
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accum-
ulated
Other
Compre-
hensive
Income (Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  
                                                 
Dividends on preferred stock     -       -       -       -       (342,460 )     -       -       (342,460 )
Cash dividend declared, $.15 per common share     -       -       -       -       (784,612 )     -       -       (784,612 )
Grant of restricted stock     67,627       -       -       (67,627 )     -       -       -       -  
Compensation cost on restricted stock     -       -       -       617,779       -       -       -       617,779  
Preferred stock accretion     -       20,493       -       -       (20,493 )     -       -       -  
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (5,981 )     -       -       (79,551 )     -       -       -       (85,532 )
Issuance of 158,083 common shares for BCB Holding     158,083       -       -       1,863,085       -       -       -       1,863,085  
Balance, December 31, 2014   $ 5,342,670     $ 17,123,000     $ 283,738     $ 44,136,411     $ 27,975,049     $ 1,818,361     $ (463,645 )   $ 96,215,584  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

35
 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

 

    2014     2013  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES                
Net income   $ 6,613,696     $ 4,639,495  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization     2,182,630       1,915,398  
FHLB Stock dividends     (6,000 )     (4,100 )
Provision for loan losses     1,418,260       1,075,983  
Deferred income taxes     331,399       1,707,403  
Restricted stock expense     617,779       391,777  
Increase in cash value of life insurance     (369,804 )     (152,294 )
Amortization and accretion, net     900,913       (107,170 )
Gain on sale of land     (110,734 )     -  
Writedown of bank property     -       193,073  
Gain on sale of securities     (237,174 )     -  
Loss on sale/writedown of other real estate     395,379       350,023  
Changes in:                
Loans held for sale     1,659,996       2,671,885  
Interest receivable     (152,307 )     (54,600 )
Other assets     2,643,956       4,412,575  
Interest payable     (109,218 )     (153,065 )
Other liabilities     (8,721,513 )     1,108,980  
Net cash provided by operating activities     7,057,258       17,995,363  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES                
Purchases of available-for-sale securities     (38,459,683 )     (83,415,975 )
Purchases of other securities     (3,296,800 )     (2,780,100 )
Proceeds from maturities and calls of available-for-sale securities     42,723,486       52,237,989  
Proceeds from maturities and calls of held-to-maturity securities     246,980       -  
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale     10,909,239       -  
Proceeds from redemption of other securities     2,514,485       788,200  
Increase in loans     (89,190,269 )     (50,100,144 )
Net additions to premises and equipment     (988,736 )     (746,724 )
Purchase of bank owned life insurance     (7,500,000 )     -  
Proceeds from sale of land     76,375       -  
Cash received in excess of cash paid for acquisition     4,272,735       43,150,000  
Net cash used in investing activities     (78,692,188 )     (40,866,754 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES                
Increase (decrease) in deposits     53,845,509       (1,971,438 )
Proceeds from borrowed funds     180,000,000       47,000,000  
Repayment of borrowed funds     (155,653,580 )     (31,770,773 )
Dividends paid on common stock     (763,143 )     (600,452 )
Dividends paid on preferred stock     (342,460 )     (342,460 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

 

Continued:   2014     2013  
             
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (85,532 )     (26,749 )
Issuance of 1,951,220 common shares, net     -       18,958,464  
Net cash  provided by financing activities     77,000,794       31,246,592  
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     5,365,864       8,375,201  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     39,251,925       30,876,724  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year   $ 44,617,789     $ 39,251,925  
                 
Supplemental disclosures:                
                 
Cash paid during the year for:                
Interest   $ 3,056,939     $ 2,729,323  
Income taxes     275,075       980,490  
                 
Non-cash activities:                
Transfers of loans to other real estate     2,208,010       2,136,687  
Issuance of restricted stock grants     67,627       39,913  
Loans originated to facilitate the sale of land     402,982       -  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

37
 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE A - NATURE OF BUSINESS

 

The First Bancshares, Inc. (the Company) is a bank holding company whose business is primarily conducted by its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First, A National Banking Association (the Bank). The Bank provides a full range of banking services in its primary market area of South Mississippi, South Alabama, and Louisiana. The Company is regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank. Its subsidiary bank is subject to the regulation of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

 

NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Company and the Bank follow accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America including, where applicable, general practices within the banking industry.

 

1. Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

2. Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the valuation of deferred tax assets.

 

3. Cash and Due From Banks

 

Included in cash and due from banks are legal reserve requirements which must be maintained on an average basis in the form of cash and balances due from the Federal Reserve. The reserve balance varies depending upon the types and amounts of deposits. At December 31, 2014, the required reserve balance on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank was approximately $4,610,000.

 

4. Securities

 

Investments in securities are accounted for as follows:

 

Available-for-Sale Securities

 

Securities classified as available-for-sale are those securities that are intended to be held for an indefinite period of time, but not necessarily to maturity. Any decision to sell a security classified as available-for-sale would be based on various factors, including movements in interest rates, liquidity needs, security risk assessments, changes in the mix of assets and liabilities and other similar factors. These securities are carried at their estimated fair value, and the net unrealized gain or loss is reported net of tax, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity, until realized. Premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method. Gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined using the adjusted cost of the specific security sold.

 

38
 

 

Securities to be Held-to-Maturity

 

Securities classified as held-to-maturity are those securities for which there is a positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are carried at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, computed by the interest method.

 

Trading Account Securities

 

Trading account securities are those securities which are held for the purpose of selling them at a profit. There were no trading account securities on hand at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

Other Securities

 

Other securities are carried at cost and are restricted in marketability. Other securities consist of investments in the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Federal Reserve Bank and First National Bankers’ Bankshares, Inc. Management reviews for impairment based on the ultimate recoverability of the cost basis.

 

Other-than-Temporary Impairment

 

Management evaluates investment securities for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis. A decline in the fair value of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities below cost that is deemed other-than-temporary is charged to earnings for a decline in value deemed to be credit related and a new cost basis for the security is established. The decline in value attributed to non-credit related factors is recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

5. Loans held for sale

 

The Bank originates fixed rate single family, residential first mortgage loans on a presold basis. The Bank issues a rate lock commitment to a customer and concurrently “locks in” with a secondary market investor under a best efforts delivery mechanism. Such loans are sold without the servicing retained by the Bank. The terms of the loan are dictated by the secondary investors and are transferred within several weeks of the Bank initially funding the loan. The Bank recognizes certain origination fees and service release fees upon the sale, which are included in other income on loans in the consolidated statements of income. Between the initial funding of the loans by the Bank and the subsequent purchase by the investor, the Bank carries the loans held for sale at the lower of cost or fair value in the aggregate as determined by the outstanding commitments from investors.

 

6. Loans

 

Loans are carried at the principal amount outstanding, net of the allowance for loan losses. Interest income on loans is recognized based on the principal balance outstanding and the stated rate of the loan. Loan origination fees and certain direct origination costs are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method.

 

A loan is considered impaired, in accordance with the impairment accounting guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Section 310-10-35, Receivables, Subsequent Measurement, when--based upon current events and information--it is probable that the scheduled payments of principal and interest will not be collected in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral values, and the probability of collecting scheduled payments of principal and interest when due. Generally, impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis using the fair value of the supporting collateral.

 

39
 

 

Loans are generally placed on a nonaccrual status when principal or interest is past due ninety days or when specifically determined to be impaired. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, interest accrued but not received is generally reversed against interest income. If collectibility is in doubt, cash receipts on nonaccrual loans are used to reduce principal rather than recorded in interest income. Past due status is determined based upon contractual terms.

 

7. Allowance for Loan Losses

 

For financial reporting purposes, the provision for loan losses charged to operations is based upon management's estimation of the amount necessary to maintain the allowance at an adequate level. Allowances for any impaired loans are generally determined based on collateral values. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes the collectibility of the principal is unlikely.

 

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a regular basis. These evaluations are based upon a periodic review of the collectibility considering historical experience, the nature and value of the loan portfolio, underlying collateral values, internal and independent loan reviews, and prevailing economic conditions. In addition, the OCC, as a part of the regulatory examination process, reviews the loan portfolio and the allowance for loan losses and may require changes in the allowance based upon information available at the time of the examination. The allowance consists of two components: allocated and unallocated. The components represent an estimation performed pursuant to either ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, or ASC Subtopic 310-10, Receivables. The allocated component of the allowance reflects expected losses resulting from an analysis developed through specific credit allocations for individual loans, including any impaired loans, and historical loan loss history. The analysis is performed quarterly and loss factors are updated regularly.

 

The unallocated portion of the allowance reflects management’s estimate of probable inherent but undetected losses within the portfolio due to uncertainties in economic conditions, changes in collateral values, unfavorable information about a borrower’s financial condition, and other risk factors that have not yet manifested themselves. In addition, the unallocated allowance includes a component that explicitly accounts for the inherent imprecision in the loan loss analysis.

 

8. Premises and Equipment

 

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. The depreciation policy is to provide for depreciation over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. Repairs and maintenance expenditures are charged to operating expenses; major expenditures for renewals and betterments are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Upon retirement, sale, or other disposition of property and equipment, the cost and accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts, and any gains or losses are included in operations.

 

9. Other Real Estate

 

Other real estate, carried in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, consists of properties acquired through foreclosure and, as held for sale property, is recorded at the lower of the outstanding loan balance or current appraisal less estimated costs to sell. Any write-down to fair value required at the time of foreclosure is charged to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent gains or losses on other real estate are reported in other operating income or expenses. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, other real estate totaled $4,654,604 and $4,470,249, respectively.

 

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10. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill totaled $12,276,040 and $10,620,814 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

Goodwill totaling $1,655,225 acquired during the year ended December 31, 2014, was a result of the acquisition of Bay Bank. Footnote C to these consolidated financial statements provides additional information on the acquisition during 2014.

 

The Company performed the required annual impairment tests of goodwill as of December 1, 2014. The Company’s annual impairment test did not indicate impairment as of the testing date, and subsequent to that date, management is not aware of any events or changes in circumstances since the impairment test that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired.

 

The Company’s acquisition method recognized intangible assets, which are subject to amortization, and included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, include core deposit intangibles, amortized on a straight-line basis, over a 10 year average life. The definite-lived intangible assets had the following carrying values at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

    2014     2013  
    Gross           Net     Gross           Net  
    Carrying     Accumulated     Carrying     Carrying     Accumulated     Carrying  
    Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amount     Amortization     Amount  
(Dollars in thousands)                                    
                                                 
Core deposit intangibles   $ 4,000     $ (1,486 )   $ 2,514     $ 3,775     $ (1,098 )   $ 2,677  

 

During 2014, the Company recorded $225,000 in core deposit intangible assets related to the deposits acquired in the Bay Bank acquisition.

 

The related amortization expense of business combination related intangible assets is as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)      
    Amount  
Aggregate amortization expense for the year ended December 31:        
         
2013   $ 355  
2014     387  

 

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Estimated amortization expense for the year ending December 31:        
         
2015   $ 400  
2016     383  
2017     331  
2018     331  
2019     331  
Thereafter     738  
    $ 2,514  

 

11. Other Assets and Cash Surrender Value

 

Financing costs related to the issuance of junior subordinated debentures are being amortized over the life of the instruments and are included in other assets. The Company invests in bank owned life insurance (BOLI). BOLI involves the purchasing of life insurance by the Company on a chosen group of employees. The Company is the owner of the policies and, accordingly, the cash surrender value of the policies is reported as an asset, and increases in cash surrender values are reported as income.

 

12. Stock Options

 

The Company accounts for stock based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. Compensation cost is recognized for all stock options granted based on the weighted average fair value stock price at the grant date.

 

13. Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of the transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently payable plus deferred taxes related primarily to differences between the bases of assets and liabilities as measured by income tax laws and their bases as reported in the financial statements. The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled.

 

The Company and its subsidiary file consolidated income tax returns. The subsidiary provides for income taxes on a separate return basis and remits to the Company amounts determined to be payable.

 

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, provides guidance on financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in tax returns. ASC Topic 740 requires an evaluation of tax positions to determine if the tax positions will more likely than not be sustainable upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority. The Company at December 31, 2014 and 2013, had no uncertain tax positions that qualify for either recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

14. Advertising Costs

 

Advertising costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, was $394,363 and $419,873, respectively.

 

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15. Statements of Cash Flows

 

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash, amounts due from banks, interest-bearing deposits with banks and federal funds sold. Generally, federal funds are sold for a one to seven day period.

 

16. Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments

 

In the ordinary course of business, the subsidiary bank enters into off-balance sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit, credit card lines and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements when they are exercised.

 

17. Earnings Applicable to Common Stockholders

 

Per share amounts are presented in accordance with ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share. Under ASC Topic 260, two per share amounts are considered and presented, if applicable. Basic per share data is calculated based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted per share data includes any dilution from potential common stock, such as outstanding stock options.

 

The following table discloses the reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted computations applicable to common stockholders:

 

    For the Year Ended     For the Year Ended  
    December 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
    Net
Income
(Numerator)
    Shares
(Denominator)
    Per Share
Amount
    Net
Income
(Numerator)
    Shares
(Denominator)
    Per Share
Amount
 
                                     
Basic per common Share   $ 6,250,743       5,227,768     $ 1.20     $ 4,215,067       4,319,485     $ .98  
                                                 
Effect of dilutive shares:                                                
                                                 
Restricted Stock             42,901                       53,445          
    $ 6,250,743       5,270,669     $ 1.19     $ 4,215,067       4,372,930     $ .96  

 

The diluted per share amounts were computed by applying the treasury stock method.

 

18. Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2013 financial statements to conform with the classi-fications used in 2014. These reclassifications did not impact the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

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19. Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-01, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), “Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects,” which permits reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit). For those investments in qualified affordable housing projects not accounted for using the proportional method, the investment should be accounted for as an equity method investment or a cost method investment. The decision to apply the proportional amortization method of accounting is an accounting policy decision that should be applied consistently to all qualifying affordable housing project investments rather than a decision to be applied to individual investments. This amendment should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. A reporting entity that uses the effective yield method to account for its investments in qualified affordable housing projects before the date of adoption may continue to apply the effective yield method for those preexisting investments. ASU 2014-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is evaluating the possible effects of this guidance on its financial statements.

 

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40), “Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans Upon Foreclosure,” which will eliminate diversity in practice regarding the timing of derecognition for residential mortgage loans when a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan. Under ASU 2014-04, physical possession of residential real estate property is achieved when either the creditor obtains legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or the borrower conveys all interest in the residential real estate property through completion of a deed in lieu or foreclosure in order to satisfy the loan. Once physical possession has been achieved, the loan is derecognized and the property recorded within other assets at the lower of cost or fair value (less estimated costs to sell). In addition, the guidance requires both interim and annual disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure. The additional disclosure requirements are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods with retrospective disclosure necessary for all comparative periods presented. The adoption of this standard will result in additional disclosures but is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of the ASU is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. The ASU defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The new accounting guidance, which does not apply to financial instruments, is effective on a retrospective basis beginning on January 1, 2017, and early adoption is prohibited. The Company does not expect the new guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operation.

 

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In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-11, Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860), “Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures.” The FASB issued ASU 2014-11 to change the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions and linked repurchase financials to secured borrowing accounting, which is consistent with the accounting for other repurchase agreements. The amendments also require two new disclosures. The first disclosure requires an entity to disclose information on transfers accounted for as sales in transactions that are economically similar to repurchase agreements. The second disclosure provides increased transparency about the types of collateral pledged in repurchase agreements and similar transactions accounted for as secured borrowings. The new guidance is effective beginning on January 1, 2015. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position.

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718), “Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period.” The new guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company's current accounting treatment of performance conditions for employees who are or become retirement eligible prior to the achievement of the performance target is consistent with ASU 2014-12, and as such does not expect the new guidance to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations. The Company expects to prospectively adopt ASU 2014-12 in the first quarter 2015.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-14, Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40), “Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure,” which will eliminate diversity in practice relating to how creditors classify government-guaranteed mortgage loans, including Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guaranteed loans, upon foreclosure. Under ASU 2014-14 a mortgage must be derecognized and a separate other receivable recognized upon foreclosure when the loan possesses a non-separable government guarantee that the creditor has both the intent and ability to exercise and for which any amount of the claim determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed. Other receivables recognized under this guidance are to be measured based on the amount of the principal and interest expected to be recovered from the guarantor. ASU 2014-14 allows for a modified retrospective or prospective adoption in conjunction with ASU 2014-04 and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating which method will be employed and the final impact of the Standard; however, ASU 2014-14 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20), “Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items.” Presentation and disclosure requirement for items that are unusual in nature or infrequently occurring will be retained. ASU 2015-01 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The guidance may be applied prospectively or on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. Entities that elect prospective application will be required, at transition, to disclose both the nature and amount of an item included in income from continuing operations after adoption that relates to an adjustment of an item previously separately classified and presented as an extraordinary item before adoption, if applicable. The Company does not currently report any extraordinary items on its income statement; therefore adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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NOTE C – BUSINESS COMBINATION

 

The Company accounts for its acquisitions using the acquisition method. Acquisition accounting requires the total purchase price to be allocated to the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including certain intangible assets that must be recognized. Typically, this allocation results in the purchase price exceeding the fair value of net assets acquired, which is recorded as goodwill. Core deposit intangibles are a measure of the value of checking, money market and savings deposits acquired in business combinations accounted for under the acquisition method. Core deposit intangibles and other identified intangibles with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight line method over their estimated useful lives of up to ten years. Loans that the Company acquires in connection with acquisitions are recorded at fair value with no carryover of the related allowance for credit losses. Fair value of the loans involves estimating the amount and timing of principal and interest cash flows expected to be collected on the loans and discounting those cash flows at a market rate of interest. The excess or deficit of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable discount or amortizable premium and is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loan.

 

First National Bank of Baldwin County

 

On April 30, 2013, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of First National Bank of Baldwin County, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Baldwin Bancshares, Inc., an Alabama corporation, which included five (5) branches and (1) loan production office located on the Alabama Gulf Coast in Baldwin County, Alabama.

 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $1.3 million of goodwill and $.7 million of core deposit intangible. The core deposit intangible will be expensed over 10 years. The Company acquired the $124.2 million loan portfolio at a fair value discount of $.5 million which included a credit mark of $.9 million. The discount represents expected credit losses, adjustments to market interest rates and liquidity adjustments.

 

The amounts of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Purchase price:        
Cash   $ 3,300  
Total purchase price     3,300  
Identifiable assets:        
Cash and due from banks     46,450  
Investments     2,508  
Loans and leases     124,165  
Other Real Estate     87  
Core deposit intangible     680  
Personal and real property     10,655  
Deferred tax asset     2,969  
Other assets     1,034  
Total assets     188,548  
Liabilities and equity:        
Deposits     185,771  
Other liabilities     736  
Total liabilities     186,507  
Net assets acquired   $ 2,041  
Goodwill resulting from acquisition   $ 1,259  

 

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The outstanding principal balance and the carrying amount of these loans included in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2014, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Outstanding principal balance   $ 87,453  
Carrying amount     87,245  

 

All loans obtained in the acquisition reflect no specific evidence of credit deterioration and very low probability that the Company would be unable to collect all contractually required principal and interest payments.

 

Expenses associated with the acquisition were $30,000 and $1,439,000 for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2013, respectively. These costs included system conversion and integrating operations charges as well as legal and consulting expenses, which have been expensed as incurred.

 

BCB Holding Company, Inc.

 

On March 3, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement”) with BCB Holding Company, Inc., an Alabama corporation (“BCB”) and parent of Bay Bank, Mobile, Alabama. The Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Agreement, BCB will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and Bay Bank will merge with and into The First, A National Banking Association (“Bank Merger”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of the Company and BCB, each outstanding share of BCB common stock, other than shares held by the Company or BCB, or, shares with respect to which the holders thereof have perfected dissenters’ rights, will receive (i) for the BCB common stock that was outstanding prior to August 1, 2013, $3.60 per share which may be received in cash or the Company common stock provided that at least 30% of the aggregate consideration paid to such shareholders is in the Company common stock and one non-transferable contingent value right (“CVR”) of the CVR Consideration, and (ii) for the BCB common stock that was issued on August 1, 2013, $2.25 per share in cash. Each CVR is eligible to receive a cash payment equal to up to $0.40, with the exact amount based on the resolution of certain identified BCB loans over a three-year period following the closing of the transaction. Payout of the CVR will be overseen by a special committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company redeemed in full a note payable by BCB to Alostar Bank, as well as the preferred stock issued under the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program. The total consideration to be paid in connection with the acquisition will range between approximately $6.2 million and $6.6 million depending upon the payout of the CVR, as well as the price of the Company common stock on the closing of the transaction, which is subject to a cap and a collar regarding its price. An estimated liability of $174,000 has been accrued for the CVR and reflected in the financials at December 31, 2014.

 

47
 

 

As of the closing on July 1, 2014, the Company and BCB entered into an agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which BCB’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Bay Bank, was merged with and into the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, the Bank.

 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $1.7 million of goodwill and $.2 million of core deposit intangible. The core deposit intangible will be expensed over 10 years.

 

The Company acquired the $40.1 million loan portfolio at a fair value discount of $1.7 million. The discount represents expected credit losses, adjusted to market interest rates and liquidity adjustments.

 

The amounts of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date were as follows

(dollars in thousands):

 

Purchase price:        
Cash and fair value of common stock   $ 6,300  
Total purchase price     6,300  
Identifiable assets:        
Cash and due from banks     8,307  
Investments     23,423  
Loans and leases     38,393  
Other Real Estate     571  
Core deposit intangible     225  
Personal and real property     3,670  
Deferred tax asset     2,502  
Other assets     305  
Total assets     77,396  
Liabilities and equity:        
Deposits     59,321  
Borrowed funds     13,104  
Other liabilities     326  
Total liabilities     72,751  
Net assets acquired     4,645  
Goodwill resulting from acquisition   $ 1,655  

 

The outstanding principal balance and the carrying amount of these loans included in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2014, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Outstanding principal balance   $ 36,671  
Carrying amount     35,149  

 

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality are detailed in Note E – Loans.

 

The amount of the revenue and earnings included in the Company’s consolidated income statement for the year ended December 31, 2014, reflect only amounts from the acquisition date of July 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014.

 

48
 

 

The following pro forma financial information presents the combined results of operations as if the acquisition had been effective January 1, 2013. These results include the impact of amortizing certain purchase accounting adjustments such as tangible assets, compensation expenses and the impact of the acquisition on income tax expense. There were no material nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the acquisition included within the following pro forma financial information. The pro forma financial information does not necessarily reflect the results of operations that would have occurred had the combination constituted a single entity during such periods. Growth opportunities are expected to be achieved in various amounts at various times during the years subsequent to the acquisition and not ratably over, or at the beginning or end of such periods. No adjustments have been reflected in the following pro forma financial information for anticipated growth opportunities.

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
(In thousands)   2014     2013  
    (Unaudited)  
             
Interest income   $ 37,572     $ 33,720  
Net income     7,177       5,765  

 

Expenses associated with the acquisition were $29,000 and $508,000 for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2014, respectively. These costs included system conversion and integrating operations charges as well as legal and consulting expenses, which have been expensed as incurred.

 

NOTE D – SECURITIES

 

A summary of the amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities at December 31, 2014 and 2013, follows:

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Amortized
Cost
    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-sale securities:                                
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies   $ 27,225,335     $ 199,851     $ 53,550     $ 27,371,636  
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     101,873,361       2,896,657       187,598       104,582,420  
Mortgage-backed securities     91,697,199       1,579,218       240,805       93,035,612  
Corporate obligations     29,952,502       140,556       1,307,782       28,785,276  
Other     1,255,483       -       283,981       971,502  
    $ 252,003,880     $ 4,816,282     $ 2,073,716     $ 254,746,446  
Held-to-maturity securities:                                
Mortgage-backed securities   $ 2,192,741     $ 20,875     $ -     $ 2,213,616  
Taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     6,000,000       1,780,200       -       7,780,200  
    $ 8,192,741     $ 1,801,075     $ -     $ 9,993,816  

 

49
 

 

    December 31, 2013  
    Amortized
Cost
    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-sale securities:                                
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies   $ 29,963,634     $ 122,764     $ 124,491     $ 29,961,907  
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     107,676,085       1,937,586       1,535,036       108,078,635  
Mortgage-backed securities     78,770,400       810,370       1,394,067       78,186,703  
Corporate obligations     28,210,148       223,776       1,582,001       26,851,923  
Other     1,255,483       -       283,980       971,503  
    $ 245,875,750     $ 3,094,496     $ 4,919,575     $ 244,050,671  
Held-to-maturity securities:                                
Mortgage-backed securities   $ 2,438,435     $ -     $ 74,008     $ 2,364,427  
Taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     6,000,000       1,260,000       -       7,260,000  
    $ 8,438,435     $ 1,260,000     $ 74,008     $ 9,624,427  

 

The scheduled maturities of securities at December 31, 2014, were as follows:

 

    Available-for-Sale     Held-to-Maturity  
    Amortized
Cost
    Estimated
Fair
Value
    Amortized
Cost
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 
                         
Due less than one year   $ 18,914,378     $ 19,004,315     $ -     $ -  
Due after one year through five years     79,825,867       80,580,533       -       -  
Due after five years through ten years     39,340,584       40,277,184       -       -  
Due after ten years     22,225,850       21,848,802       6,000,000       7,780,200  
Mortgage-backed securities     91,697,200       93,035,612       2,192,741       2,213,616  
    $ 252,003,879     $ 254,746,446     $ 8,192,741     $ 9,993,816  

 

Actual maturities can differ from contractual maturities because the obligations may be called or prepaid with or without penalties.

 

$237,173 in gain was realized from the sale of available-for-sale securities in 2014 and no gain or loss in 2013. No other-than-temporary impairment losses were recognized for the years ended 2014 and 2013.

 

Securities with a carrying value of $191,534,036 and $197,611,193 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, were pledged to secure public deposits, repurchase agreements, and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

 

The details concerning securities classified as available-for-sale with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:

 

50
 

 

    2014  
    Losses < 12 Months     Losses 12 Months or >     Total  
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Obligations of U.S. government agencies   $ 5,510,325     $ 16,481     $ 3,451,215     $ 37,069     $ 8,961,540     $ 53,550  
Tax-exempt and tax- able obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     9,191,726       28,694       10,667,122       158,904       19,858,848       187,598  
Mortgage-backed securities     156,589       5,207       19,319,269       235,598       19,475,858       240,805  
Corporate obligations     6,910,425       32,096       6,580,925       1,275,686       13,491,350       1,307,782  
Other     -       -       971,502       283,981       971,502       283,981  
    $ 21,769,065     $ 82,478     $ 40,990,033     $ 1,991,238     $ 62,759,098     $ 2,073,716  

 

    2013  
    Losses < 12 Months     Losses 12 Months or >     Total  
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Obligations of U.S. government agencies   $ 6,898,945     $ 124,491     $ -     $ -     $ 6,898,945     $ 124,491  
Tax-exempt and tax- able obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     37,725,915       1,523,780       1,297,792       11,256       39,023,707       1,535,036  
Mortgage-backed securities     39,540,663       1,394,067       -       -       39,540,663       1,394,067  
Corporate obligations     10,814,405       174,210       3,386,225       1,407,791       14,200,630       1,582,001  
Other     -       -       971,503       283,980       971,503       283,980  
    $ 94,979,928     $ 3,216,548     $ 5,655,520     $ 1,703,027     $ 100,635,448     $ 4,919,575  

 

Approximately 22% of the number of securities in the investment portfolio at December 31, 2014, reflected an unrealized loss. Management is of the opinion the Company has the ability to hold these securities until such time as the value recovers or the securities mature. Management also believes the deterioration in value is attributable to changes in market interest rates and lack of liquidity in the credit markets. We have determined that these securities are not other-than-temporarily impaired based upon anticipated cash flows.

 

NOTE E - LOANS

 

Loans typically provide higher yields than the other types of earning assets, and thus one of the Company's goals is for loans to be the largest category of the Company's earning assets. At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, loans accounted for 71.3% and 68.1% of earning assets. The Company controls and mitigates the inherent credit and liquidity risks through the composition of its loan portfolio.

 

51
 

 

The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio by category:

 

    December 31,  2014     December 31, 2013  
    Amount    

Percent of

Total

    Amount    

Percent of

Total

 
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Mortgage loans held for sale   $ 2,103       0.3 %   $ 3,680       0.6 %
Commercial, financial and agricultural     106,109       15.0       81,792       14.0  
Real Estate:                                
Mortgage-commercial     238,602       33.8       212,388       36.4  
Mortgage-residential     256,406       36.3       202,343       34.7  
Construction     84,935       12.0       67,287       11.5  
Consumer and other     18,480       2.6       15,812       2.8  
Total loans     706,635       100 %     583,302       100 %
Allowance for loan losses     (6,095 )             (5,728 )        
Net loans   $ 700,540             $ 577,574          

 

In the context of this discussion, a "real estate mortgage loan" is defined as any loan, other than a loan for construction purposes, secured by real estate, regardless of the purpose of the loan. The Company follows the common practice of financial institutions in the Company’s market area of obtaining a security interest in real estate whenever possible, in addition to any other available collateral. This collateral is taken to reinforce the likelihood of the ultimate repayment of the loan and tends to increase the magnitude of the real estate loan portfolio component. Generally, the Company limits its loan-to-value ratio to 80%. Management attempts to maintain a conservative philosophy regarding its underwriting guidelines and believes it will reduce the risk elements of its loan portfolio through strategies that diversify the lending mix.

 

Loans held for sale consist of mortgage loans originated by the Bank and sold into the secondary market. Commitments from investors to purchase the loans are obtained upon origination.

 

Activity in the allowance for loan losses for December 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

    2014     2013  
             
Balance at beginning of period   $ 5,728     $ 4,727  
Loans charged-off:                
Real Estate     (1,203 )     (457 )
Installment and Other     (167 )     (197 )
Commercial, Financial and Agriculture     (89 )     (105 )
Total     (1,459 )     (759 )
Recoveries on loans previously charged-off:                
Real Estate     325       600  
Installment and Other     68       66  
Commercial, Financial and Agriculture     15       18  
Total     408       684  
Net Charge-offs     (1,051 )     (75 )
Provision for Loan Losses     1,418       1,076  
Balance at end of period   $ 6,095     $ 5,728  

 

52
 

 

The following tables represent how the allowance for loan losses is allocated to a particular loan type as well as the percentage of the category to total loans at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses

 

    December 31, 2014  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
    Amount     % of loans
in each
 category
to total loans
 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 713       15.3 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,355       57.9  
Consumer Real Estate     1,852       24.2  
Consumer     175       2.6  
Unallocated     -       -  
Total   $ 6,095       100 %

 

    December 31, 2013  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
    Amount     % of loans
in each
 category
to total loans
 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 582       14.0 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,384       57.2  
Consumer Real Estate     1,427       25.4  
Consumer     173       3.4  
Unallocated     162       -  
Total   $ 5,728       100 %

 

The following table represents the Company’s impaired loans at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. This table includes performing troubled debt restructurings.

 

    December 31,     December 31,  
    2014     2013  
    (In thousands)  
Impaired Loans:                
Impaired loans without a valuation allowance   $ 4,702     $ 759  
Impaired loans with a valuation allowance     4,858       4,071  
Total impaired loans   $ 9,560     $ 4,830  
Allowance for loan losses on impaired loans at period end     968       849  
Total nonaccrual loans     6,056       3,181  
                 
Past due 90 days or more and still accruing     669       159  
Average investment in impaired loans     7,077       4,007  

 

53
 

 

 

The following table is a summary of interest recognized and cash-basis interest earned on impaired loans for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    2014     2013  
             
Interest income recognized during impairment     129       -  
Cash-basis interest income recognized     256       148  

 

The gross interest income that would have been recorded in the period that ended if the nonaccrual loans had been current in accordance with their original terms and had been outstanding throughout the period or since origination, if held for part of the twelve months for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, was $92,000 and $43,000, respectively. The Company had no loan commitments to borrowers in non-accrual status at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

The following tables provide the ending balances in the Company's loans (excluding mortgage loans held for sale) and allowance for loan losses, broken down by portfolio segment as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The tables also provide additional detail as to the amount of our loans and allowance that correspond to individual versus collective impairment evaluation. The impairment evaluation corresponds to the Company's systematic methodology for estimating its Allowance for Loan Losses.

 

December 31, 2014

 

          Installment     Commercial,        
    Real Estate     and
Other
    Financial and
Agriculture
    Total  
    (In thousands)  
Loans                                
Individually evaluated   $ 9,282     $ 38     $ 240     $ 9,560  
Collectively evaluated     568,952       18,610       107,410       694,972  
Total   $ 578,234     $ 18,648     $ 107,650     $ 704,532  
                                 
Allowance for Loan Losses                                
Individually evaluated   $ 922     $ 29     $ 17     $ 968  
Collectively evaluated     4,285       146       696       5,127  
Total   $ 5,207     $ 175     $ 713     $ 6,095  

 

54
 

 

December 31, 2013

 

          Installment     Commercial,        
    Real Estate     And
Other
    Financial and
Agriculture
    Total  
    (In thousands)  
Loans                                
Individually evaluated   $ 4,709     $ 39     $ 82     $ 4,830  
Collectively evaluated     473,832       19,725       81,236       574,793  
Total   $ 478,541     $ 19,764     $ 81,318     $ 579,623  
                                 
Allowance for Loan Losses                                
Individually evaluated   $ 804     $ 35     $ 10     $ 849  
Collectively evaluated     4,007       300       572       4,879  
Total   $ 4,811     $ 335     $ 582     $ 5,728  

 

The following tables provide additional detail of impaired loans broken out according to class as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. The recorded investment included in the following table represents customer balances net of any partial charge-offs recognized on the loans, net of any deferred fees and costs. As nearly all of our impaired loans at December 31, 2014 are on nonaccrual status, recorded investment excludes any insignificant amount of accrued interest receivable on loans 90-days or more past due and still accruing. The unpaid balance represents the recorded balance prior to any partial charge-offs.

 

December 31,  2014                        
                      Average     Interest  
                      Recorded     Income  
    Recorded     Unpaid     Related     Investment     Recognized  
    Investment     Balance     Allowance     YTD     YTD  
    (In thousands)  
Impaired loans with no related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 50     $ -  
Commercial real estate     4,665       4,665       -       2,654       142  
Consumer real estate     27       27       -       179       -  
Consumer installment     10       10       -       11       -  
Total   $ 4,702     $ 4,702     $ -     $ 2,894     $ 142  
                                         
Impaired loans with a related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 240     $ 240     $ 18     $ 189     $ 20  
Commercial real estate     2,558       2,558       315       2,415       59  
Consumer real estate     2,032       2,032       607       1,546       33  
Consumer installment     28       28       28       33       2  
Total   $ 4,858     $ 4,858     $ 968     $ 4,183     $ 114  
                                         
Total Impaired Loans:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 240     $ 240     $ 18     $ 239     $ 20  
Commercial real estate     7,223       7,223       315       5,069       201  
Consumer real estate     2,059       2,059       607       1,725       33  
Consumer installment     38       38       28       44       2  
Total Impaired Loans   $ 9,560     $ 9,560     $ 968     $ 7,077     $ 256  

 

55
 

 

December 31, 2013                              
                               
                      Average     Interest  
                      Recorded     Income  
    Recorded     Unpaid     Related     Investment     Recognized  
    Investment     Balance     Allowance     YTD     YTD  
    (In thousands)  
Impaired loans with no related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 3     $ 3     $ -     $ 45     $ -  
Commercial real estate     353       353       -       1,035       8  
Consumer real estate     341       399       -       262       9  
Consumer installment     4       4       -       5       -  
Total   $ 701     $ 759     $ -     $ 1,347     $ 17  
                                         
Impaired loans with a related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 79     $ 79     $ 10     $ 42     $ 6  
Commercial real estate     2,685       2,685       400       2,147       100  
Consumer real estate     1,202       1,272       404       1,019       21  
Consumer installment     35       35       35       36       4  
Total   $ 4,001     $ 4,071     $ 849     $ 3,244     $ 131  
                                         
Total Impaired Loans:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 82     $ 82     $ 10     $ 87     $ 6  
Commercial real estate     3,038       3,038       400       3,182       108  
Consumer real estate     1,543       1,671       404       1,281       30  
Consumer installment     39       39       35       41       4  
Total Impaired Loans   $ 4,702     $ 4,830     $ 849     $ 4,591     $ 148  

 

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality are those purchased in the BCB Holding Company, Inc. acquisition (See Note C -Business Combination for further information). These loans were recorded at estimated fair value at the acquisition date with no carryover of the related allowance for loan losses. The acquired loans were segregated as of the acquisition date between those considered to be performing (acquired non-impaired loans) and those with evidence of credit deterioration (acquired impaired loans). Acquired loans are considered impaired if there is evidence of credit deterioration and if it is probable, at acquisition, all contractually required payments will not be collected.

 

56
 

 

The following table presents information regarding the contractually required payments receivable, cash flows expected to be collected and the estimated fair value of loans acquired in the BCB acquisition as of July 1, 2014, the closing date of the transaction: 

 

    December 31, 2014  
    (In thousands)  
    Commercial,
financial and
agricultural
    Mortgage-
Commercial
    Mortgage-
Residential
    Commercial
and other
    Total  
Contractually required payments   $ 1,519     $ 29,648     $ 7,933     $ 976     $ 40,076  
Cash flows expected to be collected     1,570       37,869       9,697       1,032       50,168  
Fair value of loans acquired     1,513       28,875       7,048       957       38,393  

 

Total outstanding acquired impaired loans were $3,480,190 as of December 31, 2014. The outstanding balance of these loans is the undiscounted sum of all amounts, including amounts deemed principal, interest, fees, penalties, and other under the loans, owed at the reporting date, whether or not currently due and whether or not any such amounts have been charged off.

 

Changes in the carrying amount and accretable yield for acquired impaired loans were as follows for the year ended December 31, 2014: (in thousands)

 

    Accretable
Yield
    Carrying
Amount of
Loans
 
Balance at beginning of period   $ -     $ -  
Additions due to BCB acquisition on July 1, 2014     1,603       2,325  
Accretion     (186 )     186  
Payments received, net     -       (448 )
Balance at end of period   $ 1,417     $ 2,063  

 

The following tables provide additional detail of troubled debt restructurings during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Outstanding
Recorded
    Outstanding
Recorded
          Interest  
    Investment
Pre-Modification
    Investment 
Post-Modification
    Number of
Loans
    Income
Recognized
 
    (in thousands except number of loans)  
                         
Commercial installment   $ 239     $ 176       1     $ 15  
Commercial real estate     1,345       1,342       7       26  
Consumer real estate     94       94       1       1  
Consumer installment     -       -       -       -  
Total   $ 1,678     $ 1,612       9     $ 42  

 

57
 

 

    December 31, 2013  
    Outstanding
Recorded
    Outstanding 
Recorded
          Interest  
    Investment
Pre-Modification
    Investment 
Post-Modification
    Number of
Loans
    Income 
Recognized
 
    (in thousands except number of loans)  
                         
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -       -     $ -  
Commercial real estate     858       858       3       53  
Consumer real estate     66       65       1       2  
Consumer installment     -       -       -       -  
Total   $ 924     $ 923       4     $ 55  

 

The TDRs presented above did increase the allowance for loan losses but resulted in -0- charge-offs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

The balance of troubled debt restructurings at December 31, 2014 and 2013, was $6.8 million and 2.2 million, respectively, calculated for regulatory reporting purpose. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no additional amount committed on any loan classified as troubled debt restructuring.

 

All loans were performing as agreed with modified terms.

 

During the twelve month period ending December 31, 2014 and 2013, the terms of 9 and 4 loans, respectively, were modified as TDRs. The modifications included one of the following or a combination of the following: maturity date extensions, interest only payments, amortizations were extended beyond what would be available on similar type loans, and payment waiver. No interest rate concessions were given on these nor were any of these loans written down.

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Current
Loans
    Past Due
30-89
    Past Due 90 
days and still
accruing
    Non-Accrual     Total  
Commercial installment   $ 233,340     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 233,340  
Commercial real estate     1,684,755       -       -       2,729,170       4,413,925  
Consumer real estate     952,162       622,302       -       448,796       2,023,260  
Consumer installment     9,983       -       -       103,109       113,092  
Total   $ 2,880,240     $ 622,302     $ -     $ 3,281,075     $ 6,783,617  
Allowance for loan losses   $ 120,220     $ 11,206     $ 102,657     $ -     $ 234,083  

 

58
 

 

    December 31, 2013  
    Current 
Loans
    Past Due
30-89
    Past Due 90 
days and still
accruing
    Non-Accrual     Total  
                               
Commercial installment   $ 72,783     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 72,783  
Commercial real estate     406,931       -       -       -       406,931  
Consumer real estate     1,071,918       58,462       -       422,142       1,552,522  
Consumer installment     4,198       35,051       -       135,083       174,332  
Total   $ 1,555,830     $ 93,513     $ -     $ 557,225     $ 2,206,568  
Allowance for loan losses   $ 62,084     $ 43,254     $ -     $ 78,466     $ 183,804  

 

The following tables summarize by class our loans classified as past due in excess of 30 days or more in addition to those loans classified as non-accrual:

 

    December 31, 2014  
    (In thousands)  
    Past Due
30 to 89 
 Days
    Past Due 
90 Days or
More and
Still Accruing
    Non-Accrual     Total
Past Due and
Non-Accrual
    Total
Loans
 
                               
Real Estate-construction   $ 428     $ -     $ 2,747     $ 3,175     $ 84,935  
Real Estate-mortgage     3,208       208       2,164       5,580       256,406  
Real Estate-nonfarm  nonresidential     3,408       461       1,102       4,971       238,602  
Commercial     29       -       5       34       106,109  
Consumer     90       -       38       128       18,480  
Total   $ 7,163     $ 669     $ 6,056     $ 13,888     $ 704,532  

 

    December 31, 2013  
    (In thousands)  
    Past Due
30 to 89
Days
    Past Due 90
Days or More
and Still
Accruing
    Non-Accrual     Total
Past Due and
Non-Accrual
    Total
Loans
 
                               
Real Estate-construction   $ 478     $ -     $ 212     $ 690     $ 67,287  
Real Estate-mortgage     4,696       143       2,453       7,292       202,343  
Real Estate- nonfarm nonresidential     252       -       507       759       212,388  
Commercial     12       -       9       21       81,792  
Consumer     115       16       -       131       15,813  
Total   $ 5,553     $ 159     $ 3,181     $ 8,893     $ 579,623  

 

59
 

 

The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings, which are consistent with the definitions used in supervisory guidance:

 

Special Mention.    Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the Company’s credit position at some future date.

 

Substandard.    Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

 

Doubtful.    Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

 

Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered to be pass rated loans.

 

As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans (excluding mortgage loans held for sale) was as follows:

 

(In thousands)

December 31, 2014

 

                      Commercial,        
   

Real Estate

Commercial

   

Real Estate

Mortgage

   

Installment and

Other

   

Financial and

Agriculture

    Total  
Pass   $ 388,569     $ 167,827     $ 18,558     $ 107,126     $ 682,080  
Special Mention     4,756       191       -       498       5,445  
Substandard     14,727       2,567       90       63       17,447  
Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -  
Subtotal     408,052       170,585       18,648       107,687       704,972  
Less:                                        
Unearned Discount     320       82       -       38       440  
Loans, net of  unearned discount   $ 407,732     $ 170,503     $ 18,648     $ 107,649     $ 704,532  

 

60
 

 

December 31, 2013

 

                      Commercial,        
    Real Estate
Commercial
    Real Estate
Mortgage
    Installment and 
Other
    Financial and
Agriculture
    Total  
Pass   $ 316,573     $ 145,787     $ 19,725     $ 80,087     $ 562,172  
Special Mention     4,084       32       -       1,033       5,149  
Substandard     10,972       1,426       39       225       12,662  
Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -  
Subtotal     331,629       147,245       19,764       81,345       579,983  
Less:                                        
Unearned Discount     236       97       -       27       360  
Loans, net of  unearned discount   $ 331,393     $ 147,148     $ 19,764     $ 81,318     $ 579,623  

 

NOTE F - PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

 

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization as follows:

 

    2014     2013  
Premises:                
Land   $ 10,565,633     $ 9,891,750  
Buildings and improvements     25,872,002       22,966,215  
Equipment     11,663,195       9,558,090  
Construction in progress     188,146       32,985  
      48,288,976       42,449,040  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     13,479,133       10,377,299  
    $ 34,809,843     $ 32,071,741  

 

The amounts charged to operating expense for depreciation were $1,552,297 and $1,379,748 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

NOTE G - DEPOSITS

 

The aggregate amount of time deposits in denominations of $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, was $120,693,807 and $116,623,516, respectively.

 

At December 31, 2014, the scheduled maturities of time deposits included in interest-bearing deposits were as follows (in thousands):

 

Year   Amount  
       
2015   $ 132,109  
2016     39,029  
2017     18,071  
2018     7,878  
2019     8,972  
Thereafter     -  
    $ 206,059  

 

61
 

 

NOTE H - BORROWED FUNDS

 

Borrowed funds consisted of the following:

 

    December 31,  
    2014     2013  
             
Reverse Repurchase Agreement   $ 5,000,000     $ 5,000,000  
FHLB advances     84,450,067       47,000,000  
    $ 89,450,067     $ 52,000,000  

 

Advances from the FHLB have maturity dates ranging from January 2015 through June 2019. Interest is payable monthly at rates ranging from 0.16% to 5.47%. Advances due to the FHLB are collateralized by a blanket lien on first mortgage loans in the amount of the outstanding borrowings, FHLB capital stock, and amounts on deposit with the FHLB. At December 31, 2014, FHLB advances available and unused totaled $143,885,000.

 

Future annual principal repayment requirements on the borrowings from the FHLB at December 31, 2014, were as follows:

 

Year   Amount  
       
2015   $ 80,468,000  
2016     982,067  
2017     -  
2018     -  
2019     3,000,000  
Total   $ 84,450,067  

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements consist of one $5,000,000 agreement. The agreement is secured by securities with a fair value of $7,443,951 at December 31, 2014 and $6,530,592 at December 31, 2013. The maturity date of the remaining agreement is September 26, 2017, with a rate of 3.81%.

 

NOTE I – LEASE OBLIGATIONS

 

The Company is committed under several long-term operating leases which provide for minimum lease payments. Certain leases contain options for renewal. Total rental expense under these operating leases amounted to $421,000 and $249,000 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

The Company is also committed under one long-term capital lease agreement. The capital lease agreement had an outstanding balance of $1,154,000 and $1,286,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively (included in other liabilities). This lease has a remaining term of 7 years at December 31, 2014. Assets related to the capital lease are included in premises and equipment and the cost consists of $2.6 million less accumulated depreciation of approximately $866,313 and $605,712 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

62
 

 

Minimum future lease payments for the operating and capital leases at December 31, 2014, were as follows:

 

    Operating        
    Leases     Capital Lease  
    (In thousands)  
             
2015   $ 481     $ 166  
2016     473       168  
2017     214       191  
2018     141       191  
2019     141       191  
Thereafter     687       364  
                 
Total Minimum Lease Payments   $ 2,137     $ 1,271  
                 
Less:  Amount representing interest             (117 )
                 
Present value of minimum lease payments           $ 1,154  

 

NOTE J - REGULATORY MATTERS

 

The Company and its subsidiary bank are subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and its subsidiary bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgment by regulators about components, risk weightings, and other related factors.

 

To ensure capital adequacy, quantitative measures have been established by regulators, and these require the Company and its subsidiary bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier I capital (as defined) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier I capital to adjusted total assets (leverage). Management believes, as of December 31, 2014, that the Company and its subsidiary bank exceeded all capital adequacy requirements.

 

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the subsidiary bank was categorized by regulators as well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. A financial institution is considered to be well-capitalized if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10% or more, has a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 6% or more, and has a Tier I leverage capital ratio of 5% or more. There are no conditions or anticipated events that, in the opinion of management, would change the categorization. The actual capital amounts and ratios at December 31, 2014 and 2013, are presented in the following table. No amount was deducted from capital for interest-rate risk exposure.

 

63
 

 

In 2013, the Federal Reserve voted to adopt final capital rules implementing Basel III requirements for U.S. Banking organizations. Under the final rule, minimum requirements will increase for both the quantity and quality of capital held by banking organizations. The final rule includes a new minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital (Tier 1 Common) to risk-weighted assets and a Tier 1 Common capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets that will apply to all supervised financial institutions. The rule also raises the minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets and includes a minimum leverage ratio of 4% for all banking organizations. These new minimum capital ratios are effective on January 1, 2015, and will be fully phased in on January 1, 2019.

 

    Company     Subsidiary  
    (Consolidated)     The First  
    Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
December 31, 2014                                
Total risk-based   $ 95,419       12.3 %   $ 94,888       12.2 %
Tier I risk-based     89,324       11.5 %     88,793       11.4 %
Tier I leverage     89,324       8.4 %     88,793       8.4 %
                                 
December 31, 2013                                
Total risk-based   $ 88,503       13.4 %   $ 87,707       13.3 %
Tier I risk-based     82,755       12.5 %     81,979       12.4 %
Tier I leverage     82,755       9.0 %     81,979       8.9 %

 

The minimum amounts of capital and ratios as established by banking regulators at December 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:

 

    Company     Subsidiary  
    (Consolidated)     The First  
    Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
December 31, 2014                                
Total risk-based   $ 62,272       8.0 %   $ 62,208       8.0 %
Tier I risk-based     31,136       4.0 %     31,104       4.0 %
Tier I leverage     42,363       4.0 %     42,325       4.0 %
                                 
December 31, 2013                                
Total risk-based   $ 53,029       8.0 %   $ 52,935       8.0 %
Tier I risk-based     26,514       4.0 %     26,467       4.0 %
Tier I leverage     37,002       4.0 %     36,956       4.0 %

 

The Company’s dividends, if any, are expected to be made from dividends received from its subsidiary bank. The OCC limits dividends of a national bank in any calendar year to the net profits of that year combined with the retained net profits for the two preceding years.

 

NOTE K - INCOME TAXES

 

The components of income tax expense are as follows:

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013  
Current:                
Federal (benefit)   $ 1,757,098     $ (88,073 )
State (benefit)     347,382       (15,737 )
Deferred     331,399       1,707,403  
    $ 2,435,879     $ 1,603,593  

 

64
 

 

The Company's income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the federal income tax statutory rates to income before income taxes. A reconciliation of the differences is as follows:

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013  
    Amount     %     Amount     %  
                         
Income taxes at statutory rate   $ 3,076,856       34 %   $ 2,122,650       34 %
Tax-exempt income     (863,204 )     (10 )%     (797,167 )     (13 )%
Nondeductible expenses     238,638       3 %     326,871       5 %
State income tax, net of federal tax effect     215,803       2 %     (10,386 )     -  
Tax credits     (337,716 )     (4 )%     -       -  
Other, net     105,502       2 %     (38,375 )     -  
    $ 2,435,879       27 %   $ 1,603,593       26 %

 

The components of deferred income taxes included in the consolidated financial statements were as follows:

 

    December 31,  
    2014     2013  
Deferred tax assets:                
Allowance for loan losses   $ 2,273,435     $ 1,980,194  
Net operating loss carryover     2,615,552       1,313,501  
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities     -       620,527  
Other real estate     357,873       445,448  
Other     1,200,419       668,313  
      6,447,279       5,027,983  
Deferred tax liabilities:                
Securities accretion     (124,942 )     (97,917 )
Premises and equipment     (443,080 )     (684,787 )
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities     (932,473 )     -  
Core deposit intangible     (238,562 )     (239,364 )
Goodwill     (716,188 )     (498,612 )
      (2,455,245 )     (1,520,680 )
Net deferred tax asset, included in other assets   $ 3,992,034     $ 3,507,303  

 

With the acquisition of Wiggins in 2006, Baldwin in 2013, and Bay in 2014, the Company assumed federal tax net operating loss carryovers. These net operating losses are available to the Company through the years 2023, 2033, and 2034, respectively.

 

The Company follows the guidance of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Topic 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no uncertain tax positions that it believes should be recognized in the financial statements. The tax years still subject to examination by taxing authorities are years subsequent to 2010.

 

65
 

 

NOTE L - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

 

The Company and its subsidiary bank provide a deferred compensation arrangement (401(k) plan) whereby employees contribute a percentage of their compensation. For employee contributions of six percent or less, the Company and its subsidiary bank provide a 50% matching contribution. Contributions totaled $255,716 in 2014 and $248,355 in 2013.

 

The Company sponsors an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for employees who have completed one year of service for the Company and attained age 21. Employees become fully vested after five years of service. Contributions to the plan are at the discretion of the Board of Directors. At December 31, 2014, the ESOP held 5,969 shares of Company common stock and had no debt obligation. All shares held by the plan were considered outstanding for net income per share purposes. Total ESOP expense was $26,267 for 2014 and $22,785 for 2013.

 

During 2014, the Company established a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for three active key executives. Pursuant to the SERP, these officers are entitled to receive 180 equal monthly payments commencing at the later of obtaining age 65 or separation from service. The costs of such benefits, assuming a retirement date at age 65, will be accrued by the Company at such retirement date. During 2014, the Company accrued $57,000 for future benefits payable under the SERP. The SERP is an unfunded plan and is considered a general contractual obligation of the Company.

 

NOTE M - STOCK PLANS

 

In 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.  The 2007 Plan provides for the issuance of up to 315,000 shares of Company Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share.  Shares issued under the 2007 Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.  Through the year ended December 31, 2009, no shares were issued under this Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2013, 52,653 nonvested restricted stock awards were granted under the Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2014, 69,627 nonvested restricted stock awards were granted under the Plan and 2,000 stock awards were forfeited due to separation. During 2014, 5,981 shares were repurchased for payment of taxes. The weighted average grant-date fair value for these shares was $14.27 per share. Compensation costs in the amount of $617,779 was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2014 and $391,777 for the year ended December 31, 2013. Shares of restricted stock granted to employees under this stock plan are subject to restrictions as to the vesting period. The restricted stock award becomes 100% vested on the earliest of 1) the three or five year vesting period provided the Grantee has not incurred a termination of employment prior to that date, 2) the Grantee’s retirement, or 3) the Grantee’s death. During this period, the holder is entitled to full voting rights and dividends, which are held until vested. As of December 31, 2014, there was approximately $1,012,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to this Plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over the remaining term of the vesting period (approximately 2 years).

 

66
 

 

NOTE N - SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

 

On June 30, 2006, the Company issued $4,124,000 of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to The First Bancshares Statutory Trust 2 in which the Company owns all of the common equity. The debentures are the sole asset of the Trust. The Trust issued $4,000,000 of Trust Preferred Securities (TPSs) to investors. The Company’s obligations under the debentures and related documents, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. The preferred securities were redeemable by the Company at its option. The preferred securities must be redeemed upon maturity of the debentures in 2036. Interest on the preferred securities is the three month London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) plus 1.65% and is payable quarterly. The terms of the subordinated debentures are identical to those of the preferred securities. On July 27, 2007, the Company issued $6,186,000 of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to The First Bancshares Statutory Trust 3 in which the Company owns all of the common equity. The debentures are the sole asset of Trust 3. The Trust issued $6,000,000 of Trust Preferred Securities (TPSs) to investors. The Company’s obligations under the debentures and related documents, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. The preferred securities are redeemable by the Company at its option. The preferred securities must be redeemed upon maturity of the debentures in 2037. Interest on the preferred securities is the three month LIBOR plus 1.40% and is payable quarterly. The terms of the subordinated debentures are identical to those of the preferred securities. In accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, the trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements.

 

NOTE O - TREASURY STOCK

 

Shares held in treasury totaled 26,494 at December 31, 2014, and 2013.

 

NOTE P - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

In the normal course of business, the Bank makes loans to its directors and executive officers and to companies in which they have a significant ownership interest. In the opinion of management, these loans are made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other parties, are consistent with sound banking practices, and are within applicable regulatory and lending limitations. Such loans amounted to approximately $8,442,000 and $8,977,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The activity in loans to current directors, executive officers, and their affiliates during the year ended December 31, 2014, is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Loans outstanding at beginning of year   $ 8,977  
New loans     908  
Repayments     (1,443 )
Loans outstanding at end of year   $ 8,442  

 

NOTE Q - COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES, AND CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

 

In the normal course of business, there are outstanding various commitments and contingent liabilities, such as guaranties, commitments to extend credit, etc., which are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The subsidiary bank had outstanding letters of credit of $986,000 and $675,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and had made loan commitments of approximately $128,086,000 and $113,372,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

67
 

 

Commitments to extend credit and letters of credit include some exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance of the customer. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit policies and procedures for such commitments are the same as those used for lending activities. Because these instruments have fixed maturity dates and because a number expire without being drawn upon, they generally do not present any significant liquidity risk. No significant losses on commitments were incurred during the two years ended December 31, 2014, nor are any significant losses as a result of these transactions anticipated.

 

The primary market area served by the Bank is Forrest, Lamar, Jones, Pearl River, Jackson, Hancock, Stone, and Harrison Counties within South Mississippi, as well as Washington Parish, St. Tammany Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana and Baldwin and Mobile Counties in South Alabama. Management closely monitors its credit concentrations and attempts to diversify the portfolio within its primary market area. As of December 31, 2014, management does not consider there to be any significant credit concentrations within the loan portfolio. Although the Bank’s loan portfolio, as well as existing commitments, reflects the diversity of its primary market area, a substantial portion of a borrower's ability to repay a loan is dependent upon the economic stability of the area.

 

NOTE R - FAIR VALUES OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

The Company follows the guidance of ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, that establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

The guidance defines the fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

In accordance with the guidance, the Company groups its financial assets and financial liabilities measured 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. These levels are:

 

  Level 1: Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange.  Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or liabilities.
     
  Level 2: Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer or broker markets. Valuations are obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities which use observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets and liabilities.
     
  Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

68
 

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

Available-for-Sale Securities

 

The fair value of available-for-sale securities is determined by various valuation methodologies. Where quoted market prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1. Level 1 securities include mutual funds. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies, obligations of states and political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. In certain cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

 

The following table presents the Company’s available-for-sale securities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fell as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
For
Identical Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
December 31, 2014                        
                         
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies   $ 27,372     $ -     $ 27,372     $ -  
Municipal securities     104,582       -       104,582       -  
Mortgage-backed securities     93,036       -       93,036       -  
Corporate obligations     28,784       -       25,983       2,801  
Other     972       972       -       -  
Total   $ 254,746     $ 972     $ 250,973     $ 2,801  

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
For
Identical Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
December 31, 2013                        
                         
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies   $ 29,962     $ -     $ 29,962     $ -  
Municipal securities     108,078       -       108,078       -  
Mortgage-backed securities     78,187       -       78,187       -  
Corporate obligations     26,852       -       24,054       2,798  
Other     972       972       -       -  
Total   $ 244,051     $ 972     $ 240,281     $ 2,798  

 

69
 

 

The following is a reconciliation of activity for assets measured at fair value based on significant unobservable (non-market) information.

 

(In thousands)   Bank-Issued Trust
Trust Preferred
Securities
 
    2014     2013  
Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at January 1   $ 2,798     $ 2,668  
Transfers into Level 3     -       -  
Transfers out of Level 3     -       -  
Unrealized income included in comprehensive income     3       130  
Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at December 31   $ 2,801     $ 2,798  

 

The following table presents quantitative information about recurring Level 3 fair value measurements (in thousands):

 

Trust Preferred
Securities
  Fair Value     Valuation Technique   Significant
Unobservable Inputs
  Range of Inputs
December 31, 2014   $ 2,801     Discounted cash flow   Discount rate   .79% - 2.49%
December 31, 2013   $ 2,798     Discounted cash flow   Discount rate   .79% - 2.49%

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

 

Impaired Loans

 

Loans for which it is probable that the Company will not collect all principal and interest due according to contractual terms are measured for impairment. Allowable methods for estimating fair value include using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans or, where a loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, using the discounted cash flow method.

 

If the impaired loan is identified as collateral dependent, then the fair value method of measuring the amount of impairment is utilized. This method requires obtaining a current independent appraisal of the collateral and applying a discount factor to the value. If the impaired loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, then the discounted cash flow method is used. This method requires the impaired loan to be recorded at the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. The effective interest rate of a loan is the contractual interest rate adjusted for any net deferred loan fees or costs, premiums or discounts existing at origination or acquisition of the loan. Impaired loans are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

70
 

 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

Other real estate owned consists of properties obtained through foreclosure. The adjustment at the time of foreclosure is recorded through the allowance for loan losses. Fair value of other real estate owned is based on current independent appraisals. Due to the subjective nature of establishing the fair value when the asset is acquired, the actual fair value of the other real estate owned or foreclosed asset could differ from the original estimate. If it is determined the fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through other income. Operating costs associated with the assets after acquisition are also recorded as non-interest expense. Gains and losses on the disposition of other real estate owned and foreclosed assets are netted and posted to other income. Other real estate owned measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2014, amounted to $4.7 million. Other real estate owned is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The following table presents the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fell at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands).

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
For
Identical Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
December 31, 2014                        
                         
Impaired loans   $ 9,560     $ -     $ 9,560     $ -  
Other real estate owned     4,655       -       4,655       -  
                                 
December 31, 2013                                
                                 
Impaired loans   $ 4,830     $ -     $ 4,830     $ -  
Other real estate owned     4,470       -       4,470       -  

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents – For such short-term instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Investment in securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity – The fair value measurement for securities available-for-sale was discussed earlier. The same measurement approach was used for securities held-to-maturity and other securities.

 

71
 

 

Loans – The fair value 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.

 

Bank-owned Life Insurance – The fair value of bank-owned life insurance approximates the carrying amount, because upon liquidation of these investments, the Company would receive the cash surrender value which equals the carrying amount.

 

Deposits – The fair values of demand deposits are, as required by ASC Topic 825, equal to the carrying value of such deposits. Demand deposits include noninterest-bearing demand deposits, savings accounts, NOW accounts, and money market demand accounts. The fair value of variable rate term deposits, those repricing within six months or less, approximates the carrying value of these deposits. Discounted cash flows have been used to value fixed rate term deposits and variable rate term deposits repricing after six months. The discount rate used is based on interest rates currently being offered on comparable deposits as to amount and term.

 

Short-Term Borrowings – The carrying value of any federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings approximates their fair values.

 

FHLB and Other Borrowings – The fair value of the fixed rate borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows, based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. The carrying amount of any variable rate borrowing approximates its fair value.

 

Subordinated Debentures – The subordinated debentures bear interest at a variable rate and the carrying value approximates the fair value.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Instruments – Fair values of off-balance sheet financial instruments are based on fees charged to enter into similar agreements. However, commitments to extend credit do not represent a significant value until such commitments are funded or closed. Management has determined that these instruments do not have a distinguishable fair value and no fair value has been assigned.

 

As of December 31, 2014               Fair Value Measurements  
    Carrying
Amount
    Estimated
Fair Value
    Quoted
Prices 
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                               
Financial Instruments:                                        
Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 44,618     $ 44,618     $ 44,618     $ -     $ -  
Securities available-for-sale     254,746       254,746       972       250,973       2,801  
Securities held-to-maturity     8,193       9,994       -       9,994       -  
Other securities     7,234       7,234       -       7,234       -  
Loans, net     700,540       715,849       -       -       715,849  
Bank-owned life insurance     14,463       14,463       -       14,463       -  
                                         
Liabilities:                                        
Noninterest-bearing deposits   $ 201,362     $ 201,362     $ -     $ 201,362     $ -  
Interest-bearing deposits     691,413       691,036       -       691,036       -  
Subordinated debentures     10,310       10,310       -       -       10,310  
FHLB and other borrowings     89,450       89,450       -       89,450       -  

 

72
 

 

As of December 31, 2013               Fair Value Measurements  
    Carrying
Amount
    Estimated
Fair Value
    Quoted
Prices 
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                               
Financial Instruments:                                        
Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 39,252     $ 39,252     $ 39,252     $ -     $ -  
Securities available-for-sale     244,051       244,051       972       240,281       2,798  
Securities held-to-maturity     8,438       9,624       -       9,624       -  
Other securities     5,534       5,534       -       5,534       -  
Loans, net     577,574       590,866       -       -       590,866  
Bank-owned life insurance     6,593       6,593       -       6,593       -  
                                         
Liabilities:                                        
Noninterest-bearing deposits   $ 144,624     $ 144,624     $ -     $ 144,624     $ -  
Interest-bearing deposits     635,347       634,907       -       634,907       -  
Subordinated debentures     10,310       10,310       -       -       10,310  
FHLB and other borrowings     52,000       52,000       -       52,000       -  

 

NOTE S - SENIOR PREFERRED STOCK

 

Pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”), the Company issued 17,123 CDCI Preferred Shares.

 

The Letter Agreement contains limitations on the payment of dividends on the common stock to no more than 100% of the aggregate per share dividend and distributions for the immediate prior fiscal year (dividends of $0.15 per share were declared and paid 2011 through 2014) and on the Company’s ability to repurchase its common stock in the event of a non-payment of our dividend, and continues to subject the Company to certain of the executive compensation limitations included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), as previously disclosed by the Company. The CDCI Preferred Shares entitle the holder to an annual dividend of 2% for 8 years of the liquidation value of the shares, payable quarterly in arrears.

 

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NOTE T - PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The balance sheets, statements of income and cash flows for The First Bancshares, Inc. (parent company only) follow.

 

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

    December 31,  
    2014     2013  
Assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 63,707     $ 8,314  
Investment in subsidiary bank     105,685,727       94,311,642  
Investments in statutory trusts     310,000       310,000  
Other securities     -       100,000  
Premises and equipment     -       368,623  
Other     808,132       511,742  
    $ 106,867,566     $ 95,610,321  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:                
Subordinated debentures   $ 10,310,000     $ 10,310,000  
Other     341,982       191,981  
Stockholders’ equity     96,215,584       85,108,340  
    $ 106,867,566     $ 95,610,321  

 

Condensed Statements of Income

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013  
Income:                
Interest and dividends   $ 5,453     $ 5,610  
Dividend income     5,109,668       3,100,000  
Other     364,719       -  
      5,479,840       3,105,610  
Expenses:                
Interest on borrowed funds     181,330       186,581  
Legal     504,130       773,163  
Other     752,027       810,323  
      1,437,487       1,770,067  
                 
Income before income taxes and equity in undistributed income of subsidiary     4,042,353       1,335,543  
Income tax benefit     296,388       511,743  
Income before equity in undistributed income of subsidiary     4,338,741       1,847,286  
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiary     2,274,955       2,792,209  
                 
Net income   $ 6,613,696     $ 4,639,495  

 

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Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013  
Cash flows from operating activities:                
Net income   $ 6,613,696     $ 4,639,495  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:                
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiary     (2,274,955 )     (2,792,209 )
Restricted stock expense     617,779       391,777  
Gain on sale of assets     (364,719 )     -  
Other, net     689,740       181,923  
Net cash provided by operating activities     5,281,541       2,420,986  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:                
Investment in subsidiary bank     -       (20,450,000 )
Outlays for acquisition     (4,034,668 )     -  
Net cash used in investing activities     (4,034,668 )     (20,450,000 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
Dividends paid on common stock     (763,488 )     (600,452 )
Dividends paid on preferred stock     (342,460 )     (342,460 )
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (85,532 )     (26,749 )
Issuance of 1,951,220 common shares, net     -       18,958,464  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     (1,191,480 )     17,988,803  
                 
Net  increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     55,393       (40,211 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     8,314       48,525  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year   $ 63,707     $ 8,314  

 

75
 

 

NOTE U - SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS (UNAUDITED)

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
                         
2014                                
Total interest income   $ 8,447     $ 8,574     $ 9,688     $ 9,662  
Total interest expense     623       726       833       791  
Net interest income     7,824       7,848       8,855       8,871  
Provision for loan losses     358       277       631       152  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     7,466       7,571       8,224       8,719  
Total non-interest income     1,672       2,055       2,021       2,055  
Total non-interest expense     7,227       7,384       8,071       8,051  
Income tax expense     484       629       641       682  
Net income     1,427       1,613       1,533       2,041  
Preferred dividends and stock accretion
    106       86       85       86  
                                 
Net income applicable to common stockholders   $ 1,321     $ 1,527     $ 1,448     $ 1,955  
Per common share:                                
Net income, basic   $ .26     $ .30     $ .27     $ .37  
Net income, diluted     .25       .29       .27       .36  
Cash dividends declared     .0375       .0375       .0375       .0375  
                                 
2013                                
Total interest income   $ 6,650     $ 7,609     $ 8,648     $ 8,411  
Total interest expense     759       823       690       645  
Net interest income     5,891       6,786       7,958       7,766  
Provision for loan losses     311       349       360       59  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     5,580       6,437       7,598       7,707  
Total non-interest income     1,930       1,890       1,592       1,671  
Total non-interest expense     5,979       7,245       7,630       7,308  
Income tax expense     306       270       456       572  
Net income     1,225       812       1,104       1,498  
Preferred dividends and stock accretion     106       106       106       106  
Net income applicable to common Stockholders   $ 1,119     $ 706     $ 998     $ 1,392  
Per common share:                                
Net income, basic   $ .36     $ .18     $ .20     $ .27  
Net income, diluted     .35       .18       .19       .27  
Cash dividends declared     .0375       .0375       .0375       .0375  

 

76

 

 

 

APPENDIX B

 

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

Commission file number: 000-22507

 

THE FIRST BANCshARES, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Mississippi   64-0862173
(State of Incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No)

 

6480 U.S. Highway 98 West, Suite A, Hattiesburg, Mississippi    39402
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(601) 268-8998

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate 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 þ 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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes þ 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.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer þ
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 þ

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Common stock, $1.00 par value, 5,454,511 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM NO. 1- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

($ In Thousands)

 

    (Unaudited)     (Audited)  
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2016     2015  
ASSETS                
                 
Cash and due from banks   $ 47,945     $ 23,635  
Interest-bearing deposits with banks     19,774       17,303  
Federal funds sold     2,395       321  
                 
Total cash and cash equivalents     70,114       41,259  
                 
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost     6,000       7,092  
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value     236,168       239,732  
Other securities     9,516       8,135  
                 
Total securities     251,684       254,959  
                 
Loans held for sale     9,437       3,974  
Loans     854,366       772,515  
Allowance for loan losses     (7,481 )     (6,747 )
                 
Loans, net     856,322       769,742  
                 
Premises and equipment     33,427       33,623  
Interest receivable     4,014       3,953  
Cash surrender value of life insurance     21,106       14,872  
Goodwill     13,776       13,776  
Other real estate owned     4,670       3,083  
Other assets     11,525       9,864  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 1,266,638     $ 1,145,131  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
                 
LIABILITIES:                
Deposits:                
Noninterest-bearing   $ 196,786     $ 189,445  
Interest-bearing     875,003       727,250  
                 
TOTAL DEPOSITS     1,071,789       916,695  
                 
Interest payable     275       246  
Borrowed funds     68,000       110,321  
Subordinated debentures     10,310       10,310  
Other liabilities     3,606       4,123  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES     1,153,980       1,041,695  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                
Preferred stock, no par value, $1,000 per share liquidation, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 17,123 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively     17,123       17,123  
Common stock, par value $1 per share, 20,000,000 shares authorized and 5,454,511 shares issued at September 30,2016; and 5,403,159 shares issued at December 31, 2015, respectively     5,455       5,403  
Additional paid-in capital     44,996       44,650  
Retained earnings     42,543       35,625  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     3,005       1,099  
Treasury stock, at cost, 26,494 shares at September 30, 2016 and at December 31, 2015     (464 )     (464 )
                 
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     112,658       103,436  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 1,266,638     $ 1,145,131  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

($ In Thousands, except earnings and dividends per share)

 

    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
                         
INTEREST INCOME:                                
Interest and fees on loans   $ 9,798     $ 8,629     $ 28,146     $ 25,309  
Interest and dividends on securities:                                
Taxable interest and dividends     982       1,001       3,110       3,022  
Tax exempt interest     464       437       1,398       1,402  
Interest on federal funds sold     25       13       82       52  
                                 
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME     11,269       10,080       32,736       29,785  
                                 
INTEREST EXPENSE:                                
Interest on deposits     962       646       2,476       1,936  
Interest on borrowed funds     240       147       663       467  
                                 
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE     1,202       793       3,139       2,403  
                                 
NET INTEREST INCOME     10,067       9,287       29,597       27,382  
                                 
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES     143       250       538       400  
                                 
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES                                
                                 
LOSSES     9,924       9,037       29,059       26,982  
                                 
OTHER INCOME:                                
Service charges on deposit accounts     1,273       1,348       3,839       3,690  
Other service charges and fees     1,826       634       4,703       1,996  
                                 
 TOTAL OTHER INCOME     3,099       1,982       8,542       5,686  
                                 
OTHER EXPENSES:                                
Salaries and employee benefits     5,645       4,628       16,194       13,867  
Occupancy and equipment     1,209       1,137       3,392       3,383  
Other     2,562       2,212       7,144       6,637  
                                 
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES     9,416       7,977       26,730       23,887  
                                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES     3,607       3,042       10,871       8,781  
                                 
INCOME TAXES     1,049       815       3,060       2,340  
                                 
NET INCOME     2,558       2,227       7,811       6,441  
                                 
PREFERRED STOCK ACCRETION AND DIVIDENDS     86       86       257       257  
                                 
NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS   $ 2,472     $ 2,141     $ 7,554     $ 6,184  
                                 
NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON                                
                                 
STOCKHOLDERS:                                
BASIC   $ .46     $ .40     $ 1.39     $ 1.15  
DILUTED     .45       .39       1.38       1.14  
DIVIDENDS PER SHARE – COMMON     .0375       .0375       .1125       .1125  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

($ In Thousands)

 

    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
    Three Months
Ended
    Nine Months
Ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
                         
Net income per consolidated statements of income   $ 2,558     $ 2,227     $ 7,811     $ 6,441  
                                 
Other Comprehensive Income:                                
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period on available-for- sale securities     189       1,579       3,016       (431 )
Less reclassified adjustment for gains included in net income     (129 )     -       (129 )     -  
                                 
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period on available-for- sale securities     60       1,579       2,887       (431 )
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on loans held for sale     (85 )     45       1       6  
Income tax benefit(expense)     13       (554 )     (982 )     144  
Other comprehensive income (loss)     (12 )     1,070       1,906       (281 )
Comprehensive Income   $ 2,546     $ 3,297     $ 9,717     $ 6,160  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

($ In Thousands, unaudited)

 

    Common
Stock
    Preferred
Stock
    Stock
Warrants
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Compre-
hensive
Income(Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  
                                                 
Balance, January 1, 2015   $ 5,343     $ 17,123     $ 284     $ 44,137     $ 27,975     $ 1,818     $ (464 )   $ 96,216  
Net income     -       -       -       -       6,441       -       -       6,441  
Other compre- hensive income     -       -       -       -       -       (281 )     -       (281 )
Dividends on preferred stock     -       -       -       -       (257 )     -       -       (257 )
Dividends on common stock, $0.1125 per share     -       -       -       -       (605 )     -       -       (605 )
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (6 )     -       -       (86 )     -       -       -       (92 )
Restricted stock grant     69       -       -       (69 )     -       -       -       -  
Compensation expense     -       -       -       539       -       -       -       539  
Reversal of 2,514 common shares for BCB Holdings     (3 )     -       -       (33 )     -       -       -       (36 )
Repurchase warrants     -       -       (284 )     (19 )     -       -       -       (303 )
Balance, Sept. 30, 2015   $ 5,403     $ 17,123     $ -     $ 44,469     $ 33,554     $ 1,537     $ (464 )   $ 101,622  
                                                                 
Balance, January 1, 2016   $ 5,403     $ 17,123     $ -     $ 44,650     $ 35,625     $ 1,099     $ (464 )   $ 103,436  
Net income     -       -       -       -       7,811       -       -       7,811  
Other compre- hensive income     -       -       -       -       -       1,906       -       1,906  
Dividends on preferred stock     -       -       -       -       (257 )     -       -       (257 )
Dividends on common stock, $0.0375 per share     -       -       -       -       (611 )     -       -       (611 )
Issuance of preferred shares     -       -       -       -       (25 )     -       -       (25 )
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (9 )     -       -       (167 )     -       -       -       (176 )
Restricted stock grant     61       -       -       (61 )     -       -       -       -  
Compensation expense     -       -       -       574       -       -       -       574  
Balance, Sept. 30, 2016   $ 5,455     $ 17,123     $ -     $ 44,996     $ 42,543     $ 3,005     $ (464 )   $ 112,658  

  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

($ In Thousands)

 

    (Unaudited)  
    Nine Months
Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2016     2015  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                
NET INCOME   $ 7,811     $ 6,441  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Gain on sale of securities     (129 )     -  
Depreciation, amortization and accretion     2,520       2,416  
Provision for loan losses     538       400  
Loss on sale/writedown of ORE     111       142  
Gain on sale of bank premises     -       (119 )
Restricted stock expense     573       539  
Increase in cash value of life insurance     (384 )     (308 )
Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends     (27 )     (7 )
Changes in:                
Interest receivable     (61 )     (150 )
Loans held for sale, net     (5,462 )     1,051  
Interest payable     29       (84 )
Other, net     (2,882 )     (2,884 )
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES     2,637       7,437  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
Maturities, calls and paydowns of available- for-sale and held-to-maturity securities     37,141       35,135  
Purchases of available-for-sale securities     (30,294 )     (20,329 )
Net (purchases)/sales of other securities     (1,433 )     993  
Net increase in loans     (84,019 )     (42,179 )
Proceeds from sale of bank premises     -       949  
Net increase in premises and equipment     (1,055 )     (860 )
Purchase of bank-owned life insurance     (5,850 )     -  
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES     (85,510 )     (26,291 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                
Increase in deposits     155,094       71,205  
Net decrease in borrowed funds     (42,321 )     (30,464 )
Dividends paid on common stock     (587 )     (584 )
Dividends paid on preferred stock     (257 )     (257 )
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes     (176 )     (92 )
Issuance of preferred shares     (25 )     -  
Repurchase of shares issued in BCB acquisition     -       (36 )
Repurchase of warrants     -       (303 )
                 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES     111,728       39,469  
                 
NET INCREASE IN CASH     28,855       20,615  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD     41,259       44,618  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD   $ 70,114     $ 65,233  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:                
                 
CASH PAYMENTS FOR INTEREST     3,110       2,627  
CASH PAYMENTS FOR INCOME TAXES     4,277       3,675  
LOANS TRANSFERRED TO OTHER REAL ESTATE     2,498       506  
ISSUANCE OF RESTRICTED STOCK GRANTS     61       69  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

September 30, 2016

 

NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. For further information, please refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF ORGANIZATION

 

The First Bancshares, Inc., Hattiesburg, Mississippi (the "Company"), was incorporated June 23, 1995, under the laws of the State of Mississippi for the purpose of operating as a bank holding company. The Company’s primary asset is its interest in its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First, A National Banking Association (the “Bank”).

 

At September 30, 2016, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion in assets, $856.3 million in net loans, $1.1 billion in deposits, and $112.7 million in stockholders' equity. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company reported net income of $7.8 million ($7.6 million applicable to common stockholders).

 

In the first, second, and third quarters of 2016, the Company declared and paid a dividend of $.0375 per common share.

 

NOTE 3 — RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." Current GAAP is unclear or does not include specific guidance on how to classify certain transactions in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how eight particular transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. Entities will be required to apply the guidance retrospectively. If it is impracticable to apply the guidance retrospectively for an issue, the amendments related to that issue would be applied prospectively. As this guidance only affects the classification within the statement of cash flows, ASU No. 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (ASU 2016-13). ASU 2016-13 requires a new impairment model known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) which significantly changes the way impairment of financial instruments is recognized by requiring immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of financial instruments. The main provisions of ASU 2016-13 include (1) replacing the “incurred loss” approach under current GAAP with an “expected loss” model for instruments measured at amortized cost, (2) requiring entities to record an allowance for credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities rather than a direct write-down of the carrying amount of the investments, as is required by the other-than-temporary-impairment model under current GAAP, and (3) a simplified accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans. ASU 2016-13 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-13.

 

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) NO. 2016-09 “Compensation (Topic 718) – Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” ASU 2016-09 requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. It also allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it can today for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting and to make a policy election for forfeitures as they occur. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing the impact of ASU 2016-09 on its accounting and disclosures.

 

In February 2016 the FASB issued ASU NO. 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842).” ASU 2016-02 establishes a right of use model that requires a lessee to record a right of use asset and a lease liability for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. For lessors, the guidance modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. A lease will be treated as sale if it transfers all of the risks and rewards, as well as control of the underlying asset, to the lessee. If risks and rewards are conveyed without the transfer of control, the lease is treated as a financing. If the lessor doesn’t convey risks and rewards or control, an operating lease results. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years for public business entities. Entities are required to use a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its accounting and disclosures.

 

 

 

 

NOTE 4 – BUSINESS COMBINATION

 

The Mortgage Connection

 

On December 14, 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, a Mississippi corporation, which included two loan production offices located in Madison and Brandon, Mississippi.

 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $1.5 million of goodwill.

 

The amounts of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Purchase price:        
Cash   $ 844  
Payable     800  
Total purchase price     1,644  
Identifiable assets:        
Intangible     100  
Personal property     44  
         
Total assets     144  
Liabilities and equity     -  
Net assets acquired     144  
Goodwill resulting from acquisition   $ 1,500  

 

NOTE 5 – PREFERRED STOCK AND WARRANT

 

Pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”), the Company issued 17,123 CDCI Preferred Shares.

 

The Letter Agreement contains limitations on the payment of dividends on the common stock to no more than 100% of the aggregate per share dividend and distributions for the immediate prior fiscal year (dividends of $0.15 per share were declared and paid in 2011-2015) and on the Company’s ability to repurchase its common stock in the event of a non-payment of our dividend, and continues to subject the Company to certain of the executive compensation limitations included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), as previously disclosed by the Company. The CDCI Preferred Shares entitle the holder to an annual dividend of 2% for 8 years of the liquidation value of the shares, payable quarterly in arrears.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury, the Company redeemed the warrant to purchase up to 54,705 shares of the Company’s common stock. In connection with this redemption, on May 13, 2015, the Company paid Treasury an aggregate redemption price of $302,410.

 

NOTE 6 — EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

 

Basic per share data is calculated based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted per share data includes any dilution from potential common stock outstanding, such as stock options.

 

    For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30, 2016  
    Net Income     Shares     Per  
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Share Data  
                   
Basic per share   $ 2,472,000       5,429,349     $ 0.46  
                         
Effect of dilutive shares:                        
Restricted stock grants             50,218          
                         
Diluted per share   $ 2,472,000       5,479,567     $ 0.45  

 

 

 

 

    For the Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2016  
    Net Income     Shares     Per  
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Share Data  
                   
Basic per share   $ 7,554,000       5,425,567     $ 1.39  
                         
Effect of dilutive shares:                        
Restricted stock grants             50,218          
                         
Diluted per share   $ 7,554,000       5,475,785     $ 1.38  

 

    For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30, 2015  
    Net Income     Shares     Per  
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Share Data  
                   
Basic per share   $ 2,141,000       5,374,790     $ 0.40  
                         
Effect of dilutive shares:                        
Restricted stock grants             67,190          
                         
Diluted per share   $ 2,141,000       5,441,980     $ 0.39  

 

    For the Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2015  
    Net Income     Shares     Per  
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Share Data  
                   
Basic per share   $ 6,184,000       5,369,260     $ 1.15  
                         
Effect of dilutive shares:                        
Restricted stock grants             67,190          
                         
Diluted per share   $ 6,184,000       5,436,450     $ 1.14  

 

The Company granted 61,247 shares of restricted stock in the first quarter of 2016 and -0- shares during the second and third quarters of 2016.

 

NOTE 7 – COMPREHNSIVE INCOME

 

As presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income. The Company’s sources of other comprehensive income are unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities and loans held for sale. Gains or losses on investment securities that were realized and reflected in net income of the current period, which had previously been included in other comprehensive income as unrealized holding gains or losses in the period in which they arose, are considered to be reclassification adjustments that are excluded from other comprehensive income in the current period.

 

 

 

 

NOTE 8 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE-SHEET RISK

 

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. At September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, these financial instruments consisted of the following:

 

($ In Thousands)   September 30, 2016     December 31, 2015  
Commitments to extend credit   $ 194,321     $ 144,086  
Standby letters of credit   $ 1,964     $ 1,135  

 

NOTE 9 – FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES AND REPORTING, THE FAIR VALUE OPTION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

· FASB’s standards on financial instruments, and on fair value measurements and disclosures, require all entities to disclose in their financial statement footnotes the estimated fair values of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate fair values. In addition to disclosure requirements, FASB’s standard on investments requires that our debt securities which are classified as available for sale and our equity securities that have readily determinable fair values be measured and reported at fair value in our statement of financial position. Certain impaired loans are also reported at fair value, as explained in greater detail below, and foreclosed assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. FASB’s standard on financial instruments permits companies to report certain other financial assets and liabilities at fair value, but we have not elected the fair value option for any of those financial instruments.

 

· Fair value measurement and disclosure standards also establish a framework for measuring fair values. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Further, the standards establish a fair value hierarchy that encourages an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and limit the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair values. The standards describe three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:

 

· Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

 

· Level 2: Significant observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, and other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

 

 

 

 

· Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the factors that market participants would likely consider in pricing an asset or liability.

 

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market data and information about the financial instruments. The estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument for sale at one time, nor do they attempt to estimate the value of anticipated future business related to the instruments. In addition, the tax ramifications related to realized gains and losses could have a significant effect on fair value estimates but have not been considered in those estimates. Because no active market exists for a significant portion of our financial instruments, fair value disclosures are based on judgments regarding current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. The estimates are subjective and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment, and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly alter the fair values presented. The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company to estimate its financial instrument fair values disclosed at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

· Cash and cash equivalents and fed funds sold: The carrying amount is estimated to be fair value.

 

· Securities (available-for-sale and held-to-maturity): Fair values are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges or by matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities by relying on their relationship to other benchmark quoted securities when quoted prices for specific securities are not readily available.

 

· Loans and leases: For variable-rate loans and leases that re-price frequently with no significant change in credit risk or interest rate spread, fair values are based on carrying values. Fair values for other loans and leases are estimated by discounting projected cash flows at interest rates being offered at each reporting date for loans and leases with similar terms, to borrowers of comparable creditworthiness. The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable approximates its fair value.

 

· Loans held for sale: Since loans designated by the Company as available-for-sale are typically sold shortly after making the decision to sell them, realized gains or losses are usually recognized within the same period and fluctuations in fair values are not relevant for reporting purposes. If available-for-sale loans are on our books for an extended period of time, the fair value of those loans is determined using quoted secondary-market prices.

 

· Collateral-dependent impaired loans: Collateral-dependent impaired loans are carried at fair value when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the original loan agreement and the loan has been written down to the fair value of its underlying collateral, net of expected disposition costs where applicable.

 

· Bank-owned life insurance: Fair values are based on net cash surrender policy values at each reporting date.

 

· Other securities: Certain investments for which no secondary market exists are carried at cost and the carrying amount for those investments typically approximates their estimated fair value, unless an impairment analysis indicates the need for adjustments.

 

 

 

 

· Deposits (noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing): Fair values for non-maturity deposits are equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date, which is the carrying amount. Fair values for fixed-rate certificates of deposit are estimated using a cash flow analysis, discounted at interest rates being offered at each reporting date by the Bank for certificates with similar remaining maturities. The carrying amount of accrued interest payable approximates its fair value.

 

· FHLB and other borrowings: Current carrying amounts are used as an approximation of fair values for federal funds purchased, overnight advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), borrowings under repurchase agreements, and other short-term borrowings maturing within ninety days of the reporting dates. Fair values of other short-term borrowings are estimated by discounting projected cash flows at the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

 

· Long-term borrowings: Fair values are estimated using projected cash flows discounted at the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

 

· Subordinated debentures: Fair values are determined based on the current market value for like instruments of a similar maturity and structure.

 

· Off-Balance Sheet Instruments – Fair values of off-balance sheet financial instruments are based on fees charged to enter into similar agreements. However, commitments to extend credit do not represent a significant value until such commitments are funded or closed. Management has determined that these instruments do not have a distinguishable fair value and no fair value has been assigned.

 

· Estimated fair values for the Company’s financial instruments are as follows, as of the dates noted:

 

As of September 30, 2016
($ In Thousands)

 

        Fair Value Measurements  
    Carrying
Amount
    Estimated
Fair
Value
    Quoted
Prices
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                               
Financial Instruments:                                        
Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 70,114     $ 70,114     $ 70,114     $ -     $ -  
Securities available-for- sale     236,168       236,168       945       232,813       2,410  
Securities held- to-maturity     6,000       7,824       -       7,824       -  
Other securities     9,516       9,516       -       9,516       -  
Loans, net     856,322       879,361       -       -       879,361  
Bank-owned life insurance     21,106       21,106       -       21,106       -  
                                         
Liabilities:                                        
Noninterest- bearing deposits   $ 196,786     $ 196,786     $ -     $ 196,786     $ -  
Interest-bearing deposits     875,003       874,872     $ -       874,872       -  
Subordinated debentures     10,310       10,310       -       -       10,310  
FHLB and other borrowings     68,000       68,000       -       68,000       -  

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2015
($ In Thousands)

 

          Fair Value Measurements  
    Carrying
Amount
    Estimated
Fair
Value
    Quoted
Prices
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                               
Financial Instruments:                                        
Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 41,259     $ 41,259     $ 41,259     $ -     $ -  
Securities available-for- sale     239,732       239,732       961       236,214       2,557  
Securities held- to-maturity     7,092       8,548       -       8,548       -  
Other securities     8,135       8,135       -       8,135       -  
Loans, net     769,742       784,113       -       -       784,113  
Bank-owned life insurance     14,872       14,872       -       14,872       -  
                                         
Liabilities:                                        
Noninterest- bearing deposits   $ 189,445     $ 189,445     $ -     $ 189,445     $ -  
Interest-bearing deposits     727,250       726,441       -       726,441       -  
Subordinated debentures     10,310       10,310       -       -       10,310  
FHLB and other borrowings     110,321       110,321       -       110,321       -  

 

· Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 securities would include highly liquid government bonds, mortgage products and exchange traded equities. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, or discounted cash flow. Level 2 securities would include U. S. agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions and certain corporate, asset-backed and other securities. In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation, securities are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

 

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

 

September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted Prices
in
Active
Markets
For
Identical
Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
Obligations of U. S. Government Agencies   $ 9,109     $ -     $ 9,109     $ -  
Municipal securities     97,870       -       97,870       -  
Mortgage-backed securities     108,752       -       108,752       -  
Corporate obligations     19,492       -       17,082       2,410  
Other     945       945       -       -  
Total   $ 236,168     $ 945     $ 232,813     $ 2,410  

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

($ In Thousands)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted Prices
 in
Active
Markets
For
Identical
Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
Obligations of U. S. Government Agencies   $ 19,611     $ -     $ 19,611     $ -  
Municipal securities     97,889       -       97,889       -  
Mortgage-backed securities     98,925       -       98,925       -  
Corporate obligations     22,346       -       19,789       2,557  
Other     961       961       -       -  
Total   $ 239,732     $ 961     $ 236,214     $ 2,557  

 

The following is a reconciliation of activity for assets measured at fair value based on significant unobservable (non-market) information.

 

($ In Thousands)

 

    Bank-Issued
Trust
 
    Preferred  
    Securities  
    2016     2015  
Balance, January 1   $ 2,557     $ 2,801  
Transfers into Level 3     -       -  
Transfers out of Level 3     -       -  
Other-than-temporary impairment loss included in earnings (loss)     -       -  
Unrealized loss included in comprehensive income     (147 )     (244 )
Balance at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015   $ 2,410     $ 2,557  

 

The following table presents quantitative information about recurring Level 3 fair value measurements (in thousands):

 

Trust Preferred
Securities
  Fair
 Value
    Valuation
 Technique
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
  Range of
Inputs
 
September 30, 2016   $ 2,410     Discounted cash flow   Probability of default     1.41% - 3.30%  
December 31, 2015   $ 2,557     Discounted cash flow   Probability of default     1.08% - 2.77%  

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

 

 

 

 

Impaired Loans

 

Loans for which it is probable that the Company will not collect all principal and interest due according to contractual terms are measured for impairment. Allowable methods for estimating fair value include using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans or, where a loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, using the discounted cash flow method.

 

If the impaired loan is identified as collateral dependent, then the fair value method of measuring the amount of impairment is utilized. This method requires obtaining a current independent appraisal of the collateral and applying a discount factor to the value. If the impaired loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, then the discounted cash flow method is used. This method requires the impaired loan to be recorded at the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. The effective interest rate of a loan is the contractual interest rate adjusted for any net deferred loan fees or costs, or premium or discount existing at origination or acquisition of the loan. Impaired loans are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

Other real estate owned acquired through loan foreclosure is initially recorded at fair value less estimated costs to sell, establishing a new cost basis. The adjustment at the time of foreclosure is recorded through the allowance for loan losses. Due to the subjective nature of establishing the fair value, the actual fair value of the other real estate owned or foreclosed asset could differ from the original estimate. If it is determined the fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through non-interest expense. Operating costs associated with the assets are also recorded as non-interest expense. Gains and losses on the disposition of other real estate owned and foreclosed assets are netted and posted to other non-interest expense. Other real estate owned measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at September 30, 2016, amounted to $4.7 million. Other real estate owned is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The following table presents the fair value measurement of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fell at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

($ In Thousands)

 

September 30, 2016

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
For
Identical
Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
Impaired loans   $ 8,702     $ -     $ 8,702     $ -  
Other real estate owned     4,670       -       4,670       -  

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
For
Identical
Assets
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
    Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
                         
Impaired loans   $ 10,127     $ -     $ 10,127     $ -  
Other real estate owned     3,083       -       3,083       -  

 

NOTE 10 - SECURITIES

 

The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments is made in accordance with authoritative guidance. The estimated fair value amounts have been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is necessarily required to interpret market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

 

A summary of the amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities at September 30, 2016, follows:

 

($ In Thousands)

 

    September 30, 2016  
    Amortized
Cost
    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-sale securities:                                
Obligations of U.S.                                
Government agencies   $ 9,040     $ 69     $ -     $ 9,109  
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     94,559       3,534       223       97,870  
Mortgage-backed securities     106,174       2,593       15       108,752  
Corporate obligations     20,604       144       1,256       19,492  
Other     1,255       -       310       945  
    $ 231,632     $ 6,340     $ 1,804     $ 236,168  
Held-to-maturity securities:                                
Taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     6,000       1,824       -       7,824  
    $ 6,000     $ 1,824     $ -     $ 7,824  

 

 

 

 

    December 31, 2015  
    Amortized
Cost
    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-sale securities:                                
Obligations of U.S.                                
Government agencies   $ 19,479     $ 144     $ 13     $ 19,610  
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     95,631       2,362       103       97,890  
Mortgage-backed securities     98,223       1,127       425       98,925  
Corporate obligations     23,495       62       1,211       22,346  
Other     1,255       -       294       961  
    $ 238,083     $ 3,695     $ 2,046     $ 239,732  
Held-to-maturity securities:                                
Mortgage-backed Securities   $ 1,092     $ 15     $ -     $ 1,107  
Taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions     6,000       1,440       -       7,440  
    $ 7,092     $ 1,455     $ -     $ 8,547  

 

NOTE 11 – LOANS

 

Loans typically provide higher yields than the other types of earning assets, and, thus, one of the Company's goals is for loans to be the largest category of the Company's earning assets. For the quarters ended September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, average loans accounted for 75.2% and 73.3% of average earning assets, respectively. The Company controls and mitigates the inherent credit and liquidity risks through the composition of its loan portfolio.

 

The following tables summarize by class our loans classified as past due in excess of 30 days or more in addition to those loans classified as non-accrual:

 

    September 30, 2016  
    ($ In thousands)  
    Past Due
30 to 89
Days
    Past Due
90 Days
or More
and Still
Accruing
    Non-
Accrual
    Total
Past Due
and
Non-
Accrual
    Total
Loans
 
                               
Real Estate-construction   $ 518     $ -     $ 2,788     $ 3,306     $ 104,644  
Real Estate-mortgage     1,220       259       1,969       3,448       296,587  
Real Estate-non farm non-residential     269       161       934       1,364       307,963  
Commercial     -       -       72       72       121,963  
Lease Financing Rec.     -       -       -       -       2,211  
Obligations of states and subdivisions     -       -       -       -       6,861  
Consumer     55       -       36       91       14,137  
Total   $ 2,062     $ 420     $ 5,799     $ 8,281     $ 854,366  

 

 

 

 

    December 31, 2015  
    ($ In Thousands)  
    Past Due
30 to 89
Days
    Past Due
 90 Days
or More
and
Still
Accruing
    Non-
Accrual
    Total
Past Due
and
Non-
Accrual
    Total
Loans
 
                               
Real Estate-construction   $ 311     $ -     $ 2,956     $ 3,267     $ 99,161  
Real Estate-mortgage     3,339       29       2,055       5,423       272,180  
Real Estate-non farm non residential     736       -       2,225       2,961       253,309  
Commercial     97       -       100       197       129,197  
Lease Financing Rec.     -       -       -       -       2,650  
Obligations of states and subdivisions     -       -       -       -       969  
Consumer     70       -       32       102       15,049  
Total   $ 4,553     $ 29     $ 7,368     $ 11,950     $ 772,515  

 

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality are those purchased in the BCB Holding Company, Inc. acquisition. These loans were recorded at estimated fair value at the acquisition date with no carryover of the related allowance for loan losses. The acquired loans were segregated as of the acquisition date between those considered to be performing (acquired non-impaired loans) and those with evidence of credit deterioration (acquired impaired loans). Acquired loans are considered impaired if there is evidence of credit deterioration and if it is probable, at acquisition, all contractually required payments will not be collected.

 

The following table presents information regarding the contractually required payments receivable, cash flows expected to be collected and the estimated fair value of loans acquired in the BCB acquisition as of July 1, 2014, the closing date of the transaction: 

 

    ($ In Thousands)  
    Commercial,
financial
and
agricultural
    Mortgage-
Commercial
    Mortgage-
Residential
    Commercial
and other
    Total  
Contractually required payments   $ 1,519     $ 29,648     $ 7,933     $ 976     $ 40,076  
Cash flows expected to be collected     1,570       37,869       9,697       1,032       50,168  
Fair value of loans acquired     1,513       28,875       7,048       957       38,393  

 

 

 

 

Total outstanding acquired impaired loans were $2,601,027 as of September 30, 2016 and $3,039,840 as of December 31, 2015. The outstanding balance of these loans is the undiscounted sum of all amounts, including amounts deemed principal, interest, fees, penalties, and other under the loans, owed at the reporting date, whether or not currently due and whether or not any such amounts have been charged off.

 

Changes in the carrying amount and accretable yield for acquired impaired loans were as follows at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015: ($ In Thousands)

  

($ In Thousands)   September 30, 2016     December 31, 2015  
    Accretable
Yield
    Carrying
Amount of
Loans
    Accretable
Yield
    Carrying
Amount of
Loans
 
Balance at beginning of period   $ 1,219     $ 1,821     $ 1,417     $ 2,063  
Accretion     (130 )     130       (198 )     198  
Payments received, net     -       (440 )     -       (440 )
Balance at end of period   $ 1,089     $ 1,511     $ 1,219     $ 1,821  

 

The following tables provide additional detail of impaired loans broken out according to class as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The recorded investment included in the following tables represent customer balances net of any partial charge-offs recognized on the loans, net of any deferred fees and costs. As nearly all of our impaired loans at September 30, 2016 are on nonaccrual status, recorded investment excludes any insignificant amount of accrued interest receivable on loans 90-days or more past due and still accruing. The unpaid balance represents the recorded balance prior to any partial charge-offs.

 

September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands)                     Average     Interest  
                      Recorded     Income  
    Recorded     Unpaid     Related     Investment     Recognized  
    Investment     Balance     Allowance     YTD     YTD  
    ($ In thousands)  
Impaired loans with no related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  
Commercial real estate     4,581       4,620       -       4,879       20  
Consumer real estate     353       352       -       281       1  
Consumer installment     15       15       -       8       -  
Total   $ 4,949     $ 4,987     $ -     $ 5,168     $ 21  
                                         
Impaired loans with a related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 227     $ 227     $ 58     $ 267     $ 7  
Commercial real estate     2,819       2,819       413       2,858       86  
Consumer real estate     679       679       417       778       11  
Consumer installment     28       28       22       33       -  
Total   $ 3,753     $ 3,753     $ 910     $ 3,936     $ 104  
                                         
Total Impaired Loans:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 227     $ 227     $ 58     $ 267     $ 7  
Commercial real estate     7,400       7,439       413       7,737       106  
Consumer real estate     1,032       1,031       417       1,059       12  
Consumer installment     43       43       22       41       -  
Total Impaired Loans   $ 8,702     $ 8,740     $ 910     $ 9,104     $ 125  

 

As of September 30, 2016, the Company had $1.4 million of foreclosed residential real estate property obtained by physical possession and $.4 million of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which foreclosure proceedings are in process according to local jurisdictions.

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

($ In Thousands)                     Average     Interest  
                      Recorded     Income  
    Recorded     Unpaid     Related     Investment     Recognized  
    Investment     Balance     Allowance     YTD     YTD  
    ($ In thousands)  
Impaired loans with  no related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 2     $ -  
Commercial real estate     5,790       5,828       -       5,099       50  
Consumer real estate     223       223       -       205       -  
Consumer installment     7       7       -       8       -  
Total   $ 6,020     $ 6,058     $ -     $ 5,314     $ 50  
                                         
Impaired loans with  a related allowance:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 306     $ 306     $ 50     $ 264     $ 14  
Commercial real estate     2,927       2,927       444       2,891       132  
Consumer real estate     842       842       438       1,152       15  
Consumer installment     32       32       25       31       -  
Total   $ 4,107     $ 4,107     $ 957     $ 4,338     $ 161  
                                         
Total Impaired Loans:                                        
Commercial installment   $ 306     $ 306     $ 50     $ 266     $ 14  
Commercial real estate     8,717       8,755       444       7,990       182  
Consumer real estate     1,065       1,065       438       1,357       15  
Consumer installment     39       39       25       39       -  
Total Impaired Loans   $ 10,127     $ 10,165     $ 957     $ 9,652     $ 211  

 

 

 

 

The following table represents the Company’s impaired loans at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015.

 

    Sept. 30,     December 31,  
    2016     2015  
    ($ In Thousands)  
Impaired Loans:                
Impaired loans without a valuation allowance   $ 4,949     $ 6,020  
Impaired loans with a valuation allowance     3,753       4,107  
Total impaired loans   $ 8,702     $ 10,127  
Allowance for loan losses on impaired loans at period end     910       957  
                 
Total nonaccrual loans     5,799       7,368  
                 
Past due 90 days or more and still accruing     420       29  
Average investment in impaired loans     9,104       9,652  

 

The following table is a summary of interest recognized and cash-basis interest earned on impaired loans:

 

($ In Thousands)   Three Months
Ended
Sept. 30, 2016
    Nine Months
Ended
Sept. 30, 2016
 
Interest income recognized during impairment   $ -     $ -  
Cash-basis interest income  recognized     47       125  

 

The gross interest income that would have been recorded in the period that ended if the nonaccrual loans had been current in accordance with their original terms and had been outstanding throughout the period or since origination, if held for part of the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $99,000 and $297,000, respectively, and $123,000 and $322,000, respectively, for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The Company had no loan commitments to borrowers in non-accrual status at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

 

 

 

The following tables provide detail of troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) at September 30, 2016.

 

For the Three Months Ending September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands ) 

       Outstanding             
    Outstanding     Recorded              
    Recorded     Investment           Interest  
    Investment     Post-     Number of     Income  
    Pre-Modification     Modification     Loans     Recognized  
             
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -       -     $ -  
Commercial real estate     -       -       -       -  
Consumer real estate     -       -       -       -  
Consumer installment     -       -       -       -  
Total   $ -     $ -       -     $ -  

 

For the Nine Months Ending September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands

          Outstanding              
    Outstanding     Recorded              
    Recorded     Investment           Interest  
    Investment     Post-     Number of     Income  
    Pre-Modification     Modification     Loans     Recognized  
             
Commercial installment   $ -     $ -       -     $ -  
Commercial real estate     296       276       1       10  
Consumer real estate     -       -       -       -  
Consumer installment     -       -       -       -  
Total   $ 296     $ 276       1     $ 10  

 

There were no TDRs modified during the three month period ended September 30, 2016.

 

The balance of troubled debt restructurings (TDRs)was $6.7 million at September 30, 2016 and $6.9 million at December 31, 2015, respectively, calculated for regulatory reporting purposes. There was $243,000 allocated in specific reserves established with respect to these loans as of September 30, 2016. As of September 30, 2016, the company had no additional amount committed on any loan classified as troubled debt restructuring.

 

 

 

 

The following tables set forth the amounts and past due status for the Bank TDRs at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

($ In Thousands)

 

    September 30, 2016  
    Current
Loans
    Past Due 
30-89
    Past Due
90 days
and still
accruing
    Non-
accrual
    Total  
                                         
Commercial installment   $ 155     $ -     $ -     $ 50     $ 205  
Commercial real estate     2,494       -       -       3,607       6,101  
Consumer real estate     247       -       -       126       373  
Consumer installment     7       -       -       25       32  
Total   $ 2,903     $ -     $ -     $ 3,808     $ 6,711  
Allowance for loan losses   $ 115     $ -     $ -     $ 128     $ 243  

 

($ In Thousands)

 

    December 31, 2015  
    Current
Loans
    Past Due 
30-89
   

Past Due

90 days
and still
accruing

    Non-
accrual
    Total  
                                         
Commercial installment   $ 206     $ -     $ -     $ 50     $ 256  
Commercial real estate     1,823       -       -       2,934       4,757  
Consumer real estate     721       -       -       1,135       1,856  
Consumer installment     8       -       -       29       37  
Total   $ 2,758     $ -     $ -     $ 4,148     $ 6,906  
Allowance for loan losses   $ 106     $ -     $ -     $ 197     $ 303  

 

Internal Risk Ratings

 

The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings, which are consistent with the definitions used in supervisory guidance:

 

Special Mention.    Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the Company’s credit position at some future date.

 

 

 

 

Substandard.    Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

 

Doubtful.    Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

 

Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered to be pass rated loans.

 

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk categories of loans by class of loans (excluding mortgage loans held for sale) were as follows:

 

September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands)

 

                      Commercial,        
   

Real Estate

Commercial

   

Real
Estate

Mortgage

   

Installment
and

Other

   

Financial
and

Agriculture

    Total  
                               
Pass   $ 509,503     $ 174,547     $ 26,114     $ 126,799     $ 836,963  
Special Mention     915       241       -       650       1,806  
Substandard     14,263       1,517       85       111       15,976  
Doubtful     -       318       -       41       359  
Subtotal     524,681       176,623       26,199       127,601       855,104  
Less:                                        
Unearned discount     379       63       -       296       738  
Loans, net of unearned discount   $ 524,302     $ 176,560     $ 26,199     $ 127,305     $ 854,366  

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

($ In Thousands )

 

                      Commercial,        
    Real Estate
Commercial
    Real
Estate
Mortgage
    Installment
and
Other
    Financial
and
Agriculture
    Total  
                               
Pass   $ 434,638     $ 167,394     $ 19,556     $ 132,101     $ 753,689  
Special Mention     681       153       -       168       1,002  
Substandard     16,655       1,453       75       178       18,361  
Doubtful     -       327       -       -       327  
Subtotal     451,974       169,327       19,631       132,447       773,379  
Less:                                        
Unearned discount     448       76       -       340       864  
Loans, net of unearned discount   $ 451,526     $ 169,251     $ 19,631     $ 132,107     $ 772,515  

 

Activity in the allowance for loan losses for the period was as follows:

 

($ In Thousands)

 

    Three Months     Nine Months  
    Ended     Ended  
    Sept. 30,
2016
    Sept. 30,
2016
 
             
Balance at beginning of period   $ 7,259     $ 6,747  
Loans charged-off:                
Real Estate     (130 )     (286 )
Installment and Other     (26 )     (55 )
Commercial, Financial and Agriculture     -       (6 )
Total     (156 )     (347 )
Recoveries on loans previously charged-off:                
Real Estate     217       408  
Installment and Other     15       52  
Commercial, Financial and Agriculture     3       83  
Total     235       543  
Net recoveries     79       196  
Provision for Loan Losses     143       538  
Balance at end of period   $ 7,481     $ 7,481  

 

 

 

 

The following tables represent how the allowance for loan losses is allocated to a particular loan type, as well as the percentage of the category to total loans at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses

 

    September 30, 2016  
    ($ In Thousands)  
    Amount     % of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 920       14.9 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,364       61.4  
Consumer Real Estate     1,475       20.6  
Consumer     133       3.0  
Unallocated     1,589       0.1  
Total   $ 7,481       100 %

 

    December 31, 2015  
    ($ In Thousands)  
    Amount     % of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
             
Commercial Non Real Estate   $ 895       17.1 %
Commercial Real Estate     3,018       58.4  
Consumer Real Estate     1,477       21.9  
Consumer     141       2.5  
Unallocated     1,216       0.1  
Total   $ 6,747       100 %

 

The following tables provide the ending balances in the Company's loans (excluding mortgage loans held for sale) and allowance for loan losses, broken down by portfolio segment as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The tables also provide additional detail as to the amount of our loans and allowance that correspond to individual versus collective impairment evaluation. The impairment evaluation corresponds to the Company's systematic methodology for estimating its Allowance for Loan Losses.

 

September 30, 2016

 

                Commercial,        
          Installment     Financial        
    Real
Estate
    and
Other
    and 
Agriculture
    Total  
    ($ In Thousands)  
Loans                                
Individually evaluated   $ 8,432     $ 43     $ 227     $ 8,702  
Collectively evaluated     700,286       14,437       130,941       845,664  
Total   $ 708,718     $ 14,480     $ 131,168     $ 854,366  
                                 
Allowance for Loan Losses                                
Individually evaluated   $ 830     $ 22     $ 58     $ 910  
Collectively evaluated     4,009       1,700       862       6,571  
Total   $ 4,839     $ 1,722     $ 920     $ 7,481  

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

                Commercial,        
          Installment     Financial        
    Real
Estate
    and
Other
    and
Agriculture
    Total  
    (In thousands)  
Loans                                
Individually evaluated   $ 9,782     $ 39     $ 306     $ 10,127  
Collectively evaluated     610,996       19,591       131,801       762,388  
Total   $ 620,778     $ 19,630     $ 132,107     $ 772,515  
                                 
Allowance for Loan Losses                                
Individually evaluated   $ 882     $ 25     $ 50     $ 957  
Collectively evaluated     3,613       1,332       845       5,790  
Total   $ 4,495     $ 1,357     $ 895     $ 6,747  

 

NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS/OTHER

 

Subsequent events have been evaluated by management through the date the financial statements were issued. The Company has experienced recoveries on a previously charged-off loan of $941,000. In 2015, $722,000 was recovered and a third and final installment of $219,000 is expected during 2016.

 

The First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), which is the holding company of The First, A National Banking Association, (“The First”), entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Iberville Bank Acquisition Agreement”) with A. Wilbert’s Sons Lumber and Shingle Company (the “Iberville Bank Parent”), the parent company of Iberville Bank (“Iberville Bank”), dated October 12, 2016, under which the Company has agreed to acquire 100% of the common stock of Iberville Bank for a purchase price of $31.1 million in cash (the “Iberville Bank Acquisition”).

 

Separately, the Company and The First entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “GCCB Merger Agreement,” and together with the Iberville Bank Acquisition Agreement, the “Bank Transaction Agreements”), dated October 12, 2016, pursuant to which it has agreed to acquire Gulf Coast Community Bank (“GCCB”), Pensacola, Florida, in an all-stock transaction (the “GCCB Merger,” and together with the Iberville Bank Acquisition, the “Bank Transactions”). The purchase price for the GCCB Merger of $2.3 million is based on a price of $0.50 per share of GCCB stock and will be paid in the form of Company common stock issued to GCCB shareholders with the number of Company shares issued based on a 30-day average of the Company’s common stock price as of five business days prior to closing.

 

On October 12, 2016 the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements with a limited number of institutional and other accredited investors, including certain directors of the Company (collectively the “Purchasers”) to privately place a total of 3,563,380 shares of mandatorily convertible non-cumulative, non-voting, perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E, $1.00 par value (the “Series E Preferred Stock”) at a price of $17.75 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $63.25 million (the “Private Offering”).

 

NOTE 13 – RECLASSIFICATION

 

Certain amounts in the 2015 financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes to conform to the current period financial statement presentation.

 

 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM NO. 2

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Form 10-Q contains statements regarding the projected performance of The First Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary. These statements constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Actual results may differ materially from the projections provided in this release since such projections involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: competitive pressures among financial institutions increasing significantly; economic conditions, either nationally or locally, in areas in which the Company conducts operations being less favorable than expected; and legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the ability of the combined Company to conduct business combinations or new operations. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. Further information on The First Bancshares, Inc. is available in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The financial information and disclosures contained within those statements are significantly impacted by Management’s estimates and judgments, which are based on historical experience and incorporate various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under current circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under divergent conditions.

 

Critical accounting policies are those that involve the most complex and subjective decisions and assessments, and have the greatest potential impact on the Company’s stated results of operations. In Management’s opinion, the Company’s critical accounting policies deal with the following areas: the establishment of the allowance for loan and lease losses, as explained in detail in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements and in the “Provision for Loan and Lease Losses” and “Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses” sections of this discussion and analysis; the valuation of impaired loans and foreclosed assets, as discussed in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements; income taxes and deferred tax assets and liabilities, especially with regard to the ability of the Company to recover deferred tax assets as discussed in the “Provision for Income Taxes” and “Other Assets” sections of this discussion and analysis; and goodwill and other intangible assets, which are evaluated annually for impairment and for which we have determined that no impairment exists, as discussed in the “Other Assets” section of this discussion and analysis. Critical accounting areas are evaluated on an ongoing basis to ensure that the Company’s financial statements incorporate our most recent expectations with regard to those areas.

 

 

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS SUMMARY

 

Third quarter 2016 compared to Third quarter 2015

 

The Company had a consolidated net income of $2,558,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016, compared with consolidated net income of $2,227,000 for the same period last year.

 

Net interest income increased to $10.1 million from $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, or an increase of 8.4% as compared to the same period in 2015. Quarterly average earning assets at September 30, 2016, increased $108.3 million, or 10.8% and quarterly average interest-bearing liabilities also increased $109.4 million or 13.4% when compared to September 30, 2015.

 

Noninterest income for the three months ended September 30, 2016, was $3,099,000 compared to $1,982,000 for the same period in 2015, reflecting an increase of $1,117,000 or 56.4%. This increase consisted mainly of increased mortgage income of $1,058,000 resulting from the acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, LLC in December 2015.

 

The provision for loan losses was $143,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared with $250,000 for the same period in 2015. The allowance for loan losses of $7.5 million at September 30, 2016 (approximately .87% of total loans and 1.06% of loans including valuation accounting adjustments on acquired loans) is considered by management to be adequate to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of this allowance is dependent upon a number of factors, including the total amount of past due loans, general economic conditions, and management’s assessment of potential losses. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant change. Ultimately, losses may vary from current estimates and future additions to the allowance may be necessary.

 

Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the loan loss allowance will not be required. Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses quarterly and makes provisions for loan losses based on this evaluation.

 

Noninterest expense increased by $1,439,000 or 18.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2016, when compared with the same period in 2015. The largest increase was related to salaries and benefits of $1,017,000 of which $600,000 can be attributed to acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, LLC, as well as additional salaries and benefits related to the banking team in Mobile and the lender in Madison.

 

First Nine Months of 2016 compared to First Nine Months of 2015

 

The Company had a consolidated net income of $7,811,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with consolidated net income of $6,441,000 for the same period last year.

 

Net interest income increased to $29.6 million from $27.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, or an increase of 8.1% as compared to the same period in 2015. Average earning assets at September 30, 2016, increased $77.6 million, or 7.6% and average interest-bearing liabilities also increased $86.7 million or 10.5% when compared to December 31, 2015.

 

Noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, was $8,542,000 compared to $5,686,000 for the same period in 2015, reflecting an increase of $2,856,000 or 50.2%. This increase consists of $2,196,000 of increased mortgage income and increased service charges of $149,000 and a one-time gain on the conversion of our debit card provider of $260,000.

 

 

 

 

The provision for loan losses was $538,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with $400,000 for the same period in 2015. The allowance for loan losses of $7.5 million at September 30, 2016 (approximately .87% of total loans and 1.06% of loans including valuation accounting adjustments on acquired loans) is considered by management to be adequate to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of this allowance is dependent upon a number of factors, including the total amount of past due loans, general economic conditions, and management’s assessment of potential losses. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant change. Ultimately, losses may vary from current estimates and future additions to the allowance may be necessary.

 

Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the loan loss allowance will not be required. Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses quarterly and makes provisions for loan losses based on this evaluation.

 

Noninterest expense increased by $2.8 million or 11.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, when compared with the same period in 2015. $2.3 million of the increase can be attributed to the salaries and benefits of The Mortgage Connection, LLC that was acquired in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the addition of the team in Mobile and the lender in Madison as well as the executive for Treasury Management.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

The First represents the primary asset of the Company. The First reported total assets of $1.3 billion at September 30, 2016, compared to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of $.2 billion. Loans increased $81.0 million, or 10.5%, during the first nine months of 2016. Deposits at September 30, 2016, totaled $1.1 billion compared to $916.7 million at December 31, 2015. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, The First reported net income of $8.7 million compared to $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

NONPERFORMING ASSETS AND RISK ELEMENTS

 

Diversification within the loan portfolio is an important means of reducing inherent lending risks. At September 30, 2016, The First had no concentrations of ten percent or more of total loans in any single industry or any geographical area outside its immediate market areas.

 

At September 30, 2016, The First had loans past due as follows:

 

    ($ In Thousands)  
Past due 30 through 89 days   $ 2,062  
Past due 90 days or more and still accruing     420  

 

The accrual of interest is discontinued on loans which become ninety days past due (principal and/or interest), unless the loans are adequately secured and in the process of collection. Nonaccrual loans totaled $5.8 million at September 30, 2016, a decrease of $1.6 million from December 31, 2015. Any other real estate owned is carried at fair value, determined by an appraisal, less estimated costs to sell. Other real estate owned totaled $4.7 million at September 30, 2016. A loan is classified as a restructured loan when the following two conditions are present: First, the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and second, the creditor grants a concession it would not otherwise consider but for the borrower’s financial difficulties. At September 30, 2016, the Bank had $6.7 million in loans that were modified as troubled debt restructurings, of which $2.9 million were performing as agreed with modified terms.

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PERFORMANCE

 

The Company earns income from two primary sources. The first is net interest income, which is interest income generated by earning assets less interest expense on deposits and other borrowed money. The second is non-interest income, which primarily consists of customer service charges and fees as well as mortgage income but also comes from non-customer sources such as bank-owned life insurance. The majority of the Company’s non-interest expense is comprised of operating costs that facilitate offering a full range of banking services to our customers.

 

Net interest income AND NET INTEREST MARGIN

 

Net interest income increased by $780,000, or 8.4%, for the third quarter of 2016 relative to the third quarter of 2015, and by $2.2 million, or 8.1%, for the first nine months of 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015. The level of net interest income we recognize in any given period depends on a combination of factors including the average volume and yield for interest-earning assets, the average volume and cost of interest-bearing liabilities, and the mix of products which comprise the Company’s earning assets, deposits, and other interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income is also impacted by the reversal of interest for loans placed on non-accrual status during the reporting period, and the recovery of interest on loans that had been on non-accrual and were paid off, sold or returned to accrual status.

 

The following tables depict, for the periods indicated, certain information related to the average balance sheet and average yields on assets and average costs of liabilities. Such yields are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of the corresponding assets or liabilities. Average balances have been derived from daily averages.

 

Average Balances, Tax Equivalent Interest and Yields/Rates

 

    Three Months Ended     Three Months Ended  
    September 30, 2016     September 30, 2015  
          Tax                 Tax        
    Avg.     Equivalent     Yield/     Avg.     Equivalent     Yield/  
($ In Thousands)   Balance     interest     Rate     Balance     interest     Rate  
                                     
Earning Assets:                                                
Taxable securities   $ 177,154     $ 965       2.18 %   $ 172,478     $ 976       2.26 %
Tax exempt securities     77,073       704       3.65 %     74,807       662       3.54 %
Total investment securities     254,227       1,669       2.63 %     247,285       1,638       2.65 %
Fed funds sold     10,356       25       0.97 %     5,502       13       .95 %
Other     11,961       16       0.54 %     20,613       25       0.49 %
Loans     836,931       9,798       4.68 %     731,818       8,629       4.72 %
Total earning assets     1,113,475       11,508       4.13 %     1,005,218       10,305       4.10 %
Other assets     119,559                       104,726                  
Total assets   $ 1,233,034                     $ 1,109,944                  
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                                
Deposits   $ 850,442     $ 962       0.45 %   $ 759,939     $ 646       0.34 %
Repo     5,000       49       3.92 %     5,000       48       3.84 %
Fed funds purchased     1,926       5       1.04 %     661       2       1.21 %
FHLB     55,337       106       0.77 %     37,716       50       0.53 %
Subordinated debentures     10,310       80       3.10 %     10,310       47       1.82 %
Total interest- bearing liabilities     923,015       1,202       0.52 %     813,626       793       0.39 %
Other liabilities     198,889                       197,150                  
Stockholders' equity     111,130                       99,168                  
Total liabilities and  stockholders’ equity   $ 1,233,034                     $ 1,109,944                  
Net interest income (TE)           $ 10,306       3.61 %           $ 9,512       3.71 %
                                                 
Net interest margin                     3.70 %                     3.79 %

 

 

 

 

Average Balances, Tax Equivalent Interest and Yields/Rates

 

    Nine Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
    September 30, 2016     December 31, 2015  
          Tax                 Tax        
    Avg.     Equivalent     Yield/     Avg.     Equivalent     Yield/  
($ In Thousands)   Balance     Interest     Rate     Balance     Interest     Rate  
                                     
Earning Assets:                                                
Taxable securities   $ 184,313     $ 3,055       2.21 %   $ 178,151     $ 3,949       2.22 %
Tax-exempt securities     77,385       2,118       3.65 %     78,311       2,810       3.59 %
Total investment securities     261,698       5,173       2.64 %     256,462       6,759       2.64 %
Federal funds sold     2,377       82       4.60 %     24,582       64       0.26 %
Other     23,626       56       0.32 %     7,585       93       1.23 %
Loans     808,821       28,146       4.64 %     730,326       34,242       4.69 %
Total earning assets   $ 1,096,522     $ 33,457       4.07 %   $ 1,018,955     $ 41,158       4.04 %
                                                 
Other     116,252                       103,237                  
Total assets   $ 1,212,774                     $ 1,122,192                  
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                                
Deposits   $ 824,065     $ 2,476       0.40 %   $ 752,716     $ 2,563       0.34 %
Repo     5,000       145       3.87 %     5,000       194       3.88 %
Fed funds purchased     1,867       15       1.07 %     698       11       1.58 %
FHLB     68,170       342       0.67 %     53,984       256       0.47 %
Subordinated  Debentures     10,310       162       2.10 %     10,310       185       1.79 %
Total interest- bearing liabilities     909,412       3,140       0.46 %     822,708       3,209       0.39 %
Other liabilities     196,289                       200,878                  
Stockholders' equity     107,073                       98,606                  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,212,774                     $ 1,122,192                  
Net interest income (TE)           $ 30,317       3.61 %           $ 37,949       3.65 %
                                                 
Net interest margin                     3.69 %                     3.72 %

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity – September 30, 2016

 

    Net Interest
Income@ Risk
    Market Value of Equity  
Change in
Interest
Rates
  % Change
from Base
    Policy Limit     % Change
from Base
    Policy Limit  
                         
Up 400 bps     12.7 %     -20 %     44.1 %     -40.00 %
Up 300 bps     9.6 %     -15 %     35.8 %     -30.00 %
Up 200 bps     6.4 %     -10 %     25.9 %     -20.00 %
Up 100 bps     3.0 %     -5 %     14.1 %     -10.00 %
Down 100 bps     2.9 %     -5 %     3.9 %     -10.00 %
Down 200 bps     4.6 %     -10 %     0.8 %     -20.00 %

 

 

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Liquidity is adequate with cash and cash equivalents of $70.1 million as of September 30, 2016. In addition, loans and investment securities repricing or maturing within one year or less is approximately $242 million at September 30, 2016. Approximately $194.3 million in loan commitments could fund within the next three months and other commitments, primarily standby letters of credit, totaled $2.0 million at September 30, 2016.

 

There are no known trends or any known commitments or uncertainties that will result in The First’s liquidity increasing or decreasing in a significant way.

 

Total consolidated equity capital at September 30, 2016, was $112.7 million, or approximately 8.9% of total assets. The Company currently has adequate capital positions to meet the minimum capital requirements for all regulatory agencies. The Company’s capital ratios as of September 30, 2016, were as follows:

 

Tier 1 leverage     8.53 %
Tier 1 risk-based     10.47 %
Total risk-based     11.23 %
Common equity Tier 1     7.81 %

 

On June 30, 2006, The Company issued $4,124,000 of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to The First Bancshares Statutory Trust 2 in which the Company owns all of the common equity. The debentures are the sole asset of the Trust. The Trust issued $4,000,000 of Trust Preferred Securities (TPSs) to investors. The Company’s obligations under the debentures and related documents, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. The preferred securities are redeemable by the Company at its option. The preferred securities must be redeemed upon maturity of the debentures in 2036. Interest on the preferred securities is the three month London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) plus 1.65% and is payable quarterly. The terms of the subordinated debentures are identical to those of the preferred securities. On July 27, 2007, The Company issued $6,186,000 of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to The First Bancshares Statutory Trust 3 in which the Company owns all of the common equity. The debentures are the sole asset of Trust 3. The Trust issued $6,000,000 of Trust Preferred Securities (TPSs) to investors. The Company’s obligations under the debentures and related documents, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. The preferred securities are redeemable by the Company at its option. The preferred securities must be redeemed upon maturity of the debentures in 2037. Interest on the preferred securities is the three month LIBOR plus 1.40% and is payable quarterly. The terms of the subordinated debentures are identical to those of the preferred securities. In accordance with the authoritative guidance, the trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements.

 

PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

 

The Company has developed policies and procedures for evaluating the overall quality of its credit portfolio and the timely identification of potential problem loans. Management’s judgment as to the adequacy of the allowance is based upon a number of assumptions which it believes to be reasonable, but which may not prove to be accurate, particularly given the Company’s growth and the economy. Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the loan loss allowance will not be required.

 

 

 

 

The Company’s allowance consists of two parts. The first part is determined in accordance with authoritative guidance regarding contingencies. The Company’s determination of this part of the allowance is based upon quantitative and qualitative factors. A loan loss history based upon more than 72 months of loss history is utilized in determining the appropriate allowance. Historical loss factors are determined by risk rated loans by loan type. These historical loss factors are applied to the loans by loan type to determine an indicated allowance. The loss factors of peer groups are considered in the determination of the allowance and are used to assist in the establishment of a long-term loss history for areas in which this data is unavailable and incorporated into the qualitative factors to be considered. The historical loss factors may also be modified based upon other qualitative factors including but not limited to local and national economic conditions, trends of delinquent loans, changes in lending policies and underwriting standards, concentrations, and management’s knowledge of the loan portfolio. These factors require judgment upon the part of management and are based upon state and national economic reports received from various institutions and agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank, United States Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, meetings with the Company’s loan officers and loan committee, and data and guidance received or obtained from the Company’s regulatory authorities.

 

The second part of the allowance is determined in accordance with authoritative guidance regarding loan impairment. Impaired loans are determined based upon a review by internal loan review and senior management.

 

The sum of the two parts constitutes management’s best estimate of an appropriate allowance for loan losses. When the estimated allowance is determined, it is presented to the Company’s audit committee for review and approval on a quarterly basis.

 

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.

 

Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis, and a specific allowance is assigned to each loan determined to be impaired. Impaired loans not deemed collateral dependent are analyzed according to the ultimate repayment source, whether that is cash flow from the borrower, guarantor or some other source of repayment. Impaired loans are deemed collateral dependent if, in the Company’s opinion, the ultimate source of repayment will be generated from the liquidation of collateral.

 

The Company discontinues accrual of interest on loans when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that a borrower’s financial condition is such that the collection of interest is doubtful. Generally, the Company will place a delinquent loan in nonaccrual status when the loan becomes 90 days or more past due. At the time a loan is placed in nonaccrual status, all interest which has been accrued on the loan but remains unpaid is reversed and deducted from earnings as a reduction of reported interest income. No additional interest is accrued on the loan balance until the collection of both principal and interest becomes reasonably certain.

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME AND NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

The following table provides details on the Company’s non-interest income and non-interest expense for the three-month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

($ In Thousands)

  Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended        
EARNINGS STATEMENT   9/30/16     % of
Total
    9/30/15     % of
Total
    9/30/16     % of
Total
    9/30/15     % of
Total
 
Non-interest  income:                                                                
Service charges on deposit accounts   $ 606       19.6 %   $ 737       37.2 %   $ 1,847       21.6 %   $ 1,896       33.3 %
Mortgage income     1,399       45.1 %     341       17.2 %     3,228       37.8 %     1,032       18.2 %
Interchange fee income     666       21.5 %     611       30.8 %     1,991       23.3 %     1,794       31.6 %
Gain (loss) on securities, net     -       -       -       -       129       1.5 %     -       -  
Gain on sale of  premises and equipment     -       -       -       -       -       -       110       1.9 %
Other charges and  fees     428       13.8 %     293       14.8 %     1,347       15.8 %     854       15.0 %
Total non-interest income   $ 3,099       100 %   $ 1,982       100 %   $ 8,542       100 %   $ 5,686       100 %
                                                                 
Non-interest expense:                                                                
Salaries and employee benefits   $ 5,645       60.0 %   $ 4,628       58.0 %   $ 16,194       60.5 %   $ 13,867       58.1 %
Occupancy expense     1,209       12.8 %     1,136       14.2 %     3,392       12.7 %     3,382       14.1 %
FDIC premiums     254       2.7 %     241       3.0 %     755       2.8 %     723       3.0 %
Marketing     76       .8 %     64       .8 %     280       1.1 %     287       1.2 %
Amortization of core deposit intangibles     100       1.1 %     100       1.3 %     294       1.1 %     300       1.3 %
Other professional services     461       4.9 %     318       4.0 %     1,013       3.8 %     955       4.0 %
Other non-interest expense     1,671       17.7 %     1,490       18.7 %     4,802       18.0 %     4,373       18.3 %
Total non-interest expense   $ 9,416       100 %   $ 7,977       100 %   $ 26,730       100 %   $ 23,887       100 %

 

Noninterest income increased $1.1 million in quarterly comparison mainly consisting of increases in mortgage income of $1.0 million. Third quarter 2016 noninterest expenses increased $1.4 million, or 18.0% as compared to third quarter 2015. The largest increase in noninterest expenses was related to salaries and benefits of $1.0 million of which $0.6 million can be attributed to acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, LLC in December 2015 as well as additional salaries and benefits related to the banking teams in Mobile and Madison along with Treasury Management personnel.

 

Noninterest income increased $2.9 million in year-over-year comparison mainly consisting of increases in mortgage income of $2.2 million. Noninterest expenses increased $2.8 million in year-over-year comparison consisting of increases in salaries and benefits of $2.3 million relating to the acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, LLC as well as salaries and benefits related to the lending teams in Madison and Mobile along with the executive for Treasury Management.

 

 

 

 

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

The Company sets aside a provision for income taxes on a monthly basis. The amount of that provision is determined by first applying the Company’s statutory income tax rates to estimated taxable income, which is pre-tax book income adjusted for permanent differences, and then subtracting available tax credits if applicable. Permanent differences include but are not limited to tax-exempt interest income, BOLI income, and certain book expenses that are not allowed as tax deductions.

 

The Company’s provision for income taxes was $3.1 million as of September 30, 2016 relative to $2.3 million as of September 30, 2015. The higher tax provisioning for the first nine months comparison is the result of an increase in pre-tax income.

 

BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS

EARNING ASSETS

 

The Company’s interest-earning assets are comprised of investments and loans, and the composition, growth characteristics, and credit quality of both are significant determinants of the Company’s financial condition. Investments are analyzed in the section immediately below, while the loan and lease portfolio and other factors affecting earning assets are discussed in the sections following investments.

 

INVESTMENTS

 

The Company’s investments can at any given time consist of debt securities and marketable equity securities (together, the “investment portfolio”), investments in the time deposits of other banks, surplus interest-earning balances in our Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) account, and overnight fed funds sold. Surplus FRB balances and fed funds sold to correspondent banks represent the temporary investment of excess liquidity. The Company’s investments serve several purposes: 1) they provide liquidity to even out cash flows from the loan and deposit activities of customers; 2) they provide a source of pledged assets for securing public deposits, bankruptcy deposits and certain borrowed funds which require collateral; 3) they constitute a large base of assets with maturity and interest rate characteristics that can be changed more readily than the loan portfolio, to better match changes in the deposit base and other funding sources of the Company; 4) they are another interest-earning option for surplus funds when loan demand is light; and 5) they can provide partially tax exempt income. Total securities excluding other securities totaled $242.2 million, or 19.1% of total assets at September 30, 2016, compared to $246.8 million, or 21.6% of total assets at December 31, 2015.

 

We had $2.4 million of fed funds sold at September 30, 2016 and $0.3 million of fed funds sold at December 31, 2015; and interest-bearing balances at other banks increased to $19.8 million at September 30, 2016 from $17.3 million at December 31, 2015 primarily due to an increase in our Federal Reserve Bank account. The Company’s investment portfolio remained steady with a total fair value of $244.0 million at September 30, 2016, reflecting a decrease of $4.3 million, or 1.7%, for the first nine months of 2016. The Company carries investments at their fair market values. The Company holds a small amount of “held-to-maturity” investments with a fair market value of $7.8 million at September 30, 2016 as compared to $8.5 million at December 31, 2015. All other investment securities are classified as “available for sale” to allow maximum flexibility with regard to interest rate risk and liquidity management.

 

Refer to table shown in NOTE 10 - SECURITIES for information on the Company’s amortized cost and fair market value of its investment portfolio by investment type.

 

 

 

 

LOAN AND LEASE PORTFOLIO

 

The Company’s loans and leases, gross of the associated allowance for losses and deferred fees and origination costs, and including loans held for sale, totaled $863.8 million at September 30, 2016, an increase of $87.3 million, or 11.2%, since December 31, 2015. With an increase of $84.5 million in the Real Estate category, the real estate-commercial portfolio had the largest area of growth of $54.7 million. At September 30, 2016, the company had direct energy related loans of $19.4 million, representing 2.3% of the total loan portfolio. A majority of the outstanding are secured by marine assets that operate in the Gulf of Mexico, which are under term contracts to major operators tied primarily to oil and gas production.

 

A distribution of the Company’s loans showing the balance and percentage of loans by type is presented for the noted periods in the table below. The balances shown are before deferred or unamortized loan origination, extension, or commitment fees, and deferred origination costs.

 

The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio by category:

 

Composition of Loan Portfolio

 

    Sept. 30, 2016     December 31, 2015  
    Amount     Percent
of
Total
    Amount    

Percent
of
Total

 
    ($ In Thousands)  
Mortgage loans held for sale   $ 9,437       1.1 %   $ 3,974       0.5 %
Commercial, financial and agricultural     121,963       14.1       129,197       16.6  
Real Estate:                            
Mortgage-commercial     307,963       35.7       253,309       32.6  
Mortgage-residential     296,587       34.3       272,180       35.1  
Construction     104,644       12.1       99,161       12.8  
Lease financing receivable     2,211       0.3       2,650       0.3  
Obligations of states and subdivisions     6,861       0.8       969       0.1  
Consumer and other     14,137       1.6       15,049       2.0  
Total loans     863,803       100 %     776,489       100 %
Allowance for loan losses     (7,481 )             (6,747 )        
Net loans   $ 856,322             $ 769,742          

 

In the context of this discussion, a "real estate mortgage loan" is defined as any loan, other than a loan for construction purposes, secured by real estate, regardless of the purpose of the loan. The Company follows the common practice of financial institutions in the Company’s market area of obtaining a security interest in real estate whenever possible, in addition to any other available collateral. This collateral is taken to reinforce the likelihood of the ultimate repayment of the loan and tends to increase the magnitude of the real estate loan portfolio component. Generally, the Company limits its loan-to-value ratio to 80%. Management attempts to maintain a conservative philosophy regarding its underwriting guidelines and believes it will reduce the risk elements of its loan portfolio through strategies that diversify the lending mix.

 

Loans held for sale consist of mortgage loans originated by the Bank and sold into the secondary market. Commitments from investors to purchase the loans are obtained upon origination.

 

NONPERFORMING ASSETS

 

Nonperforming assets are comprised of loans for which the Company is no longer accruing interest, and foreclosed assets including mobile homes and OREO. If the Company grants a concession to a borrower in financial difficulty, the loan falls into the category of a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). TDRs may be classified as either nonperforming or performing loans depending on their accrual status. The following table presents comparative data for the Company’s nonperforming assets and performing TDRs as of the dates noted:

 

 

 

 

Nonperforming assets totaled $10.5 million at September 30, 2016, remaining constant compared to $10.5 million at December 31, 2015. The ALLL/total loans ratio was ..87% at September 30, 2016 and .87% at December 31, 2015. Including valuation accounting adjustments on acquired loans, the total valuation plus ALLL was 1.06% of loans at September 30, 2016. The ratio of annualized net charge-offs (recoveries) to total loans was (0.04)% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 compared to (0.04)% for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. As noted in our first quarter 2015 10-Q, the Company had been notified that a recovery of $941,000 was more likely than not expected during 2015. We received the first installment during the second quarter of 2015 which totaled $481,000 and the second installment during the third quarter of 2015 which totaled $241,000. The remaining balance of $219,000 is expected to be received in 2016.

 

Nonperforming Assets and Performing Troubled Debt Restructurings

($ In Thousands)

 

NON-ACCRUAL LOANS 

    09/30/16     12/31/15     09/30/15  
Real Estate:                        
1-4 family residential construction   $ -     $ -     $ 578  
Other construction/land     2,788       2,956       2,665  
1-4 family residential revolving/open-end     317       327       331  
1-4 family residential closed-end     1,652       1,728       1,811  
Nonfarm, nonresidential, owner-occupied     598       1,853       2,043  
Nonfarm, nonresidential, other nonfarm nonresidential     336       372       382  
TOTAL REAL ESTATE     5,691       7,236       7,810  
Commercial and industrial     72       100       106  
Loans to individuals - other     36       32       33  
TOTAL NON-ACCRUAL LOANS     5,799       7,368       7,949  
Other real estate owned     4,670       3,083       4,104  
TOTAL NON-PERFORMING ASSETS   $ 10,469     $ 10,451     $ 12,053  
Performing TDRs   $ 2,903     $ 2,758     $ 2,883  
                         
Total non-performing assets as a % of total loans & leases net of unearned income     1.21 %     1.35 %     1.61 %
Total non-accrual loans as a % of total loans & leases net of unearned income     0.67 %     0.95 %     1.06 %

 

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

 

The allowance for loan and lease losses, a contra-asset, is established through a provision for loan and lease losses. It is maintained at a level that is considered adequate to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in the remaining loan portfolio. Specifically identifiable and quantifiable losses are immediately charged off against the allowance; recoveries are generally recorded only when sufficient cash payments are received subsequent to the charge off.

 

 

 

 

The table that follows summarizes the activity in the allowance for loan and lease losses for the noted periods:

 

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

($ In Thousands)

 

    3 months
ended
    3 months
ended
    9 months
ended
    9 months
ended
    For the
Year
Ended
 
    9/30/16       9/30/15       9/30/16       9/30/15       12/31/15  
Balances:                                        
Average gross loans & leases outstanding during period:   $ 836,931     $ 731,818     $ 808,821     $ 721,325     $ 730,326  
Gross Loans & leases outstanding at end of period     863,803       747,646       863,803       747,646       776,489  
                                         
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses:                                        
Balance at beginning of period     7,259       6,419       6,747       6,095       6,095  
Provision charged to expense     143       250       538       400       410  
Charge-offs:                                        
Real Estate-                                        
1-4 family residential construction     -       -       -       -       74  
Other construction/land     -       50       67       50       88  
1-4 family revolving, open-ended     -       8       -       8       8  
1-4 family closed-end     130       -       219       349       364  
Nonfarm, nonresidential, owner-occupied     -       -       -       -       -  
Total Real Estate     130       58       286       407       534  
Commercial and industrial     -       183       6       183       183  
Credit cards     -       -       1       -       -  
Automobile loans     20       5       29       24       31  
Loans to individuals - other     -       -       -       -       -  
All other loans     6       19       25       63       95  
Total     156       265       347       677       843  
                                         
Recoveries:                                        
Real Estate-                                        
1-4 family residential construction     -       -       -       -       -  
Other construction/land     108       21       191       40       63  
1-4 family revolving, open-ended     3       4       17       8       9  
1-4 family closed-end     105       267       194       790       818  
Nonfarm, nonresidential, owner-occupied     1       4       6       11       15  
Total Real Estate     217       296       408       849       905  
Commercial and industrial     3       2       83       11       99  
Credit cards     1       1       1       2       2  
Automobile loans     -       -       1       -       1  
Loans to individuals - other     5       12       10       13       14  
All other loans     9       19       40       41       64  
Total     235       330       543       916       1,085  
Net loan charge offs (recoveries)     (79 )     (65 )     (196 )     (239 )     (242 )
Balance at end of period   $ 7,481     $ 6,734     $ 7,481     $ 6,734     $ 6,747  
                                         
RATIOS                                        
                                         
Net Charge-offs (recoveries) to  average Loans & Leases(annualized)     (0.04 )%     (0.04 )%     (0.03 )%     (0.04 )%     (0.03 )%
Allowance for Loan Losses to  gross Loans & Leases at end of period     0.87 %     0.90 %     0.87 %     0.90 %     0.87 %
Net Loan Charge-offs (recoveries) to   provision for loan losses     (55.24 )%     (26.0 )%     (36.43 )%     (59.75 )%     (59.02 )%

 

 

 

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

The Company maintains commitments to extend credit in the normal course of business, as long as there are no violations of conditions established in the outstanding contractual arrangements. Unused commitments to extend credit totaled $194.3 million at September 30, 2016 and $144.1 million at December 31, 2015, although it is not likely that all of those commitments will ultimately be drawn down. Unused commitments represented approximately 22.5% of gross loans outstanding at September 30, 2016 and 18.5% at December 31, 2015, with the increase due in part to higher commitments in commercial and industrial loans. The Company also had undrawn letters of credit issued to customers totaling $2.0 million at September 30, 2016 and $1.1 million at December 31, 2015. The effect on the Company’s revenues, expenses, cash flows and liquidity from the unused portion of the commitments to provide credit cannot be reasonably predicted because there is no guarantee that the lines of credit will ever be used. However, the “Liquidity” section in this Form 10-Q outlines resources available to draw upon should we be required to fund a significant portion of unused commitments. For more information regarding the Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements, see NOTE 8 to the financial statements located elsewhere herein.

 

In addition to unused commitments to provide credit, the Company is utilizing a $84 million letter of credit issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank on the Company’s behalf as security for certain deposits as of September 30, 2016. That letter of credit is backed by loans which are pledged to the FHLB by the Company.

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

The Company’s balance of non-interest earning cash and due from banks was $48.0 million at September 30, 2016 and $23.6 million at December 31, 2015. The balance of cash and due from banks depends on the timing of collection of outstanding cash items (checks), the level of cash maintained on hand at our branches, and our reserve requirement among other things, and is subject to significant fluctuation in the normal course of business. While cash flows are normally predictable within limits, those limits are fairly broad and the Company manages its short-term cash position through the utilization of overnight loans to and borrowings from correspondent banks, including the Federal Reserve Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Should a large “short” overnight position persist for any length of time, the Company typically raises money through focused retail deposit gathering efforts or by adding brokered time deposits. If a “long” position is prevalent, the Company will let brokered deposits or other wholesale borrowings roll off as they mature, or might invest excess liquidity in higher-yielding, longer-term bonds.

 

 

 

 

The Company’s net premises and equipment at September 30, 2016 was $33.4 million and $33.6 million at December 31, 2015; the result being a decrease of $196,000, or 0.6% for the first nine months of 2016. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company purchased $5.9 million in life insurance, thereby creating a balance of $21.1 million at September 30, 2016. Bank-owned life insurance is also discussed above in the “Non-Interest Income and Non-Interest Expense” section. Goodwill did not change during the period, ending the first nine months of 2016 with a balance of $13.8 million, but other intangible assets, namely the Company’s core deposit intangible, decreased by $294,000 due to amortization. The Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets are evaluated annually for potential impairment, and pursuant to that analysis Management has determined that no impairment exists as of September 30, 2016.

 

Other real estate increased $1.6 million, or 51.5% during the first nine months of 2016. Total equity securities increased $1.4 million due primarily to an increase in FHLB stock.

 

DEPOSITS AND INTEREST BEARING LIABILITIES

DEPOSITS

 

Deposits are another key balance sheet component impacting the Company’s net interest margin and other profitability metrics. Deposits provide liquidity to fund growth in earning assets, and the Company’s net interest margin is improved to the extent that growth in deposits is concentrated in less volatile and typically less costly non-maturity deposits such as demand deposit accounts, NOW accounts, savings accounts, and money market demand accounts. Information concerning average balances and rates paid by deposit type for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is included in the Average Balances and Rates tables appearing above, in the section titled “Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin.” A distribution of the Company’s deposits showing the balance and percentage of total deposits by type is presented for the noted periods in the following table.

 

Deposit Distribution

($ In Thousands)   Sept. 30, 2016     December 31, 2015  
Non-interest bearing demand deposits   $ 196,786     $ 189,445  
NOW accounts and Other     465,404       373,687  
Money Market / Savings     187,228       174,090  
Time Deposits of less than $100,000     78,785       73,865  
Time Deposits of $100,000 or more     143,586       105,608  
Total deposits   $ 1,071,789     $ 916,695  
                 
Percentage of Total Deposits                
Non-interest bearing demand deposits     18.4 %     20.7 %
NOW accounts and other     43.4 %     40.8 %
Money Market / Savings     17.5 %     19.0 %
Time Deposits of less than $100,000     7.4 %     8.0 %
Time Deposits of $100,000 or more     13.3 %     11.5 %
Total     100.00 %     100.00 %

 

 

 

 

OTHER INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES

 

The Company’s non-deposit borrowings may, at any given time, include fed funds purchased from correspondent banks, borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank, advances from the Federal Reserve Bank, securities sold under agreement to repurchase, and/or junior subordinated debentures. The Company uses short-term FHLB advances and fed funds purchased on uncommitted lines to support liquidity needs created by seasonal deposit flows, to temporarily satisfy funding needs from increased loan demand, and for other short-term purposes. The FHLB line is committed, but the amount of available credit depends on the level of pledged collateral.

 

Total non-deposit interest-bearing liabilities decreased by $42.3 million, or 35.1%, in the first nine months of 2016, due to a reduction in notes payable to the Federal Home Loan Bank and fed funds purchased. We had no overnight fed funds purchased at September 30, 2016, relative to $5.3 million in fed funds purchased at December 31, 2015. Repurchase agreements remained unchanged for both periods at $5 million. The Company had junior subordinated debentures totaling $10.3 million at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, in the form of long-term borrowings from trust subsidiaries formed specifically to issue trust preferred securities.

 

OTHER NON-INTEREST BEARING LIABILITIES

 

Other liabilities are principally comprised of accrued interest payable and other accrued but unpaid expenses. Other liabilities declined by $517,000, or 12.5%, during the first nine months of 2016, due to the reduction in other accrued but unpaid expenses.

 

liquidity and market RisK MANAGEMENT

 

LIQUIDITY

 

Liquidity management refers to the Company’s ability to maintain cash flows that are adequate to fund operations and meet other obligations and commitments in a timely and cost-effective manner. Detailed cash flow projections are reviewed by Management on a monthly basis, with various scenarios applied to assess our ability to meet liquidity needs under adverse conditions. Liquidity ratios are also calculated and reviewed on a regular basis. While those ratios are merely indicators and are not measures of actual liquidity, they are closely monitored and we are focused on maintaining adequate liquidity resources to draw upon should unexpected needs arise.

 

The Company, on occasion, experiences cash needs as the result of loan growth, deposit outflows, asset purchases or liability repayments. To meet short-term needs, the Company can borrow overnight funds from other financial institutions, draw advances via Federal Home Loan Bank lines of credit, or solicit brokered deposits if deposits are not immediately obtainable from local sources. The net availability on lines of credit from the FHLB totaled $240.6 million at September 30, 2016. Furthermore, funds can be obtained by drawing down the Company’s correspondent bank deposit accounts, or by liquidating unpledged investments or other readily saleable assets. In addition, the Company can raise immediate cash for temporary needs by selling under agreement to repurchase those investments in its portfolio which are not pledged as collateral. As of September 30, 2016, the market value of unpledged debt securities plus pledged securities in excess of current pledging requirements comprised $98.6 million of the Company’s investment balances, compared to $66 million at December 31, 2015. The increase in unpledged debt from September 2016 compared to December 2015 is primarily due to an increase in letters of credit utilized for pledging purposes. Other forms of balance sheet liquidity include but are not necessarily limited to any outstanding fed funds sold and vault cash. The Company has a higher level of actual balance sheet liquidity than might otherwise be the case, since we utilize a letter of credit from the FHLB rather than investment securities for certain pledging requirements. That letter of credit, which is backed by loans that are pledged to the FHLB by the Company, totaled $84.0 million at September 30, 2016. Management is of the opinion that available investments and other potentially liquid assets, along with the standby funding sources it has arranged, are more than sufficient to meet the Company’s current and anticipated short-term liquidity needs.

 

 

 

 

The Company’s liquidity ratio as of September 30, 2016 was 14.46%, as compared to internal policy guidelines of 10% minimum. Other liquidity ratios reviewed include the following along with policy guidelines:

 

    Sept. 30, 2016     Policy
Maximum
     
Loans to Deposits (including FHLB advances)     74.69 %     90.00 %   In Policy
Net Non-core Funding Dependency Ratio     9.91 %     20.00 %   In Policy
Fed Funds Purchased / Total Assets     0.39 %     10.00 %   In Policy
FHLB Advances / Total Assets     5.06 %     20.00 %   In Policy
FRB Advances / Total Assets     0.00 %     10.00 %   In Policy
Pledged Securities to Total Securities     68.73 %     90.00 %   In Policy

 

Continued growth in core deposits and relatively high levels of potentially liquid investments have had a positive impact on our liquidity position in recent periods, but no assurance can be provided that our liquidity will continue at current robust levels.

 

The holding company’s primary uses of funds are ordinary operating expenses and stockholder dividends, and its primary source of funds is dividends from the Bank since the holding company does not conduct regular banking operations. Management anticipates that the Bank will have sufficient earnings to provide dividends to the holding company to meet its funding requirements for the foreseeable future. Both the holding company and the Bank are subject to legal and regulatory limitations on dividend payments, as outlined in Item 5(c) Dividends in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 which was filed with the SEC.

 

INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT

 

Market risk arises from changes in interest rates, exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices. The Company does not engage in the trading of financial instruments, nor does it have exposure to currency exchange rates. Our market risk exposure is primarily that of interest rate risk, and we have established policies and procedures to monitor and limit our earnings and balance sheet exposure to changes in interest rates. The principal objective of interest rate risk management is to manage the financial components of the Company’s balance sheet in a manner that will optimize the risk/reward equation for earnings and capital under a variety of interest rate scenarios.

 

To identify areas of potential exposure to interest rate changes, we utilize commercially available modeling software to perform earnings simulations and calculate the Company’s market value of portfolio equity under varying interest rate scenarios every month. The model imports relevant information for the Company’s financial instruments and incorporates Management’s assumptions on pricing, duration, and optionality for anticipated new volumes. Various rate scenarios consisting of key rate and yield curve projections are then applied in order to calculate the expected effect of a given interest rate change on interest income, interest expense, and the value of the Company’s financial instruments. The rate projections can be shocked (an immediate and parallel change in all base rates, up or down), ramped (an incremental increase or decrease in rates over a specified time period), economic (based on current trends and econometric models) or stable (unchanged from current actual levels).

 

 

 

 

We use seven standard interest rate scenarios in conducting our 12-month net interest income simulations: “static,” upward shocks of 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points, and downward shocks of 100, and 200 basis points. Pursuant to policy guidelines, we typically attempt to limit the projected decline in net interest income relative to the stable rate scenario to no more than 5% for a 100 basis point (bp) interest rate shock, 10% for a 200 bp shock, 15% for a 300 bp shock, and 20% for a 400 bp shock. As of September 30, 2016 the Company had the following estimated net interest income sensitivity profile, without factoring in any potential negative impact on spreads resulting from competitive pressures or credit quality deterioration:

 

September 30, 2016   Net Interest Income at Risk  
($ In Thousands)   -200 bp     -100 bp     STATIC     +100 bp     +200 bp     +300 bp     +400 bp  
Net Interest Income     35,804       36,395       37,348       37,801       38,398       38,933       39,422  
Dollar Change     -1,544       -953       -       453       1,050       1,585       2,074  
NII @ Risk - Sensitivity Y1     -4.13 %     -2.55 %     -       1.21 %     2.81 %     4.25 %     5.55 %

 

If there were an immediate and sustained downward adjustment of 200 basis points in interest rates, all else being equal, net interest income over the next twelve months would likely be around $1.5 million lower than in a stable interest rate scenario, for a negative variance of 4.13%. The unfavorable variance increases if rates were to drop below 200 basis points, due to the fact that certain deposit rates are already relatively low (on NOW accounts and savings accounts, for example), and will hit a natural floor of close to zero while non-floored variable-rate loan yields continue to drop. This effect is exacerbated by accelerated prepayments on fixed-rate loans and mortgage-backed securities when rates decline, although rate floors on some of our variable-rate loans partially offset other negative pressures. While we view further interest rate reductions as highly unlikely, the potential percentage drop in net interest income exceeds our internal policy guidelines in declining interest rate scenarios and we will continue to monitor our interest rate risk profile and take corrective action as deemed appropriate.

 

Net interest income would likely improve by $1.0 million, or 2.81%, if interest rates were to increase by 200 basis points relative to a stable interest rate scenario, with the favorable variance expanding the higher interest rates rise. The initial increase in rising rate scenarios will be limited to some extent by the fact that some of our variable-rate loans are currently at rate floors, resulting in a re-pricing lag while base rates are increasing to floored levels, but the Company still appears well-positioned to benefit from a material upward shift in the yield curve.

 

The Company’s one year cumulative GAP ratio is approximately 178.94%, which means that there are more assets repricing than liabilities within the first year. The Company is “asset-sensitive.” These results are based on cash flows from assumptions of assets and liabilities that reprice (maturities, likely calls, prepayments, etc.) Typically, the net interest income of asset-sensitive companies should improve with rising rates and decrease with declining rates.

 

 

 

 

In addition to the net interest income simulations shown above, we run stress scenarios modeling the possibility of no balance sheet growth, the potential runoff of “surge” core deposits which flowed into the Company in the most recent economic cycle, and potential unfavorable movement in deposit rates relative to yields on earning assets. Even though net interest income will naturally be lower with no balance sheet growth, the rate-driven variances projected for net interest income in a static growth environment are similar to the changes noted above for our standard projections. When a greater level of non-maturity deposit runoff is assumed or unfavorable deposit rate changes are factored into the model, projected net interest income in declining rate and flat rate scenarios does not change materially relative to standard growth projections. However, the benefit we would otherwise experience in rising rate scenarios is minimized and net interest income remains relatively flat.

 

The economic value (or “fair value”) of financial instruments on the Company’s balance sheet will also vary under the interest rate scenarios previously discussed. The difference between the projected fair value of the Company’s financial assets and the fair value of its financial liabilities is referred to as the economic value of equity (“EVE”), and changes in EVE under different interest rate scenarios are effectively a gauge of the Company’s longer-term exposure to interest rate risk. Fair values for financial instruments are estimated by discounting projected cash flows (principal and interest) at projected replacement interest rates for each account type, while the fair value of non-financial accounts is assumed to equal their book value for all rate scenarios. An economic value simulation is a static measure utilizing balance sheet accounts at a given point in time, and the measurement can change substantially over time as the characteristics of the Company’s balance sheet evolve and interest rate and yield curve assumptions are updated.

 

The change in economic value under different interest rate scenarios depends on the characteristics of each class of financial instrument, including stated interest rates or spreads relative to current or projected market-level interest rates or spreads, the likelihood of principal prepayments, whether contractual interest rates are fixed or floating, and the average remaining time to maturity. As a general rule, fixed-rate financial assets become more valuable in declining rate scenarios and less valuable in rising rate scenarios, while fixed-rate financial liabilities gain in value as interest rates rise and lose value as interest rates decline. The longer the duration of the financial instrument, the greater the impact a rate change will have on its value. In our economic value simulations, estimated prepayments are factored in for financial instruments with stated maturity dates, and decay rates for non-maturity deposits are projected based on historical patterns and Management’s best estimates. The table below shows estimated changes in the Company’s EVE as of September 30, 2016, under different interest rate scenarios relative to a base case of current interest rates:

 

    Balance Sheet Shock  
($ In Thousands)   -200 bp     -100 bp     STATIC
(Base)
    +100 bp     +200 bp     +300 bp     +400 bp  
Market Value of Equity     255,467       243,463       253,332       288,957       318,948       343,996       365,035  
Change in EVE from base     2,135       -9,869               35,625       65,616       90,664       111,703  
% Change     0.84 %     -3.90 %             14.06 %     25.90 %     35.79 %     44.09 %
Policy Limits     -20.00 %     -10.00 %             -10.00 %     -20.00 %     -30.00 %     -40.00 %

 

The table shows that our EVE will generally deteriorate in declining rate scenarios, but should benefit from a parallel shift upward in the yield curve. As noted previously, however, Management is of the opinion that the potential for a significant rate decline is low. We also run stress scenarios for EVE to simulate the possibility of higher loan prepayment rates, unfavorable changes in deposit rates, and higher deposit decay rates. Model results are highly sensitive to changes in assumed decay rates for non-maturity deposits, in particular.

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

At September 30, 2016 the Company had total stockholders’ equity of $112.7 million, comprised of $5.5 million in common stock, $17.1 million in preferred stock, less than one half a million in treasury stock, $45.0 million in surplus, $42.5 million in undivided profits, $3.0 million in accumulated comprehensive income for available for sale securities. Total stockholders’ equity at the end of 2015 was $103.4 million. The increase of $9.2 million, or 8.9%, in stockholders’ equity during the first nine months of 2016 is comprised of capital added via net earnings of $7.8 million, $1.9 million increase in accumulated comprehensive income for available for sale securities, offset by $.9 million in cash dividends paid.

 

The Company uses a variety of measures to evaluate its capital adequacy, including risk-based capital and leverage ratios that are calculated separately for the Company and the Bank. Management reviews these capital measurements on a quarterly basis and takes appropriate action to help ensure that they meet or surpass established internal and external guidelines. As permitted by the regulators for financial institutions that are not deemed to be “advanced approaches” institutions, the Company has elected to opt out of the Basel III requirement to include accumulated other comprehensive income in risk-based capital. The following table sets forth the Company’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios as of the dates indicated.

 

Regulatory Capital Ratios

The First, ANBA

 

    September 30,
2016
    December 31,
 2015
    Minimum
Required to be
Well
Capitalized
 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio     10.43 %     11.04 %     6.50 %
Tier 1 Capital Ratio     10.43 %     11.04 %     8.00 %
Total Capital Ratio     11.18 %     11.81 %     10.00 %
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio     8.49 %     8.62 %     5.00 %

 

Regulatory Capital Ratios

The First Bancshares, Inc.

 

    September 30,
2016
    December 31,
2015
    Minimum
Required to be
Well
Capitalized
 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio*     7.81 %     8.10 %     6.50 %
Tier 1 Capital Ratio**     10.47 %     11.09 %     8.00 %
Total Capital Ratio     11.23 %     11.86 %     10.00 %
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio     8.53 %     8.66 %     5.00 %

 

* The numerator does not include Preferred Stock and Trust Preferred.

** The numerator includes Preferred Stock and Trust Preferred.

 

Regulatory capital ratios slightly decreased from December 31, 2015 to September 30, 2016 as asset growth outpaced capital formation. Our capital ratios remain very strong relative to the median for peer financial institutions, and at September 30, 2016 were well above the threshold for the Company and the Bank to be classified as “well capitalized,” the highest rating of the categories defined under the Bank Holding Company Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991. We do not foresee any circumstances that would cause the Company or the Bank to be less than well capitalized, although no assurance can be given that this will not occur.

 

 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM NO. 3

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The information concerning quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk is included in Part I, Item 2 above. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Market Risk Management.”

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM NO. 4

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of September 30, 2016, (the “Evaluation Date”), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision of and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.

 

Changes in Internal Controls

 

There have been no changes, significant or otherwise, in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings in the normal course of business. In the opinion of Management, any liability resulting from such proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operation.

 

ITEM 1A: RISK FACTORS

 

There are no material changes in the Company’s risk factors since December 31, 2015. For additional information on risk factors, refer to Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The First Bancshares, Inc., filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2016.

 

ITEM 2: UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 3: DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

ITEM 4: (REMOVED AND RESERVED)

 

Item 5: Other Information

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 6: EXHIBITS -

 

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
3.1  

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of The First Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 28, 2016.

 

3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of The First Bancshares, Inc. effective as of March 17, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 18, 2016.
     
4.1   Form of Certificate of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-137198 on Form S-1 filed on 9/8/2006.
     
31.1    Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
31.2   Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.1  

Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to 18 U. S. C.

Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.

     
32.2  

Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U. S. C.

Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley

Act of 2002.

 

 

       
  101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
       
  101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
       
  101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
       
  101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
       
  101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
       
  101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 

 

 

 

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.

 

    THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
    (Registrant)
     
    /s/ M. RAY (HOPPY)COLE, JR.
November 9, 2016   M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr.
(Date)   Chief Executive Officer

 

   

/s/ DEE DEE LOWERY 

November 9, 2016   Dee Dee Lowery, Executive
(Date)   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

Certificate pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as adopted pursuant to section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002-Chief Executive Officer

 

I, M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr., certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The First Bancshares, Inc.

 

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: November 9, 2016   /s/ M. Ray (Hoppy)Cole, Jr.
       
      M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr.
      Chief Executive Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to The First Bancshares, Inc., and will be retained by The First Bancshares, Inc., and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

Certificate pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as adopted pursuant to section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002-Principal Accounting and Financial Officer

 

I, DeeDee Lowery, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The First Bancshares, Inc.;

 

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: November 9, 2016   /s/ Dee Dee Lowery
       
      Dee Dee Lowery, Executive Vice
      President and Chief Financial Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to The First Bancshares, Inc., and will be retained by The First Bancshares, Inc., and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 

 

 

 

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 The First Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") for the period ended September 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr., the 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 Section 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.

 

    /s/ M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr.
  Name: M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr.
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
  Date: November 9, 2016

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to The First Bancshares, Inc., and will be retained by The First Bancshares, Inc., and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

This certification shall not be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of § 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

 

 

 

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 The First Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") for the period ended September 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Dee Dee Lowery, the 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 Section 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.

  

    /s/ Dee Dee Lowery
  Name: Dee Dee Lowery
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  Date: November 9, 2016

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to The First Bancshares, Inc., and will be retained by The First Bancshares, Inc., and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

This certification shall not be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of § 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

 

 

PROXY SOLICITED FOR SPECIAL MEETING

OF SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 29, 2016

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

 

The undersigned hereby appoints M. Ray “Hoppy” Cole, Jr. as Proxy with the power to appoint his substitute and hereby authorizes him to represent the undersigned, and to vote upon all matters described in the Proxy Statement furnished herewith, subject to any directions indicated herein, with full power to vote all shares of common stock of The First Bancshares, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on November 17, 2016, at the Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on December 29, 2016 or any adjournment(s) thereof.

 

IF NO DIRECTIONS ARE GIVEN, THE PROXIES WILL VOTE FOR EACH NOMINEE LISTED BELOW AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSON NAMED ABOVE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OTHER BUSINESS PROPERLY COMING BEFORE THE MEETING.

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposals 1 and 2

 

PROPOSAL 1: To approve the issuance of shares of common stock upon the conversion of the Company’s Series E Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock. 

  ¨ FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN  

 

PROPOSAL 2: To approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to adopt Proposal 1. 

  ¨ FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN  

  

Signature:    
     
Signature:    

 

Dated:__________________________, 2016

 

Votes must be indicated by an (x) in Black or Blue Ink.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.