-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, TtEeHa1p8ck/TZkhYElNByQ9x4lSJ/m+us4gqkon8ceneA3csuQb1tRwXNBGnlJa mD6VtcdlrPLGMgI0Sy1ujQ== 0001193125-06-220781.txt : 20061101 0001193125-06-220781.hdr.sgml : 20061101 20061101172237 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-06-220781 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20061026 ITEM INFORMATION: Results of Operations and Financial Condition ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20061101 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20061101 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PLACER SIERRA BANCSHARES CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001279410 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022] IRS NUMBER: 943411134 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-50652 FILM NUMBER: 061179913 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 525 J STREET CITY: SACRAMENTO STATE: CA ZIP: 95814 BUSINESS PHONE: 9165544821 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 525 J STREET CITY: SACRAMENTO STATE: CA ZIP: 95814 8-K/A 1 d8ka.htm AMENDMENT TO FORM 8-K Amendment to Form 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 8-K/A

 


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 26, 2006

 


PLACER SIERRA BANCSHARES

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

California   0-50652   94-3411134

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

525 J Street, Sacramento, California   95814
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (916) 554-4750

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Explanatory Note

This Form 8-K/A amends the Current Report on Form 8-K of Placer Sierra Bancshares (the “Company”), filed with the SEC on October 27, 2006 regarding the Company’s Results of Operations and Financial Condition. The original Form 8-K was erroneously filed as a Rule 425 filing. This Form 8-K/A is being filed to clarify and amend the original Form 8-K to show that it should not have been filed as a Rule 425 filing. Accordingly, this Form 8-K amends and restates in its entirety the front page of the original Form 8-K. All other items of the Form 8-K remain the same.

Section 2 – Financial Information

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On October 26, 2006, Placer Sierra Bancshares (the “Registrant” or the “Company”) issued a press release regarding its results of operations and financial condition for the period ended September 30, 2006. The text of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. The information included in the press release is furnished (not filed) as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Section 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01. Other Events

On October 26, 2006, the Company also announced the declaration of a 2006 fourth quarter cash dividend in the amount of $0.15 per common share outstanding. The dividend will be payable on or about November 23, 2006 to its shareholders of record on November 10, 2006.

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.  

Description of Exhibit

99.1   Press Release dated October 26, 2006, deemed furnished (not filed) as Exhibit 99.1.


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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

  Placer Sierra Bancshares
  (Registrant)
Date November 1, 2006  
 

/s/ David E. Hooston

 

David E. Hooston

Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.  

Description of Exhibit

99.1   Press Release dated October 26, 2006, deemed furnished (not filed) as Exhibit 99.1.
EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED OCTOBER 26, 2006 Press Release dated October 26, 2006

Exhibit 99.1

PLACER SIERRA BANCSHARES

PRESS RELEASE

OCTOBER 26, 2006

For more information contact:

 

AT THE COMPANY:   AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
Frank J. Mercardante, CEO   Tony Rossi
David E. Hooston, CFO   (310) 854-8317
(916) 554-4750  

PLACER SIERRA BANCSHARES REPORTS NET INCOME OF $3.0 MILLION

FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2006

Sacramento, California – October 26, 2006 - Placer Sierra Bancshares (NASDAQ: PLSB), a $2.7 billion asset commercial banking company serving the Northern, Central and Southern California markets, today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 was $3.0 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared with net income of $6.6 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2005. Third quarter 2006 results include pre-tax charges of $8.7 million, ($5.0 million after taxes), or the equivalent of $0.23 per diluted share, which consist primarily of:

 

    expenses related to the retirement and resignation of the Chief Executive Officer during the quarter;

 

    accelerated vesting of options granted to the new Chief Executive Officer;

 

    an impairment charge on the Company’s administrative buildings in Auburn, CA;

 

    the write-off of issuance costs on two of the Company’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures, which the Company plans to refinance in the fourth quarter of 2006;

 

    expenses resulting from the termination of an employment and a consulting agreement with former employees; and

 

    the write-down of certain assets identified as impaired through the Company’s re-branding initiative.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $14.7 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared with net income of $17.9 million, or $1.18 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Year-to-date 2006 results include pre-tax charges of $9.3 million ($5.4 million after taxes), or the equivalent of $0.30 per diluted share; which consists of both the charges recorded in the third quarter, as discussed above, as well as $622,000 in pre-tax charges ($360,000 after taxes), recorded in the second quarter of 2006 related to the bankruptcy of a vendor and the settlement of a lawsuit.

Third quarter 2006 and year-to-date diluted earnings per share reflect the increase in earnings attributable to the acquisition of Southwest Community Bancorp (Southwest) as of the close of business on June 9, 2006, offset by the increase in the number of shares outstanding resulting from the issuance of new shares in connection with this all-stock acquisition.

The following non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation of the Company’s financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operating results primarily because they exclude amounts included in non-interest expense that management does not consider part of ongoing operating results when assessing the performance of the Company. The non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate the comparison of results for current periods and guidance for future periods with results for past periods (dollars in thousands, except per share data):


     For the Three Months Ended     For the Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,     June 30,     September 30,  
     2006     2005     2006     2006     2005  

Net interest income

   $ 29,474     $ 21,238     $ 23,260     $ 73,567     $ 61,628  

Non-interest income

     4,606       4,471       4,615       12,911       12,038  
                                        
     34,080       25,709       27,875       86,478       73,666  

Provision for the allowance for loan and lease losses

     —         —         —         —         —    

Non-interest expense

     29,495       14,657       17,711       62,652       44,115  

Provision for income taxes

     1,581       4,406       4,013       9,144       11,634  
                                        

GAAP net income

     3,004       6,646       6,151       14,682       17,917  

Non-GAAP adjustments:

          

Expenses relating to CEO retirement and resignation

     2,074       —         —         2,074       —    

Accelerated vesting of options granted to new CEO

     424       —         —         424       —    

Impairment of administrative buildings

     4,774       —         —         4,774       —    

Write-off of debt issuance costs

     952       —         —         952       —    

Termination of agreements with former employees

     242       —         —         242       —    

Write-down of assets relating to rebranding

     199       —         —         199       —    

Loss relating to bankruptcy of vendor

     38       —         500       538       —    

Settlement of lawsuit

     —         —         122       122       —    

Tax effect

     (3,659 )     —         (262 )     (3,920 )     —    
                                        

Non-GAAP operating earnings

   $ 8,048     $ 6,646     $ 6,511     $ 20,087     $ 17,917  
                                        

Weighted average shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     22,330,052       14,962,765       16,745,134       18,067,491       14,922,100  

Diluted

     22,603,495       15,262,052       17,012,998       18,325,470       15,235,484  

Average total assets

   $ 2,656,366     $ 1,862,842     $ 2,078,085     $ 2,213,113     $ 1,838,461  

Average shareholders’ equity

   $ 395,626     $ 200,746     $ 255,595     $ 288,708     $ 196,008  

GAAP Profitability Measures:

          

Earnings per share – basic

   $ 0.13     $ 0.44     $ 0.37     $ 0.81     $ 1.20  

Earnings per share – diluted

   $ 0.13     $ 0.44     $ 0.36     $ 0.80     $ 1.18  

Return on average assets

     0.45 %     1.42 %     1.19 %     0.89 %     1.30 %

Return on average shareholders’ equity

     3.01 %     13.13 %     9.65 %     6.80 %     12.22 %

Efficiency ratio

     86.55 %     57.01 %     63.54 %     72.45 %     59.89 %

Non-GAAP Profitability Measures:

          

Operating earnings per share – basic

   $ 0.36     $ 0.44     $ 0.39     $ 1.11     $ 1.20  

Operating earnings per share – diluted

   $ 0.36     $ 0.44     $ 0.38     $ 1.10     $ 1.18  

Operating return on average assets

     1.20 %     1.42 %     1.26 %     1.21 %     1.30 %

Operating return on average shareholders’ equity

     8.07 %     13.13 %     10.22 %     9.30 %     12.22 %

Operating efficiency ratio

     61.01 %     57.01 %     61.31 %     61.67 %     59.89 %

 

2


STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Following the change in leadership during the third quarter, the Company conducted a thorough review of all areas of its operations to identify opportunities to position the Company for improved performance in the future. As a result of this review, the Company began to execute the following strategic initiatives:

Balance Sheet Repositioning

The Company is taking a number of steps designed to reduce its cost of funds, better manage its liquidity requirements and expand its net interest margin. These steps include:

 

    Refinancing $37.0 million in trust preferred securities at interest rates 190-200 basis points lower than what the Company is currently paying;

 

    Increasing the capacity of its FHLB and Fed Funds lines of credit in order to manage liquidity requirements;

 

    Reducing interest rates offered on deposit accounts compared to rates offered within its market areas;

 

    Allowing the run-off of CDs as they mature and increasing the percentage of core deposits within the deposit base.

The Company expects that it will begin to experience the positive effects of these strategies on its net interest margin in the fourth quarter of 2006 and continuing throughout 2007.

Re-branding

Placer Sierra Bancshares plans to consolidate all of its branches under a single brand name to foster cohesion and a unified corporate culture among the operations that have been acquired over the past few years. It is expected that the new brand will be launched by the end of the first quarter of 2007.

Core System Restructuring

The Company is in the process of restructuring its core processing systems to allow it to provide best of class electronic banking depository products to middle market companies. The system improvements will be phased in beginning in the fourth quarter of 2006 through mid-2007. The Company believes that the improved system will have a positive effect on its core deposit gathering efforts.

Increased Focus on SBA Lending

The Company expects SBA lending to become a greater contributor to its revenue stream as the successful SBA operating strategy that Southwest employed in San Diego County is replicated throughout the rest of Placer Sierra’s markets.

Commenting on the strategic initiatives, Frank J. Mercardante, Chief Executive Officer of Placer Sierra Bancshares, said, “We utilized the third quarter as an opportunity to make a thorough evaluation of our strengths and weaknesses and identify how the Company can best deploy its capital to generate strong returns for shareholders. As part of this process, we made a number of tough decisions related to corporate assets and personnel which are no longer aligned with the Company’s long-term plans. While the charges we recorded negatively impacted our near-term results, we believe the resulting expense reductions will increase our net income by $170,000 in the fourth quarter and approximately $900,000 throughout 2007. We also believe that we have developed an effective strategic plan that can help us better leverage the significant assets held by the Company and deliver improved financial performance in the future.”

 

3


INCOME STATEMENT

NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2006 was $29.5 million, compared to $21.2 million for the same period of 2005 and $23.3 million for the second quarter of 2006. The year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter increase in net interest income is attributable to the full quarter benefit of the merger with Southwest and reflects the growth in average interest earning asset balances of 32.7% and 20.8% for the third quarter of 2006 compared to the third quarter of 2005 and the second quarter of 2006, respectively. The increase in net interest income is also attributable to an increase in the Company’s net interest margin.

NET INTEREST MARGIN

Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2006 was 5.45%, an increase of 25 basis points from the third quarter of 2005, and an increase of 20 basis points from the second quarter of 2006. The increase in net interest margin is primarily attributable to the full quarter benefit of the addition of Southwest’s low-cost deposit base and increases in yields on earning assets, partially offset by increased funding costs throughout the remainder of the Bank’s operations.

During the third quarter of 2006, the yield on average earning assets increased to 7.24% from 6.99% for the second quarter of 2006. The yield on average loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees and costs, increased to 7.76% for the third quarter of 2006 from 7.41% for the second quarter of 2006. The increase in the yield on earning assets and average loans principally reflects the impact the rising interest rate environment has on loans tied to indexes associated with the prime rate.

The cost of deposits increased five basis points to 1.53% in the third quarter of 2006 from 1.48% for the second quarter of 2006. The cost of deposits increased principally due to increased rates paid on money market and time deposit accounts required to attract funding to support loan growth. The overall cost of interest bearing liabilities increased to 2.83% for the third quarter of 2006 compared to 2.49% for the second quarter of 2006. These increases are primarily due to both the repricing of the Company’s borrowings in a higher interest rate environment and the increase in the cost of deposits.

NON-INTEREST INCOME

Total non-interest income for the third quarter of 2006 was $4.6 million, compared with $4.5 million for the third quarter of 2005 and $4.6 million for the second quarter of 2006. Service charges and fees on deposit accounts increased by $309,000, or 14.9%, from the third quarter of 2005 and $362,000, or 17.9%, from the second quarter of 2006. This increase is primarily due to the increase in the number of deposit accounts associated with the acquisition of Southwest. Referral and other loan related fees decreased $649,000, or 50.0%, from the third quarter of 2005 and $275,000, or 29.8%, from the second quarter of 2006 primarily due to a decrease in real estate loans referred to third parties. The gain on sale of loans decreased $183,000, or 45.2%, from the second quarter of 2006 due to a lower dollar volume of SBA loans sold in the third quarter. There were no loans sold in 2005. Referral fees and gains on sales of loans are highly dependent on a small number of transactions and are subject to significant fluctuation from period to period based on the interest rate environment.

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

Total non-interest expense for the third quarter of 2006 was $29.5 million, compared with $14.7 million for the third quarter of 2005 and $17.7 million for the second quarter of 2006. Non-interest expense includes the previously discussed $8.7 million in pre-tax expenses recorded in the third quarter of 2006. Excluding the $8.7 million in expenses, total non-interest expense would have been $20.8 million for the third quarter of 2006. Salaries and benefits costs increased 43.3% to $13.3 million in the third quarter of 2006 from $9.3 million in the second quarter of 2006. Exclusive of $2.6 million in pre-tax expenses from the change in CEO during the quarter and severance expenses resulting from the termination of an employment agreement with a former employee, included in the $8.7 million in pre-tax expenses discussed above, salaries and benefits costs increased $1.5 million, or 15.7%, in the third quarter of 2006 compared to the second quarter of 2006 principally due to the acquisition of Southwest.

EFFICIENCY RATIO

The Company’s efficiency ratio for the third quarter of 2006 was 86.55%, compared to 57.01% in the third quarter of 2005 and 63.54% for the second quarter of 2006. The increase in the efficiency ratio in the third quarter of 2006 compared to the third quarter of 2005 and second quarter of 2006 is primarily due to the $8.7 million in previously discussed expenses recorded in the third quarter of 2006. Excluding the previously discussed expenses recorded in the second and third quarters of 2006, the Company’s operating efficiency ratio for the third quarter of 2006 would have been 61.01%, compared to 61.31% in the second quarter of 2006.

 

4


BALANCE SHEET

ASSETS

As of September 30, 2006, total assets were $2.674 billion, compared to $2.696 billion at June 30, 2006 and $1.860 billion at December 31, 2005. The decline in assets since June 30, 2006, is principally the result of a decline in total deposits, which reduces the amount of funds available for investment in various asset classes. The decline in deposits is principally the result of normal fluctuations in the accounts of two of the Company’s largest depositors and the scheduled withdrawal of significant balances by two other large customers who had temporarily deposited sizable funds from sales of real estate assets and businesses. The increase in assets since December 31, 2005, is principally related to the acquisition of Southwest in June of this year.

LOANS

Total loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees and costs, were $1.819 billion at September 30, 2006, compared with $1.780 billion at June 30, 2006 and $1.375 billion at December 31, 2005. The $38.8 million, or 2.2%, increase in loans since June 30, 2006, was centered in and nearly equally divided between term 1-4 single family home loans and commercial real estate loans within the real estate – mortgage category, which increased 2.9% to $1.293 billion at September 30, 2006, from $1.256 billion at June 30, 2006. At September 30, 2006, total real estate-related loans accounted for 88.9% of gross loans and leases, compared to 88.8% at June 30, 2006. The increase in loans since December 31, 2005 is principally related to the acquisition of Southwest in June of this year.

DEPOSITS

Total deposits declined 1.5% to $2.174 billion at September 30, 2006, from $2.207 billion at June 30, 2006 and increased 38.2% from $1.573 billion at December 31, 2005. Exclusive of the $71.9 million decline in deposits from June 30, 2006 associated with the normal fluctuations of the two of Company’s largest demand deposit customers and the scheduled withdrawal of short-term accounts by two other large interest-bearing deposit customers, total deposits increased by $39.1 million, or 2.2% as of September 30, 2006 compared to June 30, 2006. The $71.9 million decline in deposits from June 30, 2006 includes a $36.8 million decline in money market and time certificates of deposits and a $35.1 million decline in non-interest bearing deposits. Balances for the two largest demand deposit customers accounted for 14.7% of total deposits at September 30, 2006 and 16.0% at June 30, 2006. The increase in total deposits from December 31, 2005 is principally related to the acquisition of Southwest in June of this year.

In response to the general increase in market rates and to ensure deposit growth at a pace consistent with the expected growth in loans, the Company substantially increased rates paid on money market and time deposit accounts at the end of the second quarter of 2006. As a consequence, exclusive of the $36.8 million decline in the account balances of money market and time certificates of deposits of the large customers discussed above, the Company’s mix of deposits changed between June 30 and September 30, 2006, with lower cost savings and interest bearing demand accounts declining a combined $18.1 million, or 4.8%, while money market and certificates of deposit accounts increased $78.6 million, or 9.9%.

With the change in liquidity management in the third quarter, the Company significantly reduced rates offered on deposit accounts compared to rates offered within its market areas. The Company anticipates that while this may slow the growth of total deposits in the months ahead, it will promote the acquisition of relationship-based core deposit customers and reduce the overall cost of funds. The Company anticipates that if the market rates remain constant, its net interest margin and cost of deposits will remain relatively flat through the balance of 2006 as higher-cost time certificates of deposit mature and are replaced by lower cost deposit products.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Total shareholders’ equity was $395.7 million at September 30, 2006, compared with $391.4 million at June 30, 2006 and $209.3 million at December 31, 2005.

 

5


CREDIT QUALITY

The Company’s overall credit quality remained strong during the third quarter. Non-performing loans to total loans and leases held for investment increased to 0.74% at September 30, 2006 from 0.17% at June 30, 2006, primarily due to three new non-performing loans identified in the quarter. An impairment analysis of these three loans noted no specific reserves were necessary as all of the loans were adequately secured by real estate. Net loan loss recoveries were $796,000 in the third quarter of 2006, representing an annualized 0.18% of average loans and leases held for investment, compared with net charge-offs of $11,000 for the second quarter of 2006. Total recoveries as a percentage of total charge-offs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was 616.88% and 150.16%, respectively, compared to 51.42% and 102.33%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. Based on the above, management determined that no provision for loan and lease losses was required during the third quarter.

The allowance for loan and lease losses totaled $22.3 million at September 30, 2006 and represented 1.23% of loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees and costs, and 165.44% of non-performing loans and leases as of that date. The allowance for loan and lease losses totaled $21.5 million at June 30, 2006 and represented 1.21% of loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees and costs, and 702.41% of non-performing loans and leases as of that date.

REGULATORY CAPITAL

Placer Sierra Bancshares’ regulatory capital ratios at September 30, 2006 are as follows:

 

Leverage Ratio

  

Placer Sierra Bancshares

   9.4 %

Minimum regulatory requirement

   4.0 %

Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio

  

Placer Sierra Bancshares

   11.2 %

Minimum regulatory requirement

   4.0 %

Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio

  

Placer Sierra Bancshares

   12.4 %

Minimum regulatory requirement

   8.0 %

OUTLOOK

The Company announced that beginning in 2007 it will no longer issue formal earnings per share guidance. Management will continue to provide meaningful information regarding trends in key metrics to help the investment community model the Company’s financial performance. The change in policy related to earnings per share guidance is intended to affect a greater balance between near-term and long-term strategic planning and financial goals within the Company.

Commenting on the outlook for Placer Sierra Bancshares, Mr. Mercardante said, “As we move through 2007, we believe the strategic changes we are making will begin to have a positive impact on our net interest margin, deposit gathering, and fee generation. While this is not an overnight process, we are making progress towards reshaping the Company to more effectively capitalize on our growth opportunities and improve the execution on our business plan going forward.”

FOURTH QUARTER 2006 DIVIDEND

Placer Sierra Bancshares also announced today that the Board of Directors declared a common stock cash dividend of $0.15 per share for the fourth quarter of 2006. The dividend will be payable on or about November 23, 2006 to its shareholders of record on November 10, 2006.

 

6


ABOUT PLACER SIERRA BANCSHARES

Placer Sierra Bancshares is a Northern California-based bank holding company for Placer Sierra Bank with 49 branches operating throughout California. The bank has 31 branches in Northern California extending from the Greater Sacramento area to the San Joaquin Valley. The bank also has 18 branches in the Southern California counties of Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino.

Placer Sierra Bank and its divisions, Sacramento Commercial Bank, Bank of Orange County, Bank of Lodi and Southwest Community Bank, offer customers the resources of a large financial institution and the resourcefulness and superior customer service of a community bank.

Placer Sierra Bank offers a broad array of deposit products and services for both commercial and retail customers. These products include electronic banking, cash management services, electronic bill payment and investment services with an emphasis on relationship banking. Placer Sierra Bank also provides competitive loan products such as commercial loans and lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, Small Business Administration loans, residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit and construction loans. For more information, please visit www.placersierrabank.com.

Placer Sierra Bancshares is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the stock symbol PLSB. For more information about Placer Sierra Bancshares, please visit www.placersierrabancshares.com.

ABOUT NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures. The table at the beginning of the press release reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures included to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures include operating earnings, operating earnings per share, operating return on average assets, operating return on average shareholders’ equity and operating efficiency ratio.

We believe that the non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operating results primarily because they exclude amounts that management does not consider part of ongoing operating results when assessing the performance of the Company. We believe that the non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate the comparison of results for current periods and guidance for future periods with results for past periods.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting, differ from GAAP measures with the same names and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar names that are used by other companies.

We refer to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the performance of the Company’s ongoing operations and for planning and forecasting in future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate our internal comparisons to the Company’s historical operating results.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward looking statements. These forward looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company’s expectations regarding future operating results, including anticipated earnings per share, strategic initiatives and their anticipated consequences, and growth in loans and deposits. The Company cautions readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the possibility that personnel changes will not proceed as planned; growth may be inhibited if the Company cannot attract deposits, including low-cost deposits; revenues are lower than expected or expenses are higher than expected; competitive pressure among depository institutions increases significantly; the cost of additional capital is more than expected; changes in the interest rate environment reduces interest margins; general economic conditions, either nationally or in the market areas in which the Company does business, are less favorable than expected; changes that may occur in the securities markets; the Company may suffer an interruption of services from third-party service providers that could adversely affect the Company’s business; the Company may not be able to maintain an effective system of internal and disclosure controls; estimated cost savings from

 

7


the merger with Southwest Community Bancorp (Southwest) cannot be fully realized within the expected time frame; revenues following the merger are lower than expected; potential or actual litigation occurs; costs or difficulties related to the integration of the businesses of the Company and Southwest are more than expected; or legislation or changes in regulatory requirements adversely affect the businesses in which the Company is engaged. Additional factors that could cause the Company’s financial results to differ materially from those described in the forward looking statements can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (under the heading “Risk Factors”), Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to revise or publicly release any revision or update to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statements were made, except as required by law.

 

8


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

($ in thousands, except per share data)

 

     September 30,
2006
   

June 30,

2006

    March 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 

Assets:

        

Cash and due from banks

   $ 222,392     $ 227,828     $ 61,227     $ 55,768  

Federal funds sold

     24,732       80,917       18,296       1,500  
                                

Cash and cash equivalents

     247,124       308,745       79,523       57,268  

Interest bearing deposits with other banks

     100       100       —         —    

Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value

     255,288       250,960       226,213       228,379  

Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     16,211       16,540       14,476       14,385  

Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market

     3,932       4,509       —         —    

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance for loan and lease losses of $22,325 at September 30, 2006, $21,529 at June 30, 2006, $16,565 at March 31, 2006 and $16,714 at December 31, 2005

     1,796,671       1,758,663       1,399,628       1,358,772  

Premises and equipment, net

     21,117       25,955       24,609       25,288  

Cash surrender value of life insurance

     55,142       54,639       44,736       44,330  

Goodwill

     216,642       216,465       103,260       103,260  

Other intangible assets, net

     23,098       23,821       11,119       11,589  

Other assets

     38,278       35,573       18,402       17,191  
                                

Total assets

   $ 2,673,603     $ 2,695,970     $ 1,921,966     $ 1,860,462  
                                

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:

        

Liabilities:

        

Non-interest bearing deposits

   $ 907,808     $ 964,358     $ 494,879     $ 502,387  

Interest bearing deposits

     1,266,493       1,242,747       1,131,915       1,070,495  
                                

Deposits

     2,174,301       2,207,105       1,626,794       1,572,882  

Short-term borrowings

     15,627       12,291       15,168       11,369  

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

     24,439       21,562       13,432       13,319  

Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures

     63,571       63,603       53,611       53,611  
                                

Total liabilities

     2,277,938       2,304,561       1,709,005       1,651,181  
                                

Shareholders’ equity:

        

Preferred stock

     —         —         —         —    

Common stock

     338,875       336,976       160,921       160,596  

Retained earnings

     58,660       59,010       54,670       50,948  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes

     (1,870 )     (4,577 )     (2,630 )     (2,263 )
                                

Total shareholders’ equity

     395,665       391,409       212,961       209,281  
                                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,673,603     $ 2,695,970     $ 1,921,966     $ 1,860,462  
                                

Shares outstanding

     22,375,896       22,359,832       15,081,654       15,042,981  

Book value per share

   $ 17.68     $ 17.51     $ 14.12     $ 13.91  

 

9


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

($ in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,     June 30,    March 31,    September 30,  
     2006    2005     2006    2006    2006    2005  

Interest income:

                

Interest and fees on loans held for sale

   $ 98    $ —       $ 52    $ —      $ 150    $ —    

Interest and fees on loans and leases held for investment

     34,691      22,864       27,857      24,622      87,170      65,348  

Interest on interest bearing deposits with other banks

     —        —         —        —        —        2  

Interest and dividends on investment securities:

                

Taxable

     2,684      2,540       2,570      2,527      7,781      7,493  

Tax-exempt

     402      185       240      183      825      535  

Interest on federal funds sold

     1,294      264       255      301      1,850      618  
                                            

Total interest income

     39,169      25,853       30,974      27,633      97,776      73,996  
                                            

Interest expense:

                

Interest on deposits

     8,315      3,696       6,324      5,662      20,301      9,793  

Interest on short-term borrowings

     82      21       294      102      478      81  

Interest on junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures

     1,298      898       1,096      1,036      3,430      2,494  
                                            

Total interest expense

     9,695      4,615       7,714      6,800      24,209      12,368  
                                            

Net interest income

     29,474      21,238       23,260      20,833      73,567      61,628  

Provision for the allowance for loan and lease losses

     —        —         —        —        —        —    
                                            

Net interest income after provision for the allowance for loan and lease losses

     29,474      21,238       23,260      20,833      73,567      61,628  
                                            

Non-interest income:

                

Service charges and fees on deposit accounts

     2,379      2,070       2,017      1,830      6,226      5,801  

Referral and other loan-related fees

     649      1,298       924      732      2,305      2,834  

Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance

     503      396       425      406      1,334      1,240  

Debit card and merchant discount fees

     385      312       349      300      1,034      901  

Revenues from sales of non-deposit investment products

     235      204       317      196      748      570  

Gain on sale of loans, net

     222      —         405      —        627      —    

Loan servicing income

     84      102       39      100      223      340  

Loss on sale of investment securities available-for-sale, net

     —        (1 )     —        —        —        (56 )

Other

     149      90       139      126      414      408  
                                            

Total non-interest income

     4,606      4,471       4,615      3,690      12,911      12,038  
                                            

 

10


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-CONTINUED

($ in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     September 30,    June 30,    March 31,    September 30,
     2006    2005    2006    2006    2006    2005

Non-interest expense:

                 

Salaries and employee benefits

     13,314      7,471      9,290      8,301      30,905      22,469

Occupancy and equipment

     7,631      2,039      2,279      2,063      11,973      6,030

Other

     8,550      5,147      6,142      5,082      19,774      15,616
                                         

Total non-interest expense

     29,495      14,657      17,711      15,446      62,652      44,115
                                         

Income before income taxes

     4,585      11,052      10,164      9,077      23,826      29,551

Provision for income taxes

     1,581      4,406      4,013      3,550      9,144      11,634
                                         

Net income

   $ 3,004    $ 6,646    $ 6,151    $ 5,527    $ 14,682    $ 17,917
                                         

Earnings per share:

                 

Basic

   $ 0.13    $ 0.44    $ 0.37    $ 0.37    $ 0.81    $ 1.20
                                         

Diluted

   $ 0.13    $ 0.44    $ 0.36    $ 0.36    $ 0.80    $ 1.18
                                         

Weighted average shares outstanding:

                 

Basic

     22,330,052      14,962,765      16,745,134      15,047,255      18,067,491      14,922,100
                                         

Diluted

     22,603,495      15,262,052      17,012,998      15,292,683      18,325,470      15,235,484
                                         

Cash dividends declared per share

   $ 0.15    $ 0.12    $ 0.12    $ 0.12    $ 0.39    $ 0.36
                                         

 

11


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS

($ in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,     September 30,  
     2006     2005     2006     2006     2006     2005  

Average assets:

            

Loans held for sale

   $ 5,524     $ —       $ 1,787     $ —       $ 1,862     $ —    

Loans and leases, held for investment

     1,773,523       1,340,592       1,508,459       1,383,375       1,557,142       1,311,779  

Investment securities available-for-sale

     252,789       232,046       231,749       226,648       237,159       232,673  

Federal funds sold

     99,126       31,806       21,004       27,414       49,444       28,431  

Interest bearing deposits with other banks

     100       125       36       —         46       125  

Other earning assets

     16,323       14,250       15,127       14,400       15,290       12,723  
                                                

Average earning assets

     2,147,385       1,618,819       1,778,162       1,651,837       1,860,943       1,585,731  

Other assets

     508,981       224,023       299,923       244,703       352,170       252,730  
                                                

Average total assets

   $ 2,656,366     $ 1,862,842     $ 2,078,085     $ 1,896,540     $ 2,213,113     $ 1,838,461  
                                                

Average liabilities and shareholders’ equity:

            

Average liabilities:

            

Non-interest bearing deposits

   $ 874,957     $ 502,631     $ 563,338     $ 490,687     $ 644,402     $ 494,363  

Interest bearing deposits

     1,283,163       1,007,572       1,152,112       1,103,260       1,180,172       1,061,273  
                                                

Average deposits

     2,158,120       1,580,203       1,715,450       1,593,947       1,824,574       1,555,636  

Other interest bearing liabilities

     77,166       64,641       89,768       74,622       80,528       66,916  

Other liabilities

     25,454       17,252       17,272       16,710       19,303       19,901  
                                                

Average liabilities

     2,260,740       1,662,096       1,822,490       1,685,279       1,924,405       1,642,453  

Average shareholders’ equity

     395,626       200,746       255,595       211,261       288,708       196,008  
                                                

Average liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,656,366     $ 1,862,842     $ 2,078,085     $ 1,896,540     $ 2,213,113     $ 1,838,461  
                                                

YIELD ANALYSIS:

            

Average loans and leases held for investment

   $ 1,773,523     $ 1,340,592     $ 1,508,459     $ 1,383,375     $ 1,557,142     $ 1,311,779  

Yield

     7.76 %     6.77 %     7.41 %     7.22 %     7.48 %     6.66 %

Average earnings assets

   $ 2,147,385     $ 1,618,819     $ 1,778,162     $ 1,651,837     $ 1,860,943     $ 1,585,731  

Yield

     7.24 %     6.34 %     6.99 %     6.78 %     7.02 %     6.24 %

Average interest bearing deposits

   $ 1,283,163     $ 1,077,572     $ 1,152,112     $ 1,103,260     $ 1,180,172     $ 1,061,273  

Cost

     2.57 %     1.36 %     2.20 %     2.08 %     2.30 %     1.23 %

Average deposits

   $ 2,158,120     $ 1,580,203     $ 1,715,450     $ 1,593,947     $ 1,824,574     $ 1,555,636  

Cost

     1.53 %     0.93 %     1.48 %     1.44 %     1.49 %     0.84 %

Average interest bearing liabilities

   $ 1,360,329     $ 1,142,213     $ 1,241,880     $ 1,177,882     $ 1,260,700     $ 1,128,189  

Cost

     2.83 %     1.60 %     2.49 %     2.34 %     2.57 %     1.47 %

Interest spread

     4.41 %     4.74 %     4.50 %     4.44 %     4.46 %     4.77 %

Net interest margin

     5.45 %     5.20 %     5.25 %     5.11 %     5.29 %     5.20 %

 

12


CREDIT QUALITY MEASURES

 

     At or for the Nine
Months Ended
9/30/06
    At or for the Six
Months Ended
6/30/06
   

At or for the Three

Months Ended
3/31/06

    At or for the Twelve
Months Ended
12/31/05
    At or for the Nine
Months Ended
9/30/05
 

Non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases held for investment

   0.74 %   0.17 %   0.09 %   0.22 %   0.13 %

Non-performing assets to total assets

   0.50 %   0.11 %   0.07 %   0.16 %   0.09 %

Allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans and leases held for investment

   1.23 %   1.21 %   1.17 %   1.22 %   1.20 %

Allowance for loan and lease losses to non-performing loans and leases

   165.44 %   702.41 %   1294.14 %   545.67 %   948.36 %

Allowance for loan and lease losses to non-performing assets

   165.44 %   702.41 %   1294.14 %   545.67 %   948.36 %

Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans and leases held for investment

   (0.05 )%   0.02 %   0.04 %   (0.04 )%   0.00 %

 

13


LOANS

($ in thousands)

 

     Balance at
09/30/06
    Balance at
06/30/06
    Balance at
03/31/06
    Balance at
12/31/05
    Balance at
09/30/05
 

Loans and leases held for investment:

          

Real estate - mortgage

   $ 1,293,169     $ 1,256,372     $ 1,029,246     $ 990,362     $ 966,523  

Real estate - construction

     326,080       327,729       211,605       207,078       197,975  

Commercial

     170,386       169,676       149,104       147,830       153,172  

Agricultural

     6,162       4,940       3,645       5,779       8,363  

Consumer

     16,033       13,370       12,181       11,703       10,910  

Leases receivable and other

     9,923       11,288       12,755       15,431       17,475  
                                        

Total gross loans and leases held for investment

     1,821,753       1,783,375       1,418,536       1,378,183       1,354,418  

Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     (22,325 )     (21,529 )     (16,565 )     (16,714 )     (16,236 )

Deferred loan and lease fees, net

     (2,757 )     (3,183 )     (2,343 )     (2,697 )     (2,567 )
                                        

Total net loans and leases held for investment

   $ 1,796,671     $ 1,758,663     $ 1,399,628     $ 1,358,772     $ 1,335,615  
                                        

Total loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees and costs

   $ 1,818,996     $ 1,780,192     $ 1,416,193     $ 1,375,486     $ 1,351,851  

Percent of gross loans and leases held for investment:

          

Real estate - mortgage

     71.0 %     70.4 %     72.5 %     71.9 %     71.4 %

Real estate - construction

     17.9 %     18.4 %     14.9 %     15.0 %     14.6 %

Commercial

     9.4 %     9.5 %     10.5 %     10.7 %     11.3 %

Agricultural

     0.3 %     0.3 %     0.3 %     0.4 %     0.6 %

Consumer

     0.9 %     0.8 %     0.9 %     0.8 %     0.8 %

Leases receivable and other

     0.5 %     0.6 %     0.9 %     1.2 %     1.3 %
                                        
     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                                        

 

14


DEPOSITS

($ in thousands)

 

     Balance at
09/30/06
    Balance at
06/30/06
    Balance at
03/31/06
    Balance at
12/31/05
    Balance at
09/30/05
 

Non-interest bearing deposits

   $ 907,808     $ 964,358     $ 494,879     $ 502,387     $ 496,787  

Interest bearing deposits:

          

Interest bearing demand

     224,098       228,723       224,537       223,932       248,013  

Money market

     450,412       418,329       355,474       289,497       292,154  

Savings

     137,015       150,514       151,809       164,123       173,138  

Time, under $100,000

     215,318       204,973       209,235       211,029       197,177  

Time, $100,000 or more

     239,650       240,208       190,860       181,914       168,478  
                                        

Total interest bearing deposits

     1,266,493       1,242,747       1,131,915       1,070,495       1,078,960  
                                        

Total deposits

   $ 2,174,301     $ 2,207,105     $ 1,626,794     $ 1,572,882     $ 1,575,747  
                                        

Percent of total deposits:

          

Non-interest bearing deposits

     41.8 %     43.7 %     30.4 %     31.9 %     31.5 %

Interest bearing deposits:

          

Interest bearing demand

     10.3 %     10.3 %     13.8 %     14.2 %     15.7 %

Money market

     20.7 %     19.0 %     21.9 %     18.5 %     18.6 %

Savings

     6.3 %     6.8 %     9.3 %     10.4 %     11.0 %

Time, under $100,000

     9.9 %     9.3 %     12.9 %     13.4 %     12.5 %

Time, $100,000 or more

     11.0 %     10.9 %     11.7 %     11.6 %     10.7 %
                                        

Total interest bearing deposits

     58.2 %     56.3 %     69.6 %     68.1 %     68.5 %
                                        
     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                                        

 

15

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