UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS
AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One)
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þ | | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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| | For the fiscal year ended | December 31, 2019 |
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| | | OR |
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o | | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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| | For the transition period from to |
Commission File Number: 1-10312
A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. 2011 DIRECTOR STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
1111 BAY AVENUE
SUITE 500
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31901
Table of Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Plan Participants and Plan Administrator
Synovus Financial Corp.
2011 Director Stock Purchase Plan:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of financial condition of the Synovus Financial Corp. 2011 Director Stock Purchase Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related statements of operations and changes in plan equity for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Plan as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and changes in its plan equity for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 2012.
Atlanta, Georgia
March 30, 2020
SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
2011 DIRECTOR STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Statements of Financial Condition
December 31, 2019 and 2018
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Assets | 2019 | | 2018 |
Common stock of Synovus Financial Corp., at fair value - 429,949 and 409,134 shares (cost $10,272,791 and $9,222,441) at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (Note 3) | $ | 16,854,009 |
| | $ | 13,088,200 |
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Contributions receivable | 79,861 |
| | 76,794 |
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Dividends receivable | 129,021 |
| | 102,284 |
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| $ | 17,062,891 |
| | $ | 13,267,278 |
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Plan Equity | | | |
Plan equity (234 participants and 235 participants at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively) | $ | 17,062,891 |
| | $ | 13,267,278 |
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See accompanying notes to audited financial statements.
SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
2011 DIRECTOR STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Statements of Operations and Changes in Plan Equity
Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017
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| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Investment income: | | | | | |
Dividend income | $ | 502,912 |
| | $ | 410,019 |
| | $ | 256,973 |
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Realized gains on distributions/withdrawals to participants, net (Note 7) | 306,534 |
| | 1,235,890 |
| | 1,002,786 |
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Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of common stock of Synovus Financial Corp. (Note 6) | 2,715,459 |
| | (7,731,431 | ) | | 1,970,641 |
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Total investment income (loss) | 3,524,905 |
| | (6,085,522 | ) | | 3,230,400 |
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Contributions (Note 5): | | | | | |
Participants | 986,659 |
| | 983,493 |
| | 955,930 |
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Synovus Financial Corp. and participating subsidiaries | 147,999 |
| | 147,524 |
| | 141,649 |
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Total contributions | 1,134,658 |
| | 1,131,017 |
| | 1,097,579 |
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Withdrawals by participants - common stock of Synovus Financial Corp., at fair value (24,162, 46,785, and 41,454, shares for years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively) (Note 7) | (863,950 | ) | | (2,247,952 | ) | | (1,825,186 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in plan equity | 3,795,613 |
| | (7,202,457 | ) | | 2,502,793 |
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Plan equity at beginning of period | 13,267,278 |
| | 20,469,735 |
| | 17,966,942 |
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Plan equity at end of period | $ | 17,062,891 |
| | $ | 13,267,278 |
| | $ | 20,469,735 |
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See accompanying notes to audited financial statements.
SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
2011 DIRECTOR STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1 - Description of the Plan
On February 16, 2011, the Board of Directors of Synovus Financial Corp. (Synovus) adopted the Synovus Financial Corp. 2011 Director Stock Purchase Plan (the Plan). The Plan was approved by Synovus’ shareholders on April 27, 2011 and became effective as of June 1, 2011. On June 1, 2011, the plan assets of a predecessor plan, the Synovus Financial Corp. Director Stock Purchase Plan, were rolled over into the Plan. The Plan is designed to enable participating directors of Synovus and its subsidiaries to purchase shares of Synovus common stock at prevailing market prices from contributions made by them and by Synovus, its subsidiaries, and divisions (the Participating Affiliates).
Synovus serves as the Plan Administrator. The Plan agent is American Stock Transfer & Trust, LLC, hereafter referred to as “Agent.”
Any person who currently serves or in the future is elected to serve as a director of Synovus or Synovus Bank or any non-employee who serves as an advisory director or divisional advisory director of any division of Synovus Bank is eligible to participate in the Plan. Participants may contribute to the Plan only through automatic transfers of contributions from their designated demand deposit accounts. Contributions by directors of Synovus Bank or any division of Synovus Bank may not exceed $1,000 per calendar quarter. Contributions by directors of Synovus may not exceed $5,000 per calendar quarter. Matching contributions to the Plan are to be made by the Participating Affiliates in an amount equal to 0% to 50% of each participant’s contribution, with the applicable match to be set from time to time by Synovus’ Board of Directors. The matching contribution for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 was 15%. At any time, Synovus may change the matching contribution without an amendment to the Plan. All contributions to the Plan vest immediately.
The Plan provides, among other things, that all expenses of administering the Plan shall be paid by Synovus. Brokers’ fees, commissions, and other transaction costs incurred in connection with the purchase in the open market of Synovus common stock under the Plan are included in the cost of such stock to each participant.
The Plan maintains an account balance for each participant equal to the number of shares of Synovus common stock purchased on his/her behalf, plus the related investment income or loss. Each participant has the rights and powers of ordinary Synovus shareholders over the shares of common stock held for his/her benefit in the Plan, including the right to vote his/her shares. Each participant will receive cash dividends, stock dividends, stock splits and similar changes in ownership for the shares held in the Plan to the same extent as other ordinary Synovus shareholders.
The Plan provides that all shares must be held for a minimum period of six months, during which the shares cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or otherwise disposed of. Subsequent to the six-month holding period, the Plan provides that each participant may withdraw at any time all or part of the full number of shares in his/her account balance. The participant may elect to receive the proceeds in the form of shares of common stock of Synovus or in a lump-sum cash distribution.
The Plan provides that upon termination of participation in the Plan, each former participant will receive, at his/her discretion, (i) the full number of shares of Synovus common stock held on his/her behalf by the Agent, together with a check for any fractional share interest, or (ii) a lump-sum cash distribution for the proceeds of the sale of all shares held on his/her behalf by the Agent.
Participation in the Plan shall automatically terminate upon termination of a participant’s status as a director whether by death, retirement, resignation, or otherwise.
Synovus reserves the right to terminate or amend the Plan at any time, provided, however, that no termination or amendment shall affect or diminish any participant’s right to the benefit of contributions made by him/her, or the Participating Affiliates prior to the date of such amendment or termination.
Synovus reserves the right to suspend Participating Affiliate contributions to the Plan at anytime.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The Plan’s investment in Synovus common stock is stated at fair value, which is based on the closing price per share of Synovus common stock at year-end obtained by using market quotations on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the principal
public exchange market for which such securities are traded. The December 31, 2019 and 2018 fair value was $39.20 and $31.99 per share, respectively.
The Plan’s investment in the common stock of Synovus is exposed to market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the Plan’s financial statements.
The realized gain or loss on distributions to participants is determined by computing the difference between the average cost per share and the fair value per share at the date of the distribution to the participants, less transaction costs.
Purchases and sales of Synovus common stock are reflected on a trade-date basis. Dividend income is accrued on the record date.
Contributions by participants and Participating Affiliates are accounted for on the accrual basis. Withdrawals are accounted for upon distribution. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, Plan investments include 10,002 and 47 shares held by 2 and 2 former directors, respectively, who have not yet received distribution as permitted by the terms of the Plan.
Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements
The Plan determines the fair value of its assets consistent with the provisions of the accounting standard for fair value measurements and disclosures. The accounting standard provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the accounting standard are described below:
Level 1 - inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Plan has the ability to access.
Level 2 - inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and other inputs such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.
Level 3 - inputs are unobservable inputs, including inputs that are available in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the related asset or liability.
In instances where inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, fair value measurements in their entirety are categorized based on the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation. The Plan’s investment in Synovus common stock is considered a Level 1 input under the fair value hierarchy.
Management of the Plan also believes that the carrying amount of the receivables is a reasonable approximation of fair value due to their short-term nature.
Note 4 - Tax Status of the Plan
The Plan is not qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Plan does not provide for income taxes because any income is taxable to the participants. Participants in the Plan must treat as compensation income their pro rata share of contributions made to the Plan by the Participating Affiliates. Cash dividends paid on Synovus common stock purchased under the Plan will be taxable to the participants on a pro rata basis for Federal and state income tax purposes during the year any such dividend is received by the participant of the Plan. Upon disposition of the Synovus common stock purchased under the Plan, participants must treat any gain or loss as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending upon when such disposition occurs.
Note 5 - Contributions
Contributions by Participants and the Participating Affiliates for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
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| 2019 |
| Participants | | Participating Affiliates |
Synovus Financial Corp. | $ | 159,000 |
| | $ | 23,850 |
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Synovus Bank | 827,659 |
| | 124,149 |
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Total contributions | $ | 986,659 |
| | $ | 147,999 |
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| 2018 |
| Participants | | Participating Affiliates |
Synovus Financial Corp. | $ | 183,500 |
| | $ | 27,525 |
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Synovus Bank | 799,993 |
| | 119,999 |
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Total contributions | $ | 983,493 |
| | $ | 147,524 |
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| 2017 |
| Participants | | Participating Affiliates |
Synovus Financial Corp. | $ | 157,500 |
| | $ | 21,900 |
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Synovus Bank | 798,430 |
| | 119,749 |
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Total contributions | $ | 955,930 |
| | $ | 141,649 |
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Note 6 - Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) in Common Stock of Synovus Financial Corp.
Changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in Synovus common stock for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
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| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Unrealized appreciation at beginning of year | $ | 3,865,758 |
| | $ | 11,597,189 |
| | $ | 9,626,548 |
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Unrealized appreciation at end of year | 6,581,217 |
| | 3,865,758 |
| | 11,597,189 |
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Total change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | $ | 2,715,459 |
| | $ | (7,731,431 | ) | | $ | 1,970,641 |
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Note 7 - Realized Gains on Distributions to Participants
The realized gains on distributions/withdrawals to participants for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
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| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Fair value at date of distribution of shares of Synovus common stock | $ | 863,950 |
| | $ | 2,247,952 |
| | $ | 1,825,186 |
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Less cost (computed on an average cost basis) of shares of Synovus common stock distributed or redeemed | 557,416 |
| | 1,012,062 |
| | 822,400 |
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Total realized gains | $ | 306,534 |
| | $ | 1,235,890 |
| | $ | 1,002,786 |
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Note 8 - Subsequent Events
The COVID-19 outbreak, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, has negatively impacted the world economy and common stock share prices for most companies, including Synovus’ common stock share price. The Plan’s investment in the common stock of Synovus is stated at fair value based on the closing price of $39.20 per share of Synovus common stock at December 31, 2019, a value significantly higher than the current market price. The impact of COVID-19 on companies continues to evolve rapidly and its future effects on the Plan's financial position, results of operations, and changes in plan equity are uncertain.
EXHIBITS
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Exhibit Number | | Description |
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23.1 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Synovus Financial Corp., as administrator of the Synovus Financial Corp. 2011 Director Stock Purchase Plan, has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 11-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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| | SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. 2011 DIRECTOR STOCK PURCHASE PLAN |
| | BY: | SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP., AS PLAN ADMINISTRATOR |
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March 30, 2020 | | By: | /s/Allan E. Kamensky |
| | | Allan E. Kamensky |
| | | Executive Vice President and General Counsel |