-----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, NmkrapxVW0kmUqArE2PERKTQagR3F9ikHScD6Eh91zFGy2F0okKYACXfrI/0iWc+ nSM5IqAnpSEeaqAekGBLsg== 0001193125-07-056977.txt : 20070316 0001193125-07-056977.hdr.sgml : 20070316 20070316150714 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-07-056977 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 13 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20061231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070316 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070316 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Southeastern Bank Financial CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000880116 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022] IRS NUMBER: 582005097 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-24172 FILM NUMBER: 07699764 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3530 WHEELER RD CITY: AUGUSTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30909 BUSINESS PHONE: 7067386990 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3530 WHEELER RD CITY: AUGUSTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30909 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GEORGIA BANK FINANCIAL CORP /GA DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940506 10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                          to                         

Commission file number 0-24172

SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

GEORGIA   58-2005097

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

3530 Wheeler Road

Augusta, Georgia

  30909
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(706) 738-6990

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $3.00 par value per share

  OTCBB

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes  ¨     No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes  ¨    No  x

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  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨         Accelerated filer  x         Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

As of June 30, 2006, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $102,813,978 based on the closing sale price of $38.00 per share as reported on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board.

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

 

Class

 

Outstanding at March 2, 2007

Common Stock, $3 par value per share

  5,433,614 shares

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Document

  

Parts Into Which Incorporated

Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 25, 2007

   Part III

 



Table of Contents
Item 1. Description of Business

General

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation (the “Company”) is a Georgia corporation that is a bank holding company registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). The Company had total consolidated assets of $1.0 billion, total deposits of $801.8 million and total stockholders’ equity of $78.9 million at December 31, 2006. The Company has two wholly-owned subsidiaries in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan area. Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta (“GB&T”) operates eight full service branches in Augusta, Martinez, and Evans, Georgia, and one branch in Athens, Georgia, with mortgage origination offices located in Augusta, Savannah and Athens, Georgia. Southern Bank & Trust (“SB&T”), a federally chartered thrift, opened its main office in Aiken, South Carolina in September 2006. The Company’s operations campus is located in Augusta, Georgia and services both subsidiaries. The Company plans to open additional branches of SB&T to service the South Carolina market.

The Company is community oriented and focuses primarily on offering real estate, commercial and consumer loans and various deposit and other services to individuals, small to medium sized businesses and professionals in its market area. The Company is the largest locally owned and operated financial institution headquartered in Richmond and Columbia Counties. Each member of the Company’s management team is a banking professional with many years of experience in the Augusta or Aiken market with this and other banking organizations. A large percentage of Company management has worked together for many years. The Company competes against the larger regional and super-regional banks operating in its market by emphasizing the stability and accessibility of its management, management’s long-term familiarity with the market, immediate local decision making and the pride of local ownership.

History

GB&T was organized by a group of local citizens from Richmond and Columbia Counties and commenced business from the main office location at 3530 Wheeler Road in Augusta on August 28, 1989. GB&T opened its first Augusta branch at 3111 Peach Orchard Road in December 1991 and its second Augusta branch at 1530 Walton Way in December 1992. GB&T became a subsidiary of the Company in February 1992 as a result of its holding company reorganization. The Company acquired FCS Financial Corporation and First Columbia Bank (“First Columbia”) on December 31, 1992. This allowed the Company to expand into neighboring Columbia County. In July 1993, First Columbia merged into GB&T, and GB&T now operates the former main office of First Columbia at 4105 Columbia Road, Martinez, Georgia as a branch. GB&T opened a second branch in Columbia County in November 1994 that is located in Evans, Georgia. In October 1995, GB&T opened its sixth banking office at 3133 Washington Road. GB&T opened a full service branch in May 2001 in Martinez, Georgia, the third Columbia County branch. In September 2004, GB&T opened its eighth banking office located in the Cotton Exchange historic building in downtown Augusta, Georgia. In December 2005, GB&T opened its ninth banking office and first full service branch outside of the Augusta market in Athens, Georgia. SB&T was organized by the Company during 2005 and 2006, opening its main office in Aiken, South Carolina on September 12, 2006.

 

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Management Team

GB&T was founded with an experienced management team, and that team has continued to expand with the growth of the bank. GB&T’s President and Chief Executive Officer, R. Daniel Blanton, was involved in the organization of GB&T in 1988 and previously served with a predecessor to First Union National Bank, Georgia State Bank, for over thirteen years. With the acquisition of First Columbia, GB&T obtained its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Ronald L. Thigpen, who had served as Chief Executive Officer of First Columbia since 1991, and before that served in various capacities with First Union National Bank and its predecessors. GB&T’s senior loan officer and Group Vice President, Tom C. McLaughlin, has been associated with GB&T for fifteen years, and worked previously with Mr. Blanton at Georgia State Bank. Regina W. Mobley, Group Vice President, Bank Operations, has been with GB&T since the acquisition of First Columbia Bank. With over 29 years of bank operations experience, she previously served First Columbia Bank and C & S National Bank, as predecessor of Bank of America. GB&T’s senior credit officer and Group Vice President, James R. Riordan, Jr., joined the team in 2002. For the prior ten years, he served in various capacities with SunTrust Bank, Augusta, N. A., most recently as senior lending officer. He has 20 years of bank lending and credit administration experience. Jay Forrester, Group Vice President, Retail Banking, has been associated with GB&T since 1995. He previously served as Vice President, Commercial Lending for C & S National Bank and NationsBank, predecessors of Bank of America. In September 2004, Robert C. Osborne, Jr., joined GB&T as Executive Vice President and head of Wealth Management. For the prior 28 years, he was associated with Wachovia Corporation in Atlanta and Augusta, most recently as head of their Wealth Management unit in Augusta.

The Company opened SB&T with a management team that has extensive experience in the Aiken, South Carolina market. In 2005, both Frank Townsend and Darrell Rains joined GB&T with the responsibility of organizing SB&T. Frank Townsend became President and Chief Executive Officer of SB&T, upon its opening in September 2006. Prior to joining GB&T, Mr. Townsend spent eleven years with Regions Bank and was the Commercial Sales Manager for the Central Carolina Bank in Aiken. He has 21 years experience in both banking and insurance. Darrell Rains, Group Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has over 26 years of financial experience, including service at Regions Bank as Regional Financial Officer for the Mid-Atlantic Region and at Palmetto Federal, a predecessor to Regions Bank in Aiken, S.C., as Chief Financial Officer. He serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Company, GB&T and SB&T.

Market Area

The Company’s primary market area includes Richmond and Columbia Counties in Georgia and Aiken County in South Carolina, all part of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The 2005 population of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC MSA was 520,332, the second largest in Georgia and fourth largest in South Carolina. The Augusta market area has a diversified economy based principally on government, public utilities, health care, manufacturing, construction, and wholesale and retail trade. Augusta is one of the leading medical centers in the Southeast. Significant medical facilities include the Medical College of Georgia, University Hospital, Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Dwight D. Eisenhower Hospital, Gracewood State School and Hospital, Doctors’ Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital. Other major employers in the Augusta market area include Westinghouse Savannah River Site (nuclear defense), the Fort Gordon military installation, E-Z Go/Textron (golf car manufacturer), the Richmond County school system and the Columbia County school system. Major employers in the Aiken market include Westinghouse Savannah River

 

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Site (nuclear defense), Aiken County Board of Education, Bechtel Savannah River Company (engineering construction firm), Wal-Mart Associates Inc., Kimberly Clark Corporation, and BFS North American Tire, LLC. The area is served by Interstate 20, which connects it to Atlanta, 140 miles to the west and Columbia, South Carolina, 70 miles to the east. Augusta is also served by a major commercial airport (Bush Field) and a commuter airport (Daniel Field). The average unemployment rate for the Augusta-Richmond County MSA was 6.2% in 2005. Between June 2005 and June 2006 (the latest date for which FDIC information is available), total commercial bank and thrift deposits in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC MSA increased 7.3% from $5.5 billion to $5.9 billion. Based on data reported as of June 30, 2006, GB&T has 12.34% of all deposits in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC MSA and is the second largest depository institution. The demographic information as presented above is based upon information and estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the South Carolina Employment Security Commission.

The Company entered the Athens, GA market in December 2005. The 2005 population for the Athens-Clarke County, GA MSA was 175,085, ranked sixth in the state of Georgia. The Athens market area has a diversified economy based primarily on government, retail services, tourism, manufacturing, other services, and health care, with the largest share of government jobs in the state. Major employers in the Athens area include the University of Georgia, Athens Regional Medical Center, Pilgrim’s Pride (poultry processing plant), St. Mary’s Hospital, Clarke County School District, and the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government. Athens is located 70 miles northeast of Atlanta and 120 miles northwest of Augusta. The average unemployment rate for the Athens-Clarke County MSA was 4.1% in 2005. Total commercial bank and thrift deposits for the Athens-Clarke County MSA increased 8.3% from $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion between June 2005 and June 2006. The demographic information presented above is based upon information and estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Athens Chamber of Commerce.

Lending Activities

The Company offers a wide range of lending services, including real estate, commercial and consumer loans, to individuals, small to medium-sized businesses and professionals that are located in, or conduct a substantial portion of their business in, the Company’s market area. The Company’s total loans at December 31, 2006, were $750.0 million, or 77.1% of total interest-earning assets. An analysis of the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio is set forth under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Composition of the Loan Portfolio.”

Real Estate Loans. Loans secured by real estate are the primary component of the Company’s loan portfolio, constituting $638.7 million, or 85.2% of the Company’s total loans, at December 31, 2006. These loans consist of commercial real estate loans, construction and development loans, residential real estate loans, and home equity loans.

Commercial Real Estate Loans. At December 31, 2006, the Company held $198.5 million of commercial real estate loans of various sizes secured by office buildings, retail establishments, and other types of property. These commercial real estate loans represented 26.5% of the Company’s total loans at December 31, 2006. Loan terms are generally limited to five years and often do not exceed three years, although the installment payments may be structured on a 20-year amortization basis with a balloon payment at maturity. Interest rates may be fixed or adjustable. The Company generally charges an origination fee. Management attempts to reduce credit risk in the commercial real estate

 

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portfolio by emphasizing loans on owner-occupied office and retail buildings where the loan-to-value ratio, established by independent appraisals, does not exceed 80%. In addition, the Company requires personal guarantees from the principal owners of the property supported with an analysis by the Company of the guarantors’ personal financial statements in connection with a substantial majority of such loans. The Company experienced $110,000 in net charge-offs on commercial real estate loans during 2006. A number of the loans classified as commercial real estate loans are, in fact, commercial loans for which a security interest in real estate has been taken as additional collateral. These loans are subject to underwriting as commercial loans as described below.

Construction and Development Loans. Construction and development real estate loans comprise $266.9 million, or 35.6% of the Company’s total loans at December 31, 2006. A construction and development loan portfolio presents special problems and risks, requiring additional administration and monitoring. This is necessary since most loans are originated as lines of credit and draws under the line require specific activities which add value to the asset, such as progress on the completion of a building or the placement of utilities and roads in a development. This requires specialized knowledge on the part of our personnel to appraise and evaluate that progress, hence the higher level of administration and monitoring. The level of construction and development loans are representative of the character of the Company’s market. The Company subjects this type of loan to underwriting criteria that include: certified appraisal and valuation of collateral; loan-to-value margins (typically not exceeding 75%); cash equity requirements; evaluations of borrowers’ cash flows and alternative sources of repayment; and a determination that the market is able to absorb the project on schedule.

To further reduce the risk related to construction and development loans, the Company generally relies upon the long-standing relationships between its loan officers and the developer/contractor borrowers. In most cases, these relationships exceed ten years. The Company targets seasoned developers and contractors who have experience in the local market. Various members of the Company’s Board of Directors have close contacts with the construction industry: Robert W. Pollard, Jr. owns and operates a lumber manufacturing company; E. G. Meybohm owns the largest local real estate brokerage firm; and William J. Badger owns and operates a building supply company. Larry S. Prather, a member of GB&T’s Board of Directors, owns a utility and grading company. Through these connections to the industry, the Company attempts to monitor current economic conditions in the marketplace for residential real estate, and the financial standing and on-going reputation of its construction and development borrowers.

Infrastructure development loans are generally made with an initial maturity of one year, although the Company may renew the loan for up to two additional one-year terms to allow the developer to complete the sale of the lots comprising the property before requiring the payment of the related loan. These loans typically bear interest at a floating rate and the Company typically charges an origination fee. These loans are repaid, interest only, on a monthly or quarterly basis until sales of lots begin, and then principal payments are made as each lot is sold at a rate allowing the Company to be repaid in full by the time 75% of the lots have been sold. In order to reduce the credit risk associated with these loans, the Company requires the project’s loan to value ratio (on an as completed basis) to be not more than 70%. The Company experienced $94,000 in net loan charge-offs on construction loans during 2006.

Residential construction loans are typically made for homes with a completed value in the range of $110,000 to $500,000. Loans for the lower-value homes are typically made for a term of six months, while loans for the larger homes are typically made for a term of nine to twelve months. Typically,

 

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these loans bear interest at a floating rate and the Company collects an origination fee. The Company may renew these loans for one additional term (equal to the original term) to allow the contractor time to market the home. In order to reduce the credit risk with respect to these loans, the Company restricts the loans that are made for homes being built on a speculative basis and carefully manages its aggregate lending relationship with each borrower.

Residential Loans. The Company originates, on a selective basis, residential loans for its portfolio on single and multi-family properties, both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied. At December 31, 2006, the Company held $158.5 million of such loans, including home equity loans, representing 21.1% of the Company’s loan portfolio, as compared to $138.7 million, or 23.1% of the Company’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2005. There has been a slight decrease in Residential Loans as a percentage of total loans as most mortgage loans are sold in the secondary market. This portfolio typically includes 15 or 30-year adjustable rate mortgage loans whose terms mirror those prevalent in the secondary market for mortgage loans or, less typically, floating rate non-amortized term loans for purposes other than acquisition of the underlying residential property. A limited number of fixed rate loans are maintained in the portfolio when there are compelling market reasons to do so. Generally, all fixed rate residential loans are sold into the secondary market. In the case of home equity loans and lines of credit, the underwriting criteria are the same as applied by the Company when making a first mortgage loan, as described above. Home equity lines of credit typically mature ten years after their origination. The Company experienced net loan charge-offs on residential loans of $665,000 during 2006, including the charge-off of one residential loan for $423,000.

The Company also originates residential loans for sale into the secondary market, an activity that began with the acquisition of First Columbia. The Company originates both fixed and variable rate residential mortgage loans for sale with servicing released. Loans originated for sale into the secondary market are approved for purchase by an investor prior to closing. The Company generates loan origination fees, typically ranging from 1.0% to 1.5% of the loan balance, and servicing release fees, generally ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% of the loan balance, both of which are recognized as income when the loan is sold. The Company minimizes interest rate and credit risk on these loans by locking the interest rate for each loan with the secondary investor and receiving the investor’s underwriting approval prior to originating the loan. The Company had $14.9 million of such loans at December 31, 2006, representing 2.0% of the Company’s total loans.

Commercial Loans. The Company makes loans for commercial purposes to various types of businesses. At December 31, 2006, the Company held $80.8 million of these loans, representing 10.8% of the total loan portfolio, excluding for these purposes commercial loans secured by real estate. See “Real Estate Loans.” Equipment loans are made for a term of up to five years (more typically three years) at fixed or variable rates, with the loan being fully amortized over the term and secured by the financed equipment with a loan-to-value ratio based on the overall relationship and creditworthiness of the customer. Working capital loans are made for a term typically not exceeding one year. These loans are usually secured by accounts receivable or inventory, and principal is either repaid as the assets securing the loan are converted into cash, or principal is due at maturity. The Company experienced net loan charge-offs on commercial loans of $361,000 during 2006.

Consumer Loans. The Company makes a variety of loans to individuals for personal and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment and term loans, and revolving lines of credit such as overdraft protection. At December 31, 2006, the Company held $31.2 million of consumer loans, representing 4.2% of total loans. These loans typically carry balances of less than

 

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$25,000 and earn interest at a fixed rate. Non-revolving loans are either amortized over a period not exceeding 60 months or are ninety-day term loans. Revolving loans require monthly payments of interest and a portion of the principal balance (typically 2 to 3% of the outstanding balance). The Company entered the indirect lending business in 1997 and currently purchases sales finance contracts from dealers for new and used automobiles and home improvements. At December 31, 2006, indirect loans outstanding totaled $6.2 million. The Company experienced net recoveries on consumer loans of $98,000 during 2006 and net charge-offs of $143,000 during 2005.

Loan Approval and Review. The Company’s loan approval policies provide for various levels of officer lending authority. When the aggregate amount of outstanding loans to a single borrower exceeds that individual officer’s lending authority, the loan request must be considered and approved by an officer with a higher lending limit or by the Directors’ Loan Committee. Individual officers’ lending limits range from $15,000 to $2.0 million depending on seniority and the type of loan. Any loan in excess of the lending limit of senior bank officers must be approved by the Directors’ Loan Committee.

The Company has a loan review procedure involving multiple officers of the Company which is designed to promote early identification of credit quality problems. All loan officers are charged with the responsibility of rating all their loans and reviewing those loans on a periodic basis, the frequency of which increases as the quality of the loans decreases. The Senior Vice President of Credit Administration is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all significant lending relationships are reviewed annually. The Company’s current goal is to review lending relationships in excess of $500,000. In addition, the Credit Administration Department is involved in the analysis of all loans that require Directors Loan Committee approval.

Deposits

The Company offers a variety of deposit programs to individuals and to small to medium-sized businesses and other organizations at interest rates generally consistent with local market conditions. The following table sets forth the mix of depository accounts for the Company as a percentage of total deposits at December 31, 2006.

Deposit Mix

 

Noninterest-bearing demand

   $ 106,846,160    13.33 %

Interest checking

     119,334,300    14.89 %

Money management

     45,897,176    5.72 %

Savings

     255,065,766    31.81 %

Time deposits

     

Under $100,000

     80,758,973    10.07 %

$100,000 and over

     193,860,714    24.18 %
             
   $ 801,763,089    100.00 %
             

The Company accepts deposits at both main office locations and eight branch banking offices, each of which maintains an automated teller machine. The Company is a member of Mastercard’s Maestro and Cirrus networks as well as the “STAR” network of automated teller machines, which permits customers to perform certain transactions in many cities throughout Georgia, South Carolina and other regions. The Company controls deposit volumes primarily through the pricing of deposits and to a certain extent through promotional activities such as “free checking”. The Company also

 

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utilizes other sources of funding, specifically repurchase agreements, Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings and brokered certificates of deposit. Deposit rates are set weekly by executive management of the Company. Management believes that the rates it offers are competitive with, or in some cases, slightly above those offered by other institutions in its market area. The Company does not actively solicit deposits outside of its market area.

Competition

The banking business generally is highly competitive, and sources of competition are varied. The Company competes as a financial intermediary with other commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, mortgage banking companies, consumer finance companies, securities brokerages, insurance companies, and money market mutual funds operating in Richmond, Columbia and Clarke Counties in Georgia, Aiken County in South Carolina and elsewhere. In addition, customers conduct banking activities without regard to geographic barriers through computer-based banking and similar services.

Many of the financial organizations in competition with the Company have much greater financial resources, more diversified markets and larger branch networks than the Company and are able to offer similar services at varying costs with higher lending limits. In addition, with the enactment of federal and state laws affecting interstate and bank holding company expansion, there have been major interstate acquisitions involving financial institutions which have offices in the Company’s market area but are headquartered in other states. The effect of such acquisitions (and the possible increase in size of the financial institutions in the Company’s market areas) may further increase the competition faced by the Company. The Company believes, however, that it will be able to use its local independent image to its advantage in competing for retail and commercial business.

Employees

The Company had approximately 298 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 2006. The Company maintains training, educational and affirmative action programs designed to prepare employees for positions of increasing responsibility in both management and operations, and provides a variety of benefit programs, including group life, health, accident and other insurance and retirement plans. None of the Company’s employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company believes its employee relations are generally good.

Supervision and Regulation

Both the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to extensive state and federal banking regulations that impose restrictions on and provide for general regulatory oversight of their operations. These laws generally are intended to protect depositors and not shareholders. The Company owns all of the capital stock of GB&T and SB&T and is a multi-bank holding company under the federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. As a result, the Company is primarily subject to the supervision, examination, and reporting requirements of the Bank Holding Company Act and the regulations of the Federal Reserve. As a bank holding company located in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance also regulates and monitors all significant aspects of the Company’s operations. GB&T is a commercial bank regulated by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance while SB&T is a federally chartered thrift regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision. Both subsidiaries are regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The following discussion describes the material elements of the regulatory framework that are applicable to the Company as a whole and also identifies those regulations which are unique to each subsidiary.

 

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The Company

Acquisitions of Banks. The Bank Holding Company Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the Federal Reserve’s prior approval before:

 

   

acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if, after the acquisition, the bank holding company will directly or indirectly own or control more than 5% of the bank’s voting shares;

 

   

acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of any bank; or

 

   

merging or consolidating with any other bank holding company.

Additionally, the Bank Holding Company Act provides that the Federal Reserve may not approve any of these transactions if it would result in or tend to create a monopoly or, substantially lessen competition or otherwise function as a restraint of trade, unless the anti-competitive effects of the proposed transaction are clearly outweighed by the public interest in meeting the convenience and needs of the community to be served. The Federal Reserve is also required to consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the bank holding companies and banks concerned and the convenience and needs of the community to be served. The Federal Reserve’s consideration of financial resources generally focuses on capital adequacy, which is discussed below.

Under the Bank Holding Company Act, if adequately capitalized and adequately managed, the Company or any other bank holding company located in Georgia may purchase a bank located outside of Georgia. Conversely, an adequately capitalized and adequately managed bank holding company located outside of Georgia may purchase a bank located inside Georgia. In each case, however, restrictions may be placed on the acquisition of a bank that has only been in existence for a limited amount of time or will result in specified concentrations of deposits. Currently, Georgia law prohibits acquisitions of banks that have been incorporated for less than three years.

Change in Bank Control. Subject to various exceptions, the Bank Holding Company Act and the Change in Bank Control Act, together with related regulations, require Federal Reserve approval prior to any person or company acquiring “control” of a bank holding company. Control is conclusively presumed to exist if an individual or company acquires 25% or more of any class of voting securities of the bank holding company. Control is refutably presumed to exist if a person or company acquires 10% or more, but less than 25%, of any class of voting securities and either:

 

   

the bank holding company has registered securities under Section 12 of the Securities Act of 1934; or

 

   

no other person owns a greater percentage of that class of voting securities immediately after the transaction.

The Company’s common stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The regulations also provide a procedure for challenging the rebuttable presumption of control.

 

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Permitted Activities. A bank holding company is generally permitted under the Bank Holding Company Act to engage in or acquire direct or indirect control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company engaged in the following activities:

 

   

Banking or managing or controlling banks; and

 

   

Any activity that the Federal Reserve determines to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident to the business of banking.

Activities that the Federal Reserve has found to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident to the business of banking include:

 

   

Factoring accounts receivable;

 

   

Making, acquiring, brokering or servicing loans and usual related activities;

 

   

Leasing personal or real property;

 

   

Operating a non-bank depository institution, such as a savings association;

 

   

Trust company functions;

 

   

Financial and investment advisory activities;

 

   

Conducting discount securities brokerage activities;

 

   

Underwriting and dealing in government obligations and money market instruments;

 

   

Providing specified management consulting and counseling activities;

 

   

Performing selected data processing services and support services;

 

   

Acting as agent or broker in selling credit life insurance and other types of insurance in connection with credit transactions; and

 

   

Performing selected insurance underwriting activities.

Despite prior approval, the Federal Reserve may order a bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any of these activities or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when it has reasonable cause to believe that the bank holding company’s continued ownership, activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness, or stability of it or any of its bank subsidiaries.

In addition to the permissible bank holding company activities listed above, the Financial Service Modernization Act of 1999, also known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, revised and expanded the provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act by permitting a bank holding company to qualify and elect to become a financial holding company. Under the regulations implementing the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, a financial holding company may engage in activities that are financial in nature or incidental or complementary to financial activity. The following activities are considered to be financial in nature:

 

   

Lending, trust and other banking activities;

 

   

Insuring, guaranteeing, or indemnifying against loss or harm, or providing and issuing annuities, and acting as principal, agent, or broker for these purposes, in any state;

 

   

Providing financial, investment, or advisory services;

 

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Issuing or selling instruments representing interests in pools of assets permissible for a bank to hold directly;

 

   

Underwriting, dealing in or making a market in securities;

 

   

Other activities that the Federal Reserve may determine to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident to managing or controlling banks;

 

   

Foreign activities permitted outside of the United States if the Federal Reserve has determined them to be usual in connection with banking operations abroad;

 

   

Merchant banking through securities or insurance affiliates; and

 

   

Insurance company portfolio investments.

On December 18, 2006, the SEC and the Federal Reserve issued joint proposed rules, which would implement the “broker” exception for banks under Section 3(a)(4) of the Exchange Act of 1934 and would be adopted as part of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The proposed rules would implement the statutory exceptions that allow a bank, subject to certain conditions, to continue to conduct securities transactions for the bank’s customers as part of its trust and fiduciary, custodial and deposit “sweep” functions, and to refer customers to a securities broker-dealer pursuant to a networking arrangement with the broker-dealer.

To qualify to become a financial holding company, any depository institution subsidiary of the Company must be well capitalized and well managed and must have a Community Reinvestment Act rating of at least “satisfactory.” Additionally, the Company must file an election with the Federal Reserve to become a financial holding company and must provide the Federal Reserve with 30 days’ written notice prior to engaging in a permitted financial activity. While the Company meets the qualification standards applicable to financial holding companies, the Company has not elected to become a financial holding company at this time.

Support of Subsidiary Institutions. Under Federal Reserve policy, the Company is expected to act as a source of financial strength for its subsidiaries and to commit resources to support them. This support may be required at times when, without this Federal Reserve policy, the Company might not be inclined to provide it. In addition, any capital loans made by the Company to its subsidiaries will be repaid only after the subsidiaries’ deposits and various other obligations are repaid in full. In the unlikely event of the Company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by it to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of its subsidiaries will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.

Prompt Corrective Action. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 establishes a system of prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of undercapitalized financial institutions. Under this system, the federal banking regulators have established five capital categories (well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized) in which all institutions are placed. The federal banking agencies have also specified by regulation the relevant capital levels for each of the other categories. At December 31, 2006, both of the Company’s subsidiaries qualified for the well-capitalized category.

 

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Federal banking regulators are required to take various mandatory supervisory actions and are authorized to take other discretionary actions with respect to institutions in the three undercapitalized categories. The severity of the action depends upon the capital category in which the institution is placed. Generally, subject to a narrow exception, the banking regulator must appoint a receiver or conservator for an institution that is critically undercapitalized.

An institution that is categorized as undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized is required to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan to its appropriate federal banking agency. A bank holding company must guarantee that a subsidiary depository institution meets its capital restoration plan, subject to various limitations. The controlling holding company’s obligation to fund a capital restoration plan is limited to the lesser of 5% of an undercapitalized subsidiary’s assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the amount required to meet regulatory capital requirements. An undercapitalized institution is also generally prohibited from increasing its average total assets, making acquisitions, establishing any branches or engaging in any new line of business, except under an accepted capital restoration plan or with FDIC approval. The regulations also establish procedures for downgrading an institution to a lower capital category based on supervisory factors other than capital.

FDIC Insurance Assessments. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system for insured depository institutions that takes into account the risks attributable to different categories and concentrations of assets and liabilities. The system assesses higher rates on those institutions that pose greater risks to the Deposit Insurance Fund (the “DIF”). The FDIC places each institution in one of four risk categories using a two-step process based first on capital ratios (the capital group assignment) and then on other relevant information (the supervisory group assignment). Within the lower risk category, Risk Category I, rates will vary based on each institution’s CAMELS component ratings, certain financial ratios, and long-term debt issuer ratings.

Capital group assignments are made quarterly and an institution is assigned to one of three capital categories: (1) well capitalized; (2) adequately capitalized; and (3) undercapitalized. These three categories are substantially similar to the prompt corrective action categories described above, with the “undercapitalized” category including institutions that are undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized for prompt corrective action purposes. The FDIC also assigns an institution to one of three supervisory subgroups based on a supervisory evaluation that the institution’s primary federal banking regulator provides to the FDIC and information that the FDIC determines to be relevant to the institution’s financial condition and the risk posed to the deposit insurance funds. Assessments range from 5 to 43 cents per $100 of deposits, depending on the institution’s capital group and supervisory subgroup. Institutions that are well capitalized will be charged a rate between 5 and 7 cents per $100 of deposits.

In addition, the FDIC imposes assessments to help pay off the $780 million in annual interest payments on the $8 billion Financing Corporation bonds issued in the late 1980s as part of the government rescue of the thrift industry. This assessment rate is adjusted quarterly and is set at 1.22 cents per $100 of deposits for the first quarter of 2007.

The FDIC may terminate its insurance of deposits if it finds that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.

 

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Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act requires that, in connection with examinations of financial institutions within their respective jurisdictions, the Federal Reserve or the FDIC shall evaluate the record of each financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its local community, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. These facts are also considered in evaluating mergers, acquisitions, and applications to open a branch or facility. Failure to adequately meet these criteria could impose additional requirements and limitations on the Company. Additionally, we must publicly disclose the terms of various Community Reinvestment Act-related agreements.

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses. The Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (the “ALLL”) represents one of the most significant estimates in the Company’s financial statements and regulatory reports. Because of its significance, the Company has developed a system by which it develops, maintains and documents a comprehensive, systematic and consistently applied process for determining the amounts of the ALLL and the provision for loan and lease losses. The Interagency Policy Statement on the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, issued on December 13, 2006, encourages all banks to ensure controls are in place to consistently determine the ALLL in accordance with GAAP, the bank’s stated policies and procedures, management’s best judgment and relevant supervisory guidance. Consistent with supervisory guidance, the Company maintains a prudent and conservative, but not excessive, ALLL, that is at a level that is appropriate to cover estimated credit losses on individually evaluated loans determined to be impaired as well as estimated credit losses inherent in the remainder of the loan and lease portfolio. The Company’s estimate of credit losses reflects consideration of all significant factors that affect the collectibility of the portfolio as of the evaluation date. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis – Critical Accounting Policies.”

Commercial Real Estate Lending. The Company’s lending operations may be subject to enhanced scrutiny by federal banking regulators based on its concentration of commercial real estate loans. On December 6, 2006, the federal banking regulators issued final guidance to remind financial institutions of the risk posed by commercial real estate (“CRE”) lending concentrations. CRE loans generally include land development, construction loans and loans secured by multifamily property, and nonfarm, nonresidential real property where the primary source of repayment is derived from rental income associated with the property. The guidance prescribes the following guidelines for its examiners to help identify institutions that are potentially exposed to significant CRE risk and may warrant greater supervisory scrutiny:

 

   

total reported loans for construction, land development and other land represent 100% or more of the institutions total capital, or

 

   

total commercial real estate loans represent 300% or more of the institution’s total capital, and the outstanding balance of the institution’s commercial real estate loan portfolio has increased by 50% or more during the prior 36 months.

Other Regulations. Interest and other charges collected or contracted for by the Company are subject to state usury laws and federal laws concerning interest rates.

Our loan operations are also subject to federal laws applicable to credit transactions, such as the:

 

   

federal Truth-In-Lending Act, governing disclosures of credit terms to consumer borrowers;

 

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Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, requiring financial institutions to provide information to enable the public and public officials to determine whether a financial institution is fulfilling its obligation to help meet the housing needs of the community it serves;

 

   

Equal Credit Opportunity Act, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, creed or other prohibited factors in extending credit;

 

   

Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1978, governing the use and provision of information to credit reporting agencies, as amended by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, which became effective in 2004;

 

   

Fair Debt Collection Act, governing the manner in which consumer debts may be collected by collection agencies;

 

   

Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, as amended by the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, governing the repayment terms of, and property rights underlying, secured obligations of persons currently on active duty with the U.S. military;

 

   

Talent Amendment in the 2007 Defense Authorization Act, establishing a 36% annual percentage rate ceiling, which includes a variety of charges including late fees, for consumer loans to military service members and their dependents; and

 

   

rules and regulations of the various federal agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing these federal laws.

Our deposit operations are subject to:

 

   

Truth-In-Savings Act, requiring certain disclosures for consumer deposit accounts;

 

   

the Right to Financial Privacy Act, which imposes a duty to maintain confidentiality of consumer financial records and prescribes procedures for complying with administrative subpoenas of financial records;

 

   

the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and Regulation E issued by the Federal Reserve to implement that act, which govern automatic deposits to and withdrawals from deposit accounts and customers’ rights and liabilities arising from the use of automated teller machines and other electronic banking services; and,

 

   

rules and regulations of the various federal agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing these federal laws.

Georgia Bank & Trust Company

Because GB&T is a commercial bank chartered under the laws of the State of Georgia, it is also subject to the supervision, examination and reporting requirements of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance regularly examines GB&T’s operations and has the authority to approve or disapprove mergers, the establishment of branches and similar corporate actions as well as the power to prevent the continuance or development of unsafe or unsound banking practices or other violations of law.

Branching. Under current Georgia law, GB&T may open branch offices throughout Georgia with the prior approval of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. In addition, with prior

 

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regulatory approval, GB&T may acquire branches of existing banks located in Georgia. GB&T and any other national or state-chartered bank generally may branch across state lines by merging with banks in other states if allowed by the applicable states’ laws. Georgia law, with limited exceptions, currently permits branching across state lines through interstate mergers.

Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, states may “opt-in” and allow out-of-state banks to branch into their state by establishing a new start-up branch in the state. Currently, Georgia has not opted-in to this provision. Therefore, interstate merger is the only method through which a bank located outside of Georgia may branch into Georgia. This provides a limited barrier of entry into the Georgia banking market, which protects us from an important segment of potential competition. However, because Georgia has elected not to opt-in, our ability to establish a new start-up branch in another state may be limited. Many states that have elected to opt-in have done so on a reciprocal basis, meaning that an out-of-state bank may establish a new start-up branch only if their home state has also elected to opt-in. Consequently, until Georgia changes its election, the only way we will be able to branch into states that have elected to opt-in on a reciprocal basis will be through interstate merger. The Company entered the South Carolina market by chartering a thrift, which is not subject to the same limitation.

Georgia Fair Lending Act. In addition to the federal and state laws noted above, the Georgia Fair Lending Act (“GAFLA”) imposes restrictions and procedural requirements on most mortgage loans made in Georgia, including home equity loans and lines of credit. On August 5, 2003, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a formal opinion stating that the entirety of GAFLA is preempted by federal law for national banks and their operating subsidiaries. GAFLA contains a provision that preempts GAFLA as to state banks in the event that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency preempts GAFLA as to national banks. Therefore, GB&T and any of its operating subsidiaries that may be engaged in mortgage lending will be exempt from the requirements of GAFLA.

Southern Bank & Trust

SB&T is a federally chartered thrift subject to the supervision, examination and reporting requirements of the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”). The OTS regularly examines SB&T’s operations and has the authority to approve or disapprove mergers, the establishment of branches and similar corporate actions, as well as the power to prevent the continuance or development of unsafe or unsound banking practices or other violations of law.

Qualified Thrift Lender Status. To be a Qualified Thrift Lender (QTL), an institution must meet the requirements of the Home Owner’s Loan Act QTL test for nine out of the last twelve months or the taxable year.

Under the QTL test, an institution must hold Qualified Thrift Investments (QTI) equal to at least 65.0% of its portfolio assets. QTI must fall into one of the two following categories: (1) assets that are includable in QTI without limit; or (2) assets limited to 20% of portfolio assets. Portfolio assets are total assets minus goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets, office property, and liquid assets not exceeding 20% of total assets. An institution ceases to be a QTL when its actual thrift investment percentage (the ratio of QTI divided by portfolio assets) falls, at month end, below 65.0% for four months within any 12-month period. At December 31, 2006, the actual thrift investment percentage for SB&T was 84.7%.

 

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Assets that are includable as QTI without limit include:

 

   

Loans to purchase, refinance, construct, improve or repair domestic residential or manufactured housing;

 

   

Home equity loans;

 

   

Educational loans;

 

   

Small business loans;

 

   

Loans made through credit card or credit card accounts;

 

   

Securities backed by or representing an interest in mortgages on domestic residential or manufactured housing;

 

   

Federal Home Loan Bank stock; and

 

   

Obligations of the FDIC, FSLIC, RTC, and the FSLIC Resolution Fund.

Assets that are includable as QTI up to 20% of portfolio assets include:

 

   

Fifty percent of the amount of domestic residential housing mortgage loans originated and sold within 90 days. An institution may, on a consistent basis, include as QTI either the sales amounts from a previous quarter or the previous rolling 90 days or three-month period;

 

   

Investments in a service corporation that derives at least 80% of its gross revenues from activities related to domestic or manufactured residential housing;

 

   

Two hundred percent of the amount of loans and investments in “starter homes”;

 

   

Two hundred percent of the amount of certain loans in “credit-needy areas”;

 

   

Loans for the purchase, construction, development, or improvements of “community service facilities” not in credit-needy areas;

 

   

Loans for personal, family, or household purposes (other than those reported in the assets includable without limit category); and

 

   

FNMA and FHLMC stock.

Lending Limit. Lenders create a form of concentration risk when they extend a significant amount of credit to any one borrower or to borrowers who are related in a common enterprise. As such, savings associations are subject to regulatory limitations on loans to one borrower. Under the general lending limit an association’s total loans and extensions of credit outstanding to one borrower at one time shall not exceed 15% of the association’s unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus. If certain qualifications are met, the savings association can have an additional 10% for loans and extensions of credit fully secured by readily marketable collateral having a market value, as determined by reliable and continuously available price quotations, at least equal to the amount of the funds outstanding. There are also other exceptions to the general lending limit based on the loan type. The Director of the OTS may impose more stringent restrictions on a savings association’s loans to one borrower if OTS determines that such restrictions are necessary to protect the safety and soundness of the association.

Unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus are defined as: core capital and supplementary capital included in total capital, plus any allowance for loan losses not included in supplementary capital, plus the amount of investment in, and advances to, subsidiaries not included in calculating core capital. As of December 31, 2006, the general lending limit for loans to one borrower for SB&T was $1.5 million.

 

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Unlike commercial banks, thrifts may generally make the following categories of loans only to the extent specified:

 

   

Commercial loans up to 20% of assets (50% of which must be in small business loans).

 

   

Nonresidential real property loans up to 400% of capital (the OTS may grant increased authority if it is determined that the increased authority poses no significant threat to the safe and sound operation of the institution and is consistent with prudent operating practices).

 

   

Consumer loans up to 35% of assets (all loans in excess of 30% of assets must be direct loans).

 

   

Education loans up to 5% of assets.

 

   

Non-conforming loans up to 5% of assets.

 

   

Construction loans (residential) without security up to 5% of assets.

Other Regulations. The Company received approval of its application for permission to organize SB&T on July 12, 2006, and SB&T began operations in September 2006. This approval includes, but is not limited to, the following conditions that must be complied with in a manner satisfactory to the Regional Director of the OTS:

 

   

SB&T must submit independent audit reports to the Regional Director for its first three years of operations;

 

   

SB&T must operate within the parameters of the business plan submitted with the application and submit any proposed major deviations or material changes from the plan for the prior, written non-objection of the Regional Director. The request for change must be submitted no later than 60 calendar days prior to the desired implementation date with a copy sent to the FDIC Regional Officer;

 

   

During the first two years of operation, SB&T must receive prior written non-objection of the Regional Director for any proposed new directors or senior executive officers or any significant change in responsibilities of any senior executive officer; and

 

   

During the first eighteen months of operation, any contracts or agreements pertaining to transactions with affiliates, not yet submitted to the OTS for review, must be provided to the Regional Director, at least 30 days prior to execution and must receive the Regional Director’s written non-objection prior to implementation.

The FDIC approved SB&T’s application for federal deposit insurance on May 26, 2006 subject to the condition that the Tier 1 capital to assets leverage ratio be maintained at not less than 8% throughout the first three years of operation and that an adequate allowance for loan and lease losses be provided.

Capital Adequacy

The Company and its subsidiaries are required to comply with the capital adequacy standards established by the Federal Reserve, in the case of the Company, and the FDIC, in the case of the

 

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subsidiaries. The Federal Reserve has established a risk-based and a leverage measure of capital adequacy for bank holding companies. The subsidiaries are also subject to risk-based and leverage capital requirements adopted by the FDIC, which are substantially similar to those adopted by the Federal Reserve for bank holding companies.

The risk-based capital standards are designed to make regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banks and bank holding companies, to account for off-balance-sheet exposure, and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Assets and off-balance-sheet items, such as letters of credit and unfunded loan commitments, are assigned to broad risk categories, each with appropriate risk weights. The resulting capital ratios represent capital as a percentage of total risk-weighted assets and off-balance-sheet items.

The minimum guideline for the ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets is 8%. Total capital consists of two components, Tier 1 Capital and Tier 2 Capital. Tier 1 Capital generally consists of common stockholders’ equity, minority interests in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, qualifying noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, a limited amount of qualifying cumulative perpetual preferred stock, and notes payable to unconsolidated special purpose entities that issue trust preferred securities, net of investment in the entity, less goodwill and other specified intangible assets. Tier 1 Capital must equal at least 4% of risk-weighted assets. Tier 2 Capital generally consists of subordinated debt, other preferred stock and hybrid capital, and a limited amount of loan loss reserves. The total amount of Tier 2 Capital is limited to 100% of Tier 1 Capital. In December 2005, the Company issued $10.0 million of unsecured subordinated debentures to Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I which qualify as Tier 1 Capital. The Company issued an additional $10.0 million of unsecured subordinated debentures to Southeastern Bank Financial Trust II in March 2006 which also qualify as Tier 1 Capital. The Company’s ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets was 13.29% and the ratio of Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets was 12.09% at December 31, 2006.

In addition, the Federal Reserve has established minimum leverage ratio guidelines for bank holding companies. These guidelines provide for a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to average assets, less goodwill and other specified intangible assets, of 3% for bank holding companies that meet specified criteria, including having the highest regulatory rating and implementing the Federal Reserve’s risk-based capital measure for market risk. All other bank holding companies generally are required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 4%. At December 31, 2006, our leverage ratio was 9.78%. The guidelines also provide that bank holding companies experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels without reliance on intangible assets. The Federal Reserve considers the leverage ratio and other indicators of capital strength in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities.

Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject a bank or bank holding company to a variety of enforcement remedies, including issuance of a capital directive, the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, a prohibition on accepting brokered deposits, and certain other restrictions on its business. As described above, significant additional restrictions can be imposed on FDIC-insured depository institutions that fail to meet applicable capital requirements.

 

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Payment of Dividends

The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries. The principal sources of the Company’s cash flow, including cash flow to pay dividends to its shareholders, are dividends paid by the subsidiaries to the Company. Statutory and regulatory limitations apply to the subsidiaries’ payment of dividends. If, in the opinion of the federal banking regulator, the subsidiaries were engaged in or about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice, the federal banking regulator could require, after notice and a hearing, that it stop or refrain from engaging in the questioned practice. The federal banking agencies have indicated that paying dividends that deplete a depository institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, a depository institution may not pay any dividend if payment would cause it to become undercapitalized or if it already is undercapitalized. Moreover, the federal agencies have issued policy statements that provide that bank holding companies and insured banks should generally only pay dividends out of current operating earnings. See “The Company—Prompt Corrective Action.”

The subsidiaries have additional restrictions for dividends imposed by their respective regulatory agencies. The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance must approve dividend payments that would exceed 50% of GB&T’s net income for the prior year. The Office of Thrift Supervision must approve any dividend payment made by SB&T during its first three years of operation pursuant to the business plan that was filed as part of its initial charter. Payment of dividends may also be affected or limited by other factors, such as the requirement to maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines.

GB&T declared cash dividends payable to the Company of $500,000 in 2006, $3.5 million in 2005 and $2.0 million in 2004. The Company has paid cash dividends of $0.13 per share each quarter since 2004 which totaled $2.8 million in 2006 and $2.7 million in 2005 and 2004.

Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to the provisions of Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act. Section 23A places limits on the amount of:

 

   

a bank’s loans or extensions of credit to affiliates;

 

   

a bank’s investment in affiliates;

 

   

assets a bank may purchase from affiliates, except for real and personal property exempted by the Federal Reserve;

 

   

loans or extensions of credit made by a bank to third parties collateralized by the securities or obligations of affiliates; and

 

   

a bank’s guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit issued on behalf of an affiliate.

The total amount of the above transactions is limited in amount, as to any one affiliate, to 10% of a bank’s capital and surplus and, as to all affiliates combined, to 20% of a bank’s capital and surplus. In addition to the limitation on the amount of these transactions, each of the above transactions must also meet specified collateral requirements. The subsidiary banks must also comply with other provisions designed to avoid the taking of low-quality assets.

 

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The Company and its subsidiaries are also subject to the provisions of Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act which, among other things, prohibit an institution from engaging in the above transactions with affiliates unless the transactions are on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the institution or its subsidiaries, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with nonaffiliated companies.

The subsidiary banks are also subject to restrictions on extensions of credit to its executive officers, directors, principal shareholders and their related interests. These extensions of credit (1) must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with third parties, and (2) must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.

Privacy

Financial institutions are required to disclose their policies for collecting and protecting confidential information. Customers generally may prevent financial institutions from sharing nonpublic personal financial information with nonaffiliated third parties except under narrow circumstances, such as the processing of transactions requested by the consumer or when the financial institution is jointly sponsoring a product or service with a nonaffiliated third party. Additionally, financial institutions generally may not disclose consumer account numbers to any nonaffiliated third party for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing or other marketing to consumers.

Anti-Terrorism Legislation

The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT Act) imposes requirements and limitations on specified financial transactions and account relationships, intended to guard against money laundering and terrorism. The Company has established a customer identification program pursuant to the “know your customer” rules contained in Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Federal Deposit Insurance Reform

On February 8, 2006, President Bush signed the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 (the “FDIRA”). Among other things, FDIRA changes the federal deposit insurance system by:

 

   

raising the coverage level for qualifying retirement accounts to $250,000, subject to future indexing;

 

   

the FDIC and the National Credit Union Administration are authorized to index deposit insurance coverage for inflation, for standard accounts and qualifying retirement accounts, every five years beginning April 1, 2007;

 

   

prohibiting undercapitalized financial institutions from accepting employee benefit plan deposits;

 

   

merging the Bank Insurance Fund and Savings Association Insurance Fund into a new Deposit Insurance Fund (the DIF); and

 

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providing credits to financial institutions that capitalized the FDIC prior to 1996 to offset future assessment premiums.

FDIRA also authorizes the FDIC to revise the current risk-based assessment system, subject to notice and comment and caps the amount of the DIF at 1.50% of domestic deposits. The FDIC must issue cash dividends, awarded on a historical basis, for the amount of the DIF over the 1.50% ratio. Additionally, if the DIF exceeds 1.35% of domestic deposits at year-end, the FDIC must issue cash dividends, awarded on a historical basis, for half of the amount of the excess.

Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act

President Bush signed the Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2006 (“Regulatory Relief Act”) into law on October 13, 2006. The Regulatory Relief Act repeals certain reporting requirements regarding loans to bank executive officers and principal shareholders. These changes have eliminated the statutory requirements for (1) the report to the Board of Directors when an executive officer becomes indebted to another institution in an aggregate amount that is greater than the officer would receive from his or her own institution; (2) the report filed by the institution that listed all credits made to executive officers since the previous report of condition; and (3) the report to the Board of Directors that is required when an executive officer or a principal shareholder become indebted to a correspondent bank.

The Regulatory Relief Act increased the size of a bank eligible for 18-month (rather than annual) examinations from $250 million to $500 million. The Regulatory Relief Act amends the privacy rules of Gramm-Leach-Bliley to clarify that CPA’s are not required to notify their customers of privacy and disclosure policies as long as they are subject to state law restraints on disclosure of non-public personal information without customer approval. Finally, the Regulatory Relief Act requires that the federal banking regulators develop model privacy notice forms, and banks adopting the model forms will be afforded a regulatory safe harbor under the disclosure requirements of Gramm-Leach-Bliley.

Proposed Legislation and Regulatory Action

New regulations and statutes are regularly proposed that contain wide-ranging proposals for altering the structures, regulations and competitive relationships of financial institutions operating or doing business in the United States. We cannot predict whether or in what form any proposed regulation or statute will be adopted or the extent to which our business may be affected by any new regulation or statute.

Effect of Governmental Monetary Polices

Our earnings are affected by domestic economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government and its agencies. The Federal Reserve Bank’s monetary policies have had, and are likely to continue to have, an important impact on the operating results of commercial banks and thrifts through its power to implement national monetary policy in order, among other things, to curb inflation or combat a recession. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve affect the levels of bank loans, investments and deposits through its control over the issuance of United States government securities, its regulation of the discount rate applicable to member banks and its influence over reserve requirements to which member banks are subject. We cannot predict the nature or impact of future changes in monetary and fiscal policies.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

An investment in our common stock involves risks. If any of the following risks or other risks, which have not been identified or which we may believe are immaterial or unlikely, actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed. In such a case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and investors could lose all or part of their investment. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements, and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements.

Our profitability is vulnerable to interest rate fluctuations.

Our profitability depends substantially upon our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest earned on assets, such as loans and investment securities, and the interest paid for liabilities, such as savings and time deposits and out-of-market certificates of deposit. Market interest rates for loans, investments and deposits are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control. Recently, interest rate spreads have generally narrowed due to changing market conditions, policies of various government and regulatory authorities and competitive pricing pressures, and we cannot predict whether these rate spreads will narrow even further. This narrowing of interest rate spreads could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we cannot predict whether interest rates will continue to remain at present levels. Changes in interest rates may cause significant changes, up or down, in our net interest income. Depending on our portfolio of loans and investments, our results of operations may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates.

If the value of real estate in our core market were to decline materially, a significant portion of our loan portfolio could become under-collateralized, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

At December 31, 2006, approximately 85.2% of our loans had real estate as a primary component of collateral. This collateral provides an alternate source of repayment in the event of default by the borrower and may deteriorate in value during the time the credit is extended. If we are required to liquidate the collateral securing a loan to satisfy the debt during a period of reduced real estate values, our earnings and capital could be materially adversely affected, given the relatively high percentage of our loans that are secured by real estate.

A significant portion of our real estate collateral is located in Richmond, Columbia and Clarke Counties in the State of Georgia and Aiken County in the State of South Carolina. A decline in local economic conditions in these areas could adversely affect the value of our real estate collateral, which could have a greater effect on our earnings and capital than on the earnings and capital of larger financial institutions whose real estate loan portfolios are diversified across a broader geographic area.

 

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An economic downturn, especially one affecting our market areas, could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Our success depends upon the growth in population, income levels, deposits and housing starts in our primary market areas which principally include Richmond, Columbia and Clarke Counties in the State of Georgia and Aiken County in the State of South Carolina. If the communities in which we operate do not grow, or if prevailing economic conditions locally or nationally are unfavorable, our business may not succeed. Unpredictable economic conditions may have an adverse effect on the quality of our loan portfolio and our financial performance. Economic recession over a prolonged period or other economic problems in our market areas could have a material adverse impact on the quality of the loan portfolio and the demand for our products and services. Future adverse changes in the economies in our market areas may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Further, the banking industry in Georgia and South Carolina is affected by general economic conditions such as inflation, recession, unemployment and other factors beyond our control. As community financial institutions, we are less able to spread the risk of unfavorable local economic conditions than larger or more regional banks. Moreover, we cannot give any assurance that we will benefit from any market growth or favorable economic conditions in our primary market areas even if they do occur.

As community financial institutions, we have different lending risks than larger banks.

We provide services to our local communities. Our ability to diversify our economic risks is limited by our own local markets and economies. We lend primarily to small to medium-sized businesses, and, to a lesser extent, individuals which may expose us to greater lending risks than those of banks lending to larger, better-capitalized businesses with longer operating histories.

We manage our credit exposure through careful monitoring of loan applicants and loan concentrations in particular industries, and through loan approval and review procedures. We have established an evaluation process designed to determine the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses. While this evaluation process uses historical and other objective information, the classification of loans and the establishment of loan losses is an estimate based on experience, judgment and expectations regarding our borrowers, the economies in which we and our borrowers operate, as well as the judgment of our regulators. Our loan loss reserves may not be sufficient to absorb future loan losses or prevent a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

We could suffer loan losses from a decline in credit quality.

We could sustain losses if borrowers, guarantors and related parties fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their loans. We have adopted underwriting and credit monitoring procedures and policies, including the establishment and review of the allowance for credit losses that we believe are appropriate to minimize this risk by assessing the likelihood of nonperformance, tracking loan performance and diversifying our credit portfolio. These policies and procedures, however, may not prevent unexpected losses that could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

 

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Our business strategy includes the continuation of growth plans, and our financial condition and results of operations could be negatively affected if we fail to grow or fail to manage our growth effectively.

We plan to expand our business in the Aiken County, South Carolina market and intend to continue pursuing a growth strategy for our business. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in growth stages of development, such as recruiting and retaining qualified personnel, becoming familiar with new geographic markets and financing the expansion. Our ability to grow successfully will depend on these and other factors, including the continued availability of desirable business opportunities and the competitive responses from other financial institutions in our market areas. If we are unable to address these factors or otherwise manage our growth effectively, our expansion efforts could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or future prospects, and could adversely affect our ability to successfully implement our business strategy. Also, if our growth occurs more slowly than anticipated or declines, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Additional growth may require us to raise additional capital in the future, but that capital may not be available when it is needed, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We are required by federal and state regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. We anticipate that our current capital resources will satisfy our capital requirements for the foreseeable future, although we may need to raise additional capital to support our continued growth.

Our ability to raise additional capital will depend on conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside our control, and on our financial performance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of our ability to raise additional capital on terms acceptable to us. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, our ability to further expand our operations could be materially impaired.

Changes in monetary policies may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our financial condition and results of operations are affected by credit policies of monetary authorities, particularly the Federal Reserve Board. Actions by monetary and fiscal authorities, including the Federal Reserve Board, could have an adverse effect on our deposit levels, loan demand or business and earnings.

Our recent results may not be indicative of our future results, and may not provide guidance to assess the risk of an investment in our common stock.

We may not be able to sustain our historical rate of growth or may not even be able to grow our business at all. In addition, our recent and rapid growth may distort some of our historical financial ratios and statistics. In the future, we may not have the benefit of several recently favorable factors, such as a generally increasing interest rate environment, a strong residential mortgage market or the ability to find suitable expansion opportunities. Various factors, such as economic conditions, regulatory and legislative considerations and competition, may also impede or prohibit our ability to expand our market presence. If we experience a significant decrease in our historical rate of growth, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected due to a high percentage of our operating costs being fixed expenses.

 

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Our ability to pay dividends is limited and we may be unable to pay future dividends. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock may be your sole opportunity for gains on your investment for the foreseeable future.

We make no assurances that we will pay any dividends in the future. Any future determination relating to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects, regulatory restrictions and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, and if declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. As part of our consideration to pay cash dividends, we intend to retain adequate funds from future earnings to support the development and growth of our business. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is restricted by federal policies and regulations. It is the policy of the Federal Reserve Board that bank holding companies should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of net income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. Further, our principal source of funds to pay dividends are cash dividends that we receive from our subsidiaries.

Our directors and executive officers own a significant portion of our common stock and can influence shareholder decisions.

Our directors, executive officers and relatives of directors, as a group, beneficially owned approximately 54.0% of our fully diluted outstanding common stock as of March 1, 2007. As a result of their ownership, the directors and executive officers will have the ability, if they voted their shares in concert, to control the outcome of all matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election of directors.

We are subject to extensive regulation that could limit or restrict our activities and impose financial requirements or limitations on the conduct of our business, which limitations or restrictions could adversely affect our profitability.

As a bank holding company, we are primarily regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve Board”). Our subsidiary bank is primarily regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Our subsidiary thrift is primarily regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”). Our compliance with Federal Reserve Board, FDIC, Department of Banking and Finance and OTS regulations is costly and may limit our growth and restrict certain of our activities, including payment of dividends, mergers and acquisitions, investments, loans and interest rates charged, interest rates paid on deposits and locations of offices. We are also subject to capital requirements of our regulators.

The laws and regulations applicable to the banking industry could change at any time, and we cannot predict the effects of these changes on our business and profitability. Because government regulation greatly affects the business and financial results of all commercial banks, thrifts and bank holding companies, our cost of compliance could adversely affect our ability to operate profitably.

 

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Holders of our subordinated debentures have rights that are senior to those of our common shareholders.

We have supported our continued growth by issuing trust preferred securities from special purpose trusts and accompanying subordinated debentures. At December 31, 2006, we had outstanding subordinated debentures totaling $20 million and may issue additional trust preferred securities in the future. We unconditionally guarantee the payment of principal and interest on the trust preferred securities. Also, the debentures we issued to the special purpose trusts that relate to those trust preferred securities are senior to our common stock. As a result, we must make payments on the subordinated debentures before we can pay any dividends on our common stock. In the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation, holders of our subordinated debentures must be satisfied before any distributions can be made on our common stock. We have the right to defer distributions on our subordinated debentures (and related trust preferred securities) for up to five years, but during that time we would not be able to pay dividends on our common stock.

Environmental liability associated with lending activities could result in losses.

In the course of our business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing our loans. If hazardous substances are discovered on any of these properties, we may be liable to governmental entities or third parties for the costs of remediation of the hazard, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Many environmental laws can impose liability regardless of whether we knew of, or were responsible for, the contamination. In addition, if we arrange for the disposal of hazardous or toxic substances at another site, we may be liable for the costs of cleaning up and removing those substances from the site, even if we neither own nor operate the disposal site. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and may materially limit the use of properties that we acquire through foreclosure, reduce their value or limit our ability to sell them in the event of a default on the loans they secure. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

 

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Item 2. Properties

The Company currently operates two main offices, eight branches and an operations center housed in a series of buildings adjacent to the GB&T main office. The principal administrative offices of the Company are located at 3530 Wheeler Road, Augusta, Georgia. Locations in metro Augusta include the main office, four branch offices in Augusta, Georgia, two branches in Martinez, Georgia, and one branch in Evans, Georgia. There is one branch located in Athens, Georgia, and the SB&T main office is located in Aiken, South Carolina. All banking offices are owned by the Company and are not subject to mortgage.

Each banking office in metro Augusta is a brick building with a teller line, customer service area, offices for the Company’s lenders, drive-in teller lanes, a vault with safe deposit boxes, and a walk-up or drive-up automated teller machine. The banking offices are generally 3,000 to 5,000 square foot buildings. Exceptions are the main office with approximately 14,000 square feet, the Washington Road branch with 1,800 square feet, and the Cotton Exchange branch with 7,500 square feet of space. In December 2005, the first branch located outside of metro Augusta was opened in Athens, Georgia. This 4,000 square foot banking office is located on the border of the Athens historic district and includes a teller line, customer service area, and lending offices. The only location outside of Georgia is the SB&T main office located in Aiken, South Carolina, which was opened in September 2006. This 4,000 square foot banking office has all the facilities of the metro Augusta offices. In August 2004, the Company purchased land in Evans across the street from its existing branch and plans to construct and open a drive-thru facility on this property during the second quarter of 2007.

In 1997, the Company acquired 24,000 square feet of commercial office space located at 3515 Wheeler Road, across the street from the main office. Initial renovations of 17,000 square feet were completed in June 1998 and operational functions including data processing, deposit operations, human resources, loan operations, credit administration, and accounting were relocated. In 2000 and 2001, additional renovations were made and the mortgage operations were moved to this Operations Complex, occupying 6,000 square feet. In December 2003, the remaining office space that was leased was renovated and the construction lending department now occupies this location.

In November 2002, the Company purchased approximately 23,400 square feet of commercial office space on Walton Way Ext., located in close proximity to the Operations Complex and Main Office. Approximately 10,400 square feet was renovated in 2003 to accommodate operational functions. Approximately 500 square feet of this property is used as a meeting room. All properties owned by the Company are adequately covered by the appropriate insurance for replacement value.

Due to continued growth, the Company purchased a commercial building with approximately 45,000 square feet of office space on Columbia Road in Martinez in May 2006. The objective of the Company in acquiring this property was to provide adequate space for existing operations to be relocated into one building and to meet future requirements necessitated by growth of the Company. The Company plans to renovate the property and relocate all operations personnel to this facility by the end of 2007.

The Company’s automated teller machine network includes four drive-up machines located in major retail shopping areas as well as machines located at each branch office.

 

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See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information concerning the Company’s premises and equipment and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information concerning the Company’s commitments under various equipment leases.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal proceedings. Although the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to such matters cannot be determined, in the opinion of management, there is no proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of management, threatened in which an adverse decision would result in a material adverse change to the consolidated results of operations or financial condition of the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Company during the fourth quarter of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

As of March 2, 2007, there were approximately 920 holders of record of the Company’s common stock. As of March 2, 2007, there were 5,433,614 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding. Transactions in the Company’s common stock are generally negotiated through UBS Financial Services and Robinson-Humphrey/Soloman Smith Barney Company, Inc. Both firms make a market in the common stock of the Company via the over-the-counter bulletin board. The following table reflects the range of high and low bid quotations, adjusted for stock dividends and splits, in the Company’s common stock for the past two years:

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation Stock Price

 

Quarter ended

   Low    High

March 31, 2005

   28.25    35.00

June 30, 2005

   32.00    36.00

September 30, 2005

   33.50    45.00

December 31, 2005

   39.75    43.15

Quarter ended

         

March 31, 2006

   37.87    40.25

June 30, 2006

   35.00    39.50

September 30, 2006

   38.00    45.00

December 31, 2006

   36.00    42.00

Period ended

         

March 2, 2007

   36.25    41.00

The Company declared cash dividends of $0.13 per share on January 18, 2006, April 18, 2006, July 19, 2006, and October 18, 2006. The Company declared cash dividends of $0.13 per share in each quarter of 2005. The Company’s primary sources of income are dividends and other payments received from its subsidiaries. The amount of dividends that may be paid by subsidiaries to the Company depends upon the subsidiaries’ earnings and capital position and is limited by federal and state law, regulations and policies.

Cash dividends on GB&T’s common stock may be declared and paid only out of its retained earnings, and dividends may not be declared at any time when GB&T’s paid-in capital and appropriated earnings do not, in combination, equal at least 20% of its capital stock account. In addition, the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance’s current rules and regulations require prior approval before cash dividends may be declared and paid if: (1) the bank’s ratio of equity capital to adjusted total assets is less than 6%; (ii) the aggregate amount of dividends declared or anticipated to be declared in that calendar year exceeds 50% of the bank’s net profits, after taxes but before dividends, for the previous calendar year; or (iii) the percentage of the bank’s loans classified as adverse as to repayment or recovery by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance at the most recent examination of the

 

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bank exceeds 80% of the bank’s equity as reflected at such examination. Cash dividends on SB&T’s common stock are not permitted during its first three years of operation with approval from the OTS pursuant to its current business plan.

The Company’s ability to pay cash dividends is further subject to continued payment of interest that is owed on subordinated debentures issued in connection with the Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I issuance in December 2005 of $10.0 million of trust preferred securities and the Southeastern Bank Financial Trust II issuance in March 2006 of $10.0 million of trust preferred securities. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had approximately $20.0 million of subordinated debentures outstanding. The Company has the right to defer payment of interest on the subordinated debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters. If the Company defers, or fails to make, interest payments on the subordinated debentures, the Company will be prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from paying cash dividends on common stock until all deferred interest is paid and interest payments on the subordinated debentures resumes.

The Company did not repurchase any of its equity securities or sell any of its equity securities without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, during the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The selected consolidated financial data presented on the following page as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2006 is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report and should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 is derived from audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this report but that are included in the Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for those years. The per share data presented below has been adjusted to give effect to the 2-for-1 stock split effected on November 21, 2003.

 

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Selected Consolidated Financial Data

 

      2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)  

Earnings

          

Total interest income

   $ 65,626     $ 47,277     $ 35,350     $ 32,337     $ 31,370  

Total interest expense

     31,423       17,885       9,670       9,685       11,160  

Net interest income

     34,203       29,392       25,680       22,652       20,210  

Provision for loan losses

     2,478       1,841       1,588       1,694       2,414  

Noninterest income

     13,993       12,378       12,461       14,522       11,587  

Noninterest expense

     28,885       25,019       23,744       23,564       20,278  

Net income

     11,160       9,954       8,704       7,933       6,010  
                                        

Per Share Data

          

Net income - Diluted

   $ 2.08     $ 1.86     $ 1.63     $ 1.48     $ 1.13  

Book value

     14.53       12.08       11.24       10.23       8.91  

Cash dividends declared per common share

     0.52       0.52       0.52       —         —    

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

     5,371,656       5,350,384       5,323,924       5,359,815       5,327,286  
                                        

Selected Average Balances

          

Assets

   $ 951,115     $ 785,081     $ 673,805     $ 604,585     $ 526,337  

Loans (net of unearned income)

     664,101       547,414       464,769       420,023       363,624  

Deposits

     735,128       611,029       528,167       465,868       403,992  

Stockholders’ equity

     69,317       61,655       56,162       50,786       43,090  
                                        

Selected Year-End Balances

          

Assets

   $ 1,041,202     $ 864,277     $ 706,517     $ 630,633     $ 569,832  

Loans (net of unearned income)

     749,969       601,235       494,170       432,679       396,699  

Allowance for loan losses

     9,777       9,125       7,930       7,278       6,534  

Deposits

     801,763       663,655       556,785       483,952       439,557  

Short-term borrowings

     76,020       73,013       45,481       57,769       48,988  

Long-term borrowings

     75,000       57,000       40,000       30,000       30,000  

Stockholders’ equity

     78,924       63,583       58,980       53,689       46,748  
                                        

Selected Ratios

          

Return on average total assets

     1.17 %     1.27 %     1.29 %     1.31 %     1.14 %

Return on average equity

     16.10 %     16.15 %     15.50 %     15.62 %     13.95 %

Average earning assets to average total assets

     93.67 %     93.90 %     93.56 %     94.57 %     94.86 %

Average loans to average deposits

     90.34 %     89.59 %     88.00 %     90.16 %     90.01 %

Average equity to average total assets

     7.29 %     7.85 %     8.33 %     8.40 %     8.19 %

Net interest margin

     3.84 %     3.98 %     4.08 %     3.97 %     4.04 %

Operating efficiency

     60.20 %     59.78 %     62.09 %     63.04 %     64.02 %

Net charge-offs to average loans

     0.17 %     0.12 %     0.20 %     0.23 %     0.27 %

Allowance for loan losses to net loans (year-end)

     1.30 %     1.52 %     1.60 %     1.68 %     1.65 %

Risk-based capital

          

Tier 1 capital

     12.09 %     11.10 %     10.33 %     10.33 %     10.15 %

Total capital

     13.29 %     12.35 %     11.58 %     11.58 %     11.40 %

Tier 1 leverage ratio

     9.78 %     9.01 %     8.38 %     8.40 %     7.96 %

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The purpose of this discussion is to focus on significant changes in the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta (“GB&T”) and Southern Bank & Trust (“SB&T”), during the past three years. The discussion and analysis is intended to supplement and highlight information contained in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Overview

GB&T was organized by a group of local citizens and commenced business on August 28, 1989, beginning operations with one main office. GB&T became a subsidiary of the Company in 1992 as a result of its holding company reorganization. Today, GB&T operates eight full service banking offices in Richmond and Columbia counties in Augusta, Martinez, and Evans, Georgia and one branch in Athens, Georgia. GB&T operates three mortgage origination offices in Augusta, Savannah, and Athens, Georgia. The Savannah, Georgia office also offers construction lending services. Bank and mortgage operations are located in Augusta, Georgia in two operations campuses located in close proximity to the main office in Augusta, Georgia. Trust and retail investment services are located in the main office. GB&T is Augusta’s largest community banking company. In 2005, the Company began organizing a federally chartered thrift to expand its business into Aiken, South Carolina, and subsequently opened the main office of SB&T, the Company’s newest subsidiary, on September 12, 2006.

The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan area, which includes Aiken, SC, has a diversified economy based primarily on government, public utilities, health care, manufacturing, construction, and wholesale and retail trade. Augusta is one of the leading medical centers in the Southeast. The 2005 population of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan area was 520,332, the second largest in Georgia and fourth largest in South Carolina. The Company expanded into the Athens, Georgia market in December 2005. Athens has a diversified economy which includes government, retail services, tourism, manufacturing, other services, and health care, with the largest share of government jobs in the state. The Athens-Clarke County, GA metropolitan area ranks sixth in Georgia with a 2005 population of 175,085.

The Company’s services include the origination of residential and commercial real estate loans, construction and development loans, and commercial and consumer loans. The Company also offers a variety of deposit programs, including noninterest-bearing demand, interest checking, money management, savings, and time deposits. In the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan area, GB&T had 12.34% of all deposits and was the second largest depository institution at June 30, 2006, as cited from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s website. Securities sold under repurchase agreements are also offered. Additional services include wealth management, trust, retail investment, and mortgage. As a matter of practice, most mortgage loans are sold in the secondary market; however, some mortgage loans are placed in the portfolio based on asset/liability management strategies. The Company continues to concentrate on increasing its market share through various new deposit and loan products and other financial services, by adding locations, and by focusing on the customer relationship management philosophy. The Company is committed to building lifelong relationships with its customers, employees, shareholders, and the communities it serves.

 

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The Company’s primary source of income is from its lending activities followed by interest income from its investment activities, service charges and fees on deposits, and gain on sales of mortgage loans in the secondary market. Interest income on loans and investment securities increased due to rising interest rates and increased volumes. Service charges and fees on deposits increased due to increases in NSF income on retail checking accounts and debit/ATM card income, both the result of new account growth. Gain on sales of mortgage loans for 2006 did not change significantly over 2005. Both trust service fees and retail investment income experienced growth again this year as the Company continues to focus on the expansion of the wealth management area.

The Company has experienced steady growth. Over the past four years, assets grew from $569.8 million at December 31, 2002 to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2006. From year end 2002 to year end 2006, loans increased $353.3 million, and deposits increased $362.2 million. Also, from 2002 to 2006 return on average equity increased from 13.95% to 16.10% and return on average assets increased from 1.14% to 1.17%. Net income for the year ended 2002 was $6.0 million compared to net income of $11.2 million at year end 2006. The Company has paid cash dividends of $0.13 per share each quarter since 2004.

The Company meets its liquidity needs by managing cash and due from banks, federal funds purchased and sold, maturity of investment securities, principal repayments received from mortgage backed securities, and draws on lines of credit. Additionally, liquidity can be managed through structuring deposit and loan maturities. The Company funds loan and investment growth with core deposits, securities sold under repurchase agreements and Federal Home Loan Bank advances. During inflationary periods, interest rates generally increase and operating expenses generally rise. When interest rates rise, variable rate loans and investments produce higher earnings; however, deposit and other borrowings interest expense also rise. The Company monitors its interest rate risk as it applies to net income in a ramp up and down annually 200 basis points (2%) scenario and as it applies to economic value of equity in a shock up and down 200 (2%) basis points scenario. The Company monitors operating expenses through responsibility center budgeting. See “Interest Rate Sensitivity” below.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The accounting and financial reporting policies of the Company and its subsidiaries conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to general practices within the banking industry. Of these policies, management has identified the allowance for loan losses as a critical accounting estimate that requires difficult, subjective judgment and is important to the presentation of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense, which affects the Company’s earnings directly. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that the collectibility of the principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries are added to the allowance. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb losses on existing loans that become uncollectible, based on evaluations of the collectibility of loans. The evaluations take into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, historical loss rates, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, and current economic conditions and trends that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay.

 

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The Company segments its allowance for loan losses into the following three major categories: 1) identified losses for impaired loans; 2) general allocation for Classified/Watch loans; and 3) general allocation for loans with satisfactory ratings. Risk ratings are initially assigned in accordance with the Company’s loan and collection policy. An organizationally independent department reviews grade assignments on an ongoing basis. Management reviews current information and events regarding a borrowers’ financial condition and strengths, cash flows available for debt repayment, the related collateral supporting the loan and the effects of known and expected economic conditions. When the evaluation reflects a greater than normal risk associated with the individual loan, management classifies the loan accordingly. If the loan is determined to be impaired, management allocates a portion of the allowance for loan losses for that loan based upon the present value of future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or the fair value of the collateral if collection of the loan is deemed to be dependent upon the collateral. Regulatory guidance is also considered. Cash receipts for accruing loans are applied to principal and interest under the contractual terms of the loan agreement; however, cash receipts on impaired and nonaccrual loans for which the accrual of interest has been discontinued are generally applied first to principal and then to interest income depending upon the overall risk of principal loss to the Company. Impaired and Classified/Watch loans are aggressively monitored. The allocation for loans rated satisfactory is further subdivided into various types of loans as defined by regulatory reporting codes. The Company’s management also gives consideration to subjective factors such as, national and local economic conditions, bankruptcy trends, unemployment trends, loan concentrations, and competitive factors in the local market. These factors represent uncertainties in the Company’s business environment and are included in the various individual components of the allowance for loan losses.

Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate. The loan portfolio is comprised of 85.2% real estate loans; 10.8% commercial, financial and agricultural loans; and 4.2% consumer loans. Commercial real estate comprises 26.5% of the loan portfolio and is primarily owner occupied properties where the operations of the commercial entity provide the necessary cash flow to service the debt. For this portion of the real estate loan portfolio, repayment is not dependent upon the sale of the real estate held as collateral. Construction and development loans, 35.6% of the portfolio, have been an increasingly important portion of the real estate loan portfolio. The Company carefully monitors the loans in this category since the repayment of these loans is generally dependent upon the sale of the real estate in the normal course of business and can be impacted by national and local economic conditions. The residential category, 21.1% of the portfolio, represents those loans that the Company chooses to maintain in its portfolio rather than selling into the secondary market for marketing and competitive reasons and commercial loans secured by residential real estate. The residential held for sale category, 2.0% of the portfolio, comprises loans that are in the process of being sold into the secondary market. In these loans, the credit has been approved by the investor and the interest rate locked so that the Company minimizes credit and interest rate risk with respect to these loans. The Company has no large loan concentrations to individual borrowers. Unsecured loans at December 31, 2006 were $10.9 million. While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may advise additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. Such regulatory guidance is considered, and the Company may recognize additions to the allowance as a result.

 

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Please see “Provision for Loan Losses, Net Charge-offs, and Allowance for Loan Losses” and “Non-Performing Assets” for a further discussion of the Company’s loans, loss experience, and methodology in determining the allowance.

Results of Operations

Total assets increased $176.9 million, or 20.5% in 2006 compared to year end 2005, primarily due to loan growth and an increase in cash and cash equivalents. The Company achieved record net income of $11.2 million in 2006, a 12.1% increase over 2005. The increase in net income is attributable to increases in net interest income and noninterest income, somewhat offset by increases in noninterest expense. Interest income increased $18.4 million or 38.9% in 2006. Interest income on loans, including loan fees, was the principal contributor, representing an increase of $15.4 million over 2005. This was the result of $148.7 million in loan growth for the Company in 2006 and the rising interest rate environment. Interest income on investment securities increased $2.7 million in 2006 as a result of a $36.6 million increase in the annual average balance of the investment portfolio in 2006. Significant changes to noninterest income in 2006 include a $379,000 increase in service charges and fees on deposits related to new account growth and a $334,000 increase in retail investment income due to production by new personnel.

The Company had total deposit growth of $138.1 million, or 20.8% in 2006. Interest expense on deposits increased $10.2 million as a result of this growth and higher interest rates. The most significant increase was in time deposits with a $111.6 million balance increase over 2005 year end with a corresponding $5.4 million increase in interest expense. Brokered CDs totaled $67.4 million at year end 2006 and accounted for $1.6 million of the increase in interest expense. Interest expense on other borrowings increased $1.9 million with $1.2 million attributable to subordinated debentures. The annual average balance of federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements grew $6.8 million in 2006, with related interest expense increasing $1.4 million over 2005. The Company was in a $14.7 million federal funds sold position at 2006 year end, as compared to $2.8 million at 2005 year end. Noninterest expense increased $3.9 million or 15.5% in 2006. Salaries and other personnel expense increased $2.3 million primarily as a result of additional employees in 2006 related to the Company’s continued growth and expansion into new markets. Other operating expenses increased $1.5 million with the most significant increases reflected in the processing expense and professional fees categories. The Company continues to monitor operating expenses and uses responsibility center budgeting to assist in this endeavor. The operating efficiency ratio of 60.20% in 2006 is a 0.42% increase from 2005.

The earnings performance of the Company is reflected in its return on average assets and average equity of 1.17% and 16.10%, respectively, during 2006 compared to 1.27% and 16.15%, respectively, during 2005. The return on average assets and average equity was 1.29% and 15.50%, respectively, in 2004. Basic net income per share on weighted average common shares outstanding improved to $2.10 in 2006 compared to $1.89 in 2005 and $1.66 in 2004. Diluted net income per share on weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding improved to $2.08 in 2006 compared to $1.86 in 2005 and $1.63 in 2004. The Company has paid cash dividends of $0.13 per share each quarter since 2004.

 

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Net Interest Income

The primary source of earnings for the Company is net interest income, which is the difference between income on interest-earning assets, such as loans and investment securities, and interest expense incurred on interest-bearing sources of funds, such as deposits and borrowings. The following table shows the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, average yields earned and rates paid on those respective balances, and the resulting interest income and interest expense for the periods indicated. Average balances are calculated based on daily balances, yields on non-taxable investments are not reported on a tax equivalent basis and average balances for loans include nonaccrual loans even though interest was not earned.

 

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Average Balances, Income and Expenses, Yields and Rates

 

     Year Ended Dec. 31, 2006    Year Ended Dec. 31, 2005    Year Ended Dec. 31, 2004
     Average
Amount
    Average
Yield or
Rate
    Amount
Paid or
Earned
   Average
Amount
    Average
Yield or
Rate
    Amount
Paid or
Earned
   Average
Amount
    Average
Yield or
Rate
    Amount
Paid or
Earned
     (Dollars in thousands)

ASSETS

                    

Interest-earning assets:

                    

Loans

   $ 664,101     8.18 %   $ 54,338    $ 547,414     7.11 %   $ 38,898    $ 464,769     6.08 %   $ 28,235

Investments

                    

Taxable

     189,321     5.09 %     9,633      158,017     4.56 %     7,206      146,660     4.43 %     6,495

Tax-exempt

     24,658     4.18 %     1,030      18,765     4.09 %     767      13,613     4.00 %     544

Federal funds sold

     12,248     4.90 %     600      12,106     3.14 %     380      5,211     1.40 %     73

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks

     612     4.08 %     25      884     2.94 %     26      163     1.84 %     3
                                                  

Total interest-earning assets

     890,940     7.37 %   $ 65,626      737,186     6.41 %   $ 47,277      630,416     5.61 %   $ 35,350
                                                  

Cash and due from banks

     19,977            17,096            15,601      

Premises and equipment

     22,242            19,208            16,577      

Other

     27,486            20,253            18,723      

Allowance for loan losses

     (9,530 )          (8,662 )          (7,512 )    
                                      

Total assets

   $ 951,115          $ 785,081          $ 673,805      
                                      

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                    

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                    

NOW Accounts

   $ 114,021     2.00 %   $ 2,277    $ 87,982     0.89 %   $ 787    $ 75,866     0.54 %   $ 407

Savings and money management accounts

     305,186     3.93 %     11,996      288,759     2.98 %     8,610      236,306     1.54 %     3,650

Time deposits

     213,889     4.59 %     9,826      145,209     3.08 %     4,476      137,238     2.31 %     3,165

Federal funds purchased / securities sold under repurchase agreements

     62,451     4.93 %     3,079      55,658     3.05 %     1,697      46,541     1.40 %     651

Other borrowings

     75,034     5.66 %     4,245      50,121     4.62 %     2,315      37,488     4.79 %     1,797
                                                  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     770,581     4.08 %     31,423      627,729     2.85 %     17,885      533,439     1.81 %     9,670
                                                  

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

     102,032            89,079            78,757      

Other liabilities

     9,185            6,618            5,447      

Stockholders’ equity

     69,317            61,655            56,162      
                                      

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 951,115          $ 785,081          $ 673,805      
                                      

Net interest spread

     3.29 %        3.56 %        3.80 %  

Benefit of noninterest sources

     0.55 %        0.42 %        0.28 %  

Net interest margin/income

     3.84 %   $ 34,203      3.98 %   $ 29,392      4.08 %   $ 25,680
                                

The increase in average loans of $116.7 million and the increase in average investments of $37.2 million were funded by increases in average deposits of $111.1 million, subordinated debentures of $16.8 million, Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings of $8.3 million, and federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements of $6.8 million. For 2006, average total assets were $951.1 million, a 21.2% increase over 2005. Average interest-earning assets for 2006 were $890.9 million, or 93.7% of average total assets.

Interest income is the largest contributor to income. Interest income on loans, including loan fees, increased $15.4 million from 2005 to $54.3 million in 2006. The increase in loan interest income

 

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resulted from increased loan volume and a 1.07% increase in the average yield due to the rising interest rate environment in 2006. Investment income increased $2.7 million to $10.7 million as a result of volume and higher investment yields in 2006. Interest income on federal funds sold increased primarily as the result of a 1.76% increase in the average yield. Interest expense on deposits increased $10.2 million from 2005 to $24.1 million as the result of deposit growth and higher interest rates. Interest expense on federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements increased $1.4 million, again due to growth and rising interest rates. Interest expense on other borrowings increased primarily due to a $1.2 million increase in interest expense on subordinated debentures which were issued in December 2005 and March 2006 resulting in a $16.8 million increase in the annual average balance. The overall result was an increase in net interest income of $4.8 million or 16.4% in 2006 from 2005. Average yields on interest-earning assets increased to 7.37% in 2006, compared to 6.41% in 2005.

Net interest income increased $3.7 million in 2005 compared to 2004 as a result of the growth in the volume of average earning assets and an increase in interest rates. Interest earning assets averaged $737.2 million in 2005, an increase of 16.9%, from the $630.4 million averaged in 2004. Average yields on earning assets increased to 6.41% in 2005, compared to 5.61% in 2004.

A key performance measure for net interest income is the “net interest margin”, or net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Unlike the “net interest spread”, the net interest margin is affected by the level of non-interest sources of funding used to support interest-earning assets. The Company’s net interest margin decreased to 3.84% in 2006 from 3.98% in 2005. In 2004, the net interest margin was 4.08%. The net interest margin deteriorated in 2006 as the average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits increased more quickly than the average rate on interest-earning assets. The high level of competition in the local market for both loans and deposits continues to influence the net interest margin. The net interest margin continues to be supported by demand deposits which provide a noninterest-bearing source of funds. The Company’s current marketing efforts are focused on increasing demand deposits and NOW accounts to help prevent further deterioration in the net interest margin. The net interest spread measures the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing sources of funds. The net interest spread eliminates the impact of noninterest-bearing funds and gives a direct perspective on the effect of market interest rate movements. As a result of changes in interest rates in 2006, the net interest spread decreased 27 basis points to 3.29% in 2006. The 2005 net interest spread of 3.56% also represented a decrease from 2004’s 3.80%.

Changes in the net interest income from period to period result from increases or decreases in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, increases in the average rates earned and paid on such assets and liabilities, the ability to manage the earning asset portfolio, and the availability of particular sources of funds, such as noninterest-bearing deposits. The following table: “Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income” indicates the changes in the Company’s net interest income as a result of changes in volume and rate from 2006 to 2005, and 2005 to 2004. The analysis of changes in net interest income included in the following table indicates that on an overall basis in 2006 to 2005, the increase in the balances or volumes of interest-earning assets created a positive impact in net income. This was somewhat offset by the impact of increased volumes of interest-bearing liabilities. The rising rate environment of 2006 resulted in rate increases on interest-earning assets which were more than offset by rate increases on interest-bearing liabilities. In 2005 to 2004, the increase in the balances or volumes of interest-earning assets created a positive impact in net income which was partially offset by the impact of increased volumes of interest-bearing liabilities. Rising rates in 2005 resulted in rate increases on interest-bearing liabilities that exceeded rate increases on interest-earning assets.

 

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Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income

 

    

2006 vs. 2005

Increase (Decrease)

   

2005 vs. 2004

Increase (Decrease)

   Average
Volume
    Average
Rate
   Combined     Total     Average
Volume
   Average
Rate
    Combined     Total
   (Dollars in thousands)

Interest income from interest-earning assets:

                  

Loans

   $ 8,296     $ 5,858    $ 1,286     $ 15,440     $ 5,025    $ 4,787     $ 850     $ 10,662

Investments, taxable

     1,428       837      162       2,427       503      191       17       711

Investments, tax-exempt

     241       17      5       263       206      12       5       223

Federal funds sold

     4       213      3       220       97      91       121       309

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks

     (8 )     10      (3 )     (1 )     13      2       7       22
                                                            

Total

   $ 9,961     $ 6,935    $ 1,453     $ 18,349     $ 5,844    $ 5,083     $ 1,000     $ 11,927
                                                            

Interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities:

                  

NOW accounts

   $ 232     $ 976    $ 282     $ 1,490     $ 65    $ 266     $ 49     $ 380

Savings and money management accounts

     490       2,743      153       3,386       808      3,403       749       4,960

Time deposits

     2,115       2,193      1,042       5,350       184      1,057       70       1,311

Federal funds purchased / securities sold under repurchase agreements

     207       1,047      128       1,382       128      768       150       1,046

Other borrowings

     1,151       521      258       1,930       605      (64 )     (23 )     518
                                                            

Total

   $ 4,195     $ 7,480    $ 1,863     $ 13,538     $ 1,790    $ 5,430     $ 995     $ 8,215
                                                            

Change in net interest income

          $ 4,811            $ 3,712
                            

The variances for each major category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are attributable to (a) changes in volume (changes in volume times prior year rate), (b) changes in rate (changes in rate times prior year volume) and (c) combined (changes in rate times the change in volume).

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income consists of revenues generated from a broad range of financial services and activities, including service charges on deposit accounts, gain on sales of loans, fee-based services, and products where commissions are earned through sales of products such as real estate mortgages, retail investment services, trust services, and other activities. In addition, the increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance and gains or losses realized from the sale of investment securities are included in noninterest income.

 

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Noninterest income for 2006 was $14.0 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 13.1% from 2005. Service charges and fees on deposits increased $379,000 in 2006 primarily due to increases in NSF fees for retail checking accounts and debit/ATM card income, both the result of new account growth. These increases were somewhat offset by decreases in service charges on non-personal deposit accounts due to increases in the earnings credit applied to average balances maintained in those accounts. Retail investment income increased $334,000 primarily due to production by new personnel. Increases of $299,000 in net investment securities gains were the result of a $526,000 gain recognized on the sale of equity securities, partially offset by losses on the sale of agency and mortgage-backed securities. Other contributing factors to the increase in noninterest income include increases in trust services fees due to increased sales from the continued development of that area and increases in the increase in cash-surrender value of bank-owned life insurance due to an additional purchase of $3.5 million in bank-owned life insurance in February 2006.

Noninterest income for 2005 was $12.4 million, a decrease of $84,000 or 0.7% from 2004. Contributing factors include decreases in gain on sales of loans in the secondary mortgage market due to lower mortgage loan volumes which were primarily the result of the rising interest rate environment, increased competition, reduced staff in existing offices, and the closing of the Nashville, Tennessee mortgage office. The increase in cash surrender value of life insurance decreased due to reduced interest rates. These decreases were partially offset by increases in service charges and fees on deposits during the period primarily due to increases in NSF fees and ATM income, somewhat offset by decreases in service charges, all a result of new retail checking accounts. The decrease in service charge income was also attributable to increases in the earnings credit.

The following table presents the principal components of noninterest income for the last three years:

Noninterest Income

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Service charges and fees on deposit accounts

   $ 5,742     $ 5,363     $ 4,925  

Gain on sales of loans

     5,154       5,089       5,705  

Investment securities gains (losses), net

     213       (86 )     (102 )

Retail investment income

     788       455       444  

Trust service fees

     860       642       554  

Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance

     605       400       492  

Other

     631       515       443  
                        

Total noninterest income

   $ 13,993     $ 12,378     $ 12,461  
                        

Noninterest income as a percentage of total average assets

     1.47 %     1.58 %     1.85 %

Noninterest income as a percentage of total income

     17.57 %     20.75 %     26.06 %

 

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Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense totaled $28.9 million in 2006, an increase of 15.5% from 2005 noninterest expense of $25.0 million. Noninterest expense attributable to the Company’s expansion into new markets totaled $1.9 million for 2006. Salaries and other personnel expense increased $2.3 million due to offices opened in the Aiken, South Carolina and Athens, Georgia markets, the expansion of the wealth management area, medical expenses and stock options compensation expense recognized for the acceleration of the vesting period for two key employees and to comply with SFAS No. 123(R). Other operating expenses increased $1.5 million in 2006. Processing expenses increased $407,000 primarily due to retail investment processing fees related to increased production and fees associated with new account growth for both retail and business checking products. Professional fees increased $275,000 primarily for Sarbanes-Oxley 404 compliance, other advisory services and legal fees. Marketing expense increased $174,000 primarily due to advertising for expansion into the Athens and Aiken markets. Contributions increased as the result of a $200,000 donation made to Georgia Bank Foundation, and supplies expense increased $152,000 due to the continued growth of the Company.

Noninterest expense totaled $25.0 million in 2005, an increase of 5.4% from 2004 noninterest expense of $23.7 million. Noninterest expense attributable to the Company’s expansion into new markets totaled $432,000 for 2005. Salary expense and employee benefits increased $977,000 primarily as a result of additional employees in 2005 related to the Company’s continued growth and expansion. The increase in occupancy expenses is primarily due to depreciation expense on the Walton Way Operations Campus and the Cotton Exchange branch which both opened in 2004. Other operating expenses increased $191,000 in 2005. Professional fees increased $247,000 primarily due to trust advisory fees and other advisory services. Staff development expense increased $143,000 primarily due to sales training. Increases in other operating expenses were partially offset by decreases in loan related expenses of $209,000 and processing expenses of $91,000. Nonrecurring expenses in 2004 included $150,000 related to a loan which was sold into the secondary market that the Company was required to repurchase based on a fraudulent appraisal and $50,000 for a commercial loan litigation settlement. The decrease in processing expenses is attributable to moving ATM processing in-house and the expiration of commissions due under an overdraft protection contract.

The Company continues to monitor expenditures in all organizational units by utilizing specific cost accounting and reporting methods as well as responsibility center budgeting. The following table presents the principal components of noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.

 

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Noninterest Expense

 

    

Year Ended

December 31,

 
     2006     2005     2004  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Salaries and employee benefits

   $ 17,805     $ 15,531     $ 14,555  

Occupancy expense

     2,847       2,731       2,623  

Marketing & business development expense

     1,405       1,119       1,100  

Processing expense

     1,480       1,073       1,163  

Legal and professional fees

     1,369       1,094       847  

Data processing expense

     667       532       503  

Loan costs

     442       396       604  

Supplies expense

     660       508       485  

Other expense

     2,210       2,035       1,864  
                        

Total noninterest expense

   $ 28,885     $ 25,019     $ 23,744  
                        

Noninterest expense as a percentage of total average assets

     3.04 %     3.19 %     3.52 %

Operating efficiency ratio

     60.20 %     59.78 %     62.09 %

The Company’s efficiency ratio (noninterest expense as a percentage of net interest income and noninterest income, excluding gains and losses on the sale of investments) increased to 60.20% in 2006 compared to 59.78% in 2005 but is still below the 2004 ratio of 62.09%. Although the Company had significant increases in both net interest income and noninterest income, noninterest expense related to continued growth and expansion into new markets led to the deterioration of the efficiency ratio in 2006. The improvement in the efficiency ratio in 2005 is due to net interest income increasing at a faster rate than noninterest expense. Expenses for growth and expansion were more than offset by income produced from existing operations. The improvement in the efficiency ratio in 2004 is the result of increased income with noninterest expense remaining stable. Increased expenses for new facilities and product development were offset by a reduction in salaries expense.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense increased $719,000 or 14.5% in 2006 from 2005, and increased $850,000 or 20.7% in 2005 from 2004. The effective tax rate as a percentage of pre-tax income was 33.7% in 2006, 33.2% in 2005, and 32.0% in 2004. Higher income in 2006 resulted in taxable income over $15.0 million which was taxed at a higher federal income tax rate. Additionally, for federal income taxes, increases in nontaxable bank owned life insurance income and tax-exempt municipals was mostly offset by increases in nondeductible stock option expense. However, for state income tax purposes, the increases in nontaxable bank owned life insurance income was significantly offset by Georgia disallowed agency interest income and increases in nondeductible stock options. The increase in the effective tax rate in 2005 is primarily due to the graduated increase in the federal income tax rate from 34% in 2002 to 35%. The lower effective tax rate in 2004 is primarily due to an increase in tax-exempt income on loans, municipal securities, and increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance.

 

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Provision for Loan Losses, Net Charge-offs and Allowance for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses is the charge to operating earnings necessary to maintain an adequate allowance for loan losses. The allowance for loan losses represents a reserve for losses in the loan portfolio. The Company has developed policies and procedures for evaluating the overall quality of its loan portfolio and the timely identification of problem credits. Management continues to review these policies and procedures and makes further improvements as needed. The adequacy of the Company’s allowance for loan losses and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal policies and procedures are also reviewed periodically by the Company’s regulators and the Company’s internal loan review personnel. The Company’s regulators may advise the Company to recognize additions to the allowance based upon their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. Such regulatory guidance is considered, and the Company may recognize additions to the allowance as a result.

The Company’s Board of Directors, with the recommendation of management, approves the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses based upon internal policies and procedures, historical loan loss ratios, loan volume, size and character of the loan portfolio, concentrations of loans to specific borrowers or industries, value of the collateral underlying the loans, specific problem loans and present or anticipated economic conditions and trends. The Company continues to refine the methodology on which the level of the allowance for loan losses is based, by comparing historical loss ratios utilized to actual experience and by classifying loans for analysis based on similar risk characteristics.

For significant problem loans, management’s review consists of the evaluation of the financial condition and strengths of the borrower, cash flows available for debt repayment, the related collateral supporting the loan and the effects of known and expected economic conditions. When the evaluation reflects a greater than normal risk associated with the individual problem loan, management classifies the loan accordingly and allocates a portion of the allowance for loan losses for that loan based on the results of the evaluation described above plus the historical loss rates and regulatory guidance relating to classified loans. The table below indicates those allowances allocated for loans classified as problem loans and the allocated general allowance for all non-classified loans according to loan type determined through the Company’s comprehensive allowance methodology for the years indicated. The unallocated general allowance is based on management’s consideration at the balance sheet date of various conditions that are not directly measurable in determining the allocated allowance considering the recognized uncertainty in estimating loan losses. These conditions include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates; trends in volumes, credit concentrations and terms of loans in the portfolio; national and local economic conditions; recent loss experience; and changes in lending policies and procedures. As reflected by the unallocated portion of the allowance, the adequacy of the Company’s allowance for loan losses is evaluated on an overall portfolio basis. Because these allocations are based upon estimates and subjective judgment, it is not necessarily indicative of the specific amounts or loan categories in which loan losses may occur.

The allowance for loan losses was decreased $694,000 in 2006 to adjust for over-accrual of estimated losses for unfunded lines and commitments and standby letters at December 31, 2005 to comply with SAB 108. This adjustment decreased the allowance for loan losses at January 1, 2006 from $9.1 million to $8.4 million. The allowance for loan losses was $9.8 million at December 31, 2006, a $1.3 million increase after the adjustment. Increases in outstanding loan balances were the primary reason for the increase somewhat offset by decreases in the allowance due to lower levels of

 

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Classified and Watch-rated debt, decreased reserves for specific loans and the change in the allowance calculation related to economic and market risk factors. In 2006, the loan loss method discussed under “Critical Accounting Estimates” was revised to include economic and market risk factors as part of the various individual components of the allowance for loan losses and to eliminate unfunded lines and commitments and standby letters of credit from the general allocation. Prior to 2006, economic and market risk factors were specifically identified and recorded as a separate component of the allowance and unfunded lines and commitments and standby letters of credit were included in the general allocation. With the two exceptions noted above, the loan loss method discussed under “Critical Accounting Estimates” was consistently applied to loans in 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Loss

 

     December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
     Amount    Percent(1)     Amount    Percent(1)     Amount    Percent(1)     Amount    Percent(1)     Amount    Percent(1)  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Balance at end of year

                         

Applicable to:

                         

Commercial, financial, agricultural

   $ 1,254    10.78 %   $ 1,754    10.71 %   $ 1,739    12.09 %   $ 1,722    13.09 %   $ 1,286    14.05 %

Real estate-construction

     3,139    35.58 %     2,288    30.74 %     1,648    25.76 %     1,249    20.87 %     1,187    20.04 %

Real estate-mortgage

     4,727    49.58 %     4,430    52.85 %     3,637    53.84 %     3,122    54.37 %     2,950    53.31 %

Consumer loans to individuals

     549    4.16 %     642    5.78 %     895    8.34 %     1,166    11.69 %     1,062    12.58 %

Lease financing

     —      0.02 %     —      0.02 %     —      0.00 %     —      0.00 %     1    0.03 %

Deferred loan origination fees

     —      (0.12 %)     —      (0.10 %)     —      (0.03 %)     —      (0.02 %)     —      (0.01 %)

Unallocated

     108    0.00 %     11    0.00 %     11    0.00 %     19    0.00 %     48    0.00 %
                                                                 

Balance at end of year

   $ 9,777    100.00 %   $ 9,125    100.00 %   $ 7,930    100.00 %   $ 7,278    100.00 %   $ 6,534    100.00 %

 

(1) Percent of loans in each category to total loans

Additions to the allowance for loan losses, which are expensed on the Company’s income statement as the “provision for loan losses”, are made periodically to maintain the allowance for loan losses at an appropriate level based upon management’s evaluation of the potential risk in the loan portfolio. The Company’s provision for loan losses in 2006 was $2.5 million, an increase of $637,000, or 34.6% from the 2005 provision of $1.8 million.

Real estate-construction loans grew $82.0 million (44.4%) in 2006 with a corresponding increase of $851,000 in the allowance for loan loss. The decrease in the allowance for commercial, financial, and agricultural loans in 2006 is primarily due to $694,000 for unfunded lines and commitments and standby letters of credit in 2005 which were eliminated in 2006 to comply with SAB 108. The allocation of $4.7 million of the allowance for loan losses to real estate-mortgage reflects the credit ratings associated with these loans and the resulting higher reserve factor.

 

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The following table provides details regarding charge-offs and recoveries by loan category during the most recent five year period, as well as supplemental information relating to both net loan losses, the provision and the allowance for loan losses during each of the past five years. As the table indicates, net charge-offs for 2006 represented 0.17% of average loans outstanding, compared to 0.12% for 2005 and 0.20% for 2004. The Company’s charge-off ratios continue to be lower than the average for the industry.

 

     Allowances for Loan Losses  
     At December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Total loans outstanding at end of period, net of unearned income

   $ 749,969     $ 601,235     $ 494,170     $ 432,679     $ 396,699  
                                        

Average loans outstanding, net of unearned income

   $ 664,101     $ 547,414     $ 464,769     $ 420,023     $ 363,624  
                                        

Balance of allowance for loan losses at beginning of year

   $ 8,431 (1)   $ 7,930     $ 7,278     $ 6,534     $ 5,109  

Charge-offs:

          

Commercial, financial and agricultural

     648       694       458       439       582  

Real estate - construction

     100       80       18       25       36  

Real estate - mortgage

     806       95       52       55       —    

Consumer

     386       736       1,165       1,102       1,009  
                                        

Total charge-offs

     1,940       1,605       1,693       1,621       1,627  
                                        

Recoveries of previous loan losses:

          

Commercial, financial and agricultural

     287       308       175       190       169  

Real estate - construction

     6       5       4       —         —    

Real estate - mortgage

     31       52       8       3       7  

Consumer

     484       594       570       478       462  
                                        

Total recoveries

     808       959       757       671       638  
                                        

Net loan losses

     1,132       646       936       950       989  
                                        

Provision for loan losses

     2,478       1,841       1,588       1,694       2,414  

Balance of allowance for loan losses at end of period

   $ 9,777     $ 9,125       7,930       7,278       6,534  
                                        

Allowance for loan losses to period end loans

     1.30 %     1.52 %     1.60 %     1.68 %     1.65 %

Net charge-offs to average loans

     0.17 %     0.12 %     0.20 %     0.23 %     0.27 %

 

(1) Includes adjustment of $694 for estimated overstatement of allowance for loan loss as of 12/31/05 as required by SAB 108.

At December 31, 2006, the allowance for loan losses was 1.30% of outstanding loans, down from the 1.52% level at December 31, 2005 and the 1.60% level at December 31, 2004. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans adjusted for SAB 108 was 1.40% at December 31, 2005, accounting for 12 basis points of the 22 basis point decrease from 2005 to 2006. Other factors contributing to the decrease include lower levels of Classified and Watch-rated debt and a higher percentage of loans with satisfactory ratings. Management considers the allowance appropriate based upon its analysis of the potential risk in the portfolio using the methods previously discussed. Management’s judgment is based upon a number of assumptions about events which are believed to be

 

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reasonable, but which may or may not prove correct. While it is the Company’s policy to charge off in the current period the loans in which a loss is considered probable, there are additional risks of losses which cannot be quantified precisely or attributed to a particular loan or class of loans. Because these risks include present and forecasted economic conditions, management’s judgment as to the adequacy of the allowance is necessarily approximate and imprecise. 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 allowance will not be required. See “Critical Accounting Estimates.”

Financial Condition

Composition of the Loan Portfolio

Loans are the primary component of the Company’s interest-earning assets and generally are expected to provide higher yields than the other categories of earning assets. Those higher yields reflect the inherent credit risks associated with the loan portfolio. Management attempts to control and balance those risks with the rewards associated with higher returns.

Loans outstanding averaged $664.1 million in 2006 compared to $547.4 million in 2005 and $464.8 million in 2004. At December 31, 2006, loans totaled $750.0 million compared to $601.2 million at December 31, 2005, an increase of $148.8 million (24.8%). This compares to growth in 2005 of $107.0 million (21.7%) and loans outstanding of $494.2 million at December 31, 2004.

The Company continues to experience significant increases in loan volumes and balances. The increases are attributable to a stable local economy and the desire of a segment of the community to do business with a locally-owned and operated financial institution. Commercial real estate loans increased $41.6 million in 2006. Construction and development loans increased $82.0 million from year end 2005. Average loans as a percentage of average interest-earning assets and average total assets were 74.5% and 69.8%, respectively, in 2006. This compares to average loans as a percentage of average interest-earning assets and average total assets of 74.3% and 69.7%, respectively, in 2005.

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio as of December 31 for the past five years. The Company’s loan portfolio does not contain any concentrations of loans exceeding 10% of total loans which are not otherwise disclosed as a category of loans in this table. The Company has not invested in loans to finance highly-leveraged transactions (“HLT”), such as leveraged buy-out transactions, as defined by the Federal Reserve and other regulatory agencies. Loans made by a bank for re-capitalization or acquisitions (including acquisitions by management or employees) which result in a material change in the borrower’s financial structure to a highly-leveraged condition are considered HLT loans. The Company had no foreign loans or loans to lesser-developed countries as of December 31 of any of the years presented.

 

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Loan Portfolio Composition

At December 31,

 

     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
     Amount     %     Amount     %     Amount     %     Amount     %     Amount     %  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Commercial financial and agricultural

   $ 80,823     10.78 %   $ 64,398     10.71 %   $ 59,763     12.09 %   $ 56,626     13.09 %   $ 55,729     14.05 %
                                                                      

Real estate

                    

Commercial

   $ 198,453     26.46 %   $ 156,896     26.10 %   $ 139,616     28.25 %   $ 129,223     29.87 %   $ 102,914     25.94 %

Residential

     158,543     21.14 %     138,716     23.07 %     111,635     22.59 %     91,973     21.26 %     84,291     21.25 %

Residential held for sale

     14,857     1.98 %     22,147     3.68 %     14,779     2.99 %     14,047     3.25 %     24,297     6.12 %

Construction and development

     266,875     35.58 %     184,826     30.74 %     127,303     25.76 %     90,303     20.87 %     79,483     20.04 %
                                                                      

Total real estate

     638,728     85.17 %     502,585     83.59 %     393,333     79.59 %     325,546     75.24 %     290,985     73.35 %
                                                                      

Lease financing

     116     0.02 %     111     0.02 %     —       0.00 %     23     0.00 %     106     0.03 %

Consumer

                    

Direct

     24,146     3.22 %     24,343     4.05 %     24,185     4.89 %     25,967     6.00 %     24,542     6.19 %

Indirect

     6,232     0.83 %     9,752     1.62 %     16,436     3.33 %     23,964     5.54 %     24,709     6.23 %

Revolving

     843     0.11 %     656     0.11 %     600     0.12 %     631     0.15 %     655     0.17 %
                                                                      

Total consumer

     31,221     4.16 %     34,751     5.78 %     41,221     8.34 %     50,562     11.69 %     49,906     12.58 %
                                                                      

Deferred loan origination fees

     (919 )   -0.12 %     (610 )   -0.10 %     (147 )   -0.03 %     (78 )   -0.02 %     (27 )   -0.01 %
                                                                      

Total

   $ 749,969     100.00 %   $ 601,235     100.00 %   $ 494,170     100.00 %   $ 432,679     100.00 %   $ 396,699     100.00 %
                                                                      

Loans may be periodically renewed with principal reductions and appropriate interest rate adjustments. Loan maturities as of December 31, 2006 are set forth in the following table based upon contractual terms. Actual cash flows may differ as borrowers generally have the right to prepay without prepayment penalties.

Loan Maturity Schedule

At December 31, 2006

 

($ in thousands)

   Within
One Year
   One to Five
Years
    After Five
Years
   Total  

Commercial, financial and agricultural

   $ 47,588    $ 27,342     $ 5,893    $ 80,823  

Real Estate

          

Construction and development

     223,334      34,963       8,578      266,875  

Mortgage

     180,051      115,802       76,000      371,853  

Lease financing

     116      —         —        116  

Consumer

     14,805      15,129       1,287      31,221  

Deferred loan origination fees

     —        (919 )     —        (919 )
                              

Total loans

   $ 465,894    $ 192,317     $ 91,758    $ 749,969  
                              

The following table presents an interest rate sensitivity analysis of the Company’s loan portfolio as of December 31, 2006. The loans outstanding are shown in the time period where they are first subject to repricing.

 

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Sensitivity of Loans to Changes in Interest Rates

At December 31, 2006

 

($ in thousands)

   Within
One year
   One to Five
Years
   After Five
Years
   Total

Loans maturing or repricing with:

           

Predetermined interest rates

   $ 152,899    $ 118,141    $ 34,245    $ 305,285

Floating or adjustable interest rates

     414,290      30,382      12      444,684
                           

Total loans

   $ 567,189    $ 148,523    $ 34,257    $ 749,969
                           

Non-Performing Assets

As a result of management’s ongoing review of the loan portfolio, loans are classified as nonaccrual when it is not reasonable to expect collections of interest and principal under the original terms, generally when a loan becomes 90 days or more past due. These loans are classified as nonaccrual, even though the presence of collateral or the borrower’s financial strength may be sufficient to provide for ultimate repayment. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual, the interest which has been accrued but remains unpaid is reversed and deducted from current period interest income. No additional interest is accrued and recognized as income on the loan balance until the collection of both principal and interest becomes reasonably certain. Also, there may be write downs, and ultimately, the total charge-off of the principal balance of the loan, which could necessitate additional charges to earnings through the provision for loan losses.

If nonaccruing loans had been accruing interest under their original terms, approximately $118,000 in 2006, $204,000 in 2005 and $166,000 in 2004 would have been recognized as earnings.

The Company accounts for impaired loans under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 114 “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan” as amended by SFAS No. 118 “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan - Income Recognition and Disclosures”, which requires that the Company identify impaired loans and evaluate the collectibility of both contractual interest and principal of loans when assessing the need for a loss allowance. The provisions of SFAS No. 114 do not apply to large pools of smaller balance homogeneous loans which are collectively evaluated for impairment, loans that are measured at fair value or at the lower of cost or fair value, and debt securities. A loan is considered impaired, when based upon current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the note agreement. All loans determined to be impaired are placed on nonaccrual. The amount of the impairment is measured based on the present value of future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, if the loan is collateral dependent or foreclosure is probable, the fair value of collateral, less estimated selling expenses. Regulatory guidance is also considered. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company had impaired loans of $1.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

 

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Non-performing loans are defined as nonaccrual and renegotiated loans. When other real estate owned is included with non-performing loans, the result is non-performing assets. The following table, “Non-Performing Assets”, presents information on these assets and loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest as of December 31, for the past five years. Non-performing assets were $2.4 million at December 31, 2006 or 0.31% of total loans and other real estate owned. This compares to $4.0 million or 0.67% of total loans and other real estate owned at December 31, 2005.

Significant changes in nonaccrual loans during 2006 include a $653,000 decrease in non-performing assets with balances less than $100,000, a $1.4 million decrease for two customers from a combination of collateral sale and charge-off, a $254,000 decrease for one customer removed from nonaccrual status, and an increase of $825,000 for two customers added to nonaccrual status. The level of nonaccrual loans was up in 2005 primarily due to $1.5 million in loans for three customers who had filed bankruptcy.

At December 31, 2006, there were no loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing. At December 31, 2005 and 2004 there were loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing of $1,000 and $29,000, respectively. All loans past due 90 days or more are classified as nonaccrual loans unless the loan officer believes that both principal and interest are collectible, in which case the loan continues to accrue interest.

 

     Non-Performing Assets Year Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Nonaccrual loans

   $ 2,351     $ 4,009     $ 2,972     $ 3,045     $ 1,897  

Other real estate owned

     —         —         53       5       —    
                                        

Total nonperforming assets

   $ 2,351     $ 4,009     $ 3,025     $ 3,050     $ 1,897  
                                        

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest

   $ —       $ 1     $ 29     $ —       $ 30  
                                        

Allowance for loan losses to period end total loans

     1.30 %     1.52 %     1.60 %     1.68 %     1.65 %

Allowance for loan losses to period end nonperforming loans

     415.87 %     227.56 %     262.15 %     238.62 %     344.44 %

Net charge-offs to average loans

     0.17 %     0.12 %     0.20 %     0.23 %     0.27 %

Nonperforming assets to period end loans

     0.31 %     0.67 %     0.61 %     0.70 %     0.48 %

Nonperforming assets to period end loans and other real estate owned

     0.31 %     0.67 %     0.61 %     0.70 %     0.48 %

Management is not aware of any loans classified for regulatory purposes as loss, doubtful, substandard, or special mention that have not been identified which (1) represent or result from trends or uncertainties which management reasonably expects will materially impact future operating results, liquidity, or capital resources, or (2) represent material credits about which management is aware of any information which causes management to have serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the loan repayment terms.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company is party to lines of credit with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. Lines of credit are unfunded commitments to extend credit. These instruments involve, in varying degrees, exposure to credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the financial statements. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for unfunded commitments to extend credit and letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company follows the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.

Unfunded commitments to extend credit where contractual amounts represent potential credit risk totaled $202.6 million and $204.4 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These commitments are primarily at variable interest rates.

The Company’s commitments are funded through internal funding sources of scheduled repayments of loans and sales and maturities of investment securities available for sale or external funding sources through acceptance of deposits from customers or borrowings from other financial institutions.

The following table is a summary of the Company’s commitments to extend credit, commitments under contractual leases as well as the Company’ contractual obligations, consisting of deposits, FHLB advances and borrowed funds by contractual maturity date.

 

Commitments and Contractual Obligations ($ in thousands)

   Less than 1
Year
   1 - 3
Years
   3 - 5
Years
   More than
5 Years

Lines of credit

   $ 190,286      —        —        —  

Mortgage loan commitments

     12,341      —        —        —  

Lease agreements

     160      202      182      166

Deposits

     722,572      70,825      3,909      4,457

Federal funds purchased / Securities sold under repurchase agreements

     70,020      —        —        —  

FHLB advances

     5,000      —        30,000      25,000

Other borrowings

     1,000      —        —        —  

Subordinated debentures

     —        —        —        20,000
                           

Total commitments and contractual obligations

   $ 1,001,379    $ 71,027    $ 34,091    $ 49,623
                           

Although management regularly monitors the balance of outstanding commitments to fund loans to ensure funding availability should the need arise, management believes that the risk of all customers fully drawing on all these lines of credit at the same time is remote.

 

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Investment Securities

The Company’s investment securities portfolio increased $778,000 to $202.1 million at year-end 2006 from 2005. The Company maintains an investment strategy of seeking portfolio yields within acceptable risk levels, as well as providing liquidity. The Company maintains two classifications of investments: “Held to Maturity” and “Available for Sale.” “Available for Sale” securities are carried at fair market value with related unrealized gains or losses included in stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income, whereas the “Held to Maturity” securities are carried at amortized cost. As a consequence, with a higher percentage of securities being placed in the “Available for Sale” category, the Company’s stockholders’ equity is more volatile than it would be if a larger percentage of investment securities were placed in the “Held to Maturity” category. Although equity is more volatile, management has discretion, with respect to the “Available for Sale” securities, to proactively adjust to favorable market conditions in order to provide liquidity and realize gains on the sales of securities. The changes in values in the investment securities portfolio are not taken into account in determining regulatory capital requirements. As of December 31, 2006, except for the U.S. Government agencies, there was no issuer who represented 10% or more of stockholders’ equity within the investment portfolio. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the estimated fair value of investment securities as a percentage of their amortized cost was 98.8% and 98.4%, respectively. At December 31, 2006, the investment securities portfolio had gross unrealized gains of $856,000 and gross unrealized losses of $3,256,000, for a net unrealized loss of $2,400,000. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, the investment securities portfolio had net unrealized losses of $3,302,000 and net unrealized gains of $769,000, respectively. The following table presents the amortized cost of investment securities held by the Company at December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Investment Securities

 

      December 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

   2006    2005    2004

Available for sale:

        

U.S. Government Agencies

     77,717      68,646      42,445

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     15,391      19,641      12,582

Mortgage-backed securities

     95,910      92,984      72,704

Corporate bonds

     5,987      9,071      13,761

Trust preferred

     6,358      10,133      6,554

Equity securities

     250      500      500
                    

Total

   $ 201,613    $ 200,975    $ 148,546
                    
     

 

December 31,

      2006    2005    2004

Held to maturity:

        

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

   $ 2,971    $ 3,776    $ 3,776
                    

Total

   $ 2,971    $ 3,776    $ 3,776
                    

 

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The following table represents maturities and weighted average yields of debt securities at December 31, 2006. Yields are based on the amortized cost of securities. Maturities are based on the contractual maturities. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Maturity Distribution and Yields of

Investment Securities

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     December 31, 2006  
     Amortized Cost    Yield  

Available for Sale

     

U.S. Government Agencies

     

One year or less

   $ 1,500    3.63 %

Over one through five years

     11,282    4.37 %

Over five through ten years

     33,916    5.30 %

Over ten years

     31,019    5.97 %
             

Total U. S. Government Agencies

   $ 77,717    5.40 %
             

Municipal Securities(1)

     

One year or less

   $ 933    5.30 %

Over one through five years

     801    4.84 %

Over five through ten years

     2,814    5.64 %

Over ten years

     10,843    6.64 %
             

Total Municipal Securities

   $ 15,391    6.28 %
             

Corporate Bonds

     

One year or less

   $ 4,969    5.26 %

Over one through five years

     1,018    7.26 %
             

Total Corporate Bonds

   $ 5,987    5.60 %
             

Trust Preferred

     

Over five through ten years

   $ 2,016    6.31 %

Over ten years

     4,342    7.84 %
             

Total Trust Preferred securities

   $ 6,358    7.35 %
             

Mortgage Backed Securities

     

Over one through five years

   $ 6,713    3.79 %

Over five through ten years

     14,534    4.43 %

Over ten years

     74,663    4.92 %
             

Total Mortgage Backed securities

   $ 95,910    4.77 %
             

Total Available for Sale

   $ 201,363    5.23 %
             

Held to Maturity

     

Municipal Securities(1)

     

Over one through five years

     931    7.32 %

Over five through ten years

     1,539    7.69 %

Over ten years

     501    7.33 %
             

Total Municipal Securities

   $ 2,971    7.51 %
             

Total Held to Maturity

   $ 2,971    7.51 %
             

Total Investment Securities

   $ 204,334    5.27 %
             

 

(1) Tax-equivalent yield

 

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Asset/Liability Management, Interest Rate Sensitivity and Liquidity

General. It is the objective of the Company to manage assets and liabilities to preserve the integrity and safety of the deposit and capital base of the Company by protecting the Company from undue exposure to poor asset quality and interest rate risk. Additionally, the Company pursues a consistent level of earnings as further protection for the depositors and to provide an appropriate return to stockholders on their investment.

These objectives are achieved through compliance with an established framework of asset/liability, interest rate risk, loan, investment, and capital policies. Management is responsible for monitoring policies and procedures that result in proper management of the components of the asset/liability function to achieve stated objectives. The Company’s philosophy is to support quality asset growth primarily through growth of core deposits, which include non-volatile deposits of individuals, partnerships and corporations. Management seeks to invest the largest portion of the Company’s assets in loans that meet the Company’s quality standards. Alternative investments are made in the investment portfolio. The Company’s asset/liability function and related components of liquidity and interest rate risk are monitored on a continuous basis by management. The Board of Directors reviews and monitors these functions on a monthly basis.

Interest Rate Sensitivity. The process of asset/liability management involves monitoring the Company’s balance sheet in order to determine the potential impact that changes in the interest rate environment would have on net interest income so that the appropriate strategies to minimize any negative impact can be implemented. The primary objective of asset/liability management is to continue the steady growth of net interest income, the Company’s primary earnings component within a context of liquidity requirements.

In theory, interest rate risk can be minimized by maintaining a nominal level of interest rate sensitivity. In practice, however, this is made difficult because of uncontrollable influences on the Company’s balance sheet, including variations in both loan demand and the availability of funding sources.

The measurement of the Company’s interest rate sensitivity is one of the primary techniques employed by the Company in asset/liability management. The dollar difference between assets and liabilities which are subject to interest rate repricing within a given time period, including both floating rate or adjustable instruments and instruments which are approaching maturity, determine the interest sensitivity gap.

The Company manages its sensitivity to interest rate movements by adjusting the maturity of, and establishing rates on, the interest-earning asset portfolio and interest-bearing liabilities in line with management’s expectations relative to market interest rates. The Company would generally benefit from increasing market interest rates when the balance sheet is asset sensitive and would benefit from decreasing market rates when it is liability sensitive. At December 31, 2006, the Company’s interest rate sensitivity position was liability sensitive within the one-year horizon.

The following table “Interest Sensitivity Analysis” details the interest rate sensitivity of the Company at December 31, 2006. The principal balances of the various interest-earning and interest-bearing balance sheet instruments are shown in the time period where they are first subject to repricing, whether as a result of floating or adjustable rate contracts. Fixed rate time deposits are presented

 

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according to their contractual maturity while variable rate time deposits reprice with the prime rate and are presented in the within three months time frame. Prime savings accounts reprice at management’s discretion when prime is below 5% and at 50% of the prime rate when prime is greater than 5%. In the table presented below, prime savings reprices in the within three months time frame. Regular savings, money management and NOW accounts do not have a contractual maturity date and are presented as repricing at the earliest date in which the deposit holder could withdraw the funds. All other borrowings are shown in the first period in which they could reprice. In the one-year time period, the pricing mismatch on a cumulative basis was liability sensitive $132.8 million or 13.7% of total interest-earning assets. Management has procedures in place to carefully monitor the Company’s interest rate sensitivity as the rate environment changes. It should also be noted that all interest rates do not adjust at the same velocity. As an example, the majority of the savings category listed below is priced on an adjustable basis. When prime is greater than 5%, it is fifty percent of the prime rate. Therefore, as the prime rate adjusts 100 basis points, the rate on this liability only adjusts 50 basis points. Moreover, varying interest rate environments can create unexpected changes in prepayment levels of assets and liabilities. Investments prepayments are reflected at their current prepayment speeds in the interest sensitivity analysis report. No other prepayments are reflected in the following interest sensitivity analysis report. Prepayments may have significant effects on the Company’s net interest margin. Hence, gap is only a general indicator of interest rate sensitivity and cannot be interpreted as an absolute measurement of the Company’s interest rate risk.

 

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Interest Sensitivity Analysis

At December 31, 2006

 

     Within
Three
Months
   

After

Three
Through Six

Months

    After Six
Through
Twelve
Months
   

Within

One Year

   

One Year
Through
Five

Years

    Over Five
Years
    Total
     (Dollars in thousands)

Interest-earning assets:

              

Loans

   $ 457,471     $ 45,913     $ 63,804     $ 567,188     $ 148,523     $ 34,258     $ 749,969

Investment securities

     19,124       5,979       9,606       34,709       61,432       110,902       207,043

Federal funds sold

     14,688       —         —         14,688       —         —         14,688

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks

     513       —         —         513       —         —         513
                                                      

Total interest-earning assets

   $ 491,796     $ 51,892     $ 73,410     $ 617,098     $ 209,955     $ 145,160     $ 972,213
                                                      

Interest-bearing liabilities:

              

Money management accounts

   $ 45,897     $ 0     $ 0     $ 45,897     $ 0     $ 0     $ 45,897

Savings accounts

     255,066       —         —         255,066       —         —         255,066

NOW accounts

     119,334       —         —         119,334       —         —         119,334

Time deposits

     76,996       44,160       87,344       208,500       61,662       4,458       274,620

Federal funds purchased / securities sold under repurchase agreements

     70,020       —         —         70,020       —         —         70,020

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     30,000       —         —         30,000       30,000       —         60,000

Notes and bonds payable

     1,000       —         —         1,000       —         —         1,000

Subordinated debentures

     20,000       —         —         20,000       —         —         20,000
                                                      

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 618,313     $ 44,160     $ 87,344     $ 749,817     $ 91,662     $ 4,458     $ 845,937
                                                      

Period gap

     ($126,517 )   $ 7,732       ($13,934 )     ($132,719 )   $ 118,293     $ 140,702    

Cumulative gap

     ($126,517 )     ($118,785 )     ($132,719 )     ($132,719 )     ($14,426 )   $ 126,276    

Ratio of cumulative gap to total interest-earning assets

     -13.01 %     -12.22 %     -13.65 %     -13.65 %     -1.48 %     12.99 %  

Liquidity

Management of the Company’s liquidity position is closely related to the process of asset/liability management. Liquidity represents the ability to provide steady sources of funds for loan commitments and investment activities, as well as to provide sufficient funds to cover deposit withdrawals and payment of debt and operating obligations. The Company intends to meet its liquidity needs by managing cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and purchased, maturity of investment securities, principal repayments received from mortgage-backed securities and lines of credit as necessary. GB&T maintains a line of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank at 10% of GB&T’s total assets. Federal Home Loan Bank advances are collateralized by eligible first mortgages, commercial

 

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real estate loans and investment securities. GB&T maintains repurchase lines of credit with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Atlanta, Georgia, for advances up to $20.0 million and with The Bankers Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, for advances up to $10.0 million. At December 31, 2006, a $10.0 million repurchase agreement was outstanding with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. GB&T has a federal funds purchased accommodation with The Bankers Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, for advances up to $16.7 million and with SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, for advances up to $10.0 million, while SB&T has a federal funds purchased accommodation with The Bankers Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, for advances up to $3.3 million. Additionally, liquidity needs can be satisfied by the structuring of the maturities of investment securities and the pricing and maturities on loans and deposits offered to customers. The Company also uses retail securities sold under repurchase agreements to fund growth. Retail securities sold under repurchase agreements were $60.0 million at December 31, 2006.

Deposits

The Company’s average deposits and other borrowings increased $155.8 million or 21.7% from 2005 to 2006. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $142.9 million or 22.8% while average noninterest-bearing deposits increased $13.0 million or 14.5% from 2005 to 2006. Average deposits and borrowings increased $104.6 million or 17.1% from 2004 to 2005. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $94.3 million or 17.7% from 2004 to 2005, while average noninterest-bearing deposits increased $10.3 million or 13.1% during the same period. The majority of the growth in deposits reflects the Company’s strategy of consistently emphasizing deposit growth, as deposits are the primary source of funding for balance sheet growth. Borrowed funds consist of short-term borrowings, securities sold under agreements to repurchase with the Company’s commercial customers and reverse repurchase agreements with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, federal funds purchased, and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Brokered certificates of deposit included in time deposits over $100,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $67.4 million and $40.4 million, respectively.

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The following table presents the average amount outstanding and the average rate paid on deposits and borrowings by the Company for the years 2006, 2005 and 2004:

Average Deposit and Borrowing Balances and Rates

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  
     Average
Amount
   Average
Rate
    Average
Amount
   Average
Rate
    Average
Amount
   Average
Rate
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

   $ 102,032    0.00 %   $ 89,079    0.00 %   $ 78,757    0.00 %

Interest-bearing liabilities:

               

NOW accounts

     114,021    2.00 %     87,982    0.89 %     75,866    0.54 %

Savings, money management accounts

     305,186    3.93 %     288,759    2.98 %     236,306    1.54 %

Time deposits

     213,889    4.59 %     145,209    3.08 %     137,238    2.31 %

Federal funds purchased/ securities sold under repurchase agreements

     62,451    4.93 %     55,658    3.05 %     46,541    1.40 %

Other borrowings

     75,034    5.66 %     50,121    4.62 %     37,488    4.79 %
                                       

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 770,581    4.08 %   $ 627,729    2.85 %   $ 533,439    1.81 %
                                       

Total noninterest & interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 872,613      $ 716,808      $ 612,196   

The following table presents the maturities of the Company’s time deposits over $100,000 at December 31, 2006:

Maturities of Time Deposits

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Time Certificates
of Deposit of
$100,000 or More

Months to Maturity

  

Within 3 months

   $ 44,556

After 3 through 6 months

     31,331

After 6 through 12 months

     60,522
      

Within one year

     136,409

After 12 months

     57,452
      

Total

   $ 193,861
      

This table indicates that the majority of time deposits of $100,000 or more have a maturity of less than twelve months. This is reflective of both the Company’s market and recent interest rate environments. Large time deposit customers tend to be extremely rate sensitive, making these deposits a volatile source of funding for liquidity planning purposes. However, dependent upon pricing, these deposits are virtually always available in the Company’s market. At December 31, 2006, the Company had $38.1 million of brokered certificates of deposit that mature after 12 months. The Company does not have any time deposits of $100,000 or more that are not certificates of deposit.

 

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Capital

Total stockholders’ equity was $78.9 million at December 31, 2006, increasing $15.3 million or 24.1% from the previous year. The increase was primarily the combination of retained earnings, earnings less dividends paid, in the amount of $9.2 million, proceeds of $5.0 million from a private placement stock offering held during the third quarter of 2006 and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income of $624,000. The increase in accumulated other comprehensive income represents a decrease in unrealized losses in the available for sale investment portfolio. The Company purchased 1,600 shares of treasury stock in 2006, and 2,200 shares in 2004 at a cost of $62,000 for each, which is shown as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. The Company issued 800 shares of treasury stock in 2006, 21,400 shares in 2005, and 6,000 shares in 2004 at a price of $31,000, $263,000 and $72,000, respectively, for stock options which were exercised. The Company issued 300 shares of treasury stock as part of the private placement offering at a price of $14,000 in 2006.

The Company’s average equity to average total assets was 7.29% in 2006 compared to 7.85% in 2005 and 8.33% in 2004. The decrease in all three periods reflects the overall growth of the Company. Capital is considered to be adequate to meet present operating needs and anticipated future operating requirements. Management is not aware of any trends, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Company’s capital resources or operations. The following table presents the return on equity and assets for the years 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Return on Equity and Assets

 

     Years ended
December 31,
 
     2006     2005     2004  

Return on average total assets

   1.17 %   1.27 %   1.29 %

Return on average equity

   16.10 %   16.15 %   15.50 %

Average equity to average assets ratio

   7.29 %   7.85 %   8.33 %

At December 31, 2006, the Company was well above the minimum capital ratios required under the regulatory risk-based capital guidelines. The following table presents the capital ratios for the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

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ANALYSIS OF CAPITAL

 

     Required     Actual     Excess  
     Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation

               

12/31/2006

               

Risk-based capital:

               

Tier 1 capital

   $ 33,222    4.00 %   $ 100,419    12.09 %   $ 67,197    8.09 %

Total capital

     66,445    8.00 %     110,422    13.29 %     43,977    5.29 %

Tier 1 leverage ratio

     41,065    4.00 %     100,419    9.78 %     59,354    5.78 %

12/31/2005

               

Risk-based capital:

               

Tier 1 capital

   $ 27,287    4.00 %   $ 75,702    11.10 %   $ 48,415    7.10 %

Total capital

     54,573    8.00 %     84,236    12.35 %     29,663    4.35 %

Tier 1 leverage ratio

     33,610    4.00 %     75,702    9.01 %     42,092    5.01 %

Georgia Bank & Trust Company

               

12/31/2006

               

Risk-based capital:

               

Tier 1 capital

   $ 31,649    4.00 %   $ 74,741    9.45 %   $ 43,092    5.45 %

Total capital

     63,298    8.00 %     84,173    10.64 %     20,875    2.64 %

Tier 1 leverage ratio

     44,401    4.50 %     74,741    7.57 %     30,340    3.07 %

12/31/2005

               

Risk-based capital:

               

Tier 1 capital

   $ 27,086    4.00 %   $ 62,111    9.17 %   $ 35,025    5.17 %

Total capital

     54,172    8.00 %     70,584    10.42 %     16,412    2.42 %

Tier 1 leverage ratio

     37,554    4.50 %     62,111    7.44 %     24,557    2.94 %

Southern Bank & Trust

               

12/31/2006 (opened 09/12/2006)

               

Risk-based capital:

               

Tier 1 capital

   $ 1,295    4.00 %   $ 9,438    29.16 %   $ 8,143    25.16 %

Total capital

     2,589    8.00 %     9,783    30.23 %     7,194    22.23 %

Tier 1 leverage ratio

     1,145    4.00 %     9,438    32.98 %     8,293    28.98 %

Cash Flows from Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $20.9 million in 2006, an increase of $14.7 million from 2005. Cash provided by proceeds from sales of real estate loans was the main contributor with an increase of $15.0 million in 2006 primarily the result of higher volumes of real estate loans originated and sold in the secondary market. Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.1 million in 2005, a decrease of $4.7 million from 2004. The decrease is primarily attributable to lower volumes of real estate loans originated and sold in the secondary market. In 2005, cash provided by proceeds from sales of real estate loans decreased $17.5 million and was somewhat offset by a decrease of $10.2 million in cash used for real estate loans originated for sale.

 

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Net cash used in investing activities increased $5.7 million in 2006 to $164.0 million. Loan growth of $148.7 million caused an increase in cash used of $56.8 million for 2006 and the purchase of Bank-owned life insurance caused an increase of $3.5 million. These increases were somewhat offset by decreases in cash used of $53.6 million for net changes in the investment securities portfolio. Net cash used in investing activities increased $89.9 million in 2005 to $158.3 million. Net changes in the investment securities portfolio resulted in a $53.1 million increase in cash used. Loan growth of $100.6 million caused an increase in cash used of $38.6 million for 2005.

Net cash provided by financing activities in 2006 was $161.5 million, an increase of $12.8 million from 2005. Deposit accounts provided cash flows of $138.1 million in 2006, an increase of $31.2 million over 2005. A private placement stock offering provided $5.0 million in cash flows compared to no stock issuance in 2005. Cash provided by federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements decreased $19.4 million in 2006. Repayments of advances from Federal Home Loan Bank increased $6.0 million in 2006, partially offset by increases in new advances of $2.0 million in 2006 compared to 2005. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2005 was $148.7 million, an increase of $80.9 million from 2004. Net cash provided by changes in deposits accounts increased $34.0 million in 2005 to $106.9 million. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements provided cash flows of $22.4 million in 2005, an increase of $34.8 million over 2004. Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank increased $7.0 million in 2005, partially offset by repayments of $5.0 million in 2005 compared to no repayments in 2004. A new issuance of subordinated debentures provided $10.0 million in cash flows in 2005.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and its reports to shareholders. Statements made in such documents, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s belief as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including unanticipated changes in the Company’s local economy, the national economy, governmental monetary and fiscal policies, deposit levels, loan demand, loan collateral values and securities portfolio values; difficulties in interest rate risk management; the effects of competition in the banking business; difficulties in expanding the Company’s business into new markets; changes in governmental regulation relating to the banking industry, including regulations relating to branching and acquisitions; failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for loan losses, including the value of collateral underlying delinquent loans; and other factors. The Company cautions that such factors are not exclusive. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by, or on behalf of, the Company.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), Share-based Payment, using the modified prospective transition method. Accordingly, the Company has recorded stock-based employee compensation cost using the fair value method starting in 2006. For 2006, adopting this standard resulted in a reduction of income before and

 

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after income taxes of $415,290 and a decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share of $.07 each. All stock options issued are incentive stock options and therefore, no tax benefit is realized. Stock option expense includes $138,000 related to the accelerated stock option vesting period for two key employees.

Prior to January 1, 2006, employee compensation expense under stock options was reported using the intrinsic value method; therefore, no stock-based compensation cost is reflected in net income for the years ending December 31, 2005 and 2004, as all options granted had an exercise price equal to the market price of the underlying common stock at date of grant.

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108), which is effective for fiscal years ending on or after November 15, 2006. SAB 108 provides guidance on how the effects of prior-year uncorrected financial statement misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current year misstatement. SAB 108 requires public companies to quantify misstatements using both an income statement (rollover) and balance sheet (iron curtain) approach and evaluate whether either approach results in a misstatement that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. If prior year errors that had been previously considered immaterial now are considered material based on either approach, no restatement is required so long as management properly applied its previous approach and all relevant facts and circumstances were considered. Adjustments considered immaterial in prior years under the method previously used, but now considered material under the dual approach required by SAB 108, are to be recorded upon initial adoption of SAB 108. The amount so recorded is shown as a cumulative effect adjustment is recorded in opening retained earnings as of January 1, 2006. Included in this cumulative effect adjustment are the following items and amounts: The allowance for loan loss was decreased $694,000 to adjust for over-accrual of estimated losses on unfunded lines and commitments and standby letters of credit. This reduction also resulted in a $269,235 decrease in the deferred income tax asset account and a $424,765 increase in retained earnings. Accrued income taxes were decreased by $369,726 to eliminate a tax contingency reserve due to an assumption of taxability of certain federal agency interest for state purposes, subsequently determined to be nontaxable. The reduction in accrued income taxes resulted in an increase in retained earnings of $369,726. Both of these amounts had been recorded in immaterial amounts over the preceding six to seven years.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement establishes a fair value hierarchy about the assumptions used to measure fair value and clarifies assumptions about risk and the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company has not completed its evaluation of the impact of the adoption of this standard.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company has determined that the adoption of FIN 48 will not have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

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In September 2006, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force finalized Issue No. 06-5, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance - Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4 (Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance). This issue requires that a policyholder consider contractual terms of a life insurance policy in determining the amount that could be realized under the insurance contract. It also requires that if the contract provides for a greater surrender value if all individual policies in a group are surrendered at the same time, that the surrender value be determined based on the assumption that policies will be surrendered on an individual basis. Lastly, the issue discusses whether the cash surrender value should be discounted when the policyholder is contractually limited in its ability to surrender a policy. This issue is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company does not believe the adoption of this issue will have a material impact on the financial statements.

The Company does not expect that the following newly issued accounting standards will have a material effect on the financial statements when adopted in future years. In general, these standards revise the accounting for derivatives embedded in other financial instruments for 2007, revise the recognition and accounting for servicing of financial assets for 2007, and revise the accrual of post-retirement benefits associated with providing split-dollar life insurance for 2008. The Company did not have any of these assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2006.

Effects of Inflation and Changing Prices

Inflation generally increases the cost of funds and operating overhead, and to the extent loans and other assets bear variable rates, the yields on such assets. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates generally have a more significant impact on the performance of a financial institution than the effects of general levels of inflation. Although interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction and to the same extent as the prices of goods and services, increases in inflation generally have resulted in increased interest rates. In addition, inflation can increase a financial institution’s cost of goods and services purchased, the cost of salaries and benefits, occupancy expense and similar items. Inflation and related increases in interest rates generally decrease the market value of investments and loans held and may adversely affect liquidity, earnings, and stockholders’ equity. Mortgage originations and refinancings tend to slow as interest rates increase, and can reduce the Company’s earnings from such activities and the income from the sale of residential mortgage loans in the secondary market.

Various information shown elsewhere herein will assist in the understanding of how well the Company is positioned to react to changing interest rates and inflationary trends. In particular, the summary of net interest income, the maturity distributions and compositions of the loan and security portfolios and the data on the interest sensitivity of loans and deposits should be considered.

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk reflects the risk of loss due to changes in the market prices and interest rates. This loss could be reflected in diminished current market values or reduced net interest income in future periods.

The Company’s market risk arises primarily from the interest rate risk inherent in its lending and deposit activities. This risk is managed primarily by careful periodic analysis and modeling of the various components of the entire balance sheet. The investment portfolio is utilized to assist in minimizing interest rate risk in both loans and deposits due to the flexibility afforded in structuring the investment portfolio with regards to various maturities, cash flows and fixed or variable rates.

The following tables present all rate sensitive assets and liabilities by contractual amounts and maturity dates. Cash flows from mortgage backed securities reflect anticipated prepayments. For core deposits, without a contractual maturity date, cash flows are based on the earliest date at which the deposit holder could withdraw the funds. The fair value of rate sensitive assets and liabilities is presented in total. The fair value of investment securities is based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments. The fair value of loans is calculated using discounted cash flows by loan type. The discount rate used to determine the present value of the loan portfolio is an estimated market rate that reflects the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan portfolio. Fair values for certificates of deposit have been determined using discounted cash flows. The discount rate used is based on estimated market rates for deposits of similar remaining maturities. The carrying amounts of all other deposits, securities sold under repurchase agreements and variable interest rate borrowings approximated their fair values. The fair value of the Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings is obtained from the Federal Home Loan Bank and is calculated by discounting contractual cash flows using an estimated interest rate based on the current rates available to the Company for debt of similar remaining maturities and collateral terms.

 

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Market Risk at December 31, 2006

 

(Dollars in thousands)    2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     Thereafter     Total     Fair
Value

Rate Sensitive Assets:

                

Fixed interest rate loans

   152,899     65,317     33,137     9,730     9,957     34,245     305,285     301,323

Average interest rate

   7.26 %   7.48 %   7.63 %   7.54 %   7.42 %   6.82 %   7.31 %  

Variable interest rate loans

   312,995     46,641     15,220     6,894     5,421     57,513     444,684     444,684

Average interest rate

   8.48 %   8.45 %   8.24 %   8.14 %   8.17 %   7.16 %   8.29 %  

Fixed interest rate securities

   21,089     14,204     13,957     15,635     12,311     111,349     188,545     188,622

Average interest rate

   5.62 %   4.78 %   5.07 %   5.02 %   5.13 %   5.20 %   5.18 %  

Variable interest rate securities

   3,309     2,296     1,593     1,105     767     9,428     18,498     18,498

Average interest rate

   4.32 %   4.32 %   4.32 %   4.32 %   4.32 %   5.92 %   5.13 %  

Variable federal funds sold

   14,688     —       —       —       —       —       14,688     14,688

Average interest rate

   5.48 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   5.48 %  

Fixed interest-bearing deposits in other banks

   513     —       —       —       —       —       513     513

Average interest rate

   4.51 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   4.51 %  

Rate Sensitive Liabilities:

                

Noninterest-bearing deposits

   106,846     —       —       —       —       —       106,846     106,846

Average interest rate

   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %  

Money market accounts

   45,897     —       —       —       —       —       45,897     45,897

Average interest rate

   4.76 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   4.76 %  

Savings accounts

   255,066     —       —       —       —       —       255,066     255,066

Average interest rate

   4.03 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   4.03 %  

NOW accounts

   119,334     —       —       —       —       —       119,334     119,334

Average interest rate

   2.33 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   2.33 %  

Fixed interest rate time deposits < $100M

   59,020     10,869     1,230     1,231     1,074     427     73,851     73,605

Average interest rate

   4.88 %   5.04 %   3.93 %   4.40 %   4.71 %   1.59 %   4.86 %  

Variable interest rate time deposits < $100M

   —       6,908     —       —       —       —       6,908     6,918

Average interest rate

   0.00 %   5.40 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   5.40 %  

Fixed interest rate time deposits > $100M

   136,409     45,326     328     561     1,043     4,030     187,697     187,474

Average interest rate

   4.98 %   5.18 %   4.21 %   4.84 %   4.98 %   4.31 %   5.01 %  

Variable interest rate time deposits > $100M

   —       6,164     —       —       —       —       6,164     6,176

Average interest rate

   0.00 %   5.40 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   5.40 %  

Securities sold under repurchase agreements

   70,020     —       —       —       —       —       70,020     70,020

Average interest rate

   5.27 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   5.27 %  

Fixed Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

   —       —       —       24,000     6,000     —       30,000     29,252

Average interest rate

   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   5.86 %   4.80 %   0.00 %   5.65 %  

Variable Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

   5,000     —       —       —       —       25,000     30,000     29,994

Average interest rate

   5.44 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   4.85 %   4.95 %  

TT&L note borrowings

   1,000     —       —       —       —       —       1,000     1,000

Average interest rate

   4.62 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   4.62 %  

Subordinated debentures

   —       —       —       —       —       20,000     20,000     20,000

Average interest rate

   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   6.76 %   6.76 %  

 

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Market Risk at December 31, 2005

 

(Dollars in thousands)    2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     Thereafter     Total     Fair
Value

Rate Sensitive Assets:

                

Fixed interest rate loans

   88,531     52,147     22,846     8,640     5,760     34,108     212,032     209,597

Average interest rate

   6.76 %   6.82 %   7.15 %   7.14 %   6.91 %   6.38 %   6.78 %  

Variable interest rate loans

   243,630     55,221     15,627     6,808     7,332     60,585     389,203     389,203

Average interest rate

   7.58 %   7.41 %   7.34 %   7.36 %   7.32 %   6.48 %   7.37 %  

Fixed interest rate securities

   30,423     18,502     17,815     12,054     15,100     90,986     184,880     185,001

Average interest rate

   5.20 %   4.64 %   4.64 %   4.70 %   4.65 %   4.60 %   4.72 %  

Variable interest rate securities

   3,273     2,271     1,576     1,093     759     11,764     20,736     20,736

Average interest rate

   3.93 %   3.93 %   3.93 %   3.93 %   3.93 %   4.81 %   4.43 %  

Variable federal funds sold

   2,758     —       —       —       —       —       2,758     2,758

Average interest rate

   4.02 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   4.02 %  

Fixed interest-bearing deposits in other banks

   1,012     —       —       —       —       —       1,012     1,012

Average interest rate

   3.54 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   3.54 %  

Rate Sensitive Liabilities:

                

Noninterest-bearing deposits

   97,084     —       —       —       —       —       97,084     97,084

Average interest rate

   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %  

Money market accounts

   37,719     —       —       —       —       —       37,719     37,719

Average interest rate

   3.43 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   3.43 %  

Savings accounts

   265,132     —       —       —       —       —       265,132     265,132

Average interest rate

   3.47 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   3.47 %  

NOW accounts

   100,692     —       —       —       —       —       100,692     100,692

Average interest rate

   1.21 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   1.21 %  

Fixed interest rate time deposits < $100M

   30,411     5,907     1,293     1,058     1,961     387     41,017     40,882

Average interest rate

   3.63 %   4.08 %   3.47 %   3.71 %   4.31 %   1.37 %   3.70 %  

Fixed interest rate time deposits > $100M

   90,802     24,709     969     319     1,453     3,758     122,010     121,963

Average interest rate

   3.50 %   4.24 %   3.71 %   3.54 %   4.53 %   4.44 %   3.69 %  

Securities sold under repurchase agreements

   67,013     —       —       —       —       —       67,013     67,013

Average interest rate

   4.06 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   4.06 %  

Fixed Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

   —       —       —       —       24,000     6,000     30,000     28,723

Average interest rate

   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   5.86 %   4.80 %   5.65 %  

Variable Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

   5,000     —       —       —       11,000     6,000     22,000     22,039

Average interest rate

   3.91 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   3.35 %   3.54 %   3.53 %  

TT&L note borrowings

   1,000     —       —       —       —       —       1,000     1,000

Average interest rate

   2.42 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   2.42 %  

Subordinated debentures

   —       —       —       —       —       10,000     10,000     10,000

Average interest rate

   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   5.94 %   5.94 %  

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Table of Contents

 

     Page

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

   68

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   70

Consolidated Statements of Income

   72

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income

   74

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   76

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   78

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004, were audited by other auditors whose report dated March 14, 2005, expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.

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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1, the Company adopted Staff Accounting Bulleting 108 Considering the Effect of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in the Current Year Financial Statements and accordingly adjusted assets and liabilities at the beginning of 2006 with an offsetting adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings.

As discussed in Note 1, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), Share-based Payment, using the modified prospective transition method as of January 1, 2006 and accordingly has recorded stock-based employee compensation cost using the fair value method.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 14, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Crowe Chizek and Company LLC

Brentwood, Tennessee

March 14, 2007

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation (formerly Georgia Bank Financial Corporation) and subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 2004. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements 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 the financial statements are free of material misstatement. 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation and subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

LOGO

Atlanta, Georgia,

March 14, 2005

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2006 and 2005

 

     2006    2005
Assets      

Cash and due from banks

   $ 25,709,915    18,792,799

Federal funds sold

     14,688,000    2,758,000

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks

     512,690    1,012,257
           

Cash and cash equivalents

     40,910,605    22,563,056
           

Investment securities:

     

Available-for-sale

     199,135,716    197,551,996

Held-to-maturity, at cost (fair values of $3,048,196 and $3,897,341 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively)

     2,970,619    3,776,040

Loans held for sale

     14,857,315    22,146,834

Loans

     735,111,615    579,087,791

Less allowance for loan losses

     9,776,779    9,124,801
           

Loans, net

     725,334,836    569,962,990
           

Premises and equipment, net

     23,402,588    21,376,183

Accrued interest receivable

     5,982,654    4,624,023

Goodwill, net

     139,883    139,883

Bank-owned life insurance

     15,982,052    11,863,276

Restricted equity securities

     4,936,281    4,287,481

Other assets

     7,549,713    5,985,477
           
   $ 1,041,202,262    864,277,239
           

 

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     2006     2005  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity     

Deposits:

    

Noninterest-bearing

   $ 106,846,160     97,083,931  

Interest-bearing:

    

NOW accounts

     119,334,300     100,692,388  

Savings

     255,065,766     265,131,754  

Money management accounts

     45,897,176     37,719,408  

Time deposits over $100,000

     193,860,714     122,009,813  

Other time deposits

     80,758,973     41,017,555  
              
     801,763,089     663,654,849  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements

     70,019,551     67,013,416  

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     60,000,000     52,000,000  

Other borrowed funds

     1,000,000     1,000,000  

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

     9,495,498     7,025,767  

Subordinated debentures

     20,000,000     10,000,000  
              

Total liabilities

     962,278,138     800,694,032  
              

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $3.00 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 5,433,285 and 5,279,241 shares issued in 2006 and 2005, respectively; 5,432,854 and 5,263,144 shares outstanding in 2006 and 2005, respectively

     16,299,855     15,837,723  

Additional paid-in capital

     38,989,058     34,138,876  

Retained earnings

     25,287,006     16,099,414  

Treasury stock, at cost; 431 and 16,097 shares in 2006 and 2005, respectively

     (16,809 )   (233,898 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net

     (1,634,986 )   (2,258,908 )
              

Total stockholders’ equity

     78,924,124     63,583,207  
              
   $ 1,041,202,262     864,277,239  
              

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

Years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

     2006    2005     2004  

Interest income:

       

Loans, including fees

   $ 54,338,266    38,897,578     28,235,160  

Investment securities:

       

Taxable

     9,632,745    7,206,167     6,495,443  

Tax-exempt

     1,029,550    767,340     543,818  

Federal funds sold

     599,987    380,453     72,941  

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks

     25,277    25,598     3,293  
                   

Total interest income

     65,625,825    47,277,136     35,350,655  
                   

Interest expense:

       

Deposits (including interest on time deposits over $100,000 of $7,184,629, $3,386,531, and $2,382,174 in 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively)

     24,099,107    13,873,143     7,222,141  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements

     3,078,691    1,697,219     651,185  

Other borrowings

     4,244,675    2,314,911     1,797,163  
                   

Total interest expense

     31,422,473    17,885,273     9,670,489  
                   

Net interest income

     34,203,352    29,391,863     25,680,166  

Provision for loan losses

     2,478,498    1,841,435     1,588,426  
                   

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     31,724,854    27,550,428     24,091,740  
                   

Noninterest income:

       

Service charges and fees on deposits

     5,741,836    5,363,306     4,924,629  

Gain on sales of loans

     5,153,754    5,088,557     5,705,051  

Investment securities gains (losses), net

     213,515    (85,666 )   (101,990 )

Retail investment income

     788,287    454,710     444,479  

Trust services fees

     860,238    642,016     554,331  

Increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance

     604,776    399,685     491,958  

Miscellaneous income

     630,797    514,999     443,017  
                   

Total noninterest income

     13,993,203    12,377,607     12,461,475  
                   

Noninterest expense:

       

Salaries and other personnel expense

     17,805,381    15,531,421     14,554,783  

Occupancy expenses

     2,847,075    2,730,594     2,622,953  

Other operating expenses

     8,232,547    6,757,077     6,566,480  
                   

Total noninterest expense

     28,885,003    25,019,092     23,744,216  
                   

Income before income taxes

     16,833,054    14,908,943     12,808,999  

Income tax expense

     5,673,382    4,954,734     4,104,723  
                   

Net income

   $ 11,159,672    9,954,209     8,704,276  
                   

(continued)

 

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(continued)

 

     2006    2005    2004

Basic net income per share

   $ 2.10    1.89    1.66

Diluted net income per share

     2.08    1.86    1.63

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     5,324,558    5,257,904    5,247,901

Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding

     5,371,656    5,350,384    5,323,924

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income

Years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

   

Comprehensive

income

    Common stock    

Additional

paid-in

capital

   

Retained

earnings

   

Treasury

stock

   

Accumulated

other

comprehensive

income (loss), net

   

Total

stockholders’

equity

 
     

Number

of shares

    Amount            

Balance, December 31, 2003

    5,288,500     $ 15,865,500     34,423,926     2,903,475     (507,360 )   1,003,506     53,689,047  

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

  $ 8,704,276     —         —       —       8,704,276     —       —       8,704,276  

Other comprehensive loss – unrealized loss on investment securities available for sale, net of income tax effect of ($330,725)

    (641,997 )   —         —       —       —       —       (641,997 )   (641,997 )
                     

Total comprehensive income

  $ 8,062,279                
                     

Cash dividends ($0.52 per common share)

    —         —       —       (2,729,118 )   —       —       (2,729,118 )

Stock options exercised, issued from treasury stock

    —         —       (14,466 )   —       72,276     —       57,810  

Purchase of treasury stock

    —         —       —       —       (62,043 )   —       (62,043 )

Retirement of common stock

    (1,400 )     (4,200 )   (33,950 )   —       —       —       (38,150 )
                                             

Balance, December 31, 2004

    5,287,100     $ 15,861,300     34,375,510     8,878,633     (497,127 )   361,509     58,979,825  
                                             

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

  $ 9,954,209     —         —       —       9,954,209     —       —       9,954,209  

Other comprehensive loss – unrealized loss on investment securities available for sale, net of income tax effect of ($1,349,912)

    (2,620,417 )   —         —       —       —       —       (2,620,417 )   (2,620,417 )
                     

Total comprehensive income

  $ 7,333,792                
                     

Cash dividends ($0.52 per common share)

    —         —       —       (2,733,428 )   —       —       (2,733,428 )

Stock options exercised, issued from treasury stock

    —         —       26,720     —       263,229     —       289,949  

Retirement of common stock

    (7,859 )     (23,577 )   (263,354 )   —       —       —       (286,931 )
                                             

Balance, December 31, 2005

    5,279,241     $ 15,837,723     34,138,876     16,099,414     (233,898 )   (2,258,908 )   63,583,207  
                                             

Cumulative catch-up adjustment in accordance with SAB 108

          794,491         794,491  

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

  $ 11,159,672     —         —       —       11,159,672     —       —       11,159,672  

Other comprehensive income – unrealized gain on investment securities available for sale, net of income tax effect of $321,414

    623,922     —         —       —       —       —       623,922     623,922  
                     

Total comprehensive income

  $ 11,783,594                
                     

Cash dividends ($0.52 per common share)

    —         —       —       (2,766,571 )   —       —       (2,766,571 )

Stock options exercised, issued from common stock

    5,720       17,160     45,890           63,050  

Stock options exercised, issued from treasury stock

    —         —       (82,471 )   —       265,044     —       182,573  

Stock options compensation cost

        415,290           415,290  

Issuance of common stock

    150,039       450,117     4,535,824       14,028       4,999,969  

Purchase of treasury stock

            (61,983 )     (61,983 )

Retirement of common stock

    (1,715 )     (5,145 )   (64,351 )   —       —       —       (69,496 )
                                             

Balance, December 31, 2006

    5,433,285     $ 16,299,855     38,989,058     25,287,006     (16,809 )   (1,634,986 )   78,924,124  
                                             

(continued)

 

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(continued)

 

     Disclosure of reclassification amount  
     2006     2005     2004  

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period, net of taxes

   $ 764,842     (2,676,957 )   (709,310 )

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of taxes

     (140,920 )   56,540     67,313  
                    

Net unrealized gains (losses) in securities

   $ 623,922     (2,620,417 )   (641,997 )
                    

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 11,159,672     9,954,209     8,704,276  

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

      

Depreciation

     1,367,117     1,454,503     1,335,362  

Deferred income tax benefit

     (885,411 )   (617,633 )   (204,160 )

Provision for loan losses

     2,478,498     1,841,435     1,588,426  

Net investment securities (gains) losses

     (213,515 )   85,666     101,990  

Net (accretion of discount) amortization of premium on investment securities

     (368,389 )   311,604     411,722  

Increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance

     (604,776 )   (399,685 )   (491,958 )

Stock options compensation cost

     415,290     —       —    

Loss on disposal of premises and equipment

     161     7,278     2,365  

Loss on the sale of other real estate

     15,779     7,888     3,728  

Gain on sales of loans

     (5,153,754 )   (5,088,557 )   (5,705,051 )

Real estate loans originated for sale

     (265,026,816 )   (264,726,917 )   (274,939,497 )

Proceeds from sales of real estate loans

     277,470,089     262,447,254     279,913,014  

(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable

     (1,358,631 )   (985,776 )   146,641  

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     (1,283,476 )   89,557     (46,790 )

Increase in accrued interest payable and other liabilities

     2,839,458     1,754,211     48,202  
                    

Net cash provided by operating activities

     20,851,296     6,135,037     10,868,270  
                    

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities

     42,346,092     23,852,712     40,304,730  

Proceeds from sales of held to maturity securities

     —       —       550,000  

Proceeds from maturities of available for sale securities

     94,486,868     24,281,923     47,852,287  

Proceeds from maturities of held to maturity securities

     805,000     —       1,168,000  

Purchase of available for sale securities

     (136,889,018 )   (100,960,474 )   (89,633,987 )

Purchase of restricted equity securities

     (873,800 )   (968,759 )   (1,309,000 )

Proceeds from redemption of FHLB stock

     225,000     225,000     —    

Net increase in loans

     (157,329,543 )   (100,569,887 )   (62,006,652 )

Purchase of Bank-owned life insurance

     (3,500,000 )   —       —    

Additions to premises and equipment

     (5,184,834 )   (4,402,964 )   (5,574,879 )

Proceeds from sale of other real estate

     157,420     271,846     259,476  

Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment

     1,791,151     2,500     50,195  
                    

Net cash used in investing activities

     (163,965,664 )   (158,268,103 )   (68,339,830 )
                    

(continued)

 

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(continued)

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Net increase in deposits

     138,108,240     106,870,178     72,832,869  

Net increase (decrease) in federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements

     3,006,135     22,432,157     (12,387,495 )

Proceeds from other borrowed funds

     —       100,000     100,000  

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     24,000,000     17,000,000     10,000,000  

Payments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     (16,000,000 )   (5,000,000 )   —    

Proceeds from subordinated debentures

     10,000,000     10,000,000     —    

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     4,999,969     —       —    

Purchase of treasury stock

     (61,983 )   —       (62,043 )

Payment of cash dividends

     (2,766,571 )   (2,733,428 )   (2,729,118 )

Proceeds from stock options exercised, net of stock redeemed

     176,127     3,018     19,660  
                    

Net cash provided by financing activities

     161,461,917     148,671,925     67,773,873  
                    

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     18,347,549     (3,461,141 )   10,302,313  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     22,563,056     26,024,197     15,721,884  
                    

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 40,910,605     22,563,056     26,024,197  
                    

Supplemental disclosures of cash paid during the year for:

      

Interest

   $ 29,987,756     17,310,768     9,721,549  

Income taxes

     6,264,835     5,046,258     4,571,000  

Supplemental information on noncash investing activities:

      

Loans transferred to other real estate

   $ 173,199     226,305     311,905  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively the Company), consisting of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation (the Parent), Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta, Georgia (the Bank), and Southern Bank and Trust Company of Aiken, South Carolina (the Thrift) offer a wide range of lending services, including real estate, commercial, and consumer loans to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses and professionals that are located in, or conduct a substantial portion of their business in, the Richmond, Columbia, and Clarke Counties area of Georgia, and Aiken County, South Carolina. The Company is subject to competition from other financial institutions and is also subject to the regulations of certain Federal and state agencies and undergoes periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities.

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to general practices within the banking industry. The following is a description of the more significant of those policies the Company follows in preparing and presenting its consolidated financial statements.

 

  (a) Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta, Georgia, and Southern Bank and Trust Company of Aiken, South Carolina. Significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly 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. In connection with the determination of the allowance for loan losses, management obtains independent appraisals for significant properties.

A substantial portion of the Company’s loans are secured by real estate in Augusta, Georgia, and the surrounding area. Accordingly, the ultimate collectibility of a substantial portion of the Company’s loan portfolio is susceptible to changes in real estate market conditions in the Augusta, Georgia, and surrounding area.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

  (b) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks, Federal funds sold, and short-term interest-bearing deposits in other banks. Generally, Federal funds are sold for one-day periods. Net cash flows are reported for loan and deposit transactions and for short term borrowings with an original maturity of 90 days or less.

 

  (c) Investment Securities

The Company classifies its investment securities into one of two categories: available for sale and held to maturity. Held to maturity securities are those securities for which the Company has the ability and intent to hold the security until maturity. All other securities are classified as available for sale.

Held to maturity securities are recorded at cost adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or discounts. Available for sale securities are recorded at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of related tax effects, on securities available for sale are excluded from earnings and are reported within stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized.

A decline in the fair value of any available for sale or held to maturity security below cost that is deemed other than temporary results in a charge to earnings and the establishment of a new cost basis for the security.

Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related investment security as an adjustment to yield using a method which approximates the effective interest method and takes into consideration prepayment assumptions. Dividends and interest income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses for investment securities available for sale which are sold are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.

 

  (d) Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

Loans are stated at the amount of unpaid principal outstanding less unearned loan fees, reduced by an allowance for loan losses. Interest on loans is calculated using the simple interest method. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the straight line method without anticipating prepayments. Accrual of interest is generally discontinued on loans that become past due 90 days or more. These loans are classified as nonaccrual, even though the presence of collateral or the borrower’s financial strength may be sufficient to provide for ultimate repayment. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, all previously accrued but uncollected interest is reversed against current

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

period interest income. Future collections are applied first to principal and then to interest until such loans are brought current, at which time loans may be returned to accrual status.

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that the collectibility of the principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries are added to the allowance. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb losses on existing loans that become uncollectible, based on evaluations of the collectibility of loans. The evaluations take into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, historical loss rates, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, and current economic conditions and trends that may affect a borrower’s ability to pay. The allowance is evaluated on a regular basis utilizing estimated loss factors for specific types of loans. Such loss factors are periodically reviewed and adjusted as necessary based on actual losses.

Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate. While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may advise the Company to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

Management, considering current information and events regarding a borrowers’ ability to repay its obligations, considers a loan to be impaired if it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The amount of impairment is generally measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. If the loan is collateral-dependent, the fair value of the collateral less estimated selling costs is used to determine the amount of impairment. Specific guidance from bank regulators is also considered. Impairment losses are included in the allowance for loan losses through a charge to the provision for losses on loans. The accounting for impaired loans described above applies to all loans, except for large pools of smaller-balance, homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and loans that are measured at fair value or at the lower of cost or fair value. The allowance for loan losses for loans not considered impaired and for large pools of smaller-balance, homogeneous loans is established through consideration of such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio, overall portfolio quality, individual risk rating, adequacy of the underlying collateral, loan concentrations, historical charge-off trends, and economic conditions that may affect the borrowers’

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

ability to pay. Cash receipts on impaired loans for which the accrual of interest has been discontinued are applied first to reduce the principal amount of such loans until all contractual principal payments have been brought current.

The Company originates mortgages to be held for sale only for loans that have been individually pre-approved by the investor. The Company bears minimal interest rate risk on these loans and only holds the loans temporarily until documentation can be completed to finalize sale to the investor. Such loans are stated at the lower of cost or aggregate fair value. Under SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, loan commitments that relate to the origination of mortgage loans that will be held for sale, commonly referred to as interest rate lock commitments, must be accounted for as derivatives by the issuer of the commitment. Forward sales commitments to the investor are made at the same time and have identical terms as the mortgage loan commitments to the customers. These forward sales commitments are also derivatives. Upon closing of the loan with the customer, Georgia Bank & Trust accounts for the forward sales commitments on loans held for sale as a hedge. Once a loan is closed with the customer, it is funded by the investor, generally within fifteen days. We have determined this hedge is effective because the gain that is unrealized, but embedded, upon closing the loan with the customer is highly correlated with the gain realized upon funding from the investor. Fair values of these derivatives as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 were insignificant.

 

  (e) Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from three to forty years. Premises and equipment and other long term assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate their carrying amounts may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.

 

  (f) Other Real Estate

Other real estate is carried at the lower of its cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. Any excess of the loan balance at the time of foreclosure over the fair value of the collateral is treated as a loan loss and is charged against the allowance for loan losses. A provision for estimated losses on other real estate is charged to earnings upon subsequent declines in value. Costs related to the development and improvement of property are capitalized; holding costs are charged to expense. There were no carrying values of other real estate as of December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

  (g) Goodwill

Goodwill results from business acquisitions and represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment will be recognized in the period identified. The Company’s goodwill is not considered impaired at December 31, 2006.

 

  (h) Stock-Based Compensation

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), Share-based Payment, using the modified prospective transition method. Accordingly, the Company has recorded stock-based employee compensation cost using the fair value method starting in 2006. For 2006, adopting this standard resulted in a reduction of income before and after income taxes of $415,290, a decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share of $.07 each. All stock options issued are incentive stock options and therefore, no tax benefit is realized. Stock option expense includes $138,000 related to the accelerated stock option vesting period for two key employees.

Prior to January 1, 2006, employee compensation expense under stock options was reported using the intrinsic value method; therefore, no stock-based compensation cost is reflected in net income for the years ending December 31, 2005 and 2004, as all options granted had an exercise price equal to the market price of the underlying common stock at date of grant.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if expense was measured using the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123(R), Share-based Payment, for the years ending December 31.

 

     2005     2004  

Net income

   $ 9,954,209     8,704,276  

Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method, net of related tax effect

     (241,554 )   (208,430 )
              

Pro forma

   $ 9,712,655     8,495,846  
              

Basic net income per share:

    

As reported

   $ 1.89     1.66  

Pro forma

     1.85     1.62  

Diluted net income per share:

    

As reported

     1.86     1.63  

Pro forma

     1.82     1.60  

 

  (i) Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A deferred tax valuation allowance is provided to the extent it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

  (j) Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by weighted average shares outstanding plus common share equivalents resulting from dilutive stock options, determined using the treasury stock method.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

     December 31,
     2006     2005    2004

Weighted average common shares outstanding

   5,324,558     5,257,904    5,247,901

Effect of stock options

   81,403     92,480    76,023

Effect of treasury stock method

   (34,305 )   —      —  
               

Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding

   5,371,656     5,350,384    5,323,924
               

 

  (k) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale which are also recognized as separate components of equity.

 

  (l) Segment Disclosures

The Company has one reportable segment, financial services. This segment provides financial services including banking, mortgage services, retail investment services and trust services through two subsidiary banks with offices located in Georgia and South Carolina.

 

  (m) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), Share-based Payment. See “Stock-Based Compensation” above for further discussion of the effect of adopting this standard.

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108), which is effective for fiscal years ending on or after November 15, 2006. SAB 108 provides guidance on how the effects of prior-year uncorrected financial statement misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current year misstatement. SAB 108 requires public companies to quantify misstatements using both an income statement (rollover) and balance sheet (iron curtain) approach and evaluate whether either approach results in a misstatement that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. If prior year errors that had been previously considered immaterial now are considered material based on either approach, no restatement is required so long as management properly applied its previous approach and all relevant facts and circumstances were considered. Adjustments considered immaterial in prior years under the method previously used, but now considered material under the dual approach required by SAB 108, are to be recorded upon initial adoption of SAB 108. The amount so recorded is shown as a

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

cumulative effect adjustment is recorded in opening retained earnings as of January 1, 2006. Included in this cumulative effect adjustment are the following items and amounts: The allowance for loan loss was decreased $694,000 to adjust for over-accrual of estimated losses on unfunded lines and commitments and standby letters of credit. This reduction also resulted in a $269,235 decrease in the deferred income tax asset account and a $424,765 increase in retained earnings. Accrued income taxes were decreased by $369,726 to eliminate a tax contingency reserve due to an assumption of taxability of certain federal agency interest for state purposes, subsequently determined to be nontaxable. The reduction in accrued income taxes resulted in an increase in retained earnings of $369,726. Both of these amounts had been recorded in immaterial amounts over the preceding six to seven years.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement establishes a fair value hierarchy about the assumptions used to measure fair value and clarifies assumptions about risk and the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company has not completed its evaluation of the impact of the adoption of this standard.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company has determined that the adoption of FIN 48 will not have a material effect on the financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force finalized Issue No. 06-5, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance - Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4 (Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance). This issue requires that a policyholder consider contractual terms of a life insurance policy in determining the amount that could be realized under the insurance contract. It also requires that if the contract provides for a greater surrender value if all individual policies in a group are surrendered at the same time, that the surrender value be determined based on the assumption that policies will be surrendered on an individual basis. Lastly, the issue discusses whether the cash surrender value should be discounted when the policyholder is contractually limited in its ability to surrender a policy. This issue is effective for

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company does not believe the adoption of this issue will have a material impact on the financial statements.

The Company does not expect that the following newly issued accounting standards will have a material effect on the financial statements when adopted in future years. In general, these standards revise the accounting for derivatives embedded in other financial instruments for 2007, revise the recognition and accounting for servicing of financial assets for 2007, and revise the accrual of post-retirement benefits associated with providing split-dollar life insurance for 2008. The Company did not have any of these assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2006.

 

  (n) Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain executives. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at its cash surrender value or the amount that can be realized at the balance sheet date.

 

  (o) Loss Contingencies

Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are reported as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe there now are such matters that will have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

  (p) Reclassifications

Some items in the prior period financial statements were reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

(2) Cash and Due From Banks

The subsidiary bank is required by the Federal Reserve Bank to maintain average daily cash balances. These required balances were $1,985,000 at December 31, 2006 and $663,000 at December 31, 2005.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

(3) Investment Securities

A summary of investment securities as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 is as follows:

 

     2006
     Amortized cost    Gross
unrealized
gains
   Gross
unrealized
losses
   

Estimated

fair value

Held to maturity:

          

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

   $ 2,970,619    77,577    —       3,048,196
                      
   $ 2,970,619    77,577    —       3,048,196
                      

Available for sale:

          

Obligations of U.S. Government agencies

   $ 77,716,866    18,407    (1,164,043 )   76,571,229

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     15,391,024    135,272    (65,204 )   15,461,093

Mortgage-backed securities

     95,909,710    50,008    (1,977,817 )   93,981,900

Corporate bonds

     5,987,026    44,611    (7,868 )   6,023,769

Trust preferred securities

     6,358,342    28,009    (41,126 )   6,345,225

Equity securities

     250,000    502,500    —       752,500
                      
   $ 201,612,967    778,807    (3,256,058 )   199,135,716
                      

 

     2005
     Amortized cost    Gross
unrealized
gains
   Gross
unrealized
losses
   

Estimated

fair value

Held to maturity:

          

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

   $ 3,776,040    121,301    —       3,897,341
                      
   $ 3,776,040    121,301    —       3,897,341
                      

Available for sale:

          

Obligations of U.S. Government agencies

   $ 68,646,172    —      (1,103,512 )   67,542,660

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     19,641,196    86,044    (213,504 )   19,513,736

Mortgage-backed securities

     92,983,634    4,392    (2,296,405 )   90,691,621

Corporate bonds

     9,070,990    167,822    (91,579 )   9,147,233

Trust preferred securities

     10,132,592    101,974    (77,820 )   10,156,746

Equity securities

     500,000    —      —       500,000
                      
   $ 200,974,584    360,232    (3,782,820 )   197,551,996
                      

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The following tables show securities available for sale with unrealized losses at year-end 2006 and 2005, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

     December 31, 2006
     Less than 12 months    12 months or longer    Total
    

Estimated

fair value

   Unrealized
loss
  

Estimated

fair value

   Unrealized
loss
  

Estimated

fair value

   Unrealized
loss

Obligations of U.S. Government agencies

   $ 28,750,427    236,479    39,818,634    927,564    68,569,061    1,164,043

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     7,934,910    56,190    865,892    9,014    8,800,802    65,204

Mortgage-backed securities

     18,143,303    170,668    66,767,730    1,807,149    84,911,033    1,977,817

Corporate bonds

     4,960,660    7,868    —      —      4,960,660    7,868

Trust preferred securities

     —      —      2,063,750    41,126    2,063,750    41,126
                               
   $ 59,789,299    471,205    109,516,007    2,784,853    169,305,305    3,256,058
                               

 

     December 31, 2005
     Less than 12 months    12 months or longer    Total
    

Estimated

fair value

   Unrealized
loss
   Estimated
fair value
   Unrealized
loss
  

Estimated

fair value

   Unrealized
loss

Obligations of U.S. Government agencies

   $ 47,605,504    520,702    19,937,156    582,810    67,542,660    1,103,512

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     13,338,901    213,504    —      —      13,338,901    213,504

Mortgage-backed securities

     57,946,156    1,249,092    30,478,847    1,047,313    88,425,003    2,296,405

Corporate bonds

     —      —      3,946,394    91,579    3,946,394    91,579

Trust preferred securities

     2,049,081    35,867    999,015    41,953    3,048,096    77,820
                               
   $ 120,939,642    2,019,165    55,361,412    1,763,655    176,301,054    3,782,820
                               

At December 31, 2006, there were fourteen obligations of U.S. government agencies, fourteen obligations of states and political subdivisions, sixteen mortgage-backed securities, and one corporate bond with an unrealized loss for less than 12 months. There were thirty-four obligations of U.S. government agencies, seventy-nine mortgage-backed securities, three obligations of states and political subdivisions, and three trust preferred securities with an unrealized loss for longer than 12 months. The total estimated fair value of the securities with an unrealized loss at December 31, 2006 represented 98.1% of the book value. Unrealized losses have not been recognized into income because the issuers are either obligations of the U.S. government or are of high credit quality. Also, the decline in fair value is largely due to changes in interest rates and the fair value is expected to recover as the obligations approach maturity.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities held to maturity and available for sale, other than equity and trust preferred securities, as of December 31, 2006, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

     Securities held to maturity    Securities available for sale
     Amortized
cost
   Estimated
fair value
   Amortized
cost
  

Estimated

fair value

One year or less

   $ —      —      7,400,866    7,371,067

After one year through five years

     930,680    943,711    13,101,211    12,852,585

After five years through ten years

     1,539,037    1,588,865    36,730,472    36,280,883

After ten years

     500,902    515,620    41,862,367    41,551,556
                     
     2,970,619    3,048,196    99,094,916    98,056,091

Mortgage-backed securities

     —      —      95,909,710    93,981,900
                     
   $ 2,970,619    3,048,196    195,004,626    192,037,991
                     

Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale during 2006, 2005, and 2004 were $42,346,092, $23,852,712, and $40,304,730, respectively. Gross realized gains of $621,420, $45,636, and $181,620 were realized on those sales in 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively, and gross realized losses of $407,905, $131,302, and $337,403, were realized on those sales in 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

During the third quarter of 2004, the Company sold a held-to maturity investment for $550,000 upon realization that the investment was not bank qualified. The amortized cost of this security was $496,207 and the realized gain was $53,793.

As of December 31, 2006, except for the U.S. Government agencies, there was no issuer who represented 10% or more of stockholders’ equity within the investment portfolio.

Investment securities with a carrying amount of approximately $154,504,000 and $141,649,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, were pledged to secure public and trust deposits, and for other purposes required by law.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

(4) Loans

Loans at December 31, 2006 and 2005 are summarized as follows:

 

     2006    2005

Commercial, financial, and agricultural

   $ 80,938,221    64,508,872

Real estate:

     

Construction

     266,875,302    184,825,703

Residential

     158,542,623    138,715,822

Commercial

     198,452,981    156,896,766

Consumer installment

     31,221,627    34,751,143
           
     736,030,754    579,698,306

Less allowance for loan losses

     9,776,779    9,124,801

Less deferred loan origination fees

     919,139    610,515
           
   $ 725,334,836    569,962,990
           

As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company had nonaccrual loans aggregating $2,350,961 and $4,009,479, respectively. Interest that would have been recorded on nonaccrual loans had they been in accruing status was approximately $118,000 in 2006, $204,000 in 2005, and $166,000 in 2004. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company had impaired loans with an outstanding balance of $1,534,000 and $2,539,000, respectively, with a related valuation allowance of $252,000 and $540,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2005. The average balance of impaired loans was approximately $2,223,000, $2,331,000 and $1,907,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. The interest recognized on such loans in 2006, 2005, and 2004 was immaterial. Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest were $0 and $1,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The following is a summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 9,124,801     7,930,366     7,277,588  

Effects of SAB 108

     (694,000 )   —       —    

Provision for loan losses

     2,478,498     1,841,435     1,588,426  

Charge-offs

     (1,939,922 )   (1,605,034 )   (1,692,675 )

Recoveries

     807,402     958,034     757,027  
                    

Balance, end of year

   $ 9,776,779     9,124,801     7,930,366  
                    

The allowance for loan loss was decreased $694,000 to adjust for over-accrual of estimated losses on unfunded lines and commitments and standby letters of credit.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The Company has direct and indirect loans outstanding to certain executive officers and directors, including affiliates, and principal holders of the Company’s securities.

The following is a summary of the activity in loans outstanding to executive officers and directors, including affiliates, and principal holders of the Company’s securities for the year ended December 31, 2006:

 

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 15,326,488  

New loans

     44,268,221  

Principal repayments

     (34,842,529 )
        

Balance at end of year

   $ 24,752,180  
        

The Company is also committed to extend credit to certain directors and executives of the Company, including companies in which they are principal owners, through personal lines of credit, letters of credit, and other loan commitments. As of December 31, 2006, available balances on these commitments to these persons aggregated approximately $13,836,000.

 

(5) Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment at December 31, 2006 and 2005 are summarized as follows:

 

     2006    2005

Land

   $ 3,952,782    2,950,782

Buildings

     20,131,921    19,142,953

Furniture and equipment

     9,411,748    8,193,172
           
     33,496,451    30,286,907

Less accumulated depreciation

     10,093,863    8,910,724
           
   $ 23,402,588    21,376,183
           

Depreciation expense amounted to $1,367,117, $1,454,503, and $1,335,362 in 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

(6) Commitments

The Company is committed under various operating leases for office space and equipment. At December 31, 2006, minimum future lease payments under non-cancelable real property and equipment operating leases are as follows:

 

2007

   $ 159,592

2008

     100,810

2009

     101,151

2010

     95,271

2011

     86,835

2012 & Beyond

     166,155
      
   $ 709,814
      

Rent expense for all building, equipment, and furniture rentals totaled $204,942, $213,534, and $267,364 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

The Company is party to lines of credit with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. Lines of credit are unfunded commitments to extend credit. These instruments involve, in varying degrees, exposure to credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the financial statements. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for unfunded commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company follows the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.

Unfunded commitments to extend credit where contract amounts represent potential credit risk totaled $202,627,000 and $204,422,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These commitments are primarily at variable interest rates.

Lines of credit are legally binding contracts to lend to a customer, as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. These commitments have fixed termination dates and generally require payment of a fee. As commitments often expire prior to being drawn, the amounts above do not necessarily represent the future cash requirements of the commitments. Credit worthiness is evaluated on a case by case basis, and if necessary, collateral is obtained to support the commitment.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

(7) Deposits

At December 31, 2006, scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit are as follows:

 

2007

   $ 195,427,998

2008

     69,267,290

2009

     1,557,394

2010

     1,791,812

2011

     2,117,295

Thereafter

     4,457,898
      

Total

   $ 274,619,687
      

 

(8) Borrowings

Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements

The securities sold under repurchase agreements are collateralized by obligations of the U.S. Government or its corporations and agencies, state and municipal securities, corporate bonds, or mortgage-backed securities. The aggregate carrying value of such agreements for corporate customers at December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $10,492,425 and $12,072,434, respectively. At December 31, 2006, public funds agreements for deposit accounts and securities sold under repurchase agreements for public funds customers were maintained by the Georgia Bankers Association pooled pledging program. The total carrying value of investments in the pooled pledging program at December 31, 2006 and 2005 was $154,504,000 and $141,649,000, respectively. The repurchase agreements at December 31, 2006 mature on demand. The following table summarizes pertinent data related to the securities sold under the agreements to repurchase as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004.

 

     2006     2005  

Weighted average borrowing rate at year-end

     5.24 %   3.93 %

Weighted average borrowing rate during the year

     4.92 %   3.04 %

Average daily balance during the year

   $ 60,614,055     55,168,048  

Maximum month-end balance during the year

     74,771,870     72,461,883  

Balance at year-end

     70,019,551     67,013,416  

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

The Company has an available line of credit from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB) in an amount not to exceed 10% of total assets. The line of credit is reviewed annually by the FHLB. The following advances were outstanding under this line at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

     2006     Rate     2005     Rate  

Due March 17, 2006 adjustable rate credit

   $ —         $ 5,000,000     4.517 %

Due May 18, 2007 prime rate floater

     5,000,000     5.440 %     —      

Due January 27, 2010 convertible flipper

     —           5,000,000     3.966 %

Due March 22, 2010

     7,000,000     6.180 %     7,000,000     6.180 %

Due March 30, 2010

     5,000,000     6.020 %     5,000,000     6.020 %

Due May 19, 2010 convertible flipper

     —           6,000,000     3.870 %

Due September 29, 2010

     5,000,000     5.820 %     5,000,000     5.820 %

Due October 18, 2010

     7,000,000     5.460 %     7,000,000     5.460 %

Due May 2, 2011

     6,000,000     4.800 %     6,000,000     4.800 %

Due July 23, 2012 convertible flipper

     6,000,000     4.850 %     6,000,000     3.870 %

Due January 27, 2019 convertible flipper

     5,000,000     4.850 %     —      

Due April 22, 2019 convertible flipper

     8,000,000     4.874 %     —      

Due May 22, 2019 flipper

     6,000,000     4.871 %     —      
                    
   $ 60,000,000       $ 52,000,000    
                    

Total weighted average rate

     5.30 %       4.75 %  

The FHLB has the option to convert the fixed-rate advances and convertible advances to three-month, LIBOR-based floating-rate advances at various dates throughout the terms of the advances.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The prime rate floater advance maturing on May 18, 2007, is indexed to the prime rate minus 280 basis points. The convertible flipper advance maturing on July 23, 2012, is indexed to the one-month LIBOR-based floating rate minus 50 basis points for the first two years and then converts to a fixed rate of 3.93% for the last five years. The convertible flipper advance maturing on January 27, 2019, is indexed to the one-month LIBOR-based floating rate minus 50 basis points for the first three years and then converts to a fixed rate of 4.10% for the last ten years. The convertible flipper advance maturing on April 22, 2019, is indexed to the three-month LIBOR-based floating rate minus 50 basis points for the first three years and then converts to a fixed rate of 4.75% for the last ten years. The flipper advance maturing on May 22, 2019, is indexed to the three-month LIBOR-based floating rate minus 50 basis points. The convertible flipper advance maturing on January 27, 2010, was called on January 27, 2006. The convertible flipper advance maturing on May 19, 2010, was called on May 19, 2006.

At December 31, 2006, the Company has pledged, under a blanket floating lien, eligible first mortgage loans with unpaid balances which, when discounted at approximately 80% of such unpaid principal balances, total $53,478,260. The Company has also pledged for this lien eligible commercial real estate loans with unpaid balances which, when discounted at approximately 50% of such unpaid principal balances, total $9,831,506.

Other Borrowed Funds

Other borrowed funds at December 31, 2006 and 2005 consist of a treasury, tax, and loan account with the Federal Reserve Bank with a balance of $1,000,000.

 

(9) Subordinated Debentures

In December 2005 the Company issued $10,000,000 of unsecured subordinated debentures, which bear interest at three-month LIBOR plus 1.40%, adjusted quarterly, to Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I. The Company used these funds to capitalize a new federally chartered thrift subsidiary, Southern Bank and Trust. Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company which is not consolidated in these financial statements pursuant to FIN 46R. Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I acquired these debentures using the proceeds of its offerings of $10.0 million of Trust Preferred Securities to outside investors. The Trust Preferred Securities qualify as Tier 1 capital under Federal Reserve Board guidelines and accrue and pay distributions quarterly at a variable per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.40% of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital Security. The Company has entered into contractual arrangements which constitute a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee on a subordinated basis by the Company of the obligations of Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I under the Trust Preferred Securities.

The Trust Preferred Securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the debentures on December 15, 2035, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture. The

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

Company has the right to redeem the debentures purchased by Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I in whole or in part, on or after December 15, 2010 and in whole or in part at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event. As specified in the indenture, if the debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be 100% of their principal amount plus accrued but unpaid interest. Prior to December 15, 2006, the redemption of any debenture following a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event, will be an amount in cash equal to 103.525% of the principal amount of the debentures. Thereafter, an amount equal in cash to the percentage of the principal amount of the debentures plus unpaid interest will be redeemed as specified below.

 

Special Redemption During the
12-Month Period Beginning December 15

   Percentage of Principal Amount  

2006

   103.140 %

2007

   102.355 %

2008

   101.570 %

2009

   100.785 %

2010 and thereafter

   100.000 %

In March 2006 the Company issued $10,000,000 of unsecured subordinated debentures, which bear interest at three-month LIBOR plus 1.40%, adjusted quarterly, to Southeastern Bank Financial Trust II. The Company intends to use the funds to contribute $5,000,000 additional capital to a new federally chartered thrift subsidiary, Southern Bank and Trust, when the second branch is opened. The remaining $5,000,000 will be used to pay dividends or contribute additional capital to Southern Bank & Trust. The Company has temporarily used the proceeds to purchase a short term investment security while it continues the process of applying for regulatory approval for the second branch of Southern Bank & Trust. Southeastern Bank Financial Trust II is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company which is not consolidated in these financial statements pursuant to FIN 46R. Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I acquired these debentures using the proceeds of its offerings of $10.0 million of Trust Preferred Securities to outside investors. The Trust Preferred Securities qualify as Tier 1 capital under Federal Reserve Board guidelines and accrue and pay distributions quarterly at a variable per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.40% of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital Security. The Company has entered into contractual arrangements which constitute a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee on a subordinated basis by the Company of the obligations of Southeastern Bank Financial Trust II under the Trust Preferred Securities.

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The Trust Preferred Securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the debentures on June 15, 2036, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture. The Company has the right to redeem the debentures purchased by Southeastern Bank Financial Trust II in whole or in part, on or after June 15, 2011 and in whole or in part at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event. As specified in the indenture, if the debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be 100% of their principal amount plus accrued but unpaid interest. Prior to June 15, 2007, the redemption of any debenture following a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event, will be an amount in cash equal to 103.525% of the principal amount of the debentures. Thereafter, an amount equal in cash to the percentage of the principal amount of the debentures plus unpaid interest will be redeemed as specified below.

 

Special Redemption During the
12-Month Period Beginning June 15

   Percentage of Principal Amount  

2007

   103.140 %

2008

   102.355 %

2009

   101.570 %

2010

   100.785 %

2011 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

(10) Income Taxes

Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004 consists of the following:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Current tax expense:

      

Federal

   $ 5,966,848     4,965,140     3,858,470  

State

     591,945     607,227     450,413  
                    

Total current

     6,558,793     5,572,367     4,308,883  
                    

Deferred tax benefit

      

Federal

     (770,379 )   (528,723 )   (171,820 )

State

     (115,032 )   (88,910 )   (32,340 )
                    

Total deferred

     (885,411 )   (617,633 )   (204,160 )
                    

Total income tax expense

   $ 5,673,382     4,954,734     4,104,723  
                    

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

Income tax expense differed from the amount computed by applying the statutory Federal corporate tax rate of 35% in 2006, 2005 and 2004 to income before income taxes as follows:

 

     Years ended December 31  
     2006     2005     2004  

Computed “expected” tax expense

   $ 5,891,569     5,218,130     4,483,150  

Increase (decrease) resulting from:

      

Tax-exempt interest income

     (479,376 )   (368,910 )   (301,705 )

Nondeductible interest expense

     69,265     46,459     21,184  

State income tax, net of Federal tax effect

     256,561     340,256     271,747  

Earnings on cash surrender value of life insurance

     (209,914 )   (137,306 )   (172,186 )

Nondeductible stock option expense

     144,144     —       —    

Meals, entertainment, and club dues

     48,088     40,477     40,042  

Impact of graduated rate

     (48,925 )   (96,369 )   (100,000 )

Other, net

     1,970     (88,003 )   (137,509 )
                    
   $ 5,673,382     4,954,734     4,104,723  
                    

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2006 and 2005 are presented below:

 

     2006     2005  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 3,973,254     3,538,599  

Deferred compensation

     1,218,350     952,995  

Other

     216,349     231,618  

Unrealized loss on investment securities available for sale

     842,265     1,163,680  
              

Total deferred tax assets

     6,250,218     5,886,892  
              

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Depreciation

     (477,599 )   (519,124 )

Prepaid Assets

     (313,981 )   (207,235 )
              

Total deferred tax liabilities

     (791,580 )   (726,359 )
              

Net deferred tax asset

   $ 5,458,638     5,160,533  
              

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers taxes paid in the carryback period, the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projection for future taxable income over the periods which the temporary differences resulting in the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences.

 

(11) Related Party Transactions

Deposits include accounts with certain directors and executives of the Company, including affiliates, and principal holders of the Company’s securities. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, these deposits totaled approximately $26,000,000 and $16,000,000, respectively. See note 4 for discussion of related party loans.

 

(12) Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the 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 consolidated financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier I capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier I capital (as defined) to average assets (as defined). Management believes, as of December 31, 2006, that the Company meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject.

As of December 31, 2006, the most recent notification from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier I risk-based, and Tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

table below. Management is not aware of the existence of any conditions or events occurring subsequent to December 31, 2006 which would affect the Bank’s well capitalized classification.

Actual capital amounts and ratios for the Company are presented in the table below as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, on a consolidated basis and for the Bank and Thrift individually (dollars in thousands):

 

     Actual    

For capital adequacy

purposes

   

To be well capitalized

under prompt corrective

action provisions

 
     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio  

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation and subsidiary consolidated:

               

As of December 31, 2006:

               

Total Capital (to risk- weighted assets)

   $ 110,422    13.29 %   $ 66,445    8.00 %     N/A    N/A  

Tier I Capital - risk-based (to risk-weighted assets)

     100,419    12.09 %     33,222    4.00 %     N/A    N/A  

Tier I Capital - leverage (to average assets)

     100,419    9.78 %     41,065    4.00 %     N/A    N/A  

As of December 31, 2005:

               

Total Capital (to risk- weighted assets)

     84,236    12.35 %     54,573    8.00 %     N/A    N/A  

Tier I Capital - risk-based (to risk-weighted assets)

     75,702    11.10 %     27,287    4.00 %     N/A    N/A  

Tier I Capital - leverage (to average assets)

     75,702    9.01 %     33,610    4.00 %     N/A    N/A  
     Actual    

For capital adequacy

purposes

   

To be well capitalized

under prompt corrective

action provisions

 
     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio  

Georgia Bank & Trust Company:

               

As of December 31, 2006:

               

Total Capital (to risk- weighted assets)

   $ 84,173    10.64 %   $ 63,298    8.00 %   $ 79,123    10.00 %

Tier I Capital - risk-based (to risk-weighted assets)

     74,741    9.45 %     31,649    4.00 %     47,474    6.00 %

Tier I Capital - leverage (to average assets)

     74,741    7.57 %     44,401    4.50 %     49,334    5.00 %

As of December 31, 2005:

               

Total Capital (to risk- weighted assets)

     70,584    10.42 %     54,172    8.00 %   $ 67,716    10.00 %

Tier I Capital - risk-based (to risk-weighted assets)

     62,111    9.17 %     27,086    4.00 %     40,629    6.00 %

Tier I Capital - leverage (to average assets)

     62,111    7.44 %     37,554    4.50 %     41,727    5.00 %

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

     Actual     For capital adequacy
purposes
    To be well capitalized
under prompt corrective
action provisions
 
     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio  

Southern Bank & Trust:

               

As of December 31, 2006:

               

Total Capital (to risk- weighted assets)

   $ 9,783    30.23 %   $ 2,589    8.00 %   $ 3,237    10.00 %

Tier I Capital - risk-based (to risk-weighted assets)

     9,438    29.16 %     1,295    4.00 %     1,942    6.00 %

Tier I Capital - leverage (to average assets)

     9,438    32.98 %     1,145    4.00 %     1,431    5.00 %

In addition to the capital requirements disclosed in the preceding table, the FDIC requires that the Tier 1 capital to assets leverage ratio for Southern Bank & Trust be maintained at not less than 8% throughout the first three years of operation.

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation and Georgia Bank and Trust Company are regulated by the Department of Banking and Finance of the State of Georgia (DBF). The DBF requires that state banks in Georgia generally maintain a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets of four and one-half percent (4.5%) for banks and four percent (4%) for holding companies. These ratios are shown in the preceding tables as Tier 1 Capital – leverage (to average assets). The Company’s ratio at 9.78% and the Bank’s ratio at 7.57% exceed the minimum required.

The DBF requires its prior approval for a bank to pay dividends in excess of 50% of the preceding year’s earnings. Based on this limitation, the amount of cash dividends available from the Bank for payment in 2007 is approximately $6,057,000, subject to maintenance of the minimum capital requirements.

The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) requires a three year business plan to be filed for all new thrifts. Southern Bank and Trust’s business plan does not provide for capital distributions for any of the three years. As a result, prior approval would be required from the OTS before any distributions are made.

 

(13) Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has an employee savings plan (the Plan) that qualifies as a deferred salary arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Plan, participating employees may defer a portion of their pretax earnings, up to the Internal Revenue Service annual contribution limit. The Company has the option to make discretionary payments to the Plan. For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, the Company contributed $566,978, $522,903, and $533,243, respectively, to the Plan, which is 5% of the annual salary of all eligible employees for 2006, 2005, and 2004.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

In 1997, the Company established a nonqualified Long-Term Incentive Plan designed to motivate and sustain high levels of individual performance and align the interests of key officers with those of shareholders by rewarding capital appreciation and earnings growth. Stock appreciation rights may be awarded annually to those key officers whose performance during the year has made a significant contribution to the Company’s growth. Such stock appreciation rights are granted at a strike price equal to the trading price of the Company’s stock at date of grant, and are earned over a five-year appreciation period. Officers vest in such rights over a 10-year period. The Company recognized expense of $127,624, $146,995, and $122,539 during 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively, related to this plan. The total amount accrued at December 31, 2006 and 2005 was $127,623 and $188,625, respectively.

The Company also has salary continuation agreements in place with certain key officers. Such agreements are structured with differing benefits based on the participants overall position and responsibility. These agreements provide the participants with a supplemental income upon retirement at age 65, additional incentive to remain with the Company in order to receive these deferred retirement benefits and a compensation package that is competitive in the market. These agreements vest over a ten year period, require a minimum number of years service, and contain change of control provisions. All benefits would cease in the event of termination for cause, and if the participant’s employment were to end due to disability, voluntary termination or termination without cause, the participant would be entitled to receive certain reduced benefits based on vesting and other conditions. The estimated cost of an annuity to pay this obligation is being accrued over the vesting period for each officer. The Company recognized expense of $676,173, $526,429, and $506,031 during 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively, related to these agreements. The total amount accrued at December 31, 2006 and 2005 was $2,855,103 and $2,232,930, respectively.

 

(14) Stock Option Plan

During 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2000 Plan) which allows for stock option awards for up to 253,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to employees, officers, and directors of the Company. The Company believes that such awards better align the interests of its employees with those of its shareholders. Under the provisions of the 2000 Plan, the option price is determined by a committee of the board of directors at the time of grant and may not be less than 100% of the fair value of the common stock on the date of the grant of such option. Generally, when granted, these options vest over a five-year period. However, there were 10,000 options granted in 2005, that vest based on specific loan growth performance targets. All options must be exercised within a ten-year period. As of December 31, 2006, all options under this plan had been issued.

During 2006, the Company adopted the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2006 Plan), approved by shareholders at the annual meeting, which allows for stock options awards for

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

up to 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to key employees, officers, directors and independent contractors providing material services to the Company. The purpose of the Plan is to enhance stockholder investment by attracting, retaining and motivating key employees, officers, directors and independent contractors of the Company, and to encourage stock ownership by such persons by providing them with a means to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company’s success, and to align the interests of management with those of stockholders. Under the provisions of the 2006 Plan, the option price is determined by a committee of the board of directors at the time of grant and may not be less than 100% of the fair value of the common stock on the date of the grant of such option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who is a Ten Percent Stockholder, the Option Price shall not be less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant. Generally, when granted, these options vest over a five-year period. All options must be exercised within a ten year period from the date of the grant; however, options issued to a ten percent stockholder must be exercised within a five year period from its date of grant. As of December 31, 2006, 44,834 options had been granted under this Plan.

The Company periodically purchases treasury stock and uses it for stock option exercises, when available. If treasury stock is not available, additional stock is issued. The Company repurchased 1,599 shares during the 2006 year.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), Share-based Payment, which requires the Company to compute the fair value of options at the date of grant and to recognize such costs as compensation expense ratably over the vesting period of the options. For the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company recognized $415,000 as compensation expense resulting from all stock options. This expense includes $138,000 related to the accelerated stock option vesting period for two key employees.

The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatility is the measure of the amount by which the share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. The method used to calculate historical average annualized volatility is based on the closing price of the first trade of each month. Expected dividends are based on the Company’s historical pattern of dividend payments. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination within the valuation model. The risk-free rate is the U.S. Treasury note at the time of grant for the expected term of the option.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The fair value of all options granted was determined using the following weighted average assumptions as of grant date.

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Options granted

   55,000     51,500     5,000  

Risk-free interest rate

   5.01 %   4.25 %   4.18 %

Dividend yield

   2.00 %   2.00 %   2.00 %

Expected life at date of grant

   7.92 years     8.54 years     10 years  

Volatility

   38.07 %   31.18 %   29.45 %

A summary of activity for stock options with a specified vesting period follows:

 

     Shares     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

Options outstanding - December 31, 2005

   205,434     $ 21.35       

Granted in 2006

   55,000       39.85       

Options exercised in 2006

   (22,649 )     (10.84 )     
             

Options Outstanding - December 31, 2006

   237,785     $ 26.64     7.08    $ 2,939,023
                         

Exercisable at December 31, 2006

   125,065     $ 19.41     5.88    $ 2,450,023
                         

Information related to the stock options that vest over a specified period follows:

 

     2006    2005    2004

Intrinsic value of options exercised

   $ 653,162    $ 511,417    $ 108,140

Intrinsic value of options lapsed

     —        66,146      —  

Cash received from option exercises

     176,127      3,017      19,660

Fair market value of stock received from option exercises

     69,496      286,932      38,150

Weighted average grant-date fair value

     16.23      12.64      10.17

All stock options issued are incentive stock options and therefore, no tax benefit is realized.

As of December 31, 2006, there was $869,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested options that vest over a five year period. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.4 years.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The following table provides information for stock options that vest based on specific loan growth performance targets.

 

     Shares    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

Options outstanding - December 31, 2005

   10,000    $ 34.30      

Granted in 2006

   —        —        

Options exercised in 2006

   —        —        
             

Options Outstanding - December 31, 2006

   10,000    $ 34.30    8.5    $ 47,000
                       

Exercisable at December 31, 2006

   2,000    $ 34.30    8.5    $ 9,400
                       

As of December 31, 2006, there was $53,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested options granted based on performance. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.8 years.

 

(15) Other Operating Expenses

Components of other operating expenses exceeding 1% of total revenues include the following for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004:

 

     2006    2005    2004

Marketing and business development

   $ 1,405,308    $ 1,118,760    1,099,851

Processing expense

     1,479,566      1,072,746    1,163,255

Legal and professional fees

     1,369,351      1,094,340    846,852

Data processing expense

     666,500      532,388    502,808

Loan costs

     441,949      395,513    604,389

Office supplies expense

     659,740      508,199    484,633

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

(16) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

SFAS No. 107, Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments, requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a portion of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates. Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in any of the estimates. The assumptions used in the estimation of the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments are explained below. Where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using discounted cash flow and other valuation techniques. Discounted cash flows can be significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. The following fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and should not be considered representative of the liquidation value of the Company’s financial instruments, but rather a good-faith estimate of the fair value of financial instruments held by the Company. SFAS No. 107 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements.

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of its financial instruments:

 

  (a) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Fair value equals the carrying value of such assets due to their nature.

 

  (b) Investment Securities

The fair value of investment securities is based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments. The carrying amount of related accrued interest receivable approximates its fair value and is not disclosed.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

  (c) Loans

The fair value of loans is calculated using discounted cash flows by loan type. The discount rate used to determine the present value of the loan portfolio is an estimated market rate that reflects the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan portfolio. The estimated maturity is based on the Company’s historical experience with repayments adjusted to estimate the effect of current market conditions. The carrying amount of related accrued interest receivable approximates its fair value and is not disclosed. The carrying amount of real estate loans originated for sale approximates their fair value. The allowance for loan losses is considered a reasonable discount for credit risk.

 

  (d) Deposits

Fair values for certificates of deposit have been determined using discounted cash flows. The discount rate used is based on estimated market rates for deposits of similar remaining maturities. The carrying amounts of all other deposits, due to their short-term nature, approximate their fair values. The carrying amount of related accrued interest payable approximates its fair value and is not disclosed.

 

  (e) Federal Funds Sold and Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements

Fair value approximates the carrying value of such liabilities due to their short-term nature.

 

  (f) Other Borrowed Funds

Fair value approximates the carrying value of such liabilities as the borrowings are at a variable rate of interest.

 

  (g) Advances from FHLB

The fair value of the FHLB advances is obtained from the FHLB and is calculated by discounting contractual cash flows using an estimated interest rate based on the current rates available to the Company for debt of similar remaining maturities and collateral terms.

 

  (h) Subordinated debentures

The fair value approximates the carrying value of the subordinated debentures as the debentures are at a variable rate of interest.

 

  (i) Commitments

The difference between the carrying values and fair values of commitments to extend credit are not significant.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

 

     December 31
     2006    2005
     Carrying
amount
  

Estimated

fair value

   Carrying
amount
  

Estimated

fair value

Financial assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 40,910,605    40,910,605    22,563,056    22,563,056

Investment securities

     207,042,616    207,120,193    205,615,517    205,736,818

Loans, net

     740,192,151    736,229,967    592,109,824    589,674,894

Financial liabilities:

           

Deposits

     801,763,089    801,315,842    663,654,849    663,472,304

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements

     70,019,551    70,019,551    67,013,416    67,013,416

Other borrowed funds

     1,000,000    1,000,000    1,000,000    1,000,000

Advances from FHLB

     60,000,000    59,245,972    52,000,000    50,762,393

Subordinated debentures

     20,000,000    20,000,000    10,000,000    10,000,000

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

(17) Condensed Financial Statements of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation (Parent Only)

The following represents Parent Company only condensed financial information of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation:

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

     December 31
     2006    2005
Assets      

Cash and due from banks

   $ 5,103,901    739,183

Investment securities available for sale

     10,689,160    10,371,733

Investment in subsidiaries

     82,358,768    59,998,151

Premises and equipment, net

     863,995    2,470,796

Accrued interest receivable

     7,167    —  

Deferred tax asset, net

     —      3,344

Other assets

     134,738    —  
           
   $ 99,157,729    73,583,207
           
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      

Liabilities:

     

Accrued interest and other liabilities

   $ 233,605    —  

Subordinated debentures

     20,000,000    10,000,000
           

Total liabilities

     20,233,605    10,000,000
           

Stockholders’ equity

     78,924,124    63,583,207
           
   $ 99,157,729    73,583,207
           

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

Condensed Statements of Income

 

     Years ended December 31
     2006     2005    2004

Income:

       

Dividend income

   $ 535,507     3,500,000    2,000,000

Interest income on investment securities

     687,666     30,421    393

Investment securities gains, net

     526,313     —      —  

Miscellaneous income

     107,000     109,831    102,006
                 
     1,856,486     3,640,252    2,102,399
                 

Expense:

       

Interest expense

     1,246,702     —      —  

Salaries and other personnel expense

     137,773     —      —  

Occupancy expense

     55,160     44,800    44,800

Other operating expense

     375,143     188,162    61,533
                 
     1,814,778     232,962    106,333
                 

Income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

     41,708     3,407,290    1,996,066

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

     10,994,869     6,546,919    6,708,210

Income tax benefit

     (123,095 )   —      —  
                 

Net income

   $ 11,159,672     9,954,209    8,704,276
                 

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2006     2005     2004  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 11,159,672     9,954,209     8,704,276  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

      

Depreciation

     44,800     44,800     44,800  

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

     (10,994,869 )   (6,546,919 )   (6,708,210 )

Gain on sale of investment securities

     (526,313 )   —       —    

Stock options compensation cost

     137,773     —       —    

Loss on disposal of premises and equipment

     46,989     —       —    

Accretion on investment securities

     (453,346 )   (30,189 )   —    

Increase in accrued interest receivable

     (7,167 )   —       —    

Increase in accrued interest payable and other liabilities

     65,825     —       —    

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     (134,738 )   —       1,000,000  
                    

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (661,374 )   3,421,901     3,040,866  
                    

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities

     65,776,313     —       —    

Purchase of investment securities

     (64,610,775 )   (9,851,378 )   —    

Investment in subsidiary

     (10,002,000 )   —       —    

Additions to premises and equipment

     (434,988 )   (1,480,927 )   —    

Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment

     1,950,000     —       —    
                    

Net cash used in investing activities

     (7,321,450 )   (11,332,305 )   —    
                    

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Proceeds from subordinated debentures

     10,000,000     10,000,000     —    

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     4,999,969     —       —    

Purchase of treasury stock

     (61,983 )   —       (62,042 )

Payment of cash dividends

     (2,766,571 )   (2,733,428 )   (2,729,118 )

Proceeds from stock options exercised, net of stock redeemed

     176,127     3,018     19,660  
                    

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     12,347,542     7,269,590     (2,771,500 )
                    

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     4,364,718     (640,814 )   269,366  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     739,183     1,379,997     1,110,631  
                    

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 5,103,901     739,183     1,379,997  
                    

 

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SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

(18) Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The supplemental quarterly financial data for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 is summarized as follows:

 

     Quarters ended
     March 31,
2006
   June 30,
2006
   September 30,
2006
   December 31,
2006

Interest income

   $ 14,426,728    15,770,294    17,114,518    18,314,285

Interest expense

     6,449,547    7,330,432    8,402,442    9,240,052

Net interest income

     7,977,181    8,439,862    8,712,076    9,074,233

Provision for loan losses

     503,792    456,336    666,913    851,457

Noninterest income

     3,255,260    3,806,242    3,455,062    3,476,639

Noninterest expense

     7,165,887    7,231,689    7,230,664    7,256,763

Net income

     2,459,975    2,926,404    2,925,029    2,848,264

Net income per share - basic

     0.47    0.55    0.55    0.52

Net income per share - diluted

     0.46    0.55    0.55    0.52

 

     Quarters ended
     March 31,
2005
   June 30,
2005
   September 30,
2005
   December 31,
2005

Interest income

   $ 10,066,120    11,310,753    12,486,415    13,413,848

Interest expense

     3,425,387    4,149,674    4,814,966    5,495,246

Net interest income

     6,640,733    7,161,079    7,671,449    7,918,602

Provision for loan losses

     471,694    515,269    589,260    265,212

Noninterest income

     2,700,790    3,188,758    3,282,223    3,205,836

Noninterest expense

     5,737,238    6,206,784    6,445,479    6,629,591

Net income

     2,083,989    2,405,732    2,598,597    2,865,891

Net income per share – basic

     0.40    0.46    0.49    0.54

Net income per share – diluted

     0.39    0.45    0.48    0.53

 

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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not applicable.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) that is required to be included in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or, to management’s knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect those internal controls subsequent to the date management carried out its evaluation, and there have been no corrective actions with respect to significant deficiencies or material weaknesses.

 

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Management’s Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

The management of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, transactions are executed in accordance with appropriate management authorization and accounting records are reliable for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 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.

Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006. In making our assessment, management has utilized the framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission “Internal Control-Integrated Framework”. Based on our assessment, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2006, internal control over financial reporting was effective.

Crowe Chizek and Company LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment, of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and a copy of Crowe Chizek’s report is included with this report.

 

/s/ R. Daniel Blanton      

Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

   
/s/ Ronald L. Thigpen      

Chief Operating Officer

   
/s/ Darrell R. Rains    

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

   
Date: March 14, 2007    

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting that Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation (the Company) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation’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. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of 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, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and 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.

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, management’s assessment that Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated

 

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Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and our report dated March 14, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Crowe Chizek and Company LLC

Brentwood, Tennessee

March 14, 2007

 

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Item 9B. Other Information

None.

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to its senior financial officers. A copy is available, without charge, upon telephonic or written request addressed to Ron Thigpen, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Corporate Secretary, Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation, 3530 Wheeler Road, Augusta, Georgia 30909, telephone (706) 738-6990. The remaining information in response to this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for use in connection with the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders (which definitive Proxy Statement shall be filed with the commission not later than April 30, 2007).

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The remaining information in response to this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for use in connection with the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders (which definitive Proxy Statement shall be filed with the commission not later than April 30, 2007).

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The following table provides information regarding compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance. All data is presented as of December 31, 2006.

 

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Equity Compensation Plan Table

 

     (a)    (b)    (c)

Plan Category

  

Number of securities to be issued
upon exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and rights

  

Weighted-average exercise price of
outstanding options, warrants and
rights

  

Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected in
column (a))

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders    247,785    $26.95    205,166
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders         
Total    247,785    $26.95    205,166

Additional information in response to this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for use in connection with the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders (which definitive Proxy Statement shall be filed with the commission not later than April 30, 2007).

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Information in response to this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for use in connection with the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders (which definitive Proxy Statement shall be filed with the commission not later than April 30, 2007).

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Information in response to this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for use in connection with the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders (which definitive Proxy Statement shall be filed with the Commission not later than April 30, 2007).

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a)(1)  See Item 8 for a list of the financial statements as filed as a part of this report.
       (2)  No financial statement schedules are applicable as the required information is included in the financial statements in Item 8.
       (3)  The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

Exhibit No. and Document

 

  3.1    Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s registration statement on Form SB-2 filed August 20, 1997 (Registration No. 333-34037))
  3.2    Bylaws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.)
  4.1    Indenture dated December 5, 2005 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2005.)
10.1    Key Officer Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 2000 between the Bank & R. Daniel Blanton (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.)*
10.2    First Amendment dated October 15, 2003 to Key Officer Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 2000 between the Bank and R. Daniel Blanton.*
10.3    Key Officer Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 2000 between the Bank & Ronald L. Thigpen (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.)*
10.4    First Amendment dated October 15, 2003 to Key Officer Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 2000 between the Bank and Ronald L. Thigpen.*
10.5    2006 Long-term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)*

 

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10.6    Form of incentive stock option agreement under the 2006 Long-term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)*
10.7    Form of non-qualified stock option agreement under the 2006 Long-term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)*
10.8    2000 Long Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement, filed on March 29, 2001)*
10.9    Form of option agreement under 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.)*
10.10    1997 Long-term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.)*
10.11    Form of stock appreciation rights agreement under 1997 Long-term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.)*
10.12    Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan dated October 1, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*
10.13    Salary continuation agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Company, the Bank and R. Daniel Blanton. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*
10.14    First Amendment dated October 15, 2003 to Salary Continuation Agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Company, the Bank and R. Daniel Blanton.*
10.15    Salary continuation agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Company, the Bank and Ronald L. Thigpen. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*
10.16    First amendment dated October 15, 2006 to Salary Continuation Agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Company, the Bank and Ronald L. Thigpen.*

 

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10.17    Salary continuation agreement dated October 15, 2003 between the Company, the Bank and R. Daniel Blanton. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*
10.18    Salary continuation agreement dated October 15, 2003 between the Company, the Bank and Ronald L. Thigpen. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*
10.19    Salary continuation agreement dated October 1, 2005 between the Bank and Darrell R. Rains.*
10.20    Change in Control Agreement dated January 3, 2006 between the Bank and Darrell R. Rains.*
11.1    Statement Re: Computation of Net Income Per Share
14.1    Code of Ethics (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003)
21.1    Subsidiaries of the Company
31.1    Certification by the Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
31.2    Certification by the Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)
32.1    Certification by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

 

* Denotes a management compensatory agreement or arrangement.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Robert W. Pollard, Jr.
 

Robert W. Pollard, Jr.

Chairman of the Board

March 14, 2007

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the date indicated.

March 14, 2007

 

SIGNATURE

  

TITLE

/s/ Robert W. Pollard, Jr.

Robert W. Pollard, Jr.

   Chairman of the Board and Director

/s/ Edward G. Meybohm

Edward G. Meybohm

   Vice Chairman of the Board and Director

/s/ R. Daniel Blanton

Daniel Blanton

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Ronald L. Thigpen

Ronald L. Thigpen

   Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

/s/ Darrell R. Rains

Darrell R. Rains

   Group Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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/s/ William J. Badger    Director
William J. Badger   
/s/ Warren A. Daniel    Director
Warren A. Daniel   
/s/ Randolph R. Smith, M.D.    Director
Randolph R. Smith, M.D.   
/s/ John W. Trulock, Jr.    Director
John W. Trulock, Jr.   

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

(a) Exhibits

 

          Page
  3.1    Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s registration statement on Form SB-2 filed August 20, 1997 (Registration No. 333-34037))   
  3.2    Bylaws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.)   
  4.1    Indenture dated December 5, 2005 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2005.)   
10.1    Key Officer Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 2000 between the Bank & R. Daniel Blanton (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.)*   
10.2    First Amendment dated October 15, 2003 to Key Officer Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 2000 between the Bank and R. Daniel Blanton.*    127
10.3    Key Officer Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 2000 between the Bank & Ronald L. Thigpen (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.)*   
10.4    First Amendment dated October 15, 2003 to Key Officer Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 2000 between the Bank and Ronald L. Thigpen.*    131
10.5    2006 Long-term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)*   
10.6    Form of incentive stock option agreement under the 2006 Long-term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)*   

 

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10.7    Form of non-qualified stock option agreement under the 2006 Long-term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)*   
10.8    2000 Long Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement, filed on March 29, 2001)*   
10.9    Form of option agreement under 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.)*   
10.10    1997 Long-term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.)*   
10.11    Form of stock appreciation rights agreement under 1997 Long-term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.)*   
10.12    Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan dated October 1, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*   
10.13    Salary continuation agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Company, the Bank and R. Daniel Blanton. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*   
10.14    First Amendment dated October 15, 2003 to Salary Continuation Agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Company, the Bank and R. Daniel Blanton.*    135
10.15    Salary continuation agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Company, the Bank and Ronald L. Thigpen. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*   
10.16    First Amendment dated October 15, 2003 to Salary Continuation Agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Company, the Bank and Ronald L. Thigpen.*    140

 

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10.17    Salary continuation agreement dated October 15, 2003 between the Company, the Bank and R. Daniel Blanton. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*   
10.18    Salary continuation agreement dated October 15, 2003 between the Company, the Bank and Ronald L. Thigpen. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.)*   
10.19    Salary continuation agreement dated October 1, 2005 between the Bank and Darrell R. Rains.*    145
10.20    Change in Control Agreement dated January 3, 2006 between the Bank and Darrell R. Rains.*    154
11.1    Statement Re: Computation of Net Income Per Share    162
14.1    Code of Ethics (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003)   
21.1    Subsidiaries of the Company    163
31.1    Certification by the Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)    164
31.2    Certification by the Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)    166
32.1    Certification by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer    168

 

* Denotes a management compensatory agreement or arrangement.

 

126

EX-10.2 2 dex102.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO KEY OFFICER COMPENSATION AGREEMENT FIRST AMENDMENT TO KEY OFFICER COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.2

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

KEY OFFICER COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMNT TO KEY OFFICER COMPENSATION AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) dated as of October 15, 2003, (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta, a Bank organized and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia (the “Bank”), and R. Daniel Blanton, an executive of the Bank (the “Executive”).

R E C I T A L S:

A. The Bank and the Executive are parties to that certain Executive Salary Continuation and Participation Agreement dated October 1, 2000 (the “Agreement”).

B. The Bank and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to make the changes set forth in this Amendment.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and in further consideration of the mutual agreements set forth herein, effective as of the Effective Date, the Bank and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings defined for them in the Agreement.

2. AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENT AS OF EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Agreement is amended as follows:

(A) Section 4.d. is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“d. Incentive Compensation – Change of Control. In the event of a change of control of the Bank as defined herein, Executive shall be entitled (in additional to the benefits set forth hereinabove) upon closing of the transaction effecting such change of control to a cash payment of an amount equivalent to two times the Executive’s average base salary plus cash bonuses paid during the last (3) years (minus such federal and state income tax withholding and social security taxes as may be applicable to the Bank under federal or state law) as a result of such financial transaction.

Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined in a written opinion by a firm of certified public accountants selected by the Bank (such determination to be made within

 

127


thirty (30) days of a request by the Executive following a change of control) or by the Internal Revenue Service that any payment or distribution by the Bank to or for the benefit of the Executive under this Agreement (a “Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“the Code”) (such excise tax, together with any interest and penalties accrued due to the Executive’s failure to pay or underpayment of such tax in reliance on the opinion of the Bank’s firm of certified public accountants, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”) , then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Employee retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. The Executive shall promptly notify the Bank in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Bank of the Gross-Up Payment. The Executive shall provide the Bank with a reasonable opportunity to contest such claim.

For the purpose of this section, “change in control” of the Bank shall mean:

 

  (i) any transaction, whether by merger, consolidation, asset sale, tender offer, reverse stock split or otherwise, which results in the acquisition of beneficial ownership, as such term is defined under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by a person or entity or any group of persons or entities acting in concert, of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of GBFC;

 

  (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank and/or GBFC; or

 

  (iii) approval by the shareholders of GBFC of a plan of liquidation of GBFC or the Bank.”

(B) Section 4.e. is deleted in its entirety. The Bank and the Executive acknowledge that the Executive is party to a separate Executive Salary Continuation Agreement dated October 1, 2000, that addresses the benefit described in Section 4.e.

(C) Section 4.f. is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“f. Other. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Group Medical and Life Insurance Plan, 401K Savings Plan and Cafeteria Plan, if and to the extent that such are provided to all Bank employees.”

3. AGREEMENT TO REMAIN IN EFFECT. Except as specifically modified by this Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

 

128


4. GOVERNING LAW, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, ETC. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

5. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Amendment shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

6. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

129


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and the Executive have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered, effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

  GEORGIA BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By:   /s/ E. G. Meybohm
Its:   Chairman of the Board

 

/s/ R. Daniel Blanton
R. Daniel Blanton

 

130

EX-10.4 3 dex104.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO KEY OFFICER COMPENSATION AGREEMENT FIRST AMENDMENT TO KEY OFFICER COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.4

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

KEY OFFICER COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMNT TO KEY OFFICER COMPENSATION AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) dated as of October 15, 2003 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta, a Bank organized and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia (the “Bank”), and Ronald L. Thigpen, an executive of the Bank (the “Executive”).

R E C I T A L S:

A. The Bank and the Executive are parties to that certain Executive Salary Continuation and Participation Agreement dated October 1, 2000 (the “Agreement”).

B. The Bank and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to make the changes set forth in this Amendment.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and in further consideration of the mutual agreements set forth herein, effective as of the Effective Date, the Bank and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings defined for them in the Agreement.

2. AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENT AS OF EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Agreement is amended as follows:

(A) Section 4.d. is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“d. Incentive Compensation – Change of Control. In the event of a change of control of the Bank as defined herein, Executive shall be entitled (in additional to the benefits set forth hereinabove) upon closing of the transaction effecting such change of control to a cash payment of an amount equivalent to two times the Executive’s average base salary plus cash bonuses paid during the last (3) years (minus such federal and state income tax withholding and social security taxes as may be applicable to the Bank under federal or state law) as a result of such financial transaction.

Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined in a written opinion by a firm of certified public accountants selected by the Bank (such determination to be made within thirty (30) days of a request by the Executive following a change of control)

 

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or by the Internal Revenue Service that any payment or distribution by the Bank to or for the benefit of the Executive under this Agreement (a “Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“the Code”) (such excise tax, together with any interest and penalties accrued due to the Executive’s failure to pay or underpayment of such tax in reliance on the opinion of the Bank’s firm of certified public accountants, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”) , then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Employee retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. The Executive shall promptly notify the Bank in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Bank of the Gross-Up Payment. The Executive shall provide the Bank with a reasonable opportunity to contest such claim.

For the purpose of this section, “change in control” of the Bank shall mean:

 

  (i) any transaction, whether by merger, consolidation, asset sale, tender offer, reverse stock split or otherwise, which results in the acquisition of beneficial ownership, as such term is defined under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by a person or entity or any group of persons or entities acting in concert, of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of GBFC;

 

  (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank and/or GBFC; or

 

  (iii) approval by the shareholders of GBFC of a plan of liquidation of GBFC or the Bank.”

(B) Section 4.e. is deleted in its entirety. The Bank and the Executive acknowledge that the Executive is party to a separate Executive Salary Continuation Agreement dated October 1, 2000, that addresses the benefit described in Section 4.e.

(C) Section 4.f. is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“f. Other. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Group Medical and Life Insurance Plan, 401K Savings Plan and Cafeteria Plan, if and to the extent that such are provided to all Bank employees.”

 

132


3. AGREEMENT TO REMAIN IN EFFECT. Except as specifically modified by this Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

4. GOVERNING LAW, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, ETC. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

5. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Amendment shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

6. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

133


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and the Executive have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered, effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

GEORGIA BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By:   /s/ E. G. Meybohm
Its:   Chairman of the Board

 

/s/ Ronald L. Thigpen
Ronald L. Thigpen

 

134

EX-10.14 4 dex1014.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE SALARY FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE SALARY

EXHIBIT 10.14

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) dated as of October 15, 2003 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta, a Bank organized and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia (the “Bank”), and R. Daniel Blanton, an executive of the Bank (the “Executive”).

R E C I T A L S:

A. The Bank and the Executive are parties to that certain Executive Salary Continuation and Participation Agreement dated October 1, 2000 (the “Agreement”).

B. The Bank and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to make the changes set forth in this Amendment.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and in further consideration of the mutual agreements set forth herein, effective as of the Effective Date, the Bank and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings defined for them in the Agreement.

2. AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENT AS OF EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Agreement is amended as follows:

(A) Section 3.3 is amended by adding the words “or if the Executive should become disabled in accordance with Section 3.5” immediately following the word “retire” in the first line thereof.

(B) Section 3.4 is amended by adding the following sentence to the end thereof: “This death benefit shall be paid in lieu of any annual benefit that would otherwise be payable hereunder.”

(C) Section 3.5 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“3.5 Disability Prior to Retirement – In the event the Executive should become disabled while actively employed by the Bank, at any time after the date of this Agreement but prior to him attaining the age of sixty-five (65) years, the Executive will be considered to be fully vested in the annual benefit amount set forth in Schedule A

 

135


corresponding with the year in which the Disability commenced, payable monthly for 240 months. If Executive should die prior to age 65 after the commencement of a Disability, the Bank will pay to the Executive’s designated Beneficiary the lump sum death benefit set forth on Schedule B corresponding with the year in which the Executive dies. Such lump sum death benefit shall be in lieu of the payout of Executive’s remaining annual benefit pursuant to this Section 3.5 and Section 3.3.”

(D) Section 4.1.4 shall be amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“4.1.4 Anything hereinabove to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive is not fully vested in the amount set forth in Schedule A, he or she shall become fully vested in the benefit payment previously described in Section 3.2 in the event of a transfer in the controlling ownership or sale of the Bank or its parent (a “change of control”). This benefit shall remain an obligation of the Bank and its successors regardless of a change of control or continued employment of the Executive after the change of control. From and after the occurrence of a change of control, the Bank shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement promptly from time to time, at the Executive’s request, as such fees and expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Executive shall be required to reimburse the Bank for any such fees and expenses if a court or any other adjudicator agreed to by the parties determines that the Executive’s claim is without substantial merit. The Executive shall not be required to pay any legal fees or expenses incurred by the Bank in connection with any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any breach thereof.”

(E) A new Section 4.3 shall be added that reads as follows:

“4.3 Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding (but subject to the following proviso), if the Executive, directly or indirectly, at any time after the execution of this Agreement, owns, manages, operates, joins, controls or participates in or is employed by or gives consultation or advice to or extends credit to (other than through insured deposits) or otherwise is connected in any manner, directly or indirectly with, any bank, financial institution, firm, person, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, company or other entity (other than the Bank or entities controlled or under common control with the Bank) that provides financial services, including, without limitation, retail or commercial lending services, and has an office within 50 miles of any banking location of the Bank or any of its affiliates, then the Bank shall have the option, in its sole and absolute discretion, to terminate the Executive’s right to receive any benefits under this Agreement (and, to the extent Executive may already have begun receiving benefits hereunder, terminate Executive’s right to receive any further benefits hereunder); provided, however, that (i) this Section 4.3 shall be of no further force and effect after a change of control occurs, (ii) this Section 4.3 shall not apply if Executive’s employment with Bank is terminated by the Bank other than for reasonable cause prior to age 65 of the Executive and (iii) nothing in this Section 4.3 shall prohibit the Executive from owning less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of any company whose common stock is publicly traded.”

(E) Schedule A is amended in its entirety to read a set forth on Exhibit 1 to this Amendment.

 

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3. AGREEMENT TO REMAIN IN EFFECT. Except as specifically modified by this Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

4. GOVERNING LAW, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, ETC. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

5. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Amendment shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

6. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

137


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and the Executive have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered, effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

  GEORGIA BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By:   /s/ E. G. Meybohm
Its:   Chairman of the Board

 

/s/ R. Daniel Blanton
R. Daniel Blanton

 

138


Exhibit 1

SCHEDULE A

 

Plan Year

  

Vested Annual
Benefit,

Payable Monthly
for 240 Months

1

   $ 12,000

2

   $ 24,000

3

   $ 36,000

4

   $ 48,000

5

   $ 60,000

6

   $ 72,000

7

   $ 84,000

8

   $ 96,000

9

   $ 108,000

10

   $ 120,000

 

139

EX-10.16 5 dex1016.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.16

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) dated as of October 15, 2003 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta, a Bank organized and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia (the “Bank”), and Ronald L. Thigpen, an executive of the Bank (the “Executive”).

R E C I T A L S:

A. The Bank and the Executive are parties to that certain Executive Salary Continuation and Participation Agreement dated October 1, 2000 (the “Agreement”).

B. The Bank and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to make the changes set forth in this Amendment.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and in further consideration of the mutual agreements set forth herein, effective as of the Effective Date, the Bank and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings defined for them in the Agreement.

2. AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENT AS OF EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Agreement is amended as follows:

(A) Section 3.3 is amended by adding the words “or if the Executive should become disabled in accordance with Section 3.5” immediately following the word “retire” in the first line thereof.

(B) Section 3.4 is amended by adding the following sentence to the end thereof: “This death benefit shall be paid in lieu of any annual benefit that would otherwise be payable hereunder.”

(C) Section 3.5 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“3.5 Disability Prior to Retirement – In the event the Executive should become disabled while actively employed by the Bank, at any time after the date of this Agreement but prior to him attaining the age of sixty-five (65) years, the Executive will

 

140


be considered to be fully vested in the annual benefit amount set forth in Schedule A corresponding with the year in which the Disability commenced, payable monthly for 240 months. If Executive should die prior to age 65 after the commencement of a Disability, the Bank will pay to the Executive’s designated Beneficiary the lump sum death benefit set forth on Schedule B corresponding with the year in which the Executive dies. Such lump sum death benefit shall be in lieu of the payout of Executive’s remaining annual benefit pursuant to this Section 3.5 and Section 3.3.”

(D) Section 4.1.4 shall be amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“ 4.1.4 Anything hereinabove to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive is not fully vested in the amount set forth in Schedule A, he or she shall become fully vested in the benefit payment previously described in Section 3.2 in the event of a transfer in the controlling ownership or sale of the Bank or its parent (a “change of control”). This benefit shall remain an obligation of the Bank and its successors regardless of a change of control or continued employment of the Executive after the change of control. From and after the occurrence of a change of control, the Bank shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement promptly from time to time, at the Executive’s request, as such fees and expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Executive shall be required to reimburse the Bank for any such fees and expenses if a court or any other adjudicator agreed to by the parties determines that the Executive’s claim is without substantial merit. The Executive shall not be required to pay any legal fees or expenses incurred by the Bank in connection with any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any breach thereof.”

(E) A new Section 4.3 shall be added that reads as follows:

“4.3 Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding (but subject to the following proviso), if the Executive, directly or indirectly, at any time after the execution of this Agreement, owns, manages, operates, joins, controls or participates in or is employed by or gives consultation or advice to or extends credit to (other than through insured deposits) or otherwise is connected in any manner, directly or indirectly with, any bank, financial institution, firm, person, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, company or other entity (other than the Bank or entities controlled or under common control with the Bank) that provides financial services, including, without limitation, retail or commercial lending services, and has an office within 50 miles of any banking location of the Bank or any of its affiliates, then the Bank shall have the option, in its sole and absolute discretion, to terminate the Executive’s right to receive any benefits under this Agreement (and, to the extent Executive may already have begun receiving benefits hereunder, terminate Executive’s right to receive any further benefits hereunder); provided, however, that (i) this Section 4.3 shall be of no further force and effect after a change of control occurs, (ii) this Section 4.3 shall not apply if Executive’s employment with Bank is terminated by the Bank other than for reasonable cause prior to age 65 of the Executive and (iii) nothing in this Section 4.3 shall prohibit the Executive from owning less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of any company whose common stock is publicly traded.”

 

141


(F) Schedule A is amended in its entirety to read a set forth on Exhibit 1 to this Amendment.

3. AGREEMENT TO REMAIN IN EFFECT. Except as specifically modified by this Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

4. GOVERNING LAW, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, ETC. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

5. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Amendment shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

6. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

142


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and the Executive have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered, effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

  GEORGIA BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By:   /s/ R. Daniel Blanton
Its:   President and CEO

 

/s/ Ronald L. Thigpen
Ronald L. Thigpen

 

143


Exhibit 1

SCHEDULE A

 

Plan Year

  

Vested Annual
Benefit,

Payable Monthly
for 240 Months

  1

   $ 12,000

  2

   $ 24,000

  3

   $ 36,000

  4

   $ 48,000

  5

   $ 60,000

  6

   $ 72,000

  7

   $ 84,000

  8

   $ 96,000

  9

   $ 108,000

10

   $ 120,000

 

144

EX-10.19 6 dex1019.htm EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.19

 

STATE OF GEORGIA   )   
  )   
COUNTY OF RICHMOND   )   

EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 1st day of October, 2005 (hereinafter called the “Agreement” or “Participation Agreement” in this document) by and between Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia (hereinafter called the “Bank”), and Darrell R. Rains (hereinafter called the “Executive”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Executive is in the employ of the Bank serving as an executive officer, and

WHEREAS, the experience of the Executive, his knowledge of the affairs of the Bank, his reputation and contacts in the industry are so valuable that assurance of his continued services is essential for the future growth and profits of the Bank it is in the best interests of the Bank to arrange terms of continued employment for the Executive so as to reasonably assure him remaining in the Bank’s employment during his lifetime or until the age of retirement; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Bank that the services of the Executive be retained as herein provided; and

WHEREAS, the Bank has established a Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan (hereinafter called the “Plan”) as of the first day of October, 2000;

WHEREAS, the Executive accepts the Bank’s invitation to participate in the Plan and hereby acknowledges having read the Plan, understood its terms, understood that benefits will paid pursuant to the Plan only under certain circumstances described therein, understood that the Executive is a general creditor of the Bank, or its successors and assigns, and that the Executive has no interest in specific assets owned by the Bank;

WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to continue in the employ of the Bank provided the Bank agrees to pay him or his beneficiaries certain benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions hereafter set forth;

 

145


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the services to be performed in the future, as well as the mutual promise and covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1.

Definitions

 

1.1. Beneficiary – The term Beneficiary shall mean the person or persons whom the Executive shall designate in writing to receive the benefits provided hereunder and as further designated on the Executive’s Beneficiary Designation shown as Schedule B hereto.

 

1.2. Disability – For the purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall be deemed to have a Disability if Executive (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering the Bank’s employees. The determination of whether Executive has a “Disability” under clause (i) above shall be made by a licensed physician selected by the Bank’s Board of Directors.

 

1.3. Named Fiduciary and Plan Administrator – Subject to the direction of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank, the Secretary of the Bank is hereby designated as the Named Fiduciary and the Chief Operating Officer as the Plan Administrator of this Plan.

ARTICLE 2.

Terms of Employment

 

2.1. Employment – The Bank agrees to employ the Executive in such capacity as the Bank may from time to time determine. The Executive will continue in the employ of the Bank in such capacity and with such duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to him, and with such compensation as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Bank.

 

2.2. Full Efforts – The Executive agrees to devote his full time and attention exclusively to the business and affairs of the Bank, except during vacation periods, and to use his best efforts to furnish faithful and satisfactory services to the Bank.

 

2.3. Fringe Benefits – The salary continuation benefits provided by this Agreement are granted by the Bank as a fringe benefit to the Executive and are not part of any salary reduction plan or any arrangement deferring a bonus or a salary increase. The Executive has no option to take any current payment or bonus in lieu of these salary continuation benefits.

 

146


ARTICLE 3.

Benefits

 

3.1. Retirement – If the Executive shall continue in the employment of the Bank until he attains the age of sixty-five (65), he may retire from active daily employment as of the first day of the month next following attainment of sixty-five (65) or upon such later date as may be mutually agreed upon by the Executive and the Bank. After the Executive has been employed by the Bank for a period of at least fifteen (15) years from the date of this Agreement, the Executive may take Early Retirement (as defined in the Plan).

 

3.2.

Payment – The Bank agrees that upon regular or early retirement it will pay to the Executive the annual sum of thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000), payable monthly on the first day of each month beginning with the seventh (7th) month following such retirement for a period of two hundred forty (240) months; subject to the conditions and limitations hereinafter set forth.

 

3.3. Payment After Death – The Bank agrees that if the Executive shall die before receiving the full amount of monthly payments to which he is entitled hereunder (if any), it will continue to make such monthly payments to the Executive’s designated Beneficiary for the remaining period. The Executive shall execute a Beneficiary Designation as shown on the attached Schedule B, but if a valid Beneficiary Designation is not in effect, the payment shall be made to the Executive’s surviving spouse or, if none, said payments shall be made to the duly qualified personal representative, executor or administrator of his estate.

 

3.4. [Intentionally Omitted]

 

3.5. Death or Disability Prior to Full Vesting – In the event the Executive should die or become Disabled while actively employed by the Bank, at any time after the date of this Agreement but prior to him having been employed by the Bank for a period of at least fifteen (15) years from the date of this Agreement, the Executive will be considered to be vested in the annual benefit amount set forth in Schedule A corresponding with the year in which the death occurred or the Disability commenced, payable monthly for 240 months to Executive (in the case of Disability) or to the Executive’s beneficiary or estate as contemplated by Section 3.3 above (in the case of death) beginning with the month following death or Disability, as applicable.

ARTICLE 4.

Termination

 

4.1. Termination of Employment – The Bank reserves the right to terminate the employment of the Executive at any time prior to retirement. In the event that the employment of the Executive shall terminate prior to him attaining age sixty-five (65), other than by reason of his Disability or his death, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits under the following circumstances:

 

147


  4.1.1.  If the Executive is terminated with reasonable cause (as defined below), Executive shall receive no benefit under this Agreement and shall lose any right to any benefit vested at the time of termination.

 

  4.1.2.  If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment with the Bank prior to having been employed by the Bank for a period of at least fifteen (15) years from the date of this Agreement, Executive shall receive no benefit under this Agreement and shall lose any right to any benefit vested at the time of termination. If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment with the Bank prior to retirement after Executive has been employed by the Bank for a period of at least fifteen (15) years from the date of this Agreement, the Executive will be paid the full annual benefit over the time period and subject to the conditions applicable to Section 3.2.

 

 

4.1.3. 

Anything hereinabove to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Bank terminates the Executive’s employment involuntarily for any reason other than “reasonable cause” prior to Executive having been employed by the Bank for a period of at least fifteen (15) years from the date of this Agreement, or if the Bank undertakes any action or course of action designed to induce the Executive to terminate his employment (e.g., reducing the Executive’s title or responsibilities, reducing the Executive’s compensation disproportionately as compared to reductions for other Bank executives) prior to such time, the Bank shall pay to the Executive a reduced benefit payment based upon the vesting schedule attached here to as Schedule A. The benefits shall be paid commencing on the Executive’s 65th birthday. “Reasonable cause” means the Executive’s gross negligence, fraud or conviction for any willful violation of any law or significant regulatory policy, committed in connection with the Executive’s employment and resulting in a material adverse effect on the Bank. “Reasonable cause” shall not include ordinary negligence or failure to act, whether due to an error in judgment or otherwise, if the Executive has exercised substantial efforts in good faith to perform the duties reasonably assigned or appropriate to the position.

 

  4.1.4. 

Anything hereinabove to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive is not fully vested in the amount set forth in Schedule A, he or she shall become fully vested in the benefit payment previously described in Section 3.2 in the event of a transfer in the controlling ownership or sale of the Bank or its parent (a “change of control”). This benefit shall remain an obligation of the Bank and

 

148


 

its successors regardless of a change of control or continued employment of the Executive after the change of control. The benefit shall be paid in accordance with Section 3.2, commencing in the seventh (7th) months following the termination of Executive’s employment. From and after the occurrence of a change of control, the Bank shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement promptly from time to time, at the Executive’s request, as such fees and expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Executive shall be required to reimburse the Bank for any such fees and expenses if a court or any other adjudicator agreed to by the parties determines that the Executive’s claim is without substantial merit. The Executive shall not be required to pay any legal fees or expenses incurred by the Bank in connection with any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any breach thereof.

 

4.2. Termination of Agreement by Reason of Changes in Law – The Bank is entering into this Agreement upon the assumption that certain existing tax laws will continue in effect in substantially their current form. In the event of any changes in such federal laws, the Bank shall have an option to terminate or modify this Agreement; provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to at least the same amounts as he would have been entitled to under Article 3 hereof. The payment of said amount shall be made upon such terms and conditions and, at such time as the Bank shall determine appropriate to obtain favorable tax treatment, but in no event commencing later than age sixty-five (65).

 

4.3.

Competition with Bank – Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding (but subject to the following proviso), if the Executive, directly or indirectly, at any time after the execution of this Agreement, owns, manages, operates, joins, controls or participates in or is employed by or gives consultation or advice to or extends credit to (other than through insured deposits) or otherwise is connected in any manner, directly or indirectly with, any bank, financial institution, firm, person, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, company or other entity (other than the Bank or entities controlled or under common control with the Bank) that provides financial services, including, without limitation, retail or commercial lending services, and has an office within 50 miles of any banking location of the Bank or any of its affiliates, then the Bank shall have the option, in its sole and absolute discretion, to terminate the Executive’s right to receive any benefits under this Agreement (and, to the extent Executive may already have begun receiving benefits hereunder, terminate Executive’s right to receive any further benefits hereunder); provided, however, that (i) this Section 4.3 shall be of no further force and effect after a change of control occurs, (ii) this Section 4.3 shall not apply if Executive’s employment with Bank is terminated by the Bank

 

149


 

other than for reasonable cause prior to age 65 of the Executive and (iii) nothing in this Section 4.3 shall prohibit the Executive from owning less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of any company whose common stock is publicly traded.

ARTICLE 5.

Miscellaneous

 

5.1. Nonassignability – Neither the Executive, his spouse, nor any other beneficiary under this Agreement shall have any power or right to transfer, assign, anticipate, hypothecate, mortgage, commute, modify, or otherwise encumber in advance any of the benefits payable hereunder, nor shall any of said benefits be subject to seizure for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance, owned by the Executive or his beneficiary or any of them, or be transferable by operation of law in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise.

 

5.2. Claims Procedure – The Bank shall make all determinations as to rights to benefits under this Agreement. Any decision by the Bank denying a claim by the Executive or his beneficiary for benefits under this Agreement shall be stated in writing and delivered or mailed to the Executive or such beneficiary. Such decision shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial, written to the best of the Corporation’s ability in a manner calculated to be understood without legal or actuarial counsel. In addition, the Bank shall provide a reasonable opportunity to the Executive or such beneficiary for full and fair review of the decision denying such claim.

 

5.3. Unsecured General Creditor – The Executive and his beneficiary shall have no legal right or equitable rights, interests, or claims in or to any property or assets of the Bank. No assets of the Bank shall be held under any trust for the benefit of the Executive or his beneficiaries or held in any way as security for the fulfilling of the obligations of the Bank under this plan. All of the Bank’s assets shall be and remain the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Bank. The Bank’s obligation under this plan shall be that of an unfunded and unsecured promise by the Bank to pay money in the future. Executives and their beneficiaries shall be unsecured general creditors with respect to any benefits hereunder.

 

5.4. Reorganization – The Bank shall not merge or consolidate into or with another Bank, or reorganize, or sell substantially all of its assets to another Bank, firm, or person unless and until such succeeding or continuing Bank, firm, or person agrees to assume and discharge the obligations of the Bank under this Agreement. Upon the occurrence of such event, the term “Bank” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to refer to such successor or survivor Bank.

 

150


5.5. Binding Effect – This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefits of the Executive and his personal representatives, and the Bank and any successor organization, which shall succeed to substantially all of its assets and business.

 

5.6. Not a Contract of Employment – This agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of employment between the parties hereto, nor shall any provision hereof restrict the right of the Bank to discharge the Executive, or restrict the right of the Executive to terminate his employment.

ARTICLE 6.

Participation in Plan

 

6.1 Acceptance of Invitation to Participate in the Plan - The Executive hereby agrees to accept the invitation of the Bank to participate in the Plan, subject to its terms and conditions as set forth therein.

 

6.2 In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, this Agreement shall control.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its proper officer and the Executive has hereunto set his hand at Augusta, Georgia, the day and year first above written.

 

Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta
By:   /s/ R. Daniel Blanton
Print Name: R. Daniel Blanton
Title: President & CEO

 

EMPLOYEE:
/s/ Darrell R. Rains
Darrell R. Rains

 

151


SCHEDULE A

 

Year

   Limited
Benefit

October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006

   $ 0

October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007

   $ 2,400

October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008

   $ 4,800

October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009

   $ 7,200

October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010

   $ 9,600

October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011

   $ 12,000

October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012

   $ 14,400

October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013

   $ 16,800

October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014

   $ 19,200

October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015

   $ 21,600

October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016

   $ 24,000

October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017

   $ 26,400

October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018

   $ 28,800

October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019

   $ 31,200

October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020

   $ 33,600

October 1, 2020 and thereafter

   $ 36,000

 

152


SCHEDULE B

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

FOR

EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AND

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

To the Plan Administrator of the Georgia Bank & Trust Company Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan for the benefit of Darrell R. Rains:

Pursuant to the Provisions of my Executive Salary Continuation and Participation Agreement with Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta dated October 1, 2005 permitting the designation of a beneficiary or beneficiaries by a participant, I hereby designate the following persons and entities as primary and secondary beneficiaries of any benefit under said Agreement payable by reason of my death:

Primary Beneficiary:

 

Name

   Social Security Number    Relationship
     
     

Secondary (Contingent) Beneficiary:

 

Name

   Social Security Number    Relationship
     
     

THE RIGHT TO REVOKE OR CHANGE ANY BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION IS HEREBY RESERVED. ALL PRIOR DESIGNATIONS, IF ANY, OF BENEFICIARIES AND SECONDARY BENEFICIARIES ARE HEREBY REVOKED.

The Plan Administrator shall pay all sums payable under the Agreement by reason of my death to the Primary Beneficiary, if he or she survives me, and if no Primary Beneficiary shall survive me, then to the Secondary Beneficiary, and if no named beneficiary survives me, then the Plan Administrator shall pay all amounts in accordance with the terms of the Executive Salary Continuation and Participation Agreement dated October 1, 2005. In the event that a named beneficiary survives me and dies prior to receiving the entire benefit payable under said Agreement, then and in that event, the remaining unpaid benefit, payable according to the terms of the Agreement, shall be payable to the personal representatives of the estate of said deceased beneficiary, who survive me, but die prior to receiving the total benefit.

 

           
Date of Designation     Signature of Executive

 

153

EX-10.20 7 dex1020.htm CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.20

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of January 3, 2006 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Darrell R. Rains (the “Employee”) and Georgia Bank & Trust Company, a Georgia corporation (the “Bank”).

WHEREAS, the Employee is currently employed by the Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation (the “Company”); and

WHEREAS, the Bank desires to induce the Employee to continue in the employ of the Bank by offering this agreement providing severance benefits to the Employee upon a Change in Control (as defined below) of the Company or the Bank.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows:

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms and conditions shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1:

(a) “Area” means the geographic area within the boundaries of Richmond and Columbia Counties, Georgia. It is the express intent of the parties that the Area as defined herein is the area where the Employee performs services on behalf of the Bank as of the Effective Date.

(b) “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or the Bank, as the context implies.

(c) “Business of the Company” means the business conducted by the Company and the Bank which is the business of banking, including the solicitation of time and demand deposits and the making of residential, consumer, commercial and corporate loans.

(d) “Cause” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) conduct by the Employee that is demonstrably likely to lead to material financial harm to the Company or the Bank; (ii) conduct by the Employee of a fraudulent nature against the Company or the Bank that resulted or was intended to result in direct or indirect gain to or personal enrichment of the Employee; (iii) conduct resulting in the conviction of the Employee of a felony; and (iv) conduct by the Employee that results in the permanent removal of the Employee from his position as an officer or an employee of the Company or the Bank pursuant to written order by any regulatory agency with authority and jurisdiction over the Company or the Bank, as the case may be.

(e) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events on or after the Effective Date:

 

154


(i) within any twelve-month period (beginning on or after the Effective Date) the persons who constitute the Board of Directors of the Company or the Bank immediately before such twelve-month period (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board of Directors; provided, however, that any person becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if that director was elected to such Board of Directors by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors; and provided further that no director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of directors shall be deemed an Incumbent Director;

(ii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or the Bank, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of the Company or the Bank, as the case may be, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated entity’s then outstanding voting securities; or

(iii) the sale, transfer or assignment of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Bank to any third party.

(f) “Confidential Information” means data and information relating to the Business of the Company (which does not rise to the status of a Trade Secret) which is or has been disclosed to the Employee or of which the Employee became aware as a consequence of or through its relationship to the Company and the Bank and which has value to the Company and the Bank and is not generally known to its competitors. Without limiting the foregoing, Confidential Information shall include the following:

(i) all items of information that could be classified as a trade secret pursuant to Georgia law;

(ii) the names, addresses and banking requirements of the customers of the Company and the Bank and the nature and amount of business done with such customers;

(iii) the names and addresses of employees and other business contacts of the Company and the Bank;

(iv) the particular names, methods and procedures utilized by the Company and the Bank in the conduct and advertising of their business;

(v) the applications, operating system, communication and other computer software and derivatives thereof, including, without limitation, sources and object codes, flow charts, coding sheets, routines, subrouting and related documentation and manuals of the Company and the Bank; and

 

155


(vi) marketing techniques, purchasing information, pricing policies, loan policies, quoting procedures, financial information, customer data and other materials or information relating to the Company’s and the Bank’s manner of doing business.

Confidential Information shall not include any data or information that has been voluntarily disclosed to the public by the Company or the Bank (except where such public disclosure has been made by the Employee without authorization) or that has been independently developed and disclosed by others, or that otherwise enters the public domain through lawful means.

(g) “Good Reason” means, with respect to a voluntary resignation by the Employee, any one of the following events, but only if such event first arose within forty-five (45) days of such resignation, the Employee provided the Employer with written notice of the event within fifteen (15) days after the event occurred and an opportunity to cure for at least ten (10) business days from its receipt of the notice and the circumstances continued, uncured, through the effective date of the Employee’s resignation:

(i) a material diminution in the Employee’s position, authority or duties effected by the Employer;

(ii) a material reduction in the Employee’s base salary rate or annual bonus opportunity effected by the Employer; or

(iii) a requirement by the Employer that the Employee’s services be rendered primarily at a location more than fifty (50) miles from August, Georgia.

(h) “Trade Secrets” means information, without regard to form, including, but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, formulas, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, drawings, processes, financial data, financial plans, product plans or lists of actual or potential customers or suppliers which (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

2. Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall become effective as of the Effective Date and shall remain in effect until the earliest of (a) the Employee’s termination of employment with the Bank prior to a Change in Control; (b) the twenty-fourth-month anniversary of the effective date of a Change in Control if there has been no Qualifying Termination of Employment (as defined in Section 3); (c) a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 18; or (d) until all amounts that may be payable to the Employee pursuant to Section 3 below have been paid.

 

156


3. Severance Benefits Upon Termination of Employment. If, while this Agreement is in effect, the Employee (a) is involuntarily terminated by the Bank without Cause within twenty (24) months following a Change in Control; or (b) resigns his employment with the Bank for Good Reason within twenty-four (24) months following such Change in Control (each, a “Qualifying Termination of Employment”), the Bank shall pay to the Employee in a lump sum an amount equal to two (2) times the sum of (i) the Employee’s annual base salary in effect at the time of termination of employment and (ii) the largest annual bonus amount paid to the Employee within the three calendar years preceding the calendar year in which occurs the Change in Control (the “Lump Sum Payment. The Lump Sum Payment is sometimes referred to in this Agreement as the “Severance Benefits.” In no event shall the payment described in this Section 3 exceed the amount permitted by Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”). Therefore, if the aggregate present value (determined as of the date of the Change in Control in accordance with the provisions of Section 280G of the Code) of both the Severance Benefits and all other payments to the Employee in the nature of compensation which are contingent on a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or the Bank or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company or the Bank (the “Aggregate Severance”) would result in a “parachute payment,” as defined under Section 280G of the Code, then the Aggregate Severance shall not be greater than an amount equal to 2.99 multiplied by Employee’s “base amount” for the “base period,” as those terms are defined under Section 280G. In the event the Aggregate Severance is required to be reduced pursuant to this Section 3, the Employee shall be entitled to determine which portions of the Aggregate Severance are to be reduced so that the Aggregate Severance satisfies the limit set forth in the preceding sentence.

The Lump Sum Payment shall be paid to the Employee as soon as practicable following the effective date of the Qualifying Termination of Employment. The Bank shall be entitled to withhold appropriate employment and income taxes, if required by applicable law, from any Severance Benefits that become payable.

4. Confidentiality.

(a) All Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and all physical embodiments thereof received or developed by the Employee while employed by the Bank are confidential to and are and will remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company and the Bank. Except to the extent necessary to perform the duties assigned to him by the Bank, the Employee will hold such Confidential Information and Trade Secrets in trust and strictest confidence, and will not use, reproduce, distribute, disclose or otherwise disseminate the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets or any physical embodiments thereof and may in no event take any action causing or fail to take the action necessary to prevent, any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets disclosed to or developed by the Employee to lose its character or cease to qualify as Confidential Information or Trade Secrets.

 

157


(b) The covenants of confidentiality set forth herein will apply during the term of the Employee’s employment to any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets disclosed by the Bank or developed by the Employee prior to or after the date hereof. The covenants restricting the use of Confidential Information will continue and be maintained by the Employee for a period of twelve (12) months following termination of this Agreement. The covenants restricting the use of Trade Secrets will continue and be maintained by the Employee following termination of this Agreement for so long as permitted by the then-current Georgia Trade Secrets Act of 1990, O.C.G.A. § 10-1-760, et. seq.

5. Noncompetition. The Employee agrees that, for twelve (12) months following the Employee’s termination of employment, regardless of the reason, the Employee will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of the Bank), within the Area, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, as an employee or in any other capacity which involves duties and responsibilities similar to those undertaken for the Bank, engage in any business which is the same as or essentially the same as the Business of the Company.

6. Nonsolicitation. The Employee agrees that, for twelve (12) months following the Employee’s termination of employment, regardless of the reason:

(a) the Employee will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of the Bank), on the Employee’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, divert or appropriate or attempt to solicit, divert or appropriate, directly or by assisting others, any business from any of the customers of the Bank, including actively sought prospective customers, with whom the Employee has or had material contact during the last two (2) years of the Employee’s employment, for purposes of providing products or services that are competitive with those provided by the Company and the Bank; and

(b) the Employee will not on the Employee’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, recruit or hire away or attempt to solicit, recruit or hire away, directly or by assisting others, any employee of the Bank with whom the Employee has or had material contact during the last two (2) years of the Employee’s employment, whether or not such employee is a full-time employee or a temporary employee of the Bank and whether or not such employment is pursuant to a written agreement and whether or not such employment is for a determined period or is at will.

7. Remedies. The Employee agrees that, in addition to all remedies provided by law or in equity, the Bank shall be entitled to specific performance of this Agreement and to both temporary and permanent injunctions to prevent a breach or contemplated breach by the Employee of the covenants in Sections 4, 5 and 6 hereof. If the Employee breaches his obligations pursuant to Sections 4, 5 or 6 hereof, the Employee will forfeit any amounts owed to the Employee under Section 3 hereof which have not been paid to the Employee.

8. No Mitigation. No amounts or benefits payable to the Employee hereunder shall be subject to mitigation or reduction by income or benefits the Employee receives from other sources.

 

158


9. Continued Employment. Nothing herein shall entitle Employee to continued employment with the Bank or to continued tenure in any specific office or position. The Employee’s employment with the Bank shall be terminable at the will of the Bank, with or without Cause, subject to the terms of any other written agreement as may be in effect between the parties.

10. Assignment. The rights and obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Bank’s successors and assigns. This Agreement may be assigned by the Bank to any legal successor of the Bank or to an entity which purchases all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank. In the event the Bank assigns this Agreement as permitted by this Agreement and the Employee remains employed by the assignee, the “Bank” as defined herein will refer to the assignee and the Employee will not be deemed to have terminated employment hereunder until the Employee terminates employment from the assignee.

11. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be adjudicated through binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Bank and the Employee agree that they will seek to enforce any arbitration award in the Superior Court of Richmond County, Georgia. The decision of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding upon the parties and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitration panel may be entered by any court having jurisdiction. The Bank and the Employee agree to share equally the fees and expenses associated with the arbitration proceedings, except as otherwise provided by Section 12 below. [Employee must initial here: DRR]

12. Attorneys’ Fees. With respect to arbitration of disputes and if litigation ensues between the parties concerning the enforcement of an arbitration award and the Employee prevails in the dispute, the Bank will pay and be financially responsible for all costs, expenses, reasonable attorneys’ fees and reasonable expenses incurred by the Employee (or the Employee’s estate in the event of his death) in connection with the dispute.

13. Notice. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given to a party when (a) delivered to the appropriate address by hand or by nationally recognized overnight courier service (costs prepaid); (b) sent by facsimile with confirmation of transmission by the transmitting equipment; or (c) received or rejected by the addressee, if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, in each case to the following addresses or facsimile numbers and marked to the attention of the person (by name or title) designated below (or to such other address, facsimile number or person as a party may designate by written notice to the other parties):

 

If to the Bank, to the Bank at:    Mr. Ronald L. Thigpen, EVP
   Georgia Bank & Trust Company
  

3530 Wheeler Road

Augusta, Georgia. 30909

  

 

159


If to the Employee, to the Employee at:    Mr. Darrell R. Rains   
   3515 Wheeler Road   
   Augusta, Georgia 30909   

14. Headings. Sections or other headings contained herein are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

16. Severability. In the event that one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

17. Applicable Law and Choice of Forum. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia. The parties agree that any appropriate state or federal court located in Richmond County, Georgia shall have exclusive jurisdiction of any case or controversy arising under or in connection with Sections 4 through 7 of this Agreement shall be a proper forum in which to adjudicate such case or controversy. The parties consent and waive any objection to the jurisdiction or venue of such courts.

18. Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, supplemented or terminated except by a written agreement between the Bank and the Employee.

19. Survival. The provisions of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 17 and 20 above shall survive, as necessary, the expiration of the Term or any other termination of this Agreement.

20. Confidentiality and Professionalism. Employee represents and agrees that Employee will keep the terms, amount, value, and nature of consideration paid to Employee, and the fact of this Agreement completely confidential, and that Employee will not hereafter disclose any information concerning this Agreement to anyone other than Employee’s immediate family and professional representatives who will be informed of and bound by this confidentiality clause.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

160


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

THE BANK:

Georgia Bank & Trust Company

 

By:   /s/ R. Daniel Blanton
Print Name: R. Daniel Blanton
Title: President & CEO

 

EMPLOYEE:
/s/ Darrell R. Rains
Darrell R. Rains

 

161

EX-11.1 8 dex111.htm COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE

EXHIBIT 11.1

COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE

SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

     Year ended December 31,
     2006    2005    2004

Net income

   $ 11,159,672    $ 9,954,209    $ 8,704,276

Basic and diluted net income per share:

        

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     5,324,558      5,257,904      5,247,901

Basic net income per share

   $ 2.10    $ 1.89    $ 1.66

Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares Outstanding

     5,371,656      5,350,384      5,323,924

Diluted net income per share

   $ 2.08    $ 1.86    $ 1.63

 

162

EX-21.1 9 dex211.htm SUBSIDIARIES SUBSIDIARIES

EXHIBIT 21.1

Subsidiaries of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation

 

Name

   Jurisdiction of Incorporation

Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta

   Georgia

Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I

   Connecticut

Southeastern Bank Financial Trust II

   Delaware

Southern Bank & Trust

   South Carolina

 

163

EX-31.1 10 dex311.htm CEO SECTION 302 CEO SECTION 302

Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to

Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, R. Daniel Blanton, Chief Executive Officer of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual 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 annual 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 annual 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 such disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual 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

164


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: March 14, 2007
/s/ R. Daniel Blanton
R. Daniel Blanton
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

165

EX-31.2 11 dex312.htm CFO SECTION 302 CFO SECTION 302

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to

Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Darrell R. Rains, Group Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual 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 annual 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 annual 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 such disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual 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

 

166


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: March 14, 2007
/s/ Darrell R. Rains
Darrell R. Rains
Group Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

 

167

EX-32.1 12 dex321.htm CEO & CFO SECTION 906 CEO & CFO SECTION 906

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

Each of the undersigned hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

This 14th day of March, 2007
/s/ R. Daniel Blanton
Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)

 

/s/ Darrell R. Rains
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)

 

168

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