SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 22, 2017

BENEFICIAL BANCORP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland	1-36806	47-1569198
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission	(IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)	File Number)	Identification No.)

1818 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(215) 864-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

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

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

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

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Item 2.06 Material Impairments

On December 22, 2017, the president signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), the tax refom bill (the “Act”). The Act includes a number of changes in existing tax law impacting businesses. One of the most significant changes is a permanent reduction in the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. The rate reduction would take effect on January 1, 2018.

As of September 30, 2017, Beneficial Bancorp (“Beneficial”) had net deferred tax assets totaling $43.4 million. Under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, Beneficial uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this 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. Beneficial’s net deferred tax asset of $43.4 million was determined based on the current enacted federal tax rate of 35% prior to the passage of the Act. As a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35% under the Act, Beneficial will need to revalue its net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2017. We estimate that this will result in a reduction in the value of our net deferred tax asset of approximately $14 million, which will be recorded as additional income tax expense in our statement of operations in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Forward Looking Statements

This current report on Form 8-K may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements and all other statements that are not historic facts are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in the interest rate environment, legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect our business, changes in accounting policies and practices, changes in competition and demand for financial services, adverse changes in the securities markets, changes in deposit flows and changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios. Additionally, other risks and uncertainties may be described in the Beneficial’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or its other reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks materialize, actual results may vary from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Form 8-K. Beneficial assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	BENEFICIAL BANCORP, INC.


Date: December 22, 2017	By:	/s/ Thomas D. Cestare
		Thomas D. Cestare
		Executive Vice President and
		Chief Financial Officer