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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10–Q

 


 

(Mark One)

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

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004

 

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 0–30777

 


 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

California   33–0898238

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

949 South Coast Drive, Suite 300,

Costa Mesa, California

  92626
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(714) 438–2500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

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

 


 

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 whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

 

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

 

10,082,841 shares of Common Stock as of November 8, 2004

 



Table of Contents

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10Q

FOR

THE QUARTER ENDED September 30, 2004

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

               Page No.

Part I

  

Financial Information

    
     Item 1.   

     Financial Statements

   1
         

     Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003

   1
         

     Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

   2
         

     Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

   3
         

     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

   4
         

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   5
     Item 2.   

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

   10
         

     Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect Our Future Financial Performance

   29
     Item 3.   

     Market Risk

   32
     Item 4.   

     Controls and Procedures

   32

Part II.

  

Other Information

    
     Item 6.   

     Exhibits

   32

Signatures

        S–1

Exhibit Index

        E–1
     Exhibit 31.1   

Certification of Chief Executive Officer under to Section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act

    
     Exhibit 31.2   

Certification of Chief Financial Officer under to Section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act

    
     Exhibit 32.1   

Certification of Chief Executive Officer under to Section 906 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act

    
     Exhibit 32.2   

Certification of Chief Financial Officer under to Section 906 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act

    

 


Table of Contents

PART I. – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(Dollars in thousands)

 

    

September 30,

2004


   

December 31,

2003


 
     (unaudited)        

ASSETS

                

Cash and due from banks

   $ 32,584     $ 23,785  

Federal funds sold

     34,600       36,000  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents

     67,184       59,785  

Interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions

     935       605  

Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock, at cost

     10,554       7,546  

Securities available for sale, at fair value

     222,828       273,995  

Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market

     23,445       19,168  

Loans (net of allowances of $4,043 and $3,943, respectively)

     480,064       351,071  

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries

     527       527  

Accrued interest receivable

     2,677       2,346  

Premises and equipment, net

     2,869       3,111  

Other assets

     7,329       6,335  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 818,412     $ 724,489  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Deposits:

                

Noninterest-bearing

   $ 177,111     $ 156,890  

Interest-bearing

     337,656       338,444  
    


 


Total deposits

     514,767       495,334  

Borrowings

     208,149       138,372  

Accrued interest payable

     698       920  

Other liabilities

     3,489       2,166  

Junior subordinated debentures

     17,527       17,527  
    


 


Total liabilities

     744,630       654,319  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

     —         —    

Shareholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, no par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, no par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 10,082,248 and 10,081,248 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively

     69,018       69,049  

Retained earnings

     5,763       2,557  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (999 )     (1,436 )
    


 


Total shareholders’ equity

     73,782       70,170  
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 818,412     $ 724,489  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

Part I. Item 1. (continued)

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in thousands, except for per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Interest income:

                           

Loans, including fees

   $ 6,893    $ 4,571    $ 18,324    $ 13,092

Federal funds sold

     64      73      266      392

Securities available for sale and stock

     2,096      1,310      6,464      4,877

Interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions

     41      11      47      42
    

  

  

  

Total interest income

     9,094      5,965      25,101      18,403

Interest expense:

                           

Deposits

     1,698      1,873      5,003      6,016

Borrowings

     1,367      776      3,706      2,227
    

  

  

  

Total interest expense

     3,065      2,649      8,709      8,243
    

  

  

  

Net interest income

     6,029      3,316      16,392      10,160

Provision for loan losses

     50      518      923      1,115
    

  

  

  

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     5,979      2,798      15,469      9,045
    

  

  

  

Noninterest income

     1,051      1,937      3,291      6,832

Noninterest expense

     4,502      4,155      13,309      13,008
    

  

  

  

Income before income taxes

     2,528      580      5,451      2,869

Income tax expense

     1,046      208      2,244      1,074
    

  

  

  

Net income

   $ 1,482    $ 372    $ 3,207    $ 1,795
    

  

  

  

Net income per share:

                           

Basic

   $ 0.15    $ 0.06    $ 0.32    $ 0.28
    

  

  

  

Diluted

   $ 0.14    $ 0.05    $ 0.30    $ 0.27
    

  

  

  

Weighted average number of shares:

                           

Basic

     10,082,248      6,401,127      10,081,690      6,400,423

Diluted

     10,551,854      6,724,710      10,524,578      6,677,734

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

Part I. Item 1. (continued)

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months

Ended September 30,


   

Nine Months

Ended September 30,


 
     2004

   2003

    2004

   2003

 

Net income

   $ 1,482    $ 372     $ 3,207    $ 1,795  

Other comprehensive gain, net of tax:

                              

Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale, net of tax effect

     1,950      (1,264 )     437      (1,726 )
    

  


 

  


Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 3,432    $ (892 )   $ 3,644    $ 69  
    

  


 

  


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

Part I. Item 1. (continued)

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

                

Net income

   $ 3,207     $ 1,795  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     800       535  

Provision for loan losses

     923       1,115  

Net amortization of premium (discount) on securities

     1,625       3,337  

Net gains on sales of securities available for sale

     (369 )     (756 )

Mark to market (gain)/loss adjustment of equity securities

     (11 )     —    

Net gain on sale of other real estate owned

     (117 )     —    

Net gains on sales of loans held for sale

     (1,364 )     (4,623 )

Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale

     227,721       629,522  

Originations and purchases of loans held for sale

     (230,716 )     (594,766 )

Mark to market (gain)/loss adjustment of loans held for sale

     82       (24 )

Net (decrease) increase in accrued interest receivable

     (331 )     7  

Net increase in other assets

     (1,608 )     (11,696 )

Net decrease in deferred taxes

     327       1,177  

Net decrease in accrued interest payable

     (222 )     (134 )

Net increase(decrease) in other liabilities

     1,323       (576 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,270       24,913  

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

                

Net (decrease)increase in interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions

     (330 )     892  

Maturities of, proceeds from sales of and principal payments received for securities available for sale and other stock

     115,718       248,599  

Purchase of securities available for sale and other stock

     (68,081 )     (244,804 )

Net increase in loans

     (131,433 )     (82,082 )

Sale of other real estate owned

     1,634       —    

Purchases of premises and equipment

     (558 )     (940 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (83,050 )     (78,335 )

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

                

Net increase in deposits

     19,433       49,143  

Offering expenses from sale of common stock

     (38 )     —    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     7       9  

Net increase in borrowings

     69,777       34,732  
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     89,179       83,884  
    


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     7,399       30,462  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period

     59,785       31,195  
    


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period

   $ 67,184     $ 61,657  
    


 


Supplementary Cash Flow Information:

                

Cash paid for interest on deposits and other borrowings

   $ 8,932     $ 7,722  
    


 


Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 1,577     $ 1,369  
    


 


Non-Cash Investing Activities:

                

Transfer of loan to other real estate owned

   $ 1,517     $ —    
    


 


Net decrease in net unrealized gains and losses on securities held for sale, net of income tax

   $ 437     $ (1,726 )
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

Part I. Item 1. (continued)

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1. Nature of Business

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Pacific Mercantile Bancorp (“PMBC”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, which are Pacific Mercantile Bank (the “Bank”) and PMB Securities Corp. (which, together with PMBC, shall be referred to as the “Company”). The Bank is chartered by the California Department of Financial Institutions (the “DFI”) and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“FRB”). In addition, deposit accounts of the Bank’s customers are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to the maximum amount allowed by law.

 

The Bank, which accounts for substantially all of our consolidated operations, provides a full range of banking services to small and medium-size businesses, professionals and the general public in Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego Counties of California and is subject to competition from other financial institutions conducting operations in those same markets.

 

PMB Securities Corp. commenced operations in June 2002 as an SEC registered securities broker–dealer that is engaged in the retail securities brokerage business and is a member firm of the National Association of Securities Dealers.

 

During 2002, the Company organized three business trusts, under the names Pacific Mercantile Capital Trust I, PMB Capital Trust I, and PMB Statutory Trust III, respectively, to facilitate sales, in private placements, of an aggregate of $17.5 million of trust preferred securities to institutional investors. In accordance with applicable accounting standards, the financial statements of these trusts are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 2: “Significant Accounting Policies — Principles of Consolidation” below.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10–Q and, therefore, do not include all footnotes as would be necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations, changes in cash flows and comprehensive income (loss) in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards in the United States of America (“GAAP”). However, these interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals) which, in the opinion of the management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with a basis consistent with prior periods, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003 and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10–K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

The Company’s consolidated financial position at September 30, 2004, and the results of its operations for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for any other interim period during or for the full year ending December 31, 2004.

 

5


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.-)

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Cont.-)

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries Pacific Mercantile Bank and PMB Securities Corp. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Prior to March 31, 2004, Pacific Mercantile Capital Trust I, PMB Capital Trust I, and PMB Statutory Trust III, (the “Trust Subsidiaries”), were included in our consolidated financial statements. However, in accordance with a revision, adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) in January 2004, to Financial Interpretation Number (FIN) 46, effective as of March 31, 2004 the Trust Subsidiaries were de-consolidated and are not included in our consolidated financial statements. See “ – Recent Accounting Pronouncements” in this section.

 

Nonperforming Loans and Other Assets

 

At September 30, 2004, the Company had $12,000 in nonaccrual and impaired loans and had no restructured loans and no loans that were past due as to principal for 90 days that were still accruing interest.

 

Income Per Share

 

Basic income per share for any fiscal period is computed by dividing net income for such period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during that period. Fully diluted income per share reflects the potential dilution that could have occurred assuming all outstanding options or warrants to purchase our shares of common stock at exercise prices that were less than the market price of our shares were exercised into common stock, thereby increasing the number of shares outstanding during the period.

 

Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans

 

The Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation as prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and has adopted the disclosure provisions of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 123 requires pro-forma disclosures of the Company’s net income and net income per share as if the fair value based method of accounting for stock based awards had been applied. Under the fair value based method, compensation cost is recorded based on the value of the award at the grant date and is recognized over the employee’s period of service with the Company. In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure,” which amended the disclosure requirements of FASB No. 123 to require certain disclosures about stock-based employee compensation plans in an entity’s accounting policy footnote. The Company has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 and, in accordance therewith, the disclosures required by SFAS No. 148 are included below in this footnote to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included in this Report.

 

6


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.-)

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Cont.-)

 

Effective March 2, 1999, our Board of Directors adopted, and in January 2000 our shareholders approved, the 1999 Stock Option Plan (the “1999 Option Plan”). That Plan authorizes the granting of options to directors, officers and other key employees, that entitle them to purchase shares of common stock of the Company at a price per share equal to or above the fair market value of the Company’s shares on the date the option is granted. Options may vest immediately or over various periods of up to five years, determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee at the time it approves the grant of options under the 1999 Option Plan and expire 10 years after the grant date, or following termination of service, if sooner. A total of 1,248,230 shares were authorized for issuance under the 1999 Option Plan (which number has been adjusted for stock splits effectuated subsequent to the Plan’s adoption).

 

Effective February 17, 2004, the Board of Directors adopted the Pacific Mercantile Bancorp 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s shareholders in May 2004. That Plan authorizes the granting of options and rights to purchase restricted stock to directors, officers and other key employees, that entitle them to purchase shares of common stock of the Company at a price per share equal to or above the fair market value of the Company’s shares on the date the option is granted or the stock purchase rights are awarded. Options and restricted stock purchase rights may vest immediately or over various periods of up to five years, determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee at the time the options are granted or the stock purchase rights are awarded. Options granted under the 2004 Plan will expire 10 years after the grant date, or following termination of service, if sooner. In the case of restricted stock purchase rights, they generally will expire, if not exercised, within 15 days of the date of the award. If exercised, any unvested shares will become subject to repurchase by the Company in the event of a termination of employment or service of the holder of the stock purchase right. A total of 400,000 shares were authorized for issuance under the 2004 Plan.

 

The Company continues to account for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” under which no compensation cost for stock options is recognized in the accompanying financial statements for stock option or stock purchase awards granted at or above fair market value. Had compensation expense for the Company’s 1999 and 2004 Option Plans been determined based upon the fair value at the grant date for awards under those Plans in accordance with SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the Company’s net income and income per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)


   2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Net Income:

                           

As reported

   $ 1,482    $ 372    $ 3,207    $ 1,795

Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     150      81      446      240
    

  

  

  

Pro Forma

   $ 1,332    $ 291    $ 2,761    $ 1,555
    

  

  

  

Income Per Share as Reported:

                           

Basic

   $ 0.15    $ 0.06    $ 0.32    $ 0.28

Fully diluted

     0.14      0.05      0.30      0.27

Income Per Share Pro Forma:

                           

Basic

   $ 0.13    $ 0.05    $ 0.27    $ 0.24

Fully diluted

     0.13      0.04      0.26      0.23

Weighted Average Number of Shares:

                           

Basic

     10,082,248      6,401,127      10,081,690      6,400,423

Fully diluted

     10,551,854      6,724,710      10,524,578      6,677,734

 

7


Table of Contents

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.-)

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Cont.-)

 

The fair value of the options that were outstanding under the 1999 and 2004 Plans was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model The following table summarizes the weighted average assumptions used for grants following periods:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 

Assumption


   2004(1)

   2003

    2004

    2003

 

Expected volatility

   —      39.56 %   56.66 %   39.97 %

Risk-free interest rate

   —      2.81 %   3.04 %   3.04 %

Expected dividend yield

   —      2.43 %   1.22 %   2.43 %

Expected life of the option

   —      5 years     5 years     5 years  

(1) No options granted in the three months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Comprehensive Income

 

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet net of income taxes, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”—an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 51. This Interpretation defines a variable interest entity and provides that if a business enterprise has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity, the assets, liabilities and results of the activities of the variable interest entity should be included in consolidated financial statements with those of the business enterprise. Furthermore, the FASB indicated that the voting interest approach of ARB No. 51 is not effective in identifying controlling financial interests in entities that are not controllable through voting interests or in which the equity investors do not bear the residual economic risk. This Interpretation became applicable immediately to variable interest entities created or in which an interest was acquired after January 31, 2003, and beginning after June 15, 2003, in the case of variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. The Interpretation applies to public enterprises as of the beginning of the applicable interim or annual periods.

 

In January 2004, subsequent to the issuance of FIN 46, the FASB issued a revised interpretation, the provisions of which were required to be applied to certain variable interest entities by March 31, 2004. In accordance with the provisions of FIN 46, as revised, effective as of March 31, 2004 the then existing trust subsidiaries organized by the Company to facilitate the sales of trust preferred securities, as described in Note 1 above, were deconsolidated and, for that reason, are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. However, the adoption of FIN 46 and its revisions did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Reclassification

 

Certain amounts in the accompanying 2003 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to 2004 presentation.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.-)

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Cont.-)

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

To meet the financing needs of its customers in the normal course of business, the Company is party to financial instruments with off–balance sheet risk. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements. At September 30, 2004, the Company was committed to fund loans totaling approximately $162 million (inclusive of mortgage loans that, if funded, will be held for sale). The contractual amounts of credit-related financial instruments such as commitments to extend credit, credit-card arrangements, and letters of credit represent the amounts of potential accounting loss should the contract be fully drawn upon, the customer default, and the value of any existing collateral become worthless.

 

The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments to extend credit and conditional obligations as it does for on–balance sheet instruments. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates; however, since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s credit worthiness on a case–by–case basis, using the same credit underwriting standards that are employed in making commercial loans. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company upon an extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, residential real estate and income–producing commercial properties.

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to legal action normally associated with financial institutions. At September 30, 2004, the Company was not a party to any pending legal action that is expected to be material to its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

3. Subsequent Events

 

In October 2004, the Company issued $10 million principal amount of 30-year floating rate junior subordinated debentures of which $8 million qualify, for regulatory purposes, as Tier 1 capital and the remainder as Tier II capital. The proceeds from the sale of these debentures are to be used to support the growth of the Company’s banking franchise. The debentures were sold to PMB Capital Trust III, a Delaware grantor trust organized by the Company to sell $10 million of trust preferred securities to an institutional investor, the proceeds from which were used to purchase those debentures from the Company.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

OVERVIEW

 

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp is a bank holding company that owns all of the stock of Pacific Mercantile Bank (the “Bank”), which is a commercial bank that provides a full range of banking services to small and medium-size businesses and to professionals and the general public in Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, in Southern California. Substantially all of our operations are conducted and substantially all of our assets are owned by the Bank, which accounts for substantially all of our consolidated revenues and operating costs.

 

The following discussion presents information about our consolidated results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 and our consolidated financial condition, liquidity and capital resources at September 30, 2004 and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report.

 

Forward–Looking Information

 

Statements contained in this Report that are not historical facts or that discuss our expectations or beliefs regarding our future operations or future financial performance, or financial or other trends in our business, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Often, they include the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” The information contained in such forward-looking statements is based on current information and assumptions about future events over which we do not have control and our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our financial condition or actual operating results in the future to differ significantly from our expected financial condition or operating results that are set forth in those statements. Those risks and uncertainties are described in this Section of this Report, including in the subsection below entitled “Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect Our Future Financial Performance” and readers of this Report are urged to read this Section in its entirety, including that subsection.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with general accepted accounting principles in the United States, (“GAAP”) and general practices in the banking industry. The accounting policies we follow in determining the sufficiency of our allowance for loan losses and the fair value of derivative financial instruments involve judgments and assumptions which can have a material impact on the carrying value of our loans and those financial instruments, respectively, and, as a result, we consider these accounting policies to be critical accounting policies.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses. In determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, we use historical loss factors, adjusted for current economic market conditions and other economic indicators, to determine the losses inherent in our loan portfolio. Actual loan losses could be greater than that predicted by those loss factors and our current assessments of current conditions and economic trends if unanticipated changes were to occur in those conditions. In such an event, we would be required to increase the allowance for loan losses by means of a charge to income referred to in our financial statements as the “provision for loan losses.” Such an increase would reduce the carrying value of our loans on our balance sheet, and the additional provision for loan losses taken to increase that allowance would reduce our income, in the period when it is determined that an increase in the allowance for loan losses is necessary. See “—Provision for Loan Losses” and “—Allowance for Loan Losses and Nonperforming Loans” below.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments. The derivative financial instruments that we enter into consist primarily of interest rate lock commitments that are designed to hedge the change in fair value related to mortgage loans held for sale. At September 30, 2004, approximately $23 million of mortgage loans held for sale were hedged. We estimate the fair value of mortgage loans held

 

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for sale based on period end market interest rates obtained from various mortgage investors. If the fair values of the mortgage loans held for sale were to decline below those estimated values, we would be required to reduce the carrying values of the mortgage loans held for sale on our statement of financial condition and, correspondingly, reduce our noninterest income. We also enter into non-designated derivative instruments relating to mortgage loan interest rate lock commitments with borrowers and investors in order to reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates. At September 30, 2004 we had $12 million of mortgage loan commitments identified as non-designated derivative instruments. We estimate the fair value of these mortgage loan commitments based on market interest rates at period end. If the fair value of these non-designated derivative instruments were to decline below the expected values, we would be required to recognize a reduction in our noninterest income.

 

Overview of Operating Results in the Third Quarter and Nine Months ended September 30, 2004

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the interest income that we generated, the interest expense that we incurred, our net interest income, noninterest income, noninterest expense, and our net income and net income per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
    

2004

Amount


  

2003

Amount


  

Percent

Change


   

2004

Amount


  

2003

Amount


  

Percent

Change


 
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

Interest income

   $ 9,094    $ 5,965    52.5 %   $ 25,101    $ 18,403    36.4 %

Interest expense

     3,065      2,649    15.7 %     8,709      8,243    5.7 %
    

  

        

  

      

Net interest income

   $ 6,029    $ 3,316    81.8 %   $ 16,392    $ 10,160    61.3 %

Noninterest income

   $ 1,051    $ 1,937    (45.7 )%   $ 3,291    $ 6,832    (51.8 )%

Noninterest expense

   $ 4,502    $ 4,155    8.4 %   $ 13,309    $ 13,008    2.3 %

Net income

   $ 1,482    $ 372    298.4 %   $ 3,207    $ 1,795    78.7 %

Net income per share—diluted

   $ 0.14    $ 0.05    180.0 %   $ 0.30    $ 0.27    11.1 %

Weighted average number of diluted shares

     10,551,854      6,724,710    56.9 %     10,524,578      6,677,734    57.6 %

 

Key Factors Affecting Operating Results in the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004

 

  Increases in Net Interest Income. The increases in net interest income in both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the corresponding periods of 2003, were primarily the result of growth in the volume of our core loans (loans exclusive of those held for sale) and our other earning assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. Core loans grew by $177 million or 58% to $480 million at September 30, 2004 from $303 million at September 30, 2003.

 

  Improvements in Net Interest Margin. Net interest margin improved to 3.17% and 2.99%, respectively, in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, as compared to 2.19% and 2.33%, respectively, in the corresponding three and nine month periods of 2003. Those improvements were due largely to (i) increases in the volume of core loans, which generate higher yields than our other earning assets, and (ii) an increase in the rate earned on securities available for sale for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, which improved to 3.46% and 3.44%, respectively, from 2.11% and 2.79% in the same respective periods of 2003 as a result of the slowing of premium amortization on mortgage-backed securities during 2004 as compared to 2003.

 

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  Decreases in Noninterest Income. Noninterest income decreased by $886,000, or 46%, to $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2004, and by $3.5 million, or 52%, to $3.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the respective corresponding periods of 2003. Those decreases were primarily attributable to a decline in the volume of mortgage financings in 2004 in response to rising interest rates. Also, contributing to the decrease in noninterest income in the three and nine month ended September 30, 2004, was a $131,000, or 100%, and $387,000 or 51%, respectively, decline in gains on sale of securities available for sale (consisting primarily of mortgage backed securities).

 

  Management of Noninterest Expense Growth and Improvements in Efficiency Ratio. Even though the volume of interest earning assets and our net interest income both increased, in the double digits, we were able to manage the growth of our noninterest expenses which, by comparison, increased by $347,000, or 8%, and $301,000, or 2%, respectively, in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, in each case as compared to the corresponding period of 2003. Due to the combination of the increases in net interest income and the single digit growth in operating expenses, our efficiency ratio (operating expenses as a percentage to total revenues) improved to 64% and 68%, respectively, in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, from 79% and 77%, respectively, in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2003.

 

  Impact of Increases in Outstanding Shares on Per Share Income. Due to the completion in December 2003 of a public offering of 3,680,000 of our shares of common stock at a price of $9.25 per share, the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding increased to 10.6 million and 10.5 million, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, from 6.7 million shares for both the corresponding periods in 2003. As a consequence, even though net income increased by 298% and 79%, respectively, in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the same periods of 2003, net income per diluted share increased to $0.14 or 180%, in the three months ended September 30, 2004 from $0.05 in the same three months of 2003, and $0.30 or 11%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, from $0.27 per share in the corresponding nine months of 2003.

 

Set forth below are certain key financial performance ratios and other financial data for the periods indicated:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,


   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
    2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Return on average assets (1).

  0.74 %   0.23 %   0.56 %   0.39 %

Return on average shareholders’ equity (1)

  8.15 %   3.78 %   5.97 %   6.12 %

Net interest margin (2)

  3.17 %   2.19 %   2.99 %   2.33 %

(1) Annualized.
(2) Net interest income expressed as a percentage of total average interest earning assets.

 

Results of Operations

 

Net Interest Income

 

One of the principal determinants of a bank’s income is net interest income, which is the difference between (i) the interest that a bank earns on loans, investment securities and other interest earning assets, on the one hand, and (ii) its interest expense, which consists primarily of the interest it must pay to attract and retain deposits and the interest that it pays on borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities, on the other hand. A bank’s interest income and interest expense are, in turn, affected by a number of factors, some of which are outside of its control, including national and local economic conditions and the monetary policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (the “Federal Reserve Board” or the “FRB”), which affect interest rates, the demand for loans, and the ability of borrowers to meet their loan payment obligations. Net interest income, when expressed as a percentage of total average interest earning assets, is a banking organization’s “net interest margin.”

 

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The following table sets forth our interest income, interest expense, net interest income and net interest margin in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003, respectively:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


   

Nine Months Ended

September 30


 
    

2004

Amount


   

2003

Amount


   

Percent

Change


   

2004

Amount


   

2003

Amount


   

Percent

Change


 
(Dollars in thousands)       

Interest income

   $ 9,094     $ 5,965     52.5 %   $ 25,101     $ 18,403     36.4 %

Interest expense

     3,065       2,649     15.7 %     8,709       8,243     5.7 %
    


 


       


 


     

Net interest income

   $ 6,029     $ 3,316     81.8 %   $ 16,392     $ 10,160     61.3 %
    


 


       


 


     

Net interest margin

     3.17 %     2.19 %           2.99 %     2.33 %      

 

As the table above indicates, the increases in net interest income of $2.7 million, or 81.8% increase in the third quarter of 2004, and $6.2 million, or 61.3%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, were attributable to increases in interest income of $3.1 million, or 52.5%, and $6.7 million, or 36.4%, respectively, in those three and nine month periods, respectively. By contrast, our interest expense increased $416,000 or 15.7% and $466,000 or 5.7%, respectively, in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004.

 

The increase in interest income in the quarter ended September 30, 2004, was primarily attributable to an increase in the volume of interest earning assets, including a $206 million increase in the average volume of outstanding loans (exclusive of mortgages held for sale) over the corresponding period of fiscal 2003, offset by a $19 million reduction in investment securities.

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the increase in interest income was primarily attributable to a $177 million increase in our average volume of outstanding loans (exclusive of mortgage loans held for sale) and an increase of $5 million in the average volume of outstanding investment securities. These volume increases in average interest earning assets, were funded primarily by the increase in deposits and in borrowings we obtained from the Federal Home Loan Bank and a shift of funds out of lower yielding federal funds sold.

 

The increase in interest expense in the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the same respective periods last year, was primarily attributable to increases of $88 million and $78 million in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings.

 

Our net interest margin improved to 3.17% in the third quarter of 2004 from 2.19% in the third quarter ended September 30, 2003, and to 2.99% in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 from 2.33% in the same nine months of 2003. In the three months ended September 30, 2004 the yield on interest earning assets improved to 4.78% and the average rate of interest paid on our interest bearing liabilities declined to 2.24%, as compared to a yield on interest earning assets of 3.94% and an average rate of interest paid on interest bearing liabilities of 2.31%, in the same three months of 2003. In the nine months ended September 30, 2004 the yield on interest earning assets improved to 4.58%, and the average rate of interest paid on our interest bearing liabilities declined to 2.19%, as compared to a yield on interest earning assets of 4.21%, and an average rate of interest paid of 2.52%, in the same nine months of 2003.

 

These improvements were attributable to (i) an increase in the average yield on interest earning assets due primarily to the substantial increase in the volume of core loans on which we generate greater yields than our other interest earning assets, and (ii) a decline in the average rate of interest paid on interest bearing liabilities primarily as result of the change in mix of deposits to a higher proportion of demand and lower cost savings and money market deposits (“core deposits”).

 

The following table below sets forth changes in interest income, including loan fees, and interest paid in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the same period in 2003, and the extent to which those changes were attributable to changes in the volume of and in the rates of interest earned on interest earning assets and in the volume of and in the rates of interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities.

 

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Three Months Ended
September 30,

2004 Compared to 2003

Increase (decrease)

due to Changes in


   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2004 Compared to 2003

Increase (decrease)

due to Changes in


 
     Volume(2)

    Rates(2)

   

Total

Increase

(Decrease)


    Volume(2)

    Rates(2)

   

Total

Increase

(Decrease)


 
     (In thousands)

 

Interest income

                                                

Short-term investments(1)

   $ (197 )   $ 218     $ 21     $ (104 )   $ (17 )   $ (121 )

Securities available for sale and stock

     (188 )     974       786       370       1,217       1,587  

Loans

     3,000       (678 )     2,322       6,387       (1,155 )     5,232  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total earning assets

     2,615       514       3,129       6,653       45       6,698  

Interest expense

                                                

Interest-bearing checking accounts

     15       (12 )     3       35       (41 )     (6 )

Money market and savings accounts

     26       102       128       177       (161 )     16  

Certificates of deposit

     (142 )     (164 )     (306 )     (258 )     (765 )     (1,023 )

Borrowings

     847       (256 )     591       1,771       (292 )     1,479  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total interest-bearing liabilities

     746       (330 )     416       1,725       (1,259 )     466  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net interest income

   $ 1,869     $ 844     $ 2,713     $ 4,928     $ 1,304     $ 6,232  
    


 


 


 


 


 



(1) Short-term investments consist of federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits with financial institutions.

 

(2) Changes in interest earned and interest paid due to the mix of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities have been allocated to the change due to volume and the change due to rate in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the changes in each.

 

The above table indicates that the increases of $2.7 million and $6.2 million in our net interest income in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, respectively, as compared to the like periods in 2003 were the result of (i) a $1.9 million increase in the volume variance and by a $844,000 increase in the rate variance for the three months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the same period in 2003, and (ii) a $4.9 million increase in the volume variance and a $1.3 million increase in the rate variance for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the like period in 2003. The increase in the volume variance reflects the increases in average earning assets of $156 million and $148 million, respectively, in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the corresponding periods of 2003.

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

Like virtually all banks and other financial institutions, we follow the practice of maintaining a reserve or allowance (the “Allowance”) for possible losses on loans that occur from time to time as an incidental part of the banking business. When it is determined that the payment in full of a loan has become unlikely, the carrying value of the loan is reduced to what management believes is its realizable value. This reduction, which is referred to as a loan “charge-off,” or “write-down” is charged against that Allowance. The amount of the Allowance for Loan Losses is increased periodically (i) to replenish the Allowance after it has been reduced due to loan charge-offs, (ii) to reflect changes in the volume of outstanding loans, and (iii) to take account of changes in the risk of potential losses due to a deterioration in the condition of borrowers or in the value of property securing non–performing loans or changes in economic conditions. See “—Financial Condition—Allowance for Loan Losses and Nonperforming Loans” below in this Section of this Report. Increases in the Allowance for Loan Losses are made through a charge, recorded as an expense in the statement of income referred to as the “provision for loan losses.” Recoveries of loans previously charged-off are added back to Allowance and, therefore, have the effect of increasing the Allowance for Loan Losses and reducing the amount of the provision that might otherwise be needed to replenish or increase the Allowance.

 

Although we employ economic models that are based on bank regulatory guidelines and industry standards to evaluate and determine the sufficiency of the Allowance for Loan Losses and, thereby, the amount of the provisions required to be made for potential loan losses, those determinations involve judgments about trends in current economic conditions and other events that can

 

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affect the ability of borrowers to meet their loan obligations. Future economic conditions are subject to a number of uncertainties, some of which are outside of our ability to control. See the discussion below in this Section under the caption “Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect our Future Financial Performance — we could incur losses on the loans we make.” In the event of unexpected subsequent events or changes in circumstances, it could become necessary in the future to incur additional charges to increase the Allowance, which would have the effect of reducing our income or could cause us to incur losses.

 

In addition, the Federal Reserve Board and the California Department of Financial Institutions, as an integral part of their examination processes, periodically review the Bank’s Allowance for Loan Losses. These agencies may require the Bank to make additional provisions, over and above that which we have already made, the effect of which would be to reduce our income.

 

During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 we were able to reduce the amount of the provisions made for loan losses to $50,000 and $923,000, respectively, down from $518,000 and $1.1 million in the respective corresponding three and nine month periods of 2003. Those reductions were due to a reduction in the volume of non-accrual or impaired loans, which totaled $12,000 or 0.3% of the amount of the Allowance for Loan Losses at September 30, 2004, as compared to $2.5 million or 63.4% of the amount of the Allowance for Loan Losses at December 31, 2003. The reduction in nonaccrual loans during the nine month period ended September 30, 2004 was due to (i) an $822,000 charge-off, in the first quarter of 2004, of a nonaccrual loan for which reserves had been specifically allocated in the Allowance for Loan Losses at December 31, 2003, and (ii) the repayment of or resumption of payments on substantially all of the other loans that were on nonaccrual status at December 31, 2003. See “—Allowance for Loan Losses and Nonperforming Loans” below.

 

Noninterest Income

 

Noninterest income consists primarily of mortgage banking income (which includes loan origination and processing fees and service released premiums) and net gains on sales of loans held for sale, which are generated by our mortgage loan division. That division, which we established during fiscal 2001, originates conforming and non-conforming, agency quality, residential first and second lien and home equity mortgage loans.

 

The volume of residential mortgage refinancings is subject to significant fluctuations in response to changes in prevailing mortgage interest rates. Such interest rate changes can impact the volume of mortgage loan originations which, in turn, affects the loan processing fees and yield spread premiums we are able to realize on the mortgage loans we originate. For example, the decline in mortgage rates which occurred in 2002 and the first six months of 2003 increased demand for mortgage loan refinancings and resulted in increases in our noninterest income during those periods. Conversely, an increasing interest rate environment, or even the prospect of increasing interest rates, which has occurred over the last 12 months, generally causes a decline in mortgage loan refinancings and, therefore, corresponding declines in the volume of mortgage loan originations and in the income that the mortgage banking division is able to generate. We seek to manage the impact of changes in interest rates by seeking to originate mortgages for home purchases which are not as interest rate sensitive as mortgage loan refinancings. Mortgage loans for home purchases accounted for approximately 42% of our mortgage loan fundings in the quarter ended September 30, 2004 as compared to approximately 12% in the quarter ended September 30, 2003.

 

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Table of Contents

The following table identifies the components of and the percentage changes in noninterest income in the three and nine month periods of 2004, as compared to the same period in 2003.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,

    Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
     Amount

  

Percent

Change

2004 vs. 2003


    Amount

  

Percent

Change

2004 vs. 2003


 
     2004

   2003

     2004

   2003

  
     (Dollars in thousands)

         (Dollars in thousands)

      

Mortgage banking (including net gains on sales of loans held for sale)

   $ 490    $ 1,453    (66.3 )%   $ 1,655    $ 4,893    (66.2 )%

Service charges and fees on deposits

     181      151    19.9 %     521      467    11.6 %

Net gains on sales of securities available for sale

     —        131    NM       369      756    (51.2 )%

Other

     380      202    88.1 %     746      716    4.2 %
    

  

        

  

      

Total noninterest income

   $ 1,051    $ 1,937    (45.7 )%   $ 3,291    $ 6,832    (51.8 )%
    

  

        

  

      

 

The decreases in noninterest income in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, over the like periods in 2003 were primarily attributable to substantial decreases in mortgage loan refinancings prompted by rising market rates of interest and, to a much lesser extent, decreases of $131,000 and $387,000, respectively, in net gains on securities available for sale. The increases in service charges and fees on deposits in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the same periods in 2003, were attributable to the growth in the volume of our deposits subsequent to the second quarter of 2003.

 

Noninterest Expense

 

The following table sets forth the principal components of noninterest expense and the amounts thereof, incurred in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,

    Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
     Amount

  

Percent

Change

2004 vs. 2003


    Amount

  

Percent

Change

2004 vs. 2003


 
     2004

   2003

     2004

   2003

  
     (Dollars in thousands)

         (Dollars in thousands)

      

Salaries and employee benefits

   $ 2,489    $ 2,348    6.0 %   $ 7,149    $ 7,336    (2.5 )%

Occupancy

     527      447    17.9 %     1,543      1,333    15.8 %

Equipment and depreciation

     308      362    (14.9 )%     995      990    0.5 %

Data processing

     141      179    (21.3 )%     460      479    (4.0 )%

Professional fees

     165      164    0.6 %     681      553    23.1 %

Other loan related

     191      79    141.8 %     289      269    7.4 %

Other operating expense(1)

     681      576    18.2 %     2,192      2,048    7.0 %
    

  

        

  

      

Total noninterest expense

   $ 4,502    $ 4,155    8.4 %   $ 13,309    $ 13,008    2.3 %
    

  

        

  

      

(1) Other operating expense primarily consists of telephone, stationery and office supplies, regulatory expenses, investor relations, insurance premiums, postage, and correspondent bank fees.

 

As indicated in the table above, total noninterest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $347,000, or 8%, to $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2004 and by $301,000, or 2%, to $13.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the respective corresponding period in 2003. Those increases were primarily attributable to increased commercial lending activities in our financial centers and an increase in expenses associated with the opening, in September 2004, of our seventh financial center, which is located in Long Beach, California, partially offset by staff reductions and other cost cutting measures implemented by the mortgage loan division in response to lower mortgage refinancing production volumes.

 

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Our ability to control noninterest expense in relation to the level of net revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income) can be measured in terms of noninterest expenses as a percentage of net revenue. This is known as the efficiency ratio and indicates the percentage of revenue that must be used to cover noninterest expenses. As a general rule, all other things being equal, a lower efficiency ratio will result in increased profitability. Our efficiency ratio improved to 64% in the third quarter of 2004 and 68% in the first nine months of 2004, from 79% and 77%, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003. Those improvements indicate a maturing of, and increased business growth at, our financial centers that has helped us to generate more revenue per employee in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 than we did in the corresponding periods of 2003.

 

Due primarily to the opening of the Long Beach financial center in September 2004, we expect noninterest expense to increase during the balance of 2004. We also will be seeking to open at least two additional financial centers in Southern California over the next 12 months. If we are successful in obtaining the regulatory approvals required to open those new financial centers in 2005, we would expect noninterest expense to increase, as well, in 2005.

 

Asset/Liability Management

 

The primary objective of asset/liability management is to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations, which can affect our net interest margins and, therefore, our net interest income and net earnings. We seek to achieve this objective by matching interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities, and maintaining the maturities and the repricing of these assets and liabilities at appropriate levels in light of the prevailing interest rate environment. Generally, if rate sensitive assets exceed rate sensitive liabilities, net interest income will be positively impacted during a rising interest rate environment and negatively impacted during a declining interest rate environment. When rate sensitive liabilities exceed rate sensitive assets, net interest income generally will be positively impacted during a declining interest rate environment and negatively impacted during a rising interest rate environment. However, because interest rates for different asset and liability products offered by depository institutions respond differently to changes in the interest rate environment, the relationship or “gap” between interest sensitive assets and interest sensitive liabilities is only a general indicator of interest rate sensitivity and how our net interest income might be affected by changing rates of interest.

 

For example, rates on certain assets or liabilities typically lag behind changes in market rates of interest. Additionally, prepayments of loans and securities available for sale, and early withdrawals of certificates of deposit, could cause the interest sensitivities to vary.

 

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Table of Contents

The table below sets forth information concerning our rate sensitive assets and liabilities at September 30, 2004. The assets and liabilities are classified by the earlier of maturity or repricing dates in accordance with their contractual terms. Certain shortcomings, described above, are inherent in the method of analysis presented in the following table.

 

    

Three

Months

or Less


   

Over Three

Through

Twelve

Months


   

Over One

Year

Through

Five Years


   

Over Five

Years


   

Non-

Interest-

Bearing


    Total

     (Dollars in thousands)

Assets                                               

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

   $ 935     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 935

Investment in unconsolidated trust subsidiaries

     —         —         —         527       —         527

Securities available for sale

     16,248       41,592       112,206       52,782       —         222,828

Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     10,554       —         —         —         —         10,554

Federal funds sold

     34,600       —         —         —         —         34,600

Loans, gross

     229,673       39,775       210,454       27,650       —         507,552

Non-interest earning assets, net

     —         —         —         —         41,416       41,416
    


 


 


 


 


 

Total assets

   $ 292,010     $ 81,367     $ 322,660     $ 80,959     $ 41,416     $ 818,412
    


 


 


 


 


 

Liabilities and Shareholders Equity                                               

Noninterest-bearing deposits

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 177,111     $ 177,111

Interest-bearing deposits

     196,667       88,943       52,046       —         —         337,656

Borrowings

     27,149       55,000       126,000       —         —         208,149

Junior subordinated debentures

     12,372       5,155       —         —         —         17,527

Other liabilities

     —         —         —         —         4,187       4,187

Shareholders’ equity

     —         —         —         —         73,782       73,782
    


 


 


 


 


 

Total liabilities and shareholders equity

   $ 236,188     $ 149,098     $ 178,046     $ —       $ 255,080     $ 818,412
    


 


 


 


 


 

Interest rate sensitivity gap

   $ 55,822     $ (67,731 )   $ 144,614     $ 80,959     $ (213,664 )      
    


 


 


 


 


     

Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap

   $ 55,822     $ (11,909 )   $ 132,705     $ 213,664     $ —          
    


 


 


 


 


     

Cumulative % of rate sensitive assets in maturity period

     36 %     46 %     85 %     95 %     100 %      
    


 


 


 


 


     

Rate sensitive assets to rate sensitive liabilities

     124 %     55 %     181 %     N/A       N/A        
    


 


 


 


 


     

Cumulative ratio

     124 %     97 %     124 %     138 %     N/A        
    


 


 


 


 


     

 

At September 30, 2004, our rate sensitive balance sheet was shown to be in a negative twelve-month gap position. This implies that our net interest margin would decrease in the short–term if interest rates rise and would increase in the short-term if interest rates were to fall. However, as noted above, the extent to which our net interest margin will be impacted by changes in prevailing interests rates will depend on a number of factors, including how quickly rate sensitive assets and liabilities react to interest rate changes, the mix of our interest earning assets (loans versus other interest earning assets, such as securities) and the mix of our interest bearing deposits (between for example, lower interest core deposits and higher cost time certificates of deposit) and our other interest bearing liabilities.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

We use derivative instruments to reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates in accordance with our risk management policy. See “Loans Held for Sale” below in this Section.

 

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Mortgage loan commitments to borrowers and rate lock commitments with investors in mortgage loans are derivative instruments, which are non-designated hedges, and are included in mortgage loans held for sale, and gains and losses resulting from these derivative instruments are included in gains or losses on sales of loans in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

 

Financial Condition

 

Assets

 

Our total consolidated assets increased by $94 million, or 13%, to $818 million at September 30, 2004 from $724 million at December 31, 2003. That increase was funded by increases in borrowings and, to a lesser extent, increases in deposits, which were used primarily to fund new loans.

 

The following table sets forth the composition of our interest earning assets at:

 

    

September 30,

2004


  

December 31,

2003


     (In thousands)

Federal funds sold

   $ 34,600    $ 36,000

Interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions

     935      605

Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock, at cost

     10,554      7,546

Securities available for sale, at fair value

     222,828      273,995

Loans and loans held for sale (net of allowances of $4,043 and $3,943, respectively)

     503,509      370,239

 

Loans Held for Sale

 

Loans held for sale in the secondary market, which consist primarily of mortgage loans, totaled $23 million at September 30, 2004, an increase of $4 million from $19 million at December 31, 2003. Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value in the aggregate except for those designated as fair value hedges, which are carried at fair value. These fair value hedges consist primarily of interest rate locks commitment with various mortgage investors. There were $23 million of loans held for sale designated as fair value hedges at September 30, 2004, and there were no ineffective hedges. Net unrealized losses on loans held for sale, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income.

 

Loans

 

The following table sets forth the composition, by loan category, of our loan portfolio, excluding mortgage loans held for sale, at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003:

 

     September 30, 2004

    December 31, 2003

 
     Amount

    Percent

    Amount

    Percent

 
     (Dollars in thousands)

 

Commercial loans

   $ 97,236     20.1 %   $ 103,363     29.1 %

Real estate loans

     176,572     36.5 %     140,441     39.5 %

Residential mortgage loans

     174,887     36.1 %     84,346     23.8 %

Construction loans

     30,984     6.4 %     17,559     4.9 %

Consumer loans

     4,513     0.9 %     9,551     2.7 %
    


 

 


 

Gross loans

     484,192     100.0 %     355,260     100.0 %
            

         

Deferred fee (income) costs, net

     (85 )           (246 )      

Allowance for loan losses

     (4,043 )           (3,943 )      
    


       


     

Loans, net

   $ 480,064           $ 351,071        
    


       


     

 

Commercial loans are loans to businesses to finance capital purchases or improvements, or to provide cash flow for operations. Real estate and residential mortgage loans are loans secured by trust deeds on real property, including commercial property and single family and multi-family residences. Construction loans are interim loans to finance specific construction projects. Consumer loans include installment loans to consumers.

 

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Table of Contents

The following tables set forth the maturity distribution of our loan portfolio (excluding consumer and residential mortgage loans and mortgage loans held for sale) at September 30, 2004:

 

     September 30, 2004

    

One Year

or Less


  

Over One Year

Through

Five Years


   Over Five
Years


   Total

     (Dollars in thousands)

Real estate and construction loans(1)

                           

Floating rate

   $ 47,284    $ 33,785    $ 104,440    $ 185,509

Fixed rate

     190      8,178      13,679      22,047

Commercial loans

                           

Floating rate

     52,515      24,072      3,456      80,043

Fixed rate

     3,084      13,107      1,002      17,193
    

  

  

  

Total

   $ 103,073    $ 79,142    $ 122,577    $ 304,792
    

  

  

  


(1) Does not include mortgage loans on single and multi-family residences and consumer loans, which totaled $174.9 million and $4.5 million, respectively, at September 30, 2004.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses and Nonperforming Loans

 

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses (the “Allowance”) at September 30, 2004 was $4.0 million, which represented about 0.84% of the loans outstanding at September 30, 2004, as compared to $3.9 million, or 1.12%, of the loans outstanding at December 31, 2003, in each case exclusive of loans held for sale. This reduction in the ratio of the Allowance to loans outstanding at September 30, 2004 was the result of the combined effects of an increase in loan volume and a reduction in the provisions made for loan losses in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, which was made possible by an improvement in the quality of our loan portfolio as a result of: (i) an $822,000 charge off of a non-performing loan in the first quarter of 2004, for which reserves had been included in the Allowance at December 31, 2003, and (ii) a change in the mix of loans comprising the loan portfolio to a higher proportion of collateralized real estate loans which, as a general rule, pose a lower risk of loss than do commercial and consumer loans.

 

We carefully monitor changing economic conditions, the loan portfolio by category, the financial condition of borrowers, the history of the loan portfolio, and we follow bank regulatory guidelines in determining the adequacy of the Allowance. We believe that the Allowance at September 30, 2004 is adequate to provide for losses inherent in the loan portfolio. However, as the volume of loans increases, additional provisions for loan losses will be required to maintain the Allowance at adequate levels. Additionally, the Allowance was established on the basis of estimates and judgments regarding such matters as economic conditions and trends and the condition of borrowers, historical industry loan loss data and regulatory guidelines, and actual loan losses in the future could vary from the losses predicted on the basis of those estimates, judgments and guidelines. Therefore, if economic conditions were to deteriorate, or interest rates were to increase, which would have the effect of increasing the risk that borrowers would encounter difficulties meeting their loan payment obligations, it could become necessary to increase the Allowance by means of additional provisions for loan losses. See “—Results of Operations—Provision for Loan Losses” above.

 

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Table of Contents

Set forth below is a summary of the transactions in the allowance for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and the year ended December 31, 2003:

 

    

September 30,

2004


   

December 31,

2003


 
     (In thousands)

 

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 3,943     $ 2,435  

Provision for loan losses

     923       1,515  

Amounts charged off

     (823 )     (7 )
    


 


Balance, end of period

   $ 4,043     $ 3,943  
    


 


 

The $823,000 charge off during the nine months ended September 30, 2004 primarily represents one loan that had been fully reserved and included in the Allowance at December 31, 2003.

 

Non-Performing Loans. We also measure and establish reserves for loan impairments on a loan-by-loan basis using either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at a loan’s effective interest rate, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent. We exclude from our impairment calculations smaller, homogeneous loans such as consumer installment loans and lines of credit. Also, loans that experience insignificant payment delays or shortfalls are generally not considered impaired. We cease accruing interest, and therefore classify as nonaccrual, any loan as to which principal or interest has been in default for a period of 90 days or more, or if repayment in full of interest or principal is not expected.

 

At September 30, 2004, we had a $12,000 loan that was delinquent 90 days or more and which was classified as a nonaccrual and impaired loan. At December 31, 2003 there were $2.5 million of loans that were delinquent 90 days or more and which were classified as nonaccrual loans, of which $822,000 was charged off during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. We had no loans delinquent 90 days or more with principal still accruing interest or any restructured loans at September 30, 2004. At September 30, 2004, our average investment in impaired loans, on a year-to-date basis, was $800,000. The interest that we would have earned in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, had the impaired loans remained current in accordance with their original terms was $47,000.

 

Deposits

 

Average Balances of and Average Interest Rates Paid on Deposits. Set forth below are the average amounts of, and the average rates paid on, deposits for the nine months ended September 30, 2004:

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2004


 
     Average Balance

   Average Rate

 
     (In thousands)

 

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

   $ 164,709    —    

Interest-bearing checking accounts

     20,149    0.31 %

Money market and savings deposits

     121,912    1.21 %

Time deposits

     200,668    2.56 %
    

      

Total deposits

   $ 507,438    1.32 %
    

      

 

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Table of Contents

Deposit Totals. Deposits totaled $515 million at September 30, 2004 as compared to $495 million at December 31, 2003. At September 30, 2004, noninterest-bearing deposits comprised $177 million, or 34% of total deposits, as compared to $157 million, or 32%, of total deposits at December 31, 2003. By comparison, certificates of deposit in denominations of $100,000 or more comprised $89 million, or 17.3%, of total deposits at September 30, 2004 and $88 million, or 17.8%, of total deposits at December 31, 2003.

 

Set forth below is a maturity schedule of domestic time certificates of deposit outstanding at September 30, 2004:

 

     At September 30, 2004

Maturities:   

Certificates

of Deposit

Under

$100,000


  

Certificates

of Deposit

$100,000

or more


     (In thousands)

Three months or less

   $ 22,223    $ 28,999

Over three and through twelve months

     48,404      40,539

Over twelve months

     32,398      19,649
    

  

Total

   $ 103,025    $ 89,187
    

  

 

Business Segment Information

 

The Company has two reportable business segments: commercial banking and mortgage banking. The commercial banking segment provides small and medium-size businesses, professional firms and individuals with a diversified range of products and services such as various types of deposit accounts, various types of commercial and consumer loans, cash management services, and Internet banking services. The mortgage banking segment originates and purchases residential mortgages that, for the most part, are resold within 30 days to long-term investors in the secondary residential mortgage market.

 

Since we derive substantially all of our revenues from interest and noninterest income, and interest expense is our most significant expense, we report the net interest income (interest income less interest expense) and noninterest income (primarily net gains on sales of loans held for sale and fee income) for each of these segments. Set forth below are the net interest income and noninterest income for each of those business segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. The Company does not allocate general and administrative expenses or income taxes to the segments. Also set forth in the following table are the assets allocated to each of these business segments at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

 

     Commercial

   Mortgage

   Other

   Total

     (Dollars in thousands)

Net interest income for the period ended:

                           

September 30, 2004

   $ 10,647    $ 2,674    $ 3,071    $ 16,392

September 30, 2003

   $ 4,655    $ 2,421    $ 3,084    $ 10,160

Noninterest income for the period ended:

                           

September 30, 2004

   $ 1,035    $ 1,770    $ 486    $ 3,291

September 30, 2003

   $ 992    $ 4,893    $ 947    $ 6,832

Segment Assets at:

                           

September 30, 2004

   $ 403,553    $ 101,350    $ 313,509    $ 818,412

December 31, 2003

   $ 325,978    $ 45,812    $ 352,699    $ 724,489

 

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Table of Contents

Liquidity

 

We actively manage our liquidity needs to insure sufficient funds are available to meet the ongoing needs of our customers. We project the future sources and uses of funds and maintain sufficient liquid funds for unanticipated events. Our primary sources of cash include payments on loans, the sale or maturity of investments and growth in deposits. The primary uses of cash include funding new loans and making advances on existing lines of credit, purchasing investments, including securities available for sale, funding deposit withdrawals and paying operating expenses. We maintain funds in overnight federal funds and other short-term investments to provide for short-term liquidity needs. We also have obtained credit lines from the Federal Home Loan Bank and other financial institutions to meet any additional liquidity requirements.

 

Cash flow Provided by Financing Activities. Cash flow of $89 million was provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the source of which consisted primarily of net increases of $19 million in deposits and $70 million in net borrowings.

 

Cash flow From Operating Activities. Cash flow of $1.3 million was provided by our operating activities, primarily from net income and $228 million from sales of loans held for sale, offset by the origination of loans held for sale, which totaled $231 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Cash flow Used in Investing. Cash flow used in investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $83 million, primarily to fund an increase of $131 million in loans and $68 million of purchases of investment securities available for sale, offset somewhat by $116 million proceeds from sales of and principal payments received on investment securities available for sale in the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Our liquid assets, which included cash and due from banks, federal funds sold, interest earning deposits with financial institutions and unpledged securities available for sale (excluding Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock) totaled $147 million or 18% of total assets at September 30, 2004.

 

The relationship between gross loans and total deposits provides a useful measure of our liquidity. Since repayment of loans tends to be less predictable than the maturity of investments and other liquid resources, the higher the loan-to-deposit ratio the less liquid are our assets. On the other hand, since we realize greater yields and higher interest income on loans than we do on investments, a lower loan-to-deposit ratio can adversely affect interest income and earnings. As a result, our goal is to achieve a loan-to-deposit ratio that appropriately balances the requirements of liquidity and the need to generate a fair return on assets. At September 30, 2004, the ratio of loans-to-deposits (excluding loans held for sale) was 93%, compared to 71% at December 31, 2003. As the loan-to-deposit ratio has increased, we have utilized Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings to supplement deposits for liquidity.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Loan Commitments and Standby Letters of Credit. In order to meet the financing needs of our customers in the normal course of business, we make commitments to extend credit and issue standby commercial letters of credit to or for our customers. At September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, we were committed to fund certain loans (inclusive of mortgages held for sale) amounting to approximately $162 million and $157 million, respectively.

 

Commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and the customer may be required to pay a fee and meet other conditions in order to draw on those commitments or standby letters of credit. We expect, based on historical experience, that many of the commitments will expire without being drawn upon and, therefore, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

To varying degrees, commitments to extend credit involve elements of credit and interest rate risk for us that are in excess of the amounts recognized in our balance sheets. Our maximum exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the customers to

 

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Table of Contents

whom such commitments are made is equal to the amount of those commitments. As a result, before making such a commitment to a customer, we evaluate the customer’s creditworthiness using the same underwriting standards that we would apply if we were approving loans to the customer. In addition, we often require the customer to secure its payment obligations for amounts drawn on such commitments with collateral such as accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, income-producing commercial properties, residential properties and properties under construction. As a consequence, our exposure to credit and interest rate risk on such commitments is not different in character or amount than risks inherent in the outstanding loans in our loan portfolio.

 

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan commitments to customers.

 

We believe that our cash and cash equivalent resources, together with available borrowings under our credit facilities, will be sufficient to enable us to meet any increases in demand for loans or in the utilization of outstanding loan commitments or standby letters of credit and any increase in deposit withdrawals that might occur in the foreseeable future.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Borrowings. As of September 30, 2004, we had $126 million of outstanding long-term borrowings and $65 million of outstanding short-term borrowings that we had obtained from the Federal Home Loan Bank. The table below sets forth the amounts, in thousands of dollars, the interest rates we pay on, and the maturity dates of these Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings. These borrowings, along with the securities sold under agreements to repurchase, have a weighted-average annualized interest rate of 2.41%.

 

Principal

Amounts


   Interest Rate

   

Maturity Dates


  

Principal

Amounts


   Interest Rate

   

Maturity Dates


(Dollars in thousands)

         (Dollars in thousands)

     
$10,000    2.20 %   November 15, 2004    $ 5,000    2.00 %   February 13, 2006
6,000    1.27 %   January 24, 2005      5,000    2.50 %   February 21, 2006
9,000    1.93 %   February 18, 2005      6,000    2.34 %   February 28, 2006
5,000    2.33 %   June 15, 2005      5,000    3.13 %   June 19, 2006
5,000    2.31 %   June 17, 2005      5,000    2.76 %   August 9, 2006
7,000    2.29 %   June 24, 2005      2,000    2.94 %   August 28, 2006
5,000    2.24 %   August 29, 2005      3,000    2.56 %   September 18, 2006
10,000    2.70 %   September 19, 2005      3,000    2.49 %   September 25, 2006
3,000    1.93 %   September 19, 2005      5,000    2.39 %   October 2, 2006
5,000    1.76 %   September 30, 2005      2,000    2.40 %   October 2, 2006
5,000    2.34 %   October 13, 2005      5,000    2.69 %   December 12, 2006
7,000    2.34 %   November 14, 2005      5,000    2.67 %   December 18, 2006
5,000    2.35 %   November 14, 2005      4,000    2.50 %   January 22, 2007
5,000    2.33 %   November 17, 2005      5,000    2.57 %   February 12, 2007
5,000    2.33 %   November 21, 2005      3,000    3.14 %   September 18, 2007
7,000    2.41 %   January 9, 2006      2,000    3.06 %   September 24, 2007
6,000    1.94 %   January 23, 2006      1,000    2.91 %   October 1, 2007
10,000    2.74 %   January 30, 2006      5,000    3.45 %   February 11, 2009
5,000    2.66 %   February 2, 2006                  

 

At September 30, 2004, U.S. Agency and Mortgage Backed securities, U.S. Government agency securities and collateralized mortgage obligations with an aggregate fair market value of $144 million and $100 million of residential mortgage and other real estate secured loans were pledged to secure these Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings, repurchase agreements, local agency deposits, and Treasury, tax and loan accounts.

 

The highest amount of borrowings outstanding at any month end during the nine months ended September 30, 2004 consisted of $191 million of borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank and $17 million of overnight borrowings in the form of securities sold under repurchase agreements. During 2003, the highest amount of borrowings outstanding at any month end consisted of $124 million of advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank and $15 million of overnight borrowings in the form of securities sold under repurchase agreements.

 

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Table of Contents

Junior Subordinated Debentures. Pursuant to rulings of the Federal Reserve Board, bank holding companies have been permitted to issue long term subordinated debt instruments that will, subject to certain conditions, qualify as and, therefore, augment capital for regulatory purposes. Pursuant to those rulings, in 2002, we formed subsidiary grantor trusts to sell and issue to institutional investors a total of $17.5 million principal amount of floating junior trust preferred securities (“trust preferred securities”) and we received the net proceeds from those issuances in exchange for our issuances to the grantor trusts of $17.5 million principal amount of junior subordinated floating rate debentures (the “Debentures”), the payment terms of which mirror those of the trust preferred securities. The payments that we make of interest and principal on the Debentures are used by the grantor trusts to make the payments that come due to the holders of the trust preferred securities pursuant to the terms of those securities. As required by FIN 46 (which is described in “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies—Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” to our Interim Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements-included earlier in this Report), we deconsolidated the trusts as of March 31, 2004. Such deconsolidation had no material impact on our financial condition or results of operation.

 

Set forth below is certain information regarding the terms of the Debentures that were outstanding as of September 30, 2004:

 

Original Issue Dates


  Principal Amount

    

Interest Rate


 

Maturity Date


    (In thousands)

          

June 2002

  $ 5,155      LIBOR plus 3.75%(1)   June 2032

August 2002

    5,155      LIBOR plus 3.625% (2)   August 2032

September 2002

    7,217      LIBOR plus 3.40%(1)   September 2032
   

          

Total

  $ 17,527           
   

          

(1) Interest rate resets quarterly.
(2) Interest rate resets semi-annually.

 

These Debentures have quarterly or semi-annual interest payments, which may be deferred in the first 5 years at the option of the company, and are redeemable at our option beginning 5 years after their respective original issue dates.

 

Under the Federal Reserve Board rulings, the borrowings evidenced by the Debentures, which are subordinated to all other borrowings that are outstanding or which we may obtain in the future, are eligible (subject to certain limitations) to qualify and, at September 30, 2004, all $17.5 million of those Debentures qualified as Tier I capital for regulatory purposes. See discussion below under the subcaption “—Regulatory Capital Requirements.”

 

In October 2004, subsequent to the end of the third quarter of 2004, we established another grantor trust that issued an additional $10 million of trust preferred securities to an institutional investor and, in connection therewith, we issued an additional $10 million principal amount junior subordinated floating rate debentures in exchange for the proceeds raised from the sale of those trust preferred securities.

 

Investment Policy and Securities Available for Sale

 

Our investment policy is designed to provide for our liquidity needs and to generate a favorable return on investments without undue interest rate risk, credit risk or asset concentrations.

 

Our investment policy:

 

  authorizes us to invest in obligations issued or fully guaranteed by the United States Government, certain federal agency obligations, time deposits issued by federally insured depository institutions, municipal securities and in federal funds sold;

 

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Table of Contents
  provides that the weighted average maturities of U.S. Government obligations and federal agency securities cannot exceed 10 years and municipal obligations cannot exceed 12 years;

 

  provides that time deposits must be placed with federally insured financial institutions, cannot exceed $100,000 in any one institution and may not have a maturity exceeding 60 months; and

 

  prohibits engaging in securities trading activities.

 

Securities available for sale are those that we intend to hold for an indefinite period of time, but which may be sold in response to changes in liquidity needs, changes in interest rates, changes in prepayment risks or other similar factors. Such securities are recorded at fair value. Any unrealized gains and losses are reported as “Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)” rather than included in or deducted from earnings.

 

The following is a summary of the major components of securities available for sale and a comparison of the amortized cost, estimated fair values and gross unrealized gains and losses as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003:

 

    

Amortized

Cost


  

Gross

Unrealized

Gain


  

Gross

Unrealized

Loss


  

Estimated

Fair Value


     (Dollars in thousands)

September 30, 2004

                           

Securities Available For Sale:

                           

Mortgage Backed Securities

   $ 212,652    $ 499    $ 2,137    $ 211,014

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

     10,866      32      95      10,803
    

  

  

  

Total Government and Agencies Securities

     223,518      531      2,232      221,817

Mutual Fund

     1,011      —        —        1,011
    

  

  

  

Total Securities Available For Sale

   $ 224,529    $ 531    $ 2,232    $ 222,828
    

  

  

  

December 31, 2003

                           

Securities Available For Sale:

                           

U.S. Agencies and Mortgage Backed Securities

   $ 235,795    $ 239    $ 2,236    $ 233,798

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

     20,628      54      131      20,551
    

  

  

  

Total Government and Agencies Securities

     256,423      293      2,367      254,349

Fannie Mae Trust Preferred Stock

     20,000      —        354      19,646
    

  

  

  

Total Securities Available For Sale

   $ 276,423    $ 293    $ 2,721    $ 273,995
    

  

  

  

 

At September 30, 2004, U.S. Agencies and Mortgage Backed securities, U.S. Government agency securities and collateralized mortgage obligations with an aggregate fair market value of $144 million were pledged to secure Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings, repurchase agreements, local agency deposits and Treasury, tax and loan accounts.

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value, at September 30, 2004, of securities available for sale are shown in the table below by contractual maturities and historical prepayments based on the prior nine months of principal payments. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities and historical prepayments, particularly with respect to collateralized mortgage obligations, because borrowers may react to interest rate market conditions differently than the historical prepayment rates.

 

     Maturing in

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

  

One year

or less


   

Over one

year

through

five

years


   

Over five

years

through

ten years


   

Over ten

years


    Total

 

Securities available for sale, amortized cost

   $ 56,301     $ 113,185     $ 41,764     $ 13,279     $ 224,529  

Securities available for sale, estimated fair value

     55,840       112,214       41,520       13,254       222,828  

Weighted average yield

     3.20 %     3.49 %     3.71 %     4.03 %     3.49 %

 

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The table below shows as of September 30, 2004, the gross unrealized losses and fair values of our investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time that the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

     Securities With Unrealized Loss as of September 30, 2004

     Less than 12 months

   12 months or more

   Total

(Dollars In thousands)    Fair Value

  

Unrealized

Loss


   Fair Value

  

Unrealized

Loss


   Fair Value

  

Unrealized

Loss


US Agencies and Mortgage Backed Securities

   $ 75,288    $ 495    $ 77,526    $ 1,641    $ 152,814    $ 2,136

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

     1,588      2      7,093      94      8,681      96
    

  

  

  

  

  

Total Temporarily impaired securities

   $ 76,876    $ 497    $ 84,619    $ 1,735    $ 161,495    $ 2,232
    

  

  

  

  

  

 

We regularly monitor investments for significant declines in fair value. We have determined that the declines in the fair values of these investments below their amortized costs, as set forth in the table above, are temporary based on the following: (i) those declines are due to interest rate changes and not due to a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuers of those investment securities, and (ii) we have the ability to hold those securities until there is a recovery in their values.

 

Capital Resources

 

Capital Regulatory Requirements Applicable to Banking Institutions. Under federal banking regulations that apply to all United States based bank holding companies and federally insured banks, the Company (on a consolidated basis) and the Bank (on a stand-alone basis) must meet specific capital adequacy requirements that, for the most part, involve quantitative measures that determine the ratios of their capital to their assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Under those regulations, based primarily on those quantitative measures each bank holding company and each federally insured bank is determined by its primary federal bank regulatory agency to come within on of the following categories.

 

  well capitalized

 

  adequately capitalized

 

  undercapitalized

 

  significantly undercapitalized; or

 

  critically undercapitalized

 

Certain qualitative assessments also are made by a banking institution’s primary federal regulatory agency that could lead the agency to determine that the banking institution should be assigned to a lower capital category than the one

 

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indicated by the quantitative measures used to assess the institution’s capital adequacy. At each successive lower capital category, a bank and its bank holding company are subject to greater operating restrictions and increased regulatory supervision by their federal bank regulatory agencies.

 

The following table sets forth the amounts of capital and capital ratios of the Company (on a consolidated basis) and the Bank (on stand alone bases) at September 30, 2004, as compared to the respective minimum regulatory requirements applicable to them.

 

     Actual

    Applicable Federal Regulatory Requirement

      

Capital Adequacy

Purposes


    To be Categorized As Well
Capitalized


     Amount

   Ratio

    Amount

   Ratio

    Amount

   Ratio

     (Dollars in thousands)

Total Capital to Risk Weighted Assets:

                                     

Company

   $ 95,824    16.2 %   $ 47,477    At least 8.0 %   $ 59,346    At least 10.0%

Bank

     62,990    10.8 %     46,865    At least 8.0 %     58,582    At least 10.0%

Tier 1 Capital to Risk Weighted Assets:

                                     

Company

   $ 91,781    15.5 %   $ 23,738    At least 4.0 %   $ 35,607    At least 6.0%

Bank

     58,969    10.1 %     23,433    At least 4.0 %     35,149    At least 6.0%

Tier 1 Capital to Average Assets:

                                     

Company

   $ 91,781    11.5 %   $ 31,988    At least 4.0 %   $ 39,985    At least 5.0%

Bank

     58,969    7.4 %     31,781    At least 4.0 %     39,727    At least 5.0%

 

As of September 30, 2004, based on applicable capital regulations, the Company (on a consolidated basis) and the Bank (on a stand-alone basis) qualify as well capitalized institutions under the capital guidelines described above.

 

The consolidated total capital and Tier 1 of the Company, at September 30, 2004, include approximately $17 million of long term indebtedness evidenced by the Junior Subordinated Debentures that we issued in 2002 in connection with the sale of junior trust preferred securities. See”—Financial Condition—Contractual Obligations” above. Because we contributed those proceeds to the capital of the Bank, its total capital and Tier 1 capital, at September 30, 2004 also include the proceeds of the sale of the Debentures.

 

We have been informed that the Federal Reserve Board is evaluating whether FIN No. 46 (which is described in “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies— Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” to our Interim Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statement” included earlier in this Report), will have any impact on its previous rulings that the Debentures, issued to secure trust preferred securities of its grantor trusts will qualify as Tier I capital. However, we have been advised the Federal Reserve Board is permitting bank holding companies to continue reporting such subordinated indebtedness as part of Tier I capital for regulatory purposes. In the event that the Federal Reserve Board was to retroactively revoke its prior rulings, we would become entitled under the instruments governing the Debentures to redeem those Debentures at par without having to wait until 2007 to do so.

 

Public Offering of Common Stock in 2003 and Issuance of Additional Junior Subordinated Debentures in October 2004. In December 2003 we completed a public offering of 3,680,000 shares of our common stock at a price $9.25 per share. In October 2004 we issued a total of $10 million principal amount of floating rate junior subordinated debentures of which $8 million qualify, under existing Federal Reserve Board rulings, as Tier 1 capital and the remainder as Tier II capital. The net proceeds of that public offering, which totaled approximately $31 million, increased our total capital to support, and a portion of those net proceeds have been used to fund the new Long Beach Financial Center and some of the loan growth achieved during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The remaining net proceeds of the stock offering and the net proceeds from the sale in October 2004 of the additional junior subordinated debentures, will be used to fund the addition of two full service financial centers that we plan to establish in Southern California over the next 12 months.

 

Dividend Policy. The Company intends to retain earnings to support future growth and, therefore, does not expect to pay dividends for at least the next 6-12 months.

 

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Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect Our Future Financial Performance

 

This Report, including the discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations set forth above, contains certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates of, or expectations or beliefs regarding our future financial performance that are based on current information and that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual operating results and financial performance in the future to differ significantly from those expected at the current time. Those risks and uncertainties include, although they are not limited to, the following:

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We face intense competition from other banks and financial institutions that could hurt our business

 

We conduct our business operations in Southern California, where the banking business is highly competitive and is dominated by a relatively small number of large multi-banks with offices operating over wide geographical areas. We also compete with other financial service businesses, mutual fund companies, and securities brokerage and investment banking firms that offer competitive banking and financial products and services. The larger banks, and some of those other financial institutions, have greater resources that enable them to conduct extensive advertising campaigns and to shift resources to regions or activities of greater potential profitability. Some of these banks and institutions also have substantially more capital and higher lending limits that could enable them to attract larger clients, and offer financial products and services that we are unable to offer, particularly with respect to attracting loans and deposits.

 

Increased competition may prevent us from (i) achieving increases, or could even result in a decrease, in our loan volume or deposit accounts or (ii) increasing interest rates on loans or reducing interest rates we pay to attract or retain deposits, any of which could cause a decline in interest income or an increase in interest expense, that could cause our net interest income and our earnings to decline.

 

Adverse changes in economic conditions in Southern California could disproportionately harm our business

 

The large majority of our customers and the properties securing a large proportion of our loans are located in Southern California. A worsening of economic conditions in Southern California could harm our business by:

 

  reducing loan demand which, in turn, would lead to reduced net interest margins and net interest income;

 

  affecting the financial capability of borrowers to meet their loan obligations which could, in turn, result in increases in loan losses and require increases in provisions made for possible loan losses, thereby reducing our earnings; and

 

  leading to reductions in real property values that, due to our reliance on real property to secure many of our loans, could make it more difficult for us to prevent losses from being incurred on non-performing loans through the sale of such real properties.

 

Additionally, real estate values in California have been increasing rapidly in recent years. In the event that these values are not sustained or other events, such as earthquakes or fires, that may be more prevalent in Southern California than other geographic areas, cause a decline in real estate values, our collateral coverage for our loans will be reduced and we may suffer increased loan losses.

 

National economic conditions and changes in Federal Reserve Board monetary policies could affect our operating results.

 

Our ability to achieve and sustain our profitability is substantially dependent on our net interest income. Like most banking organizations and other depository institutions, our interest income is affected by a number of factors outside of our control, including changes in market rates of interest, which in turn are affected by changes in national economic

 

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conditions and national monetary policies adopted by the Federal Reserve Board. From 2001 and continuing until June 30, 2004, the Federal Reserve Board followed a policy of reducing interest rates in an effort to stimulate the national economy. Those interest rate reductions, coupled with sluggishness in the economy, led to decreases in our net interest margin during 2003 and made it more difficult to increase earnings. We cannot predict whether the improvement in the economy will continue or whether the Federal Reserve Board’s recent increases in interest rates, which have totaled 75 basis points so far in the second half of 2004, will succeed in lessening the downward pressure on net interest margins that was prevalent through most of the last three years.

 

On the other hand, the benefits of increased market rates of interest may be offset, partially or in whole, because those increases will increase the costs of attracting deposits and obtaining borrowings. If we are unable to effectuate commensurate increases in the rates we are able to charge on existing or new loans due to competitive pressures or contractual restrictions on our ability to increase interest rates on existing loans, our net interest margin may suffer despite the increase in interest rates. Additionally, the recent increases in mortgage rates have led to a decline in mortgage loan originations and a reduction in our noninterest income during 2004. Changes in economic conditions and increasing rates of interest also could cause prospective borrowers to fail to qualify for our loan products and reduce loan demand, thereby reducing our net interest margins. In addition, if economic conditions were to worsen, that could adversely affect the financial capability of borrowers to meet their loan obligations, which could result in loan losses and require increases in provisions made for possible loan losses.

 

Rapid growth could strain our resources and lead to operating problems or inefficiencies

 

We have grown substantially in the past five years by opening new financial centers. We intend over the next 12 months to open additional financial centers, primarily in Southern California, either by opening new offices or acquiring one or more community banks. The opening of new offices or the acquisition of another bank will result in increased operating expenses until new banking offices or acquired banking operations attract sufficient business to cover operating expenses, which usually takes at least six to twelve months. There is no assurance, however, as to how long it would take for new financial centers to begin generating positive cash flow and earnings. Also, we cannot assure that we will be able to adequately manage our growth, which will make substantial demands on the time and attention of management and on our capital resources. The failure to prepare appropriately and on a timely basis for growth could cause us to experience inefficiencies or failures in our service delivery systems, regulatory problems, and erosion in customer confidence, unexpected expenses or other problems.

 

Additionally, acquisitions of banks are extremely time consuming and expensive, and, in the case of bank acquisitions, subject to regulatory control. Expansion through the acquisition of other banks may also have the following consequences:

 

  expenses of any undisclosed or potential legal liabilities of the acquired bank;

 

  costs, delays and difficulties of integrating the acquired bank’s operations, technologies and personnel into our existing operations, organization and culture;

 

  possible regulatory agency required divestiture of certain assets; and

 

  issuances of equity securities to pay for acquisitions which may be dilutive to existing shareholders.

 

We could incur losses on the loans we make

 

The failure or inability of borrowers to repay their loans is an inherent risk in the banking business. We take a number of measures designed to reduce this risk, including the maintenance of stringent loan underwriting policies and the establishment of reserves for possible loan losses and the requirement that borrowers provide collateral that we could sell in the event they fail to pay their loans. However, the ability of borrowers to repay their loans, the adequacy of our reserves and our ability to sell collateral for amounts sufficient to offset loan losses are affected by a number of factors outside of our control, such as changes in economic conditions, increases in market rates of interest and changes in the condition or value of the collateral securing our loans. As a result, we could incur losses on the loans we make that will hurt our operating results and weaken our financial condition.

 

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Government regulations may impair our operations or restrict our growth

 

We are subject to extensive supervision and regulation by federal and state bank regulatory agencies. The primary objective of these agencies is to protect bank depositors and other customers and not shareholders, whose respective interests will often differ. The regulatory agencies have the legal authority to impose restrictions which they believe are needed to protect depositors and customers of banking institutions, even if such restrictions would adversely affect the ability of the banking institution to expand its business, or result in increases in its costs of doing business or hinder its ability to compete with financial services companies that are not regulated or banks or financial service organizations that are less regulated. Additionally, due to the complex and technical nature of many of the government regulations to which banking organizations are subject, inadvertent violations may occur. In such an event, we would be required to correct or implement measures to prevent a recurrence of such violations. If more serious violations were to occur, the regulatory agencies could limit our activities or growth, fine us or ultimately put us out of business.

 

Our computer and network systems may be vulnerable to unforeseen problems and security risks

 

The computer systems and network infrastructure that we use to provide automated and Internet banking services could be vulnerable to unforeseen problems. Our operations are dependent upon our ability to protect our computer equipment against damage from fire, power loss, telecommunications failure, earthquakes and similar catastrophic events and from security breaches. Any of those occurrences could result in damage to or a failure of our computer systems that could cause an interruption in our banking services and, therefore, harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

 

Additionally, interruptions in service and security breaches could lead existing customers to terminate their banking relationships with us and could make it more difficult for us to attract new banking customers.

 

The loss of key personnel could hurt our financial performance

 

Our success depends to a great extent on the continued availability of our existing management, in particular on Raymond E. Dellerba, President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to their skills and experience as bankers, our executive officers provide us with extensive community ties upon which our competitive strategy is partially based. We do not maintain key-man life insurance on these executives, other than Mr. Dellerba. As a result, the loss of the services of any of these officers could harm our ability to implement our business strategy.

 

Evolving regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses and continuing uncertainty

 

Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new SEC regulations and NASDAQ Stock Market rules are creating uncertainty for companies such as ours. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a result, we intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to our practices, our reputation may be harmed or we may be subject to litigation.

 

Other Risks

 

Other risks that could affect our future financial performance are described in the Section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Prospectus dated December 8, 2003, included in our S-2 Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and readers are urged to review those risks as well.

 

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Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Report. We also disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this Report or in the above-referenced S-2 Registration Statement or Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 3. MARKET RISK

 

We are exposed to market risk as a consequence of the normal course of conducting our business activities. The primary market risk to which we are exposed is interest rate risk. Our interest rate risk arises from the instruments, positions and transactions entered into for purposes other than trading. They include loans, securities, deposit liabilities, and short-term borrowings. Interest rate risk occurs when assets and liabilities reprice at different times as market interest rates change. Interest rate risk is managed within an overall asset/liability framework for the Company.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in effect as of September 30, 2004. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2004, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective and designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within these entities.

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

The following documents are filed Exhibits to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibits:

   
Exhibit 31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Exhibit 31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Exhibit 32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Exhibit 32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

    PACIFICMERCANTILEBANCORP
Date: November 10, 2004   By:  

/s/ NANCY A. GRAY


        Nancy A. Gray, Chief Financial Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit


31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer under to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer under to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer under to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer under to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

E-1