Palmetto Bancshares Consummates Private Placement
October 7, 2010
GREENVILLE, SC – October 7, 2010 – Palmetto Bancshares, Inc., a bank holding company whose principal banking subsidiary is The Palmetto Bank, announced today that the Company consummated the previously announced $103 million private placement of its common stock with institutional investors, including CapGen Financial Partners, Patriot Financial Partners, and Sandler O’Neill Asset Management.
“As I have said before, completing the private placement in this difficult economic environment is a testament to our hard work and the value of The Palmetto Bank franchise,” said Samuel L. Erwin, Chief Executive Officer. “Raising additional capital has been an important component of our overall strategy to work through the effects of the challenging economy and the issues facing the Bank. While completing the capital raise is very important, our hard work continues on a day to day basis to reposition the Bank for the future. During the past eighteen months, we have also been keenly focused on taking strategic actions that in the long run will enhance the products and services provided to our customers and improve the earnings of the Bank.”
The Company used the net proceeds from the private placement primarily to contribute capital to The Palmetto Bank. The capital contribution to the Bank resulted in the Bank’s capital adequacy ratios exceeding the minimum capital levels required to be categorized as “well capitalized”. Under the stock purchase agreement with the investors, the Company also is permitted to conduct a $10 million offering after the closing of the private placement to current shareholders to purchase common stock of the Company.
“We appreciate the loyal support of our shareholders and customers during these trying times,” said L. Leon Patterson, Chairman of the Board. “We are now very much focused on the future and look forward to continuing the rich heritage of The Palmetto Bank as we enter a new era in the banking industry.”
About The Palmetto Bank
Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, The Palmetto Bank is a 104-year old independent state-chartered commercial bank and is the fifth-largest banking institution headquartered in South Carolina. The Palmetto Bank has assets of $1.4 billion and serves the Upstate through 29 banking locations in Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and York counties. The Bank specializes in providing personalized community banking services to individuals and small to mid-size businesses including Retail and Commercial Banking, Mortgage, Trust, Brokerage, and Insurance. Additional information may be found at the Company’s web site at www.palmettobank.com.
