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Filed by United Community Banks, Inc.

Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

Subject Company:  Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc.

Commission File No.: 021-332535

Date: July 20, 2021

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

For more information:

 

Jefferson Harralson

Chief Financial Officer

(864) 240-6208

Jefferson_Harralson@ucbi.com

 

United Community Banks, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Results

EPS of $0.78, Return on Assets of 1.46% and Return on Common Equity of 14.1%

 

GREENVILLE, SC – July 20, 2021 - United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI) (United) today announced that net income for the second quarter was $70.3 million and pre-tax, pre-provision income was $78.7 million. Diluted earnings per share of $0.78 for the quarter represented an increase of $0.46 or 144%, from the second quarter a year ago, and represented a decrease of $0.04 or 5% from the first quarter of 2021. On an operating basis, United’s diluted earnings per share of $0.79 was up 147% over the year ago quarter. United’s GAAP return on assets (ROA) was 1.46% and its return on common equity was 14.1% for the quarter. On an operating basis, United’s ROA was 1.48% and its return on tangible common equity was 17.8%. On a pre-tax, pre-provision basis, operating return on assets was 1.67% for the quarter. The quarter benefited from an allowance release of $13.6 million, reflecting continued improvement in economic conditions and forecasts in United’s markets.

 

Chairman and CEO Lynn Harton stated, “This has been an outstanding quarter for United. Our team once again was recognized by JD Power as having the Best Retail Customer Satisfaction in the Southeast. On July 6, we closed on the acquisition of FinTrust, accelerating our wealth management strategy. We announced expansion into two of the strongest markets in the Southeast, Charlotte and Nashville, via agreements to acquire outstanding community banks in those markets. In addition to these strategic accomplishments, our bankers continued to deliver strong performance results. Core loan growth, excluding PPP loans, was solid and we continue to be optimistic about the remainder of the year, given the momentum in our markets. Core deposit growth remains very strong. Credit results were excellent as well. I couldn’t be more proud of the United team and I congratulate them for delivering these tremendous results.”

 

Total loans decreased by $288 million during the quarter—impacted by $411 million of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. Excluding the effect of PPP loans, core organic loan growth was 5% annualized. Core transaction deposits grew by $432 million during the quarter, or 14% annualized, and United’s cost of deposits decreased by 5 basis points to 0.09%. The net interest margin decreased by 3 basis points from the first quarter due mainly to a change in the earning asset mix.

 

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Second Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights:

 

•Net income of $70.3 million and pre-tax, pre-provision income of $78.7 million

 

•EPS increased by 144% compared to second quarter 2020 on a GAAP basis and 147% on an operating basis; compared to first quarter 2021, EPS decreased by 5% on both a GAAP and operating basis

 

•Return on assets of 1.46%, or 1.48% on an operating basis

 

•Pre-tax, pre-provision return on assets of 1.64%, or 1.67% on an operating basis

 

•Return on common equity of 14.1%

 

•Return on tangible common equity of 17.8% on an operating basis

 

•A release of provision for credit losses of $13.6 million, which reduced the allowance for loan losses to 0.98% of loans (1.02%, excluding PPP loans) from 1.09% in the first quarter

 

•Loan production of $1.3 billion, resulting in core loan growth of 5%, annualized for the quarter, excluding the impact of $411 million in PPP loans being forgiven

 

•Core transaction deposits were up $432 million, which represents a 14% annualized growth rate for the quarter

 

•Net interest margin of 3.19% was down 3 basis points from the first quarter, due to continued strong deposit growth and an earning asset mix change toward securities

 

•Record mortgage closings of $680 million compared to $563 million a year ago; mortgage rate locks of $702 million compared to $802 million a year ago

 

•Noninterest income was down $8.9 million on a linked quarter basis, primarily driven by slowing mortgage rate lock activity

 

•Noninterest expenses increased by $346,000 compared to the first quarter on a GAAP basis and by $811,000 on an operating basis mostly due to increased professional fees and mortgage commissions

 

•Efficiency ratio of 54.5%, or 53.9% on an operating basis

 

•Net recoveries of $456,000 or 2 basis points as a percent of average loans, down 1 basis point from the first quarter

 

•Nonperforming assets of 0.25% of total assets, down 5 basis points compared to March 31, 2021

 

•Total loan deferrals of $18 million or 0.2% of the total loan portfolio compared to $48 million or 0.4% in the first quarter

 

•Quarterly common shareholder dividend of $0.19 per share declared during the quarter, an increase of 6% year-over-year

 

•Announced the acquisition of FinTrust Capital Partners, LLC, a registered investment adviser, which closed on July 6, 2021; it added $2.1 billion in assets under management and is expected to add $0.02 in EPS accretion in 2022

 

•Announced the acquisition of Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc. with $752 million in assets on May 27; it is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021 and add $0.08 in EPS accretion in 2022 with cost savings fully phased in

 

•Announced the acquisition of Reliant Bancorp, Inc. with $3.1 billion in assets on July 14; it is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022 and add $0.15 in EPS accretion in 2022 and $0.22 in 2023 with cost savings fully phased in

 

Conference Call

 

United will hold a conference call on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the contents of this press release and to share business highlights for the quarter. To access the call, dial (877) 380-5665 and use the conference number 9585551. The conference call also will be webcast and available for replay for 30 days by selecting “Events & Presentations” within the Investor Relations section of United’s website at www.ucbi.com.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                                    
Selected Financial Information                                    
   2021   2020       For the Six Months Ended
June 30,		     
(in thousands, except per share data)  Second
Quarter		   First
Quarter		   Fourth
Quarter		   Third
Quarter		   Second
Quarter		   Second
Quarter
2021 - 2020
Change		   2021   2020   YTD 2021
- 2020
Change		 
INCOME SUMMARY                                             
Interest revenue  $145,809   $141,542   $156,071   $141,773   $123,605        $287,351   $260,152      
Interest expense   7,433    9,478    10,676    13,319    14,301         16,911    32,242      
Net interest revenue   138,376    132,064    145,395    128,454    109,304    27%   270,440    227,910    19%
(Release of) provision for credit losses   (13,588)   (12,281)   2,907    21,793    33,543         (25,869)   55,734      
Noninterest income   35,841    44,705    41,375    48,682    40,238    (11)   80,546    66,052    22 
Total revenue   187,805    189,050    183,863    155,343    115,999    62    376,855    238,228    58 
Expenses   95,540    95,194    106,490    95,981    83,980    14    190,734    165,518    15 
Income before income tax expense   92,265    93,856    77,373    59,362    32,019    188    186,121    72,710    156 
Income tax expense   22,005    20,150    17,871    11,755    6,923    218    42,155    15,730    168 
Net income   70,260    73,706    59,502    47,607    25,096    180    143,966    56,980    153 
Merger-related and other charges   1,078    1,543    2,452    3,361    397         2,621    1,205      
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges   (246)   (335)   (552)   (519)   (87)        (581)   (269)     
Net income - operating (1)  $71,092   $74,914   $61,402   $50,449   $25,406    180   $146,006   $57,916    152 
                                              
Pre-tax pre-provision income (5)  $78,677   $81,575   $80,280   $81,155   $65,562    20   $160,252   $128,444    25 
                                              
PERFORMANCE MEASURES                                             
Per common share:                                             
Diluted net income - GAAP  $0.78   $0.82   $0.66   $0.52   $0.32    144   $1.60   $0.71    125 
Diluted net income - operating (1)   0.79    0.83    0.68    0.55    0.32    147    1.62    0.73    122 
Cash dividends declared   0.19    0.19    0.18    0.18    0.18    6    0.38    0.36    6 
Book value   22.81    22.15    21.90    21.45    21.22    7    22.81    21.22    7 
Tangible book value (3)   18.49    17.83    17.56    17.09    16.95    9    18.49    16.95    9 
Key performance ratios:                                             
Return on common equity - GAAP (2)(4)   14.08%   15.37%   12.36%   10.06%   6.17%        14.71%   7.01%     
Return on common equity - operating (1)(2)(4)   14.25    15.63    12.77    10.69    6.25         14.92    7.13      
Return on tangible common equity - operating (1)(2)(3)(4)   17.81    19.68    16.23    13.52    8.09         18.72    9.20      
Return on assets - GAAP (4)   1.46    1.62    1.30    1.07    0.71         1.54    0.85      
Return on assets - operating (1)(4)   1.48    1.65    1.34    1.14    0.72         1.56    0.86      
Return on assets - pre-tax pre-provision (4)(5)   1.64    1.80    1.77    1.86    1.86         1.72    1.91      

Return on assets - pre-tax pre-provision, excluding

merger- related and other charges (1)(4)(5)

   1.67    1.83    1.82    1.93    1.87         1.75    1.92      
Net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent) (4)   3.19    3.22    3.55    3.27    3.42         3.20    3.73      
Efficiency ratio - GAAP   54.53    53.55    56.73    54.14    55.86         54.04    56.00      
Efficiency ratio - operating (1)   53.92    52.68    55.42    52.24    55.59         53.30    55.59      
Equity to total assets   11.04    10.95    11.29    11.47    11.81         11.04    11.81      
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (3)   8.71    8.57    8.81    8.89    9.12         8.71    9.12      
                                              
ASSET QUALITY                                             
Nonperforming loans  $46,123   $55,900   $61,599   $49,084   $48,021    (4)  $46,123   $48,021    (4)
Foreclosed properties   224    596    647    953    477         224    477      
Total nonperforming assets ("NPAs")   46,347    56,496    62,246    50,037    48,498    (4)   46,347    48,498    (4)
Allowance for credit losses - loans   111,616    126,866    137,010    134,256    103,669    8    111,616    103,669    8 
Net charge-offs   (456)   (305)   1,515    2,538    6,149         (761)   14,263    (105)
Allowance for credit losses - loans to loans   0.98%   1.09%   1.20%   1.14%   1.02%        0.98%   1.02%     
Net charge-offs to average loans (4)   (0.02)   (0.01)   0.05    0.09    0.25         (0.01)   0.31      
NPAs to loans and foreclosed properties   0.41    0.48    0.55    0.42    0.48         0.41    0.48      
NPAs to total assets   0.25    0.30    0.35    0.29    0.32         0.25    0.32      
                                              
AVERAGE BALANCES ($ in millions)                                             
Loans  $11,617   $11,433   $11,595   $11,644   $9,773    19   $11,525   $9,301    24 
Investment securities   4,631    3,991    3,326    2,750    2,408    92    4,313    2,464    75 
Earning assets   17,540    16,782    16,394    15,715    12,958    35    17,163    12,378    39 
Total assets   18,792    18,023    17,698    17,013    14,173    33    18,410    13,558    36 
Deposits   16,132    15,366    15,057    14,460    12,071    34    15,751    11,493    37 
Shareholders’ equity   2,060    2,025    1,994    1,948    1,686    22    2,042    1,670    22 
Common shares - basic (thousands)   87,289    87,322    87,258    87,129    78,920    11    87,306    79,130    10 
Common shares - diluted (thousands)   87,421    87,466    87,333    87,205    78,924    11    87,443    79,186    10 
                                              
AT PERIOD END ($ in millions)                                             
Loans  $11,391   $11,679   $11,371   $11,799   $10,133    12   $11,391   $10,133    12 
Investment securities   4,928    4,332    3,645    3,089    2,432    103    4,928    2,432    103 
Total assets   18,896    18,557    17,794    17,153    15,005    26    18,896    15,005    26 
Deposits   16,328    15,993    15,232    14,603    12,702    29    16,328    12,702    29 
Shareholders’ equity   2,086    2,031    2,008    1,967    1,772    18    2,086    1,772    18 
Common shares outstanding (thousands)   86,665    86,777    86,675    86,611    78,335    11    86,665    78,335    11 

(1) Excludes merger-related and other charges. (2) Net income less preferred stock dividends, divided by average realized common equity, which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). (3) Excludes effect of acquisition related intangibles and associated amortization. (4) Annualized. (5) Excludes income tax expense and provision for credit losses.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                                          
Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation
Selected Financial Information                                          
    2021     2020     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,		  
(in thousands, except per share data)   Second
Quarter		     First
Quarter		     Fourth
Quarter		     Third
Quarter		     Second
Quarter		     2021     2020  
Expense reconciliation                                                        
Expenses (GAAP)   $ 95,540     $ 95,194     $ 106,490     $ 95,981     $ 83,980     $ 190,734     $ 165,518  
Merger-related and other charges     (1,078 )     (1,543 )     (2,452 )     (3,361 )     (397 )     (2,621 )     (1,205 )
Expenses - operating   $ 94,462     $ 93,651     $ 104,038     $ 92,620     $ 83,583     $ 188,113     $ 164,313  
                                                         
Net income reconciliation                                                        
Net income (GAAP)   $ 70,260     $ 73,706     $ 59,502     $ 47,607     $ 25,096     $ 143,966     $ 56,980  
Merger-related and other charges     1,078       1,543       2,452       3,361       397       2,621       1,205  
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges     (246 )     (335 )     (552 )     (519 )     (87 )     (581 )     (269 )
Net income - operating   $ 71,092     $ 74,914     $ 61,402     $ 50,449     $ 25,406     $ 146,006     $ 57,916  
                                                         
Net income to pre-tax pre-provision income reconciliation                                                        
Net income (GAAP)   $ 70,260     $ 73,706     $ 59,502     $ 47,607     $ 25,096     $ 143,966     $ 56,980  
Income tax expense     22,005       20,150       17,871       11,755       6,923       42,155       15,730  
(Release of) provision for credit losses     (13,588 )     (12,281 )     2,907       21,793       33,543       (25,869 )     55,734  
Pre-tax pre-provision income   $ 78,677     $ 81,575     $ 80,280     $ 81,155     $ 65,562     $ 160,252     $ 128,444  
                                                         
Diluted income per common share reconciliation                                                        
Diluted income per common share (GAAP)   $ 0.78     $ 0.82     $ 0.66     $ 0.52     $ 0.32     $ 1.60     $ 0.71  
Merger-related and other charges, net of tax     0.01       0.01       0.02       0.03       —       0.02       0.02  
Diluted income per common share - operating   $ 0.79     $ 0.83     $ 0.68     $ 0.55     $ 0.32     $ 1.62     $ 0.73  
                                                         
Book value per common share reconciliation                                                        
Book value per common share (GAAP)   $ 22.81     $ 22.15     $ 21.90     $ 21.45     $ 21.22     $ 22.81     $ 21.22  
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles     (4.32 )     (4.32 )     (4.34 )     (4.36 )     (4.27 )     (4.32 )     (4.27 )
Tangible book value per common share   $ 18.49     $ 17.83     $ 17.56     $ 17.09     $ 16.95      $ 18.49     $ 16.95  
                                                         
Return on tangible common equity reconciliation                                                        
Return on common equity (GAAP)     14.08 %     15.37 %     12.36 %     10.06 %     6.17 %     14.71 %     7.01 %
Merger-related and other charges, net of tax     0.17       0.26       0.41       0.63       0.08       0.21       0.12  
Return on common equity - operating     14.25       15.63       12.77       10.69       6.25       14.92       7.13  
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles     3.56       4.05       3.46       2.83       1.84       3.80       2.07  
Return on tangible common equity - operating     17.81 %     19.68 %     16.23 %     13.52 %     8.09 %     18.72 %     9.20 %
                                                         
Return on assets reconciliation                                                        
Return on assets (GAAP)     1.46 %     1.62 %     1.30 %     1.07 %     0.71 %     1.54 %     0.85 %
Merger-related and other charges, net of tax     0.02       0.03       0.04       0.07       0.01       0.02       0.01  
Return on assets - operating     1.48 %     1.65 %     1.34 %     1.14 %     0.72 %     1.56 %     0.86 %
                                                         
Return on assets to return on assets- pre-tax pre-provision reconciliation                                                        
Return on assets (GAAP)     1.46 %     1.62 %     1.30 %     1.07 %     0.71 %     1.54 %     0.85 %
Income tax expense     0.47       0.46       0.40       0.28       0.20       0.46       0.23  
(Release of) provision for credit losses     (0.29 )     (0.28 )     0.07       0.51       0.95       (0.28 )     0.83  
Return on assets - pre-tax, pre-provision     1.64       1.80       1.77       1.86       1.86       1.72       1.91  
Merger-related and other charges     0.03       0.03       0.05       0.07       0.01       0.03       0.01  
Return on assets - pre-tax pre-provision, excluding merger-related and other charges     1.67 %     1.83 %     1.82 %     1.93 %     1.87 %     1.75 %     1.92 %
                                                         
Efficiency ratio reconciliation                                                        
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)     54.53 %     53.55 %     56.73 %     54.14 %     55.86 %     54.04 %     56.00 %
Merger-related and other charges     (0.61 )     (0.87 )     (1.31 )     (1.90 )     (0.27 )     (0.74 )     (0.41 )
Efficiency ratio - operating     53.92 %     52.68 %     55.42 %     52.24 %     55.59 %     53.30 %     55.59 %
                                                         
Tangible common equity to tangible assets reconciliation                                                        
Equity to total assets (GAAP)     11.04 %     10.95 %     11.29 %     11.47 %     11.81 %     11.04 %     11.81 %
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles     (1.82 )     (1.86 )     (1.94 )     (2.02 )     (2.05 )     (1.82 )     (2.05 )
Effect of preferred equity     (0.51 )     (0.52 )     (0.54 )     (0.56 )     (0.64 )     (0.51 )     (0.64 )
Tangible common equity to tangible assets     8.71 %     8.57 %     8.81 %     8.89 %     9.12 %     8.71 %     9.12 %
                                                         
Allowance for credit losses - loans to loans reconciliation                                                        
Allowance for credit losses - loans to loans (GAAP)     0.98 %     1.09 %     1.20 %     1.14 %     1.02 %     0.98 %     1.02 %
Effect of PPP loans     0.04       0.09       0.08       0.14       0.13       0.04       0.13  
Allowance for credit losses - loans to loans, excluding PPP loans     1.02 %     1.18 %     1.28 %     1.28 %     1.15 %     1.02 %     1.15 %

 

4

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                        
Financial Highlights                        
Loan Portfolio Composition at Period-End                        
   2021   2020         
(in millions)  Second
Quarter		   First
Quarter		   Fourth
Quarter		   Third
Quarter		   Second
Quarter		   Linked
Quarter
Change		   Year over
Year
Change		 
LOANS BY CATEGORY                                   
Owner occupied commercial RE  $2,149   $2,107   $2,090   $2,009   $1,759   $42   $390 
Income producing commercial RE   2,550    2,599    2,541    2,493    2,178    (49)   372 
Commercial & industrial   1,762    1,760    1,853    1,788    1,219    2    543 
Paycheck protection program   472    883    646    1,317    1,095    (411)   (623)
Commercial construction   927    960    967    987    946    (33)   (19)
Equipment financing   969    913    864    823    779    56    190 
     Total commercial   8,829    9,222    8,961    9,417    7,976    (393)   853 
Residential mortgage   1,473    1,362    1,285    1,270    1,152    111    321 
Home equity lines of credit   661    679    697    707    654    (18)   7 
Residential construction   289    272    281    257    230    17    59 
Consumer   139    144    147    148    121    (5)   18 
     Total loans  $11,391   $11,679   $11,371   $11,799   $10,133   $(288)  $1,258 
                                    
LOANS BY MARKET (1)                                   
North Georgia  $962   $982   $955   $945   $951   $(20)  $11 
Atlanta   1,938    1,953    1,889    1,853    1,852    (15)   86 
North Carolina   1,374    1,326    1,281    1,246    1,171    48    203 
Coastal Georgia   605    597    617    614    618    8    (13)
Gainesville   224    222    224    229    233    2    (9)
East Tennessee   394    398    415    420    433    (4)   (39)
South Carolina   2,107    1,997    1,947    1,870    1,778    110    329 
Florida   1,141    1,160    1,435    1,453    —    (19)   1,141 
Commercial Banking Solutions   2,646    3,044    2,608    3,169    3,097    (398)   (451)
     Total loans  $11,391   $11,679   $11,371   $11,799   $10,133   $(288)  $1,258 

(1) Certain loans previously included in the Florida geographic market were reclassified to Commercial Banking Solutions following Seaside’s core systems conversion in the first quarter of 2021.

 

5

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                        
Financial Highlights                        
Credit Quality                        
   2021   2020             
(in thousands)  Second
Quarter		   First
Quarter		   Fourth
Quarter		          
NONACCRUAL LOANS                              
Owner occupied RE  $6,128   $7,908   $8,582             
Income producing RE   13,100    13,740    15,149                
Commercial & industrial   8,563    13,864    16,634                
Commercial construction   1,229    1,984    1,745                
Equipment financing   1,771    2,171    3,405                
     Total commercial   30,791    39,667    45,515                
Residential mortgage   13,485    14,050    12,858                
Home equity lines of credit   1,433    1,707    2,487                
Residential construction   307    322    514                
Consumer   107    154    225                
     Total  $46,123   $55,900   $61,599             

 

   2021   2020 
   Second Quarter   First Quarter   Fourth Quarter 
(in thousands)  Net Charge-
Offs		   Net Charge-
Offs to
Average
Loans (1)		   Net Charge-
Offs		   Net Charge-
Offs to
Average
Loans (1)		   Net Charge-
Offs		   Net Charge-
Offs to
Average
Loans (1)		 
NET CHARGE-OFFS BY CATEGORY                              
Owner occupied RE  $(155)   (0.03)%  $(240)   (0.05)%  $(277)   (0.05)%
Income producing RE   (161)   (0.02)   991    0.16    (1,718)   (0.27)
Commercial & industrial   60    0.01    (2,753)   (0.44)   2,294    0.33 
Commercial construction   (293)   (0.12)   22    0.01    (129)   (0.05)
Equipment financing   301    0.13    1,511    0.70    1,595    0.75 
     Total commercial   (248)   (0.01)   (469)   (0.02)   1,765    0.08 
Residential mortgage   (194)   (0.05)   92    0.03    (25)   (0.01)
Home equity lines of credit   (112)   (0.07)   (73)   (0.04)   (151)   (0.09)
Residential construction   (33)   (0.05)   (60)   (0.09)   (47)   (0.07)
Consumer   131    0.37    205    0.58    (27)   (0.07)
     Total  $(456)   (0.02)  $(305)   (0.01)  $1,515    0.05 
(1)  Annualized.                              

 

6

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except share and per share data)  June 30,
2021		   December 31, 2020 
ASSETS          
Cash and due from banks  $121,589   $148,896 
Interest-bearing deposits in banks   1,297,808    1,459,723 
Cash and cash equivalents   1,419,397    1,608,619 
Debt securities available-for-sale   4,075,781    3,224,721 
Debt securities held-to-maturity (fair value $861,488 and $437,193)   852,404    420,361 
Loans held for sale at fair value   98,194    105,433 
Loans and leases held for investment   11,390,746    11,370,815 
Less allowance for credit losses - loans and leases   (111,616)   (137,010)
Loans and leases, net   11,279,130    11,233,805 
Premises and equipment, net   224,980    218,489 
Bank owned life insurance   203,449    201,969 
Accrued interest receivable   43,521    47,672 
Net deferred tax asset   32,918    38,411 
Derivative financial instruments   58,489    86,666 
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net   379,909    381,823 
Other assets   227,551    226,405 
Total assets  $18,895,723   $17,794,374 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY          
Liabilities:          
Deposits:          
Noninterest-bearing demand  $6,260,756   $5,390,291 
NOW and interest-bearing demand   3,518,686    3,346,490 
Money market   3,766,645    3,550,335 
Savings   1,097,663    950,854 
Time   1,500,049    1,704,290 
Brokered   183,968    290,098 
Total deposits   16,327,767    15,232,358 
Long-term debt   261,919    326,956 
Derivative financial instruments   27,089    29,003 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   192,662    198,527 
Total liabilities   16,809,437    15,786,844 
Shareholders' equity:          
Preferred stock; $1 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
Series I, $25,000 per share liquidation preference; 4,000 shares issued and outstanding
   96,422    96,422 
Common stock, $1 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized;
86,664,894 and 86,675,279 shares issued and outstanding
   86,665    86,675 
Common stock issuable; 571,580 and 600,834 shares   10,650    10,855 
Capital surplus   1,636,875    1,638,999 
Retained earnings   244,006    136,869 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   11,668    37,710 
Total shareholders' equity   2,086,286    2,007,530 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $18,895,723   $17,794,374 

 

7

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended
June 30,		   Six Months Ended
June 30,		 
(in thousands, except per share data)  2021   2020   2021   2020 
Interest revenue:                    
Loans, including fees  $128,058   $107,862   $253,784   $225,925 
Investment securities, including tax exempt of $2,255 and $1,570 and $4,405 and $3,093, respectively   17,542    15,615    32,990    33,009 
Deposits in banks and short-term investments   209    128    577    1,218 
Total interest revenue   145,809    123,605    287,351    260,152 
                     
Interest expense:                    
Deposits:                    
NOW and interest-bearing demand   1,382    1,628    2,868    4,606 
Money market   1,355    3,421    3,159    7,952 
Savings   53    39    102    74 
Time   830    6,183    2,710    13,714 
Deposits   3,620    11,271    8,839    26,346 
Short-term borrowings   —    —    —    1 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   —    —    2    1 
Long-term debt   3,813    3,030    8,070    5,894 
Total interest expense   7,433    14,301    16,911    32,242 
Net interest revenue   138,376    109,304    270,440    227,910 
(Release of) provision for credit losses   (13,588)   33,543    (25,869)   55,734 
Net interest revenue after provision for credit losses   151,964    75,761    296,309    172,176 
                     
Noninterest income:                    
Service charges and fees   8,335    6,995    15,905    15,633 
Mortgage loan gains and other related fees   11,136    23,659    33,708    31,969 
Wealth management fees   3,822    1,324    7,327    2,964 
Gains from sales of other loans, net   4,123    1,040    5,153    2,714 
Securities gains, net   41    —    41    — 
Other   8,384    7,220    18,412    12,772 
Total noninterest income   35,841    40,238    80,546    66,052 
Total revenue   187,805    115,999    376,855    238,228 
                     
Noninterest expenses:                    
Salaries and employee benefits   59,414    51,811    119,999    103,169 
Communications and equipment   7,408    6,556    14,611    12,502 
Occupancy   7,078    5,945    14,034    11,659 
Advertising and public relations   1,493    2,260    2,692    3,534 
Postage, printing and supplies   1,618    1,613    3,440    3,283 
Professional fees   4,928    4,823    9,162    8,920 
Lending and loan servicing expense   3,181    3,189    6,058    5,482 
Outside services - electronic banking   2,285    1,796    4,503    3,628 
FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges   1,901    1,558    3,797    3,042 
Amortization of intangibles   929    987    1,914    2,027 
Merger-related and other charges   1,078    397    2,621    1,205 
Other   4,227    3,045    7,903    7,067 
Total noninterest expenses   95,540    83,980    190,734    165,518 
Net income before income taxes   92,265    32,019    186,121    72,710 
Income tax expense   22,005    6,923    42,155    15,730 
Net income   70,260    25,096    143,966    56,980 
Preferred stock dividends   1,719    —    3,438    — 
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities   432    183    894    426 
Net income available to common shareholders  $68,109   $24,913   $139,634   $56,554 
                     
Net income per common share:                    
Basic  $0.78   $0.32   $1.60   $0.71 
Diluted   0.78    0.32    1.60    0.71 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                    
Basic   87,289    78,920    87,306    79,130 
Diluted   87,421    78,924    87,443    79,186 

 

8

 

 

Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
For the Three Months Ended June 30,

 

   2021   2020 
(dollars in thousands, fully taxable equivalent (FTE))  Average
Balance		   Interest   Average
Rate		   Average
Balance		   Interest   Average
Rate		 
Assets:                              
Interest-earning assets:                              
Loans, net of unearned income (FTE) (1)(2)  $11,616,802   $127,458    4.40%  $9,772,703   $107,398    4.42%
Taxable securities (3)   4,242,297    15,287    1.44    2,229,371    14,045    2.52 
Tax-exempt securities (FTE) (1)(3)   388,609    3,030    3.12    178,903    2,110    4.72 
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   1,292,026    1,055    0.33    776,776    857    0.44 
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   17,539,734    146,830    3.36    12,957,753    124,410    3.86 
                               
Noninterest-earning assets:                              
Allowance for credit losses   (128,073)             (89,992)          
Cash and due from banks   152,443              138,842           
Premises and equipment   225,017              217,096           
Other assets (3)   1,002,634              949,201           
Total assets  $18,791,755             $14,172,900           
                               
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:                              
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Interest-bearing deposits:                              
NOW and interest-bearing demand  $3,428,009    1,382    0.16   $2,444,895    1,628    0.27 
Money market   3,814,960    1,355    0.14    2,541,805    3,421    0.54 
Savings   1,080,267    53    0.02    788,247    39    0.02 
Time   1,548,487    899    0.23    1,805,671    6,058    1.35 
Brokered time deposits   64,332    (69)   (0.43)   130,556    125    0.39 
Total interest-bearing deposits   9,936,055    3,620    0.15    7,711,174    11,271    0.59 
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings   111    —    —    1    —    — 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   —    —    —    —    —    — 
Long-term debt   285,389    3,813    5.36    228,096    3,030    5.34 
Total borrowed funds   285,500    3,813    5.36    228,097    3,030    5.34 
Total interest-bearing liabilities   10,221,555    7,433    0.29    7,939,271    14,301    0.72 
                               
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                              
Noninterest-bearing deposits   6,196,045              4,360,095           
Other liabilities   314,130              187,375           
Total liabilities   16,731,730              12,486,741           
Shareholders' equity   2,060,025              1,686,159           
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $18,791,755             $14,172,900           
                               
Net interest revenue (FTE)       $139,397             $110,109      
Net interest-rate spread (FTE)             3.07%             3.14%
Net interest margin (FTE) (4)             3.19%             3.42%

 

(1)Interest revenue on tax-exempt securities and loans has been increased to reflect comparable interest on taxable securities and loans. The rate used was 26%, reflecting the statutory federal income tax rate and the federal tax adjusted state income tax rate.
(2)Included in the average balance of loans outstanding are loans on which the accrual of interest has been discontinued and loans that are held for sale.
(3)Securities available for sale are shown at amortized cost. Pretax unrealized gains of $28.6 million and $66.3 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively, are included in other assets for purposes of this presentation.
(4)Net interest margin is taxable equivalent net interest revenue divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

9

 

 

Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
For the Six Months Ended June 30,

 

   2021   2020 
(dollars in thousands, fully taxable equivalent (FTE))  Average
Balance		   Interest   Average
Rate		   Average
Balance		   Interest   Average
Rate		 
Assets:                              
Interest-earning assets:                              
Loans, net of unearned income (FTE) (1)(2)  $11,525,363   $252,580    4.42%  $9,300,792   $225,194    4.87%
Taxable securities (3)   3,932,545    28,585    1.45    2,293,502    29,916    2.61 
Tax-exempt securities (FTE) (1)(3)   380,370    5,918    3.11    170,578    4,155    4.87 
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   1,324,776    2,277    0.34    612,776    2,489    0.81 
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   17,163,054    289,360    3.40    12,377,648    261,754    4.25 
                               
Non-interest-earning assets:                              
Allowance for loan losses   (135,845)             (79,885)          
Cash and due from banks   146,401              133,548           
Premises and equipment   223,224              218,170           
Other assets (3)   1,012,896              908,828           
Total assets  $18,409,730             $13,558,309           
                               
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:                              
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Interest-bearing deposits:                              
NOW and interest-bearing demand  $3,379,794    2,868    0.17   $2,428,815    4,606    0.38 
Money market   3,774,201    3,159    0.17    2,441,264    7,952    0.66 
Savings   1,035,176    102    0.02    750,179    74    0.02 
Time   1,595,196    2,487    0.31    1,823,612    13,308    1.47 
Brokered time deposits   69,765    223    0.64    105,689    406    0.77 
Total interest-bearing deposits   9,854,132    8,839    0.18    7,549,559    26,346    0.70 
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings   62    —    —    199    1    1.01 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   1,657    2    0.24    83    1    2.42 
Long-term debt   301,193    8,070    5.40    220,429    5,894    5.38 
Total borrowed funds   302,912    8,072    5.37    220,711    5,896    5.37 
Total interest-bearing liabilities   10,157,044    16,911    0.34    7,770,270    32,242    0.83 
                               
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                              
Noninterest-bearing deposits   5,896,882              3,943,740           
Other liabilities   313,374              174,781           
Total liabilities   16,367,300              11,888,791           
Shareholders' equity   2,042,430              1,669,518           
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $18,409,730             $13,558,309           
                               
Net interest revenue (FTE)       $272,449             $229,512      
Net interest-rate spread (FTE)             3.06%             3.42%
Net interest margin (FTE) (4)             3.20%             3.73%

 

(1)Interest revenue on tax-exempt securities and loans has been increased to reflect comparable interest on taxable securities and loans. The rate used was 26%, reflecting the statutory federal income tax rate and the federal tax adjusted state income tax rate.
(2)Included in the average balance of loans outstanding are loans on which the accrual of interest has been discontinued and loans that are held for sale.
(3)Securities available for sale are shown at amortized cost. Pretax unrealized gains of $43.4 million and $59.6 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively, are included in other assets for purposes of this presentation.
(4)Net interest margin is taxable equivalent net-interest revenue divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

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About United Community Banks, Inc.

 

United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQGS: UCBI) provides a full range of banking, wealth management and mortgage services for relationship-oriented consumers and business owners. The company, known as “The Bank That SERVICE Built,” has been recognized nationally for delivering award-winning service. United has $18.9 billion in assets and 162 offices in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee along with a national SBA lending franchise and a national equipment lending subsidiary. In 2021, J.D. Power ranked United highest in customer satisfaction with retail banking in the Southeast, marking seven out of the last eight years United earned the coveted award. United was also named one of the "Best Banks to Work For" by American Banker in 2020 for the fourth year in a row based on employee satisfaction. Forbes included United in its inaugural list of the World’s Best Banks in 2019 and again in 2020. Forbes also recognized United on its 2021 list of the 100 Best Banks in America for the eighth consecutive year. United also received five Greenwich Excellence Awards in 2020 for excellence in Small Business Banking, including a national award for Overall Satisfaction. Additional information about United can be found at www.ucbi.com.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

This press release, including the accompanying financial statement tables, contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. This financial information includes certain operating performance measures, which exclude merger-related and other charges that are not considered part of recurring operations, such as “operating net income,” “pre-tax, pre-provision income,” “operating net income per diluted common share,” “operating earnings per share,” “tangible book value per common share,” “operating return on common equity,” “operating return on tangible common equity,” “operating return on assets,” “return on assets - pre-tax, pre-provision, excluding merger-related and other charges,” “return on assets - pre-tax, pre-provision,” “operating efficiency ratio,” and “tangible common equity to tangible assets.” These non-GAAP measures are included because United believes they may provide useful supplemental information for evaluating United’s underlying performance trends. These measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP measures that may be presented by other companies. To the extent applicable, reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable measures as reported in accordance with GAAP are included with the accompanying financial statement tables.

 

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS AND INVESTORS

 

In connection with the proposed mergers with Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Aquesta”) and Reliant Bancorp, Inc. (“Reliant”) (each a “Merger” and, collectively, the “Mergers”), United Community Banks, Inc. (“UCBI”) intends to file registration statements on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that will include proxy statements of Aquesta and Reliant to be sent to Aquesta’s and Reliant’s shareholders, respectively, seeking their approval of the respective Mergers. Each of the registration statements also will contain a prospectus of UCBI to register the shares of UCBI common stock to be issued in connection with the Mergers. A definitive proxy statement/prospectus will also be provided to Aquesta’s and Reliant’s shareholders as required by applicable law.

 

INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF AQUESTA AND RELIANT ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE APPLICABLE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS THAT WILL BE A PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY AQUESTA, RELIANT OR UCBI WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENTS AND THOSE OTHER DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT UCBI, AQUESTA RELIANT AND THE MERGERS.

 

The registration statements and other documents filed with the SEC may be obtained for free at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from UCBI at the “Investor Relations” section of UCBI’s website at www.ucbi.com, from Aquesta at the “Investor Relations” section of Aquesta’s website at www.aquesta.com. or from Reliant at the “Investors” section of Reliant’s website at www.reliantbank.com. Copies of the respective definitive proxy statements/prospectuses will also be made available, free of charge, by contacting United Community Banks, Inc., P.O. Box 398, Blairsville, GA 30514, Attn: Jefferson Harralson, Telephone: (864) 240-6208, Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc., 19510 Jetton Road, Cornelius, North Carolina 28031, Attn: Kristin Couch, Telephone: (704) 439-4325, Reliant Bancorp, Inc., 1736 Carothers Parkway Suite 100, Brentwood, TN 37027, Attn: Jerry Cooksey, Telephone: (615) 221-2020.

 

This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

 

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

 

Aquesta, Reliant and UCBI and certain of their respective directors and executive officers, under the rules of the SEC, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Aquesta’s shareholders and Reliant’s shareholders in favor of the approval of the respective Mergers. Information about the directors and officers of UCBI and their ownership of UCBI common stock can also be found in UCBI’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on March 30, 2021, and other documents subsequently filed by UCBI with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Aquesta and their ownership of Aquesta’s capital stock, as well as information regarding the interests of other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction, may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Merger with Aquesta when it becomes available. Information about the directors and executive officers of Reliant and their ownership of Reliant capital stock, as well as information regarding the interests of other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction, may be found in Reliant’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021, and other documents subsequently filed by Reliant with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of these participants will also be included in the proxy statement/prospectus pertaining to the respective Merger if and when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above.

 

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