<PAGE>
FILED PURSUANT TO
RULE 424(b)(4)
FILE NO: 333-38461
PROSPECTUS
1,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES
PREMIER CAPITAL TRUST I
9.00% CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25.00 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
LOGO PREMIER BANCSHARES, INC.
The 9.00% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities")
offered hereby represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of Premier Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under
the laws of the State of Delaware ("Premier Capital Trust"). Premier
Bancshares, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), will own all of the
common
(Continued on next page)
The Preferred Securities have been approved for quotation on the American
Stock Exchange, under the symbol "PMB.PR."
SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 12 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN RISK
FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE PREFERRED
SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY.
---------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE SECURITIES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS ARE NOT SAVINGS OR DEPOSIT
ACCOUNTS, ARE NOT OBLIGATIONS OF OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANKING OR
NONBANKING AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY (EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT PREFERRED
SECURITIES ARE GUARANTEED BY THE COMPANY AS DESCRIBED HEREIN), ARE NOT
INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER
GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING
POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO PREMIER
PUBLIC(1) COMMISSION(2) CAPITAL TRUST(3)(4)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Preferred Security...... $25.00 (3) $25.00
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total (5)................... $25,000,000 (3) $25,000,000
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Plus accumulated Distributions (as defined herein), if any, from the Issue
Date (as defined herein).
(2) Premier Capital Trust and the Company have each agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(3) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred
Securities will be invested in the Subordinated Debentures, the Company
has agreed to pay the Underwriters as compensation for their arranging the
investment therein of such proceeds, $1.00 per Preferred Security, or
$1,000,000 in the aggregate. See "Underwriting."
(4) Before deducting expenses of the offering which are payable by the
Company, estimated to be $350,000.
(5) Premier Capital Trust and the Company have granted the Underwriters an
option, exercisable within 30 days from the date of this Prospectus, to
purchase up to 150,000 additional Preferred Securities on the same terms
and conditions set forth above solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If
the option is exercised in full, the total Price to Public, Underwriting
Commission and Proceeds to Premier Capital Trust will be $28,750,000,
$1,150,000 and $28,750,000, respectively. See "Underwriting."
---------------
The Preferred Securities are offered, by the Underwriters subject to receipt
and acceptance by them, to prior sale and to the Underwriters' right to reject
any order in whole or in part and to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer
without notice. It is expected that delivery of the Preferred Securities will
be made on or about November 13, 1997.
---------------
J.C.Bradford&Co.
Interstate/Johnson Lane
Corporation
SterneAgee&Leach,Inc.
November 10, 1997
<PAGE>
(Continued from previous page)
securities (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred
Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of Premier Capital Trust. State Street Bank and Trust
Company ("State Street") is the Property Trustee (as defined herein) of
Premier Capital Trust. Premier Capital Trust exists for the purpose of issuing
the Preferred Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in an equivalent
amount of 9.00% Subordinated Debentures (the "Subordinated Debentures") of the
Company. The Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 31, 2027 (the
"Stated Maturity"). The Preferred Securities will have a preference over the
Common Securities under certain circumstances with respect to cash
distributions and amounts payable on liquidation, redemption or otherwise over
the Common Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--
Subordination of Common Securities."
Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash
distributions, at the annual rate of 9.00% of the liquidation amount of $25.00
per Preferred Security (the "Liquidation Amount"), accruing from the date of
original issuance (the "Issue Date") and payable quarterly in arrears on the
last day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing
December 31, 1997 (the "Distributions"). The Company has the right, so long as
no Debenture Event of Default (as defined herein) has occurred and is
continuing, to defer payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures at any
time or from time to time for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive quarters
with respect to each deferral period (each, an "Extended Interest Payment
Period"); provided that no Extended Interest Payment Period shall end on a day
other than an Interest Payment Date (as defined herein) or extend beyond the
Stated Maturity. Upon the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment
Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may elect to begin
a new Extended Interest Payment Period subject to the requirements set forth
herein. If interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures are so deferred,
distributions on the Preferred Securities will also be deferred, and the
Company will not be permitted, subject to certain exceptions described herein,
to declare or pay any cash distributions with respect to its capital stock or
debt securities that rank pari passu with or junior to the Subordinated
Debentures. During an Extended Interest Payment Period, interest on the
Subordinated Debentures will continue to accrue (and the amount of
distributions to which holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled will
continue to accumulate) at the rate of 9.00% per annum, compounded quarterly,
and holders of the Preferred Securities will be required to include interest
income in their gross income for United States federal income tax purposes in
advance of receipt of the cash distributions with respect to such deferred
interest payments. A holder of Preferred Securities that disposes of its
Preferred Securities between record dates for payments of distributions (and
consequently does not receive a distribution from Premier Capital Trust for
the period prior to such disposition) will nevertheless be required to include
accrued but unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures through the date of
disposition in income as ordinary income and to add such amount to its
adjusted tax basis in its pro rata share of the underlying Subordinated
Debentures deemed disposed of. See "Description of the Subordinated
Debentures--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period," "Material Federal
Income Tax Consequences--Potential Extension of Interest Payment Period and
Original Issue Discount" and "--Disposition of Preferred Securities."
The Company and Premier Capital Trust believe that, taken together, the
obligations of the Company under the Guarantee, the Trust Agreement, the
Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture and the Expense Agreement (each as
defined herein), provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and
unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, of all of the obligations of
Premier Capital Trust under the Preferred Securities. See "Relationship Among
the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee--Full
and Unconditional Guarantee." The Guarantee of the Company guarantees the
payment of Distributions and payments on liquidation or redemption of the
Preferred Securities, but only in each case to the extent of funds held by
Premier Capital Trust, as described herein. See "Description of the
Guarantee--General." If the Company does not make interest payments on the
Subordinated Debentures held by Premier Capital Trust, Premier Capital Trust
will have insufficient funds to pay Distributions on the Preferred Securities.
The Guarantee does not cover payments of Distributions when Premier Capital
Trust does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In such event,
a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company pursuant to the terms of the Indenture to force payments
of amounts equal to such Distributions to
<PAGE>
(Continued from previous page)
such holder. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Enforcement of
Certain Rights by Holders of the Preferred Securities." The obligations of the
Company under the Guarantee and the Preferred Securities are subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and
Additional Senior Obligations (each as defined herein) of the Company. The
Subordinated Debentures are unsecured obligations of the Company and are
subordinated to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior
Obligations of the Company.
The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in
part, upon repayment of the Subordinated Debentures at maturity or their
earlier redemption. Subject to approval of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve"), if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve, the
Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at the option of the
Company (i) on or after December 31, 2007 in whole at any time or in part from
time to time, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), within 180 days
following the occurrence of a Tax Event, a Capital Event or an Investment
Company Event (each as defined herein), in each case at a redemption price
equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures so
redeemed to the date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount
thereof allocated on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts) among
the Trust Securities (the "Redemption Price"). See "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange."
The Company has the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate
Premier Capital Trust subject to the Company's having received prior approval
of the Federal Reserve to do so if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. In the event of the voluntary
or involuntary dissolution, winding up or termination of Premier Capital
Trust, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Premier Capital Trust
as required by applicable law, the holders of Preferred Securities will be
entitled to receive a Liquidation Amount of $25.00 per Preferred Security,
plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment,
which may be in the form of a distribution of such amount of a Subordinated
Debenture having an aggregate principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount
of such Preferred Securities (and carrying with it accumulated interest in an
amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid Distributions then due on such
Preferred Securities), subject to certain exceptions. See "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange" and "--Liquidation Distribution
Upon Termination."
----------------
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE PREFERRED
SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL
IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY
TIME.
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") filed by the Company and Premier Capital Trust with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended (the "Securities Act") with respect to the Preferred Securities and
the Subordinated Debentures. This Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth in such Registration Statement, certain parts of which
are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission,
although it does include a summary of the material terms of the Indenture and
the Trust Agreement. Reference is made to such Registration Statement and to
the exhibits relating thereto for further information with respect to the
Company, Premier Capital Trust, the Preferred Securities and the Subordinated
Debentures. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed
with the Commission or incorporated by reference herein are not necessarily
complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such
document so filed for a more complete description of the matter involved. Each
such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance
therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Commission. Premier Capital Trust is not currently subject to the information
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and although Premier Capital Trust
will become subject to such requirements upon the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, it is not expected that Premier Capital Trust will be
filing separate reports under the Exchange Act. The Company's reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the following
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission: 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New
York 10048; and the Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such material may also be obtained by
mail from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, upon payment of prescribed rates. The
Company's common stock is listed on the American Stock Exchange, Inc., 86
Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006-1881 under the symbol "PMB." The
Commission maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and
information statements and other information regarding issuers who file
electronically with the Commission. The address of that site is
http://www.sec.gov. In addition, reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning the Company may be inspected at the offices of the
American Stock Exchange, Inc.
No separate financial statements of Premier Capital Trust have been included
herein. The Company does not consider that such financial statements would be
material to holders of Preferred Securities because (i) all of the voting
securities of Premier Capital Trust will be owned by the Company, a reporting
company under the Exchange Act, (ii) Premier Capital Trust has no independent
operations but exists for the sole purpose of issuing securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Premier Capital Trust and
investing the proceeds thereof in Subordinated Debentures issued by the
Company, and (iii) the obligations of the Company described herein to provide
certain indemnities in respect of and be responsible for certain costs,
expenses, debts and liabilities of Premier Capital Trust under the Indenture
and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Guarantee issued by the Company with
respect to the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures purchased by
Premier Capital Trust and the related Indenture, taken together, constitute,
in the belief of the Company and Premier Capital Trust, a full and
unconditional guarantee of payments due on the Preferred Securities. See
"Description of the Subordinated Debentures" and "Description of the
Guarantee."
1
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents, previously filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, are incorporated herein by
reference:
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by the Company's
Form 10-K/A, for the year ended December 31, 1996;
(b) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 1997, and Form 10-Q, as amended by the Company's Form 10-Q/A
for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 (which Quarterly Report on Form 10-
Q/A for June 30, 1997 includes (i) restated interim financial
statements giving effect to the combination of Central and Southern
Holding Company ("Central and Southern") with the Company, accounted
for as a pooling of interests, and (ii) management's discussion and
analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the
Company, giving effect to the combination of Central and Southern with
the Company, accounted for as a pooling of interests);
(c) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated June 23, 1997 and Form
8-K/A dated August 27, 1997 (which includes pro forma consolidated
financial statements of the Company, giving effect to the combination
of Central and Southern with the Company, accounted for as a pooling of
interests); and
(d) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated November 4, 1997 (which
includes (i) supplemental pro forma consolidated financial statements
of the Company giving effect to the combination of Citizens Gwinnett
Bankshares, Inc. with the Company, accounted for as a pooling of
interests, and (ii) restated annual financial statements of the Company
giving effect to the combination of Central and Southern with the
Company, accounted for as a pooling of interests).
All reports and any definitive proxy or information statements filed by the
Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Preferred Securities offered hereby shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus. In particular, reference is made to the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated November 4, 1997, which includes
(i) supplemental pro forma consolidated financial statements, giving effect to
the combination of Citizens Gwinnett Bankshares, Inc. with the Company and
(ii) restated financial statements of the Company giving effect to the
combination of Central and Southern with the Company, accounted for as a
pooling of interests. See "Prospectus Summary" and "The Company--Recent
Developments."
The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a
copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference (other
than exhibits to such documents which are not specifically incorporated by
reference in such documents). Written requests for such copies should be
directed to Michael E. Ricketson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, Premier Bancshares, Inc., 2180 Atlanta Plaza, 950 E. Paces Ferry
Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30326. Telephone requests may be directed to (404) 814-
3090.
2
<PAGE>
PREMIER BANCSHARES, INC.
LOGO
On June 24, 1997, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire
Citizens Gwinnett Bankshares, Inc., which is expected to close in 1997.
3
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated,
the information in this Prospectus does not give effect to the exercise of the
Underwriters' over-allotment option. Prospective investors should carefully
consider the information set forth under the heading "Risk Factors."
THE COMPANY
The Company, a Georgia corporation, is a bank and thrift holding company
headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Through its three wholly-owned financial
institution subsidiaries, Premier Bank, The Central and Southern Bank of
Georgia ("Central and Southern Bank"), and The Central and Southern Bank of
North Georgia, F.S.B. ("Central and Southern Bank of North Georgia")
(collectively, the "Banking Subsidiaries"), the Company operates 16 banking
offices located in the Atlanta metropolitan area and in northern and central
Georgia. In these markets, the Banking Subsidiaries provide a broad array of
community banking services, including: loans to small and medium-sized
businesses; residential, construction and development loans; commercial real
estate loans; consumer loans and a variety of commercial and consumer deposit
accounts.
In addition, through its wholly-owned mortgage banking subsidiary, Premier
Lending Corporation ("Premier Lending"), the Company operates eight mortgage
loan production offices in the Atlanta metropolitan area and one in each of
Jacksonville, Florida, Charleston, South Carolina, and Mobile, Alabama. Premier
Lending is a retail originator of residential mortgage loans which are sold to
correspondent mortgage investors and is an approved Federal National Mortgage
Association ("FNMA") and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC")
seller-servicer of mortgage loans and an approved Department of Housing and
Urban Development ("HUD") and Veterans Administration ("VA") mortgage
originator.
The following information summarizes certain selected consolidated financial
information of the Company for the periods presented. For complete financial
information concerning the Company see "Available Information," "Documents
Incorporated by Reference" and "Selected Consolidated Financial Data."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF AND FOR THE
SIX MONTHS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ENDED JUNE 30,
------------------------------------------------- ------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Total assets............ $413,484 $385,482 $355,523 $445,374 $519,944 $476,674 $587,424
Net income (loss)....... (2,829) 198 1,908 4,548 5,494 2,959 4,088
Net income (loss) per
share.................. (0.47) 0.03 0.25 0.57 0.68 0.37 0.51
Total shareholders' eq-
uity................... 31,981 37,234 37,038 46,090 47,180 45,738 50,355
Return on average equi-
ty..................... (8.49)% 0.57% 5.09% 10.46% 11.90% 12.88% 17.30%
Return on average as-
sets................... (0.65) 0.05 0.51 1.11 1.17 1.28 1.50
</TABLE>
The Company is a locally-focused, community-oriented financial services
holding company with several specialized lines of business such as commercial
finance (including asset-based loans), Small Business Administration ("SBA")
lending, residential construction lending, residential mortgage loan
origination and commercial real estate mortgage loan origination. The Company's
extensive knowledge of both its product lines and local markets allows it to
compete effectively with larger institutions by offering a wide range of
products while maintaining strong community relationships and name recognition
within its markets. In addition, management believes that there continues to be
increased opportunities in the retail and small commercial loan product market
as larger competitors focus on the higher dollar and volume loan product
markets.
4
<PAGE>
The Company's objective is to be the preeminent provider of banking services
for small and medium-sized businesses, focusing on internal growth through
branching in key markets, developing new products and cross-selling its banking
products to existing and new mortgage borrowers. In addition, management
intends to enhance shareholder value by continuing to increase its market share
through engaging in additional mergers and acquisitions of banks, bank holding
companies, thrifts, mortgage companies and insurance brokerage operations.
Acquisitions of unaffiliated financial institutions during the past two years
have been a principal source of the Company's growth. On August 31, 1996, the
Company acquired a thrift holding company then named Premier Bancshares, Inc.,
and on June 23, 1997, the Company acquired Central and Southern, a bank and
thrift holding company. As a result of these two transactions, the Company
added nine banking offices and approximately $326 million in assets and
approximately $260 million in deposits to its existing franchise. The
historical financial statements of the Company have been restated to give
effect to these acquisitions which were accounted for as poolings of interests.
On October 17, 1997, the Company acquired Traditional Mortgage Corporation
("Traditional"), a Georgia corporation specializing in mortgage banking, and
merged Traditional with and into Premier Lending, adding five loan production
offices to Premier Lending's existing franchise. With the consummation of the
Traditional acquisition, the Company is one of the largest volume residential
mortgage lenders based in the State of Georgia, averaging approximately $55
million in loan closings per month for the nine months ended September 30,
1997. See "The Company--Recent Developments" and "Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference."
Premier Bank and Central and Southern Bank are Georgia state banks, Central
and Southern Bank of North Georgia is a federal savings association, and
Premier Lending is a Georgia corporation. The principal executive offices of
the Company are located at 2180 Atlanta Plaza, 950 E. Paces Ferry Road,
Atlanta, Georgia 30326, and its telephone number at such address is (404) 814-
3090.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On October 9, 1997, the Company announced its operating results for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 1997. Net income increased approximately
197% to $2.6 million, or $0.32 per share, for the three months ended September
30, 1997, from approximately $865,000, or $0.11 per share, for the three months
ended September 30, 1996. For the nine months ended September 30, 1997, the
Company reported net income of approximately $6.7 million, or $0.82 per share,
which represented approximately a 74% increase from $3.8 million, or $0.48 per
share, for the nine months ended September 30, 1996. For the three months ended
September 30, 1997, the Company's return on assets and return on equity were
1.76% and 20.15%, respectively, compared to 0.72% and 7.58%, respectively for
the three months ended September 30, 1996. The Company's return on assets and
return on equity for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 were 1.59% and
18.02%, respectively, compared to 1.09% and 11.02%, respectively, for the nine
months ended September 30, 1996. As of September 30, 1997, the Company had
total consolidated assets of approximately $587 million, total consolidated
deposits of approximately $486 million, and total consolidated shareholders'
equity of approximately $52.5 million.
On June 24, 1997, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire
Citizens Gwinnett Bankshares, Inc. ("Citizens"), which management considers
probable of consummation and which is expected to close in 1997. Citizens is a
Georgia corporation and a bank holding company located in Gwinnett County,
Georgia with total consolidated assets of approximately $163 million and total
consolidated deposits of approximately $150 million as of June 30, 1997. If the
acquisition of Citizens had been consummated on June 30, 1997, the Company
would have been the fifth largest bank and thrift holding company headquartered
in the State of Georgia according to the Georgia Department of Banking and
Finance (the "Georgia Department of Banking").
PREMIER CAPITAL TRUST
Premier Capital Trust is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law
pursuant to (i) a trust agreement, dated as of October 21, 1997, executed by
the Company, as depositor, and the trustees of Premier
5
<PAGE>
Capital Trust (together with the Property Trustee, the "Trustees"), and (ii) a
certificate of trust filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on October 21,
1997. The initial trust agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety
(as so amended and restated, the "Trust Agreement") substantially in the form
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
forms a part. The Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Upon
issuance of the Preferred Securities, the purchasers thereof will own all of
the Preferred Securities. The Company will acquire all of the Common Securities
which will represent an aggregate liquidation amount equal to at least 3% of
the total capital of Premier Capital Trust. The Common Securities will rank
pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred
Securities, except that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default (as defined herein) under the Trust Agreement resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default, the rights of the Company as holder of the Common
Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption or otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the
holders of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Subordination of Common Securities." Premier Capital Trust exists
for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust Securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Premier Capital Trust, (ii)
investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Subordinated
Debentures and payments thereunder issued by the Company, and (iii) engaging in
only those other activities necessary, advisable, or incidental thereto. The
Subordinated Debentures will be the only assets of Premier Capital Trust and
payments under the Subordinated Debentures will be the only revenue of Premier
Capital Trust. Premier Capital Trust has a term of 31 years, but may terminate
earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement. The principal executive office of
Premier Capital Trust is 2180 Atlanta Plaza, 950 East Paces Ferry Road,
Atlanta, Georgia 30326 and its telephone number at such address is (404) 814-
3090.
THE OFFERING
Securities
Offered............. 1,000,000 Preferred Securities having a Liquidation
Amount of $25.00 per Preferred Security. The
Preferred Securities represent preferred undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of Premier Capital
Trust, which will consist solely of the Subordinated
Debentures and payments thereunder. The Company and
Premier Capital Trust have granted the Underwriters
an option, exercisable within 30 days after the date
of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an additional
150,000 Preferred Securities at the initial offering
price, solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
Payment of
Distributions....... The Distributions payable on each Preferred Security
will be fixed at a rate per annum of 9.00% of the
Liquidation Amount of $25.00 per Preferred Security,
will be cumulative, will accrue from November 13,
1997, the date of issuance of the Preferred
Securities, and will be payable quarterly in arrears,
on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of
each year, commencing December 31, 1997. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--
Distributions--Payment of Distributions."
Option to Extend
Interest Payment
Period.............. The Company has the right, at any time, so long as no
Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, to defer payments of interest on the
Subordinated Debentures for a period not exceeding 20
consecutive quarters; provided, that no Extended Interest
Payment Period may end on a day other than an Interest
Payment Date or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of the
extension by the Company of the interest payment period,
quarterly Distributions on the Preferred
6
<PAGE>
Securities will be deferred (though such
Distributions will continue to accrue with interest
thereon compounded quarterly, since interest will
continue to accrue and compound on the Subordinated
Debentures) during any such Extended Interest Payment
Period. During an Extended Interest Payment Period,
the Company will be prohibited, subject to certain
exceptions described herein, from declaring or paying
any cash distributions with respect to its capital
stock or debt securities that rank pari passu with or
junior to the Subordinated Debentures. Upon the
termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period
and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company
may commence a new Extended Interest Payment Period,
subject to the foregoing requirements. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--
Distributions--Extended Interest Payment Period" and
"Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Option
to Extend Interest Payment Period."
Should an Extended Interest Payment Period occur,
holders of Preferred Securities will be required to
include deferred interest income in their gross
income for United States federal income tax purposes
in advance of receipt of the cash distributions with
respect to such deferred interest payments. See
"Material Federal Income Tax Consequences--Potential
Extension of Interest Payment Period and Original
Issue Discount."
Ranking............. The Preferred Securities will rank pari passu, and
payments thereon will be made pro rata, with the
Common Securities except as described under
"Description of Preferred Securities--Subordination
of Common Securities." The Subordinated Debentures
will be unsecured and subordinate and junior in right
of payment to the extent and in the manner set forth
in the Indenture. See "Description of the
Subordinated Debentures." The Guarantee will
constitute an unsecured obligation of the Company and
will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment
to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Guarantee. See "Description of the Guarantee." In
addition, because the Company is a holding company,
the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries, including
the Banking Subsidiaries' deposit liabilities. See
"Description of the Subordinated Debentures--
Subordination."
Optional
Redemption.......... The Preferred Securities are subject to redemption,
in whole or in part, upon repayment of the
Subordinated Debentures at maturity or their earlier
redemption. Subject to Federal Reserve approval, if
then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies of the Federal Reserve, the Subordinated
Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at the
option of the Company (i) on or after December 31,
2007 in whole at any time or in part from time to
time, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in
part), within 180 days following the occurrence of a
Capital Event, Tax Event or an Investment Company
Event, in each case at the redemption price equal to
100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated
Debenture, together with any accrued but unpaid
interest to the date fixed for redemption (the
"Redemption Price"). See "Description of the
Subordinated Debentures--Redemption or Exchange."
No Rating........... The Preferred Securities are not expected to be rated
by any rating service, nor is any other security
issued by the Company so rated.
7
<PAGE>
Distribution of
Subordinated
Debentures.......... The Company has the right at any time to terminate
Premier Capital Trust and cause the Subordinated
Debentures to be distributed to holders of Preferred
Securities in liquidation of Premier Capital Trust,
subject to the Company's having received prior approval
of the Federal Reserve to do so if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal
Reserve. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--
Redemption or Exchange" and "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."
Guarantee........... The Company has guaranteed the payment of
Distributions and payments on liquidation or
redemption of the Preferred Securities, but only in
each case to the extent of funds held by Premier
Capital Trust, as described herein. The Company and
Premier Capital Trust believe that, taken together,
the obligations of the Company under the Guarantee,
the Trust Agreement, the Subordinated Debentures, the
Indenture and the Expense Agreement provide, in the
aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional
guarantee, on a subordinated basis, of all of the
obligations of Premier Capital Trust under the
Preferred Securities. The obligations of the Company
under the Guarantee and the Preferred Securities are
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior
Obligations of the Company. If the Company does not
make principal or interest payments on the
Subordinated Debentures, Premier Capital Trust will
not have sufficient funds to make distributions on
the Preferred Securities; in which event, the
Guarantee will not apply to such Distributions until
Premier Capital Trust has sufficient funds available
therefor. See "Description of the Guarantee."
Voting Rights....... The holders of the Preferred Securities will have no
voting rights except in limited circumstances. As a
condition to listing the Preferred Securities, the
American Stock Exchange has imposed certain
requirements. Specifically, if any Distributions
payable on the Preferred Securities are in arrears
for six quarterly periods, the holders of the
Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class
with any other preferred securities having similar
voting rights, will be entitled at the next regular
or special meeting of shareholders of the Company to
elect two directors to the Board of Directors of the
Company (such voting rights will continue until such
time as the Distribution arrearage on the Preferred
Securities have been paid in full). The affirmative
consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the
outstanding Preferred Securities will be required by
Premier Capital Trust for amendments to the Trust
Agreement that would affect adversely the rights or
privileges of the holders of the Preferred
Securities. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust
Agreement."
ERISA
Considerations...... Prospective purchasers should consider the
restrictions on purchase set forth under "ERISA
Considerations."
8
<PAGE>
Absence of Market
for the Preferred
Securities.......... The Preferred Securities will be a new issue of
securities for which there currently is no market.
Although the Preferred Securities have been approved
for listing on the American Stock Exchange, subject
to notice of issuance, there can be no assurance that
an active trading market in the Preferred Securities
will develop or if one does develop, that it will be
maintained. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as
to the development or liquidity of any market for the
Preferred Securities.
American Stock
Exchange............ The Preferred Securities have been approved for listing
on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "PMB.PR".
For additional information regarding the Preferred Securities, see "Premier
Capital Trust I," "Use of Proceeds," "Description of the Preferred Securities,"
"Description of the Subordinated Debentures," "Description of the Guarantee,"
"Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and
the Guarantee," "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences," and "ERISA
Considerations."
USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds from the sale of the Preferred Securities offered hereby will be
used by Premier Capital Trust to purchase the Subordinated Debentures issued by
the Company. The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of Subordinated
Debentures offered hereby are estimated to be approximately $23.7 million
($27.3 million if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in
full), after deducting the underwriting commission and estimated offering
expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate
purposes, including, but not limited to, financing acquisitions, repurchasing
outstanding common stock of the Company, investing in or extending credit to
its subsidiaries, reduction of long-term debt and reduction of certain short-
term borrowings of the Company. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Company
has not entered into any agreements or understandings with respect to any
potential acquisition of the type referred to in the preceding sentence, and no
discussions or negotiations with respect to any such potential acquisition are
taking place. The precise amount and timing of the application of such net
proceeds used for such corporate purposes will depend on the funding
requirements and availability of other funds to the Company and its needs.
Pending such application by the Company, such net proceeds may be temporarily
invested in short-term interest-bearing securities. The proceeds from the
Preferred Securities will qualify as Tier 1 or core capital of the Company
under the risk-based capital guidelines of the Federal Reserve. Federal Reserve
guidelines for calculation of Tier 1 capital limit the amount of cumulative
preferred stock which can be included in Tier 1 capital to 25% of total Tier 1
capital. See "Use of Proceeds."
RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of the Preferred Securities should carefully consider
the risks in connection with this offering set forth under "Risk Factors."
9
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The summary below should be read in conjunction with the financial
information included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1996, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as amended by the
Company's 10-Q/A for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, and Current Report on
Form 8-K/A dated November 4, 1997 (which includes restated financial statements
of the Company giving effect to the combination of Central and Southern with
the Company, accounted for as a pooling of interests). Interim unaudited data
for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 reflect, in the opinion of
management of the Company, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of such data. Results for the
six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 are not necessarily indicative of
results which may be expected for any other interim period or the year as a
whole. The consolidated financial data as of December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994
and for the years ended December 31, 1992 and 1993 presented below are
unaudited and are based upon the audited year end financial information of the
Company, which has a fiscal year end of December 31 and the unaudited interim
financial information of an entity acquired by the Company which had a fiscal
year end of March 31. See "Available Information," "Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference" and "Selected Consolidated Financial Data."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS AND FOR THE
AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED SIX MONTHS
DECEMBER 31, ENDED JUNE 30,
------------------------------------------------------ --------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SELECTED RESULTS OF OP-
ERATIONS DATA:
Interest income........ $ 39,345 $ 31,234 $ 27,723 $ 33,575 $ 40,252 $ 19,904 $ 23,045
Interest expense....... 21,694 15,206 13,028 16,662 20,238 9,766 11,379
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net interest income.... 17,651 16,028 14,695 16,913 20,014 10,138 11,666
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Provision (negative
provision) for loan
losses................ 12,283 3,732 285 (700) (418) (229) (130)
Other income........... 3,683 4,025 4,622 9,087 13,118 5,884 8,520
Other expense.......... 13,073 16,605 16,159 20,378 26,346 12,277 14,649
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Income (loss) before
income tax expense
(benefit) and minority
interest.............. (4,022) (284) 2,873 6,322 7,204 3,974 5,667
Income tax expense
(benefit)............. (1,193) (482) 965 1,761 1,698 1,009 1,571
Minority interest in
net income of subsidi-
ary................... -- -- -- 13 12 6 8
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income (loss)..... $ (2,829) $ 198 $ 1,908 $ 4,548 $ 5,494 $ 2,959 $ 4,088
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
PER SHARE DATA:
Net income (loss)...... $ (0.47) $ 0.03 $ 0.25 $ 0.57 $ 0.68 $ 0.37 $ 0.51
Dividends declared..... 0.04 -- 0.07 0.09 0.41(1) 0.16 0.11
Book value............. 4.78 5.57 4.93 5.79 5.97 5.79 6.36
Tangible book value.... 4.59 5.38 4.85 5.48 5.61 5.41 6.02
Weighted average shares
outstanding........... 6,898,295 7,063,906 7,041,663 7,982,660 8,091,369 7,970,193 8,062,259
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET
DATA:
Total assets........... $ 413,484 $ 385,482 $ 355,523 $ 445,374 $ 519,944 $ 476,674 $ 587,424
Securities available
for sale.............. 53,609 45,785 47,254 110,311 99,732 106,379 99,706
Securities held to ma-
turity................ 64,773 77,152 56,514 -- -- -- --
Loans held for sale.... -- 4,446 5,125 25,912 24,408 30,579 40,333
Loans, net............. 250,173 201,909 184,514 240,953 306,721 277,957 371,369
Federal funds sold..... 11,327 23,065 34,179 19,217 42,896 15,070 20,138
Total deposits......... 376,482 341,850 294,848 358,927 431,898 386,424 472,356
Total borrowings....... 756 4,399 21,144 34,462 35,242 40,220 59,088
Total shareholders' eq-
uity.................. 31,981 37,234 37,038 46,090 47,180 45,738 50,355
Total liabilities...... 381,503 348,249 318,484 399,267 472,751 430,928 537,069
PERFORMANCE RATIOS:
Return on average as-
sets.................. (0.65)% 0.05% 0.51% 1.11% 1.17% 1.28% 1.50%
Return on average equi-
ty.................... (8.49) 0.57 5.09 10.46 11.90 12.88 17.30
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:
Nonperforming
loans/total loans, net
of unearned income and
fees.................. 2.51% 1.58% 0.98% 0.44% 0.45% 0.34% 0.27%
Nonperforming
assets/total assets... 1.95 1.55 0.98 0.45 0.46 0.32% 0.29
Allowance for loan
loss/total loans, net
of unearned income and
fees.................. 2.54 3.01 2.95 2.43 2.10 2.25 1.84
Allowance for loan
loss/nonperforming
loans................. 100.84 189.96 300.42 556.36 460.91 653.84 688.35
Allowance for loan
losses/nonperforming
assets................ 80.59 104.86 161.49 302.02 276.66 424.17 411.39
Net loan charge-off
(recoveries)/average
loans................. 3.81 1.72 0.46 (0.32) (0.33) (0.06) (0.16)
CAPITAL RATIOS:
Leverage capital ra-
tio................... 7.70% 8.19% 9.97% 10.53% 8.59% 8.99% 8.54%
Tier 1 capital ratio... 11.23 13.46 15.57 15.69 11.88 13.16 11.33
Total capital.......... 12.60 15.29 16.82 16.85 12.96 14.33 12.58
Total shareholders' eq-
uity to total assets.. 7.73 9.66 10.42 10.35 9.07 9.60 8.57
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) In 1996, a dividend related to 1995 earnings was declared and paid in
January 1996. An additional dividend related to 1996 earnings was declared
in December 1996 and paid in January 1997.
10
<PAGE>
SUMMARY PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
The following unaudited pro forma financial data give effect to the merger
with Citizens as of the dates and for the periods indicated, assuming such
merger is accounted for as a pooling of interests. The unaudited pro forma
financial data are presented for informational purposes only and are not
necessarily indicative of the combined financial position or results of
operations which actually would have occurred if the transaction had been
consummated at that date and for the periods indicated or which may be obtained
in the future. The information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited
pro forma financial information included in the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K/A dated November 4, 1997. See "Available Information," "Incorporation
of Certain Documents by Reference," and "The Company--Recent Developments."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AT JUNE 30, 1997
----------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C>
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total assets............................................ $750,370
Loans and loans held for sale, net...................... 519,484
Securities available for sale........................... 139,465
Federal funds sold...................................... 20,628
Interest-bearing deposits in banks...................... 8,970
Total deposits.......................................... 622,723
Total borrowings........................................ 59,250
Total shareholders' equity.............................. 61,320
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE
FOR THE SIX MONTHS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ENDED JUNE 30,
------------------------ ----------------
1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SELECTED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Interest income.................... $33,517 $41,006 $51,271 $24,892 $29,650
Interest expense................... 15,087 19,873 25,343 12,046 14,056
Net interest income................ 18,430 21,133 25,928 12,846 15,594
Provision (negative provision) for
loan losses....................... 365 (582) (115) (39) 184
Net interest income after provision
(negative provision) for loan
losses............................ 18,065 21,715 26,043 12,885 15,410
Other income....................... 5,170 9,649 13,956 6,254 9,002
Other expense...................... 18,763 23,610 30,788 14,467 17,365
Income taxes expense............... 1,559 2,188 2,194 1,173 1,995
Net income......................... 2,913 5,553 7,005 3,493 5,044
Net income per common and common
equivalent share.................. 0.31 0.56 0.69 0.35 0.50
Net income per common and common
equivalent share assuming full
dilution.......................... 0.31 0.56 0.69 0.35 0.50
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
Prospective investors should carefully consider, together with the other
information contained and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, the
following risk factors before purchasing the Preferred Securities offered
hereby. Certain statements in this Prospectus and documents incorporated
herein by reference are forward-looking and are identified by the use of
forward-looking words or phrases such as "intended," "will be positioned,"
"expects," is or are "expected," "anticipates," and "anticipated." These
forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations. To
the extent any of the information contained or incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus constitutes a "forward-looking statement" as defined in
Section 21E(i)(1) of the Exchange Act, the risk factors set forth below are
cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement.
These considerations are not intended to represent a complete list of the
general or specific risks that may affect the Preferred Securities, the
Subordinated Debentures or the Company and Premier Capital Trust. It should be
recognized that other risks may be significant, presently or in the future.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GUARANTEE AND THE SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES. The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee issued for the
benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities and under the Subordinated
Debentures are unsecured and rank subordinate and junior in right of payment
to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the
Company. Because the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company to
participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon such
subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise (and thus the ability
of holders of the Preferred Securities to benefit indirectly from such
distribution) is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary,
except to the extent that the Company may itself be recognized as a creditor
of that subsidiary. At June 30, 1997, the Banking Subsidiaries and Premier
Lending had total liabilities (excluding liabilities owed to the Company) of
approximately $531 million. The Subordinated Debentures, therefore, will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
subsidiaries and holders of Subordinated Debentures and Preferred Securities
should look only to the assets of the Company for payments on the Subordinated
Debentures. Neither the Indenture, the Guarantee nor the Trust Agreement
places any limitation on the amount of secured or unsecured debt, including
Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations, that may be
incurred by the Company. See "Description of the Guarantee--Status of the
Guarantee" and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Subordination."
The ability of Premier Capital Trust to pay amounts due on the Preferred
Securities is solely dependent upon the Company's making payments on the
Subordinated Debentures as and when required.
Regulations limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Banking
Subsidiaries without prior regulatory approval. As of June 30, 1997, the
Banking Subsidiaries could declare additional dividends to the Company,
without regulatory approval, of approximately $2.6 million. Federal and state
regulatory agencies also have the authority to limit further the Banking
Subsidiaries' payment of dividends based on other factors, such as the
maintenance of adequate capital for the Banking Subsidiaries, which could
reduce the amount of dividends otherwise payable.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD; TAX CONSEQUENCES; MARKET PRICE
CONSEQUENCES. The Company has the right under the Indenture, so long as no
Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to defer the
payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each
Extended Interest Payment Period; provided that no Extended Interest Payment
Period may end on a day other than an Interest Payment Date or extend beyond
the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any
such deferral, quarterly Distributions on the Preferred Securities by Premier
Capital Trust will be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to which
holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional
Distributions thereon at the rate of 9.00% per annum, compounded quarterly
from the relevant payment date for such Distributions) during any such
Extended Interest Payment Period. During any such Extended Interest Payment
12
<PAGE>
Period, the Company may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions
on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect
to, any of the Company's capital stock (other than the reclassification of any
class of the Company's capital stock into another class of capital stock),
(ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu
with or junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures or make any
guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of the debt
securities of any subsidiary of the Company if such guarantee ranks pari passu
with or junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures (other than payments
under the Guarantee), or (iii) redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of
the Subordinated Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities. Prior to the
termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may
further defer the payment of interest; provided that no Extended Interest
Payment Period may exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extended
Interest Payment Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and
unpaid (together with interest thereon at the annual rate of 9.00% compounded
quarterly, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the Company may elect
to begin a new Extended Interest Payment Period, subject to the above
requirements. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on the number
of times that the Company may elect to begin an Extended Interest Payment
Period. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Distributions--Extended
Interest Payment Period" and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period."
Should an Extended Interest Payment Period occur, each holder of Preferred
Securities will be required to accrue and recognize income (in the form of
original issue discount) in respect of its pro rata share of the interest
accruing on the Subordinated Debentures held by Premier Capital Trust for
United States federal income tax purposes. A holder of Preferred Securities
must, as a result, include such income in gross income for United States
federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash, and will not
receive the cash related to such income from Premier Capital Trust if the
holder disposes of the Preferred Securities prior to the record date for the
payment of the related Distributions. See "Material Federal Income Tax
Consequences--Potential Extension of Interest Payment Period and Original
Issue Discount."
The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the
Subordinated Debentures. Should the Company elect, however, to exercise such
right in the future, the market price of the Preferred Securities is likely to
be adversely affected. A holder that disposes of its Preferred Securities
during an Extended Interest Payment Period, therefore, might not receive the
same return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold its Preferred
Securities. As a result of the existence of the Company's right to defer
interest payments, the market price of the Preferred Securities may be more
volatile than the market prices of other securities on which original issue
discount accrues that are not subject to such optional deferrals.
CAPITAL EVENT; TAX EVENT; OR INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT; REDEMPTION. The
Company has the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not
in part) within 180 days following the occurrence of a Capital Event, Tax
Event or Investment Company Event (whether occurring before or after December
31, 2007), and, therefore, cause a mandatory redemption of the Preferred
Securities. The exercise of such right is subject to the Company's having
received prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.
"Capital Event" means the receipt by Premier Capital Trust of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters (which may be counsel to the Company) that
the Company cannot, or, within 90 days after the date of the opinion of such
counsel, will not be permitted by the applicable regulatory authorities, due
to a change in law, regulation, policy or guideline or interpretation or
application of law or regulation, policy or guideline, to account for the
Preferred Securities as Tier 1 capital under the capital guidelines or
policies of the Federal Reserve.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by Premier Capital Trust of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters (which may be counsel to the Company) to
the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
announced prospective change) in the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of
the United States or
13
<PAGE>
any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a
result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change
is effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the
date of issuance of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement, there
is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) Premier Capital Trust is, or will
be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States
federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the
Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Company on the
Subordinated Debentures is not, or, within 90 days of such opinion, will not
be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal
income tax purposes, or (iii) Premier Capital Trust is, or will be within 90
days of the date of the opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of
other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. The Trust or the Company
must request and receive an opinion with regard to such matters within a
reasonable period of time after the Company becomes aware of the possible
occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by Premier Capital Trust of an
opinion of counsel experienced in such matters (which may be counsel to the
Company) to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law
or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, Premier Capital Trust is or will be considered an "investment
company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), which change becomes
effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred
Securities.
In recent years, there have been several proposals to adopt legislation
which, if enacted and made applicable to the Subordinated Debentures, would
preclude the Company from deducting interest thereon. The most recent proposal
was made by the Clinton Administration on March 19, 1997. Such proposals have
not been adopted by Congress, but there can be no assurance that similar
proposals will not be adopted in the future and made applicable to the
Subordinated Debentures. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that any such
legislation will not result in a Tax Event which would permit the Company to
cause a mandatory redemption of the Preferred Securities before, or after,
December 31, 2007, at the Redemption Price.
EXCHANGE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES. The Company
has the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate Premier Capital
Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders
of the Preferred Securities in exchange therefor in liquidation of Premier
Capital Trust. The exercise of such right is subject to the Company's having
received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. The Company
will have the right, in certain circumstances, to redeem the Subordinated
Debentures in whole or in part, in lieu of a distribution of the Subordinated
Debentures by Premier Capital Trust, in which event Premier Capital Trust will
redeem the Trust Securities on a pro rata basis to the same extent as the
Subordinated Debentures are redeemed by the Company. Any such distribution or
redemption prior to the Stated Maturity will be subject to prior approval of
the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies of the Federal Reserve. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Redemption or Exchange--Capital Event, Tax Event or Investment
Company Event Redemption."
Under current United States federal income tax law, a distribution of
Subordinated Debentures upon the dissolution of Premier Capital Trust would
not be a taxable event to holders of the Preferred Securities. If, however,
Premier Capital Trust is characterized as an association taxable as a
corporation at the time of the dissolution of Premier Capital Trust, the
distribution of the Subordinated Debentures may constitute a taxable event to
holders of Preferred Securities. Moreover, upon occurrence of a Tax Event, a
dissolution of Premier Capital Trust in which holders of the Preferred
Securities receive cash may be a taxable event to such holders. See "Material
Federal Income Tax Consequences--Receipt of Subordinated Debentures or Cash
Upon Liquidation of Premier Capital Trust."
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange
for Preferred Securities upon a dissolution or liquidation of
14
<PAGE>
Premier Capital Trust. The Preferred Securities or the Subordinated
Debentures, may, therefore, trade at a discount to the price that the investor
paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby. Because holders of
Preferred Securities may receive Subordinated Debentures, prospective
purchasers of Preferred Securities are also making an investment decision with
regard to the Subordinated Debentures and should carefully review all the
information regarding the Subordinated Debentures contained herein.
If the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of Preferred
Securities upon the liquidation of Premier Capital Trust, the Company will use
its best efforts to list the Subordinated Debentures on the American Stock
Exchange or such stock exchanges, if any, on which the Preferred Securities
are then listed.
RIGHTS UNDER THE GUARANTEE. State Street will act as Guarantee Trustee and
will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred
Securities. State Street also will act as Property Trustee and as Debenture
Trustee under the Indenture. Wilmington Trust Company will act as the Delaware
Trustee under the Trust Agreement. The Guarantee guarantees to the holders of
the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid by Premier Capital Trust, (i)
any accrued and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the Preferred
Securities, to the extent that Premier Capital Trust has funds available
therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined herein) with
respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption, to the extent that
Premier Capital Trust has funds available therefor at such time, and (iii)
upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of
Premier Capital Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of
Subordinated Debentures to the holders of Preferred Securities or a redemption
of all of the Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the amount of the
Liquidation Distribution (as defined herein), to the extent Premier Capital
Trust has funds available therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets
of Premier Capital Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of
the Preferred Securities in liquidation of Premier Capital Trust. The holders
of not less than a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities
have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of the
Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee. Any holder of the Preferred Securities
may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce its
rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding
against Premier Capital Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person (as
defined in the Guarantee). If the Company were to default on its obligation to
pay amounts payable under the Subordinated Debentures, Premier Capital Trust
would lack funds for the payment of Distributions or amounts payable on
redemption of the Preferred Securities or otherwise, and, in such event,
holders of Preferred Securities would not be able to rely upon the Guarantee
for such amounts. In the event, however, that a Debenture Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of
the Company to pay interest on or principal of the Subordinated Debentures on
the payment date on which such payment is due and payable, then a holder of
Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Company for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or
interest on such Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder (a
"Direct Action"). The exercise by the Company of its right, as described
herein, to defer the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures does
not constitute a Debenture Event of Default. In connection with such Direct
Action, the Company will have a right of set-off under the Indenture to the
extent of any payment made by the Company to such holder of Preferred
Securities in the Direct Action. Except as described herein, holders of
Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy
available to the holders of the Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any
other rights in respect of the Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of
the Subordinated Debentures--Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of the
Preferred Securities," "--Debenture Events of Default" and "Description of the
Guarantee."
The Trust Agreement provides that each holder of Preferred Securities by
acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the Guarantee and the
Indenture.
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS. Holders of Preferred Securities will have no voting
rights except in limited circumstances relating only to the modification of
the Preferred Securities and the exercise of the rights of Premier Capital
Trust as holder of the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee. As a
condition to listing the Preferred Securities, the American Stock Exchange has
imposed certain requirements. Specifically, if any
15
<PAGE>
Distributions payable on the Preferred Securities are in arrears for six
quarterly periods, the holders of the Preferred Securities, voting separately
as a class with any other preferred securities having similar voting rights,
will be entitled at the next regular or special meeting of shareholders of the
Company to elect two directors to the Board of Directors of the Company (such
voting rights will continue until such time as the Distribution arrearage on
the Preferred Securities have been paid in full). The affirmative consent of
the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding Preferred Securities will
be required by Premier Capital Trust for amendments to the Trust Agreement
that would affect adversely the rights or privileges of the holders of the
Preferred Securities. Holders of Preferred Securities will not be entitled to
vote to appoint, remove or replace the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as such voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the
Common Securities (except upon the occurrence of certain events described
herein). The Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Company may
amend the Trust Agreement without the consent of holders of Preferred
Securities to ensure that Premier Capital Trust will be classified for United
States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust even if such action
adversely affects the interests of such holders. See "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement" and "--
Removal of Premier Capital Trust Trustees."
TRADING PRICE; ABSENCE OF PRIOR MARKET FOR THE PREFERRED SECURITIES. The
Preferred Securities may trade at prices that do not fully reflect the value
of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Subordinated
Debentures. A holder of Preferred Securities that disposes of its Preferred
Securities between record dates for payments of Distributions (and
consequently does not receive a Distribution from Premier Capital Trust for
the period prior to such disposition) will nevertheless be required to include
accrued but unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures through the date of
disposition in income as ordinary income and to add such amount to its
adjusted tax basis in its pro rata share of the underlying Subordinated
Debentures deemed disposed of. Such holder will recognize a capital loss to
the extent the selling price (which may not fully reflect the value of accrued
but unpaid interest) is less than its adjusted tax basis (which will include
all accrued but unpaid interest). Subject to certain limited exceptions,
capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for United States
federal income tax purposes. See "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences--
Disposition of Preferred Securities."
There is no current public market for the Preferred Securities. Although
application has been made to have the Preferred Securities approved for
quotation on the American Stock Exchange there can be no assurance that an
active public market will develop for the Preferred Securities or that, if
such market develops, the market price will equal or exceed the public
offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus. The public
offering price for the Preferred Securities has been determined through
negotiations between the Company and the Underwriters. Prices for the
Preferred Securities will be determined in the marketplace and may be
influenced by many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the liquidity
of the market for the Preferred Securities, investor perceptions of the
Company and general industry and economic conditions. In addition,
notwithstanding the registration of the Preferred Securities, holders who are
"affiliates" of the Company or Premier Capital Trust as defined under Rule 405
of the Securities Act may publicly offer for sale or resell the Preferred
Securities only in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144 under the
Securities Act.
PREFERRED SECURITIES ARE NOT INSURED. The Preferred Securities are not
insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") or by any other
governmental agency.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE COMPANY
RELIANCE ON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE ORIGINATIONS TO PRODUCE FEE INCOME. The
market for residential mortgages is highly volatile and an increase in
interest rates could have a material adverse effect on both non-interest
income and interest income and in the growth of the Company's residential
mortgage portfolio. In addition, a substantial portion of the Company's other
income has been derived from gains on the sale of mortgage loans and mortgage
production fees consisting of proceeds from the sale of mortgage servicing
rights, loan origination fees and discount points. Due to the cyclical nature
of residential mortgage originations, there
16
<PAGE>
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to sustain recent levels of
gains on the sale of mortgage loans and mortgage production fees.
STATUS OF THE COMPANY AS A BANK HOLDING COMPANY. The Company is a legal
entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries, although the principal
source of the Company's cash revenues is dividends from its subsidiaries. The
right of the Company to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the
latter's liquidation, reorganization or otherwise (and thus the ability of the
holders of the Preferred Securities to benefit indirectly from any such
distribution) will be subject to the claims of the subsidiaries' creditors,
which will take priority except to the extent that the Company may itself be a
creditor with a recognized claim.
Regulations limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Banking
Subsidiaries without prior regulatory approval. As of June 30, 1997, the
Banking Subsidiaries could declare additional dividends to the Company,
without regulatory approval, of approximately $2.6 million.
The Company's subsidiaries are also subject to restrictions under federal
law which limit the transfer of funds by any of the Banking Subsidiaries to
the Company and Premier Lending, whether in the form of loans, extensions of
credit, investments, asset purchases or otherwise. Such transfers by any of
the Banking Subsidiaries to the Company or any affiliate of such Banking
Subsidiary is limited to 10% of such Banking Subsidiary's capital and surplus
and, with respect to the Company and all such nonbanking subsidiaries, to an
aggregate of 20% of such Banking Subsidiary's capital and surplus.
Furthermore, such loans and extensions of credit are required to be secured in
specific amounts.
GROWTH. The Company has grown and may seek to continue to grow by acquiring
other financial institutions and branches. However, the market for
acquisitions is highly competitive. Moreover, any acquisitions will be subject
to regulatory approval and there can be no assurance that the Company will
obtain such approvals. The Company may not be as successful in the future as
it has been in the past in identifying acquisition candidates, integrating
acquired institutions or preventing deposit erosion at acquired institutions
or branches. Furthermore, the Company's ability to grow through acquisitions
will depend on its maintaining sufficient regulatory capital levels and on
economic conditions.
There is no assurance that the Company will not encounter unforeseen
expenses, as well as difficulties and complications in integrating expanded
operations and new employees without disruption to overall operations. In
addition, such rapid growth may adversely affect the Company's operating
results because of many factors, including start-up costs, diversion of
management time and resources, asset quality and required operating
adjustments. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully
integrate or achieve the anticipated benefits of its growth or expanded
operations, and there is no assurance that rapid growth in its loan portfolio
will not result in an increase in the Company's loan loss experience.
COMPETITION. The Company's subsidiaries face substantial competition for
loans and deposits as well as other sources of funding in the communities they
serve. Competing providers include other national and state banks, thrifts and
trust companies, insurance companies, mortgage banking operations, credit
unions, finance companies, money market funds and other financial and non-
financial companies which may offer products functionally equivalent to those
offered by the Company's subsidiaries. Many competing providers have greater
financial resources than the Company and offer services within and outside the
market areas served by the Company's subsidiaries.
DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY. The market for financial services, including
banking services, is increasingly affected by advances in technology,
including developments in telecommunications, data processing, computers,
automation, Internet-based banking, telebanking, debit cards and so-called
"smart" cards. The ability of the Company to compete successfully in its
markets may depend on the extent to which it is able to exploit such
technological changes. However, there can be no assurance that the development
of these or any other new technologies, or the Company's success or failure in
anticipating or responding to such developments, will materially affect the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
17
<PAGE>
THE COMPANY
GENERAL
The Company, a Georgia corporation, is a bank and thrift holding company
headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Through the Banking Subsidiaries, the
Company operates 16 banking offices located in the Atlanta metropolitan area
and in northern and central Georgia. In these markets, the Banking
Subsidiaries provide a broad array of community banking services, including:
loans to small and medium-sized businesses; residential, construction and
development loans; commercial real estate loans; consumer loans and a variety
of commercial and consumer deposit accounts.
In addition, through its wholly-owned mortgage banking subsidiary, Premier
Lending, the Company operates eight mortgage loan production offices in the
Atlanta metropolitan area and one in each of Jacksonville, Florida,
Charleston, South Carolina, and Mobile, Alabama. Premier Lending is a retail
originator of residential mortgage loans which are sold to correspondent
mortgage investors and is an approved FNMA and FHLMC seller-servicer of
mortgage loans and an approved Department of HUD and VA mortgage originator.
The Company is a locally-focused, community-oriented financial services
holding company with several specialized lines of business such as commercial
finance (including asset-based loans), SBA lending, residential construction
lending, residential mortgage loan origination and commercial real estate
mortgage loan origination. The Company's extensive knowledge of both its
product lines and local markets allows it to compete effectively with larger
institutions by offering a wide range of products while maintaining strong
community relationships and name recognition within its markets. In addition,
management believes that there continues to be increased opportunities in the
retail and small commercial loan product market as larger competitors focus on
the higher dollar and volume loan product markets.
The Company's objective is to be the preeminent provider of banking services
for small and medium-sized businesses, focusing on internal growth through
branching in key markets, developing new products and cross-selling its
banking products to existing and new mortgage borrowers. In addition,
management intends to enhance shareholder value by continuing to increase its
market share through engaging in additional mergers and acquisitions of banks,
bank holding companies, thrifts, mortgage companies and insurance brokerage
operations.
Acquisitions of unaffiliated financial institutions during the past two
years have been a principal source of the Company's growth. On August 31,
1996, the Company acquired a thrift holding company then named Premier
Bancshares, Inc., and on June 23, 1997, the Company acquired Central and
Southern. As a result of these two transactions, the Company added nine
banking offices and approximately $326 million in assets and approximately
$260 million in deposits to its existing franchise. The historical financial
statements of the Company have been restated to give effect to these
acquisitions which were accounted for as poolings of interests. On October 17,
1997, the Company acquired Traditional and merged Traditional with and into
Premier Lending, adding five loan production offices to Premier Lending's
existing franchise. With the consummation of the Traditional acquisition, the
Company is one of the largest volume residential mortgage lenders based in the
State of Georgia, averaging approximately $55 million in loan closings per
month for the nine months ended September 30, 1997. See "Incorporation of
Certain Documents by Reference" and "--Recent Developments."
As of September 1, 1997, the Banking Subsidiaries and Premier Lending
employed approximately 351 full-time equivalent employees, of which 224 worked
for the Banking Subsidiaries and 127 worked for Premier Lending. Neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining
agreement.
Premier Bank and Central and Southern Bank are Georgia state banks, Central
and Southern Bank of North Georgia is a federal savings association, and
Premier Lending is a Georgia corporation. The principal executive offices of
the Company are located at 2180 Atlanta Plaza, 950 E. Paces Ferry Road,
Atlanta, Georgia 30326, and its telephone number at such address is (404) 814-
3090.
18
<PAGE>
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On October 9, 1997, the Company announced its operating results for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 1997. Net income increased
approximately 197% to $2.6 million, or $0.32 per share, for the three months
ended September 30, 1997, from approximately $865,000, or $0.11 per share, for
the three months ended September 30, 1996. For the nine months ended September
30, 1997, the Company reported net income of approximately $6.7 million, or
$0.82 per share, which represented approximately a 74% increase, from $3.8
million, or $0.48 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 1996. For
the three months ended September 30, 1997, the Company's return on assets and
return on equity were 1.76% and 20.15%, respectively, compared to 0.72% and
7.58%, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 1996. The
Company's return on assets and return on equity for the nine months ended
September 30, 1997 were 1.59% and 18.02%, respectively, compared to 1.09% and
11.02%, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 1996. As of
September 30, 1997, the Company had total consolidated assets of approximately
$587 million, total consolidated deposits of approximately $486 million, and
total consolidated shareholders' equity of approximately $52.5 million.
On June 24, 1997, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire
Citizens, which management considers probable of consummation and which is
expected to close in 1997. Citizens is a Georgia corporation and a bank
holding company located in Gwinnett County, Georgia with total consolidated
assets of approximately $163 million and total consolidated deposits of
approximately $150 million as of June 30, 1997. If the acquisition of Citizens
had been consummated on June 30, 1997, the Company would be the fifth largest
bank and thrift holding company headquartered in the State of Georgia
according to the Georgia Department of Banking.
The Company is in the process of reorganizing certain of the Banking
Subsidiaries. In connection with the reorganization, the Company will convert
the current main office of Central and Southern Bank of North Georgia located
in Greensboro, Georgia to a branch of Central and Southern Bank. Central and
Southern Bank and Central and Southern Bank of North Georgia have entered into
a Purchase and Assumption Agreement whereby Central and Southern Bank will
purchase all of the assets and assume all of the liabilities, respectively, of
the Greensboro branch of Central and Southern Bank of North Georgia.
Immediately following consummation of the purchase and assumption transaction,
Central and Southern Bank of North Georgia will merge with and into Premier
Bank. Premier Bank will be the resulting institution following the merger.
Immediately following consummation of the merger, Central and Southern Bank of
North Georgia's federal stock association charter shall be deemed to be
canceled and will be surrendered to the Office of Thrift Supervision.
19
<PAGE>
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
Premier Capital Trust will be treated, for financial reporting purposes, as
a subsidiary of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of Premier Capital
Trust will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the
Company. The Preferred Securities will be presented as a separate line item in
the consolidated balance sheet of the Company under the caption "Guaranteed
Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company's Subordinated Debentures," and
appropriate disclosures about the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and the
Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes to the Company's
consolidated financial statements.
All future reports of the Company filed under the Exchange Act will (i)
present the Trust Securities issued by Premier Capital Trust on the balance
sheet as a separate line item entitled "Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial
Interests in the Company's Subordinated Debentures," (ii) include in a
footnote to the financial statements disclosure that the sole assets of
Premier Capital Trust are the Subordinated Debentures (including the
outstanding principal amount, interest rate and maturity date of such
Subordinated Debentures), and (iii) include in a footnote to the financial
statements disclosure that the Company owns all of the Common Securities of
Premier Capital Trust, the sole assets of Premier Capital Trust are the
Subordinated Debentures, and the back-up obligations, in the aggregate
constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the
obligations of Premier Capital Trust under the Preferred Securities.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds from the sale of the Preferred Securities offered hereby will
be used by Premier Capital Trust to purchase the Subordinated Debentures from
the Company. The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of Subordinated
Debentures offered hereby are estimated to be approximately $23.7 million
($27.3 million if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in
full), after deducting the underwriting commission and estimated offering
expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate
purposes, including, but not limited to, financing acquisitions, repurchasing
of outstanding common stock of the Company, investing in or extending credit
to its subsidiaries, reduction of long-term debt and reduction of certain
short-term borrowings of the Company. As of the date of this Prospectus, the
Company has not entered into any agreements or understandings with respect to
any potential acquisition of the type referred to in the preceding sentence,
and no discussions or negotiations with respect to any such potential
acquisition are taking place. The precise amount and timing of the application
of such net proceeds used for such corporate purposes will depend on the
funding requirements and availability of other funds to the Company and its
needs. Pending such application by the Company, such net proceeds may be
temporarily invested in short-term interest-bearing securities. The proceeds
from the Preferred Securities will qualify as Tier 1 or core capital with
respect to the Company under the risk-based capital guidelines established by
the Federal Reserve. Federal Reserve guidelines for calculation of Tier 1
capital limit the amount of cumulative preferred stock which can be included
in Tier 1 capital to 25% of total Tier 1 capital.
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth for the respective periods indicated the
ratios of the Company's consolidated earnings to fixed charges.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED SIX MONTHS
DECEMBER 31, ENDED JUNE 30,
---------------------------------- ---------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
-------- ------- ----- ----- ----- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges:
Excluding interest on de-
posits................... (72.13)x (0.69)x 5.24x 3.76x 3.61x 3.84x 5.40x
Including interest on de-
posits................... 0.81x 0.98x 1.22x 1.38x 1.36x 1.41x 1.50x
</TABLE>
For the years ended December 31, 1992 and 1993, the earnings were not
adequate to cover fixed charges. The deficiency was $4.0 million and $284,000
for the years ended December 31, 1992 and 1993, respectively, for each
computation. For purposes of computing the ratio, earnings represent pretax
income before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of changes in
accounting principles plus fixed charges. Fixed charges, excluding interest on
deposits, include interest expense (other than on deposits) and the proportion
deemed representative of the interest factor of rent expense, net of income
from subleases. Fixed charges, including interest on deposits, include all
interest expense and the proportion deemed representative of the interest
factor of rent expense, net of income from subleases.
20
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the unaudited consolidated capitalization of
the Company as of June 30, 1997, and as adjusted to give effect to the
consummation of the offering of the Preferred Securities offered hereby and
the application of the net proceeds thereof as if the sale of the Preferred
Securities had been consummated on June 30, 1997, and as further adjusted to
give effect to the merger with Citizens as of June 30, 1997. The following
data should be read in conjunction with the financial information included in
the documents incorporated by reference. See "Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference" and "Use of Proceeds."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF
JUNE 30, 1997
-------------------------------------------
AS ADJUSTED
AS ADJUSTED FOR FOR CITIZENS MERGER
PREFERRED AND PREFERRED
SECURITIES SECURITIES
ACTUAL ISSUANCE ISSUANCE
------- --------------- -------------------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Total long-term debt payable....... $28,015 $ 28,015 $ 28,015
------- -------- --------
Guaranteed preferred beneficial in-
terests in the Company's subordi-
nated debentures.................. -- 25,000 25,000
------- -------- --------
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock; $1.00 par value;
20,000,000 authorized shares;
7,917,298 shares issued and out-
standing......................... 7,917 7,917 9,984
Capital surplus................... 23,886 23,886 27,951
Unrealized gains on securities
available for sale............... 203 203 303
Retained earnings................. 18,349 18,349 23,082
------- -------- --------
Total shareholders' equity....... 50,355 50,355 61,320
------- -------- --------
Total capitalization............ $78,370 $103,370 $114,335
======= ======== ========
</TABLE>
21
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The summary below should be read in conjunction with the financial
information included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1996, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as amended by the
Company's 10-Q/A for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, and Current Report on
Form 8-K/A dated November 4, 1997 (which includes restated financial
statements of the Company giving effect to the combination of Central and
Southern with the Company, accounted for as a pooling of interests). Interim
unaudited data for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 reflect, in the
opinion of management of the Company, all adjustments (consisting only of
normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of such data.
Results for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 are not necessarily
indicative of results which may be expected for any other interim period or
the year as a whole. The consolidated financial data as of December 31, 1992,
1993 and 1994 and for the years ended December 31, 1992 and 1993 presented
below are unaudited and are based upon the audited year end financial
information of the Company, which has a fiscal year end of December 31 and the
unaudited interim financial information of an entity acquired by the Company
which had a fiscal year end of March 31. See "Available Information" and
"Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS AND FOR THE
AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED SIX MONTHS
DECEMBER 31, ENDED JUNE 30,
------------------------------------------------------ --------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SELECTED RESULTS OF OP-
ERATIONS DATA:
Interest income........ $ 39,345 $ 31,234 $ 27,723 $ 33,575 $ 40,252 $ 19,904 $ 23,045
Interest expense....... 21,694 15,206 13,028 16,662 20,238 9,766 11,379
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net interest income.... 17,651 16,028 14,695 16,913 20,014 10,138 11,666
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Provision (negative
provision) for loan
losses................ 12,283 3,732 285 (700) (418) (229) (130)
Other income........... 3,683 4,025 4,622 9,087 13,118 5,884 8,520
Other expense.......... 13,073 16,605 16,159 20,378 26,346 12,277 14,649
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Income (loss) before
income tax expense
(benefit) and minority
interest.............. (4,022) (284) 2,873 6,322 7,204 3,974 5,667
Income tax expense
(benefit)............. (1,193) (482) 965 1,761 1,698 1,009 1,571
Minority interest in
net income of subsidi-
ary................... -- -- -- 13 12 6 8
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income (loss)..... $ (2,829) $ 198 $ 1,908 $ 4,548 $ 5,494 $ 2,959 $ 4,088
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
PER SHARE DATA:
Net income (loss)...... $ (0.47) $ 0.03 $ 0.25 $ 0.57 $ 0.68 $ 0.37 $ 0.51
Dividends declared..... 0.04 -- 0.07 0.09 0.41(1) 0.16 0.11
Book value............. 4.78 5.57 4.93 5.79 5.97 5.79 6.36
Tangible book value.... 4.59 5.38 4.85 5.48 5.61 5.41 6.02
Weighted average shares
outstanding........... 6,898,295 7,063,906 7,041,663 7,982,660 8,091,369 7,970,193 8,062,259
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET
DATA:
Total assets........... $ 413,484 $ 385,482 $ 355,523 $ 445,374 $ 519,944 $ 476,674 $ 587,424
Securities available
for sale.............. 53,609 45,785 47,254 110,311 99,732 106,379 99,706
Securities held to ma-
turity................ 64,773 77,152 56,514 -- -- -- --
Loans held for sale.... -- 4,446 5,125 25,912 24,408 30,579 40,333
Loans, net............. 250,173 201,909 184,514 240,953 306,721 277,957 371,369
Federal funds sold..... 11,327 23,065 34,179 19,217 42,896 15,070 20,138
Total deposits......... 376,482 341,850 294,848 358,927 431,898 386,424 472,356
Total borrowings....... 756 4,399 21,144 34,462 35,242 40,220 59,088
Total shareholders' eq-
uity.................. 31,981 37,234 37,038 46,090 47,180 45,738 50,355
Total liabilities...... 381,503 348,249 318,484 399,267 472,751 430,928 537,069
PERFORMANCE RATIOS:
Return on average as-
sets.................. (0.65)% 0.05% 0.51% 1.11% 1.17% 1.28% 1.50%
Return on average equi-
ty.................... (8.49) 0.57 5.09 10.46 11.90 12.88 17.30
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:
Nonperforming
loans/total loans, net
of unearned income and
fees.................. 2.51% 1.58% 0.98% 0.44% 0.45% 0.34% 0.27%
Nonperforming
assets/total assets... 1.95 1.55 0.98 0.45 0.46 0.32% 0.29
Allowance for loan
loss/total loans, net
of unearned income and
fees.................. 2.54 3.01 2.95 2.43 2.10 2.25 1.84
Allowance for loan
loss/nonperforming
loans................. 100.84 189.96 300.42 556.36 460.91 653.84 688.35
Allowance for loan
losses/nonperforming
assets................ 80.59 104.86 161.49 302.02 276.66 424.17 411.39
Net loan charge-off
(recoveries)/average
loans................. 3.81 1.72 0.46 (0.32) (0.33) (0.06) (0.16)
CAPITAL RATIOS:
Leverage capital ra-
tio................... 7.70% 8.19% 9.97% 10.53% 8.59% 8.99% 8.54%
Tier 1 capital ratio... 11.23 13.46 15.57 15.69 11.88 13.16 11.33
Total capital.......... 12.60 15.29 16.82 16.85 12.96 14.33 12.58
Total shareholders' eq-
uity to total assets.. 7.73 9.66 10.42 10.35 9.07 9.60 8.57
</TABLE>
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(1) In 1996, a dividend related to 1995 earnings was declared and paid in
January 1996. An additional dividend related to 1996 earnings was declared
in December 1996 and paid in January 1997.
22
<PAGE>
PREMIER CAPITAL TRUST I
Premier Capital Trust is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware
law pursuant to (i) a trust agreement, dated as of October 21, 1997, executed
by the Company, as depositor, and the trustees of Premier Capital Trust
(together with the Property Trustee, the Trustees), and (ii) a certificate of
trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October
21, 1997. The initial trust agreement will be amended and restated in its
entirety substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part and as so amended and restated
is referred to herein as the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement will be
qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. Upon issuance of the
Preferred Securities, the purchasers thereof will own all of the Preferred
Securities. The Company will acquire all of the Common Securities which will
represent an aggregate liquidation amount equal to at least 3% of the total
capital of Premier Capital Trust. The Common Securities will rank pari passu,
and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred Securities,
except that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default (as defined herein) under the Trust Agreement resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default, the rights of the Company as holder of the Common
Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption or otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the
holders of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Subordination of Common Securities." Premier Capital Trust exists
for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust Securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Premier Capital Trust, (ii)
investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Subordinated
Debentures issued by the Company, and (iii) engaging in only those other
activities necessary, advisable, or incidental thereto. The Subordinated
Debentures will be the only assets of Premier Capital Trust and payments under
the Subordinated Debentures will be the only revenue of Premier Capital Trust.
Premier Capital Trust has a term of 31 years, but may terminate earlier as
provided in the Trust Agreement. The principal executive office of Premier
Capital Trust is 2180 Atlanta Plaza, 950 East Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta,
Georgia 30326 and its telephone number is (404) 814-3090.
The number of the Trustees will, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, initially
be four. Two of the trustees (the "Administrative Trustees") will be Darrell
D. Pittard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert C. Oliver,
President and Chief Operating Officer, of the Company. The third trustee, the
Property Trustee, will be a financial institution that is unaffiliated with
the Company, which trustee will serve as institutional trustee under the Trust
Agreement and as indenture trustee for the purposes of compliance with the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. State Street, a state chartered trust
company organized under the laws of Massachusetts will be the Property Trustee
until removed or replaced by the holder of the Common Securities. For purposes
of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, State Street
will also act as trustee under the Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee") and as
Debenture Trustee (as defined herein) under the Indenture. The fourth trustee
will be an entity that maintains its principal place of business in the State
of Delaware (the "Delaware Trustee"). Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware
chartered trust company, will act as Delaware Trustee.
The Property Trustee will hold title to the Subordinated Debentures for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities and in such capacity will have
the power to exercise all rights, powers and privileges under the Indenture.
The Property Trustee will also maintain exclusive control of a segregated non-
interest-bearing bank account (the "Property Account") to hold all payments
made in respect of the Subordinated Debentures for the benefit of the holders
of the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee will make payments of
Distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the
holders of the Trust Securities out of funds from the Property Account. The
Guarantee Trustee will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of
the Preferred Securities. The Company, as the holder of all the Common
Securities, will have the right to appoint, remove or replace any Trustee and
to increase or decrease the number of the Trustees. The Company will pay all
fees and expenses related to Premier Capital Trust and the offering of the
Trust Securities.
The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic
rights, rights to information and voting rights, are set forth in the Trust
Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act (the "Trust Act") and the Trust
Indenture Act. See "Description of the Preferred Securities."
23
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Preferred Securities and the Common Securities will be issued pursuant
to the terms of the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement will be qualified as
an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee, will act as
indenture trustee for the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement for
purposes of complying with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The
terms of the Preferred Securities will include those stated in the Trust
Agreement and those made part of the Trust Agreement by the Trust Indenture
Act. The following summary of the material terms and provisions of the
Preferred Securities and the Trust Agreement does not purport to be complete
and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Trust
Agreement, the Trust Act, and the Trust Indenture Act. Wherever particular
defined terms of the Trust Agreement are referred to, but not defined herein,
such defined terms are incorporated herein by reference. The form of the Trust
Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part.
GENERAL
Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Trustees, on behalf of
Premier Capital Trust, will issue the Trust Securities. All of the Common
Securities will be owned by the Company. The Preferred Securities will
represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Premier
Capital Trust and the holders thereof will be entitled to a preference in
certain circumstances with respect to Distributions and amounts payable on
redemption or liquidation over the Common Securities, as well as other
benefits as described in the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement does not
permit the issuance by Premier Capital Trust of any securities other than the
Trust Securities or the incurrence of any indebtedness by Premier Capital
Trust.
The Preferred Securities will be limited to $25,000,000 aggregate
Liquidation Amount outstanding (or $28,750,000 if the over-allotment option
described under the heading "Underwriting" is exercised by the Underwriters).
The Preferred Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made
thereon pro rata, with the Common Securities, except as described under "--
Subordination of Common Securities." Legal title to the Subordinated
Debentures will be held by the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of
the holders of the Trust Securities. The Guarantee executed by the Company for
the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities will be a guarantee on
a subordinated basis with respect to the Preferred Securities, but will not
guarantee payment of Distributions or amounts payable on redemption or
liquidation of such Preferred Securities when Premier Capital Trust does not
have funds on hand available to make such payments. The Guarantee Trustee will
hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
See "Description of the Guarantee."
If the Company does not make interest payments on the Subordinated
Debentures, the Property Trustee will not have funds available to pay
Distributions on the Preferred Securities. The payment of Distributions (if
and to the extent Premier Capital Trust has funds legally available for the
payment of such Distributions and cash sufficient to make such payments) is
guaranteed by the Company. See "Description of the Guarantee."
DISTRIBUTIONS
Payment of Distributions. Distributions on each Preferred Security will be
payable at the annual rate of 9.00% of the stated Liquidation Amount of
$25.00, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year, to the holders of the Preferred Securities on the
relevant record dates (each date on which Distributions are payable in
accordance with the foregoing, a "Distribution Date"). The record date will be
the 15th day of the month in which the relevant Distribution Date occurs.
Distributions will accumulate from the date of original issuance. The first
Distribution Date for the Preferred Securities will be December 31, 1997. The
amount of Distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Except as provided in the following
sentence, the amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full
quarterly period for which interest is computed, will be computed on the basis
of the actual number of days elapsed in such period. In the event that any
date on which Distributions are payable on the Preferred Securities is not a
Business Day, then payment of the Distributions payable on such date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
additional Distributions, interest or
24
<PAGE>
other payment in respect of any such delay), in each case with the same force
and effect as if made on the date such payment was originally due and payable.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, or a day on
which banking institutions in the City of Atlanta, Georgia are authorized or
required by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the
corporate trust office of the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee is
closed for business.
Extended Interest Payment Period. The Company has the right under the
Indenture, so long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, to an Extended Interest Payment Period which, if exercised, would
defer quarterly Distributions on the Preferred Securities during any such
Extended Interest Payment Period. Distributions to which holders of the
Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional Distributions
thereon at the rate per annum of 9.00% thereof, compounded quarterly from the
relevant Distribution Date. "Distributions," as used herein, includes any such
additional Distributions. The right to defer the payment of interest on the
Subordinated Debentures is limited, however, to a period not exceeding 20
consecutive quarters and no Extended Interest Payment Period may end on a day
other than an Interest Payment Date or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of
the Subordinated Debentures. During any such Extended Interest Payment Period,
the Company may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
of the Company's capital stock (other than the reclassification of any class
of the Company's capital stock into another class of capital stock), (ii) make
any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or
junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures or make any guarantee
payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of the debt securities
of any subsidiary of the Company if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or
junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures (other than payments under
the Guarantee), or (iii) redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the
Subordinated Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities. Prior to the
termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may
further defer the payment of interest; provided that such Extended Interest
Payment Period may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters, end on a day other than
an Interest Payment Date or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extended Interest
Payment Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may elect
to begin a new Extended Interest Payment Period, subject to the above
requirements. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on the number
of times that the Company may elect to begin an Extended Interest Payment
Period, but the Company may prepay at any time all or any portion of the
interest accrued during an Extended Interest Payment Period.
The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the
Subordinated Debentures.
Source of Distributions. The funds of Premier Capital Trust available for
distribution to holders of its Preferred Securities will be limited to
payments under the Subordinated Debentures in which Premier Capital Trust will
invest the proceeds from the issuance and sale of its Trust Securities. See
"Description of the Subordinated Debentures." Distributions will be paid
through the Property Trustee who will hold amounts received in respect of the
Subordinated Debentures in the Property Account for the benefit of the holders
of the Trust Securities. If the Company does not make interest payments on the
Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will not have funds available to
pay Distributions on the Preferred Securities. The payment of Distributions
(if and to the extent Premier Capital Trust has funds legally available for
the payment of such Distributions and cash sufficient to make such payments)
is guaranteed by the Company. See "Description of the Guarantee."
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be payable to the holders
thereof as they appear on the register of holders of the Preferred Securities
on the relevant record dates, which date will be the 15th day of the month in
which the relevant Distribution Date occurs. Subject to any applicable laws
and regulations and the provisions of the Trust Agreement, each such payment
will be made as described above under "--Distributions--Payment of
Distributions."
REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
General. The Subordinated Debentures will mature on the Stated Maturity. The
Company will have the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures (i) on or
after December 31, 2007, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or
(ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), within 180 days following the
occurrence of a Capital
25
<PAGE>
Event, a Tax Event, or an Investment Company Event, in each case subject to
receipt of prior approval by the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. A redemption
of the Subordinated Debentures would cause a mandatory redemption of a Like
Amount (as defined herein) of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities
at the Redemption Price. The Company will not have the right to purchase the
Subordinated Debentures, in whole or in part, from Premier Capital Trust until
after December 31, 2007, except if a Capital Event, a Tax Event, or an
Investment Company Event has occurred and is continuing. If a partial
redemption of the Subordinated Debentures would result in the delisting of the
Preferred Securities issued by Premier Capital Trust from the American Stock
Exchange or any national securities exchange or other organization on which
the Preferred Securities are then listed, the Company will not be permitted to
effect such partial redemption and may only redeem the Subordinated Debentures
in whole. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--General."
Mandatory Redemption. Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part,
of any Subordinated Debentures, whether at Stated Maturity or upon earlier
redemption as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such repayment or
redemption will be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount of
the Trust Securities, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice (the
"Redemption") equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Trust
Securities plus accumulated but unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of
redemption (the "Redemption Date"). See "Description of the Subordinated
Debentures--Redemption or Exchange." If less than all of the Subordinated
Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the
proceeds from such repayment or redemption will be allocated to the redemption
of the Trust Securities pro rata.
Distribution of Subordinated Debentures. Subject to the Company's having
received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if so required under applicable
capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve, the Company will have
the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate Premier Capital Trust
and, after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of Premier Capital
Trust as provided by applicable law, cause the Subordinated Debentures to be
distributed to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of Premier
Capital Trust. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."
Capital Event, Tax Event or Investment Company Event Redemption. If a
Capital Event, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event in respect of the
Trust Securities occurs and is continuing, the Company has the right to redeem
the Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) and thereby cause a
mandatory redemption of such Trust Securities in whole (but not in part) at
the Redemption Price within 180 days following the occurrence of such Capital
Event, Tax Event or Investment Company Event. In the event a Capital Event, a
Tax Event or an Investment Company Event in respect of the Trust Securities
has occurred and the Company does not elect to redeem the Subordinated
Debentures and thereby causes a mandatory redemption of such Trust Securities
or to liquidate Premier Capital Trust and cause Subordinated Debentures to be
distributed to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of Premier
Capital Trust as described below under "--Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination," such Preferred Securities will remain outstanding and Additional
Interest (as defined herein) may be payable on the Subordinated Debentures.
"Additional Interest" means the additional amounts as may be necessary in
order that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by Premier Capital
Trust on the outstanding Trust Securities will not be reduced as a result of
any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which Premier
Capital Trust has become subject as a result of a Tax Event.
"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities,
Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion of the
principal amount of Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed
in accordance with the Indenture, which will be used to pay the Redemption
Price of such Trust Securities, and (ii) with respect to a distribution of
Subordinated Debentures to holders of Trust Securities in connection with a
dissolution or liquidation of Premier Capital Trust, Subordinated Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities of the holder to whom such Subordinated Debentures are distributed.
Each Subordinated Debenture distributed pursuant to clause (ii) above will
carry with it accumulated interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and
unpaid interest then due on such Subordinated Debenture.
26
<PAGE>
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25.00 per Trust Security.
After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of Subordinated
Debentures for Preferred Securities (i) such Preferred Securities will no
longer be deemed to be outstanding, and (ii) any certificates representing
Preferred Securities will be deemed to represent the Subordinated Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Preferred
Securities, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the
accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities until such
certificates are presented to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for
transfer or reissuance.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange
for Preferred Securities if a dissolution and liquidation of Premier Capital
Trust were to occur. The Preferred Securities that an investor may purchase,
or the Subordinated Debentures that an investor may receive on dissolution and
liquidation of Premier Capital Trust, may, therefore, trade at a discount to
the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered
hereby.
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
Preferred Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date will be redeemed at
the Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of the Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of the Preferred
Securities will be made and the Redemption Price will be payable on each
Redemption Date only to the extent that Premier Capital Trust has funds on
hand available for the payment of such Redemption Price. See "--Subordination
of Common Securities."
If Premier Capital Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of its
Preferred Securities, then the Property Trustee, to the extent funds are
available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for the Preferred
Securities funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price and will
give the paying agent for the Preferred Securities irrevocable instructions
and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon
surrender of their certificates evidencing such Preferred Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the
Redemption Date for any Preferred Securities called for redemption will be
payable to the holders of such Preferred Securities on the relevant record
dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption will have
been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such
deposit, all rights of the holders of such Preferred Securities so called for
redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of such Preferred
Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest on such
Redemption Price, and such Preferred Securities will cease to be outstanding.
In the event that any date fixed for redemption of Preferred Securities is not
a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will
be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any
additional Distribution, interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay) with the same force and effect as if made on such date except that, if
such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made
on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the event that payment of the
Redemption Price in respect of Preferred Securities called for redemption is
improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by Premier Capital Trust,
or by the Company pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Preferred
Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from the
Redemption Date originally established by Premier Capital Trust for such
Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in
which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for
redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price. See "Description
of the Guarantee."
Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
federal securities law) and further provided, that the Company has not and is
not continuing to exercise its right to defer interest payments, the Company
or its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding
Preferred Securities by tender in the open market or by private agreement.
Payment of the Redemption Price on the Preferred Securities and any
distribution of Subordinated Debentures to holders of Preferred Securities
will be made to the applicable record holders thereof as they appear on the
register for the Preferred Securities on the relevant record date, which date
will be the date 15 days prior to the Redemption Date or liquidation date, as
applicable.
If less than all of the Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption
Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities to be
redeemed will be allocated pro rata to the Trust Securities based upon the
relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The particular Preferred
Securities to be redeemed
27
<PAGE>
will be selected by the Property Trustee from the outstanding Preferred
Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the
Property Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which may provide for the
selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25.00 or an integral multiple
of $25.00 in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities
of a denomination larger than $25.00. The Property Trustee will promptly
notify the registrar for the Preferred Securities in writing of the Preferred
Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred
Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to
be redeemed. For all purposes of the Trust Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred
Securities will relate to the portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of
Preferred Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Trust Securities to be
redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Company defaults in payment of
the Redemption Price on the Subordinated Debentures, on and after the
Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on such Subordinated Debentures
or portions thereof (and Distributions will cease to accrue on the related
Preferred Securities or portions thereof) called for redemption.
SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, the Preferred
Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, will be made pro rata based
on the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities;
provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date a
Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no payment of any
Distribution on, or Redemption Price of, any of the Common Securities, and no
other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition
of such Common Securities, will be made unless payment in full in cash of all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all of the outstanding Preferred
Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in
the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption
Price on all of the outstanding Preferred Securities then called for
redemption, will have been made or provided for, and all funds available to
the Property Trustee will first be applied to the payment in full in cash of
all Distributions on, or Redemption Price of, the Preferred Securities then
due and payable.
In the case of any Event of Default resulting from a Debenture Event of
Default, the Company as holder of the Common Securities will be deemed to have
waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under the
Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to
the Preferred Securities has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until
any such Events of Default under the Trust Agreement with respect to the
Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
Property Trustee will act solely on behalf of the holders of the Preferred
Securities and not on behalf of the Company, as holder of the Common
Securities, and only the holders of the Preferred Securities will have the
right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION
The Company will have the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or
terminate Premier Capital Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures to be
distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities. Such right is subject,
however, to the Company's having received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of
the Federal Reserve.
The Federal Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines currently provide that
redemptions of permanent equity or other capital instruments before stated
maturity could have a significant impact on a bank holding company's overall
capital structure and that any organization considering such a redemption
should consult with the Federal Reserve before redeeming any equity or capital
instrument prior to maturity if such redemption could have a material effect
on the level or composition of the organization's capital base (unless the
equity or capital instrument were redeemed with the proceeds of, or replaced
by, a like amount of a similar or higher quality capital instrument and the
Federal Reserve considers the organization's capital position to be fully
adequate after the redemption).
28
<PAGE>
In the event the Company, while a holder of Common Securities, dissolves
Premier Capital Trust prior to the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated
Debentures and the dissolution of the Premier Capital Trust is deemed to
constitute the redemption of capital instruments by the Federal Reserve under
its risk-based capital guidelines or policies, the dissolution of the Premier
Capital Trust by the Company may be subject to the prior approval of the
Federal Reserve. Moreover, any changes in applicable law or changes in the
Federal Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines or policies could impose a
requirement on the Company that it obtain the prior approval of the Federal
Reserve to dissolve Premier Capital Trust.
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Premier Capital Trust will automatically
terminate upon expiration of its term and will terminate earlier on the first
to occur of (i) certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of
the Company, (ii) the distribution of a Like Amount of the Subordinated
Debentures to the holders of its Trust Securities, if the Company, as
depositor, has given written direction to the Property Trustee to terminate
Premier Capital Trust (which direction is optional and wholly within the
discretion of the Company, as depositor), (iii) redemption of all of the
Preferred Securities as described under "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Redemption or Exchange--Mandatory Redemption," or (iv) the entry
of an order for the dissolution of Premier Capital Trust by a court of
competent jurisdiction.
If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv) of
the preceding paragraph, Premier Capital Trust will be liquidated by the
Trustees as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be possible by
distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Premier
Capital Trust as provided by applicable law, to the holders of such Trust
Securities a Like Amount of the Subordinated Debentures, unless such
distribution is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, in
which event such holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of
Premier Capital Trust available for distribution to holders, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Premier Capital Trust as provided
by applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of holders of Preferred
Securities, the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
"Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only
in part because Premier Capital Trust has insufficient assets available to pay
in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable
directly by Premier Capital Trust on the Preferred Securities will be paid on
a pro rata basis. The Company, as the holder of the Common Securities, will be
entitled to receive distributions upon any such liquidation pro rata with the
holders of the Preferred Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities will have a
priority over the Common Securities. See "--Subordination of Common
Securities."
Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations and
assuming, as expected, that Premier Capital Trust is treated as a grantor
trust, a distribution of the Subordinated Debentures should not be a taxable
event to holders of the Preferred Securities. Should there be a change in law,
a change in legal interpretation, a Tax Event or other circumstances, however,
the distribution could be a taxable event to holders of the Preferred
Securities. See "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences--Receipt of
Subordinated Debentures or Cash Upon Liquidation of Premier Capital Trust." If
the Company elects neither to redeem the Subordinated Debentures prior to
maturity nor to liquidate Premier Capital Trust and distribute the
Subordinated Debentures to holders of the Preferred Securities, the Preferred
Securities will remain outstanding until the repayment of the Subordinated
Debentures.
If the Company elects to liquidate Premier Capital Trust and thereby causes
the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the Preferred
Securities in liquidation of Premier Capital Trust, the Company will continue
to have the right to shorten or extend the maturity of such Subordinated
Debentures, subject to certain conditions. See "Description of the
Subordinated Debentures--General."
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange
for Preferred Securities if a dissolution and liquidation of Premier Capital
Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor
may purchase, or the Subordinated Debentures that the investor may receive on
dissolution and liquidation of Premier Capital Trust, may trade at a discount
to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities
offered hereby.
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LIQUIDATION VALUE
The amount of the Liquidation Distribution payable on the Preferred
Securities in the event of any liquidation of Premier Capital Trust is $25.00
per Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the
date of payment, which may be in the form of a distribution of such amount in
Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain exceptions. See "--Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination."
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
Any one of the following events constitutes an event of default under the
Trust Agreement (an "Event of Default") with respect to the Preferred
Securities (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether
voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any
judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
(i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default (see "Description of the
Subordinated Debentures--Debenture Events of Default"); or
(ii) default by Premier Capital Trust in the payment of any Distribution
when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for
a period of 30 days; or
(iii) default by Premier Capital Trust in the payment of any Redemption
Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(iv) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any
covenant or warranty of the Trustees in the Trust Agreement (other than
a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the
breach of which is dealt with in clauses (ii) or (iii) above), and
continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after
there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Trustee(s)
by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
outstanding Preferred Securities, a written notice specifying such
default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such
notice is a "Notice of Default" under the Trust Agreement; or
(v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
respect to the Property Trustee and the failure by the Company to
appoint a successor Property Trustee within 60 days thereof.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee will transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of the Preferred Securities,
the Administrative Trustees and the Company, as depositor, unless such Event
of Default has been cured or waived. The Company, as depositor, and the
Administrative Trustees are required to file annually with the Property
Trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance with all the
conditions and covenants applicable to them under the Trust Agreement.
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred Securities will have a preference over the Common Securities upon
termination of Premier Capital Trust. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination." The existence of an Event of Default does not entitle the
holders of Preferred Securities to accelerate the maturity thereof.
REMOVAL OF PREMIER CAPITAL TRUST TRUSTEES
Unless a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any
Trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the Common Securities. If
a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed at such time by the holders of
a majority in Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities. In
no event, however, will the holders of the Preferred Securities have the right
to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrative Trustees, which
voting rights are vested exclusively in the Company as the holder of the
Common Securities. No resignation or removal of a Trustee and no appointment
of a successor trustee will be effective until the acceptance of appointment
by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Trust
Agreement.
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CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at any time or
times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) may at the time be located, the Company,
as the holder of the Common Securities, will have the power to appoint one or
more Persons (as defined in the Trust Agreement) either to act as a co-
trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust
Property, or to act as separate trustee of any such Trust Property, in either
case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and
to vest in such Person or Persons in such capacity any property, title, right
or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the provisions of the Trust
Agreement. In case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Property Trustee alone will have the power to make such
appointment.
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF TRUSTEES
Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee that is not a natural Person may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee is a party, or any Person
succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such
Trustee, will be the successor of such Trustee under the Trust Agreement,
provided such Person is otherwise qualified and eligible.
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF PREMIER CAPITAL
TRUST
Premier Capital Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate,
or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except as
described below. Premier Capital Trust may, at the request of the Company,
with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the
holders of the Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided,
that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the
obligations of Premier Capital Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities,
or (b) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having
substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor
Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the
Preferred Securities in priority with respect to distributions and payments
upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly
appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and
duties as the Property Trustee in its capacity as the holder of the
Subordinated Debentures, (iii) the Successor Securities are listed, or any
Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any
national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed, if any (including, if applicable, the American
Stock Exchange), (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the holders of the Preferred Securities
(including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (v) prior to
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease, the Company has received an opinion from independent counsel to the
effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the holders of the Preferred Securities
(including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (b)
following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease, neither Premier Capital Trust nor such successor entity
will be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment
Company Act, and (vi) the Company owns all of the common securities of such
successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under
the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Premier Capital Trust will not, except with the
consent of holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities,
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to
any other Person or permit any other Person to consolidate, amalgamate, merge
with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause Premier Capital Trust
or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes.
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VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT
Except as provided below and under "Description of the Guarantee--Amendments
and Assignment" and as otherwise required by the Trust Act and the Trust
Agreement, the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights.
If any Distributions payable on the Preferred Securities are in arrears for
six quarterly periods, the holders of the Preferred Securities, voting
separately as a class with any other preferred securities having similar
voting rights, will be entitled at the next regular or special meeting of the
shareholders of the Company to elect two directors to the Board of Directors
of the Company (such voting rights will continue until such time as the
Distribution arrearage on the Preferred Securities have been paid in full).
The affirmative consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding
Preferred Securities will be required by Premier Capital Trust for amendments
to the Trust Agreement that would affect adversely the rights or privileges of
the holders of the Preferred Securities.
The Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Company, the
Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the consent of the
holders of the Preferred Securities (i) with respect to acceptance of
appointment by a successor trustee, (ii) to cure any ambiguity, correct or
supplement any provisions in such Trust Agreement that may be inconsistent
with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to
matters or questions arising under the Trust Agreement (provided such
amendment is not inconsistent with the other provisions of the Trust
Agreement), or (iii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the
Trust Agreement to such extent as is necessary to ensure that Premier Capital
Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a
grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities are outstanding or to
ensure that Premier Capital Trust will not be required to register as an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that
in the case of clause (ii), such action may not adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of any holder of Trust Securities, and any
amendments of such Trust Agreement will become effective when notice thereof
is given to the holders of Trust Securities. The Trust Agreement may be
amended by the Trustees and the Company with (i) the consent of holders
representing not less than a majority in the aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the outstanding Trust Securities, and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an
opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any
power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not
affect Premier Capital Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes or Premier Capital Trust's exemption from status
as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act. Notwithstanding
anything in this paragraph to the contrary, without the consent of each holder
of Trust Securities, the Trust Agreement may not be amended to (a) change the
amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise
adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect
of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, or (b) restrict the right of a
holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such date.
The Trustees will not, so long as any Subordinated Debentures are held by
the Property Trustee, (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or executing any
trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to the
Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under
the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that
the principal of all the Subordinated Debentures will be due and payable, or
(iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or
the Subordinated Debentures, where such consent is required, without, in each
case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture requires the consent of each holder
of Subordinated Debentures affected thereby, no such consent will be given by
the Property Trustee without the prior consent of each holder of the Preferred
Securities. The Trustees may not revoke any action previously authorized or
approved by a vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities except by
subsequent vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Property
Trustee will notify each holder of Preferred Securities of any notice of
default with respect to the Subordinated Debentures. In addition to obtaining
the foregoing approvals of the holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to
taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees must obtain an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that Premier Capital Trust
will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes on account of such action.
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Any required approval of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a
meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose or
pursuant to written consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any
meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of
any matter upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be
taken, to be given to each holder of record of Preferred Securities in the
manner set forth in the Trust Agreement.
No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred Securities will be required
for Premier Capital Trust to redeem and cancel its Preferred Securities in
accordance with the Trust Agreement.
Notwithstanding the fact that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled
to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the
Preferred Securities that are owned by the Company, the Trustees or any
affiliate of the Company or any Trustee, will, for purposes of such vote or
consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities will made by check mailed to
the address of the holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
register. The paying agent for the Preferred Securities will initially be the
Property Trustee and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and
acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Company. The paying agent
for the Preferred Securities may resign as paying agent upon 30 days' written
notice to the Property Trustee and the Company. In the event that the Property
Trustee no longer is the paying agent for the Preferred Securities, the
Administrative Trustees will appoint a successor (which must be a bank or
trust company acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Company) to
act as paying agent.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
The Property Trustee will act as the registrar and the transfer agent for
the Preferred Securities. Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities
will be effected without charge by or on behalf of Premier Capital Trust, but
upon payment of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer or exchange. Premier Capital Trust will not be
required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of Preferred
Securities after such Preferred Securities have been called for redemption.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
The Property Trustee, other than upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, undertakes to perform only such duties as
are specifically set forth in the Trust Agreement and, after such Event of
Default, must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent Person
would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to the
Trust Agreement, and if the matter is not one on which holders of Preferred
Securities are entitled under the Trust Agreement to vote, then the Property
Trustee will take such action as is directed by the Company and if not so
directed, will take such action as it deems advisable and in the best
interests of the holders of the Trust Securities and will have no liability
except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the
affairs of and to operate Premier Capital Trust in such a way that Premier
Capital Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act or classified as an association
taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and so
that the Subordinated Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the
Company for United States federal income tax purposes. The Company and the
Administrative Trustees are authorized, in this connection, to take any
action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust of
Premier Capital Trust (the "Certificate of Trust") or the Trust Agreement,
that the Company and the Administrative Trustees determine in their discretion
to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, so long as such action does
not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the related
Preferred Securities.
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Holders of the Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
The Trust Agreement and the Preferred Securities will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
Concurrently with the issuance of the Preferred Securities, Premier Capital
Trust will invest the proceeds thereof, together with the consideration paid
by the Company for the Common Securities, in the Subordinated Debentures
issued by the Company. The Subordinated Debentures will be issued as unsecured
debt under the Indenture, to be dated as of November 13, 1997, between the
Company and State Street, the Debenture Trustee (the "Indenture"). The
Indenture will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The
following summary of the material terms and provisions of the Subordinated
Debentures and the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject
to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture and to the
Trust Indenture Act. Wherever particular defined terms of the Indenture are
referred to, but not defined herein, such defined terms are incorporated
herein by reference. The form of the Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
GENERAL
The Subordinated Debentures will be limited in aggregate principal amount to
approximately $25,773,196 (or $29,639,175 if the over-allotment option
described under the heading "Underwriting" is exercised by the Underwriters),
such amount being the sum of the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the
Trust Securities. The Subordinated Debentures will bear interest at the annual
rate of 9.00% of the principal amount thereof, payable quarterly in arrears on
the Interest Payment Date beginning December 31, 1997, to the Person (as
defined in the Indenture) in whose name each Subordinated Debenture is
registered, subject to certain exceptions, at the close of business on the
Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date. It is anticipated
that, until the liquidation, if any, of Premier Capital Trust, the
Subordinated Debentures will be held in the name of the Property Trustee in
trust for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The amount of
interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months. Except as provided in the following sentence,
the amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full quarterly
period for which interest is computed, will be computed on the basis of the
actual number of days elapsed in such period. In the event that any date on
which interest is payable on the Subordinated Debentures is not a Business
Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the
next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay), in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on the date such payment was originally due and payable.
Accrued interest that is not paid on the applicable Interest Payment Date will
bear additional interest on the amount thereof (to the extent permitted by
law) at the rate per annum of 9.00% thereof, compounded quarterly. The term
"interest," as used herein, includes quarterly interest payments, interest on
quarterly interest payments not paid on the applicable Interest Payment Date
and Additional Interest, as applicable. The Subordinated Debentures will
mature on December 31, 2027, the Stated Maturity.
The Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and will rank junior and be
subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and
Additional Senior Obligations of the Company. Because the Company is a holding
company, the right of the Company to participate in any distribution of assets
of any subsidiary, including the Banking Subsidiaries, upon any such
subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise (and thus the ability
of holders of the Subordinated Debentures to benefit indirectly from such
distribution), is subject to the prior claim of creditors of such subsidiary,
except to the extent that the Company may itself be recognized as a creditor
of such subsidiary. At June 30, 1997, the subsidiaries of the Company had
total liabilities (excluding liabilities owed to the Company) of approximately
$531 million, including deposits in the case of the Banking Subsidiaries. The
Subordinated Debentures will, therefore, be effectively subordinated to all
existing and future liabilities of the subsidiaries, and holders of
Subordinated Debentures should look only to the assets of the Company for
payments on the Subordinated Debentures. The Indenture does not limit the
incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Company,
including Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations,
whether under the Indenture or any existing indenture or other indenture that
the Company may enter into in the future or otherwise. See "--Subordination."
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In addition, as the Company is a non-operating holding company, almost all
of the operating assets of the Company are owned by the Company's
subsidiaries. The Company relies primarily on dividends from such subsidiaries
to meet its obligations for payment of principal and interest on its
outstanding debt obligations, if any, and corporate expenses. Each of the
Banking Subsidiaries is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law
on any extensions of credit to, and certain other transactions with, the
Company and certain other affiliates, and on investments in stock or other
securities thereof. Such restrictions prevent the Company and such other
affiliates from borrowing from any of the Banking Subsidiaries unless the
loans are secured by various types of collateral. Further, such secured loans,
other transactions and investments by each of the Banking Subsidiaries are
generally limited in amount as to the Company and as to each of such other
affiliates to 10% of such Banking Subsidiaries' capital and surplus and as to
the Company and all of such other affiliates to an aggregate of 20% of the
Banking Subsidiaries' capital and surplus. In addition, payment of dividends
to the Company by any of the Banking Subsidiaries is subject to ongoing review
by banking regulators and is subject to various statutory limitations and in
certain circumstances requires prior approval by banking regulatory
authorities. Under current regulations, at June 30, 1997, the Banking
Subsidiaries could have declared total dividends to the Company of
approximately $2.6 million. Federal and state regulatory agencies also have
the authority to limit further the Banking Subsidiaries' payment of dividends
based on other factors, such as the maintenance of adequate capital for each
Banking Subsidiary, which could reduce the amount of dividends otherwise
payable.
The Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of the
Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction or other similar transaction involving the Company that may
adversely affect such holders.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
The Company has the right under the Indenture at any time during the term of
the Subordinated Debentures, so long as no Debenture Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, to defer the payment of interest at any time, or
from time to time each, an Extended Interest Payment Period. The right to
defer the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures is limited,
however, to a period, in each instance, not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters
and no Extended Interest Payment Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity
of the Subordinated Debentures. At the end of each Extended Interest Payment
Period, the Company must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together
with interest thereon at the annual rate of 9.00%, compounded quarterly, to
the extent permitted by applicable law). During an Extended Interest Payment
Period, interest will continue to accrue and holders of Subordinated
Debentures (or the holders of Preferred Securities if such securities are then
outstanding) will be required to accrue and recognize income for United States
federal income tax purposes. See "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences--
Potential Extension of Interest Payment Period and Original Issue Discount."
During any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may not (i)
declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital
stock (other than the reclassification of any class of the Company's capital
stock into another class of capital stock), (ii) make any payment of
principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in interest
to the Subordinated Debentures or make any guarantee payments with respect to
any guarantee by the Company of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the
Company if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the
Subordinated Debentures (other than payments under the Guarantee), or (iii)
redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the Subordinated Debentures or
any of the Preferred Securities. Prior to the termination of any such Extended
Interest Payment Period, the Company may further defer the payment of
interest; provided that no Extended Interest Payment Period may exceed 20
consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated
Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period
and the payment of all amounts then due on any Interest Payment Date, the
Company may elect to begin a new Extended Interest Payment Period subject to
the above requirements. No interest will be due and payable during an Extended
Interest Payment Period, except at the end thereof, but the Company may prepay
at any time all or any portion
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of the interest accrued during an Extended Interest Payment Period. The
Company has no present intention of exercising its rights to defer payments of
interest on the Subordinated Debentures. The Company must give the Property
Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Debenture Trustee notice of its
election of such Extended Interest Payment Period one Business Day prior to
the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions on the
Trust Securities would have been payable except for the election to begin such
Extended Interest Payment Period, or (ii) the date the Trust is required to
give notice of the record date, or the date such Distributions are payable, to
the American Stock Exchange, (or other applicable self-regulatory
organization) or to holders of the Preferred Securities, but in any event at
least one Business Day prior to such record date. Subject to the foregoing,
there is no limitation on the number of times that the Company may elect to
begin an Extended Interest Payment Period.
ADDITIONAL SUMS
If Premier Capital Trust or the Property Trustee is required to pay any
additional taxes, duties or other governmental charges as a result of the
occurrence of a Tax Event, the Company will pay as additional amounts,
referred to herein as Additional Interest, on the Subordinated Debentures such
additional amounts as may be required so that the net amounts received and
retained by Premier Capital Trust after paying any such additional taxes,
duties or other governmental charges will not be less than the amounts Premier
Capital Trust would have received had such additional taxes, duties or other
governmental charges not been imposed.
REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
The Company will have the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures prior
to maturity (i) on or after December 31, 2007, in whole at any time or in part
from time to time, or (ii) at any time in whole (but not in part), for cash
within 180 days following the occurrence of a Capital Event, a Tax Event or an
Investment Company Event, in each case at a redemption price equal to the
accrued and unpaid interest in the Subordinated Debentures so redeemed to the
date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof. The
proceeds of any such redemption will be used by Premier Capital Trust to
redeem the Preferred Securities. Any such redemption prior to the Stated
Maturity will be subject to prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal
Reserve. If a partial redemption of the Subordinated Debentures would result
in the delisting of the Preferred Securities issued by Premier Capital Trust
from the American Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange or other
organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, the Company
will not be permitted to effect such partial redemption and may only redeem
the Subordinated Debentures in whole.
The Federal Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines, which are subject to
change, currently provide that redemptions of permanent equity or other
capital instruments before stated maturity could have a significant impact on
a bank holding company's overall capital structure and that any organization
considering such a redemption should consult with the Federal Reserve before
redeeming any equity or capital instrument prior to maturity if such
redemption could have a material effect on the level or composition of the
organization's capital base (unless the equity or capital instrument were
redeemed with the proceeds of, or replaced by, a like amount of a similar or
higher quality capital instrument and the Federal Reserve considers the
organization's capital position to be fully adequate after the redemption).
The redemption of the Subordinated Debentures by the Company prior to their
Stated Maturity would constitute the redemption of capital instruments under
the Federal Reserve's current risk-based capital guidelines and may be subject
to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve. The redemption of the
Subordinated Debentures also could be subject to the additional prior approval
of the Federal Reserve under its current risk-based capital guidelines.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Subordinated Debentures
to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Company defaults in
payment of the Redemption Price for the Subordinated Debentures, on and after
the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on such Subordinated Debentures
or portions thereof called for redemption.
The Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund.
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DISTRIBUTION UPON LIQUIDATION
As described under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination," under certain circumstances involving the
termination of Premier Capital Trust, the Subordinated Debentures may be
distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of
Premier Capital Trust after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of
Premier Capital Trust as provided by applicable law. Any such distribution
will be subject to receipt of prior approval by the Federal Reserve if then
required under applicable policies or guidelines of the Federal Reserve. If
the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of Preferred
Securities upon the liquidation of Premier Capital Trust, the Company will use
its best efforts to list the Subordinated Debentures on the American Stock
Exchange, or stock exchanges, if any, on which the Preferred Securities are
then listed. There can be no assurance as to the market price of any
Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed to the holders of Preferred
Securities.
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS
If at any time (i) there has occurred a Debenture Event of Default, (ii) the
Company is in default with respect to its obligations under the Guarantee, or
(iii) the Company has given notice of its election of an Extended Interest
Payment Period as provided in the Indenture with respect to the Subordinated
Debentures and has not rescinded such notice, or such Extended Interest
Payment Period, or any extension thereof, is continuing, the Company will not
(a) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's
capital stock (other than the reclassification of any class of the Company's
capital stock into another class of capital stock), (b) make any payment of
principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in
interest to the Subordinated Debentures (other than payments under the
Guarantee), or (c) redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the
Subordinated Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities.
SUBORDINATION
The Indenture provides that the Subordinated Debentures issued thereunder
are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt,
Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the Company. Upon any
payment or distribution of assets to creditors upon any liquidation,
dissolution, winding up, or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary
or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other
proceedings, the holders of Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional
Senior Obligations of the Company will first be entitled to receive payment in
full of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such
Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the
Company before the holders of Subordinated Debentures will be entitled to
receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal of or interest on
the Subordinated Debentures.
In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any Subordinated
Debentures, the holders of all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional
Senior Obligations of the Company outstanding at the time of such acceleration
will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due thereon
(including any amounts due upon acceleration) before the holders of the
Subordinated Debentures will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in
respect of the principal of or interest on the Subordinated Debentures.
No payments on account of principal or interest in respect of the
Subordinated Debentures may be made if there has occurred and is continuing a
default in any payment with respect to Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or
Additional Senior Obligations of the Company or an event of default with
respect to any Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or Additional Senior Obligations
of the Company resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof.
"Debt" means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a
portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent, (i) every
obligation of such Person for money borrowed, (ii) every obligation of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
including
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obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or
businesses, (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect
to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued for
the account of such Person, (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course
of business), (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person, and (vi)
every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of another
Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either
case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible for or liable, directly or
indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.
"Senior Debt" means, with respect to the Company, the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest, if any (including interest accruing on or after
the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the
Company whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in
such proceeding), on Debt, whether incurred on or prior to the date of the
Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or
evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is
provided that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the
Subordinated Debentures or to other Debt which is pari passu with, or
subordinated to, the Subordinated Debentures; provided, however, that Senior
Debt will not be deemed to include (i) any Debt of the Company which when
incurred and without respect to any election under section 1111(b) of the
United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, was without recourse to the
Company, (ii) any Debt of the Company to any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any
Debt to any employee of the Company, (iv) any Debt which by its terms is
subordinated to trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the
ordinary course of business to the extent that payments made to the holders of
such Debt by the holders of the Subordinated Debentures as a result of the
subordination provisions of the Indenture would be greater than they otherwise
would have been as a result of any obligation of such holders to pay amounts
over to the obligees on such trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities
arising in the ordinary course of business as a result of subordination
provisions to which such Debt is subject, and (v) any Debt which constitutes
Subordinated Debt.
"Subordinated Debt" means, with respect to the Company, the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest, if any (including interest accruing on or
after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating
to the Company whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed
in such proceeding), on Debt, whether incurred on or prior to the date of the
Indenture or thereafter incurred, which is by its terms expressly provided to
be junior and subordinate to other Debt of the Company (other than the
Subordinated Debentures).
"Additional Senior Obligations" means, with respect to the Company, all
indebtedness, whether incurred on or prior to the date of the Indenture or
thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative products such as
interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts and similar
arrangements; provided, however, that Additional Senior Obligations do not
include claims in respect of Senior Debt or Subordinated Debt or obligations
which, by their terms, are expressly stated to be not superior in right of
payment to the Subordinated Debentures or to rank pari passu in right of
payment with the Subordinated Debentures. For purposes of this definition,
"claim" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 101(4) of the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended.
The Indenture places no limitation on the amount of additional Senior Debt,
Subordinated Debt or Additional Senior Obligations that may be incurred by the
Company. The Company expects from time to time to incur indebtedness
constituting Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations.
Because the Company is a holding company, the Subordinated Debentures are
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
Company's subsidiaries, including obligations to depositors of the Banking
Subsidiaries. Such subsidiaries of the Company had total liabilities
(excluding liabilities owed to the Company) of approximately $531 million,
including deposits in the case of the Banking Subsidiaries.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Payment of principal of and any interest on the Subordinated Debentures will
be made at the office of the Debenture Trustee in Boston, Massachusetts,
except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest
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may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto
as such address appears in the register of holders of the Subordinated
Debentures, or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person
entitled thereto as specified in the register of holders of the Subordinated
Debentures, provided that proper transfer instructions have been received by
the regular record date. Payment of any interest on Subordinated Debentures
will be made to the Person in whose name such Subordinated Debenture is
registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such
interest, except in the case of defaulted interest. The Company may at any
time designate additional paying agents for the Subordinated Debentures or
rescind the designation of any paying agent for the Subordinated Debentures;
however, the Company will at all times be required to maintain a paying agent,
and each place of payment for the Subordinated Debentures. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, so long as the holder of any Subordinated Debentures is the
Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest (including
compounded interest and Additional Interest, if any) on such Subordinated
Debentures held by the Property Trustee may be made at such place and to such
account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.
Any moneys deposited with the Debenture Trustee or any paying agent for the
Subordinated Debentures, or then held by the Company in trust, for the payment
of the principal of or interest on the Subordinated Debentures and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal or interest has become due and
payable will be repaid to the Company or (if then held in trust by the
Company) will be discharged from such trust and the holder of such
Subordinated Debenture will thereafter look, as general unsecured creditor,
only to the Company for payment thereof.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
The Debenture Trustee will act as the registrar and the transfer agent for
the Subordinated Debentures. Subordinated Debentures may be presented for
registration of transfer (with the form of transfer endorsed thereon, or a
satisfactory written instrument of transfer, duly executed), at the office of
the registrar. The Company may at any time rescind the designation of any such
transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such
transfer agent acts; provided that the Company maintains a transfer agent in
Atlanta, Georgia. The Company may at any time designate additional transfer
agents with respect to the Subordinated Debentures. In the event of any
Redemption, neither the Company nor the Debenture Trustee will be required to
(i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Subordinated Debentures during
a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of
selection for Redemption of Subordinated Debentures and ending at the close of
business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii)
transfer or exchange any Subordinated Debentures so selected for redemption,
except, in the case of any Subordinated Debentures being redeemed in part, any
portion thereof not to be redeemed.
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE
The Company and the Debenture Trustee may, from time to time without the
consent of the holders of the Subordinated Debentures, amend, waive or
supplement the Indenture for specified purposes, including, among other
things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies and qualifying, or
maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Debenture
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debentures, to modify the
Indenture; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Subordinated Debenture affected by such proposed
modification, (i) extend the fixed maturity of the Subordinated Debentures, or
reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of
payment of interest thereon, or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount
of Subordinated Debentures, the holders of which are required to consent to
any such modification of the Indenture; provided that so long as any of the
Preferred Securities remain outstanding, no such modification may be made that
requires the consent of the holders of the Subordinated Debentures, and no
termination of the Indenture may occur, and no waiver of any Debenture Event
of Default may be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at
least a majority, and in certain cases all, of the aggregate Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities.
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DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events with respect to the Subordinated Debentures that has occurred and is
continuing constitutes an event of default (each, a "Debenture Event of
Default") with respect to the Subordinated Debentures:
(i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on the Subordinated Debentures,
when due (subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of an
Extended Interest Payment Period); or
(ii) failure to pay any principal on the Subordinated Debentures when due
whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise; or
(iii) failure to observe or perform in any material respect certain other
covenants contained in the Indenture for 90 days after written notice
to the Company from the Debenture Trustee or the holders of at least
25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated
Debentures; or
(iv) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
Company.
As described in "Description of the Preferred Securities--Events of Default;
Notice," the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default will also constitute
an Event of Default in respect of the Trust Securities.
The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Subordinated Debentures have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee.
The Debenture Trustee, or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures, may declare the
principal due and payable immediately upon a Debenture Event of Default. The
holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Subordinated Debentures may annul such declaration and waive the default if
the default (other than the non-payment of the principal of the Subordinated
Debentures which has become due solely by such acceleration) has been cured
and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal
due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture
Trustee. Should the holders of the Subordinated Debentures fail to annul such
declaration and waive such default, the holders of a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities will have such right.
The Company is required to file annually with the Debenture Trustee a
certificate as to whether or not the Company is in compliance with all the
conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Indenture.
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property
Trustee will have the right to declare the principal of and the interest on
such Subordinated Debentures, and any other amounts payable under the
Indenture, to be forthwith due and payable and to enforce its other rights as
a creditor with respect to such Subordinated Debentures.
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such
event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest on or
principal of the Subordinated Debentures on the payment date on which such
payment is due and payable, then a holder of Preferred Securities may
institute a Direct Action against the Company for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the principal of or interest on such Subordinated Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities of such holder. In connection with such Direct Action,
the Company will have a right of set-off under the Indenture to the extent of
any payment made by the Company to such holder of Preferred Securities in the
Direct Action. The Company may not amend the Indenture to remove the foregoing
right to bring a Direct Action without the prior written consent of the
holders of all of the Preferred Securities. If the right to bring a Direct
Action is removed, Premier Capital Trust may become subject to the reporting
obligations under the Exchange Act. The Company has the right under the
Indenture to set off any payment made to such holder of Preferred Securities
by the Company in connection with a Direct Action.
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The holders of the Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise
directly any remedies, other than those set forth in the preceding paragraph,
available to the holders of the Subordinated Debentures except under the
circumstances described in the preceding paragraph. See "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Events of Default; Notice."
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
The Company may not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or
convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to
any Person, and no Person may consolidate with or merge into the Company or
sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless (i) in the event the
Company consolidates with or merges into another Person or conveys or
transfers its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
Person, the successor Person is organized under the laws of the United States
or any state or the District of Columbia, and such successor Person expressly
assumes by supplemental indenture the Company's obligations on the
Subordinated Debentures issued under the Indenture, and (ii) immediately after
giving effect thereto, no Debenture Event of Default, and no event which,
after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Debenture Event of
Default, has occurred and is continuing, and (iii) certain other conditions as
prescribed in the Indenture are met.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
The Indenture will cease to be of further effect (except as to the Company's
obligations to pay certain sums due pursuant to the Indenture and to provide
certain officers' certificates and opinions of counsel described therein) and
the Company will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the Indenture
when, among other things, all Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered
to the Debenture Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or
are to be called for redemption and the Company deposits or causes to be
deposited with the Debenture Trustee funds, in trust, for the purpose and in
an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the
Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture Trustee for
cancellation, for the principal and interest to the date of the deposit or to
the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be.
GOVERNING LAW
The Indenture and the Subordinated Debentures will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE
The Debenture Trustee has and is subject to all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the
Trust Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Debenture Trustee is
under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the
Indenture at the request of any holder of Subordinated Debentures, unless
offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and
liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The Debenture Trustee is not
required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of its duties if the Debenture Trustee reasonably
believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
State Street, the Debenture Trustee, may serve from time to time as trustee
under other indentures or trust agreements with the Company or its
subsidiaries relating to other issues of their securities. In addition, the
Company and certain of its affiliates may have other banking relationships
with State Street and its affiliates.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Company has agreed, pursuant to the Indenture, for so long as Trust
Securities remain outstanding, (i) to maintain directly or indirectly 100%
ownership of the Common Securities of Premier Capital Trust (provided that
certain successors which are permitted pursuant to the Indenture may succeed
to the Company's ownership
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of the Common Securities), (ii) not to voluntarily terminate, wind up or
liquidate Premier Capital Trust, except upon prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if then so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of
the Federal Reserve, and except (a) in connection with a distribution of
Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the Preferred Securities in
liquidation of Premier Capital Trust, or (b) in connection with certain
mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the Trust Agreement, and
(iii) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions
of the Trust Agreement, to cause Premier Capital Trust to remain classified as
a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEE
The Preferred Securities Guarantee will be executed and delivered by the
Company concurrently with the issuance of the Preferred Securities for the
benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Guarantee will be
qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee
will act as indenture trustee under the Guarantee for purposes of complying
with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee, State
Street, will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
Preferred Securities. The following summary of the material terms and
provisions of the Guarantee does not purport to be complete and is subject to,
and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the
Guarantee and the Trust Indenture Act. Wherever particular defined terms of
the Guarantee are referred to, but not defined herein, such defined terms are
incorporated herein by reference. The form of the Guarantee has been filed as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a
part.
GENERAL
The Company will, pursuant to the Guarantee, irrevocably agree to pay in
full on a subordinated basis, to the extent set forth therein, the Guarantee
Payments (as defined below) to the holders of the Preferred Securities, as and
when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that
Premier Capital Trust may have or assert other than the defense of payment.
The following payments with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent
not paid by or on behalf of Premier Capital Trust (the "Guarantee Payments"),
will be subject to the Guarantee: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions
required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent that Premier
Capital Trust has funds available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption
Price with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption to the
extent that Premier Capital Trust has funds available therefor at such time,
and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or
liquidation of Premier Capital Trust (other than in connection with the
distribution of Subordinated Debentures to the holders of Preferred Securities
or a redemption of all of the Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the
amount of the Liquidation Distribution, to the extent Premier Capital Trust
has funds available therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of
Premier Capital Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of
Preferred Securities in liquidation of Premier Capital Trust. The obligation
of the Company to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment
of the required amounts by the Company to the holders of the Preferred
Securities or by causing Premier Capital Trust to pay such amounts to such
holders.
The Company will, through the Guarantee, the Trust Agreement, the
Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, taken together, fully, irrevocably
and unconditionally guarantee all of the Premier Capital Trust's obligations
under the Preferred Securities. No single document standing alone or operating
in conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents constitutes such
guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents that has the
effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the
Trust's obligations under the Preferred Securities. See "Relationship Among
the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee."
The Guarantee will not apply to any payment of Distributions except to the
extent Premier Capital Trust has funds available therefor. If the Company does
not make interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures
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held by Premier Capital Trust, Premier Capital Trust will not pay
Distributions on the Preferred Securities and will not have funds legally
available therefor.
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEE
The Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Company and
will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt,
Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the Company in the same
manner as the Subordinated Debentures. The Guarantee does not place a
limitation on the amount of additional Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or
Additional Senior Obligations that may be incurred by the Company. The Company
expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior
Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations.
The Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection
(that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against any other Person or entity). The
Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments
in full to the extent not paid by Premier Capital Trust or upon distribution
of the Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the Preferred Securities.
Because the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company to
participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary, including any of
the Banking Subsidiaries, upon such subsidiaries' liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of
that subsidiary, except to the extent the Company may itself be recognized as
a creditor of that subsidiary. The Company's obligations under the Guarantee,
therefore, will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to
the assets of the Company for payments thereunder.
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the Preferred Securities (in which case no vote will
be required), the Guarantee may not be amended without the prior approval of
the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the outstanding Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement." All guarantees and
agreements contained in the Guarantee will bind the successors, assigns,
receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and will inure to the
benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under the Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Company to perform any of its payment or other obligations thereunder. The
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in
respect of the Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee.
Any registered holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Company to enforce its rights under the
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against Premier Capital
Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.
The Company, as guarantor, is required to file annually with the Guarantee
Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Company is in compliance with
all the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Guarantee.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantee Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of a
default by the Company in performance of the Guarantee, undertakes to perform
only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Guarantee and, after
default with respect to the Guarantee, must exercise the same degree of care
and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or
her own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Guarantee Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Guarantee at the
request of any holder of any Preferred Securities, unless it is offered
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred thereby.
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For information concerning the relationship between State Street, the
Guarantee Trustee, and the Company, see "Description of the Subordinated
Debentures--Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee."
TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEE
The Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (i)
full payment of the Redemption Price of the Preferred Securities, (ii) full
payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of Premier Capital Trust, or
(iii) distribution of the Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the
Preferred Securities. The Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of the Preferred
Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under such Preferred
Securities or the Guarantee.
GOVERNING LAW
The Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Georgia.
EXPENSE AND LIABILITIES AGREEMENT
The Company will, pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
entered into by it under the Trust Agreement (the "Expense Agreement"),
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom
Premier Capital Trust becomes indebted or liable, the full payment of any
costs, expenses or liabilities of Premier Capital Trust, other than
obligations of Premier Capital Trust to pay to the holders of the Preferred
Securities or other similar interests in Premier Capital Trust of the amounts
due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such
other similar interests, as the case may be. Third party creditors of Premier
Capital Trust may proceed directly against the Company under the Expense
Agreement, regardless of whether such creditors had notice of the Expense
Agreement.
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RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES AND THE GUARANTEE
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Preferred Securities
(to the extent Premier Capital Trust has funds available for the payment of
such Distributions) are irrevocably guaranteed by the Company as and to the
extent set forth under "Description of the Guarantee." The Company and Premier
Capital Trust believe that, taken together, the obligations of the Company
under the Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, the Trust Agreement, the
Expense Agreement, and the Guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, of payment
of Distributions and other amounts due on the Preferred Securities. No single
document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the
other documents constitutes such a guarantee. It is only the combined
operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the obligations of Premier Capital
Trust under the Preferred Securities. If and to the extent that the Company
does not make payments on the Subordinated Debentures, Premier Capital Trust
will not pay Distributions or other amounts due on the Preferred Securities.
The Guarantee does not cover payment of Distributions when Premier Capital
Trust does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In such event,
the remedy of a holder of Preferred Securities is to institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Company for enforcement of payment of such
Distributions to such holder. The obligations of the Company under the
Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt,
Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the Company.
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Subordinated Debentures, such payments will be sufficient to cover
Distributions and other payments due on the Preferred Securities, primarily
because (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures will
be equal to the sum of the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities, (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the
Subordinated Debentures will match the Distribution rate and Distribution and
other payment dates for the Preferred Securities, (iii) the Company will pay
for all and any costs, expenses and liabilities of Premier Capital Trust
(except the obligations of Premier Capital Trust to holders of the Preferred
Securities), and (iv) the Trust Agreement further provides that Premier
Capital Trust will not engage in any activity that is not consistent with the
limited purposes of Premier Capital Trust.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, the Company has
the right to set off any payment it is otherwise required to make thereunder
with and to the extent the Company has theretofore made, or is concurrently on
the date of such payment making, a payment under the Guarantee.
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
A holder of any Preferred Security may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, Premier Capital
Trust or any other Person. A default or event of default under any Senior
Debt, Subordinated Debt or Additional Senior Obligations of the Company would
not constitute a default or Event of Default. In the event, however, of
payment defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or
Additional Senior Obligations of the Company, the subordination provisions of
the Indenture provide that no payments may be made in respect of the
Subordinated Debentures until such Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or
Additional Senior Obligations have been paid in full or any payment default
thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make required payments on the
Subordinated Debentures would constitute an Event of Default.
LIMITED PURPOSE OF PREMIER CAPITAL TRUST
The Preferred Securities evidence a preferred undivided beneficial interest
in the assets of Premier Capital Trust. Premier Capital Trust exists for the
sole purpose of issuing the Trust Securities and investing the proceeds
45
<PAGE>
thereof in Subordinated Debentures. A principal difference between the rights
of a holder of a Preferred Security and the rights of a holder of a
Subordinated Debenture is that a holder of a Subordinated Debenture is
entitled to receive from the Company the principal amount of and interest
accrued on Subordinated Debentures held, while a holder of Preferred
Securities is entitled to receive Distributions from Premier Capital Trust (or
from the Company under the Guarantee) if and to the extent Premier Capital
Trust has funds available for the payment of such Distributions.
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of
Premier Capital Trust involving the liquidation of the Subordinated
Debentures, the holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to
receive, out of assets held by Premier Capital Trust, the Liquidation
Distribution in cash. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--
Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination." Upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company, the Property Trustee, as holder of
the Subordinated Debentures, would be a subordinated creditor of the Company,
subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and
Additional Senior Obligations of the Company, but entitled to receive payment
in full of principal and interest before any shareholders of the Company
receive payments or distributions. Since the Company is the guarantor under
the Guarantee and has agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of
Premier Capital Trust (other than the obligations of Premier Capital Trust to
the holders of its Preferred Securities), the positions of a holder of the
Preferred Securities and a holder of the Subordinated Debentures relative to
other creditors and to shareholders of the Company in the event of liquidation
or bankruptcy of the Company are expected to be substantially the same.
MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
GENERAL
In the opinion of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, counsel to the
Company and Premier Capital Trust the following discussion summarizes the
material United States federal income tax considerations that may be relevant
to the purchasers of Preferred Securities. This summary is based upon current
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
regulations thereunder and current administrative rulings and court decisions,
all of which are subject to change at any time, with possible retroactive
effect. Subsequent changes may cause tax consequences to vary substantially
from the consequences described below. Furthermore, the authorities on which
the following summary is based are subject to various interpretations, and it
is therefore possible that the United States federal income tax treatment of
the purchase, ownership, and disposition of Preferred Securities may differ
from the treatment described below.
No attempt has been made in the following discussion to comment on all
United States federal income tax matters affecting purchasers of Preferred
Securities. Moreover, the discussion generally focuses on holders of Preferred
Securities who (i) are individual citizens or residents of the United States,
corporations and partnerships created or organized in or under the laws of the
United States or any political subdivision thereof, an estate--the income of
which is includible in its gross income for United States federal income tax
purposes without regard to its source, or a trust if a court within the Untied
States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the
trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust ("U.S. Holders"), and (ii) who acquire
Preferred Securities on their original issue at their offering price and hold
Preferred Securities as capital assets. The discussion does not address
persons who are not U.S. Holders or all the tax consequences that may be
relevant to U.S. Holders who may be subject to special tax treatment, such as,
for example, banks, thrifts, real estate investment trusts, regulated
investment companies, insurance companies, dealers in securities or
currencies, tax-exempt investors, or persons that will hold the Preferred
Securities as a position in a "straddle," as part of a "synthetic security" or
"hedge," as part of a "conversion transaction" or other integrated investment,
or as other than a capital asset. The following summary also does not address
the tax consequences to persons that have a functional currency other than the
U.S. dollar or the tax consequences to shareholders, partners or beneficiaries
of a holder of Preferred Securities. Further, it does not include any
description of any alternative minimum tax consequences or the tax laws of any
state or local government or of any foreign government that may be applicable
to the Preferred Securities.
46
<PAGE>
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT, AND SHOULD RELY EXCLUSIVELY ON,
SUCH INVESTOR'S OWN TAX ADVISORS IN ANALYZING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND
FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP OR DISPOSITION OF
PREFERRED SECURITIES.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Company intends to take the position that the Subordinated Debentures
will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as
indebtedness of the Company under current law, and, by acceptance of a
Preferred Security, each holder covenants to treat the Subordinated Debentures
as indebtedness and the Preferred Securities as evidence of an indirect
beneficial ownership interest in the Subordinated Debentures. No assurance can
be given, however, that such position of the Company will not be challenged by
the Internal Revenue Service or, if challenged, that such a challenge will not
be successful. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the Subordinated
Debentures will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as
indebtedness of the Company.
CLASSIFICATION OF PREMIER CAPITAL TRUST
With respect to the Preferred Securities, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice,
PLLC, counsel to the Company and Premier Capital Trust, has rendered its
opinion generally to the effect that, under then current law and assuming full
compliance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and Indenture, Premier
Capital Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes
as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation.
Accordingly, for United States federal income tax purposes, each holder of
Preferred Securities generally will be treated as owning an undivided
beneficial interest in the Subordinated Debentures and each holder will be
required to include in its gross income each item of income or gain with
respect to its allocable share of the Subordinated Debentures.
POTENTIAL EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
The Company's option to extend the interest payment period on the
Subordinated Debentures may cause the indebtedness to be issued with original
issue discount ("OID"). Under recently issued Treasury regulations (the
"Regulations"), a contingency that stated interest will not be timely paid
that is "remote" will be ignored in determining whether such debt instrument
is issued with OID. As a result of the terms and conditions of the
Subordinated Debentures that prohibit certain payments with respect to the
Company's capital stock and indebtedness if the Company elects to extend
interest payment periods, the Company believes that the likelihood of its
exercising its option to defer payments is remote. Based on the foregoing, the
Company intends to take the position that the Subordinated Debentures will not
be considered to be issued with OID at the time of their original issuance. If
this position is sustained, a holder of Preferred Securities should include in
gross income such holder's allocable share of interest on the Subordinated
Debentures in accordance with its own method of tax accounting.
There can be no assurance, however, that the Internal Revenue Service will
not successfully contest the Company's position. If the Internal Revenue
Service were successful in such a contention, then all of the stated interest
payments on the Subordinated Debentures would be treated as OID. In such case,
the holders of the Preferred Securities would be required to include OID in
income on an economic accrual basis regardless of whether any interest is
actually paid or their method of tax accounting, but would not be required to
report actual payments of interest as taxable income.
If the Company's position that there is no OID initially is upheld, but the
Company exercises its option to defer any payment of interest, the
Subordinated Debentures would at the time of such exercise be treated as
issued with OID, and all stated interest thereafter payable on the
Subordinated Debentures would be treated as OID. In such event, the holders of
the Preferred Securities would be required to account for the OID as stated in
the immediately preceding paragraph. Consequently, each prospective investor
holding Preferred Securities would be required to include in gross income OID
even though the Company would not make any actual interest payments during an
Extended Interest Payment Period.
47
<PAGE>
RECEIPT OF SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES OR CASH UPON LIQUIDATION OF PREMIER CAPITAL
TRUST
Under certain circumstances, as described under "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange" and "--Liquidation Distribution
Upon Termination," the Subordinated Debentures may be distributed to holders
of Preferred Securities upon a liquidation of Premier Capital Trust. Under
current United States federal income tax law, such a distribution would be
treated as a nontaxable event to each such holder and would result in such
holder having an aggregate tax basis in the Subordinated Debentures received
in the liquidation equal to such holder's aggregate tax basis in the Preferred
Securities immediately before the distribution. A holder's holding period in
the Subordinated Debentures so received in liquidation of Premier Capital
Trust would include the period for which such holder held the Preferred
Securities.
If, however, a Tax Event were to occur based on Premier Capital Trust's
being treated as an association taxable as a corporation, the distribution
would likely constitute a taxable event to holders of the Preferred
Securities. Under certain circumstances described herein, the Subordinated
Debentures may be redeemed for cash and the proceeds of such redemption
distributed to holders in redemption of their Preferred Securities. Under
current law, such a redemption would, for United States federal income tax
purposes, constitute a taxable disposition of the redeemed Preferred
Securities, and a holder would recognize gain or loss as if the holder sold
such Preferred Securities for cash. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Redemption or Exchange" and "--Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination."
DISPOSITION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
A holder of Preferred Securities that sells Preferred Securities will
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between its adjusted tax basis
for the Preferred Securities and the amount realized on the sale of such
Preferred Securities. Assuming that the Company's position that there is no
OID initially is upheld, and the Company does not exercise its option to defer
payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures, a Preferred Security
holder's adjusted tax basis for the Preferred Securities generally will be its
initial purchase price. If the Subordinated Debentures are deemed to have been
issued initially with OID, or OID results due to the Company's deferral of any
interest payment, a Preferred Security holder's adjusted tax basis for the
Preferred Securities generally will be its initial purchase price, increased
by OID previously included in such holder's gross income to the date of
disposition and decreased by distributions and other payments received on the
Preferred Securities since the date the Subordinated Debentures are deemed to
have OID. Such gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss (except
to the extent any amount realized is treated as a payment of accrued interest
with respect to such holder's pro rata share of the Subordinated Debentures)
and will be a short-term, mid-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending
on the length of time the Preferred Securities have been held.
The Preferred Securities may trade at a price that does not accurately
reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the
underlying Subordinated Debentures. A holder that disposes of its Preferred
Securities between record dates for payments of distributions thereon will be
required to include accrued but unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures
through the date of disposition in income as ordinary income, and to add such
amount to its adjusted tax basis in its pro rata share of the underlying
Subordinated Debentures deemed disposed of. To the extent the selling price is
less than the holder's adjusted tax basis (which basis will include, in the
form of OID, all accrued but unpaid interest), a holder will recognize a
capital loss. Subject to certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be
applied to offset ordinary income for United States federal income tax
purposes.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
Interest paid on the Subordinated Debentures, or the amount of OID on the
Subordinated Debentures, if applicable, deemed held of record by individual
citizens or residents of the United States, or certain trusts,
48
<PAGE>
estates, and partnerships, will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service
("IRS") on Forms 1099, which forms should be mailed to such holders of
Preferred Securities by January 31 following each calendar year. Payments made
on, and proceeds from the sale of, the Preferred Securities may be subject to
a "backup" withholding tax (currently at 31%) unless the holder complies with
certain identification and other requirements. Any amounts withheld under the
backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against the holder's U.S.
federal income tax liability provided the required information is provided to
the IRS.
THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON THE
PARTICULAR SITUATION OF A HOLDER OF PREFERRED SECURITIES. HOLDERS OF PREFERRED
SECURITIES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE
PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL,
FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN U.S. FEDERAL
OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Employee benefit plans that are subject to the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), or Section 4975 of the Code
("Plans"), generally may purchase Preferred Securities, subject to the
investing fiduciary's determination that the investment in Preferred
Securities satisfies ERISA's fiduciary standards and other requirements
applicable to investments by the Plan.
In any case, the Company and/or any of its affiliates may be considered a
"party in interest" (within the meaning of ERISA) or a "disqualified person"
(within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) with respect to certain plans
(generally, Plans maintained or sponsored by, or contributed to by, any such
persons with respect to which the Company or an affiliate is a fiduciary or
Plans for which the Company or an affiliate provides services). The
acquisition and ownership of Preferred Securities by a Plan (or by an
individual retirement arrangement or other Plans described in Section
4975(e)(1) of the Code) with respect to which the Company or any of its
affiliates is considered a party in interest or a disqualified person may
constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975
of the Code, unless such Preferred Securities are acquired pursuant to and in
accordance with an applicable exemption.
As a result, Plans with respect to which the Company or any of its
affiliates is a party in interest or a disqualified person should not acquire
Preferred Securities unless such Preferred Securities are acquired pursuant to
and in accordance with an applicable exemption such as Prohibited Transaction
Class Exemption ("PTCE") 84-14 (an exemption for certain transactions
determined by an independent qualified professional asset manager), PTCE 91-38
(an exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment
funds), PTCE 90-1 (an exemption for certain transactions involving insurance
company pooled separate accounts), PTCE 95-60 (an exemption for transactions
involving certain insurance company general accounts) or PTCE 96-23 (an
exemption for certain transactions determined by an in-house asset manager.
Plans or other entities whose assets include Plan assets subject to ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code proposing to acquire Preferred Securities should
consult with their own counsel.
In addition, a Plan fiduciary considering the purchase of Preferred
Securities should be aware that the assets of Premier Capital Trust may be
considered "plan assets" for ERISA purposes. Therefore, to avoid certain
prohibited transactions under ERISA and the Code that could thereby result,
each investing Plan, by purchasing the Preferred Securities, will be deemed to
have directed Premier Capital Trust to invest in the Subordinated Debentures
and to have appointed the Property Trustee.
49
<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the form of which is filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part,
and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the Underwriters named below,
acting through J.C. Bradford & Co., Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation and
Sterne Agee & Leach, Inc., as representatives of the several Underwriters (the
"Representatives"), have severally agreed to purchase from Premier Capital
Trust the number of Preferred Securities set forth below opposite their
respective names.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
NAME OF UNDERWRITER SHARES
- ------------------- ---------
<S> <C>
J.C. Bradford & Co.................................................... 450,000
Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation................................... 450,000
Sterne Agee & Leach, Inc.............................................. 100,000
---------
Total................................................................ 1,000,000
=========
</TABLE>
The several Underwriters have agreed in the Underwriting Agreement, subject
to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all the Preferred
Securities offered hereby if any of the Preferred Securities are purchased. In
the event of default by an Underwriter, the Underwriting Agreement provides
that, in certain circumstances, purchase commitments of the nondefaulting
Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.
The Representatives have advised Premier Capital Trust that they propose
initially to offer the Preferred Securities to the public at the public
offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus. After the
initial public offering, the public offering price may be changed.
In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred
Securities will be used to purchase the Subordinated Debentures of the
Company, the Underwriting Agreement provides that the Company will pay as
compensation to the Underwriters arranging the investment therein of such
proceeds, an amount in immediately available funds of $1.00 per Preferred
Security (or $1,000,000 in the aggregate or $1,150,000 if the Underwriters'
over-allotment option is exercised) for the accounts of the several
Underwriters.
The offering of the Preferred Securities is made for delivery when, as and
if accepted by the Underwriters and subject to prior sale and to withdrawal,
cancellation or modification of the offer without notice. The Underwriters
reserve the right to reject any order for the purchase of the shares.
Premier Capital Trust has granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up
to an additional 150,000 Preferred Securities at the initial public offering
price. Such option, which expires 30 days from the date of this Prospectus,
may be exercised solely to cover over-allotments. To the extent that the
Underwriters exercise such option, each of the Underwriters will have a firm
commitment to purchase approximately the same percentage thereof which the
number of shares of Preferred Securities to be purchased by it shown in the
table above bears to the total and Premier Capital Trust and will be obligated
pursuant to the option, to sell such shares to the Underwriters. The
Underwriters may exercise such options only to cover over-allotments made in
connection with the sale of shares of Preferred Securities offered hereby. If
purchased, the Underwriters will sell such additional shares on the same terms
as those on which the shares are being offered.
To the extent that the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase
additional Preferred Securities, Premier Capital Trust will issue and sell to
the Company additional Common Securities and the Company will issue and sell
Subordinated Debentures to Premier Capital Trust in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the total aggregate Liquidation Amount of the additional
Common Securities being purchased and the additional Preferred Securities
being purchased pursuant to the option.
50
<PAGE>
During a period of 120 days from the date of this Prospectus, neither
Premier Capital Trust nor the Company will, subject to certain exceptions,
without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or
indirectly, sell, offer to sell, grant any option for sale of, or otherwise
dispose of, any Preferred Securities, any security convertible into or
exchangeable into or exercisable for Preferred Securities or Subordinated
Debentures or any debt securities substantially similar to the Subordinated
Debentures or equity securities substantially similar to the Preferred
Securities (except for the Subordinated Debentures and the Preferred
Securities offered hereby).
The Preferred Securities have been approved for quotation on the American
Stock Exchange. The offering price and distribution rate have been determined
by negotiations among representatives of the Company and the Underwriters, and
the offering price of the Preferred Securities may not be indicative of the
market price following the offering. The Representatives will have no
obligation to make a market in the Preferred Securities, however, and may
cease market-making activities, if commenced, at any time.
Premier Capital Trust and the Company have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters and controlling persons, if any, against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, or will contribute to payments
that the Underwriters or any such controlling persons may be required to make
in respect thereof.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred
Securities, the enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the formation of
Premier Capital Trust will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger P.A.,
special Delaware counsel. Certain legal matters for the Company and Premier
Capital Trust, including the validity of the Guarantee and the Subordinated
Debentures will be passed upon for the Company and Premier Capital Trust by
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, Atlanta, Georgia, counsel to the
Company and Premier Capital Trust. Certain legal matters will be passed upon
for the Underwriters by Alston & Bird, LLP, Washington, D.C. Womble Carlyle
Sandridge & Rice, PLLC and Alston & Bird, LLP, will rely on the opinion of
Richards, Layton & Finger P.A. with regard to matters pertaining to Delaware
law. Certain matters relating to United States federal income tax
considerations will be passed upon for the Company by Womble Carlyle Sandridge
& Rice, PLLC.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 incorporated herein by
reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996 and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and
its subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 restated
to give effect to the combination of Central and Southern with the Company,
accounted for as a pooling of interests, incorporated herein by reference to
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated November 4, 1997, have been
audited by Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC, independent certified public accountants,
as stated in their reports, which reports are incorporated herein by
reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the authority of
said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
51
<PAGE>
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NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRE-
SENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATIONS
MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, PREMIER CAP-
ITAL TRUST I OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR
ANY SALE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT
THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR PREMIER CAPITAL
TRUST I SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS COR-
RECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTI-
TUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.
---------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Available Information...................................................... 1
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................ 2
Prospectus Summary......................................................... 4
Risk Factors............................................................... 12
The Company................................................................ 18
Accounting Treatment....................................................... 20
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 20
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges........................................ 20
Capitalization............................................................. 21
Selected Consolidated Financial Data....................................... 22
Premier Capital Trust...................................................... 23
Description of the Preferred Securities.................................... 24
Description of the Subordinated Debentures................................. 34
Description of the Guarantee............................................... 42
Relationship among the Preferred Securities,
the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee............................. 45
Material Federal Income Tax Consequences................................... 46
ERISA Considerations....................................................... 49
Underwriting............................................................... 50
Validity of Securities..................................................... 51
Experts.................................................................... 51
</TABLE>
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1,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES
PREMIER CAPITAL TRUST I
9.00% CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25.00 PER PREFERRED SECURITY) FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
GUARANTEED, AS
DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
[LOGO OF PREMIER BANCSHARES, INC. APPEARS HERE]
PREMIER BANCSHARES, INC.
---------------
PROSPECTUS
---------------
J.C.Bradford&Co.
Interstate/Johnson Lane
Corporation
SterneAgee&Leach,Inc.
November 10, 1997
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