SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 5, 2008
Western Alliance Bancorporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Nevada
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001-32550
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88-0365922 |
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(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
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2700 W. Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada
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89102 |
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (702) 248-4200
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 2.06 Material Impairments
On December 5, 2008, Western Alliance Bancorporation (the Company) determined that the portfolio
of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) held by the Companys bank subsidiaries was
other-than-temporarily impaired under generally accepted accounting principles due to the continued
expected weakness of the U.S. economy, the decline in the market value of these CDOs, the increase
in deferrals and defaults by the issuers of the underlying securities and certain ratings watch
downgrades by Fitch Ratings (Fitch). These CDOs represent interests in various trusts, each of
which is collateralized with preferred stock issued by other financial institutions. Although Fitch
continues to rate the 18 CDOs owned by the Company as investment grade, each of the CDOs has been
placed on Rating Watch Negative by Fitch. Of the 18 CDOs, 13 are current in payments of interest,
while five are deferring interest payments and are capitalizing interest.
In connection with this action, the Company expects to record an impairment charge in the fourth
quarter of 2008 of approximately $65 to $70 million, after tax. The Company does not anticipate
that the impairment charge will result in any future cash expenditures.
In addition the Company also holds as available for sale certain adjustable rate
preferred securities issued by Morgan Stanley and Zions Bancorporation. Generally
accepted accounting principles would require recognition of unrealized losses on
these securities unless the Company has both the intent and ability to hold these
securities to recovery. The Company has determined that it no longer meets these
conditions and therefore expects to record an after-tax impairment charge of
approximately $7 million. The Company does not anticipate that the impairment
charge will result in any cash expenditures.
Despite these impairment charges,
the total risk based capital ratio for the Company is expected to increase during the fourth
quarter, primarily as a result of issuance of preferred stock by the Company under the TARP
Capital Purchase Program. After these charges, capital levels at the Company and each of the
Companys subsidiary banks will continue to exceed the well capitalized
standards promulgated by federal banking regulators.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company
has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.
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WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION
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Date: December 11, 2008 |
By: |
/s/
Thomas W. Edington |
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Name: Thomas W. Edington |
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Title: Senior Vice President and Tax
Manager
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
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