As of February 14, 2011, holders of the September 15, 2015 series of Zions Bancorporation subordinated notes (CUSIP: 989701AJ6), which are convertible into the Company?s Series A or Series C preferred stocks, filed notice of their election to convert a combined $85.8 million principal amount of these notes into 3,433,160 depositary shares each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the Company?s Series C preferred stock and 800 depositary shares each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the Company?s Series A preferred stock. As a result of the elected conversions, the Company expects an additional 85,829 of Series C and 20 shares of Series A preferred stock will be issued when the conversions close on March 15th, 2011, unless the elections are revoked prior to that date.
The expected discount amortization attributable to the conversions (i.e. accelerated discount amortization) is approximately $41.0 million (pre-tax), which compares to the accelerated discount amortization for the fourth quarter 2010 conversions of $73.3 million (pre-tax). The first quarter 2011 conversion expense would result in net interest margin pressure of 35 basis points, using the average earning assets of the fourth quarter of 2010, which compares to actual conversion-related net interest margin pressure of 62 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease in pressure of approximately 27 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. The after-tax cost associated with the first quarter 2011 conversion is expected to be $33.3 million.
Upon the close of the conversions noticed this quarter, the cumulative amount of subordinated notes converted since the debt was modified in June of 2009 to include the conversion feature will equal $492.2 million, of which approximately $492.1 million will have been converted into the Company?s depositary shares representing Series C preferred stock and $0.1 million will have been converted into depositary shares representing the Company?s Series A preferred stock, equaling 19,684,680 depositary shares of Series C preferred stock and 4,920 depositary shares of Series A preferred stock. In aggregate, 492,117 shares of Series C and 123 shares of Series A preferred stock will have been issued. The aggregate conversions are expected to constitute approximately 40.7% of the original $1.21 billion principal amount of the convertible subordinated notes; the $1.21 billion includes the December modification of $40 million of subordinated debt, as referenced in the Form 8-K filed January 5, 2010.
The expected remaining balance of convertible subordinated debt is $717.6 million (par value); it is expected that the unamortized discount on this debt will be approximately $331.7 million as of March 31, 2011.
The conversion dates for the convertible subordinated notes occur only on semi-annual interest payment dates. The next such dates are:
May 15, 2011 for convertible 5.65% notes due on May 15, 2014;
May 16, 2011 for convertible 5.50% notes due on November 16, 2015;
September 15, 2011 for convertible 6.00% notes due on September 15, 2015.
Forward-Looking Information
Statements in this current report on Form 8-K that are based on other than historical data or that express the Company's expectations regarding future events or determinations are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events or determinations. Forward-looking statements involve
uncertainties and actual results may differ from those presented in this press release. Factors that might cause such differences include changes in the amount of subordinated debt actually converted into depositary shares. Except as required by law, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly announce the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.