Take Two on BB&T Deal for BankAtlantic

BB&T Corp. has answered the question whether it still has a stomach for a deal with BankAtlantic Bancorp.

Affirmative.

BB&T on Tuesday said it will assume BankAtlantic's obligations to holders of about $285 million of trust preferred securities. A judge had blocked the original deal on the grounds that it was unfair to those bond holders of BankAtlantic, which is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

BB&T also would receive a 95% preferred interest in a newly established entity that will hold a $423 million pool of loans and $17 million of other assets. The pool of loans, which has an unpaid principal balance of approximately $500 million, represents a portion of the loans that BankAtlantic would have retained under the original agreement, BB&T says.

BB&T said it has thoroughly vetted the loans. About 50% of which of them are classified as performing as of Jan. 31. The recoverable principal value is estimated at $350 million, BB&T says.

"I am pleased to move forward with our planned transaction," BB&T Chairman and Chief Executive Kelly King said in a press release. "The improving economy in Southeast Florida makes this acquisition even more compelling. … This amendment to our original agreement fully addresses litigation obstacles."

Under the revised deal, BB&T would still acquire approximately $2.1 billion of loans and approximately $3.3 billion of deposits based on Sept. 30, 2011, balances. BB&T will pay a premium equal to 9% of total deposits at Sept. 30, 2011. It is subject to adjustment at closing but cannot exceed $316 million.

BankAtlantic Bancorp will provide BB&T with an incremental $35 million guarantee to further assure BB&T's recovery of the $285 million assumed liability, BB&T says.

Approximately $255 million of the assumed trust preferred securities are immediately redeemable, and the remaining $30 million are redeemable starting in September or December 2012. BankAtlantic Bancorp will pay all accrued interest on the trust preferred securities in connection with the closing of the transaction.

BB&T's shares were up around 1%, at $29.56 apiece, in early trading on Tuesday.

The deal is expected to close in the second quarter.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Squire Sanders (US) LLP and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz advised BB&T in this transaction. Sandler O'Neill and Partners and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. provided financial advice to BankAtlantic.

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