CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP - Quarter Report: 2017 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

securities and exchange commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

form 10-q

(Mark One)

OR

For the transition period from                                                     to                                                  

Cathay General Bancorp

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.                                                  Yes ☑          No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).           Yes ☑          No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).                                                             Yes ☐          No ☑

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common stock, $.01 par value, 80,819,967 shares outstanding as of October 31, 2017.

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARies

3^RD quarter 2017 REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

table of contents

Forward-Looking Statements

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the term “Bancorp” refers to Cathay General Bancorp and the term “Bank” refers to Cathay Bank. The terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Bancorp and the Bank collectively.

The statements in this report include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding management’s beliefs, projections, and assumptions concerning future results and events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provision for forward-looking statements in these provisions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including statements about anticipated future operating and financial performance, financial position and liquidity, growth opportunities and growth rates, growth plans, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, business prospects, strategic alternatives, business strategies, financial expectations, regulatory and competitive outlook, loan and deposit growth, investment and expenditure plans, financing needs and availability, level of nonperforming assets, and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “hopes,” “intends,” “may,” “optimistic,” “plans,” “potential,” “possible,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by us are based on estimates, beliefs, projections, and assumptions of management and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Such risks and uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, adverse developments or conditions related to or arising from:

These and other factors are further described in Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (Item 1A in particular), other reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and other filings Bancorp makes with the SEC from time to time. Actual results in any future period may also vary from the past results discussed in this report. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak to the date of this report. We have no intention and undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to publicly announce any revision of any forward-looking statement to reflect future developments or events, except as required by law.

Bancorp’s filings with the SEC are available at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by request directed to Cathay General Bancorp, 9650 Flair Drive, El Monte, California 91731, Attention: Investor Relations (626) 279-3286.

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1. Business

Cathay General Bancorp (“Bancorp”) is the holding company for Cathay Bank (the “Bank” and, together, with Bancorp, the “Company”), seven limited partnerships investing in affordable housing investments in which the Bank is the sole limited partner, Asia Realty Corp. and GBC Venture Capital, Inc. Bancorp also owns 100% of the common stock of five statutory business trusts created for the purpose of issuing capital securities. The Bank was founded in 1962 and offers a wide range of financial services. As of September 30, 2017, the Bank operates 22 branches in Southern California, 12 branches in Northern California, 12 branches in New York State, three branches in Illinois, three branches in Washington State, two branches in Texas, one branch in Massachusetts, one branch in New Jersey, one branch in Maryland, one branch in Nevada, one branch in Hong Kong, and a representative office in Shanghai and in Taipei. Deposit accounts at the Hong Kong branch are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”).

2. Business Combinations

On July 14, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of SinoPac Bancorp, the parent of Far East National Bank (FENB), pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 8, 2016, by and between the Company and Bank SinoPac Co. Ltd. Under the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased all of the issued and outstanding share capital of SinoPac Bancorp for an aggregate purchase price of $351.6 million plus additional post closing payments based on the realization of certain assets of FENB. The Company issued 926,192 shares of common stock as consideration and the remainder of the consideration is payable in cash. Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, (i) $100 million of the purchase price was deferred and will be released within one year based on the timing of the contemplated merger of FENB into Cathay Bank and (ii) 10% of the purchase price was held back and will be released over a period of three years following the closing of the acquisition, subject to any indemnity claims. Founded in 1974, FENB offers a wide range of financial services. The acquisition allowed the Company to expand its number of branches in  California. As of July 14, 2017, FENB operated nine branches in California, and a representative office in Beijing. The acquisition will be accounted for as a business combination, subject to the provisions of ASC 805-10-50, Business Combinations.

The assets and liabilities, both tangible and intangible, were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the July 14, 2017 acquisition date. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. We have included the financial results of the business combinations in the condensed consolidated statement of income beginning on the acquisition date. The purchase accounting adjustments are preliminary and subject to finalization during the one-year measurement period from the date of the acquisition.

The fair value of the assets and the liabilities acquired as of July 14, 2017 are shown below:

3. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company expects that the most significant estimates subject to change are the allowance for loan losses, goodwill impairment, and other-than-temporary impairment.

4. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards adopted in 2017

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” ASU 2016-09 changes aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including: (1) accounting for income taxes; (2) classification of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows; (3) forfeitures; (4) minimum statutory tax withholding requirements; and (5) classification of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. ASU 2016-09 became effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2017. The method of adoption differs for each of the topics covered by the ASU. The Company elected to apply all topics covered by the ASU on a prospective basis and has elected to continue to estimate forfeitures expected to occur in determining the amount of compensation cost to be recognized each period.

Under ASU 2016-09, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies from share based payments are recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement instead of the previous accounting which credited excess tax benefits to additional paid-in capital and tax deficiencies as a charge to income tax expense or as an offset to accumulated excess tax benefits, if any. Excess tax benefits or deficiencies are included in income tax expense as discrete items in the period in which they occur. For diluted earnings per share calculations, excess tax benefits are no longer included in assumed proceeds when determining average diluted shares outstanding under the treasury stock method. ASU 2016-09 resulted in a $2.6 million tax benefit from the distribution of restricted stock units in the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Other Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The new guidance replaces existing revenue recognition guidance for contracts to provide goods or services to customers and amends existing guidance related to recognition of gains and losses on the sale of certain nonfinancial assets such as real estate. ASU 2014-09 clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and replaces nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers are also required. ASU 2014-09 as amended by ASU 2015-14, ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10 and ASU 2016-12, is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and is applied on either a modified retrospective or full retrospective basis. Our revenue is primarily comprised of net interest income on financial assets and financial liabilities, which is explicitly excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09, and non-interest income. The Company has completed the assessment phase of implementing this new standard. In the assessment phase, the Company determined which revenue streams are within the scope and those that are excluded from the scope of the new standard. Based on this assessment, the Company concluded that substantially all of the Company's revenues are excluded from the scope of the new standard. For the revenues within the scope of the new standard, the Company concluded that there will not be a material impact under the new standard.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This update requires an entity to measure equity investments with readily determinable fair values at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. Equity investment without readily determinable fair values will be measured at fair value either upon the occurrence of an observable price change or upon identification of an impairment and any amount by which the carrying value exceeding the fair value will be recognized as an impairment in net income. This update also requires an entity to disclose fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet to measure that fair value using the exit price option. In addition, this update requires separate presentation in comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of a liability and in the balance sheet by measurement category and form of financial asset. ASU 2016-01 becomes effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which is intended to increase transparency and comparability in the accounting for lease transactions. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize all leases longer than twelve months on the consolidated balance sheet as lease assets and lease liabilities and quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding key information about leasing arrangements. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years with an option to early adopt. ASU 2016-02 mandates a modified retrospective transition method for all entities. The Company is evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-02 and has determined that the majority of our leases are operating leases. We expect, upon adoption, the Company will record a liability for the remaining obligation under the lease agreements and a corresponding right-of-use asset in its consolidated financial statements. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for us on January 1, 2019 and will require transition using a modified retrospective approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This update requires an entity to use a broader range of reasonable and supportable forecasts, in addition to historical experience and current conditions, to develop an expected credit loss estimate for financial assets and net investments that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities should be recorded through an allowance for credit losses to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 becomes effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019.  The Company has designated a management team to evaluate ASU 2016-13 and develop an implementation strategy. The Company has not yet determined the effect of ASU 2016-13 on its accounting policies or the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” This update provides guidance on eight cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice related to debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investees, beneficial interest in securitization transactions, separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The amendments reduce current and potential future diversity in practice. The amendments in this update apply to all entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under Topic 230. ASU 2016-15 becomes effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes – Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.” This update will allow the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows – Restricted Cash.” This update requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update do not provide a definition of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Adoption of ASU 2016-18 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805) – Clarifying the Definition of a Business.” This update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. Under the current implementation guidance in Topic 805, there are three elements of a business—inputs, processes, and outputs. While an integrated set of assets and activities (collectively referred to as a “set”) that is a business usually has outputs, outputs are not required to be present. In addition, all the inputs and processes that a seller uses in operating a set are not required if market participants can acquire the set and continue to produce outputs, for example, by integrating the acquired set with their own inputs and processes. The amendments in this update also provide a screen to determine when a set is not a business. The amendments in this update affect all reporting entities that must determine whether they have acquired or sold a business. The amendments in this update are to be applied to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption of ASU 2017-01 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” This update simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Adoption of this update is on a prospective basis and the amendments in this update are to be applied to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Adoption of ASU 2017-04 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05, "Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets.” This update clarifies that a financial asset is within the scope of Subtopic 610-20 if it meets the definition of an in substance nonfinancial asset. The amendments define the term “in substance nonfinancial asset”, in part, as a financial asset promised to a counterparty in a contract if substantially all of the fair value of the assets (recognized and unrecognized) that are promised to the counterparty in the contract is concentrated in nonfinancial assets, then all of the financial assets promised to the counterparty are in substance nonfinancial assets with the scope of Subtopic 610-20. The amendments in this update clarify that an entity should identify each distinct nonfinancial asset or in substance nonfinancial asset promised to a counterparty and derecognize each asset when a counterparty obtains control of it. The amendments also clarify that an entity should allocate consideration to each distinct asset by applying the guidance in Topic 606 on allocating the transaction price to performance obligations. The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Adoption of ASU 2017-05 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, “Receivables- Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities.” This update amends the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. The amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. This update affects all entities that hold investments in callable debt securities that have an amortized cost basis in excess of the amount that is repayable by the issuer at the earliest call date. This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Modification Accounting.” The amendments in this update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The amendments in this update affect any entity that changes the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The amendments in this update are effective for all entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption of ASU 2017-09 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, “Earnings per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)." There are two parts to this update. Part I of this update addresses the complexity of accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. Down round features are features of certain equity-linked instruments that result in the strike price being reduced on the basis of the pricing of future equity offerings. Part II of this update addresses the difficulty in navigating topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, because of the existence of extensive pending content in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. This pending content is the result of the indefinite deferral of accounting requirements about mandatorily redeemable financial instruments of certain nonpublic entities and certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The amendments in part I of this update should be applied in either of the following ways: (i) Retrospectively to outstanding financial instruments with a down round feature by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the first fiscal year and interim periods in which the pending content that links to this paragraph is effective; or (ii) Retrospectively to outstanding financial instruments with a down round feature for each prior reporting period presented in accordance with the guidance on accounting changes in paragraphs 250-10-45-5 through 45-10. The amendments to Part II of this update do not require any transition guidance because those amendments do not have an accounting effect. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)”, targeted improvements to accounting for hedging activities. The amendments in this update better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. To meet that objective, the amendments expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early application is permitted in any interim period after issuance of the update. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

5. Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock and resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in earnings. Outstanding stock options with anti-dilutive effect were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. The following table sets forth earnings per common share calculations:

6. Stock-Based Compensation

Under the Company’s equity incentive plans, directors and eligible employees may be granted incentive or non-statutory stock options and/or restricted stock units, or awarded non-vested stock. As of September 30, 2017, the only options granted by the Company were non-statutory stock options to selected Bank officers and non-employee directors at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Such options have a maximum ten-year term and vest in 20% annual increments (subject to early termination in certain events). There were no options granted during the first nine months of 2017 or 2016.

Option compensation expense was zero for the three months and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016. Stock-based compensation was fully recognized over the requisite service period for all awards. There were 43,540 and 2,110 stock option shares exercised in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company received $1.0 million from the exercise of stock options which had an aggregate intrinsic value of $607,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $49,000 from the exercise of stock options which had an aggregate intrinsic value of $9,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The table below summarizes stock option activity for the periods indicated:

In addition to stock options, the Company also grants restricted stock units to eligible employees that vest subject to continued employment at the vesting dates.

The Company granted restricted stock units for 87,781 shares at an average closing price of $38.59 per share in the first nine months of 2017. The Company granted restricted stock units for 88,693 shares at an average closing price of $30.37 per share in 2016.

Starting in December 2013, the Company granted performance share unit awards in which the number of units earned is calculated based on the relative total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company’s common stock as compared to the TSR of the KBW Regional Banking Index. In addition, the Company granted performance share unit awards in which the number of units earned is determined by comparison to the targeted earnings per share (EPS) as defined in the award for the 2014 to 2016 period. In December 2016, in addition to TSR and EPS awards, the Company granted performance share unit awards in which the number of units earned is determined by comparison to the targeted return of assets ROA as defined in the award for December 2016. Performance TSR, performance EPS, and performance ROA units awarded are scheduled to vest on December 31 of the third full year from the grant date. The Company granted performance TSR restricted stock units for 30,319 shares in 2016, 61,209 shares in 2015 and 60,456 shares in 2014, performance EPS restricted stock units for 58,241 shares in 2016, 57,409 shares in 2015 and 57,642 shares in 2014, and performance ROA restricted stock units for 29,119 shares in 2016, to its seven executive officers. In February 2017, after approval by the Company’s Compensation Committee, 297,171 shares of the Company’s stock were distributed under the TSR and EPS grants awarded in December 2013 under the terms of the awards, including 76,623 shares granted and distributed based on higher than target actual performance and for cash dividends during the performance period.

The following table presents restricted stock unit activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2017:

The compensation expense recorded for restricted stock units was $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $1.2 million in the same period a year ago. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, compensation expense recorded related to the restricted stock units was $3.9 million and $3.3 million, respectively. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock units was $9.1 million as of September 30, 2017, and is expected to be recognized over the next 2.0 years.

As of September 30, 2017, 3,465,411 shares were available under the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan (as Amended and Restated) for future grants.

Tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements of $2.6 million reduced income tax expense in the first nine months of 2017 compared to a tax short-fall of $3.4 million that was charged to income tax expense in the first nine months of 2016.

7. Investment Securities

Investment securities were $1.4 billion as of September 30, 2017, compared to $1.3 billion as of December 31, 2016. The following tables reflect the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair value of investment securities as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016:

The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities as of September 30, 2017, by contractual maturities, are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or repay obligations with or without call or repayment penalties.  

There were no sales transactions of mortgage-backed securities during the first nine months of 2017. Proceeds of $415.3 million were received from the sales transactions of mortgage-backed securities during the first nine months of 2016. Proceeds from repayments, maturities and calls of mortgage-backed securities were $48.5 million and $125.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Proceeds of $99.5 million were received from the sale of other investment securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. There were no sales transactions of other investment securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Proceeds from maturities and calls of other investment securities were $341.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $460.0 million during the same period a year ago. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, $439,000 of losses were realized on sales of investment securities. Other than temporary impairment write-downs of zero and $206,000 were recorded during the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The tables below show the fair value and unrealized losses of the temporarily impaired securities in our investment securities portfolio as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016:

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities of $9.3 million. The unrealized losses on these securities were primarily attributed to yield curve movement, together with widened liquidity spreads and credit spreads. The issuers have not, to the Company’s knowledge, established any cause for default on these securities. Management believes the impairment was temporary and, accordingly, no impairment loss on these securities has been recognized in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company expects to recover the amortized cost basis of its debt securities, and has no intent to sell and will not be required to sell available-for-sale debt securities that have declined below their cost before their anticipated recovery.

Investment securities having a carrying value of $291.4 million as of September 30, 2017, and $649.1 million as of December 31, 2016, were pledged to secure public deposits, other borrowings, treasury tax and loan, and securities sold under agreements to repurchase. 

8. Loans

Most of the Company’s business activities are with customers located in the predominately Asian-populated areas of Southern and Northern California; New York City, New York; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Edison, New Jersey; Rockville, Maryland; Las Vegas, Nevada, and Hong Kong. The Company has no specific industry concentration, and generally its loans are secured by real property or other collateral of the borrowers. Loans are generally expected to be paid off from the operating profits of the borrowers, from refinancing by other lenders, or through sale by the borrowers of the secured collateral.

The types of loans in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, were as follows:

As of September 30, 2017, recorded investment in impaired loans totaled $127.7 million and was comprised of non-accrual loans, excluding loans held for sale, of $65.3 million and accruing troubled debt restructured loans (TDRs) of $62.4 million. As of December 31, 2016, recorded investment in impaired loans totaled $115.1 million and was comprised of non-accrual loans, excluding loans held for sale, of $49.7 million and accruing TDRs of $65.4 million. For impaired loans, the amounts previously charged off represent 7.1% as of September 30, 2017, and 8.4% as of December 31, 2016, of the contractual balances for impaired loans.

The following table presents the average balance and interest income recognized related to impaired loans for the periods indicated:

The following table presents impaired loans and the related allowance for loan losses as of the dates indicated:

The following tables present the aging of the loan portfolio by type as of September 30, 2017, and as of December 31, 2016:

The determination of the amount of the allowance for loan losses for impaired loans is based on management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio and takes into consideration known relevant internal and external factors that affect collectability when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses. The nature of the process by which the Bank determines the appropriate allowance for loan losses requires the exercise of considerable judgment. This allowance evaluation process is also applied to troubled debt restructurings since they are considered to be impaired loans.

A troubled debt restructuring is a formal modification of the terms of a loan when the lender, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower. The concessions may be granted in various forms, including a change in the stated interest rate, a reduction in the loan balance or accrued interest, or an extension of the maturity date that causes significant delay in payment.

TDRs on accrual status are comprised of the loans that have, pursuant to the Bank’s policy, performed under the restructured terms and have demonstrated sustained performance under the modified terms for six months before being returned to accrual status. The sustained performance considered by management pursuant to its policy includes the periods prior to the modification if the prior performance met or exceeded the modified terms. This would include cash paid by the borrower prior to the restructure to set up interest reserves.

As of September 30, 2017, accruing TDRs were $62.4 million and non-accrual TDRs were $33.7 million compared to accruing TDRs of $65.4 million and non-accrual TDRs of $29.7 million as of December 31, 2016. The Company allocated specific reserves of $1.1 million to accruing TDRs and $143,000 to non-accrual TDRs as of September 30, 2017, and $1.3 million to accruing TDRs and $1.1 million to non-accrual TDRs as of December 31, 2016. The following tables present TDRs that were modified during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, their specific reserves as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and charge-offs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016: