UNITED STATES
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):
April 29, 2022

LIMESTONE BANCORP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in Charter)


Kentucky
001-33033
61-1142247
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

2500 Eastpoint Parkway, Louisville, Kentucky
40223
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)

(502) 499-4800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

N/A
(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:

     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares
LMST
The Nasdaq Stock Market



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 
Emerging growth company

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.

ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
 
Limestone Bancorp, Inc. posted an investor presentation slide deck to its website on Friday, April 29, 2022.  A copy of the slide presentation is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.
 
The information in this Form 8-K and the exhibits attached hereto shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
 
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
 
(d)
Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description of Exhibit
 
104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
2

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



LIMESTONE BANCORP, INC.



Date:   April 29, 2022
By
 /s/ Phillip W. Barnhouse


       Phillip W. Barnhouse


       Chief Financial Officer

3
Exhibit 99.1





  March 31, 2022 
 

 FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this document relating to Limestone Bancorp’s plans, objectives, expectations or future performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “objective,” “possible,” “seek,” “plan,” “strive” or similar words, or negatives of these words, identify forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company's management believes the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of these assumptions could be inaccurate. Therefore, there can be no assurance the forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; economic conditions both generally and more specifically in the markets in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate; competition for the Company's customers from other providers of financial services; government legislation and regulation, which change from time to time and over which the Company has no control; changes in inflation and efforts to control it; changes in interest rates; material unforeseen changes in liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company's customers; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. See Risk Factors outlined in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES: These slides contain non-GAAP financial measures which the Company’s management uses in their analysis of the Company’s performance or management believes facilitates an understanding of the Company’s performance. For purposes of Regulation G, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of the registrant’s historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of income, balance sheet or statement of cash flows (or equivalent statements) of the issuer; or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. In this regard, GAAP refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, Limestone Bancorp, Inc. has provided reconciliations, as necessary, of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.  2 
 

 Limestone Bancorp is a Kentucky-based bank holding company – Nasdaq: LMSTLimestone Bank is the 13th largest bank domiciled in Kentucky based on total assets Corporate headquarters in Louisville, KY.Approximately $1.4 billion in assets and 222 associates (fte) at March 31, 2022Broad scope of high-quality retail and business banking products & servicesManagement team assembled under leadership of John T. Taylor, President & CEO with extensive market knowledge and community relationships    3  About Limestone Bancorp and Limestone Bank 
 

   Management Team  John T. TaylorPresident & CEO, Limestone BancorpChairman, President & CEO, Limestone BankJoined July 2012Over 30 years in industryAmerican Founders Bank – Lexington, KYPNC Bank, NA – President of Ohio & N. KY Region Phillip W. BarnhouseCFO, Limestone Bancorp since January 2012CFO, Limestone BankJoined Ascencia Bank (former Limestone Subsidiary) Sept 1998Previous Experience:Arthur Andersen LLP – Chattanooga, TN   John R. DavisExecutive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer, Limestone BankJoined August 201225 Years Previous Experience:American Founders Bank – Lexington, KYNational City Bank – Louisville, KY andDayton & Cleveland, OHJoseph C. SeilerExecutive Vice President, Head of Commercial Banking, Limestone BankJoined April 201325 Years Previous Experience:PNC Bank, NA – Louisville, KYNational City Bank – Louisville, KY  4 
 

   Board of Directors  W. Glenn HoganFounder, CEO and PresidentHogan Real EstateLouisville, KYDirector since 2006 Michael T. LevyPresident MuirfieldInsurance LLCLexington, KYDirector since 2014 James M. ParsonsChief Financial Officer Ball Homes LLCLexington, KYDirector since 2015   Bradford T. RayRetired CEO and ChairmanSteel Technologies, Inc.Louisville, KYDirector since 2014 Kevin J. KoomanPartnerPatriot Financial Partners LPPhiladelphia, PADirector since 2019Dr. Edmond J. SeifriedPrincipal S&B West LLCBethlehem, PADirector since 2015   John T. TaylorPresident & CEO, Limestone BancorpChairman, President & CEO, Limestone BankDirector since 2012Celia CatlettFormer General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Texas Roadhouse, Inc.Louisville, KYDirector Since 2018  5 
 

   Highlights and Accomplishments  Talent acquisition – Board, management, and production teamEnterprise Risk Management system implementation & strategic acquisitionCredit adjudication and centralized operationsRegulatory relationsCompliance management systemsCore system conversion 2018Quality loan production; deposit mix shift; solid asset quality; improving profitability metricsFinancial transactions:Q2-20: Issued $8.0 million subordinated debt; qualifying Tier 2 Capital; retired $5.0 million seniorQ3-19: Issued $17.0 million subordinated debt; qualifying Tier 2 Capital; prepaid $5.0 million seniorQ2-18: Retired all issued and outstanding preferred stock in $3.5 million transactionQ1-18: Issued 1.15 million shares of common stock raising $15 million in new capital for BancorpQ4-17: Reversed deferred tax asset valuation allowance restoring $31.3 million net dtaQ2-17: Completed $10 million senior borrowing and contributed $9 million in new capital to BankQ2-16: Issued 800,000 shares of common stock raising $5 million in new capital for BancorpStrategic Plan: Organic growth in rural and metro markets and strategic acquisitionsQ4-19: Completed acquisition of 4 branches; $132 mil deposits & $127 mil loans  6 
 

   Limestone Bank Locations  7  14 counties across the Commonwealth of Kentucky20 Banking CentersQ1’22 relocated an Owensboro banking center to a new location in same community. 
 

   Metro Market Overview  Louisville  Lexington  Owensboro  Bowling Green  Corporate Headquarters: Brown-Forman, Churchill Downs, Humana, Kindred Healthcare, Papa John’s International, Texas Roadhouse, and Yum! Brands  Corporate Headquarters: Fasig Tipton, Jif (peanut butter), Keeneland, Lexmark, and Tempur Sealy  Corporate Headquarters: Owensboro Health  Corporate Headquarters: Camping World, Fruit of the Loom, Houchens Industries, and the Medical Center at Bowling Green  Other large employers: UPS, Ford Motor Company, GE Appliances, and Norton Healthcare  Other large employers: Xerox, Toyota, IBM, Lockheed Martin, and Valvoline  Other large employers: Kimberly-Clark, US Bank Mortgage Processing, and Toyotetsu   Other large employers: General Motors Corvette plant, Rafferty’s Restaurants  Universities: University of Louisville and Bellarmine University  Universities: University of Kentucky and Transylvania University  Universities: Kentucky Wesleyan University and Brescia University  Universities: Western Kentucky University  Deposits in Market:$30.1 billionLimestone market share 0.72%MSA Population – 1.265 mil (69th Largest in US)Note: Four largest cities in KYSource: United States Census Bureau  Deposits in Market:$11.9 billionLimestone market share 0.83%MSA Population – 517k (138th largest in US)  Deposits in Market:$3.0 billionLimestone market share 3.0%MSA Population – 119k(363rd largest in US)  Deposits in Market:$3.5 billionLimestone market share 0.87%MSA Population - 179k (270th largest in US)  8 
 

   Financial Summary  9 
 

   Financial Summary  10  Income tax expense for 2019 and 2020 was positively impacted by approximately $1.6 mil and $478k, respectively, by current & deferred tax benefits from KY tax law changes – EPS impact was 21 cents per share in 2019 & 6 cents per share in 2020.Beginning in 2021, Kentucky bank franchise tax (capital tax) eliminated and replaced with conventional state income tax at 5% statutory rate.  
 

   Investment Portfolio  11  At March 31, 2022, $27.9 million and $20.0 million of the bank’s CLOs were AA and A rated, respectively. CLOs are floating rate, with rates set on a quarterly basis at three-month LIBOR plus a spread.   
 

   Loan Portfolio  Commercial & industrial loans include:PPP fees are recognized in income on the level yield method over the life of the related loan. No significant unearned PPP origination fees remained at March 31, 2022.Round 1 &2 PPP loan originations totaled $42.4 million and the resulting PPP fees totaled $1.7 million.Round 3 PPP loan originations totaled $23.5 million and the resulting PPP fees totaled $2.3 million.    12 
 

   Loan Portfolio and Asset Quality Trends  13 
 

   Deposits  14    Cost of Deposits slightly increased from 0.25% in Q4’21 to 0.26% in Q1’22.During Q1’22, $55.0 million in CDs matured with weighted average rate of 0.33%.During Q1’22, renewed or newly originated CDs had an average rate of 0.26% and an average term of approximately 16 months.Q2’22 Maturing CDs total $59.4 million with weighted average rate of 0.29%.   
 

   Capital Ratios  15  On April 1, 2022, LMST paid a dividend of $0.05 per share to common shareholders.LMST has a share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $3.0 million common shares. The plan expires on December 31, 2022. To date, no shares have been repurchased under the plan.   
 

   Deferred Tax Asset (DTA)  Deferred Tax Asset – The Company has a net deferred tax asset of $22.6 million at March 31, 2022. Our ability to utilize deferred tax assets depends upon generating sufficient future levels of taxable income. Federal NOL’s total $81.9 million and begin to expire in 2032 and State NOL’s total $29.1 million and begin to expire in 2026.   16   
 

   Deferred Tax Asset (DTA)  As of March 31, 2022, LMST’s net DTA totaled approximately $22.6 million. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using current enacted tax rates (currently 21% federal & 5% state).Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code governs DTA impairment and “ownership change”.An “ownership change” is defined as a more than 50% change in ownership – complex assessment.382 imposes an annual ceiling on future use of the Company’s NOLs, credit carry-forwards and built-in losses.Tends to slow rate of NOL utilization (reducing present value of tax savings).Some NOLs and other tax benefits could expire before utilization is allowed if the Company does not generate sufficient taxable income.In May 2021, LMST extended a tax benefits preservation plan to June 30, 2024.Under Section 382 of the IRS Code, a permanent impairment of a substantial portion of the DTA could be triggered if shareholders owning 5% or more of the Company increase their ownership by more than 50 percentage points over a defined period of time.The tax benefits preservation plan is designed to reduce the likelihood of an “ownership change”.Any shareholder or group that acquires ownership of 5% or more of the Company could be subject to significant dilution in its holdings if our Board does not approve such acquisition.Existing shareholders of 5% or more are also subject to dilution if they increase their holdings without Board approval.In May 2021, shareholders approved extending an amendment to the articles of incorporation to further protect the long-term value of the Company’s NOLs.The amendment provides a means to block transfers of our common shares that could result in an ownership change under Section 382.  17 
 

   Subordinated Debt  Issued amount: $17.0 million – Issued July 23, 2019; $ 8.0 million - Issued July 31, 2020; Qualifying Tier 2 Capital Rated BBB by Egan Jones Rating Company  Rate: Fixed at 5.75% for Five Years then floating at 3.95% over three-month libor for the final five years Repay terms: Interest only semi-annually; principal due at maturity. Maturity: July 31, 2029; pre-payable without penalty beginning July 31, 2025 Collateral: Unsecured   18   
 

   Limestone Bancorp, Inc. - Junior Subordinated Debt  19 
 

   Non-GAAP Financial Measures  20