First Community Corporation Completes Acquisition of Cornerstone Bancorp

LEXINGTON, S.C., Oct. 23, 2017

First Community President and CEO Michael C. "Mike" Crapps commented on the acquisition, "The employees at First Community and Cornerstone have worked diligently these past months to ensure a smooth transition for customers and we look forward to serving them."  Crapps continued, "We believe the combination of our banking companies creates a unique community based bank with the ability and financial strength to serve the banking needs of our communities and enhance shareholder value through operating advantages gained with the merger of our two institutions." 

The deal was valued at approximately $27.0 million.  Cornerstone shareholders will receive either cash or shares of the First Community's common stock, or a combination thereof, in exchange for their Cornerstone common stock.  Current Cornerstone Board members will have the opportunity to serve as members of First Community's Upstate Advisory Board.  Additionally, Rodger Anthony, Cornerstone President and CEO will serve the combined company in a consulting role for a six month period to assist with the transition.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication includes statements made in respect of the proposed merger involving the Company and Cornerstone Bancorp ("Cornerstone"). Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future plans, goals, projections and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors, include, among others, the following: (1) the businesses of the Company and Cornerstone may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected; (2) the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from the merger may not be fully realized within the expected timeframes or at all; (3) disruption from the merger may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with clients, associates, or suppliers; (4) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (5) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations may be different than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (6) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for loan loss, the rates of loan growth, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (7) changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory framework; (8) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt markets and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could have a negative impact on the company; (9) technology and cybersecurity risks, including potential business disruptions, reputational risks, and financial losses, associated with potential attacks on or failures by our computer systems and computer systems of our vendors and other third parties; and (10) risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), or in any of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC since the end of the fiscal year covered by our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. We can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by our Company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by our Company will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.