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: June 8, 2010
(Date of earliest event reported)
Sterling Financial Corporation
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Washington 001-34696 91-1572822
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
111 North Wall Street, Spokane, Washington 99201
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
(509) 458-3711
(Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(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))
================================================================================
Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or
Standard; Transfer of Listing.
On June 8, 2010, Sterling Financial Corporation ("Sterling") received
notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") that the listing of its
common stock would be transferred to The Nasdaq Capital Market from The Nasdaq
Global Market. This transfer will be effective at the opening of business on
Thursday, June 10, 2010, and Sterling's common stock will continue to trade
under the symbol "STSA."
The listing transfer is in response to a letter received from Nasdaq in
December 7, 2009 regarding Sterling's non-compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule
5450(a)(1) (the "Minimum Bid Price Rule"), which requires listed companies to
maintain a minimum bid price at close of above $1.00 per share for more than 30
consecutive trading days. In connection with the transfer to The Nasdaq Capital
Market, Nasdaq granted Sterling an additional 180 calendar days, or until
December 6, 2010, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule. If
compliance is not regained by that date, Nasdaq will notify Sterling of its
determination to delist Sterling's common stock, which decision may be appealed
to a Listing Qualifications Panel.
Sterling is evaluating its options and intends to take appropriate actions
in order to comply with the Minimum Bid Price Rule and retain the listing of its
common stock on Nasdaq.
SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Date: June 8, 2010 By: /s/ Daniel G. Byrne
-----------------------------------
Name: Daniel G. Byrne
Title: Executive Vice President,
Assistant Secretary and
Principal Financial Officer