WarrantRepurchase8-K

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): September 19, 2012
_____________________________________________________________

STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
 
Washington
001-34696
91-1572822
(State or other jurisdiction of
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)

111 North Wall Street, Spokane, Washington 99201
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(509) 358-8097
(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))







INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
Item 8.01    Other Events.   

On September 19, 2012, Sterling Financial Corporation (the “Company”) completed the repurchase from the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) of a warrant to purchase 97,541 shares of the Company’s common stock, having no par value, at an exercise price of $13.20 per share (the “Warrant”), issued to Treasury on December 5, 2008, in connection with the Company’s participation in the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”). The Company paid an aggregate purchase price of $825,000 for the repurchase of the Warrant, which has been cancelled. As previously disclosed on the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on August 15, 2012, Treasury sold all of its shares of the Company’s common stock on August 14, 2012 in an underwritten public offering.



S I G N A T U R E
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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 20, 2012
 
By:
/s/ Patrick J. Rusnak
Date
 
 
Patrick J. Rusnak
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer