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8-K - FORM 8-K FOR JAN 27, 2014 - PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA INCform8kforjan272014.htm
EXHIBIT (99)(a)
       
       
NEWS RELEASE
   
       
   
January 27, 2014
 
Contact:
Lance A. Sellers
   
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
       
 
A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
   
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
       
 
828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780
   
       
For Immediate Release
   
 
PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND ANNUAL EARNINGS RESULTS
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEBK), the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported fourth quarter and annual earnings results with highlights as follows:

Highlights:

·  
Net earnings were $1.4 million or $0.25 basic and diluted net earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2013, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $1.2 million or $0.22 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, for the same period one year ago.
·  
Net earnings available to common shareholders were $1.2 million or $0.21 basic and diluted net earnings per common share for the three months ended December 31, 2013, as compared to $1.1 million or $0.19 basic and diluted net earnings per common share, for the same period one year ago.
·  
Earnings before securities gains and income taxes were $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
·  
Core deposits were $683.9 million, or 85.6% of total deposits at December 31, 2013, compared to $646.4 million, or 82.7% of total deposits at December 31, 2012.
·  
Non-performing assets declined to $16.4 million or 1.6% of total assets at December 31, 2013, compared to $26.3 million or 2.6% of total assets at December 31, 2012.
·  
The Company received regulatory approval in December 2013 to repurchase and redeem the remaining 12,524 outstanding shares of its Series A preferred stock.  The repurchase and redemption, which was completed January 17, 2014, is reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013.   “Accrued interest payable and other liabilities” at December 31, 2013 includes a $12.6 million payable for the preferred stock principal and accrued dividends paid to preferred shareholders on January 17, 2014.
 
Lance A. Sellers, President and Chief Executive Officer, attributed the increase in fourth quarter earnings to a decrease in the provision for loan losses, an increase in net interest income and an increase in non-interest income, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense.
 
Net interest income was $8.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013, compared to $7.7 million for the same period one year ago.  This increase was primarily due to a decrease in interest expense due to a reduction in the cost of funds and a reduction in interest bearing liabilities combined with an increase in interest income due to an increase in the average outstanding balance of investment securities.  Net interest income after the provision for loan losses increased to $7.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $7.2 million for the same period one year ago.  The provision for loan losses for the three months ended December 31, 2013 was $419,000, as compared to $511,000 for the same period one year ago.  The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a $3.8 million reduction in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013 and a reduction in net charge-offs of $1.9 million during the three months ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the same period one year ago.
 
Non-interest income was $2.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013, compared to $2.7 million for the same period one year ago.  This increase is primarily attributable to a $128,000 reduction in losses and write-downs on other real estate owned properties for the three months ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the same period one year ago.
 
 
 
5

 
Non-interest expense was $9.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013, as compared to $8.5 million for the same period one year ago.  This increase is primarily attributable to a $746,000 increase in non-interest expenses other than salary, employee benefits and occupancy expenses, which was primarily due to a $530,000 prepayment penalty on a $5 million FHLB borrowing that was repaid in the fourth quarter of 2013.
 
Year-to-date net earnings as of December 31, 2013 were $6.7 million, or $1.19 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $5.8 million, or $1.04 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, for the year ended December 31, 2012.  After adjusting for dividends and accretion on preferred stock, net earnings available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $6.0 million, or $1.08 basic net earnings per common share and $1.07 diluted net earnings per common share, as compared to $4.8 million, or $0.86 basic and diluted net earnings per common share, for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The increase in year-to-date earnings is primarily attributable to a decrease in the provision for loan losses and an increase in non-interest income, which were partially offset by a decrease in net interest income and an increase in non-interest expense, as discussed below.
 
Year-to-date net interest income as of December 31, 2013 was $31.3 million, compared to $31.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.   This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in interest income resulting from decreases in the year-to-date average balances outstanding on loans and a decrease in the yield on earning assets, which were partially offset by a decrease in interest expense due to a reduction in the cost of funds and a reduction in interest bearing liabilities.  Net interest income after the provision for loan losses increased 8.0% to $28.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $26.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $2.6 million, as compared to $4.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a $3.6 million decrease in net charge-offs during the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to the year ended December 31, 2012 and a $3.8 million reduction in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013.
 
Non-interest income was $12.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $12.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  This increase is primarily attributable to a $554,000 reduction in losses and write-downs on other real estate owned properties and a $144,000 increase in income from the Bank’s subsidiary, Peoples Investment Services, Inc., and was partially offset by a $604,000 decrease in the gain on sale of securities for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
Non-interest expense was $32.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to $31.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  This increase is primarily due to the $530,000 FHLB prepayment penalty paid during the fourth quarter of 2013 and a $425,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits expense, which was primarily due to salary increases, an increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees and an increase in sales incentive expense during the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
Total assets amounted to $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.  Available for sale securities amounted to $297.9 million as of December 31, 2013, compared to $297.8 million as of December 31, 2012.  Total loans amounted to $621.0 million as of December 31, 2013, compared to $620.0 million as of December 31, 2012.
 
Non-performing assets declined to $16.4 million or 1.6% of total assets at December 31, 2013, compared to $26.3 million or 2.6% of total assets at December 31, 2012, primarily due to a $3.8 million decrease in non-accrual loans and a $4.6 million decrease in other real estate owned.  Non-performing loans include $6.5 million in acquisition, development and construction (“AD&C”) loans, $7.9 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $277,000 in other loans at December 31, 2013, as
 
 
 
6

 
compared to $9.2 million in AD&C loans, $10.4 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $415,000 in other loans at December 31, 2012.  The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2013 was $13.5 million or 2.2% of total loans, compared to $14.4 million or 2.3% of total loans at December 31, 2012.  According to Mr. Sellers, management believes the current level of the allowance for loan losses is adequate; however, there is no assurance that additional adjustments to the allowance will not be required because of changes in economic conditions, regulatory requirements or other factors.
 
Deposits amounted to $799.4 million as of December 31, 2013, compared to $781.5 million at December 31, 2012.  Core deposits, which include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW, MMDA, savings and non-brokered certificates of deposit of denominations less than $100,000, increased $37.5 million to $683.9 million at December 31, 2013, as compared to $646.4 million at December 31, 2012.  Certificates of deposit in amounts of $100,000 or more totaled $115.3 million at December 31, 2013, as compared to $134.7 million at December 31, 2012.  This decrease is attributable to a $6.6 million decrease in wholesale certificates of deposit combined with a decrease in retail certificates of deposit as intended as part of the Bank’s pricing strategy to allow maturing high cost certificates of deposit to roll-off.
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $45.4 million at December 31, 2013, as compared to $34.6 million at December 31, 2012.
 
Shareholders’ equity was $83.7 million, or 8.1% of total assets, as of December 31, 2013, compared to $97.7 million, or 9.6% of total assets, as of December 31, 2012.  This decrease reflects the Company’s repurchase and redemption of its Series A preferred stock combined with a reduction in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from a decrease in the unrealized gain on investment securities.  Management expects the repurchase of the Company’s preferred stock, which has a liquidation preference of $12,524,000, to be approximately $0.18 accretive to the Company’s diluted earnings per common share in 2014 based on current interest rates.
 
Peoples Bank operates 22 offices entirely in North Carolina, with offices in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Union, Iredell and Wake Counties.  The Company’s common stock is publicly traded and is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PEBK.”
 
 
Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management and on the information available to management at the time that this release was prepared.  These statements can be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “believe,” variations of these words and other similar expressions.  Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by Peoples Bank, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  including but not limited to those described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 

 
7

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
     
December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
         
         
         
 
December 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
 
ASSETS:
       
Cash and due from banks
$ 49,833   $ 32,617  
Interest bearing deposits
  26,940     16,226  
Cash and cash equivalents
  76,773     48,843  
             
Investment securities available for sale
  297,890     297,823  
Other investments
  4,990     5,599  
Total securities
  302,880     303,422  
             
Mortgage loans held for sale
  497     6,922  
             
Loans
  620,960     619,974  
Less:  Allowance for loan losses
  (13,501 )   (14,423 )
Net loans
  607,459     605,551  
             
Premises and equipment, net
  16,358     15,874  
Cash surrender value of life insurance
  13,706     13,273  
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
  17,011     19,631  
Total assets
$ 1,034,684   $ 1,013,516  
             
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
           
Deposits:
           
Non-interest bearing demand
$ 195,265   $ 161,582  
NOW, MMDA & savings
  386,893     371,719  
Time, $100,000 or more
  115,268     134,733  
Other time
  101,935     113,491  
Total deposits
  799,361     781,525  
             
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
  45,396     34,578  
FHLB borrowings
  65,000     70,000  
Junior subordinated debentures
  20,619     20,619  
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
  20,589     9,047  
Total liabilities
  950,965     915,769  
             
Shareholders' equity:
           
Series A preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; authorized
           
5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
           
12,524 shares at 12/31/12
  -       12,524  
Common stock, no par value; authorized
           
20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
           
5,613,495 shares at 12/31/13 and 12/31/12
  48,133     48,133  
Retained earnings
  36,758     31,478  
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
  (1,172 )   5,612  
Total shareholders' equity
  83,719     97,747  
             
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$ 1,034,684   $ 1,013,516  
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the three months and years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
               
               
               
 
Three months ended
 
Years ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
INTEREST INCOME:
             
Interest and fees on loans
$ 7,523   $ 7,936   $ 30,194   $ 32,758
Interest on due from banks
  23     16     85     51
Interest on investment securities:
                     
U.S. Government sponsored enterprises
  669     419     1,639     2,746
State and political subdivisions
  1,194     940     4,427     3,403
Other
  86     81     351     287
Total interest income
  9,495     9,392     36,696     39,245
                       
INTEREST EXPENSE:
                     
NOW, MMDA & savings deposits
  154     267     732     1,180
Time deposits
  365     572     1,650     3,205
FHLB borrowings
  604     680     2,518     2,744
Junior subordinated debentures
  99     105     398     438
Other
  12     25     55     129
Total interest expense
  1,234     1,649     5,353     7,696
                       
NET INTEREST INCOME
  8,261     7,743     31,343     31,549
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
  419     511     2,584     4,924
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER
                     
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
  7,842     7,232     28,759     26,625
                       
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
                     
Service charges
  1,233     1,162     4,566     4,764
Other service charges and fees
  272     268     1,172     1,096
Gain on sale of securities
  -        15     614     1,218
Mortgage banking income
  228     436     1,228     1,229
Insurance and brokerage commissions
  183     114     661     517
Miscellaneous
  888     684     4,411     3,713
Total non-interest income
  2,804     2,679     12,652     12,537
                       
NON-INTEREST EXPENSES:
                     
Salaries and employee benefits
  4,237     4,466     16,851     16,426
Occupancy
  1,551     1,345     5,539     5,236
Other
  3,446     2,700     10,451     10,120
Total non-interest expense
  9,234     8,511     32,841     31,782
                       
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  1,412     1,400     8,570     7,380
INCOME TAXES
  31     187     1,879     1,587
                       
NET EARNINGS
  1,381     1,213     6,691     5,793
                       
Dividends and accretion on preferred stock
  186     157     656     1,010
                       
NET EARNINGS AVAILABLE TO
                     
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
$ 1,195   $ 1,056   $ 6,035   $ 4,783
                       
PER COMMON SHARE AMOUNTS
                     
Basic net earnings
$ 0.21   $ 0.19   $ 1.08   $ 0.86
Diluted net earnings
$ 0.21   $ 0.19   $ 1.07   $ 0.86
Cash dividends
$ 0.03   $ 0.07   $ 0.12   $ 0.18
Book value
$ 14.91   $ 15.18   $ 14.91   $ 15.18
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
           
For the three months and years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012
           
(Dollars in thousands)
           
                   
                   
                   
 
Three months ended
   
Years ended
 
 
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
   
2013
 
2012
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
 
SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES:
                 
Available for sale securities
$ 300,433   $ 279,800     $ 293,770   $ 289,010  
Loans
  616,920     629,368       614,532     648,595  
Earning assets
  960,687     942,051       950,451     965,994  
Assets
  1,040,563     1,008,543       1,023,609     1,029,612  
Deposits
  800,212     773,015       787,640     786,976  
Shareholders' equity
  97,271     98,552       100,275     103,805  
                           
                           
SELECTED KEY DATA:
                         
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)
  3.66%     3.46%       3.53%     3.44%  
Return on average assets
  0.53%     0.48%       0.65%     0.56%  
Return on average shareholders' equity
  5.63%     4.90%       6.67%     5.58%  
Shareholders' equity to total assets (period end)
  8.09%     9.64%       8.09%     9.64%  
                           
                           
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES:
                         
Balance, beginning of period
$ 13,854   $ 16,551     $ 14,423   $ 16,604  
Provision for loan losses
  419     511       2,584     4,924  
Charge-offs
  (888 )   (2,688 )     (4,372 )   (8,331 )
Recoveries
  116     49       866     1,226  
Balance, end of period
$ 13,501   $ 14,423     $ 13,501   $ 14,423  
                           
                           
ASSET QUALITY:
                         
Non-accrual loans
              $ 13,836   $ 17,630  
90 days past due and still accruing
                882     2,403  
Other real estate owned
                1,679     6,256  
Repossessed assets
                -       10  
Total non-performing assets
              $ 16,397   $ 26,299  
Non-performing assets to total assets
                1.58%     2.60%  
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing assets
                82.34%     54.84%  
Allowance for loan losses to total loans
                2.17%     2.33%  
 
 
LOAN RISK GRADE ANALYSIS:
Percentage of Loans
 
By Risk Grade
 
12/31/2013
 
12/31/2012
Risk Grade 1 (excellent quality)
2.40%
 
2.93%
Risk Grade 2 (high quality)
18.82%
 
16.94%
Risk Grade 3 (good quality)
49.49%
 
47.74%
Risk Grade 4 (management attention)
18.69%
 
20.70%
Risk Grade 5 (watch)
5.05%
 
5.07%
Risk Grade 6 (substandard)
5.25%
 
6.26%
Risk Grade 7 (doubtful)
0.00%
 
0.00%
Risk Grade 8 (loss)
0.00%
 
0.00%
       
At December 31, 2013, including non-accrual loans, there were five relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Watch risk grade (which totaled $10.6 million) and four relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Substandard risk grade (which totaled $10.4 million). There was one relationship with loans in both the Watch and Substandard risk grades, which totaled $1.2 million for loans in both risk grades combined.
       
(END)