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8-K - 8-K - SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INCd31733.htm

Exhibit 99.1


Southern First Reports Results for Third Quarter of 2014


Greenville, South Carolina, October 21, 2014 – Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, today reported net income available to the common shareholders of $1.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2014. In comparison, net income available to common shareholders was $1.2 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2013. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, net income to common shareholders was $3.9 million, or $0.79 per diluted share. In comparison, net income to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $3.1 million, or $0.71 per diluted share.


2014 Third Quarter Highlights

·

Net income to common shareholders increased 28% to $1.6 million for Q3 2014 compared to $1.2 million for Q3 2013

·

Loan balances increased 18.0% to $832.7 million during Q3 2014, compared to $705.4 million at Q3 2013

·

Core deposits increased 23.1% to $557.4 million during Q3 2014, compared to $453.0 million at Q3 2013

·

Net interest margin decreased to 3.66% for Q3 2014, compared to 3.73% for Q3 2013 and 3.66% for Q2 2014

·

Total revenue increased 19.4% to $10.1 million during Q3 2014, compared to $8.4 million for Q3 2013

·

Total assets surpassed the $1 billion milestone after 14 years of operation


“I am proud of the accomplishments of the Southern First team as we generated record earnings of $1.6 million and surpassed $1 billion in total assets,” stated Art Seaver, the Company’s CEO. “We are also excited to open our second office in the Charleston region while continuing to experience solid client growth in each of our markets.”


 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

September 30

June 30

March 31

December 31

September 30

 

 

2014

2014

2014

2013

2013

Earnings ($ in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

1,826

1,566

1,250

1,439

1,419

Net income available to common shareholder

 

1,573

1,313

1,057

1,248

1,228

Earnings per common share, diluted

 

0.31

0.26

0.22

0.27

0.27

Total revenue(1)

 

10,051

9,588

8,613

8,637

8,418

Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)(2)

 

3.66%

3.66%

3.68%

3.71%

3.73%

Efficiency ratio(3)

 

60.35%

65.86%

66.98%

66.82%

65.45%

Balance Sheet ($ in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans(4)

$

832,722

812,833

775,770

733,656

705,447

Core deposits(5)

 

557,417

536,213

519,863

481,967

452,970

Total deposits

 

772,760

747,369

722,412

680,319

607,052

Total assets

 

1,007,553

967,089

936,884

890,831

849,890

Holding Company Capital Ratios(6):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total risk-based capital ratio

 

11.77%

11.91%

12.09%

12.22%

12.48%

Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio

 

10.52%

10.66%

10.84%

10.96%

11.23%

Leverage ratio

 

8.84%

9.01%

9.24%

9.13%

9.33%

Common equity tier 1 ratio(7)

 

7.52%

7.61%

7.70%

7.09%

7.18%

Tangible common equity(8)

 

6.19%

6.27%

6.25%

5.65%

5.82%

Asset Quality Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets

 

1.14%

1.40%

1.07%

1.07%

1.19%

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans(4) (YTD annualized)

 

0.37%

0.28%

0.27%

0.34%

0.38%

Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans(4)

 

1.36%

1.37%

1.38%

1.39%

1.39%

Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans

 

141.99%

90.30%

120.99%

122.50%

115.54%

(1) Total revenue is the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

(2) The tax-equivalent adjustment to net interest income adjusts the yield for assets earning tax-exempt income to a comparable yield on a taxable basis.

(3) Noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

(4) Excludes loans held for sale.

(5) Excludes out of market deposits and time deposits greater than $100,000.

(6) September 30, 2014 ratios are preliminary.

(7) The common equity tier 1 ratio is calculated as the sum of common equity divided by risk-weighted assets.

(8) The tangible common equity ratio is calculated as total equity less preferred stock divided by total assets.







Operating Results

Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2014 was 3.66%, unchanged from the prior quarter, and 3.73% for the third quarter of 2013. During the third quarter of 2014, our average interest-earning assets increased by $135.2 million, compared to the third quarter of 2013; however, the yield on our interest-earning assets declined by 19 basis points. In comparison, our average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $91.3 million during the third quarter of 2014, compared to the third quarter of 2013, with the respective cost declining by 11 basis points.


Noninterest income was $1.6 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, noninterest income was $4.0 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The increase in noninterest income during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 relates primarily to increases in loan fee income and other income, as well as a $230 thousand gain on sale of investment securities which occurred during the second quarter of 2014. A significant portion of our loan fee income relates to income derived from mortgage originations which was $820 thousand and $1.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Comparatively, mortgage origination income was $357 thousand and $816 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.


Noninterest expense was $6.1 million and $5.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $18.2 million and $16.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase in noninterest expense during the 2014 period relates primarily to increases in salaries and benefits and other noninterest expense.


During the third quarter of 2014, we recorded total credit costs of $1.4 million compared to $799 thousand during the third quarter of 2013. The $1.4 million in credit costs during the third quarter of 2014 related primarily to the $1.3 million provision for loan losses, combined with expenses of $71 thousand related to the sale and management of other real estate owned. In addition, net loan charge-offs for the third quarter of 2014 were $1.1 million, or 0.54% of average loans on an annual basis, and related primarily to three commercial relationships. Comparatively, the $799 thousand in credit costs during the third quarter of 2013 related primarily to the provision for loan losses, combined with $25 thousand of expenses related to the sale and management of other real estate owned. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, total credit costs were $3.4 million, consisting of $3.3 million provision for loan losses and expenses of $96 thousand for the sale and management of other real estate owned. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, total credit costs were $2.7 million, consisting of $2.7 million provision for loan losses and expenses of $30 thousand from the sale and management of other real estate owned. Our allowance for loan losses was $11.3 million, or 1.36% of loans, at September 30, 2014 which provides approximately 142% coverage of nonaccrual loans, compared to $9.8 million, or 1.39% of loans, at September 30, 2013.


Nonperforming assets were $11.5 million, or 1.14% of total assets, as of September 30, 2014. Comparatively, nonperforming assets were $13.6 million, or 1.40%, at June 30, 2014, and $10.1 million, or 1.19%, at September 30, 2013. Of the $11.5 million in total nonperforming assets as of September 30, 2014, nonperforming loans represent $8.0 million and other real estate owned represents $3.5 million. Classified assets improved to 25% of tier 1 capital plus the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2014, compared to 31% at September 30, 2013.


Gross loans were $832.7 million as of September 30, 2014, compared to $733.7 million at December 31, 2013, and $705.4 million at September 30, 2013. Of the $99.1 million of loan growth during 2014, $43.2 million was in the Greenville market, $23.7 million was in the Columbia market, and $32.2 million was in the Charleston market. Core deposits, which exclude out-of-market deposits and time deposits of $100,000 or more, increased to $557.4 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $482.0 million at December 31, 2013, and $453.0 million at September 30, 2013. During the first nine months of 2014, core deposits grew by $75.5 million with growth of $37.5 in the Greenville market, $9.7 in the Columbia market, and $28.3 in the Charleston market.


Shareholders’ equity totaled $73.6 million as of September 30, 2014, compared to $65.7 million at December 31, 2013, and $64.8 million at September 30, 2013. As of September 30, 2014, our capital ratios continue to exceed the regulatory requirements for a “well capitalized” institution.




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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - Unaudited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

3rd Qtr

              Nine Months Ended

YTD

 

 

September 30

2014-2013

September 30

2014-2013

(in thousands, except earnings per share)

 

2014

2013

% Change

2014

2013

% Change

Earnings Summary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

$

10,253

9,100

12.7 %

29,388

26,754

9.8 %

Interest expense

 

   1,762

   1,737

1.4 %

   5,182

   5,383

(3.7)%

Net interest income

 

 8,491

 7,363

15.3 %

 24,206

 21,371

13.3 %

Provision for loan losses

 

   1,325

   775

71.0 %

   3,275

   2,650

23.6 %

Noninterest income

 

1,560

1,055

47.9 %

4,048

2,815

43.8 %

Noninterest expense

 

  6,066

  5,510

10.1 %

  18,151

  16,040

13.2 %

Income before provision for income taxes

 

      2,660

      2,133

24.7 %

      6,828

      5,496

24.2 %

Income tax expense

 

834

714

16.8 %

2,185

1,815

20.4 %

Net income

 

 1,826

 1,419

28.7 %

 4,643

 3,681

26.1 %

Preferred stock dividends

 

253

191

32.5 %

699

580

20.5 %

Redemption of preferred stock

 

-

-

-

-

20

n/m

Net income available to common shareholders

$

1,573

1,228

28.1 %

3,944

3,121

26.4 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares

 

4,830

4,272

13.1 %

4,776

4,268

11.9 %

Diluted weighted average common shares

 

 5,046

 4,490

12.4 %

 4,985

 4,428

12.6 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share – Basic

$

0.33

0.29

13.8 %

 0.83

0.73

13.7 %

Earnings per common share – Diluted

 

 0.31

 0.27

14.8 %

 0.79

 0.71

11.3 %



 

 

Quarter Ended

3rd Qtr

Quarter Ended

 

 

September 30

2014-2013

June 30

March 31

December 31

(in thousands, except earnings per share)

 

2014

2013

% Change

2014

2014

       2013

Balance Sheet Highlights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

$

1,007,553

849,890

18.6 %

967,089

936,884

890,831

Investment securities

 

63,391

77,636

(18.3)%

64,678

74,707

73,556

Mortgage loans held for sale

 

9,372

2,586

262.4 %

7,189

3,028

3,611

Loans

 

 832,722

705,447

18.0 %

 812,833

775,770

733,656

Allowance for loan losses

 

     11,305

     9,816

15.2 %

     11,103

     10,713

     10,213

Other real estate owned

 

3,549

1,579

124.8 %

1,277

1,148

1,198

  Noninterest bearing deposits

 

131,948

94,588

39.5 %

123,548

116,363

101,971

  Interest bearing deposits

 

640,812

512,464

25.0 %

623,821

606,049

578,348

Total deposits

 

772,760

607,052

27.3 %

747,369

722,412

680,319

Other borrowings

 

 139,600

 157,655

(11.5)%

 127,100

 124,100

 124,100

Junior subordinated debentures

 

   13,403

   13,403

   13,403

   13,403

   13,403

Tangible common equity

 

62,350

49,477

26.0 %

60,644

58,533

50,366

Preferred stock

 

11,242

15,299

(26.5)%

11,242

11,242

15,299

Total shareholders’ equity

 

   73,592

   64,776

13.6 %

   71,886

   69,775

   65,665

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book value per common share

$

12.91

11.47

12.6 %

12.56

12.15

11.66

Stock price:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  High

 

14.25

13.63

4.5 %

13.88

13.94

13.98

  Low

 

13.50

10.80

25.0 %

13.09

13.05

12.81

  Period end

 

 13.94

 13.20

5.6 %

 13.46

 13.87

 13.28

Common shares outstanding

 

4,830

4,313

12.0 %

4,830

4,818

4,320

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets(9)

 

0.74%

0.67%

10.4%

0.65%

0.56%

0.65%

Return on average equity(9)

 

9.86%

8.74%

12.8%

8.80%

7.35%

8.65%

Loans to deposits

 

107.76%

116.21%

(7.3)%

108.76%

107.39%

107.84%

Team members

 

156

     138

13.0 %

151

140

     140

Average Balances ($ in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans

$

827,986 

695,524 

19.0%

798,410 

753,630 

725,776 

Deposits

 

760,465 

629,271 

20.8%

725,025 

688,809 

656,063 

Assets

 

979,929 

841,886 

16.4%

942,377 

901,642 

876,583 

Equity

 

73,506 

64,430 

14.1%

71,409 

69,003 

65,992 

(9) Annualized based on quarterly net income.



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ASSET QUALITY MEASURES - Unaudited

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

September 30

June 30

March 31

December 31

September 30

(dollars in thousands)

 

2014

2014

2014

2013

2013

Nonperforming Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Owner occupied RE

$

640

671

1,191

1,199

276

  Non-owner occupied RE

 

2,877

3,686

339

373

424

  Construction

 

855

849

887

914

938

  Commercial business

 

745

730

542

712

859

Consumer

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Real estate

 

488

488

528

76

188

  Home equity

 

188

-

-

77

274

  Construction

 

-

-

-

-

-

  Other

 

3

1

2

3

4

Nonaccruing troubled debt restructurings

 

2,166

5,871

5,365

4,983

5,533

Total nonaccrual loans

 

7,962

12,296

8,854

8,337

8,496

Other real estate owned

 

3,549

1,277

1,148

1,198

1,579

Total nonperforming assets

$

11,511

13,573

10,002

9,535

10,075

Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Total assets

 

1.14%

1.40%

1.07%

1.07%

1.19%

  Total loans

 

1.38%

1.67%

1.29%

1.30%

1.43%

Accruing troubled debt restructurings

$

7,216

6,479

7,774

8,045

6,953


 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

September 30

June 30

March 31

December 31

September 30

 

 

2014

2014

2014

2013

2013

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

$

11,103 

10,713 

10,213 

9,816 

9,561 

Loans charged-off

 

(1,138)

(652)

(512)

(444)

(530)

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off

 

15 

92 

12 

16 

10 

  Net loans charged-off

 

(1,123)

(560)

(500)

(428)

(520)

Provision for loan losses

 

1,325 

950 

1,000 

825 

775 

Balance, end of period

$

11,305 

11,103 

10,713 

10,213 

9,816 

Allowance for loan losses to gross loans

 

1.36 %

1.37 %

1.38 %

1.39 %

1.39 %

Allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans

 

141.99 %

90.30 %

120.99 %

122.50 %

115.54 %

Net charge-offs to average loans QTD (annualized)

 

0.54 %

0.28 %

0.27 %

0.23 %

0.30 %


AVERAGE YIELD/RATE - Unaudited

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

September 30

June 30

March 31

December 31

September 30

 

2014

2014

2014

2013

2013

 

Yield/Rate(10)

Interest-earning assets

 

 

 

 

 

Federal funds sold

0.26%

0.27%

0.24%

0.25%

0.28%

Investment securities, taxable

2.46%

2.62%

2.88%

2.45%

2.18%

Investment securities, nontaxable

4.12%

4.14%

4.22%

4.18%

4.25%

Loans

4.71%

4.68%

4.75%

4.85%

4.93%

  Total interest-earning assets

4.41%

4.43%

4.49%

4.53%

4.60%

Interest-bearing liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

NOW accounts

0.16%

0.14%

0.16%

0.21%

0.22%

Savings & money market

0.33%

0.31%

0.30%

0.30%

0.34%

Time deposits

0.71%

0.73%

0.74%

0.73%

0.81%

  Total interest-bearing deposits

0.45%

0.46%

0.47%

0.47%

0.50%

Note payable and other borrowings

3.06%

3.02%

3.07%

2.87%

3.03%

Junior subordinated debentures

2.40%

2.39%

2.42%

2.40%

2.43%

  Total interest-bearing liabilities

0.91%

0.93%

0.95%

0.97%

1.02%

Net interest spread

3.50%

3.50%

3.54%

3.56%

3.58%

Net interest income (tax equivalent) / margin

3.66%

3.66%

3.68%

3.71%

3.73%

(10) Annualized for the respective three month period.



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ABOUT SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES


Southern First Bancshares, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina is a registered bank holding company incorporated under the laws of South Carolina.  The Company consists of Southern First Bank, the 6th largest bank headquartered in South Carolina. Southern First Bancshares has been providing financial services since 1999 and now operates in nine locations in the Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston markets of South Carolina. Southern First Bancshares has assets of approximately $1.0 billion and its common stock is traded in the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SFST.  More information can be found at www.southernfirst.com.





FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


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 and expectations, and are thus prospective.  Such forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” and “projects,” as well as similar expressions.  Such 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.  Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate.  Therefore, 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.


The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: (1) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (2) 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; (3) 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; (4) changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory framework; and (5) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could have a negative impact on the company.  Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our reports (such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the company or any person acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements above. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.



FINANCIAL CONTACT: MIKE DOWLING 864-679-9070


MEDIA CONTACT: ART SEAVER 864-679-9010


WEB SITE: www.southernfirst.com




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