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8-K - FORM 8-K - Meridian Bancorp, Inc.d916853d8k.htm

Exhibit 99

 

LOGO

Meridian Bancorp, Inc. Reports Net Income for the First Quarter

Ended March 31, 2015

Contact: Richard J. Gavegnano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(978) 977-2211

Boston, Massachusetts (April 28, 2015): Meridian Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “Meridian”) (NASDAQ: EBSB), the holding company for East Boston Savings Bank (the “Bank”) announced net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 rose to $6.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share from $4.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Company’s return on average assets was 0.78% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to 0.70% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Company’s return on average equity declined to 4.41% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to 7.59% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, reflecting the net cash proceeds of $302.3 million raised in the Company’s second step common stock offering completed on July 28, 2014. As a result of the Company’s second-step common stock offering, all historical share and per share information has been restated to reflect the 2.4484-to-one exchange ratio.

Richard J. Gavegnano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am pleased to report a rise of 34% in our net income to a record $6.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of last year. When gains on sales of securities for the same periods are excluded, our core pre-tax income increased $3.1 million, or 57%, to $8.6 million reflecting an 18% rise in net interest income, an improvement to 67.61% in our efficiency ratio, an 8% decline in non-performing assets and negligible net loan charge-offs. To further enhance our franchise footprint in the Boston market area, we are completing plans to add new branches in the Town of Brookline and the Boston neighborhoods of Dorchester and Chinatown that will bring our total full-service locations to 30 by year end.”

Net interest income increased $3.8 million, or 18.4%, to $24.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 from $20.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The interest rate spread and net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis were 3.01% and 3.23%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to 3.17% and 3.32%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The increase in net interest income was due primarily to loan growth along with declines in the cost of funds, partially offset by declines in yields on interest-earning assets and deposit growth for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

The Company’s yield on interest-earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis declined 21 basis points to 3.89% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to 4.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, while the cost of funds declined five basis points to 0.78% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to 0.83% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The increase in interest income on loans was primarily due to growth in the Company’s average loan balances of $373.5 million, or 16.1%, to $2.686 billion and an increase in the yield on loans on a tax-equivalent basis of one basis point to 4.40% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The increase in interest expense on deposits was primarily due to growth in average total deposits of $276.7 million, or 12.2%, to $2.543 billion, partially offset by the decline in the cost of average total deposits of four basis points to 0.75% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to 0.79% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Mr. Gavegnano noted, “The key driver to our core earnings growth is net interest income, which rose for the fifteenth consecutive quarter. Loan yields remained stable, our cost of funds declined and our net interest margin rose for the second consecutive quarter following a slight decline in the margin during the third quarter as a result of the cash proceeds from our stock offering. We expect further improvement in our net interest margin as we continue to deploy the capital raised in last year’s stock offering into commercial loans.”

The Company’s provision for loan losses was $60,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to $133,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The change was based on management’s assessment of loan portfolio growth and composition changes, a decline in historical charge-off trends, an ongoing evaluation of credit quality and current economic conditions. The allowance for loan losses was $28.6 million or 1.07% of total loans outstanding at March 31, 2015, compared to $28.5 million or 1.06% of total


loans outstanding at December 31, 2014. Net recoveries totaled $72,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, or 0.01% of average loans outstanding, as compared to net charge-offs of $27,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, or less than 0.01% of average loans outstanding.

Non-accrual loans decreased $2.6 million, or 8.2%, to $28.9 million, or 1.08% of total loans outstanding, at March 31, 2015, from $31.5 million, or 1.18% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2014, primarily due to decreases of $1.2 million in non-accrual one- to four-family loans and $1.1 million in non-accrual construction loans. Non-performing assets decreased $2.6 million, or 8.0%, to $30.0 million, or 0.89% of total assets, at March 31, 2015, from $32.6 million, or 0.99% of total assets, at December 31, 2014. Non-performing assets at March 31, 2015 were comprised of $13.4 million of one- to four-family mortgage loans, $7.3 million of construction loans, $5.3 million of commercial real estate loans, $2.0 million of home equity loans, $895,000 of commercial business loans and foreclosed real estate of $1.0 million.

Mr. Gavegnano commented, “We are especially pleased with the continued improvement in our asset quality trends during the first quarter of 2015. Due to the 8% reduction in non-performing assets during the quarter, the ratio of non-performing assets to total assets declined to 0.89% at quarter end, the lowest level in over six years. We remain focused on maintaining strong loan underwriting practices as we grow our commercial loan portfolio.”

Non-interest income decreased $634,000, or 15.9%, to $3.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 from $4.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, primarily due to decreases of $540,000 in gain on sales of securities, net, $42,000 in customer service fees and $47,000 in loan fees.

Non-interest expenses increased $647,000, or 3.7%, to $18.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2014, primarily due to increases of $366,000 in salaries and employee benefits, $59,000 in occupancy and equipment, $102,000 in data processing, $87,000 in marketing and advertising, $32,000 in professional services and $88,000 in other general and administrative expenses, partially offset by a decrease of $90,000 in deposit insurance assessments. The Company’s efficiency ratio was 67.61% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to 75.66% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Mr. Gavegnano added, “As expected, our efficiency ratio improved during the first quarter of 2015 due to the strong rise in net interest income along with moderate growth in overhead expenses. Gains on sales of securities, a recurring source of earnings, are not included in the basic calculation of the efficiency ratio. However, if such gains were included, the efficiency ratio would have been 65.13% for the first quarter of 2015 compared to 70.86% for the first quarter of 2014.”

The Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $3.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, reflecting an effective tax rate of 33.4%, compared to $2.3 million, or 32.2%, for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The change in the effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in the components of pre-tax income.

Total assets increased $69.1 million, or 2.1%, to $3.348 billion at March 31, 2015 from $3.279 billion at December 31, 2014. Net loans increased $2.1 million, or 0.1%, to $2.651 billion at March 31, 2015 from $2.649 billion at December 31, 2014. Cash and due from banks increased $67.7 million, or 32.9%, to $273.4 million at March 31, 2015 from $205.7 million at December 31, 2014. Securities available for sale decreased $3.8 million, or 1.9%, to $199.7 million at March 31, 2015 from $203.5 million at December 31, 2014.

Mr. Gavegnano concluded, “Following net loan growth of $167 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, our loan portfolio grew only slightly in the first quarter of 2015 due to the impact of this winter’s record snowfall here in the Boston area. Even so, our lenders remained busy and the pipeline of loan origination commitments grew by 25% since year end. Along with many businesses in the area, we expect to make up ground in the coming months.”

Total deposits increased $90.3 million, or 3.6%, to $2.594 billion at March 31, 2015 from $2.504 billion at December 31, 2014. Core deposits, which exclude certificate of deposits, increased $113.5 million, or 6.3%, to $1.909 billion, or 73.6% of total deposits, at March 31, 2015. Total borrowings decreased $27.8 million, or 16.2%, to $144.1 million at March 31, 2015 from $171.9 million at December 31, 2014.

 

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Total stockholders’ equity increased $5.9 million, or 1.0%, to $583.6 million at March 31, 2015, from $577.7 million at December 31, 2014. The increase for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was due primarily to $6.4 million in net income and $681,000 related to stock-based compensation plans, partially offset by a decrease of $1.2 million in accumulated other comprehensive income reflecting a decrease in the fair value of available for sale securities. Stockholders’ equity to assets was 17.43% at March 31, 2015, compared to 17.62% at December 31, 2014. Book value per share increased to $10.62 at March 31, 2015 from $10.56 at December 31, 2014. Tangible book value per share increased to $10.37 at March 31, 2015 from $10.31 at December 31, 2014. Market price per share increased $1.95, or 17.4%, to $13.17 at March 31, 2015 from $11.22 at December 31, 2014. At March 31, 2015, the Company and the Bank continued to exceed all regulatory capital requirements.

Meridian Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for East Boston Savings Bank. East Boston Savings Bank, a Massachusetts-chartered stock savings bank founded in 1848, operates 27 full-service locations in the greater Boston metropolitan area. We offer a variety of deposit and loan products to individuals and businesses located in our primary market, which consists of Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts. For additional information, visit www.ebsb.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “will,” “expects,” “project,” “may,” “could,” “developments,” “strategic,” “launching,” “opportunities,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets” and similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Meridian Bancorp, Inc.’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors. Factors that could cause such differences to exist include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, regulatory considerations, and competition and the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks materialize or should underlying beliefs or assumptions prove incorrect, Meridian Bancorp, Inc.’s actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release.

 

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MERIDIAN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2015
    December 31,
2014
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  
ASSETS   

Cash and due from banks

   $ 273,433      $ 205,732   

Certificates of deposit

     85,000        85,000   

Securities available for sale, at fair value

     199,727        203,521   

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost

     12,725        12,725   

Loans held for sale

     5,814        971   

Loans, net of fees and costs

     2,679,646        2,677,376   

Less allowance for loan losses

     (28,601     (28,469
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loans, net

  2,651,045      2,648,907   

Bank-owned life insurance

  38,907      38,611   

Foreclosed real estate, net

  1,046      1,046   

Premises and equipment, net

  38,705      38,512   

Accrued interest receivable

  7,545      7,748   

Deferred tax asset, net

  16,397      15,610   

Goodwill

  13,687      13,687   

Other assets

  3,594      6,456   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

$ 3,347,625    $ 3,278,526   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Deposits:

Non interest-bearing

$ 306,736    $ 285,990   

Interest-bearing

  2,287,548      2,217,945   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deposits

  2,594,284      2,503,935   

Long-term debt

  144,110      171,899   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

  25,626      24,982   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  2,764,020      2,700,816   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

  —        —     

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 54,946,694 and 54,708,066 shares issued at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively

  549      547   

Additional paid-in capital

  411,894      411,476   

Retained earnings

  191,120      184,715   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

  1,707      2,898   

Unearned compensation - ESOP, 2,891,887 and 2,922,328 shares at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively

  (20,944   (21,164

Unearned compensation - restricted shares, 221,526 and 138,838 shares at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively

  (721   (762
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

  583,605      577,710   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$ 3,347,625    $ 3,278,526   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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MERIDIAN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Net Income

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2015      2014 (1)  
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Interest and dividend income:

     

Interest and fees on loans

   $ 28,332       $ 24,435   

Interest on debt securities:

     

Taxable

     511         745   

Tax-exempt

     42         45   

Dividends on equity securities

     387         313   

Interest on certificates of deposit

     136         —     

Other interest and dividend income

     170         90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total interest and dividend income

  29,578      25,628   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest expense:

Interest on deposits

  4,677      4,405   

Interest on borrowings

  508      621   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total interest expense

  5,185      5,026   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net interest income

  24,393      20,602   

Provision for loan losses

  60      133   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net interest income, after provision for loan losses

  24,333      20,469   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-interest income:

Customer service fees

  1,757      1,799   

Loan fees

  166      213   

Mortgage banking gains, net

  110      120   

Gain on sales of securities, net

  1,020      1,560   

Income from bank-owned life insurance

  296      281   

Other income

  1      11   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-interest income

  3,350      3,984   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-interest expenses:

Salaries and employee benefits

  11,167      10,801   

Occupancy and equipment

  2,620      2,561   

Data processing

  1,263      1,161   

Marketing and advertising

  894      807   

Professional services

  673      641   

Foreclosed real estate

  14      11   

Deposit insurance

  461      551   

Other general and administrative

  976      888   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-interest expenses

  18,068      17,421   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

  9,615      7,032   

Provision for income taxes

  3,210      2,261   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

$ 6,405    $ 4,771   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

Basic

$ 0.12    $ 0.09   

Diluted

$ 0.12    $ 0.09   

Weighted average shares:

Basic

  51,862,146      53,011,922   

Diluted

  53,003,621      54,069,601   

 

(1) Share and per share amounts related to periods prior to the date of completion of the Conversion (July 28, 2014) have been restated to give retroactive recognition to the exchange ratio applied in the Conversion (2.4484-to-one).

 

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MERIDIAN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Net Interest Income Analysis

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Average
Balance
     Interest (1)     Yield/
Cost (6)
    Average
Balance
     Interest (1)     Yield/
Cost (6)
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Assets:

              

Interest-earning assets:

              

Loans (2)

   $ 2,686,367       $ 29,120        4.40   $ 2,312,889       $ 25,029        4.39

Securities and certificates of deposits

     286,790         1,240        1.75        195,268         1,240        2.58   

Other interest-earning assets (3)

     212,063         170        0.33        101,703         90        0.36   
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total interest-earning assets

  3,185,220      30,530      3.89      2,609,860      26,359      4.10   
     

 

 

        

 

 

   

Noninterest-earning assets

  113,019      111,774   
  

 

 

        

 

 

      

Total assets

$ 3,298,239    $ 2,721,634   
  

 

 

        

 

 

      

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

Interest-bearing liabilities:

NOW deposits

$ 295,317      457      0.63    $ 216,795      301      0.56   

Money market deposits

  980,104      2,078      0.86      851,592      1,857      0.88   

Regular savings and other deposits

  274,516      151      0.22      262,386      168      0.26   

Certificates of deposit

  697,963      1,991      1.16      678,808      2,079      1.24   
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total interest-bearing deposits

  2,247,900      4,677      0.84      2,009,581      4,405      0.89   

Borrowings

  150,939      508      1.36      183,868      621      1.37   
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total interest-bearing liabilities

  2,398,839      5,185      0.88      2,193,449      5,026      0.93   
     

 

 

        

 

 

   

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

  295,520      257,122   

Other noninterest-bearing liabilities

  23,465      19,756   
  

 

 

        

 

 

      

Total liabilities

  2,717,824      2,470,327   

Total stockholders’ equity

  580,415      251,307   
  

 

 

        

 

 

      

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$ 3,298,239    $ 2,721,634   
  

 

 

        

 

 

      

Net interest-earning assets

$ 786,381    $ 416,411   
  

 

 

        

 

 

      

Fully tax-equivalent net interest income

  25,345      21,333   

Less: tax-equivalent adjustments

  (952   (731
     

 

 

        

 

 

   

Net interest income

$ 24,393    $ 20,602   
     

 

 

        

 

 

   

Interest rate spread (4)

  3.01   3.17

Net interest margin (5)

  3.23   3.32

Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities

  132.78   118.98

Supplemental Information:

Total deposits, including noninterest-bearing demand deposits

$ 2,543,420    $ 4,677      0.75 $ 2,266,703    $ 4,405      0.79

Total deposits and borrowings, including noninterest-bearing demand deposits

$ 2,694,359    $ 5,185      0.78 $ 2,450,571    $ 5,026      0.83

 

(1) Income on debt securities, equity securities and revenue bonds included in commercial real estate loans, resulting yields, and interest rate spread and net interest margin, are presented on a tax-equivalent basis. The tax-equivalent adjustments are deducted from tax-equivalent net interest income to agree to amounts reported in the consolidated statements of net income. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, yields on loans before tax-equivalent adjustments were 4.28% and 4.28%, respectively, yields on securities and certificates of deposit before tax-equivalent adjustments were 1.52% and 2.29%, respectively, and yields on total interest-earning assets before tax-equivalent adjustments were 3.77% and 3.98%, respectively. Interest rate spread before tax-equivalent adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was 2.89% and 3.05%, respectively, while net interest margin before tax-equivalent adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was 3.11% and 3.20%, respectively.
(2) Loans on non-accrual status are included in average balances.
(3) Includes Federal Home Loan Bank stock and associated dividends.
(4) Interest rate spread represents the difference between the tax-equivalent yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(5) Net interest margin represents net interest income (tax-equivalent basis) divided by average interest-earning assets.
(6) Annualized.

 

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MERIDIAN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Selected Financial Highlights

(Unaudited)

 

     At or For the Three Months Ended  
     March 31,  
     2015     2014  

Key Performance Ratios

    

Return on average assets (1)

     0.78     0.70

Return on average equity (1)

     4.41        7.59   

Stockholders’ equity to total assets

     17.43        9.11   

Interest rate spread (1) (2)

     3.01        3.17   

Net interest margin (1) (3)

     3.23        3.32   

Non-interest expense to average assets (1)

     2.19        2.56   

Efficiency ratio (4)

     67.61        75.66   

 

     March 31,
2015
    December 31,
2014
    March 31,
2014 (5)
 

Asset Quality Ratios

      

Allowance for loan losses/total loans

     1.07     1.06     1.08

Allowance for loan losses/non-accrual loans

     98.92        90.35        60.22   

Non-accrual loans/total loans

     1.08        1.18        1.80   

Non-accrual loans/total assets

     0.86        0.96        1.51   

Non-performing assets/total assets

     0.89        0.99        1.54   

Share Related

      

Book value per share

   $ 10.62      $ 10.56      $ 4.68   

Tangible book value per share

   $ 10.37      $ 10.31      $ 4.43   

Market value per share

   $ 13.17      $ 11.22      $ 10.44   

Shares outstanding

     54,946,694        54,708,066        54,433,414   

 

(1) Annualized.
(2) Interest rate spread represents the difference between the tax-equivalent yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3) Net interest margin represents net interest income (tax-equivalent basis) divided by average interest-earning assets.
(4) The efficiency ratio represents non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income excluding gains or losses on securities.
(5) Share and per share amounts related to periods prior to the date of completion of the Conversion (July 28, 2014) have been restated to give retroactive recognition to the exchange ratio applied in the Conversion (2.4484-to-one).

 

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