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8-K - FORM 8-K - Atlantic Coast Financial CORPv416495_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

AC Financial Horizontal 288

 

For additional information contact:

Tracy L. Keegan

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(904) 998-5501

 

Atlantic coast Financial CORPORATION REPORts record earnings

 

Øsecond quarter 2015 earnings of $0.36 per diluted share
ØLoan Growth Near 20% during first six months of 2015
ØMargin, return on assets, AND return on equity expected to increase significantly in future quarters

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (July 29, 2015) – Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation ("Atlantic Coast" or the "Company," NASDAQ: ACFC), the holding company for Atlantic Coast Bank (the "Bank"), today reported earnings per diluted share of $0.36 and $0.39 for the second quarter and first six months of 2015, respectively, up from $0.02 and $0.03 for second quarter and first six months of 2014, respectively. This marked the sixth consecutive profitable quarter for the Company following its successful capital raise in December 2013.

 

Commenting on the second quarter and first half of 2015, John K. Stephens, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased to report another solid quarterly performance for Atlantic Coast, marked by attractive loan growth and sound credit quality, notable interest income growth, and continued improvement in our interest margin. Together, these factors contributed to ongoing profitability for our company and its shareholders. Atlantic Coast is now stronger than ever as a result of the hard work and dedication of our team members as we have pursued our ambitious goals, and I am particularly proud of what our team has accomplished over the past six months."

 

Stephens added, "Additionally, we previously announced a transaction reversing an $8.5 million valuation allowance associated with our deferred tax asset during June. At the same time, we announced the prepayment or restructure of $166.3 million of our debt, and anticipated these transactions would result in a net gain of $3.4 million in the second quarter. However, one of our existing counterparties subsequently presented us with an alternative for short-term debt, which enabled us to restructure approximately $60.0 million of the debt that we had previously anticipated prepaying. Although the overall impact of the transaction remains the same, the initial gain is larger than anticipated at $5.3 million, with approximately $1.9 million in prepayment penalties, net of tax, deferred over the next 12 months."

 

Significant highlights of the second quarter and first half of 2015 include:

 

·Net income totaled $5.6 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, compared to $0.2 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. Net income improved to $6.0 million or $0.39 per diluted share for the first six months of 2015, compared with $0.4 million or $0.03 per diluted share for the first six months of 2014.

 

·Net income for the second quarter and first half of 2015 included the positive impact of the reversal of a valuation allowance against the Company's deferred tax asset, which affected the income tax benefit by $8.5 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2015. This was offset partially by penalties totaling $5.2 million, pre-tax, associated with the prepayment of some of the Company's wholesale debt during the second quarter of 2015. Together, these transactions added approximately $5.3 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, to net income for the second quarter and first half of 2015.

 

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ACFC Reports Second Quarter Results

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July 29, 2015

 

·Interest spread and interest margin improved to 2.68% and 2.81%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.40% and 2.59%, respectively, for the same period last year, and improved to 2.52% and 2.72%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.30% and 2.51%, respectively, for the same period last year. The Company's successful efforts in June 2015 to lower the effective interest rate on its wholesale debt are expected to reduce interest expense going forward by approximately $2.2 million over the next 12 months and approximately $5.0 million annually thereafter (assuming interest rate stability), which will have a corresponding positive impact on net interest margin, reducing the weighted-average interest rate on the wholesale debt to approximately 1.95%, down from a weighted-average interest rate of approximately 4.05% prior to the debt restructuring.

 

·Total loans (including portfolio loans, loans held-for-sale, and warehouse loans held-for-investment) increased to $583.3 million at June 30, 2015, from $488.1 million at December 31, 2014, with contributions coming from all lines of business.

 

·Nonperforming assets, as a percentage of total assets, decreased to 0.97% at June 30, 2015 from 1.20% at December 31, 2014, and 1.33% at June 30, 2014.

 

·Total assets increased to $810.4 million at June 30, 2015, compared with $706.5 million at December 31, 2014, primarily due to an increase in loans during the first six months of 2015, which was primarily funded by deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances.

 

·The Company's ratios of total risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets and Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted total assets were 14.74% and 9.69%, respectively, at June 30, 2015, and each continued to exceed the levels – 10% and 5%, respectively – required for the Bank to be considered well-capitalized.

 

Tracy L. Keegan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, added, "Our results of operations for the second quarter and first six months of the year were ahead of year-earlier periods. Additionally, with our recent work to revise the terms of our outstanding wholesale debt to provide a significant reduction in future interest expense, as well as significant margin expansion, we are encouraged about the prospects of additional bottom-line growth going forward. With this work behind us, and with the recent restoration of our deferred tax asset, we enter the second half of 2015 with good momentum and are excited about the opportunities ahead. Balance sheet management, of course, will continue to be a critical step in achieving our strategic goals."

 

Bank Regulatory Capital 

At

 

 

Key Capital Measures

 

June 30,

2015

  

March 31,

2015

  

Dec. 31,

2014

  

Sept. 30,

2014

  

June 30,

2014

 
Total risk-based capital ratio
(to risk-weighted assets)
   14.74%   15.86%   17.64%   17.83%   18.75%
Common equity tier 1 (core) risk-based capital ratio (to risk-weighted assets)   13.48%   14.61%   n/a    n/a    n/a 
Tier 1 (core) risk-based capital ratio
(to risk-weighted assets)
   13.48%   14.61%   16.38%   16.58%   17.49%
Tier 1 (core) capital ratio
(to adjusted total assets) *
   9.69%   10.38%   10.35%   10.17%   10.17%

_________________________

* As a result of regulatory changes (Basel III), Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted total assets was calculated using a period average based on balances as of June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015. This ratio was calculated using a period end balance for all other periods presented.

 

The decrease in capital ratios as of June 30, 2015, compared with those as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014, was primarily due to an increase in assets, which resulted in an increase in risk-weighted assets and adjusted total assets, partially offset by an increase in capital.

 

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ACFC Reports Second Quarter Results

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July 29, 2015

 

Credit Quality 

At

 
  

June 30, 2015

  

March 31, 2015

  

Dec. 31, 2014

  

Sept. 30, 2014

  

June 30, 2014

 
   (Dollars in millions) 
Nonperforming loans  $3.9   $4.4   $4.5   $4.1   $4.0 
Nonperforming loans to total portfolio loans   0.82%   0.94%   1.00%   0.95%   0.98%
Other real estate owned  $3.9   $4.2   $3.9   $5.3   $5.4 
Nonperforming assets  $7.8   $8.6   $8.4   $9.4   $9.4 
Nonperforming assets to total assets   0.97%   1.16%   1.20%   1.31%   1.33%
Troubled debt restructurings
performing for less than 12 months
under terms of modification
  $6.0   $14.1   $13.8   $13.3   $13.1 
Total nonperforming assets and
troubled debt restructurings
performing for less than 12 months
under terms of modification
  $13.8   $22.7   $22.2   $22.7   $22.5 
Troubled debt restructurings
performing for more than 12 months
under terms of modification
  $28.9   $22.1   $21.0   $24.4   $23.4 

 

Overall, the Company's credit quality remains strong, as the number and balance of loans reclassified to nonperforming and other real estate owned ("OREO") has stabilized. Nonperforming assets declined at June 30, 2015, compared with those at June 30, 2014, as the disposition of OREO and net reductions to nonperforming loans during the 12-month period exceeded net transfers to OREO during the same period. Nonperforming assets declined at June 30, 2015, compared with December 31, 2014, as the net reductions to nonperforming loans and disposition of OREO during the 12-month period exceeded net transfers to OREO during the same period.

 

Provision / Allowance for Loan Losses 

At and for the

Three Months Ended

  

At and for the

Six Months Ended

 
  

June 30, 2015

  

March 31, 2015

  

June 30, 2014

  

June 30, 2015

  

June 30, 2014

 
   (Dollars in millions) 
Provision for portfolio loan losses  $0.2   $0.2   $0.3   $0.4   $0.8 
Allowance for portfolio loan losses  $7.4   $7.2   $7.0   $7.4   $7.0 
Allowance for portfolio loan losses to total portfolio loans   1.53%   1.53%   1.69%   1.53%   1.69%
Allowance for portfolio loan losses to nonperforming loans   187.82%   162.98%   173.20%   187.82%   173.20%
Net charge-offs  $(0.1)  $0.2   $0.3   $0.1   $0.8 
Net charge-offs to average outstanding portfolio loans   (0.04)%   0.14%   0.31%   0.05%   0.39%

 

The decline in the provision for portfolio loan losses in the second quarter of 2015 compared with the second quarter of 2014 reflected improving economic conditions in the Company's markets, which have led to a decline in net charge-offs over the past 12 months. The increase in the allowance for portfolio loan losses at June 30, 2015, from June 30, 2014, primarily reflected loan growth that was due to an approximately equal mix of organic growth and loan purchases, partially offset by principal amortization and increased prepayments of one- to four-family residential mortgages and home equity loans. Management believes the allowance for portfolio loan losses as of June 30, 2015, is sufficient to absorb losses in portfolio loans as of the end of the period. The decline in net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2015 compared with the second quarter of 2014 primarily reflected a decrease in charge-offs in one- to four-family residential loans, home equity loans and collateral-dependent commercial real estate property, which was partially offset by an increase in charge-offs related to manufactured home loans. The decline in net charge-offs for the first half of 2015 compared with the first half of 2014 primarily reflected a decrease in charge-offs in one- to four-family residential loans, home equity loans and collateral-dependent commercial real estate property.

 

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ACFC Reports Second Quarter Results

Page 4

July 29, 2015

 

Net Interest Income 

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

June 30, 2015

  

March 31, 2015

  

June 30, 2014

  

June 30, 2015

  

June 30, 2014

 
   (Dollars in millions) 
Net interest income  $5.0   $4.4   $4.3   $9.4   $8.5 
Net interest margin   2.81%   2.62%   2.59%   2.72%   2.51%
Yield on investment securities   2.10%   1.95%   1.98%   2.03%   2.03%
Yield on loans   4.87%   4.94%   5.53%   4.90%   5.67%
Total cost of funds   1.40%   1.56%   1.64%   1.48%   1.68%
Average cost of deposits   0.49%   0.49%   0.55%   0.49%   0.57%
Rates paid on borrowed funds   3.42%   4.04%   4.43%   3.70%   4.46%

 

The increase in net interest margin during the second quarter and first half of 2015 compared with the second quarter and first half of 2014 was primarily due to an increase in higher-margin interest-earning assets outstanding, as the Company has continued to redeploy excess liquidity to continue to grow its portfolio loans, loans held-for-sale, and warehouse loans held-for-investment. Additionally, the Company benefitted from an increase in noninterest-bearing deposits and the prepayment and restructuring of some of our high-cost FHLB advances during 2014, resulting in lower total cost of funds in the second quarter and first half of 2015 compared with the second quarter and first half of 2014. The Company believes net interest margin will continue to improve during the remainder of 2015 as a result of the prepayment and restructuring of some of its high-cost wholesale debt during the second quarter of 2015.

 

Noninterest Income /

Noninterest Expense

 

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

June 30, 2015

  

March 31, 2015

  

June 30, 2014

  

June 30, 2015

  

June 30, 2014

 
   (Dollars in millions) 
Noninterest income  $1.7   $1.8   $1.6   $3.4   $3.1 
Noninterest expense  $11.3   $5.5   $5.3   $16.8   $10.2 

 

The increase in noninterest income during the second quarter and first six months of 2015 compared with the same periods in 2014 primarily reflected higher gains on loans held-for-sale. The increase in noninterest expense during the second quarter and first six months of 2015 compared with comparable 2014 periods primarily reflected penalties associated with the prepayment of some of the Company's high-cost wholesale debt during the second quarter of 2015, as well as the full salary impact of employees that were added in various areas of the Company throughout 2014, including branch operations and lending, to enhance customer service and promote loan and deposit growth. The Company believes it is now appropriately staffed for its current business needs, however, the Bank may continue to add production employees to support its overall growth strategies.

 

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ACFC Reports Second Quarter Results

Page 5

July 29, 2015

 

About the Company

 

Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation is the holding company for Atlantic Coast Bank, a federally chartered and insured stock savings bank. It is a community-oriented financial institution serving northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia markets. Investors may obtain additional information about Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation on the Internet at www.AtlanticCoastBank.net, under Investor Relations.

 

Forward-looking Statements

 

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made herein. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally are identifiable by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "plan," "intend," "on condition," "target," "estimates," "preliminary," or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussion of strategy or goals or other future events, circumstances or effects. Moreover, forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, those relating to: the ability to explore additional growth opportunities; expectations regarding reducing interest expense and increasing net income and net interest margin; the allowance for portfolio loan losses being sufficient to absorb losses in respect of portfolio loans; expectations regarding being adequately staffed for current business needs; and the ability to make further additions to current employee headcount as necessary. The Company's consolidated financial results and the forward-looking statements could be affected by many factors, including but not limited to: general economic trends and changes in interest rates; increased competition; changes in demand for financial services; the state of the banking industry generally; uncertainties associated with newly developed or acquired operations; and market disruptions. Further information relating to factors that may impact the Company's results and forward-looking statements are disclosed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date of this release, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation, other than imposed by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

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ACFC Reports Second Quarter Results

Page 6

July 29, 2015

 

ATLANTIC COAST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Six Months Ended

 
   

June 30, 2015

   

March 31, 2015

   

June 30, 2014

   

June 30, 2015

   

June 30, 2014

 
Interest and dividend income:                              
Loans, including fees   $ 6,647     $ 6,115     $ 5,901     $ 12,762     $ 11,780  
Securities and interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions     775       756       1,030       1,531       2,076  
Total interest and dividend income     7,422       6,871       6,931       14,293       13,856  
                                         
Interest expense:                                        
Deposits     578       550       629       1,128       1,291  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase     722       818       827       1,540       1,802  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances     1,137       1,083       1,148       2,220       2,279  
Total interest expense     2,437       2,451       2,604       4,888       5,372  
                                         
Net interest income     4,985       4,420       4,327       9,405       8,484  
Provision for portfolio loan losses     190       197       350       387       800  
Net interest income after provision for portfolio loan losses     4,795       4,223       3,977       9,018       7,684  
                                         
Noninterest income:                                        
Service charges and fees     660       636       680       1,296       1,317  
Gain on sale of loans held-for-sale     350       499       269       849       493  
Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale     --       (9 )     7       (9 )     7  
Bank owned life insurance earnings     120       118       119       238       209  
Interchange fees     408       395       388       803       761  
Other     138       123       118       261       254  
Noninterest income     1,676       1,762       1,581       3,438       3,041  
                                         
Noninterest expense:                                        
Compensation and benefits     3,133       2,916       2,633       6,049       4,920  
Occupancy and equipment     538       514       492       1,052       983  
FDIC insurance premiums     154       195       358       349       742  
Foreclosed assets, net     102       --       13       102       19  
Data processing     472       395       365       867       658  
Outside professional services     554       532       405       1,086       788  
Collection expense and repossessed asset losses     105       119       130       224       294  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase and Federal Home Loan Bank advances prepayment penalties     5,188       --       --       5,188       --  
Other     1,040       870       892       1,910       1,797  
Noninterest expense     11,286       5,541       5,288       16,827       10,201  
                                         
Income (loss) before income tax expense     (4,815 )     444       270       (4,371 )     524  
Income tax (benefit) expense     (10,440 )     48       45       (10,392 )     93  
Net income (loss)   $ 5,625     $ 396     $ 225     $ 6,021     $ 431  
                                         
Net income (loss) per basic and diluted share   $ 0.36     $ 0.03     $ 0.02     $ 0.39     $ 0.03  
                                         
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding     15,398       15,398       15,392       15,398       15,391  

 

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ACFC Reports Second Quarter Results

Page 7

July 29, 2015

 

ATLANTIC COAST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

  

June 30, 2015

  

Dec. 31, 2014

  

June 30, 2014

 
ASSETS            
Cash and due from financial institutions  $17,379   $2,974   $4,419 
Short-term interest-earning deposits   21,166    19,424    28,292 
Total cash and cash equivalents   38,545    22,398    32,711 
Investment securities:               
Securities available-for-sale   110,285    118,699    179,552 
Securities held-to-maturity   17,054    17,919    18,733 
Total investment securities   127,339    136,618    198,285 
Portfolio loans, net of allowance of $7,400, $7,107 and $6,985, respectively   475,455    446,870    405,334 
Other loans:               
Loans held-for-sale   12,685    7,219    4,989 
Warehouse loans held-for-investment   95,205    33,972    22,306 
Total other loans   107,890    41,191    27,295 
                
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost   9,999    6,257    6,287 
Land, premises and equipment, net   14,746    14,505    14,292 
Bank owned life insurance   16,827    16,590    16,353 
Other real estate owned   3,886    3,908    5,418 
Accrued interest receivable   1,959    1,924    1,951 
Deferred tax assets, net   10,539    --    -- 
Other assets   3,242    16,237    2,162 
Total assets  $810,427   $706,498   $710,088 
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY               
Deposits:               
Non interest-bearing demand  $47,907   $41,283   $42,055 
Interest-bearing demand   64,027    65,718    67,606 
Savings and money markets   178,300    171,657    168,774 
Time   210,861    162,122    165,511 
Total deposits   501,095    440,780    443,946 
Securities sold under agreements to purchase   10,000    66,300    66,300 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   217,371    123,667    125,000 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   3,881    3,415    4,475 
Total liabilities   732,347    634,162    639,721 
                
Common stock, additional paid-in capital, retained deficit,
and other equity
   80,379    74,345    73,426 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (2,299)   (2,009)   (3,059)
Total stockholders' equity   78,080    72,336    70,367 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $810,427   $706,498   $710,088 

 

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ACFC Reports Second Quarter Results

Page 8

July 29, 2015

 

ATLANTIC COAST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Selected Consolidated Financial Ratios and Other Data (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

  

At and for the

Three Months Ended
June 30,

  

At and for the

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
  

2015

  

2014

  

2015

  

2014

 
Interest rate                
Net interest spread   2.68%   2.40%   2.52%   2.30%
Net interest margin   2.81%   2.59%   2.72%   2.51%
                     
                     
Average balances                    
Portfolio loans receivable, net  $473,693   $400,542   $461,247   $390,479 
Total interest-earning assets   709,441    668,099    692,685    684,993 
Total assets   766,316    706,426    738,368    713,335 
Deposits   470,945    453,796    457,833    456,341 
Total interest-bearing liabilities   639,961    590,312    613,902    599,285 
Total liabilities   691,522    636,480    663,954    644,494 
Stockholders' equity   74,794    69,946    74,414    68,841 
                     
Performance ratios (annualized)                    
Return on average total assets   2.94%   0.13%   1.63%   0.12%
Return on average stockholders' equity   30.08%   1.29%   16.18%   1.25%
Ratio of operating expenses to average total assets   5.89%   2.99%   4.56%   2.86%
                     
Credit and liquidity ratios                    
Nonperforming loans  $3,940   $4,033   $3,940   $4,033 
Foreclosed assets   3,886    5,418    3,886    5,418 
Impaired loans   36,256    37,642    36,256    37,642 
Nonperforming assets to total assets   0.97%   1.33%   0.97%   1.33%
Nonperforming loans to total portfolio loans   0.82%   0.98%   0.82%   0.98%
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans   187.82%   173.20%   187.82%   173.20%
Allowance for loan losses to total portfolio loans   1.53%   1.69%   1.53%   1.69%
Net charge-offs to average outstanding portfolio loans (annualized)   (0.04)%   0.31%   0.05%   0.39%
Ratio of gross portfolio loans to total deposits   96.36%   92.88%   96.36%   92.88%
                     
Capital ratios                    
Tangible stockholders' equity to tangible assets*   9.63%   9.91%   9.63%   9.91%
Average stockholders' equity to average total assets   9.76%   9.90%   10.08%   9.65%
                     
Other Data                    
Tangible book value per share*  $5.03   $4.54   $5.03   $4.54 
Stock price per share   4.45    4.06    4.45    4.06 
Stock price per share to tangible book value per share*   88.39%   89.48%   88.39%   89.48%

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* Non-GAAP financial measure. Because the Company does not currently have any intangible assets, tangible stockholders' equity is equal to stockholders' equity, tangible assets is equal to assets, and tangible book value is equal to book value. Accordingly, no reconciliations are required for these measures.

 

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