Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) was organized in November 1997 for the purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock of Brookline Savings Bank (“Brookline”) upon completion of Brookline’s reorganization from a mutual savings bank into a mutual holding company structure. As part of the reorganization, the Company offered for sale 47% of the shares of its common stock in an offering fully subscribed for by eligible depositors of Brookline (the “Offering”). The remaining 53% of the Company’s shares of common stock were issued to Brookline Bancorp MHC (“MHC”), a state-chartered mutual holding company incorporated in Massachusetts. The reorganization and Offering were completed on March 24, 1998. At June 30, 2001, the MHC owned 56.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
On February 21, 2001, the Board of Directors approved a plan to convert the Company’s charter from a Massachusetts corporation regulated by the Massachusetts Division of Banks and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to a federal corporation regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”). The charter conversion, which was approved by the stockholders of the Company on April 19, 2001, was approved by the OTS on July 16, 2001. The MHC, Brookline and Lighthouse Bank (“Lighthouse”) also received approval of their conversions from state to federal charters on that date.
Among other things, the charter conversions will permit the MHC to waive the receipt of dividends paid by the Company without causing dilution to the ownership interests of the Company’s minority stockholders in the event of a conversion of the MHC to stock form. The waiving of dividends will increase Company resources available for stock repurchases, payment of dividends to minority stockholders and investments.
As part of the approval of the charter conversions, the OTS requires that the Company comply satisfactorily with several conditions, the most notable of which is that Brookline and its subsidiaries must divest themselves of their investment in marketable equity securities without material loss at the earliest possible date, but in any event no later than July 17, 2003. The divestiture can be accomplished by sale of the equity securities or their transfer to the Company or its subsidiary. At June 30, 2001, Brookline and its subsidiaries owned equity securities with a market value of $7.5 million.
As a federally-chartered institution, Brookline will be required to meet a qualified thrift lender test. Under that test, an institution is required to either qualify as a “domestic building and loan association” under the Internal Revenue Code or maintain at least 65% of its “portfolio assets” (total assets minus goodwill and other intangible assets, office property and specified liquid assets up to 20% of total assets) in certain “qualified thrift investments” (primarily loans to purchase, refinance, construct, improve or repair domestic residential housing, home equity loans, securities backed by or representing an interest in mortgages on domestic residential housing, and Federal Home Loan Bank stock) in at least nine months out of each twelve month period. A savings institution that fails the qualified thrift lender test is subject to certain operating restrictions and may be required to convert to a bank charter. The OTS has granted Brookline an exception from the qualified thrift lender test through July 17, 2002. At June 30, 2001, Brookline maintained approximately 64.3% of its portfolio assets in qualified thrift investments.
Lighthouse
On April 12, 2000, the Company received regulatory approval for Lighthouse to commence operations as New England’s first-chartered internet-only bank. The Company made a $25 million capital investment in Lighthouse at the beginning of May 2000. See notes 2 and 3 of the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for information about the start-up expenses and operating results of Lighthouse.
In April 2001, the Company announced the decision to either sell Lighthouse to a third party or merge it into Brookline. That decision had been reached after determining the amount of additional operating losses Lighthouse would likely incur before achieving satisfactory profitability. On July 17, 2001, the existence of Lighthouse as a separate corporate entity was terminated by its merger into Brookline. Brookline will continue to provide on-line electronic banking services to the former customers of Lighthouse.
In contemplation of the merger, a pre-tax restructuring charge of $3.9 million was recorded in the second quarter of 2001 to provide for merger-related expenses. Those expenses include personnel severance payments, termination of contracts with third party vendors, occupancy rent obligations, write-off of equipment and software, and other miscellaneous items. Certain operating expenses associated with servicing former Lighthouse customers will continue through the third quarter of 2001 until transfer of accounts to Brookline’s systems and records is completed.
Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. These important factors include, without limitation, Brookline’s continued ability to originate quality loans, fluctuation of interest rates, real estate market conditions in Brookline’s lending areas, general and local economic conditions, the continued ability of Brookline to attract and retain deposits, the Company’s ability to control costs, new accounting pronouncements and changing regulatory requirements.
Comparison of Financial Condition at June 30, 2001 and December 31, 2000
Total assets increased $42.9 million, or 4.1%, from $1.036 billion at December 31, 2000 to $1.079 billion at June 30, 2001. Excluding money market loan participations, the loan portfolio amounted to $817.1 million at June 30, 2001, an increase of $100.6 million, or 14.0%, since December 31, 1999 and $71.4 million, or 9.6%, since March 31, 2001. Over 60% of the loan growth over the past six months was in the residential mortgage loan sector, most of which occurred through real estate broker relationships with Lighthouse. Loan growth at Brookline was primarily in the multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage sectors. The level of loan growth is expected to decline significantly in the second half of 2001, especially in the residential mortgage loan sector. With the merger of Lighthouse into Brookline, reliance on real estate brokers to provide new residential mortgage loans will be diminished.
Money market loan participations declined from $28.3 million at December 31, 2000 to $9.0 million at June 30, 2001 as proceeds from maturing participations were used to fund part of the growth of the higher yielding components of the loan portfolio. Generally, the participations represent purchases of a portion of loans to national companies and organizations originated and serviced by money center banks that mature between one day and three months. The Company views such participations as an alternative to lower yielding short-term investments.
Short-term investments declined $37.9 million since December 31, 2000 as investment redemptions were used to fund part of the loan growth. Securities available for sale and held to maturity declined modestly in the aggregate from $199.8 million at December 31, 2000 to $196.2 million at June 30, 2001. Between those dates, investment in corporate obligations declined $12.5 million to $80.9 million while investment in collateralized mortgage obligations increased $13.9 million to $84.5 million. Most of the corporate obligations mature within two years and the collateralized mortgage obligations generally mature within three or four years.
Total deposits were $618.6 million at June 30, 2001 compared to $628.0 million at March 31, 2001 and $608.6 million at December 31, 2000. During the past six months, certificates of deposit declined $41.2 million, $17.1 million of which occurred at Lighthouse. Offsetting the decline was a $51.3 million increase in transaction deposit accounts, $21.3 million of which occurred at Lighthouse. Much of the overall decline in deposits over the past three months resulted from the maturity of high yielding six month certificates of deposit obtained primarily through special promotions.
Total borrowed funds increased $22.9 million since December 31, 2000 to $156.3 million at June 30, 2001. Such funds, all of which were advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston ("FHLB"), were borrowed to fund part of the loan growth and in connection with the Company's management of the interest rate sensitivity of its assets and liabilities.
Total stockholders' equity increased from $282.6 million at December 31, 2000 to $286.4 million at June 30, 2001. Between those dates, the Company repurchased 165,500 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $2.3 million, or $13.66 per share. As of June 30, 2001, the Company can purchase an additional 96,881 shares under a repurchase plan approved on March 10, 2000.
Unrealized gains on securities available for sale are reported as accumulated other comprehensive income. Such gains were $10.5 million ($6.7 million on an after-tax basis) at June 30, 2001 and $9.9 million ($6.2 million on an after-tax basis) at December 31, 2000. The net increase is after realization of $2.8 million ($1.7 million on an after-tax basis) of gains from sales of marketable equity securities in the first quarter of 2001 and a $495,000 ($318,000 on an after-tax basis) write-down in the carrying value of a defaulted debt security in the second quarter of 2001.
Non-Performing Assets, Restructured Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses
The following table sets forth information regarding non-performing assets, restructured loans and the allowance for loan losses:
| | | June 30, 2001 | | December 31, 2000 | |
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| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |
| | | | |
| Non-accrual loans | | $ | 143 | | $ | - | |
| Defaulted corporate debt security | | 1,440 | | - | |
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| |
| |
| | Total non-performing assets | | $ | 1,583 | | $ | - | |
| | | |
| |
| |
| Restructured loans | | $ | - | | $ | - | |
| | |
| |
| |
| Allowance for loan losses | | $ | 14,982 | | $ | 14,315 | |
| | |
| |
| |
| Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans | | 1.81 | % | 1.92 | % |
| Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans, excluding money market loan participations | | 1.83 | % | 2.00 | % |
| Non-accrual loans as a percent of total loans | | 0.02 | % | - | % |
| Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets | | 0.15 | % | - | % |
In addition to identifying non-performing loans, the Company identifies loans that are characterized as “impaired” pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles. The definition of “impaired loans” is not the same as the definition of “non-accrual loans”, although the two categories tend to overlap. Impaired loans amounted to $106,000 at June 30, 2001 and $107,000 at December 31, 2000. None of the impaired loans at those dates required a specific allowance for impairment due primarily to prior charge-offs and the sufficiency of collateral values.
During the six months ended June 30, 2001 and 2000, recoveries of loans previously charged off amounted to $8,000 and $10,000, respectively, and there were no loan charge-offs. Despite net loan recoveries and minimal non-performing loans at June 30, 2001, the Company increased its allowance for loan losses by providing $659,000 and $300,000 as charges to earnings in the first six months of 2001 and 2000, respectively. Management deemed it prudent to increase the allowance in light of the $100.6 million and $33.2 million increase in net loans outstanding in the first six months of 2001 and 2000, respectively (exclusive of money market loan participations). Over 60% of the net loan growth in the first six months of 2001 was in residential mortgage loans while most of the net loan growth in the first six months of 2000 occurred in the higher risk categories of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans. Of the total provision in the 2001 period, $74,000 was charged to Lighthouse in recognition of its lending activity. While management believes that, based on information currently available, the allowance for loan losses is sufficient to cover losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio at this time, no assurance can be given that the level of allowance will be sufficient to cover future loan losses or that future adjustments to the allowance will not be necessary if economic and/or other conditions differ substantially from the economic and other conditions considered by management in evaluating the adequacy of the current level of the allowance.
In the second quarter of 2001, the Company charged earnings $495,000 to recognize an other than temporary impairment in the carrying value of a $2.0 million bond issued by Southern California Edison that matured on June 1, 2001. Interest of $65,000 due on the bond was received at the maturity date and applied as a reduction of the carrying value of the bond instead of being credited to interest income. Repayment of the debt security will depend on resolution of issues related to the present energy crisis in California.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2001 and 2000
General
Operating results are primarily dependent on the Company's net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on the Company's loan and investment portfolios and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Operating results are also affected by provisions for loan losses, the level of income from non-interest sources such as service fees and sales of investment securities and other assets, operating expenses and income taxes. Operating results are also significantly affected by general economic conditions, particularly changes in interest rates, as well as government policies and actions of regulatory authorities.
Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2001 was $3.4 million ($0.13 per share) compared to $5.5 million ($0.20 per share) for the three months ended June 30, 2000. Basic and diluted earnings per share were the same in those three month periods. The 2000 quarterly period included $1.8 million ($1.1 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.04 per share) of gains from sales of marketable equity securities while the 2001 quarterly period included a $495,000 ($318,000 on an after-tax basis, or $0.01 per share) write-down in the carrying value of a defaulted debt security. The 2001 and 2000 quarterly periods also included expense of $42,000 ($24,000 on an after-tax basis) and $370,000 ($215,000 on an after-tax basis), respectively, related to the recognition and retention plan ("RRP") approved by stockholders.
Lighthouse, the Company's internet-only subsidiary bank, had a net loss of $751,000 ($488,000 on an after-tax basis, or $0.02 per share) before restructuring charge in the 2001 quarterly period compared to $641,000 ($365,000 on an after-tax basis, or $0.01 per share) in the 2000 quarterly period. Lighthouse, which commenced operations in the latter part of June 2000, was merged into Brookline on July 17, 2001. In contemplation of the merger, a restructuring charge of $3.9 million ($2.3 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.08 per share) was recorded in the second quarter of 2001 to provide for merger-related expenses. Certain operating expenses associated with servicing former Lighthouse customers, including employee stay bonuses, will be incurred through the third quarter of 2001 until transfer of accounts to Brookline's systems and records is completed. See notes 2 and 3 of the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for additional information about the operating results of Lighthouse and the restructuring charge.
The restructuring charge was partially offset by a gain of $3.7 million ($1.9 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.07 per share) from termination of Brookline's defined benefit pension plan. A defined contribution plan has been established to replace the terminated plan.
Excluding the restructuring charge, the gain from termination of the pension plan, gains (losses) from securities transactions and the losses of Lighthouse, net operating income was $4.6 million ($0.17 per share) in the 2001 quarter compared to $4.7 million ($0.17 per share) in the 2000 quarter.
Average Balance Sheets and Interest Rates
The following table sets forth certain information relating to the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2001 and 2000. The average yields and costs are derived by dividing interest income or interest expense by the average balance of interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, respectively, for the periods shown. Average balances are derived from daily average balances. The yields and costs include fees which are considered adjustments to yields.
| | | Three months ended June 30, | |
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| |
| | | 2001 | | 2000 | |
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| |
| | | Average
balance | | Interest(1) | | Average
yield/cost | | Average
balance | | Interest(1) | | Average
yield/cost | |
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| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Short-term investments | | $ | 33,500 | | $ | 384 | | 4.60 | % | $ | 15,978 | | $ | 243 | | 6.10 | % |
| | Debt securities (2) (4) | | 170,993 | | 2,643 | | 6.18 | | 174,061 | | 2,621 | | 6.02 | |
| | Equity securities (2) | | 30,048 | | 364 | | 4.85 | | 30,467 | | 419 | | 5.50 | |
| | Mortgage loans (3) (4) | | 700,953 | | 13,976 | | 7.98 | | 634,053 | | 13,154 | | 8.30 | |
| | Money market loan participations (3) (4) | | 21,802 | | 269 | | 4.95 | | 23,063 | | 378 | | 6.56 | |
| | Other commercial loans (3) | | 27,194 | | 489 | | 7.19 | | 24,487 | | 509 | | 8.31 | |
| | Consumer loans (3) | | 2,187 | | 52 | | 9.51 | | 1,972 | | 49 | | 9.94 | |
| | Lighthouse debt securities (2) | | 6,453 | | 116 | | 7.19 | | 6,058 | | 106 | | 7.00 | |
| | Lighthouse mortgage loans (3) | | 55,547 | | 972 | | 7.00 | | 890 | | 18 | | 8.09 | |
| | Lighthouse consumer loans (3) | | 715 | | 21 | | 11.75 | | - | | - | | - | |
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| |
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| |
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| | Total interest-earning assets | | 1,049,392 | | 19,286 | | 7.35 | | 911,029 | | 17,497 | | 7.68 | |
| | | | | |
| |
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| |
| |
| Allowance for loan losses | | (14,708 | ) | | | | | (14,075 | ) | | | | |
| Non-interest earning assets | | 28,281 | | | | | | 26,152 | | | | | |
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| | | | | |
| | Total assets | | $ | 1,062,965 | | | | | | $ | 923,106 | | | | | |
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| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Brookline deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | NOW accounts | | $ | 56,054 | | 137 | | 0.98 | % | $ | 47,151 | | 144 | | 1.22 | % |
| | Savings accounts (5) | | 12,181 | | 59 | | 1.94 | | 12,405 | | 67 | | 2.19 | |
| | Money market savings accounts | | 212,484 | | 1,878 | | 3.55 | | 207,631 | | 2,033 | | 3.92 | |
| | Certificate of deposit accounts | | 261,523 | | 3,542 | | 5.43 | | 243,192 | | 3,285 | | 5.40 | |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| | Total Brookline deposits | | 542,242 | | 5,616 | | 4.15 | | 510,379 | | 5,529 | | 4.33 | |
| | Lighthouse deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Transaction accounts | | 39,889 | | 352 | | 3.54 | % | - | | - | | - | |
| | Certificate of deposit accounts | | 21,454 | | 326 | | 6.09 | | - | | - | | - | |
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| |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| | Total Lighthouse deposits | | 61,343 | | 678 | | 4.43 | | - | | - | | - | |
| | Borrowed funds | | 139,153 | | 2,154 | | 6.21 | | 114,773 | | 1,731 | | 6.03 | |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| | Total interest- bearing liabilities | | 742,738 | | 8,448 | | 4.56 | | 625,152 | | 7,260 | | 4.65 | |
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| |
| | | |
| |
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| Non-interest-bearing demand checking accounts | | 17,926 | | | | | | 13,562 | | | | | |
| Other liabilities | | 14,326 | | | | | | 11,212 | | | | | |
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| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | Total liabilities | | 774,990 | | | | | | 649,926 | | | | | |
| Stockholders’ equity | | 287,975 | | | | | | 273,180 | | | | | |
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| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 1,062,965 | | | | | | $ | 923,106 | | | | | |
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| | | | | |
| Net interest income (tax equivalent basis) / interest rate spread (6) | | | | 10,838 | | 2.79 | % | | | 10,237 | | 3.03 | % |
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| | | | | |
| |
| Less adjustment of tax exempt income | | | | 66 | | | | | | 82 | | | |
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| | | | | |
| | | |
| Net interest income | | | | $ | 10,772 | | | | | | $ | 10,155 | | | |
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| | | |
| Net interest margin (7) | | | | | | 4.13 | % | | | | | 4.49 | % |
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| (1) | Tax exempt income on equity securities is included on a tax equivalent basis. |
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| (2) | Average balances include unrealized gains on securities available for sale. Equity securities include marketable equity securities (preferred and common stocks) and restricted equity securities. |
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| (3) | Loans on non-accrual status are included in average balances. |
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| (4) | Excluded from interest income on debt securities in the 2001 period is $11 reversal of accrued income on a defaulted bond that relates to a prior period. Interest income on mortgage loans in the 2000 period is increased by $36 for an interest rate adjustment on a loan that relates to prior periods. |
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| (5) | Savings accounts include mortgagors' escrow accounts. |
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| (6) | Net interest spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. |
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| (7) | Net interest margin represents net interest income (tax equivalent basis) divided by average interest-earning assets. |
Average earning assets were $138.3 million, or 15.2%, higher in the second quarter of 2001 compared to the second quarter of 2000. Of this increase, $55.8 million related to the activities of Lighthouse. While interest rate spread declined from 3.03% in the second quarter of 2000 to 2.79% in the second quarter of 2001, it increased from the 2.68% spread realized in the first quarter of 2001.
The improved spread in the most recent quarter resulted primarily from loan growth, a reduction in rates paid on deposits and the effect of three reductions in the federal funds rate by the Federal Reserve in both the first and second quarters of 2001. Average loans as a percent of total average earning assets increased from 73% in the second quarter of 2000 and 70% in the first quarter of 2001 to 75% in the second quarter of 2001. The decline in rates paid on deposits was partly attributable to the maturity of high cost certificates of deposit obtained through promotions in the fourth quarter of 2000 and federal funds rate reductions by the Federal Reserve. The aggregate rate reductions were 1.25% in the second quarter of 2001 and 1.50% in the first quarter of 2001 compared to rate increases of 0.50% in each of the first and second quarters of 2000. The impact of rate changes on operating results varies depending on the maturity and date of repricing of the Company's loans, investment securities, deposits and borrowed funds.
It is expected that the rate reductions initiated by the Federal Reserve over the first half of 2001 will continue to cause a decline in the average rate earned on the Company's earning assets in the second half of 2001. That portion of the Company's loan portfolio that is priced on an adjustable rate basis will experience rate reductions while that portion of the loan portfolio priced at fixed rates could experience loan prepayments and refinancings. The Company's investment portfolio will likely experience a decline in yields earned since most of its investments mature within relatively short time periods.
It is also expected that rates paid on deposits (especially money market savings accounts and certificates of deposit) and borrowed funds will decline over the second half of 2001. The extent and frequency with which the repricing of deposits can take place varies by deposit product. For example, the extent to which the pricing of NOW accounts and savings accounts can be reduced in a significant declining rate environment is limited because of the lower rates typically paid on those deposits. With respect to certificates of deposit and borrowed funds, changes in rates paid can be significant, but the impact of the changes depends on when the certificates and borrowings mature.
As of June 30, 2001, the aggregate amount of the Company's interest-bearing liabilities either maturing or subject to repricing within three months exceeds the aggregate amount of the Company's interest-earning assets that mature or are subject to repricing within three months by $174.6 million, or 16.2 % of total assets. This is referred to as a negative gap position. Based on assets and liabilities at June 30, 2001 maturing or subject to repricing within one year, the Company had a negative gap position of $154.4 million, or 14.3% of total assets. Based on these gap positions, the Company's interest rate spread should improve in the third quarter of 2001 over that achieved in the second quarter of 2001. There can be no assurance, however, concerning this forecast since actual results will depend on various economic factors outside the control of the Company.
Interest Income
Interest income on loans, excluding money market loan participations, was $15.5 million in the 2001 quarter compared to $13.7 million in the 2000 quarter, an increase of $1.8 million, or 13.3%. The additional income resulting from an increase in average loans outstanding of $125.2 million, or 18.9%, was offset in part by a decline in the average yield on loans from 8.30% in the 2000 quarter to 7.89% in the 2001 quarter. Of the growth in average loans outstanding, $55.4 million was at Lighthouse; such loans were primarily residential mortgage loans. The average yield on the Lighthouse loans was 7.06% in the 2001 quarter.
The average balances invested in short-term investments during the second quarter of 2001 and 2000 were $33.5 million and $16.0 million, respectively, and the yields earned on those balances were 4.60% and 6.10%, respectively. The average balances invested in money market loan participations during the second quarter of 2001 and 2000 were $21.8 million and $23.1 million, respectively, and the yields earned on those balances were 4.95% and 6.56%, respectively. The decline in yields was attributable to the federal funds rate reductions by the Federal Reserve previously mentioned herein.
Interest income on debt securities was $2.8 million in the 2001 quarter compared to $2.7 million in the 2000 quarter. The effect on income of a reduction in the average balance invested in debt securities from $180.0 million in the 2000 quarter to $177.4 million in the 2001 quarter was more than offset by an increase in the yield earned on those balances from 6.06% to 6.22%.
Interest Expense
Interest expense on deposits was $6.3 million in the 2001 quarter, a 13.8% increase from the $5.5 million expended in the 2000 quarter. The increase was due to growth in the average balance of deposits of $93.2 million, or 18.3%, from $510.4 million in the 2000 quarter to $603.6 million in the 2001 quarter. Of the increase, $61.3 million took place at Lighthouse. The average rate paid on all deposits declined from 4.33% in the 2000 quarter to 4.17% in the 2001 quarter. The average rate paid on Lighthouse deposits was 4.43% in the 2001 quarter.
Average borrowings from the FHLB increased from $114.8 million in the 2000 quarter to $139.2 million in the 2001 quarter. The average rates paid on those balances were 6.03% and 6.21%, respectively.
Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses charged to earnings was $495,000 in the second quarter of 2001 and $150,000 in the second quarter of 2000. The increase was attributable solely to growth in the loan portfolio.
Non-Interest Income
No investment securities were sold in the second quarter of 2001 except for an intercompany transaction between Lighthouse and Brookline. Gains on sales of marketable equity securities were $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2000. Marketable equity securities are held by the Company primarily for capital appreciation and not for trading purposes. In each of the eight quarters prior to the second quarter of 2001, the Company had realized gains from sales of marketable equity securities in the range of $1.8 million to $2.8 million. Those gains effectively offset losses relating to Lighthouse and the expense of the RRP. Resumption of securities gains in the future, if any, will be highly dependent on factors outside the control of the Company and, accordingly, cannot be assured. In the second quarter of 2001, the Company charged earnings $495,000 to recognize an other than temporary impairment in the carrying value of a $2.0 million bond issued by Southern California Edison that matured on June 1, 2001.
A gain of $3.7 million was realized in the second quarter of 2001 from the termination of Brookline's defined benefit pension plan. Brookline established a defined contribution plan so that, effective January 1, 2001, it contributes an amount equal to 5% of the compensation of eligible employees. (See note 10 of the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements).
Fees and charges increased from $221,000 in the 2000 quarter to $364,000 in the 2001 quarter primarily as a result of higher fees from deposit-related services and loan prepayments. The decline in other income was due to lower income from the Company's equity interest in a specialty lease financing company.
Non-Interest Expense
Expense related to the RRP amounted to $42,000 in the 2001 quarter and $370,000 in the 2000 quarter. (See note 8 of the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements). Excluding a restructuring charge of $3.9 million in the second quarter of 2001, expenses related to Lighthouse amounted to $1.4 million and $886,000 in the second quarter of 2001 and 2000, respectively. (See note 2 of the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for more information about Lighthouse's expenses).
Excluding RRP and Lighthouse expenses, total non-interest expense increased $255,000, or 9.9%, from $2.6 million in the 2000 quarter to $2.8 million in the 2001 quarter. More than half of the increase ($146,000) was attributable to personnel costs. Replacement of Brookline's defined benefit plan with a defined contribution plan resulted in a $60,000 increase in pension expense and the expense of the ESOP (which is determined by the market value of the Company's stock) increased $36,000. Occupancy expense increased $64,000 primarily as a result of the opening of a new branch in the fourth quarter of 2000 and rental increases at other locations. Equipment and data processing costs increased $79,000 due primarily to higher depreciation expense resulting from new teller platform software, new asset/liability management software and equipment purchased for the new branch.
Income Taxes
The effective rate of income taxes was 40.0% in the 2001 quarter compared to 34.7% in the 2000 quarter. The increase in rate was attributable primarily to the non-deductibilty of a $585,000 excise tax payable to the federal government in connection with the termination of Brookline's pension plan.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2001 and 2000
General
Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2001 was $9.1 million ($0.34 per share; $0.33 per share on a diluted basis) compared to $11.1 million ($0.41 per share on a basic and diluted basis) for the six months ended June 30, 2000. The 2000 period included $4.1 million ($2.6 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.10 per share) of gains from sales of marketable equity securities while the 2001 period included net securities gains of $2.3 million ($1.4 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.05 per share). The 2001 and 2000 periods also included expense of $83,000 ($48,000 on an after-tax basis) and $767,000 ($446,000 on an after-tax basis), respectively, related to the RRP. Lighthouse had a net loss of $1.9 million ($1.2 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.05 per share) in the 2001 period before a restructuring charge and $1.2 million ($734,000 on an after-tax basis, or $0.03 per share) in the 2000 period. A restructuring charge of $3.9 million ($2.3 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.08 per share) was recorded in the second quarter of 2001 in contemplation of the merger of Lighthouse into Brookline. The restructuring charge was partly offset by a gain of $3.7 million ($1.9 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.07 per share) from termination of Brookline's defined benefit pension plan.
Excluding the restructuring charge, the gain from termination of the pension plan, net gains from securities transactions and the losses of Lighthouse, net operating income was $9.3 million ($0.34 per share) in the 2001 period compared to $9.2 million ($0.34 per share) in the 2000 period.
Average Balance Sheet and Interest Rates
The following table sets forth certain information relating to the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2001 and 2000. Average balances are derived from daily average balances. The yields and costs included fees which are considered adjustments to yields.
| | Six months ended June 30, | |
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| | 2001 | | 2000 | |
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| | Average
balance | | Interest(1) | | Average
yield/cost | | Average
balance | | Interest(1) | | Average
yield/cost | |
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| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
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| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Short-term investments | $ | 52,934 | | $ | 1,421 | | 5.37 | % | $ | 15,606 | | $ | 460 | | 5.90 | % |
| | Debt securities (2) (4) | 165,156 | | 5,156 | | 6.24 | | 184,396 | | 5,481 | | 5.94 | |
| | Equity securities (2) | 30,683 | | 724 | | 4.72 | | 31,352 | | 881 | | 5.62 | |
| | Mortgage loans (3) (4) | 677,893 | | 27,579 | | 8.14 | | 625,010 | | 25,797 | | 8.25 | |
| | Money market loan participations | 28,680 | | 808 | | 5.63 | | 20,003 | | 628 | | 6.28 | |
| | Other commercial loans (3) | 26,620 | | 1,021 | | 7.67 | | 24,532 | | 997 | | 8.13 | |
| | Consumer loans (3) | 2,148 | | 107 | | 9.96 | | 1,942 | | 95 | | 9.78 | |
| | Lighthouse debt securities (2) | 7,725 | | 276 | | 7.15 | | 3,028 | | 106 | | 7.00 | |
| | Lighthouse mortgage loans (3) | 48,257 | | 1,731 | | 7.17 | | 446 | | 18 | | 8.07 | |
| | Lighthouse consumer loans (3) | 610 | | 36 | | 11.80 | | - | | - | | - | |
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| | Total interest-earning assets | 1,040,706 | | 38,859 | | 7.47 | | 906,315 | | 34,463 | | 7.61 | |
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| Allowance for loan losses | (14,525 | ) | | | | | (13,993 | ) | | | | |
| Non-interest earning assets | 28,923 | | | | | | 23,917 | | | | | |
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| | Total assets | $ | 1,055,104 | | | | | | $ | 916,239 | | | | | |
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| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Brookline deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | NOW accounts | $ | 54,416 | | 273 | | 1.00 | % | $ | 47,363 | | 289 | | 1.22 | % |
| | Savings accounts (5) | 11,952 | | 120 | | 2.01 | | 12,295 | | 135 | | 2.20 | |
| | Money market savings accounts | 205,848 | | 3,733 | | 3.63 | | 205,258 | | 4,003 | | 3.90 | |
| | Certificates of deposit accounts | 269,796 | | 7,545 | | 5.59 | | 243,018 | | 6,441 | | 5.30 | |
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| | Total Brookline deposits | 542,012 | | 11,671 | | 4.31 | | 507,934 | | 10,868 | | 4.28 | |
| | Lighthouse deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Transaction accounts | 33,948 | | 661 | | 3.89 | % | - | | - | | - | |
| | Certificates of deposit accounts | 25,510 | | 816 | | 6.40 | | - | | - | | - | |
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| | Total Lighthouse deposits | 59,458 | | 1,477 | | 4.97 | | - | | - | | - | |
| | Borrowed funds | 136,293 | | 4,204 | | 6.17 | | 111,157 | | 3,335 | | 6.00 | |
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| | Total interest-bearing liabilities | 737,763 | | 17,352 | | 4.70 | | 619,091 | | 14,203 | | 4.59 | |
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| Non-interest-bearing demand checking accounts | 17,303 | | | | | | 13,042 | | | | | |
| Other liabilities | 13,366 | | | | | | 10,839 | | | | | |
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| | Total liabilities | 768,432 | | | | | | 642,972 | | | | | |
| Stockholders’ equity | 286,672 | | | | | | 273,267 | | | | | |
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| | Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 1,055,104 | | | | | | $ | 916,239 | | | | | |
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| Net interest income (tax equivalent basis)/interest rate spread (6) | | | 21,507 | | 2.77 | % | | | 20,260 | | 3.02 | % |
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| Less adjustment of tax exempt income | | | 101 | | | | | | 175 | | | |
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| Net interest income | | | $ | 21,406 | | | | | | $ | 20,085 | | | |
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| Net interest margin (7) | | | | | 4.13 | % | | | | | 4.47 | % |
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| (1) | Tax exempt income on equity securities is included on a tax equivalent basis. |
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| (2) | Average balances include unrealized gains on securities available for sale. Equity securities include marketable equity securities (preferred and common stocks) and restricted equity securities. |
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| (3) | Loans on non-accrual status are included in average balances. |
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| (4) | Excluded from interest income on debt securities in the 2001 period is $11 reversal of accrued income on a defaulted bond that relates to a prior period. Interest income on mortgage loans in the 2000 period is increased by $25 for an interest rate adjustment on a loan that relates to prior periods. |
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| (5) | Savings accounts include mortgagors' escrow accounts. |
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| (6) | Net interest spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. |
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| (7) | Net interest margin represents net interest income (tax equivalent basis) divided by average interest-earning assets. |
Average earning assets were $134.4 million, or 14.8%, higher in the 2001 period compared to the 2000 period. Of this increase, $53.1 million related to the activities of Lighthouse. Interest rate spread declined from 3.02% in the 2000 period to 2.77% in the 2001 period. The decline resulted primarily from the effect of changes in the federal funds rate by the Federal Reserve. The aggregate rate reductions were 2.75% in the 2001 period compared to aggregate rate increases of 1.00% in the 2000 period.
Interest Income
Interest income on loans, excluding money market loan participations, was $30.5 million in the 2001 period compared to $26.9 million in the 2000 period, an increase of $3.6 million, or 13.3%. The additional income resulting from an increase in average loans outstanding of $103.6 million, or 15.9%, was offset in part by a decline in the average yield on loans from 8.25% in the 2000 period to 8.07% in the 2001 period. Of the growth in average loans outstanding, $48.4 million was at Lighthouse; such loans were primarily residential mortgage loans. The average yield on Lighthouse loans was 7.23% in the 2001 period.
The average balances invested in short-term investments and money market loan participations during the 2001 period were $52.9 million and $28.7 million, respectively, and the yields on those balances were 5.37% and 5.63%, respectively. The average balances during the 2000 period were $15.6 million and $20.0 million, respectively, and the yields on those balances were 5.90% and 6.28%, respectively.
Interest income on debt securities declined 2.8% from $5.6 million in the 2000 period to $5.4 million in the 2001 period. Partly offsetting the decline in income resulting from a $14.5 million, or 7.8%, reduction in the average balances invested in debt securities was an improvement in yield on the average balances from 5.96% in the 2000 period to 6.28% in the 2001 quarter. The yield enhancement resulted from investing a higher percent of the portfolio in collateralized mortgage obligations.
Interest Expense
Interest expense on deposits was $13.1 million in the 2001 period, a 21.0% increase from the $10.9 million expended in the 2000 period. The increase was due to growth in the average balance of deposits of $93.5 million, or 18.4%, $59.5 million of which took place at Lighthouse, and an increase in the average rate paid on all deposits from 4.28% in the 2000 period to 4.37% in the 2001 period. The average rate paid on Lighthouse deposits was 4.97% in the 2001 period. The higher rates resulted in part from deposits obtained in the fourth quarter of 2000 from promotion of six month certificates of deposit.
Average borrowings from the FHLB increased from $111.2 million in the 2000 period to $136.3 million in the 2001 period. The average rates paid on those balances were 6.00% and 6.17%, respectively.
Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses charged to earnings was $659,000 in the 2001 period and $300,000 in the 2000 period. The increase was attributable solely to growth in the loan portfolio.
Non-Interest Income
Net securities gains were $2.3 million in the 2001 period and $4.1 million in the 2000 period. The 2001 period included a gain of $3.7 million from termination of Brookline's defined benefit pension plan.
Fees and charges increased from $423,000 in the 2000 period to $641,000 in the 2001 period primarily as a result of higher fees from deposit-related services and loan prepayments. The decline in other income resulted primarily from an $89,000 charge to earnings in the 2001 period in connection with accounting for an outstanding swap agreement on a fair value basis. See note 6 of the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding this matter.
Non-Interest Expense
Expense related to the RRP amounted to $83,000 in the 2001 period and $767,000 in the 2000 period. Excluding a restructuring charge of $3.9 million in the second quarter of 2001, expenses related to Lighthouse amounted to $3.0 million and $1.5 million in the 2001 and 2000 periods, respectively.
Excluding RRP and Lighthouse expenses, total non-interest expense increased $568,000, or 10.7%, from $5.3 million in the 2000 period to $5.9 million in the 2001 period. More than half of the increase ($299,000) was attributable to personnel costs. Replacement of Brookline's defined benefit pension plan with a defined contribution plan resulted in a $119,000 increase in pension expense and the expense of the ESOP increased $70,000. Occupancy expense increased $119,000 and equipment and data processing expense increased $167,000 primarily for the same reasons that caused the increase between the 2001 and 2000 second quarter periods.
Income Taxes
The effective rate of income taxes was 38.0% in the 2001 period compared to 35.2% in the 2000 period. The increase in rate resulted from the same reason given to explain the increase between the 2001 and 2000 second quarter periods.
Asset/Liability Management
The Company's Asset/Liability Committee is responsible for managing interest rate risk and reviewing with the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis its activities and strategies, the effect of those strategies on the Company's operating results, the Company's interest rate risk position and the effect changes in interest rates would have on the Company's net interest income.
Generally, it is the Company's policy to reasonably match the rate sensitivity of its assets and liabilities. The interest rate sensitivity gap is defined as the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a specific time period and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within the same time period. Also taken into consideration are interest rate swap agreements entered into by the Company. At June 30, 2001, interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within one year amounted to $386.1 million and interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within one year amounted to $540.5 million resulting in a cumulative one year negative gap position of $154.4 million, or 14.3% of total assets. At December 31, 2000, the Company had a cumulative one-year negative gap position of $115.3 million, or 11.1% of total assets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company's primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments on loans and debt securities and borrowings from the FHLB. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and investments are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and mortgage loan prepayments are greatly influenced by interest rate trends, economic conditions and competition.
During the past few years, the combination of generally low interest rates on deposit products and the attraction of alternative investments such as mutual funds and annuities has resulted in little growth or a net decline in deposits in certain periods. Based on its monitoring of historic deposit trends and its current pricing strategy for deposits, management believes the Company will retain a large portion of its existing deposit base.
From time to time, the Company utilizes advances from the FHLB primarily in connection with its management of the interest rate sensitivity of its assets and liabilities. Total advances outstanding at June 30, 2001 amounted to $156.3 million.
The Company's most liquid assets are cash and due from banks, short-term investments, debt securities and money market loan participations that generally mature within 90 days. At June 30, 2001, such assets amounted to $58.4 million, or 5.4% of total assets.
At June 30, 2001, the Company and its two bank subsidiaries exceeded all regulatory capital requirements. At that date, Brookline's leverage capital was $211.2 million, or 22.19% of its adjusted assets, and Lighthouse's leverage capital was $18.9 million, or 22.51% of its adjusted assets. The minimum required leverage capital ratio is 3.00% to 5.00% depending on a bank's supervisory rating.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks
For a discussion of the Company's management of market risk exposure, see "Asset/Liability Management" in Item 2 of Part I of this report and pages 12 through 14 of the Company's Annual Report incorporated by reference in Part II item 7A of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.
For quantitative information about market risk, see pages 12 through 14 of the Company's 2000 Annual Report.
There have been no material changes in the quantitative disclosures about market risk as of June 30, 2001 from those presented in the Company's 2000 Annual Report.
Part II - Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company and its subsidiaries are not involved in any litigation, nor is the Company aware of any pending litigation, other than legal proceedings incident to the business of the Company. Management believes the results of any current pending litigation would be immaterial to the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of the Company.
Item 2. Changes in Securities
As a result of the Company’s charter conversion, holders of the Company’s common stock, whose rights had been governed by the Articles of Organization and Bylaws of the Company as a Massachusetts corporation, became stockholders of the Company whose rights are governed by the Federal Charter and Bylaws of the Company. A description of the changes to the rights of common stockholders due to the charter conversion is incorporated by reference from pages 21 through 23 of the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed on March 15, 2001 (under the heading “Comparison of Stockholder Rights and Certain Anti-takeover Provisions”). The Charter, Bylaws and Form of Stock Certificate for the Company as a Federal corporation are filed herewith as Exhibits 3(i), 3(ii) and 4, respectively.
Item 3. Default Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
On April 19, 2001, the Company held its annual meeting of stockholders for the purpose of the election of five Directors to three year terms and one Director for a two year term, and to consider approval of a Plan of Charter Conversion by which the Company would convert from a Massachusetts corporation to a federal corporation. The Company's Board of Directors is currently composed of fifteen members. The Company's bylaws provide that approximately one-third of the Directors are to be elected annually. Directors of the Company are generally elected to serve for a three-year period and until their respective successors shall have been elected and qualify.
The number of votes cast at the meeting was as follows:
| | Number of
Votes For | | Number of Votes Withheld | | | |
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| Election of Directors: | | | | | | |
| | David C. Chapin` | 25,249,354 | | 104,294 | | | |
| | John L. Hall, II | 25,249,454 | | 104,194 | | | |
| | Charles H. Peck | 25,248,254 | | 105,394 | | | |
| | Hollis W. Plimpton, Jr. | 23,912,758 | | 1,440,890 | | | |
| | Rosamond B. Vaule | 25,248,654 | | 104,994 | | | |
| | Franklyn Wyman, Jr. | 25,245,344 | | 108,304 | | | |
| | Number of
Votes For | | Against | | Abstain | |
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| Approval of Plan of Charter Conversion | 21,902,343 | | 80,282 | | 66,505 | |
Item 5. Other Information
See “Conversion to a Federal Charter” and “Lighthouse” in Item 2 of Part I of this report.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
| Exhibit 3(i) | Federal Charter of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. |
| Exhibit 3(ii) | Federal Bylaws of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. |
| Exhibit 4 | Form of Common Stock Certificate |
All other required exhibits are included in Part I under Financial Statements (Unaudited) and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Operations, and are incorporated by reference herein.
There were no reports filed on Form 8-K.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| | BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. |
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| Date: August 10, 2001 | By: | /s/ Richard P. Chapman, Jr. |
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| | | Richard P. Chapman, Jr. |
| | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
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| Date: August 10, 2001 | By: | /s/ Paul R. Bechet |
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|
| | | Paul R. Bechet |
| | | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
