Statement 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) or identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.
Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a reporting entity’s own suppositions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.
The fair values of securities available for sale are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs) or matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs).
The fair value of I/O strip receivable assets is based on a valuation model used by an independent appraiser. The Company is able to compare the valuation model inputs and results to widely available published industry data for reasonableness (Level 2 inputs).
Discussions of certain matters in this Report on Form 10-Q may constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and as such, may involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project”, “assume”, “plan”, “predict”, “forecast” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which Heritage Commerce Corp (‘the Company”) operates, projections of future performance, potential future performance, potential future credit experience, perceived opportunities in the market, and statements regarding the Company's mission and vision. The Company's actual results, performance, and achievements may differ materially from the results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to a wide range of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates, declining interest margins or increasing interest rate risk, general economic conditions nationally or, in the State of California, legislative and regulatory changes adversely affecting the business in which the Company operates, monetary and fiscal policies of the US Government, real estate valuations, the availability of sources of liquidity at a reasonable cost, maintaining adequate capital, competition in the financial services industry, and other risks. All of the Company's operations and most of its customers are located in California. In addition, acts and threats of terrorism or the impact of military conflicts have increased the uncertainty related to the national and California economic outlook and could have an effect on the future operations of the Company or its customers, including borrowers. See “Item 1A – Risk Factors” in this Report on Form 10-Q and in “Item 1A- Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year ended December 31, 2007 for further discussions of factors that could cause actual result to differ from forward looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This summary is intended to identify the most important matters on which management focuses when it evaluates the financial condition and performance of the Company. When evaluating financial condition and performance, management looks at certain key metrics and measures. The Company’s evaluation includes comparisons with peer group financial institutions and its own performance objectives established in the internal planning process.
The primary activity of the Company is commercial banking. The Company has eleven full service branch offices located entirely in the southern and eastern regions of the general San Francisco Bay area of California in the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa. The largest city in this area is San Jose and the Company’s market includes the headquarters of a number of technology based companies in the region known commonly as Silicon Valley. The Company’s customers are primarily closely held businesses and professionals. In addition, the Company has four loan production offices located in Clovis, Elk Grove, Oakland, and Santa Rosa, California.
Performance Overview
Comparison of 2008 operating results to 2007 includes the effects of acquiring Diablo Valley Bank (“DVB”) on June 20, 2007. In the DVB transaction, the Company acquired $269 million of tangible assets, including $204 million of net loans, and assumed $249 million of deposits.
For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2008, consolidated net loss was $3.1 million and $1.4 million, compared to net income of $4.0 million and $8.0 million for the same periods in 2007. Earnings (loss) per diluted share were ($0.26) and ($0.11) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to $0.33 and $0.68 for the same periods in 2007. The second quarter net loss was primarily the result of a $5.1 million provision for loan losses for loans to one customer, William J. Del Biaggio III (aka “Boots” Del Biaggio).
The annualized returns on average assets and average equity for the second quarter of 2008 were (0.85%) and (8.34%), compared to 1.50% and 12.17% for the second quarter of 2007. Returns on average assets and average equity for the first six months of 2008 were (0.20%) and (1.81%), compared to 1.53% and 12.63% for the first six months of 2007, respectively.
The following are major factors impacting the Company’s results of operations:
· | The provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2008 was $7.8 million, which included $5.1 million for loans to Boots Del Biaggio. Heritage Bank of Commerce filed a law suit on May 30, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Santa Clara to recover a $4 million secured loan, an $827 thousand unsecured loan and a $225 thousand overdraft (collectively referred to as the “Boots Del Biaggio loans”) and accrued interest and collection costs from Boots Del Biaggio and Sand Hill Capital Partners III, LLC, a California limited liability company. All of the loans are in default under their respective loan terms and have been placed on nonaccrual status. The complaint also alleges that the securities account collateralizing the secured loan may not be recoverable, and Heritage Bank of Commerce has named as an additional defendant, the securities firm that held the securities collateral account. Due to a substantial problem with the validity of the collateral for the majority of the debt and the bankruptcy filing of the borrower, the Company does not expect a quick resolution to this issue. Boots Del Biaggio is not, and has not been, a director, officer or employee of Heritage Bank of Commerce or Heritage Commerce Corp for over ten years. He is the son of William J. Del Biaggio, Jr., an executive officer and former director of Heritage Bank of Commerce and Heritage Commerce Corp. The balance of the provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2008 is primarily due to the $77 million in loan growth for the quarter and additional risk in the loan portfolio, reflected in the increase in nonperforming loans. |
· | The balance of the provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2008 is primarily due to the $77 million in loan growth for the quarter and additional risk in the loan portfolio, reflected in the increase in nonperforming loans. |
· | Net interest income increased 5% to $13.0 million in the second quarter of 2008 from $12.4 million in the second quarter of 2007, and increased 8% to $26.1 million in the first six months of 2008 from $24.1 million in the first six months of 2007. The increase in 2008 net interest income was primarily due to an increase in the volume of average interest earning assets as a result of the merger with DVB and significant new loan production. |
· | Noninterest income decreased 21% to $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2008 from $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2007, and decreased 31% to $3.3 million in the first six months of 2008 from $4.8 million in the first six months of 2007, primarily due to the strategic shift to retain, rather than sell, SBA loan production. |
· | The efficiency ratio was 74.51% and 73.45% in the second quarter and first half of 2008, compared to 58.00% and 58.13% in the second quarter and first half of 2007, respectively, primarily due to a lower net interest margin, no gains on sale of SBA loans and higher noninterest expense. |
The following are important factors in understanding our current financial condition and liquidity position:
· | Total assets increased by $140 million, or 10%, to $1.49 billion at June 30, 2008 from $1.35 billion at June 30, 2007, primarily due to loans generated by additional relationship managers hired in the past year, as well as a new office in Walnut Creek. |
· | Gross loan balances (including loans held for sale) increased by $263 million, or 28%, from June 30, 2007 to June 30, 2008. |
· | The Company experienced a tightening in its liquidity position as a result of the significant loan growth during the six months ended June 30, 2008. In order to partially fund the loan growth, the Company added $43 million in brokered deposits and $12 million in time deposits, $100,000 and over, during the second quarter. The Company expects to solicit more brokered deposits in the third quarter of 2008. The Company’s noncore funding to total assets ratio was 28% at June 30, 2008, compared to 16% for the same period a year ago. The Company’s net loans to core deposits ratio was 135% at June 30, 2008, compared to 100% for the same period a year ago. The Company’s net loans to total deposits ratio was 102% at June 30, 2008, compared to 82% for the same period a year ago. |
Deposits
Growth in deposits is an important metric management uses to measure market share. The Company’s depositors are generally located in its primary market area. Depending on loan demand and other funding requirements, the Company also obtains deposits from wholesale sources including deposit brokers. The Company had $109 million in brokered deposits at June 30, 2008. The increase in brokered deposits of $43 million from June 30, 2007 was primarily to fund increasing loan growth. The Company also seeks deposits from title insurance companies, escrow accounts and real estate exchange facilitators, which were $113.3 million at June 30, 2008. The Company has a policy to monitor all deposits that may be sensitive to interest rate changes to help assure that liquidity risk does not become excessive due to concentrations. Deposits at June 30, 2008 were $1.2 billion compared to $1.1 billion at June 30, 2007, an increase of 4%.
Lending
Our lending business originates primarily through our branch offices located in our primary market. While the economy in our primary service area has shown signs of weakening in late 2007 and early 2008, the Company has continued to experience strong loan growth. Commercial and commercial real estate loans increased from December 31, 2007, as a result of relationship manager additions over the past year and opportunities created by recent consolidation in the local banking industry. We will continue to use and improve existing products to expand market share in current locations. Total loans increased to $1.21 billion for the second quarter of 2008 compared to $925 million at June 30, 2007.
Net Interest Income
The management of interest income and interest expense is fundamental to the performance of the Company. Net interest income, the difference between interest income and interest expense, is the largest component of the Company’s total revenue. Management closely monitors both net interest income and the net interest margin (net interest income divided by average earning assets).
The Company, through its asset and liability policies and practices, seeks to maximize net interest income without exposing the Company to an excessive level of interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is managed by monitoring the pricing, maturity and repricing options of all classes of interest bearing assets and liabilities.
Since September 2007, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System reduced short-term interest rates by 325 basis points. This decrease in short-term rates immediately affected the rates applicable to the majority of the Company’s loans. While the decrease in interest rates also lowered the cost of interest bearing deposits, which represents the Company’s primary funding source, these deposits tend to price more slowly than floating rate loans.
Management of Credit Risk
Because of our focus on business banking, loans to single borrowing entities are often larger than would be found in a more consumer oriented bank with many smaller, more homogenous loans. The average size of its relationships makes the Company more susceptible to larger losses. As a result of this concentration of larger risks, the Company has maintained an allowance for loan losses which is higher than would be indicated by its actual historic loss experience.
Noninterest Income
While net interest income remains the largest component of total revenue, noninterest income is an important component. A significant percentage of the Company’s noninterest income has historically been associated with its SBA lending activity, either as gains on the sale of loans sold in the secondary market or servicing income from loans sold with retained servicing rights. Noninterest income will continue to be affected by the Company’s strategic decision in the third quarter of 2007 to retain rather than sell its SBA loans.
Noninterest Expense
Management considers the control of operating expenses to be a critical element of the Company’s performance. Over the last three years the Company has undertaken several initiatives to reduce its noninterest expense and improve its efficiency. Management monitors progress in reducing noninterest expense through review of the Company’s efficiency ratio. The efficiency ratio increased in 2008 primarily due to compression of the Company’s net interest margin, a decrease in noninterest income and an increase in noninterest expense.
Capital Management and Share Repurchases
Heritage Bank of Commerce meets the regulatory definition of “well capitalized” at June 30, 2008. The Company also satisfies its regulatory capital requirements on a consolidated basis. As part of its asset and liability process, the Company continually assesses its capital position to take into consideration growth, expected earnings, risk profile and potential corporate activities that it may choose to pursue. In July, 2007, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $30 million of common stock through July, 2009. From August 13, 2007 through May 27, 2008, the Company has bought back 1,645,607 shares for a total of $29.9 million, thus completing the current stock repurchase plan.
Starting in 2006, the Company initiated the payment of quarterly cash dividends. The Company’s general policy is to pay cash dividends within the range of typical peer payout ratios, provided that such payments do not adversely affect our financial condition and are not overly restrictive to our growth capacity. On July 24, 2008, the Company declared an $0.08 per share quarterly cash dividend. The dividend will be paid on September 10, 2008, to shareholders of record on August 15, 2008. The Company expects to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin
The level of net interest income depends on several factors in combination, including growth in earning assets, yields on earning assets, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, the relative volumes of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the mix of products which comprise the Company’s earning assets, deposits, and other interest-bearing liabilities. To maintain its net interest margin, the Company must manage the relationship between interest earned and paid. Net interest income increased $575,000 and $1.9 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2008 from 2007, primarily due to an increase in interest-earning assets, partially offset by a decrease in the net interest margin.
The following Distribution, Rate and Yield tables present the average amounts outstanding for the major categories of the Company's balance sheet, the average interest rates earned or paid thereon, and the resulting net interest margin on average interest earning assets for the periods indicated. Average balances are based on daily averages.