Exhibit 99
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Investor Contact: | David Morimoto | Media Contact: | Ann Takiguchi Marcos |
| SVP & Treasurer | | VP & PR/Communications Manager |
| (808) 544-0627 | | (808) 544-0685 |
| david.morimoto@centralpacificbank.com | ann.takiguchi@centralpacificbank.com |
NEWS RELEASE
CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CORP. REPORTS 14% INCREASE IN NET INCOME
HONOLULU, July 25, 2006 — Central Pacific Financial Corp. (NYSE: CPF), parent company of Central Pacific Bank, today reported net income for the second quarter of 2006 of $20.4 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to $17.9 million, or $0.58 per diluted share reported in the second quarter of 2005 and $19.3 million or $0.63 per diluted share reported in the first quarter of 2006. The net income for the first quarter of 2006 included an after-tax charge of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in retirement expenses for a former senior executive.
Operating earnings, defined as the Company’s net income excluding nonrecurring merger-related expenses, net of tax, for the second quarter of 2006 was $20.4 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, as compared to the $18.2 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, recorded during the same period of 2005. There were no nonrecurring merger-related expenses in the second quarter or first half of 2006, compared to $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2005 and $2.0 million in the first half of 2005.
Second Quarter Highlights
· Loans and leases increased by $484.2 million or 15.1% from a year ago.
· Nonperforming assets to total assets improved to 0.19%, compared to 0.33% a year ago.
· Deposits increased by $158.0 million or 4.5% from a year ago.
· Other operating income increased by $2.2 million or 24.5% compared to a year ago.
“Central Pacific earned $20.4 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2006. This represents increases of 14.2% and 13.8%, respectively, over the same quarter last year,” commented Clint Arnoldus, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Other operating income showed healthy improvement, increasing by 24.5% over the second quarter of 2005. We believe we are well-positioned to achieve our strategic goals and to continue our strong financial performance.”
Financial Highlights
Net interest income for the second quarter of 2006 was $52.2 million, up 7.5% over the $48.5 million in the second quarter of last year and virtually unchanged from the first quarter of 2006. The year-over-year growth in net interest income was attributable to a 9.0% increase in average interest earning assets, with the increase in interest and fees on loans outpacing the increase in funding costs. The net interest margin was 4.56% for the second quarter of 2006, which was in line with the first quarter of 2006 after excluding the impact of higher-than-normal interest recognized on the payoff of nonaccrual loans. When compared to the second quarter of 2005, the net interest margin declined by 9 basis points as a result of the higher proportion of balances in higher-rate time deposits and long-term debt.
Reflecting the continued strength of our asset quality, provision for loan and lease losses in the second quarter of 2006 was $0.5 million, compared to $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2005 and unchanged from the first quarter of 2006.
Other operating income totaled $11.0 million for the current quarter, compared to $8.8 million in the year-ago quarter and $12.2 million in the first quarter of 2006. The increase from the year-ago period was primarily due to an increase in service charge fee income and residential loan sale activity from Central Pacific HomeLoans, Inc. (“CPHL”). Compared to the first quarter of 2006, gains on sales of loans declined by $1.1 million as first quarter sales activity benefited from the completion of bulk financing projects.
Other operating expense for the second quarter of 2006 was $31.5 million, compared to $28.7 million in the same quarter last year and $33.8 million in the first quarter of 2006. The increase from the year-ago period reflects the impact of the CPHL acquisition and the expensing of stock options, offset by a decrease in core deposit premium amortization. The reduction in expenses compared to the first quarter of 2006 reflects $2.2 million in special retirement expenses and interest accrued on various tax-related contingencies, offset by a $537,000 partial refund of an FDIC assessment recognized in the first quarter.
The Company’s efficiency ratio for the second quarter of 2006 was 47.76%, compared with 46.45% for the year-ago quarter and 50.42% for the first quarter of 2006. “We are pleased that we can maintain our efficiency ratio at these levels while continuing to invest strategically in personnel and infrastructure to better position us for future growth,” remarked Arnoldus.
The effective tax rate was 34.38% for the current quarter, compared to 35.14% in the second quarter of 2005 and 35.65% in the first quarter of 2006. In the second quarter of 2006, the Company recognized $0.5 million in income tax benefit in connection with the resolution of an Internal Revenue Service audit. The Company expects its effective tax rate to approximate 36% in the coming quarters.
Asset Quality
Net loan charge-offs in the second quarter of 2006 totaled $0.7 million, compared to net loan charge-offs of $1.0 in the year-ago period and $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2006.
At June 30, 2006, nonperforming assets totaled $10.0 million, or 0.19% of total assets, compared to $16.1 million or 0.33% of total assets at June 30, 2005 and $6.1 million or 0.12% of total assets at March 31, 2006. The increase in nonperforming assets during the second quarter of 2006 reflects the addition of two loans totaling $4.6 million. Both loans are well secured, and no loss is currently anticipated.
The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases was 1.43% at June 30, 2006, compared to 1.61% a year ago and 1.47% at March 31, 2006. “Our allowance for loan and lease losses reflects our solid asset quality ratios and the continued economic strength in our markets,” commented Arnoldus.
Balance Sheet Analysis
Total assets increased to $5.3 billion at June 30, 2006, compared to $4.9 billion at June 30, 2005 and $5.2 billion at March 31, 2006.
Total loans and leases of $3.7 billion at June 30, 2006 increased by $484.2 million or 15.1% from June 30, 2005 and by $68.8 million or 1.9% from March 31, 2006. Our mainland loan production offices contributed approximately one-third of our loan growth during the second quarter of 2006, while two-thirds of our growth came from our Hawaii lending operations.
Investment securities of $894.3 million at June 30, 2006 decreased by $154.5 million compared to a year ago and by $17.4 million compared to March 31, 2006.
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Total deposits of $3.7 billion at June 30, 2006 increased by $158.0 million or 4.5% from June 30, 2005 and decreased by $15.0 million from March 31, 2006. Declines in demand and time deposits during the second quarter were offset by growth in our flagship Exceptional Savings account.
Shareholders’ equity of $698.8 million at June 30, 2006, increased from $657.5 million at June 30, 2005 and $686.5 million at March 31, 2006.
Business and Earnings Outlook
Based on current economic and business conditions, management reaffirms its forecast for 2006 diluted operating earnings per share to increase 7 to 10 percent over 2005.
Conference Call Information
Central Pacific Financial Corp. will conduct a conference call today at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Hawaii Time) to discuss its quarterly results. To participate in the call, please call 1-888-802-2268 or visit the investor relations page of the Company’s website at http://investor.centralpacificbank.com. A playback of the call will be available by dialing 1-888-203-1112 (passcode: 4820432) and on the Company’s website.
About Central Pacific Financial Corp.
Central Pacific Financial Corp. is the fourth largest financial institution in Hawaii with more than $5.0 billion in assets. Central Pacific Bank, its primary subsidiary, operates 38 branches and more than 90 ATMs throughout Hawaii. For additional information, please visit our website at http://www.centralpacificbank.com.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements concerning projections of revenues, income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure, or other financial items, concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations, concerning future economic performance, or concerning any of the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, and may include the words “believes”, “plans”, “intends”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “forecasts” or words of similar meaning. While we believe that our forward-looking statements and the assumptions underlying them are reasonably based, such statements and assumptions are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties, and thus could later prove to be inaccurate or incorrect. Accordingly, actual results could materially differ from projections for a variety of reasons, to include, but not limited to: the impact of local, national, and international economies and events on the company’s business and operations and on tourism, the military, and other major industries operating within the Hawaii market; the impact of legislation affecting the banking industry; the impact of competitive products, services, pricing, and other competitive forces; movements in interest rates; loan delinquency rates and changes in asset quality generally; and trading of the company’s stock. For further information on factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from projections, please see the Company’s publicly
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available Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the last fiscal year. The Company does not update any of its forward-looking statements.
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