N / E / W / S R / E / L / E / A / S / E
October 25, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
David L. Ortega, First Vice President/Director of Investor Relations
765-378-8937
http://www.firstmerchants.com/
SOURCE: First Merchants Corporation, Muncie, Indiana
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 3rd QUARTER EARNINGS PER SHARE OF $.35
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has reported third quarter 2012 earnings per share of $.35 compared to a $.25 per share loss during the same period in 2011. Net income available to common shareholders totaled $10.1 million for the quarter, a $16.5 million increase over the third quarter of 2011. The loss in the third quarter of 2011 was the result of a $.46 per share one-time charge related to the Corporation’s exit of the CPP program.
Michael C. Rechin, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our third quarter 2012 results are gratifying and a source of strength providing flexibility in capital planning, business line investment and acquisition considerations. We continue to effectively create value through this low interest rate cycle by growing loans while maintaining disciplined pricing and credit standards. Our traditionally strong net interest margin should continue to be incrementally supported by yield accretion resulting from our FDIC acquisition in February.”
Year-to-date earnings per share totaled $1.09, a $.99 per share increase over the prior year total of $.10 per share. Of the $.99 per share improvement, $.32 is the result of improvements made to our banking model during the year, including business line expansion and consistent market coverage. In addition, $.46 per share is related to the CPP repayment in the third quarter of 2011, and $.21 is related to the one-time gain on the Corporation’s FDIC purchase and assumption agreement with SCB Bank in Shelbyville, Indiana, during the first quarter of 2012. Year-to-date net income available to common shareholders totaled $31.4 million compared to $2.6 million earned in the first nine months of 2011.
Total assets equaled $4.3 billion, as loans and investments total $2.8 billion and $929 million, respectively. The Corporation’s loan-to-deposit ratio remained steady at 89 percent while the loan-to-asset ratio increased one percentage point to 67 percent.
Net-interest income totaled $39.9 million for the third quarter of 2012 and net-interest margin remained strong totaling 4.32 percent as yields on earning assets totaled 4.89 percent and the cost of supporting liabilities totaled .57 percent. Discount accretion resulting from the SCB transaction added $2.6 million, or 28 basis points, to net-interest income and net-interest margin for the third quarter of 2012. YTD net-interest income totaled $114.1 million, an increase of $6.9 million over the nine months of 2011.
Non-interest income totaled $14.3 million for the third quarter of 2012 and $50.1 million year-to-date. After normalizing for bond gains and losses and the first quarter 2012 FDIC gain, non-interest income improved by $4.4 million, or 13 percent, during the first nine months of the year. Gains from the sale of mortgage loans accounted for $2.4 million of the increase. Non-interest expense increased slightly on both a quarterly and year-to-date basis totaling $34.4 million and $102.6 million, respectively.
Provision expense totaled $4.6 million for the third quarter 2012 and $14.0 million year-to-date, compared to $5.6 million and $16.8 million in 2011. Net charge-offs were $5.3 million for the third quarter 2012 and $15.4 million year-to-date, compared to $9.6 million and $26.7 million in 2011. The allowance for loan losses is $69.5 million, or 2.43 percent of total loans and 122 percent of non-accrual loans, the highest coverage ratio since 2006.
As of September 30, 2012, the Corporation’s total risk-based capital equaled 16.62 percent, Tier 1 common risk-based capital equaled 9.71 percent, and tangible common equity ratio totaled 7.51 percent. As of September 30, 2011 the Corporation’s total risk-based capital equaled 16.21 percent, Tier 1 common risk-based capital equaled 8.53 percent, and tangible common equity ratio totaled 6.88 percent.
CONFERENCE CALL
First Merchants Corporation will conduct a third quarter earnings conference call and web cast at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, October 25, 2012.
To participate, dial (Toll Free) 877-317-6789 and reference First Merchants Corporation’s third quarter earnings release. International callers please call +1 412-317-6789. A replay of the call will be available until October 25, 2013. To access a replay of the call, US participants should dial (Toll Free) 877-344-7529 or for International participants, dial +1 412-317-0088. The replay passcode is 10019381.
In order to view the web cast and presentation slides, please go to http://services.choruscall.com/links/frme121025.html during the time of the call.
During the call, Forward-Looking Statements about the relative business outlook may be made. These Forward-Looking Statements and all other statements made during the call that do not concern historical facts, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may materially affect actual results.
Specific Forward-Looking Statements include, but are not limited to, any indications regarding the Financial Services industry, the economy and future growth of the balance sheet or income statement.
Detailed financial results are reported on the attached pages.
About First Merchants Corporation
First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation is comprised of First Merchants Bank, N.A., which also operates as Lafayette Bank & Trust, Commerce National Bank, and First Merchants Trust Company as divisions of First Merchants Bank, N.A. First Merchants Corporation also operates First Merchants Insurance Group, a full-service property casualty, personal lines, and healthcare insurance agency.
First Merchants Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company’s Internet web page (http://www.firstmerchants.com).
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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | | | | | | |
(Dollars In Thousands) | | September 30, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
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Cash and cash equivalents | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing time deposits | | | | | | | | |
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Mortgage loans held for sale | | | | | | | | |
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Less: Allowance for loan losses | | | | | | | | |
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Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | | | | | | |
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Core deposit intangibles and goodwill | | | | | | | | |
Cash surrender value of life insurance | | | | | | | | |
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Tax asset, deferred and receivable | | | | | | | | |
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Securities sold under repurchase agreements | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Bank advances | | | | | | | | |
Subordinated debentures and term loans | | | | | | | | |
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Preferred Stock, no-par value, $1,000 liquidation value: | | | | | | | | |
Authorized -- 500,000 shares | | | | | | | | |
Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B | | | | | | | | |
Issued and outstanding - 90,782.94 shares | | | | | | | | |
Cumulative Preferred Stock, $1,000 par value, $1,000 liquidation value: | | | | | | | | |
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Issued and outstanding - 125 shares | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock, $.125 stated value: | | | | | | | | |
Authorized -- 50,000,000 shares | | | | | | | | |
Issued and outstanding - 28,672,177 and 28,538,164 shares | | | | | | | | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | | | | | | |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | |
Total Stockholders' Equity | | | | | | | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | | | | | | |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
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Deposits with financial institutions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Securities sold under repurchase agreements | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Bank advances | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Subordinated debentures and term loans | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Provision for loan losses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Service charges on deposit accounts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Earnings on cash surrender value of life insurance | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net gains and fees on sales of loans | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gains on sales of available for sale securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other-than-temporary impairment on available for sale securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gain on FDIC modified whole bank transaction | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Salaries and employee benefits | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Outside data processing fees | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Printing and office supplies | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Core deposit amortization | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Other real estate owned and credit-related expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Loss on CPP unamortized discount | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss on extinguishment of trust preferred securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Basic Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Diluted Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Average Diluted Shares Outstanding (in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars In Thousands) | | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
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Total Stockholders' Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Return on Average Stockholders' Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Return on Average Common Stockholders' Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Earning Assets to Average Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Allowance for Loan Losses as % of Total Loans | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Charge Off's as % of Average Loans (Annualized) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Stockholders' Equity to Average Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tax Equivalent Yield on Earning Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of Supporting Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Interest Margin (FTE) on Earning Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NON-PERFORMING ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars In Thousands) | | September 30, | | | June 30, | | | March 31, | | | December 31, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2011 | |
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Non-Performing Loans (NPL) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Non-Performing Assets (NPA) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Quarterly Net Charge-offs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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NPAs & 90 Day / Actual Assets % | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NPAs / Actual Loans and REO % | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loan Loss Reserves / Actual Loans (%) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Charge Off's as % of Average Loans (Annualized) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars In Thousands) | | September 30, | | | June 30, | | | March 31, | | | December 31, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2011 | |
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Interest-bearing time deposits | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Mortgage loans held for sale | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Less: Allowance for loan losses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Core deposit intangibles and goodwill | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash surrender value of life insurance | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Tax asset, deferred and receivable | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Securities sold under repurchase agreements | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Bank advances | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Subordinated debentures and term loans | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Preferred Stock, no-par value, $1,000 liquidation value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Authorized -- 500,000 shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Cumulative Preferred Stock, $1,000 par value, $1,000 liquidation value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Common Stock, $.125 stated value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Authorized -- 50,000,000 shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Additional paid-in capital | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Stockholders' Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | | September 30, | | | June 30, | | | March 31, | | | December 31, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2011 | |
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Deposits with financial institutions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Securities sold under repurchase agreements | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Bank advances | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Subordinated debentures, revolving credit lines and term loans | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Provision for loan losses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Service charges on deposit accounts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Earnings on cash surrender value of life insurance | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net gains and fees on sales of loans | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gains on sales of available for sale securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gain on FDIC modified whole bank transaction | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Salaries and employee benefits | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Outside data processing fees | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Printing and office supplies | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Core deposit amortization | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Other real estate owned and credit-related expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Loss on CPP unamortized discount | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss on extinguishment of trust preferred securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Basic Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Diluted Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Average Diluted Shares Outstanding (in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Return on Average Stockholders' Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Return on Average Common Stockholders' Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Earning Assets to Average Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Allowance for Loan Losses as % of Total Loans | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Charge Off's as % of Average Loans (Annualized) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Stockholders' Equity to Average Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tax Equivalent Yield on Earning Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of Supporting Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Interest Margin (FTE) on Earning Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
LOANS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars In Thousands) | | September 30, | | | June 30, | | | March 31, | | | December 31, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2011 | |
Commercial and industrial loans | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agricultural production financing and other loans to farmers | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Individuals' loans for household and other personal expenditures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lease financing receivables, net of unearned income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Allowance for loan losses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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DEPOSITS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars In Thousands) | | September 30, | | | June 30, | | | March 31, | | | December 31, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2011 | |
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Certificates and other time deposits of $100,000 or more | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other certificates and time deposits | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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