Lakeland Financial Reports Record Quarterly Net Income

Issuance of Capital Further Strengthens Balance Sheet


WARSAW, Ind., Jan. 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lakeland Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:LKFN), parent company of Lake City Bank, today reported record net income of $5.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2009. This record net income performance represents a 21% increase versus $4.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. Diluted net income per share for the quarter was $0.32 versus $0.35 for the comparable period of 2008. On a linked quarter basis, net income increased 2% compared to net income of $5.3 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009. 

Michael L. Kubacki, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We're very proud that our net income in the quarter was the highest in the Bank's 138 year history. 2009 was full of challenges for the banking industry and we were not immune to them. Yet, Lake City Bank managed through these challenges to finish with a very strong quarter and year."

Kubacki continued, "Our industry has been under intense scrutiny this year due to both political and economic pressures. Many of the critics of the banking industry have placed a significant focus on the industry's unwillingness to lend. I am pleased to say that we grew our average loan portfolio by $237 million in 2009, an increase of 14% over 2008's levels. We recognize that community banks have an important role to play in the economic recovery of Indiana, and we're using our balance sheet to fulfill that role."

"While our earnings performance is gratifying, our successful issuance of common stock during the quarter provided $58 million of additional capital, which has further strengthened our balance sheet. Our business plan is built around lending money in Indiana and we believe that this additional capital puts us in a great position to continue the growth in our loan portfolio," added Kubacki. 

The Company reported net income of $19.0 million for 2009 versus $19.7 million for 2008. Diluted net income per common share was $1.26 for 2009 versus $1.58 for 2008. Earnings per share for 2009 were impacted by the Company's participation in the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program in the first quarter and the issuance of 3.6 million common shares during the fourth quarter.

The Company also announced that the Board of Directors approved a cash dividend for the fourth quarter of $0.155 per share, payable on February 5, 2010 to shareholders of record as of January 25, 2010. The quarterly dividend is unchanged from the dividends paid in 2008 and in the first three quarters of 2009.    

"We recognize that the dividend is an important component of shareholder value for many of our shareholders and that it is also a reflection of our overall financial health. We are pleased that our good performance supported these payments at a level consistent with prior years," observed Kubacki.   

Average total loans for the fourth quarter of 2009 were $1.96 billion versus $1.77 billion for the fourth quarter of 2008 and $1.91 billion for the linked third quarter of 2009. Average total loans for the full year were $1.90 billion versus $1.67 billion in 2008. The year-over-year average loan growth represented an increase of 14%, or $237 million. On a linked quarter basis, average loans increased by $56 million versus the third quarter of 2009. Total gross loans as of December 31, 2009 were $2.01 billion compared to $1.83 billion as of December 31, 2008, an increase of 10%. Total gross loans at September 30, 2009 were $1.94 billion.

The Company's net interest margin was 3.74% in the fourth quarter versus 3.69% in the third quarter and 2.98% for the fourth quarter of 2008. This margin improvement, in conjunction with strong growth in loans, contributed to an increase of 40% in the Company's net interest income to $22.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 versus $16.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. On a linked quarter basis, net interest income increased by 6% versus the third quarter of 2009. 

The Company's provision for loan losses in the quarter of $6.3 million represented an increase of $3.9 million, or 169%, versus $2.3 million in the same period of 2008. In the third quarter of 2009, the provision was $5.5 million. The provision increases in 2009 were generally driven by increased levels of net charge offs, the difficult economic conditions in the Company's markets and the related possible weaknesses in our borrowers' future performance and prospects, as well as by continued loan growth.

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $27.8 million versus $21.4 million for the comparable period of 2008, an increase of 30%. On a linked quarter basis, total revenue increased by 5% versus the third quarter of 2009.

The Company's non-interest income was $5.4 million in both the fourth quarters of 2009 and 2008. For the full year, non-interest income of $22.2 million represented a decrease of $1.1 million, or 5%, versus $23.3 million in 2008. Contributing to the lower noninterest income performance in 2009 was a change related to the processing of merchant credit card activities. Prior to the third quarter of 2009, transaction-driven revenue and expenses related to this category were reported on a gross basis in merchant card fee income in non-interest income and credit card interchange fees in non-interest expense. Beginning in the second quarter of 2009, the Company began converting clients to a new third-party processor for this activity. As a result, only net revenues with the new processor are being recognized in merchant card fee income in noninterest income. Several other factors affected non-interest income in 2009 versus 2008, including recognition of a non-cash other than temporary impairment of $225,000 on available-for-sale securities and an increase in mortgage banking income of $1.3 million. In addition, results for 2008 were positively impacted by a $642,000 gain related to the VISA initial public offering.

The Company's non-interest expense was $13.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to $12.6 million for the same period in 2008 and $13.1 million for the third quarter of 2009.   On a year over year basis, salaries and employee benefits increased by $880,000, or 14%, versus the fourth quarter of 2008, primarily as a result of staff additions in lending positions, higher incentive-based compensation resulting from increased revenue and net income and overall improved performance, normal merit increases company-wide and increased health insurance costs.  In addition, regulatory expense increased by $213,000 due to higher FDIC insurance premiums, including a one-time assessment, that have been levied on all financial institutions. For the full year, non-interest expense of $53.5 million compared to $47.5 million in 2008. The Company's efficiency ratio for the fourth quarter of 2009 was 49%, compared to 59% for the fourth quarter of 2008 and 49% for the third quarter of 2009. The efficiency ratio for the full year was 52% versus 55% in 2008. 

For the three months ended December 31, 2009, Lakeland Financial's tangible equity to tangible assets ratio was 8.65% compared to 6.17% for the fourth quarter of 2008 and 6.56% for the third quarter of 2009. Equity was positively impacted by the sale of common stock during the fourth quarter of 2009, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of $57.9 million. Average total capital to average assets for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 was 9.82% versus 6.56% for the fourth quarter of 2008 and 8.83% for the third quarter of 2009. Average total deposits for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 were $1.90 billion versus $1.82 billion for the third quarter of 2009 and $1.84 billion for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Net charge-offs totaled $3.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, versus $1.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2008 and $1.8 million during the third quarter of 2009. Lakeland Financial's allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2009 was $32.1 million, compared to $18.9 million as of December 31, 2008 and $28.8 million as of September 30, 2009. The allowance for loan losses increased to 1.59% of total loans as of December 31, 2009 versus 1.03% at December 31, 2008 and 1.48% as of September 30, 2009. 

Kubacki commented, "The combination of the issuance of $58 million in common stock, the $13 million growth in our allowance for loan losses and our continued earnings performance have combined to represent a real strengthening of our balance sheet. We have weathered the economic challenges of the past several years and have emerged with a much stronger balance sheet."

Nonperforming assets increased to $31.6 million as of December 31, 2009 compared to $30.0 million as of September 30, 2009.  The increase during the fourth quarter resulted primarily from the addition of a single credit involved in real estate development. The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets remained stable at 1.23% on December 31, 2009 compared to 1.22% on September 30, 2009. 

 Nonperforming assets on December 31, 2008 were $22.4 million. The increase in nonperforming assets during 2009 was influenced by the addition of three commercial relationships totaling $10.6 million. One of the credits is engaged in commercial real estate development and the other two are real estate holding companies which leased facilities to affiliated companies involved in the recreational vehicle industry and automobile sales, respectively. The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.94% at December 31, 2008. 

The allowance for loan losses represented 104% of nonperforming loans as of December 31, 2009 versus 98% at September 30, 2009 and 89% at December 31, 2008.    

Lakeland Financial Corporation is a $2.6 billion bank holding company headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana. Lake City Bank serves Northern Indiana with 43 branches located in the following Indiana counties: Kosciusko, Elkhart, Allen, St. Joseph, DeKalb, Fulton, Huntington, LaGrange, Marshall, Noble, Pulaski and Whitley. The Company also has a Loan Production Office in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lakeland Financial Corporation may be accessed on its home page at www.lakecitybank.com. The Company's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under "LKFN". Market makers in Lakeland Financial Corporation common shares include Automated Trading Desk Financial Services, LLC, B-Trade Services, LLC, Citadel Derivatives Group, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Holdings, Inc., Domestic Securities, Inc., E*TRADE Capital Markets LLC, FTN Financial Securities Corp., FTN Equity Capital Markets Corp., Goldman Sachs & Company, Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, Inc., Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Knight Equity Markets, L.P., Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc., Susquehanna Capital Group and UBS Securities LLC.

In addition to the results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. Lakeland Financial believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful to understanding Lakeland Financial's financial performance. Additionally, these non-GAAP measures are used by management for planning and forecasting purposes, including measures based on "tangible equity" which is "common stockholders' equity" excluding intangible assets, net of deferred tax. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP equivalent is included in the attached financial tables where the non-GAAP measure is presented.

This document contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company's management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should" or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that could materially affect the Company's financial results, is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on form 10-K.

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
FOURTH QUARTER 2009 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited – Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

  Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended  
  Dec. 31,   Sep. 30,   Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,  
  2009   2009   2008   2009   2008  
END OF PERIOD BALANCES                    
Assets $2,571,505   $2,469,882   $2,377,445   $2,571,505   $2,377,445  
Deposits 1,851,125   1,821,031   1,885,299   1,851,125   1,885,299  
Loans 2,012,010   1,941,111   1,833,334   2,012,010   1,833,334  
Allowance for Loan Losses 32,073   28,778   18,860   32,073   18,860  
Total Equity 280,083   219,714   149,969   280,083   149,969  
Tangible Common Equity 222,023   161,659   146,304   222,023   146,304  
AVERAGE BALANCES                    
Total Assets $2,534,584   $2,439,847   $2,305,789   $2,446,953   $2,170,673  
Earning Assets 2,416,796   2,322,134   2,175,121   2,325,259   2,047,783  
Investments 410,969   401,192   384,096   399,342   368,578  
Loans 1,962,840   1,906,496   1,767,818   1,901,746   1,665,024  
Total Deposits 1,903,434   1,816,697   1,839,717   1,870,231   1,637,794  
Interest Bearing Deposits 1,657,270   1,587,103   1,618,173   1,641,222   1,418,032  
Interest Bearing Liabilities 2,022,418   1,974,106   1,916,463   1,986,239   1,782,714  
Total Equity 248,839   215,508   151,293   212,352   151,062  
INCOME STATEMENT DATA                    
Net Interest Income $22,466   $21,262   $15,992   $80,281   $63,268  
Net Interest Income-Fully Tax Equivalent 22,779   21,565   16,271   81,528   64,419  
Provision for Loan Losses 6,250   5,500   2,323   21,202   10,207  
Noninterest Income 5,373   5,279   5,385   22,244   23,328  
Noninterest Expense 13,538   13,097   12,550   53,475   47,481  
Net Income 5,382   5,267   4,433   18,979   19,701  
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders 4,579   4,466   4,433   16,285   19,701  
PER SHARE DATA                    
Basic Net Income Per Common Share $0.33   $0.36   $0.36   $1.27   $1.61  
Diluted Net Income Per Common Share 0.32   0.36   0.35   1.26   1.58  
Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share 0.155   0.155   0.155   0.62   0.605  
Book Value Per Common Share (equity per share issued) 14.06   13.32   12.17   14.06   12.17  
Market Value – High 22.24   22.49   24.10   23.87   30.09  
Market Value – Low 16.35   17.80   14.93   14.14   14.93  
Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding 14,142,414   12,432,135   12,318,204   12,851,845   12,271,927  
Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding 14,233,713   12,531,264   12,476,884   12,952,444   12,459,802  
KEY RATIOS                    
Return on Average Assets 0.84 % 0.86 % 0.77 % 0.78 % 0.91 %
Return on Average Total Equity 8.58   9.70   11.67   8.94   13.04  
Efficiency (Noninterest Expense / Net Interest Income plus Noninterest Income)  48.63    49.35    58.68    52.16    54.83  
Average Equity to Average Assets 9.82   8.83   6.56   8.68   6.96  
Net Interest Margin 3.74   3.69   2.98   3.51   3.14  
Net Charge Offs to Average Loans 0.60   0.38   0.36   0.42   0.43  
Loan Loss Reserve to Loans 1.59   1.48   1.03   1.59   1.03  
Nonperforming Loans to Loans 1.53   1.51   1.16   1.53   1.16  
Nonperforming Assets to Assets 1.23   1.22   0.94   1.23   0.94  
Tier 1 Leverage 12.28   10.26   8.10   12.28   8.10  
Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital 14.13   11.72   9.27   14.13   9.27  
Total Capital 15.38   12.98   10.20   15.38   10.20  
Tangible Capital 8.65   6.56   6.17   8.65   6.17  
ASSET QUALITY                    
Loans Past Due 30 - 89 Days $1,972   $5,240   $2,265   $1,972   $2,265  
Loans Past Due 90 Days or More 190   5,547   478   190   478  
Non-accrual Loans 30,518   23,708   20,810   30,518   20,810  
Nonperforming Loans 30,708   29,255   21,288   30,708   21,288  
Other Real Estate Owned 872   723   953   872   953  
Other Nonperforming Assets 2   36   150   2   150  
Total Nonperforming Assets 31,582   30,014   22,391   31,582   22,391  
Impaired Loans 31,838   28,236   20,304   31,838   20,304  
Net Charge Offs/(Recoveries) 2,956   1,812   1,587   7,990   7,148  

 

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31, 2009 and 2008
(in thousands, except share data)

  December 31, 2009   December 31, 2008
  (Unaudited)    
ASSETS      
Cash and due from banks $48,964   $57,149
Short-term investments 7,019   6,858
Total cash and cash equivalents 55,983   64,007
       
Securities available for sale (carried at fair value) 410,028   387,030
Real estate mortgage loans held for sale 1,521   401
       
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $32,073 and $18,860 1,979,937   1,814,474
       
Land, premises and equipment, net 29,576   30,519
Bank owned life insurance 36,639   33,966
Accrued income receivable 8,600   8,599
Goodwill 4,970   4,970
Other intangible assets 207   413
Other assets 44,044   33,066
Total assets $2,571,505   $2,377,445
       
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
       
LIABILITIES      
Noninterest bearing deposits $259,415   $230,716
Interest bearing deposits 1,591,710   1,654,583
Total deposits 1,851,125   1,885,299
       
Short-term borrowings      
Federal funds purchased 9,600   19,000
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 127,118   137,769
U.S. Treasury demand notes 2,333   840
Other short-term borrowings 215,000   45,000
Total short-term borrowings 354,051   202,609
       
Accrued expenses payable 14,040   17,163
Other liabilities 1,236   1,434
Long-term borrowings 40,042   90,043
Subordinated debentures 30,928   30,928
Total liabilities 2,291,422   2,227,476
       
EQUITY      
Cumulative perpetual preferred stock:1,000,000 shares authorized, no par value, $1 liquidation value 56,044 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2009  54,095    0
Common stock:90,000,000 shares authorized, no par value      
16,078,461 shares issued and 15,977,352 outstanding as of December 31, 2009      
12,373,080 shares issued and 12,266,849 outstanding as of December 31, 2008 83,487   22,085
Retained earnings 149,945   141,371
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (5,993)   (12,024)
Treasury stock, at cost (2009 – 101,109 shares, 2008 - 106,231 shares) (1,540)   (1,552)
Total stockholders' equity 279,994   149,880
       
Noncontrolling interest 89   89
Total equity 280,083   149,969
Total liabilities and equity $2,571,505   $2,377,445

 

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Three Months and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
(in thousands except for share and per share data)
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
  December 31,   December 31,
  2009   2008   2009   2008
NET INTEREST INCOME              
Interest and fees on loans              
Taxable $25,050   $23,865   $96,151   $99,538
Tax exempt 22   26   148   113
Interest and dividends on securities              
Taxable 4,331   4,409   17,562   16,202
Tax exempt 617   591   2,421   2,411
Interest on short-term investments 22   23   61   220
Total interest income 30,042   28,914   116,343   118,484
               
Interest on deposits 6,783   10,988   32,247   44,580
Interest on borrowings              
Short-term 248   456   1,089   5,620
Long-term 545   1,478   2,726   5,016
Total interest expense 7,576   12,922   36,062   55,216
NET INTEREST INCOME 22,466   15,992   80,281   63,268
Provision for loan losses 6,250   2,323   21,202   10,207
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR              
LOAN LOSSES 16,216   13,669   59,079   53,061
               
NONINTEREST INCOME              
Wealth advisory fees 767   737   2,980   3,278
Investment brokerage fees 376   393   1,676   1,872
Service charges on deposit accounts 2,092   2,248   8,245   8,603
Loan, insurance and service fees 991   790   3,540   3,186
Merchant card fee income 285   825   2,464   3,471
Other income 408   373   1,867   1,826
Mortgage banking income 454   19   1,695   411
Net securities gains (losses) 0   0   2   39
Gain on redemption of Visa shares 0   0   0   642
Impairment on available-for-sale securities (includes total losses of $2,925, net of $2,700 recognized in other comprehensive income, pre-tax)  0    0    (225)    0
Total noninterest income 5,373   5,385   22,244   23,328
NONINTEREST EXPENSE              
Salaries and employee benefits 7,249   6,369   27,765   25,482
Occupancy expense 814   856   3,206   3,082
Equipment costs 559   597   2,147   1,941
Data processing fees and supplies 975   984   3,944   3,645
Credit card interchange 95   556   1,448   2,321
Other expense 3,846   3,188   14,965   11,010
Total noninterest expense 13,538   12,550   53,475   47,481
               
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE 8,051   6,504   27,848   28,908
Income tax expense 2,669   2,071   8,869   9,207
NET INCOME $5,382   $4,433   $18,979   $19,701
Dividends and accretion of discount on preferred stock 803   0   2,694   0
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS $4,579   $4,433   $16,285   $19,701
BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES 14,142,414   12,318,204   12,851,845   12,271,927
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $0.33   $0.36   $1.27   $1.61
DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES 14,233,713   12,476,884   12,952,444   12,459,802
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $0.32   $0.35   $1.26   $1.58

 

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
LOAN DETAIL
FOURTH QUARTER 2009
(unaudited in thousands)
                       
  December 31,   September 30,   December 31,
  2009   2009   2008
Commercial and industrial loans $693,579 34.5 %   $691,012 35.6 %   $652,107 35.6 %
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 348,812 17.3     340,899 17.5     337,060 18.4  
Commercial real estate - nonowner occupied 257,374 12.8     242,278 12.4     212,444 11.6  
Commercial real estate - multifamily loans 26,558 1.3     25,651 1.3     25,428 1.4  
Commercial real estate construction loans 166,959 8.3     153,426 7.9     116,970 6.4  
Agri-business and agricultural loans 206,252 10.2     178,683 9.2     189,007 10.3  
Residential real estate mortgage loans 95,211 4.7     95,095 4.9     117,230 6.4  
Home equity loans 161,594 8.0     158,706 8.2     128,219 7.0  
Installment loans and other consumer loans 57,478 2.9     57,504 3.0     55,102 2.9  
Subtotal 2,013,817 100.0 %   1,943,254 100.0 %   1,833,567 100.0 %
Less:Allowance for loan losses (32,073)       (28,778)       (18,860)    
Net deferred loan (fees)/costs (1,807)       (2,143)       (233)    
Loans, net $1,979,937       $1,912,333       $1,814,474    

 

 



            

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