DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTH) (“Hilltop”), the parent company of PlainsCapital Corporation (“PlainsCapital”), announced financial results for the first quarter of 2014. PlainsCapital, through its operating subsidiaries PlainsCapital Bank (the “Bank”), PrimeLending and First Southwest, provides banking, mortgage origination and financial advisory services, respectively. Hilltop’s insurance subsidiary, National Lloyds Corporation (“NLC”), provides property and casualty insurance.
Hilltop produced income to common stockholders of $23.8 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2014, compared to $32.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013. Hilltop’s annualized return on average assets and return on average equity for the first quarter of 2014 were 1.14% and 7.65%, respectively. The return on average assets and return on average equity for the first quarter of 2013 were 1.87% and 11.46%, respectively.
“Hilltop was able to achieve good results in the first quarter, even as we work through costs of the First National Bank integration and continue to face market pressures in our mortgage and financial advisory businesses. The Bank organically grew its loan portfolio, while favorably resolving problem assets acquired in the FNB Transaction. Origination volume of our mortgage segment was stronger than industry trends, and our insurance segment produced impressive results as we start to see the effects of initiatives put in place in the second half of 2013,” said Jeremy Ford, CEO of Hilltop.
“We also continue to be excited about our proposed acquisition of SWS and the ability to combine its respected employees and customers with our strong platform. This transaction is part of our focused strategy to build a premier Texas-based bank and prominent diversified financial services company.”
First Quarter 2014 Highlights for Hilltop:
- Hilltop’s total assets increased to $9.0 billion at March 31, 2014, compared to $8.9 billion at December 31, 2013;
- Total stockholders’ equity increased by $43.3 million from December 31, 2013 to $1.4 billion at March 31, 2014;
- Non-covered loans1 held for investment, net of allowance for loan losses, increased by 3.8% to $3.6 billion, and covered loans1, net of allowance for loan losses, decreased by 9.5% to $909.8 million from December 31, 2013 to March 31, 2014;
- Loans held for sale decreased by 18.5% to $887.2 million, from December 31, 2013 to March 31, 2014;
- Total deposits decreased by $59.7 million from December 31, 2013 to $6.7 billion at March 31, 2014;
- Hilltop was well-capitalized with a Tier 1 Leverage Ratio2 of 13.12% and Total Capital Ratio of 19.32% at March 31, 2014; and
- Hilltop continues to retain approximately $157 million of freely usable cash, as well as excess capital at our subsidiaries, at March 31, 2014.
1 “Covered loans” refers to loans acquired in the FNB
Transaction that are subject to loss-share agreements with the FDIC,
while all other loans are referred to as “non-covered loans.”
2
Based on the end of period Tier 1 capital divided by total average
assets during the first quarter of 2014, excluding goodwill and
intangible assets.
For the first quarter of 2014, consolidated taxable equivalent net interest income was $86.0 million compared with $67.9 million in the first quarter of 2013, a 26.7% increase primarily due to the inclusion of operations acquired in the FNB Transaction. The consolidated taxable equivalent net interest margin was 4.62% for the first quarter of 2014, a ten basis point increase from 4.52% in the fourth quarter of 2013. During the first quarter of 2014, the consolidated taxable equivalent net interest margin was impacted by accretion of discount on loans of $18.0 million, amortization of premium on acquired securities of $1.0 million and amortization of premium on acquired time deposits of $2.5 million.
For the first quarter of 2014, noninterest income was $170.1 million compared to $213.3 million in the first quarter of 2013, a 20.2% decrease. The decline was driven mainly by lower mortgage origination volumes, offset by growth in net insurance premiums earned and other noninterest income. Net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income and mortgage loan origination fees declined $55.0 million from the first quarter of 2013 to $91.5 million in the first quarter of 2014. Mortgage loan originations totaled $1.9 billion in the first quarter of 2014, versus $3.0 billion in the first quarter of 2013, due to rising interest rates and the resulting drop-off in refinancing volume. Net insurance premiums earned increased to $40.3 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $37.5 million in the first quarter of 2013, which was primarily attributable to volume and rate increases in our core homeowners and mobile home products. Advisory fees and commissions from our financial advisory segment were $21.3 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to $22.0 million in the first quarter of 2013, as depressed municipal bond volume and prolonged low short term interest rates continue to pressure advisory fees and fixed income sales.
For the first quarter of 2014, noninterest expense was $212.6 million compared to $215.0 million in the first quarter of 2013, a 1.1% decrease. Employees’ compensation and benefits declined $9.8 million, or 8.4%, to $106.4 million in the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to lower variable compensation tied to mortgage origination volume, offset by the addition of FNB compensation expense. Reductions in staff were carried out at the bank as part of the FNB integration in late first quarter 2014; such reductions resulted in $801.6 thousand of severance and are expected to reduce compensation by $2.7 million on an annualized basis. Loss and loss adjustment expenses declined to $18.3 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $21.2 million in the first quarter of 2013. This was driven by improvement in the claims loss experience and our exposure management initiatives. Primarily due to the FNB Transaction, occupancy and equipment expense increased by $6.9 million from the first quarter of 2013 to $26.3 million in the first quarter of 2014, and other noninterest expense increased to $49.8 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $47.4 million in the first quarter of 2013. Amortization of identifiable intangibles from purchase accounting was $2.6 million for the first quarter of 2014.
For the first quarter of 2014, the provision for loan losses was $3.2 million, compared to $13.0 million for the first quarter of 2013. The first quarter of 2014 provision included provisions for loan losses related to newly originated loans and acquired loans without credit impairment at acquisition of $1.3 million and purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loans of $1.9 million. Net recoveries on non-covered loans for the first quarter of 2014 were $16 thousand, and the allowance for non-covered loan losses was $34.6 million, or 0.95% of total non-covered loans at March 31, 2014. Non-covered, non-performing assets at March 31, 2014 were $29.0 million, or 0.32% of total assets, compared to $28.2 million, or 0.32% of total assets, at December 31, 2013.
SWS Group Transaction
On March 31, 2014, Hilltop entered into a definitive merger agreement with SWS Group, Inc. (“SWS”) providing for the merger of SWS with and into a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop formed for the purpose of facilitating this transaction. SWS stockholders will receive per share consideration of 0.2496 shares of Hilltop common stock and $1.94 of cash, equating to $7.88 per share based on Hilltop’s closing price on March 31, 2014. The Company intends to fund the cash portion of the consideration through available cash. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval of the stockholders of SWS, and is expected to be completed prior to the end of 2014.
| Condensed Balance Sheet | March 31, | December 31, | September 30, | June 30, | March 31, | |||||||||||
| ($000s) | 2014 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | |||||||||||
| Cash and due from banks | 889,950 | 713,099 | 976,188 | 596,351 | 588,838 | |||||||||||
| Securities | 1,329,690 | 1,261,989 | 1,322,635 | 1,106,379 | 1,207,274 | |||||||||||
| Loans held for sale | 887,200 | 1,089,039 | 1,046,801 | 1,412,960 | 1,242,322 | |||||||||||
| Non-covered loans, net of unearned income | 3,646,946 | 3,514,646 | 3,310,224 | 3,253,001 | 3,248,367 | |||||||||||
| Allowance for non-covered loan losses | (34,645 | ) | (33,241 | ) | (33,180 | ) | (26,237 | ) | (16,637 | ) | ||||||
| Non-covered loans, net | 3,612,301 | 3,481,405 | 3,277,044 | 3,226,764 | 3,231,730 | |||||||||||
| Covered loans, net of allowance for loan losses | 909,783 | 1,005,308 | 1,096,590 | - | - | |||||||||||
| Covered other real estate owned | 152,310 | 142,833 | 119,670 | - | - | |||||||||||
| FDIC indemnification asset | 188,736 | 188,291 | 190,041 | - | - | |||||||||||
| Premises and equipment, net | 202,155 | 200,706 | 187,857 | 110,937 | 111,894 | |||||||||||
| Other assets | 861,307 | 821,452 | 876,766 | 949,412 | 834,852 | |||||||||||
| Total assets | 9,033,432 | 8,904,122 | 9,093,592 | 7,402,803 | 7,216,910 | |||||||||||
| Deposits | 6,663,176 | 6,722,918 | 6,936,162 | 4,496,469 | 4,758,438 | |||||||||||
| Short-term borrowings | 491,406 | 342,087 | 305,297 | 1,003,804 | 576,730 | |||||||||||
| Notes payable | 55,465 | 56,327 | 140,111 | 139,938 | 140,747 | |||||||||||
| Other liabilities | 468,172 | 470,868 | 505,669 | 590,792 | 562,410 | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 7,678,219 | 7,592,200 | 7,887,239 | 6,231,003 | 6,038,325 | |||||||||||
| Total Hilltop stockholders' equity | 1,354,497 | 1,311,141 | 1,205,475 | 1,170,895 | 1,177,809 | |||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | 716 | 781 | 878 | 905 | 776 | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities & stockholders' equity | 9,033,432 | 8,904,122 | 9,093,592 | 7,402,803 | 7,216,910 | |||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| Condensed Income Statement | March 31, | December 31, | September 30, | June 30, | March 31, | |||||||||||
| ($000s) | 2014 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | |||||||||||
| Interest income | 91,828 | 98,601 | 79,702 | 76,168 | 74,604 | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | 6,407 | 10,002 | 7,786 | 7,743 | 7,343 | |||||||||||
| Net interest income | 85,421 | 88,599 | 71,916 | 68,425 | 67,261 | |||||||||||
| Provision for loan losses | 3,242 | 2,206 | 10,658 | 11,289 | 13,005 | |||||||||||
| Net interest income after provision for loan losses | 82,179 | 86,393 | 61,258 | 57,136 | 54,256 | |||||||||||
| Noninterest income | 170,100 | 182,479 | 215,095 | 239,233 | 213,278 | |||||||||||
| Noninterest expense | 212,629 | 219,752 | 216,592 | 260,400 | 214,991 | |||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 39,650 | 49,120 | 59,761 | 35,969 | 52,543 | |||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 14,354 | 18,090 | 20,115 | 13,309 | 19,170 | |||||||||||
| Net income | 25,296 | 31,030 | 39,646 | 22,660 | 33,373 | |||||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 110 | 160 | 339 | 568 | 300 | |||||||||||
| Income attributable to Hilltop | 25,186 | 30,870 | 39,307 | 22,092 | 33,073 | |||||||||||
| Dividends on preferred stock | 1,426 | 1,342 | 1,133 | 1,149 | 703 | |||||||||||
| Income applicable to Hilltop common stockholders | 23,760 | 29,528 | 38,174 | 20,943 | 32,370 | |||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | September 30, | June 30, | March 31, | ||||||||||||
| Selected Financial Data | 2014 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | |||||||||||
| Return on average stockholders' equity | 7.65 | % | 9.31 | % | 12.64 | % | 7.29 | % | 11.46 | % | ||||||
| Return on average assets | 1.14 | % | 1.31 | % | 2.05 | % | 1.24 | % | 1.87 | % | ||||||
| Net interest margin (taxable equivalent) | 4.62 | % | 4.52 | % | 4.46 | % | 4.33 | % | 4.35 | % | ||||||
| Earnings per common share ($): | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 0.26 | 0.34 | 0.45 | 0.25 | 0.39 | |||||||||||
| Diluted | 0.26 | 0.34 | 0.43 | 0.24 | 0.39 | |||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding (000's): | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 89,707 | 87,027 | 83,493 | 83,490 | 83,487 | |||||||||||
| Diluted | 90,585 | 87,871 | 90,460 | 90,294 | 83,743 | |||||||||||
| Book value per share ($) | 13.76 | 13.27 | 13.00 | 12.59 | 12.74 | |||||||||||
| Shares outstanding (000's) | 90,178 | 90,176 | 83,959 | 83,956 | 83,487 | |||||||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | September 30, | June 30, | March 31, | ||||||||||||
| Capital Ratios | 2014 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | |||||||||||
| Tier 1 capital (to average quarterly assets): | ||||||||||||||||
| Bank | 9.53 | % | 9.29 | % | 11.05 | % | 9.74 | % | 9.22 | % | ||||||
| Hilltop | 13.12 | % | 12.81 | % | 13.96 | % | 13.66 | % | 13.39 | % | ||||||
| Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets): | ||||||||||||||||
| Bank | 13.47 | % | 13.38 | % | 12.76 | % | 12.77 | % | 12.21 | % | ||||||
| Hilltop | 18.66 | % | 18.53 | % | 16.56 | % | 18.35 | % | 18.21 | % | ||||||
| Total capital (to risk-weighted assets): | ||||||||||||||||
| Bank | 14.14 | % | 14.00 | % | 13.36 | % | 13.35 | % | 12.59 | % | ||||||
| Hilltop | 19.32 | % | 19.13 | % | 17.14 | % | 18.90 | % | 18.58 | % | ||||||
| Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2014 | March 31, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Average | Interest | Annualized | Average | Interest | Annualized | |||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding | Earned or | Yield or | Outstanding | Earned or | Yield or | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance | Paid | Rate | Balance | Paid | Rate | |||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loans, gross (1) | $ | 5,068,892 | $ | 79,744 | 6.29 | % | $ | 4,207,871 | $ | 64,886 | 6.17 | % | ||||||||||
| Investment securities - taxable | 1,122,241 | 7,588 | 2.71 | % | 900,422 | 5,863 | 2.64 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Investment securities - non-taxable (2) | 183,143 | 1,861 | 4.06 | % | 218,343 | 2,024 | 3.71 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Federal funds sold and securities purchased | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| under agreements to resell | 26,336 | 19 | 0.29 | % | 10,195 | 21 | 0.84 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Interest-bearing deposits in other | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| financial institutions | 966,921 | 595 | 0.25 | % | 747,242 | 333 | 0.25 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 188,276 | 2,640 | 5.67 | % | 154,560 | 2,105 | 5.52 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets, gross | 7,555,809 | 92,447 | 4.90 | % | 6,238,633 | 75,232 | 4.84 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Allowance for loan losses | (36,861 | ) | (6,776 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets, net | 7,518,948 | 6,231,857 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Noninterest-earning assets | 1,432,519 | 882,998 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 8,951,467 | $ | 7,114,855 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-bearing liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-bearing deposits | $ | 4,949,212 | $ | 3,759 | 0.31 | % | $ | 3,558,091 | $ | 3,450 | 0.39 | % | ||||||||||
| Notes payable and other borrowings | 664,072 | 2,648 | 1.60 | % | 850,418 | 3,893 | 1.85 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | 5,613,284 | 6,407 | 0.46 | % | 4,408,509 | 7,343 | 0.67 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Noninterest-bearing liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noninterest-bearing deposits | 1,721,403 | 1,190,779 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other liabilities | 285,121 | 356,538 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 7,619,808 | 5,955,826 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stockholders' equity | 1,331,243 | 1,158,292 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | 416 | 737 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 8,951,467 | $ | 7,114,855 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest income(2) | $ | 86,040 | $ | 67,889 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest spread(2) | 4.44 | % | 4.17 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest margin(2) | 4.62 | % | 4.35 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
(2) Annualized
taxable equivalent adjustments are based on a 35% tax rate. The
adjustment to interest income was $0.6 million and $0.7 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Conference Call Information
Hilltop will host a live webcast and conference call at 8:00 AM Central (9:00 AM Eastern), Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Hilltop President and CEO Jeremy B. Ford and other key management members will discuss results for the first quarter of 2014. Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing 1-888-317-6016 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6016 (international). The conference call also will be webcast simultaneously on Hilltop’s Investor Relations website (http://ir.hilltop-holdings.com).
About Hilltop
Hilltop Holdings Inc. is a Dallas-based financial holding company. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, PlainsCapital Corporation, a regional commercial banking franchise, it has three operating subsidiaries: PlainsCapital Bank, PrimeLending, and First Southwest. Through Hilltop Holdings’ other wholly owned subsidiary, National Lloyds Corporation, it provides property and casualty insurance through two insurance companies, National Lloyds Insurance Company and American Summit Insurance Company. At March 31, 2014, Hilltop employed approximately 4,450 people and operated approximately 400 locations in 43 states. Hilltop Holdings common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTH." Find more information at Hilltop-Holdings.com and PlainsCapital.com.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, Hilltop will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of SWS that also constitutes a prospectus of Hilltop and other relevant documents regarding the proposed transaction. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of SWS. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus (when it becomes available) and other relevant documents filed by Hilltop or SWS with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Hilltop with the SEC will be available free of charge on Hilltop’s website at www.hilltop-holdings.com or by contacting Investor Relations at 214-252-4029.
Hilltop and its respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. You can find information about Hilltop’s executive officers and directors in Hilltop’s most recent proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on May 2, 2014. Additional information regarding the interests of such persons will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from Hilltop using the sources indicated above.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as required by law, we do not assume any duty to update forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about acquisitions, future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts, and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “may,” “probable,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “would” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: (i) risks related to our pending acquisition of SWS Group, Inc.; (ii) risks associated with merger and acquisition integration; (iii) our ability to estimate loan losses; (iv) changes in the default rate of our loans; (v) risks associated with concentration in real estate related loans; (vi) our ability to obtain reimbursements for losses on acquired loans under loss-share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (vii) changes in general economic, market and business conditions in areas or markets where we compete; (viii) severe catastrophic events in our geographic area; (ix) changes in the interest rate environment; (x) cost and availability of capital; (xi) changes in state and federal laws, regulations or policies affecting one or more of our business segments, including changes in regulatory fees, deposit insurance premiums, capital requirements and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (xii) our ability to use net operating loss carry forwards to reduce future tax payments; (xiii) approval of new, or changes in, accounting policies and practices; (xiv) changes in key management; (xv) competition in our banking, mortgage origination, financial advisory and insurance segments from other banks and financial institutions, as well as insurance companies, mortgage bankers, investment banking and financial advisory firms, asset-based non-bank lenders and government agencies; (xvi) failure of our insurance segment reinsurers to pay obligations under reinsurance contracts; (xvii) our ability to use excess cash in an effective manner, including the execution of successful acquisitions; and (xviii) our participation in governmental programs, including the Small Business Lending Fund. For further discussion of such factors, see the risk factors described in the Hilltop Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
