Carolina Financial Corporation Reports Results for Third Quarter of 2017

CHARLESTON, S.C., Oct. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carolina Financial Corporation (the ”Company”) (NASDAQ:CARO) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2017. 

Financial highlights at and for the three months ended September 30, 2017, include:

• Net income for the third quarter 2017 increased 34.5% to $8.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, from $5.9 million, or $0.47 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2016.  Included in earnings are pretax merger-related expenses of $0.3 million for the third quarter of 2017. There were no merger-related expenses in the third quarter of 2016.
• Operating earnings for the third quarter of 2017, which exclude certain non-operating income and expenses, increased 34.3% to $7.9 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, from $5.9 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, from the third quarter of 2016.
• Performance ratios Q3 2017 compared to Q3 2016:
  - Return on average assets was 1.43% compared to 1.46%.
  - Operating return on average assets was 1.42% compared to 1.45%.
  - Return on average tangible equity was 13.24% compared to 15.93%.
  - Operating return on average tangible equity was 13.08% compared to 15.76%.
  - Average stockholders' equity to average assets increased to 12.85% compared to 9.67%.
• Loans receivable, excluding Greer loans acquired in March 2017, grew $111.5 million, or at an annualized rate of 12.6%, since December 31, 2016.
• Nonperforming assets to total assets were 0.29% at September 30, 2017 compared to 0.40% at December 31, 2016.
• Total deposits, excluding Greer deposits acquired in March 2017, increased $138.3 million since December 31, 2016. Core deposits, excluding Greer core deposits acquired, increased $78.0 million since December 31, 2016.

“We continue to see the impact of solid organic growth and prior acquisitions on earnings.  Overall operating results for the third quarter of 2017 continued to improve with an increase in net income of 34.5% compared to the third quarter of 2016.  In addition, we look forward to completion of the First South Bancorp, Inc. by the end of the fourth quarter,” stated Jerry Rexroad, Chief Executive Officer.

Financial Results

Carolina Financial Corporation

• The Company reported an increase in net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to $8.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, as compared to $5.9 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Included in net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were pretax merger-related expenses of $0.3 million.  The Company reported increased net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to $22.2 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, as compared to $12.4 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Included in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were pretax merger-related expenses of $1.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively. 
• Operating earnings for the third quarter of 2017, which excludes certain non-operating income and expenses, increased 34.3% to $7.9 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, from $5.9 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, from the third quarter of 2016. Operating earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, which excludes certain non-operating income and expenses, increased 57.75% to $22.8 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, from $14.5 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, from the same period of 2016.
• The Company’s net interest margin-tax equivalent increased to 3.94% for the third quarter of 2017 compared to 3.75% for the third quarter of 2016.
• The Company reported book value per common share of $18.07 and $13.23 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  Tangible book value per common share was $15.27 and $12.59 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
• At September 30, 2017, the Company’s regulatory capital ratios exceeded the minimum levels currently required.  Stockholders’ equity totaled $290.2 million as of September 30, 2017 compared to $163.2 million at December 31, 2016. Tangible equity to tangible assets at September 30, 2017 was 11.09% compared to 9.3% at December 31, 2016.

Community Banking

• Community banking segment net income increased 65.6% to $7.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Included in net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were pretax merger-related expenses of $0.3 million.  The community banking segment net income increased 101.7% to $20.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Included in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were pretax merger-related expenses of $1.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively. 
• Community banking segment operating earnings increased 65.7% to $7.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Included in earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were pretax merger-related expenses of $0.3 million.  The community banking segment operating earnings increased 80.7% to $22.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $12.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Included in earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were pretax merger-related expenses of $1.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively. 
• No provision for loan loss was recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2017 or 2016.   This was primarily due to continued excellent asset quality, historical loss experience, and the risk characteristics of our loan portfolio.
• Non-performing assets were 0.29% and 0.40% of total assets at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
• Loans receivable, gross increased to $1.5 billion at September 30, 2017 compared to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2016.
• The number of checking accounts increased at an annualized rate of 8.9%, excluding Greer checking accounts acquired, since December 31, 2016.  Total deposits, excluding acquired deposits from the Greer acquisition, increased $138.3 million since December 31, 2016. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, core deposits, defined as checking, savings and money market, comprised approximately 63.8% and 60.6%, respectively, of total deposits.

Wholesale Mortgage Banking

• Net income for the wholesale mortgage banking segment was $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Net income was $2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
• Net margin was 1.44% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 1.94% for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Originations for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $217.0 million and $253.5 million, respectively. Net margin was 1.65% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 1.76% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Originations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $611.6 million and $645.4 million, respectively.
• Net interest income for the wholesale mortgage banking segment was $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.  Net interest income for the wholesale mortgage banking segment was $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
• Mortgage loan servicing income, net of amortization of mortgage servicing rights and subservicing expense, for the wholesale mortgage banking segment was $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.  Mortgage loan servicing income, net of amortization of mortgage servicing rights and subservicing expense, for the wholesale mortgage banking segment was $1.3 million and $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.  At September 30, 2017, loans serviced for third parties totaled $2.5 billion.

Dividend Declared

On October 18, 2017 the Company declared a $0.05 dividend per common share, payable on January 5, 2018, to stockholders of record on December 14, 2017.

Conference Call

A conference call will be held at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time on October 20, 2017. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (866) 464-9448 or (213) 660-0874 and requesting the Carolina Financial Corporation earnings call. The conference ID number is 99743248. Listeners should dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.  The live webcast and presentation slides will be available on www.haveanicebank.com under Investor Relations, “Investor Presentations.”

A replay of the webcast will be available on www.haveanicebank.com under Investor Relations, “Investor Presentations” approximately three hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and requesting conference number 99743248.

About Carolina Financial Corporation

Carolina Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CARO) is the holding company of CresCom Bank, which also owns and operates Atlanta-based Crescent Mortgage Company.  As of September 30, 2017, Carolina Financial Corporation had approximately $2.3 billion in total assets and Crescent Mortgage Company was licensed to originate loans in 48 states partnering with community banks, credit unions and mortgage brokers.  On June 11, 2016, Carolina Financial completed its acquisition of Congaree Bancshares Inc.  On January 5, 2017, the Company closed a public offering of approximately 1.8 million shares of its common stock with net proceeds of approximately $47.7 million, net of related expenses. On March 18, 2017, Carolina Financial completed its acquisition of Greer Bancshares Incorporated.   On June 9, 2017, Carolina Financial Corporation announced the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization by and between the Company and First South Bancorp, Inc. (“First South”), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, First South will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation.

Addendum to News Release – Use of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  Such statements should be read along with the accompanying tables, which provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures.  This news release and the accompanying tables discuss financial measures, including but not limited to, core deposits, tangible book value, operating earnings and net income related to segments of the Company, which are non-GAAP measures.  We believe that such non-GAAP measures are useful because they enhance the ability of investors and management to evaluate and compare the Company’s operating results from period to period in a meaningful manner.  Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as an alternative to any measure of performance as promulgated under GAAP.  Investors should consider the Company’s performance and financial condition as reported under GAAP and all other relevant information when assessing the performance or financial condition of the company.  Non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results or financial condition as reported under GAAP.

Please refer to the Non-GAAP reconciliation tables later in this release for additional information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future plans and expectations, and are thus prospective.  Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements with respect to our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts, and other statements identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” and “projects,” as well as similar expressions.  Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate.  Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized.  The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by the Company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: (1) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (2) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations may be different than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the Company’s loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (3) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for loan loss, the rates of loan growth, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (4) the risk that the preliminary financial information reported herein and our current preliminary analysis will be different when our review is finalized; (5) changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory framework including, but not limited to, the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations adopted thereunder; (6) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could have a negative impact on the Company; (7) the business related to acquisitions may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected; (8) the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from acquisitions may not be fully realized within expected timeframes; and (9) disruption from acquisitions may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with clients, associates, or suppliers.  Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our reports (such as our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.