MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. : Reports Third Quarter Results

MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. (“MidSouth”) (NYSE:MSL) today reported a quarterly net loss available to common shareholders of $5.7 million for the third quarter of 2018, or $0.34 per common share, compared to net income available to common shareholders of $856,000 reported for the third quarter of 2017, or $0.05 per common share, and a $1.5 million net loss available to common shareholders for the second quarter of 2018, or $0.09 per common share. The third quarter of 2018 included an after-tax charge of $4.3 million for regulatory remediation costs. For comparison purposes, the second quarter of 2018 included an after-tax charge of $15,000 resulting from costs associated with the bulk loan sale and an after-tax charge of $4.2 million for regulatory remediation costs. Excluding these non-operating expenses, diluted earnings for the third quarter of 2018 were a loss of $1.4 million or $0.08 per common share, compared to income of $2.8 million or $0.17 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2018, and income of $2.0 million or $0.12 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2017.

Jim McLemore, President and CEO, remarked, “Our reported earnings for the third quarter continue to be heavily impacted by costs to remediate issues resulting from our 2017 Written Agreement with the OCC and other self-identified issues relating to our BSA/AML program. Although remediation costs remain high, we are making very good progress with remediation efforts and expect to see a significant wind down of remediation efforts in the fourth quarter." Additionally, on October 25, 2018 the Bank entered into a Stipulation to the Issuance of a Consent Order with the OCC relating to deficiencies in the Bank's BSA/AML compliance program. Mr. McLemore commented, "In the process of our top-to-bottom review of the Company we self-identified deficiencies in our BSA/AML program which we quickly reported to the appropriate regulatory officials and began aggressively addressing."

Mr. McLemore continued, "The regulatory order does not include fines or a lookback. The order does not affect our ability to conduct day-to-day business to provide customers with service and products they have come to expect from us. We have already begun updating our BSA/AML policies and procedures, established a required Board committee, and recruited a highly qualified BSA/AML officer. Our commitment is to meet the conditions in the order as soon as possible."

Remediation Update

Mr. McLemore noted, “As we indicated last quarter, work initiated over the past year has been substantially completed for 5 of our 6 major focus areas. The final area where continued work will be undertaken for the remainder of 2018 and into early 2019 will be in our BSA/AML program. We are still anticipating total costs of up to $20 million for our remediation efforts in 2018, having incurred approximately $15 million in remediation costs through the end of the third quarter of 2018. We continue to believe these investments will have a very positive return in terms of increasing the value of the franchise through the reduction of risk and through more efficient and effective processes. Just as importantly, we will now be able to focus more of our efforts on measured growth and improved efficiencies."

Balance Sheet

Consolidated assets declined $32.7 million sequentially and $120.8 million year over year to $1.8 billion at September 30, 2018 compared to $1.9 billion at September 30, 2017 and June 30, 2018. The decline for both periods was largely due to significant reductions in problem credits and impacts associated with branch closures in year over year comparisons. Our stable core deposit base, which excludes time deposits, totaled $1.3 billion for both periods ended September 30, 2018 and June 30, 2018, accounting for 87.7% and 88.5% of deposits during these same periods, respectively. Net loans totaled $0.94 billion, $1.0 billion and $1.2 billion at September 30, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

MidSouth’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 12.53% at September 30, 2018, compared to 12.71% at June 30, 2018. Tier 1 risk-based capital and total risk-based capital ratios were 19.09% and 20.35%, respectively, at September 30, 2018, compared to 18.07% and 19.33%, respectively, at June 30, 2018. Tier 1 common equity to total risk-weighted assets at September 30, 2018 was 13.78%, compared to 13.20% at June 30, 2018. Tangible common equity totaled $155.6 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $162.6 million at June 30, 2018. Tangible book value per common share at September 30, 2018 was $9.37 compared to $9.78 at June 30, 2018.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets ("NPAs") totaled $52.5 million at September 30, 2018, a decrease of $22.4 million when compared to June 30, 2018. The decrease in non-performing assets was primarily attributed to customer payoffs/ paydowns of $34 million of non-accrual loans in the third quarter. The decrease in nonperforming assets was partially offset by $11.6 million of loans placed on non-accrual during the quarter. Allowance ("ALL") coverage for nonperforming loans increased to 47.49% at September 30, 2018, compared to 31.97% at June 30, 2018. The ALL/total loans ratio was 2.54% at September 30, 2018 and 2.22% at June 30, 2018. The ratio of annualized net charge-offs to total loans increased to 1.40% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 0.87% for the three months ended June 30, 2018.

Total nonperforming assets to total loans, other real estate owned ("OREO") and other assets repossessed was 5.45% at September 30, 2018 compared to 7.07% at June 30, 2018. Loans classified as accruing troubled debt restructurings, (accruing “TDRs”) totaled $896,000 at September 30, 2018 compared to $1.0 million at June 30, 2018. Total classified assets, including OREO, totaled $91.4 million at September 30, 2018 compared to $105.8 million at June 30, 2018. The classified to capital ratio was 45.1% at September 30, 2018 compared to 52.9% at June 30, 2018.

Mr. McLemore noted, “We made significant progress in the quarter on improving our asset quality. Our Bank Classified to Capital ratio declined to 45% from 53% last quarter and NPAs were reduced by $22 million, or 30% during the third quarter. We took a $4.3 million provision in the third quarter, a significant part of which addressed impairment for a large energy credit. As we've cautioned before, credit costs could very well be choppy and should be evaluated over a longer-term horizon. Overall, we continue to make good progress on asset quality in 2018. Since the Bank's turnaround began in the second quarter of 2017, credit costs have been $32 million versus an initial estimate ranging between $31 million and $50 million and classified to capital has continued to decline, coming in at 72% as of June 30, 2017 and down to 45% at September 30, 2018."

More information on our energy loan portfolio and other information on quarterly results can be found on our website at MidSouthBank.com under Investor Relations/Presentations.

Third Quarter 2018 vs. Second Quarter 2018 Earnings Comparison

MidSouth reported a net loss available to common shareholders of $5.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to a net loss available to common shareholders of $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Revenues from consolidated operations decreased $251,000 in sequential-quarter comparison. Net interest income decreased $459,000 in sequential-quarter comparison, resulting from a $303,000 decrease in interest income and a $156,000 increase in interest expense. Operating noninterest income decreased $208,000 in sequential-quarter comparison.

The third quarter of 2018 included non-operating expenses totaling $5.5 million which consisted of $5.5 million of regulatory remediation costs compared to $5.3 million of regulatory remediation costs for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Excluding these non-operating expenses, noninterest expense increased $1.1 million in sequential-quarter comparison due to a $1.4 million increase in legal and professional expenses that was partially offset by a $154,000 decline in salaries and benefits and a $116,000 decline in occupancy expense. The provision for loan losses increased by $3.9 million in sequential-quarter comparison. We recorded an income tax benefit of $1.4 million during the third quarter of 2018 compared to an income tax benefit of $237,000 in the second quarter of 2018.

Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury as a result of our participation in the Small Business Lending Fund totaled $720,000 for the third quarter of 2018 based on a dividend rate of 9%, unchanged from $720,000 for the second quarter of 2018. Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock issued with the December 28, 2012 acquisition of PSB Financial Corporation totaled $90,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and June 30, 2018.

Fully taxable-equivalent (“FTE”) net interest income decreased $460,000 in sequential-quarter comparison, primarily due to a decrease of $754,000 in interest income on loans, a $193,000 increase in interest expense on deposits, offset primarily by a $450,000 increase in other interest income. Interest income on loans decreased in sequential-quarter comparison due to a $88.5 million decrease in average loan balances that was partially offset by a 17 bps increase in the average yield on loans. There was a 2 bps increase in the average yield on investment securities in sequential quarters from 2.54% to 2.56% and the average balance of investment securities increased $6.4 million. The average yield on total earning assets increased 1 bps for the same period, from 4.39% to 4.40%, respectively. The FTE net interest margin decreased 4 bps in sequential-quarter comparison, from 3.97% for the second quarter of 2018 to 3.93% for the third quarter of 2018.

Third Quarter 2018 vs. Third Quarter 2017 Earnings Comparison

MidSouth reported a net loss available to common shareholders of $5.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to net income available to common shareholders of $856,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Revenues from consolidated operations decreased $2.7 million in quarterly comparison, from $24.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to $21.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Net interest income decreased $2.3 million in quarterly comparison, resulting from a $1.9 million decrease in interest income and a $404,000 increase in interest expense. Noninterest income decreased $396,000 in quarterly comparison.

Excluding non-operating expenses of $5.5 million for the third quarter of 2018 and $0.9 million for the third quarter of 2017, noninterest expense increased $1.2 million in quarterly comparison and consisted primarily of a $1.1 million increase in legal and professional expenses, a $187,000 increase in other expenses and $100,000 increase in OREO expense partially offset by a $366,000 reduction in occupancy expenses resulting from branch closures. The provision for loan losses was unchanged in quarterly comparison. A $1.4 million income tax benefit was reported for third quarter 2018, compared to $574,000 income tax expense reported in the third quarter 2017.

Dividends on preferred stock totaled $810,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock were $720,000 for the third quarters of 2018 and 2017, respectively. Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock totaled $90,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

FTE net interest income decreased $2.5 million in prior year quarterly comparison. Interest income on loans decreased $2.7 million due to a decrease in the average balance of loans of $234.1 million in prior year quarterly comparison. The average yield on loans increased 24 bps in prior year quarterly comparison, from 5.48% to 5.72%.

Investment securities totaled $417.5 million, or 22.9% of total assets at September 30, 2018, compared to $410.0 million, or 21.1% of total assets at September 30, 2017. The investment portfolio had an effective duration of 3.59 years and a net unrealized loss of $8.2 million at September 30, 2018. FTE interest income on investments decreased $331,000 in prior year quarterly comparison. The average volume of investment securities decreased $37.4 million in prior year quarterly comparison, and the average tax equivalent yield on investment securities decreased 9 bps, from 2.65% to 2.56%.

The average yield on all earning assets decreased 16 bps in prior year quarterly comparison, from 4.55% for the third quarter of 2017 to 4.39% for the third quarter of 2018.

Interest expense increased $404,000 in prior year quarterly comparison. Increases in interest expense included a $508,000 increase in interest expense on deposits and a $59,000 increase in interest expense on Trust Preferred Securities ("TruPs"), which were partially offset by a $132,000 decrease in interest expense on repurchase agreements.

As a result of these changes in volume and yield on earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, the FTE net interest margin decreased 27 bps, from 4.20% for the third quarter of 2017 to 3.93% for the third quarter of 2018.

Year-To-Date Earnings Comparison

MidSouth reported a net loss available to common shareholders of $7.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to a net loss available to common shareholders of $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Revenues from consolidated operations decreased $5.3 million in year-over-year comparison, from $70.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to $65.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Net interest income decreased $4.4 million in year-over-year comparison, resulting from a $3.5 million decrease in interest income primarily a result of lower loan income and a $868,000 increase in interest expense. Noninterest income decreased $951,000 in year-over-year comparison and consisted primarily of a $909,000 decrease in service charges on deposits accounts.

Excluding non-operating expenses of $15.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and $3.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, noninterest expense decreased $577,000 in year-over-year comparison and consisted primarily of a $1.2 million decrease in salaries and benefits costs and a $1.2 million decrease in occupancy expense, which was partially offset by increases of $2.7 million in legal and professional fees and $235,000 in other expenses. The provision for loan losses decreased $14.9 million in year-over-year comparison, from $19.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. A $1.6 million income tax benefit was reported for the first nine months of 2018, compared to an income tax benefit of $2.1 million for the first nine months of 2017.

In year-to-date comparison, FTE net interest income decreased $4.7 million primarily due to a $3.5 million decrease in interest income from total loans as a result of lower average balances of loans of $165 million for the period as problem loans have been sold or reduced and exposure to energy credits has been limited. This more than offset the 22 bps increase in average loan yields from 5.37% to 5.59%. The average volume of investment securities decreased $52.3 million in year-over-year comparison, and the average yield on investment securities decreased from 2.67% to 2.55% for the same period resulting primarily from recent tax law changes that have reduced yields on tax-exempt municipal bonds. The average yield on earning assets decreased from 4.53% at September 30, 2017 to 4.43% at September 30, 2018.

Interest expense increased $868,000 in year-over-year comparison. Increases in interest expense included a $1.2 million increase in interest expense on deposits. This increase was partially offset by a $538,000 decrease in interest expense on repurchase agreements. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities was 0.52% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 0.35% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The FTE net interest margin decreased from 4.19% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 4.00% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

About MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.

MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, with total assets of $1.8 billion as of September 30, 2018. MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. trades on the NYSE under the symbol “MSL.” Through its wholly owned subsidiary, MidSouth Bank, N.A., MidSouth offers a full range of banking services to commercial and retail customers in Louisiana and Texas. MidSouth Bank currently has 42 locations in Louisiana and Texas and is connected to a worldwide ATM network that provides customers with access to more than 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Additional corporate information is available at MidSouthBank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties.These statements include, among others, statements regarding expected future financial results, the strength of the Company's balance sheet and its positioning to address problem assets and achieve operating efficiencies and the implementation of the provisions of the formal agreement with the OCC.The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “guidance,” “potential,” “continue,” “project,” “forecast,” “confident,” and similar expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements.

These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate.Any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties and may be affected by various factors that may cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.Factors that might cause such a difference include, among other matters, changes in interest rates and market prices that could affect the net interest margin, asset valuation, and expense levels; changes in local economic and business conditions in the markets we serve, including, without limitation, changes related to the oil and gas industries that could adversely affect customers and their ability to repay borrowings under agreed upon terms, adversely affect the value of the underlying collateral related to their borrowings, and reduce demand for loans; increases in competitive pressure in the banking and financial services industries; increased competition for deposits and loans which could affect compositions, rates and terms; changes in the levels of prepayments received on loans and investment securities that adversely affect the yield and value of the earning assets; our ability to successfully implement and manage our recently announced strategic initiatives; costs and expenses associated with our strategic initiatives and possible changes in the size and components of the expected costs and charges associated with our strategic initiatives; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings from our strategic initiatives within the anticipated time frame, if at all; the ability of the Company to comply with the terms of the formal agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; credit losses due to loan concentration, particularly our energy lending and commercial real estate portfolios; a deviation in actual experience from the underlying assumptions used to determine and establish our allowance for loan losses (“ALLL”), which could result in greater than expected loan losses; the adequacy of the level of our ALLL and the amount of loan loss provisions required in future periods including the impact of implementation of the new CECL (current expected credit loss) methodology; future examinations by our regulatory authorities, including the possibility that the regulatory authorities may, among other things, impose conditions on our operations or require us to increase our allowance for loan losses or write-down assets; changes in the availability of funds resulting from reduced liquidity or increased costs; the timing and impact of future acquisitions or divestitures, the success or failure of integrating acquired operations, and the ability to capitalize on growth opportunities upon entering new markets; the ability to acquire, operate, and maintain effective and efficient operating systems; increased asset levels and changes in the composition of assets that would impact capital levels and regulatory capital ratios; loss of critical personnel and the challenge of hiring qualified personnel at reasonable compensation levels; legislative and regulatory changes, including the impact of regulations under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and other changes in banking, securities and tax laws and regulations and their application by our regulators, changes in the scope and cost of FDIC insurance and other coverage; regulations and restrictions resulting from our participation in government-sponsored programs such as the U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Lending Fund, including potential retroactive changes in such programs; changes in accounting principles, policies, and guidelines applicable to financial holding companies and banking; increases in cybersecurity risk, including potential business disruptions or financial losses; acts of war, terrorism, cyber intrusion, weather, or other catastrophic events beyond our control; and other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in MidSouth’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2018 and in its other filings with the SEC.

MidSouth does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.