HBCP Home Bancorp Inc

LAFAYETTE, La., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Home Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: HBCP) (the "Company"), the parent company for Home Bank (www.home24bank.com), a Federally chartered savings bank headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana (the "Bank"), announced net income of $2.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of $1.2 million, or 131%, compared to the third quarter of 2011 and an increase of $669,000, or 46%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.  The third and fourth quarters of 2011 include pre-tax expenses related to the acquisition of GS Financial Corp. of $1.4 million and $604,000, respectively.  Excluding merger-related expenses, net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $2.5 million, an increase of 34% and 73% compared to the third quarter of 2011 and the fourth quarter of 2010, respectively.  

Diluted earnings per share were $0.30 for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $0.13 for the third quarter of 2011 and $0.20 for the fourth quarter of 2010.  Excluding merger-related expenses, diluted earnings per share were $0.36 for the fourth quarter of 2011, increases of 33% and 71% compared to the third quarter of 2011 and the fourth quarter of 2010, respectively.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $5.1 million, an increase of $432,000, or 9%, compared to 2010.  Diluted earnings per share for 2011 were $0.71, an increase of 15% compared to $0.62 in 2010.  

"We are pleased with the direction of our financial results," stated John W. Bordelon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, "and are even more excited about the development of our team.  We have assembled a team of bankers who are committed to expanding customer relationships through sound financial advice and products.  We seek to differentiate ourselves daily by offering flexible and timely solutions that better the lives of our customers."  

"Our prospects for 2012 are strong due to the economic health of our markets and our reputation for doing what's best for our customers," added Mr. Bordelon.  "We are focused on continually enhancing shareholder value through improved earnings."

Acquisition of GS Financial Corp.

As previously reported, the Company now serves the Greater New Orleans area through its acquisition of GS Financial Corp., the former holding company of Guaranty Savings Bank ("GSB") of Metairie, Louisiana, on July 15, 2011.  As a result of the transaction, the Company acquired $256.8 million of assets, including loans of $182.5 million, and $230.7 million in deposits and other liabilities.   Shareholders of GS Financial Corp. received $21.00 per share in cash, resulting in a total purchase price of $26.4 million.  

Loans and Credit Quality

Total loans were $666.4 million at December 31, 2011, an increase of $12.7 million, or 2%, from September 30, 2011, and an increase of $226.5 million, or 51%, from December 31, 2010.  Fourth quarter 2011 loan growth was in construction and land loans (up $8.6 million), commercial real estate loans (up $5.0 million) and multi-family residential loans (up $4.8 million).  These increases were offset by decreases in one- to four- family first mortgage loans (down $5.2 million) and commercial and industrial loans (down $2.1 million).  The increase in loans during 2011 was primarily the result of the loans acquired in the acquisition of GSB, which totaled $182.5 million at the acquisition date.

In connection with the Company's acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of Statewide Bank from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") in March 2010, Home Bank entered into loss sharing agreements with the FDIC which cover the loan portfolio acquired from Statewide Bank ("Covered Loans") and other repossessed assets (collectively referred to as "Covered Assets").  Under the terms of the loss sharing agreements, the FDIC will absorb 80% of the first $41 million of losses incurred on Covered Assets and 95% of losses on Covered Assets exceeding $41 million.  Covered loans totaled $61.1 million at December 31, 2011, down $6.2 million and down $19.4 million compared to September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company's loan portfolio as of the dates indicated.  

Nonperforming assets ("NPAs") totaled $30.4 million at December 31, 2011, an increase of $2.4 million compared to September 30, 2011 and an increase of $7.6 million compared to December 31, 2010.  NPAs include $16.6 million in Covered Assets and $9.9 million acquired from GSB.  Excluding Covered Assets, the ratio of NPAs to total assets was 1.55% at December 31, 2011, compared to 1.32% at September 30, 2011 and 0.19% at December 31, 2010.  

The Company recorded net loan recoveries of $7,000 during the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to net loan charge-offs of $53,000 in the third quarter of 2011 and $151,000 in the fourth quarter of 2010.  

The Company's loan loss provision for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $568,000, compared to $526,000 for the third quarter of 2011 and $147,000 for the fourth quarter of 2010.  The increases compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 are primarily attributable to loan growth and modest downgrades of certain loans in the Company's organic (i.e., not acquired) loan portfolio.  

At December 31, 2011, the Company's ratio of allowance for loan losses to total loans was 0.77%, compared to 0.69% and 0.89% at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  The increase in the ratio of allowance for loan losses to total loans during the fourth quarter was due to loan growth and modest downgrades of certain loans.  The decrease in the fourth quarter 2011 ratio of allowance for loan losses to total loans compared to fourth quarter 2010 relates primarily to the acquisition of the GSB loans.  Under accounting rules generally accepted in the United States, an acquirer may not carry over the acquiree's allowance for loan losses.  Instead, the acquirer must fair value the cash flows expected to be derived from the acquired loan portfolio.  Management has included its credit loss expectations in the acquired loan portfolio's cash flow assumptions used to derive the portfolio's fair value.  Hence, management believes that expected credit losses in the acquired loan portfolio were appropriately addressed in the fair value adjustments recorded on the acquired loan portfolio.  Excluding acquired loans of GSB and Statewide Bank, the ratio of allowance for loan losses to total organic loans was 1.14% at December 31, 2011.  Subsequent to acquisitions, ongoing evaluations of the acquired loan portfolio may result in additional provisions for the acquired loans.

Investment Securities Portfolio

The Company's investment securities portfolio totaled $158.7 million at December 31, 2011, a decrease of $10.7 million, or 6%, from September 30, 2011, and an increase of $31.5 million, or 25%, from December 31, 2010.  The decrease in investment securities during the fourth quarter of 2011 resulted primarily from paydowns, calls and maturities during the period.  The increase compared to December 31, 2010 resulted primarily from the addition of $46.5 million in investment securities acquired from GSB.  At December 31, 2011, the Company had a net unrealized gain position on its investment securities portfolio of $2.6 million, compared to net unrealized gains of $2.5 million and $1.0 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

The Company maintains a portfolio of non-agency mortgage-backed securities, which had an amortized cost of $14.8 million at December 31, 2011.  Each of these securities is rated investment grade by Standard & Poor's and/or Moody's.      

Deposits

Deposits totaled $730.7 million at December 31, 2011, an increase of $11.3 million, or 2%, from September 30, 2011, and $177.5 million, or 32%, from December 31, 2010.  The acquisition of GSB added $193.5 million in deposits.  The Company's organic core deposits (i.e., checking, savings and money market accounts) increased for the tenth consecutive quarter, posting growth of $12.7 million, or 3.6%, during the fourth quarter of 2011.  

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company's deposits at the dates indicated.

Share Repurchases

The Company purchased 102,200 shares of its common stock during the fourth quarter of 2011 at an average price per share of $14.83 under the share repurchase plan announced in May 2011.  The Company may repurchase up to 402,835 shares, or approximately 5%, of the Company's outstanding common stock under the May 2011 plan.  As of January 20, 2012, the Company has purchased 304,325 shares under the plan at an average price per share of $14.55; hence, 98,510 additional shares remain eligible for purchase under the plan.  The tangible book value per share of the Company's common stock was $16.96 at December 31, 2011.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $10.0 million, an increase of $593,000, or 6%, compared to the third quarter of 2011, and an increase of $2.8 million, or 40%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.  The Company's net interest margin was 4.66% for the fourth quarter of 2011, eight basis points higher than the third quarter of 2011 and four basis points lower than the fourth quarter of 2010.  The increase in the net interest margin compared to the third quarter of 2011 was primarily due to changes in the mix of interest-earning assets.  The decrease in the net interest margin compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 was primarily due to lower average yields on interest-earning assets resulting from the current interest rate environment and lower costs on interest-bearing liabilities.

Net interest income for 2011 totaled $33.2 million, an increase of $5.4 million, or 20%, compared to 2010.   The 20% increase relates primarily to the acquisition of GSB and organic loan and core deposit growth.  The Company's net interest margin was 4.64% in 2011, two basis points higher than 2010, which was the result of mix changes in interest-earnings assets and lower costs on interest-bearing liabilities.

The following table sets forth the Company's average balance and average yields earned and rates paid on its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $1.9 million, an increase of $259,000, or 16%, compared to the third quarter of 2011 and an increase of $380,000, or 26%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.  The increase in noninterest income in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2011 was primarily the result of increased gains on the sale of mortgage loans of $357,000, or 217%.  The increase in noninterest income in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 was primarily the result of increased gains on the sale of mortgage loans of $183,000, or 54%, and the absence of OTTI charges of $218,000 incurred in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Noninterest income for 2011 totaled $6.8 million, an increase of $2.3 million, or 51%, from 2010.  The increase in noninterest income in 2011 compared to 2010 was primarily the result of the absence of OTTI charges of $1.2 million incurred in 2010 and a $525,000 payment received in settlement of a lawsuit during the second quarter of 2011.  Additionally, service fees and charges, bank card fees and gains on the sale of mortgage loans increased in 2011 compared to 2010 as a result of the GSB acquisition and organic customer growth.  

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $8.1 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 12%, compared to the third quarter of 2011 and an increase of $1.8 million, or 29%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.  Noninterest expense for the third and fourth quarters of 2011 include pre-tax expenses related to the acquisition of GSB of $1.4 million and $604,000, respectively.  Such merger-related expenses included professional fees, data conversion and severance and other employee costs associated with the merger and related systems conversion.  Excluding merger-related expenses, noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $7.5 million, a decrease of $255,000, or 3%, compared to the third quarter of 2011 and an increase of $1.2 million, or 19%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.    

Exclusive of merger-related expenses, the decrease in noninterest expense during the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2011 was primarily attributable to decreases in accruals for the Louisiana shares tax and FDIC assessments.  Such decreases were partially offset by increased foreclosed asset collection expenses.

Exclusive of merger-related expenses, the increase in noninterest expense in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter last year was primarily attributable to the growth of the Company's branch network due to the GSB acquisition.  

Noninterest expense for 2011 totaled $30.8 million, an increase of $6.4 million, or 26%, from 2010.  The increase in noninterest expense in 2011 compared to 2010 was primarily the result of higher compensation and benefits, occupancy and data processing and communications expenses related primarily to the GSB acquisition.

This news release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The Company's management uses this non-GAAP financial information in its analysis of the Company's performance. In this news release, information is included which excludes the impact of merger-related expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP financial information provides useful information that is essential to a proper understanding of the Company's core operating results. This non-GAAP financial information should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial information presented by other companies.

This news release contains certain forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may."

Forwardlooking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties.  A number of factors many of which are beyond our control could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ significantly from those described in the forwardlooking statements.  Home Bancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, describes some of these factors, including risk elements in the loan portfolio, the level of the allowance for losses on loans, risks of our growth strategy, geographic concentration of our business, dependence on our management team, risks of market rates of interest and of regulation on our business and risks of competition. Forwardlooking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  We do not undertake to update forwardlooking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forwardlooking statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.