EX-99 2 q107prex.htm CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC. EXHIBIT PRESS RELEASE Form 8-K - Press Release - First Quarter 2003

EXHIBIT 99.1

 
 

Greg Parker

 

Investor Relations

 

210/220-5632

 

     or

 

Renee Sabel

 

Media Relations

 

210/220-5416

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2007

 
 

CULLEN/FROST REPORTS FIRST QUARTER

RESULTS AND TIMING OF EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

 

SAN ANTONIO - Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR) today reported first quarter 2007 net income of $47.3 million, compared to first quarter 2006 earnings of $46.7 million. On a per-share basis, earnings for the quarter were $.78 per diluted common share, down 6.0 percent compared to the $.83 per diluted common share reported a year earlier. As previously announced, the first quarter of 2007 results included $5.3 million in expenses relating to the early redemption of $100 million in trust preferred securities or $.06 per diluted common share after taxes. Returns on average assets and equity for the first quarter of 2007 were 1.47 percent and 13.78 percent, respectively, compared to 1.68 percent and 18.86 percent for the same quarter the previous year.

For the first quarter of 2007, net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis increased 14.3 percent to $131.1 million, compared to the $114.7 million reported for the first quarter of 2006. Average loans were up 17.4 percent to $7.4 billion, from the $6.3 billion reported a year earlier. Average deposits for the quarter were $10.3 billion, up 14.0 percent over the $9.0 billion reported in the first quarter of 2006. These average loan and deposit growth rates were impacted by three acquisitions completed during 2006. Two were completed in February of 2006 and the most recent acquisition, of Summit Bancshares, Inc., was completed and fully converted to Frost systems in December of 2006.

 

"This quarter's results were impacted by expenses relating to the early redemption of trust preferred securities, as well as several other unusual income and expense items," said Dick Evans, chairman and CEO of Cullen/Frost. "Along with good increases in fee income from trust and insurance operations and a 14.3 percent increase in net interest income, we also saw an improvement in asset quality relative to the previous quarter. While loans and deposits were both up over the first quarter of 2006, organic loan growth has slowed, in part due to strong competition in loan structure and pricing. We are fortunate to operate in some of the best markets in the country, and also some of the most competitive. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"Now in our 140th year as a Texas company, we remain confident in the Texas economy and steadfast in our commitment to providing the very best service and products to our customers, and to maintaining shareholder value. Our outstanding staff continues to meet challenges head-on, while taking good care of our customers. As always, I am grateful for their dedication and hard work."

Other noted financial data for the first quarter follows:

 

All of the following comparisons to the first quarter of 2006 were impacted, in part, by two acquisitions completed during the first quarter of 2006 - Texas Community Bancshares, Inc. in Dallas and Alamo Corporation of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley - and one acquisition completed during the fourth quarter of 2006 - Summit Bancshares, Inc. in Fort Worth.

   

w

Net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis increased 14.3 percent to $131.1 million, from the $114.7 million reported a year earlier. This increase in net interest income was impacted in part by a 14.0 percent increase in average deposits from the first quarter of 2006, to $10.3 billion, which in turn contributed to a rise of $1.4 billion in average earning assets compared to the same period a year earlier. The net interest margin decreased one basis point from the first quarter last year to 4.65 percent, offsetting, in small part, the positive impact of the higher volume of earning assets. When compared to the fourth quarter of 2006, the net interest margin increased three basis points from 4.62 percent.

   

w

   Non-interest income for the first quarter of 2007 increased 9.9 percent to $67.1 million, from the $61.0 million reported a year earlier.

   Trust fees increased 7.3 percent to $16.9 million over the $15.8 million reported in the first quarter of 2006. The increase was primarily a result of increased levels of investment fees, which are assessed based on the market values of trust assets that are managed and held in custody. These values were $23.6 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2007. The Corporation also experienced an increase in the number of new trust accounts since last year.

   Insurance commissions and fees were $10.6 million for the quarter, an increase of 18.4 percent over the $9.0 million reported for a year earlier. This increase was due to higher contingent commissions (up $965 thousand) and commission income (up $688 thousand).

   Other income increased 25.8 percent from the first quarter of last year, to $13.8 million. The increase in other income this quarter was due in part to increases in sundry income from various unusual items during the first quarter of 2007, including $1.1 million in income recognized from the collection of interest and other charges on loans charged-off in prior years. Also impacting other income were increases in check card usage (up $649 thousand) and gain on sale of assets (up $596 thousand), primarily from a duplicate branch location sold in North Texas.

   Service charges on deposits were $18.8 million, down 1.4 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago. An increase in the earnings credit rate for commercial accounts, compared to a year earlier, impacted treasury management fees. When interest rates are higher, customers earn more credit for their deposit balances, and this, in turn, reduces the amount of service charges to be paid for through fees.

   

w

Non-interest expense for the quarter was $122.1 million, up 21.5 percent over the $100.5 million reported for the first quarter of 2006. The increase in total salaries and related employee benefits was $6.9 million, or 11.6 percent, primarily the result of the three acquisitions completed during 2006, as well as the addition of new employees and normal annual merit increases. The recent acquisitions also impacted lease expense, utilities and depreciation expense related to buildings, resulting in a rise in net occupancy expenses of $1.2 million from the first quarter of 2006. Other non-interest expense for the quarter rose $11.9 million and included increases in sundry expenses for various unusual items, including approximately $5.3 million in expenses relating to the early redemption of $100 million in trust preferred securities. Also included in sundry expense was approximately $1.4 million in expense related to a contribution for previously unmatched employee contributions to the Corporation's 401(k) plan. In addition to these sundry expenses, there were other non-interest expenses, such as higher advertising expenses (up $1.3 million), losses on sales of foreclosed assets (up $829 thousand) and professional service expenses (up $756 thousand) that impacted the increase from the first quarter last year.

   

w

For the first quarter of 2007, the provision for possible loan losses was $2.7 million, compared to net charge-offs for the quarter of $2.6 million. The loan loss provision for the first quarter of 2006 was $3.9 million, compared to net charge-offs of $2.5 million. Non-performing assets at quarter end were $50.5 million, compared to $40.8 million a year earlier and $57.7 million the previous quarter. The allowance for possible loan losses as a percentage of loans was 1.29 percent at both March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006.

   

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (CT) to discuss the results for the quarter. The media and other interested parties are invited to access the call in a "listen only" mode at 1-800-944-6430. Digital playback of the conference call will be available after 2:00 p.m. CT until midnight Sunday, April 29,2007 at 800-642-1687 with Conference ID # of 5811363. The call will also be available by webcast at the URL listed below and available for playback after 2:00 p.m. CT. After entering the website, www.frostbank.com, go to "About Frost" on the top navigation bar, then click on Investor Relations.

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) is a financial holding company, headquartered in San Antonio, with assets of $13.2 billion at March 31, 2007. The corporation provides a full range of commercial and consumer banking products, investment and brokerage services, insurance products and investment banking services. Its subsidiary, Frost Bank, operates more than 100 financial centers across Texas in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost is one of the largest banks headquartered in Texas, with a legacy of helping Texans with their financial needs during three centuries.


 

Forward-Looking Statements and Factors that Could Affect Future Results

Certain statements contained in this Earnings Release that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified as such. In addition, certain statements may be contained in the Corporation's future filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the Corporation that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of Cullen/Frost or its management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "targeted", "continue", "remain", "will", "should", "may" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

   Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

w

Local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on the Corporation and its customers and the Corporation's assessment of that impact.

w

Changes in the level of non-performing assets and charge-offs.

w

Changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements.

w

The effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board.

w

Inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations.

w

Political instability.

w

Acts of war or terrorism.

w

The timely development and acceptance of new products and services and perceived overall value of these products and services by users.

w

Changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits.

w

Changes in the financial performance and/or condition of the Corporation's borrowers.

w

Technological changes.

w

Acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses.

w

The ability to increase market share and control expenses.

w

Changes in the competitive environment among financial holding companies and other financial service providers.

w

The effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) with which the Corporation and its subsidiaries must comply.

w

The effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters.

w

Changes in the Corporation's organization, compensation and benefit plans.

w

The costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments including the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries and the results of regulatory examinations or reviews.

w

Greater than expected costs or difficulties related to the integration of new products and lines of business.

w

The Corporation's success at managing the risk involved in the foregoing items.

 

   Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

 

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL SUMMARY (UNAUDITED)

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
   
 

2007

 

2006

 

   

1st Qtr

   

4th Qtr

   

3rd Qtr

   

2nd Qtr

   

1st Qtr

 

CONDENSED INCOME STATEMENTS

                             

 

                             

Net interest income

$

127,833

 

$

121,229

 

$

118,526

 

$

116,968

 

$

112,440

 

Net interest income(1)

 

131,127

   

124,017

   

121,093

   

119,309

   

114,719

 

Provision for possible loan
  losses

 


2,650

   


3,400

   


1,711

   


5,105

   


3,934

 

Non-interest income:

                             

 Trust fees

 

16,907

   

16,009

   

15,962

   

15,744

   

15,754

 

 Service charges on deposit
  accounts

 


18,831

   


19,142

   


19,301

   


19,566

   


19,107

 

 Insurance commissions and fees

 


10,628

   


5,907

   


7,204

   


6,144

   


8,975

 

 Other charges, commissions and   fees

 


6,858

   


6,009

   


7,228

   


8,681

   


6,187

 

 Net gain (loss) on securities   transactions

 


--

   


--

   


--

   


--

   


(1


)

 Other

 

13,848

   

11,333

   

10,871

   

10,615

   

11,009

 

 Total non-interest income

 

67,072

   

58,400

   

60,566

   

60,750

   

61,031

 
                               

Non-interest expense:

                             

 Salaries and wages

 

51,714

   

48,472

   

48,743

   

47,463

   

46,106

 

 Employee benefits

 

14,426

   

10,739

   

10,882

   

11,434

   

13,176

 

 Net occupancy

 

9,634

   

8,786

   

8,964

   

8,512

   

8,433

 

 Furniture and equipment

 

6,928

   

7,081

   

6,553

   

6,357

   

6,302

 

 Intangible amortization

 

2,326

   

1,671

   

1,293

   

1,358

   

1,306

 

 Other

 

37,059

   

28,846

   

27,175

   

25,555

   

25,146

 

 Total non-interest expense

 

122,087

   

105,595

   

103,610

   

100,679

   

100,469

 

Income before income taxes

 

70,168

   

70,634

   

73,771

   

71,934

   

69,068

 

Income taxes

 

22,889

   

22,272

   

23,769

   

23,384

   

22,391

 

Net income

$

47,279

 

$

48,362

 

$

50,002

 

$

48,550

 

$

46,677

 

                               

PER SHARE DATA

                             

Net income - basic

$

0.79

 

$

0.85

 

$

0.90

 

$

0.88

 

$

0.86

 

Net income - diluted

 

0.78

   

0.84

   

0.88

   

0.86

   

0.83

 

Cash dividends

 

0.34

   

0.34

   

0.34

   

0.34

   

0.30

 

Book value at end of quarter

 

23.64

   

23.01

   

20.08

   

18.51

   

18.34

 
                               

OUTSTANDING SHARES

                             

Period-end shares

 

59,972

   

59,839

   

55,821

   

55,542

   

55,106

 

Weighted-average shares - basic

 


59,676

   


56,726

   


55,440

   


55,105

   


54,574

 

Dilutive effect of stock
  compensation

 


919

   


1,007

   


1,147

   


1,198

   


1,353

 

Weighted-average shares -
  diluted

 


60,595

   


57,733

   


56,587

   


56,303

   


55,927

 
                               

SELECTED ANNUALIZED RATIOS

                             

Return on average assets

 

1.47

%

 

1.59

%

 

1.72

%

 

1.70

%

 

1.68

%

Return on average equity

 

13.78

   

16.04

   

18.56

   

19.02

   

18.86

 

Net interest income to average   earning assets(1)

 


4.65

   


4.62

   


4.69

   


4.70

   


4.66

 
                               

 

(1) Taxable-equivalent basis assuming a 35% tax rate.

 

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL SUMMARY (UNAUDITED)

 
                         
   

2007

         

2006

       

   

1st Qtr

 

4th Qtr

 

3rd Qtr

 

2nd Qtr

   

1st Qtr

 

BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY

                             

 ($ in millions)

                             

Average Balance:

                             

  Loans

$

7,404

 

$

6,681

 

$

6,565

 

$

6,539

 

$

6,307

 

  Earning assets

 

11,349

   

10,629

   

10,181

   

10,090

   

9,906

 

  Total assets

 

13,058

   

12,071

   

11,522

   

11,450

   

11,286

 

  Non-interest-bearing     demand deposits

 


3,541

   


3,423

   


3,309

   


3,300

   


3,305

 

  Interest-bearing deposits

 


6,711

   


6,107

   


5,829

   


5,769

   


5,691

 

  Total deposits

 

10,252

   

9,530

   

9,138

   

9,069

   

8,996

 

  Shareholders' equity

 

1,392

   

1,196

   

1,069

   

1,024

   

1,004

 
                               

Period-End Balance:

                             

  Loans

$

7,459

 

$

7,373

 

$

6,516

 

$

6,577

 

$

6,511

 

  Earning assets

 

11,405

   

11,461

   

10,324

   

10,076

   

10,300

 

  Goodwill and intangible
    assets

 


564

   


563

   


268

   


268

   


269

 

  Total assets

 

13,176

   

13,224

   

11,647

   

11,403

   

11,579

 

  Total deposits

 

10,280

   

10,388

   

9,270

   

9,078

   

9,292

 

  Shareholders' equity

 

1,418

   

1,377

   

1,121

   

1,028

   

1,011

 

  Adjusted shareholders'
    equity(1)

 


1,466

   


1,432

   


1,179

   


1,135

   


1,086

 
                               

ASSET QUALITY

                             

  ($ in thousands)

                             

Allowance for possible

                             

  loan losses

$

96,144

 

$

96,085

 

$

85,667

 

$

85,552

 

$

84,142

 

   as a percentage of

                             

    period-end loans

 

1.29

%

 

1.30

%

 

1.31

%

 

1.30

%

 

1.29

%

                               

Net charge-offs

$

2,591

 

$

3,329

 

$

1,596

 

$

3,695

 

$

2,490

 

   Annualized as a percentage

                             

    of average loans

 

0.14

%

 

0.20

%

 

0.10

%

 

0.23

%

 

0.16

%

                               

Non-performing assets:

                             

  Non-accrual loans

$

46,769

 

$

52,204

 

$

30,045

 

$

30,824

 

$

34,027

 

  Foreclosed assets

 

3,715

   

5,545

   

4,971

   

6,461

   

6,766

 

    Total

$

50,484

 

$

57,749

 

$

35,016

 

$

37,285

 

$

40,793

 

   As a percentage of:

                             

  Total loans and

                             

     foreclosed assets

 

0.68

%

 

0.78

%

 

0.54

%

 

0.57

%

 

0.63

%

  Total assets

 

0.38

   

0.44

   

0.30

   

0.33

   

0.35

 
                               

CONSOLIDATED CAPITAL RATIOS

                             

                               

Tier 1 Risk-Based

                             

  Capital Ratio

 

10.41

%

 

11.25

%

 

12.39

%

 

12.00

%

 

11.55

%

Total Risk-Based

                             

  Capital Ratio

 

13.54

   

13.43

   

14.68

 

14.65

   

14.21

 

Leverage Ratio

 

8.31

   

9.56

   

9.76

   

9.36

   

9.12

 

Equity to Assets Ratio
   (period-end)

 


10.76

   


10.41

   


9.63

   


9.01

   


8.73

 

Equity to Assets Ratio
   (average)

 


10.66

 

 


9.91

   


9.28

   


8.94

   


8.89

 
                               

(1) Shareholders' equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income(loss).

 

###