German American Bancorp, Inc. (GABC) Posts 6th Consecutive Year of Record Annual Earnings

JASPER, Ind., Jan. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- German American Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:GABC) reported that the Company has achieved record earnings for the year ended on December 31, 2015, marking the 6th consecutive year that the Company has attained this level of performance.  This record financial performance in 2015 continues a trend of exceptional performance by German American, as the Company has consistently delivered double-digit returns on shareholders’ equity over the course of the past decade.

The Company’s 2015 net income of $30.1 million, or $2.27 per share, was an increase of approximately 6%, on a per share basis, over its previous record annual net income of $28.3 million, or $2.14 per share, reported in 2014.  Fourth quarter earnings in the current year of $7.7 million, or $0.58 per share, were comparable to 2014 fourth quarter results of $7.6 million, which also equated to $0.58 per share.

The 2015 record performance was largely attributable to a $1.2 million increased level of net interest income, driven primarily by a higher level of average loans outstanding, as 2015 year-end loans outstanding increased by approximately 8% from the prior year-end level.  The Company also experienced improved non-interest income during the current year, including a $1.1 million increase in the net gains on the sale of residential mortgage loans, and an approximately $500,000 increase in revenue from the Company’s insurance, trust, and investment services operations.  Additionally, German American experienced a further reduced level of provision for loan loss, as the Company’s historic strong asset quality continued to show improvement in 2015.

Commenting on the Company’s continuation of record financial performance in 2015, Mark A. Schroeder, German American’s Chairman & CEO, stated, "The relative level of employment within our markets in 2015 remained among the strongest in the state, and compared favorably to national statistics.  A testament to the local business environment, this combination of economic strength and stability within our markets in 2015 afforded us the opportunity, as a banking organization, to provide our clients with a wide array of financial products and services.  Most notable was the continued growth, over the past year, within our loan portfolio, which was accomplished while still maintaining the level of superb asset quality that has been a consistent contributor to German American’s strong financial performance throughout the course of the past decade.

Our ability to continue the trend of long-term success in 2015 was only possible because of our clients, both local businesses and consumers, continued acceptance of our offerings of financial products and services, our staff’s dedication toward making good on our pledge of exceptional customer service, and our shareholders' unwavering willingness to invest in our Company.  We thank each of these groups for the privilege of assisting them in the achievement of their personal goals and objectives.”

As previously announced, the Company is increasing the level of its regular quarterly cash dividend, having declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share, which will be payable on February 20, 2016 to shareholders of record as of January 29, 2016. This level of regular quarterly cash dividend represents approximately a 6% increase above the Company’s prior quarterly cash dividend level.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets for the Company increased to $2.374 billion at December 31, 2015, representing an increase of $136.6 million, or 6%, compared with December 31, 2014.  The increase during 2015 was largely attributable to growth of the Company’s loan portfolio from throughout its footprint.  December 31, 2015 loans outstanding increased by $50.8 million, or 13% on an annualized basis, compared with September 30, 2015, and increased $116.1 million, or 8%, compared to year-end 2014.

Non-performing assets totaled $3.5 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $5.5 million of non-performing assets at September 30, 2015 and $6.5 million at December 31, 2014.  Non-performing assets represented 0.15% of total assets at December 31, 2015 compared to 0.24% of total assets at September 30, 2015 and 0.29% of total assets at December 31, 2014.  Non-performing loans totaled $3.3 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $5.3 million at September 30, 2015 and $6.1 million of non-performing loans at December 31, 2014.  Non-performing loans represented 0.21% of total loans at December 31, 2015 compared to 0.35% at September 30, 2015 and 0.42% at December 31, 2014.

The Company’s allowance for loan losses totaled $14.4 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $14.8 million at September 30, 2015 representing a decline of $332,000, or 9% on an annualized basis, and a decline of $491,000, or 3%, compared with December 31, 2014.  The allowance for loan losses represented 0.92% of period-end loans at December 31, 2015 compared with 0.98% of period-end loans at September 30, 2015 and 1.03% of period-end loans at December 31, 2014.  Under acquisition accounting treatment, loans acquired are recorded at fair value which includes a credit risk component, and therefore the allowance on loans acquired is not carried over from the seller.  The Company held a discount on acquired loans of $3.0 million as of December 31, 2015, $3.1 million at September 30, 2015 and $4.1 million at December 31, 2014.

Total deposits increased $22.5 million, or 5% on annualized basis, as of December 31, 2015 compared with September 30, 2015 total deposits and increased $46.6 million, or 3%, compared with year-end 2014.

Results of Operations Highlights - Year ended December 31, 2015

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 totaled $30,064,000 or $2.27 per share, an increase of $1,720,000, or approximately 6% on a per share basis, from the year ended December 31, 2014 net income of $28,344,000 or $2.14 per share.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, net interest income totaled $75,552,000 representing an increase of $1,213,000 or 2% from the year ended December 31, 2014 net interest income of $74,339,000.  The tax equivalent net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2015 was 3.70% compared to 3.76% in 2014.  The decline in the net interest margin in 2015 compared with 2014 was largely attributable to the continued downward pressure on earning asset yields being driven by the low market interest rate environment and a competitive marketplace for lending opportunities. Partially mitigating the decline in earning asset yields was a year over year decline in the Company's cost of funds.  Accretion of loan discounts on acquired loans contributed approximately 4 basis points to the net interest margin in 2015 compared with approximately 6 basis points in 2014.

The Company recorded no provision for loan loss during 2015 compared with $150,000 during the year ended December 31, 2014.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, non-interest income increased approximately 15% from the year ended December 31, 2014.

Trust and investment product fees increased $282,000, or 8%, during 2015 compared with 2014 primarily due to growth in assets under management within the Company's trust advisory group.

Other operating income increased $2,497,000 during 2015 compared with 2014.   The donation of a building and accompanying real estate to an economic development foundation in one of the Company's market areas that had a net book value of approximately $360,000 and an estimated fair value of approximately $1.75 million resulted in a net gain on the disposition of fixed assets of approximately $1.4 million.  This disposition gain combined with increased fees associated with swap transactions with loan customers were the primary drivers of the increased other operating income in 2015 compared with  2014.

Net gains on sales of loans increased $1,067,000, or 56%, during 2015 compared with 2014.  Loan sales totaled $132.6 million during 2015 compared with $99.4 million during 2014.  During 2015, the Company realized net gains on the sale of securities of $725,000 related to the sale of approximately $18.3 million of securities.  During 2014, the Company realized net gains on the sale of securities of $1,481,000 related to the sale of $58.7 million of securities.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, non-interest expense increased approximately $3,613,000, or 6%, compared with the year ended December 31, 2014.

Salaries and benefits increased $2,332,000, or 7%, during 2015 compared with 2014. The increase in salaries and benefits during 2015 compared with 2014 was attributable to increased costs associated with the Company's partially self insured health insurance plan, costs related to the Company's long-term equity and short-term cash incentive compensation plans and variable compensation related to an increased level of secondary market mortgage loan production and insurance revenues.

Professional fees increased $367,000, or 16%, during 2015 compared with 2014. The increase was largely attributable to professional fees associated with the pending acquisition of River Valley Bancorp by the Company.

Advertising and promotion expense increased $1,692,000 during 2015 compared with 2014. The increase was primarily due to the aforementioned donation of a building and accompanying real estate to an economic development foundation in one of the Company's market areas.

Results of Operations Highlights – Quarter ended December 31, 2015

Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 totaled $7,712,000, or $0.58 per share, compared with the third quarter 2015 net income of $7,721,000, or $0.58 per share, and the fourth quarter 2014 net income of $7,644,000 or $0.58 per share.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2015, net interest income totaled $19,438,000 representing an increase of $579,000, or 3%, from the quarter ended September 30, 2015 net interest income of $18,859,000 and an increase of $407,000, or 2%, compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2014 net interest income of $19,031,000.  The tax equivalent net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 was 3.69% compared with 3.67% in the third quarter of 2015 and 3.78% in fourth quarter of 2014.  The increase in the net interest margin in fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the third quarter of 2015 was primarily attributable to a higher level of prepayment fees on commercial real estate loans and commercial leases that were received during the fourth quarter of 2015.  These prepayment fees contributed approximately 9 basis points on an annualized basis to the net interest margin during the fourth quarter of 2015.   Accretion of loan discounts on acquired loans contributed approximately 2 basis points to the net interest margin on an annualized basis in the fourth quarter of 2015, 2 basis points in the third quarter of 2015, and 8 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2014.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2015 the Company recorded no provision for loan loss compared with a negative $500,000 provision for loan loss in the third quarter of 2015 and a negative provision of $400,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2015, non-interest income totaled $6,424,000, a decrease of $1,333,000 or 17%, compared with the quarter ended September 30, 2015, and an increase of $707,000, or 12%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.

Other operating income decreased $960,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared with the third quarter of 2015 and increased $735,000 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.   The previously discussed donation of a building and accompanying real estate that occurred during the third quarter of 2015 was the primary driver that resulted in the decline in other operating income.  Partially mitigating this decline was an increased level of gain on the disposition of leased equipment and an increase in the Company's lender risk reserve account that results from the Company's participation in the mortgage purchase program with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis.  The increase in other operating income in fourth quarter 2015 compared with the same quarter of 2014 was primarily attributable to the previously mentioned disposition of leased equipment and an increase in the Company's lender risk reserve account with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis

Net gains on sales of loans decreased $236,000, or 28%, during the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the third quarter of 2015 and increased $178,000 or 43% compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.  Loan sales totaled $21.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with $39.1 million during the third quarter of 2015 and $27.1 million during the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Company realized no gains on sales of securities during the third or fourth quarters of 2015 compared with a net gain on the sale of securities of $442,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2015, non-interest expense totaled $15,212,000, a decrease of $1,754,000, or 10%, compared with the quarter ended September 30, 2015, and an increase of $810,000, or 6%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.

Advertising and promotion decreased $1,654,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared with the third quarter of 2015.  The primary driver of the increase in advertising and promotion was the recognition of a $1,750,000 contribution expense related to the donation of a building and accompanying real estate to an economic development foundation.

The Company’s effective income tax rate was 27.6% in the quarter ended December 31, 2015, 23.9% during the quarter ended September 30, 2015 and 28.9% during the quarter ended December 31, 2014.  The lower effective tax rate during third quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 was primarily impacted by the aforementioned donation of a building and accompanying real estate, the overall percentage change in revenue generated from tax-advantaged sources, and the timing of the reversal of certain deferred tax items.

About German American

German American Bancorp, Inc., is a NASDAQ-traded (symbol: GABC) financial services holding company based in Jasper, Indiana.  German American, through its banking subsidiary German American Bancorp, operates 37 banking offices in 13 southern Indiana counties. The Company also owns an investment brokerage subsidiary (German American Investment Services, Inc.) and a full line property and casualty insurance agency (German American Insurance, Inc.).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Company’s statements in this press release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements include, but are not limited to, descriptions of the levels of loan and banking service demand and economic strength that management is seeing in its geographical banking footprint.  Readers are cautioned that, by their nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Actual results and experience could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, those discussed in the press release. Factors that could cause actual experience to differ from the expectations implied in this press release include the unknown future direction of interest rates and the timing and magnitude of any changes in interest rates; changes in competitive conditions; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of asset/liability management strategies or of mergers and acquisitions and other business initiatives and strategies; changes in customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; changes in fiscal, monetary and tax policies; changes in financial and capital markets; potential deterioration in general economic conditions, either nationally or locally, resulting in, among other things, credit quality deterioration; capital management activities, including possible future sales of new securities, or possible repurchases or redemptions by the Company of outstanding debt or equity securities; risks of expansion through acquisitions and mergers, such as unexpected credit quality problems of the acquired loans or other assets, unexpected attrition of the customer base of the acquired institution or branches, and difficulties in integration of the acquired operations; factors driving impairment charges on investments; the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; potential cyber-attacks, information security breaches and other criminal activities; litigation liabilities, including related costs, expenses, settlements and judgments, or the outcome of matters before regulatory agencies, whether pending or commencing in the future; actions of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in accounting principles and interpretations; potential increases of federal deposit insurance premium expense, and possible future special assessments of FDIC premiums, either industry wide or specific to the Company’s banking subsidiary; actions of the regulatory authorities under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and other possible legislative and regulatory actions and reforms; the continued availability of earnings and excess capital sufficient for the lawful and prudent declaration and payment of cash dividends; and other risk factors expressly identified in the Company’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.  Such statements reflect our views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity of the Company.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  It is intended that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.