Marshall & Ilsley Corporation Reports 2009 Fourth Quarter and Year End Results

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

• Net loss of $0.54 per share for fourth quarter 2009.
• Continued stabilization in credit quality.
  • Nonperforming loans decreased $205 million, or 9 percent from third quarter 2009 – the second consecutive quarterly decline.
  • Early stage delinquencies fell $134 million, or 16 percent, from third quarter 2009 – the third consecutive quarterly decline and at lowest level since December 2007.
• Increased allowance for loan and lease losses to 3.35 percent of total loans and leases.
• Net interest margin rose 13 basis points to 2.95 percent from prior quarter.

Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE: MI) (M&I) today reported a 2009 fourth quarter net loss of $259.5 million, or $0.54 per share, as compared to a net loss of $1,891.7 million, or $7.25 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, M&I reported a net loss of $858.8 million, or $2.46 per share, as compared to a net loss of $2,056.2 million, or $7.92 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2008. The financial results for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the year ended December 31, 2008 included a goodwill impairment charge of $1,487.9 million after-tax.

"Our aggressive approach to managing credit continued to impact M&I's financial results during the fourth quarter of 2009," said Mark Furlong, president and CEO, Marshall & Ilsley Corporation. "Despite the loss, there are some encouraging signs that credit quality has stabilized and core earnings trends have improved. M&I remains committed to returning the Company to profitability as soon as possible."

Loan and Deposit Growth

M&I's average loans and leases totaled $45.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2009, decreasing $4.9 billion or 10 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. When adjusted for the targeted reduction in the Corporation's construction and development portfolio, loans fell $1.2 billion or 3 percent versus the same period last year.

The Corporation's average deposits totaled $41.6 billion for the fourth quarter of 2009, rising $1.0 billion or 2 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2008. M&I's core deposits posted strong growth over the past year, reflecting expanded product offerings. The Corporation's average noninterest bearing deposits totaled $8.0 billion for the fourth quarter of 2009, increasing $1.9 billion or 32 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. M&I's average savings and NOW accounts totaled $6.5 billion for the fourth quarter of 2009, increasing $3.2 billion or 100 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.

Net Interest Income

The Corporation's net interest income (FTE) was $406.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, up $11.6 million or 3 percent compared to the third quarter of 2009. The net interest margin was 2.95 percent, up 13 basis points from the previous quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2009, M&I's net interest margin benefited from credit quality improvement and the restructuring and/or retiring of certain debt instruments.

Asset Quality

M&I continued to proactively address credit quality in the fourth quarter of 2009 by identifying and writing down troubled assets, selling problem loans, reducing exposure to construction and development loans, and building loan loss reserves.

• Provision for loan and lease losses was $639.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 versus $578.7 million in the third quarter of 2009. Net charge-offs for the period were $572.3 million compared to $532.7 million in the prior quarter.
• Construction and development (C&D) exposure declined from the third quarter of 2009 to 12.5 percent of total loans. Arizona C&D exposure fell 64 percent since the fourth quarter of 2007.
• Allowance for loan and lease losses increased 28 basis points to 3.35 percent of total loans and leases from the prior quarter.

Asset quality trends demonstrated further stabilization through lower early stage delinquencies and nonperforming loans.

• Early stage delinquencies fell $134 million, or 16 percent, from the third quarter of 2009 – the third consecutive quarterly decline and at the lowest level since December 2007.
• Nonperforming loans decreased $205 million, or 9 percent from the third quarter of 2009 – the second consecutive quarterly decline.
• Nonperforming loans and leases were 4.62 percent (or 3.05 percent excluding nonperforming loans and leases less than ninety days past due) of total loans and leases at December 31, 2009, compared to 4.88 percent at September 30, 2009.

Non-Interest Income

The Corporation's non-interest income was $243.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to $166.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. Net securities gains of $40.6 million, debt termination gains of $30.9 million, and losses on loans held for sale of $11.1 million were unique to the current quarter. Wealth Management revenue was $69.9 million for the current quarter, exceeding the same quarter last year by $5.7 million or 9 percent. Assets under Management and Assets under Administration were $32.9 billion and $122.3 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2009 (record highs), compared to $30.4 billion and $104.4 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2008.

Non-Interest Expense

M&I's non-interest expense was $409.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to $402.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 (excluding the $1,535.1 million goodwill impairment charge). The Corporation's non-interest expense was unchanged versus the prior quarter. Credit-related expenses (meaning expenses associated with collection efforts and carrying nonperforming assets) were $69.1 million for the current quarter versus $45.2 million in the same period last year. Excluding these items and the goodwill impairment charge, non-interest expense declined $17.3 million or 5 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2008. After adjusting for certain net credit-related expenses and other one-time items, M&I's efficiency ratio was 56.7 percent in the current quarter.

Year End Results

M&I reported a net loss of $858.8 million, or $2.46 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to a net loss of $2,056.2 million, or $7.92 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2008. The financial results for the year ended December 31, 2008 included a goodwill impairment charge of $1,487.9 million after-tax. The Corporation's net interest income (FTE) was $1,608.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of  $200.6 million or 11 percent compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. M&I's non-interest income was $915.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $167.5 million or 22 percent versus the year ended December 31, 2008. The Corporation's non-interest expense was $1,579.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, falling $1,414.7 million or 47 percent compared to the year ended December 31, 2008.

Balance Sheet and Capital Management

The Corporation's consolidated assets and total equity were $57.2 billion and $7.0 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2009, compared to $62.3 billion and $6.3 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2008. There were 525.4 million common shares outstanding at December 31, 2009, versus 265.3 million outstanding at December 31, 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2009, M&I paid $25 million or $0.05 per share for dividends on the Corporation's Senior Preferred Stock, Series B, owned by the U.S. Treasury under the Capital Purchase Program.

M&I's tangible common equity ratio was 8.2 percent at December 31, 2009, compared to 6.4 percent at December 31, 2008.

Conference Call

Marshall & Ilsley Corporation will hold a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (Central Standard Time) Wednesday, January 20, regarding fourth quarter results. For those interested in listening, please call 1-888-711-1825 and ask for M&I's quarterly results conference call. If you are unable to join us at this time, a replay of the call will be available beginning at 3:00 p.m. on January 20 and will run through 5:00 p.m. February 19, by calling 1-800-642-1687 and entering pass code 491 82 228. Supplemental financial information referenced in the conference call can be found at www.micorp.com, Investor Relations, after 8:00 a.m. on January 20.

About Marshall & Ilsley Corporation

Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE: MI) is a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., with $57.2 billion in assets. Founded in 1847, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank is the largest Wisconsin-based bank, with 192 offices throughout the state. In addition, M&I has 53 locations throughout Arizona; 33 offices in Indianapolis and nearby communities; 36 offices along Florida's west coast and in central Florida; 16 offices in Kansas City and nearby communities; 26 offices in metropolitan Minneapolis/St. Paul, and one in Duluth, Minn.; and one office in Las Vegas, Nev. M&I's Southwest Bank subsidiary has 17 offices in the greater St. Louis area. M&I also provides trust and investment management, equipment leasing, mortgage banking, asset-based lending, financial planning, investments, and insurance services from offices throughout the country and on the Internet (www.mibank.com or www.micorp.com). M&I's customer-based approach, internal growth, and strategic acquisitions have made M&I a nationally recognized leader in the financial services industry.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial and operating activities and results that are preceded by, followed by, or that include words such as "may," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or "believes."  Such statements are subject to important factors that could cause M&I's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements.  These factors include (i) M&I's exposure to the deterioration in the commercial and residential real estate markets, directly or indirectly through M&I's loans to other bank holding companies, along with the deterioration in the U.S. economy as a whole, which could result in increased charge-offs and increases in M&I's allowance for loan and lease losses,  (ii) various other factors, including changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding outstanding loans and identification of additional problem loans, which could require an increase in M&I's allowance for loan and lease losses, (iii) M&I's ability to maintain required levels of capital, (iv) the impact of recent and future legislative initiatives on the financial markets or on M&I, (v) M&I's exposure to the actions and potential failure of other financial institutions, (vi) volatility in M&I's stock price, and (vii) those factors referenced in Item 1A. Risk Factors in M&I's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and as may be described from time to time in M&I's subsequent SEC filings, which factors are incorporated herein by reference.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect only M&I's belief as of the date of this press release.  Except as required by federal securities law, M&I undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

SOURCE Marshall & Ilsley Corporation