Cathay General Bancorp Reports First Quarter Results

LOS ANGELES, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cathay General Bancorp (the "Company", Nasdaq: CATY), the holding company for Cathay Bank (the "Bank"), today announced results for the first quarter of 2010.

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Capital strengthened – The Company raised $125.2 million in additional capital through the sale of 15.0 million shares of common stock on February 1, 2010.  Total risk-based capital ratio was 16.36% at March 31, 2010, compared to 15.43% at December 31, 2009.  
• Allowance for credit losses strengthened – Total allowance for credit losses increased to $238.0 million, or 3.47%, of total loans, excluding loans held for sale, at March 31, 2010, compared to 3.15% at December 31, 2009.

"In the first quarter, we completed another capital raise of $125.2 million.  In addition to strengthening our capital ratios, this capital raise provides us the opportunity to dispose of problem assets more aggressively and to further build up our loan loss reserve.  We recorded a provision for credit losses during the first quarter of $84 million which increased our allowance for credit losses to 3.47% of total loans," commented Dunson Cheng, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of the Company.

"During the first quarter, we generated in excess of $360 million in new deposits as a result of our Chinese New Year promotion.  With our loan to deposit ratio under 86%, we will focus on lowering our cost of deposits during the remainder of 2010," said Peter Wu, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer.

"We are seeing increased new business opportunities as a result of the disruption in our market place and believe that we are well positioned to take advantage of new business opportunities, including the hiring of our new Executive Vice President of Greater Los Angeles Commercial Lending, Mr. Edward Kim," concluded Dunson Cheng.

INCOME STATEMENT REVIEW

Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $29.8 million, an increased loss of $36.0 million, compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $6.2 million for the same period a year ago.  Loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2010, was $0.41 compared to earnings of $0.12 per share for the same period a year ago due primarily to increases in the provision for credit losses and lower gains on sale of securities.

Return on average stockholders' equity was negative 7.51% and return on average assets was negative 0.88% for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to a return on average stockholders' equity of 3.21% and a return on average assets of 0.37% for the same period of 2009.

Net interest income before provision for credit losses

Net interest income before provision for credit losses increased to $74.7 million during the first quarter of 2010, an increase of $4.3 million, or 6.1%, compared to $70.4 million during the same quarter a year ago.  The increase was due primarily to the decreases in interest expense paid for time certificates of deposits and brokered deposits.

The net interest margin, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, was 2.72% for the first quarter of 2010, an increase of seven basis points from 2.65% for the fourth quarter of 2009 and an increase of three basis points from 2.69% for the first quarter of 2009.  A 110 basis point decrease in the rate on interest bearing deposits from 2.54% at March 31, 2009, to 1.44% at March 31, 2010, contributed primarily to the increase in the net interest margin from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. In addition, the majority of our variable rate loans contain interest rate floors, which help limit the impact of the record low level of the prime interest rate.  

For the first quarter of 2010, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 4.61%, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities equaled 2.20%, and the cost of interest bearing deposits was 1.44%.  In comparison, for the first quarter of 2009, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 5.26%, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities equaled 2.98%, and the cost of interest bearing deposits was 2.54%. The interest spread, defined as the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities, increased 13 basis points to 2.41% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, from 2.28% for the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to the reasons discussed above.

The cost of deposits, including demand deposits, decreased 17 basis points to 1.28% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 1.45% in the fourth quarter of 2009 and decreased 99 basis points from 2.27% in the first quarter of 2009 due primarily to the decrease in the rates paid on certificates of deposit upon renewal and for core deposits as a result of the decline in market interest rates.

Provision for credit losses

The provision for credit losses was $84.0 million for the first quarter of 2010 compared to $91.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 and compared to $47.0 million in the first quarter of 2009.  The provision for credit losses was based on the review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2010. The provision for credit losses represents the charge against current earnings that is determined by management, through a credit review process, as the amount needed to establish an allowance that management believes to be sufficient to absorb credit losses inherent in the Company's loan portfolio, including unfunded commitments.  The following table summarizes the charge-offs and recoveries for the periods as indicated:

Total charge-offs of $64.0 million for the first quarter of 2010 included $25.5 million of charge-offs on 19 construction loans, $23.2 million of charge-offs on 23 commercial real estate loans, $9.6 million on 25 commercial loans, $4.8 million of charge-offs on 10 land loans and $912,000 of charge-offs on residential mortgage loans.  In the first quarter of 2010, net loan charge-offs decreased $5.2 million, or 7.7%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2009, but remained high as a result of the continuing weak economy.

Non-interest income

Non-interest income, which includes revenues from depository service fees, letters of credit commissions, securities gains (losses), gains (losses) on loan sales, wire transfer fees, and other sources of fee income, was $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2010, a decrease of $22.9 million compared to the non-interest income of $27.7 million for the first quarter of 2009. The decrease in non-interest income was primarily due to a decrease in securities gains from $22.5 million in the first quarter of 2009 to $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2010.  In addition, the net loss for interest rate swaps increased $4.3 million. Offsetting the above decreases was a $547,000 increase in venture capital income.

Non-interest expense

Non-interest expense increased $6.6 million, or 17.7%, to $44.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to $37.5 million in the same quarter a year ago.  The efficiency ratio was 55.55% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 38.26% for the same period a year ago due primarily to higher OREO expenses, higher FDIC assessments, higher loss for interest rate swaps, and lower securities gains recorded in the first quarter of 2010.  

FDIC and State assessment increased $2.3 million to $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $2.9 million in the same quarter a year ago due to a higher assessment rate and higher deposit balances.  OREO expense increased $1.2 million to $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $2.1 million in the same quarter a year ago primarily due to write-downs required as a result of continued decline in real estate values and the expense resulting from increased OREO holdings.  Professional service expense increased $1.6 million to $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared with $3.0 million in the same quarter a year ago due mainly to increases in legal expenses, professional expenses, and collection expenses.  Other operating expense increase of $3.3 million was primarily due to a $909,000 FHLB advance prepayment penalty, a $483,000 write-down on transfers from loans held for sale to OREOs, and a $1.8 million write-down on fair value of loans held for sale.  

Offsetting the above described increases were decreases of $1.7 million in salaries and employee benefits due primarily to a $321,000 decrease in option compensation expense, a $581,000 decrease in salaries and payroll taxes, and a $771,000 decrease in bonus accruals, 401K employer contributions, other benefits and deferred loan costs.  

Income taxes

The tax benefit for the first quarter of 2010 resulted from the pretax loss for the quarter and the utilization of low income housing tax credits.  

BALANCE SHEET REVIEW

Total assets were $11.9 billion at March 31, 2010, an increase of $282.3 million, or 2.4%, from $11.6 billion at December 31, 2009, primarily due to increases of $307.3 million, or 10.5%, in securities available-for-sale.

Gross loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $6.85 billion at March 31, 2010, a decrease of $46.6 million, or 0.7%, from $6.90 billion at December 31, 2009, primarily due to decreases of $61.7 million, or 1.5%, in commercial mortgage loans and decreases of $44.4 million, or 7.1%, in construction loans offset by increases of $38.2 million, or 5.6% in residential mortgage loans.  The changes in the loan composition from December 31, 2009, are presented below:

Total deposits were $7.7 billion at March 31, 2010, an increase of $241.2 million, or 3.2%, from $7.5 billion at December 31, 2009, primarily due to increases of $99.3 million, or 2.9%, in time deposits of $100,000 or more and increases of $163.8 million, or 10.7%, in time deposits under $100,000. The changes in the deposit composition from December 31, 2009, are presented below:

ASSET QUALITY REVIEW

At March 31, 2010, total non-accrual portfolio loans, excluding non-accrual loans held for sale, were $295.4 million, an increase of $14.8 million, or 5.2%, from $280.6 million at December 31, 2009, and an increase of $74.2 million, or 33.5%, from $221.2 million at March 31, 2009.  A summary of non-accrual loans by collateral type as of March 31, 2010, is shown below:

Included in non-accrual commercial real estate loans is a loan with an outstanding balance of $47.6 million to a borrower who filed for bankruptcy in March 2009.  While the loan is on non-accrual at March 31, 2010, a settlement is expected to be reached with the borrower which will require monthly interest and loan payments without any forgiveness of principal.  Non-accrual loans also include those troubled debt restructurings that do not qualify for accrual status.

At March 31, 2010, non-accrual loans held for sale decreased $33.9 million, or 61.8%, from $54.8 million at December 31, 2009, to $20.9 million due to the recognition of the sale of a loan for $26 million upon the receipt of the cash portion of the purchase price, the transfer of four loans totaling $6.0 million to OREO, and write-downs of $1.8 million to fair value of loans held for sale.  Loans held for sale were comprised of a $13.6 million residential construction loan and $7.3 million for four commercial real estate loans.  

At March 31, 2010, total residential construction loans were $208.2 million of which $6.2 million were in the Central Valley in California and $10.2 million were in San Bernardino and Riverside counties in California. At March 31, 2010, total land loans were $147.9 million of which $5.0 million were in Riverside and Imperial counties, $1.7 million were in the Central Valley, and $4.8 million in the state of Nevada.    

Troubled debt restructurings on accrual status totaled $43.3 million at March 31, 2010, and were comprised of 12 loans.  These loans are classified as troubled debt restructurings as a result of granting a concession to borrowers.  The concessions may be granted in various forms, including reduction in the stated interest rate, reduction in the loan balance or accrued interest, or extension of the maturity date.  Although these loan modifications are considered Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 15 troubled debt restructurings, the loans have performed under the restructured terms and have demonstrated sustained performance under the modified terms.  The sustained performance considered by management includes the periods prior to the modification if the prior performance met or exceeded the modified terms as well as cash paid to set up interest reserves.

At March 31, 2010, other real estate owned totaled $111.9 million which was $40.9 million, or 57.5%, higher compared to $71.0 million at December 31, 2009, and increased $46.9 million, or 72.3%, from $64.9 million at March 31, 2009.  At March 31, 2010, $72.0 million of OREO was located in California, $14.1 million of OREO was located in Nevada, $14.1 million of OREO was located in Texas, $8.7 million of OREO was located in the state of Washington, and $3.0 million was located in all other states.  From April 1, 2010 through April 27, 2010, the Company had sold seven OREOs with net book value of $5.7 million and has signed sale agreements for additional thirteen OREOs with net book value of $23.8 million.

The ratio of non-performing assets, excluding non-accrual loans held for sale, to total assets was 3.5% at March 31, 2010, compared to 3.0% at December 31, 2009, and compared to 2.6% at March 31, 2009.  Total non-performing portfolio assets increased $61.5 million, or 17.5%, to $413.1 million at March 31, 2010, compared with $351.7 million at December 31, 2009, primarily due to a $40.9 million increase in OREO, a $14.7 million increase in non-accrual loans, and a $5.9 million increase in 90 days or more past due still accruing loans.  Total non-performing portfolio assets increased $119.1 million, or 40.5%, to $413.1 million at March 31, 2010, compared with $294.0 million at March 31, 2009, due to a $74.1 million increase in non-accrual loans, a $46.9 million increase in OREO, and a $899,000 increase in 90 days or more past due still accruing loans.  

The allowance for loan losses was $233.1 million and the allowance for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments was $4.9 million at March 31, 2010, and represented the amount that the Company believes to be sufficient to absorb credit losses inherent in the Company's loan portfolio.  The allowance for credit losses, the sum of allowance for loan losses and for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments, was $238.0 million at March 31, 2010, compared to $217.1 million at December 31, 2009, an increase of $20.9 million, or 9.6%.  The allowance for credit losses represented 3.47% of period-end gross loans, excluding loans held for sale, and 79.0% of non-performing portfolio loans at March 31, 2010.  The comparable ratios were 3.15% of period-end gross loans and 77.4% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2009.  Results of the changes from March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2009, to March 31, 2010, of the Company's non-performing assets and troubled debt restructurings are highlighted below:

CAPITAL ADEQUACY REVIEW

At March 31, 2010, the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 14.48%, total risk-based capital ratio of 16.36%, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 10.11%, continue to place the Company in the "well capitalized" category for regulatory purposes, which is defined as institutions with a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio equal to or greater than 6%, a total risk-based capital ratio equal to or greater than 10%, and a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio equal to or greater than 5%. At December 31, 2009, the Company's Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 13.55%, the total risk-based capital ratio was 15.43%, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 9.64%.

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company raised additional capital of $125.2 million from the sale of approximately 15.0 million shares of common stock at a price of $8.80 per share from its stock offering on February 1, 2010.

CONFERENCE CALL

Cathay General Bancorp will host a conference call this afternoon to discuss its first-quarter 2010 financial results. The call will begin at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Analysts and investors may dial in and participate in the question-and-answer session. To access the call, please dial 1-800-901-5241 and enter Participant Passcode 25574274. A listen-only live Webcast of the call will be available at www.cathaygeneralbancorp.com and a recorded version will be available for replay for 12 months after the call.

ABOUT CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

Cathay General Bancorp is the holding company for Cathay Bank, a California state-chartered bank. Founded in 1962, Cathay Bank offers a wide range of financial services. Cathay Bank currently operates 31 branches in California, eight branches in New York State, one in Massachusetts, two in Texas, three in Washington State, three in the Chicago, Illinois area, one in New Jersey, one in Hong Kong, and a representative office in Shanghai and in Taipei. Cathay Bank's website is found at http://www.cathaybank.com. Cathay General Bancorp's website is found at http://www.cathaygeneralbancorp.com.  Information set forth on such websites is not incorporated into this press release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND OTHER NOTICES

Statements made in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding management's beliefs, projections, and assumptions concerning future results and events. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, such words as "aims," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "hopes," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "seeks," "shall," "should," "will," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and variations of these words and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates, beliefs, projections, and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Such risks and uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, adverse developments or conditions related to or arising from: significant volatility and deterioration in the credit and financial markets; adverse changes and disruption in general economic conditions and the capital markets; the effects of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and any changes or amendments thereto; difficult conditions in the U.S. and international financial markets; credit loss and deterioration in asset or credit quality; the availability of capital; the impact of any goodwill impairment that may be determined; acquisitions of other banks, if any; fluctuations in interest rates; liquidity risk; inflation and deflation; real estate market conditions; the soundness of other financial institutions; expansion into new market areas; earthquakes, wildfires, or other natural disasters; our ability to compete with competitors and competitive pressures; our ability to retain key personnel; current and potential future supervisory action by bank supervisory authorities; changes in laws, regulations, and accounting rules, or their interpretations; legislative, judicial, or regulatory actions and developments against us; and general economic or business conditions in California and other regions where Cathay Bank has operations, including, but not limited to, adverse changes in economic conditions resulting from the continuation or worsening of the current economic downturn.

These and other factors are further described in Cathay General Bancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (Item 1A in particular), other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and other filings Cathay General Bancorp makes with the SEC from time to time. Actual results in any future period may also vary from the past results discussed in this press release. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak to the date of this press release. Cathay General Bancorp has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to publicly announce any revision of any forward-looking statement to reflect future developments or events, except as required by law.

Cathay General Bancorp's filings with the SEC are available at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by request directed to Cathay General Bancorp, 9650 Flair Drive, El Monte, California 91731, Attention: Investor Relations (626) 279-3286.

SOURCE Cathay General Bancorp

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