First California Financial Group (FCAL)

[Enterprising Investor]

FCAL Reports 38 Percent Increase in Earnings for 2012 Third Quarter (10/25/12)

Company to Host Conference Call Today at 11 a.m. Pacific Time

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA--(Marketwire - Oct 25, 2012) - First California Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCAL), the holding company of First California Bank, today reported net income of $3.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, compared with $2.5 million for the same quarter a year ago. Net income available to common shareholders was $3.2 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, compared with $900,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the prior year third quarter. Preferred dividends were $312,500 for the third quarter of 2012 and $1,616,000, which included a deemed and final dividend on the series B preferred shares, for the third quarter of 2011. At September 30, 2012, tangible book value per common share increased to $4.71 from $4.19 at December 31, 2011.

"Earnings for the 2012 third quarter grew significantly over the same period last year and return on average tangible common equity improved to 10.25 percent from 4.25 percent," said C. G. Kum, president and chief executive officer of First California Financial Group. "Moreover, we were able to grow net interest income and fee income, as well as our loan portfolio and deposits. Our solid financial performance continues to demonstrate the successful strategies we implemented to enhance profitability, despite economic headwinds and the added expense and challenges related to ongoing shareholder matters."

2012 Third Quarter Financial Highlights

•Net interest income rose 9 percent from same period last year;

•Service charges, fees and other income increased 9 percent from the year ago period;

•Efficiency ratio, inclusive of $0.9 million for shareholder matter expenses, was 68 percent;

•Strong asset quality with annualized year-to-date net charge-offs of 0.12 percent of average loans;

•Non-covered loans, before the allowance, increased 14 percent over the 2011 year-end;

•Total deposits increased 12 percent while non-interest checking deposits jumped 40 percent from year-end 2011;

•Tangible book value per common share increased to $4.71, or 12 percent, since the end of 2011;

•Third quarter return on average tangible common equity was 10.25 percent.

Financial Results
For the 2012 third quarter, net interest income before the provision for loan losses increased 9 percent to $17.0 million from $15.6 million for the 2011 third quarter. The increase reflects a 13 percent increase in average earning assets and a 3 percent decrease in net interest margin. Interest income (discount accretion) on covered loans for the 2012 third quarter was $4.5 million. 2011 third quarter interest income (discount accretion) on covered loans was $3.8 million. Net interest margin, on a taxable equivalent basis, declined to 3.91 percent from 4.05 percent for the 2011 third quarter.

Service charges, fees and other income increased to $2.3 million from $2.1 million for the 2011 third quarter, primarily reflecting continued growth in business volumes and fees generated from the EPS division. Revenues from the EPS division increased to $1.2 million for the 2012 third quarter from $800,000 for the same quarter last year.

Third quarter 2012 non-interest income included a $510,000 net gain on the sale of securities, offset by a $449,000 impairment loss on securities, a $99,000 loss on non-hedged derivatives and $135,000 decrease in FDIC shared-loss asset. For the 2011 third quarter, non-interest income included a $209,000 net gain on the sale of securities.

Operating expenses for the 2012 third quarter were $13.0 million, compared with $12.1 million for the 2011 third quarter. Operating expenses exclude intangible amortization, integration/conversion expenses and foreclosed property gains, losses and expenses. The increase reflects higher professional services expenses, which included approximately $0.9 million of costs related to shareholder matters, and higher deposit insurance assessments due to the 40 percent increase in non-interest checking deposits. The efficiency ratio was 68.37 percent for the 2012 third quarter, compared with 68.22 percent for the same period last year.

Core earnings, which represent income before taxes and exclude credit charges and non-recurring items such as gain on acquisitions, integration/conversion expense and securities transactions, were $5.5 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared with $5.0 million for the same period a year ago, an increase of 10 percent.

Non-covered loans, before the allowance for loan losses, grew 14 percent to $1.1 billion at September 30, 2012 from $936.1 million at December 31, 2011. Commercial mortgage loans led the increase, up $60 million or 15 percent from the end of the year. Aided by purchases earlier in the year, home mortgage loans increased 44 percent, while multifamily mortgage loans increased 15 percent through originations and purchases.

At September 30, 2012, covered loans decreased to $106.1 million from $135.4 million at December 31, 2011. The Bank's covered non-performing assets declined by $18.7 million, or 55 percent, during the same period.

Non-interest checking deposits increased 40 percent from year-end 2011, primarily from growth in EPS deposits, and now represent 42 percent of total deposits. The cost of all deposits, aided by the change in the mix of deposits, fell 37 percent to 32 basis points for the 2012 third quarter from 51 basis points for the same period last year. Core deposits now comprise 83 percent of all deposits.

Kum added, "The banking industry continues to be impacted by a low interest rate environment. Despite this, we have proactively managed our cost of liabilities and our margin has held up better than most of our peers as evidenced by the slight decline in our net interest margin of only 14 basis points over the last 12 months."

Asset Quality
At September 30, 2012, non-covered non-performing assets (the sum of non-covered loans past due 90 days and accruing, nonaccrual loans and foreclosed properties) improved to 1.54 percent of total assets, compared with 1.89 percent at December 31, 2011. At September 30, 2012, nonaccrual loans increased $1.5 million from year-end 2011 while foreclosure properties declined $5.1 million for the same period.

The allowance for loan losses was $18.2 million, or 1.71 percent of non-covered loans, at September 30, 2012, compared with $17.7 million, or 1.90 percent of non-covered loans, at December 31, 2011. Net loan charge-offs for the 2012 third quarter were $605,000, down from $2.1 million for the 2011 third quarter. The provision for non-covered loan losses was $500,000 for the 2012 third quarter compared with $1.6 million for the 2011 third quarter.

Capital resources
Shareholders' equity rose to $236.6 million at September 30, 2012 from $223.1 million at December 31, 2011. The Company's book value per common share increased to $7.21 at September 30, 2012 from $6.75 at December 31, 2011. Tangible book value per common share rose to $4.71 at September 30, 2012 from $4.19 at December 31, 2011.

At September 30, 2012, First California's preliminary Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 10.00 percent versus 10.33 percent at the 2011 calendar year end, and the total risk-based capital ratio decreased to 17.18 percent from 17.32 percent at December 31, 2011. The Company's ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets was 7.18 percent at September 30, 2012, up from 7.05 percent at the end of 2011. Total assets were $1.99 billion at September 30, 2012, compared with $1.81 billion at December 31, 2011.

Kum concluded, "We remain focused on improving our performance, while keeping an eye on expenses and providing the highest quality service to our loyal customers. More than ever, we appreciate the hard work and dedication of our employees who help make First California the business bank of choice in our markets."

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This news release includes "non-GAAP financial measures" within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Tangible common equity as a percentage of tangible assets is a non-GAAP financial measure. Tangible common equity to tangible assets represents tangible common equity, calculated as total shareholders' equity less preferred stock and related dividend and accretion of preferred stock discount, goodwill and intangible assets, net, divided by tangible assets which are total assets less goodwill and other intangible assets, net. Management believes that this measure is useful when comparing banks with preferred stock, due to CPP or SBLF funding, to banks without preferred stock on their balance sheet and for evaluating a company's capital levels. Core earnings represent income before taxes and exclude credit charges and other items such as gain on acquisitions, integration/conversion expense and securities transactions and are intended to represent recurring operating earnings. Operating expenses exclude amortization of intangible assets and loss on and expense of foreclosed property and other items such as integration/conversion expenses related to acquisitions and are intended to represent normalized, recurring expenses. This information is being provided in response to market participant interest in these financial metrics. This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the relevant measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to a GAAP financial measure is provided as an attachment to the financial tables.

Conference Call and Webcast
First California will hold a conference call today, October 25, 2012 at 11 a.m. Pacific (2 p.m. Eastern) to discuss the Company's 2012 third quarter financial performance. Investment professionals are invited to participate in the live call by dialing 877-317-6789 (domestic), 866-605-3852 (Canada) or 412-317-6789 (international) and requesting the First California conference call. Other interested parties are invited to listen to the live call through a live, listen-only audio Internet broadcast at www.fcalgroup.com. Listeners are encouraged to visit the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who are not available to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived on the same Web site for one year. A telephonic replay of the call will be available one hour after the end of the conference through November 9, 2012 by dialing 877-344-7529 (domestic) or 412-317-0088 (international) and entering replay passcode 10019615.

About First California
First California Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCAL) is the holding company of First California Bank. Founded in 1979 and with nearly $2 billion in assets, First California serves the comprehensive financial needs of small- and middle-sized businesses and high net worth individuals throughout Southern California. Led by an experienced team of bankers, First California is committed to providing the best client service available in its markets, offering a full line of quality commercial banking products through 15 full-service branch offices in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. The holding company's website can be accessed at www.fcalgroup.com. For additional information on First California Bank's products and services, visit www.fcbank.com.

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/first-california-reports-38-percent-increase-in-earnings-for-2012-third-quarter-nasdaq-fcal-1717766.htm