EX-99.1 2 c14111exv99w1.htm PRESS RELEASE exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, April 12, 2007
COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER
EARNINGS PER SHARE OF $.73
     Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earnings of $.73 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2007, a decrease of 1.4% compared to $.74 per share in the first quarter of 2006. Net income for the first quarter amounted to $51.5 million compared with $52.9 million in the same period last year, or a decrease of 2.7%. The return on average assets for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was 1.4%, and the return on average equity was 14.4%.
     In announcing these results, David W. Kemper, Chairman and CEO, said, “Net income for the quarter was down slightly from the same quarter last year due mainly to slower growth in non-interest income and normalized credit losses. However, we were pleased with 6% year over year growth in net interest income. This growth resulted from a 13% increase in average loans outstanding coupled with deposit growth of 7% and included the effects of two recent bank acquisitions. Excluding the impact of these acquisitions, net interest income grew 4% over the prior year. While deposit account fee income was flat, we continue to experience double-digit revenue growth in our debit and corporate credit card businesses.”
     Mr. Kemper continued, “Asset quality remained strong with net loan charge-offs totaling .34% this quarter. Commercial loan losses continue at low levels and our loan portfolio does not have any exposure to sub-prime lending products.”
     Total assets at March 31, 2007 were $15.2 billion, total loans were $10.3 billion, and total deposits were $11.9 billion. The allowance for loan losses totaled $131.7 million, or 1.33% of total outstanding loans at the end of the first quarter. The Company has now completed its acquisition of South Tulsa Financial Corporation, Tulsa, Oklahoma, a one-bank holding company with loans of $114 million and deposits of $105 million, and on April 3, 2007 the Company announced plans to acquire Commerce Bank, Denver, Colorado with loans of $70 million and deposits of $75 million. It is expected that this transaction will be completed in the second or third quarter of 2007. Also during the quarter, the Company purchased approximately 950 thousand shares of its common stock through its treasury stock buyback plan and announced a 7.3% increase in its cash dividend paid to shareholders.


(more)

 


 

     Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is a registered bank holding company offering a full line of banking services, including investment management and securities brokerage. The Company currently operates in approximately 360 locations in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. The Company also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital, and real estate activities.
     Posted to the Company’s web site is management’s discussion of first quarter results. To see this information, please visit our web site at www.commercebank.com.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


For additional information, contact:
Jeffery Aberdeen, Controller
at PO Box 419248, Kansas City, MO
or by telephone at (816) 234-2081
Web Site: http://www.commercebank.com
Email: mymoney@commercebank.com
                         
(Amounts in thousands)   12/31/06     3/31/07     3/31/06  
Non-Accrual Loans
  $ 16,708     $ 17,022     $ 8,750  
Foreclosed Real Estate
  $ 1,515     $ 1,034     $ 1,870  
Total Non-Performing Assets
  $ 18,223     $ 18,056     $ 10,620  
Non-Performing Assets to Loans
    .18 %     .18 %     .12 %
Non-Performing Assets to Total Assets
    .12 %     .12 %     .08 %
 
                 
Loans 90 Days & Over Past Due — Still Accruing
  $ 20,376     $ 19,566     $ 15,288  
 
                 

 


 

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                         
    For the Three Months Ended  
    December 31     March 31     March 31  
(Unaudited)   2006     2007     2006  
 
Financial Summary (In thousands, except per share data)                
Net interest income
  $ 134,232     $ 131,479     $ 123,735  
Taxable equivalent net interest income
    136,605       133,694       125,088  
Non-interest income
    90,030       84,284       87,045  
Investment securities gains, net
    24       3,895       2,403  
Provision for loan losses
    7,970       8,161       4,432  
Non-interest expense
    133,610       136,419       129,961  
Net income
    57,017       51,496       52,944  
Cash dividends
    16,463       17,359       16,379  
Net total loan charge-offs
    8,074       8,161       4,411  
Net business charge-offs (recoveries)
    (126 )     704       (1,081 )
Net credit card charge-offs
    5,131       5,813       3,748  
Net personal banking charge-offs (1)
    2,217       1,965       1,649  
Net real estate charge-offs (recoveries)
    118       (501 )     (255 )
Net overdraft charge-offs
    734       180       350  
Per share:
                       
Net income — basic
  $ 0.81     $ 0.74     $ 0.75  
Net income — diluted
  $ 0.80     $ 0.73     $ 0.74  
Cash dividends
  $ 0.233     $ 0.250     $ 0.233  
Diluted wtd. average shares o/s
    71,372       70,494       71,323  
 
RATIOS
                       
Average loans to deposits (2)
    85.83 %     87.77 %     83.32 %
Return on total average assets
    1.51 %     1.38 %     1.57 %
Return on total average stockholders’ equity
    15.52 %     14.41 %     16.14 %
Non-interest income to revenue (3)
    40.15 %     39.06 %     41.30 %
Efficiency ratio (4)
    59.12 %     62.79 %     61.66 %
 
AT PERIOD END
                       
Book value per share based on total stockholders’ equity
  $ 20.62     $ 20.86     $ 18.80  
Market value per share
  $ 48.41     $ 48.31     $ 49.21  
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans
    1.36 %     1.33 %     1.46 %
Tier I leverage ratio
    9.05 %     8.94 %     9.43 %
Common shares outstanding
    69,952,544       69,331,829       70,114,979  
Shareholders of record
    4,739       4,679       4,505  
Number of bank/ATM locations
    354       359       344  
Number of bank charters
    3       3       3  
Full-time equivalent employees
    4,932       5,030       4,863  
 
                 
OTHER YTD INFORMATION   March 31     March 31  
    2007     2006  
 
High market value per share
  $ 50.77     $ 50.03  
Low market value per share
  $ 46.59     $ 46.80  
 
(1)   Includes net charge-offs on consumer and home equity loans
 
(2)   Average loans include loans held for sale.
 
(3)   Revenue includes net interest income and non-interest income.
 
(4)   The efficiency ratio is calculated as non-interest expense (excluding intangibles amortization) as a percent of revenue.

 


 

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                         
    For the Three Months Ended  
(Unaudited)   December 31     March 31     March 31  
(In thousands, except per share data)   2006     2007     2006  
 
INTEREST INCOME
                       
Interest and fees on loans
  $ 180,655     $ 182,623     $ 149,874  
Interest on investment securities
    40,370       38,419       37,130  
Interest on federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    7,134       7,225       1,623  
 
                 
Total interest income
    228,159       228,267       188,627  
 
                 
 
                       
INTEREST EXPENSE
                       
Interest on deposits:
                       
Savings, interest checking and money market
    27,532       27,637       19,607  
Time open and C.D.’s of less than $100,000
    26,007       26,565       16,731  
Time open and C.D.’s of $100,000 and over
    15,582       16,913       13,187  
Interest on other borrowings
    24,806       25,673       15,367  
 
                 
Total interest expense
    93,927       96,788       64,892  
 
                 
Net interest income
    134,232       131,479       123,735  
Provision for loan losses
    7,970       8,161       4,432  
 
                 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    126,262       123,318       119,303  
 
                 
 
                       
NON-INTEREST INCOME
                       
Deposit account charges and other fees
    29,323       26,511       27,497  
Bank card transaction fees
    25,475       23,083       21,708  
Trust fees
    18,564       18,653       17,819  
Trading account profits and commissions
    1,918       1,861       2,565  
Consumer brokerage services
    2,318       3,043       2,389  
Loan fees and sales
    2,059       1,285       3,743  
Other
    10,373       9,848       11,324  
 
                 
Total non-interest income
    90,030       84,284       87,045  
 
                 
 
                       
INVESTMENT SECURITIES GAINS, NET
    24       3,895       2,403  
 
                 
 
                       
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
                       
Salaries and employee benefits
    73,140       76,900       71,725  
Net occupancy
    11,060       11,790       10,977  
Equipment
    6,536       6,433       5,949  
Supplies and communication
    8,332       8,506       8,393  
Data processing and software
    13,054       11,231       12,393  
Marketing
    3,945       4,318       4,318  
Other
    17,543       17,241       16,206  
 
                 
Total non-interest expense
    133,610       136,419       129,961  
 
                 
Income before income taxes
    82,706       75,078       78,790  
Less income taxes
    25,689       23,582       25,846  
 
                 
NET INCOME
  $ 57,017     $ 51,496     $ 52,944  
 
                 
Net income per share — basic
  $ 0.81     $ 0.74     $ 0.75  
 
                 
Net income per share — diluted
  $ 0.80     $ 0.73     $ 0.74  
 
                 
Cash dividends per common share
  $ 0.233     $ 0.250     $ 0.233  
 
                 

 


 

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                         
(Unaudited)   December 31     March 31     March 31  
(In thousands)   2006     2007     2006  
 
ASSETS
                       
Loans
  $ 9,681,520     $ 9,903,568     $ 8,800,497  
Allowance for loan losses
    (131,730 )     (131,730 )     (128,468 )
 
                 
Net loans
    9,549,790       9,771,838       8,672,029  
 
                 
Loans held for sale
    278,598       363,052       337,742  
Investment securities:
                       
Available for sale
    3,415,440       3,243,687       3,401,823  
Trading
    6,676       11,753       25,559  
Non-marketable
    74,207       78,605       84,353  
 
                 
Total investment securities
    3,496,323       3,334,045       3,511,735  
 
                 
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    527,816       466,810       89,385  
Cash and due from banks
    626,500       519,138       484,456  
Land, buildings and equipment — net
    386,095       389,714       368,209  
Goodwill
    97,643       99,158       48,522  
Other intangible assets — net
    19,633       16,207       45  
Other assets
    247,951       234,835       218,999  
 
                 
Total assets
  $ 15,230,349     $ 15,194,797     $ 13,731,122  
 
                 
 
                       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Deposits:
                       
Non-interest bearing demand
  $ 1,312,400     $ 1,354,160     $ 1,418,387  
Savings, interest checking and money market
    6,879,047       6,804,397       6,449,831  
Time open and C.D.’s of less than $100,000
    2,302,567       2,326,353       1,925,755  
Time open and C.D.’s of $100,000 and over
    1,250,840       1,447,633       1,360,383  
 
                 
Total deposits
    11,744,854       11,932,543       11,154,356  
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,771,282       1,633,884       901,923  
Other borrowings
    53,934       39,235       258,616  
Other liabilities
    218,165       143,120       97,982  
 
                 
Total liabilities
    13,788,235       13,748,782       12,412,877  
 
                 
Stockholders’ equity:
                       
Preferred stock
                 
Common stock
    352,330       352,330       347,049  
Capital surplus
    427,421       421,983       384,535  
Retained earnings
    683,176       717,759       729,586  
Treasury stock
    (20,613 )     (52,134 )     (128,662 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (200 )     6,077       (14,263 )
 
                 
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,442,114       1,446,015       1,318,245  
 
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 15,230,349     $ 15,194,797     $ 13,731,122  
 
                 

 


 

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
AVERAGE BALANCES
                         
    For the Three Months Ended  
(Unaudited)   December 31     March 31     March 31  
(Dollars in thousands)   2006     2007     2006  
 
Loans:
                       
Business
  $ 2,805,946     $ 2,988,157     $ 2,542,482  
Real estate — construction
    627,631       646,396       441,489  
Real estate — business
    2,160,705       2,147,329       1,971,197  
Real estate — personal
    1,505,342       1,503,649       1,358,445  
Consumer
    1,411,988       1,463,383       1,288,378  
Home equity
    443,290       435,291       447,188  
Student
    300,331       336,233       359,961  
Credit card
    611,579       632,945       577,537  
Overdrafts
    13,329       12,300       20,114  
 
                 
Total loans
    9,880,141       10,165,683       9,006,791  
 
                 
Investment securities (excluding unrealized gains and losses):
                       
Available for sale
    3,440,245       3,329,159       3,531,600  
Trading
    15,471       18,555       19,012  
Non-marketable
    83,938       77,513       84,007  
 
                 
Total investment securities
    3,539,654       3,425,227       3,634,619  
 
                 
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    530,275       556,370       141,750  
 
                 
Total interest earning assets
    13,950,070       14,147,280       12,783,160  
 
                 
Total assets
    14,999,722       15,173,833       13,706,253  
 
                 
 
                       
Deposits:
                       
Non-interest bearing deposits
    664,017       619,858       597,492  
Interest bearing deposits:
                       
Savings
    400,737       397,406       383,869  
Interest checking
    179,332       165,285       165,531  
Money market
    6,682,961       6,716,338       6,494,964  
Time open & C.D.’s of less than $100,000
    2,293,197       2,308,183       1,881,277  
Time open & C.D.’s of $100,000 and over
    1,291,430       1,375,250       1,286,151  
 
                 
Total interest bearing deposits
    10,847,657       10,962,462       10,211,792  
 
                 
Total deposits
    11,511,674       11,582,320       10,809,284  
 
                 
Borrowings:
                       
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,792,832       1,969,041       1,226,822  
Long-term debt and other borrowings
    104,488       50,432       260,580  
 
                 
Total borrowings
    1,897,320       2,019,473       1,487,402  
 
                 
 
                       
Total interest bearing liabilities
    12,744,977       12,981,935       11,699,194  
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,457,813       1,449,546       1,330,334  
 
                       
Net yield on interest earning assets (tax-equivalent basis)
    3.89 %     3.83 %     3.97 %
 
                 

 


 

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.
Management Discussion of First Quarter Results
March 31, 2007
For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, net income amounted to $51.5 million, a decrease of 2.7% from the same quarter last year. For the current quarter, the return on average assets was 1.4%, the return on average equity was 14.4%, and the efficiency ratio was 62.8%.
Balance Sheet Review
During the 1st quarter of 2007, average loans increased $285.5 million, or 2.9%, compared to the previous quarter, representing annualized growth of 11.6%. Also, average loans increased $1.2 billion, or 12.9%, during the 1st quarter of 2007 compared to the 1st quarter of 2006. The increase in average loans compared with the previous quarter reflected growth in both the commercial and consumer loan portfolios, and mainly consisted of growth in business ($182.2 million), construction ($18.8 million), consumer ($51.4 million) and student loans ($35.9 million) as demand remained solid. Included in the current quarter were loans totaling $357.6 million relating to two bank acquisitions (West Pointe and Boone) that were completed in the 3rd quarter of 2006 and were not in last year’s 1st quarter results.
Available for sale investment securities, excluding fair value adjustments, decreased on average by $111.1 million, or 3.2%, this quarter compared with the previous quarter. During the current quarter, maturities and principal paydowns of securities totaled $301.7 million, while the Company reinvested $118.6 million of these proceeds in federal agency, mortgage-backed and municipal securities. There were no available for sale securities sold during the current quarter.
Total average deposits increased by $70.6 million, or .6%, during the 1st quarter of 2007 compared to the previous quarter. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2006, average deposits grew by $773.0 million, or 7.2%, which included the two bank acquisitions completed in the 3rd quarter of last year with approximately $432.2 million in average deposits. Compared to the previous quarter, the growth in average deposits resulted from an increase in money market accounts ($33.4 million) and certificates of deposit ($98.8 million), partly offset by reductions in business demand accounts ($47.4 million) and interest checking accounts ($14.0 million). The average loans to deposits ratio in the current quarter was 87.8%, compared to 85.8% in the previous quarter.
Average borrowings increased $122.2 million in the current quarter compared to the prior quarter, mainly due to a $251.1 million increase in federal funds purchased, partly offset by a reduction in repurchase agreement liabilities ($74.8 million) and a decline in borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank ($53.8 million).
Net Interest Income
Net interest income in the 1st quarter of 2007 amounted to $131.5 million, a decrease of $2.8 million, or 2.1%, compared with the previous quarter and an increase of $7.7 million, or 6.3%, compared to the 1st quarter of last year. During the 1st quarter of 2007, the net yield on earning assets (tax-equivalent) was 3.83%, compared with 3.89% in the previous quarter and 3.97% in the same period last year.
The decrease of $2.8 million in net interest income in the 1st quarter of 2007 from the previous quarter was primarily the result of fewer days in the quarter, coupled with a decline in average balances of investment securities and higher average balances of interest bearing deposits and short-term borrowings. Interest income on loans grew by $2.0 million this quarter mainly due to higher average balances on business, consumer and credit card loans coupled with relatively stable rates. The decline in interest income on investment securities of $2.0 million resulted mainly from lower average balances of short-term money market investments (which were earning higher rates in the portfolio) and lower average balances of mortgage and asset-backed securities. In addition, past due interest of $1.5 million on a debt investment held by a private equity subsidiary was recorded in the previous quarter, which did not re-occur in the current quarter. Interest expense on deposits grew $2.0 million in the 1st quarter of 2007 compared with the previous quarter, of which $1.9 million resulted from both higher balances and rates paid on certificates of deposit. Also, interest expense on other borrowings increased by $867 thousand due to higher average balances of federal funds purchased and relatively stable interest rates.
During the current quarter, the overall tax equivalent yield on interest earning assets increased 5 basis points to 6.61%, while the overall cost of interest bearing liabilities increased 10 basis points to 3.02%.
Non-Interest Income
For the 1st quarter of 2007, total non-interest income amounted to $84.3 million, a decrease of 3.2% compared to $87.0 million in the same period last year, and a decrease of 6.4% compared to $90.0 million recorded in the previous quarter. The decline in non-interest income from the 1st quarter of last year resulted mainly from lower deposit account fees and fewer gains on sales of student loans, but was offset by growth in bank card, trust and brokerage fee income. Bank card fees for the quarter increased 6.3% over the same period last year, primarily due to higher fees earned on debit and corporate card transactions, which grew by 10.2% and 18.2%, respectively. Merchant fees, included in bank card revenues, decreased 4.7%, reflecting slightly lower pricing margins and the loss of a large merchant customer last year. Trust fees for the quarter increased 4.7% over the same quarter last year as a result of higher fees on personal and corporate trust accounts. Deposit account income declined $986 thousand due mainly to lower overdraft fees resulting from lower transaction volumes.

 


 

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.
Management Discussion of First Quarter Results
March 31, 2007
During the current quarter, gains on sales of student loans totaled $219 thousand, compared with $2.7 million in the same period last year and $921 thousand in the previous quarter. Other non-interest income in the 1st quarter of 2006 included $1.2 million in income from an equity investment which did not re-occur in the current quarter. The ratio of non-interest income to total revenue was 39.1% in the 1st quarter of 2007.
Investment Securities Gains and Losses
Net securities gains amounted to $3.9 million in the 1st quarter of 2007, compared to $2.4 million in the same quarter last year and $24 thousand in the previous quarter. These gains primarily represented fair value adjustments on certain investments held by the Company’s private equity subsidiaries. There were no realized gains or losses on the Company’s available for sale investment securities portfolio in the current quarter.
Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense for the current quarter amounted to $136.4 million, an increase of $6.5 million, or 5.0%, compared with amounts recorded in the same period last year, and was 2.1% higher than amounts recorded in the prior quarter. Excluding the effects of the bank acquisitions mentioned above, non-interest expense in the current quarter grew by 2.5% over the same period last year. Compared to the 1st quarter of last year, salaries and benefits expense increased $5.2 million, or 7.2%, mainly as a result of merit increases and the effects of the previously mentioned bank acquisitions which increased salaries and benefits by approximately $1.3 million during the quarter. Full-time equivalent employees totaled 5,030 and 4,863 at March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Occupancy costs increased 7.4% over the same quarter last year due to higher seasonal maintenance costs and the effects of bank acquisitions, while equipment expenses increased 8.1% due to small equipment and maintenance costs and bank acquisitions. Higher supplies and postage costs resulted in a 1.3% increase in supplies and communication costs, while data processing software costs were down 9.4% as a result of lower negotiated fees on bank card transactions and lower outside data processing costs. Included in other expense in the current quarter was intangible asset amortization of $934 thousand resulting from the previously mentioned bank acquisitions, which did not occur last year.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for the Company was 31.4% for the current quarter, compared with a rate of 31.1% in the previous quarter and 32.8% in the 1st quarter of 2006.
Credit Quality
Net loan charge-offs for the 1st quarter of 2007 amounted to $8.2 million, compared with $8.1 million in the prior quarter and $4.4 million in the 1st quarter of last year. The increase in net charge-offs in the 1st quarter of 2007 compared to the previous quarter was the result of higher credit card net loan charge-offs, partly offset by slightly lower personal banking net loan charge-offs and a $600 thousand business real estate loan recovery. The lower levels of personal and credit card net loan charge-offs in the 1st quarter of 2006 were related to the changes to bankruptcy laws occurring late in 2005, resulting in lower loan charge-off results in the first half of 2006. Year-to-date, the ratio of net loan charge-offs to total average loans was .34% compared to .21% last year.
For the 1st quarter of 2007, annualized net charge-offs on average credit card loans were 3.72%, compared with 3.33% in the previous quarter and 2.63% in the same period last year. Additionally, personal banking loan net charge-offs for the quarter amounted to .42% of average personal loans compared to .47% in the previous quarter and .39% in the same period last year. The provision for loan losses for the quarter totaled $8.2 million, and was $191 thousand higher than the previous quarter and $3.7 million higher than the 1st quarter of 2006. The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2007 amounted to $131.7 million, or 1.33% of total loans.
Total non-performing assets amounted to $18.1 million, a decrease of $167 thousand from the previous quarter and .18% of loans outstanding. Non-performing assets are comprised of non-accrual loans ($17.0 million) and foreclosed real estate ($1.0 million). Loans past due more than 90 days and still accruing interest totaled $19.6 million at March 31, 2007.
Other
The Company maintains a treasury stock buyback program. Effective February 2007, the Company was authorized by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to 4 million shares of its common stock. During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, the Company purchased 950 thousand shares of treasury stock at an average cost of $49.81 per share. Also during the quarter, the Board of Directors increased the Company’s cash dividend by 7.3% to $0.25 per share. On March 30, 2007 the Company announced that it had completed its purchase of South Tulsa Financial Corporation, Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was effective April 1, 2007. On April 3, 2007 the Company announced plans to acquire Commerce Bank, Denver, Colorado which has one location and loans and deposits of $70.0 million and $75.5 million, respectively. It is expected that this transaction will be completed in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2007.
Forward Looking Information
This information contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include future financial and operating results, expectations, intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.