EX-99.1 2 c11938a1exv99w1.htm FOURTH QUARTER 2006 SHAREHOLDERS' LETTER exv99w1
 

(BANNER)

To our shareholders,
We are pleased to announce First Interstate BancSystem has achieved record earnings for the 18th consecutive year. The Company earned $75,609,000 in 2006, a 38% increase over the prior year’s earnings of $54,715,000. Diluted earnings per share were also a record $9.11, up $2.40 from 2005. Return on average common equity in 2006 was 20.38%, compared to 16.79% in 2005. Our efficiency ratio improved to 56.79%, down from 62.65% in 2005. Results for 2006 included a onetime, after-tax gain of $12,278,000 ($1.48 per diluted share) from the sale in December of First Interstate BancSystem’s 30% minority interest in iPay Technologies, LLC.
Annual Results
Net interest income of $187,463,000 increased $17,155,000 over 2005. Loans grew by $276,009,000 or 9%, while deposits grew $160,921,000, or 5%. The net interest margin of 4.47% was 1 basis point lower than 2005.
Total noninterest income for 2006 was $31,258,000 higher than 2005. Major components of the increase included gain on sale of assets and higher revenues from technology services, debit and credit cards, financial services and the origination and sale of real estate loans of $22,607,000, $2,541,000, $2,132,000, $1,076,000 and $992,000, respectively, as compared to 2005. Gain on sale of assets increased $19,802,000 as the result of the December 2006 sale of the Company’s investment in iPay. Gain on sale of assets also increased an additional $2,955,000 as compared to 2005 due to $3,677,000 of losses on the sale of securities recorded in 2005 compared to losses of $722,000 in 2006. These investment losses were incurred in conjunction with a restructuring of our investment portfolio.
Total noninterest expense was $164,142,000 in 2006 compared to $150,726,000 in 2005. The $13,416,000 increase in noninterest expense for 2006 reflected higher salaries and benefits expense of $8,859,000. The increase in salaries and benefits was due primarily to inflationary wage increases, higher incentive bonus and profit sharing accruals and stock option award expense. Stock option expense increased $863,000 due to implementation of a new accounting standard. This expense was not recognized under the prior accounting standards applicable to stock options. Also reflected in the noninterest expense increase, as compared to last year, was a $3,880,000 increase in impairment expense on mortgage servicing assets. Mortgage servicing impairment expense of $1,693,000 was recorded in 2006 compared to impairment expense reversals of $2,187,000 in 2005. Also, in 2005, we recorded $1,088,000 of expenses related to the closure of Wal-Mart branches compared to $23,000 in 2006.
Quarterly Results
Net interest income of $48,082,000 in fourth quarter 2006 was $2,596,000 more than fourth quarter 2005. This increase resulted from growth in average loans notwithstanding a decrease in net interest margin. Fourth quarter 2006 average loans grew $311,712,000, or 10%, over the same period last year. The net interest margin decreased 11 basis points from fourth quarter 2005 to 4.38% for fourth quarter 2006. Net interest margin has declined due to growth of higher cost deposits and securities sold under repurchase agreements. Fourth quarter 2006 average deposits grew $134,807,000, or 4%, due mainly to demand deposit growth, over the same period last year.
Noninterest income of $40,991,000 was $22,952,000, or 127%, higher than fourth quarter 2005. Major components of the increase were gain on sale of assets, technology services revenue, debit and credit card revenue, income from real estate loans held for sale, and financial services revenue increases of $19,751,000, $882,000, $625,000, $504,000 and $196,000, respectively. Gain on sale of assets increased as a result of the iPay transaction described above.
Financial Highlights
Three Months ended December 31
                         
(unaudited)   2006     2005     %Change  
 
(in thousands except per share data)
                       
 
                       
OPERATING RESULTS
                       
Net income
  $ 26,592     $ 14,602       82.1 %
Diluted earnings per share
    3.18       1.77       79.7 %
Dividends per share
    0.61       0.50       22.0 %
 
                       
PERIOD END BALANCES
                       
Assets
    4,974,134       4,562,313       9.0 %
Loans
    3,310,363       3,034,354       9.1 %
Investment securities
    1,124,598       1,019,901       10.3 %
Deposits
    3,708,511       3,547,590       4.5 %
Common stockholders’ equity
    410,375       349,847       17.3 %
Common shares outstanding
    8,145       8,099       0.6 %
 
                       
QUARTERLY AVERAGES
                       
Assets
    4,889,790       4,555,990       7.3 %
Loans
    3,310,509       2,998,797       10.4 %
Investment securities
    1,077,418       943,169       14.2 %
Deposits
    3,655,262       3,520,455       3.8 %
Common stockholders’ equity
    394,942       346,881       13.9 %
Common shares outstanding
    8,144       8,090       0.7 %
Noninterest expense of $45,931,000 was $6,386,000, or 16%, higher than the comparable quarter in 2005. Salary and benefits expense increased $3,058,000, or 15%, as compared to fourth quarter 2005, primarily due to inflationary wage increases, higher profit sharing accruals and increased group health insurance expense. Group health insurance expense increased $855,000 in fourth quarter 2006 as compared to 2005. The increase was primarily the result of higher levels of claim activity during 2006 prompting increased funding to the Company’s medical trust fund. In addition to the increases in salary and benefits, noninterest expense increased $2,317,000 due to a mortgage servicing impairment expense recorded in fourth quarter 2006 compared to a $890,000 impairment reversal for the fourth quarter of 2005.
On January 9, 2007, the Company paid a $.61 dividend per common share. At its January 25, 2007, meeting, the board of directors approved a special dividend of $.41 per common share payable to shareholders of record as of that date. This dividend was paid January 29, 2007.
First Interstate BancSystem achieved record earnings and performance far surpassing prior results, even without the increases attributed to the iPay gain. This strength shown by our core operations is a reflection of our talented team of employees, officers and directors. Thank you for all your contributions to the success of our Company!
     
-s- Lyle R. Knight
  -s- Terrill R. Moore
Lyle R. Knight
  Terrill R. Moore
President
  Executive Vice President
Chief Executive Officer
  Chief Financial Officer


 


 

 
Fourth Quarter 2006

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
    December 31     December 31  
(unaudited)   2006     2005     2006     2005  
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
                         
 
                               
Total interest income
  $ 78,480     $ 64,923     $ 293,423     $ 233,857  
Total interest expense
    30,398       19,437       105,960       63,549  
         
Net interest income
    48,082       45,486       187,463       170,308  
 
                               
Provision for loan losses
    1,401       1,482       7,761       5,847  
         
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    46,681       44,004       179,702       164,461  
Noninterest income
    40,991       18,039       101,548       70,290  
Noninterest expense
    45,931       39,545       164,142       150,726  
         
Income before taxes
    41,741       22,498       117,108       84,025  
Income taxes
    15,149       7,896       41,499       29,310  
         
Net income
  $ 26,592     $ 14,602     $ 75,609     $ 54,715  
         
 
                               
DATA PER COMMON SHARE:
                               
Diluted EPS
  $ 3.18     $ 1.77     $ 9.11     $ 6.71  
Dividends
    0.61       0.50       2.27       1.88  
Book value
                    50.39       43.20  
Tangible book value
                    45.80       38.58  
Appraised value
                    82.50 *     68.00 **
 
*   Based on the latest independent appraised minority share valuation as of September 30, 2006, effective for transactions on or after November 14, 2006.
 
**   Based on the independent appraised minority share valuation as of December 31, 2005.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
                 
    December 31  
(unaudited)   2006     2005  
 
(In thousands)
               
 
               
ASSETS
               
Cash and due from banks
  $ 187,555     $ 207,877  
Federal funds sold
    55,427       27,607  
Interest bearing deposits
    12,809       5,493  
Investment securities
    1,124,598       1,019,901  
Loans
    3,310,363       3,034,354  
Less: allowance for loan losses
    47,452       42,450  
     
Net loans
    3,262,911       2,991,904  
Premises & equipment, net
    120,280       120,438  
Accrued interest receivable
    30,913       26,104  
Goodwill and core deposit intangibles
    37,812       38,594  
Mortgage servicing rights
    22,644       22,116  
Company owned life insurance
    64,705       62,547  
Other assets
    54,480       39,732  
     
Total Assets
  $ 4,974,134     $ 4,562,313  
     
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Deposits
  $ 3,708,511     $ 3,547,590  
Federal funds purchased
    0       1,500  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    731,548       518,718  
Accrued interest payable
    18,872       13,185  
Other liabilities
    36,295       28,086  
Other borrowed funds
    5,694       7,495  
Long — term debt
    21,601       54,654  
Subordinated debenture
    41,238       41,238  
     
Total Liabilities
    4,563,759       4,212,466  
Common stockholders’ equity
    410,375       349,847  
     
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 4,974,134     $ 4,562,313  
     


Selected Ratios
(TABLE AND LINE GRAPH)