Declares $0.20 per Share Quarterly Cash Dividend

Financial Highlights for the three months ended June 30, 2016:

• Net revenues of $20.9 million
• Net loss of $8.2 million, or $1.08 per share
• Repurchased 720 thousand shares of common stock, through a combination of open market purchases and netting of shares for tax withholding purposes on employee share vestings, at a total cost of $12.8 million
• Shareholders’ equity of $173 million and tangible book value per share of $22.89 on June 30, 2016

ARLINGTON, Va., July 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FBR & Co. (NASDAQ:FBRC) ("FBR" or the “Company"), a leading investment bank serving the middle market, today reported a net loss of $8.2 million, or $1.08 per share, on revenues of $20.9 million for the second quarter of 2016, compared to net income of $2.9 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, on revenues of $44.3 million for the second quarter of 2015, and a net loss of $5.5 million, or $0.72 per share, on revenues of $17.9 million for the first quarter of 2016. For the first half of 2016, FBR reported a net loss of $13.7 million, or $1.80 per share, compared to net income of $0.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the first half of 2015.

Composition of Revenues

Investment Banking

Investment banking revenue was $8.6 million for the second quarter of 2016, compared to $29.7 million for the second quarter of 2015 and $4.2 million for the first quarter of 2016.  During the quarter, FBR completed 18 client engagements representing $1.7 billion in transaction value, compared to 13 transactions representing $3.8 billion in transaction value for the same period in 2015, and 11 transactions representing $975 million in transaction value in the first quarter of 2016.  Transactions were completed across all industry groups with healthcare, real estate and energy being the largest contributors.   

For the first half of 2016, investment banking revenue was $12.8 million compared to $42.4 million for the first half of 2015.  The decline in first half 2016 revenue versus the prior year primarily reflects continued challenges for the small cap IPO market as year-over-year activity declined by approximately 60 percent. 

Institutional Brokerage

Net revenue generated in institutional brokerage was $11.6 million for the second quarter of 2016, compared to $14.3 million for the second quarter of 2015, and $14.4 million for the first quarter of 2016.  Lower industry-wide cash equities volume during the second quarter of 2016 led to the quarter-over-quarter decline in revenue.  For the first half of 2016, institutional brokerage revenue was $26.0 million compared to $28.0 million for the first half of 2015.

Expenses

Non-compensation fixed expenses for the second quarter of 2016 totaled $10.4 million, including expenses of approximately $1.0 million related to higher Annual Meeting costs as a result of a contested proxy vote, compared to $9.6 million for the second quarter of 2015 and $9.7 million for the first quarter of 2016. Compensation and benefits expense for the second quarter of 2016 was $16.7 million, compared to $24.3 million for the second quarter of 2015 and $18.0 million for the first quarter of 2016. 

Employees

At June 30, 2016, the Company had 290 full-time employees, compared to 287 at March 31, 2016, and 293 at June 30, 2015.

Share Repurchase Activity

During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, the Company repurchased approximately 575 thousand shares of its common stock in the open market at an aggregate price of $10.1 million, or an average price of $17.49 per share.  Also, FBR acquired an additional 145 thousand shares outside of the share repurchase program as a result of netting of shares for tax withholding purposes on employee share vestings for $2.7 million.  

Today the Board approved an increase in the Company’s available repurchase authorization to 750 thousand shares. Since 2010, FBR has repurchased 12.2 million shares in the open market, thereby returning over $237 million to shareholders.

Quarterly Dividend

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share to be paid August 26, 2016 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 29, 2016.

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2016, FBR continues to maintain an unlevered and highly-liquid balance sheet, with cash and cash equivalents of $51.3 million, compared to $52.8 million as of March 31, 2016.  Over the last twelve months, FBR has significantly reduced its investment and trading desk positions in order to fund repurchase activity.  The Company ended the second quarter of 2016 with net investment positions of approximately $47 million, down from $65 million at the end of first quarter 2016 and $87 million at the end of 2015.

Shareholders’ equity as of June 30, 2016 was $173 million, and tangible book value per share was $22.89, based on 7.28 million shares outstanding, compared to shareholders’ equity of $195 million and tangible book value per share of $24.60 as of March 31, 2016.

Conference Call

Investors wishing to listen to the earnings call at 9:00 A.M. U.S. EDT, Friday, July 15, 2016, may do so via the Web or conference call at:

Webcast link:  http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/hf5e4tuq

Conference call dial-in number (domestic, toll-free):  855.425.4204

Conference call dial-in number (international):  484.756.4245

Access code:  39768169

About FBR

FBR & Co. (Nasdaq:FBRC) provides investment banking, merger and acquisition advisory, institutional brokerage, and research services through its subsidiaries FBR Capital Markets & Co. and MLV & Co. FBR focuses capital and financial expertise on the following industry sectors: consumer; energy & natural resources; financial institutions; healthcare; industrials;  insurance; real estate; and technology, media & telecom. FBR is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with offices throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.fbr.com.

Statements in this release concerning future performance, developments, events, market forecasts, revenues, expenses, earnings, run rates and any other guidance on present or future periods constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties that might cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations or current circumstances. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of demand for public and private securities offerings, activity in the secondary securities markets, interest rates, the risks associated with merchant banking investments, the realization of gains and losses on principal investments, available technologies, competition for business and personnel, and general economic, political and market conditions. Financial results may fluctuate substantially from quarter-to-quarter depending on the number, size and timing of completed transactions. We have experienced, and expect to experience in the future, significant variations in our revenues and results of operations and, as a result, are unlikely to achieve steady and predictable earnings on a quarterly basis. For a discussion of these and other risks and important factors that could affect FBR's future results and financial condition, see "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015; and other items throughout the Company's Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Financial data follows.

FBR & CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
			Quarter Ended									Six Months Ended
			June 30,									June 30,
				2016				2015					2016				2015
REVENUES:
Investment banking:
Capital raising			$	6,796			$	27,827				$	9,326			$	37,111
Advisory				1,838				1,901					3,458				5,292
Institutional brokerage				9,550				12,441					21,734				24,684
Interest				7,382				8,008					15,746				14,993
Net investment income (loss)				479				3,679					(439	)			7,029
Dividends & other				189				192					312				463
Total revenues				26,234				54,048					50,137				89,572
Interest expense				5,347				9,792					11,350				18,221
Revenues, net of interest expense				20,887				44,256					38,787				71,351
NON-INTEREST EXPENSES:
Compensation and benefits				16,692				24,275					34,687				42,230
Occupancy and equipment				3,178				3,103					6,511				6,161
Communications				2,214				2,576					4,768				5,587
Professional services				2,678				4,439					4,298				6,812
Business development				2,326				2,642					3,940				4,530
Clearing and brokerage fees				1,271				1,336					2,555				2,559
Other operating expenses				1,718				1,487					3,303				2,917
Total non-interest expenses				30,077				39,858					60,062				70,796
(Loss) income before income taxes				(9,190	)			4,398					(21,275	)			555
Income tax (benefit) provision				(982	)			1,499					(7,613	)			178
Net (loss) income			$	(8,208	)		$	2,899				$	(13,662	)		$	377
Basic (loss) income per share			$	(1.08	)		$	0.36				$	(1.80	)		$	0.04
Diluted (loss) income per share			$	(1.08	)		$	0.32				$	(1.80	)		$	0.04
Weighted average shares  - basic				7,600				8,084					7,584				8,453
Weighted average shares  - diluted				7,600				9,159					7,584				9,634
Cash dividends per common share			$	0.20			$	0.20				$	0.40			$	0.20

 

FBR & CO.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
			June 30,				December 31,
ASSETS				2016				2015
Cash and cash equivalents			$	51,347			$	70,067
Receivables:
Securities borrowed				969,006				685,037
Due from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations				5,922				5,513
Customers				4,422				1,429
Other				3,188				5,895
Financial instruments owned, at fair value				47,571				94,923
Other investments, at cost				6,539				6,539
Goodwill and intangibles				6,011				6,273
Furniture, equipment, software and leasehold improvements, net				13,865				15,071
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance				45,642				37,497
Prepaid expenses and other assets				6,027				5,172
Total assets			$	1,159,540			$	933,416
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Securities loaned			$	968,681			$	687,443
Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value				-				1,934
Accrued compensation and benefits				2,838				13,325
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities				15,304				19,947
Total liabilities				986,823				722,649
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock				7				7
Additional paid-in capital				254,963				259,011
Restricted stock units				15,076				35,929
Accumulated deficit				(97,329	)			(84,180	)
Total shareholders' equity				172,717				210,767
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity			$	1,159,540			$	933,416
Book Value per Share			$	23.72			$	28.69
Tangible Book Value per Share			$	22.89			$	27.83
Shares Outstanding (in thousands)				7,282				7,347

 

FBR & CO.
Financial & Statistical Supplement - Operating Results
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Q-2 16				Q-1 16				Q-4 15				Q-3 15				Q-2 15
Revenues, net of interest expense	$	20,887			$	17,900			$	23,464			$	25,580			$	44,256
Expenses:
Variable		6,728				6,436				7,467				5,712				17,094
Fixed		23,349				23,549				26,001				26,178				22,764
Income (loss) before income taxes		(9,190	)			(12,085	)			(10,004	)			(6,309	)			4,398
Income tax (benefit) provision		(982	)			(6,631	)			(5,594	)			(2,881	)			1,499
Net (loss) income	$	(8,208	)		$	(5,454	)		$	(4,410	)		$	(3,428	)		$	2,899
Return on equity (trailing twelve months)		-10.6	%			-4.8	%			-3.2	%			-0.9	%			1.8	%
Fixed expenses	$	23,349			$	23,549			$	26,001			$	26,178			$	22,764
Less:  Non-cash expenses1		582				-				1,701				2,373				1,134
Corporate transaction costs2		-				-				-				691				-
Core fixed costs3	$	22,767			$	23,549			$	24,300			$	23,114			$	21,630
Statistical Data
Revenues per employee (annualized)	$	288			$	249			$	310			$	337			$	604
Employee count		290				287				303				304				293

1	Non-cash expenses include compensation costs associated with stock-based awards and amortization of intangibles.
2	Corporate transaction costs in Q3 2015 include non-recurring costs related to a business combination.
3	Core fixed costs is a non-GAAP measurement used by management to analyze and assess the Company’s fixed operating costs. Management believes that this non-GAAP measurement assists investors in understanding the impact of the items noted in footnotes 1 and 2 on the performance of the Company.
	A limitation of utilizing this non-GAAP measure is that the GAAP accounting effects of these items do in fact reflect the underlying financial results of the Company and these effects should not be ignored in evaluating and analyzing the Company's financial results. Therefore, management believes fixed expenses on a GAAP basis and core fixed costs on a non-GAAP basis should be considered together.

 

Media: Shannon Hawkins at 703.469.1190 or shawkins@fbr.com
Investors: Linda E. Eddy at 703.312.9715 or leddy@fbr.com