TOMS RIVER, N.J., Jan. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OceanFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:OCFC), (the “Company”), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank (the “Bank”), today announced that diluted earnings per share were $0.30 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $0.22 for the corresponding prior year quarter.  For the year ended December 31, 2017, diluted earnings per share were $1.28, as compared to $0.98 for the corresponding prior year period. 

The results of operations for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 included merger related expenses, branch consolidation expenses, and additional income tax expense from the revaluation of deferred tax assets as a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate related to the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Reform”), and for the year ended December 31, 2017, also included the acceleration of stock award expense due to the retirement of a director. These items decreased net income, net of tax benefit, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 by $4.9 million and $13.7 million, respectively.  Excluding these items, core earnings for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 were $14.9 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, and $56.2 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, respectively.  (Please refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation table at the end of this document for details on the earnings impact of merger related expenses, branch consolidation expenses, additional income tax expense related to the recently enacted Tax Reform, and certain other incurred expenses and quantification of core earnings).

Highlights are described below:

• Deposits increased $155.0 million for the year, while the cost of deposits increased only four basis points, to 0.29%. The loan to deposit ratio at December 31, 2017 was 91.3%.
• Total loans increased $160.9 million for the year, with $123.1 million of the growth relating to commercial lending.
• As a result of the tax rate reduction associated with the recently enacted Tax Reform, the Company will reinvest part of the anticipated benefit in its workforce by raising the minimum hourly pay rate to $15.00 and increasing the number of shares available in the employee stock ownership program by 300,000 shares.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christopher D. Maher said, “We are pleased to report 2017 results which included record core earnings of $56.2 million and core diluted earnings per share of $1.70.  Core expenses decreased again in the fourth quarter, further benefiting from the branch consolidations completed earlier in the year, and lowering our efficiency ratio to 53.7%.”  Mr. Maher added,  “The merger with Sun Bancorp, Inc. remains on target to close on January 31, 2018 and we look forward to welcoming their stockholders, customers and employees into our OceanFirst family.”

On June 30, 2017, the Company announced a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Sun Bancorp, Inc. (“Sun”) (NASDAQ:SNBC) (the “merger”). On October 24 and 25, 2017, Sun and the Company received their respective requisite stockholder approvals for the merger.  Regulatory approval of the merger was received from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on October 17, 2017. The regulatory approval for the transaction by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency was received on December 4, 2017 and included approval to convert the Bank to a national bank charter. Subject to other customary closing conditions, the Company expects to close the transaction on January 31, 2018, and anticipates full integration of Sun’s branches and core operating systems in the second quarter of 2018. The Company expects to consolidate 17 branches in the second quarter, primarily as a result of the merger. These initiatives will allow the Company to continue to invest in commercial banking and electronic delivery channels while meeting the efficiency targets established in connection with the recent acquisitions.

The Company also announced that the Company’s Board of Directors declared its eighty-fourth consecutive quarterly cash dividend on common stock.  The dividend, for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, of $0.15 per share will be paid on February 16, 2018 to stockholders of record on February 5, 2018.

Board of Directors Appointments

On January 24, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors announced the appointment of John K. Lloyd to its Board of Directors effective immediately and to the OceanFirst Bank Board of Directors effective at the time of the Sun Merger.  Mr. Lloyd is the Co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, the largest most comprehensive and integrated health network in New Jersey.  Prior to the merger of Meridian Health and Hackensack University Health Network in July 2016, Mr. Lloyd was President and CEO of Meridian Health since 1997.  In addition to his significant experience in healthcare and leadership skills from more than 35 years as a CEO, Mr. Lloyd has served on the boards for other companies and charitable organizations.  The Company also announced that Dorothy F. McCrosson will retire from the Board of Directors of the Company and OceanFirst Bank upon the expiration of her term at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in order to devote more time to her law practice, personal business and family.  On December 20, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the appointment of Anthony Coscia and Grace Torres, each being a member of the Board of Directors of Sun, to the Company’s and Bank’s Boards of Directors upon the closing of the Sun Merger, as previously disclosed.

Results of Operations

On May 2, 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of Cape Bancorp, Inc. (“Cape”) and its results of operations are included in the consolidated results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, but are excluded from the results for the period from January 1, 2016 to May 1, 2016.

On November 30, 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of Ocean Shore Holding Company (“Ocean Shore”) and its results of operations are included in the consolidated results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, but are excluded from the results of operations for the period from January 1, 2016 to November 30, 2016.

Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, was $10.0 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, as compared to $6.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the corresponding prior year period. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2017, was $42.5 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, as compared to $23.0 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, for the corresponding prior year period.  Net income for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 included merger related expenses, branch consolidation expenses, and additional income tax expense related to the recently enacted Tax Reform, and for the year ended December 31, 2017, also included the acceleration of stock award expense due to the retirement of a director. These items decreased net income, net of tax benefit, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, by $4.9 million and $13.7 million, respectively. Net income for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 included merger related expenses of $4.5 million and $11.8 million, respectively. Excluding these items, net income for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 increased over the prior year periods primarily due to the acquisitions of Cape and Ocean Shore (“Acquisition Transactions”). In addition, in the first quarter of 2017 the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09 “Compensation - Stock Compensation” which resulted in decreases in income tax expense for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, of $125,000 and $1.8 million, respectively.

Net interest income for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 increased to $42.5 million and $169.2 million, respectively, as compared to $35.8 million and $120.3 million for the same prior year periods, reflecting an increase in interest-earning assets and a higher net interest margin.  Average interest-earning assets increased $741.1 million and $1.370 billion, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the same prior year periods, and were favorably impacted by the interest-earning assets acquired in the Acquisition Transactions. The net interest margin for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 increased to 3.42% and 3.50%, respectively, from 3.40% and 3.47%, respectively, for the same prior year periods. The yields on average interest-earning assets increased to 3.86% and 3.91%, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, from 3.79% and 3.85%, respectively, for the same prior year periods. For the quarter and the year ended December 31, 2017, the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities increased to 0.54% and 0.50%, respectively, from 0.48% and 0.47%, respectively, in the corresponding prior year periods.  The total cost of deposits (including non-interest bearing deposits) was 0.32% and 0.29%, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 0.26% and 0.25%, respectively, for the corresponding prior year periods.

Net interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, decreased $551,000, as compared to the prior linked quarter, as net interest margin decreased to 3.42% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, from 3.50% for the prior linked quarter, partly due to the decrease in accretion of purchase accounting adjustments. Total loans increased $94.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 with a significant amount of this growth occurring late in the quarter.  The growth was primarily funded from cash and short-term investments.  The improved asset mix will benefit net interest income in the first quarter of 2018.

For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, the provision for loan losses was $1.4 million and $4.4 million, respectively, as compared to $510,000 and $2.6 million, respectively, for the corresponding prior year periods, and $1.2 million in the prior linked quarter.  Net loan charge-offs were $2.3 million and $3.9 million, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to net loan charge-offs of $944,000 and $4.2 million, respectively, in the corresponding prior year periods, and $1.1 million in the prior linked quarter. Net charge-offs for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 included $880,000 of specific reserves established in prior periods on non-performing loans, which were separately identified in the allowance for loan losses. Non-performing loans totaled $20.9 million at December 31, 2017, as compared to $15.1 million at September 30, 2017, and $13.6 million at December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to one commercial loan relationship, which entered non-performing status in the fourth quarter of 2017. Subsequent to December 31, 2017, the Bank received a significant payment from this borrower.

For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, other income increased to $6.7 million and $27.1 million, respectively, as compared to $6.3 million and $20.4 million, respectively, for the corresponding prior year periods. The increases were primarily due to the Acquisition Transactions, which added $1.2 million and $6.1 million, respectively, to other income for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the same prior year periods. Excluding the Acquisition Transactions, other income decreased for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to an increase in the net loss from other real estate operations of $676,000, of which $500,000 related to a write-down attributable to the operations of a hotel, golf and banquet facility, a decrease in bank card related fees of $238,000, and a decrease in the net gain on the sale of loans available for sale (included in other income) of $215,000, as compared to the same prior year period. The decrease was partially offset by rental income of $460,000 for November and December 2017 on the Company’s newly acquired corporate headquarters. The building will continue to be occupied by the former owner through February 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2017, excluding the Acquisition Transactions, the increase in other income was primarily due to higher deposit fees of $1.3 million and the rental income of $460,000, partially offset by a decrease of $912,000 in the net gain on the sale of loans available for sale (included in other income), as compared to the same prior year period.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2017, other income decreased $614,000, as compared to the prior linked quarter. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in the net loss from other real estate operations of $1.1 million including $500,000 related to a write-down attributable to the operations of a hotel, golf and banquet facility. The Bank is currently engaged in a sales process with qualified buyers for this property. The decrease in other real estate operations was partially offset by the rental income of $460,000.

Operating expenses decreased to $27.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $32.5 million in the same prior year period. Operating expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 include $1.3 million in merger related and branch consolidation expenses, as compared to $6.6 million in the prior year period.  Excluding the impact of merger and branch consolidation expenses, operating expenses increased over the prior year period, primarily due to increases in compensation and employee benefits expense, occupancy expense and equipment expense.

Operating expenses increased to $126.5 million, for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $102.9 million, in the same prior year period. Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 included $14.5 million in merger related and branch consolidation expenses, as compared to $16.5 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of merger and branch consolidation expenses, the increase in operating expenses over the prior year was primarily due to the Acquisition Transactions, which added $16.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. Excluding the Acquisition Transactions, the increase in operating expense was primarily due to increases in compensation and employee benefits expense, equipment expense, marketing expense, data processing expense and professional fees.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2017, operating expenses, excluding merger and branch consolidation expenses, decreased $1.1 million, as compared to the prior linked quarter.  The decrease was primarily due to lower compensation and employee benefits expense, marketing expense and data processing expense, partially offset by the increase in occupancy and equipment expense due to the purchase of the new corporate headquarters on November 1, 2017.

The provision for income taxes was $10.2 million and $22.9 million, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $3.0 million and $12.2 million, respectively, for the same prior year periods.  The effective tax rate was 50.6% and 35.0%, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 33.0% and 34.5%, respectively, for the same prior year periods and 30.8% in the prior linked quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2017, Tax Reform was enacted which reduced the statutory tax rate for corporations from 35% to 21% effective in 2018. Excluding non-deductible merger related expenses, the Company anticipates its effective tax rate to be approximately 19% in 2018. Authoritative accounting guidance required the Company to revalue its deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2017, resulting in additional income tax expense of $3.6 million, which increased the effective tax rate by 18.1% and 5.6%, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09 “Compensation - Stock Compensation,” which decreased income tax expense by $125,000 and $1.8 million, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively, as compared to the prior year periods. Under the ASU, the tax benefits of exercised stock options and vested stock awards are recognized as a benefit to income tax expense in the reporting period in which they occur. The tax benefit relating to the Company’s stock plans was $62,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016, which was recorded directly into stockholders equity. The elevated tax benefit for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, was related to the exercise of options assumed in the Acquisition Transactions and the increase in the Company’s stock price. Excluding the impact of Tax Reform and ASU 2016-09, the effective tax rate was 33.1% and 32.2%, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.  The lower effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the same prior year period, was primarily due to the deductibility of merger related expenses and an increase in tax exempt income.

Financial Condition

Total assets increased by $249.1 million to $5.416 billion at December 31, 2017, from $5.167 billion at December 31, 2016. Cash and due from banks decreased by $191.8 million, to $109.6 million at December 31, 2017, from $301.4 million at December 31, 2016, as these funds were deployed into higher-yielding securities and to fund loan growth. Loans receivable, net, increased by $162.3 million, to $3.966 billion at December 31, 2017, from $3.803 billion at December 31, 2016.  Premises and equipment, net, increased by $30.4 million at December 31, 2017, as compared to December 31, 2016, due to the acquisition of an office building in Red Bank, New Jersey for $42.5 million, partially offset by the consolidation of 15 branches during the year ended December 31, 2017. The premises and equipment at these locations were written down to their net realizable value and the remaining balance was reclassified to assets held for sale. Deferred tax assets decreased by $37.0 million to $1.9 million at December 31, 2017, from $38.9 million at December 31, 2016, and other assets increased by $31.9 million to $41.9 million at December 31, 2017, from $10.0 million at December 31, 2016. In response to Tax Reform, the Company implemented certain tax strategies prior to year end which reduced the deferred tax asset and increased income taxes receivable.

Deposits increased by $155.0 million, to $4.343 billion at December 31, 2017, from $4.188 billion at December 31, 2016. The loan-to-deposit ratio at December 31, 2017 was 91.3%, as compared to 90.8% at December 31, 2016. Deposits per branch averaged $94.4 million at December 31, 2017, as compared to $68.7 million at December 31, 2016.

Stockholders’ equity increased to $601.9 million at December 31, 2017, as compared to $571.9 million at December 31, 2016. At December 31, 2017, there were 1.8 million shares available for repurchase under the Company’s stock repurchase programs. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company did not repurchase any shares under these repurchase programs. Tangible stockholders’ equity per common share increased to $13.58 at December 31, 2017, as compared to $12.94 at December 31, 2016.

Asset Quality

The Company’s non-performing loans increased to $20.9 million at December 31, 2017, as compared to $13.6 million at December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to the addition of three commercial loan relationships totaling $12.6 million, including one large relationship in the fourth quarter of 2017. Although this loan was performing prior to the fourth quarter of 2017, the Bank has included this loan relationship in classified assets since 2011. An increase in non-performing residential mortgage loans in the first quarter of 2017 was offset by bulk sales of non-performing residential loans in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2017, totaling $8.5 million. Non-performing loans do not include $1.7 million of purchased credit-impaired (“PCI”) loans acquired in the Acquisition Transactions. The Company’s other real estate owned totaled $8.2 million at December 31, 2017, as compared to $9.8 million at December 31, 2016. At both December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company’s allowance for loan losses was 0.40% of total loans. These ratios exclude existing fair value credit marks of $17.5 million and $26.0 million at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, on the Ocean Shore, Cape and Colonial American Bank loans.  These loans were acquired at fair value with no related allowance for loan losses.  The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total non-performing loans was 75.35% at December 31, 2017 as compared to 111.92% at December 31, 2016. The decrease was due to the addition of one large loan relationship in the fourth quarter of 2017 with no related loss allocation included in the allowance for loan losses.

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reported amounts are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).  The Company’s management believes that the supplemental non-GAAP information, which consists of reported net income excluding merger related expenses, branch consolidation expenses, additional income tax expense related to the recently enacted Tax Reform and accelerated stock award expense relating to a director retirement, which can vary from period to period, provides a better comparison of period to period operating performance. Additionally, the Company believes this information is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company’s financial condition and therefore, such information is useful to investors.  These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be presented by other companies.  Please refer to Non-GAAP Reconciliation table at the end of this document for details on the earnings impact of these items.

Immaterial Correction of an Error

During the fourth quarter of 2017, management identified an immaterial correction of an error related to the classification of certain equity securities with no stated maturities that were acquired in a previous business combination that were inappropriately classified as held to maturity in the 2016 consolidated financial statements.  In order to correct this immaterial error, management has revised the 2016 consolidated financial statements and footnotes to report these securities as available for sale.

Annual Meeting

The Company also announced today that its Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, at the OceanFirst Bank Administrative Offices located at 110 West Front Street, Red Bank, New Jersey. The record date for stockholders to vote at the Annual Meeting is April 10, 2018.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host an earnings conference call on Friday, January 26, 2018 at 11 a.m. Eastern time.  The direct dial number for the call is (888) 338-7143.  For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available.  To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529, Replay Conference Number 10115166 from one hour after the end of the call until April 26, 2018.  The conference call, as well as the replay, are also available (listen-only) by Internet webcast at www.oceanfirst.com in the Investor Relations section.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank, founded in 1902, is a $5.4 billion community bank with branches located throughout central and southern New Jersey.  OceanFirst Bank delivers commercial and residential financing solutions, wealth management and deposit services and is one of the largest and oldest community-based financial institutions headquartered in New Jersey.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s press releases are available by visiting us at www.oceanfirst.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “view,” “opportunity,” “potential,” or similar expressions or expressions of confidence.  The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain.  Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to:  changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, levels of unemployment in the Bank’s lending area, real estate market values in the Bank’s lending area, future natural disasters and increases to flood insurance premiums, the level of prepayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in the Company’s market area,  accounting principles and guidelines and the Bank’s ability to successfully integrate acquired operations.  These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, under Item 1A - Risk Factors and elsewhere, and subsequent securities filings and should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.  The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(dollars in thousands)
		December 31, 2017				September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Assets
Cash and due from banks		$	109,613			$	255,258			$	301,373
Securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value		90,281				75,847				20,775
Securities held-to-maturity, net (estimated fair value of $761,660 at December 31, 2017, $737,783 at September 30, 2017, and $589,568 at December 31, 2016)		764,062				733,983				589,912
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost		19,724				18,472				19,313
Loans receivable, net		3,965,773				3,870,109				3,803,443
Loans held-for-sale		241				338				1,551
Interest and dividends receivable		14,254				13,627				11,989
Other real estate owned		8,186				9,334				9,803
Premises and equipment, net		101,776				64,350				71,385
Bank Owned Life Insurance		134,847				134,298				132,172
Deferred tax asset		1,922				29,795				38,880
Assets held for sale		4,046				5,241				360
Other assets		41,895				15,634				9,973
Core deposit intangible		8,885				9,380				10,924
Goodwill		150,501				148,134				145,064
Total assets		$	5,416,006			$	5,383,800			$	5,166,917
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Deposits		$	4,342,798			$	4,350,259			$	4,187,750
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase with retail customers		79,668				75,326				69,935
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		288,691				259,186				250,498
Other borrowings		56,519				56,466				56,559
Advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance		11,156				14,371				14,030
Other liabilities		35,233				32,052				16,242
Total liabilities		4,814,065				4,787,660				4,595,014
Total stockholders’ equity		601,941				596,140				571,903
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	5,416,006			$	5,383,800			$	5,166,917

OceanFirst Financial Corp.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
		For the Three Months Ended,												For the Year Ended
		December 31,				September 30,				December 31,				December 31,
		2017				2017				2016				2017				2016
		|--------------------- (unaudited) ---------------------|												(unaudited)
Interest income:
Loans		$	42,909			$	43,329			$	36,799			$	170,588			$	122,962
Mortgage-backed securities		2,919				2,738				1,874				11,108				6,697
Investment securities and other		2,078				1,963				1,231				7,133				3,766
Total interest income		47,906				48,030				39,904				188,829				133,425
Interest expense:
Deposits		3,515				3,126				2,392				12,336				7,517
Borrowed funds		1,886				1,848				1,758				7,275				5,646
Total interest expense		5,401				4,974				4,150				19,611				13,163
Net interest income		42,505				43,056				35,754				169,218				120,262
Provision for loan losses		1,415				1,165				510				4,445				2,623
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		41,090				41,891				35,244				164,773				117,639
Other income:
Bankcard services revenue		1,764				1,785				1,424				6,965				4,833
Wealth management revenue		528				541				545				2,150				2,324
Fees and services charges		3,891				3,702				3,346				15,058				10,758
Net (loss) gain from other real estate operations		(678		)		432				(74		)		(874		)		(856		)
Income from Bank Owned Life Insurance		863				881				710				3,299				2,230
Other		377				18				306				474				1,123
Total other income		6,745				7,359				6,257				27,072				20,412
Operating expenses:
Compensation and employee benefits		13,961				14,673				13,649				60,100				47,105
Occupancy		2,693				2,556				2,380				10,657				8,332
Equipment		1,763				1,605				1,499				6,769				5,104
Marketing		433				775				609				2,678				1,882
Federal deposit insurance		485				713				830				2,564				2,825
Data processing		2,040				2,367				2,291				8,849				7,577
Check card processing		922				871				662				3,561				2,210
Professional fees		1,094				846				969				3,995				2,848
Other operating expense		2,548				2,667				2,640				10,810				7,676
Amortization of core deposit intangible		495				507				304				2,039				623
Federal Home Loan Bank advance prepayment fee		—				—				—				—				136
Branch consolidation expenses		(734		)		1,455				—				6,205				—
Merger related expenses		1,993				1,698				6,632				8,293				16,534
Total operating expenses		27,693				30,733				32,465				126,520				102,852
Income before provision for income taxes		20,142				18,517				9,036				65,325				35,199
Provision for income taxes		10,186				5,700				2,984				22,855				12,153
Net income		$	9,956			$	12,817			$	6,052			$	42,470			$	23,046
Basic earnings per share		$	0.31			$	0.40			$	0.22			$	1.32			$	1.00
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.30			$	0.39			$	0.22			$	1.28			$	0.98
Average basic shares outstanding		32,225				32,184				27,461				32,113				23,093
Average diluted shares outstanding		33,168				33,106				28,128				33,125				23,526

OceanFirst Financial Corp.
SELECTED LOAN AND DEPOSIT DATA
(dollars in thousands)
LOANS RECEIVABLE				At
				December 31,  2017				September 30, 2017				June 30, 2017				March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Commercial:
Commercial and industrial				$	187,645			$	183,510			$	193,759			$	205,720			$	152,810
Commercial real estate - owner-occupied				569,624				555,429				557,734				533,052				534,365
Commercial real estate - investor				1,187,482				1,134,416				1,122,186				1,113,964				1,134,507
Total commercial				1,944,751				1,873,355				1,873,679				1,852,736				1,821,682
Consumer:
Residential mortgage				1,694,282				1,678,092				1,667,831				1,639,611				1,651,695
Residential construction				54,643				51,266				55,750				59,009				51,159
Home equity loans and lines				281,143				277,909				282,402				285,149				289,110
Other consumer				1,295				1,426				1,335				1,560				1,566
Total consumer				2,031,363				2,008,693				2,007,318				1,985,329				1,993,530
Total loans				3,976,114				3,882,048				3,880,997				3,838,065				3,815,212
Deferred origination costs, net				5,380				4,645				4,365				3,686				3,414
Allowance for loan losses				(15,721		)		(16,584		)		(16,557		)		(16,151		)		(15,183		)
Loans receivable, net				$	3,965,773			$	3,870,109			$	3,868,805			$	3,825,600			$	3,803,443
Mortgage loans serviced for others				$	121,662			$	121,886			$	131,284			$	132,973			$	137,881
	At December 31, 2017 Average Yield
Loan pipeline (1):
Commercial	4.66	%		$	53,859			$	58,189			$	61,287			$	73,793			$	99,060
Residential mortgage and construction	3.77			43,482				44,510				64,510				57,600				38,486
Home equity loans and lines	4.75			7,412				8,826				11,194				7,879				6,522
Total	4.30	%		$	104,753			$	111,525			$	136,991			$	139,272			$	144,068

	For the Three Months Ended
	December 31,  2017						September 30, 2017			June 30, 2017			March 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
	Average Yield
Loan originations:
Commercial	4.48	%		$	141,346		$	97,420		$	115,048		$	106,896		$	105,062
Residential mortgage and construction	3.72			73,729			80,481			79,610			64,452			62,087
Home equity loans and lines	4.94			18,704			17,129			20,539			12,500			11,790
Total	4.28	%		$	233,779		$	195,030		$	215,197		$	183,848		$	178,939
Loans sold				$	1,422	(2)	$	991	(3)	$	865	(4)	$	1,907		$	12,098	(5)
(1) Loan pipeline includes pending loan applications and loans approved but not funded
(2) Excludes the sale of under-performing residential loans of $5.8 million
(3) Excludes the sale of under-performing residential loans of $3.5 million
(4) Excludes the sale of under-performing residential loans of $4.3 million
(5) Excludes the sale of under-performing loans of $21.0 million

DEPOSITS		At
		December 31,  2017				September 30, 2017				June 30, 2017				March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Type of Account
Non-interest-bearing		$	756,513			$	781,043			$	770,057			$	806,728			$	782,504
Interest-bearing checking		1,954,358				1,892,832				1,727,828				1,629,589				1,626,713
Money market deposit		363,656				384,106				378,538				448,093				458,911
Savings		661,167				668,370				677,939				681,853				672,519
Time deposits		607,104				623,908				622,547				632,400				647,103
		$	4,342,798			$	4,350,259			$	4,176,909			$	4,198,663			$	4,187,750

 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.
ASSET QUALITY
(dollars in thousands)
ASSET QUALITY	December 31,  2017				September 30, 2017				June 30, 2017				March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Non-performing loans:
Commercial and industrial	$	503			$	63			$	68			$	231			$	441
Commercial real estate - owner-occupied	5,962				923				943				2,383				2,414
Commercial real estate - investor	8,281				8,720				5,608				5,118				521
Residential mortgage	4,190				3,551				7,936				11,993				8,126
Home equity loans and lines	1,929				1,864				1,706				1,954				2,064
Total non-performing loans	20,865				15,121				16,261				21,679				13,566
Other real estate owned	8,186				9,334				8,898				8,774				9,803
Total non-performing assets	$	29,051			$	24,455			$	25,159			$	30,453			$	23,369
Purchased credit-impaired loans	$	1,712			$	4,867			$	4,969			$	7,118			$	7,575
Delinquent loans 30 to 89 days	$	20,796			$	24,548			$	25,224			$	18,516			$	22,598
Troubled debt restructurings:
Non-performing (included in total non-performing loans above)	$	8,821			$	270			$	1,251			$	3,547			$	3,471
Performing	33,313				35,808				34,130				26,974				27,042
Total troubled debt restructurings	$	42,134			$	36,078			$	35,381			$	30,521			$	30,513
Allowance for loan losses	$	15,721			$	16,584			$	16,557			$	16,151			$	15,183
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans receivable (1)	0.40		%		0.42		%		0.42		%		0.42		%		0.40		%
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total non-performing loans	75.35				109.68				101.82				74.50				111.92
Non-performing loans as a percent of total loans receivable	0.52				0.39				0.42				0.56				0.35
Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets	0.54				0.45				0.48				0.59				0.45
(1) The loans acquired from Ocean Shore, Cape, and Colonial American were recorded at fair value.  The net credit mark on these loans, not reflected in the allowance for loan losses, was $17,531, $19,810, $21,794, $24,002, and $25,973 at December 31, 2017, September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017, March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.

NET CHARGE-OFFS		For the Three Months Ended
		December 31,  2017				September 30, 2017				June 30, 2017				March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Net Charge-offs:
Loan charge-offs		$	(2,523	)		$	(1,357	)		$	(1,299	)		$	(205	)		$	(979	)
Recoveries on loans		245				219				540				473				35
Net loan (charge-offs) recoveries		$	(2,278	)		$	(1,138	)		$	(759	)		$	268			$	(944	)
Net loan charge-offs to average total loans (annualized)		0.23		%		0.12		%		0.08		%		NM*				0.11		%
Net charge-off detail - (loss) recovery:
Commercial		$	(1,036	)		$	68			$	(81	)		$	311			$	(510	)
Residential mortgage and construction		(1,262		)		(1,156		)		(716		)		(49		)		(233		)
Home equity loans and lines		28				(51		)		39				24				(194		)
Other consumer		(8		)		1				(1		)		(18		)		(7		)
Net loan (charge-offs) recoveries		$	(2,278	)		$	(1,138	)		$	(759	)		$	268			$	(944	)
Note:  Included in net loan charge-offs for the three months ended December 31, 2017, September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016 are $1,124, $907, $925 and $535, respectively, relating to under-performing loans sold or held-for-sale.
* Not meaningful

 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.
ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST INCOME
	For the Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2017											September 30, 2017											December 31, 2016
(dollars in thousands)	Average Balance				Interest				Average Yield/ Cost			Average Balance				Interest				Average Yield/ Cost			Average Balance				Interest				Average Yield/ Cost
Assets:
Interest-earning assets:
Interest-earning deposits and short-term investments	$	155,987			$	391			0.99	%		$	183,514			$	438			0.95	%		$	359,804			$	484			0.54	%
Securities (1) and FHLB stock	874,910				4,606				2.09			817,867				4,263				2.07			545,302				2,621				1.91
Loans receivable, net (2)
Commercial	1,887,319				22,087				4.64			1,865,970				22,423				4.77			1,717,502				21,016				4.87
Residential	1,743,334				17,552				3.99			1,737,739				17,588				4.02			1,314,667				12,857				3.89
Home Equity	278,294				3,243				4.62			279,900				3,289				4.66			262,372				2,907				4.41
Other	1,086				27				9.86			1,112				29				10.35			1,149				19				6.58
Allowance for loan loss net of deferred loan fees	(11,993		)		—				—			(12,370		)		—				—			(12,987		)		—				—
Loans Receivable, net	3,898,040				42,909				4.37			3,872,351				43,329				4.44			3,282,703				36,799				4.46
Total interest-earning assets	4,928,937				47,906				3.86			4,873,732				48,030				3.91			4,187,809				39,904				3.79
Non-interest-earning assets	475,927											460,795											368,965
Total assets	$	5,404,864										$	5,334,527										$	4,556,774
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing checking	$	1,944,223			1,447				0.30	%		$	1,852,421			1,173				0.25	%		$	1,538,706			723				0.19	%
Money market	385,720				322				0.33			389,035				299				0.30			424,613				312				0.29
Savings	662,318				59				0.04			672,548				59				0.03			549,032				74				0.05
Time deposits	619,087				1,687				1.08			620,308				1,595				1.02			527,817				1,283				0.97
Total	3,611,348				3,515				0.39			3,534,312				3,126				0.35			3,040,168				2,392				0.31
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	74,661				39				0.21			74,285				30				0.16			72,063				24				0.13
FHLB Advances	261,018				1,146				1.74			264,652				1,153				1.73			250,829				1,120				1.78
Other borrowings	56,475				701				4.92			56,502				665				4.67			56,397				614				4.33
Total interest-bearing liabilities	4,003,502				5,401				0.54			3,929,751				4,974				0.50			3,419,457				4,150				0.48
Non-interest-bearing deposits	760,552											781,047											622,882
Non-interest-bearing liabilities	38,880											32,360											42,773
Total liabilities	4,802,934											4,743,158											4,085,112
Stockholders’ equity	601,930											591,369											471,662
Total liabilities and equity	$	5,404,864										$	5,334,527										$	4,556,774
Net interest income					$	42,505										$	43,056										$	35,754
Net interest rate spread (3)									3.32	%										3.41	%										3.31	%
Net interest margin (4)									3.42	%										3.50	%										3.40	%
Total cost of deposits (including non-interest-bearing deposits)									0.32	%										0.29	%										0.26	%
(1)  Amounts are recorded at average amortized cost.
(2)  Amount is net of deferred loan fees, undisbursed loan funds, discounts and premiums and estimated loss allowances and includes loans held for sale and non-performing loans.
(3)  Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(4)  Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

(continued)
		For the Year Ended
		December 31, 2017											December 31, 2016
(dollars in thousands)		Average Balance				Interest				Average Yield/ Cost			Average Balance				Interest				Average Yield/ Cost
Assets:
Interest-earning assets:
Interest-earning deposits and short-term investments		$	179,960			$	1,449			0.81	%		$	154,830			$	693			0.45	%
Securities (1) and FHLB stock		796,392				16,792				2.11			524,152				9,770				1.86
Loans receivable, net (2)
Commercial		1,858,842				87,706				4.72			1,472,421				70,768				4.81
Residential		1,726,020				69,784				4.04			1,085,991				41,996				3.87
Home Equity		282,128				13,003				4.61			236,769				10,139				4.28
Other		1,156				95				8.22			957				59				6.17
Allowance for loan loss net of deferred loan fees		(12,251		)		—				—			(13,280		)		—				—
Loans Receivable, net		3,855,895				170,588				4.42			2,782,858				122,962				4.42
Total interest-earning assets		4,832,247				188,829				3.91			3,461,840				133,425				3.85
Non-interest-earning assets		459,926											269,622
Total assets		$	5,292,173										$	3,731,462
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing checking		$	1,796,370			4,533				0.25	%		$	1,266,135			2,114				0.17	%
Money market		410,373				1,213				0.30			316,977				858				0.27
Savings		672,315				345				0.05			447,484				191				0.04
Time deposits		625,847				6,245				1.00			422,026				4,354				1.03
Total		3,504,905				12,336				0.35			2,452,622				7,517				0.31
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		74,712				121				0.16			75,227				102				0.14
FHLB Advances		258,870				4,486				1.73			266,981				4,471				1.67
Other borrowings		56,457				2,668				4.73			32,029				1,073				3.35
Total interest-bearing liabilities		3,894,944				19,611				0.50			2,826,859				13,163				0.47
Non-interest-bearing deposits		776,344											497,166
Non-interest-bearing Liabilities		31,004											28,454
Total liabilities		4,702,292											3,352,479
Stockholders’ equity		589,881											378,983
Total liabilities and equity		$	5,292,173										$	3,731,462
Net interest income						$	169,218										$	120,262
Net interest rate spread (3)										3.41	%										3.38	%
Net interest margin (4)										3.50	%										3.47	%
Total cost of deposits (including non-interest-bearing deposits)										0.29	%										0.25	%
(1)  Amounts are recorded at average amortized cost.
(2)  Amount is net of deferred loan fees, undisbursed loan funds, discounts and premiums and estimated loss allowances and includes loans held for sale and non-performing loans.
(3)  Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(4)  Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
		December 31,  2017				September 30, 2017				June 30, 2017				March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Selected Financial Condition Data:
Total assets		$	5,416,006			$	5,383,800			$	5,202,086			$	5,196,203			$	5,166,917
Securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value		90,281				75,847				70,823				55,692				20,775
Securities held-to-maturity, net		764,062				733,983				711,650				687,098				589,912
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock		19,724				18,472				20,358				19,253				19,313
Loans receivable, net		3,965,773				3,870,109				3,868,805				3,825,600				3,803,443
Loans held-for-sale		241				338				168				283				1,551
Deposits		4,342,798				4,350,259				4,176,909				4,198,663				4,187,750
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		288,691				259,186				277,541				250,021				250,498
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other borrowings		136,187				131,792				131,673				133,798				126,494
Stockholders’ equity		601,941				596,140				587,189				582,543				571,903

 

		For the Three Months Ended
		December 31,  2017				September 30, 2017				June 30, 2017				March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Selected Operating Data:
Interest income		$	47,906			$	48,030			$	46,879			$	46,014			$	39,904
Interest expense		5,401				4,974				4,705				4,531				4,150
Net interest income		42,505				43,056				42,174				41,483				35,754
Provision for loan losses		1,415				1,165				1,165				700				510
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		41,090				41,891				41,009				40,783				35,244
Other income		6,745				7,359				6,973				5,995				6,257
Operating expenses		26,434				27,580				28,527				29,481				25,833
Branch consolidation expenses		(734		)		1,455				5,451				33				—
Merger related expenses		1,993				1,698				3,155				1,447				6,632
Income before provision for income taxes		20,142				18,517				10,849				15,817				9,036
Provision for income taxes		10,186				5,700				3,170				3,799				2,984
Net income		$	9,956			$	12,817			$	7,679			$	12,018			$	6,052
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.30			$	0.39			$	0.23			$	0.36			$	0.22
Net accretion/amortization of purchase accounting adjustments included in net interest income		$	1,956			$	2,227			$	1,899			$	2,175			$	1,385

		(continued)
		At or For the Three Months Ended
		December 31,  2017			September 30, 2017			June 30, 2017			March 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data(1):
Performance Ratios (Annualized):
Return on average assets (2)		0.73	%		0.95	%		0.59	%		0.94	%		0.53	%
Return on average stockholders' equity (2)		6.56			8.60			5.25			8.42			5.10
Return on average tangible stockholders' equity (2) (3)		8.89			11.74			7.19			11.50			6.48
Stockholders' equity to total assets		11.11			11.07			11.29			11.21			11.07
Tangible stockholders' equity to tangible assets (3)		8.42			8.39			8.50			8.42			8.30
Net interest rate spread		3.32			3.41			3.48			3.47			3.31
Net interest margin		3.42			3.50			3.57			3.56			3.40
Operating expenses to average assets (2)		2.03			2.29			2.86			2.41			2.83
Efficiency ratio (2) (4)		56.23			60.96			75.55			65.21			77.28
Loans to deposits		91.32			88.96			92.62			91.11			90.82

 

		At or For the Year Ended December 31,
		2017			2016
Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets (2)		0.80	%		0.62	%
Return on average stockholders' equity (2)		7.20			6.08
Return on average tangible stockholders' equity (2) (3)		9.82			7.13
Net interest rate spread		3.41			3.38
Net interest margin		3.50			3.47
Operating expenses to average assets (2)		2.39			2.76
Efficiency ratio (2) (4)		64.46			73.11

		(continued)
		At or For the Three Months Ended
		December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,				December 31,
		2017				2017				2017				2017				2016
Wealth Management:
Assets under administration		$	233,185			$	225,904			$	214,479			$	215,593			$	218,336
Per Share Data:
Cash dividends per common share		$	0.15			$	0.15			$	0.15			$	0.15			$	0.15
Stockholders’ equity per common share at end of  period		18.47				18.30				18.05				17.94				17.80
Tangible stockholders’ equity per common share at end of period (3)		13.58				13.47				13.18				13.07				12.94
Number of full-service customer facilities:		46				46				51				61				61
Quarterly Average Balances
Total securities		$	874,910			$	817,867			$	786,964			$	703,712			$	545,302
Loans, receivable, net		3,898,040				3,872,351				3,840,916				3,811,136				3,282,703
Total interest-earning assets		4,928,937				4,873,732				4,741,900				4,729,013				4,187,809
Total assets		5,404,864				5,334,527				5,215,636				5,211,071				4,556,774
Interest-bearing transaction deposits		2,992,261				2,914,004				2,819,175				2,788,452				2,512,351
Time deposits		619,087				620,308				624,020				640,269				527,817
Total borrowed funds		392,154				395,439				389,321				383,082				379,289
Total interest-bearing liabilities		4,003,502				3,929,751				3,832,516				3,811,803				3,419,457
Non-interest bearing deposits		760,552				781,047				772,739				791,036				622,882
Stockholder’s equity		601,930				591,369				587,121				578,833				471,662
Total deposits		4,371,900				4,315,359				4,215,934				4,219,757				3,663,050
Quarterly Yields
Total securities		2.09		%		2.07		%		2.07		%		2.23		%		1.91		%
Loans, receivable, net		4.37				4.44				4.45				4.44				4.46
Total interest-earning assets		3.86				3.91				3.97				3.95				3.79
Interest-bearing transaction deposits		0.25				0.21				0.20				0.18				0.18
Time deposits		1.08				1.02				0.96				0.93				0.97
Borrowed funds		1.91				1.87				1.85				1.85				1.84
Total interest-bearing liabilities		0.54				0.50				0.49				0.48				0.48
Net interest spread		3.32				3.41				3.48				3.47				3.31
Net interest margin		3.42				3.50				3.57				3.56				3.40
Total deposits		0.32				0.29				0.28				0.27				0.26
(1)  With the exception of end of quarter ratios, all ratios are based on average daily balances.
(2)  Performance ratios for each period may include merger related expenses, branch consolidation expenses, accelerated stock award expense, and income tax expense related to Tax Reform. Refer to Other Items - Non-GAAP Reconciliation for impact of these expenses.
(3)  Tangible stockholders’ equity and tangible assets exclude intangible assets relating to goodwill and core deposit intangible.
(4)  Efficiency ratio represents the ratio of operating expenses to the aggregate of other income and net interest income.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.
OTHER ITEMS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
		For the Three Months Ended
		December 31,  2017				September 30, 2017				June 30, 2017				March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Core earnings:
Net income		$	9,956			$	12,817			$	7,679			$	12,018			$	6,052
Add:  Merger related expenses		1,993				1,698				3,155				1,447				6,632
Branch consolidation expenses		(734		)		1,455				5,451				33				—
Accelerated stock award expense		—				—				—				242				—
Income tax expense related to Tax Reform		3,643				—				—				—				—
Less:  Income tax expense (benefit) on items		2				(1,084		)		(3,012		)		(587		)		(2,108		)
Core earnings		$	14,860			$	14,886			$	13,273			$	13,153			$	10,576
Core diluted earnings per share		$	0.45			$	0.45			$	0.40			$	0.40			$	0.38
Core ratios (annualized):
Return on average assets		1.09		%		1.11		%		1.02		%		1.02		%		0.92		%
Return on average tangible stockholders’ equity		13.27				13.63				12.42				12.56				11.33
Efficiency ratio		53.67				54.71				58.04				61.58				61.49

 

COMPUTATION OF TOTAL TANGIBLE EQUITY TO TOTAL TANGIBLE ASSETS
		December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,				December 31,
		2017				2017				2017				2017				2016
Total stockholders’ equity		$	601,941			$	596,140			$	587,189			$	582,543			$	571,903
Less:
Goodwill		150,501				148,134				148,433				147,815				145,064
Core deposit intangible		8,885				9,380				9,887				10,400				10,924
Tangible stockholders’ equity		$	442,555			$	438,626			$	428,869			$	424,328			$	415,915
Total assets		$	5,416,006			$	5,383,800			$	5,202,086			$	5,196,203			$	5,166,917
Less:
Goodwill		150,501				148,134				148,433				147,815				145,064
Core deposit intangible		8,885				9,380				9,887				10,400				10,924
Tangible assets		$	5,256,620			$	5,226,286			$	5,043,766			$	5,037,988			$	5,010,929
Tangible stockholders’ equity to tangible assets		8.42		%		8.39		%		8.50		%		8.42		%		8.30		%

Company Contact:

Michael J. Fitzpatrick
Chief Financial Officer
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
Tel:  (732) 240-4500, ext. 7506
Fax: (732) 349-5070
Email: Mfitzpatrick@oceanfirst.com