This Is LD’s Data-Driven Integrated Marketing Strategies Delivered Industry Growth, Acquisition and Client EndorsementLONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / This Is LD, a top global digital marketing agency based in London, UK, with offices …
This Is LD’s Data-Driven Integrated Marketing Strategies Delivered Industry Growth, Acquisition and Client Endorsement
LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / This Is LD, a top global digital marketing agency based in London, UK, with offices in Vancouver, Canada, announced today the launch of its U.S. market expansion. This is LD’s full-service digital marketing and IT services for enterprise-level businesses have consistently delivered significant client successes for healthcare and medical technology companies operating in the U.S., paving the way for market expansion to meet industry demand.
This Is LD, a Global Marketing Agency Serving the Healthcare and MedTech Industries
"We take a holistic and collaborative approach with our data-driven digital partnerships, which in turn drives revenue, delivers return on investment (ROI), and successfully fuels our clients’ market growth," said CEO Lisa Eyo Andrews. "We are excited to share our expertise and proven track record of success to meet U.S. medtech and healthcare industry demand for customer-focused and results-driven marketing."
This Is LD creates full-funnel ROI-delivering marketing success through a combination of data insights, lifecycle strategy, and industry expertise, powering an integrated range of digital marketing activities, including SEO, paid media, social and content marketing, web development, managed IT services, and more.
This Is LD’s specialization in the healthcare and medtech industry offers the depth and breadth of knowledge that comes with experience:
Acquisition and ROI: This Is LD
80% of LD clients stay with the agency for five or more years thanks to success stories such as the following:
Acquisition: One of This Is LD’s U.S. clients achieved such industry success and heightened profile that a competitor extended an acquisition offer to the client, which was accepted.
"Lisa and her team at LD developed insightful digital marketing campaigns that were on deadline and on budget. Their impactful digital designs and target marketing increased our web traffic by 482%, which resulted in increased patient volume" – Anita Taylor, AchieveTMS (Acquired by Greenbrook TMS)
Swift ROI: Another client earned record-breaking ROI in less than a year of partnership, thanks to This Is LD’s lead-generation strategies.
"Over the last 12 months, This is LD has significantly improved our digital marketing presence, which has resulted in a 400% increase in website views and reaching our inbound lead goals for the year" – Parker Mooney, Chief of Staff at IML (International Medical Lasers)
Founded by CEO and global marketing expert Lisa Eyo Andrews, This Is LD is headquartered in London, UK. This global digital marketing agency offers an agile and holistic approach to building client success, with an execution that is full-funnel, data-driven, and ROI-focused.
This Is LD’s expert services include brand development and strategy, content creation and copywriting, animation and motion graphics, graphic design and digital illustration, search engine marketing, web design and development, search engine optimization, social media management, public relations, and managed IT services and support.
This Is LD enables clients to focus on running their business while the agency team does everything else. For more information, visit: ThisIsLD.com.
Contact Information Pam Abrahamsson Media Relations pam@thisisld.com +15032989749
GORINCHEM, NETHERLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / Rehair Istanbul collaborates with Redent Istanbul Company to expand investments significantly in the region- Rehair Istanbul, a leader in hair transplantation for over 12 years, is excited to ann…
GORINCHEM, NETHERLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 /Rehair Istanbul collaborates with Redent Istanbul Company to expand investments significantly in the region- Rehair Istanbul, a leader in hair transplantation for over 12 years, is excited to announce a significant expansion in its investment portfolio by partnering with Redent Istanbul, a renowned dental clinic in Turkey. This strategic move marks a new chapter in Rehair Istanbul’s journey, which has already gained international honor, operating in countries like the Netherlands and Belgium since 2016.
The synergy between these two companies is poised to redefine the standards of patient care and service in Turkey’s medical tourism sector. Rehair Istanbul, known for its impressive 24,500 successful hair transplantation operations, brings expertise and a customer-centric approach to this collaboration. Dutch culture has significantly shaped the company’s practice, which emphasizes taking care of patient health and rights, ensuring a victimization-free environment.
Renowned for its VIP hair transplant services, Rehair Istanbul stands out by dedicating an entire day to a single patient, guaranteeing personalized care and 100% patient satisfaction. The company’s commitment to excellence is further exemplified by its innovative approach to painless anesthesia, fixed price, and unlimited graft transplant services. This patient-first philosophy extends beyond the clinic, offering VIP transfers, luxurious hotel accommodations, and multilingual support, ensuring international patients a seamless and comfortable experience.
The past year has been monumental for Rehair Istanbul. They doubled the number of patients and tripled their spending on digital marketing. But 2024 is looking to be even more game-changing. They’re shifting their focus to dental treatments, putting three times more money into it than into hair transplants. They’ve bought a dental clinic in Istanbul and plan to grow into Antalya. This shows Rehair Istanbul is moving in a new and exciting direction.
In 2023, Rehair Istanbul expanded its services beyond hair transplantation to include dental treatments, and it’s planning to add aesthetic procedures by 2025. The goal is to expand its dental labs within the next year, demonstrating the company’s flexibility and desire to offer more diverse service
An ambitious expansion plan for 2024 is set to propel Rehair Istanbul and Redent Istanbul onto a global stage. Moving beyond regional limitations, the company intends to attract patients from Europe, England, and America to Turkey for dental treatments. CEO Melisa Topuz is really excited about the growth possibilities for Redent Istanbul. Leveraging the expertise and momentum from Rehair Istanbul, the plan is to establish Redent Istanbul as a leading destination for dental care.
The emphasis is on providing a holistic experience for patients, with accommodation in 5-star hotels, comprehensive transportation solutions, and free consultations before and after treatment. This approach is rooted in a philosophy of constant change, ongoing development, continuous education, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in dental technology. With a commitment to new ideas, making patients happy, and providing top-notch dental services, Redent Istanbul is on its way to becoming a distinct and fast-growing name in the dental world.
About Rehair Istanbul:
Rehair Istanbul is a prominent name in hair transplantation. The company was founded 12 years ago in Turkey and has since expanded its footprint to the Netherlands and Belgium. Known for its single-patient, VIP treatment philosophy, Rehair Istanbul combines health care with luxury, offering its international clientele a blend of medical excellence and opulent Turkish hospitality.
Media Contact: ReHair Istanbul Clinic Contact Information: Contact us to be informed about the innovations. E-mail: info@rehairistanbul.com Phone Number: +31 611 26 40 58 Address: Grote Haarsekade 122 4205VL Gorinchem / Nederlands
We invite you to learn more about ReHair Istanbul Clinic and its innovative healthcare solutions by visiting our website at https://rehairistanbul.com/
BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / Investar Holding Corporation (“Investar”) (NASDAQ:ISTR), the holding company for Investar Bank, National Association (the “Bank”), today announced financial results for the quarter e…
BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / Investar Holding Corporation ("Investar") (NASDAQ:ISTR), the holding company for Investar Bank, National Association (the "Bank"), today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Investar reported net income of $3.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to net income of $2.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and net income of $8.9 million, or $0.88 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
On a non-GAAP basis, core earnings per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $0.39 compared to $0.33 for the third quarter of 2023 and $0.62 for the fourth quarter of 2022. Core earnings exclude certain non-operating items including, but not limited to, loss on call or sale of investment securities, net, loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets, net, income from insurance proceeds, severance, the Employee Retention Credit ("ERC"), and loan purchase expense (refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics).
Investar’s President and Chief Executive Officer John D’Angelo commented:
"During the fourth quarter, we made significant progress on our strategy of consistent, quality earnings through the optimization of our balance sheet.
We continued to originate high quality loans and allow higher risk credit relationships to run off. As a result, nonperforming loans improved to 0.26% of total loans. Additionally, we completed the purchase of the approximately $127 million second tranche of the previously announced acquisition of revolving lines of credit. The transaction improved the composition of the loan portfolio to 27% floating rate while raising the yield. Additionally, due to our diligent workout process, we reached final resolution on a nonperforming oil and gas relationship and recognized an interest recovery of $1.1 million in the fourth quarter, which was highly accretive to our core performance metrics.
We generated record high total revenues in the fourth quarter while continuing to closely monitor and control noninterest expense. Stockholders’ equity increased by $18.1 million, or 8.6%, compared September 30, 2023 due to net income for the quarter and an improvement of $15.3 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Our digital transformation and optimization of our physical branch and ATM footprint progressed as we consolidated another branch in our Alabama market in January. We are actively evaluating potential opportunities to further optimize our asset mix to improve shareholder returns.
We anticipate a more favorable rate environment in 2024. Our liability sensitive balance sheet is well-positioned if interest rates do come down to benefit from the repricing of deposits and short-term borrowings. During the fourth quarter, we refinanced all of our borrowings under the Bank Term Funding Program at a lower rate.
As always, we remain focused on shareholder value and returning capital to shareholders. We repurchased 31,766 shares of our common stock during the fourth quarter at an average price of $10.43 per share and 222,448 shares during 2023 at an average price of $13.47."
Fourth Quarter Highlights
•
Credit quality continues to strengthen with nonperforming loans improving to 0.26% of total loans at December 31, 2023 compared to 0.27% at September 30, 2023.
•
Variable-rate loans as a percentage of total loans was 27% at December 31, 2023 compared to 22% at September 30, 2023.
•
Total revenues, or interest and noninterest income, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 totaled $38.4 million, an increase of $3.6 million, or 10.4%, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
•
Noninterest expense decreased $0.4 million to $15.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to $15.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Core noninterest expense decreased $0.2 million to $15.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to $15.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
•
Book value per common share increased to $23.26 at December 31, 2023, or 9.0%, compared to $21.34 at September 30, 2023. Tangible book value per common share increased to $18.92 at December 31, 2023, or 11.3%, compared to $17.00 at September 30, 2023.
•
Accumulated other comprehensive loss improved $15.3 million, or 25.3%, to $45.1 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $60.5 million at September 30, 2023 due to an increase in the fair value of the Bank’s available for sale securities portfolio.
•
Investar recognized interest recoveries of approximately $1.1 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, substantially all of which are attributable to one commercial and industrial oil and gas loan relationship.
•
During the fourth quarter, Investar refinanced all of its borrowings under the Federal Reserve’s Bank Term Funding Program ("BTFP"). The weighted average rate was 4.83% at December 31, 2023 compared to 5.11% at September 30, 2023.
•
Total deposits increased $46.3 million, or 2.1%, to $2.26 billion at December 31, 2023 compared to $2.21 billion at September 30, 2023.
•
Investar repurchased 31,766 shares of its common stock through its stock repurchase program at an average price of $10.43 during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, leaving 514,266 shares authorized for repurchase under the program at December 31, 2023. Investar repurchased 222,448 shares of its common stock at an average price of $13.47 during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Loans
Total loans were $2.21 billion at December 31, 2023, an increase of $107.6 million, or 5.1%, compared to September 30, 2023, and an increase of $105.9 million, or 5.0%, compared to December 31, 2022. Excluding the tranche of revolving lines of credit purchased in the fourth quarter of 2023, total loans decreased $19.4 million, or 0.9%, to $2.08 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to $2.10 billion at September 30, 2023 consistent with our strategy to optimize the balance sheet.
The following table sets forth the composition of the total loan portfolio as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).
Linked Quarter Change
Year/Year Change
Percentage of Total Loans
12/31/2023
9/30/2023
12/31/2022
$
%
$
%
12/31/2023
12/31/2022
Mortgage loans on real estate
Construction and development
$
190,371
$
211,390
$
201,633
$
(21,019
)
(9.9
)%
$
(11,262
)
(5.6
)%
8.6
%
9.6
%
1-4 Family
413,786
415,162
401,377
(1,376
)
(0.3
)
12,409
3.1
18.7
19.1
Multifamily
105,946
102,974
81,812
2,972
2.9
24,134
29.5
4.8
3.9
Farmland
7,651
8,259
12,877
(608
)
(7.4
)
(5,226
)
(40.6
)
0.4
0.6
Commercial real estate
Owner-occupied
449,610
440,208
445,148
9,402
2.1
4,462
1.0
20.3
21.1
Nonowner-occupied
488,098
501,649
513,095
(13,551
)
(2.7
)
(24,997
)
(4.9
)
22.1
24.4
Commercial and industrial
543,421
411,290
435,093
132,131
32.1
108,328
24.9
24.6
20.7
Consumer
11,736
12,090
13,732
(354
)
(2.9
)
(1,996
)
(14.5
)
0.5
0.6
Total loans
$
2,210,619
$
2,103,022
$
2,104,767
$
107,597
5.1
%
$
105,852
5.0
%
100
%
100
%
At December 31, 2023, Investar’s total business lending portfolio, which consists of loans secured by owner-occupied commercial real estate properties and commercial and industrial loans, was $993.0 million, an increase of $141.5 million, or 16.6%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $851.5 million at September 30, 2023, and an increase of $112.8 million, or 12.8%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $880.2 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in the business lending portfolio compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily driven by the purchase of commercial and industrial revolving lines of credit and loan growth in owner-occupied commercial real estate as we remain focused on relationship banking and our strategy to optimize the mix of the portfolio. The increase in the business lending portfolio compared to December 31, 2022 is primarily driven by the purchase of commercial and industrial revolving lines of credit, partially offset by lower loan demand due to higher rates.
Nonowner-occupied loans totaled $488.1 million at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $13.6 million, or 2.7%, compared to $501.6 million at September 30, 2023, and a decrease of $25.0 million, or 4.9%, compared to $513.1 million at December 31, 2022. The decrease in nonowner-occupied loans compared to September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is due to loan amortization and aligns with our strategy to optimize the mix of the portfolio.
Credit Quality
Nonperforming loans were $5.8 million, or 0.26% of total loans, at December 31, 2023, an increase of $0.2 million compared to $5.6 million, or 0.27% of total loans, at September 30, 2023, and a decrease of $5.5 million compared to $11.3 million, or 0.54% of total loans, at December 31, 2022. The increase in nonperforming loans compared to September 30, 2023 is mainly attributable to one 1-4 family loan relationship totaling $1.4 million and one construction and development relationship totaling $0.6 million, partially offset by paydowns on one commercial and industrial oil and gas loan relationship during the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
On January 1, 2023, Investar adopted FASB ASC Topic326 " Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments " UpdateNo.2016-13 . The ASU, referred to as the Current Expected Credit Loss ("CECL") standard, requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Upon adoption, Investar recorded a one-time, cumulative effect adjustment to increase the allowance for credit losses by $5.9 million and reduce retained earnings, net of tax, by $4.3 million.
The allowance for credit losses was $30.5 million, or 529.3% and 1.38% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at December 31, 2023, compared to $29.8 million, or 534.1% and 1.42% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at September 30, 2023, and $24.4 million, or 214.9% and 1.16% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at December 31, 2022.
The provision for credit losses was $0.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to a negative provision for credit losses of $34,000 and a provision for credit losses of $1.3 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The provision for credit losses in the quarter ended December 31, 2023 is primarily attributable to loan growth resulting from the purchase of commercial and industrial revolving lines of credit, partially offset by an improvement in the economic forecast. The negative provision for credit losses in the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was primarily due to net recoveries. The provision for credit losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was due to organic loan growth.
Deposits
Total deposits at December 31, 2023 were $2.26 billion, an increase of $46.3 million, or 2.1%, compared to $2.21 billion at September 30, 2023, and an increase of $173.4 million, or 8.3%, compared to $2.08 billion at December 31, 2022.
The following table sets forth the composition of deposits as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).
Linked Quarter Change
Year/Year Change
Percentage of Total Deposits
12/31/2023
9/30/2023
12/31/2022
$
%
$
%
12/31/2023
12/31/2022
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits
$
448,752
$
459,519
$
580,741
$
(10,767
)
(2.3
)%
$
(131,989
)
(22.7
)%
19.9
%
27.9
%
Interest-bearing demand deposits
489,604
482,706
565,598
6,898
1.4
(75,994
)
(13.4
)
21.7
27.1
Money market deposit accounts
179,366
186,478
208,596
(7,112
)
(3.8
)
(29,230
)
(14.0
)
8.0
10.0
Savings accounts
137,606
131,743
155,176
5,863
4.5
(17,570
)
(11.3
)
6.1
7.5
Brokered time deposits
269,102
197,747
9,990
71,355
36.1
259,112
2,593.7
11.9
0.5
Time deposits
731,297
751,240
562,264
(19,943
)
(2.7
)
169,033
30.1
32.4
27.0
Total deposits
$
2,255,727
$
2,209,433
$
2,082,365
$
46,294
2.1
%
$
173,362
8.3
%
100
%
100
%
The decrease in noninterest-bearing demand deposits and money market deposit accounts at December 31, 2023 compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily due to customers drawing down on their existing deposit accounts. The increase in interest-bearing demand deposits and savings accounts at December 31, 2023 compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily due to organic growth resulting from a deposit campaign. The decrease in time deposits at December 31, 2023 compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily due to a reduced emphasis on time deposits. Time deposits and brokered time deposits increased, and other deposit categories decreased at December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022 primarily due to shifts into interest-bearing deposit products as a result of rising interest rates. Brokered time deposits increased to $269.1 million at December 31, 2023 from $197.7 million and $10.0 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Investar utilizes brokered time deposits, entirely in denominations of less than $250,000, to secure fixed cost funding and reduce short-term borrowings. We utilized shorter term brokered time deposits, which were laddered to provide flexibility, to fund a portion of the purchase of commercial and industrial revolving lines of credit. At December 31, 2023, the balance of brokered time deposits remained below 10% of total assets, and the remaining weighted average duration is approximately 12 months with a weighted average rate of 5.18%.
Stockholders’ Equity
Stockholders’ equity was $226.8 million at December 31, 2023, an increase of $18.1 million, or 8.6%, compared to September 30, 2023, and an increase of $11.0 million, or 5.1%, compared to December 31, 2022. The increase in stockholders’ equity compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily attributable to the net income for the quarter and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss due to an increase in the fair value of the Bank’s available for sale securities portfolio. The increase in stockholders’ equity compared to December 31, 2022 is primarily attributable to net income for the last 12 months and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss due to an increase in the fair value of the Bank’s available for sale securities portfolio, partially offset by the cumulative effect adjustment as a result of the adoption of the CECL standard, reflected in retained earnings.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled $18.5 million, an increase of $1.0 million, or 5.9%, compared to the third quarter of 2023, and a decrease of $4.0 million, or 17.9%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Included in net interest income for the quarters ended December 31, 2023, September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is $25,000, $36,000, and $66,000, respectively, of interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Also included in net interest income for the quarters ended December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023 are interest recoveries of $1.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. There were no interest recoveries for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
Investar’s net interest margin was 2.72% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2.66% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and 3.50% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was driven by a 35 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets, partially offset by a 33 basis point increase in the overall cost of funds. The decrease in net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was driven by a 195 basis point increase in the overall cost of funds, partially offset by an 83 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets.
The yield on interest-earning assets was 5.40% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 5.05% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and 4.57% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was driven by a 40 basis point increase in the yield on our loan portfolio. The increase in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was driven by an 86 basis point increase in the yield on our loan portfolio and a 22 basis point increase in the yield on the taxable securities portfolio.
Exclusive of the interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans and interest recoveries, discussed above, adjusted net interest margin decreased to 2.56% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2.64% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and 3.49% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The adjusted yield on interest-earning assets was 5.23% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to 5.03% and 4.56% for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.
The cost of deposits increased 44 basis points to 3.17% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2.73% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and increased 235 basis points compared to 0.82% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 resulted from both a higher average balance and an increase in rates paid on brokered time deposits, an increase in rates paid on time deposits, and an increase in rates paid on interest-bearing demand deposits and savings deposits. The increase in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 resulted from both a higher average balance and an increase in rates paid on time deposits and brokered time deposits and an increase in rates paid on interest-bearing demand deposits and savings deposits, partially offset by a lower average balance of interest-bearing demand deposits and savings deposits.
The cost of short-term borrowings decreased 13 basis points to 4.84% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to 4.97% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and increased 95 basis points compared to 3.89% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, the Bank began utilizing the BTFP to secure fixed rate funding for up to a one-year term and reduce short-term Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances, which are priced daily. The Bank utilized this source of funding due to its lower rate as compared to FHLB advances, the ability to prepay the obligations without penalty, and as a means to lock in funding. The decrease in the cost of short-term borrowings compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 resulted primarily from both a lower average balance and a decrease in the cost of short-term borrowings under the BTFP and the increased utilization of short-term repurchase agreements. The increase in the cost of short-term borrowings compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 resulted from an increase in the Federal Reserve’s federal funds rate, which drives the costs of short-term borrowings under the BTFP and short-term advances from the FHLB.
The overall costs of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 increased 33 basis points to 3.40% compared to 3.07% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and increased 195 basis points compared to 1.45% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the cost of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 resulted from both a higher average balance and an increase in the cost of deposits, partially offset by both a lower average balance and a decrease in the cost of short-term borrowings. The increase in the cost of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 resulted from both a higher average balance and an increase in the cost of deposits and an increase in the cost of short-term borrowings, partially offset by a lower average balance of short-term borrowings.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled $1.8 million, an increase of $0.1 million, or 7.2%, compared to the third quarter of 2023 and a decrease of $1.7 million, or 49.0%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.
The increase in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 is driven by a $0.3 million decrease in loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets and a $0.1 million increase in other operating income, partially offset by a $0.3 million loss on call or sale of investment securities recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in other operating income was primarily attributable to a $0.1 million increase in the change in the net asset value of other investments.
The decrease in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 is primarily due to the $1.4 million in nontaxable income from insurance proceeds recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022 related to an insurance policy for the former chief financial officer of the Company and the Bank and a $0.3 million loss on call or sale of investment securities recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled $15.4 million, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 2.1%, compared to the third quarter of 2023, and an increase of $1.5 million, or 11.0%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.
The decrease in noninterest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was driven by a $0.5 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits, partially offset by a $0.1 million increase in occupancy expense and a $0.1 million increase in other operating expenses. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to decreases in incentive-based compensation, severance, and health insurance claims. The increase in occupancy expense is primarily due to higher maintenance costs. Other operating expenses include, among other things, software expense, other real estate expense, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation assessments, bank security, and bank shares tax.
The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was driven by a $1.5 million increase in salaries and employee benefits and a $0.3 million increase in other operating expenses, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in depreciation and amortization. The increase in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to an employee retention credit, net of consulting fees, of $2.3 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022, partially offset by $0.6 million in severance recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022 pursuant to a separation agreement with the former chief financial officer of the Company and the Bank and a $0.3 million decrease in incentive-based compensation. The increase in other operating expenses is primarily due to an increase in bank shares tax, partially offset by a decrease in collection and repossession expenses, the majority of which were related to one loan relationship impaired as a result of Hurricane Ida.
Taxes
Investar recorded income tax expense of $0.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, which equates to an effective tax rate of 18.1%, an increase from the effective tax rates of 17.4% and 17.5% for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
Investar reported basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.36 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.28 for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.90 and $0.88, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
About Investar Holding Corporation
Investar, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, provides full banking services, excluding trust services, through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Investar Bank, National Association. The Bank currently operates 28 branch locations serving Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. At December 31, 2023, the Bank had 326 full-time equivalent employees and total assets of $2.8 billion.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. These measures and ratios include "tangible common equity," "tangible assets," "tangible equity to tangible assets," "tangible book value per common share," "core noninterest income," "core earnings before noninterest expense," "core noninterest expense," "core earnings before income tax expense," "core income tax expense," "core earnings," "core efficiency ratio," "core return on average assets," "core return on average equity," "core basic earnings per share," and "core diluted earnings per share." We also present certain average loan, yield, net interest income and net interest margin data adjusted to show the effects of excluding interest recoveries and interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide information useful to investors in understanding Investar’s financial results, and Investar believes that its presentation, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting Investar’s business and allow investors to view performance in a manner similar to management, the entire financial services sector, bank stock analysts and bank regulators. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and Investar strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies’ non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this press release to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect Investar’s current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Investar generally identifies forward-looking statements by terminology such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "could," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative version of those words or other comparable words.
Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the historical performance of Investar and its subsidiaries or on Investar’s current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by Investar that the future plans, estimates or expectations by Investar will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to Investar’s operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Investar’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, Investar’s actual results may vary materially from those indicated in these statements. Investar does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, any one or more of which could materially affect the outcome of future events:
•
the significant risks and uncertainties for our business, results of operations and financial condition, as well as our regulatory capital and liquidity ratios and other regulatory requirements caused by business and economic conditions generally and in the financial services industry in particular, whether nationally, regionally or in the markets in which we operate;
•
changes in inflation, interest rates, yield curves and interest rate spread relationships that affect our loan and deposit pricing;
•
our ability to successfully execute our near-term strategy to pivot from primarily a growth strategy to a strategy primarily focused on consistent, quality earnings through the optimization of our balance sheet, and our ability to successfully execute a long-term growth strategy;
•
our ability to achieve organic loan and deposit growth, and the composition of that growth;
•
our ability to identify and enter into agreements to combine with attractive acquisition candidates, finance acquisitions, complete acquisitions after definitive agreements are entered into, and successfully integrate and grow acquired operations;
•
our adoption on January 1, 2023 of ASU 2016-13, and inaccuracy of the assumptions and estimates we make in establishing reserves for credit losses and other estimates;
•
changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios, including adverse developments in borrower industries or in the repayment ability of individual borrowers;
•
a reduction in liquidity, including as a result of a reduction in the amount of deposits we hold or other sources of liquidity, which may be caused by, among other things, disruptions in the banking industry similar to those that occurred in early 2023 that caused bank depositors to move uninsured deposits to other banks or alternative investments outside the banking industry;
•
changes in the quality and composition of, and changes in unrealized losses in, our investment portfolio, including whether we may have to sell securities before their recovery of amortized cost basis and realize losses;
•
the extent of continuing client demand for the high level of personalized service that is a key element of our banking approach as well as our ability to execute our strategy generally;
•
our dependence on our management team, and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
•
the concentration of our business within our geographic areas of operation in Louisiana, Texas and Alabama;
•
increasing costs of complying with new and potential future regulations;
•
new or increasing geopolitical tensions, including resulting from wars in Ukraine and Israel and surrounding areas;
•
the emergence or worsening of widespread public health challenges or pandemics including COVID-19;
•
concentration of credit exposure;
•
any deterioration in asset quality and higher loan charge-offs, and the time and effort necessary to resolve problem assets;
•
fluctuations in the price of oil and natural gas;
•
data processing system failures and errors;
•
risks associated with our digital transformation process, including increased risks of cyberattacks and other security breaches and challenges associated with addressing the increased prevalence of artificial intelligence;
•
risks of losses resulting from increased fraud attacks against us and others in the financial services industry;
•
potential impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets; and
•
hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical depressions, floods, winter storms, droughts and other adverse weather events, all of which have affected Investar’s market areas from time to time; other natural disasters; oil spills and other man-made disasters; acts of terrorism; other international or domestic calamities; acts of God; and other matters beyond our control.
These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors can be found in Part I Item 1A. "Risk Factors" and in the "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Part II Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Investar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and in Part II Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in Investar’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, and September 30, 2023 filed with the SEC.
For further information contact:
Investar Holding Corporation John Campbell Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (225) 227-2215 John.Campbell@investarbank.com
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Amounts in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
As of and for the three months ended
12/31/2023
9/30/2023
12/31/2022
Linked Quarter
Year/Year
EARNINGS DATA
Total interest income
$
36,668
$
33,160
$
29,372
10.6
%
24.8
%
Total interest expense
18,177
15,691
6,853
15.8
165.2
Net interest income
18,491
17,469
22,519
5.9
(17.9
)
Provision for credit losses
486
(34
)
1,268
1,529.4
(61.7
)
Total noninterest income
1,755
1,637
3,441
7.2
(49.0
)
Total noninterest expense
15,440
15,774
13,913
(2.1
)
11.0
Income before income tax expense
4,320
3,366
10,779
28.3
(59.9
)
Income tax expense
782
585
1,881
33.7
(58.4
)
Net income
$
3,538
$
2,781
$
8,898
27.2
(60.2
)
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET DATA
Total assets
$
2,817,388
$
2,736,358
$
2,677,604
3.0
%
5.2
%
Total interest-earning assets
2,694,474
2,603,837
2,552,448
3.5
5.6
Total loans
2,214,916
2,072,617
2,033,117
6.9
8.9
Total interest-bearing deposits
1,824,318
1,707,848
1,482,268
6.8
23.1
Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,119,724
2,026,587
1,872,870
4.6
13.2
Total deposits
2,279,211
2,170,373
2,072,288
5.0
10.0
Total stockholders’ equity
212,454
220,393
211,585
(3.6
)
0.4
PER SHARE DATA
Earnings:
Basic earnings per common share
$
0.36
$
0.28
$
0.90
28.6
%
(60.0
)%
Diluted earnings per common share
0.36
0.28
0.88
28.6
(59.1
)
Core earnings (1) :
Core basic earnings per common share (1)
0.39
0.33
0.63
18.2
(38.1
)
Core diluted earnings per common share (1)
0.39
0.33
0.62
18.2
(37.1
)
Book value per common share
23.26
21.34
21.79
9.0
6.7
Tangible book value per common share (1)
18.92
17.00
17.43
11.3
8.5
Common shares outstanding
9,748,067
9,779,688
9,901,847
(0.3
)
(1.6
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic
9,754,617
9,814,727
9,899,192
(0.6
)
(1.5
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted
9,763,296
9,817,607
10,032,446
(0.6
)
(2.7
)
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Return on average assets
0.50
%
0.40
%
1.32
%
25.0
%
(62.1
)%
Core return on average assets (1)
0.54
0.47
0.92
14.9
(41.3
)
Return on average equity
6.61
5.01
16.69
31.9
(60.4
)
Core return on average equity (1)
7.16
5.87
11.66
22.0
(38.6
)
Net interest margin
2.72
2.66
3.50
2.3
(22.3
)
Net interest income to average assets
2.60
2.53
3.34
2.8
(22.2
)
Noninterest expense to average assets
2.17
2.29
2.06
(5.2
)
5.3
Efficiency ratio (2)
76.26
82.56
53.59
(7.6
)
42.3
Core efficiency ratio (1)
74.85
79.98
63.35
(6.4
)
18.1
Dividend payout ratio
27.78
35.71
10.56
(22.2
)
163.1
Net charge-offs to average loans
–
(0.01
)
–
100.0
–
(1) Non-GAAP financial measure. See reconciliation.
(2) Efficiency ratio represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income (before provision for credit losses) and noninterest income.
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
As of and for the three months ended
12/31/2023
9/30/2023
12/31/2022
Linked Quarter
Year/Year
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS
Nonperforming assets to total assets
0.36
%
0.36
%
0.44
%
–
%
(18.2
)%
Nonperforming loans to total loans
0.26
0.27
0.54
(3.7
)
(51.9
)
Allowance for credit losses to total loans
1.38
1.42
1.16
(2.8
)
19.0
Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans
529.32
534.08
214.92
(0.9
)
146.3
CAPITAL RATIOS
Investar Holding Corporation:
Total equity to total assets
8.06
%
7.48
%
7.84
%
7.8
%
2.8
%
Tangible equity to tangible assets (1)
6.65
6.05
6.37
9.9
4.4
Tier 1 leverage capital
8.35
8.53
8.53
(2.1
)
(2.1
)
Common equity tier 1 capital (2)
9.51
9.40
9.79
1.2
(2.9
)
Tier 1 capital (2)
9.90
9.79
10.21
1.1
(3.0
)
Total capital (2)
12.99
12.87
13.25
0.9
(2.0
)
Investar Bank:
Tier 1 leverage capital
9.81
10.05
9.89
(2.4
)
(0.8
)
Common equity tier 1 capital (2)
11.64
11.53
11.83
1.0
(1.6
)
Tier 1 capital (2)
11.64
11.53
11.83
1.0
(1.6
)
Total capital (2)
12.89
12.78
12.92
0.9
(0.2
)
(1) Non-GAAP financial measure. See reconciliation.
Available for sale securities at fair value (amortized cost of $419,283, $481,296, and $467,316, respectively)
361,918
404,485
405,167
Held to maturity securities at amortized cost (estimated fair value of $20,513, $19,815, and $7,922, respectively)
20,472
20,044
8,305
Loans
2,210,619
2,103,022
2,104,767
Less: allowance for credit losses
(30,540
)
(29,778
)
(24,364
)
Loans, net
2,180,079
2,073,244
2,080,403
Equity securities
14,597
13,334
27,254
Bank premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $19,476, $21,646, and $22,025, respectively
44,183
44,764
49,587
Other real estate owned, net
4,438
4,438
682
Accrued interest receivable
14,366
13,633
12,749
Deferred tax asset
16,910
20,989
16,438
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net
42,320
42,496
43,147
Bank-owned life insurance
58,797
58,425
57,379
Other assets
25,066
30,013
12,437
Total assets
$
2,815,155
$
2,789,533
$
2,753,807
LIABILITIES
Deposits
Noninterest-bearing
$
448,752
$
459,519
$
580,741
Interest-bearing
1,806,975
1,749,914
1,501,624
Total deposits
2,255,727
2,209,433
2,082,365
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
23,500
23,500
387,000
Borrowings under Bank Term Funding Program
212,500
235,800
–
Repurchase agreements
8,633
13,930
–
Subordinated debt, net of unamortized issuance costs
44,320
44,296
44,225
Junior subordinated debt
8,630
8,602
8,515
Accrued taxes and other liabilities
35,077
45,255
15,920
Total liabilities
2,588,387
2,580,816
2,538,025
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, no par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized
–
–
–
Common stock, $1.00 par value per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 9,748,067, 9,779,688, and 9,901,847 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
9,748
9,780
9,902
Surplus
145,456
145,241
146,587
Retained earnings
116,711
114,148
108,206
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(45,147
)
(60,452
)
(48,913
)
Total stockholders’ equity
226,768
208,717
215,782
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
2,815,155
$
2,789,533
$
2,753,807
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Amounts in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
INTEREST INCOME
Interest and fees on loans
$
33,128
$
28,892
$
25,958
$
117,892
$
93,373
Interest on investment securities
Taxable
2,970
3,055
2,978
12,372
9,796
Tax-exempt
253
216
108
693
482
Other interest income
317
997
328
2,244
918
Total interest income
36,668
33,160
29,372
133,201
104,569
INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest on deposits
14,584
11,733
3,052
42,072
6,250
Interest on borrowings
3,593
3,958
3,801
16,609
8,534
Total interest expense
18,177
15,691
6,853
58,681
14,784
Net interest income
18,491
17,469
22,519
74,520
89,785
Provision for credit losses
486
(34
)
1,268
(2,000
)
2,922
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
18,005
17,503
21,251
76,520
86,863
NONINTEREST INCOME
Service charges on deposit accounts
798
806
799
3,090
3,090
(Loss) gain on call or sale of investment securities, net
(322
)
–
–
(323
)
6
Loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets, net
(39
)
(367
)
(67
)
(1,323
)
(258
)
Gain (loss) on sale of other real estate owned, net
–
23
2
(114
)
9
Swap termination fee income
–
–
–
–
8,077
Gain on sale of loans
–
–
–
75
37
Servicing fees and fee income on serviced loans
2
2
13
14
74
Interchange fees
417
399
492
1,697
2,036
Income from bank owned life insurance
371
357
346
1,417
1,305
Change in the fair value of equity securities
24
22
12
(65
)
(90
)
Income from insurance proceeds
–
–
1,384
–
1,384
Other operating income
504
395
460
2,070
2,680
Total noninterest income
1,755
1,637
3,441
6,538
18,350
Income before noninterest expense
19,760
19,140
24,692
83,058
105,213
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Depreciation and amortization
909
900
1,071
3,780
4,435
Salaries and employee benefits
9,003
9,463
7,545
37,143
34,974
Occupancy
706
618
713
2,994
2,915
Data processing
892
888
1,006
3,482
3,600
Marketing
68
83
74
302
262
Professional fees
461
516
436
1,933
1,774
Loss on early extinguishment of subordinated debt
–
–
–
–
222
Other operating expenses
3,401
3,306
3,068
12,996
12,683
Total noninterest expense
15,440
15,774
13,913
62,630
60,865
Income before income tax expense
4,320
3,366
10,779
20,428
44,348
Income tax expense
782
585
1,881
3,750
8,639
Net income
$
3,538
$
2,781
$
8,898
$
16,678
$
35,709
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per common share
$
0.36
$
0.28
$
0.90
$
1.69
$
3.54
Diluted earnings per common share
0.36
0.28
0.88
1.69
3.50
Cash dividends declared per common share
0.10
0.10
0.095
0.395
0.365
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET, INTEREST EARNED AND YIELD ANALYSIS (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited)
For the three months ended
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Average Balance
Interest Income/ Expense
Yield/ Rate
Average Balance
Interest Income/ Expense
Yield/ Rate
Average Balance
Interest Income/ Expense
Yield/ Rate
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Loans
$
2,214,916
$
33,128
5.93%
$
2,072,617
$
28,892
5.53%
$
2,033,117
$
25,958
5.07%
Securities:
Taxable
427,746
2,970
2.75
442,556
3,055
2.74
466,881
2,978
2.53
Tax-exempt
28,807
253
3.50
25,493
216
3.35
16,958
108
2.52
Interest-bearing balances with banks
23,005
317
5.46
63,171
997
6.26
35,492
328
3.67
Total interest-earning assets
2,694,474
36,668
5.40
2,603,837
33,160
5.05
2,552,448
29,372
4.57
Cash and due from banks
27,214
27,734
33,363
Intangible assets
42,414
42,595
43,262
Other assets
83,447
92,108
71,972
Allowance for credit losses
(30,161)
(29,916)
(23,441)
Total assets
$
2,817,388
$
2,736,358
$
2,677,604
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand deposits
$
668,277
$
2,873
1.71%
$
668,732
$
2,462
1.46
$
822,871
$
1,084
0.52%
Savings deposits
136,045
318
0.93
130,262
179
0.54
160,046
18
0.04
Brokered time deposits
275,552
3,590
5.17
159,244
1,990
4.96
326
4
4.80
Time deposits
744,444
7,803
4.16
749,610
7,102
3.76
499,025
1,946
1.55
Total interest-bearing deposits
1,824,318
14,584
3.17
1,707,848
11,733
2.73
1,482,268
3,052
0.82
Short-term borrowings
218,977
2,672
4.84
242,363
3,039
4.97
284,384
2,785
3.89
Long-term debt
76,429
921
4.78
76,376
919
4.77
106,218
1,016
3.79
Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,119,724
18,177
3.40
2,026,587
15,691
3.07
1,872,870
6,853
1.45
Noninterest-bearing deposits
454,893
462,525
590,020
Other liabilities
30,317
26,853
3,129
Stockholders’ equity
212,454
220,393
211,585
Total liability and stockholders’ equity
$
2,817,388
$
2,736,358
$
2,677,604
Net interest income/net interest margin
$
18,491
2.72%
$
17,469
2.66%
$
22,519
3.50%
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET, INTEREST EARNED AND YIELD ANALYSIS (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited)
For the twelve months ended
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
Average Balance
Interest Income/ Expense
Yield/ Rate
Average Balance
Interest Income/ Expense
Yield/ Rate
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Loans
$
2,123,234
$
117,892
5.55%
$
1,937,255
$
93,373
4.82%
Securities:
Taxable
447,442
12,372
2.76
442,767
9,796
2.21
Tax-exempt
22,051
693
3.14
18,746
482
2.57
Interest-bearing balances with banks
38,561
2,244
5.82
45,542
918
2.02
Total interest-earning assets
2,631,288
133,201
5.06
2,444,310
104,569
4.28
Cash and due from banks
29,142
34,327
Intangible assets
42,695
43,588
Other assets
86,712
103,711
Allowance for credit losses
(30,242)
(22,093)
Total assets
$
2,759,595
$
2,603,843
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand deposits
$
688,786
$
8,941
1.30%
$
900,405
$
2,411
0.27%
Brokered demand deposits
–
–
–
1,773
7
0.42
Savings deposits
134,817
534
0.40
173,460
79
0.05
Brokered time deposits
163,873
8,224
5.02
82
4
4.80
Time deposits
699,648
24,373
3.48
427,416
3,749
0.88
Total interest-bearing deposits
1,687,124
42,072
2.49
1,503,136
6,250
0.42
Short-term borrowings
260,730
12,845
4.93
134,192
4,093
3.05
Long-term debt
82,844
3,764
4.54
127,288
4,441
3.49
Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,030,698
58,681
2.89
1,764,616
14,784
0.84
Noninterest-bearing deposits
489,175
600,286
Other liabilities
21,220
10,425
Stockholders’ equity
218,502
228,516
Total liability and stockholders’ equity
$
2,759,595
$
2,603,843
Net interest income/net interest margin
$
74,520
2.83%
$
89,785
3.67%
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES INTEREST EARNED AND YIELD ANALYSIS ADJUSTED FOR INTEREST RECOVERIES AND ACCRETION (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited)
For the three months ended
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Average Balance
Interest Income/ Expense
Yield/ Rate
Average Balance
Interest Income/ Expense
Yield/ Rate
Average Balance
Expense
Yield/ Rate
Interest-earning assets:
Loans
$
2,214,916
$
33,128
5.93%
$
2,072,617
$
28,892
5.53%
$
2,033,117
$
25,958
5.07%
Adjustments:
Interest recoveries
1,105
118
–
Accretion
25
36
66
Adjusted loans
2,214,916
31,998
5.73
2,072,617
28,738
5.50
2,033,117
25,892
5.05
Securities:
Taxable
427,746
2,970
2.75
442,556
3,055
2.74
466,881
2,978
2.53
Tax-exempt
28,807
253
3.50
25,493
216
3.35
16,958
108
2.52
Interest-bearing balances with banks
23,005
317
5.46
63,171
997
6.26
35,492
328
3.67
Adjusted interest-earning assets
2,694,474
35,538
5.23
2,603,837
33,006
5.03
2,552,448
29,306
4.56
Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,119,724
18,177
3.40
2,026,587
15,691
3.07
1,872,870
6,853
1.45
Adjusted net interest income/adjusted net interest margin
$
17,361
2.56%
$
17,315
2.64%
$
22,453
3.49%
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Amounts in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Tangible common equity
Total stockholders’ equity
$
226,768
$
208,717
$
215,782
Adjustments:
Goodwill
40,088
40,088
40,088
Core deposit intangible
2,132
2,308
2,959
Trademark intangible
100
100
100
Tangible common equity
$
184,448
$
166,221
$
172,635
Tangible assets
Total assets
$
2,815,155
$
2,789,533
$
2,753,807
Adjustments:
Goodwill
40,088
40,088
40,088
Core deposit intangible
2,132
2,308
2,959
Trademark intangible
100
100
100
Tangible assets
$
2,772,835
$
2,747,037
$
2,710,660
Common shares outstanding
9,748,067
9,779,688
9,901,847
Tangible equity to tangible assets
6.65
%
6.05
%
6.37
%
Book value per common share
$
23.26
$
21.34
$
21.79
Tangible book value per common share
18.92
17.00
17.43
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Amounts in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
For the three months ended
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Net interest income
(a)
$
18,491
$
17,469
$
22,519
Provision for credit losses
486
(34)
1,268
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
18,005
17,503
21,251
Noninterest income
(b)
1,755
1,637
3,441
Loss on call or sale of investment securities, net
322
–
–
Loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets, net
39
367
67
Gain on sale of other real estate owned, net
–
(23)
(2)
Change in the fair value of equity securities
(24)
(22)
(12)
Income from insurance proceeds (1)
–
–
(1,384)
Change in the net asset value of other investments (2)
(43)
105
44
Core noninterest income
(d)
2,049
2,064
2,154
Core earnings before noninterest expense
20,054
19,567
23,405
Total noninterest expense
(c)
15,440
15,774
13,913
Severance (3)
–
(123)
(624)
Employee Retention Credit, net of consulting fees (4)
–
–
2,342
Loan purchase expense (5)
(66)
(29)
–
Core noninterest expense
(f)
15,374
15,622
15,631
Core earnings before income tax expense
4,680
3,945
7,774
Core income tax expense (6)
847
686
1,555
Core earnings
$
3,833
$
3,259
$
6,219
Core basic earnings per common share
0.39
0.33
0.63
Diluted earnings per common share (GAAP)
$
0.36
$
0.28
$
0.88
Loss on call or sale of investment securities, net
0.03
–
–
Loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets, net
–
0.03
0.01
Gain on sale of other real estate owned, net
–
–
–
Change in the fair value of equity securities
–
–
–
Income from insurance proceeds (1)
–
–
(0.14)
Change in the net asset value of other investments (2)
–
0.01
–
Severance (3)
–
0.01
0.05
Employee Retention Credit, net of consulting fees (4)
–
–
(0.18)
Loan purchase expense (5)
–
–
–
Core diluted earnings per common share
$
0.39
$
0.33
$
0.62
Efficiency ratio
(c) / (a+b)
76.26%
82.56%
53.59%
Core efficiency ratio
(f) / (a+d)
74.85
79.98
63.35
Core return on average assets (7)
0.54
0.47
0.92
Core return on average equity (7)
7.16
5.87
11.66
Total average assets
$
2,817,388
$
2,736,358
$
2,677,604
Total average stockholders’ equity
212,454
220,393
211,585
(1)
Income from insurance proceeds represents nontaxable income related to an insurance policy for a former chief financial officer of the Company and the Bank.
(2)
Change in net asset value of other investments represents unrealized gains or losses on Investar’s investments in Small Business Investment Companies and other investment funds and is included in other operating income in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
(3)
Severance in the third quarter of 2023 is directly attributable to Investar’s exit from its consumer mortgage origination business, consisting of salaries and employee benefits. Severance in the fourth quarter of 2022 represents a comprehensive severance package for a former chief financial officer of the Company and the Bank.
(4)
ERC represents a broad-based refundable payroll tax credit that incentivized businesses to retain employees on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic and is reflected as a credit in salaries and employee benefits in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
(5)
Adjustments to noninterest expense directly attributable to the purchase of loans, consisting of professional fees for legal and consulting services.
(6)
Core income tax expense for the quarters ended December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023 is calculated using effective tax rates of 18.1% and 17.4%, respectively. Core income tax expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 is calculated using an effective tax rate of 20.0%, which is adjusted to account for the exclusion of the income from insurance proceeds, which is nontaxable income, from the calculation of core earnings.
(7)
Core earnings used in calculation. No adjustments were made to average assets or average equity.
Upcoming Features: Document analysis for claims management is in the pipeline. Image analysis is under exploration, as we’re researching its potential and seeking input on desired functionalities.
ANN ARBOR, MI / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / Zomedica Corp. (NYSE American:ZOM) (“Zomedica” or the “Company”), a veterinary health company offering point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutic products for equine and companion anima…
ANN ARBOR, MI / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / Zomedica Corp. (NYSE American:ZOM) ("Zomedica" or the "Company"), a veterinary health company offering point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutic products for equine and companion animals, today announced that Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS"), a leading independent proxy voting and corporate governance advisory firm, recommends that Zomedica Corp. shareholders vote "FOR" the proposed Share Consolidation/Reverse Stock Split detailed in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed on January 17, 2024. The Company’s upcoming Special Virtual-only Meeting of Shareholders is scheduled to be held on February 28, 2024, at 1:00 pm EST.
In its report dated January 25, 2024, ISS noted that, "A vote FOR this proposal is warranted given that the reverse stock split may enable the company to maintain listing of its common stock on the NYSE American."
Larry Heaton, Chief Executive Officer of Zomedica, commented, "We are pleased that ISS recommends that our stockholders vote in favor of the reverse stock split. ISS recognizes that the reverse split will enable us to avoid delisting from the NYSE American, which we believe would adversely impact the Company’s market valuation and our shareholders’ liquidity. We believe that in addition the reverse split will enable Zomedica to attract a broader range of investors, draw equity research analyst interest, and be considered for inclusion in stock indices. Your vote ‘FOR’ the proposal will allow us to stay focused on growing the business towards profitability while helping pets and pet parents get the best care from their veterinarians. We urge all shareholders to follow the recommendation of ISS and vote ‘FOR’ the proposed reverse split today."
Zomedica’s proxy and voting materials are being distributed by various parties to investors, and to brokerage firms holding shares on behalf of investors in street name. Investors are encouraged to reach out to their respective financial institutions for additional information and to obtain their proxy materials if they are not received by the end of this week.
The Zomedica Board of Directors strongly recommends that stockholders approve the Reverse Stock Split and encourages stockholders to vote as promptly as possible. Stockholders can vote by mail, Internet or telephone according to the instructions on each Internet Notice, proxy card or voting instruction card received. Proxy materials are available at https://www.meetingdocuments.com/TSXT/ZOM.
Zomedica reminds stockholders that every vote is important, no matter how many or few shares it represents. If you have already submitted a proxy, you may change your vote prior to the Special Meeting by voting again using the same materials. Only your latest dated vote counts.
About Zomedica
Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zomedica (NYSE American:ZOM) is a veterinary health company creating products for horses, dogs, and cats by focusing on the unmet needs of clinical veterinarians. Zomedica’s product portfolio includes innovative diagnostics and medical devices that emphasize patient health and practice health. Zomedica’s mission is to provide veterinarians the opportunity to increase productivity and grow revenue while better serving the animals in their care. For more information, visit www.zomedica.com.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication may be deemed solicitation material in respect of the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Company scheduled to be held on February 28, 2024 to vote on an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to effect, at the discretion of the Board of Directors (the "Board"), a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock without nominal or par value at a ratio in the range of 1-for-80. In connection with the Special Meeting of Shareholders, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and mailed to its shareholders a proxy statement regarding the business to be conducted at the Special Meeting of Shareholders. The Company may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the business to be conducted at the Special Meeting of Shareholders. This communication is not a substitute for the proxy statement or any other document that may be filed by the Company with the SEC.
BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANY’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO (WHEN AVAILABLE) IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS.
Shareholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents the Company files with the SEC (when available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. The Company makes available free of charge on its investor relations website copies of materials it files with, or furnishes to, the SEC.
Participants in the Solicitation
The Company and its directors, executive officers and certain employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s shareholders in connection with the business to be conducted at the Special Meeting of Shareholders. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of the Company’s directors and executive officers in the definitive proxy statement filed in connection with the Special Meeting of Shareholders, which may be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. To the extent the holdings of the Company’s securities by the Company’s directors and executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in the definitive proxy statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC.
Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include statements relating to our expectations regarding future results. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, including assumptions with respect to economic growth, demand for the Company’s products, the Company’s ability to produce and sell its products, sufficiency of our budgeted capital and operating expenditures, the satisfaction by our strategic partners of their obligations under our commercial agreements, our ability to realize upon our business plans and cost control efforts and the impact of COVID-19 on our business, results and financial condition.
Our forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the outcome of clinical studies, the application of generally accepted accounting principles, which are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates, and judgments, uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; uncertainty as to the timing and results of development work and verification and validation studies; uncertainty as to the timing and results of commercialization efforts, as well as the cost of commercialization efforts, including the cost to develop an internal sales force and manage our growth; uncertainty as to our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; uncertainty as to our ability to supply products in response to customer demand; uncertainty as to the likelihood and timing of any required regulatory approvals, and the availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; veterinary acceptance of our products; competition from related products; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships; performance by our strategic partners of their obligations under our commercial agreements, including product manufacturing obligations; risks pertaining to permits and licensing, intellectual property infringement risks, risks relating to any required clinical trials and regulatory approvals, risks relating to the safety and efficacy of our products, the use of our products, intellectual property protection, risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact upon our business operations generally, including our ability to develop and commercialize our products, and the other risk factors disclosed in our filings with the SEC and under our profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Proceeds to fund the commercialization of the first multi-parameter sensor for shake flasksBOHEMIA, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / Scientific Industries, Inc. (OTCQB:SCND), a life sciences tool provider and a developer of digitally simplified bio…
Proceeds to fund the commercialization of the first multi-parameter sensor for shake flasks
BOHEMIA, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / Scientific Industries, Inc. (OTCQB:SCND), a life sciences tool provider and a developer of digitally simplified bioprocessing products, announced the closing of an approximately $7.0 million private placement financing consisting of an aggregate of 3,500,000 shares of its common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase up to 4,535,000 shares of common stock at a combined effective offering price of $2.00 per unit. The warrants issued in connection with the financing are exercisable at a price of $2.50 per share and are immediately exercisable. The warrants will expire 5 years from the date of issuance. In addition, the Company agreed to amend the terms of certain existing warrants held by certain existing investors that participated in the offering to re-set their exercise price to $2.50 per share and extend their exercisability until 5 years from the date of amendment.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for the further development, commercialization, and marketing of products for bioprocessing on the DOTS Platform of the Company’s Bioprocessing segment (which operates under its Scientific Bioprocessing, Inc. ("SBI") and aquila biolabs GmbH subsidiaries), and for general corporate purposes.
Brookline Capital Markets, a division of Arcadia Securities, LLC, served as the exclusive placement agent in connection with the financing.
Management Discussion
"Consumers are demanding better and cheaper products via sustainable bio-based materials across industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals, energy, agriculture, flavors and fragrances and bio-degradable polymers. However, bio-based products have remained stubbornly expensive and lower quality due to the trial-and-error legacy methods of synthetic biology research. At Scientific Industries, we have raised over $30 million since 2019 to enable our customers to automate and digitally simplify the shake flask, the most commonly used reaction vessel in science. Now at last, biotech scientists and engineers can use the DOTS platform to affordably perform controlled reproducible experiments in parallel and collect high volumes of digitally structured data to feed AI and machine learning systems to quickly reduce the cost and improve the quality of bio-based products," said John Moore, Chairman of Scientific Industries.
About Scientific Industries, Inc.
Scientific Industries (OTCQB: SCND), is a life science tool provider. It designs, manufactures, and markets laboratory equipment, including the world-renowned Vortex-Genie® 2 Mixer and Torbal® balances, and bioprocessing systems under the product platform DOTS. Scientific Industries’ products are generally used and designed for research purposes in laboratories of universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and pharmacies. To learn more, visit www.scientificindustries.com.
About SBI
SBI offers solutions for digitally simplified bioprocessing in the life science industry. SBI’s DOTS Platform turns the standard shake flask into a smart mini bioreactor by providing modern bioprocessing sensors (for e.g., continuous monitoring of biomass, dissolved oxygen, and fluorescence) and control options (as e.g., automated, parameter-based feeding) along with an innovative software for easy sensor control and data monitoring. SBI is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and is a subsidiary of Scientific Industries Inc. To learn more, visit www.scientificbio.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements made in this press release that relate to future events, performance or financial results of the Company are forward-looking statements which involve uncertainties that could cause actual events, performance or results to materially differ. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date hereof. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement should be read in conjunction with the additional information about risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including our annual report on Form 10-K.
