Board Has Demonstrated Ability to Make the Right Strategic Decisions
and Continuously Enhance Corporate Governance and Shareholder Value
HomeStreet is Focused on Improving Efficiency and Profitability in
Our Commercial and Consumer Banking Business
Lead Independent Director Donald Voss and Chairman and CEO Mark Mason
are Essential Members of the Board and Provide Unique Perspectives on
Industry Dynamics, Strategic Execution and Corporate Governance
HomeStreet Urges Shareholders to Vote on the WHITE
Proxy Card
Visit www.VoteHMST.com
for Additional Information
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of HomeStreet, Inc. (Nasdaq: HMST)
(the “Company” or “HomeStreet”), the parent company of HomeStreet Bank,
today sent a letter to shareholders in connection with the Company’s
upcoming 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2019 Annual
Meeting”), which is scheduled to be held on June 20, 2019.
The full text of the letter follows:
May 29, 2019
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
HomeStreet’s Board is focused on one thing: maximizing value for you,
our shareholders. HomeStreet’s strategy and execution – especially since
last year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders – has and continues to
position the Company to deliver long-term results for shareholders.
Unfortunately, activist hedge fund Roaring Blue Lion Capital Management,
L.P. (“Roaring Blue Lion”) is seeking to replace two essential Board
members, Chairman and CEO Mark Mason and Lead Independent Director
Donald Voss, with two less qualified candidates. It appears Roaring Blue
Lion remains intent on recycling the criticisms from its unsuccessful
proxy contest last year, while either ignoring or claiming credit for
positive developments at the Company. We believe Roaring Blue Lion has
misrepresented not only the track records and qualifications of Messrs.
Mason and Voss, but also the roles these proven leaders play on
HomeStreet’s Board.
As we approach this year’s Annual Meeting, we ask you to focus on
HomeStreet’s future and not be distracted by Roaring Blue Lion’s
personal attacks and distortions of the facts.
In our view, HomeStreet’s greatest opportunities lie ahead. We believe
our Commercial and Consumer Banking Business is growing and building on
its history of success; we are taking concrete steps to execute on our
strategic and operational plans to further this growth; and our Board is
providing effective leadership and oversight.
The Commercial and Consumer Banking Business
Has Delivered Positive Long- and Near-Term Results
The Commercial and Consumer Banking Business has driven value for our
shareholders. We have invested significantly in our commercial banking
segment to grow and diversify our net income, and we have built a
powerful Commercial and Consumer Banking platform in highly attractive
markets.
In fact, since HomeStreet’s IPO, this business has grown significantly
as evidenced by a number of key metrics. We have grown our retail branch
footprint by more than 40 locations to our current 63 branches, entered
California and expanded our presence in Washington, Oregon and Hawaii –
all of which has led to growth in our assets of roughly 18% per year and
tangible equity by roughly 21% per year.
Further, recent results demonstrate the positive momentum of the
Commercial and Consumer Banking segment. This business reported record
net income of $56.8 million for 2018, an increase of $14.7 million from
$42.1 million in 2017, driven by organic loan growth during the year of
12% and improved operating efficiency. Return on average shareholders’
equity in the Commercial and Consumer Banking segment increased from
7.8% in 2017 to 10% in 2018. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2019,
deposits increased by nearly 6% since December 31, 2018 and nearly 7%
since March 31, 2018, while loans held for investment grew by 5% since
December 31, 2018 and 12% year-over-year as of March 31, 2018.
The market has taken note of these positive developments. Commenting on
our Q1 2019 financial results, and our decision to sell the majority of
our stand-alone home loan centers and a substantial portion of our
related mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”), analysts wrote the following:
-
“Ultimately, we think this should warrant a higher trading multiple
for the stock.”1 – Sandler O’Neill and Partners -
“…we like management’s actions as longer-term they should put HMST
on the right path to higher earnings and lower earnings volatility,
the combination of which should enhance franchise value.”2
– B. Riley FBR, Inc. -
“We expect these actions to improve efficiency and profitability as
they reduce the volatility of earnings given lower seasonal impacts.”3
– KBW
HomeStreet is Pursuing a Strategy to Further
Improve Efficiency and Profitability
Our recently announced decision to exit the large-scale home loan
center-based mortgage banking business will allow us to focus even more
intently on furthering the success of our Commercial and Consumer
Banking Business. Additionally, this transition will provide more
portfolio space for commercial lending going forward.
As we continue to focus on Commercial and Consumer Banking, we are
pursuing the following goals:
-
Growing and diversifying our commercial loan portfolio with a focus on
expanding commercial and industrial lending - Growing core deposits to improve deposit mix and support asset growth
- Improving operating efficiency over the long term
- Expanding product offerings and improving technology as a fast follower
-
Growing market share in our highly attractive West Coast metropolitan
markets
We have made important strides when it comes to achieving these goals.
Since 2017, we have opened five new retail branch locations, three in
the Puget Sound area and two in Northern California. We have also
consolidated two retail deposit branches located in central Washington
into two nearby locations. We completed the acquisition of one retail
deposit branch in San Marcos, California (in San Diego County), with
approximately $75 million in deposits and approximately $112 million of
loans. As part of that transaction, we also brought on a commercial
lending team focused primarily on San Diego County, continuing our
growth in that large and diverse market by adding a high-quality
commercial banking team with a great track record.
We also have initiated a company-wide efficiency improvement project in
addition to reductions in operating expenses and corporate overhead
related to the Mortgage Banking Business. We have engaged the services
of well-known banking consultants to help us identify process
improvements and opportunities for cost reductions beyond those we have
already identified and to improve our overall operating efficiency.
HomeStreet Has a Highly-Qualified Board that is
Exerting Appropriate Oversight and Strategic Leadership
The HomeStreet Board is a forum where differing viewpoints are carefully
considered and the best interests of all shareholders are pursued. There
are many examples of how the Board has carefully applied rigorous
analytical frameworks to evaluate important strategic and corporate
governance decisions that impact the future of the Company.
One important test of a well-functioning board of directors is its
ability to understand the benefits and consequences of any strategic
decision and make prudent analytical decisions – especially when they
are difficult ones.
A relevant example of this concept in action is the Board’s ongoing
assessment of the mortgage banking business. Over the years, we have
continued to evaluate this cyclical business based on key metrics and
the broader business environment. What changed in the past year was not
our decision framework, but rather the evolution of the mortgage
landscape and the results of our mortgage segment.
In 2016, HomeStreet’s return on average tangible shareholders’ equity
for the mortgage banking segment was 26.78%, which had increased from
18.68% in 2015. Then, 2017 was a near breakeven year for our mortgage
banking segment as the industry experienced headwinds including rising
interest rates, low new and resale home inventories and an increasingly
competitive mortgage banking environment. In 2018, industry conditions
worsened and we experienced lower loan volume, lower housing inventory
and falling profit margins as competitors sought to capture remaining
loan volume. Additionally, a flattening yield curve reduced hedging
results for mortgage servicing rights and regulatory capital relief for
mortgage servicing rights did not materialize as expected. For the full
year 2018 our mortgage banking segment realized a net loss of $16.7
million, including after tax restructuring costs of $3.9 million.
Given the 2018 results, and the absence of a near term catalyst for
change, we made the difficult decision in late 2018 to pursue a sale of
much of this business, which drew strong interest and resulted in a sale
announced on April 4, 2019.
Roaring Blue Lion has attempted to take credit for this decision. The
reality, however, is that the Board and management took actions during
2017 and 2018 to address the impact of worsening industry conditions
and, when those steps did not sufficiently address falling
profitability, the Board took action to make strategic changes. These
actions were taken after timely and appropriate operational changes, and
after significant analysis and consideration of future opportunities
were weighed against the outlook for improvement in industry conditions.
As recently as 2016, our mortgage banking business produced returns on
equity significantly above our cost of capital and the breakeven year in
2017 would not in and of itself have driven the Company to significantly
downsize this business.
Another key element of a well-functioning board of directors is how
well it engages with, and listens to, its shareholders.
Since the 2018 Annual Meeting, we have engaged extensively with our
shareholders and have worked to translate their feedback into positive
and constructive action. Following the 2018 Annual Meeting we reached
out to shareholders who represented more than half of our shares
outstanding and offered conversations with multiple independent
directors, as well as senior management, in order to fully understand
those investors’ perspectives. These conversations included discussions
about results of operations, the business strategy, corporate governance
policies, compensation practices and long-term incentives, and Board
composition, diversity and refreshment of the Company.
Further, coming out of the 2018 Annual Meeting, we took a number of
steps, including bolstering the Lead Independent Director role and
submitting proposals at the 2019 Annual Meeting to declassify the Board
and eliminate the supermajority vote requirement to approve major
corporate changes.
We believe that these actions are representative examples of the
positive and successful dynamic that exists in the HomeStreet boardroom.
The Company’s highly-qualified nominees, Sandra A. Cavanaugh, Mark K.
Mason and Donald R. Voss, are essential parts of this positive boardroom
dynamic.
Donald Voss, as Lead Independent Director and Mark Mason, as our
Chairman and CEO – both of whom Roaring Blue Lion has targeted for
removal – are the elected leaders of our Board and Company. Removing
these two directors and replacing them with less qualified substitutes
would be highly damaging and detrimental to the HomeStreet Board.
Mark K. Mason, our Chairman and CEO, is a proven leader with
significant experience as an executive officer, director and consultant
to banks and mortgage companies. His expertise in banking and real
estate operations, lending and finance is directly relevant to
HomeStreet’s business. Additionally, he has a successful record of
creating shareholder value, turning around troubled financial
institutions, creating and executing growth and diversification
strategies, raising capital – including two highly successful initial
public offerings, addressing portfolio and operational challenges and
effectively working with boards, investors and regulators.
As HomeStreet continues to maximize its opportunities, Mr. Mason’s
presence in the boardroom provides a critical link between the Board’s
strategic vision and management’s execution. Since Mr. Mason’s role
encompasses both of these elements, he is extremely well-positioned to
ensure that the Company is pursuing the best possible path to drive
value creation for shareholders. For example, Mr. Mason is deeply
involved in closing the announced sale of HomeStreet’s home loan
center-based mortgage banking business and related MSRs and guiding
HomeStreet into its next chapter. As a proven leader who successfully
led the turnaround of HomeStreet following the 2008-2009 financial
crisis and grew the bank at the top of peer rates, Mr. Mason will
continue to make substantial and meaningful contributions on the Board.
Donald R. Voss, our Lead Independent Director, has extensive
large-scale commercial banking experience focused on lending, credit,
cash management and retail banking. Mr. Voss served as an Executive Vice
President at First Interstate Bank (US Banking division) overseeing
commercial lending which was later acquired by Wells Fargo Bank. Mr.
Voss was also the Chairman of the Board of Simplicity Bank, a public
company he oversaw the sale of to HomeStreet.
Mr. Voss is leading our shareholder engagement efforts and has built
important relationships of dialogue and trust that are critical to
maintain. As the Board continues to enhance the shareholder engagement
program and related corporate governance modifications – which are
already showing results – Mr. Voss will remain at the helm of these
efforts going forward. His continued presence on the Board is essential
to ensuring these efforts bear fruit and have an impact on the Company’s
strategy and execution.
###
As we look ahead to HomeStreet’s future, we ask you to consider how the
decisions we have made over the past year will help to enhance
shareholder value through increased efficiency and profitability, and
how the corporate governance improvements we have adopted will ensure
that the voices of our shareholders are heard loud and clear.
With the 2019 Annual Meeting quickly approaching, we ask for your
support to continue to move forward to pursue the many opportunities
available to HomeStreet.
Vote for the Company’s nominees on the WHITE
proxy card today. For additional information and shareholder materials
please visit www.VoteHMST.com.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of HomeStreet, Inc.
About HomeStreet, Inc.
HomeStreet, Inc. (Nasdaq: HMST) (the “Company”) is a diversified
financial services company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, serving
consumers and businesses in the Western United States and Hawaii through
its various operating subsidiaries. The Company’s primary business
following the completion of these transactions will be community
banking, including: commercial real estate lending, commercial lending,
residential construction lending, single family residential lending for
portfolio, retail banking, private banking, investment, and insurance
services. Its principal subsidiaries are HomeStreet Bank and HomeStreet
Capital Corporation. Certain information about our business can be found
on our investor relations web site, located at http://ir.homestreet.com.
Important Additional Information and Where to
Find It
The Company has filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A and
accompanying WHITE proxy card with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with
the solicitation of proxies for its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
SHAREHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE COMPANY’S DEFINITIVE PROXY
STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY
OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE
THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Shareholders may obtain a free
copy of the proxy statement and accompanying WHITE
proxy card, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and
other documents that the Company files with the SEC from the SEC’s
website at www.sec.gov
or the Company’s website at http://ir.homestreet.com
as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are
electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.
Forward-Looking Statements
This letter, as well as other information provided from time to time by
the Company or its employees, may contain forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company’s current
beliefs, expectations and intentions regarding future events. You can
identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate
strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include
words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “will” and “would” and
similar expressions (including the negative of these terms). These
forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties (some of which
are beyond the Company’s control) and assumptions. Although we believe
that expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements. The Company intends these forward-looking
statements to speak only at the time of this letter and the Company does
not undertake to update or revise these statements as more information
becomes available, except as required under federal securities laws and
the rules and regulations of the SEC. Please refer to the risk factors
discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2018 and subsequent periodic and current reports
filed with the SEC (each of which can be found at the SEC’s website www.sec.gov),
as well as other factors described from time to time in the Company’s
filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company
in this letter speaks only as of the date on which it is made.
| 1 | Sandler O’Neill analyst note (4/5/19) | |
| 2 | B. Riley FBR, Inc. analyst note (5/1/19) | |
| 3 | KBW analyst note (4/30/19) |
Contacts
Investor Relations:
Gerhard Erdelji, 206-515-4039
[email protected]
Or
Okapi
Partners LLC
Bruce H. Goldfarb/Pat McHugh, (877)566-1922
[email protected]
Media
Relations:
Sloane & Company
Dan Zacchei/Joe Germani,
212-486-9500
[email protected]
/ [email protected]
