CORRECTING and REPLACING BayCom Corp Reports 2019 Fourth Quarter and Year End Financial Results

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BayCom Corp (“BayCom” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:BCML) has determined that the weighted average number of shares used to compute net income per share for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019 were incorrectly reported in the press release it issued on January 28, 2020, as 11,759,334 shares and 12,631,368 shares, respectively. The correct weighted average number of shares used to compute net income per share for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019 is 12,361,368 shares and 11,759,334 shares, respectively. As a result, the basic and diluted earnings per share under “Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)” and “Financial Highlights (Unaudited)” and in the narrative contained in the press release for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, was also incorrectly reported as $0.39 and $1.37, respectively. The corrected basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $0.37 and $1.47, respectively. In addition, utilizing the corrected weighted average shares outstanding, the impact of acquisition-related expenses per diluted share decreased to $0.15 from $0.16 and increased to $0.42 from $0.39 for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, respectively.

The corrected release reads:

BAYCOM CORP REPORTS 2019 FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END FINANCIAL RESULTS

BayCom Corp (“BayCom” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:BCML), the holding company for United Business Bank (the “Bank”), announced earnings of $4.6 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to earnings of $5.6 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2019 and $2.6 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2018. Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the prior quarter decreased $1.0 million, or 17.6%, as a result of a $3.6 million increase in noninterest expense, including $2.5 million of acquisition-related expenses, and a $544,000 increase in provision for loan losses, partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in net interest income, a $1.1 million decrease in income tax expense, and a $681,000 increase in noninterest income. The impact of acquisition-related expenses was $0.15 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 compared to none for the third quarter of 2019 and $0.15 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. The Company had net income of $17.3 million, or $1.47 per diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $14.5 million, or $1.50 per diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2018. The impact of acquisition-related expenses for 2019 was $0.42 per diluted share compared to $0.15 for 2018. The Company acquired TIG Bancorp (“TIG”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary First State Bank of Colorado on October 21, 2019, Uniti Financial Corporation (“Uniti”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Uniti Bank in May 2019, and Bethlehem Financial Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary My Bank in December 2018.

George Guarini, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our most recent bank acquisition of First State Bank of Colorado this quarter allowed us to expand our geographic footprint into attractive Colorado markets. This merger represents a complementary fit, both strategically and culturally with our business model. The additional scale provided by this merger and similar to our earlier bank acquisition this year of Uniti Bank, located in Southern California along with our continued focus on expense management should improve operational synergies throughout the company and enhance our performance in future quarters. We are also making good progress with respect to our pending acquisition of Grand Mountain Bank of Granby, Colorado which will further expand our presence in Colorado. With these strategic combinations, we believe United Business Bank is well-positioned to gain market share in the communities we serve while providing significant benefits to our expanded group of clients, communities, shareholders, and employees.” Guarini concluded, “We continue to actively seek out new opportunities to increase our western regional presence and add value for our clients and shareholders.”

Proposed acquisition of Grand Mountain Bancshares

On November 1, 2019, BayCom and Grand Mountain Bancshares, Inc. Granby, Colorado (“GMB”), the holding company of Grand Mountain Bank, entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which BayCom will acquire GMB in an all-cash transaction, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. Under the merger agreement, GMB will merge with and into BayCom, and immediately thereafter Grand Mountain Bank will merge with and into United Business Bank. The merger agreement specifies GMB shareholders will receive $3.40 in exchange for each share of GMB common stock or approximately $13.9 million in total. The proposed merger has received the required regulatory approvals and was approved by GMB shareholders on January 21, 2020. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

At December 31, 2019, GMB had approximately $132.5 million in assets, $96.7 million in loans, $119.0 million in deposits and $11.1 million in shareholder’s equity. The transaction will expand the Company’s presence in Colorado. Grand Mountain Bank serves its communities through its four convenient full-service locations across Grand County and a loan office in Summit County. Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will have approximately $2.1 billion in total assets, $1.6 billion in total loans and $1.8 billion in total deposits.

Fourth Quarter Performance Highlights:

• Assets totaled $2.0 billion at December 31, 2019, compared to $1.8 billion at September 30, 2019 and $1.5 billion at December 31, 2018. The increase in assets is due primarily to the acquisition of Uniti during the second quarter of 2019 and TIG during the third quarter of 2019.
• Annualized net interest margin was 4.08% for the current quarter, compared to 4.23% in the preceding quarter and 4.16% in the fourth quarter a year ago.
• Loans, net of deferred fees, totaled $1.5 billion at December 31, 2019, compared to $1.2 billion at September 30, 2019 and $975.3 million at December 31, 2018.
• Deposits totaled $1.7 billion at December 31, 2019, compared to $1.5 billion at September 30, 2019 and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, noninterest bearing deposits increased to $572.3 million from $523.5 million at September 30, 2019 and were $398.0 million at December 31, 2018.
• Nonaccrual loans totaled $6.8 million or 0.47% of total loans at December 31, 2019, compared to $6.6 million or 0.54% of total loans at September 30, 2019 and $3.1 million or 0.32% of total loans at December 31, 2018.
• Repurchased 493,787 shares of common stock at an average cost of $22.26 per share.
• The Bank remains a “well-capitalized” institution for regulatory capital purposes at December 31, 2019.

Earnings

Net interest income increased $1.4 million, or 8.0%, to $19.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 from $17.8 million in the preceding quarter and increased $5.3 million, or 38.0%, from $13.9 million in the same quarter a year ago primarily due to an increase in average interest earning assets, principally loans. Average interest earning assets increased $199.2 million, or 12.0%, for the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to the prior quarter and $540.4 million, or 40.8%, compared to the same period in 2018, largely due to the acquisitions of Uniti and TIG. Interest income on loans, including fees, increased $1.7 million, or 10.0%, during the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to the prior quarter primarily as a result of a $159.7 million increase in the average loan balance, partially offset by a 17 basis point decrease in the average loan yield. Interest income on loans, including fees, increased $6.5 million, or 48.0%, during the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018 primarily as a result of a $443.0 million increase in the average loan balance and a 13 basis point increase in the average loan yield. Interest income on loans, including fees for the quarters ended December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, included $1.6 million, $1.6 million and $676,000, respectively, in accretion of the net discount on acquired loans including the recognition of revenue from purchase credit impaired loans in excess of discounts. The net discount on these acquired loans totaled $8.0 million, $8.0 million, and $7.5 million at December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

Net interest margin (annualized) was 4.08% for the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to 4.23% for the preceding quarter and 4.16% for fourth quarter of 2018. The decrease in net interest margin during the quarter mostly reflects lower yields on average interest-earning assets largely as a result of three 25 basis point decreases in the targeted Fed Funds Rate in the third and fourth quarter of 2019. The average yield on loans is enhanced by the amortization of acquisition accounting value adjustments on loans acquired in acquisitions. The average yield on loans, including the accretion of the net discount for the fourth quarter of 2019, was 5.59% compared to 5.76% for the third quarter of 2019 and 5.46% for the same quarter last year. The accretion of the net discount on acquired loans increased the average yield on loans by 48 basis points, 51 basis points, and 29 basis points during the fourth quarter of 2019, the third quarter of 2019, and fourth quarter of 2018, respectively. The incremental accretion and the impact on loan yield will change during any period based on the volume of prepayments, but it is expected to decrease over time as the balance of the net discount declines. The average yield on interest earning assets for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was 4.65%, compared to 4.86% for the third quarter of 2019 and 4.57% for three months ended December 31, 2018. The average cost of funds for the fourth quarter of 2019 was 0.96%, down from 1.05% for the third quarter of 2019 and up from 0.68% for the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in our cost of funds from December 31, 2018, was due primarily to higher interest rates paid on deposits acquired in the Uniti transaction compared to the Company’s legacy deposit base and competitive pressures. The average balance of noninterest bearing deposits increased $77.9 million, or 15.0%, to $598.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to $520.3 million for the previous quarter and $381.1 million for the same period in 2018.

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2019 increased $681,000 or 32.2% to $2.8 million compared to $2.1 million in the previous quarter and increased $1.2 million or 70.9 % compared to $1.6 million for the same quarter in 2018. The increase in noninterest income compared to the September 30, 2019 quarter was primarily due to a $528,000 increase in gain on sale of loans, with the balance of the increase resulting from higher loan and servicing fee income and service charges and other fees. The increase in noninterest income compared to the same period in 2018 was due primarily to a $779,000 increase in gain on sale of loans, a combined $258,000 increase in loan and servicing fee income and service charges and other fees, and a $122,000 increase in other income. The increases in loan and servicing fee income and service charges and other fees were primarily the result of loan and deposit-based fees on accounts acquired in the Uniti and TIG acquisitions in 2019.

Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2019 increased $3.6 million or 30.8% to $15.3 million compared to $11.7 million for the third quarter of 2019 and increased $3.8 million or 33.0% compared to $11.5 million for the same quarter in 2018. Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2019 included $2.5 million of nonrecurring acquisition-related expenses related to our TIG acquisition which was comprised of $257,000 in salaries and employee benefits, $1.7 million in data processing expenses, $403,000 in professional fees and $115,000 in other expenses. Excluding these acquisition-related expenses, noninterest expense increased $1.1 million, or 9.5%, from the third quarter of 2019 due primarily to increases of $510,000 in salary and employee benefits, $182,000 in additional occupancy costs related to the operation of the seven Colorado branches acquired from TIG, and $444,000 in other noninterest expenses including $229,000 related to an increase in expenses related to the acquired Colorado branches, an $108,000 increase in professional fees and a $70,000 write-down on an other real estate owned property. The increase in noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to increases in data processing and salary and benefit expenses related to our two acquisitions in 2019 and our acquisition of Bethlehem Financial Corporation in December 2018.

The provision for income taxes was $1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $2.2 million for the previous quarter and $1.2 million for the same quarter in 2018. The change in income tax provision in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter last year was primarily due to the re-estimation of deductible expenses, a reduction in our proportional state tax rate, and fluctuations in taxable income between the periods. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2019 was 19.3% compared to 28.0% for the third quarter of 2019 and 30.9% for the same quarter a year ago.

Loans and Credit Quality

Loans, net of deferred fees, totaled $1.5 billion at December 31, 2019, compared to $1.2 billion at September 30, 2019 and $975.3 million at December 31, 2018 primarily due to the Uniti acquisition which was completed during the second quarter of 2019 and the TIG acquisition which was completed during the fourth quarter of 2019. New loan originations for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 totaled $74.6 million compared to $93.5 million during the third quarter of 2019 and $28.0 million during the fourth quarter 2018. New loan originations in the fourth quarter of 2019 were spread throughout our markets with the majority focused in the Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco Bay areas with commercial and residential real estate secured loans accounting for the majority of the originations during the quarter.

Nonaccrual loans totaled $6.8 million, or 0.47% of total loans, at December 31, 2019, compared to $6.6 million, or 0.54% of total loans, at September 30, 2019, and $3.1 million, or 0.32% of total loans, at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, $1.2 million of our nonaccrual loans were guaranteed by government agencies, compared to $3.0 million at September 30, 2019. There was $250,000 of accruing loans past due more than 90 days, at December 31, 2019, as compared to $264,000 at September 30, 2019, and none at December 31, 2018.

At December 31, 2019, the Company’s allowance for loan losses was $7.4 million, or 0.51% of total loans, compared to $6.4 million, or 0.52% of total loans, at September 30, 2019 and $5.1 million, or 0.53% of total loans, at December 31, 2018. In accordance with acquisition accounting, loans acquired from acquisitions were recorded at their estimated fair value, which resulted in a net discount to the loans contractual amounts. Credit discounts are included in the determination of fair value and as a result no allowance for loan losses is recorded for acquired loans at the acquisition date. Although the discount recorded on the acquired loans is not reflected in the allowance for loan losses, or related allowance coverage ratios, we believe it should be considered when comparing the current ratios to similar ratios in periods prior to the recent acquisitions. As of December 31, 2019, acquired loans, net of their discounts, totaled $590.4 million and the remaining net discount on these acquired loans was $8.0 million. The provision for loan losses recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019 totaled $1.0 million compared to the prior quarter provision of $479,000 and $264,000 for the same quarter last year. The increase in the provision for loan losses was primarily a result of the origination of new loans and the renewal of acquired loans out of the discounted acquired loan portfolio. Net recoveries in the fourth quarter of 2019 totaled $17,000 compared to $1,000 in the previous quarter and net charge-off of $624,000 during the same quarter in 2018.

Deposits and Borrowings

Deposits totaled $1.7 billion at December 31, 2019 compared to $1.5 billion at September 30, 2019 and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2018. The increase in deposits from the December 31, 2018 is primarily attributable to the deposits acquired in the TIG and Uniti acquisitions in 2019. Noninterest bearing deposits totaled $572.3 million, or 33.6% of total deposits, at December 31, 2019 compared to $523.5 million, or 34.9% of total deposits, at September 30, 2019, and $398.0 million, or 31.6% of total deposits, at December 31, 2018.

At December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018 borrowings totaled $8.2 million related to junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures assumed in connection with our previous acquisitions.

Shareholders’ Equity

Shareholders’ equity totaled $254.2 million at December 31, 2019, up from $240.9 million at September 30, 2019, and $200.8 million at December 30, 2018. The increase in shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 2019 was primarily due to the issuance of common stock totaling $19.7 million in the TIG merger and net income of $4.6 million, partially offset by the repurchase of $11.0 million of our common stock and a $353,000 decrease in other comprehensive income representing a reduction of the unrealized gains on investments securities, net of tax during the fourth quarter of 2019. The Company repurchased 493,787 shares of its common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 at an average cost of $22.26 per share pursuant to its October 2019 stock repurchase plan, leaving 153,135 shares available for future purchases.

About BayCom Corp

The Company, through its wholly owned operating subsidiary, United Business Bank, offers a full-range of loans, including SBA, FSA and USDA guaranteed loans, and deposit products and services to businesses and its affiliates in California, Washington, New Mexico and Colorado. The Bank also offers business escrow services and facilitates tax free exchanges through its Bankers Exchange Division. The Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and a member of FDIC. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “BCML”. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release, as well as other public or shareholder communications released by the Company, may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, (i) statements regarding the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company, (ii) statements about the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts and (iii) other statements identified by the words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “intends” or similar expressions that are intended to identify “forward-looking statements”, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead are based on current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: expected revenues, cost savings, synergies and other benefits from our pending acquisition of GMB or our recent acquisitions of TIG and Uniti might not be realized within the expected time frames or at all and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; future acquisitions by the Company of other depository institutions or lines of business; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities market; legislative and regulatory changes; fluctuations in interest rates; the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; the Company’s ability to access cost-effective funding; fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; demand for loans and deposits in the Company’s market area; increased competitive pressures; changes in management’s business strategies; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that are available on our website at www.unitedbusinessbank.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

The factors listed above could materially affect the Company’s financial performance and could cause the Company’s actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.

The Company does not undertake – and specifically declines any obligation – to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date made.

Contacts

BayCom Corp
Keary Colwell, 925-476-1800
[email protected]

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