WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. 8-K

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

	For further information contact:
	James C. Hagan, President and CEO
	Guida R. Sajdak, EVP and CFO
	Meghan Hibner, VP Investor Relations Officer
	413-568-1911

  

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. REPORTS RESULTS FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31,
2017 AND DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

 

Westfield, Massachusetts, April 26, 2017: Western New England Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “WNEB”) (NasdaqGS:WNEB), the holding company for Westfield Bank (the “Bank”), today announced net income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 of $5.1 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the first full quarter following the October 2016 closing of the merger with Chicopee Bancorp, Inc. (“Chicopee”). The Company also announced that the Board of Directors approved the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share, payable on or about May 24, 2017 to shareholders of record on May 10, 2017.

 

The financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 include $1.6 million in tax benefits recorded in connection with the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance and exercises of stock options, both favorably impacting the income tax provision for first quarter 2017. Also included are $293,000, net of tax, of acquisition and integration related costs associated with the acquisition of Chicopee. Excluding these tax benefits and integration costs, net income was $3.8 million, or $0.13 earnings per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $2.0 million, or $0.11 earnings per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

James C. Hagan, President and CEO stated, “We are very pleased with our accomplishments this quarter following the successful completion of the Chicopee merger and the core system integration last quarter, along with the leadership changes previously announced. We are on track to achieve the projected cost savings and are pleased with the increase in our performance that has resulted from the merger. We believe we are well positioned to continue to generate quality asset growth, improve profitability through increased earnings and efficiencies and to continue growing our tangible book value.”

 

Selected financial highlights include: 

●

The net interest margin of 3.08% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, increased 24 basis points from 2.84%, for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and increased 47 basis points from 2.61%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, amortization of purchase accounting adjustments related to the Chicopee acquisition increased net interest income by $661,000. Excluding these items, net interest margin for the first quarter of 2017 was 2.94%.

 

●

Return on average assets and return on average equity, excluding tax benefits and merger costs, net of tax, mentioned earlier, were 0.74% and 6.28% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, respectively, compared to 0.61% and 5.94% for the first quarter of 2016.

 

 

●

At March 31, 2017, total loans of $1.60 billion increased $33.1 million, or 2.1%, from $1.57 billion at December 31, 2016. The increase was due to $25.4 million, or 4.1%, increase in residential loans, including home equity loans, an increase of $10.2 million, or 4.6%, in commercial and industrial loans, partially offset by a decrease of $2.7 million, or 0.4%, in commercial real estate loans. The decrease in the commercial real estate portfolio was largely related to the expected payoff of a $7.5 million completed commercial real estate project during first quarter 2017.

 

●

On a sequential quarter basis, total deposits increased $3.1 million, or 0.2%, from $1.52 billion at December 31, 2016. Core deposits, defined as all deposits except time deposits, represented 62.6% of total deposits, and increased $7.9 million, or 0.8%, from $945.1 million at December 31, 2016 to $953.0 million at March 31, 2017. The increase in core deposits was due to a $12.3 million, or 14.9%, increase in interest-bearing checking accounts, an increase in noninterest-bearing checking accounts of $7.5 million, or 2.5%, and an increase in savings accounts of $4.3 million, or 3.5%, partially offset by a decrease in money market accounts of $16.2 million, or 3.7%. Time deposits decreased $4.7 million, or 0.8%, from $572.9 million at December 31, 2016 to $568.2 million at March 31, 2017. Time deposits represented 37.4% of total deposits at March 31, 2017, compared to 43.2% at March 31, 2016 and 37.7% at December 31, 2016.

 

●

Tangible book value per share was $7.44 at March 31, 2017, compared to $7.25 per share at December 31, 2016, an increase of 2.6%. Management finalized their evaluation of premises and equipment acquired from Chicopee during the first quarter 2017, and this adjustment resulted in a $0.04 increase to tangible book value. Management believes that the projections as to earn back of the tangible book value dilution incurred in the merger remain consistent with what was described in the original merger announcement.

 

Additional Income Statement Discussion 

On a sequential quarter basis, net interest and dividend income increased $1.8 million, or 13.8%, to $14.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, from $12.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase reflected a $1.9 million, or 11.5%, increase in interest income as average earning assets increased $139.8 million, or 7.8%, primarily due to loan growth as a result of the completion of the merger on October 21, 2016, along with organic loan growth and a full quarter of post-merger impact. The yield on assets increased 13 basis points from 3.61% for the three months ended December 31, 2016 to 3.74% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, interest expense increased $86,000, or 2.6%, compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. During the same period, interest-bearing liabilities increased $107.4 million, or 7.6%, while non-interest bearing liabilities, such as demand accounts, increased $24.7 million, or 8.8%.

 

Net interest and dividend income increased $6.3 million, or 75.9%, to $14.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $8.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase reflected a $7.0 million, or 63.8%, increase in interest income as average earning assets increased $664.4 million, or 52.0%, primarily due to loan growth as a result of the merger along with organic loan growth. The yield on assets increased 29 basis points from 3.45% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to 3.74% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, interest expense increased $736,000, or 27.1%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. During the same period, interest-bearing liabilities increased $475.1 million, or 45.5%, while non-interest bearing liabilities, such as demand accounts, increased $148.6 million, or 95.3%. The net interest margin of 3.08%, for the three months ending March 31, 2017, increased 47 basis points, compared to 2.61% for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the provision for loan losses of $300,000 increased $900,000, compared to a $600,000 credit for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2016, due to an $852,000 recovery on a commercial real estate loan during the first quarter of 2016. The provision for loan losses increased $125,000, or 71.4%, from $175,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2016 to $300,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 

On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income of $2.0 million decreased $345,000, or 14.5%, compared to $2.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The decrease of $345,000 was primarily due to the decrease in gains on sales of securities of $519,000, partially offset by a $41,000, or 2.8%, increase in service charges and fee income and an increase of $119,000 in other income. Excluding the gain on sales of securities of $519,000, non-interest income increased $174,000, or 9.1%. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, non-interest income increased $1.0 million, or 99.8%, to $2.0 million, compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in service charges and fee income of $642,000, or 72.6%, and an increase of $127,000 in other income, partially offset by a decrease in gains on sales of securities of $749,000, or 109.3%, and losses on borrowings prepayments of $915,000. Excluding the decrease in gain on sales of securities of $749,000 and losses on borrowings prepayments of $915,000, non-interest income increased $847,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to the first quarter of 2016 primarily due to an increase of $642,000 in income from services charges and fees.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, non-interest expense of $11.0 million increased $3.9 million, or 55.3%, from $7.1 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to a $2.4 million, or 62.7%, increase in salaries and benefits due to the addition of the Chicopee staff and normal merit increases that typically occur during the first quarter of each year. Occupancy expense increased $476,000, or 59.4%, due to the acquisition of the Chicopee branches, while merger related expenses increased $256,000. The increase to non-interest expense reflects generally higher level of expenses associated with operating a larger financial institution, which include additional employees, increased costs for data processing, occupancy, and professional services. Although there are overall added expenses, the merger provided the opportunity to achieve greater economies of scale as reflected in the improvement in the efficiency ratio from 72.9%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, to 63.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 

On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expense of $11.0 million decreased $1.0 million, or 8.6%, from $12.0 million, for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The $1.0 million decrease was primarily due to the $1.7 million, or 80.8%, decrease in merger related expenses and the $172,000, or 18.5%, decrease in data processing expenses primarily due to the elimination of dual core processing systems, partially offset by the $549,000, or 9.6%, increase in salaries and benefits. The efficiency ratio, which excludes the merger-related charges, was 63.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to 67.4% for the three months ended December 31, 2016. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the efficiency ratio, exclusive of merger-related charges, was 72.9%.

 

 

Additional Balance Sheet Discussion

 

Total assets grew $10.5 million, or 0.5%, from $2.08 billion at December 31, 2016 to $2.09 billion at March 31, 2017. The growth was primarily attributable to $33.1 million, or 2.1%, increase in total loans, partially offset by a decrease of $29.5 million in cash used to fund loan growth. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2017, management completed their evaluation of premises and equipment acquired from Chicopee, which resulted in a $2.4 million adjustment to the provisional fair values of bank premises acquired and a $1.4 million adjustment to goodwill.

 

Shareholders’ equity was $245.8 million, or 11.8% of total assets, at March 31, 2017 and $238.4 million, or 11.5% of total assets, at December 31, 2016. The increase in shareholders’ equity during the quarter reflects net income of $5.1 million, the exercise of 719,474 stock options for $4.3 million and comprehensive income of $1.6 million. These increases were offset by the repurchase of 321,015 shares of common stock for $3.1 million at an average cost of $9.58 per share, and the payment of regular dividends of $886,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Total shares outstanding as of March 31, 2017 was 30,778,690. At March 31, 2017, the Company’s regulatory capital ratios continue to exceed the levels required to be considered “well-capitalized” under federal banking regulations.

 

Credit Quality 

Maintaining strong asset quality remains a core management objective. Annualized net charge-offs to average loans was 0.04% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to 0.12%, excluding a $852,000 recovery during the three months ended March 31, 2016. Net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2017 totaled $141,000, as a result of $279,000 in charge-offs and $138,000 in recoveries. Non-performing loans at March 31, 2017 increased to $14.8 million, or 0.92% of total loans, compared to $14.1 million, or 0.90% of total loans, at December 31, 2016. There are no loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing interest.

 

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.64%, 0.64% and 1.07% at March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and March 31, 2016, respectively. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans was 69.32%, 71.62% and 106.84% at March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and March 31, 2016, respectively. The ratios for March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, include acquired loans that have been recorded at fair value with no corresponding allowance for loan losses.

 

 

An analysis of the changes in the allowance for loan losses is as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,				December 31,				March 31,
		2017				2016				2016
		(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period		$	10,068			$	9,927			$	8,840
Provision (credit)			300				175				(600	)
Charge-offs			(279	)			(139	)			(243	)
Recoveries			138				105				858
Balance, end of period		$	10,227			$	10,068			$	8,855

 

Share Repurchase 

On January 31, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company may purchase up to 3,047,000 shares, or 10% of its outstanding common stock. As of March 31, 2017, there were 3,011,837 remaining shares available for repurchase under the plan.

 

About Western New England Bancorp, Inc. 

Western New England Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts-chartered stock holding company and the parent company of Westfield Bank, CSB Colts, Inc., Elm Street Securities Corporation, WFD Securities, Inc. and WB Real Estate Holdings, LLC. Western New England Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries are headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts and operate through 21 banking offices located throughout western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. To learn more, visit our website at www.westfieldbank.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements 

The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which speak only as of the date made. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company and the Bank do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that 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.

 

 

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Net Income and Other Data

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2017				2016				2016				2016				2016
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME:
Loans		$	15,826			$	14,170			$	9,138			$	8,639			$	8,250
Securities			1,896				1,737				1,695				1,750				2,554
Other investments - at cost			163				152				130				136				132
Federal funds sold, interest-bearing deposits and other short-term investments			72				48				14				29				25
Total interest and dividend income			17,957				16,107				10,977				10,554				10,961
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Deposits			2,009				1,993				1,582				1,535				1,472
Long-term debt			551				517				446				461				842
Short-term borrowings			894				858				621				556				404
Total interest expense			3,454				3,368				2,649				2,552				2,718
Net interest and dividend income			14,503				12,739				8,328				8,002				8,243
PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR LOAN LOSSES			300				175				375				625				(600	)
Net interest and dividend income after provision (credit) for loan losses			14,203				12,564				7,953				7,377				8,843
NONINTEREST INCOME:
Service charges and fees			1,526				1,485				953				859				884
Income from bank-owned life insurance			439				425				369				403				361
Loss on prepayment of borrowings			—				—				—				—				(915	)
Gain (loss) on sales of securities, net			(64	)			455				1				(2	)			685
Other income			127				8				—				—				—
Total noninterest income			2,028				2,373				1,323				1,260				1,015
NONINTEREST EXPENSE:
Salaries and employees benefits			6,297				5,748				4,114				3,910				3,871
Occupancy			1,277				1,215				796				804				801
Data processing			759				931				667				626				621
Professional fees			596				468				656				545				516
FDIC insurance			117				122				214				190				190
Merger related expenses			410				2,138				830				929				154
Other			1,525				1,390				948				994				919
Total noninterest expense			10,981				12,012				8,225				7,998				7,072
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES			5,250				2,925				1,051				639				2,786
INCOME TAX PROVISION			147				1,073				423				250				822
NET INCOME		$	5,103			$	1,852			$	628			$	389			$	1,964
Basic earnings per share		$	0.17			$	0.07			$	0.04			$	0.02			$	0.11
Weighted average basic shares outstanding			29,597,694				26,760,014				17,377,844				17,337,955				17,304,088
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.17			$	0.07			$	0.04			$	0.02			$	0.11
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding			29,878,421				27,140,172				17,377,844				17,337,955				17,304,088
Other Data:
Return on average assets (1)			1.00	%			0.38	%			0.19	%			0.12	%			0.58	%
Return on average assets, exclusive of merger expenses and tax benefits (1)(3)			0.74	%			0.69	%			0.42	%			0.38	%			0.61	%
Return on average equity (1)			8.51	%			3.18	%			1.72	%			1.14	%			5.61	%
Return on average equity, exclusive of merger expenses and tax benefits (1)(3)			6.28	%			5.79	%			3.85	%			3.64	%			5.94	%
Efficiency ratio (2)(3)			63.70	%			67.37	%			76.63	%			76.31	%			72.91	%
Net interest margin			3.08	%			2.84	%			2.65	%			2.62	%			2.61	%

(1)

Annualized.

(2)

The efficiency ratio represents the ratio of operating expenses excluding merger related charges divided by the sum of net interest and dividend income and noninterest income, excluding gain (loss) on sale of securities, net, and loss on prepayment of borrowings.

(3)

Please refer to the “Reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures” for further details.

 

 

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets  

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2017				2016				2016				2016				2016
Cash and cash equivalents		$	40,716			$	70,234			$	50,803			$	21,267			$	155,194
Securities available for sale, at fair value			305,680				300,115				295,577				296,565				302,224
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and other  restricted stock - at cost			16,124				16,124				12,194				11,267				14,080
Loans			1,599,607				1,566,484				947,620				906,212				826,963
Allowance for loan losses			(10,227	)			(10,068	)			(9,927	)			(9,570	)			(8,855	)
Net loans			1,589,380				1,556,416				937,693				896,642				818,108
Bank-owned life insurance			67,377				66,938				51,363				50,994				50,591
Goodwill			12,487				13,747				—				—				—
Core deposit intangible			4,344				4,438				—				—				—
Other assets			50,438				48,006				30,150				29,570				28,747
TOTAL ASSETS		$	2,086,546			$	2,076,018			$	1,377,780			$	1,306,305			$	1,368,944
Total deposits		$	1,521,219			$	1,518,071			$	962,558			$	920,912			$	928,124
Short-term borrowings			176,883				172,351				180,273				144,707				158,593
Long-term debt			123,668				124,836				71,165				78,032				90,943
Trades pending settlement			—				455				—				—				30,570
Other liabilities			18,972				21,909				18,561				18,085				17,719
TOTAL LIABILITIES			1,840,742				1,837,622				1,232,557				1,161,736				1,225,949
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY			245,804				238,396				145,223				144,569				142,995
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		$	2,086,546			$	2,076,018			$	1,377,780			$	1,306,305			$	1,368,944

 

 

 

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Other Data 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2017				2016				2016				2016				2016
Other Data:
Book value per share		$	7.99			$	7.85			$	7.92			$	7.89			$	7.83
Tangible book value per share			7.44				7.25				7.92				7.89				7.83
30- 89 day delinquent loans			7,402				8,309				1,391				2,547				1,358
30-89 day delinquent loans acquired from Chicopee, net of purchase accounting adjustments			5,504				5,761				—				—				—
Delinquent loans as a percentage of total loans			0.46	%			0.53	%			0.15	%			0.28	%			0.16	%
Nonperforming loans			14,753				14,057				7,275				8,043				8,288
Nonperforming loans acquired from Chicopee, net of purchase accounting adjustments			7,274				6,394				—				—				—
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total   loans			0.92	%			0.90	%			0.77	%			0.89	%			1.00	%
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets			0.71	%			0.69	%			0.53	%			0.62	%			0.61	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans			69.32	%			71.62	%			136.45	%			118.99	%			106.84	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans			0.64	%			0.64	%			1.05	%			1.06	%			1.07	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, excluding loans acquired from Chicopee			1.02	%			1.05	%			1.05	%			1.06	%			1.07	%

 

The following tables set forth the information relating to our average balances and net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and March 31, 2016, and reflect the average yield on interest-earning assets and average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.

 

		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2017												December 31, 2016												March 31, 2016
		Average								Avg Yield/				Average								Avg Yield/				Average								Avg Yield/
		Balance				Interest				Cost				Balance				Interest				Cost				Balance				Interest				Cost
		(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:
Interest-earning assets
Loans(1)(2)(6)		$	1,560,341			$	16,040				4.11	%		$	1,425,461			$	14,307				4.01	%		$	823,335			$	8,280				4.02	%
Securities(2)			307,912				1,912				2.48				299,426				1,751				2.34				411,034				2,590				2.52
Other investments - at cost			17,510				163				3.72				16,709				152				3.64				16,051				132				3.29
Short-term investments(3)			57,326				72				0.50				61,683				48				0.31				28,276				25				0.35
Total interest-earning assets			1,943,089				18,187				3.74				1,803,279				16,258				3.61				1,278,696				11,027				3.45
Total noninterest-earning assets			130,771												141,220												80,510
		$	2,073,860											$	1,944,499											$	1,359,206
Total assets
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing checking accounts		$	90,498			$	74				0.33	%		$	75,247			$	83				0.44	%		$	30,531			$	20				0.26	%
Savings accounts			125,228				33				0.11				111,483				32				0.11				76,958				20				0.10
Money market accounts			428,522				392				0.37				405,088				416				0.41				248,597				227				0.37
Time certificates of deposit (6)			571,855				1,510				1.06				528,724				1,462				1.11				398,598				1,205				1.21
Total interest-bearing deposits			1,216,103				2,009								1,120,542				1,993								754,684				1,472
Short-term borrowings and long-term debt (6)			303,795				1,445				1.90				291,947				1,375				1.88				290,069				1,246				1.72
Total interest-bearing liabilities			1,519,898				3,454				0.91				1,412,489				3,368				0.95				1,044,753				2,718				1.04
Noninterest-bearing deposits			304,448												279,721												155,887
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities			6,331												20,329												17,987
Total noninterest-bearing liabilities			310,779												300,050												173,874
Total liabilities			1,830,677												1,712,539												1,218,627
Total equity			243,183												231,960												140,579
Total liabilities and equity		$	2,073,860											$	1,944,499											$	1,359,206
Less: Tax-equivalent adjustment(2)							(230	)											(151	)											(66	)
Net interest and dividend income						$	14,503												12,739											$	8,243
Net interest rate spread(4)											2.83	%											2.66	%											2.41	%
Net interest margin(5)											3.08	%											2.84	%											2.61	%
Ratio of average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities											127.84												127.67												122.39

 

 

 

(1)

Loans, including non-accrual loans, are net of deferred loan origination costs and unadvanced funds.

(2)

Securities, loan income and net interest income are presented on a tax-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 34%. The tax-equivalent adjustment is deducted from tax-equivalent net interest and dividend income to agree to the amount reported on the consolidated statements of net income.

(3)

Short-term investments include federal funds sold.

(4)

Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

(5)

Net interest margin represents tax-equivalent net interest and dividend income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.

(6)

The accounting for the Chicopee acquisition required loans, time deposits and borrowings to be recorded at fair value. The fair value marks on the loans, time deposits and borrowings acquired accrete and amortize into net interest income over time. The loan accretion income and interest expense reduction on time deposits and borrowings related to the Chicopee acquisition totaled $661,000 and $194,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Excluding these items, net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was 2.94% and 2.80%, respectively.

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures

 

The Company believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide information to investors that is useful in understanding its financial condition.  Because not all companies use the same calculation, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures calculated by other companies.  A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided below.

 

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2017				2016				2016				2016				2016
		(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net Income:
Net income, as presented		$	5,103			$	1,852			$	628			$	389			$	1,964
Merger related expenses, net of tax (1)			293				1,523				782				856				112
Tax benefits impact (2)			(1,632	)			—				—				—				—
Net income, exclusive of merger related expenses and tax benefits		$	3,764			$	3,375			$	1,410			$	1,245			$	2,076
Diluted EPS:
Diluted EPS, as presented		$	0.17			$	0.07			$	0.04			$	0.02			$	0.11
Merger related expense impact			0.01				0.05				0.05				0.05				0.01
Tax benefits impact			(0.05	)			—				—				—				—
Diluted EPS, exclusive of merger related expense and tax benefits impact		$	0.13			$	0.12			$	0.09			$	0.07			$	0.12
Return on Average Assets:
Return on average assets, as presented			1.00	%			0.38	%			0.19	%			0.12	%			0.58	%
Merger related expense impact			0.06				0.31				0.23				0.26				0.03
Tax benefits impact			(0.32	)			—				—				—				—
Return on average assets, exclusive of merger related expense impact			0.74	%			0.69	%			0.42	%			0.38	%			0.61	%
Return on Average Equity:
Return on average equity, as presented			8.51	%			3.18	%			1.72	%			1.14	%			5.61	%
Merger related expense impact			0.49				2.61				2.13				2.50				0.33
Tax benefits impact			(2.72	)			—				—				—				—
Return on average equity, exclusive of merger related expense impact			6.28	%			5.79	%			3.85	%			3.64	%			5.94	%
Efficiency Ratio:
Efficiency ratio			66.17	%			81.95	%			85.23	%			86.33	%			74.54	%
Merger related expense impact			(2.47	)			(14.58	)			(8.60	)			(10.02	)			(1.63	)
Efficiency ratio, exclusive of merger related expense impact			63.70	%			67.37	%			76.63	%			76.31	%			72.91	%

 

 

(1) Assumed tax rate for deductible expenses of 34.1% at March 31, 2017 and 34.7% for all 2016 periods.

(2) Tax benefit impact of the reversal of a deferred tax valuation and stock option exercises incurred during first quarter 2017.