2013_03_31_Earnings_Release


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
April 19, 2013
 
Park National Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Ohio
1-13006
31-1179518
(State or other jurisdiction
(Commission
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
File Number)
Identification No.)
 
50 North Third Street, P.O. Box 3500, Newark, Ohio
43058-3500
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
(740) 349-8451
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
 
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
 
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
 
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
 
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 


 



1




Item 2.02 - Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 19, 2013, Park National Corporation (“Park”) issued a news release (the “Financial Results News Release”) announcing financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2013. A copy of this Financial Results News Release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Park's management uses certain non-U.S. GAAP (U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) financial measures to evaluate Park's performance. Specifically, management reviews return on average tangible common equity, return on average tangible assets, tangible common equity to tangible assets and tangible common book value per common share. Management has included in the Financial Results News Release information relating to the return on average tangible common equity, return on average tangible assets, tangible common equity to tangible assets and tangible common book value per common share for the three month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012. For purposes of calculating the return on average tangible common equity, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, net income available to common shareholders for each period is divided by average tangible common equity during the period. Average tangible common equity equals average stockholders' equity during the applicable period less (i) average goodwill and other intangible assets during the applicable period and (ii) average preferred stock during the applicable period. For the purpose of calculating the return on average tangible assets, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, net income available to common shareholders for each period is divided by average tangible assets during the period. Average tangible assets equals average assets during the applicable period less average goodwill and other intangible assets during the applicable period. For the purpose of calculating tangible common equity to tangible assets, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, tangible common equity is divided by tangible assets. Tangible common equity equals stockholders' equity less preferred stock and goodwill and intangible assets, in each case at period end. Tangible assets equals total assets less goodwill and intangible assets, in each case at period end. For the purpose of calculating tangible common book value per common share, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, tangible common equity is divided by common shares outstanding at period end. Management believes that the disclosure of return on average tangible common equity, return on average tangible assets, tangible common equity to tangible assets and tangible common book value per common share presents additional information to the reader of the consolidated financial statements, which, when read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, assists in analyzing Park's operating performance and ensures comparability of operating performance from period to period while eliminating certain non-operational effects of acquisitions and, in the case of return on average common equity and tangible common book value per common share, the impact of preferred stock. In the Financial Results News Release, Park has provided a reconciliation of average tangible common equity to average stockholders' equity, average tangible assets to average assets, tangible common equity to stockholders' equity and tangible assets to total assets solely for the purpose of complying with SEC Regulation G and not as an indication that return on average tangible common equity, return on average tangible assets, tangible common equity to tangible assets and tangible common book value per common share are substitutes for return on average equity, return on average assets, common equity to assets and common book value per common share, respectively, as determined by U.S. GAAP.






2



Item 7.01 - Regulation FD Disclosure

Projection of fiscal 2013 results - by operating segment

The information below begins with Park's projected consolidated pre-tax, pre-provision income and incorporates a projected range for provision for loan losses, income before income tax, income taxes and net income for Park on a consolidated basis in 2013.

Projected Net Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     (In thousands)
 
Original projection for 2013
 
25% of midpoint
 
Q1 2013
 
Current projection for 2013
Pre-tax, pre-provision income
 
$
113,000

$
131,000

 
$
30,500

 
$
28,160

 
$
106,000

$
118,000

   Provision for loan losses
 
20,000

15,000

 
4,375

 
329

 
14,000

10,000

Income before income tax
 
$
93,000

$
116,000

 
$
26,125

 
$
27,831

 
$
92,000

$
108,000

   Federal income taxes
 
23,250

30,160

 
6,676

 
7,121

 
22,000

27,600

Net income
 
$
69,750

$
85,840

 
$
19,449

 
$
20,710

 
$
70,000

$
80,400


The decline in pre-tax, pre-provision income (from management's original projection) results from the continued low interest rate environment, resulting in lower than previously projected net interest income. Conversely, management currently projects that the provision for loan losses will be lower than originally projected as a result of positive credit experience at both The Park National Bank ("PNB") and SE Property Holdings, LLC ("SEPH"). See detailed segment information below.

First quarter of 2013 - Financial Results by segment
The table below reflects the net income (loss) by segment for the first quarter of 2013, for the first quarter of 2012 and results for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011. Park's segments include PNB, Guardian Financial Services Company (“GFSC”), SEPH and "All Other" which primarily consists of Park as the "Parent Company."
  
(In thousands)
 
Q1 2013
Q1 2012
 
2012
2011
PNB
 
$
19,940

$
21,561

 
$
87,106

$
106,851

GFSC
 
740

806

 
3,550

2,721

Park Parent Company
 
132

49

 
195

(1,595
)
   Ongoing operations
 
$
20,812

$
22,416

 
$
90,851

$
107,977

Vision Bank
 


 

(22,526
)
SEPH
 
(102
)
9,059

 
(12,221
)
(3,311
)
   Total Park
 
$
20,710

$
31,475

 
$
78,630

$
82,140


The “Park Parent Company” above excludes the results for SEPH, an entity which is winding down commensurate with the disposition of its problem assets. Management considers the “Ongoing operations” results to be reflective of the business of Park and its subsidiaries on a going forward basis. The discussion below provides some additional information regarding the segments that make up the “Ongoing operations”, followed by additional information on SEPH.

Vision Bank (“Vision”) merged with and into SEPH, a non-bank subsidiary of Park, following the sale of the Vision business to Centennial Bank (“Centennial”) on February 16, 2012. The sale of the Vision business in the first quarter of 2012 resulted in a pre-tax gain of $22.2 million ($14.4 million after-tax), which is included in the Q1 2012 SEPH results presented in the table above. SEPH holds the remaining assets and liabilities retained by Vision subsequent to the sale. SEPH assets consist primarily of performing and nonperforming loans and other real estate owned (“OREO”). This segment represents a run-off portfolio of the legacy Vision assets.



3



The Park National Bank (PNB)

The table below reflects the results for PNB for the first quarter of 2013, for the first quarter of 2012 and for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

(In thousands)
 
Q1 2013
Q1 2012
 
2012
2011
Net interest income
 
$
52,735

$
55,846

 
$
221,758

$
236,282

Provision for loan losses
 
3,130

4,672

 
16,678

30,220

Fee income
 
17,872

16,661

 
70,739

67,348

Security gains
 


 

23,634

Total other expense
 
40,324

38,056

 
156,516

146,235

Income before income taxes
 
$
27,153

$
29,779

 
$
119,303

$
150,809

    Federal income taxes
 
7,213

8,218

 
32,197

43,958

Net income
 
$
19,940

$
21,561

 
$
87,106

$
106,851

Net income excluding security gains
 
$
19,940

$
21,561

 
$
87,106

$
91,489


The table below provides certain balance sheet information and financial ratios for PNB as of March 31, 2013, for the year ended December 31, 2012 and as of March 31, 2012.

(In thousands)
 
March 31,
2013

Dec. 31,
2012
March 31, 2012
 
% change from 12/31/12
% change from 3/31/12
Loans
 
$
4,368,446

$
4,369,173

$
4,203,435

 
(0.02
)%
3.93
 %
Allowance for loan losses
 
52,901

53,131

57,408

 
(0.43
)%
(7.85
)%
Net loans
 
4,315,545

4,316,042

4,146,027

 
(0.01
)%
4.09
 %
Total assets
 
6,611,802

6,502,579

6,587,773

 
1.68
 %
0.36
 %
Average assets (YTD)
 
6,555,952

6,532,683

6,451,704

 
0.36
 %
1.62
 %
Deposits
 
5,005,238

4,814,107

4,961,121

 
3.97
 %
0.89
 %
Return on average assets *
 
1.23
%
1.33
%
1.34
%
 
(7.52
)%
(8.21
)%
  * Annualized for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

Loan balances were largely stable in the first quarter of 2013, declining $727,000, or 0.02%. Loans outstanding at March 31, 2013 of $4.37 billion represented an increase of $165 million, or 3.93%, compared to the loans outstanding of $4.20 billion at March 31, 2012. The $165 million increase in loans experienced at PNB over the last twelve months is primarily related to continued growth in the 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage loan portfolio of approximately $52 million, growth in the consumer loan portfolio of approximately $45 million and increases in the commercial loan portfolio of approximately $70 million. As noted above, PNB's allowance for loan losses has declined by $4.5 million, or 7.85%, to $52.9 million at March 31, 2013 compared to $57.4 million at March 31, 2012. The decline in PNB's allowance for loan losses is due to continued improvement in the credit metrics across the PNB loan portfolio. Refer to the “Credit Metrics and Provision for Loan Losses” section below for additional information regarding the improvements in the credit metrics of PNB's loan portfolio.


4



Guardian Financial Services Company (GFSC)

The table below reflects the results for GFSC for the first quarter of 2013, for the first quarter of 2012 and for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

(In thousands)
 
Q1 2013
Q1 2012
 
2012
2011
Net interest income
 
$
2,133

$
2,211

 
$
9,156

$
8,693

Provision for loan losses
 
210

250

 
859

2,000

Fee income
 
2


 


Total other expense
 
786

721

 
2,835

2,506

Income before income taxes
 
$
1,139

$
1,240

 
$
5,462

$
4,187

    Federal income taxes
 
399

434

 
1,912

1,466

Net income
 
$
740

$
806

 
$
3,550

$
2,721


The table below provides certain balance sheet information and financial ratios for GFSC as of March 31, 2013, as of December 31, 2012 and as of March 31, 2012.

(In thousands)
 
March 31,
2013

Dec. 31,
2012
March 31, 2012
 
% change from 12/31/12
% change from 3/31/12
Loans
 
$
49,961

$
50,082

$
48,044

 
(0.24
)%
3.99
 %
Allowance for loan losses
 
2,414

2,406

2,350

 
0.33
 %
2.72
 %
Net loans
 
47,547

47,676

45,694

 
(0.27
)%
4.06
 %
Total assets
 
49,555

49,926

47,380

 
(0.74
)%
4.59
 %
Average assets (YTD)
 
49,172

48,381

46,362

 
1.63
 %
6.06
 %
Return on average assets *
 
6.10
%
7.34
%
6.99
%
 
(16.89
)%
(12.73
)%
  * Annualized for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

Park Parent Company

The table below reflects the results for Park's Parent Company for the first quarter of 2013, for the first quarter of 2012 and for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

(In thousands)
 
Q1 2013
Q1 2012
 
2012
2011
Net interest income
 
$
1,240

$
1,061

 
$
4,742

$
2,155

Provision for loan losses
 


 


Fee income
 
100

68

 
233

350

Total other expense
 
1,644

1,528

 
6,585

7,115

Loss before income taxes
 
$
(304
)
$
(399
)
 
$
(1,610
)
$
(4,610
)
    Federal income tax (benefit)
 
(436
)
(448
)
 
(1,805
)
(3,015
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
132

$
49

 
$
195

$
(1,595
)

The net interest income for Park's parent company includes interest income on loans to SEPH and on subordinated debt investments in PNB, which are eliminated in the consolidated Park National Corporation totals. Additionally, net interest income includes interest expense related to the $35.25 million and $30.00 million of subordinated notes issued by Park to accredited investors in December 2009 and April 2012, respectively.



5



SEPH / Vision Bank

The table below reflects the results for SEPH for the first quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2012. Also included below are the results for SEPH for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011. SEPH was formed in March 2011. Prior to holding the remaining Vision assets, SEPH held OREO assets that were transferred from Vision to SEPH. Also included below are the results for Vision for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

(In thousands)
 
Q1 2013
Q1 2012
 
2012
SEPH
2011
 
Vision
2011
Net interest income
 
$
(655
)
$
2,610

 
$
(341
)
$
(974
)
 
$
27,078

(Recovery of) Provision for loan losses
 
(3,011
)
3,416

 
17,882


 
31,052

Fee income
 
831

724

 
(736
)
(3,039
)
 
1,422

Security gains
 


 


 
5,195

Gain on sale of Vision business
 

22,167

 
22,167


 

Total other expense
 
3,344

8,165

 
22,032

1,082

 
31,379

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
$
(157
)
$
13,920

 
$
(18,824
)
$
(5,095
)
 
$
(28,736
)
    Federal income taxes (benefit)
 
(55
)
4,861

 
(6,603
)
(1,784
)
 
(6,210
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
(102
)
$
9,059

 
$
(12,221
)
$
(3,311
)
 
$
(22,526
)
Net income (loss) excluding security gains
 
$
(102
)
$
9,059

 
$
(12,221
)
$
(3,311
)
 
$
(25,903
)

SEPH financial results for the first quarter of 2013 included net recoveries of $3.0 million, resulting in a recovery of loan losses for the quarter. The net recoveries during the first quarter consisted of charge-offs of $1.4 million offset by recoveries of $4.4 million. Fee income at SEPH of $831,000 was primarily related to gains on the sale of OREO in the first quarter.

On February 16, 2012, when Vision merged with and into SEPH, the loans then held by Vision were transferred to SEPH by operation of law at their fair market value and no allowance for loan loss is carried at SEPH. The loans included in both the performing and nonperforming portfolios have been charged down to their fair value. The table below provides additional information regarding charge-offs as a percentage of unpaid principal balance, as of March 31, 2013:

SEPH - Retained Vision Loan Portfolio
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
Charge-Offs
Net Book Balance
Charge-off Percentage
Nonperforming loans - retained by SEPH
 
$
116,605

$
68,312

$
48,293

58.58
%
Performing loans - retained by SEPH
 
3,470

209

3,261

6.02
%
  Total SEPH loan exposure
 
$
120,075

$
68,521

$
51,554

57.07
%



6



The table below provides an overview of SEPH loans and OREO, representing the legacy Vision assets. This information is provided as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, showing the decline in legacy Vision assets at SEPH over the past quarter.

(In thousands)
 
SEPH 03/31/13
SEPH 12/31/2012
Change from last quarter
Nonperforming loans - retained by SEPH
 
$
48,293

$
55,292

$
(6,999
)
OREO - retained by SEPH
 
21,705

21,003

702

    Total nonperforming assets
 
$
69,998

$
76,295

$
(6,297
)
Performing loans - retained by SEPH
 
$
3,261

$
3,886

$
(625
)
    Total SEPH - Legacy Vision assets
 
$
73,259

$
80,181

$
(6,922
)

Park National Corporation

The table below reflects the results for Park on a consolidated basis for the first quarter of 2013, for the first quarter of 2012 and for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

(In thousands)
 
Q1 2013
Q1 2012
 
2012
2011
Net interest income
 
$
55,453

$
61,728

 
$
235,315

$
273,234

Provision for loan losses
 
329

8,338

 
35,419

63,272

Fee income
 
18,805

17,453

 
70,236

66,081

Security gains
 


 

28,829

Gain on sale of Vision business
 

22,167

 
22,167


Total other expense
 
46,098

48,470

 
187,968

188,317

Income before income taxes
 
$
27,831

$
44,540

 
$
104,331

$
116,555

    Federal income taxes
 
7,121

13,065

 
25,701

34,415

Net income
 
$
20,710

$
31,475

 
$
78,630

$
82,140

Net income excluding gains (1)
 
$
20,710

$
17,066

 
$
64,221

$
63,401

(1) Excludes the gain on sale of the Vision business for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the security gains for the year ended December 31, 2011.


7



Credit Metrics and Provision for (Recovery of) Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses for the first quarter of 2013 was $0.3 million, compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2012. The table below shows a breakdown of the loan loss provision by reportable segment:

(In thousands)
 
Q1 2013
Q1 2012
PNB
 
$
3,130

$
4,672

GFSC
 
210

250

Park Parent
 


    Total Ongoing Operations
 
$
3,340

$
4,922

Vision Bank
 

1,180

SEPH
 
(3,011
)
2,236

    Total Park
 
$
329

$
8,338


The table above reflects the loan loss provision by segment. As previously discussed, SEPH had net recoveries of $3.0 million during the first quarter of 2013, resulting in the recovery of loan losses for the quarter. Provision for loan losses for Park's Ohio operations (PNB and GFSC) decreased by $1.6 million, or 32%, when comparing the first three months of 2013 with the same period in 2012. This decline is largely due to continued improvement in credit metrics for PNB and GFSC. The following table shows the trends in the Park Ohio commercial loan “Watch List”.

Commercial loans * (In thousands)
 
March 31, 2013
December 31, 2012
December 31, 2011
Pass rated
 
$
2,232,747

$
2,225,702

$
2,131,007

Special Mention
 
47,298

49,275

66,254

Substandard
 
14,127

16,843

29,604

Impaired
 
86,411

89,365

95,109

    Total
 
$
2,380,583

$
2,381,185

$
2,321,974

* Commercial loans include: (1) Commercial, financial and agricultural loans, (2) Commercial real estate loans, (3) Commercial related loans in the construction real estate portfolio and (4) Commercial related loans in the residential real estate portfolio.

The commercial loan table above demonstrates the improvement experienced over the last 15 months in the Park Ohio commercial portfolio. Pass rated commercial loans have grown $101.7 million, or 4.77% since December 2011. Over this period, special mention loans have declined by $19.0 million, or 28.6% and substandard loans have declined by $15.5 million, or 52.3%. These improved credit metrics in the special mention and substandard categories of the commercial loan portfolio have a significant impact on the general reserves that are established to cover incurred losses on performing commercial loans. As these credit metrics have improved over the past 15 months, general reserves have declined.

Delinquent and accruing loan trends (includes all outstanding loans, consumer and commercial) for Park's Ohio-based operations have also improved over the past 15 months. Delinquent and accruing loans were $28.9 million or 0.66% of total loans at March 31, 2013, compared to $39.6 million (0.90%) at December 31, 2012 and $40.1 million (0.96%) at December 31, 2011.

Impaired commercial loans for Park's Ohio-based operations were $86.4 million as of March 31, 2013, consistent with the balances of impaired loans of $89.4 million at December 31, 2012 and a 9% decline from December 31, 2011. Impaired commercial loans are individually evaluated for impairment and specific reserves are established to cover incurred losses.




8






SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Park cautions that any forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K or made by management of Park are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future financial performance. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance.  The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.  Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.  Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation: Park's ability to execute its business plan successfully and within the expected timeframe; general economic and financial market conditions, and weakening in the economy, specifically the real estate market and the credit market, either nationally or in the states in which Park and its subsidiaries do business, may be worse than expected which could decrease the demand for loan, deposit and other financial services and increase loan delinquencies and defaults; changes in interest rates and prices may adversely impact the value of securities, loans, deposits and other financial instruments and the interest rate sensitivity of our consolidated balance sheet; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits; changes in unemployment; asset/liability repricing risks and liquidity risks; our liquidity requirements could be adversely affected by changes to regulations governing bank capital and liquidity standards as well as by changes in our assets and liabilities; competitive factors among financial services organizations increase significantly, including product and pricing pressures and our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified bank professionals; the nature, timing and effect of changes in banking regulations or other regulatory or legislative requirements affecting the respective businesses of Park and its subsidiaries, including changes in laws and regulations concerning taxes, accounting, banking, securities and other aspects of the financial services industry, specifically the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), as well as future regulations which will be adopted by the relevant regulatory agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to implement the Dodd-Frank Act's provisions, the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and other regulatory agencies, and the accuracy of our assumptions and estimates used to prepare our financial statements; the effect of fiscal and governmental policies of the United States federal government; adequacy of our risk management program; a failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors and other service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks; demand for loans in the respective market areas served by Park and its subsidiaries; and other risk factors relating to the banking industry as detailed from time to time in Park's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including those described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of Part I of Park's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Park does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement was made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.

9




Item 8.01 - Other Events

Declaration of Cash Dividend

As reported in the Financial Results News Release, on April 19, 2013, the Park Board of Directors declared a $0.94 per share quarterly cash dividend in respect of Park's common shares. The dividend is payable on June 10, 2013 to common shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 22, 2013. A copy of the Financial Results News Release is included as Exhibit 99.1 and the portion thereof addressing the declaration of the cash dividend by Park's Board of Directors is incorporated by reference herein.



10



Item 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)
Not applicable
    
(b)
Not applicable

(c)
Not applicable

(d)
Exhibits. The following exhibit is included with this Current Report on Form 8-K:



Exhibit No.        Description
99.1
News Release issued by Park National Corporation on April 19, 2013 addressing operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2013.





            


[Remainder of page intentionally left blank;
signature on following page.]











11




SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
 
 
 
Dated: April 19, 2013
By:
/s/ Brady T. Burt
 
 
Brady T. Burt
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 

12





INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Current Report on Form 8-K
Dated April 19, 2013


Park National Corporation

Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
News Release issued by Park National Corporation on April 19, 2013 addressing operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2013.


13