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):  January 29, 2019
First Busey Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Nevada
0-15950
37-1078406
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
100 W. University Ave.
Champaign, Illinois 61820
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(217) 365-4544
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b– 2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b–2 of this chapter).  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐
 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On Tuesday, January 29, 2019, First Busey Corporation (“First Busey”) issued a press release disclosing financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2018.  The press release is made part of this Form 8-K and is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
The press release made a part of this Current Report on Form 8-K includes forward looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward looking statements include but are not limited to comments with respect to the objectives and strategies, financial condition, results of operations and business of the Registrant.
These forward looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and the risk that predictions and other forward looking statements will not be achieved.  First Busey cautions you not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward looking statements.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.




Signatures
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.
Date:  January 29, 2019 First Busey Corporation
By:     /s/ Robin N. Elliott
Name:  Robin N. Elliott
Title:    Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

January 29, 2019

Champaign, IL – (Nasdaq: BUSE)

Message from our President & CEO


First Busey Corporation records fourth quarter 2018 net income of $25.3 million

Fourth quarter 2018 results compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year:

Adjusted net income1 of $26.0 million, as compared to $22.5 million
●   
Earnings per diluted common share of $0.51, as compared to $0.25
Tangible book value per common share of $14.21, as compared to $12.88
Net income for wealth management division of $2.0 million, as compared to $1.5 million
Net income for FirsTech Inc. (“FirsTech”) of $0.8 million, as compared to $0.4 million
Return on average assets of 1.28%, as compared to 0.64%
Based on adjusted net income1, return on average assets of 1.31%, as compared to 1.17%


First Busey Corporation’s (“First Busey” or the “Company”) net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $25.3 million, or $0.51 per diluted common share, as compared to $26.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2018 and $12.3 million, or $0.25 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2017.  Adjusted net income1 for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $26.0 million, or $0.53 per diluted common share, as compared to $27.0 million, or $0.55 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2018 and $22.5 million, or $0.46 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2017. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2017 was impacted by a non-recurring, non-cash charge of $8.1 million, or $0.16 per diluted common share, due to the revaluation of the Company’s net deferred tax position following the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”).

The Company views certain non-operating items, including acquisition-related and restructuring charges, as adjustments to net income reported under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  Non-operating pretax adjustments for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $0.3 million of expenses related to acquisitions and $0.6 million of expenses related to restructuring costs. The reconciliation of non-GAAP measures (including adjusted net income, adjusted return on average assets, adjusted net interest margin, adjusted efficiency ratio, tangible book value, tangible book value per share and return on average tangible common equity), which the Company believes facilitates the assessment of its financial results and peer comparability, is included in tabular form at the end of this release.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, net income was $98.9 million, an increase of $36.2 million compared to $62.7 million for the year ended 2017. Earnings per diluted common share were $2.01 for the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to $1.45 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Adjusted net income1 for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $103.5 million, or $2.10 per diluted common share, as compared to $75.7 million, or $1.75 per diluted common share for 2017.  The 2018 annual results were favorably impacted by the prior year acquisitions of First Community Financial Partners Inc., the holding company of First Community Financial Bank (“First Community”), and Mid Illinois Bancorp, Inc., the holding company of South Side Trust & Savings Bank of Peoria (“South Side”).

For the fourth quarter of 2018, annualized return on average assets and annualized return on average tangible common equity were 1.28% and 14.80%, respectively.  Based on adjusted net income1, return on average assets was 1.31% and return on average tangible common equity was 15.19% for the fourth quarter of 2018.


1 A Non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.


For the year ended December 31, 2018, return on average assets was 1.28%, an increase from 1.00% for the year ended 2017.  Based on adjusted net income1, return on average assets for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 1.34% compared to 1.20% for the year ended 2017. Return on average tangible common equity was 15.20% for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 11.61% for the same period of 2017.  Return on average tangible common equity based on adjusted net income1 was 15.89% for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to 14.00% for the same period of 2017.

Additional fourth quarter 2018 highlights include:
Non-interest income increased to $22.9 million as compared to $21.9 million for the third quarter 2018.  The increase in non-interest income was driven, in part, by the wealth management division and FirsTech. which generated $7.5 million and $3.8 million of revenue in the fourth quarter 2018, respectively.
Total deposits at December 31, 2018 grew to $6.25 billion driven by a linked quarter increase of $26.6 million in non-interest bearing deposits.
Continued disciplined credit management resulted in a decline in non-accrual loans to $35.0 million at December 31, 2018, as compared to $40.4 million as of September 30, 2018.  Non-performing assets as a percentage of total loans plus non-performing assets was 0.66% at December 31, 2018 as compared to 0.74% at September 30, 2018.

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company expects to close its acquisition of The Banc Ed Corp. (“Banc Ed”), the holding company for TheBANK of Edwardsville (“TheBANK”).  TheBANK, founded in 1868, is a privately held commercial bank headquartered in Edwardsville, Illinois. As of December 31, 20182, Banc Ed held total consolidated assets of $1.76 billion, total loans of $902.1 million and total deposits of $1.47 billion.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Banc Ed’s stockholders will have the right to receive 8.2067 shares of common stock of the Company and $111.53 in cash for each share of common stock of Banc Ed, with total consideration to consist of approximately 70% stock and 30% cash. It is anticipated that TheBANK will be merged with and into the Company’s bank subsidiary, Busey Bank, at a date following the completion of the holding company merger. At the time of the bank merger, TheBANK’s banking centers will become branches of Busey Bank. Please reference the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on August 22, 2018, for additional information regarding our pending acquisition of Banc Ed.
The pending Banc Ed transaction fits with our acquisition strategy as the addition of TheBANK will grow the Company’s current geographic footprint, allowing the Company to serve customers by expanding in the St. Louis Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area and significantly adding to the Company’s wealth management business.  We are pleased to welcome our Banc Ed colleagues into the Busey family and feel confident that this transaction and our continued efforts will lead to growth and profitability in 2019. 

/s/ Van A. Dukeman
President & Chief Executive Officer
First Busey Corporation



2 Results are unaudited.


SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS1
                         
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
                         
   
As of and for the
   
As of and for the
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
   
2018
   
2017
   
2018
   
2017
 
EARNINGS & PER SHARE DATA
                             
Net income
 
$
25,290
   
$
26,859
   
$
12,293
   
$
98,928
   
$
62,726
 
Revenue2
   
83,184
     
82,627
     
86,607
     
331,068
     
286,697
 
Diluted earnings per share
   
0.51
     
0.55
     
0.25
     
2.01
     
1.45
 
Cash dividends paid per share
   
0.20
     
0.20
     
0.18
     
0.80
     
0.72
 
                                         
Net income by operating segment
                                       
   Banking
 
$
24,134
   
$
26,486
   
$
16,158
   
$
97,369
   
$
65,704
 
   Remittance Processing
   
814
     
957
     
440
     
3,710
     
2,007
 
   Wealth Management
   
2,040
     
2,280
     
1,469
     
9,372
     
6,229
 
                                         
AVERAGE BALANCES
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
272,811
   
$
238,000
   
$
256,626
   
$
239,149
   
$
224,648
 
Investment securities
   
1,443,054
     
1,417,708
     
1,223,103
     
1,370,460
     
964,749
 
Loans held for sale
   
23,380
     
28,661
     
109,336
     
29,666
     
119,936
 
Portfolio loans
   
5,540,852
     
5,551,753
     
5,457,077
     
5,533,549
     
4,567,259
 
Interest-earning assets
   
7,174,755
     
7,132,324
     
6,932,750
     
7,067,710
     
5,784,408
 
Total assets
   
7,846,154
     
7,802,308
     
7,632,019
     
7,742,142
     
6,294,105
 
                                         
Non-interest bearing deposits
   
1,486,977
     
1,492,709
     
1,516,233
     
1,492,242
     
1,252,363
 
Interest-bearing deposits
   
4,852,649
     
4,784,657
     
4,434,492
     
4,707,289
     
3,760,473
 
Total deposits
   
6,339,626
     
6,277,366
     
5,950,725
     
6,199,531
     
5,012,836
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
   
210,416
     
234,729
     
294,389
     
234,239
     
213,527
 
Interest-bearing liabilities
   
5,329,898
     
5,303,632
     
5,126,815
     
5,247,017
     
4,257,544
 
Total liabilities
   
6,866,652
     
6,840,484
     
6,699,840
     
6,787,193
     
5,554,280
 
Stockholders' common equity
   
979,502
     
961,824
     
932,179
     
954,949
     
739,825
 
Tangible stockholders' common equity3
   
678,023
     
658,910
     
622,952
     
651,032
     
540,406
 
 
                                       
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
                                       
Return on average assets4
   
1.28
%
   
1.37
%
   
0.64
%
   
1.28
%
   
1.00
%
Return on average common equity4
   
10.24
%
   
11.08
%
   
5.23
%
   
10.36
%
   
8.48
%
Return on average tangible common equity3,6
   
14.80
%
   
16.17
%
   
7.83
%
   
15.20
%
   
11.61
%
Net interest margin5,6
   
3.38
%
   
3.41
%
   
3.68
%
   
3.45
%
   
3.58
%
Efficiency ratio6
   
56.57
%
   
53.47
%
   
58.69
%
   
56.16
%
   
58.27
%
Non-interest revenue as a % of total revenues2
   
27.27
%
   
26.45
%
   
27.20
%
   
27.08
%
   
29.07
%
                                         
1 Results are unaudited.
 
2 Revenues consist of net interest income plus non-interest income, net of security gains and losses.
 
3 Average tangible stockholders’ common equity is defined as average common equity less average goodwill and intangibles, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.
 
4 Quarterly data is annualized.
 
5 On a tax-equivalent basis, assuming an income tax rate of 21% for 2018 and 35% for 2017.
 
6 See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.
 


Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets1
 
As of
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
June 30,
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2018
   
2018
   
2018
   
2017
 
Assets
                             
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
239,973
   
$
160,652
   
$
230,730
   
$
367,525
   
$
353,272
 
Investment securities
   
1,312,514
     
1,496,948
     
1,384,807
     
1,286,136
     
1,321,610
 
                                         
Loans held for sale
   
25,895
     
32,617
     
33,974
     
29,034
     
94,848
 
                                         
Commercial loans
   
4,060,126
     
4,141,816
     
4,076,253
     
4,061,181
     
4,030,821
 
Retail real estate and retail other loans
   
1,508,302
     
1,481,925
     
1,479,034
     
1,470,272
     
1,488,679
 
Portfolio loans
 
$
5,568,428
   
$
5,623,741
   
$
5,555,287
   
$
5,531,453
   
$
5,519,500
 
                                         
Allowance for loan losses
   
(50,648
)
   
(52,743
)
   
(53,305
)
   
(52,649
)
   
(53,582
)
Premises and equipment
   
117,672
     
119,162
     
119,835
     
118,985
     
116,913
 
Goodwill and other intangibles
   
300,558
     
301,963
     
303,407
     
304,897
     
308,073
 
Other assets
   
187,965
     
207,045
     
200,809
     
193,365
     
200,006
 
Total assets
 
$
7,702,357
   
$
7,889,385
   
$
7,775,544
   
$
7,778,746
   
$
7,860,640
 
                                         
Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity
                                       
Non-interest bearing deposits
 
$
1,464,700
   
$
1,438,054
   
$
1,496,671
   
$
1,651,333
   
$
1,597,421
 
Interest-bearing checking, savings, and money market deposits
   
3,287,618
     
3,205,232
     
3,192,735
     
3,270,963
     
3,192,382
 
Time deposits
   
1,497,003
     
1,552,283
     
1,474,506
     
1,408,878
     
1,336,162
 
Total deposits
 
$
6,249,321
   
$
6,195,569
   
$
6,163,912
   
$
6,331,174
   
$
6,125,965
 
                                         
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
   
185,796
     
255,906
     
240,109
     
235,311
     
304,566
 
Short-term borrowings
   
-
     
200,000
     
150,000
     
-
     
220,000
 
Long-term debt
   
148,686
     
148,626
     
154,125
     
154,122
     
154,119
 
Junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts
   
71,155
     
71,118
     
71,081
     
71,044
     
71,008
 
Other liabilities
   
52,435
     
46,026
     
39,135
     
44,949
     
49,979
 
Total liabilities
 
$
6,707,393
   
$
6,917,245
   
$
6,818,362
   
$
6,836,600
   
$
6,925,637
 
Total stockholders' equity
 
$
994,964
   
$
972,140
   
$
957,182
   
$
942,146
   
$
935,003
 
Total liabilities & stockholders' equity
 
$
7,702,357
   
$
7,889,385
   
$
7,775,544
   
$
7,778,746
   
$
7,860,640
 
                                         
Share Data
                                       
Book value per common share
 
$
20.36
   
$
19.90
   
$
19.62
   
$
19.34
   
$
19.21
 
Tangible book value per common share2
 
$
14.21
   
$
13.72
   
$
13.40
   
$
13.08
   
$
12.88
 
Ending number of common shares outstanding
   
48,874,836
     
48,860,309
     
48,776,404
     
48,717,239
     
48,684,943
 
       
1 Results are unaudited except for amounts reported as of December 31, 2017.
 
2 See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.
 


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income1
                   
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
             
   
For the
   
For the
 
   
Three Months Ended December 31,
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
   
2018
   
2017
 
                         
Interest and fees on loans held for sale and portfolio loans
 
$
64,410
   
$
64,048
   
$
251,249
   
$
202,643
 
Interest on investment securities
   
9,904
     
6,799
     
34,784
     
21,659
 
Total interest income
 
$
74,314
   
$
70,847
   
$
286,033
   
$
224,302
 
                                 
Interest on deposits
   
10,764
     
4,874
     
32,601
     
12,932
 
Interest on short-term borrowings
   
766
     
935
     
3,162
     
2,074
 
Interest on long-term debt
   
1,414
     
1,323
     
5,614
     
3,404
 
Interest on junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts
   
867
     
669
     
3,250
     
2,526
 
Total interest expense
 
$
13,811
   
$
7,801
   
$
44,627
   
$
20,936
 
                                 
Net interest income
 
$
60,503
   
$
63,046
   
$
241,406
   
$
203,366
 
Provision for loan losses
   
405
     
2,809
     
4,429
     
5,303
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
 
$
60,098
   
$
60,237
   
$
236,977
   
$
198,063
 
                                 
Trust fees
   
6,611
     
6,577
     
27,184
     
23,665
 
Commissions and brokers' fees, net
   
930
     
1,133
     
3,790
     
3,372
 
Fees for customer services
   
7,303
     
7,183
     
28,879
     
25,841
 
Remittance processing
   
3,757
     
2,846
     
14,345
     
11,427
 
Mortgage revenue
   
1,057
     
2,710
     
5,545
     
11,140
 
Security gains, net
   
171
     
-
     
331
     
1,143
 
Other
   
3,023
     
3,112
     
9,919
     
7,886
 
Total non-interest income
 
$
22,852
   
$
23,561
   
$
89,993
   
$
84,474
 
                                 
Salaries, wages and employee benefits
   
27,529
     
28,185
     
107,844
     
95,633
 
Net occupancy expense of premises
   
3,532
     
3,805
     
14,803
     
13,830
 
Furniture and equipment expense
   
1,815
     
1,966
     
7,233
     
7,089
 
Data processing
   
3,992
     
5,368
     
16,383
     
16,716
 
Amortization of intangible assets
   
1,404
     
1,570
     
5,854
     
5,245
 
Other
   
10,497
     
12,206
     
40,926
     
35,913
 
Total non-interest expense
 
$
48,769
   
$
53,100
   
$
193,043
   
$
174,426
 
                                 
Income before income taxes
 
$
34,181
   
$
30,698
   
$
133,927
   
$
108,111
 
Income taxes
   
8,891
     
18,405
     
34,999
     
45,385
 
Net income
 
$
25,290
   
$
12,293
   
$
98,928
   
$
62,726
 
                                 
Per Share Data
                               
Basic earnings per common share
 
$
0.52
   
$
0.25
   
$
2.02
   
$
1.47
 
Diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.51
   
$
0.25
   
$
2.01
   
$
1.45
 
Diluted average common shares outstanding
   
49,225,480
     
49,085,648
     
49,215,455
     
43,126,245
 
                                 
1 Results are unaudited except for amounts reported as of December 31, 2017.
 



Balance Sheet Growth
At December 31, 2018, portfolio loans were $5.57 billion, as compared to $5.62 billion as of September 30, 2018 and $5.52 billion as of December 31, 2017. The change in portfolio loan balance was driven by continued high level of payoffs. Average portfolio loans increased 21.2% to $5.53 billion for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $4.57 billion for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Average interest-earning assets for the three months ended December 31, 2018 increased to $7.18 billion compared to $7.13 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and $6.93 billion for the three months ended December 31, 2017.  Average interest-earning assets for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased to $7.07 billion from $5.78 billion for the year ended 2017, a 22.2% increase.

Total deposits were $6.25 billion at December 31, 2018, an increase from $6.20 billion at September 30, 2018 and $6.13 billion at December 31, 2017.  The Company remains funded primarily through core deposits with significant market share in its core markets.

Net Interest Margin and Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $60.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $60.8 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $63.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. Higher yields on fourth quarter loan production partially offset the increase in funding costs. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $241.4 million compared to $203.4 million for the year ended 2017, an 18.7% increase.  Net purchase accounting accretion and amortization included in interest income and interest expense was $1.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, a decrease from $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2018 and $5.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.  Net purchase accounting accretion and amortization included in interest income and interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $10.6 million compared to $12.5 million for the year ended 2017.

Net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 3.38%, compared to 3.41% for the third quarter of 2018 and 3.68% for the fourth quarter of 2017.  Net of purchase accounting accretion and amortization, net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 3.27%, compared to 3.29% for the third quarter of 2018 and 3.34% for the fourth quarter of 2017. Net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 3.45% compared to 3.58% for the year ended December 31, 2017.  Net of purchase accounting accretion and amortization, net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 3.30%, compared to 3.36% for the same period of 2017.




Asset Quality

As of December 31, 2018, non-performing loans totaled $36.6 million, compared to $40.8 million as of September 30, 2018, and $27.4 million as of December 31, 2017. Non-performing loans were 0.66% of total portfolio loans as of December 31, 2018, compared to 0.72% as of September 30, 2018 and 0.50% as of December 31, 2017.

The Company recorded net charge-offs of $2.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. The $2.5 million net charge-off in the fourth quarter was predominately related to a single note which was resolved via the sale of the note in the fourth quarter of 2018. The allowance for loan loss as a percentage of portfolio loans was 0.91% at December 31, 2018 as compared to 0.94% at September 30, 2018 and 0.97% at December 31, 2017. The Company recorded provision for loan losses of $0.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. The Company recorded provision for loan losses of $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 and $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. As a result of acquisitions, the Company is holding acquired loans that are carried net of a fair value adjustment for credit and interest rate marks and are only included in the allowance calculation to the extent that the reserve requirement exceeds the fair value adjustment.


Asset Quality1
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
As of and for the Three Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
June 30,
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2018
   
2018
   
2018
   
2017
 
                               
Portfolio loans
 
$
5,568,428
   
$
5,623,741
   
$
5,555,287
   
$
5,531,453
   
$
5,519,500
 
Non-performing loans
                                       
     Non-accrual loans
   
34,997
     
40,395
     
25,215
     
32,588
     
24,624
 
     Loans 90+ days past due
   
1,601
     
364
     
1,142
     
995
     
2,741
 
Non-performing loans, segregated by geography
                                       
     Illinois/ Indiana
   
28,319
     
33,699
     
21,534
     
28,743
     
23,093
 
     Missouri
   
7,242
     
6,222
     
3,338
     
3,641
     
2,964
 
     Florida
   
1,037
     
838
     
1,485
     
1,199
     
1,308
 
Loans 30-89 days past due
   
7,121
     
8,189
     
10,017
     
9,506
     
12,897
 
Other non-performing assets
   
376
     
1,093
     
3,694
     
1,001
     
1,283
 
Non-performing assets to portfolio loans and non-performing assets
   
0.66
%
   
0.74
%
   
0.54
%
   
0.63
%
   
0.52
%
Allowance as a percentage of non-performing loans
   
138.39
%
   
129.40
%
   
202.24
%
   
156.77
%
   
195.80
%
Allowance for loan losses to portfolio loans
   
0.91
%
   
0.94
%
   
0.96
%
   
0.95
%
   
0.97
%
Net charge-offs
   
2,500
     
1,320
     
1,602
     
1,941
     
262
 
Provision for loan losses
   
405
     
758
     
2,258
     
1,008
     
2,809
 
                                         
1 Results are unaudited.
                 

Fee-based Businesses

Revenues from trust fees, commissions and brokers’ fees, and remittance processing activities represented 49.5% of the Company’s non-interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, providing a balance to revenue from traditional banking activities. Two of the Company’s acquisitions, Pulaski Financial Corp. and First Community, had no legacy fee income in these businesses; therefore, the addition of these fee-based service offerings in these acquired bank markets is expected to continue providing attractive growth opportunities in future periods.


Trust fees and commissions and brokers’ fees of $7.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased from $7.2 million for the third quarter 2018 and decreased slightly from $7.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. Trust fees and commissions and brokers’ fees increased to $31.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $27.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.  Net income from the wealth management segment was $2.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 a decrease from $2.3 million in the third quarter of 2018 but an increase from $1.5 million from the fourth quarter of 2017.  Net income from the wealth management segment for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $9.4 million compared to $6.2 million for the same period of 2017, a 50.5% increase. The wealth management line of business continues to build upon recent acquisitions, expanding market share. First Busey’s wealth management division ended the fourth quarter of 2018 with $7.12 billion in assets under care.

Remittance processing revenue from the Company’s subsidiary, FirsTech, of $3.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased from $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2018 and $2.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.  Remittance processing revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $14.3 million, an increase of 25.5%, compared to $11.4 million during the same period of 2017.  The FirsTech operating segment generated net income of $0.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. The positive 2018 results are a reflection of new customer activity and volume increases from existing customers.

The mortgage line of business generated $1.1 million of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018. Mortgage revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $5.5 million compared to $11.1 million in the same period of 2017. In the fourth quarter 2017, mortgage origination offices obtained in connection with the acquisition of Pulaski Financial Corp. which were outside the Company’s footprint were sold, reducing year over year mortgage revenue.

Operating Efficiency

The efficiency ratio was 56.57% for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 compared to 53.47% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and 58.69% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The efficiency ratio for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 56.16% compared to 58.27% for the year ended December 31, 2017. The adjusted efficiency ratio3 was 55.49% for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, 53.26% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, and 54.74% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

Specific areas of non-interest expense are as follows:

●  Salaries, wages and employee benefits were $27.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, an increase from $26.0 million in the third quarter of 2018 but a decrease from $28.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2017.In the fourth quarter 2018, the Company recorded specific amounts for severance and other employee related benefit expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2018, salaries, wages and employee benefits were $107.8 million compared to $95.6 million for the same period of 2017, reflecting additions to headcount as a result of recent acquisitions. The company recorded total restructuring costs of $2.3 million in 2018.

●  Data processing expense in the fourth quarter of 2018 of $4.0 million remained flat compared to the third quarter of 2018 and reflects a decrease as compared to $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2018, data processing expense decreased to $16.4 million compared to $16.7 million for the same period of 2017.  The decline in data processing expense reflect efficiencies realized as the Company has integrated recent acquisitions.



3 A Non-GAAP financial measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.




Capital Strength

The Company's strong capital levels, coupled with its earnings, have allowed First Busey to provide a steady return to its stockholders through dividends.  The Company will pay a cash dividend on February 1, 2019 of $0.21 per common share to stockholders of record as of January 25, 2019, which represents a 5% increase from the previous quarterly dividend. The Company has consistently paid dividends to its common stockholders since the bank holding company was organized in 1980.

As of December 31, 2018, the Company continued to exceed the capital adequacy requirements necessary to be considered “well-capitalized” under applicable regulatory guidelines. The Company’s tangible stockholders’ common equity4 (“TCE”) increased to $703.0 million at December 31, 2018, compared to $679.1 million at September 30, 2018 and $638.0 million at December 31, 2017. TCE represented 9.49% of tangible assets at December 31, 2018, compared to 8.94% at September 30, 2018 and 8.43% at December 31, 2017.5



4 Tangible stockholders’ common equity, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.
5 Tangible assets, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.



Corporate Profile

As of December 31, 2018, First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) was a $7.70 billion financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Busey Bank, the wholly-owned bank subsidiary with total assets of $7.69 billion as of December 31, 2018, is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois and has forty-four banking centers serving Illinois, thirteen banking centers in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area, five banking centers serving southwest Florida and a banking center in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Through the Busey Wealth Management division, the Company provides asset management, investment and fiduciary services to individuals, businesses and foundations.  As of December 31, 2018, assets under care were approximately $7.12 billion. Busey Bank owns a retail payment processing subsidiary, FirsTech, Inc., which processes approximately 28 million transactions per year using online bill payment, lockbox processing and walk-in payments at its 4,000 agent locations in 43 states.  More information about FirsTech, Inc. can be found at firstechpayments.com.

Busey Bank was named among Forbes’ 2018 Best-In-State Banks—one of five in Illinois and 124 from across the country, equivalent to 2.2% of all banks. Best-In-State Banks are awarded for exceptional customer experiences as determined by a survey sample of 25,000+ banking customers who rated banks on trust, terms and conditions, branch services, digital services and financial advice.


For more information about us, visit www.busey.com.

Contacts:

Robin N. Elliott, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, 217-365-4120

Jennifer L. Simons, Chief Accounting Officer, 217-365-4309



Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release contains certain financial information determined by methods other than GAAP. These measures include adjusted net income, adjusted return on average assets, adjusted net interest margin, adjusted efficiency ratio, tangible common equity, and tangible common equity to tangible assets. Management uses these non-GAAP measures, together with the related GAAP measures, in analysis of the Company’s performance and in making business decisions. Management also uses these measures for peer comparisons.
A reconciliation to what management believes to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures – net income in the case of adjusted net income and adjusted return on average assets, total net interest income, total non-interest income and total non-interest expense in the case of adjusted efficiency ratio, total stockholders’ equity in the case of the tangible book value per share – appears below.  The Company believes the adjusted measures are useful for investors and management to understand the effects of certain non-recurring non-interest items and provide additional perspective on the Company’s performance over time as well as comparison to the Company’s peers.
These non-GAAP disclosures have inherent limitations and are not audited.  They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the results reported in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Tax effected numbers included in these non-GAAP disclosures are based on estimated statutory rates.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures – Adjusted Net Income and Return on Average Assets
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
                               
   
Three Months Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31, 2018
   
September 30, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
Net income
 
$
25,290
   
$
26,859
   
$
12,293
   
$
98,928
   
$
62,726
 
Acquisition expenses
                                       
     Salaries, wages and employee benefits
   
-
     
-
     
120
     
1,233
     
840
 
     Data processing
   
-
     
-
     
1,268
     
406
     
2,616
 
     Other (includes professional and legal)
   
262
     
167
     
1,569
     
2,486
     
3,617
 
Other restructuring costs
                                       
     Salaries, wages and employee benefits
   
640
     
-
     
496
     
1,058
     
711
 
     Fixed asset impairments
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
817
     
-
 
     Other
   
-
     
-
     
20
     
-
     
66
 
TCJA related adjustment
                   
8,098
     
-
     
8,098
 
Related tax benefit
   
(234
)
   
(20
)
   
(1,330
)
   
(1,451
)
   
(3,012
)
Adjusted net income
 
$
25,958
   
$
27,006
   
$
22,534
   
$
103,477
   
$
75,662
 
                                         
Average total assets
 
$
7,846,154
   
$
7,802,308
   
$
7,632,019
   
$
7,742,142
   
$
6,294,105
 
                                         
Reported: Return on average assets1
   
1.28
%
   
1.37
%
   
0.64
%
   
1.28
%
   
1.00
%
Adjusted: Return on average assets 1
   
1.31
%
   
1.37
%
   
1.17
%
   
1.34
%
   
1.20
%
                                         
1 Quarterly measures are annualized.
 


Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures – Adjusted Net Interest Margin
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
               
   
Three Months Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31, 2018
   
September 30, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
                               
Reported: Net interest income
 
$
60,503
   
$
60,774
   
$
63,046
   
$
241,406
   
$
203,366
 
    Tax-equivalent adjustment
   
545
     
574
     
1,192
     
2,258
     
3,656
 
     Less: Purchase accounting amortization
   
(1,852
)
   
(2,273
)
   
(5,848
)
   
(10,550
)
   
(12,458
)
Adjusted: Net interest income
 
$
59,196
   
$
59,075
   
$
58,390
   
$
233,114
   
$
194,564
 
                                         
Average interest-earning assets
 
$
7,174,755
   
$
7,132,324
   
$
6,932,750
   
$
7,067,710
   
$
5,784,408
 
                                         
Reported: Net interest margin1
   
3.38
%
   
3.41
%
   
3.68
%
   
3.45
%
   
3.58
%
Adjusted: Net Interest margin1
   
3.27
%
   
3.29
%
   
3.34
%
   
3.30
%
   
3.36
%
                                         
1 Quarterly measures are annualized.
                                       

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures – Adjusted Efficiency Ratio
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
                               
   
Three Months Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
2018
   
September 30,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
   
December 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
 
Reported: Net Interest income
 
$
60,503
   
$
60,774
   
$
63,046
   
$
241,406
   
$
203,366
 
     Tax- equivalent adjustment
   
545
     
574
     
1,192
     
2,258
     
3,656
 
Tax equivalent interest income
 
$
61,048
   
$
61,348
   
$
64,238
   
$
243,664
   
$
207,022
 
                                         
Reported: Non-interest income
   
22,852
     
21,853
     
23,561
     
89,993
     
84,474
 
    Less: Security gain net
   
171
     
-
     
-
     
331
     
1,143
 
Adjusted: Non-interest income
 
$
22,681
   
$
21,853
   
$
23,561
   
$
89,662
   
$
83,331
 
                                         
Reported: Non-interest expense
   
48,769
     
45,929
     
53,100
     
193,043
     
174,426
 
   Less:
                                       
     Amortization of intangible assets
   
(1,404
)
   
(1,445
)
   
(1,570
)
   
(5,854
)
   
(5,245
)
     Non-operating adjustments:
                                       
       Salaries, wages and employee benefits
   
(640
)
   
-
     
(616
)
   
(2,290
)
   
(1,551
)
       Data processing
   
-
     
-
     
(1,268
)
   
(406
)
   
(2,616
)
       Other
   
(262
)
   
(167
)
   
(1,589
)
   
(2,858
)
   
(3,683
)
Adjusted: Non-interest expense
 
$
46,463
   
$
44,317
   
$
48,057
   
$
181,635
   
$
161,331
 
                                         
Reported: Efficiency ratio
   
56.57
%
   
53.47
%
   
58.69
%
   
56.16
%
   
58.27
%
Adjusted: Efficiency ratio
   
55.49
%
   
53.26
%
   
54.74
%
   
54.49
%
   
55.56
%


Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures – Tangible common equity to tangible assets, Tangible book value per share, Return on average tangible common equity
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
                   
   
As of
 
   
December 31, 2018
   
September 30, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
                   
Total assets
 
$
7,702,357
   
$
7,889,385
   
$
7,860,640
 
Less:
                       
   Goodwill and other intangible assets, net
   
(300,558
)
   
(301,963
)
   
(308,073
)
   Tax effect of other intangible assets, net
   
8,547
     
8,912
     
11,039
 
Tangible assets
 
$
7,410,346
   
$
7,596,334
   
$
7,563,606
 
                         
Total stockholders’ equity
   
994,964
     
972,140
     
935,003
 
Less:
                       
   Goodwill and other intangible assets, net
   
(300,558
)
   
(301,963
)
   
(308,073
)
   Tax effect of other intangible assets, net
   
8,547
     
8,912
     
11,039
 
Tangible stockholders’ equity
 
$
702,953
   
$
679,089
   
$
637,969
 
                         
Tangible common equity to tangible assets1
   
9.49
%
   
8.94
%
   
8.43
%
Tangible book value per share
 
$
14.21
   
$
13.72
   
$
12.88
 
                         
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
December 31, 2018
   
September 30, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
Average stockholders' common equity
 
$
979,502
   
$
961,824
   
$
932,179
 
   Less: Average goodwill and intangibles, net
   
(301,479
)
   
(302,914
)
   
(309,227
)
Average tangible stockholders' common equity
 
$
678,023
   
$
658,910
   
$
622,952
 
                         
Reported: Return on average tangible common equity2
   
14.80
%
   
16.17
%
   
7.83
%
Adjusted: Return on average tangible common equity2,3
   
15.19
%
   
16.26
%
   
14.35
%
                         
   
Year Ended
         
   
December 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
         
Average stockholders' common equity
 
$
954,949
   
$
739,825
         
   Less: Average goodwill and intangibles, net
   
(303,917
)
   
(199,419
)
       
Average tangible stockholders' common equity
 
$
651,032
   
$
540,406
         
                         
Reported: Return on average tangible common equity
   
15.20
%
   
11.61
%
       
Adjusted: Return on average tangible common equity3
   
15.89
%
   
14.00
%
       
                         
1 Tax-effected measure.
                       
2 Quarterly measures are annualized.
                       
3 Calculated using adjusted net income.
                       

Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this report, other than those concerning historical financial information, may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. A number of factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of the local, state, national and international economy (including the impact of tariffs, a U.S. withdrawal from or significant negotiation of trade agreements, trade wars and other changes in trade regulations); (ii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks; (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business; (iv) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets; (v) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vi) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (vii) the loss of key executives or employees; (viii) changes in consumer spending; (ix) unexpected results of current and/or future acquisitions, which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition and the possibility that the transaction costs may be greater than anticipated; (x) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; (xi) changes in accounting policies and practices; and (xii) the economic impact of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and blizzards. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect its financial results, is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.