Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania -- Univest Bank and Trust Co. -- Reports Second Quarter Earnings

SOUDERTON, Pa., July 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania ("Univest") (Nasdaq:UVSP), parent company of Univest Bank and Trust Co. and its insurance, investments and equipment financing subsidiaries, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. Univest reported net income of $4.8 million or $0.29 diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, a slight increase over the reported net income of $4.8 million or $0.28 diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2013 was $10.2 million or $0.61 diluted earnings per share, a 2% increase in net income compared to $10.0 million or $0.60 diluted earnings per share for the comparable period in the prior year.

Loans

Gross loans and leases increased $18.1 million from December 31, 2012 and $34.5 million from June 30, 2012. The growth in loans from the prior year-end and comparable quarter in 2012 occurred in commercial and residential loans and equipment financing. Despite some positive economic indicators boosting confidence, overall credit demand and utilization of lines by businesses and consumers remained light.

Deposits

Total deposits grew $129.1 million from June 30, 2012, primarily due to an increase in demand deposits and new customers choosing Univest. Total deposits were up $7.7 million from December 31, 2012, mainly due to a product change for existing business and municipal customers which resulted in approximately $68.1 million of customer repurchase agreements, classified as borrowings, being transferred to interest-bearing demand deposits. This transfer was partially offset by a decrease in public fund deposits of $58.6 million primarily due to municipalities.

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income of $18.1 million in the second quarter of 2013 is consistent with the second quarter of 2012. The net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis for the second quarter of 2013 was 3.84%, compared to 3.83% during the first quarter of 2013 and 3.97% in the second quarter of 2012. Net interest income decreased $260 thousand or 1% to $36.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis for the six months ended June 30, 2013 was 3.83% compared to 3.96% for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

The declines in net interest income and net interest margin from the comparable periods in the prior year were primarily due to the re-investment of maturing and called investment securities into lower yielding investments as a result of the lower interest rate environment and lower rates on commercial and residential real estate loans due to re-pricing and the competitive environment. The declines in net interest income and net interest margin were partially offset by favorable re-pricing of savings accounts, customer repurchase agreements and certificates of deposit along with maturities of higher yielding certificates of deposit.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 was $11.0 million, an increase of $3.0 million or 37% from the comparable period in the prior year. Non-interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2013 was $22.5 million, an increase of $3.4 million or 18% from the comparable period in the prior year. Insurance commission and fee income increased $541 thousand for the quarter and $992 thousand for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, primarily a result of the acquisitions of the John T. Fretz Insurance Agency, Inc. on May 1, 2013 and Javers Group on May 31, 2012. Investment advisory commission and fee income increased $461 thousand for the quarter and $906 thousand for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, primarily due to a 16.9% increase in assets under supervision. The net gain on sales of other real estate owned was $252 thousand during the second quarter and for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to a net loss on sales and write-downs of $1.1 million for the comparable periods in the prior year.

The housing market continues to show signs of improvement and Univest has experienced an increase in lending for home purchases; however, the increase in interest rates during the quarter has led to a decline in refinance activity. This shift has contributed to a slower pace of growth in mortgage banking activity.

During the second quarter of 2013, Univest submitted a redemption notice to the trustee resulting in the redemption of all of the trust preferred securities, with an aggregate principal balance of $20 million, issued by Univest Capital Trust I and recognized a $1.9 million loss on termination of an interest rate swap, which was used as a hedge of the trust preferred securities. Univest redeemed the trust preferred securities effective July 7, 2013 with settlement on July 8, 2013. Univest expects to save approximately $600 thousand in interest expense over the remainder of 2013 and approximately $1.1 million annually thereafter over what would have been the remaining term of the trust preferred securities and related interest rate swap. Separately, Univest sold $23.9 million in investment securities at a gain of $1.3 million during the second quarter of 2013.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2013 was $19.3 million, an increase of $650 thousand or 3% compared to the second quarter of 2012. Salaries and benefits expenses increased $259 thousand primarily attributable to additional staff added through the Javers and Fretz acquisitions. Commission expense increased $755 thousand in the second quarter of 2013, compared to the same period in the prior year, mainly due to increased production activity and revenues generated in our mortgage banking, equipment finance, investment and insurance businesses. Other non-interest expense included a reduction to the contingent consideration liability related to the Javers acquisition which resulted in a reduction of expense of $959 thousand. While the acquisition remains accretive, the adjustment reflects that revenue levels necessary for an earn-out payment in the first year post-acquisition were not met and that revenue growth levels necessary to qualify for subsequent years' earn-out payments to be made are unlikely to be achieved.

Non-interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2013 was $39.5 million, an increase of $2.0 million or 5% from the comparable period in the prior year. Commission expense increased $1.4 million mainly due to increased production activity and revenues generated in our mortgage banking, equipment finance, investment and insurance businesses. Additionally, non-interest expense increased due to restructuring charges of $539 thousand recognized during the first quarter of 2013 and higher equipment and legal expenses. As previously discussed, other non-interest expense included a reduction to the contingent consideration liability related to the Javers acquisition which resulted in a reduction of expense of $959 thousand.

Asset Quality and Provision for Loan and Lease Losses

Non-accrual loans and leases, including non-accrual troubled debt restructured loans, decreased to $25.2 million at June 30, 2013, from $32.1 million at December 31, 2012 and $36.8 million at June 30, 2012. The decrease in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2012 was mainly due to charge-offs, foreclosures and pay-downs exceeding additions to non-accrual loans. Net loan and lease charge-offs were $4.0 million during the second quarter of 2013, primarily due to a single credit, compared to $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2012.

Non-accrual loans and leases as a percentage of total loans and leases (held for investment and nonaccrual loans held for sale) were 1.68% at June 30, 2013, compared to 2.17% at December 31, 2012 and 2.51% at June 30, 2012. Other real estate owned totaled $1.7 million at June 30, 2013, compared to $1.6 million at December 31, 2012 and $3.9 million at June 30, 2012. During the second quarter of 2013, two locations with an associated carrying balance of $2.1 million were sold at a gain of $252 thousand.

The provision for loan and lease losses was $3.4 million for the second quarter of 2013, compared to $1.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. The provision for loan and lease losses was $5.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to $5.4 million for the same period in the prior year. The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of loans and leases held for investment was 1.65% at June 30, 2013, compared to 1.67% at December 31, 2012 and 2.08% at June 30, 2012. The allowance for loan and lease losses to nonaccrual loans and leases held for investment equaled 98.06% at June 30, 2013, compared to 77.01% at December 31, 2012 and 82.97% at June 30, 2012.

Capital

Univest continues to remain well-capitalized at June 30, 2013. Total risk-based capital at June 30, 2013 was 13.94%, well in excess of the regulatory minimum for well capitalized status of 10%.

On July 2, 2013, the Federal Reserve Board finalized its rule implementing the Basel III regulatory capital framework and related Dodd-Frank Act changes. The new rules require institutions to have more capital and a higher quality of capital by increasing the minimum regulatory capital ratios, narrowing the definition of capital and requiring capital buffers. The new rules are effective for Univest beginning January 1, 2015. Univest is continuing to review the impact of the rules and currently expects that its capital position will be adequate to meet the revised regulatory capital requirements.

During the quarter, Univest repurchased 84 thousand shares of common stock at a cost of $1.4 million under its Board approved stock repurchase program. Shares available for future repurchases under the plan totaled 397 thousand at June 30, 2013. Total shares outstanding at June 30, 2013 were 16,683,009.

Dividend

On May 29, 2013, Univest declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on July 1, 2013. This represented a 4.12% annualized yield based on the closing price of Univest's stock on the date the dividend was paid.

About Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania

Headquartered in Souderton, Pa., Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania (UVSP) and its subsidiaries serve the financial needs of residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Lehigh counties. For more information on Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania and its subsidiaries, please visit www.univest.net.

This press release of Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania and the reports Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania files with the Securities and Exchange Commission often contain "forward-looking statements" relating to present or future trends or factors affecting the banking industry and, specifically, the financial operations, markets and products of Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania's future results to differ materially from historical performance or projected performance. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) a significant increase in competitive pressures among financial institutions; (2) changes in the interest rate environment that may reduce net interest margins; (3) changes in prepayment speeds, loan sale volumes, charge-offs and loan loss provisions; (4) general economic conditions; (5) legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect the businesses in which Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania is engaged; (6) technological issues which may adversely affect Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania's financial operations or customers; (7) changes in the securities markets or (8) risk factors mentioned in the reports and registration statements Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania undertakes no obligation to revise these forward-looking statements or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

CONTACT: Mike Keim
         UNIVEST CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA
         Chief Financial Officer
         215-721-2511, keimm@univest.net