Equitable Group Reports Record Third Quarter Earnings, Increases Common Share Dividend

TORONTO, Nov. 13, 2013 /CNW/ - Equitable Group Inc. (TSX: EQB) and (EQB.PR.A) ("Equitable" or the "Company") today reported record earnings for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and announced an increase in its common share dividend.  The Company operates through its wholly-owned Schedule I Bank subsidiary, Equitable Bank, a growing Canadian financial services business with total assets of approximately $12 billion and 290 committed employees, offering savings and mortgage lending products to retail and commercial customers across Canada.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Net income increased 10% to a record $23.2 million from $21.1 million in 2012.
• Diluted earnings per share increased 8% to $1.44 from $1.33 in 2012.
• Return on Equity ("ROE") was 17.5%, exceeding our five-year average of 17.2%.
• Book value per common share increased 18% to $33.77 from $28.69 at September 30, 2012 and was up 4% from June 30, 2013.

"Equitable Bank delivered strong growth and record earnings performance in the third quarter after successfully converting from its trust company roots on July 1^st," said Andrew Moor, President and CEO.  "Core Lending production reached a record $729 million as a result of strong home buying activity, our superior customer service levels, and our partnerships in the commercial lending marketplace.  Portfolio growth coupled with highly efficient operations provided the impetus for continued profit increases and supported another common share dividend increase.  We once again validated the strategy of retaining the majority of our earnings and having discipline in capital allocation to drive consistent ROE. All of this was made possible by Equitable Bank's employees who continue to show a passion for service to our customers and determination in building the business."

THIRD QUARTER OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

As a diversified financial services business, Equitable Bank derives strength from Core Lending operations (comprised of Single Family Lending Services and Commercial Lending Services), and Securitization Financing capabilities:

• Single Family Lending Services mortgage principal was a record $3.5 billion, up 24% or $686 million year over year.  Production was up 8% to $464 million over the third quarter of 2012.
• Commercial Lending Services mortgage principal was $2.4 billion, up 9% from a year ago.  Production increased 28% year over year to $265 million.
• Securitization Financing mortgages under management were $5.8 billion, up 9% year over year.

Equitable's disciplined underwriting and collection practices allowed it to maintain a low-risk profile with minimal credit losses in the quarter. At September 30, 2013:

• Mortgages in arrears 90 days or more were just 0.31% of total principal, the same as a year ago.
• Early-stage delinquencies were 0.21% of total principal, an improvement from 0.27% a year ago.
• The loan to value ratio in our Single Family Lending portfolio was 68% at quarter end.

DIVIDEND DECLARATIONS AND INCREASE

The Company's Board of Directors today announced an increase in its common share dividend as it declared a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.16 per common share, payable January 3, 2014, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on December 13, 2013.  This represents a 14% increase over dividends declared in November 2012 and is the 4^th increase in the common share dividend since 2011.

The Board declared a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.453125 per preferred share, payable December 31, 2013, to preferred shareholders of record at the close of business on December 13, 2013.

CAPITAL

All of Equitable's capital ratios continued to exceed minimum regulatory standards and most industry benchmarks as at September 30, 2013:

• Common equity tier 1 was 12.1% compared to 11.9% a year ago, well ahead of Basel III guidelines of 7.0%.
• Total capital ratio was 15.9% compared to 15.5% a year ago as growth in the mortgage portfolio was covered by the net effects of a $65 million Series 10 subordinated debenture issuance in the fourth quarter of 2012 and $38 million of subordinated debenture redemptions in the first quarter of 2013.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

Management expects the Company's performance trends through the first nine months will continue into the final quarter of 2013.

"We are focused on promoting our brand and on providing service excellence to build on the momentum of earlier periods as we conclude what we expect will be another year of record performance and shareholder value creation," said Mr. Moor.  "Looking forward, we intend to continue broadening our reach as we believe there is an excellent opportunity to capture a greater share of business in areas that are underserved by the country's other banks."

Mr. Moor also noted two important developments in Equitable Bank's ability to grow: "We have further diversified our funding sources by successfully introducing the Equitable Bank High Interest Savings Account to our $6 billion deposit solutions portfolio and by securing a $300 million bank facility to finance insured multi-residential mortgages prior to securitization.  These actions serve to support our future growth and performance."

In commenting on profitability, Tim Wilson, Vice President and CFO said: "Growth in net interest income, the main driver of our profitability, was strong in the third quarter and reflects the $1 billion increase in our average asset balances since this time last year and a one basis point year-over-year increase in total Net Interest Margin ("NIM") which stood at 1.50%.  We expect net interest income to grow in the fourth quarter on higher balances and we expect total NIM to continue to benefit from the ongoing shift in our product mix to higher margin Core Lending."

Canadian policymakers have been active in recent periods in respect to housing and mortgage markets and while management does not expect additional interventions in 2013, any such actions could impact mortgage activity levels and the Company's outlook.

Q3 CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will hold its third quarter conference call and webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET, November 14, 2013.  To access the call live, please dial in five minutes prior to 416-644-3414.

To access a listen-only version of the webcast, please log on to www.equitablebank.ca under Investor Relations.  A replay of the call will be available until November 21, 2013 and it can be accessed by dialing 416-640-1917 and entering passcode 4640861 followed by the number sign.  Alternatively, the call will be archived on the Company's website for three months.

ABOUT EQUITABLE GROUP INC.

Equitable Group Inc. (TSX: EQB and EQB.PR.A) is a growing Canadian financial services business that serves the market through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Equitable Bank.  Equitable Bank is a federally regulated Schedule I Bank with total assets of approximately $12 billion and 290 skilled employees, offering savings and mortgage lending products to retail and commercial customers across Canada. The Company's integrated operations are organized according to specialty.  Within Equitable Bank's Core Lending business, Single Family Lending Services funds mortgages for owner-occupied and investment properties across Canada while Commercial Lending Services provides mortgages on a variety of commercial properties on a national basis.  Equitable's Securitization Financing business originates and securitizes insured residential mortgages under the Canada Mortgage and Housing ("CMHC") administered National Housing Act.  Equitable Bank provides savings products including Guaranteed Investment Certificates and savings accounts.  Equitable Bank was founded in 1970 as The Equitable Trust Company.  For more information, visit the Company's website at www.equitablebank.ca and click on Investor Relations.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made by the Company in the sections of this report including those entitled "Business Outlook", in other filings with Canadian securities regulators and in other communications include forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements").  These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company's objectives, strategies and initiatives, financial result expectations and other statements made herein, whether with respect to the Company's businesses or the Canadian economy.  Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "planned", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases which state that certain actions, events or results "may" , "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved."  Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, closing of transactions, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to risks related to capital markets and additional funding requirements, fluctuating interest rates and general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory developments, the nature of our customers and rates of default, and competition as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Management" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis and in the Company's documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All material assumptions used in making forward-looking statements are based on management's knowledge of current business conditions and expectations of future business conditions and trends, including their knowledge of the current credit, interest rate and liquidity conditions affecting the Company and the Canadian economy.  Although the Company believes the assumptions used to make such statements are reasonable at this time and has attempted to identify in its continuous disclosure documents important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.  Certain material assumptions are applied by the Company in making forward-looking statements, including without limitation, assumptions regarding its continued ability to fund its mortgage business at current levels, a continuation of the current level of economic uncertainty that affects real estate market conditions, continued acceptance of its products in the marketplace, as well as no material changes in its operating cost structure and the current tax regime.  There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NON-GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES ("GAAP") FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release references certain non-GAAP measures such as Return on Equity ("ROE"), Net Interest Margin ("NIM"), capital ratios, book value per share, and productivity ratios that management believes provide useful information to investors regarding the Company's financial condition and results of operations.  The "Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") Financial Measures" section of the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis provides a detailed description of each non-GAAP measure and should be read in conjunction with this report.  The Management Discussion and Analysis also provides a reconciliation between all non-GAAP measures and the most directly comparable GAAP measure, where applicable.  Readers are cautioned that non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning, and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

SOURCE Equitable Group Inc.