Renasant Corporation Announces Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2024, Receipt of Shareholder Approval of the Merger With the First Bancshares, Inc.

TUPELO, Miss., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Renasant Corporation (NYSE: RNST) (the “Company”) today announced earnings results for the third quarter of 2024.

“The financial results for the quarter reflect solid performance and balance sheet strength,” remarked C. Mitchell Waycaster, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “We were pleased to receive shareholder approval today and look forward to completing our merger with The First in the first half of 2025, pending all required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of all other conditions.”

Quarterly Highlights

Merger Agreement with The First Bancshares, Inc. and Other Transactions

• On July 29, 2024, the Company announced its merger with The First Bancshares, Inc. (“The First”). Today, the shareholders of both Renasant and The First approved the merger and the related issuance of shares of Renasant common stock to the shareholders of The First
• On July 31, 2024, Renasant completed its public offering of an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of its common stock at a price of $32.00 per share. The net proceeds of the offering after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses were approximately $217.0 million
• Effective July 1, 2024, Renasant sold the assets of its insurance agency for cash proceeds of $56.4 million, recognizing a positive after-tax impact to earnings of $34.1 million, which is net of transaction expenses

Earnings

• Net income for the third quarter of 2024 was $72.5 million; diluted EPS and adjusted diluted EPS (non-GAAP)(1) were $1.18 and $0.70, respectively
• Net interest income (fully tax equivalent) for the third quarter of 2024 was $133.6 million, up $6.0 million on a linked quarter basis
• For the third quarter of 2024, net interest margin was 3.36%, up 5 basis points on a linked quarter basis
• Cost of total deposits was 2.51% for the third quarter of 2024, up 4 basis points on a linked quarter basis
• Noninterest income increased $50.5 million on a linked quarter basis primarily due to the $53.3 million pre-tax gain on the insurance agency sale, offset by the loss of insurance commissions as a result of the sale
• Mortgage banking income decreased $1.3 million on a linked quarter basis. The mortgage division generated $543.6 million in interest rate lock volume in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of $16.7 million on a linked quarter basis. Gain on sale margin was 1.56% for the third quarter of 2024, down 13 basis points on a linked quarter basis
• Noninterest expense increased $10.0 million on a linked quarter basis. Merger and conversion expenses of $11.3 million for the third quarter of 2024 related to both the announced merger with The First and the insurance agency sale contributed to the increase

Balance Sheet

• Loans increased $22.9 million on a linked quarter basis, representing 0.7% annualized net loan growth
• Securities decreased $9.0 million on a linked quarter basis. Cash flows related to principal payments reduced securities by $43.4 million which was offset by a positive fair market value adjustment in our available-for-sale portfolio of $34.4 million
• Deposits at September 30, 2024 increased $254.5 million on a linked quarter basis. Brokered deposits decreased $31.8 million on a linked quarter basis to $126.8 million at September 30, 2024. Noninterest bearing deposits decreased $9.7 million on a linked quarter basis and represented 24.3% of total deposits at September 30, 2024

Capital and Stock Repurchase Program

• Book value per share and tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)(1) increased 0.1% and 8.9%, respectively, on a linked quarter basis
• Effective October 22, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $100.0 million stock repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase outstanding shares of its common stock either in open market purchases or privately-negotiated transactions. This plan replaces the Company’s $100.0 million stock repurchase program that expired in October 2024. There was no buyback activity during the third quarter of 2024

Credit Quality

• The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $0.9 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2024
• The ratio of allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans was 1.59% at September 30, 2024, unchanged on a linked quarter basis
• The coverage ratio, or the allowance for credit losses on loans to nonperforming loans, was 168.07% at September 30, 2024, compared to 203.88% at June 30, 2024
• Net loan charge-offs for the third quarter of 2024 were $0.7 million, or 0.02% of average loans on an annualized basis
• Nonperforming loans to total loans increased to 0.94% at September 30, 2024 compared to 0.78% at June 30, 2024, and criticized loans (which include classified and Special Mention loans) to total loans increased to 3.02% at September 30, 2024, compared to 2.62% at June 30, 2024

(1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this release from GAAP to non-GAAP is included in the tables at the end of this release. The information below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” explains why the Company believes the non-GAAP financial measures in this release provide useful information and describes the other purposes for which the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures.

Income Statement

(1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this release from GAAP to non-GAAP is included in the tables at the end of this release. The information below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” explains why the Company believes the non-GAAP financial measures in this release provide useful information and describes the other purposes for which the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures.

Performance Ratios

Capital and Balance Sheet Ratios

(1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this release from GAAP to non-GAAP is included in the tables at the end of this release. The information below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” explains why the Company believes the non-GAAP financial measures in this release provide useful information and describes the other purposes for which the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures.

Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

Mortgage Banking Income

Balance Sheet

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

(1) U.S. Government and some U.S. Government Agency securities are tax-exempt in the states in which the Company operates.
(2) Interest-bearing demand deposits include interest-bearing transactional accounts and money market deposits.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin, continued

(1) U.S. Government and some U.S. Government Agency securities are tax-exempt in the states in which the Company operates.
(2) Interest-bearing demand deposits include interest-bearing transactional accounts and money market deposits.

Supplemental Margin Information

(1) Interest-bearing demand deposits include interest-bearing transactional accounts and money market deposits.

Loan Portfolio

Credit Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

(1) Criticized loans include classified and Special Mention loans.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION:
A live audio webcast of a conference call with analysts will be available beginning at 10:00 AM Eastern Time (9:00 AM Central Time) on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

The webcast is accessible through Renasant’s investor relations website at www.renasant.com or https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=YvWBKrUB. To access the conference via telephone, dial 1-877-513-1143 in the United States and request the Renasant Corporation 2024 Third Quarter Earnings Webcast and Conference Call. International participants should dial 1-412-902-4145 to access the conference call.

The webcast will be archived on www.renasant.com after the call and will remain accessible for one year. A replay can be accessed via telephone by dialing 1-877-344-7529 in the United States and entering conference number 8626805 or by dialing 1-412-317-0088 internationally and entering the same conference number. Telephone replay access is available until November 6, 2024.

ABOUT RENASANT CORPORATION:
Renasant Corporation is the parent of Renasant Bank, a 120-year-old financial services institution. Renasant has assets of approximately $18.0 billion and operates 186 banking, lending, mortgage and wealth management offices throughout the Southeast as well as offering factoring and asset-based lending on a nationwide basis.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release may contain, or incorporate by reference, statements about Renasant Corporation that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “potential,” “focus,” “possible,” “may increase,” “may fluctuate,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would” and “could,” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include information about the Company’s future financial performance, business strategy, projected plans and objectives and are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management. The Company’s management believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but they are all inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Actual results may differ from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements, and such differences may be material. Prospective investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and, accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.

Important factors currently known to management that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the following: (i) the Company’s ability to efficiently integrate acquisitions (including its recently-announced acquisition of The First Bancshares, Inc. described under the “Quarterly Highlights” heading above) into its operations, retain the customers of these businesses, grow the acquired operations and realize the cost savings expected from an acquisition to the extent and in the timeframe anticipated by management (including the possibility that such cost savings will not be realized when expected, or at all, as a result of the impact of, or challenges arising from, the integration of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities into the Company, potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, or as a result of other unexpected factors or events); (ii) potential exposure to unknown or contingent risks and liabilities we have acquired, or may acquire, or target for acquisition, including in connection with the proposed merger with The First Bancshares, Inc.; (iii) the effect of economic conditions and interest rates on a national, regional or international basis; (iv) timing and success of the implementation of changes in operations to achieve enhanced earnings or effect cost savings; (v) competitive pressures in the consumer finance, commercial finance, financial services, asset management, retail banking, factoring and mortgage lending and auto lending industries; (vi) the financial resources of, and products available from, competitors; (vii) changes in laws and regulations as well as changes in accounting standards; (viii) changes in policy by regulatory agencies or increased scrutiny by, and/or additional regulatory requirements of, regulatory agencies as a result of our proposed merger with The First Bancshares, Inc.; (ix) changes in the securities and foreign exchange markets; (x) the Company’s potential growth, including its entrance or expansion into new markets, and the need for sufficient capital to support that growth; (xi) changes in the quality or composition of the Company’s loan or investment portfolios, including adverse developments in borrower industries or in the repayment ability of individual borrowers or issuers of investment securities, or the impact of interest rates on the value of our investment securities portfolio; (xii) an insufficient allowance for credit losses as a result of inaccurate assumptions; (xiii) changes in the sources and costs of the capital we use to make loans and otherwise fund our operations, due to deposit outflows, changes in the mix of deposits and the cost and availability of borrowings; (xiv) general economic, market or business conditions, including the impact of inflation; (xv) changes in demand for loan and deposit products and other financial services; (xvi) concentrations of credit or deposit exposure; (xvii) changes or the lack of changes in interest rates, yield curves and interest rate spread relationships; (xviii) increased cybersecurity risk, including potential network breaches, business disruptions or financial losses; (xix) civil unrest, natural disasters, epidemics and other catastrophic events in the Company’s geographic area; (xx) geopolitical conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism, actions taken by the United States or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, which could impact business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad; (xxi) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; and (xxii) other circumstances, many of which are beyond management’s control.

Management believes that the assumptions underlying the Company’s forward-looking statements are reasonable, but any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Investors are urged to carefully consider the risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available at www.renasant.com and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time, except as required by federal securities laws.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:
In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), this press release and the presentation slides furnished to the SEC on the same Form 8-K as this release contain non-GAAP financial measures, namely, (i) adjusted loan yield, (ii) adjusted net interest income and margin, (iii) pre-provision net revenue (including on an as-adjusted basis), (iv) adjusted net income, (v) adjusted diluted earnings per share, (vi) tangible book value per share, (vii) the tangible common equity ratio, (viii) certain performance ratios (namely, the ratio of pre-provision net revenue to average assets, the return on average assets and on average equity, and the return on average tangible assets and on average tangible common equity (including each of the foregoing on an as-adjusted basis)), and (ix) the adjusted efficiency ratio.

These non-GAAP financial measures adjust GAAP financial measures to exclude intangible assets, including related amortization, and/or certain gains or charges (such as, for the third quarter of 2024, merger and conversion expenses and the gain on the sale of the assets of the Company’s insurance agency), with respect to which the Company is unable to accurately predict when these charges will be incurred or, when incurred, the amount thereof. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating capital utilization and adequacy. In addition, the Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures facilitate the making of period-to-period comparisons and are meaningful indicators of its operating performance, particularly because these measures are widely used by industry analysts for companies with merger and acquisition activities. Also, because intangible assets such as goodwill and the core deposit intangible can vary extensively from company to company and, as to intangible assets, are excluded from the calculation of a financial institution’s regulatory capital, the Company believes that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial information allows readers to more easily compare the Company’s results to information provided in other regulatory reports and the results of other companies. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables below under the caption “Non-GAAP Reconciliations”.

None of the non-GAAP financial information that the Company has included in this release or the accompanying presentation slides are intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors should note that, because there are no standardized definitions for the calculations as well as the results, the Company’s calculations may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Also, there may be limits in the usefulness of these measures to investors. As a result, the Company encourages readers to consider its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

(1) Tax effect is calculated based on the respective legal entity’s appropriate federal and state tax rates (as applicable) for the period, and includes the estimated impact of both current and deferred tax expense. The tax effect of the discrete gain on sale of insurance agency was calculated based on an estimated tax rate of 25.8%.