PacWest Bancorp Announces Results for the Third Quarter 2023

THIRD QUARTER 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

• Net loss available to common stockholders of $33.3 million, or a loss of $0.28 per diluted share
• Pending merger with Banc of California, Inc. is on track with all regulatory approvals received and is expected to close on or about November 30, 2023
• The Bank put in place a large liquidity base to cautiously navigate the end of the first quarter of 2023 through the third quarter of 2023. The excess borrowings, including $1.4 billion of brokered deposits (at a rate of 5.19%) and the $1.3 billion repurchase agreement facility (at a rate of 8.50%), are expected to roll off in the fourth quarter of 2023. We believe this will accelerate the Bank’s return to more normalized funding levels and improved profitability, with significantly lower interest and FDIC insurance expenses
• We continue to execute on our profitability initiatives by optimizing resources, contracts, facilities, and processes, the benefits of which we anticipate realizing in the quarters ahead. Third quarter noninterest expense had notable movement, with compensation expense down 14% over the prior quarter to $71.6 million, with a higher than usual FDIC insurance expense that we expect will normalize over time, and with $9.9 million of non-recurring merger-related costs
• Adjusted loss available to common stockholders of $37.3 million and adjusted diluted loss per common share of $0.31, which exclude the effect of $9.9 million of merger-related costs related to the pending merger with Banc of California, Inc. and a $14.5 million credit related to a legal settlement gain (see GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation financial tables at the end of this press release)
• Allowance for loan and lease losses ratio increased from 0.98% to 1.01%
• Third quarter results were marked by enhanced capital and liquidity
  • All capital ratios increased from June 30, 2023, with CET1 increasing from 11.16% to 11.23%
  • Immediately available liquidity (on-balance sheet liquidity and unused borrowing capacity) of $16.7 billion, with $5.9 billion of available cash on hand at September 30, 2023
  • Community Banking deposits grew by 2% in the quarter as a result of strategic efforts to attract and retain customers
  • Brokered deposits continue to mature, with balances decreasing by $1.9 billion in the quarter. $1.4 billion more are scheduled to mature in the fourth quarter of 2023
  • The repurchase agreement facility interest expense was $35 million in the quarter and the facility will be repaid in December 2023

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

CEO COMMENTARY

Paul Taylor, President and CEO, commented, “The integration planning for our merger with Banc of California, Inc. continues to progress very well. We expect the closing of the merger to occur on or about November 30, 2023, subject to receipt of stockholder approvals. We all look forward to completing the merger so we can begin to execute on a successful business plan for the combined company that we expect will drive significant value for PacWest’s stockholders, customers, communities, and employees.”

Mr. Taylor concluded, “As we work toward the completion of the merger, our primary strategic focus is adding new deposit customers and continuing to provide outstanding customer service to our existing customers. Our credit quality continues to be stable. Our funding profile improved in the third quarter as we strategically reduced higher-cost brokered deposits and we are pleased to see growth in the Community Bank return. We strategically put in place a high-cost liquidity buffer over the past few quarters to safely navigate the turmoil in the regional banking market. We created this buffer by selling loans and adding customer deposits and wholesale funding. We expect our profitability to improve as we continue to wind down wholesale funding, benefit from lower FDIC insurance expense, and execute on our profitability initiatives.”

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

INCOME STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income decreased by $55.3 million to $130.7 million for the third quarter of 2023 compared to $186.1 million for the second quarter of 2023 due mainly to lower interest income on loans and leases and higher interest expense on deposits, offset partially by lower interest expense on borrowings. Interest income on loans and leases decreased by $98.6 million in the third quarter of 2023 due to a $4.8 billion decrease in the average balance of loans and leases and a 54 basis points decrease in the tax equivalent yield on loans and leases compared to the second quarter of 2023. The tax equivalent yield on loans and leases was 5.54% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to 6.08% in the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in the tax equivalent yield on loans and leases was due primarily to lower levels of higher-yielding Civic and construction loans. Interest expense on deposits increased by $27.2 million in the third quarter of 2023 due mainly to increased market rates that contributed to a 36 basis points increase in the cost of total deposits. Interest expense on borrowings decreased by $66.7 million due mainly to a $5.1 billion decrease in the average balance. Interest expense on the repurchase agreement facility is at 8.50% and totaled $35 million in the third quarter. This interest expense will decrease in the fourth quarter, as we intend to pay off this borrowing in mid-December with existing balance sheet liquidity, and be eliminated by the first quarter of 2024.

The tax equivalent NIM was 1.45% for the third quarter of 2023 compared to 1.82% for the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in the NIM was due mainly to the lower yield on loans and leases and a higher cost of total deposits.

The cost of total deposits was 2.98% for the third quarter of 2023 compared to 2.62% for the second quarter of 2023 due mainly to higher market interest rates.

PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES

The following table presents details of the provision for credit losses for the periods indicated:

There was no provision for credit losses for the third quarter of 2023 compared to $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2023. The provision for the third quarter of 2023 reflected an addition to the allowance for loan and lease losses, primarily due to an increase in qualitative reserves for loans secured by office properties, which was offset by a reduction in the reserve for unfunded commitments due to lower unfunded commitments. The provision for the second quarter of 2023 reflected the impact of an updated economic forecast, higher net charge-offs and higher reserves for downgraded loans largely offset by lower reserves needed for lower loan and unfunded commitment balances.

NONINTEREST INCOME

The following table presents details of noninterest income for the periods indicated:

Noninterest income increased by $171.9 million to an income of $43.8 million for the third quarter of 2023 compared to a loss of $128.1 million for the second quarter of 2023 due primarily to a $157.0 million decrease in the loss on sale of loans and leases, the $12.3 million increase in the lower of cost or market held for sale (“LOCOM HFS”) adjustment and a $13.2 million increase in other income, partially offset by a $7.8 million decrease in leased equipment income and a $3.6 million decrease in other commissions and fees. The decrease in the loss on sale of loans and leases was due to the $158.9 million of losses recorded in the second quarter of 2023 related to the sale of three significant non-core loan portfolios. The increase in the LOCOM HFS adjustment was due to the negative $11.9 million LOCOM adjustment made in the second quarter of 2023 related to the $478.1 million of loans held for sale at June 30, 2023. The increase in other income is primarily due to a $14.5 million recovery of a prior year legal settlement. The decrease in leased equipment income was due primarily to lower early lease termination gains and rental income compared to the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in other commissions and fees was due primarily to lower loan-related fee income and lower customer success fees.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

The following table presents details of noninterest expense for the periods indicated:

Noninterest expense decreased by $119.3 million to $201.1 million in the third quarter of 2023 compared to $320.4 million in the second quarter of 2023 due primarily to a decrease of $111.3 million in other expense and a decrease of $11.2 million in compensation expense, offset partially by a $12.7 million increase in insurance and assessments expense. The decrease in other expense was due mainly to $106.8 million of unfunded commitments fair value loss adjustments in the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in compensation expense was due mostly to lower salary expense, stock compensation, and commissions expense. The increase in insurance and assessments was due primarily to higher FDIC assessment expense attributable to an increased assessment rate due to lower core earnings and lower core deposits.

INCOME TAXES

The effective income tax rate was 12.1% for the third quarter of 2023 compared to 25.3% for the second quarter of 2023. The decrease from the second quarter of 2023 was due primarily to higher disallowed FDIC assessment expense in the third quarter of 2023.

BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS

DEPOSITS AND CLIENT INVESTMENT FUNDS

The following tables present the composition of our deposit portfolio as of the dates indicated:

Total deposits decreased by $1.3 billion or 4.7% in the third quarter of 2023 due primarily to the $1.9 billion strategic reduction of higher-cost brokered deposits, partially offset by growth in customer deposits. At September 30, 2023, noninterest-bearing deposits totaled $5.6 billion or 21% of total deposits and interest-bearing deposits totaled $21.0 billion or 79% of total deposits.

The following table presents the composition of our deposit portfolio by division as of the dates indicated:

As of September 30, 2023, FDIC-insured deposits represented approximately 81% of total deposits and FDIC-insured venture-specific deposits accounted for approximately 90% of total venture-specific deposits. The Bank’s spot deposit rate increased from 2.71% at June 30, 2023 to 2.97% at September 30, 2023.

In addition to deposit products, we also offer alternative, non-depository cash investment options for select clients. These alternative options include investments managed by Pacific Western Asset Management Inc. (“PWAM”), our registered investment advisor subsidiary, and third-party sweep products. Total off-balance sheet client investment funds decreased from $0.8 billion as of June 30, 2023 to $0.7 billion at September 30, 2023, of which $0.3 billion was managed by PWAM.

BORROWINGS

The following table presents the composition of our borrowings as of the dates indicated:

The $62.8 million decrease in borrowings in the third quarter of 2023 was due mainly to paydowns of the repurchase agreement facility. Available borrowing capacity was approximately $10.8 billion at September 30, 2023.

LOANS AND LEASES

The following table presents roll forwards of loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees, for the periods indicated:

Loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees, decreased by $337.3 million, or 1.5% in the third quarter of 2023 to $21.9 billion at September 30, 2023. The overall decrease in the loans and leases balance for the third quarter of 2023 was due primarily to a decrease in commercial loans led by decreases in venture capital loans and asset-based loans.

The following table presents the composition of loans and leases held for investment by loan portfolio segment and class, net of deferred fees, as of the dates indicated:

ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES ON LOANS AND LEASES

The following tables present roll forwards of the allowance for credit losses on loans and leases for the periods indicated:

The following table presents allowance for credit losses information on loans and leases as of and for the dates and periods indicated:

The allowance for credit losses decreased by $4.9 million in the third quarter of 2023 to $251.9 million at September 30, 2023. This decrease was attributable mainly to lower reserves needed due to the decrease in loans and leases held for investment and unfunded loan commitments.

Net charge-offs over the trailing twelve months were $47.5 million, which resulted in net charge-offs to average loans and leases over the trailing twelve months of 0.19%.

CREDIT QUALITY

The following table presents loan and lease credit quality metrics as of the dates indicated:

Nonaccrual loans and leases increased by $20.5 million in the third quarter of 2023 to $125.4 million at September 30, 2023, due primarily to an increase in nonaccrual Civic loans. The increase is primarily due to a sale of non-performing Civic loans in the second quarter which made the balance at June 30, 2023, lower than normal.

The following table presents nonaccrual loans and leases and accruing loans and leases past due between 30 and 89 days by loan portfolio segment and class as of the dates indicated:

Loans and leases accruing and 30-89 days past due generally fluctuate from period to period. The $11.8 million decrease to $38.0 million in the third quarter of 2023 was due mainly to a decrease in Civic delinquent loans.

CAPITAL

The following table presents capital ratios as of the dates indicated:

PACWEST BANCORP

PacWest is a bank holding company headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with an executive office in Denver, Colorado, with one wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Pacific Western Bank (the “Bank”). Pacific Western Bank is a relationship-based community bank focused on providing business banking and treasury management services to small, middle-market, and venture-backed businesses. The Bank offers a broad range of loan and lease and deposit products and services through full-service branches throughout California and in Durham, North Carolina and Denver, Colorado, and loan production offices around the country. For more information about PacWest Bancorp or Pacific Western Bank, visit www.pacwest.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains certain forward-looking information about PacWest (the “Company”) that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about future financial and operational results, expectations, or intentions are forward-looking statements. Such statements often use words such as “anticipates,” “targets,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “continue” and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “would” and “could.” These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction between PacWest and Banc of California, Inc. (“Banc of California”) including statements as to the expected timing, completion and effects of the proposed transaction. Such statements are based on information available at the time of the communication and are based on current beliefs and expectations of PacWest’s and Banc of California’s management and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of PacWest and Banc of California, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in them. Continued deterioration in general business, economic, and political conditions, geopolitical tensions, uncertainty in U.S. fiscal monetary policy, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board, and volatility and disruptions in credit and capital markets could lead to a tightening of credit and an increase in credit losses, adversely affect PacWest’s revenues and the values of our assets and liabilities, increase stock price volatility, and adversely impact our ability to raise capital. In addition, PacWest and its results could be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, continued high inflation, and unemployment rates, our ability to attract and retain deposits and other sources of funding and liquidity particularly in a rising or high interest rate environment, the impact of bank failures or other adverse developments at other banks on general investor sentiment regarding the stability and liquidity of banks, the safety of deposits, and depositor behavior, the quality and composition of our deposits, deterioration in the credit quality of our loan portfolio or in the value of the collateral securing those loans, especially the risks associated with concentrations in real estate related loans, deterioration in the value of our investment securities as a result of rising interest rates or otherwise, our ability to successfully execute on our strategic plan and digital and innovation initiatives, the effectiveness of our risk management framework and quantitative models, legal and regulatory developments, the ability to complete, or any delays in completing, the proposed transaction between us and Banc of California, any failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction when expected or at all, certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction that may impact our ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions, the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities, and potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the transaction and integration of the companies. We also caution that the amount and timing of any future common stock dividends will depend on the earnings, cash requirements and financial condition of the Company, market conditions, capital requirements, applicable law and regulations (including federal securities laws and federal banking regulations), and other factors deemed relevant by the Company’s Board of Directors, and may be subject to regulatory approval or conditions. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth or implied in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including the risk factors described in documents filed by PacWest with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

All forward-looking statements in this communication are based on information available at the time the statement is made. We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION

This communication is not a proxy statement or solicitation or a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of PacWest, Banc of California, or the combined company, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be deemed to be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

This communication includes information relating to the proposed transaction between PacWest and Banc of California and the proposed investment in Banc of California by Warburg Pincus LLC and Centerbridge Partners, L.P. Banc of California filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC on August 28, 2023 (as amended on September 29, 2023, and further amended on October 16, 2023, and October 19, 2023) that the SEC declared effective on October 20, 2023, and in connection with PacWest’s and Banc of California’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by PacWest’s stockholders and Banc of California’s stockholders with respect to the proposed transaction, on October 23, 2023, PacWest and Banc of California commenced mailing of a definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus to holders of PacWest’s common stock and Banc of California’s common stock who, as of the applicable record date, are entitled to vote on the matters being considered at the PacWest stockholder meeting and at the Banc of California stockholder meeting, as applicable. PacWest or Banc of California may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction.

BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE ENTIRE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO), AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.

Investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of the registration statement, the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by PacWest or Banc of California through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

The documents filed by PacWest or Banc of California with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at PacWest’s or Banc of California’s website at www.pacwestbancorp.com, under the heading “SEC Filings,” or https://investors.bancofcal.com, under the heading “Financials and Filings,” respectively, or upon written request to PacWest, Attention: Investor Relations, 9701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 or Banc of California, Attention: Investor Relations, 3 MacArthur Place, Santa Ana, CA 92707, respectively.

PARTICIPANTS IN SOLICITATION

PacWest and Banc of California and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from PacWest’s stockholders or Banc of California’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. PacWest’s stockholders, Banc of California’s stockholders, and other interested persons are able to obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of directors and executive officers of PacWest and Banc of California in Banc of California’s registration statement on Form S-4, as well other documents filed by PacWest or Banc of California from time to time with the SEC. Other information regarding persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed the participants in the proxy solicitation of PacWest’s or Banc of California’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC and may be contained in other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. You may obtain free copies of these documents at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by PacWest or Banc of California will also be available free of charge from PacWest or Banc of California using the contact information above.