German American Bancorp, Inc. (GABC) Posts Record Earnings, Declares 11% Cash Dividend Increase and Announces Stock Repurchase Plan
JASPER, Ind., Jan. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — German American Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: GABC) reported record quarterly earnings of $20.9 million, or $0.79 per share, during the fourth quarter 2020 and that, for the 11th consecutive year, the Company has achieved record annual earnings posting annual net income of $62.2 million, or $2.34 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2020. This level of annual earnings resulted in a double-digit return on shareholders’ equity in 2020, marking the 16th consecutive year in which the Company has delivered a double-digit return on shareholders’ equity. The Company also announced the declaration of an 11% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, and the approval of a new share repurchase plan for up to one million GABC shares.
The record annual net income for 2020 represented an increase of $3.0 million, or approximately 2% on a per share basis, from 2019 net income of $59.2 million, or $2.29 per share. Fourth quarter 2020 net income of $20.9 million, or $0.79 per share, which also represented a quarterly record, reflected an increase of approximately 34%, on a per share basis, from fourth quarter 2019 net income of $15.8 million, or $0.59 per share.The Company also announced that its Board has approved a new share repurchase plan authorizing the repurchase of one million shares, or approximately 4% of the Company’s total common shares outstanding. Stock repurchases are expected to be made from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to applicable securities law. The new plan, which replaces a similar plan approved in January 2020 that had repurchase authority for 778,088 shares remaining, does not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific dollar amount or number of shares.Additionally, the Company announced an 11% increase in the level of its regular quarterly cash dividend, as its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share, which will be payable on February 20, 2021 to shareholders of record as of February 10, 2021.Mark A. Schroeder, German American’s Chairman & CEO, stated, “In the face of all the challenges experienced in 2020 around the COVID-19 pandemic, we are extremely pleased to have been able to post record earnings for both the fourth quarter and for fiscal year 2020. It is only because of the extraordinary efforts of our team of talented financial professionals and the loyalty of our clients, located throughout our footprint in Indiana and Kentucky, that our Company was able to achieve this amazing record of 11 consecutive years of annual record earnings performance and 16 consecutive years of delivering a double digit annual return on shareholders’ equity. Very few banking organizations in the country can match this level of consistent, long-term profitability.”Schroeder continued, “Because of the capital strength resulting from this level of profitability, we are also able to announce today another double-digit increase in our cash dividend and a new share repurchase program, continuing our ongoing efforts to drive long-term value for our shareholders. With this dividend increase, German American has increased the level of our cash dividends each year for the past nine consecutive years. The new share repurchase program is designed to help facilitate the Company’s capital management efforts and to further enhance long-term shareholder value.”COVID-19 Pandemic Loan InformationThe Company is participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) for loans provided through the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), as established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). Under this program, the Company lent funds primarily to its existing loan and/or deposit customers, based on a pre-determined SBA-developed formula, intended to incentivize small business owners to retain their employees. These loans carry a customer interest rate of 1.00% plus a processing fee that varies depending on the balance of the loan at origination and have a two-year or five-year maturity, depending on when the loan was made. The vast majority of the Company’s PPP loans have two-year maturities. The Company originated loans totaling approximately $351.3 million in principal amount, on 3,070 PPP loan relationships, under this program. The net processing fees related to the PPP, totaled approximately $12.0 million, and are being recognized over the life of the loans. As a result of the forgiveness of PPP loans which began in the fourth quarter of 2020 for the Company, as of December 31, 2020, remaining PPP loans outstanding totaled $186.0 million with approximately $4.1 million of fees remaining deferred. The Company is also participating in the second round of the program, which is currently in its early stages.In response to requests from borrowers who have experienced pandemic-related business or personal cash flow interruptions, and in accordance with regulatory guidance, the Company has made short-term loan modifications involving both partial and full payment deferrals. The table below shows the payment modifications that were still in effect as of December 31, 2020, with the majority of these credit relationships making full interest payments. The outstanding loan balance subject to payment modifications as of December 31, 2020 was substantially reduced from the comparable balances as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020.
The record annual net income for 2020 represented an increase of $3.0 million, or approximately 2% on a per share basis, from 2019 net income of $59.2 million, or $2.29 per share. Fourth quarter 2020 net income of $20.9 million, or $0.79 per share, which also represented a quarterly record, reflected an increase of approximately 34%, on a per share basis, from fourth quarter 2019 net income of $15.8 million, or $0.59 per share.The Company also announced that its Board has approved a new share repurchase plan authorizing the repurchase of one million shares, or approximately 4% of the Company’s total common shares outstanding. Stock repurchases are expected to be made from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to applicable securities law. The new plan, which replaces a similar plan approved in January 2020 that had repurchase authority for 778,088 shares remaining, does not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific dollar amount or number of shares.Additionally, the Company announced an 11% increase in the level of its regular quarterly cash dividend, as its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share, which will be payable on February 20, 2021 to shareholders of record as of February 10, 2021.Mark A. Schroeder, German American’s Chairman & CEO, stated, “In the face of all the challenges experienced in 2020 around the COVID-19 pandemic, we are extremely pleased to have been able to post record earnings for both the fourth quarter and for fiscal year 2020. It is only because of the extraordinary efforts of our team of talented financial professionals and the loyalty of our clients, located throughout our footprint in Indiana and Kentucky, that our Company was able to achieve this amazing record of 11 consecutive years of annual record earnings performance and 16 consecutive years of delivering a double digit annual return on shareholders’ equity. Very few banking organizations in the country can match this level of consistent, long-term profitability.”Schroeder continued, “Because of the capital strength resulting from this level of profitability, we are also able to announce today another double-digit increase in our cash dividend and a new share repurchase program, continuing our ongoing efforts to drive long-term value for our shareholders. With this dividend increase, German American has increased the level of our cash dividends each year for the past nine consecutive years. The new share repurchase program is designed to help facilitate the Company’s capital management efforts and to further enhance long-term shareholder value.”COVID-19 Pandemic Loan InformationThe Company is participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) for loans provided through the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), as established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). Under this program, the Company lent funds primarily to its existing loan and/or deposit customers, based on a pre-determined SBA-developed formula, intended to incentivize small business owners to retain their employees. These loans carry a customer interest rate of 1.00% plus a processing fee that varies depending on the balance of the loan at origination and have a two-year or five-year maturity, depending on when the loan was made. The vast majority of the Company’s PPP loans have two-year maturities. The Company originated loans totaling approximately $351.3 million in principal amount, on 3,070 PPP loan relationships, under this program. The net processing fees related to the PPP, totaled approximately $12.0 million, and are being recognized over the life of the loans. As a result of the forgiveness of PPP loans which began in the fourth quarter of 2020 for the Company, as of December 31, 2020, remaining PPP loans outstanding totaled $186.0 million with approximately $4.1 million of fees remaining deferred. The Company is also participating in the second round of the program, which is currently in its early stages.In response to requests from borrowers who have experienced pandemic-related business or personal cash flow interruptions, and in accordance with regulatory guidance, the Company has made short-term loan modifications involving both partial and full payment deferrals. The table below shows the payment modifications that were still in effect as of December 31, 2020, with the majority of these credit relationships making full interest payments. The outstanding loan balance subject to payment modifications as of December 31, 2020 was substantially reduced from the comparable balances as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020.