Item 1. Business.
Business of Bancorp
Overview
Cathay General Bancorp is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. We are the holding company of Cathay Bank, a California state-chartered commercial bank. Our principal current business activity is to hold all of the outstanding stock of Cathay Bank. In the future, we may become an operating company or acquire savings institutions, banks, or companies engaged in bank-related activities and may engage in or acquire such other businesses, or activities as may be permitted by applicable law. Our only office, and our principal place of business, is located at the main office of our wholly owned subsidiary, Cathay Bank, at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. Our telephone number is (213) 625-4700. Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market and our trading symbol is “CATY.”
In October 2003, we acquired General Bancorp in a merger (the “GBC Merger”) for $162.4 million in cash and 13.5 million shares of our common stock.
Subsidiaries of Bancorp
In addition to its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, the Bancorp has the following subsidiaries:
Cathay Capital Trust I, Cathay Statutory Trust I and Cathay Capital Trust II. The Bancorp established Cathay Capital Trust I in June 2003, Cathay Statutory Trust I in September 2003, and Cathay Capital Trust II in December 2003 (collectively, the “Trusts”) as wholly owned subsidiaries. The Trusts are statutory business trusts. In separate transactions in 2003, the Trusts issued capital securities representing undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of the Trusts. The Trusts exist for the purpose of issuing the capital securities and investing the proceeds thereof, together with proceeds from the purchase of the common stock of the Trusts by the Bancorp, in Junior Subordinated Notes issued by the Bancorp. The Bancorp guarantees, on a limited basis, payments of distributions on the capital securities of the Trusts and payments on redemption of the capital securities of the Trusts. The Bancorp is the owner of all the beneficial interests represented by the common securities of the Trusts. The purpose of issuing the capital securities was to provide the Company with a cost-effective means of obtaining Tier 1 Capital for regulatory purposes in connection with the GBC Merger.
Because the Bancorp is not the primary beneficiary of the Trusts, the financial statements of the Trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The capital securities of the Trusts are currently included in the Tier 1 capital of the Bancorp for regulatory capital purposes. On March 1, 2005, the Federal Reserve adopted a final rule that retains trust preferred securities in the Tier I capital of bank holding companies, but with stricter quantitative limits and clearer qualitative standards. Under the rule, after a five-year transition period, the aggregate amount of trust preferred securities and certain other capital elements will be limited to 25 percent of Tier I capital elements, net of goodwill, less any associated deferred tax liability. The amount of trust preferred securities and certain other elements in excess of the limit could be included in Tier II capital, subject to restrictions. In the last five years before maturity, the outstanding amount must be excluded from Tier I capital and included in Tier II capital. Bank holding companies with significant international operations would generally be expected to limit trust preferred securities and certain other capital elements to 15% of Tier I capital elements, net of goodwill. We are currently evaluating this new regulation, but do not expect that this rule will have a materially adverse effect on our capital positions.
GBC Venture Capital, Inc. The business purpose of GBC Venture Capital, Inc. is to hold equity interests (such as options or warrants) received as part of business relationships and to make equity investments in companies and limited partnerships subject to applicable regulatory restrictions.
Competition
Our primary business is to act as the holding company for the Bank. Accordingly, we face the same competitive pressures as those expected by the Bank. For a discussion of those risks, see “Business of the Bank - Competition.”
Employees
Due to the limited nature of the Bancorp’s activities, the Bancorp currently does not employ any persons other than Bancorp’s management, which includes the Chief Executive Officer and President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice Presidents, the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and the General Counsel. See also “Business of the Bank - Employees.”
Business of the Bank
General
Cathay Bank was incorporated under the laws of the State of California on August 22, 1961, and was licensed by the Department of Financial Institutions (previously known as the California State Banking Department), and commenced operations as a California state-chartered bank on April 19, 1962. Cathay Bank is an insured bank under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, but, like most state-chartered banks of similar size in California, it is not a member of the Federal Reserve System.
The Bank’s main office is located in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles, at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. In addition, as of December 31, 2005, the Bank had branch offices in Southern California (20 branches), Northern California (9 branches), New York (four branches), Massachusetts (one branch), Texas (one branch), Washington (two branches), and representative offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taipei. Each branch office has loan approval rights subject to the branch manager’s authorized lending limits. Activities of the Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taipei representative offices are limited to coordinating the transportation of documents to the Bank’s head office and performing liaison services.
Our primary market area is defined by the Community Reinvestment Act delineation, which includes the contiguous areas surrounding each of the Bank’s branch offices. It is the Bank’s policy to reach out and actively offer services to low and moderate income groups in the delineated branch service areas. Many of the Bank’s employees speak both English and one or more Chinese dialects or Vietnamese, and are thus able to serve the Bank’s Chinese, Vietnamese, and English speaking customers.
As a commercial bank, Cathay Bank accepts checking, savings, and time deposits, and makes commercial, real estate, personal, home improvement, automobile, and other installment and term loans. From time to time, the Bank invests available funds in other interest-earning assets, such as U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency securities, state and municipal securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, and venture capital investments. The Bank also provides letters of credit, wire transfers, forward currency spot and forward contracts, traveler’s checks, safe deposit, night deposit, Social Security payment deposit, collection, bank-by-mail, drive-up and walk-up windows, automatic teller machines (“ATM”), Internet banking services, and other customary bank services.
The Bank primarily services individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in the local markets in which its branches are located and provides residential mortgage loans, commercial mortgage loans, construction loans, home equity lines of credit; commercial loans, trade financing loans, Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans; and installment loans to individuals for automobile, household, and other consumer expenditures.
Through Cathay Wealth Management (formerly known as Cathay Global Investment Services), Cathay Bank provides its customers the ability to trade stocks online and to purchase mutual funds, annuities, equities, bonds, and short-term money market instruments, through UVest Financial Services Group, Inc.
Securities
The Bank’s securities portfolio is managed in accordance with a written Investment Policy which addresses strategies, types, and levels of allowable investments, and which is reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors.
Our investment portfolio is managed to meet our liquidity needs through proceeds from scheduled maturities and is also utilized for pledging requirements for deposits of state and local subdivisions, securities sold under repurchase agreements, and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances. The portfolio is comprised of U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage
obligations, obligations of states and political subdivisions, corporate debt instruments and equity securities. At December 31, 2005, the aggregate investment securities portfolio, with a carrying value of $1.22 billion, was classified as investment grade securities, except for our $14.2 million of non-rated venture capital investments. We do not include federal funds sold and certain other short-term securities as investment securities. These other investments are included in cash and cash equivalents.
Information concerning the carrying value, maturity distribution, and yield analysis of the Company’s securities available-for-sale portfolios as well as a summary of the amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Bank’s securities by contractual maturity is included in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in “Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Loans
Cathay Bank’s Board of Directors and senior management establish, review, and modify Cathay Bank’s lending policies. These policies include, but are not limited to a potential borrower’s financial condition, ability to repay the loan, character, existence of secondary repayment source (such as guaranty), quality and availability of collateral, capital, leverage capacity of the borrower, market conditions for the borrower’s business or project, and prevailing economic trends and conditions. For mortgage loans, our lending policies require an independent appraisal of the real property in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines. Loan originations are obtained through a variety of sources, including existing customers, walk-in customers, referrals from brokers or existing customers, and advertising. While loan applications are accepted at all branches, the Bank’s centralized document department supervises the application process including documentation of loans, review of appraisals, and credit reports.
Commercial Mortgage Loans. These loans are typically secured by first deeds of trust on commercial properties, including primarily commercial retail properties, shopping centers, and owner-occupied industrial facilities, and secondarily office buildings, multiple-unit apartments, and multi-tenanted industrial properties.
The Bank also makes medium-term commercial mortgage loans which are generally secured by commercial or industrial buildings where the borrower uses the property for business purposes or derives income from tenants.
Commercial Loans. The Bank provides financial services to diverse commercial and professional businesses in its market areas. Commercial loans consist primarily of short-term loans (normally with a maturity of up to one year) to support general business purposes, or to provide working capital to businesses in the form of lines of credit to finance trade-finance loans. The Bank continues to focus primarily on commercial lending to small-to-medium size businesses, within the Bank’s geographic market area. Commercial loan pricing is generally at a rate tied to the prime rate, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal, or the Bank’s reference rate.
Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Loans. The Bank originates SBA loans in California, under the “preferred lender” status. Preferred lender status is granted to a lender which has made a certain number of SBA loans and which, in the opinion of the SBA, has staff qualified and experienced in small business loans. As a preferred lender, the Bank’s SBA Lending Group has the authority to issue, on behalf of the SBA, the SBA guaranty on loans under the 7(a) program which may result in shortening the time it takes to process a loan. In addition, under this program, the SBA delegates loan underwriting, closing, and most servicing and liquidation authority and responsibility to selected lenders.
The Bank utilizes both the 504 program, which is focused toward long-term financing of buildings and other long-term fixed assets, and the 7(a) program, which is the SBA’s primary loan program and which can be used for financing of a variety of general business purposes such as acquisition of land and buildings, equipment, inventory and working capital needs of eligible businesses generally over a 5-to 25- year term. The collateral
position in the SBA loans is enhanced by the SBA guaranty in the case of 7(a) loans, and by lower loan-to-value ratios under the 504 program. The Bank has sold and may, in the future, sell the guaranteed portion of certain of its SBA 7(a) loans in the secondary market. SBA loan pricing is generally at a rate tied to the prime rate, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal.
Residential Mortgage Loans. The Bank originates single-family-residential mortgage loans, and home equity lines of credit. The single-family-residential mortgage loans are comprised of conforming, nonconforming, and jumbo residential mortgage loans, and are secured by first and subordinate liens on single (one-to-four) family residential properties. The Bank’s products include a fixed-rate residential mortgage loan, an adjustable-rate residential mortgage loan, and a variable-rate home equity line of credit loan. The pricing on our variable-rate home equity line of credit is generally at a rate tied to the prime rate, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal, or the Banks’ reference rate. Mortgage loans are underwritten in accordance with the Bank’s guidelines, on the basis of the borrower’s financial capabilities, historical loan quality, and other relevant qualifications. As of December 31, 2005, approximately 87% of the Bank’s residential mortgages were for properties located in California.
Real Estate Construction. The Bank’s real estate construction loan activity focuses on providing short-term loans to individuals and developers, primarily, for the construction of multi-unit projects. Residential real estate construction loans are typically secured by first deeds of trust and guarantees of the borrower. The economic viability of the projects, borrower’s credit worthiness, and borrower’s and contractor’s experience are primary considerations in the loan underwriting decision. The Bank utilizes approved independent licensed appraisers and monitors projects during the construction phase through construction inspections and a disbursement program tied to the percentage of completion of each project. The Bank also occasionally makes unimproved property loans to borrowers who intend to construct a single-family-residence on their lots generally within twelve months. In addition, the Bank also makes commercial real estate construction loans to high net worth clients with adequate liquidity for construction of office and warehouse properties. Such loans are typically secured by first deeds of trust and are guaranteed by the borrower.
Installment Loans. Installment loans tend to be fixed rate and longer-term (one-to-six year maturities). These loans are funded primarily for the purpose of financing the purchase of automobiles and other personal uses of the borrower.
Distribution and Maturity of Loans. Information concerning loan type and mix, distribution of loans and maturity of loans is included in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in “Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Asset Quality
The Bank’s lending and credit policies require management to review regularly the Bank’s loan portfolio so that the Bank can monitor the quality of its assets. If during the ordinary course of business, management becomes aware that a borrower may not be able to meet his or her contractual or payment obligations under a loan, then that loan is supervised more closely with consideration given to placing the loan on non-accrual status, the need for an additional allowance for loan losses, and (if appropriate) partial or full charge-off.
Under the Bank’s current policy a loan will be placed on a non-accrual status if interest or principal is past due 90 days or more, or in cases where management deems the full collection of principal and interest unlikely. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any unpaid accrued interest is reversed against current income. Thereafter, any payment is generally first applied towards the principal balance. Depending on the circumstances, management may elect to continue the accrual of interest on certain past due loans if partial payment is received and/or the loan is well collateralized, and in the process of collection. The loan is generally returned to accrual status when the borrower has brought the past due principal and interest payments current and, in the opinion of management, the borrower has demonstrated the ability to make future payments of
principal and interest as scheduled. A non accrual loan may also be returned to accrual status if all principal and interest contractually due are reasonably assured of repayment within a reasonable period and there has been a sustained period of payment performance. Information concerning non-accrual, past due, and restructured loans is included in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in “Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Non-performing Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses. Information concerning non-performing loans, allowance for loan losses, loans charged-off, loan recoveries, and other real estate owned is included in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in “Notes 5 and 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Deposits
The Bank offers a variety of deposit products in order to meet its customers’ needs. As of December 31, 2005, the Bank offered passbook accounts, checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, college certificates of deposit, and public funds deposits. These products are priced in order to promote growth of deposits. From time to time, the Bank may offer special deposit promotions, such as the Anniversary CD’s during the second quarter of 2005 or the step up CD’s that were offered during 2004.
The Bank’s deposits are generally obtained from residents within the Company’s geographic market area. The Bank utilizes traditional marketing methods to attract new customers and deposits, by offering a wide variety of products and services and utilizing various forms of advertising media. Information concerning types of deposit accounts, average deposits and rates, and maturity of time deposits of $100,000 or more is included in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Borrowings
Borrowings from time to time include securities sold under agreements to repurchase, the purchase of federal funds, funds obtained as advances from the FHLB of San Francisco, borrowing from other financial institutions and Junior Subordinated Notes. Information concerning the types, amounts, and maturity of our borrowings is included in “Notes 10 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Return on Equity and Assets
Information concerning the return on average assets, return on average stockholders’ equity, the average equity to assets ratio and the dividend payout ratio is included in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Interest Rates and Differentials
Information concerning the interest-earning asset mix, average interest-earning assets, average interest-bearing liabilities and the yields on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities is included in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income
An analysis of changes in net interest income due to changes in rate and volume is included in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Commitments and Letters of Credit
Information concerning the Bank’s outstanding loan commitments and letters of credit is included in “Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Expansion
We continue to look for opportunities to expand the Bank’s branch network by seeking new branch locations and/or by acquiring other financial institutions to diversify our customer base in order to compete for new deposits and loans, and to be able to serve our customers more effectively.
On February 21, 2006, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Great Eastern Bank (GEB), a New York City-based bank with five branches and approximately $330 million in assets. This acquisition will more than double the Company’s loans and deposits in New York and increase our branch network from four to nine.
Subsidiaries of Cathay Bank
Cathay Investment Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank that was formed in 1984 to invest in real property. In 1987, Cathay Investment Company opened an office in Taipei, Taiwan, to promote Taiwanese real estate investments in Southern California. The office in Taipei is located at Sixth Floor, Suite 3, 146 Sung Chiang Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust (“CB REIT”) is a real estate investment trust subsidiary of the Bank that was formed in February 2003 to provide the Bank with flexibility in raising capital. During 2003, the Bank contributed $1.13 billion in loans and securities to CB REIT in exchange for 100% of the common stock of CB REIT. In 2003 and 2004, CB REIT sold $4.4 million and $4.2 million, respectively, of its 7.0% Series A Non-Cumulative preferred stock to accredited investors. During 2005, CB REIT repurchased $131,000 of its preferred stock. At December 31, 2005, total assets of CB REIT were consolidated with the Company and totaled approximately $1.32 billion. See discussion below in Item 1A
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The allowance for loan losses is an estimate of probable loan losses. Actual loan losses in excess of the estimate could adversely affect our net income and capital.
The allowance for loan losses is based on management’s estimate of the probable losses from our loan portfolio. If actual losses exceed the estimate, the excess losses could adversely affect our net income and capital. Such excess could also lead to larger allowances for loan losses in future periods, which could in turn adversely affect net income and capital in those periods. If economic conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in the estimate or adverse developments arise with respect to our loans, future losses may occur, and increases in the allowance may be necessary. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the adequacy of our allowance. These agencies may require us to establish additional allowances based on their judgment of the information available at the time of their examinations. No assurance can be given that we will not sustain loan losses in excess of present or future levels of the allowance for loan losses.
Fluctuations in interest rates could reduce our net interest income and adversely affect our business.
The interest rate risk inherent in our lending, investing, and deposit taking activities is a significant market risk to us and our business. Income associated with interest-earning assets and costs associated with interest-bearing liabilities may not be affected uniformly by fluctuations in interest rates. The magnitude and duration of changes in interest rates, events over which we have no control, may have an adverse effect on net interest income. Prepayment and early withdrawal levels, which are also impacted by changes in interest rates, can significantly affect our assets and liabilities. Increases in interest rates may adversely affect the ability of our floating rate borrowers to meet their higher payment obligations, which could in turn lead to an increase in non-performing assets and net charge-offs.
Generally, the interest rates on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities of the Company do not change at the same rate, to the same extent, or on the same basis. Even assets and liabilities with similar maturities or periods of repricing may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in general market interest rates, while interest rates on other types of assets and liabilities may lag behind changes in general market rates. Certain assets, such as fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans, have features that limit changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset.
We seek to minimize the adverse effects of changes in interest rates by structuring our asset-liability composition to obtain the maximum spread. We use interest rate sensitivity analysis and a simulation model to assist us in estimating the optimal asset-liability composition. However, such management tools have inherent limitations that impair their effectiveness. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in minimizing the adverse effects of changes in interest rates. See also the sections entitled “Risks Elements of the Loan Portfolio” under Item 7 and “Market Risk” under Item 7A of this Annual Report on the Form 10-K.
We have engaged in and may continue to engage in further expansion through mergers and acquisitions, which could negatively affect our business and earnings.
We have engaged in and may continue to engage in expansion through mergers and acquisitions. There are risks associated with such expansion. These risks include, among others, incorrectly assessing the asset quality of a bank acquired in a particular transaction, encountering greater than anticipated costs in integrating acquired businesses, facing resistance from customers or employees, and being unable to profitably deploy assets acquired in the transaction. Additional country- and region-specific risks are associated with transactions outside the United States, including in China. To the extent we issue capital stock in connection with additional transactions, these transactions and related stock issuances may have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and share ownership.
Our earnings, financial condition, and prospects after a merger or acquisition depend in part on our ability to successfully integrate the operations of the acquired company. We may be unable to integrate operations successfully or to achieve expected cost savings. Any cost savings which are realized may be offset by losses in revenues or other charges to earnings.
Inflation and deflation may adversely affect our financial performance.
The consolidated financial statements and related financial data presented in this report have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These principles require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars, without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation or deflation. The primary impact of inflation on the operations of the Company is reflected in increased operating costs. Conversely, deflation will tend to erode collateral values and diminish loan quality. Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a more significant impact on our performance than the general levels of
inflation or deflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the price of goods and services.
As we expand our business outside of California markets, we will encounter risks that could adversely affect us.
We primarily operate in California markets with a concentration of Chinese-American individuals and businesses; however, one of our strategies is to expand beyond California into other domestic markets that have concentrations of Chinese-American individuals and businesses. In the course of this expansion, we will encounter significant risks and uncertainties that could have a material adverse effect on our operations. These risks and uncertainties include increased operational difficulties arising from, among other things, our ability to attract sufficient business in new markets, to manage operations in noncontiguous market areas, and to anticipate events or differences in markets in which we have no current experience.
To the extent that we expand through acquisitions, such acquisitions may also adversely harm our business, if we fail to adequately address the financial and operational risks associated with such acquisitions. For example, risks can include difficulties in assimilating the operations, technology, and personnel of the acquired company; diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns; inability to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies; potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities; incurrence of additional debt and contingent liabilities; use of cash resources; large write-offs; and amortization expenses related to other intangible assets with finite lives.
Our financial results could be adversely affected by changes in California tax law and changes in its interpretation relating to registered investment companies and real estate investment trusts.
Our effective income tax rate was lower in 2002 and 2001 than in subsequent years due in large part to income tax benefits derived from a registered investment company subsidiary of the Bank. We had relied on the California tax law related to registered investment companies and on an outside tax opinion in creating this subsidiary. In the fourth quarter of 2003, a change in that law was enacted by the California Legislature, which would deny such tax benefits from and after January 1, 2003. On December 31, 2003, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced its position that certain tax deductions related to regulated investment companies as well as real estate investment trusts prior to January 1, 2003 would also be disallowed.
In December, 2002, we decided to deregister the registered investment company and, in February, 2003, we completed such deregistration. In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company reversed the net state tax benefits recorded in the first three quarters of 2003 relating to the real estate investment trust (REIT) that it formed as a subsidiary of the Bank during 2003. The Company did not record any tax benefits relating to the REIT in the fourth quarter of 2003 and did not record any such benefits in 2004 or 2005.
As previously disclosed, on December 31, 2003, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced its intent to list certain transactions that in its view constitute potentially abusive tax shelters. Included in the transactions subject to this listing were transactions utilizing regulated investment companies (RICs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). As part of the notification indicating the listed transactions, the FTB also indicated its position that it intends to disallow tax benefits associated with these transactions. While the Company continues to believe that the tax benefits recorded in three prior years with respect to its regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible under California law, the Company has deemed it prudent to participate in Voluntary Compliance Initiative - Option 2, requiring payment of all California taxes and interest on these disputed 2000 through 2002 tax benefits, and permitting the Company to claim a refund for these years while avoiding certain potential penalties. The Company retains potential exposure for assertion of an accuracy-related penalty should the FTB prevail in its position in addition to the risk of not being successful in its refund claims. As of December 31, 2005, the Company reflected a $12.1 million net state tax receivable for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002 after giving effect to reserves for loss contingencies on the refund claims, or an
equivalent of $7.9 million after giving effect to Federal tax benefits. The FTB is currently in the process of reviewing and assessing our refund claims for taxes and interest for tax years 2000 through 2002. Although the Company believes its tax deductions related to the regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible, there can be no assurance of the outcome of its refund claims, and an adverse outcome on the refund claims could result in a loss of all or a portion of the $7.9 million net state tax receivable after giving effect to Federal tax benefits.
Adverse economic conditions in California and other regions where the Bank has operations could cause us to incur losses.
Our banking operations are concentrated primarily in Southern and Northern California, and secondarily in New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Washington. Adverse economic conditions in these regions, such as the current California budget deficit and its impact could impair borrowers’ ability to service their loans, decrease the level and duration of deposits by customers, and erode the value of loan collateral. These events could increase the amount of our non-performing assets and have an adverse effect on our efforts to collect our non-performing loans or otherwise liquidate our non-performing assets (including other real estate owned) on terms favorable to us.
Real estate securing our lending activities is also principally located in Southern and Northern California, and to a lesser extent, in New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Washington. The value of such collateral depends upon conditions in the relevant real estate markets. These include general or local economic conditions and neighborhood characteristics, real estate tax rates, the cost of operating the properties, governmental regulations and fiscal policies, acts of nature including earthquakes, flood and hurricanes (which may result in uninsured losses), and other factors beyond our control.
The risks inherent in construction lending may adversely affect our net income.
As a result of the merger with GBC Bancorp, the Company has a higher proportion of real estate construction loans than it did before the merger. The risks inherent in construction lending may adversely affect our net income. Such risks include, among other things, the possibility that contractors may fail to complete, or complete on a timely basis, construction of the relevant properties; substantial cost overruns in excess of original estimates and financing; market deterioration during construction; and lack of permanent take-out financing. Loans secured by such properties also involve additional risk because such properties have no operating history. In these loans, loan funds are advanced upon the security of the project under construction, which is of uncertain value prior to completion of construction, and the estimated operating cash flow to be generated by the completed project. There is no assurance that such properties will be sold or leased so as to generate the cash flow anticipated by the borrower. Such consideration can affect the borrowers’ ability to repay their obligations to us and the value of our security interest in collateral.
Our use of appraisals in deciding whether to make a loan on or secured by real property does not insure the value of the real property collateral.
In considering whether to make a loan on or secured by real property, we generally require an appraisal of such property. However, the appraisal is only an estimate of the value of the property at the time the appraisal is made. If the appraisal does not reflect the amount that may be obtained upon any sale or foreclosure of the property, we may not realize an amount equal to the indebtedness secured by the property.
We face substantial competition from larger competitors.
We face substantial competition for deposits and loans, as well as other banking services, throughout our market area from the major banks and financial institutions that dominate the commercial banking industry. This may cause our cost of funds to exceed that of our competitors. Such banks and financial institutions have greater
resources than us, including the ability to finance advertising campaigns and allocate their investment assets to regions of higher yield and demand. By virtue of their larger capital bases, such institutions have substantially greater lending limits than us and perform certain functions, including trust services, which are not presently offered by us. We also compete for loans and deposits, as well as other banking services, with savings and loan associations, finance companies, money market funds, brokerage houses, credit unions and non-financial institutions.
Adverse effects of banking regulations or changes in banking regulations could adversely affect our business.
We are regulated by significant federal and state regulation and supervision, which is primarily for the benefit and protection of our customers or which serve other public policies and not for the benefit of our stockholders. In the past, our business has been materially affected by such regulation and supervision. This trend is likely to continue in the future. Laws, regulations, or policies currently affecting us may change at any time. Regulatory authorities may also change their interpretation of existing laws and regulations. It is impossible to predict the competitive impact that any such changes would have on commercial banking in general or on our business in particular. Such changes may, among other things, increase the cost of doing business, limit permissible activities, or affect the competitive balance between banks and other financial institutions.
Adverse economic conditions in Asia could adversely affect our business.
It is difficult to predict the behavior of the Asian economy. U.S. economic policies, military tensions, and an unfavorable global economic condition may adversely impact the Asian economy. If the Asian economic conditions deteriorate, we could be exposed to economic and transfer risk, and could experience an outflow of deposits by our Asian-American customers. Transfer risk may result when an entity is unable to obtain the foreign exchange needed to meet its obligations or to provide liquidity. This may adversely impact the recoverability of investments with or loans made to such entities. Adverse economic conditions may also negatively impact asset values and the profitability and liquidity of companies operating in this region.
Statutory restrictions on dividends and other distributions from the Bank may adversely impact us.
A substantial portion of the Bancorp’s cash flow comes from dividends that the Bank pays to us. Various statutory provisions restrict the amount of dividends that the Bank can pay without regulatory approval. In addition, if the Bank were to liquidate, the Bank’s creditors would be entitled to receive distributions from the assets of the Bank to satisfy their claims against the Bank before we, as a holder of an equity interest in the Bank, would be entitled to receive any of the assets of the Bank.
Our need to continue to adapt to our information technology systems to allow us to provide new and expanded services could present operational issues and require significant capital spending.
As we continue to offer internet banking and other on-line services to our customers, and continue to expand our existing conventional banking services, we will need to adapt our information technology systems to handle these changes in a way that meets constantly changing industry and regulatory standards. This can be very expensive and may require significant capital expenditures. In addition, our success will depend, among other things, on our ability to provide secure and reliable services, anticipate changes in technology, and efficiently develop and introduce services that are accepted by our customers and cost effective for us to provide. Systems failures, delays, breaches of confidentiality and other problems could harm our reputation and business.
Certain provisions of our charter, bylaws, and rights agreement could make the acquisition of our Company more difficult.
Certain provisions of our Charter, Bylaws, and Rights Agreement between us and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent, could make the acquisition of our company more difficult. These
provisions include authorized but unissued shares of preferred and common stock that may be issued without stockholder approval; three classes of directors serving staggered terms; preferred share purchase rights that generally become exercisable if a person or group acquires 15% or more of our common stock or announces a tender offer for 15% or more of our common stock; special requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations for director; and super-majority voting requirements in certain situations including certain types of business combinations.
Terrorist attacks could adversely affect us.
Any terrorist attacks and responses to such activities could adversely affect the Company in a number of ways, including, among others, an increase in delinquencies, bankruptcies or defaults that could result in a higher level of non-performing assets, net charge-offs, and provision for loan losses.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
The Company has not received written comments regarding its periodic or current reports from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission that were issued 180 days before the end of its 2005 fiscal year and that remain unresolved.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties.
Cathay General Bancorp
The Bancorp currently neither owns nor leases any real or personal property. The Bancorp uses the premises, equipment, and furniture of the Bank in exchange for payment of a management fee to the Bank.
Cathay Bank
The Bank’s main corporate office and headquarter branch is located in a 26,527 square foot building in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles. The Bank owns both the building and the land upon which the building is situated. Parking is provided on three lots adjacent to the Bank’s building, two of which are owned by the Bank. The third lot is leased under a 55-year term with a 30-year option commencing in January 1987 at a current monthly rent of approximately $16,031.
The Bank owns its branch offices in Monterey Park, Alhambra, Westminster, San Gabriel, City of Industry, Cupertino, Artesia and Flushing, New York, and the building housing its former Torrance branch office, which was closed during 2004. In addition, the Bank has certain operating and administrative departments located at 4128 Temple City Boulevard, Rosemead, California, where it owns the building and land with approximately 27,600 square feet of space.
The Bank leases certain other premises. Expiration dates of the Bank’s leases range from April, 2006 to October, 2014. The Bank’s leased offices include the former headquarter of General Bank, located at 800 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, California 90017, consisting of approximately 41,501 square feet of rentable area which includes the ground floor and the second, fourteenth and fifteenth floors of the building. The initial lease term will expire in the year 2009, and the Bank has two five-year options to renew the lease following the expiration date of the initial term. As of December 31, 2005, the monthly base rent for the facility was $119,000. The monthly base rent is subject to change on specified dates during the 15-year initial lease term.
The office in Taipei of Cathay Investment Company and GBC Investment & Consulting Company, Inc. is located at Sixth Floor, Suite 3, 146 Sung Chiang Road, Taipei, Taiwan, and consists of 1,806 square feet. The lease was renewed for one year from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. As of December 31, 2005, neither Cathay Investment Company nor GBC Investment & Consulting Company, Inc. owned any properties.
As of December 31, 2005, the Bank’s investment in premises and equipment totaled $30.3 million. See also Notes 8 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of Cathay General Bancorp, which are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are not currently aware of any litigation, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, that is expected to have material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or business.
Item 4.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2005.
Executive Officers of Registrant.
The table below sets forth the names, ages, and positions at the Bancorp and the Bank of all executive officers of the Company as of February 15, 2006. See Part III, Item 10 - “Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant,” below for further information regarding the executive officers of the Bancorp and the Bank.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
(a) Market Information
The Bancorp’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “CATY.” The closing price of the Company’s common stock on February 15, 2006, was $35.53 per share, as reported by the NASDAQ National Market. The Company does not represent that the outstanding shares may be either bought or sold at a certain price.
The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices as reported on the NASDAQ National Market for the periods presented:
(b) Holders
As of February 15, 2006, there were approximately 1,651 holders of record of the Bancorp’s Common Stock.
(c) Dividends
The cash dividends per share declared by quarter were as follows:
In April 2001, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program of up to $15 million of our common stock. On May 2, 2005, the Company completed the April 2001 repurchase plan and repurchased between April 2001 to May 2005, a total of 830,065 shares of our common stock for $15 million, or $18.07 per share.
On March 18, 2005, the Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program to buy back up to an aggregate of one million shares of the Company’s common stock following the completion of April 2001 stock buyback authorization. During 2005, the Company repurchased 548,297 shares under the March 2005 buyback authorization for a total of $18.3 million, or $33.40 a share. As of December 31, 2005, 451,703 shares remain under the Company’s March 18, 2005 stock buyback program.
In 2005, the Company repurchased 738,542 shares for $24.5 million, or $33.18 cost per share under both the April 2001 repurchase program and the March 2005 repurchase program.
Issuer Purchases Of Equity Securities
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The following table presents selected historical consolidated financial data for the Bancorp, and is derived in part from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. The selected historical consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of Cathay General Bancorp and the Notes thereto, which are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
(1) Includes the operating results and the acquired assets and assumed deposits and liabilities of GBC Bancorp and its subsidiaries subsequent to October 20, 2003.
(2) Net loans represent gross loans net of loan participations sold, allowance for loan losses and unamortized deferred loan fees.
(3) Shares and per share data have been adjusted to reflect two-for-one stock splits in the form of 100 percent stock dividends, effective May 9, 2002 and September 28, 2004.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
The following discussion is intended to provide information to facilitate the understanding and assessment of the consolidated financial condition of the Bancorp and its subsidiaries, including the Bank, the Company, and their consolidated results of operations. It should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes appearing elsewhere in this report.
The Bank offers a wide range of financial services. The Bank currently operates 20 branches in Southern California, nine branches in Northern California, four branches in New York State, one branch in Massachusetts, one branch in Houston, Texas, and two branches in Washington State, and three representative offices, one in Hong Kong, one in Shanghai, China, and one in Taipei, Taiwan. The Bank is a commercial bank, servicing primarily the individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in the local markets in which its branches are located.
Actual results in any future period may vary from the past results discussed in this report. Given these risks and uncertainties, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak as of the date hereof. We have no intention and undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to publicly announce the results of any revision of any forward-looking statement to reflect future developments or events.
The financial information presented herein includes the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries, including the Bank, and the Bank’s consolidated subsidiaries. All material transactions between these entities are eliminated.
Critical Accounting Policies
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by management which have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities; management considers such accounting policies to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Management believes the following are critical accounting policies that require the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements:
Accounting for the allowance for loan losses
The determination of the amount of the provision for loan losses charged to operations reflects management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio and takes into consideration known relevant internal and external factors that affect collectibility when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses. The nature of the process by which the Bank determines the appropriate allowance for loan losses requires the exercise of considerable judgment. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Bank’s control, including the performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications. A weakening of the economy or other factors that adversely affect asset quality could result in an increase in the number of delinquencies, bankruptcies, or defaults, and a higher level of non-performing assets, net charge-offs, and provision for loan losses in future periods.
The total allowance for loan losses consists of two components: specific allowances and general allowances. To determine the adequacy of the allowance in each of these two components, the Bank employs two primary methodologies, the classification migration methodology and the individual loan review analysis methodology. These methodologies support the basis for determining allocations between the various loan categories and the overall adequacy of the Bank’s allowance to provide for probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. These methodologies are further supported by additional analysis of relevant factors such as the historical losses in the portfolio, trends in the non-performing/non-accrual loans, loan delinquencies, the volume of the portfolio, peer group comparisons, and federal regulatory policy for loan and lease losses. Other significant factors of portfolio analysis include changes in lending policies/underwriting standards, portfolio composition, and concentrations of credit, and trends in the national and local economy.
With these above methodologies, the specific allowance is for those loans internally classified and risk graded as Special Mention, Substandard, Doubtful, or Loss. Additionally, the Bank’s management allocates a specific allowance for “Impaired Credits,” in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” The level of the general allowance is established to provide coverage for management’s estimate of the credit risk in the loan portfolio by various loan segments not covered by the specific allowance.
Allowances for other risks of probable loan losses have been included in the allowance for loan losses. The components of the other risks that have a potential of affecting the Bank’s portfolio are comprised of two basic elements. First, the Bank has set aside funds to cover the risk factors of higher energy prices on the ability of its borrowers to service their loans. The second component of other portfolio risk is the lifting of textile quotas on Chinese manufacturers and the impact of the increased competition on the Bank’s borrowers in the textile industry.
Accounting for the merger with GBC Bancorp
Accounting for the merger with GBC Bancorp involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which has a material impact on the carrying value of fixed rate loans and borrowings and the determination of the core deposit intangible asset and goodwill. Fair value adjustment amounts to carrying value, the amortization method and estimated lives are disclosed in the following table:
Except for the resolution of any pre-acquisition income tax uncertainties, no additional fair value adjustments can be made after the end of the allocation period.
Investment Securities
The classification and accounting for investment securities are discussed in detail in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere herein. Under SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, investment securities generally must be classified as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading. The appropriate classification is based partially on our ability to hold the securities to maturity and largely on management’s intentions with respect to either holding or selling the securities. The classification of investment securities is significant since it directly impacts the accounting for unrealized gains and losses on securities. Unrealized gains and losses on trading securities flow directly through earnings during the periods in which they arise, whereas available-for-sale securities are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity (accumulated other comprehensive income or loss) and do not affect earnings until realized. The fair values of our investment securities are generally determined by reference to quoted market prices and reliable independent sources. We are obligated to assess, at each reporting date, whether there is an “other-than-temporary” impairment to our investment securities. Such impairment must be recognized in current earnings rather than in other comprehensive income (loss). Aside from the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stock that was determined to be impaired and written down during the fourth quarter of 2004, the General Motors Corporation bond with a $1.0 million principal value that was determined to be impaired and written down during 2005 and the Freddie Mac preferred stock that was determined to be impaired and written down during the fourth quarter of 2005, we did not have any other investment securities that were deemed to be “other-than-temporarily” impaired as of December 31, 2005 or 2004. Total write-down for the “other-than-temporarily” impairment was $142,000 in 2005 and $5.5 million in 2004. Investment securities are discussed in more detail in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere herein.
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes is based on income reported for financial statement purposes, and differs from the amount of taxes currently payable, since certain income and expense items are reported for financial statement purposes in different periods than those for tax reporting purposes. Taxes are discussed in more detail in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere herein. Accrued taxes represent the net estimated amount due or to be received from taxing authorities. In estimating accrued taxes, we assess the relative merits and risks of the appropriate tax treatment of transactions taking into account statutory, judicial, and regulatory guidance in the context of our tax position.
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, the objective of which is to establish deferred tax assets and liabilities for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are realized or settled. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
On December 31, 2003, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced its intent to list certain transactions that in its view constitute potentially abusive tax shelters. Included in the transactions subject to this listing were transactions utilizing regulated investment companies (RICs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). As part of the notification indicating the listed transactions, the FTB also indicated its position that it intends to disallow tax benefits associated with these transactions. While the Company continues to believe that the tax benefits recorded in three prior years with respect to its regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible under California law, the Company has deemed it prudent to participate in Voluntary Compliance Initiative - Option 2, requiring payment of all California taxes and interest on these disputed 2000 through 2002 tax benefits, and permitting the Company to claim a refund for these years while avoiding certain potential penalties. The Company retains potential exposure for assertion of an accuracy-related penalty should the FTB prevail in its position in addition to the risk of not being successful in its refund claims. As of December 31, 2005, the Company reflected a $12.1 million net state tax receivable for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002 after giving effect to reserves for loss contingencies on the refund claims, or an equivalent of $7.9 million after giving effect to Federal tax benefits. The FTB is currently in the process of reviewing and assessing our refund claims for taxes and interest for tax years 2000 through 2002. Although the Company believes its tax deductions related to the regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible, there can be no assurance of the outcome of its refund claims, and an adverse outcome on the refund claims could result in a loss of all or a portion of the $7.9 million net state tax receivable after giving effect to Federal tax benefits.
Merger with GBC Bancorp
As of the close of business on October 20, 2003, the Company completed its merger with GBC Bancorp and General Bank (“GBC merger”), pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 6, 2003. Consequently, GBC Bancorp was merged with and into Cathay Bancorp, Inc., with Cathay Bancorp, Inc. as the surviving corporation, and General Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GBC Bancorp, was merged with and into Cathay Bank, with Cathay Bank as the surviving corporation. As a result of the merger, Cathay Bancorp, Inc. issued 13.5 million shares of its newly issued common stock, as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split in 2004, and paid $162.4 million in cash for all of the issued and outstanding shares of GBC Bancorp common stock. Immediately prior to the completion of the GBC merger, Cathay Bank paid to Cathay Bancorp a special dividend of $122.4 million which was in excess of its earnings for 2003 and for which prior regulatory approval was received to fund a portion of the $162.4 million cash portion of the merger consideration. Accordingly, the financial information presented herein after that date represents the combined operations of the two companies.
Results of Operations
Overview
For the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company reported net income of $104.1 million, or $2.05 per diluted share, compared to net income of $86.8 million, or $1.72 per diluted share in 2004 and net income of $55.6 million, or $1.42 per diluted share in 2003. Strong organic loan growth and an improved net interest margin were the main factors that contributed to these results. The return on average assets in 2005 was 1.69%, compared to 1.51% in 2004, and 1.58% in 2003. The return on average equity was 14.05% in 2005, compared to 13.27% in 2004 and 15.13% in 2003.
Highlights
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Net income for 2005 was $104.1 million, or $2.05 per diluted common share, compared with $86.8 million, or $1.72 per diluted common share in 2004.
•
Net interest income increased by 11.9% from 2004 to 2005 as a result of the above loan growth and increases in market interest rates.
•
The provision for credit losses of was negative $500,000 for 2005, compared with zero for 2004, as a result of improved credit quality.
•
Non-accrual loans for 2005 fell to $15.8 million, a 17.8% decrease from December 31, 2004.
•
Net loan charge-offs for 2005 were $2.1 million, or 5 basis points of average loans outstanding, compared to net loan charge-offs of $2.9 million for 2004.
•
Total gross loans increased by 21.3% to $4.65 billion at December 31, 2005, from $3.83 billion at December 31, 2004.
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Deposit balances at December 31, 2005, grew to $4.9 billion, an increase of $321.2 million, or 7.0%, compared to the deposit balance at December 31, 2004.
•
Efficiency ratio was 36.86% for 2005, compared to 39.23% for 2004.
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The effective tax rate for 2005 decreased to 37.5% from 38.2% in 2004.
Net income and key financial performance ratios are presented below for the three years indicated:
Net Interest Income
Net interest income totaled $240.4 million in 2005 compared with $214.8 million in 2004. Interest income in 2005 on tax-exempt securities was $4.4 million, or $6.7 million on a tax-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%, compared to $4.2 million, or $6.4 million on a tax-equivalent basis in 2004.
Taxable-equivalent net interest income totaled $242.6 million in 2005, compared with $217.0 million in 2004. The increase in net interest income was due to a 7.2% increase in average earning assets due primarily to
the strong organic loan growth, partially offset by a decrease of securities available-for-sale, as well as an improvement in the net interest margin between 2004 and 2005.
Average loans for 2005 were $4.17 billion, which is $642.7 million, or 18.3%, higher than 2004 due primarily to the growth in commercial real estate loans. Compared with December 31, 2004, balances, commercial loans increased $155.0 million, or 16.2%, to $1.11 billion, residential mortgages and equity lines increased $99.6 million, or 30.0%, to $431.3 million, commercial real estate mortgages increased $471.4 million, or 22.2%, to $2.60 billion and construction loans increased $87.4 million, or 21.2%, to $500.0 million. Average securities were $1.48 billion, a decrease of $264.6 million, or 15.2%, due primarily to the sale of $243.2 million of securities and $302.0 million pay-downs from mortgage-backed securities and calls of municipal bonds and other securities during 2005.
Average deposits were $4.81 billion in 2005, an increase of $315.6 million, or 7.0%, from $4.49 billion in 2004 due to business development efforts and promotions. Average other borrowings decreased $2.9 million to $403.5 million from $406.4 million. Average federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase increased from $53.8 million in 2004 to $62.4 million in 2005 as a result of the Company’s shift from Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings.
Taxable-equivalent interest income increased $75.7 million, or 27.3%, to $352.9 million in 2005, primarily due to continued growth in loans. The overall increase in taxable-equivalent interest income was due to increases in volume and rate which were partially offset by a change in the mix of interest-earning assets as discussed below:
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Increase in volume: Average interest-earning assets increased $383.0 million, or 7.21%, to $5.69 billion in 2005, over interest-earning assets of $5.31 billion in 2004. The increase in volume added $28.8 million to interest income and was primarily attributable to the growth in loans.
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Increase in rate: The taxable-equivalent yield on interest-earning assets increased 98 basis points from 5.22% in 2004 to 6.20% in 2005. As a result of the higher interest rate environment during 2005, the yield earned on average loans increased 116 basis points from 5.68% to 6.84% in the same period. The yield earned on average taxable securities increased from 4.24% in 2004 to 4.33% in 2005. The increase in rates increased interest income by $46.9 million.
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Change in the mix of interest-earnings assets: Average gross loans, which generally has a higher yield than other types of investments, comprised 73.2% of total average interest-bearing assets compared with 66.4% in 2004. Average securities comprised 26.0% of total average interest-bearing assets which decreased from 32.9% in 2004.
Interest expense increased by $50.1 million to $110.3 million in 2005 compared with $60.2 million in 2004. The overall increase in interest expense was due to an increase in rate and an increase in volume time deposits as discussed below:
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Increase in volume: Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $282.6 million in 2005, due primarily to the growth of time deposits.
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Increase in rate: As a result of the higher interest rate environment during 2005, the average cost of interest bearing liabilities increased 99 basis points from 1.39% in 2004 to 2.38% in 2005.
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Change in the mix of interest-bearing liabilities. Average time deposits of $2.93 billion comprised 63.3% of total interest-bearing liabilities in 2005 compared to 58.1% in 2004. Total average savings accounts, NOW accounts, and money market accounts decreased to 25.4% of total interest-bearing liabilities in 2005 compared to 30.1% in 2004.
The Company’s taxable-equivalent net interest margin, defined as taxable-equivalent net interest income to average interest-earning assets, increased 17 basis points to 4.26% in 2005 from 4.09% in 2004 primarily as a
result of the increases in the prevailing prime rate, the Company’s overall asset sensitive interest rate position in a period of increasing interest rates, and the decrease in securities as a proportion of earning assets.
Net interest income totaled $214.8 million in 2004 compared with $127.1 million in 2003. Interest income in 2004 on tax-exempt securities was $4.2 million or $6.4 million on a tax-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%, compared to $4.0 million or $6.2 million on a tax-equivalent basis in 2003.
Taxable-equivalent net interest income totaled $217.0 million in 2004, compared with $129.3 million in 2003. The increase in net interest income was due to a 58.9% increase in average earning assets due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp and strong organic loan growth as well as an improvement in the net interest margin between 2003 and 2004.
Average loans for 2004 were $3.52 billion, which is $1.29 billion higher than 2003 due to the GBC Bancorp merger and growth in commercial real estate loans. Compared with December 31, 2003, balances, commercial loans decreased $1.0 million to $955.4 million, residential mortgages and equity lines increased 26.2% to $331.7 million, commercial real estate mortgages increased 23.5% to $2.12 billion and construction loans increased 14.8% to $412.6 million. Average securities were $1.74 billion, an increase of $688.2 million or 65.2% due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp.
Average deposits were $4.49 billion in 2004, an increase of $1.67 billion from $2.82 billion in 2003 due primarily from the merger with GBC Bancorp. Average other borrowings increased to $406.4 million from $138.5 million primarily as a result of the Company’s increased utilization of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings. Average federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase decreased from $106.0 million in 2003 to $53.8 million in 2004 as a result of the Company’s shift to Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings.
Taxable-equivalent interest income increased $107.8 million or 63.6% to $277.2 million in 2004, largely as a result of the merger with GBC Bancorp and continued growth in loans. The overall increase in taxable-equivalent interest income was due to increases in volume and rate which were partially offset by a change in the mix of interest-earning assets as discussed below:
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Increase in volume: Average interest-earning assets increased $1.97 billion, to $5.31 billion in 2004, an increase of 58.9% over interest-earning assets of $3.34 billion in 2003. The increase in volume added $102.9 million to interest income and was primarily attributable to the merger with GBC Bancorp as well as organic growth in commercial real estate loans and residential mortgages.
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Increase in rate: The taxable-equivalent yield on interest-earning assets increased 15 basis points from 5.07% in 2003 to 5.22% in 2004. As a result of the higher interest rate environment, the yield earned on average loans increased 13 basis points from 5.55% to 5.68% in the same period. The yield earned on average taxable securities increased from 3.98% in 2003 to 4.24% in 2004 due to slower prepayments and purchases of higher yielding securities during 2004. The increase in rates increased interest income by $4.9 million.
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Change in the mix of interest-earnings assets: Average gross loans, which generally has a higher yield than other types of investments, comprised 66.4% of total average interest-bearing assets compared with 66.9% in 2003.
Interest expense increased by $20.1 million to $60.2 million in 2004 compared with $40.1 million in 2003. The overall increase in interest expense was due to an increase in volume which more than offset the decrease in rate and a more favorable mix of deposits as discussed below:
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Increase in volume: Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $1.62 billion in 2004, due to the merger with GBC Bancorp and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank to fund the growth in loans, resulting in a $22.8 million increase in interest expense.
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Decrease in rate: While short term interest rates rose in the latter part of 2004, the average cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased 8 basis points due to the maturity of higher cost wholesale borrowed funds and a substantial increase in short term Federal Home Loan Bank secured borrowing and caused a $2.8 million decrease in interest expense.
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Change in the mix of interest-bearing liabilities. Average time deposits of $2.52 billion comprised 58.1% of total interest-bearing liabilities in 2004 compared to 61.1% in 2003. Total average savings accounts, NOW accounts, and money market accounts increased to 30.1% of total interest-bearing liabilities in 2004 compared to 29.3% in 2003.
The Company’s taxable-equivalent net interest margin, defined as taxable-equivalent net interest income to average interest-earning assets, increased 22 basis points from 3.87% in 2003 to 4.09% in 2004 primarily as a result of the increases in the prevailing prime rate, the Company’s overall asset sensitive interest rate position in a period of increasing interest rates, and higher yields on investment securities.
The following table sets forth information concerning average interest-earning assets, average interest-bearing liabilities, and the yields and rates paid on those assets and liabilities. Average outstanding amounts included in the table are daily averages.
Interest-Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities
(Dollars in thousands)
(1) Yields and amounts of interest earned include loan fees. Non-accrual loans are included in the average balance.
(2) Calculated by dividing net interest income by average outstanding interest-earning assets.
(3) The average yield has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis for certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.
(4) Net interest income, net interest spread, and net interest margin on interest-earning assets have been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.
Taxable-Equivalent Net Interest Income - Changes Due to Rate and Volume(1)
(1) Changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to changes due to volume and changes due to rate.
(2) The amount of interest earned on certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held have been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis, using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.
Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses represents the charge against current earnings that is determined by management, through a credit review process, as the amount needed to maintain an allowance for loan losses that management believes should be sufficient to absorb loan losses inherent in the Bank’s loan portfolio. The provision for loan losses was a negative $500,000 in 2005 compared with zero in 2004 and $7.2 million in 2003. As a result of a 17.8% decrease in non-accrual loans, low net charge-offs, and other indications of improved credit quality, the Bank recorded the negative provision for loan losses of $500,000 during 2005. Net charge-offs for 2005 were $2.1 million, or 0.05% of average loans, compared to net charge-offs of $2.9 million, or 0.08% of average loans, during 2004 and compared to net recoveries of $0.1 million or 0.003% of average loans during 2003.
Non-interest Income
Non-interest income was $22.5 million for 2005, $16.3 million for 2004, and $23.0 million for 2003. Non-interest income includes deposit service fees, letters of credit commissions, securities sales, loan sales, and other sources of fee income. These other fee-based services include, among other things, wire transfer fees, safe deposit fees, fees on loan-related activities, fee income from the Company’s Wealth Management division, and foreign exchange fees.
The increase of $6.2 million, or 38.3%, from 2004 to 2005 in non-interest income was primarily due to the following items:
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Net securities gains of $1.5 million in 2005 compared to net securities losses of $4.0 million in 2004. In 2004, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $5.5 million, or $3.2 million net of tax, for “other-than-temporary impairment” on perpetual floating-rate preferred securities issued by government sponsored enterprises compared to “other-than-temporary” impairment charges of $142,000 during 2005;
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Gains on sale of premises and equipment increased $934,000 in 2005 due to the sale of the land and building for a closed branch;
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An increase in other operating income of $1.2 million, or 13.3%, to $10.2 million in 2005 from $9.0 million in 2004 due primarily to increases in the valuation of the Company’s portfolio of warrants of $706,000, investment services commission income of $509,000, and higher cashier check commissions of $354,000; and
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The above increases were offset by a decrease of $550,000, or 11.6%, in letter of credit commissions in 2005 due primarily to lower letter of credit volumes and the amortization during 2005 of all standby letter of credit fees received, whereas, prior to 2005 only fees above $10,000 were amortized; and by a decrease of $819,000, or 12.7%, in depository service fees in 2005 due to decreases in wire transfer charges and the increases in short term interest rates which resulted in lower account analysis fees collected from depositors.
The decrease of $6.7 million, or 29.3%, from 2003 to 2004 in non-interest income was primarily due to the following items:
•
Net securities losses of $4.0 million in 2004 compared to net securities gains of $9.9 million in 2003. As further described below, in the fourth quarter of 2004, the Bank recorded a non-cash charge of $5.5 million, or $3.2 million net of tax, for “other-than-temporary” impairment on perpetual floating-rate preferred securities issued by government sponsored enterprises. During 2003, the Bank sold $20.9 million of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued by Hong Kong entities for a gain of $4.0 million and sold additional securities for gains of $2.5 million in order to reduce its holdings of premium collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) securities and to reduce its corporate bond positions;
•
An increase of letters of credit commissions of $2.0 million, or 82.0%, to $4.4 million in 2004 from $2.4 million in 2003 due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp and additional business;
•
An increase in deposit service fees of $1.2 million, or 22.5%, to $6.8 million in 2004 from $5.6 million in 2003 due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp; and
•
An increase in other operating income of $4.0 million, or 76.4%, to $9.1 million in 2004 from $5.1 million in 2003 due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp, increases in investment services commission income, the recording of unrealized warrant gains from a company that became public, and higher gains on sales of SBA loans.
In 2000 and 2001, the Bank purchased three issues of preferred stock issued by Freddie Mac with a total par value of $20.0 million and one issue of preferred stock issued by Fannie Mae with a total par value of $5.0 million. These securities have a perpetual life and after an initial fixed rate period, the dividend on each issue of
preferred stock is repriced based on a spread over a specific index such as LIBOR or the two-year Treasury Note. During the fourth quarter of 2004, based on an evaluation of the length of time and extent to which the market value of these preferred stock securities have been less than market and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuers, the Bank recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charges of $5.5 million to write down the value of these securities to market.
Non-interest Expense
Non-interest expense includes expenses related to salaries and benefits of employees, occupancy expenses, marketing expenses, computer and equipment expenses, amortization of core deposit intangibles, and other operating expenses. Non-interest expense totaled $96.9 million in 2005, compared with $90.7 million in 2004 and $55.1 million in 2003. The increase of $6.2 million, or 6.9%, in non-interest expense in 2005 compared to 2004 was primarily a combination of the following:
•
an increase of $3.4 million, or 7.0%, in salaries and employee benefits, due primarily to an increase of $3.8 million from stock option expense and $2.5 million from annual salary adjustments for the Company’s employees and the hiring of additional employees which were partially offset by higher deferred loan origination costs of $2.8 million;
•
an increase of $748,000 in occupancy expense due primarily to the addition of new branches, an adjustment in 2005 for prior period lease expenses of $230,000, and writeoff of leasehold improvements for two branches closed during 2005;
•
an increase of $1.0 million in professional expense, due to external auditing expenses and professional expense related to testing of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and higher consulting fees related to improvements in the Bank’s Bank Secrecy Act procedures;
•
an increase of $1.1 million in expenses for the operation of affordable housing projects due to additional investments that were made in affordable housing projects;
•
an increase of $621,000 in amortization of core deposit intangibles of which $338,000 was an adjustment recorded in 2005 to accelerate the amortization in prior periods.
The efficiency ratio, defined as non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income before provision for loan losses plus non-interest income, improved to 36.86% in 2005 compared with 39.23% in 2004 due primarily to the stronger growth in revenues as compared to expenses from 2004 to 2005 as well as the securities losses recorded in 2004.
Non-interest expense totaled $90.7 million in 2004, compared with $55.1 million in 2003. The increase of $35.6 million or 64.4% in non-interest expense in 2004 compared to 2003 was primarily a combination of the following:
•
an increase of $20.6 million in salaries and employee benefits, due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp, and an increase of $2.5 million from stock option expense and annual salary adjustments for the Company’s employees;
•
an increase of $3.1 million in computer and equipment expense due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp and the conversion of General Bank’s customers to Cathay Bank’s computer system;
•
increases of $3.4 million in occupancy expense, $0.4 million in FDIC and state assessments, $0.8 million in marketing expense, $4.2 million in amortization of core deposit intangibles, and $0.4 million in other expense all due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp;
•
an increase of $2.6 million in professional expense, due to the merger with GBC Bancorp, higher legal fees related to collection activities, higher consulting and audit fees related to complying with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and higher consulting fees related to improvements in the Bank’s Bank Secrecy Act procedures.
The efficiency ratio, defined as non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income before provision for loan losses plus non-interest income, increased to 39.23% in 2004 compared with 36.73% in 2003 due primarily to the higher amortization of core deposit intangibles in 2004 and the securities losses recorded in 2004.
Income Tax Expense
The effective tax rate was 37.5% for 2005 and 38.2% for 2004. The effective tax rate for 2005 decreased from 2004 because state income taxes were lower in 2005 as a percentage of pretax income because of higher tax benefits recognized related to California enterprise zone tax deductions and a higher percentage of taxable income apportioned to lower tax rate jurisdictions and an increase in low income housing tax credits.
The effective tax rate was 38.2% for 2004 and 36.7% for 2003. The effective tax rate for 2004 increased from 2003 because the tax benefit from the Company’s investments in affordable housing projects and other tax-exempt investments comprised a smaller percentage of pretax income in 2004 than in 2003. Quarterly comparisons with 2003 are impacted by the real estate investment trust (“REIT”) state tax benefits which reduced income tax expense in the first three quarters of 2003 and increased income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2003, when the previously recorded benefit was reversed.
On December 31, 2003, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced its intent to list certain transactions that in its view constitute potentially abusive tax shelters. Included in the transactions subject to this listing were transactions utilizing regulated investment companies (RICs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). As part of the notification indicating the listed transactions, the FTB also indicated its position that it intends to disallow tax benefits associated with these transactions. While the Company continues to believe that the tax benefits recorded in three prior years with respect to RIC were appropriate and fully defensible under California law, the Company has deemed it prudent to participate in Voluntary Compliance Initiative - Option 2, requiring payment of all California taxes and interest on these disputed 2000 through 2002 tax benefits, and permitting the Company to claim a refund for these years while avoiding certain potential penalties. The Company retains potential exposure for assertion of an accuracy-related penalty should the FTB prevail in its position in addition to the risk of not being successful in its refund claims. As of December 31, 2005, the Company reflected a $12.1 million net state tax receivable for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002 after giving effect to reserves for loss contingencies on the refund claims, or an equivalent of $7.9 million after giving effect to Federal tax benefits. The FTB is currently in the process of reviewing and assessing our refund claims for taxes and interest for tax years 2000 through 2002. Although the Company believes its tax deductions related to the regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible, there can be no assurance of the outcome of its refund claims, and an adverse outcome on the refund claims could result in a loss of all or a portion of the $7.9 million net state tax receivable after giving effect to Federal tax benefits. See discussion above in Item 1A - Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Review of Financial Condition
Total assets increased by $299.5 million, or 4.9%, to $6.40 billion at December 31, 2005, compared with total assets of $6.10 billion at December 31, 2004. The increase in total assets was due primarily to growth in loans partially offset by sales of investment securities to fund loan growth and to pay down advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank.
Securities
Securities represented 26.0% of average interest-earning assets for 2005 compared with 32.9% for 2004 as the Company decreased the size of the securities portfolio to fund loan growth. The fair value of securities available-for-sale (“AFS”) at December 31, 2005, was $1.22 billion compared with $1.79 billion at December 31, 2004. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value and had a net unrealized loss of $22.9
million at December 31, 2005, compared with a net unrealized gain $6.1 million at December 31, 2004. The changing from an unrealized holding gains position from year-end 2004 to an unrealized holding losses at year-end 2005 resulted from the increase in interest rates during 2005.
The following table summarizes the carrying value of our portfolio of securities for each of the past two years:
The table below shows the fair value and unrealized losses as of December 31, 2005 on the temporarily impaired securities in the Company’s available-for-sale securities portfolio. The Company has the ability and intent to hold these debt securities for a period of time sufficient for a recovery of cost. Unrealized losses for securities with unrealized losses for less than twelve months represents 1.8%, and securities with unrealized losses for twelve months and more represent 2.9% of the historical cost of these securities and generally resulted from increases in interest rates from the date that these securities were purchased. All of these securities are investment grade. The Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $5.5 million in 2004 and $115,000 in 2005 on its preferred stock of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to write down the value of these securities to their respective fair values as of December 31, 2004 and 2005. In addition, the Bank recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charges of $27,000 in 2005 when General Motors Corporation bond with a $1.0 million principal value was determined impaired. At December 31, 2005, management believes the impairment detailed in the table below is temporary and accordingly no impairment loss has been recognized in the Company’s consolidated income statement.
Temporarily Impaired Securities at December 31, 2005
The scheduled maturities and taxable-equivalent yields by security type are presented in the following tables:
Securities Available-for-Sale Portfolio Maturity Distribution and Yield Analysis:
(1) Securities reflect stated maturities and do not reflect the impact of anticipated prepayments.
(2) There is no stated maturity for equity securities.
(3) Average yield has been adjusted to a fully-taxable equivalent basis.
Loans
Loans represented 73.2% of average interest-earning assets during 2005 compared with 66.4% during 2004. Gross loans, increased by $815.8 million, an increase of 21.3%, to $4.65 billion at year-end 2005 compared with $3.83 billion at year-end 2004. The growth was primarily attributable to the following:
•
Commercial mortgage loans increased $471.4 million, or 22.2%, to $2.60 billion at year-end 2005, compared to $2.12 billion at year-end 2004 due primarily to strong loan originations, particularly for loans secured by retail, office, and hospitality properties. Total commercial mortgage loans accounted for 55.7% of gross loans at year-end 2005 compared to 55.3% at year-end 2004. Commercial mortgage loans include primarily commercial retail properties, shopping centers, and owner-occupied industrial facilities, and secondarily office buildings, multiple-unit apartments, and multi-tenanted industrial
properties, and are typically secured by first deeds of trust on such commercial properties. In addition, the Bank provides medium-term commercial real estate loans secured by commercial or industrial buildings where the owner either uses the property for business purposes or derives income from tenants.
•
Commercial loans increased $155.0 million, or 16.2%, to $1.11 billion at December 31, 2005, compared to $955.4 million at December 31, 2004. Commercial loans consist primarily of short-term loans (normally with a maturity of one year or less) to support general business purposes, or to provide working capital to businesses in the form of lines of credit to finance trade-finance loans, loans for commercial purposes secured by cash, and SBA loans.
•
Real estate construction loans increased $87.4 million, or 21.2%, to $500.0 million at year-end 2005 compared to $412.6 million at year-end 2004.
•
Total residential mortgage loans and equity lines increased by $99.6 million or 30.0%, to $431.3 million at year-end 2005, compared to $331.7 million at year-end 2004 primarily due to strong new loan originations for single family mortgage loans.
The Company’s lending activities are predominantly in the states of California, New York, Texas, Washington and Massachusetts, although it has some loans to domestic clients who are engaged in international trade.
The classification of loans by type as of December 31 for each of the past five years is presented below:
Loan Type and Mix
The loan maturities in the table below are based on contractual maturities. As is customary in the banking industry, loans that meet sound underwriting criteria can be renewed by mutual agreement between the Company and the borrower. Because the Company is unable to estimate the extent to which its borrowers will renew their loans, the table is based on contractual maturities. As a result, the data shown below should not be viewed as an indication of future cash flows. As a result of short term interest rates approaching longer term interest rates, a higher proportion of the Company’s commercial mortgage loans at December 31, 2005, were fixed rate loans compared to the prior year.
Contractual Maturity of Loan Portfolio
Deposits
The Bank primarily uses customer deposits to fund its operations, and to a lesser extent borrowings in the form of securities sold under agreements to repurchase, advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank, and other borrowings. The Bank’s deposits are generally obtained from residents within the Bank’s geographic market area. The Bank utilizes traditional marketing methods to attract new customers and deposits, by offering a wide variety of products and services and utilizing various forms of advertising media. Although the vast majority of the Bank’s deposits are retail in nature, the Bank does engage in certain wholesale activities, primarily accepting time deposits from political subdivisions and public agencies. The Bank considers wholesale deposits to be an alternative borrowing source rather than a customer relationship and, as such, their levels are determined by management’s decisions as to the most economic funding sources. At December 31, 2005, the Bank had no brokered-deposits, and public deposits totaled $253.7 million, or 5.2% of total deposits.
The Bank’s total deposits increased $321.2 million, or 7.0%, from $4.60 billion at year-end 2004 to $4.92 billion at December 31, 2005. Time deposits of $100,000 or more increased $299.3 million, or 14.1%, and time deposits under $100,000 increased $101.6 million, or 18.8%, during 2005 due to a number of special deposit promotions during 2005 such as the Anniversary Celebration CD promotion as well as the $100.0 million increase in State of California deposits during 2005. During 2005, NOW accounts decreased $12.9 million, or 5.1%, money market accounts decreased $65.5 million, or 11.1%, and saving deposits decreased $53.2 million, or 12.7%, primarily due to customers transferring funds to higher yielding certificates of deposit.
The following table displays the deposit mix for the past three years:
Deposit Mix
Average total deposits grew $315.6 million, or 7.0%, to $4.81 billion during 2005 compared with average total deposits of $4.49 billion in 2004.
The following table displays average deposits and rates for the past five years:
Average Deposits and Average Rates
Management considers the Bank’s time deposits of $100,000 or more (Jumbo CDs) to be generally less volatile than other wholesale funding sources primarily due to the following reasons:
• approximately 60.1% of the Bank’s Jumbo CDs have stayed with the Bank for more than two years;
• the Jumbo CD portfolio continued to be diversified with 10,646 individual accounts averaging approximately $203,000 per account owned by 6,695 individual depositors as of December 31, 2005; and
• the ratio of relatively higher percentage of Jumbo CDs to total deposits exists in most of the Asian-American banks in our California market due to the fact that the customers in this market tend to have a higher savings rate.
Management continues to monitor the Jumbo CD portfolio to identify any changes in the deposit behavior in the market and of the customers the Bank is serving.
90.0% of our Jumbo CDs mature within one year as of year-end 2005. The following tables display time deposits of $100,000 or more by maturity and time deposits with remaining term of more than one year at December 31, 2005:
Time Deposits of $100,000 or More by Maturity
(1) Includes time deposits of $100,000 and over of $76.9 million which are callable in 2006 and mature in 2009.
Maturities of Time Deposits with a Remaining Term
of More Than One Year for Each
of the Five Years Following December 31, 2005
(1) Includes time deposits of $84.9 million which are callable in 2006 and mature in 2009.
Borrowings
Borrowings include securities sold under agreements to repurchase, federal funds purchased, funds obtained as advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of San Francisco, and borrowings from other financial institutions.
In November and December 2005, the Company entered into four long-term transactions involving the sale of securities under repurchase agreements totaling $200.0 million for five years. The rates are all initially floating rate for the first year at the three-month Libor minus 100 basis points. Thereafter, the rates are fixed for the remainder of the term, with interest rates ranging from 4.35% to 4.52%. After the initial one year period, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the first anniversary date and quarterly thereafter At December 31, 2004, securities sold under repurchase agreements totaled $15.0 million. The weighted-average interest rate during 2005 was 3.39% compared to 2.41% during 2004. During 2004, the Company prepaid $29.0 million of securities sold under agreement to repurchase which would have matured in 2006 and 2007 and realized a gain of $0.1 million.
The table below provides comparative data for securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
(1) Average balances were computed using daily averages.
(2) Highest month-end balances were December in 2005, May in 2004, July in 2003.
Advances from the FHLB decreased $330.0 million to $215.0 million at December 31, 2005, from $545.0 million at December 31, 2004. The Company entered into long-term repurchase agreements totaling $200.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 as discussed above to reduce the reliance on FHLB borrowings and provide the Company with long-term borrowing at a lower cost. All of the FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2005 mature during the first quarter of 2006. These advances are non-callable with fixed interest rates, with a weighted average rate of 4.29%.
On May 31, 2005, Cathay General Bancorp entered into a $30.0 million 364-day unsecured revolving loan agreement with a commercial bank bearing an interest rate of LIBOR plus 90 basis points and a commitment fee of 12.5 basis points on unused commitments. At December 31, 2005, $20.0 million was outstanding with a weighted average rate of 5.18% under this loan.
Junior Subordinated Notes
The Company established special purpose trusts in 2003 for the purpose of issuing Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in its Subordinated Debentures to outside investors (“Capital Securities”). The proceeds from the issuance of the Capital Securities as well as the Company’s purchase of the common stock of the special purpose trusts were invested in Junior Subordinated Notes of Cathay General Bancorp (“Junior Subordinated Notes”). The trusts exist for the sole purpose of issuing the Capital Securities and investing in Junior Subordinated Notes. Subject to some limitations, payment of distributions out of the monies held by the trusts and payments on liquidation of the trusts, or the redemption of the Capital Securities, are guaranteed by the Company to the extent the trusts have funds on hand at such time. The obligations of the Company under the guarantees and the Junior Subordinate Notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all indebtedness of the Company and will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities and obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Bancorp has the right to defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at any time or from time to time for a period of up to twenty consecutive quarterly periods with respect to each deferral period. Under the terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Bancorp may not, with certain exceptions, declare or pay any dividends or distributions on its capital stock or purchase or acquire any of its capital stock if the Bancorp has deferred payment of interest on any Junior Subordinated Notes.
As of December 31, 2005, the total Junior Subordinated Notes issued by the Company totaled $54.0 million. The trusts are not consolidated with the Company in accordance with an accounting pronouncement that took effect in December 2003.
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements, Commitments, Guarantees, and Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations and commitments to make future payments as of December 31, 2005. Payments for deposits and borrowings do not include interest. Payments related to leases are based on actual payments specified in the underlying contracts. Loan commitments and standby letters of credit are presented at contractual amounts; however, since many of these commitments are expected to expire unused or only partially used, the total amounts of these commitments do not necessarily reflect future cash requirements.
(1) These repurchase agreements have a final maturity of five years but are callable on a quarterly basis after one year.
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into various transactions, which, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, are not included in its consolidated balance sheet. The Company enters into these transactions to meet the financing needs of its customers. These transactions include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets.
Loan Commitments. The Company enters into contractual commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of the Company’s commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards at the time of loan funding. The Company minimizes its exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. Management assesses the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit in determining the level of the allowance for loan losses. Loan commitments outstanding at December 31, 2005, are included in the table above.
Standby Letters of Credit. Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of agreement with the third party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, the Company would be
entitled to seek reimbursement from the customer. The Company’s policies generally require that standby letter of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements. Standby letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2005, are included in the table above.
Capital Resources
Stockholders’ Equity
We obtain capital primarily from retained earnings, the issuance of additional common stock and, to a lesser extent, through our Dividend Reinvestment Plan and stock options exercises. Stockholders’ equity of $773.6 million at December 31, 2005, was up $57.6 million, or 8.0%, compared to $716.0 million at December 31, 2004. The increase in stockholders’ equity was due to $104.1 million from net income less payments of dividends on common stock of $18.2 million, proceeds from exercise of stock options of $2.4 million, tax benefit of $0.8 million from the exercise of stock options, reinvestment of dividends of $3.0 million, amortization of unearned compensation of $6.8 million, a reduction of $16.9 million from higher unrealized losses on securities, and stock repurchases of $24.5 million during 2005. The Company paid common stock dividends of $0.36 per common share in 2005 and $0.30 per common share in 2004.
On April 6, 2001, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program of up to $15 million of our common stock. On May 2, 2005, the Company completed the April 2001 repurchase plan under which it had repurchased a total of 830,065 common shares from April 2001 to May 2005 for a total of $15.0 million, or $18.07 per share.
On March 18, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program to buyback up to an aggregate of one million shares of the Company’s common stock following the completion of the April 2001 stock buyback authorization. During 2005, the Company repurchased 548,297 shares for a total of $18.3 million at an average price of $33.40 per share under its March 18, 2005 repurchase program. As of December 31, 2005, 451,703 shares remain under the Company’s March 18, 2005, stock buyback authorization.
During 2005, the Company repurchased 738,542 shares for $24.5 million, at an average price of $33.18 per share under both the April 2001 repurchase program and the March 2005 repurchase program.
Under California State banking law, the Bank may not without regulatory approval pay a cash dividend which exceeds the lesser of the Bank’s retained earnings or its net income for the last three fiscal years, less any cash distributions made during that period. The amount of retained earnings available for cash dividends to the Bancorp immediately after December 31, 2005, is restricted to approximately $111.4 million under this regulation.
Capital Adequacy
Management seeks to retain the Company’s capital at a level sufficient to support future growth, protect depositors and stockholders, and comply with various regulatory requirements.
The primary measure of capital adequacy is based on the ratio of risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets. At year-end 2005, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 10.61%, total risk-based capital ratio of 11.72%, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 9.80%, continued to place the Company in the “well capitalized” category, which is defined as institutions with Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio equal to or greater than six percent, total risk-based capital ratio equal to or greater than ten percent, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio equal to or greater than five percent. The comparable ratios for 2004 were Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 10.78%, total risk-based capital ratio of 12.03%, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 8.86%.
Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust, of which 100% of the common stock is owned by Cathay Bank, sold $4.4 million during 2003, and $4.2 million during 2004 of its 7.0% Series A Non-Cumulative preferred stock to
accredited investors. During 2005, the Trust repurchased $131,000 of its preferred stock. This preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital under current regulatory guidelines.
A table displaying the Company’s and the Bank’s capital and leverage ratios at year-end 2005 and 2004 is included in Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Risk Elements of the Loan Portfolio
Non-performing Assets
Non-performing assets include loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, non-accrual loans, and other real estate owned. The Company’s policy is to place loans on non-accrual status if interest and principal or either interest or principal is past due 90 days or more, or in cases where management deems the full collection of principal and interest unlikely. After a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any unpaid interest is generally reversed against current income. Thereafter, any payment is generally first applied towards the principal balance. Depending on the circumstances, management may elect to continue the accrual of interest on certain past due loans if partial payment is received and/or the loan is well collateralized and in the process of collection. The loan is generally returned to accrual status when the borrower has brought the past due principal and interest payments current and, in the opinion of management, the borrower has demonstrated the ability to make future payments of principal and interest as scheduled.
Management reviews the loan portfolio regularly for problem loans. During the ordinary course of business, management becomes aware of borrowers that may not be able to meet the contractual requirements of the loan agreements. Such loans are placed under closer supervision with consideration given to placing the loan on non-accrual status, the need for an additional allowance for loan losses, and (if appropriate) partial or full charge-off.
Our non-performing assets decreased $4.6 million, or 20.3%, to $17.9 million at year-end 2005 compared to $22.5 million at year-end 2004. The decrease in non-performing assets was primarily due to the increase in collections of non-accrual loans during 2005.
As a percentage of gross loans plus other real estate owned, our non-performing assets decreased to 0.39% at year-end 2005 from 0.59% at year-end 2004. The non-performing loan coverage ratio, defined as the allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans, increased to 336.50% at year-end 2005, from 279.83% at year-end 2004.
The following table presents the breakdown of total non-accrual, past due, and restructured loans for the past five years:
Non-accrual, Past Due and Restructured Loans
(1) Troubled debt restructurings accrue interest at their restructured terms.
The effect of non-accrual loans and troubled debt restructurings on interest income for the past five years is presented below:
Non-accrual Loans
Non-accrual loans were $15.8 million at year-end 2005 and $19.2 million at year-end 2004. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2005, consisted of seventeen commercial loans totaling $9.9 million and four commercial mortgage loans totaling $5.9 million. The comparable numbers for 2004 were $14.1 million in nineteen commercial loans, $1.2 million in two construction loans, $3.8 million in three commercial mortgage loans, and $69,000 in one residential mortgage loan.
The following tables present the type of properties securing the loans and the type of businesses the borrowers engaged in under commercial mortgage and commercial non-accrual loan categories as of the dates indicated:
(1) Real estate includes commercial mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, and residential mortgage loans and equity lines.
(1) Real estate includes commercial mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, and residential mortgage loans and equity lines.
Troubled Debt Restructurings
A troubled debt restructuring is a formal restructure of a loan when the lender, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower. The concessions may be granted in various forms, including reduction in the stated interest rate, reduction in the loan balance or accrued interest, and extension of the maturity date.
Troubled debt restructurings, excluding those on non-accrual status, increased $2.1 million to $3.1 million at December 31, 2005, compared to $1.0 million at December 31, 2004. The restructured loans were comprised of two borrowers as of December 31, 2005. At December 31, 2005, those restructured loans were performing under their revised terms.
Impaired Loans
A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that a creditor will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement based on current circumstances and events. The assessment for impairment occurs when and while such loans are on non-accrual, or the loan has been restructured. Those loans less than our defined selection criteria are treated as a homogeneous portfolio. If loans
meeting the defined criteria are not collateral dependent, we measure the impairment based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. If loans meeting the defined criteria are collateral dependent, we measure the impairment by using the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral. If the measurement of the impaired loan is less than the recorded amount of the loan, we then recognize impairment by creating or adjusting an existing valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses.
We identified impaired loans with a recorded investment of $15.8 million at year-end 2005, compared to $19.2 million at year-end 2004. The average balance of impaired loans was $15.6 million in 2005 and $24.3 million in 2004. Interest collected on impaired loans totaled $0.2 million in 2005 and $0.5 million in 2004.
The following tables present impaired loans and the related allowances as of the dates indicated:
The impaired loans included in the table above is comprised of $9.9 million in commercial loans and $5.9 million in real estate loans as of December 31, 2005, and comprised of $14.1 million commercial loans and $5.1 million in real estate loans as of December 31, 2004.
Loan Concentration
We experienced no loan concentrations to multiple borrowers in similar activities that exceeded 10% of total loans as of December 31, 2005. See “Item 1A - Rick Factors” above for a discussion of some of the factors that may affect the matters discussed in this Section.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The Bank’s management is committed to managing the risk in its loan portfolio by maintaining the allowance for loan losses at a level that is considered to be equal to the estimated and known risks in the loan portfolio. With a risk management objective, the Bank’s management has an established monitoring system that is designed to identify impaired and potential problem loans, and to permit periodic evaluation of impairment and the adequacy level of the allowance for loan losses in a timely manner.
In addition, our Board of Directors has established a written loan policy that includes an effective loan review and control system to ensure that the Bank maintains an adequate allowance for loan losses. The Board of Directors provides oversight for the allowance evaluation process, including quarterly evaluations, and determines whether the allowance is adequate to absorb estimated losses in the loan portfolio. The determination of the amount of the allowance for loan losses and the provision for loan losses is based on management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio and takes into consideration known relevant internal and external factors that affect collectibility when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses. The nature of the process by which the Bank determines the appropriate allowance for loan losses requires the exercise of considerable judgment. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are made by charges to the provision for loan losses. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Bank’s control, including the performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates, and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications. Identified credit exposures that are determined to be
uncollectible are charged against the allowance for loan losses. Recoveries of previously charged off amounts, if any, are credited to the allowance for loan losses. A weakening of the economy or other factors that adversely affect asset quality could result in an increase in the number of delinquencies, bankruptcies, or defaults, and a higher level of non-performing assets, net charge-offs, and provision for loan losses in future periods. See “Item 1A - Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance.
The following table sets forth the information relating to the allowance for loan losses, charge-offs, and recoveries for the past five years:
Allowance for Loan Losses
Our allowance for loan losses consists of the following:
• Specific allowance: For impaired loans, we provide specific allowances based on an evaluation of impairment, and for each criticized loan, we allocate a portion of the general allowance to each loan based on a loss percentage assigned. The percentage assigned depends on a number of factors including loan classification, the current financial condition of the borrowers and guarantors, the prevailing value of the underlying collateral, charge-off history, management’s knowledge of the portfolio, and general economic conditions.
• General allowance: The unclassified portfolio is segmented on a group basis. Segmentation is determined by loan type and by identifying risk characteristics that are common to the groups of loans. The allowance is provided to each segmented group based on the group’s historical loan
loss experience, the trends in delinquency and non-accrual, and other significant factors, such as national and local economy, trends and conditions, strength of management and loan staff, underwriting standards, and the concentration of credit.
The total allowance for loan losses consists of the above two components: specific and general. To determine the adequacy of the allowance in each of these two components, the Bank employs two primary methodologies, the classification migration methodology and the individual loan review analysis methodology. These methodologies support the basis for determining allocations between the various loan categories and the overall adequacy of the Bank’s allowance to provide for probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. These methodologies are further supported by additional analysis of relevant factors such as the historical losses in the portfolio, trends in the non-performing/non-accrual loans, loan delinquencies, the volume of the portfolio, peer group comparisons, and federal regulatory policy for loan and lease losses. Other significant factors of portfolio analysis include changes in lending policies/underwriting standards, portfolio composition, and concentrations of credit, and trends in the national and local economy.
With these above methodologies, the specific allowance is for those loans internally classified and risk graded as Special Mention, Substandard, Doubtful, or Loss. Additionally, the Bank’s management allocates a specific allowance for “Impaired Credits,” in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” The level of the general allowance is established to provide coverage for management’s estimate of the credit risk in the loan portfolio by various loan segments not covered by the specific allowance.
The table set forth below reflects management’s allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category and the ratio of each loan category to the total loans as of the dates indicated:
Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses
The slight decrease in the allowance allocated to commercial loans resulted from the reduction in the level of non-accrual and problem loans during 2005. Commercial loans by collateral type comprised 62.9% of impaired loans and 62.9% of non-accrual loans and 100.0% of loans over 90 days still on accrual status at December 31, 2005. Commercial loans also comprised 73.5% of impaired loans, 73.5% of non-accrual loans, and 97.6% of loans over 90 days still on accrual status at December 31, 2004.
Management has decreased the allowance allocated to residential mortgage loans and equity lines from $1.3 million at December 31, 2004 to $1.1 million at December 31, 2005, due to the continued low level of losses for these loans.
The decrease in the allowance allocated to commercial real estate mortgages from $20.9 million at December 31, 2004, to $20.5 million at December 31, 2005, was due to the low loss experience and a reduction in the general environmental factor resulting from the improving California economy and lower loan delinquencies at December 31, 2005. Loan losses have been nominal during the past five years in this category. The overall allowance was 0.8% of total commercial real estate mortgages at December 31, 2005 and 1.0% of total commercial real estate mortgages at December 31, 2004.
The allocated allowance for construction loans has decreased from $6.8 million, or 1.7%, of construction loans at December 31, 2004 to $5.3 million, or 1.0%, of construction loans at December 31, 2005 primarily as the result of the decrease in problem construction loans. At December 31, 2005, there were no construction loans on non-accrual status and no construction loan was past due 90 days and still accruing interest.
Allowances for other risks of probable loan losses that amounted to $4.3 million as of December 31, 2005, compared to $3.8 million as of December 31, 2004, have been included in the allocations above. The components of the other risks that have a potential of affecting the Bank’s portfolio are comprised of two basic elements. First, the Bank has set aside funds to cover the risk factors of higher energy prices on the ability of its borrowers to service their loans. The second component of other portfolio risk is the lifting of textile quotas on Chinese manufacturers and the impact of the increased competition on the Bank’s borrowers in the textile industry. Based on the above components of other risks, management has determined that the $4.3 million allowance for other risks of probable loan losses at December 31, 2005, was appropriate. Also, see “Item 1A - Risk Factors” above in this Annual Report From 10-K for additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance.
Liquidity
Liquidity is our ability to maintain sufficient cash flow to meet maturing financial obligations and customer credit needs, and to take advantage of investment opportunities as they are presented in the marketplace. Our principal sources of liquidity are growth in deposits, proceeds from the maturity or sale of securities and other financial instruments, repayments from securities and loans, federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and advances from the FHLB. At year-end 2005, our liquidity ratio (defined as net cash, short-term and marketable securities to net deposits and short-term liabilities) decreased to 13.5%, compared to 25.5% at year-end 2004, as a result of the decrease in the level of securities.
To supplement its liquidity needs, the Bank maintains a total credit line of $216.0 million for federal funds with three correspondent banks as well as master agreements with brokerage firms for the sale of securities subject to repurchase. The Bank is also a shareholder of the FHLB, which enables the Bank to have access to lower-cost FHLB financing when necessary. At December 31, 2005, the Bank had an approved credit line with the FHLB of San Francisco totaling $225.6 million. On January 3, 2006, the Bank pledged its qualifying real estate loans to the FHLB under its blanket lien program and increased its credit line by $611.2 million. The total credit outstanding with the FHLB of San Francisco at December 31, 2005, was $215.0 million. These advances are non-callable and bear fixed interest rates and all mature during the first quarter of 2006. These borrowings are secured by securities. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Liquidity can also be provided through the sale of liquid assets, which consist of federal funds sold, securities purchased under agreements to resell, and securities available-for-sale. At December 31, 2005, such assets at fair value totaled $1.22 billion, with $817.2 million pledged as collateral for borrowings and other commitments. The remaining $394.8 million was available as additional liquidity or to be pledged as collateral for additional borrowings.
Approximately 90.0% of our time deposits mature within one year or less as of December 31, 2005. Management anticipates that there may be some outflow of these deposits upon maturity due to the keen competition in the Bank’s marketplace. However, based on our historical runoff experience, we expect the outflow will not be significant and can be replenished through our normal growth in deposits. Management believes all the above-mentioned sources will provide adequate liquidity for the next twelve months to the Bank to meet its operating needs.
The Bancorp obtains funding for its activities primarily through dividend income contributed by the Bank, unsecured borrowings such as the $30 million unsecured line of credit with a commercial bank, proceeds from the issuance of the Bancorp common stock by means of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and exercise of stock options. Dividends paid to the Bancorp by the Bank are subject to regulatory limitations. The business activities of the Bancorp consist primarily of the operation of the Bank with limited activities in other investments. Management believes the Bancorp’s liquidity generated from its prevailing sources is sufficient to meet its operational needs.
Also, see Note 14 Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for details of recent accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and rates. The principal market risk to the Company is the interest rate risk inherent in our lending, investing, and deposit taking activities, due to the fact that interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities do not reprice at the same rate, to the same extent, or on the same basis.
We monitor and manage our interest rate risk through analyzing the repricing characteristics of our loans, securities, and deposits on an on-going basis. The primary objective is to minimize the adverse effects of changes in interest rates on our earnings, and ultimately the underlying market value of equity, while structuring our asset-liability composition to obtain the maximum spread. Management uses certain basic measurement tools in conjunction with established risk limits to regulate its interest rate exposure. Due to the limitation inherent in any individual risk management tool, we use a simulation model to measure and quantify the impact to our profitability as well as to estimate changes to the market value of our assets and liabilities.
We use a net interest income simulation model to measure the extent of the differences in the behavior of the lending and funding rates to changing interest rates, so as to project future earnings or market values under alternative interest rate scenarios. Interest rate risk arises primarily through the Company’s traditional business activities of extending loans and accepting deposits. Many factors, including economic and financial conditions, movements in interest rates, and consumer preferences affect the spread between interest earned on assets and interest paid on liabilities. The net interest income simulation model is designed to measure the volatility of net
interest income and net portfolio value, defined as net present value of assets and liabilities, under immediate rising or falling interest rate scenarios in 25 basis points increments.
Although the modeling is very helpful in managing interest rate risk, it does require significant assumptions for the projection of loan prepayment rates on mortgage related assets, loan volumes and pricing, and deposit and borrowing volume and pricing, that might prove inaccurate. Because these assumptions are inherently uncertain, the model cannot precisely estimate net interest income, or precisely predict the effect of higher or lower interest rates on net interest income. Actual results will differ from simulated results due to the timing, magnitude, and frequency of interest rates changes, the differences between actual experience and the assumed volume, changes in market conditions, and management strategies, among other factors. The Company monitors its interest rate sensitivity and attempts to reduce the risk of a significant decrease in net interest income caused by a change in interest rates.
We establish a tolerance level in our policy to define and limit interest income volatility to a change of plus or minus 15% when the hypothetical rate change is plus or minus 200 basis points. When the net interest rate simulation projects that our tolerance level will be met or exceeded, we seek corrective action after considering, among other things, market conditions, customer reaction, and the estimated impact on profitability. At December 31, 2005, if interest rates were to increase instantaneously by 100 basis points, the simulation indicated that our net interest income over the next twelve months would increase by 3.3%, and if interest rates were to increase instantaneously by 200 basis points, the simulation indicated that our net interest income over the next twelve months would increase by 6.7%. Conversely, if interest rates were to decrease instantaneously by 100 basis points, the simulation indicated that our net interest income over the next twelve months would decrease by 4.4%, and if interest rates were to decrease instantaneously by 200 basis points, the simulation indicated that our net interest income over the next twelve months would decrease by 8.8%.
The Company’s simulation model also projects the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities. We have established a tolerance level to value the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities in our policy to a change of plus or minus 15% when the hypothetical rate change is plus or minus 200 basis points. At December 31, 2005, if interest rates were to increase instantaneously by 200 basis points, the simulation indicated that the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities would decrease by 5.2%, and conversely, if interest rates were to decrease instantaneously by 200 basis points, the simulation indicated that the net economic value of our assets and liabilities would increase by 13.0%.
Quantitative Information About Interest Rate Risk
The following table shows the carrying value of our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates, categorized by expected maturity, as well as the instruments’ total fair values at December 31, 2005, and 2004. For assets, expected maturities are based on contractual maturity. For liabilities, we use our historical experience and decay factors to estimate the deposit runoffs of interest-bearing transactional deposits. We use certain assumptions to estimate fair values and expected maturities which are described in Footnote 16 to the consolidated financial statements. Off-balance sheet commitments to extend credit, letters of credit, and bill of lading guarantees represent the contractual unfunded amounts. Off-balance sheet financial instruments represent fair values. The results presented may vary if different assumptions are used or if actual experience differs from the assumptions used.
Financial Derivatives
It is the policy of the Company not to speculate on the future direction of interest rates. However, the Company enters into financial derivatives in order to seek mitigation of exposure to interest rate risks related to our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. We believe that these transactions, when properly structured and managed, may provide a hedge against inherent interest rate risk in the Company’s assets or liabilities and against risk in specific transactions. In such instances, the Company may protect its position through the purchase or sale of interest rate futures contracts for a specific cash or interest rate risk position. Other hedge transactions may be implemented using interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, floors, financial futures, forward rate agreements, and options on futures or bonds. Prior to considering any hedging activities, we seek to analyze the costs and benefits of the hedge in comparison to other viable alternative strategies. All hedges will require an assessment of basis risk and must be approved by the Bank’s Investment Committee.
The Company follows SFAS No. 133 which established accounting and reporting standards for financial derivatives, including certain financial derivatives embedded in other contracts, and hedging activities. It requires the recognition of all financial derivatives as assets or liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and measurement of those financial derivatives at fair value. The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a financial derivative is designated as a hedge and if so, the type of hedge. Fair value is based on dealer quotes, or quoted prices from instruments with similar characteristics. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are reflected in current earnings, together with changes in the fair value of the related hedged item if there is a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps and changes in the fair value of the underlying asset or liability that is intended to be hedged. If there is not a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap and changes in the fair value of the underlying asset or liability that is intended to be hedged, then only the changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
On March 21, 2000, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a major financial institution in the notional amount of $20.0 million for a period of five years. The interest rate swap was for the purpose of hedging the cash flows from a portion of our floating rate loans against declining rates. The purpose of the hedge was to provide a measure of stability in the future cash receipts of such loans over the term of the swap agreement. Amounts received on the cash flow hedge interest rate swap were reclassified into earnings upon receipt of interest payments on the underlying loans, including $0.2 million in 2005, $1.1 million in 2004, and $1.2 million in 2003 that were reclassified into net interest income.
In 2004, the Bank entered into $85.4 million of interest rate swaps that were scheduled to terminate in 2009 and can be terminated after two years at the election of the counterparty (swaptions) to mitigate risks associated with changes to the fair value of a like amount of fixed rate certificates of deposit (Five Year CDs) that have similar call features. For the first two years of the swaps, the Bank will receive interest at a weighted average fixed rate of 3.15% and will pay interest at a rate of LIBOR less 12.5 basis points. If the swaps were not terminated in 2006, then the Bank would receive interest at a weighted average rate of 5.94% and paid interest at a rate of LIBOR less 12.5 basis points for the last three years of the swap term. All of these interest rate hedges were initially designated as fair value hedges against a like amount of Five Year CDs and the Bank expected a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair values of the interest rate swap and changes in the fair value of the Five Year CDs. However, at December 31, 2004, there was a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap and changes in the fair value of the Five Year CDs for only one group of Five Year CDs with a principal amount of $13.9 million and an unrealized gain of $0.1 million. The unrealized loss on the interest rate swaps and the unrealized gain on the $13.9 million of Five Year CDs have been recorded in income for 2004. The unrealized loss on the ineffective interest rates swaps at December 31, 2004, of $50,000 has been recorded in income for 2004 and the related unrealized gain on the Five Year CDs with ineffective hedges was reversed from income as of December 31, 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2004, interest expense on certificates of deposit was reduced by $0.6 million as a result of these interest rate
swaps. On January 18, 2005, the Bank terminated these interest rates swaps by making a cash payment of $400,000 and recording a loss of $264,000 which reflected the increase in the fair value during 2005.
In 2004, the Bank entered into $25.7 million of interest rate swaps that were scheduled to terminate in 2007 and can be terminated after one year at the election of the counterparty to mitigate risks associated with changes to the fair value of a like amount of fixed rate certificates of deposit (Three Year CDs) that have similar call features. For the first year of the swaps, the Bank received interest at a weighted average fixed rate of 2.81% and paid interest at a rate of LIBOR less 12.5 basis points. If the swaps were not terminated in 2005, then the Bank would receive interest at a weighted average rate of 4.08% and pay interest at a rate of LIBOR less 12.5 basis points for the last two years of the swap term. All of these interest rate hedges were initially designated as fair value hedges against a like amount of Three Year CDs and the Bank expected a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair values of the interest rate swap and changes in the fair value of the Three Year CDs. However, at December 31, 2004, the fair value of these interest rate swaps, which did not have a highly effective correlation with changes in the fair value of the Three Year CDs, was an unrealized loss of $33,000 which was recorded in income for 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2004, interest expense on certificates of deposit was reduced by $0.1 million as a result of these interest rate swaps. On January 18, 2005, the Bank terminated these interest rates swaps by making a cash payment of $85,000 and recording a loss of $52,000 which reflected the increase in the fair value during 2005.
The table below shows the notional amounts of the Bank’s interest rate swap maturities and average rates at December 31, 2004.
To mitigate risks associated with changes to the fair value of $25.8 million of Three Year CDs, on January 18, 2005, concurrent with the termination of the three year swaptions entered into during 2004 as discussed above, the Bank, in exchange for a cash payment of $163,000 by the counterparty, entered into new swaptions that will terminate in 2007 and that can also be terminated after one year from the initial issuance of the Three Year CDs at the election of the counterparty. For the initial term of the swaptions, the Bank received interest at a weighted average fixed rate of 2.39% and paid interest at a rate of LIBOR less 12.5 basis points. If the swaptions were not terminated by the counterparty in 2005, then the Bank would receive interest at a weighted average rate of 3.85% and pay interest at a rate of LIBOR less 12.5 basis points for the last two years of the swap term. All of these swaptions were initially designated as fair value hedges. There was a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair values of the swaptions and changes in the fair value of the Three Year CDs. On May 9, 2005, the Company paid a cash payment of $158,000 and terminated the $25.8 million swaptions related to the Three Year CDs. The changes in fair values of the Three Year CD’s and the $25.8 million swaptions were recorded in income through the date the swaptions were terminated. For 2005, the net realized gain on the swaptions was $5,000 and the net realized loss on the Three Year CDs was zero. For the year ended December 31, 2005, interest expense on certificates of deposit was increased by $17,000 as a result of these interest rate swaps.
To mitigate risks associated with changes to the fair value of $85.6 million of Five Year CDs, on January 18, 2005 concurrent with the termination of the five year swaptions entered into 2004 as discussed above, the Bank, in exchange for a cash payment of $425,000 by the counterparty, entered into new swaptions that were scheduled to terminate in 2009 and that can also be terminated after two years from the initial issuance of the Five Year CD’s at the election of the counterparty. For the initial term of the swaptions, the Bank will receive interest at a weighted average fixed rate of 3.03% and will pay interest at a rate of LIBOR less 12.5 basis points. If the swaptions were not terminated by the counterpart in 2006, then the Bank would receive interest at a weighted average rate of 5.86% and pay interest at a rate of LIBOR less 12.5 basis points for the last three years of the swap term. All of these swaptions were initially designated as fair value hedges and the Bank expects a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair values of the swaptions and changes in the fair value of the Five Year CDs. On December 14, 2005, the Company terminated the $85.6 million of interest rate swaptions related to the Five Year CDs. The Company paid $724,000 to terminate these swaptions as of December 14, 2005. From the inception of the swaptions on January 18, 2005 to the termination of the swaptions on December 14, 2005, the cumulative decrease in fair value of $299,000 has been charged to other income in 2005. For the year ended December 31, 2005, interest expense on certificates of deposit was increased by $136,000 as a result of these interest rate swaps.
In April 2005, the Bank took in a total of $8.9 million in one year certificates of deposit that pay a minimum interest of 0.5% plus additional interest tied to 60% of the appreciation of four foreign currencies against the US dollar. Under SFAS No. 133, a certificate of deposit that pays interest based on changes in exchange rates is a hybrid instrument with an embedded derivative that must be accounted for separately from the host contract (i.e. the certificate of deposit). The fair value of the embedded derivative at December 31, 2005, was $65,000 and is included in interest-bearing deposits in the consolidated balance sheet. The Bank purchased two currency options with a fair value at December 31, 2005, of $59,000 to manage its exposure to the appreciation of two of these foreign currencies. The net impact on the consolidated statement of income related to these currency linked certificates of deposit was a decrease to income of $56,000 in 2005.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
For financial statements, see “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” on page.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
Not Applicable.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Bancorp’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Bancorp’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Bancorp’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Bancorp in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Bancorp in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Bancorp’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There were no significant changes in the Bancorp’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date the principal executive officer and principal financial officer completed their evaluation.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of Cathay General Bancorp and subsidiaries (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
As of December 31, 2005, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on the assessment, management determined that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on those criteria.
KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005. The report, which expresses unqualified opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is included in this Item under the heading “Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially effect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Cathay General Bancorp:
We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting”, that Cathay General Bancorp and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, management’s assessment that Cathay General Bancorp and subsidiaries maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Cathay General Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in
stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005 and our report dated March 15, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Los Angeles, California
March 15, 2006
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.
The information under the captions “Election of Directors, “Audit Committee,” and “Nomination Committee” in our definitive Proxy Statement relating to our 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”) is incorporated herein by reference.
The information regarding executive officers required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K is included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers of Registrant.” The term of office of each officer is from the time of appointment until the next annual organizational meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bancorp or the Bank (or action in lieu of a meeting) and until the appointment of his or her successor unless, before that time, the officer resigns or is removed or is otherwise disqualified from serving as an officer of the Bancorp or the Bank.
The information under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions known as the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers. Stockholders may request a free copy of the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers by written request directed to Cathay General Bancorp, 777 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Attention: Investor Relations.
If the Company makes any substantive amendments to its Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers or grants any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the code to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, it will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver in a report on Form 8-K.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information under the captions “Compensation of Directors”, “Executive Compensation”, “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation” in our Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information set forth under the captions “Security Ownership of Nominees, Continuing Directors, and Named Executive Officers,” “Equity Compensation Plan Information,” and “Election of Directors” in our Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
The information under the captions “Election of Directors” and “Certain Transactions” in our Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information under the caption “Professional Services Provided by Independent Auditors” in our Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Documents Filed as Part of this Report
(a)(1) Financial Statements
See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” on page.
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted since they are not applicable, they are not required, or the information required to be set forth in the schedules is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
(b) Exhibits
* Management compensatory plan
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Cathay General Bancorp
By:
/s/ DUNSON K. CHENG
Dunson K. Cheng
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Date: March 15, 2006
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Dunson K. Cheng and Heng W. Chen, jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Stockholders and the Board of Directors
Cathay General Bancorp:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cathay General Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cathay General Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 15, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of, and the effective operation of, internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Los Angeles, California
March 15, 2006
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003
(In thousands, except number of shares)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS-(Continued)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cathay General Bancorp (the “Bancorp”), a Delaware corporation, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cathay Bank (the “Bank”), a California state-chartered bank, five limited partnerships investing in affordable housing projects, and GBC Venture Capital, Inc. (together, the “Company”). All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and general practices within the banking industry.
Organization and Background. The business activities of the Bancorp consist primarily of the operations of the Bank, which owns 100% of the common stock of the following subsidiaries: Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust, Cathay Investment Company, GBC Investment & Consulting Company, Inc., GBC Real Estate Investments, Inc., Cathay Trade Services, Asia Limited, and GB Capital Trust II. In February 2003, the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary, Cathay Securities Fund, Inc. deregistered as a registered investment company and was liquidated into the Bank.
There are limited operating business activities currently at the Bancorp. The Bank is a commercial bank, servicing primarily the individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in the local markets in which its branches are located. Its operations include the acceptance of checking, savings, and time deposits, and the making of commercial, real estate and consumer loans. The Bank also offers trade financing, letters of credit, wire transfer, foreign currency spot and forward contracts, Internet banking, investment services, and other customary banking services to its customers. The Bank does not have any foreign branches or lending officers in its foreign locations.
In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51” (FIN 46). This Interpretation addresses the consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities (“VIE”) as defined in the Interpretation. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the entity that absorbs a majority of the VIE’s expected losses, receives a majority of the VIE’s expected residual returns, or both, as a result of ownership, controlling interest, contractual relationship or other business relationship with a VIE. Prior to the implementation of FIN 46, VIEs were generally consolidated by an enterprise when the enterprise had a controlling financial interest through ownership of a majority of voting interests in the entity. The provisions of FIN 46 were effective immediately for all arrangements entered into after January 31, 2003. If a VIE existed prior to February 1, 2003, FIN 46 was effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. However, subsequent revisions to the interpretation deferred the implementation date of FIN 46 until the first period ending after December 15, 2003.
The Company adopted FIN 46, as revised, in connection with its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003. The implementation of FIN 46 required the Company to de-consolidate its investments in Cathay Capital Trust I, Cathay Statutory Trust I, and Cathay Capital Trust II and to consolidate the Company’s ownership in four limited partnerships formed for the purpose of investing in affordable housing projects, which qualify for federal low-income housing tax credits and/or California tax credits. The consolidation of the four affordable housing limited partnerships increased total assets and liabilities by $9.0 million but had no impact on net income for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimate subject to change relates to the allowance for loan losses. The following are descriptions of the more significant of these policies.
Securities. Securities are classified as held-to-maturity when management has the ability and intent to hold these securities until maturity. Securities are classified as available-for-sale when management intends to hold the securities for an indefinite period of time, or when the securities may be utilized for tactical asset/liability purposes, and may be sold from time to time to manage interest rate exposure and resultant prepayment risk and liquidity needs. Securities purchased are designated as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale at the time of acquisition.
Securities held-to-maturity are stated at cost, adjusted for the amortization of premiums and the accretion of discounts on a level-yield basis. The carrying value of these assets is not adjusted for temporary declines in fair value since the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, and any unrealized holding gains or losses are excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income until realized. Realized gains or losses are determined on the specific identification method. Premium and discounts are amortized or accreted as adjustment of yield on a level-yield basis.
Declines in the fair value of available-for-sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. In estimating other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considers, among other things, (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (iii) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The new cost basis is not changed for subsequent recoveries in fair value.
Other securities includes investments in limited partnerships that invest in nonpublic companies commonly referred to as venture capital investments. These partnership interests, which represent interests of less than 10%, are carried under the cost method with other-than-temporary impairment charged against net income.
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) Stock. As a member of the FHLB system the Bank is required to maintain an investment in the capital stock of the FHLB. The amount of investment is also affected by the outstanding advances under the line of credit the Bank maintains with the FHLB. FHLB stock is carried at cost and is pledged as collateral to the FHLB. The carrying amount of the FHLB stock at December 31, 2005, was $29.7 million compared to $26.0 million at December 31, 2004. As of December 31, 2005, 250,000 FHLB stock shares were the minimum stock requirement based on outstanding FHLB borrowings of $215.0 million. As of December 31, 2005, the Company owned 296,976 FHLB stock shares.
Loans. Loans are carried at amounts advanced, less principal payments collected and net deferred loan fees. Interest is accrued and earned daily on an actual or 360-day basis. Interest accruals on business loans and non-residential real estate loans are generally discontinued whenever the payment of interest or principal is 90 days or more past due, based on contractual terms. Such loans are placed on non-accrual status, unless the loan is well secured, and there is a high probability of recovery in full, as determined by management. When loans are placed on a non-accrual status, previously accrued but unpaid interest is reversed and charged against current period income, and interest is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash is received. The loan is generally returned to accrual status when the borrower has brought the past due principal and interest payments current and, in the opinion of management, the borrower has demonstrated the ability to make future payments of principal and interest as scheduled. A non accrual loan may also be returned to accrual status if all principal and interest contractually due are reasonably assured of repayment within a reasonable period and there has been a sustained period of payment performance. Loan origination fees and commitment fees, offset by certain direct
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
loan origination costs, are deferred and recognized over the contractual life of the loan as a yield adjustment. The amortization utilizes the interest method. If a loan is placed on non-accrual status, the amortization of the loan fees and the accretion of discounts are discontinued until such time when the loan is returned to accruing status.
Allowance for Loan Losses. Management believes the allowance for loan losses is being maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for estimable and probable losses. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are made by charges to operating expense in the form of a provision for loan losses. All loans judged to be un-collectible are charged against the allowance while any recoveries are credited to the allowance for loan losses.
The allowance for loan losses includes allowance allocations calculated in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan,” as amended by SFAS 118, and allowance allocations calculated in accordance with SFAS 5, “Accounting for Contingencies.” Management monitors changing economic conditions, the loan mix by category, the industry segregation, and geographic distribution of the portfolio and the type of borrowers in determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Management also closely reviews its past, present and expected overall net loan losses in comparison to the existing level of the allowance. In addition, the Bank’s regulators, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Bank to make additions to its allowance for loan losses based on the judgments of the information available to them at the time of their examination. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Bank’s control, including the performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory agencies toward loan classifications.
Impaired Loans. A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts due (i.e. both principal and interest) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The measurement of impairment may be based on (1) the present value of the expected future cash flows of the impaired loan discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate, (2) the observable market price of the impaired loan or (3) the fair value of the collateral of a collateral-dependent loan. The amount by which the recorded investment in the loan exceeds the measure of the impaired loan is recognized by recording a valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses. The Company stratifies its loan portfolio by size and treats smaller performing loans with an outstanding balance less than the Company’s defined criteria as a homogenous portfolio. Once a loan has been identified as a possible problem loan, the Company conducts a periodic review of each loan in order to test for impairment. The Company recognizes interest income on impaired loans based on its existing method of recognizing interest income on non-accrual loans.
Letter of Credit Fees. Issuance and commitment fees received for the issuance of commercial or standby letters of credit are recognized over the term of the instruments.
Premises and Equipment. Premises and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives of the assets:
Improvements are capitalized and amortized to occupancy expense based on the above table.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Other Real Estate Owned. Real estate acquired in the settlement of loans is initially recorded and subsequently is carried at fair value, less estimated costs to sell. Specific valuation allowances on other real estate owned are recorded through charges to operations to recognize declines in fair value subsequent to foreclosure. Gains on sales are recognized when certain criteria relating to the buyer’s initial and continuing investment in the property are met.
Investments in Affordable Housing. The Company is a limited partner in limited partnerships that invest in low-income housing projects that qualify for Federal and/or State income tax credits. As further discussed in Note 7, the partnership interests are accounted for utilizing the equity method of accounting. During 2003, the Company adopted Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” issued by the FASB in January 2003. As of December 31, 2005, five of the limited partnerships in which the Company has an equity interest were determined to be variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The costs related directly to the development or the improvement of real estate are capitalized. Gains on sales are recognized when certain criteria relating to the buyer’s initial and continuing investment in the property are met.
Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of costs over fair value of assets of businesses acquired. Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”
Core Deposit Premium. Core deposit premium, which represents the purchase price over the fair value of the deposits acquired from other financial institutions, is amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected periods to be benefited (generally 10 years). The Company assesses the recoverability of this intangible asset by determining whether the amortization of the premium balance over its remaining life can be recovered through the remaining deposit portfolio.
At December 31, 2005, the unamortized balance of core deposit premium was $41.1 million, which was net of accumulated amortization of $11.9 million. Aggregate amortization expense for core deposit premium was $6.0 million for year 2005, $5.3 million for year 2004, and $1.2 million for year 2003. As of December 31, 2004, the unamortized balance of the core deposit premium was $47.1 million, which was net of accumulated amortization of $6.1 million. At December 31, 2005, the estimated aggregate amortization of core deposit premiums annually through 2010 is $5.6 million for 2006, $5.6 million for 2007, $5.6 million for 2008, $5.5 million for 2009, and $4.9 million for 2010.
Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements. The Company sells certain securities under agreements to repurchase. The agreements are treated as collateralized financing transactions and the obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The dollar amount of the securities underlying the agreements remain in the asset accounts.
Stock-Based Compensation. Prior to 2003, the Company used the intrinsic-value method to account for stock-based compensation granted to employees. Accordingly, no expense was recorded in periods prior to 2003,
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
because the stock’s fair market value did not exceed the exercise price at the date of grant. In 2003, the Company adopted prospectively the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended by FASB Statement No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123,” and began recognizing the expense associated with stock options granted during 2003 using the fair value method, which resulted in stock based compensation expense of $6.8 million in 2005, $3.0 million in 2004 and $0.6 million in 2003, which is included in salaries and employee benefits. Stock-based compensation expense for stock options is calculated based on the fair value of the award at the grant date, and is recognized as an expense on a straight line basis over the vesting period of the grant. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of granted options. This model takes into account the option’s exercise price, the option’s expected life, the current price of the underlying stock, the expected volatility of the Company’s stock, expected dividends on the stock, and a risk-free interest rate. Since compensation cost is measured at the grant date, the only variable whose change would impact expected compensation expense recognized in the future periods for 2003, 2004 and 2005 grants is actual forfeitures.
Under SFAS No. 123, the weighted average per share fair value of the options granted was $12.83 during 2005, $6.85 during 2004, and $5.56 during 2003 on the date of grant. For options granted during 2005, the Company has estimated the expected life of the options based on the average of the contractual period and the vesting period. The Company has estimated the expected life of the options to be six years for options granted during 2005 and four years for options granted during 2003 and 2004. Fair value under SFAS No. 123 is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
If the compensation cost for all awards granted under the Company’s stock option plan had been determined using the fair value method of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the Company’s net income and earnings per share for the periods presented would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated in the table below.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Stock Splits. Earnings per share, dividends per share and average shares outstanding have been restated for all periods presented to reflect the two-for-one stock splits effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend that was distributed on September 28, 2004, to stockholders of record on September 13, 2004. The par value of additional shares was capitalized by a transfer from retained earnings to common stock.
Derivative Financial Instruments. It is the policy of the Company not to speculate on the future direction of interest rates. However, the Company enters into financial derivatives in order to seek mitigation of exposure to interest rate risks related to its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The Company believes that these transactions, when properly structured and managed, may provide a hedge against inherent interest rate risk in the Company’s assets or liabilities and against risk in specific transactions. In such instances, the Company may protect its position through the purchase or sale of interest rate futures contracts for a specific cash or interest rate risk position. Other hedge transactions may be implemented using interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, floors, financial futures, forward rate agreements, and options on futures or bonds. Prior to considering any hedging activities, the Company seeks to analyze the costs and benefits of the hedge in comparison to other viable alternative strategies. All hedges require an assessment of basis risk and must be approved by the Bank’s Investment Committee.
The Company accounts for its derivative financial instruments using SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS No. 133”), as amended. SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for financial derivatives, including certain financial derivatives embedded in other contracts, and hedging activities. It requires the recognition of all financial derivatives as assets or liabilities in the Company’s statement of financial condition and measurement of those financial derivatives at fair value. The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a financial derivative is designated as a hedge and if so, the type of hedge.
On the date a derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as either a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (fair value hedge), a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge), a foreign-currency fair-value or cash-flow hedge (foreign currency hedge), or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation. At the inceptions of all hedging relationships, the Company formally documents the hedging relationship and its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge, the hedging instrument, the item, the nature of the risk being hedged, how the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the hedged risk will be assessed, and a description of the method of measuring ineffectiveness. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as fair-value, cash-flow, or foreign-currency hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. When it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge or that it has ceased to be a highly effective hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively.
The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Fair value is based on dealer quotes or quoted prices from instruments with similar characteristics. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. For hedges designated as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of derivatives are reflected in current earnings, together with changes in the fair value of the related hedged item, if the fair value hedge is highly effective as a hedge. The Company has received rights to acquire stock in the form of warrants as an adjunct to its high technology lending relationships. The warrants in public companies with a cashless exercise
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
provisions qualify as derivatives under SFAS No. 133. Those warrants that qualify as derivatives are carried at fair value and are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets with the change in fair value included in current earnings.
Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes is based on income reported for financial statement purposes, and differs from the amount of taxes currently payable, since certain income and expense items are reported for financial statement purposes in different periods than those for tax reporting purposes.
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, the objective of which is to establish deferred tax assets and liabilities for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are realized or settled. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Comprehensive income generally includes net income, foreign items, minimum pension liability adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on investments in securities available-for-sale, and cash flow hedges. Comprehensive income and its components are reported and displayed in the Company’s consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. Comprehensive income is a financial reporting concept and does not affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Net Income per Common Share. Earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed on a basic and diluted basis. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shares in the earnings of the Company. Amounts and share and per share data have been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock splits, effected in the form of 100 percent stock dividends, effective May 9, 2002, and September 28, 2004.
Reclassifications. Certain amounts in the prior year financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. In 2005, the FHLB stock with carrying amount of $29.7 million at December 31, 2005 and $26.0 million at December 31, 2004 were reclassified and presented separately from securities available-for-sale in the consolidated balance sheets. The FHLB stock dividends of $965,000 in 2005, $1.0 million in 2004, and $562,000 in 2003 were also reclassified and presented separately from interest income of taxable securities available-for-sale in the consolidated statements of income.
Statement of Cash Flows. Cash and cash equivalents include short-term, highly-liquid investments that generally have an original maturity of three months or less.
Segment Information and Disclosures. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America establish standards to report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires reporting of selected information about operating segments in interim reports to stockholders. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas, and major customers. The Company has concluded it has one operating segment.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2004, the FASB revised SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS No. 123R). SFAS No. 123R establishes accounting requirements for share-based compensation to employees and carries forward prior guidance on accounting for awards to non-employees. The provisions of this Statement become effective for the Company commencing on January 1, 2006. SFAS No. 123R requires companies adopting SFAS No. 123R to select either the modified prospective or modified retrospective transition method. On January 1, 2003, the Company adopted prospectively the provisions for SFAS No. 123 and began recognizing compensation expense ratably in the income statement, based on the estimated fair value of all awards granted to employees after January 1, 2003. SFAS No. 123R requires an entity to recognize compensation expense based on an estimate of the number of awards expected to actually vest, exclusive of awards expected to be forfeited. Currently, the Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a Replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3.” SFAS 154 establishes, unless impracticable, retrospective application as the required method for reporting a change in accounting principle in the absence of explicit transition requirements specific to a newly adopted accounting principle. Previously, most changes in accounting principle were recognized by including the cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle in net income of the period of the change. Under SFAS 154, retrospective application requires (i) the cumulative effect of the change to the new accounting principle on periods prior to those presented to be reflected in the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the first period presented, (ii) an offsetting adjustment, if any, to be made to the opening balance of retained earnings (or other appropriate components of equity) for that period, and (iii) financial statements for each individual prior period presented to be adjusted to reflect the direct period-specific effects of applying the new accounting principle. Special retroactive application rules apply in situations where it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. Indirect effects of a change in accounting principle are required to be reported in the period in which the accounting change is made. SFAS 154 carries forward the guidance in APB Opinion 20 “Accounting Changes,” requiring justification of a change in accounting principle on the basis of preferability. SFAS 154 also carries forward without change the guidance contained in APB Opinion 20, for reporting the correction of an error in previously issued financial statements and for a change in an accounting estimate. SFAS 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect SFAS 154 will significantly impact its financial statements upon its adoption on January 1, 2006.
FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 115-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments.” FSP 115-1 provides guidance for determining when an investment is considered impaired, whether impairment is other-than-temporary, and measurement of an impairment loss. An investment is considered impaired if the fair value of the investment is less than its cost. If, after consideration of all available evidence to evaluate the realizable value of its investment, impairment is determined to be other-than-temporary, then an impairment loss should be recognized equal to the difference between the investment’s cost and its fair value. FSP 115-1 nullifies certain provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 03-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments,” while retaining the disclosure requirements of EITF 03-1 which were adopted in 2003. FSP 115-1 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect FSP 115-1 will significantly impact its financial statements upon its adoption on January 1, 2006.
In June, 2005, the FASB approved EITF 04-5, “Investor’s Accounting for an Investment in a Limited Partnership When the Investor is the Sole General Partner and the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights”. EITF
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
04-5 presumes that a sole general partner in a limited partnership controls the limited partnership and, therefore, should include the limited partnership in its consolidated financial statements. The presumption of control is overcome if the limited partners have (a) the substantive ability to remove the sole general partner or otherwise dissolve the limited partnership or (b) substantive participating rights. EITF 04-5 is effective for general partners of all new limited partnerships formed and for existing limited partnerships for which the partnership agreements are modified subsequent to June 29, 2005. The guidance in EITF 04-5 is effective for general partners in all other limited partnerships no later than the beginning of the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company has not completed its analysis to determine the impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements from adoption of this standard.
In January 2006, the FASB approved the issuance of a proposed interpretation that would clarify the accounting for uncertain tax positions in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. The proposed interpretation requires that companies make the best estimate of recognized tax benefits at each reporting period based on management’s best estimate given the information available at the reporting date, even though the outcome of the tax position is not absolute or final and that subsequent recognition, derecognition, and measurement should be based on new information. The final interpretation is expected to be effective as of the beginning of the first annual period beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company has not completed its analysis to determine the impact to the Company if the proposed interpretation were to be approved by the FASB.
2. Business Combinations
On October 20, 2003, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of GBC Bancorp, a California banking corporation (GBC), and holding company of General Bank, a California banking corporation, in exchange for cash and the Company’s common stock. Effective immediately upon acquisition, GBC was merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the sole surviving entity, and General Bank was merged with and into Cathay Bank, with Cathay Bank as the sole surviving entity.
The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations.” The results of GBC’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since October 20, 2003. The aggregate purchase price was $442.9 million, including cash of $162.4 million, 13.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $275.0 million, and $5.5 million for the value of GBC Bancorp stock options assumed. The valuation of common stock was based upon the average of the per share closing prices on the NASDAQ of the Company’s common stock from two days prior to the announcement of the signing of the merger agreement to two days thereafter.
The cash portion of the purchase price was funded in part by the issuance of $40.0 million in junior subordinated notes by Cathay General Bancorp and by short term borrowings by the Bank. The fair value per share of the options assumed was $3.89 on the date the merger close. The fair value was determined by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: expected life of 2 years, risk-free interest rate of 1.47%, volatility of 26.60%, and dividend yield of 1.53%.
In accordance with SFAS No. 141, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded by the Company at their fair values at the acquisition date. The total acquisition cost (including direct transaction costs) exceeded the fair value of the new assets acquired by $286.7 million. This amount was recognized as intangible assets, consisting of goodwill of $235.2 million and a core deposit intangible of $51.5 million.
In accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” goodwill will not be expensed over a fixed period of time, but will be tested for impairment on an annual basis. None of the goodwill is
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expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. Identifiable intangible assets, primarily core deposit intangibles of $51.5 million, are amortized over their estimated period of benefit determined to be ten years. Amortization expense for the core deposit intangible was $5.8 million for 2005, $5.1 million for 2004 and $1.0 million for the period from the acquisition date through December 31, 2003. Accumulated amortization at December 31, 2005, was $11.9 million.
Fair value adjustment amounts to carrying value, the amortization method and estimated lives are disclosed in the following table:
The net effect on income before taxes of the amortization of the above described amounts was $8.6 million expense for 2005, $5.7 million expense for 2004, and $0.6 million income for 2003.
At the closing date of the GBC acquisition, the Company’s management determined the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Professional and legal fees of $1.9 million related to the GBC acquisition were capitalized as part of the purchase price. In addition, the Company recorded as part of the purchase price an accrual for estimated lease termination costs of $1.3 million and severance and contract termination costs of $0.8 million. The amounts paid and charged to these reserves were $1.0 million in 2004 and $424,000 in 2005. At December 31, 2005, approximately $29,000 of these costs remained unpaid. The goodwill balance was $239.5 million as of December 31, 2005 and $241.0 million as of December 31, 2004. During 2005, goodwill was decreased due to a $1.2 million upward adjustment to deferred tax assets, a $167,000 tax refund and a $150,000 tax adjustment related to the loan loss reserve from Liberty Bank which was acquired by GBC Bancorp. The net impact of these adjustments was a reduction in goodwill of $1.5 million in 2005. During 2004, goodwill was decreased due to a decrease of $1.1 million of income taxes payable upon finalization of GBC Bancorp’s tax return for 2003, decreased by $0.3 million to reflect the actual amount of severance and contract termination costs, increased by $0.4 million as a result of an adjustment to the premium assigned to fixed rate loans to reflect estimated prepayments and increased by $0.3 million to reflect the actual branches closed. The net impact of these adjustments was a reduction in goodwill of $0.7 million in 2004.
Unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2003 as though GBC Bancorp had been acquired as of January 1, 2003 are as follows (dollars in thousands):
3. Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company manages its cash and cash equivalents, which consist of cash on hand, amounts due from banks, federal funds sold, securities purchased under agreements to resell, and money market accounts, based
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upon the Company’s operating, investment, and financing activities. For the purpose of reporting cash flows, these same accounts are included in cash and cash equivalents.
The Company is required to maintain reserves with the Federal Reserve. Reserve requirements are based on a percentage of deposit liabilities. The average reserve balances required were $1.9 million for 2005 and $1.8 million for 2004.
Securities purchased under agreements to resell are collateralized by U.S. government agency and mortgage-backed securities at December 31, 2005 and 2004. These agreements generally mature in one business day. The counter-parties to these agreements are nationally recognized investment banking firms that meet credit requirements of the Company and with whom a master repurchase agreement has been duly executed. The following table sets forth information with respect to securities purchased under resale agreements.
(1) Average balance was computed using daily averages.
For those securities obtained under the resale agreements, the collateral is either held by a third party custodian or by the counter-party and is segregated under written agreements that recognize the Company’s interest in the securities. Interest income associated with securities purchased under resale agreements totaled $3,000 for 2005, $30,000 for 2004, and $0.3 million for 2003.
The following table sets forth information with respect to federal funds sold:
(1) Average balance were computed using daily averages.
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4. Securities
Securities Available-for-Sale. The following table reflects the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair values of securities available-for-sale as of December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004:
The amortized cost and fair value of securities available-for-sale at December 31, 2005, by contractual maturities are shown below, except for mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and equity securities which are shown by expected maturities. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or repay obligations with or without call or repayment penalties.
(1) Equity securities are reported in this category.
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Proceeds from sales, calls, and repayments of securities available-for-sale were $555.5 million during 2005, $646.4 million during 2004, and $658.1 million during 2003. In 2005, gains of $3.1 million and losses of $1.6 million were realized on securities available-for-sale compared with $2.1 million in gains and $6.1 million in losses realized in 2004, and $10.8 million in gains and $0.9 million in losses realized in 2003.
Declines in the fair value of available-for-sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. In estimating other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considers, among other things, (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (iii) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The new cost basis is not changed for subsequent recoveries in fair value.
The Company periodically evaluates its investments for other-than-temporary impairment. The Company has investments in perpetual floating rate preferred securities issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae with an aggregate par value of $25 million as of December 31, 2005 and 2004. Based on an evaluation of the length of time and extent to which the market value of the Bank’s portfolio of preferred stock has been less than market and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuers, the Bank recorded other-than-temporary impairment charges of $115,000 in 2005 and $5.5 million in 2004 to write down the value of these securities to their market value. In addition, the Bank recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charges of $27,000 in 2005 when the General Motors Corporation bond with a $1.0 million principal value was determined to be impaired.
The table below shows the fair value and unrealized losses as of December 31, 2005, of the temporarily impaired securities in the Company’s available-for-sale securities portfolio. The Company has the ability and intent to hold these debt securities for a period of time sufficient for a recovery of cost. Unrealized losses for securities with unrealized losses for less than twelve months represent 1.8%, and securities with unrealized losses for twelve months or more represent 2.9% of the historical cost of these securities and generally resulted from increases in interest rates from the date that these securities were purchased. All of these securities are investment grade. At December 31, 2005, management believes the impairments detailed in the table below are temporary and, accordingly, no impairment losses for these securities have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated income statements. The impairment losses described above are not included in the table below as the impairment was recorded.
Temporarily Impaired Securities at December 31, 2005
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The following table summarizes the number of issuances of the temporarily impaired available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2005:
Temporarily Impaired Securities at December 31, 2005
Proceeds from repayment, maturities and calls of securities held-to-maturity were $84.6 million for the year 2003. During the second quarter of 2003, the Company sold $20.9 million of its holdings in US dollar-denominated corporate bonds issued by certain Hong Kong entities. Management had intended to hold these bonds to maturity at the time of purchase, and therefore, designated these securities as held-to-maturity. However, as the Severe Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) situation persisted in Hong Kong, management came to believe that there was a risk that the credit rating of these bonds might potentially be adversely impacted. As a result of the sales of these held-to-maturity securities, the remaining securities in the portfolio were tainted and were transferred to the available-for-sale portfolio as of May 31, 2003. At the time of transfer, the securities held-to-maturity portfolio was primarily comprised of US government agencies, state and municipal securities, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, asset-back securities, and corporate bonds. The carrying value of the securities in the held-to-maturity portfolio was $411.4 million and the estimated fair value was $412.1 million at the time of transfer to the securities available-for-sale portfolio.
Securities having a carrying value of $817.2 million at December 31, 2005, and $1.09 billion at December 31, 2004, were pledged to secure public deposits, treasury tax and loan, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, and securities sold under agreements to repurchase.
5. Loans
Most of the Company’s business activity is with customers located in the predominantly Asian areas of Southern and Northern California; New York City; Houston, Texas; Seattle, Washington; and Boston, Massachusetts. The Company has no specific industry concentration, and generally its loans are collateralized with real property or other pledged collateral of the borrowers. Loans are generally expected to be paid-off from the operating profits of the borrowers, refinancing by another lender, or through sale by the borrowers of the secured collateral.
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The components of loans in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004, were as follows:
There were no loans held for sale as of December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, none of the Company’s loans were pledged.
Loans serviced for others as of December 31, 2005, totaled $118.4 million and were comprised of $49.1 million of commercial loans, $55.4 million of commercial real estate loans, $12.0 million in construction loans, and $1.9 million of residential mortgages.
The Company has entered into transactions with its directors, executive officers, or principal holders of its equity securities, or the associates of such persons (“Related Parties”). Such transactions were made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms and conditions, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with other customers. In management’s opinion, these transactions did not involve more than normal credit risk or present other unfavorable features. All loans to Related Parties were current as of December 31, 2005. An analysis of the activity with respect to loans to Related Parties is as follows:
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The allowance for loan losses is a significant estimate that can and does change based on management’s process in analyzing the loan portfolio and on management’s assumptions about specific borrowers and applicable economic and environmental conditions, among other factors. An analysis of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended on December 31 of 2005, 2004, and 2003 is as follows:
The Company had identified impaired loans with a recorded investment of approximately $15.8 million as of December, 2005, $19.2 million as of December 31, 2004, and $40.8 million of December 31, 2003. The average balances of impaired loans were $15.6 million for 2005, $24.3 million for 2004, and $25.8 million for 2003. Interest collected on impaired loans totaled $0.2 million in 2005, $0.5 million in 2004, and $2.7 million in 2003. The Bank recognizes interest income on impaired loans based on its existing method of recognizing interest income on non-accrual loans. The following tables present impaired loans and the related allowances as of the dates indicated:
The impaired loans included in the table above comprised $9.9 million commercial loans and $5.9 million real estate loans as of December 31, 2005, and comprised $14.1 million commercial loans and $5.1 million real estate loans as of December 31, 2004.
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more were $2.1 million at December 31, 2005, $3.3 million at December 31, 2004, and $5.9 million at December 31, 2003.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following is a summary of non-accrual loans and troubled debt restructurings as of December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 and the related net interest foregone for the years then ended:
As of December 31, 2005, there were no commitments to lend additional funds to those borrowers whose loans have been restructured, were considered impaired, or were on non-accrual status.
As of December 31, 2005, the Company has one aircraft leveraged lease with a book value of $6.0 million. In December 1996, General Bank purchased a leveraged lease on a Boeing 737, which was leased to Continental Airlines until the year 2012. As of December 31, 2005, the aircraft was subject to $10.0 million of third-party financing in the form of long-term debt that provides for no recourse against the Company and is secured by a first lien on the aircraft. The residual value at the end of the lease term is estimated to be $1.9 million based on an independent updated appraisal.
For Federal income tax purposes, the Company has the benefit of tax deductions for depreciation on the entire leased asset and for interest paid on the long-term debt. Deferred taxes are provided to reflect the temporary differences associated with the leveraged leases.
The Company’s investment in the leveraged lease at December 31, 2005, was comprised of rentals receivable, net of the principal and interest on the non-recourse debt of $4.6 million, estimated residual value of $1.9 million, and deferred income of $0.5 million. Total deferred tax liabilities were $7.1 million at December 31, 2005. Income recorded on the Continental Airlines leveraged lease, which is performing in accordance with its contractual terms, was zero for 2005, $4,000 for 2004, and zero for 2003. Through December 31, 2005, Continental Airlines had made all scheduled lease payments.
6. Other Real Estate Owned
There was no recorded balance for other real estate owned at December 31, 2005, and at December 31, 2004. At December 31, 2003, the balance of other real estate owned was $0.4 million, which was net of a valuation allowance of $0.4 million. The following table presents the components of other real estate owned expense (income) for the year ended:
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
An analysis of the activity in the valuation allowance for other real estate losses for the years ended on December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 is as follows:
7. Investments in Affordable Housing
The Company has invested in certain limited partnerships that were formed to develop and operate housing for lower-income tenants throughout the United States. The Company’s investments in these partnerships were $80.2 million at December 31, 2005, and $45.1 million at December 31, 2004. During 2003, the Company adopted Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” issued by the FASB in January 2003. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, five of the limited partnerships in which the Company has an equity interest were determined to be variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The consolidation of these five limited partnerships in the Company’s consolidated financial statements increased total assets and liabilities by $20.9 million. Other borrowings for affordable housing limited partnerships were $20.5 million at December 31, 2005 and $17.1 million at December 31, 2004; recourse is limited to the assets of the limited partnerships. As of December 31, 2005, $18.8 million unfunded commitments for affordable housing limited partnerships were recorded under other liabilities.
Each of the partnerships must meet regulatory requirements for affordable housing for a minimum 15-year compliance period to fully utilize the tax credits. If the partnerships cease to qualify during the compliance period, the credits may be denied for any period in which the projects are not in compliance and a portion of the credits previously taken is subject to recapture with interest. The remaining federal and state tax credits to be utilized over a multiple-year period are $55.2 million and $2.5 million, respectively, at December 31, 2005. The Company’s usage of tax credits approximated $5.2 million in 2005, $4.0 million in 2004 and $3.4 million in 2003. For the year ended December 31, operations of investments in affordable housing resulted in pretax losses of $4.0 million for 2005, $2.9 million for 2004, and $2.7 million for 2003. Losses in excess of the Bank’s investment in two limited partnerships have not been recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements because the Company had fully satisfied all capital commitments required under the respective limited partnership agreements.
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8. Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004:
The amount of depreciation/amortization included in operating expense was $3.8 million in 2005, $3.4 million in 2004, and $2.2 million in 2003.
In 2005, $3.6 million was transferred from premises and equipment to other assets when management decided to sell a bank owned building, land and related improvements. The $3.6 million is the lower of carrying amount or fair value less estimated selling costs.
9. Deposits
The following table displays deposit balance as of December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004:
Time deposits outstanding as of December 31, 2005 mature as follows.
(1) Includes time deposits of $100,000 and over of $76.9 million which are callable in 2006 and mature in 2009.
(2) Includes other time deposits of $8.0 million which are callable in 2006 and mature in 2009.
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Accrued interest payable on customer deposits was $5.8 million at December 31, 2005, and $3.1 million at December 31, 2004. The following table summarizes the interest expense on deposits by account type for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003:
10. Borrowed Funds
Federal Funds Purchased. Federal funds purchased were $119.0 million at December 31, 2005, and $76.0 million at December 31, 2004. There were no Federal funds purchased at December 31, 2003. The table below provides comparative data for Federal funds purchased:
(1) Average balances were computed using daily averages.
(2) Highest month-end balances were December 2005, December 2004, and July 2003.
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase. In November and December 2005, the Company entered into four long-term transactions involving the sale of securities under repurchase agreements totaling $200.0 million for five years. The rates are all initially floating rate for the first year at the three-month Libor minus 100 basis points. Thereafter, the rates are fixed for the remainder of the term, with interest rates ranging from 4.35% to 4.52%. After the initial one year period, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the first anniversary date and quarterly thereafter.
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These transactions are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and recorded at the amounts at which the securities were sold. The Company may also have to provide additional collateral for the repurchase agreements, as necessary. The underlying collateral pledged for the repurchase agreements consists of U.S. government agency security debt and mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $217.4 million as of December 31, 2005, and $16.1 million as of December 31, 2004. The table below provides comparative data for securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
(1) Average balances were computed using daily averages.
(2) Highest month-end balances were December 2005, May 2004, and July 2003.
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (“FHLB”) were $215.0 million at December 31, 2005, and $545.0 million at December 31, 2004. At December 31, 2005, the total unused borrowing capacity under the Bank’s line of credit with the FHLB was $225.6 million. The Bank’s line of credit with the FHLB is non-cancellable as long as the Bank is a member of the FHLB and has pledged adequate collateral and is available without payment of a commitment fee. The following relates to the outstanding advances at December 31, 2005:
As of December 31, 2005, the Company had approved overnight credit lines with other financial institutions in the amount of $216.0 million, with an available amount of $97.0 million. Credit lines can be drawn upon if other financial institutions have funds available. There are no commitment fees for these credit lines.
Line of Credit. On May 31, 2005, Cathay General Bancorp entered into a $30.0 million 364-day unsecured revolving loan agreement with a commercial bank bearing an interest rate of LIBOR plus 90 basis points and a commitment fee of 12.5 basis points on unused commitments. At December 31, 2005, $20.0 million was outstanding with a weighted average rate of 5.18% under this loan.
Other Liabilities. On November 23, 2004, the Company entered into an agreement with its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) pursuant to which the CEO agreed to defer any bonus amounts in excess of $225,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004 until January 1 of the first year following such time as the CEO separates from the Company. Accordingly, an amount equal to $610,000 was deferred in 2004 and is accrued in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004. The Company agreed to accrue interest on the deferred portion of the bonus at 7.0% per annum compounded quarterly. The deferred amount will be increased each quarter by the amount of interest computed for that quarter. Beginning on the tenth anniversary of the
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
agreement, the interest rate will equal 275 basis points above the prevailing interest rate on the ten-year Treasury Note. Interest of $44,000 during 2005 and $2,000 during 2004 was accrued on this deferred bonus. The balance was $656,000 at December 31, 2005, and $612,000 at December 31, 2004.
11. Junior Subordinated Notes
The Bancorp established three special purpose trusts in 2003 for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities to outside investors (Capital Securities). The trusts exist for the sole purpose of issuing the Capital Securities and investing the proceeds thereof, together with proceeds from the purchase of the common stock of the trusts by the Bancorp, in Junior Subordinated Notes issued by the Bancorp. Subject to some limitations, payment of distributions out of the monies held by the trusts and payments on liquidation of the trusts or the redemption of the Capital Securities are guaranteed by the Bancorp to the extent the trusts have funds on hand at such time. The obligations of the Bancorp under the guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Debentures are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all indebtedness of the Bancorp and will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities and obligations of the Bancorp’s subsidiaries. The Bancorp has the right to defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at any time or from time to time for a period of up to twenty consecutive quarterly periods with respect to each deferral period. Under the terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Bancorp may not, with certain exceptions, declare or pay any dividends or distributions on its capital stock or purchase or acquire any of its capital stock if the Bancorp has deferred interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes.
The three special purpose trusts are considered VIE’s under FIN 46. Prior to FIN 46, VIEs were generally consolidated by an enterprise when the enterprise had a controlling financial interest through ownership of a majority of voting interest in the entity. Under FIN 46, a VIE should be consolidated by its primary beneficiary. The Bancorp implemented FIN 46 during the third quarter of 2003. Because the Bancorp is not the primary beneficiary of the trusts, the financial statements of the trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
The Capital Securities are currently included in the Tier 1 capital of the Bancorp for regulatory capital purposes. On March 1, 2005, the Federal Reserve adopted a final rule that retains trust preferred securities in the Tier I capital of bank holding companies, but with stricter quantitative limits and clearer qualitative standards. Under the rule, after a five-year transition period, the aggregate amount of trust preferred securities and certain other capital elements will be limited to 25 percent of Tier I capital elements, net of goodwill, less any associated deferred tax liability. The amount of trust preferred securities and certain other elements in excess of the limit could be included in Tier II capital, subject to restrictions. In the last five years before maturity, the outstanding amount must be excluded from Tier I capital and included in Tier II capital. Bank holding companies with significant international operations would generally be expected to limit trust preferred securities and certain other capital elements to 15% of Tier 1 capital elements, net of goodwill. This rule is not expected to have a materially adverse effect on our capital positions.
The proceeds from the June 2003 and September 2003 issues of Capital Securities were used to fund a portion of the purchase price of the GBC merger. Interest expense on the Junior Subordinated Notes was $3.5 million for 2005, $2.5 million for 2004, and $0.7 million for 2003.
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The table below summarizes the outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company to each trust as of December 31, 2005 (dollars in thousands):
The unamortized discount for the principal balance of debentures owned by Cathay Capital Trust I was $0.1 million at December 31, 2005, $0.2 million at December 31, 2004, and $0.3 million at December 31, 2003.
12. Income Taxes
For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, the current and deferred amounts of the income tax expense are summarized as follows:
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Temporary differences between the amounts reported in the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities give rise to deferred taxes. Net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2005, are included in other assets and net deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2004, are included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and are as follows:
Amounts for the current year are based upon estimates and assumptions as of the date of this report and could vary from amounts shown on the tax returns as filed.
In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not the Company will realize all benefits related to these deductible temporary differences.
As of December 31, 2005, the Company had income tax receivables of approximately $13.3 million, of which $12.1 million relates to California income taxes related to 2000, 2001, and 2002 and is further discussed below. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had income tax receivables of approximately $15.7 million. These income tax receivables are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Other liabilities included current income taxes payable of $2.7 million as of December 31, 2005 and $24.3 million as of December 31, 2004.
As previously disclosed, on December 31, 2003, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced its intent to list certain transactions that in its view constitute potentially abusive tax shelters. Included in the transactions subject to this listing were transactions utilizing regulated investment companies (RICs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). As part of the notification indicating the listed transactions, the FTB also
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indicated its position that it intends to disallow tax benefits associated with these transactions. While the Company continues to believe that the tax benefits recorded in three prior years with respect to its regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible under California law, the Company has deemed it prudent to participate in Voluntary Compliance Initiative - Option 2, requiring payment of all California taxes and interest on these disputed 2000 through 2002 tax benefits, and permitting the Company to claim a refund for these years while avoiding certain potential penalties. The Company retains potential exposure for assertion of an accuracy-related penalty should the FTB prevail in its position in addition to the risk of not being successful in its refund claims. As of December 31, 2005, the Company reflected a $12.1 million net state tax receivable for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002 after giving effect to reserves for loss contingencies on the refund claims, or an equivalent of $7.9 million after giving effect to Federal tax benefits. The FTB is currently in the process of reviewing and assessing our refund claims for taxes and interest for tax years 2000 through 2002. Although the Company believes its tax deductions related to the regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible, there can be no assurance of the outcome of its refund claims, and an adverse outcome on the refund claims could result in a loss of all or a portion of the $7.9 million net state tax receivable after giving effect to Federal tax benefits.
Income tax expense results in effective tax rates that differ from the statutory Federal income tax rate for the years indicated as follows:
13. Stockholders’ Equity and Earnings per Share
As a bank holding company, the Bancorp’s ability to pay dividends will depend upon the dividends it receives from the Bank and on the income it may generate from any other activities in which it may engage, either directly or through other subsidiaries.
Under California State banking law, the Bank may not, without regulatory approval, pay a cash dividend that exceeds the lesser of the Bank’s retained earnings or its net income for the last three fiscal years, less any cash distributions made during that period. The amount of retained earnings available for cash dividends to the Bancorp immediately after December 31, 2005, is restricted to approximately $111.4 million under this regulation. In January 2006, the Bancorp declared and paid cash dividends of $4.5 million.
During 2003, the Bank formed Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust (“Trust”) to provide the Bank flexibility in raising capital. During 2003, the Bank contributed $1.13 billion in loans and securities to the Trust in exchange for 100% of the common stock of the Trust. In 2003, the Trust sold to accredited investors $4.4 million of its 7.0% Series A Non-Cumulative preferred stock which pays dividends, if declared, at the end of each quarter. It sold an additional $4.2 million of this preferred stock in 2004. During 2005, the Trust repurchased $131,000 of its preferred stock. This preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital under current regulatory guidelines. A dividend
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
of $603,000 in 2005 and a dividend of $575,000 in 2004 were paid to accredited investors. For the year ended and as of December 31, 2005, December 31, 2004, and December 31, 2003, the net income and assets of the Trust are eliminated in consolidation.
The Board of Directors of the Bancorp is authorized to issue preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the voting powers, designations, preferences or other rights of the shares of each such class or series and the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereon. Any preferred stock issued by the Bancorp may rank prior to the Bancorp common stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preferences, or both, may have full or limited voting rights, and may be convertible into shares of the Bancorp common stock. No preferred stock has been issued as of December 31, 2005.
On November 16, 2000, the Bancorp’s Board of Directors adopted a Rights Agreement between the Bancorp and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent, and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of the Bancorp common stock. The dividend was payable on January 19, 2001, to stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date, December 20, 2000. Each preferred share purchase right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Bancorp one one-thousandth of a share of the Bancorp’s Series A junior participating preferred stock at a price of $200, subject to adjustment. In general, the rights become exercisable if, after December 20, 2000, a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Bancorp’s common stock or announces a tender offer for 15% or more of the common stock. The Board of Directors is entitled to redeem the rights at one cent per right at any time before any such person acquires 15% or more of the outstanding common stock. The rights will expire in ten years. The complete terms and conditions of the rights are contained in the Rights Agreement, between the Bancorp and the Rights Agent, which was filed as an exhibit to the Bancorp’s Form 8-A on December 20, 2000. The Rights Agreement is a successor to the Bancorp’s prior rights agreement, which expired at the close of business on December 20, 2000.
The following is the reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the years as indicated:
(1) Shares and per share data have been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split in the form of a 100 percent stock dividend effective September 28, 2004.
Options to purchase an additional 1.3 million shares at December 31, 2005, and to purchase an additional 64,000 shares at December 31, 2004, and to purchase additional 2.0 million shares at December 31, 2003, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
14. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation. The Company is involved in various litigation concerning transactions entered into during the normal course of business. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not believe that the resolution of such litigation will have a material effect upon its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity taken as a whole.
Lending. In the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit in the form of loans or through commercial or standby letters of credit and financial guarantees. Those instruments represent varying degrees of exposure to risk in excess of the amounts included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The contractual or notional amount of these instruments indicates a level of activity associated with a particular class of financial instrument and is not a reflection of the level of expected losses, if any.
The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Unless noted otherwise, the Company does not require collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk.
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent the amount of credit risk include the following:
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the commitment agreement. These commitments generally have fixed expiration dates and are expected to expire without being drawn upon. The total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrowers.
As of December 31, 2005, the Company does not have fixed-rate or variable-rate commitments with characteristics similar to options, which provide the holder, for a premium paid at inception to the Company, the benefits of favorable movements in the price of an underlying asset or index with limited or no exposure to losses from unfavorable price movements.
As of December 31, 2005, commitments to extend credit of $1.8 billion include commitments to fund fixed rate loans and adjustable rate loans of $0.1 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively.
Commercial letters of credit and bill of lading guarantees are issued to facilitate domestic and foreign trade transactions while standby letters of credit are issued to make payments on behalf of customers when certain
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
specified future events occur. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit and bill of lading guarantees is essentially the same as that involved in making loans to customers.
Leases. The Company is obligated under a number of operating leases for premises and equipment with terms ranging from one to 53 years, many of which provide for periodic adjustment of rentals based on changes in various economic indicators. Rental expense was $5.9 million for 2005, $5.4 million for 2004 and $2.6 million for 2003. The following table shows future minimum payments under operating leases with terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2005.
(1) Includes the annual lease payment of approximately $107,000 to be made to T.C. Realty, Inc., a corporation owned by Mr. Patrick Lee’s spouse, as agent for 929 College LLC, a limited liability company jointly owned by Mr. Lee and his spouse. Mr. Lee is a director of the Bancorp and the Bank. The lease is due to expire in 2007.
Rental income was $0.6 million for 2005, $0.6 million for 2004 and $0.5 million for 2003. The following table shows future rental payments to be received under operating leases with terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2005:
15. Derivative Financial Instruments
The following table presents the notional amount and fair value of interest rate risk management instruments, as of December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004:
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The Company uses interest rate swaps to mitigate risks associated with changes 1) to the fair value of certain fixed rate certificates of deposit that are callable either after one year or after two years and 2) to certain cash flows related to future interest payments on variable rate loans. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had no interest rate swaps.
In 2004, the Company entered into the $111.1 million of fair value hedges which were scheduled to terminate in 2007 or in 2009 and which can be terminated at the election of the counterparty after one year for the swaps terminating in 2007 or after two years for the swaps terminating in 2009. These swaps were entered into to mitigate risks associated with changes to the fair value of a like amount of fixed rate certificates of deposit which have similar call features as contained in the swaps. All of these swaps were initially designated as fair value hedges and the Bank expected a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap and changes in the fair value of the hedged callable certificates of deposit. However, at December 31, 2004, highly effective correlation was maintained for only one group of callable certificates of deposit with a principal amount of $13.9 million. As of December 31, 2004, the negative mark-to-market on the fair value hedges resulted in the recognition of the derivative financial instruments in other liabilities and a decrease in hedged deposits of $0.1 million. For the ineffective hedges, the unrealized loss at December 31, 2004, of $0.1 million was charged against other income for 2004.
In January, 2005, the Bank terminated the $111.1 million of swaptions entered into during 2004 by making a cash payment of $485,000 and recording a loss of $317,000 which reflected the decrease in the fair value during 2005. Also in January 2005, the Bank entered into new swaps to hedge the callable certificates of deposits and received a cash payment of $588,000 at the inception of the hedges. These swaps were entered into to mitigate risks associated with changes to the fair value of a like amount of fixed rate certificates of deposit which have similar call features as contained in the swaps. All of these swaps were initially designated as fair value hedges and the Bank expected a highly effective correlation between changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap and changes in the fair value of the hedged callable certificates of deposit. In May and December 2005, the Bank cancelled these swaps for total cash payments of $887,000. The loss in the value of these swaps of $299,000 was charged against other income in 2005. At December 31, 2005, the unamortized gain on the hedged callable certificates of deposit was $364,000 which will be amortized during 2006.
On March 21, 2000, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement in the notional amount of $20.0 million for a period of five years. This interest rate swap matured on March 21, 2005 and was for the purpose of hedging the cash flows from a portion of our floating rate loans against declining interest rates. Amounts paid or received on the cash flow hedge interest rate swap were reclassified into earnings upon receipt of interest payments on the underlying loans, including $0.2 million in 2005, $1.1 million in 2004, and $1.2 million in 2003 that were reclassified into net interest income.
The periodic net settlement of interest rate management instruments is recorded as an adjustment to net interest income. These interest rate risk management instruments increased net interest income by $62,000 in 2005, $1.8 million in 2004, and $1.2 million in 2003.
In April 2005, the Bank took in a total of $8.9 million in one year certificates of deposit that pay a minimum interest of 0.5% plus additional interest tied to 60% of the appreciation of four foreign currencies against the US dollar. Under SFAS No. 133, a certificate of deposit that pays interest based on changes in exchange rates is a hybrid instrument with an embedded derivative that must be accounted for separately from the host contract (i.e. the certificate of deposit). The fair value of the embedded derivative at December 31, 2005, was $65,000 and is included in interest-bearing deposits in the consolidated balance sheet. The Bank purchased two currency options with a fair value at December 31, 2005, of $59,000 to manage its exposure to the appreciation of two of these
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
foreign currencies. The net impact on the consolidated statement of income related to these currency linked certificates of deposit was a decrease to income of $56,000 in 2005.
16. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. For cash and cash equivalents, the carrying amount was assumed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Securities Available for Sale. For securities available-for-sale, fair values were based on quoted market prices at the reporting date. If a quoted market price was not available, fair value was estimated using quoted market prices for similar securities.
Loans. Fair values were estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Each loan category was further segmented into fixed and adjustable rate interest terms and by performing and non-performing categories.
The fair value of performing loans was calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan.
The entire allowance for credit losses was applied to classified loans including non-accruals. Accordingly, they are considered to be carried at fair value as the allowance for credit losses represents the estimated discount for credit risk for the applicable loans.
Deposit Liabilities. The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts, and certain money market deposits was assumed to be the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit was estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits with similar remaining maturities.
Repurchase Agreements. The fair value of the repurchase agreements is based on dealer quotes.
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank. The fair value of the advances is estimated by discounting the projected cash flows using the rates currently offered for FHLB borrowings with similar remaining maturities.
Other Borrowings. This category includes federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements, revolving line of credit and other short-term borrowings. The fair value of other borrowings is based on current market rates for borrowings with similar remaining maturities.
Junior Subordinated Notes. The fair value of the Junior Subordinated Notes is estimated based on the current spreads to LIBOR for junior subordinated notes.
Off-Balance-Sheet Financial Instruments. The fair value of commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, and financial guarantees written were estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counter-parties. The fair value of guarantees and letters of credit was based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate them or otherwise settle the obligations with the counter-parties at the reporting date.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Derivative Financial Instruments. The fair values of interest rate swaps and options to enter into swaps (swaptions) were based on quoted market prices at the reporting date. If a quoted market price was not available, fair value was estimated using quoted market prices for similar securities.
Fair value estimates were made at specific points in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Bank’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Bank’s financial instruments, fair value estimates were based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates were subjective in nature and involved uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
17. Employee Benefit Plans
Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Under the Company’s Amended and Restated Cathay Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”), the Company can make annual contributions to a trust in the form of either cash or common stock of the Company for the benefit of eligible employees. Employees are eligible to participate in the ESOP after completing two years of service for salaried full-time employees or 1,000 hours for
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
each of two consecutive years for salaried part-time employees. The amount of the annual contribution is discretionary except that it must be sufficient to enable the trust to meet its current obligations. The Company also pays for the administration of this plan and of the trust. During 2004 and 2005, the Company did not make any contributions to the trust and does not expect to make any contributions in the future. Effective June 17, 2004, the ESOP was amended to provide the participants the election to either reinvest the dividends on the Company stock allocated to their accounts or to distribute these dividends to the participant. The ESOP trust purchased 21,026 shares in 2005, 18,375 shares in 2004 and 58,168 shares in 2003, of the Bancorp’s common stock at an aggregate cost of $0.7 million in 2005, $0.6 million in 2004, and $1.4 million in 2003. The 21,026 shares purchased in 2005 and 18,375 shares purchased in 2004 were bought through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The shares purchased in 2003 included 31,516 shares bought on the open market and 26,652 bought through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The Company contributed $0.9 million in 2003 to the trust. The expense was charged to salaries and employee benefits in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. In 2005 and 2004, the distribution of benefits to participants totaled 57,623 shares in 2005, 61,749 in 2004 and 70,974 shares in 2003. As of December 31, 2005, the ESOP owned 1,871,464 shares or 3.73% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
401(k) Plan. In 1997, the Board approved the Company’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, which began on March 1, 1997. Salaried employees who have completed three months of service and have attained the age of 21 are eligible to participate. Enrollment dates are on January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st of each year. Participants may contribute up to 75% of their eligible compensation for the year but not to exceed the dollar limit set by the Internal Revenue Code. Participants may change their contribution election on the enrollment dates. The Company matches 100% on the first 5% of compensation contributed per pay period by the participant, after one year of service. The vesting schedule for the matching contribution is 0% for less than two years of service, 25% after two years of service and from then on, at an increment of 25% each year until 100% is vested after five years of service. The Company’s contribution amounted to $1.2 million in 2005, $1.2 million in 2004 and $0.3 million in 2003. The Plan allows participants to withdraw all or part of their vested amount in the Plan due to certain financial hardship as set forth in the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations. Participants may also borrow up to 50% of the vested amount, up to a maximum of $50,000. The minimum loan amount is $1,000.
18. Equity Incentive Plans
In 1998, the Board adopted the Cathay Bancorp, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan. Under the Equity Incentive Plan, as amended in September, 2003, directors and eligible employees may be granted incentive or non-statutory stock options, or awarded restricted stock, for up to 7,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on a split adjusted basis. In May 2005, the shareholders of the Company approved the 2005 Incentive Plan which provides that 3,131,854 shares of the Company’s common stock may be granted as incentive or non-statutory stock options, or as restricted stock. In conjunction with the approval of the 2005 Incentive Plan, the Bancorp agreed to cease granting awards under the Equity Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2005, the Company has only granted non-statutory stock options to selected bank officers and non-employee directors at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Such options have a maximum ten-year term and vest in 20% annual increments (subject to early termination in certain events) except for certain options granted during 2005 as further discussed below. If such options expire or terminate without having been exercised, any shares not purchased will again be available for future grants or awards.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
On October 20, 2003, pursuant to the terms of its merger with GBC Bancorp, the Company assumed an obligation to issue up to 1,416,520 shares of the Company’s common stock on outstanding options under the GBC Bancorp 1999 Employee Stock Incentive Plan.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
At December 31, 2005, 2,888,508 shares were available under the 2005 Incentive Plan for future grants. The following table shows stock options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2005, the corresponding exercise prices, and the weighted-average contractual life remaining:
On January 16, 2003, Dunson K. Cheng, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, was granted options to purchase 153,060 shares and on November 20, 2003 was granted option to purchase 638,670 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan. In March 2005, the Company determined that these grants, in combination, exceeded by 391,730 shares a limitation in the Plan as to the number of shares that could be subject to awards made to any one participant in any calendar year.
Effective March 22, 2005, Mr. Cheng agreed to cancel the options as to the 391,730 excess shares, and to waive all rights that he has to purchase such excess shares upon exercise of the option. Also, on March 22, 2005, the Executive Compensation Committee approved granting to Mr. Cheng an option to purchase a total of 245,060 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to the closing market price of the common stock on the NASDAQ National Market on that date of which 30% vest immediately, 10% would vest on November 20, 2005 and an additional 20% would vest on November 20, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. On May 12, 2005, the Executive Compensation Committee approved granting Mr. Cheng an option under the 2005 Incentive Plan to purchase a total of 264,694 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to the closing market price of the common stock on the NASDAQ National Market on that date of which 40% would vest on November 20, 2005, and an additional 20% would vest on November 20, 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
19. Condensed Financial Information of Cathay General Bancorp (Unaudited)
The condensed financial information of Cathay General Bancorp as of December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for the years ended December 31 of 2005, 2004, and 2003 were as follows:
Balance Sheets
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Statements of Income
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Statements of Cash Flows
20. Dividend Reinvestment Plan
The Company has a dividend reinvestment plan which allows for participants’ reinvestment of cash dividends and certain additional optional investments in the Company’s common stock. Shares issued under the plan and the consideration received on a post-split stock basis were 93,947 shares for $3.0 million in 2005, 95,098 shares for $3.0 million in 2004, and 130,690 shares for $2.7 million in 2003.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
21. Regulatory Matters
Following a regular examination by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), on June 17, 2004, the Bank’s Board of Directors approved and signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with the FDIC in connection with certain deficiencies identified by the FDIC relating to the Bank’s compliance with certain provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act (the “BSA”). Under the terms of the MOU, the Bank must comply in all material respects with the BSA within 90 days from the MOU’s effective date, July 18, 2004. The MOU required in part that the Bank perform an analysis of its BSA risk profile and implement a written action plan designed to ensure compliance with the BSA. Such plan included revisions of the Bank’s policies and procedures, enhancements of the Bank’s internal controls for BSA compliance, independent compliance testing, dedicated compliance staff, and regular employee training.
In September 2005, the FDIC terminated the MOU with the Bank because the Bank had substantially complied with the MOU.
The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors. See Note 11 for discussion of possible future disallowance of Capital Securities as Tier 1 capital.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has established five capital ratio categories: “well capitalized”, “adequately capitalized”, “undercapitalized”, “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized.” A well capitalized institution must have a Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6%, a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10%, and a leverage ratio of at least 5%. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the FDIC categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The Bancorp’s and the Bank’s capital and leverage ratios as of December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004, are presented in the tables below:
(1) Average assets represent average balances for the fourth quarter of each year presented.
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
22. Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
The following table sets forth selected unaudited quarterly financial data:
23. Subsequent Event
On February 21, 2006, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Great Eastern Bank (GEB), a New York City-based bank with five branches and approximately $330 million in assets. Consideration for the merger will consist of $101.0 million of cash and the Company’s common stock with a maximum stock consideration of 60% of the total consideration and a minimum stock consideration of 45% of the total consideration. Subject to the tender of at least two third’s of GEB’s shares and certain other closing conditions, the acquisition of GEB is expected to close in April 2006. On September 6, 2005, the Company announced that it had entered into option agreements with shareholders of GEB for the right to purchase approximately 41% of the outstanding shares of GEB. Under the terms of the merger agreement with GEB, the Company agreed not to purchase any shares covered by the option agreements without the consent of the applicable option grantor.