HUVL Hudson Valley Holding Corp. (MM)

YONKERS, N.Y., July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hudson Valley Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: HUVL), parent of Hudson Valley Bank, has announced a net loss of $11.0 million or $(0.68) per diluted share for the second quarter of 2010, compared to earnings of $0.3 million or $0.03 per diluted share for the same period in 2009, and compared to earnings of $4.9 million or $0.30 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2010. For the six month period ended June 30, 2010, the net loss was $6.1 million or $(0.38) per diluted share compared to earnings of $6.9 million or $0.58 per diluted share for the same period in 2009.

The second quarter 2010 results reflect a significant addition to the provision for loan losses resulting from a decision by the Company to implement a more aggressive workout strategy for the resolution of problem assets in light of a sluggish economic recovery, continued weakness in local real estate activity and market values and growing difficulty in resolving problem loans in a timely fashion through traditional foreclosure proceedings due to increased bankruptcy filings and overcrowded court systems.

James J. Landy, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "Our core business continues to produce positive financial results. The second quarter and year-to-date disappointing financial results are attributable to asset quality challenges and, in particular, our determination to resolve more expeditiously our problem loans. We have analyzed our identified problem loans as well as other loans we believe have the potential to become problems in the near future against our new workout strategy. A specific approach to resolve each loan was developed and we provided through our reserves what we believe will be the loss incurred in light of our new strategy.  We believe that our new strategy and the reserves we have established will provide for the effective resolution of our problem loans."

Mr. Landy added, "We are encouraged by our robust core deposit growth in 2010. Increasing low cost core deposits remains the cornerstone of our business plan.  Our cost of funds continues to decline and remains one of the lowest in our industry. Our core deposits provide a solid foundation from which we can grow.  Loan demand has softened significantly this year.  As a result, our short-term funds have increased causing our margins to decline. We expect loan growth will remain soft for the near term.  We believe this situation is temporary and we anticipate loan growth will rebound as the economy gains strength.  We do, however, see a slow economic recovery ahead."  

The Company recorded a net loss for the three month period ended June 30, 2010 of $11.0 million or $(0.68) per diluted share, a decrease of $11.3 million compared to net income of $0.3 million or $0.03 per diluted share for the same period in the prior year. The net loss for the six month period ended June 30, 2010 was $6.1 million or $(0.38) per diluted share, a decrease of $13.0 million compared to earnings of $6.9 million or $0.58 per diluted share for the same period in the prior year. Per share amounts for the 2009 periods have been adjusted to reflect the effects of the 10% stock dividend issued in December 2009.

The net loss for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 resulted primarily from a $28.5 million provision for loan losses and a $1.4 million other real estate owned valuation provision recorded in the second quarter of 2010. This provision is reflective of increases in nonperforming assets and, in particular, the Company's decision to follow a more aggressive strategy for problem asset resolution. The severity of the decline in real estate values has provided new market opportunities for the disposition of distressed assets as investors search for yield in the current low interest rate environment and our more aggressive policy may be able to take advantage of those opportunities. As part of the revised resolution strategy, the Company has reevaluated each problem loan and has made a determination of net realizable value based on management's estimation of the best possible outcome considering the individual characteristics of each asset against the likelihood of resolution with the current borrower, expectations for resolution through the court system, or other available market opportunities.

Total deposits increased $238.5 million during the six month period ended June 30, 2010 as the Company continued to experience significant growth in new customers both in existing branches and new branches added during the last two years. Proceeds from deposit growth were used to reduce maturing term borrowings or were retained in liquid investments, principally interest earning bank deposits.

Total loans decreased $72.1 million during the six month period ended June 30, 2010. This decline resulted from a number of factors including decreased loan demand, charge-offs and pay downs of existing loans. The Company recognized $25.6 million of net charge-offs during the six month period. The Company has continued to experience a slowdown in payments of certain loans, such as construction loans, whose repayment is often dependent on sales of completed properties, as well as additional increases in delinquent and nonperforming loans in other sectors of the loan portfolio, all of which have been adversely impacted by the economic downturn and decline in the real estate market. The Company, however, continues to provide lending availability to both new and existing customers.

Nonperforming assets, which include nonaccrual loans, accruing loans delinquent over 90 days and other real estate owned, increased to $75.6 million at June 30, 2010, compared to $66.7 million at December 31, 2009, as overall asset quality continued to be adversely affected by the current state of the economy and the real estate market. Although there is growing evidence that the current economic downturn may have begun to slowly turn around, increases in delinquent and nonperforming loans, slowdowns in repayments and declines in the loan-to-value ratios on existing loans continued during the first half of 2010. Despite recent improvement in most economic indicators, the Company's loan portfolio continued to be adversely impacted by the effects of severe declines in the demand for and values of virtually all commercial and residential real estate properties. These declines, together with the limited availability of residential mortgage financing, resulted in continued downward pressure on the overall asset quality of the Company's loan portfolio during the first half of 2010. In addition, recent significant increases in filings of bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings have overloaded the court systems and have resulted in what the Company believes to be unacceptable delays in attempts to obtain title to real estate and other collateral through conventional foreclosure. As a result of these factors, in the second quarter of 2010, the Company instituted a revised and more aggressive strategy for resolving problem assets discussed above.  

During 2009 and the first half of 2010, the Company was able to repay maturing long-term borrowings, all of its brokered certificates of deposit and non-customer related short-term borrowings with liquidity provided primarily by core deposit growth and planned utilization of run-off from our investment securities. Additional liquidity from deposit growth was retained in the Company's short-term liquidity portfolios, available to fund future loan growth. With interest rates remaining at historical low levels, this increase in liquidity contributed to margin compression. The net interest margin declined from 4.40 percent in the first quarter of 2010 to 4.15 percent in the second quarter of 2010.

As a result of the aforementioned activity in the Company's core businesses of loans and deposits and other asset/liability management activities, tax equivalent basis net interest income declined by $0.7 million or 2.4 percent to $28.6 million for the three month period ended June 30, 2010, compared to $29.3 million for the same period in the prior year. Tax equivalent basis net interest income declined by $1.1 million or 1.9 percent to $57.7 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2010, compared to $58.8 million for the same period in the prior year. The effect of the adjustment to a tax equivalent basis was $0.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively, for the three and six month period ended June 30, 2010, compared to $1.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year.

The Company's non interest income was $2.7 million and $5.5 million, respectively, for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010. This represented increases of $0.9 million or 50.0 percent and $1.0 million or 22.2 percent, respectively, compared to $1.8 million and $4.5 million, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. These increases were primarily as a result of an increase in investment advisory fees. Fee income from this source increased primarily as a result of the effects of recent significant improvement in both domestic and international equity markets. Assets under management were approximately $1.2 billion at June 30, 2010 and $1.0 billion at June 30, 2009. The overall increases in non interest income also included growth in deposit service charges, Non interest income also included recognized pre-tax impairment charges on securities available for sale of $0.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively, for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 and $2.1 million and $3.6 million, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. The impairment charges were related to the Company's investments in pooled trust preferred securities. The Company has decided to hold its investments in pooled trust preferred securities as it does not believe that the current market value estimates for these investments are indicative of their underlying value. The pooled trust preferred securities are primarily backed by various U.S. financial institutions many of which are experiencing severe financial difficulties as a result of the current economic downturn. Continuation of these conditions may result in additional impairment charges on these securities in the future. Non interest income for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 also included a $1.4 million valuation loss on other real estate owned. Non interest income, excluding net realized gains and losses on securities transactions, valuation losses on other real estate owned and recognized impairment charges on securities available for sale, was $4.6 million and $9.1 million, respectively, for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010. These amounts represented increases of $0.7 million or 17.9 percent and $1.1 million or 13.8 percent, respectively, compared to $3.9 million and $8.0 million, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year.

Non interest expense was $18.1 million and $36.6 million, respectively, for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010. This represented decreases of $1.5 million or 7.7 percent and $1.5 million or 3.9 percent, respectively, compared to $19.6 million and $38.1 million, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. Increases in non interest expense resulting from the Company's continued investment in its branch offices, technology and personnel to accommodate growth, the expansion of services and products available to new and existing customers and the upgrading of certain internal processes were significantly offset by cost saving measures implemented by the Company during 2009 and continued into 2010. Overall decreases in non interest expense for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010, compared to the same periods in the prior year, partially resulted from significantly lower FDIC deposit insurance premiums. Additional premiums imposed by the FDIC in 2009 to replenish shortfalls in the FDIC Insurance Fund have not as yet been imposed to the same degree in 2010. However, additional premium increases and special assessments may continue to be imposed by the FDIC in the future.

During the fourth quarter of 2009, the OCC required Hudson Valley Bank (HVB) to maintain, by December 31, 2009, a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 12.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 8.0%. These capital levels are in excess of "well capitalized" levels generally applicable to banks under current regulations. In the second quarter of 2010, the Company contributed an additional $15 million of capital to HVB. The Company and HVB have continuously exceeded required regulatory capital ratios since December 31, 2009.

As previously announced we will be holding a second quarter earnings conference call Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 10:00 AM EDT - Participant Pass code: 5380315:  Domestic (toll free): 1-866-843-0890 or International (toll) +1-412-317-9250.

A replay of the call will be available 1 hour from the close of the conference through August 9, 2010 at 9:00 AM EDT - Replay Pass code: 442496:  US Toll Free: 1-877-344-7529; International Toll: +1-412-317-0088. Participants will be required to state their name and company upon entering call.

The Company webcast will be available live at 10:00 AM EDT, and archived after the

call, through our website at www.hudsonvalleybank.com.

About Hudson Valley Holding Corp.

Hudson Valley Holding Corp. (HUVL), headquartered in Yonkers, NY, is the parent company of Hudson Valley Bank (HVB). Hudson Valley Bank is a Westchester based bank with more than $2.9 billion in assets, serving the metropolitan area with 36 branches located in Westchester, Rockland, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn in New York and Fairfield County and New Haven County, in Connecticut. HVB specializes in providing a full range of financial services to businesses, professional services firms, not-for-profit organizations and individuals; and provides investment management services through a subsidiary, A. R. Schmeidler & Co., Inc. Hudson Valley Holding Corp.'s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "HUVL" and is included in the Russell 3000® Index. Additional information on Hudson Valley Bank can be obtained on their web-site at www.hudsonvalleybank.com.

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This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "anticipates," "believes," "can," "continue," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "should" or "will" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from our future results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• a continued or unexpected decline in the economy in the New York Metropolitan area;
• increases in loan losses or in the level of nonperforming loans;
• unexpected increases in our allowance for loan losses;
• our failure to maintain required regulatory capital levels;
• further declines in value in our investment portfolio;
• a continued or unexpected decline in real estate values within our market areas;
• higher than expected FDIC insurance premiums;
• unexpected changes in interest rates;
• additional regulatory oversight which may require us to change our business model;
• the imposition on us of liabilities under federal or state environmental laws;
• those risk factors identified in our SEC filings, including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Forward looking statements speak only as of the date such statements are made. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations.

SOURCE Hudson Valley Holding Corp.