TORONTO, July 24, 2018 /CNW/ - First National Financial
Corporation (TSX: FN, TSX: FN.PR.A, TSX: FN.PR.B) (the
"Company" or "FNFC") today announced its financial results for the
three and six months ended June 30,
2018. The Company derives virtually all of its earnings from
its wholly-owned subsidiary, First National Financial LP ("FNFLP"
or "First National").
Second Quarter Summary
- Mortgages under administration ("MUA") up year over year by 4%
to a record $103.6 billion from
$99.5 billion at June 30, 2017
- New mortgage originations up 9% to $5.1
billion from $4.7 billion a
year ago
- Revenue $290.9 million compared
to $292.2 million in Q2 2017
- Net income $46.3 million
($0.76 per common share) compared to
$68.8 million ($1.13 per common share) in Q2 2017
- Pre-FMV EBITDA(1) $56.0
million compared to $68.3
million in Q2 2017
Management Commentary
"The second quarter was highly productive for First National in
both single family and commercial mortgage lending with both
segments of the business generating solid growth on the basis of
customer service," said Stephen
Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "As a
consequence of strong new originations and renewal volumes, MUA
continued to climb, which is broadly positive for future financial
performance and illustrates that First National is responding well
to changing market conditions. While earnings, adjusted for
fair value considerations, were lower by 18%, this was partially
because we shifted mortgages to our securitization programs, which
defers the earnings process until the securitization cash flows
come in over five and 10-year terms. Considering the housing market
interventions made over the past 18 months by various governments,
strong competition and tighter mortgage spreads, we are pleased
with the Company's ongoing progress."
In the second quarter, total originations together with renewals
amounted to $7.3 billion, up 18% from
$6.2 billion in Q2 2017. Of this
amount, new single-family originations were $3.4 billion, up 5% year over year, while
single-family renewals were $1.9
billion, up 45% year over year. New commercial originations
of $1.7 billion were 17% higher than
a year ago, while commercial renewals of $299 million were 33% above the second quarter of
2017.
"The second quarter marked a significant milestone for First
National's commercial business as it surpassed $25 billion in MUA," said Moray Tawse, Executive
Vice President. "This growth clearly demonstrates that borrowers in
all real estate segments find value in the portfolio of services we
offer as Canada's largest
commercial mortgage lender and encourages the ongoing development
of our 'more than a lender' approach. The single-family
business generated solid new origination growth led by Quebec where production was 24% above last
year. Leveraging on the business we did five years before, renewals
were also up sharply."
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|
|
|
Quarter
ended
|
Six months
ended
|
|
June
30,
2018
|
June
30,
2017
|
June
30,
2018
|
June
30,
2017
|
For the
Period
|
($000's)
|
|
Revenue
|
290,935
|
292,200
|
547,636
|
524,438
|
|
Income before income
taxes
|
63,017
|
93,078
|
112,289
|
142,235
|
|
Pre-FMV EBITDA
(1)
|
56,048
|
68,275
|
106,416
|
121,359
|
At Period
end
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
35,794,066
|
30,832,883
|
35,794,066
|
30,832,883
|
|
Mortgages under
administration
|
103,574,915
|
99,533,430
|
103,574,915
|
99,533,430
|
(1)
|
This non-IFRS measure
adjusts income before income taxes by adding back expenses for
amortization of
intangible and capital assets (generally described as EBITDA) but
it also eliminates the impact of changes
in fair value by adding back losses on the valuation of financial
instruments (except those on mortgage
investments) and deducting gains on the valuation of financial
instruments. See also the section "Non-
GAAP Measures" in this news release for additional
detail.
|
Q2 2018 Summary
First National's MUA increased 4% to $103.6 billion at June 30,
2018 from $99.5 billion at
June 30, 2017. Between
March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018, MUA grew at an annualized rate of
5% as a result of traditionally strong seasonal market
activity.
New single-family mortgage originations increased 5% to
$3.4 billion from $3.3 billion in the second quarter of 2017,
reflecting the relaunch of the Company's Excalibur program earlier
this year and steady growth in most markets, led by the
Montreal office. New originations
were 9% lower in Alberta. Single
family mortgage renewals amounted to $1.9
billion in the second quarter of 2018, up 45% from the prior
year on higher renewal opportunities and good execution. New
commercial segment originations increased 17% to $1.7 billion from $1.5
billion a year ago, reflecting growth in conventional
financing, while commercial mortgage renewals amounted to
$299 million, up 33% from
$225 million a year ago. As a result
of strong production in both business segments, June 30, 2018 Single Family MUA was a record
$78.0 billion while Commercial MUA
was a record $25.6 billion, up
$828 million and $3.2 billion, respectively from a year ago. The
Company originated and renewed for securitization purposes
$3.4 billion of mortgages in the
second quarter of 2018 compared to $1.9
billion a year ago.
Second quarter 2018 revenue was $290.9
million compared to $292.2
million a year ago. This 1% decline is a result of changing
interest rates and their impact on gains on financial instruments
as well as the result of hedge accounting on January 1, 2018 which mitigates the volatility of
such changes on earnings. Excluding these factors, revenue would
have been 6% higher year over year. For more information on
the adoption of new IFRS Accounting Standards, including IFRS 9 and
IFRS 15, please see the Company's financial statements and
Management's Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of
2018.
The Company has several revenue sources. Mortgage servicing
income increased 4% to $37.1 million
in the second quarter of 2018 from $35.7
million in Q2 2017 as a result of higher MUA and growth in
the Company's third-party underwriting business. Mortgage
investment income increased 31% to $21.2
million from $16.2 million in
Q2 2017 due primarily to an increase in the Company's commercial
bridge loan program. Net interest– securitized mortgages increased
3% to $35.5 million from $34.4 million in Q2 2017 due to a larger
portfolio, partially offset by modestly tighter weighted-average
spreads. Placement fees were $31.0
million, down 41% from $52.9
million in Q2 2017 due largely to lower new residential
origination volume for institutional customers. Gains on
deferred placement fees were flat year over year at $2.4 million. Securitized mortgages
amounted to $29.3 billion at
June 30, 2018, up 13% from
$26.0 billion a year ago.
Income before income taxes was $63.0
million compared to $93.1
million in Q2 2017, a 32% decline due to changing capital
market conditions which created large gains on financial
instruments in 2017. In the second quarter of 2017, interest
rates rose quickly, creating large gains on financial instruments.
At that time, the Company's hedging instruments did not qualify for
hedge accounting and $26.0 million of
gains were included in income. In the second quarter of 2018, the
Company recorded revenue of $8.3
million on account of financial instruments as interest
rates did not change as much as in the 2017 quarter and the Company
was able to defer some of the gains through Other Comprehensive
Income because of the adoption of hedge accounting in 2018.
Pre-FMV EBITDA(1), which excludes the impact of gains
and losses on financial instruments in both periods, decreased 18%
to $56.0 million from $68.3 million a year ago. The change reflected
tighter mortgage spreads as well as increased securitization, which
delays the earnings process in comparison to placement fees which
are earned in the same period as origination.
Dividends
The Board declared common share dividends in the second quarter
of 2018 of $27.7 million or the
annualized equivalent of $1.85 per
common share. The dividend payout ratio as a percentage of net
income attributable to common shareholders was 61% in Q2 2018. If
gains on financial instruments are excluded, the dividend ratio for
the second quarter was 70%. The Board also declared $0.7 million of dividends on its preferred shares
in the second quarter of 2018, unchanged from the comparable period
in 2017.
Outlook
Going into the third quarter of 2018, the Company is optimistic
that the trend established in the second quarter will continue.
Year-over-year growth of 5% in new single-family origination
represents a return to more normalized markets after the disruption
in the second half of 2017 resulting from the increase in
qualifying rates for insured mortgages. Despite the impact of new
qualifying mortgage rules under B-20 and higher interest rates, the
Company is confident that its strong relationships with mortgage
brokers and diverse funding sources will continue to set First
National apart from its competition. While the Company expects
growth in origination in the third quarter of 2018, it also expects
a tight interest spread environment similar to what existed in the
second quarter of 2018.
The Company will continue to generate income and cash flow from
its $29 billion portfolio of
mortgages pledged under securitization and $72 billion servicing portfolio and focus on the
value inherent in its significant single-family renewal book.
Conference Call and Webcast
July 25, 2018 10 am
ET
|
Participant
Numbers
647-794-1827 or
800-347-6311
|
The audio of the conference call will be webcast live and
archived on First National's website at www.firstnational.ca. A
question and answer session for analysts and institutional
investors will be held following management's presentation.
A taped rebroadcast of the conference call will be available
until 1pm ET on August 1, 2018. To access the rebroadcast, please
dial 647-436-0148 and enter passcode 3805585 followed by the number
sign. The webcast is also archived at www.firstnational.ca for
three months.
Complete consolidated financial statements for the Company as
well as management's discussion and analysis are available at
www.sedar.com and at www.firstnational.ca.
About First National Financial Corporation
First National Financial Corporation (TSX: FN, TSX:FN.PR.A,
TSX:FN.PR.B) is the parent company of First National Financial LP,
a Canadian-based originator, underwriter and servicer of
predominantly prime residential (single-family and multi-unit) and
commercial mortgages. With more than $100
billion in mortgages under administration, First National is
Canada's largest non-bank
originator and underwriter of mortgages and is among the top three
in market share in the mortgage broker distribution channel.
For more information, please visit www.firstnational.ca.
1 Non-GAAP Measures
The Company uses
IFRS as its accounting framework. IFRS are generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP) for Canadian publicly accountable
enterprises for years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. The Company also refers to
certain measures to assist in assessing financial performance.
These "non-GAAP measures" such as "Pre-FMV EBITDA" should not be
construed as alternatives to net income or loss or other comparable
measures determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of
performance or as a measure of liquidity and cash flow. Non-GAAP
measures do not have standard meanings prescribed by GAAP and
therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by
other issuers.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain information
included in this news release may constitute forward-looking
information within the meaning of securities laws. In some cases,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terms
such as "may", "will, "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate",
"believe", "intend", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue"
or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not
historical facts. Forward-looking information may relate to
management's future outlook and anticipated events or results and
may include statements or information regarding the future
financial position, business strategy and strategic goals, product
development activities, projected costs and capital expenditures,
financial results, risk management strategies, hedging activities,
geographic expansion, licensing plans, taxes and other plans and
objectives of or involving the Company. Particularly, information
regarding growth objectives, any future increase in mortgages under
administration, future use of securitization vehicles, industry
trends and future revenues is forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and
assumptions regarding, among other things, interest rate changes
and responses to such changes, the demand for institutionally
placed and securitized mortgages, the status of the applicable
regulatory regime and the use of mortgage brokers for single family
residential mortgages. This forward-looking information should not
be read as providing guarantees of future performance or results
and will not necessarily be an accurate indication of whether or
not, or the times by which, those results will be achieved. While
management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on
information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking-information is subject to certain factors,
including risks and uncertainties listed under ''Risk and
Uncertainties Affecting the Business'' in the MD&A, that could
cause actual results to differ materially from what management
currently expects. These factors include reliance on sources of
funding, concentration of institutional investors, reliance on
relationships with independent mortgage brokers and changes in the
interest rate environment. This forward-looking information is as
of the date of this release and is subject to change after such
date. However, management and First National disclaim any intention
or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required under applicable securities regulations.
SOURCE First National Financial Corporation