UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549
______________

Form 8-K


Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  October 30, 2009


FIRST BANCORP.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
______________

001-14793
(Commission File Number)


Puerto Rico   66-0561882
(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)


1519 Ponce de Leon
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00908-0146
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)

 (787) 729 8200
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 30, 2009, First BanCorp. (the “Corporation”) issued a press release announcing its unaudited results of operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The Corporation has included in this release the following non-GAAP financial measure: (i) the calculation of net interest income, interest rate spread and net interest margin rate on a tax equivalent basis and excluding the unrealized changes in the fair value of derivative instruments and certain financial liabilities, (ii) the calculation of the tangible common equity ratio and the tangible book value per common share, (iii) the Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio and (iv) the calculation of the Pre-tax, Pre-provision earnings.  Investors should be aware that non-GAAP measures have inherent limitations and should be read only in conjunction with the Corporation’s consolidated financial data prepared in accordance with GAAP.  

Net interest income, interest rate spread and net interest margin are reported on a tax equivalent basis and excluding the unrealized changes in the fair value of derivative instruments and financial liabilities elected to be measured at fair value. The presentation of net interest income excluding valuations provides additional information about the Corporation’s net interest income and facilitates comparability and analysis.  The changes in the fair value of derivative instruments and unrealized gains and losses on liabilities measured at fair value have no effect on interest due or interest earned on interest-bearing liabilities or interest-earning assets, respectively.  The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a marginal income tax rate, as described in Exhibit A  — Table 2 of the attached Press Release (included herein as Exhibit 99.1). Income from tax-exempt earning assets is increased by an amount equivalent to the taxes that would have been paid if this income had been taxable at statutory rates.  Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest income, interest rate spread and net interest margin on a fully tax equivalent basis. This adjustment puts all earning assets, most notably tax-exempt securities and certain loans, on a common basis that facilitates comparison of results to results of peers.


The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measure “net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis and excluding fair value changes” with net interest income calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The table also reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures “net interest spread and margin on a tax-equivalent basis and excluding fair value changes” with net interest spread and margin calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Interest Margin and Spread to Non-GAAP Net Interest Margin and Spread on a Tax-Equivalent Basis and excluding

fair value changes on derivative instruments and liabilities measured at fair value ("valuations")

(dollars in thousands)

 

Quarters Ended

 

Nine-month period ended

September 30,
2009

 

June 30,
2009

 

September 30,
2008

September 30,
2009

 

September 30,
2008

 
Interest Income

$

242,022

$

252,780

$

288,292

$

753,125

$

843,987

Unrealized loss (gain) on
derivative instruments  

1,485

   

(3,465

)

 

1,574

   

(2,755

)

  654  
Interest income - excluding valuations

243,507

249,315

289,866

750,370

844,641

Tax-equivalent adjustment  

12,925

   

13,933

   

17,859

   

41,306

   

40,702

 
Interest income - tax equivalent

256,432

263,248

307,725

791,676

885,343

 
Interest Expense

112,889

121,766

143,671

371,380

440,302

Unrealized (loss) gain on

derivative instruments and liabilities

measured at fair value

 

(1,589

)

 

(1,069

)

 

5,887

    202    

11,092

 
Interest expense - excluding valuations  

111,300

   

120,697

   

149,558

   

371,582

   

451,394

 
 
Net interest income

$

129,133

 

$

131,014

 

$

144,621

 

$

381,745

 

$

403,685

 
 
Net interest income - excluding valuations

$

132,207

 

$

128,618

 

$

140,308

 

$

378,788

 

$

393,247

 
 

Net interest income excluding valuations

- on a tax-equivalent basis

$

145,132

 

$

142,551

 

$

158,167

 

$

420,094

 

$

433,949

 
 
Average Interest-Earning Assets

$

19,541,256

$

19,561,512

$

18,664,426

$

19,313,697

$

17,824,586

 
Average Interest-Bearing Liabilities

$

17,308,432

$

17,279,599

$

16,871,737

$

17,093,195

$

16,017,147

 
Average rate on interest-earning assets

4.91

%

5.18

%

6.14

%

5.21

%

6.32

%

Average rate on interest-earning assets

- excluding valuations

4.94

%

5.11

%

6.18

%

5.19

%

6.33

%

Average rate on interest-earning assets excluding

valuation - on a tax-equivalent basis

5.21

%

5.40

%

6.56

%

5.48

%

6.63

%

 
Average rate on interest-bearing liabilities

2.59

%

2.83

%

3.39

%

2.90

%

3.67

%

Average rate on interest-bearing liabilities

- excluding valuations

2.55

%

2.80

%

3.53

%

2.91

%

3.76

%

 
Net interest spread

2.32

%

2.35

%

2.75

%

2.31

%

2.65

%

Net interest spread - excluding valuations

2.39

%

2.31

%

2.65

%

2.28

%

2.57

%

Net interest spread excluding valuations

- on a tax-equivalent basis

2.66

%

2.60

%

3.03

%

2.57

%

2.87

%

 
Net interest margin

2.62

%

2.69

%

3.08

%

2.64

%

3.03

%

Net interest margin - excluding valuations

2.68

%

2.64

%

2.99

%

2.62

%

2.95

%

Net interest margin excluding valuations

- on a tax-equivalent basis

2.95

%

2.92

%

3.37

%

2.91

%

3.25

%

The tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per common share are non-GAAP measures generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate capital adequacy. Tangible common equity is total equity less preferred equity, goodwill and core deposit intangibles. Tangible assets are total assets less goodwill and core deposit intangibles. Management and many stock analysts use the tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per common share in conjunction with more traditional bank capital ratios to compare the capital adequacy of banking organizations with significant amounts of goodwill or other intangible assets, typically stemming from the use of the purchase accounting method of accounting for mergers and acquisitions. Neither tangible common equity nor tangible assets or related measures should be considered in isolation or as a substitute for stockholders’ equity, total assets or any other measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, the manner in which the Corporation calculates its tangible common equity, tangible assets and any other related measures may differ from that of other companies reporting measures with similar names.


The following table is a reconciliation of the Corporation’s tangible common equity and tangible assets for the periods ended September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009, and September 30, 2008, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

September 30,
2009

June 30,
2009

 

September 30,
2008

 
Total equity per consolidated financial statements

$

1,698,843

$

1,840,686

 

$

1,441,272

Preferred equity

(927,374

)

(926,259

)

 

(550,100

)

Goodwill

(28,098

)

(28,098

)

 

(28,098

)

Core deposit intangible  

(17,297

)

 

(18,130

)

 

 

(24,894

)

 
Tangible common equity

$

726,074

$

868,199

 

$

838,180

 
 
Total assets per consolidated financial statements

$

20,081,185

$

20,012,887

 

$

19,304,440

Goodwill

(28,098

)

(28,098

)

 

(28,098

)

Core deposit intangible  

(17,297

)

 

(18,130

)

 

 

(24,894

)

 
Tangible assets

$

20,035,790

$

19,966,659

 

$

19,251,448

Common shares outstanding

92,543

92,546

 

92,510

 
Tangible common equity ratio

3.62

%

4.35

%

 

4.35

%

Tangible book value per common share

$

7.85

$

9.38

 

$

9.06

The Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio is calculated by dividing (a) tier 1 capital less non-common elements including qualifying perpetual preferred stock and qualifying trust preferred securities, by (b) risk-weighted assets, which assets are calculated in accordance with applicable bank regulatory requirements. The Tier 1 common equity ratio is not required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, or on a recurring basis by applicable bank regulatory requirements.  However, this ratio was used by the Federal Reserve in connection with its stress test administered to the 19 largest U.S. bank holding companies under the Supervisory Capital Assessment Program (SCAP), the results of which were announced on May 7, 2009. Management is currently monitoring this ratio, along with the other ratios discussed above, in evaluating the Corporation’s capital levels and believes that, at this time, the ratio may be of interest to investors.


The following table reconciles stockholders’ equity (GAAP) to Tier 1 common equity:

(In thousands)

September 30,
2009

 

June 30,
2009

 

September 30,
2008

 
Total equity per consolidated financial statements

$

1,698,843

$

1,840,686

 

$

1,441,272

Qualifying preferred stock

(927,374

)

(926,259

)

(550,100

)

Unrealized (gain) loss on available-for-sale securities (1)

(73,095

)

(46,382

)

 

47,187

Disallowed deferred tax asset (2)

(1,721

)

(172,187

)

 

(65,411

)

Goodwill

(28,098

)

(28,098

)

 

(28,098

)

Core deposit intangible

(17,297

)

(18,130

)

(24,894

)

Cumulative change loss (gain) in fair value of liabilities
accounted for under a fair value option

(1,647

)

2,604

(2,118

)

Other disallowed assets  

(514

)

 

(347

)

 

(282

)

Tier 1 common equity

$

649,097

$

651,887

 

$

817,556

 
 
Total risk-weighted assets

$

14,394,968

$

13,785,093

 

$

13,489,077

 
Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio

4.51

%

4.73

%

 

6.06

%

 
(1) Tier 1 capital excludes net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities and net unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair values, in accordance with regulatory risk-based capital guidelines. In arriving at Tier 1 capital, institutions are required to deduct net unrealized losses on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair values, net of tax.
 

(2) Approximately $112 million of the Corporation's deferred tax assets at September 30, 2009 (June 30, 2009 - $49 million; September 30, 2008 - $50 million) were included without limitation in regulatory capital pursuant to the risk-based capital guidelines, while approximately $2 million of such assets at September 30, 2009 (June 30, 2009 - $172 million; September 30, 2008 - $65 million) exceeded the limitation imposed by these guidelines and, as "disallowed deferred tax assets," were deducted in arriving at Tier 1 capital. According to regulatory capital guidelines, the deferred tax assets that are dependent upon future taxable income are limited for inclusion in Tier 1 capital to the lesser of: (i) the amount of such deferred tax asset that the entity expects to realize within one year of the calendar quarter end-date, based on its projected future taxable income for that year or (ii) 10% of the amount of the entity's Tier 1 capital. Approximately $6 million of the Corporation's other net deferred tax liability at September 30, 2009 (June 30, 2009 - $3 million; September 30, 2008 - $0) represented primarily the deferred tax effects of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities, which are permitted to be excluded prior to deriving the amount of net deferred tax assets subject to limitation under the guidelines.

One non-GAAP performance metric that management believes is useful in analyzing underlying performance trends, particularly in times of economic stress, is pre-tax, pre-provision earnings.  Pre-tax, pre-provision earnings, as defined by management, represents net (loss) income excluding income tax (benefit) expense, the provision for loan and lease losses, gains on sale and OTTI of investment securities, as well as certain items identified as unusual, non-recurring or non-operating.

From time to time, revenue and expenses are impacted by items judged by management to be outside of ordinary banking activities and/or by items that, while they may be associated with ordinary banking activities, are so unusually large that management believes to be non-recurring.  These items result from factors originating outside the Corporation such as regulatory actions/assessments, and may result from unusual management decisions, such as the impairment of intangibles.

Management believes the disclosure of items identified as unusual, non-recurring or non-operating in current and prior period results aids analysts/investors in better understanding corporate performance and trends so that they can evaluate their impact on their expectations of the Corporation’s performance, and in their estimates of the Corporation’s future performance.  

Items identified as unusual, non-recurring or non-operating for any particular period are not intended to be a complete list of items that have materially impacted current or may impact materially future period performance.


The following table shows pre-tax, pre-provision earnings for the quarters ended September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 and for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

September 30,

 

June 30,

 

September 30,

September 30,

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2009

   

2009

   

2008

   

2009

     

2008

 
 
Consolidated net (loss) income

$

(165,218

)

$

(78,658

)

$

24,546

$

(221,985

)

$

91,129

Less: Income tax expense (benefit)

113,473

(98,053

)

(3,749

)

1,223

(20,952

)

Add: Provision for loan and lease losses

148,090

235,152

55,319

442,671

142,435

Net (gain) loss on sale and
OTTI of investment securities

(30,281

)

(9,244

)

696

(56,975

)

(5,476

)

Gain on VISA shares and related proceeds

(3,784

)

-

(132

)

(3,784

)

(9,474

)

FDIC special assessment

-

8,894

-

8,894

-

Core deposit impairment  

-

    270    

-

   

3,988

   

-

 

Pre-tax, pre-provision earnings

$

62,280

 

$

58,361

 

$

76,680

 

$

174,032

 

$

197,662

 
 


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)   Exhibits
 
Exhibit No. Description
 
99.1 Press Release dated October 30, 2009

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Date:

November 3, 2009

FIRST BANCORP

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Orlando Berges

Name:

Orlando Berges

Title:

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.   Description
 
99.1 Press Release dated October 30, 2009