Renasant Corporation announced financial results for the first quarter of 2016. Net income for the first quarter of 2016 was $21.2 million, or basic earnings per share of $0.53 and diluted EPS of $0.52, as compared to $15.2 million, or basic and diluted EPS of $0.48, for the first quarter of 2015.  Excluding the impact of after-tax merger and conversion expenses incurred during each quarter, basic and diluted EPS were $0.54 for the first quarter of 2016, as compared to basic and diluted EPS of $0.49 for the first quarter of 2015.

On April 26, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of eighteen cents ($0.18) per share to be paid June 30, 2016, to shareholders of record as of June 15, 2016.  The per share dividend represents an increase of $.01, or 5.88%, from the dividend paid in the previous quarter. 

For the first quarter of 2016, the Company's return on average assets and return on average equity were 1.07% and 8.12%, respectively, as compared to 1.06% and 8.59%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2015.  The Company's 2016 first quarter return on average tangible assets and return on average tangible equity were 1.20% and 15.58%, respectively, as compared to 1.18% and 15.45%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2015.

On April 1, 2016, the Company completed its previously-announced acquisition of KeyWorth Bank ("KeyWorth"), a Georgia state bank headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, in an all-stock merger. As of the acquisition date, KeyWorth operated six offices in the Atlanta metropolitan area and had approximately $399 million in assets, which included approximately $284 million in total loans and approximately $347 million in total deposits.  The acquired operations of KeyWorth are not included in the financial information in this release.  

"Our first quarter 2016 financial results reflect a strong start to what we expect to be a great year. We are fortunate to operate in economically vibrant markets, and our team is focused on capitalizing on opportunities throughout our footprint.  These results include our successful completion of the Heritage acquisition, an annualized linked quarter non-acquired loan growth of 25.62% and a continuation of improving returns on profitability metrics as our return on average tangible assets was 1.20%, and our return on average tangible equity was 15.58%," said Renasant Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, E. Robinson McGraw.  "Additionally, we are pleased to announce an increase to our quarterly dividend which boosts our annual cash dividend from $0.68 to $0.72."

The following table presents the Company's profitability metrics for the first quarter of 2016, including and excluding the impact of after-tax merger and conversion expenses:

Total assets as of March 31, 2016, were approximately $8.15 billion, as compared to $5.88 billion as of March 31, 2015, and $7.93 billion on a linked quarter basis.

Total deposits were $6.43 billion at March 31, 2016, as compared to $4.94 billion at March 31, 2015, and $6.22 billion at December 31, 2015. The Company's cost of funds was 37 basis points for the first quarter of 2016, as compared to 43 basis points for the same quarter in 2015, and 32 basis points for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.  The Company's noninterest-bearing deposits averaged approximately $1.32 billion, or 20.99% of average deposits, for the first quarter of 2016, as compared to $932 million, or 19.12% of average deposits, for the first quarter of 2015, and $1.32 billion, or 21.36% of average deposits, for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

Total loans, including loans acquired in the Heritage Financial Group, Inc. ("Heritage"), and First M&F Corporation ("First M&F") acquisitions or in FDIC-assisted transactions (collectively referred to as "acquired loans"), were approximately $5.57 billion at March 31, 2016, as compared to $3.95 billion at March 31, 2015, and $5.41 billion on a linked quarter basis.  Excluding acquired loans, loans grew 24.44% to $4.07 billion at March 31, 2016, as compared to $3.27 billion at March 31, 2015.  On a linked quarter basis, non-acquired loans were $3.83 billion at December 31, 2015.

At March 31, 2016, the Company's Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 9.19%, its Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 11.38%, and its total risk-based capital ratio was 12.17%. The Company's common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 9.88% at March 31, 2016. In all capital ratio categories, the Company's regulatory capital ratios continued to be in excess of the regulatory minimums required to be classified as "well-capitalized." The Company's tangible common equity ratio was 7.52% as of March 31, 2016.

Net interest income was $70.1 million for the first quarter of 2016, as compared to approximately $48.8 million for the first quarter of 2015. Net interest margin was 4.21% for the first quarter of 2016, compared to 4.02% for the first quarter of 2015 and 4.33% on a linked quarter basis. Additional interest income recognized in connection with the acceleration of pay downs and payoffs from acquired loans was $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2016, and increased net interest margin 11 basis points compared to $590 thousand and a 5 basis point increase in net interest margin in the same period in 2015.  The Company increased net interest margin by 21 basis points after recognizing $3.61 million in accelerated accretion in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The Company's noninterest income is derived from diverse lines of business which primarily consist of originations and sales of mortgage loans, wealth management and insurance revenue sources along with income from deposit and loan products.  Total noninterest income was $33.3 million for the first quarter of 2016, as compared to approximately $21.9 million for the first quarter of 2015, and $31.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.  The Company's overall growth in noninterest income for the first quarter, as compared to the same period in the prior year, is primarily attributable to the Heritage acquisition and increases in the sales of mortgage loans that we originate.

Noninterest expense was $69.8 million for the first quarter of 2016, as compared to approximately $47.3 million for the first quarter of 2015, and $70.7 million on a linked quarter basis.  The Company recorded merger and conversion expenses of approximately $948 thousand and $478 thousand during the first quarter of 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $1.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans, including acquired loans, declined to 10 basis points for the first quarter of 2016, as compared to 11 basis points for the first quarter of 2015. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2016, as compared to $1.1 million for the first quarter of 2015.

Nonperforming assets consists of loans 90 days or more past due, nonaccrual loans and other real estate owned ("OREO").  The following table provides details of the Company's nonperforming assets as of the dates presented (in thousands):

Since the nonperforming assets acquired in previous acquisitions or in connection with FDIC- assisted transactions (collectively referred to as "acquired nonperforming assets") were recorded at fair value at the time of acquisition or are subject to loss-share agreements with the FDIC, which significantly mitigates the Company's actual loss, the remaining information in this release on nonperforming loans, OREO and the related asset quality ratios excludes these acquired nonperforming assets. 

The Company's nonperforming loans (loans 90 days or more past due and nonaccrual loans) were $14.2 million as of March 31, 2016, as compared to $18.9 million as of March 31, 2015, and $15.0 million at December 31, 2015. Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans were 0.35% as of March 31, 2016, as compared to 0.58% as of March 31, 2015, and 0.39% as of December 31, 2015.

The allowance for loan losses totaled $42.9 million at March 31, 2016, as compared to $42.3 million as of March 31, 2015, and $42.4 million as of December 31, 2015. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 1.05% as of March 31, 2016, as compared to 1.29% as of March 31, 2015, and 1.11% as of December 31, 2015.

The Company's coverage ratio, or its allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans, was 302.14% as of March 31, 2016, as compared to 223.68% as of March 31, 2015, and 283.46% as of December 31, 2015.   Loans 30 to 89 days past due as a percentage of total loans were 0.17% at March 31, 2016, as compared to 0.37% at March 31, 2015, and 0.19% at December 31, 2015.

OREO was $12.8 million as of March 31, 2016, as compared to $16.7 million as of March 31, 2015, and $13.0 million at December 31, 2015. The Company continues to proactively market the properties held in OREO as it sold approximately $628 thousand of OREO during the first quarter of 2016, and had $1.1 million in sales during the fourth quarter of 2015.