Kearny Financial Corp. - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

OR

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 001-37399

KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

973-244-4500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes ☒    No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes ☒    No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filers,” “accelerated filers,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ☐    No ☒

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: November 2, 2020.

$0.01 par value common stock — 89,510,451 shares outstanding

KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Continued)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In Thousands, Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data, Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands, Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

(In Thousands, Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1.     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Kearny Financial Corp. (the “Company”), its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kearny Bank (the “Bank”) and the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, CJB Investment Corp. and KFS Insurance Services, Inc. The Company conducts its business principally through the Bank. Management prepared the unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), including the elimination of all significant inter-company accounts and transactions during consolidation.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with instructions for Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X and do not include information or footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, income, comprehensive (loss) income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows in conformity with GAAP. However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year or any other period.

The data in the consolidated statement of financial condition for June 30, 2020 was derived from the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K. That data, along with the interim unaudited financial information presented in the consolidated statements of financial condition, income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, included in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Risks and Uncertainties

As previously disclosed, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, local, national and global economic activity. The spread of the outbreak has caused significant disruptions to the U.S. economy, significant reductions in the targeted federal funds rate and has disrupted banking and other financial activity in the areas in which the Company operates. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted to, among other provisions, provide emergency assistance for individuals, families and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  These reductions in interest rates and other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to materially and adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations in future periods. It is unknown how long the adverse conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will last and what the complete financial effect will be to the Company.  It is possible that estimates made in the financial statements could be materially and adversely impacted as a result of these conditions, including estimates regarding expected credit losses on loans receivable, impairment of investment securities and impairment of goodwill. Although the Company continues to operate while taking steps to ensure the safety of employees and clients, COVID-19 could also potentially create widespread business continuity issues for the Company.

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impact the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations in future periods will depend on future developments, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic, as well as further actions the Company may take as may be required by government authorities or that the Company determines is in the best interests of its employees and clients. There is no certainty that such measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by the pandemic.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

On July 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, which replaces the incurred loss methodology with an expected loss methodology that is referred to as the current expected credit loss (CECL) methodology.  The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 using a modified retrospective approach. Results for reporting periods beginning after July 1, 2020 are presented under Topic 326, while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP.  At adoption, the Company increased its allowance for credit losses by $20.2 million, comprised of $19.6 million for loans receivable and $536,000 for unfunded commitments. Upon adoption the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment that reduced stockholders’ equity by $14.2 million, net of tax.

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Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses represents the estimated amount considered necessary to cover lifetime expected credit losses inherent in financial assets at the balance sheet date. The measurement of expected credit losses is applicable to loans receivable and securities measured at amortized cost. It also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures such as loan commitments and unused lines of credit. The allowance is established through a provision for credit losses that is charged against income. The methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses is considered a critical accounting policy by management because of the high degree of judgment involved, the subjectivity of the assumptions used, and the potential for changes in the forecasted economic environment that could result in changes to the amount of the recorded allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is reported separately as a contra-asset on the consolidated statement of financial condition. The expected credit loss for unfunded lending commitments and unfunded loan commitments is reported on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition in other liabilities while the provision for credit losses related to unfunded commitments is reported in other non-interest expense.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans Receivable

The allowance for credit losses on loans is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the loan to present the net amount expected to be collected. Expected losses are evaluated and calculated on a collective, or pooled, basis for those loans which share similar risk characteristics. At each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether loans within a pool continue to exhibit similar risk characteristics. If the risk characteristics of a loan change, such that they are no longer similar to other loans in the pool, the Company will evaluate the loan with a different pool of loans that share similar risk characteristics.  If the loan does not share risk characteristics with other loans, the Company will evaluate the loan on an individual basis. The Company evaluates the pooling methodology at least annually. Loans are charged off against the allowance for credit losses when the Company believes the balances to be uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged off or expected to be charged off.

The Company has chosen to segment its portfolio consistent with the manner in which it manages credit risk. Such segments include multi-family, nonresidential mortgage, commercial business, construction, one- to four-family residential, home equity and consumer. For most segments the Company calculates estimated credit losses using a probability of default and loss given default methodology, the results of which are applied to the aggregated discounted cash flow of each individual loan within the segment. The point in time probability of default and loss given default are then conditioned by macroeconomic scenarios to incorporate reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.

The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses on loans via a quantitative analysis which considers relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events and current conditions, as well as the incorporation of reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company evaluates a variety of factors including third party economic forecasts, industry trends and other available published economic information in arriving at its forecasts. After the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the Company reverts, on a straight-line basis, to average historical losses. Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless either of the following applies: management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a troubled debt restructuring will be executed with an individual borrower or the renewal option is included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancelable by the Company.

Also included in the allowance for credit losses on loans are qualitative reserves to cover losses that are expected but, in the Company’s assessment, may not be adequately represented in the quantitative analysis or the forecasts described above. Factors that the Company considers include changes in lending policies and procedures, business conditions, the nature and size of the portfolio, portfolio concentrations, the volume and severity of past due loans and non-accrual loans, the effect of external factors such as competition, legal and regulatory requirements, among others. Furthermore, the Company considers the inherent uncertainty in quantitative models that are built upon historical data.

Individually Evaluated Loans

On a case-by-case basis, the Company may conclude that a loan should be evaluated on an individual basis based on its disparate risk characteristics. When the Company determines that a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with other loans in the portfolio, the allowance will be determined on an individual basis using the present value of expected cash flows or, for collateral-dependent loans, the fair value of the collateral as of the reporting date, less estimated selling costs, as applicable. If the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the loan, the Company will charge off the difference between the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell at the reporting date and the amortized cost basis of the loan.

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Acquired Loans

Acquired loans are included in the Company's calculation of the allowance for credit losses. How the allowance on an acquired loan is recorded depends on whether or not it has been classified as a Purchased Credit Deteriorated (“PCD”) loan. PCD loans are loans acquired at a discount that is due, in part, to credit quality. PCD loans are accounted for in accordance with ASC Subtopic 326-20 and are initially recorded at fair value as determined by the sum of the present value of expected future cash flows and an allowance for credit losses at acquisition. The allowance for PCD loans is recorded through a gross-up effect, while the allowance for acquired non-PCD loans is recorded through provision expense, consistent with originated loans. Thus, the determination of which loans are PCD and non-PCD can have a significant impact on the accounting for these loans. Subsequent to acquisition, the allowance for PCD loans will generally follow the same estimation, provision and charge-off process as non-PCD acquired and originated loans.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Off-Balance Sheet Commitments

The Company is required to include unfunded commitments that are expected to be funded in the future within the allowance calculation, other than those that are unconditionally cancelable. To arrive at that reserve, the reserve percentage for each applicable segment is applied to the unused portion of the expected commitment balance and is multiplied by the expected funding rate. To determine the expected funding rate, the Company uses a historical utilization rate for each segment. As noted above, the allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments is included in other liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial condition and the related credit expense is recorded in other non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Held to Maturity Securities

The Company’s entire portfolio of held to maturity securities consists of municipal bonds which are highly rated by major rating agencies and have a long history of no credit losses. In estimating the net amount expected to be collected for held to maturity securities in an unrealized loss position, a historical loss based method is utilized.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Available for Sale Securities

For available for sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more than likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For securities available for sale that do not meet the above criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating by a rating agency, and adverse conditions related to the security, among other factors.  If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax. The Company elected the practical expedient of zero loss estimates for securities issued by U.S. government entities and agencies. These securities are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rate by major agencies and have a long history of no credit losses.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for, or reversal of, credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of an available for sale security is confirmed or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.

Accrued Interest Receivable

The Company made an accounting policy election to exclude accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis of loans, available for sale securities, and held to maturity securities. Accrued interest receivable on loans is reported as a component of accrued interest receivable on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition, totaled $16.2 million at September 30, 2020 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. Accrued interest receivable on available of sale securities and held to maturity securities, also a component of accrued interest receivable on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition, totaled $3.9 million and $241,000, respectively, at September 30, 2020 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

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2.     NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE (“EPS”)

Basic EPS is based on the weighted average number of common shares actually outstanding, including both vested and unvested restricted stock awards, adjusted for Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) shares not yet committed to be released. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock, such as outstanding stock options, were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Company. Diluted EPS is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding to include the effect of contracts or securities exercisable or which could be converted into common stock, if dilutive, using the treasury stock method. Shares issued and reacquired during any period are weighted for the portion of the period they were outstanding.

The following schedule shows the Company’s earnings per share calculations for the periods presented:

Stock options for 3,910,398 and 3,245,000 shares of common stock were not considered in computing diluted earnings per share at September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, because they were considered anti-dilutive.

3.     SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company has evaluated events and transactions occurring subsequent to the statement of financial condition date of September 30, 2020, for items that should potentially be recognized or disclosed in these consolidated financial statements.  The evaluation was conducted through the date this document was filed.

4.    ACQUISITION OF MSB FINANCIAL CORP.

On July 10, 2020, the Company completed its acquisition of MSB Financial Corp. (“MSB”), and its subsidiary Millington Bank.  In accordance with the merger agreement, approximately $9.8 million in cash and 5,853,811 shares of Company common stock was distributed to former MSB shareholders in exchange for their shares of MSB common stock.

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. The assets and liabilities, both tangible and intangible, were recorded at their fair values as of July 10, 2020 based on management’s best estimate using the information available as of the merger date.  The application of the acquisition method of accounting resulted in the recognition of bargain purchase gain of $3.1 million and a core deposit intangible of $690,000.  Accounting guidance provides that an acquirer must recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period, which runs through July 10, 2021, in the measurement period in which the adjustment amounts are determined.  The acquirer must record in the financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization or other income effects, if any, as a result of the changes to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. Items that could be subject to adjustment include credit fair value adjustments on loans, core deposit intangible and the deferred income tax assets resulting from the acquisition.

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The Company recorded the assets acquired and liabilities assumed through the merger at fair value as summarized in the following table:

Explanation of certain fair value related adjustments:

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The fair value of loans acquired from MSB was estimated using cash flow projections based on the remaining maturity and repricing terms. Cash flows were adjusted by estimating future credit losses and the rate of prepayments. Projected monthly cash flows were then discounted to present value using a risk-adjusted market rate for similar loans. There was no carryover of MSB’s allowance for loan losses associated with the loans that were acquired.  For information regarding purchased loans which have been determined to be PCD, refer to Note 8, Loans Receivable.

The core deposit intangible asset recognized is being amortized over its estimated useful life of approximately 10 years utilizing the sum-of-the-years digits method.

The fair value of retail demand and interest bearing deposit accounts was assumed to approximate the carrying value as these accounts have no stated maturity and are payable on demand. The fair value of time deposits was estimated by discounting the contractual future cash flows using market rates offered for time deposits of similar remaining maturities.

5.    MERGER RELATED EXPENSES

Merger-related expenses were recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income as a component of non-interest expense and include costs relating to the Company’s acquisition of MSB, as described above.  These charges represent one-time costs associated with acquisition activities and do not represent ongoing costs of the fully integrated combined organization.  Accounting guidance requires that acquisition-related transactional and restructuring costs incurred by the Company be charged to expense as incurred. Direct acquisition and other charges incurred in connection with the MSB merger totaled $4.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and $951,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.  Direct acquisition and other charges were recorded in merger-related expense on the consolidated statements of income.

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6.     RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income taxes (Topic 740); Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”. ASU 2019-12 provides amendments intended to reduce the cost and complexity in accounting for income taxes while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements.  ASU 2019-12 removes the following exceptions from ASC 740, Income Taxes: (i) exceptions to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation; (ii) exceptions to accounting for basis differences when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment or a foreign equity method investment become a subsidiary; and (iii) exception in interim period income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. ASU 2019-12 provides the following amendments that simplify and improve guidance with Topic 740: (i) franchise taxes that are based partially on income; (ii) transactions that result in a step up in the tax basis of goodwill; (iii) separate financial statements of legal entities that are not subject to tax; (iv) enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods; and (v) employee stock ownership plans and investments in qualified affordable housing projects accounted for using the equity method. For public business entities, the amendments in the ASU 2019-12 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

On July 1, 2020 the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.  This ASU replaced the incurred loss methodology with an expected loss methodology that is referred to as the CECL methodology.  The measurement of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost including loan receivables and held to maturity debt securities.  This ASU also applies to off-balance exposures.  In addition, this ASU made certain changes to the accounting for available for sale securities debt securities. Credit losses are required to be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down on available for sale debt securities management does not intend to sell or believes that it is more likely than not they will be required to sell. The Company adopted Topic 326 and all its related updates on July 1, 2020, using the modified retrospective approach for financial assets measured at amortized cost.  Results for reporting periods after July 1, 2020 are presented in accordance to the guidance under Topic 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP.  Upon adoption the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment that reduced stockholders’ equity by $14.2 million, net of tax. Additional information regarding the adoption of ASU 2016-13 is presented in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU simplifies subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 of the impairment test while retaining the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine whether the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The ASU also eliminates the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. Therefore, the same impairment assessment applies to all reporting units. For public entities, ASU 2017-04 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment testing dates beginning after January 1, 2017. The Company is applying the amendments of ASU 2017-04 prospectively for goodwill impairment testing conducted after July 1, 2020.

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7.     SECURITIES

At September 30, 2020, there was no allowance for credit losses on available for sale securities. The following tables present the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair values for available for sale securities and the amortized cost, gross unrecognized gains and losses and estimated fair values for held to maturity securities as of the dates indicated: