FBR Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Financial Results

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FBR & Co. (Nasdaq: FBRC) ("FBR" or the "Company"), a leading investment bank serving the middle market, today reported net after-tax earnings of $17.0 million, or $1.48 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to net after-tax earnings of $92.9 million, or $7.17 per diluted share in 2013. Pretax income for 2014 was $17.4 million on revenue of $182.1 million compared with $57.3 million on revenue of $259.8 million in 2013.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2014, net after-tax earnings were $0.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to net after-tax earnings of $8.6 million, or $0.69 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2013 and net after-tax earnings of $3.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2014. Pretax loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 was $3.9 million on revenue of $28.6 million; this compares to pretax income of $3.6 million on revenue of $40.6 million in fourth quarter of 2013, and $3.3 million of income on revenues of $42.1 million in the third quarter of 2014.

Fourth quarter 2014 total expenses were $32.5 million, compared to $37.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 and $38.8 million in the third quarter of 2014. Non-compensation fixed expenses in the fourth quarter of 2014 totaled $12.3 million, compared to $11.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 and $10.0 million in the third quarter of 2014. The increase in our fourth quarter 2014 non-compensation fixed costs was due primarily to nonrecurring charges associated with our move into new corporate headquarters in Arlington, VA.

In the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 517 thousand shares at an average price of $25.23 per share. On February 10, 2015, the Board approved an increase in the Company's repurchase authorization bringing the remaining total to one million shares. This authorization represents 12% of the Company's total outstanding shares at year end.

2014 Overview

• Investment banking revenue was $115.3 million in 2014 compared to $196.2 million in 2013. These revenues resulted from the completion of 55 transactions representing a total of $11.0 billion in transaction volume, compared to 67 transactions totaling $16.9 billion in transaction volume in 2013. The 2014 revenue included six 144As with an average deal size of $206 million compared to six 144As with an average deal size of $352 million in 2013. Also included in these 2014 results was $11.4 million of advisory fees, representing a 17% increase year-over-year.
• Institutional brokerage generated net revenue of $56.2 million for 2014 compared to $53.7 million in 2013, driven entirely by a $4.0 million increase in our cash equities business.
• The Company recognized net revenue of $10.7 million from a combination of securities lending and corporate investments in 2014 compared to $9.9 million in 2013. The securities lending business was added August 4, 2014.
• Non-compensation fixed expenses for 2014 were $43.9 million compared to $43.6 million in 2013, inclusive of the elevated occupancy costs from our move referenced above.
• Pretax operating margin for the year was 9.5% compared to 22.0% in 2013 and return on equity was 6.2% for the year compared to 35.0% in 2013.
• The Company's tax provision in 2014 was $0.3 million and its effective tax rate was 2%. These amounts reflect the Company's use of previously reserved tax assets related to capital loss carry-forwards and compare to a $27.5 million tax benefit in 2013. The 2013 tax benefit resulted from the Company's valuation allowance release with respect to a significant portion of its deferred tax assets.
• The Company ended 2014 with 300 employees, maintaining a consistent headcount throughout the year. Compensation and benefits expense totaled $103.8 million and represented 57% of net revenue for the year compared to 56% of net revenue in 2013.
• Over the course of the year, the Company repurchased 2.4 million shares at an average price of $26.92 per share, effectively returning $64.1 million to shareholders.
• As of December 31, 2014, shareholders' equity totaled $260.4 million, with $109.0 million held in cash, and the Company's tangible book value per share was $28.63, up 6.6% from $26.86 from the end of 2013.

"Smaller average deal size in our equity capital markets business led to reduced revenue for the year. Nonetheless, we executed meaningful transactions across each of our industry groups, increased market share and revenue on our cash equities desk, and significantly increased the number of companies covered by our equity research teams," said Richard J. Hendrix, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FBR & Co. "I want to thank each of our employees for their tireless work and total client focus over the last year. As a result of those efforts, we are well positioned to continue delivering for clients and shareholders in 2015."

Investors wishing to listen to the earnings call at 9:00 A.M. U.S. EST, Wednesday, February 11, 2015, may do so via the Web or conference call at:

Webcast link: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/q43hrza5

Conference call dial-in number (domestic, toll-free): 855.425.4204 Conference call dial-in number (international): 484.756.4245 Access code: 62995181

FBR & Co. (Nasdaq: FBRC) provides investment banking, merger and acquisition advisory, institutional brokerage, and research services through its subsidiary FBR Capital Markets & Co. FBR focuses capital and financial expertise on the following industry sectors: consumer; diversified industrials; energy & natural resources; financial institutions; healthcare; insurance; real estate; and technology, media & telecom. FBR is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with offices throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.fbr.com.

Statements in this release concerning future performance, developments, events, market forecasts, revenues, expenses, earnings, run rates and any other guidance on present or future periods constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties that might cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations or current circumstances. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of demand for public and private securities offerings, activity in the secondary securities markets, interest rates, the risks associated with merchant banking investments, the realization of gains and losses on principal investments, available technologies, competition for business and personnel, and general economic, political and market conditions. For a discussion of these and other risks and important factors that could affect FBR's future results and financial condition, see "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013; and other items throughout the Company's Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Financial data follow.

CONTACT: Media
         Shannon Hawkins
         703.469.1190
         [email protected]

         Investors:
         Bradley J. Wright
         703.312.9678
         [email protected]

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