AVNU Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc.

Loans Held for Investment Jump $111.7 Million in Latest Quarter

Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVNU) (“Avenue Financial” or “the Company”) today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.  Net income available to common stockholders totaled $1.41 million, or $0.14 per diluted share available to common stockholders, in the first quarter of 2016, compared with $1.42 million, or $0.15 per diluted share available to common stockholders, in the first quarter of 2015.  The results for the first quarter of 2016 included approximately $801 thousand (approximately $0.05 per diluted share on a tax equivalent basis) in legal and accounting fees related to the proposed acquisition by Pinnacle Financial Partners. 

Total loans, including loans held-for-sale, rose 28.3% to a record $962.1 million at March 31, 2016, compared with $749.8 million at March 31, 2015.  Total deposits increased 18.5% to a record $966.5 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared with total deposits of $815.9 million in the first quarter of 2015.  Demand deposits rose 18.7% to $309.1 million and increased to 32.0% of total deposits at March 31, 2016 from $260.5 million at March 31, 2015.  Total assets grew 15.9% to a record $1.21 billion in the first quarter of 2016, compared with $1.04 billion in the first quarter of 2015. 

Balance Sheet Growth

($ millions)
	Q1 2016			Q4 2015			Quarterly %Change			Q1 2015			Annual %Change
Total Assets	$	1,205.2		$	1,165.5		3.4	%		$	1,039.8		15.9	%
Loans held for investment	$	957.5		$	845.8		13.2	%		$	716.3		33.7	%
Loans held for sale	$	4.6		$	19.4		-76.4	%		$	33.5		-86.3	%
Total loans	$	962.1		$	865.2		11.2	%		$	749.8		28.3	%
Cash surrender value of company owned life insurance	$	25.9		$	25.7		0.7	%		$	20.2		28.5	%
Total Deposits	$	966.5		$	969.6		-0.3	%		$	815.9		18.5	%
Demand Deposits	$	309.1		$	322.6		-4.2	%		$	260.5		18.7	%

• Total assets increased $39.7 million, or 3.4%, to $1.21 billion at March 31, 2016, rising from $1.17 billion at December 31, 2015, and up $165.4 million, or 15.9%, compared with $1.04 billion at March 31, 2015.  The growth in assets was due primarily to higher loans compared with prior quarters.
• Loans held for investment increased $111.7 million, or 13.2%, to a record $957.5 million at March 31, 2016, compared with $845.8 million at December 31, 2015, and were up $241.2 million from $716.3 million at March 31, 2015, for a year-over-year growth rate of 33.7%.  First quarter loan growth benefited from increased demand for Commercial & Industrial loans, and Commercial Real Estate loans. Mortgage loans held-for-sale were $4.6 million compared with $19.4 million at December 31, 2015, and $33.5 million at March 31, 2015.  The decrease in mortgage loans held-for-sale was due partially to an increase in bulk sale of mortgage loans compared with prior quarters.
• Cash surrender value of company owned life insurance rose to $25.9 million at March 31, 2016, up from $25.7 million at December 31, 2015, and $20.2 million at March 31, 2015. 
• Deposits totaled $966.5 million at March 31, 2016, compared with $969.6 million at December 31, 2015.  Deposits grew $150.6 million, or 18.5%, compared with $815.9 million at March 31, 2015.  Demand deposits rose $48.6 million, or 18.7%, to $309.1 million at March 31, 2016, compared with $260.5 million at March 31, 2015. 

Revenue Growth and Profitability

($ millions, except EPS)
		Q1 2016					Q4 2015					Quarterly % Change			Q1 2015					Annual % Change
Net income available to common stockholders		$	1.41				$	2.13				-33.6	%		$	1.42				-0.6	%
Fully diluted EPS		$	0.14				$	0.21				-33.3	%		$	0.15				-6.7	%
Net interest income		$	9.01				$	8.74				3.1	%			7.49				20.3	%
Net interest margin			3.28		%			3.30		%		-2	BP			3.20		%		8	BP
Non-interest income		$	1.91				$	1.70				12.4	%		$	1.26				52.0	%
Provision for loan losses		$	0.77				$	0.41				90.6	%		$	0.15				402.6	%
Non-interest expense		$	8.01				$	7.04				13.8	%		$	6.41				25.0	%

• For the first quarter of 2016, net income available to common stockholders totaled $1.41 million compared with $1.42 million in the first quarter of 2015.  The decrease was attributable primarily to $801 thousand (approximately $0.05 per diluted share on a tax equivalent basis) in legal and accounting fees related to the proposed acquisition by Pinnacle Financial Partners and a higher provision for loan losses that reflected the growth in loan volume, offset partially by growth in loan volume that benefited net interest income, and higher loan sales, including SBA loans that boosted non-interest income.  Diluted net income per share was $0.14 in the first quarter of 2016, compared with $0.15 per share the first quarter of 2015. Average diluted shares outstanding rose 9.6% to 10.3 million at March 31, 2016, compared with 9.4 million at March 31, 2015 attributable to Avenue Financial’s initial public stock offering in February 2015.
• Net interest income increased 3.1% to $9.01 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared with $8.74 million for the first quarter of 2015 and was attributable primarily to growth in loans, offset partially by higher deposit costs. 
• Growth in average non-interest bearing demand deposits since last year contributed to the 8 basis point increase in the tax equivalent net interest margin that rose to 3.28% in the first quarter of 2016 from 3.20% in the first quarter of 2015.  Net interest margin was down 2 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2015, primarily due to higher cost of CDs that were rolled over after the recent rate increase. 
• Non-interest income rose 52.0% to a record $1.91 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared with $1.26 million in the first quarter of 2015.  The growth in non-interest income benefited from an 11.8% increase in customer service fees to $751 thousand, a 29.4% increase in cash surrender value of life insurance to $185 thousand, and a 46.3% increase in mortgage banking fees to $300 thousand.  Net gains on mortgage loan sales increased to $256 thousand compared with $236 thousand in the first quarter of 2015.  Net gains on SBA loan sales rose to $189 thousand in the first quarter of 2016, compared with no gains in the first quarter of 2015.  Net gain on sale of securities totaled $228 thousand in the first quarter of 2016 with no comparable securities gains in the first quarter of 2015. The proceeds from the sale of securities in the first quarter of 2016 were used to fund, in part, the growth in new loans generated during the quarter.
• The provision for loan losses rose to $774 thousand in the first quarter of 2016, compared with $154 thousand for the first quarter of 2015.  The increase in the provision for loan losses reflected the record loan growth in the first quarter of 2016.
• Non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2016 increased $968 thousand, or 13.8%, to $8.01 million from $7.04 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, and increased $1.6 million from the first quarter of 2015.  Approximately $801 thousand of legal and accounting fees in the first quarter of 2016 were related to the pending acquisition of Avenue Financial by Pinnacle Financial Partners. In addition, the increase in salaries and employee benefits was due to increased headcount added late in the fourth quarter of 2015 and early in the first quarter of 2016.

Asset Quality

($ millions)
		Q1 2016					Q4 2015					Quarterly %Change			Q1 2015					Annual %Change
Non-performing assets		$	0.673				$	1.058				-36.3	%		$	3.661				-81.6	%
Non-accruing loans		$	0.433				$	0.550				-21.3	%		$	0.854				-49.3	%
Ratio of non-performing assets to total assets			0.06		%			0.09		%		-3	BP			0.35		%		-29	BP
Other real estate owned		$	0.240				$	0.508				-52.8	%		$	2.807				-91.4	%
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)		$	(0.054	)			$	(0.023	)			N/M	%		$	0.002			N/M			%
Allowance for loan losses		$	10.89				$	10.06				8.2	%		$	8.67				25.6	%

• Asset quality improved in the first quarter compared with the first quarter of 2015 and fourth quarter of 2015 as measured by reductions in non-performing assets to total assets and other real estate owned.  Total non-performing assets declined 36.3% to $673 thousand and total other real estate owned declined 52.8% to $240 thousand at March 31, 2016, compared with December 31, 2015.  Nonaccruing loans declined 21.3% to $433 thousand compared with $550 thousand the prior quarter. Our ratio of non-performing assets (nonaccruing loans plus other real estate owned and loans 90 days past due and still accruing) to total assets decreased to 0.06% at March 31, 2016, compared with 0.09% at December 31, 2015, and 0.35% at March 31, 2015 due primarily to a decrease in other real estate owned and growth in total assets. 
• Net loan recoveries for the first quarter of 2016 were $54 thousand compared with net loan recoveries of $23 thousand for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, and net loan charge-offs of $2 thousand, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.  There were no past due loans still accruing greater than 90 days at March 31, 2016.
• The allowance for loan losses was $10.89 million, or 1.14% of loans, at March 31, 2016, compared with $10.06 million, or 1.19% of loans, at December 31, 2015, and $8.67 million, or 1.21% of loans, at March 31, 2015.  The decrease in the allowance percentage to loans since last year was due primarily to the general improvement in the underlying credit quality of the loan portfolio and qualitative factor adjustments reflecting the improved economy.

About Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc.

Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, was formed as a single-bank holding company in 2006 and operates primarily through its subsidiary, Avenue Bank.  The Company’s operations are concentrated in the Nashville MSA, with the vision of building Nashville’s signature bank and serving clients who value creativity, expertise, and an exceptional level of personal service.  Avenue Bank embodies Nashville’s creative spirit - redefining how clients experience banking through a unique “Concierge Banking” model.  The bank provides a wide range of business and personal banking services, including mortgage loans, with a special emphasis on Commercial, Private Client, Healthcare, and Music & Entertainment banking.  The Company serves clients through five locations (a corporate headquarters and four retail branches), a limited deposit courier service (mobile branch) for select commercial clients, and mobile and online banking services.  The Company’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “AVNU.”

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance.  These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “would,” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature.  These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control.  Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict.  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.  There are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including, but are not limited to, the following: market and economic conditions (including interest rate environment, levels of public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, and venture capital financing activities) and the associated impact on us; changes in management personnel; deterioration of our asset quality; our overall management of interest rate risk, including managing the sensitivity of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities to interest rates, and the impact to earnings from a change in interest rates; our ability to execute our strategy and to achieve organic loan and deposit growth; the adequacy of reserves (including allowance for loan and lease losses) and the appropriateness of our methodology for calculating such reserves; volatility and direction of market interest rates; the sufficiency of our capital, including sources of capital (such as funds generated through retained earnings) and the extent to which capital may be used or required; our overall investment plans, strategies and activities, including our investment of excess cash/liquidity; operational, liquidity and credit risks associated with our business; increased competition in the financial services industry, nationally, regionally or locally, which may adversely affect pricing and terms; the level of client investment fees and associated margins; changes in the regulatory environment; changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws; governmental legislation and regulation, including changes in accounting regulation or standards, the nature and timing of the adoption and effectiveness of new requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act, Basel guidelines, capital requirements and other applicable laws and regulations; changes in interpretation of existing law and regulation; further government intervention in the U.S. financial system; and other factors that are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other cautionary statements that are included in the Company’s Form 10-K and subsequent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the Company’s previously announced merger with Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (“Pinnacle”) (the “Merger”), Pinnacle intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC to register the shares of the Pinnacle’s common stock that will be issued to the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Pinnacle merger. The registration statement will include a proxy statement/prospectus (that will be delivered to the Company’s shareholders in connection with their required approval of the Merger) and other relevant materials in connection with the Merger.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, PINNACLE AND THE MERGER.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents once they are available through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus also may be obtained by directing a request by telephone or mail to Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc., 111 10th Avenue South, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37203, Attention: Investor Relations (615) 252-2265 or Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc., 150 3rd Avenue South, Suite 980, Nashville, TN 37201, Attention: Investor Relations (615) 744-3742.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

The Company and Pinnacle, and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of the Company in respect of the Merger. Certain information about the directors and executive officers of the Company is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on March 29, 2016.  Certain information about the directors and executive officers of Pinnacle is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016 and its proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016, and its Current Report on Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2016. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available.

AVENUE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
		March 31,				December 31,				March 31,
			2016				2015				2015
		(unaudited)
		(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Data)
Assets
Cash and due from banks		$	24,671				34,479				31,137
Federal funds sold			1,220				675				-
Cash and cash equivalents			25,891				35,154				31,137
Interest-bearing time deposits in banks			216				216				215
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value			163,215				209,574				218,118
Securities held-to-maturity (fair value of $11,981, $11,964, and $2,831 as of March 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2015, respectively)			11,913				11,937				2,715
Mortgage loans held-for-sale			4,583				19,441				33,484
Loans, net of deferred fees			957,517				845,821				716,253
Less allowance for loan losses			(10,889	)			(10,061	)			(8,669	)
Net loans			946,628				835,760				707,584
Accrued interest receivable			2,654				2,778				2,318
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost			3,320				3,320				3,320
Premises and equipment, net			7,368				7,659				6,180
Other real estate owned			240				508				2,807
Deferred tax assets			7,852				9,021				7,482
Cash surrender value of company owned life insurance			25,925				25,740				20,179
Goodwill			2,966				2,966				2,966
Other assets			2,433				1,380				1,338
Total assets		$	1,205,204				1,165,454				1,039,843
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits		$	231,103				245,338				200,316
Interest-bearing demand deposits			77,976				77,271				60,135
Savings and money market accounts			479,487				520,342				398,768
Time			177,930				126,652				156,666
Total deposits			966,496				969,603				815,885
Accrued interest payable			563				521				539
Federal funds purchased			3,001				-				2,716
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			105,500				68,000				99,300
Subordinated debt			19,628				19,617				19,585
Other liabilities			11,506				13,299				12,276
Total liabilities			1,106,694				1,071,040				950,301
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
Stockholders’ equity:
Common Stock, no par value. Authorized 100,000,000 shares: issued and outstanding 10,354,750, 10,306,055 and 10,227,340 shares at March 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2015, respectively			91,817				90,884				89,948
Additional paid-in-capital			1,074				1,209				1,499
Accumulated profit (deficit)			6,365				4,952				(548	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(746	)			(2,631	)			(1,357	)
Total stockholders’ equity			98,510				94,414				89,542
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	1,205,204				1,165,454				1,039,843

This information is preliminary and based on company data available at the time of the presentation.

AVENUE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,				December 31,		March 31,
			2016			2015			2015
		(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
Interest and dividend income:
Loans, including fees		$	9,369			8,961			7,670
Taxable securities			951			937			919
Tax-exempt securities			298			302			216
Federal Funds sold and other			35			34			30
Total interest and dividend income			10,653			10,234			8,835
Interest expense:
Deposits			1,036			932			761
Subordinated debt			348			348			348
Obligation under capital lease agreement			71			71			73
Other borrowings			187			144			160
Total interest expense			1,642			1,495			1,342
Net interest income			9,011			8,739			7,493
Provision for loan losses			774			406			154
Net interest income after provision for loan losses			8,237			8,333			7,339
Noninterest income:
Customer service fees			751			662			672
Mortgage banking income from sales, net of commissions			300			339			205
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance			185			186			143
Net gain on sales of bulk mortgage loans			256			257			236
Net gain on sale of Small Business Administration loans			189			231			-
Net gain on sale of available-for-sale securities			228			24			-
Total noninterest income			1,909			1,699			1,256
Noninterest expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits			4,409			4,211			3,914
Equipment and occupancy			762			730			774
Data processing			369			400			428
Advertising, promotion, and public relations			199			210			183
Legal and accounting			421			314			276
Merger related expenses			801			-			-
FDIC insurance and other regulatory assessments			214			196			192
Other real estate expense (income)			3			15			(40	)
Other expenses			829			963			681
Total noninterest expenses			8,007			7,039			6,408
Income before taxes			2,139			2,993			2,187
Income tax expense			726			864			733
Net income			1,413			2,129			1,454
Preferred stock dividends			-			-			(32	)
Net income available to common stockholders		$	1,413			2,129			1,422
Per share information:
Basic net income per common share available to common stockholders		$	0.14			0.21			0.15
Diluted net income per common share available to common stockholders		$	0.14			0.21			0.15
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			10,152,331			10,095,077			9,319,312
Diluted			10,340,515			10,257,393			9,435,365

This information is preliminary and based on company data available at the time of the presentation.

		Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
		On a Fully Taxable-Equivalent Basis
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2016									2015
		Average Balance				Interest Earned / Paid		Average Yield / Rate			Average Balance				Interest Earned / Paid		Average Yield / Rate
		(In thousands, except Average Yields and Rates)
Assets:
Interest earning assets:
Interest-bearing time deposits in banks		$	216			-		0.75	%		$	211			-		0.77	%
Investments (1) (3)			221,585			1,437		2.61				224,903			1,276		2.30
Federal funds sold			539			1		0.53				359			-		0.28
Loans held-for-sale			15,215			127		3.36				35,498			307		3.51
Total loans (2)			886,790			9,242		4.19				701,471			7,361		4.26
Total interest earning assets			1,124,345			10,807		3.87				962,442			8,944		3.77
Allowance for loan losses			(10,179	)								(8,725	)
Non-interest earning assets			77,916									64,264
Total assets		$	1,192,082								$	1,017,981
Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing deposits:
Checking		$	72,707			65		0.36	%		$	56,560			49		0.35	%
Savings			18,378			5		0.11				13,734			4		0.11
Money market			476,772			584		0.49				392,335			386		0.40
Time deposits			157,962			382		0.97				161,739			322		0.81
Federal funds purchased			5,623			11		0.79				4,847			7		0.60
Subordinated debt			19,622			348		7.10				19,581			348		7.11
Other borrowings			97,849			247		1.01				88,053			226		1.04
Total interest bearing liabilities			848,913			1,642		0.78				736,849			1,342		0.74
Non-interest bearing checking			237,394									179,199
Other liabilities			9,103									7,667
Stockholders' equity			96,672									94,266
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	1,192,082								$	1,017,981
Net interest spread								3.09	%								3.03	%
Net interest margin								3.28									3.20
(1) Interest income and yields are presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis using a tax rate of 34%.
(2) Non-accrual loans are included in average loan balances in all periods. Loan fees of $248,000 and $199,000 are included in interest income in 2016 and 2015, respectively
(3) Unrealized gains/(losses) of $712,000 and 301,000 are excluded from the yield calculation in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

This information is preliminary and based on company data available at the time of the presentation. 

Contact: Barbara J. Zipperian
Chief Financial Officer 
(615) 736-7786