First Foundation Inc. (NASDAQ: FFWM), a financial services company with two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors (“FFA”) and First Foundation Bank (“FFB” or the “Bank”), which collectively provide investment management, wealth planning, consulting, insurance, trust and banking services primarily to high net-worth individuals and businesses, today released a list of some of its most important accomplishments over the past year.

“As 2016 begins, I feel it is important to reflect on what our team has accomplished over the past year. These accomplishments have expanded and strengthened First Foundation’s offering for the benefit of our clients, our stakeholders, and our employees,” said Scott F. Kavanaugh, CEO of First Foundation. “I am more excited than ever about where we are today and what we can accomplish in the years ahead. Our team continues to do great work executing our mission and enhancing the way we do business to solve the complex financial needs of our clients.”

First Foundation’s list of accomplishments highlights successes in adding to the strength of its executive leadership team, expanding into new regions while growing its presence within its existing regions, completing a public offering and capital raise, and continuing support of its non-profit initiative, as detailed below:

  • David DePillo was appointed to serve as President of the Bank in May. (http://investor.ff-inc.com/press-release/first-foundation-bank-appoints-david-depillo-president)
  • Rob Noble and Lindsay Lawrence were appointed as executive vice presidents of the Bank in June, and a specialty deposit group was formed. (http://investor.ff-inc.com/press-release/first-foundation-launches-specialty-deposits-solution-appointment-anita-young)
  • The acquisition of Pacific Rim Bank, which allowed First Foundation to expand into Hawaii, was completed in June. (http://investor.ff-inc.com/press-release/first-foundation-and-pacific-rim-bank-complete-merger-transaction)
  • First Foundation Advisors added to the strength of its team and was named in the 2015 Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisors list. (http://investor.ff-inc.com/press-release/first-foundation-advisors-selected-2015-financial-times-300-top-registered-investment-)
  • First Foundation launched commercial and private client insurance services in May. (http://investor.ff-inc.com/press-release/first-foundation-launches-commercial-and-private-client-insurance-services-appointment)
  • First Foundation completed a public offering in August that raised $138 million ($130.8 million net of expenses). (http://investor.ff-inc.com/press-release/first-foundation-announces-successful-completion-common-stock-offering)
  • The Bank completed a sale and securitization of $102 million of loans in November through Freddie Mac. (http://investor.ff-inc.com/press-release/first-foundation-completes-sale-and-freddie-mac-guaranteed-securitization-multifamily-)
  • First Foundation renewed its commitment to its non-profit initiative, Supporting Our Communities, in December. (http://investor.ff-inc.com/press-release/first-foundation-renews-its-philanthropic-initiative-help-local-charities)

Additionally, due in part to the items noted above, the Bank has been able to attract highly qualified and experienced individuals to help increase its lending and deposit gathering capabilities. Staffing at the Bank increased from 167 at the end of May to 213 at the end of September to 230 at the end of December. As a result:

  • Loan originations increased from $504 million in 2014 to over $925 million in 2015;
  • Loan originations in the 4th quarter were over $300 million; and
  • Deposits grew by over $550 million during 2015.

As would be expected with the increase in staffing and loan balances, the Bank has seen increases in noninterest expenses and in our provision for loan losses. However, First Foundation expects that these costs will be more than offset in future periods through higher revenues generated from the loan growth.

First Foundation Advisors benefited from over $500 million in assets under management (“AUM”) generated from new accounts in 2015. However, market performance during the year negatively impacted AUM balances, resulting in lower revenue growth. That said, First Foundation Advisors expanded the strength of its investment management team and made additional enhancements to its infrastructure to support expected AUM growth.

About First Foundation
First Foundation, a financial institution founded in 1990, provides integrated investment management, wealth planning, consulting, insurance, trust and banking services. The Company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in Newport Beach, Pasadena, West Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, Palm Desert and the Imperial Valley in California; in Las Vegas, Nevada; and in Honolulu, Hawaii. For more information, please visit www.ff-inc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release regarding our expectations and beliefs about our future financial performance and financial condition, as well as trends in our business and markets, are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "project," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may." The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on current information and on assumptions that we make about future events and circumstances that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict and beyond our control. As a result of those risks and uncertainties, our actual financial results in the future could differ, possibly materially, from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and could cause us to make changes to our future plans. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk of incurring loan losses, which is an inherent risk of the banking business; the risk that the economic recovery in the United States will stall or will be adversely affected by domestic or international economic conditions and the risk that the Federal Reserve Board will continue to keep interest rates low, any of which could adversely affect our interest income and interest rate margins and, therefore, our future operating results; the risk that the performance of our investment management business or of the equity and bond markets could lead clients to move their funds from or close their investment accounts with us, which would reduce our assets under management and adversely affect our operating results; and the risk that we may not be able to continue to attract deposit and loan customers, any of which could adversely impact future earnings. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties to which our business and future financial performance are subject is contained in Item 1A, entitled “Risk Factors” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 that we filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015, and other documents we file with the SEC from time to time. We urge readers of this news release to review the Risk Factors section of that Annual Report. Also, our actual financial results in the future may differ from those currently expected due to additional risks and uncertainties of which we are not currently aware or which we do not currently view as, but in the future may become, material to our business or operating results. Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, which speak only as of today's date, or to make predictions based solely on historical financial performance. We also disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this news release or in the above-referenced 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law or NASDAQ rules.