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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

ý QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                             to                              

Commission file number 1-8993

SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  13-4181699
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

20 Custom House Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

(617) 951-0600
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

        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 o    No ý

        As of May 14, 2003, 15,259,991 Common Shares with a par value of $0.01 per share were outstanding.


SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
Table of Contents

 
   
  Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
  Item 1.   Financial Statements    
    Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2003 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2002   3
    Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 (Unaudited)   4
    Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 (Unaudited)   5
    Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 (Unaudited)   6
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 (Unaudited)   7
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)   8
 
Item 2.

 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

 
    General   15
    Critical Accounting Policies   18
    Results of Operations—Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002   20
    Liquidity and Capital Resources   23
    Forward-Looking Statements   25
 
Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

25
 
Item 4.

 

Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

 

26

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 
 
Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

27
 
Item 2.

 

Changes in Securities

 

27
 
Item 3.

 

Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

27
 
Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote by Security Holders

 

27
 
Item 5.

 

Other Information

 

27
 
Item 6.

 

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

27

SIGNATURE

 

28

CERTIFICATIONS

 

29

2



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements


Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 
  March 31,
2003

  December 31,
2002

 
 
  (Unaudited)

   
 
Assets              
Investment securities available for sale:              
  Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost:$597,483 in 2003 and $581,854 in 2002)   $ 623,161   $ 603,886  
Cash and cash equivalents     18,052     34,777  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts     137,674     122,005  
Accrued investment income     7,345     6,812  
Taxes receivable     1,739     1,546  
Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses     38,618     40,886  
Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses     68,329     66,661  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums     33,313     30,967  
Deferred policy acquisition costs     41,783     36,992  
Deferred income taxes     5,214     6,245  
Equity and deposits in pools     11,328     24,983  
Other assets     2,248     2,836  
   
 
 
    Total assets   $ 988,804   $ 978,596  
   
 
 
Liabilities              
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves   $ 349,433   $ 333,297  
Unearned premium reserves     309,505     271,998  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     16,189     33,222  
Outstanding claims drafts     20,274     19,391  
Payable for securities     2,172     18,814  
Payable to reinsurers     21,315     36,666  
Debt     19,956     19,956  
   
 
 
    Total liabilities     738,844     733,344  
   
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)              
Shareholders' equity              
Common stock: $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized, 15,259,991 shares issued and outstanding     153     153  
Additional paid-in capital     110,632     110,632  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes     16,690     14,321  
Promissory notes receivable from management     (212 )   (737 )
Retained earnings     122,697     120,883  
   
 
 
    Total shareholders' equity     249,960     245,252  
   
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $ 988,804   $ 978,596  
   
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

3



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands except per share and share data)

 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Net earned premiums   $ 132,070   $ 119,041  
Investment income     7,029     6,874  
Net realized losses on investments     (729 )   (43 )
Finance and other service income     4,045     3,823  
   
 
 
  Total income     142,415     129,695  
   
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses     106,628     88,927  
Underwriting, operating and related expenses     31,802     33,493  
Interest expenses     168     2,300  
   
 
 
  Total expenses     138,598     124,720  
   
 
 
Income before income taxes     3,817     4,975  
Income tax expense     935     1,591  
   
 
 
  Net income   $ 2,882   $ 3,384  
   
 
 
Dividends on mandatorily redeemable preferred stock         (336 )
   
 
 
  Net income available to common shareholders   $ 2,882   $ 3,048  
   
 
 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Net income available to common shareholders              
  Basic   $ 0.19   $ 0.55  
   
 
 
  Diluted   $ 0.19   $ 0.53  
   
 
 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.07

 

$


 
   
 
 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Basic     15,259,991     5,519,492  
   
 
 
  Diluted     15,285,257     5,809,992  
   
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

4



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 
  Common
Stock

  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss),
Net of Taxes

  Additional
Paid-in
Capital

  Promissory
Notes
Receivable
From
Management

  Retained
Earnings

  Total
Shareholders'
Equity

 
Balance at December 31, 2001   $ 58   $ (4,457 ) $ 2,442   $ (702 ) $ 111,641   $ 108,982  

Net income, January 1 to March 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,384

 

 

3,384

 
Accrued interest on promissory notes from management                       (9 )         (9 )
Other comprehensive income, net of deferred federal income taxes           (3,940 )                     (3,940 )
Accrued dividends on mandatorily redeemable preferred stock                             (336 )   (336 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at March 31, 2002   $ 58   $ (8,397 ) $ 2,442   $ (711 ) $ 114,689   $ 108,081  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Common
Stock

  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss),
Net of Taxes

  Additional
Paid-in
Capital

  Promissory
Notes
Receivable
From
Management

  Retained
Earnings

  Total
Shareholders'
Equity

 
Balance at December 31, 2002   $ 153   $ 14,321   $ 110,632   $ (737 ) $ 120,883   $ 245,252  

Net income, January 1 to March 31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,882

 

 

2,882

 
Accrued interest on promissory notes from management                       (6 )         (6 )
Payments on promissory notes from management                       531           531  
Other comprehensive income, net of deferred federal income taxes           2,369                       2,369  
Dividends paid                             (1,068 )   (1,068 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at March 31, 2003   $ 153   $ 16,690   $ 110,632   $ (212 ) $ 122,697   $ 249,960  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Net income   $ 2,882   $ 3,384  

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses), net of tax expense (benefit) of $1,020 in 2003 and $(2,137) in 2002     1,895     (3,968 )
Reclassification adjustment for losses included in net income, net of tax expense of $255 in 2003 and $16 in 2002     474     28  
   
 
 
  Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale     2,369     (3,940 )
   
 
 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

5,251

 

$

(556

)
   
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

6



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Cash flows from operating activities:              
Net income   $ 2,882   $ 3,384  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:              
  Depreciation and amortization, net     1,353     1,010  
  Provision for deferred income taxes     (244 )   146  
  Gains on sales of fixed assets     (34 )    
  Net realized losses on investments     729     43  
Changes in assets and liabilities:              
  Accounts receivable     (15,669 )   (11,584 )
  Accrued investment income     (533 )   (662 )
  Receivable from reinsurers     600     8,187  
  Prepaid reinsurance premiums     (2,346 )   (4,852 )
  Deferred policy acquisition costs     (4,791 )   (3,860 )
  Other assets     14,111     11,430  
  Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves     16,136     (3,155 )
  Unearned premium reserves     37,507     37,517  
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     (17,033 )   (21,121 )
  Payable to reinsurers     (15,351 )   (8,589 )
  Other liabilities     883     (1,589 )
   
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities     18,200     6,305  
   
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:              
  Fixed maturities purchased     (54,332 )   (55,290 )
  Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities     20,022     53,307  
  Proceeds from maturities of fixed maturities         7,750  
  Fixed assets purchased     (112 )   (29 )
  Proceeds from sales of fixed assets     34      
   
 
 
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities     (34,388 )   5,738  
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:              
  Decrease in promissory notes from management     531      
  Dividend paid to shareholders     (1,068 )    
  Payment of long-term debt         (1,000 )
   
 
 
Net cash used for financing activities     (537 )   (1,000 )
   
 
 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(16,725

)

 

11,043

 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     34,777     12,278  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 18,052   $ 23,321  
   
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

7



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands except per share and share data)

1.     Basis of Presentation

        The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The consolidated financial statements include Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company"). The subsidiaries consist of Safety Insurance Company, Thomas Black Corporation ("TBC"), Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, Thomas Black Insurance Agency, Inc. ("TBIA"), and RBS, Inc., TBIA's holding company. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

        The financial information as of March 31, 2003 and for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 is unaudited; however, in the opinion of the Company, the information includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition and results of operations for the periods. These unaudited consolidated financial statements may not be indicative of financial results for the full year and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 31, 2003.

        The Company is a leading provider of personal lines property and casualty insurance focused exclusively on the Massachusetts market. Its principal product line is personal automobile insurance, which accounted for 81.5% of its direct written premiums in 2002. The Company operates through its insurance company subsidiaries, Safety Insurance Company and Safety Indemnity Insurance Company. TBIA is the managing agent for Safety Insurance Company and Safety Indemnity Insurance Company.

2.     Initial Public Offering ("IPO")

        As discussed below, the November 27, 2002 IPO, the use of IPO net proceeds, the Preferred Share Exchange (as defined below) and the Direct Sale (as defined below) altered the capital structure of the Company.

        The Company sold 6,333,334 common shares in its IPO, 350,000 common shares in a direct sale (the "Direct Sale") and 900,000 common shares from the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option all at $12.00 per share. Net proceeds received were $81,819 from these stock issuances after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses. The Company also received $30,000 from borrowings under our new credit facility. These net proceeds and borrowings were used to repay principal and interest on the outstanding debt as well as dividends on the outstanding mandatorily redeemable preferred stock. In addition, $22,400 of common stock and additional paid in capital was recognized from the issuance of 1,866,665 common shares upon conversion of all outstanding preferred stock (the "Preferred Share Exchange"), concurrent with the IPO.

        In conjunction with the IPO, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") declared a 23.24 for 1 common stock split on November 12, 2002 in the form of a stock dividend that became effective immediately after the time the Company filed its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, prior to the IPO. In accordance with the provisions of FAS 128, "Earnings Per Share", all earnings per share presented in the consolidated financial statements of the Company have been adjusted retroactively for the stock split.

8



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands except per share and share data)

        As of March 31, 2003, the Company had 15,259,991 common shares outstanding. The 5,519,492 common shares outstanding as of March 31, 2002 increased to 14,359,991 at the IPO due to the addition of the new 6,333,334 common shares sold at IPO, the 350,000 common shares sold as part of the Direct Sale, an additional 1,866,665 common shares issued in the Preferred Share Exchange and 290,500 restricted shares which vested in full upon the IPO. On December 5, 2002, the 14,359,991 shares outstanding increased to 15,259,991 common shares outstanding due to the underwriters purchase of an additional 900,000 common shares pursuant to their over-allotment option exercise.

3.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Establishment of appropriate reserves is an inherently uncertain process, and there can be no certainty that currently established reserves will prove adequate in light of subsequent actual experience. Liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") include case basis estimates for open claims reported prior to quarter-end, estimates of incurred but not reported ("IBNR") losses, estimates of anticipated salvage and subrogation recoverable and estimates of LAE. The liability for losses and LAE is intended to reflect the ultimate net cost of all losses and LAE incurred through the end of the balance sheet period. The estimates are continually reviewed and modified to reflect current conditions, and any resulting adjustments in estimates are reflected in current operating results in the period in which the estimates are revised.

        Investments in fixed maturities, which include taxable and non-taxable bonds and redeemable preferred stock available-for-sale are reported at fair value. Fair values are derived from external market quotations. Unrealized gains or losses on fixed maturity and equity securities, reported at fair value, are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity, known as "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes", until realized. Realized gains or losses on the sale or maturity of investments are determined on the basis of the specific cost identification method. Fixed maturity securities that experience declines in value that are deemed other-than-temporary are written down to fair value with a corresponding charge to net realized losses on investments. Investment income is recognized on an accrual basis of accounting. Bonds not backed by other loans are amortized using the interest method. Loan-backed bonds and structured securities are amortized using the interest method and significant changes in estimated cash flows from the original purchase assumptions are accounted for using the retrospective method.

9



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands except per share and share data)

        On June 25, 2002, the Board adopted the 2002 Management Omnibus Incentive Plan ("the Incentive Plan"). The Incentive Plan provides for a variety of awards, including incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs") and restricted stock awards. The Company has granted certain stock option awards under this Incentive Plan and has adopted the accounting for these options under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", as allowed by SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" and as amended by SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure". Disclosure of stock-based compensation determined in accordance with SFAS No. 148 is presented in Note 5, "Employee Benefit Plans".

        Basic earnings (loss) per common share ("EPS") is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares and the net effect of potentially dilutive common shares. The Company's only potentially dilutive instruments during the three months ended March 31, 2003 were 770,000 stock options, comprised of 379,000 options to certain members of senior management granted at the IPO, and 391,000 options to certain employees and members of senior management granted during the three months ended March 31, 2003. For the three months ended March 31, 2002, the Company determined that 290,500 shares of restricted stock held by management were potentially dilutive prior to the IPO when all restricted shares vested in full. In accordance with the provisions of FAS 128, EPS is determined based upon net income, before and after any extraordinary items, less any declared or accrued dividends on the mandatorily redeemable preferred stock. EPS was retroactively restated for the stock split at the IPO. See Note 2, "IPO".

        Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

10



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands except per share and share data)

4.     Investments

        The gross unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments in fixed maturities securities was as follows:

 
  March 31, 2003
 
  Amortized
Cost

  Gross
Unrealized
Gains

  Gross
Unrealized
Losses

  Estimated
Fair Value

U.S Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government agencies(1)   $ 197,446   $ 6,819   $ (78 ) $ 204,187
Obligations of states and political subdivisions     194,451     8,371     (77 )   202,745
Asset-backed securities     79,444     3,601     (388 )   82,657
Corporate and other securities     126,142     7,474     (44 )   133,572
   
 
 
 
Totals   $ 597,483   $ 26,265   $ (587 ) $ 623,161
   
 
 
 

(1)
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies include collateralized mortgage obligations issued, guaranteed and/or insured by the following issuers: Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA). The total of these fixed maturity securities was $103,109 as of March 31, 2003.

        The amortized cost and the estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, by maturity, at March 31, 2003 are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 
  March 31, 2003
 
  Amortized Cost
  Fair Value
Due in one year or less   $ 5,101   $ 5,157
Due after one year through five years     116,859     121,926
Due after five years through ten years     176,325     184,559
Due after ten years through twenty years     62,483     64,802
Due after twenty years     54,162     58,758
Asset-backed securities     182,553     187,959
   
 
  Totals   $ 597,483   $ 623,161
   
 

        Gross gains of $173 and gross losses of $65 were realized on sales of fixed maturities for the three months ended March 31, 2003.

        During the three months ended March 31, 2003 there was a significant deterioration in the credit quality of one of the Company's holdings, Continental Airlines. The Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of $837 for this security. For the three months ended March 31, 2002, the Company did not record any other-than-temporary impairment charges relating to the Company's portfolio of investment securities as there were no significant deteriorations in the credit quality of any of the Company's holdings.

11



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands except per share and share data)

5.     Employee Benefit Plans

        On June 25, 2002, the Board adopted the 2002 Management Omnibus Incentive Plan ("the Incentive Plan"). The Incentive Plan provides for a variety of awards, including nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, SARs and restricted stock awards. The maximum number of shares of common stock with respect to which awards may be granted under the Incentive Plan is 1,250,000. On July 1, 2002, the Board authorized the grant of 379,000 stock options to certain employees and one nominee for director, pursuant to the Incentive Plan. These grants were effective upon the IPO date at an exercise price equal to the $12.00 per share IPO price, have a ten year term and vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary date of these grants. On February 20, 2003, the Compensation Committee authorized the grant of 99,000 stock options to certain employees pursuant to the Incentive Plan. These grants were effective upon the grant date at an exercise price of $13.30, which is equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date, have a ten year term and vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary date of these grants. On March 12, 2003, the Compensation Committee authorized the grant of 292,000 stock options to certain employees pursuant to the Incentive Plan. These grants were effective on March 31, 2003 at an exercise price of $13.03, which is equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date, have a ten year term and vest in three annual installments of 30% on March 31, 2004, 30% on March 31, 2005 and 40% on March 31, 2006, beginning the first anniversary of the date of the grant. The Board and the Compensation Committee intend to issue more options under the Incentive Plan in the future, not to exceed the maximum number of shares to be granted.

        The Company has adopted the accounting for the Incentive Plan under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", and Related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under this plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", to these stock options.

 
  Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Net income, as reported   $ 2,882   $ 3,384  
  Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value-based method for all awards net of related tax effects     (88 )    
   
 
 
Pro forma net income     2,794     3,384  
  Dividends on mandatorily redeemable preferred stock         (336 )
   
 
 
Pro forma net income available to common shareholders   $ 2,794   $ 3,048  
   
 
 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Basic—as reported   $ 0.19   $ 0.55  
   
 
 
  Basic—pro forma   $ 0.18   $ 0.55  
   
 
 
  Diluted—as reported   $ 0.19   $ 0.53  
   
 
 
  Diluted—pro forma   $ 0.18   $ 0.53  
   
 
 

12



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands except per share and share data)

        The fair value of stock options used to compute pro forma net income and earnings per share disclosures for the three months ended March 31, 2003 is the estimated fair value at grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 
  March 31, 2003
 
Dividend yield   2.15 %
Expected volatility   .20  
Risk-free interest rate   3.35 %
Expected holding period (in years)   7  

6.     Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

        The following table sets forth a reconciliation of beginning and ending reserves for losses and LAE, as shown, in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the periods indicated:

 
  Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Reserves for losses and LAE, beginning of year   $ 333,297   $ 302,556  
Less reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and LAE     (66,661 )   (75,179 )
   
 
 
Net reserves for losses and LAE, beginning of year     266,636     227,377  
   
 
 
Incurred losses and LAE, related to:              
  Current year     107,914     89,558  
  Prior year     (1,286 )   (631 )
   
 
 
Total incurred losses and LAE     106,628     88,927  
   
 
 
Paid losses and LAE related to:              
  Current year     40,986     38,904  
  Prior year     51,174     48,718  
   
 
 
Total paid losses and LAE     92,160     87,622  
   
 
 
Net reserves for losses and LAE, end of period     281,104     228,682  
Plus reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and LAE     68,329     70,719  
   
 
 
Reserves for losses and LAE, end of period   $ 349,433   $ 299,401  
   
 
 

        At the end of the three month periods above, the reserves were re-estimated for all prior accident years and were decreased by $1,286 and $631 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Conditions and trends that have affected development of the loss and LAE reserves in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it may not be appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies upon these developments.

13



Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands except per share and share data)

        The Company applies a consistent reserving philosophy, but because establishment of appropriate reserves is an inherently uncertain process, it is probable that the actual amounts required to settle all losses and LAE will be either higher or lower than the originally established reserves. The reserve for loss and loss adjustment expenses represents management's best estimate of the ultimate net cost of all loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred after reinsurance. These estimates are based on actuarial studies performed by management and independent actuaries which have inherent limitations as to the accuracy of the estimates due to the fact that the ultimate liability for claims is subject to the outcome of events yet to occur.

        Due to the nature of the risks that the Company underwrites and has historically underwritten, management does not believe that it has an exposure to asbestos or environmental pollution liabilities.

7.     Commitments and Contingencies

        Various claims, generally incidental to the conduct of normal business, are pending or alleged against the Company from time to time. In the opinion of management, based in part on the advice of legal counsel, the ultimate resolution of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. However, liabilities related to those proceedings could be established in the near term if estimates of the ultimate resolutions of those proceedings are revised.

        Massachusetts law requires that insurers licensed to do business in Massachusetts participate in the Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund ("Insolvency Fund"). Members of the Insolvency Fund are assessed a proportionate share of the obligations and expenses of the Insolvency Fund in connection with an insolvent insurer. It is anticipated that there will be additional assessments from time to time relating to various insolvencies. Although the timing and amounts of any such assessments are not known, based upon existing knowledge, management's opinion is that such assessments will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company.

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Item 2.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands except share data)

        The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, which appear elsewhere in this document.

        The following discussion contains forward-looking statements. We intend statements which are not historical in nature to be, and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements" to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, the Company's senior management may make forward-looking statements orally to analysts, investors, the media and others. This safe harbor requires that we specify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us. We cannot promise that our expectations in such forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct. Our actual results could be materially different from and worse than our expectations. See "Forward-Looking Statements" on page 25 for specific important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements.


General

Overview

        In this discussion, "Safety" refers to Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and "our Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries consist of Safety Insurance Company, Thomas Black Corporation ("TBC"), Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, Thomas Black Insurance Agency, Inc. ("TBIA") and RBS, Inc., TBIA's holding company.

        We are a leading provider of personal automobile insurance in Massachusetts. In addition to personal automobile insurance (which represented 81.5% of our direct written premiums in 2002), we offer a portfolio of insurance products, including commercial automobile (9.9% of 2002 direct written premiums), homeowners (7.4% of 2002 direct written premiums), dwelling fire, umbrella and business owner policies. Operating exclusively in Massachusetts through our insurance company subsidiaries, Safety Insurance Company, or Safety Insurance, and Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, we have established strong relationships with 524 independent insurance agents in 627 locations throughout Massachusetts. We have used these relationships and our extensive knowledge of the Massachusetts market to become the third largest personal automobile insurance carrier in Massachusetts, capturing an approximately 10.4% share of the Massachusetts personal automobile market in 2002 based on automobile exposures. These statistics total, for each vehicle insured, the number of months during the year insurance for that vehicle is in effect, to arrive at an aggregate number of car-months for each insurer; this aggregate number, divided by 12, equals the insurer's number of car-years, a measure we refer to in this discussion as automobile exposures.

Recent Developments

        As discussed below, the November 27, 2002 initial public offering of the Company's common stock ("IPO"), the use of IPO net proceeds, the Preferred Share Exchange (as defined below) and the Direct Sale (as defined below) altered our capital structure.

        In connection with the Company's plan for the sale of our common stock in the IPO, the Board of Directors of Safety (the "Board") declared a 23.24 for 1 common stock split on November 12, 2002 in the form of a stock dividend that became effective immediately after the Company filed its amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior to the offering. In accordance with the provisions of

15



FAS 128, Earnings Per Share, earnings per share presented in the consolidated financial statements of the Company have been adjusted retroactively for the stock split.

        The holders of our preferred stock agreed to amend the terms of the preferred stock to cause it to automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of the IPO at the IPO price. Based upon the $12.00 per share IPO price, 1,866,665 additional common shares were issued in connection with the preferred share exchange (the "Preferred Share Exchange") upon the close of the IPO.

        On June 25, 2002, the Board adopted the 2002 Management Omnibus Incentive Plan ("the Incentive Plan"). The Incentive Plan provides for a variety of awards, including nonqualified stock options, SARs and restricted stock awards. The maximum number of shares of common stock with respect to which awards may be granted under the Incentive Plan is 1,250,000. On July 1, 2002, the Board authorized the grant of 379,000 stock options to certain employees and one nominee for director, pursuant to the Incentive Plan. These grants were effective upon the IPO date at an exercise price equal to the $12.00 per share IPO price, have a ten year term and vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary date of these grants. On February 20, 2003, the Compensation Committee authorized the grant of 99,000 stock options to certain employees pursuant to the Incentive Plan. These grants were effective upon the grant date at an exercise price of $13.30, which is equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date, have a ten year term and vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary date of these grants. On March 12, 2003, the Compensation Committee authorized the grant of 292,000 stock options to certain employees pursuant to the Incentive Plan. These grants were effective on March 31, 2003 at an exercise price of $13.03, which is equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date, have a ten year term and vest in three annual installments of 30% on March 31, 2004, 30% on March 31, 2005 and 40% on March 31, 2006, beginning the first anniversary of the date of the grant. The Board and the Compensation Committee intend to issue more options under the Incentive Plan in the future, not to exceed the maximum number of shares to be granted.

Reinsurance

        We reinsure with other insurance companies a portion of our potential liability under the policies we have underwritten, thereby protecting us against an unexpectedly large loss or a catastrophic occurrence that could produce large losses. Swiss Re, our primary reinsurer, maintains an A.M. Best rating of "A++" (Superior). All of our other reinsurers have an A.M. Best rating of "A" (Excellent) or better, except for Lloyd's of London, Folksamerica Reinsurance Company and Montpelier Reinsurance Limited that are all rated "A-" (also Excellent). We are a participant in Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers ("CAR"), a state-established body that runs the residual market reinsurance programs for both personal and commercial automobile insurance in Massachusetts under which premiums, expenses, losses and loss adjustment expenses on ceded business are shared by all insurers writing automobile insurance in Massachusetts. We also participate in the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association in which premiums, expenses, losses and loss adjustment expenses on homeowners business that cannot be placed in the voluntary market are shared by all insurers writing homeowners insurance in Massachusetts. As of March 31, 2003, we had no material amounts recoverable from any reinsurer, excluding the residual markets described above.

Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Market

        We are subject to the extensive regulation of the personal automobile insurance industry in Massachusetts, which represented 81.5% of our direct written premiums in 2002. Owners of registered automobiles are required to maintain minimum automobile insurance coverages. Generally, we are required by law to issue a policy to any applicant who seeks it. We are also required to participate in a state-mandated reinsurance program run by CAR to which we cede certain unprofitable risks and from which we are allocated a portion of the overall losses. This program operates at an underwriting deficit.

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This deficit is allocated among every Massachusetts automobile insurance company, including us, based on a complex formula that takes into consideration a company's voluntary market share, the rate at which it cedes business to CAR, and the company's utilization of a credit system CAR has designed to encourage carriers to reduce their use of CAR. In addition, based on our market share, we are assigned certain agents by CAR that have been unable to obtain a voluntary contract with another insurer. We call these agents Exclusive Representative Producers, or ERPs.

        Proposals to materially change certain CAR rules are under consideration. In a letter to the Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner (the "Commissioner") dated June 25, 2002, the Massachusetts Attorney General reported that his office has determined that CAR's current methodology for assigning ERPs and distributing the CAR deficit must be changed to produce a fair and equitable market. The Attorney General's letter describes several factors that he believes support his findings and which he believes should be corrected in order to comply with Massachusetts law governing CAR. The Attorney General's letter calls on the Commissioner to work with him to address these issues. The letter has engendered discussion and dialogue among various parties that could result in material changes to CAR's rules. It is uncertain whether and to what extent the issues raised by the Attorney General will be addressed by CAR. We cannot be certain whether any material changes, if adopted by CAR, would affect our profitability.

        Each year, the Commissioner sets maximum premium rates that may be charged and minimum commissions that must be paid to agents for personal automobile insurance. The Commissioner announced on December 13, 2002, a 2.7% statewide average personal automobile insurance rate increase for 2003, as compared to no change for 2002. During the period from 1996 through 2003 average rates decreased in four out of eight of those years. Coinciding with the 2003 rate decision, the Commissioner also approved a decrease in the commission rate agents receive for selling personal automobile insurance, as a percentage of premiums, from 11.7% in 2002 to 11.0% in 2003.

        Although state-mandated average maximum personal automobile insurance rates increased 2.7%, our average premium per automobile exposure in the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased from the three months ended March 31, 2002 by approximately 7.2%. This increase was the result of reduced affinity group discounts and purchases of new automobiles by our insureds. Further, we believe our rate pursuit initiative that validated insured rating classifications and discount eligibility contributed to the increase in our average premiums received per automobile exposure. The table below shows average Massachusetts-mandated personal automobile premium rate changes and changes in our average premium per automobile exposure from 1992-2003.

Massachusetts Personal Automobile Rate Decisions

Year

  State Mandated
Average Rate
Change(1)

  Safety Change in
Average Premium per
Automobile Exposure

 
2003 (2) 2.7 % 7.2 %
2002   0.0 % 5.2 %
2001   (8.3 )% 0.0 %
2000   0.7 % 7.4 %
1999   0.7 % 10.9 %
1998   (4.0 )% 2.8 %
1997   (6.2 )% (5.1 )%
1996   (4.5 )% (7.7 )%
1995   (6.1 )% (3.6 )%
1994   2.9 % 1.0 %
1993   5.7 % 5.3 %
1992   8.0 % 4.9 %

(1)
Source: Division of Insurance rate decisions for 1992 - 2003.

(2)
Source: Safety Insurance Company as of March 31, 2003.

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Insurance Ratios

        The property and casualty insurance industry uses the statutory combined ratio as a measure of underwriting profitability. On a statutory accounting principles basis, the combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio (losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred as a percent of net earned premiums) plus the expense ratio (underwriting and other expenses, which include acquisition costs, as a percent of net written premiums). This combined ratio reflects only underwriting results, and does not include income from investments or finance income. Underwriting profitability is subject to significant fluctuations due to competition, catastrophic events, economic and social conditions and other factors. These statutory ratios for our two insurance subsidiaries are outlined in the following table:

 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Loss Ratio   81.1 % 74.7 %
Expense Ratio   21.8 % 23.9 %
   
 
 
Combined Ratio   102.9 % 98.6 %

Effects of Inflation

        We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our consolidated results of operations, except insofar as inflation may affect interest rates.


Critical Accounting Policies

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

        Significant periods of time can elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting to us of that loss and our final payment of that loss. To recognize liabilities for unpaid losses, we establish reserves as balance sheet liabilities. Our reserves represent estimates of amounts needed to pay reported and unreported losses and the expenses of investigating and paying those losses, or loss adjustment expenses. Every quarter, we review our previously established reserves and adjust them, if necessary. Refer to "Results of Operations: Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses" for a more detailed discussion.

        When a claim is reported, claims personnel establish a "case reserve" for the estimated amount of the ultimate payment. The amount of the reserve is primarily based upon an evaluation of the type of claim involved, the circumstances surrounding each claim and the policy provisions relating to the loss. The estimate reflects the informed judgment of such personnel based on general insurance reserving practices and on the experience and knowledge of the claims person. During the loss adjustment period, these estimates are revised as deemed necessary by our claims department based on subsequent developments and periodic reviews of the cases.

        In accordance with industry practice, we also maintain reserves for estimated losses incurred but not yet reported. Incurred but not yet reported reserves are determined in accordance with commonly accepted actuarial reserving techniques on the basis of our historical information and experience. We review and make adjustments to incurred but not yet reported reserves quarterly.

        When reviewing reserves, we analyze historical data and estimate the impact of various loss development factors, such as our historical loss experience and that of the industry, trends in claims frequency and severity, our mix of business, our claims processing procedures, legislative enactments, judicial decisions, legal developments in imposition of damages, and changes and trends in general economic conditions, including the effects of inflation. A change in any of these factors from the assumption implicit in our estimate can cause our actual loss experience to be better or worse than our

18



reserves, and the difference can be material. There is no precise method, however, for evaluating the impact of any specific factor on the adequacy of reserves, because the eventual development of reserves is affected by many factors. Establishment of appropriate reserves is an inherently uncertain process, and currently established reserves may not prove adequate in light of subsequent actual experience. To the extent that reserves are inadequate and are strengthened, the amount of such an increase is treated as a charge to earnings in the period that the deficiency is recognized. To the extent that reserves are redundant and are released, the amount of the release is a credit to earnings in the period the redundancy is recognized.

        The changes we have recorded in our reserves in the past two years illustrate the uncertainty of estimating reserves. In 2002 and 2001, our reserve reviews indicated that our reserves established in prior years were slightly higher than necessary, and so in those years we released $2,262 and $7,303, respectively, of previously established reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses. We released reserves for prior years of $1,286 and $631 in the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. It is not appropriate to extrapolate future favorable or unfavorable development of reserves from this past experience.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairments

        We use a systematic methodology to evaluate declines in market values below cost or amortized cost of our investments. This methodology ensures that we evaluate available evidence concerning any declines in a disciplined manner. Refer to "Results of Operations: Net Realized Investment Losses" for a more detailed discussion.

        In our determination of whether a decline in market value below amortized cost is an other-than-temporary impairment, we consider and evaluate several factors and circumstances including the issuer's overall financial condition, the issuer's credit and financial strength ratings, a weakening of the general market conditions in the industry or geographic region in which the issuer operates, a prolonged period (typically six months or longer) in which the fair value of an issuer's securities remains below our amortized cost and any other factors that may raise doubt about the issuer's ability to continue as a going concern.

        We record other-than-temporary impairments as a realized loss, which serves to reduce net income and earnings per share. We record temporary losses as unrealized losses, which do not impact net income and earnings per share but reduce other comprehensive net income. The risks inherent in our assessment of other-than-temporary impairments include the risk that market factors may differ from our expectations, or that the credit assessment could change in the near term, resulting in a charge to earnings.

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Results of Operations

        The table below shows certain of our selected financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 
  Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Direct written premiums   $ 167,413   $ 152,649  
Net written premiums     167,231     151,706  
Net earned premiums     132,070     119,041  
Investment income     7,029     6,874  
Net realized losses on investments     (729 )   (43 )
Finance and other service income     4,045     3,823  
   
 
 
Total revenues     142,415     129,695  
   
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses     106,628     88,927  
Underwriting, operating and related expenses     31,802     33,493  
Interest expenses     168     2,300  
   
 
 
Total expenses     138,598     124,720  
   
 
 
Income before taxes     3,817     4,975  
Income taxes     935     1,591  
   
 
 
Net income before preferred dividends   $ 2,882   $ 3,384  
   
 
 

        Direct Written Premiums.    Direct written premiums for the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased by $14,764 or 9.7%, to $167,413 from $152,649 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. The primary reason for this increase occurred in our personal automobile line of insurance which experienced a 7.2% increase in average written premium and a 0.1% increase in written exposures. In addition, we increased our commercial automobile line average rates by 7.1% effective December 16, 2002 and had a 5.2% increase in written exposures, while we increased our homeowners line average rates by 9.3% effective February 19, 2003 and had a 1.5% decrease in written exposures.

        Net Written Premiums.    Net written premiums for the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased by $15,525, or 10.2%, to $167,231 from $151,706 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. This was primarily due to an increase in direct written premiums, in addition to an increase in assumed premiums from CAR.

        Net Earned Premiums.    Net earned premiums for the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased by $13,029, or 10.9%, to $132,070 from $119,041 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. This was primarily due to increased rates on our personal automobile, commercial automobile and homeowners product lines, as well as an increase in assumed premiums from CAR.

        Investment Income.    Investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased by $155, or 2.3%, to $7,029 from $6,874 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. An increase of $67,276 or 12.5% in average cash and invested securities (at amortized cost) to $605,590 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 from $538,314 for the three months ended March 31, 2002 was more than offset by a decrease in net effective yield on our investment portfolio to 4.6% from 5.1% during the same period due to declining interest rate. Also having an effect on investment income was a change in management's investment strategy to shift to higher rated securities, increase our tax-exempt

20


holdings and to shorten our portfolio duration. Our duration decreased from 5.15 years at March 31, 2002 to 4.88 years at March 31, 2003.

        Net Realized Investment Losses.    Net realized investment losses for the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased by $686 to $729 from $43 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. This increase was primarily due to a $837 other-than-temporary impairment in our holdings of Continental Airlines.

        The gross unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments in fixed maturities securities was as follows:

 
  March 31, 2003
 
  Amortized
Cost

  Gross
Unrealized
Gains

  Gross
Unrealized
Losses

  Estimated
Fair Value

U.S Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government agencies(1)   $ 197,446   $ 6,819   $ (78 ) $ 204,187
Obligations of states and political subdivisions     194,451     8,371     (77 )   202,745
Asset-backed securities     79,444     3,601     (388 )   82,657
Corporate and other securities     126,142     7,474     (44 )   133,572
   
 
 
 
Totals   $ 597,483   $ 26,265   $ (587 ) $ 623,161
   
 
 
 

(1)
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies include collateralized mortgage obligations issued, guaranteed and/or insured by the following issuers: Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA). As such, the asset-backed securities presented exclude such issuers already presented under U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies.

        As of March 31, 2003, our portfolio of fixed maturity investments was comprised entirely of investment grade corporate fixed maturities securities, U.S. government and agency securities and asset-backed securities, with the exception of one security which was rated below investment grade (i.e., all our securities received a rating assigned by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. of Baa or higher, as well as a rating assigned by the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners of 1 or 2, with the exception of one security, Continental Airlines, which was rated Category 3).

        The composition of our fixed income security portfolio by Moody's rating was as follows:

 
  March 31, 2003
 
 
  Amount
  Percent
 
U.S. Government and Government Agency Fixed Income Securities   $ 204,187   32.8 %
Aaa/Aa     308,029   49.4  
A     73,920   11.9  
Baa     37,025   5.9  
   
 
 
Total   $ 623,161   100.0 %
   
 
 

(1)
Ratings are assigned by Moody's Investors Services, Inc., or Moody's. Such ratings are generally assigned upon the issuance of the securities and are subject to revision on the basis of ongoing evaluations. Ratings in the table are as of the date indicated.

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        In our determination of other-than-temporary impairments, we consider several factors and circumstances including the issuer's overall financial condition, the issuer's credit and financial strength ratings, a weakening of the general market conditions in the industry or geographic region in which the issuer operates, a prolonged period (typically six months or longer) in which the fair value of an issuer's securities remains below our amortized cost and any other factors that may raise doubt about the issuer's ability to continue as a going concern.

        Other-than-temporary impairments are recorded as a realized loss, which serves to reduce net income and earnings per share. Temporary losses are recorded as unrealized losses, which do not impact net income and earnings per share but reduce other comprehensive net income. The risks inherent in the assessment of other-than-temporary impairments include the risk that market factors may differ from our expectations; we may decide to subsequently sell a security for unforeseen business needs; or the credit assessment could change in the near term, resulting in a charge to earnings.

        The unrealized losses recorded on the fixed maturity investment portfolio at March 31, 2003 resulted primarily from fluctuations in market interest rates as opposed to fundamental changes in the credit quality of the issuers of such securities. Therefore, these decreases in values are viewed as being temporary as we have the intent and ability to retain such investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery in market value.

        Of the approximately $587 gross unrealized losses as of March 31, 2003, approximately $155 relates to fixed maturity obligations of states and political subdivisions and U.S. government agencies. The remaining $432 of gross unrealized losses relates primarily to holdings of investment grade corporate fixed maturities securities in a variety of industries and sectors, including banking, finance, telecommunications, entertainment and utilities.

        Gross unrealized losses for the three months ended March 31, 2003 decreased from $13,479 at March 31, 2002 to $587 at March 31, 2003. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, there was a significant deterioration in the credit quality of one of our holdings of Continental Airlines. The Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of $837 for this security. For the three months ended March 31, 2002, we did not record any other-than-temporary impairment charges relating to our portfolio of investment securities.

        Finance and Other Service Income.    Finance and other service income includes revenues from premium installment charges, which we recognize when earned, and other miscellaneous income and fees. Finance and other service income for the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased by $222, or 5.8%, to $4,045 from $3,823 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. These increases were due to a $462 increase in premium installment billing fees due to growth in the number of policies and the fee charged per policy, offset by a $240 decrease in miscellaneous income from CAR.

        Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses.    Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased $17,701, or 19.9%, to $106,628 from $88,927 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. Our GAAP loss ratio (a percentage of net premiums earned) for the three months ended March 31, 2003 was 80.7% compared to 74.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2002. The ratio of net incurred losses, excluding loss adjustment expenses, to net premiums earned for three months ended March 31, 2003 was 74.6% compared to 67.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2002. Primarily due to the severe winter conditions in Massachusetts during the three months ended March 31, 2003 as compared to the mild weather in the three months ended March 31, 2002, our homeowners line which represents 6.4% of our earned premiums, experienced approximate increases of 118% in claim frequency and 39% in claim severity. Our automobile lines experienced a claim frequency increase of approximately 17%, which was offset by a reduction of approximately 8% in claim severity.

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        Underwriting, Operating and Related Expenses.    Underwriting, operating and related expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2003 decreased by $1,691, or 5.0%, to $31,802 from $33,493 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. Our GAAP expense ratio (a percentage of net premiums earned), for the three months ended March 31, 2003 improved to 24.1% compared to 28.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2002 as a result of no growth in underwriting expenses coupled with an increase in earned premiums.

        Interest Expenses.    Interest expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2003 decreased by $2,132 to $168 from $2,300 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. Interest expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2002 were related to old debt facilities that were extinguished at the IPO. Primarily as a result of the IPO, we significantly reduced our debt outstanding to $19,956 at March 31, 2003 from $98,500 at March 31, 2002.

        Income Taxes.    Our effective tax rate on net income before preferred stock dividends was 24.5% and 32.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the effective rate was lower than the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to adjustments for tax-exempt investment income.

        Net Income Before Preferred Stock Dividends.    Net income before preferred dividends for the three months ended March 31, 2003 decreased to $2,882 from $3,384 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. The decrease was a result of the factors discussed above.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

        As a holding company, Safety's assets consist primarily of the stock of our Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries. Our Company's principal source of funds to meet our obligations and pay dividends to shareholders, therefore, are dividends and other permitted payments from our subsidiaries, principally our indirect subsidiary, Safety Insurance. Our Company's direct subsidiary, TBC, directly owns Safety Insurance. TBC is the borrower under our new credit facilities. As a holding company, its principal source of cash to pay amounts owed under the credit facility and its other obligations and dividends to us are dividends and other permitted payments from Safety Insurance.

        Safety Insurance's sources of funds primarily include premiums received, investment income and proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments. Safety Insurance's principal uses of cash are the payment of claims, operating expenses and taxes, the purchase of investments and payment of dividends to TBC.

        Net cash provided by operating activities was $18,200 and $6,305 during the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The Company's operations typically generate substantial positive cash flows from operations as most premiums are received in advance of the time when claim and benefit payments are required. These positive operating cash flows are expected to continue to meet the liquidity requirements of the Company.

        Net cash used for investing activities was $34,388 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 which resulted primarily from purchases in excess of sales proceeds on fixed maturity investment transactions. For the three months ended March 31, 2002, net cash provided by investing activities was $5,738 as a result of proceeds from sales and maturities in excess of purchases of fixed maturities.

        New Credit Facility.    Concurrent with the closing of our IPO and repayment of the old credit facility, TBC obtained a new $30,000 revolving credit facility. Fleet National Bank is the lender under this new credit facility. TBC borrowed the entire $30,000 under this new credit facility at the closing of the IPO and paid down the balance to approximately $20,000 on December 5, 2002 with the approximately $10,000 net proceeds from the exercise of the underwriter's over-allotment option for 900,000 shares of our common stock. Loans under the new credit facility bear interest at our option at

23



either (i) the LIBOR rate plus 1.50% per annum or (ii) the higher of Fleet National Bank's prime rate or 1/2% above the federal funds rate plus 1.50% per annum. The new credit facility is due and payable at maturity on November 27, 2005, which is three years from the closing of the IPO. Interest only is payable prior to maturity. The obligations of TBC under the new credit facility are secured by pledges of the assets of TBC and the capital stock of TBC's operating subsidiaries. The new credit facility is guaranteed by the non-insurance company subsidiaries of TBC. The new credit facility contains covenants including requirements to maintain minimum risk based capital ratios and statutory surplus of Safety Insurance as well as limitations or restrictions on indebtedness, liens, dividends, and other matters. As of March 31, 2003, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants, ratios, statutory surplus and limitations.

        The Company's insurance subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions that limit the maximum amount of dividends available to be paid to their parent without prior approval of the Division. Massachusetts' statute limits the dividends an insurer may pay in any twelve month period, without the prior permission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner, to the greater of (i) 10% of the insurer's surplus as of the preceding December 31 or (ii) the insurer's net income for the twelve-month period ending the preceding December 31, in each case determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices. The Company's insurance company subsidiaries may not declare an "extraordinary dividend" (defined as any dividend or distribution that, together with other distributions made within the preceding twelve months, exceeds the limits established by Massachusetts' statute) until thirty days after the Commissioner has received notice of the intended dividend and has not objected. As historically administered by the Commissioner, this provision requires the Commissioner's prior approval of an extraordinary dividend. Under Massachusetts law an insurer may pay cash dividends only from its unassigned funds, also known as earned surplus, and the insurer's remaining surplus must be both reasonable in relation to its outstanding liabilities and adequate to its financial needs. At year-end 2002, the statutory surplus of Safety Insurance was $234,204, and its net income for 2002 was $20,403. A maximum of $23,420 is available in 2003 for such dividends without prior approval of the Division. During the first quarter of 2003, Safety Insurance paid dividends to TBC in cash of $1,561.

        The maximum dividend permitted by law is not indicative of an insurer's actual ability to pay dividends, which may be constrained by business and regulatory considerations, such as the impact of dividends on surplus, which could affect an insurer's ratings or competitive position, the amount of premiums that can be written and the ability to pay future dividends.

        On February 20, 2003, our Board approved a quarterly cash dividend on our common stock of $0.07 per share, or $1,068 based on 15,259,991 shares outstanding which includes the shares outstanding at the close of our IPO on November 27, 2002 as well as the December 5, 2002 exercise of the underwriter's over-allotment option. This dividend was paid on March 17, 2003 to shareholders of record on March 3, 2003. The Company plans to continue to declare and pay quarterly cash dividends in 2003, depending on the Company's financial position and the regularity of its cash flows.

        Management believes that the current level of cash flow from operations provides us with sufficient liquidity to meet our operating needs over the next 12 months. We expect to be able to continue to meet our operating needs after the next 12 months from internally generated funds. Since our ability to meet our obligations in the long term (beyond such 12-month period) is dependent upon such factors as market changes, insurance regulatory changes and economic conditions, no assurance can be given that the available net cash flow will be sufficient to meet our operating needs. We expect that we would need to borrow or issue capital stock if we needed additional funds, for example, to pay for an acquisition or a significant expansion of our operations. There can be no assurance that sufficient funds for any of the foregoing purposes would be available to us at such time.

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Forward-Looking Statements

        Forward-looking statements might include one or more of the following, among others:

        Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "aim," "projects," or words of similar meaning and expressions that indicate future events and trends, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may". All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expenditures and financial results, are forward-looking statements.

        Forward-looking statements give the Company's expectations or predictions of future conditions, events or results. They are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are a number of factors—many of which are beyond the Company's control—that could cause actual future conditions, events, results or trends to differ significantly and/or materially from historical results or those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to the competitive nature of the Company's industry and the possible adverse effects of such competition, conditions for business operations and restrictive regulations in Massachusetts, claims related to severe weather, the Company's possible need for and availability of additional financing, and the Company's dependence on strategic relationships, among others, and other risks and factors identified from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. Refer to those set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in our prospectus in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on November 22, 2002.

        Some other factors, such as market, operational, liquidity, interest rate, equity and other risks, are described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Factors relating to the regulation and supervision of our Company are also described or incorporated in this report and our Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2003. There are other factors besides those described or incorporated in this report or in the Form 10-K that could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements.

        Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Information about Market Risk (Dollars in thousands)

        Market Risk.    Market risk is the risk that we will incur losses due to adverse changes in market rates and prices. We have exposure to market risk through our investment activities and our financing activities. Our primary market risk exposure is to changes in interest rates. We use both fixed and variable rate debt as sources of financing. We have not entered, and do not plan to enter, into any derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

        Interest Rate Risk.    Interest rate risk is the risk that we will incur economic losses due to adverse changes in interest rates. Our exposure to interest rate changes primarily results from our significant

25



holdings of fixed rate investments and from our financing activities. Our fixed maturity investments include U.S. and foreign government bonds, securities issued by government agencies, obligations of state and local governments and governmental authorities, corporate bonds and asset-backed securities, most of which are exposed to changes in prevailing interest rates.

        We manage our exposure to risks associated with interest rate fluctuations through active review of our investment portfolio by our management and Board and consultation with third-party financial advisors. As a general matter, we do not attempt to match the durations of our assets with the durations of our liabilities, and the majority of our liabilities are "short tail." Our goal is to maximize the total after-tax return on all of our investments. An important strategy that we employ to achieve this goal is to try to hold enough in cash and short-term investments in order to avoid liquidating longer-term investments to pay claims.

        The following table shows the interest rate sensitivity of our financial instruments measured in terms of fair value (which is equal to the carrying value for all our securities).

 
  As of March 31, 2003
Fair Value

 
  -100 Basis
Point Change

  As Of
March 31, 2003

  +100 Basis
Point Change

Fixed maturities   $ 656,649   $ 623,161   $ 591,173
Cash and cash equivalents     18,052     18,052     18,052
   
 
 
  Total   $ 674,701   $ 641,213   $ 609,225
   
 
 

        An important market risk for all of our outstanding long-term debt is interest rate risk. We continue to monitor the interest rate environment and to evaluate refinancing opportunities as maturity dates approach. With respect to floating rate debt, we are also exposed to the effects of changes in prevailing interest rates. At March 31, 2003 we had $19,956 of debt outstanding under our new credit facility at a variable rate of approximately 3.2%. A 2.0% change in the prevailing interest rate on our variable rate debt would result in interest expense fluctuating approximately $400 for 2003, assuming that all of such debt is outstanding for the entire year.

        Equity Risk.    Equity risk is the risk that we will incur economic losses due to adverse changes in equity prices. In the past, our exposure to changes in equity prices primarily resulted from our holdings of common stocks, mutual funds and other equities. While we have in the past held common equity securities in our investment portfolio, presently we hold none. We continuously evaluate market conditions and we expect in the future to purchase equity securities. We principally managed equity price risk through industry and issuer diversification and asset allocation techniques.


Item 4. Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

        Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the Exchange Act) within 90 days prior to the filing of this report. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective and ensure that all information required to be disclosed is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules.

        There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in factors that could significantly affect internal controls, subsequent to the most recent evaluation of such controls.

26



Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

        None.


Item 2. Changes in Securities

        None.


Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

        None.


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote by Security Holders

        None.


Item 5. Other Information

        None.


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)
Exhibits:

    11   Statement re: Computation of Per Share Earnings*
    99.1   CEO Certification Pursuant to U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    99.2   CFO Certification Pursuant to U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(b)
Reports on Form 8-K:

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SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

    SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
(Registrant)

Date: May 15, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
WILLIAM J. BEGLEY, JR.      
       
William J. Begley, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer

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CERTIFICATIONS

I, David F. Brussard, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Safety Insurance Group, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.
The Registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Registrant and we have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c)
presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.
The Registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)
all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal controls; and

6.
The Registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

May 15, 2003    

/s/  
DAVID F. BRUSSARD      

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and President
(Principal Executive Officer)
   

29


CERTIFICATIONS (continued)

I, William J. Begley, Jr., certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Safety Insurance Group, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.
The Registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Registrant and we have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c)
presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.
The Registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)
all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal controls; and

6.
The Registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

May 15, 2003    

/s/  
WILLIAM J. BEGLEY, JR.      

 

 

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer)
   

30