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8-K - 8-K - SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP INCa12-6745_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

 

SAFETY ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END 2011 RESULTS

 

Boston, Massachusetts, March 8, 2012.  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported fourth quarter and year end 2011 results.  Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 was $4.8 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to $13.0 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the comparable 2010 period.  Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $13.7 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, compared to $56.3 million, or $3.74 per diluted share, for the comparable 2010 period.  Safety’s book value per share decreased to $43.22 at December 31, 2011 from $43.37 at December 31, 2010.  Safety paid $0.50 per share in dividends to investors during each of the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.  Safety paid $2.00 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $1.80 per share during the comparable 2010 period.

 

The quarter ended December 31, 2011 was marked by two severe weather events in October, the 2011 Halloween snow storm and the Eastern Massachusetts flood event, both of which caused extensive property damage.  Similar to the prior three quarters of 2011, we experienced elevated catastrophe claims activity in our personal and commercial property lines for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.  As a result, we incurred $9.6 million of catastrophe losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared to no catastrophe losses for the comparable 2010 period.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $62.7 million of catastrophe losses compared to $9.4 million for the comparable 2010 period.

 

For the quarter ended December 31, 2011, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $23.3 million, or 24.3%, to $119.2 million from $95.9 million for the comparable 2010 period.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $105.8 million, or 29.3%, to $466.6 million from $360.8 million for the comparable 2010 period.  Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 were 77.6%, 30.6%, and 108.2%, respectively, compared to 66.9%, 31.0%, and 97.9%, respectively, for the comparable 2010 period.  Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the year ended December 31, 2011 were 78.0%, 29.9%, and 107.9%, respectively, compared to 65.4%, 31.3%, and 96.7%, respectively, for the comparable 2010 period.  Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011 was $11.6 million and $36.7 million, respectively, compared to $15.3 million and $48.2 million, respectively, for the comparable 2010 periods.

 

Direct written premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 increased by $11.4 million, or 8.6%, to $144.8 million from $133.4 million for the comparable 2010 period.  Direct written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased by $44.3 million, or 7.3%, to $649.2 million from $604.9 million for the comparable 2010 period.  The 2011 increase occurred primarily in our personal automobile and homeowners business lines, which experienced increases of 3.5% and 3.9%, respectively, in average written premium per exposure and increases of 1.5% and 11.5%, respectively, in written exposures.

 

Net written premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 increased by $10.6 million, or 8.4%, to $136.8 million from $126.2 million for the comparable 2010 period.  Net written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased by $43.5 million, or 7.5%, to $620.3 million from $576.8 million for the comparable 2010 period.  Net earned premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 increased by $10.3 million, or 7.2%, to $153.8 million from $143.5 million for the comparable 2010 period.  Net earned premiums for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased by $46.4 million, or 8.4%, to $598.4 million from $552.0 million for the comparable 2010 period.  Net written and net earned premiums increased primarily due to the factors that increased direct written premiums.

 

Net investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 decreased by $0.3 million, or 3.1%, to $9.3 million from $9.6 million for the comparable 2010 period.  Net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2011 decreased by $2.3 million, or 5.6%, to $39.1 million from $41.4 million for the comparable 2010 period.  The 2011 decrease primarily resulted from lower short-term interest rates and ongoing maintenance of short duration to protect the portfolio from rising interest rates.  Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio decreased to 3.4% for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 from 3.6% for the comparable 2010 period.  Net effective annual yield

 



 

decreased to 3.6% for the year ended December 31, 2011 from 3.9% for the comparable 2010 period.  Our duration was 3.7 years at December 31, 2011, up from 3.4 years at December 31, 2010.

 

About Safety:  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. is the parent of Safety Insurance Company, Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, and Safety Property and Casualty Insurance Company which are Boston, MA, based writers of property and casualty insurance.  Safety is a leading writer of personal automobile insurance in Massachusetts.

 

Additional Information:  Press releases, announcements, U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Filings and investor information are available under “About Safety,” “Investor Information” on our Company website located at www.SafetyInsurance.com.  Safety filed its December 31, 2010 Form 10-K with the SEC on March 14, 2011 and urges shareholders to refer to this document for more complete information concerning Safety’s financial results.

 

Contacts:

Safety Insurance Group, Inc.
Office of Investor Relations
877-951-2522
InvestorRelations@SafetyInsurance.com

 

Cautionary Statement under “Safe Harbor” Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This press release contains, and Safety may from time to time make, written or oral “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws.  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 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 our 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 our industry and the possible adverse effects of such competition.  Although a number of national insurers that are much larger than we are do not currently compete in a material way in the Massachusetts private passenger automobile market, if one or more of these companies decided to aggressively enter the market it could have a material adverse effect on us.  Other significant factors include conditions for business operations and restrictive regulations in Massachusetts, the possibility of losses due to claims resulting from severe weather, the possibility that the Commissioner of Insurance may approve future Rule changes that change the operation of the residual market, our possible need for and availability of additional financing, and our dependence on strategic relationships, among others, and other risks and factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC, such as those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on March 14, 2011.

 

We are not under any obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.  You should carefully consider the possibility that actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking statements.

 



 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Securities available for sale:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,025,814 and $1,030,354)

 

$

1,079,967

 

$

1,063,237

 

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $20,431 and $13,704)

 

21,080

 

14,624

 

Other invested assets

 

7,701

 

2,817

 

Total investments

 

1,108,748

 

1,080,678

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

37,890

 

40,291

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

154,143

 

145,726

 

Accrued investment income

 

10,169

 

9,471

 

Taxes recoverable

 

8,406

 

5,061

 

Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

3,526

 

4,579

 

Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

51,774

 

53,147

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

14,022

 

12,461

 

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

56,716

 

52,824

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

3,643

 

Equity and deposits in pools

 

14,507

 

19,971

 

Other assets

 

12,665

 

11,600

 

Total assets

 

$

1,472,566

 

$

1,439,452

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

 

$

403,872

 

$

404,391

 

Unearned premium reserves

 

329,562

 

306,053

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

52,104

 

54,239

 

Payable to reinsurers

 

5,338

 

5,571

 

Deferred income taxes

 

3,014

 

 

Other liabilities

 

22,363

 

15,722

 

Total liabilities

 

816,253

 

785,976

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock: $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 16,915,432 and 16,795,504 shares issued

 

169

 

168

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

157,167

 

151,317

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes

 

35,621

 

21,972

 

Retained earnings

 

518,925

 

535,545

 

Treasury stock, at cost: 1,728,645 and 1,727,455 shares

 

(55,569

)

(55,526

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

656,313

 

653,476

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,472,566

 

$

1,439,452

 

 



 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,

 

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Net earned premiums

 

$

153,748

 

$

143,460

 

$

598,368

 

$

551,950

 

Net investment income

 

9,344

 

9,638

 

39,060

 

41,395

 

Net realized gains on investments

 

1,658

 

568

 

4,360

 

863

 

Finance and other service income

 

4,639

 

4,869

 

18,370

 

18,511

 

Total revenue

 

169,389

 

158,535

 

660,158

 

612,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

119,281

 

95,943

 

466,640

 

360,848

 

Underwriting, operating and related expenses

 

47,004

 

44,469

 

179,157

 

172,823

 

Interest expense

 

22

 

22

 

88

 

88

 

Total expenses

 

166,307

 

140,434

 

645,885

 

533,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

3,082

 

18,101

 

14,273

 

78,960

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(1,678

)

5,089

 

571

 

22,618

 

Net income

 

$

4,760

 

$

13,012

 

$

13,702

 

$

56,342

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per weighted average common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.31

 

$

0.86

 

$

0.90

 

$

3.74

 

Diluted

 

$

0.31

 

$

0.86

 

$

0.90

 

$

3.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.50

 

$

0.50

 

$

2.00

 

$

1.80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in computing earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

15,186,737

 

15,046,283

 

15,165,065

 

15,065,696

 

Diluted

 

15,195,845

 

15,067,428

 

15,176,006

 

15,084,295

 

 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Premium Information

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,

 

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Written Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

144,880

 

$

133,430

 

$

649,262

 

$

604,957

 

Assumed

 

4,709

 

4,181

 

16,521

 

13,738

 

Ceded

 

(12,832

)

(11,427

)

(45,467

)

(41,888

)

Net written premiums

 

$

136,757

 

$

126,184

 

$

620,316

 

$

576,807

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

160,900

 

$

150,436

 

$

626,483

 

$

580,942

 

Assumed

 

4,291

 

3,883

 

15,790

 

14,134

 

Ceded

 

(11,443

)

(10,859

)

(43,905

)

(43,126

)

Net earned premiums

 

$

153,748

 

$

143,460

 

$

598,368

 

$

551,950