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8-K - 8-K - SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP INCa13-23448_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

 

SAFETY ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2013 RESULTS AND DECLARES FOURTH QUARTER 2013 DIVIDEND

 

Boston, Massachusetts, November 4, 2013.  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported third quarter 2013 results.  Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 was $17.7 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, compared to net income of $14.3 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, for the comparable 2012 period.  Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $49.7 million, or $3.23 per diluted share, compared to $48.5 million, or $3.17 per diluted share, for the comparable 2012 period.  Safety’s book value per share decreased to $45.07 at September 30, 2013 from $45.31 at December 31, 2012 primarily due to a decrease in net unrealized investment gains.  Safety paid $0.60 per share in dividends to investors during both the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.  Safety paid $2.20 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

Direct written premiums for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 increased by $7.6 million, or 4.3%, to $186.6 million from $179.0 million for the comparable 2012 period.  Direct written premiums for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 increased by $30.0 million, or 5.5%, to $571.1 million from $541.1 million for the comparable 2012 period.  The increase for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 from the comparable 2012 period occurred primarily in our homeowners and commercial automobile business lines, which experienced increases of 5.2% and 3.5%, respectively, in average written premium per exposure and increases of 5.6% and 11.4%, respectively, in written exposures.  The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 from the comparable 2012 period occurred primarily in our homeowners, commercial automobile, and personal automobile business lines, which experienced increases of 5.6%, 2.1%, and 3.0%, respectively, in average written premium per exposure, increases of 5.5% and 12.2% in written exposures in our homeowners and commercial automobile business lines, respectively, and a slight decrease of 0.3% in written exposures in our personal automobile business line.

 

Net written premiums for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 increased by $6.0 million, or 3.5%, to $177.7 million from $171.7 million for the comparable 2012 period.  Net written premiums for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 increased by $28.3 million, or 5.5%, to $546.3 million from $518.0 million for the comparable 2012 period.  Net written premiums increased primarily due to increases in direct written premiums in our homeowners, commercial automobile, and personal automobile business lines as discussed above.

 

Net earned premiums for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 increased by $9.7 million, or 6.0%, to $172.2 million from $162.5 million for the comparable 2012 period.  Net earned premiums for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 increased by $31.1 million, or 6.5%, to $508.2 million from $477.1 million for the comparable 2012 period.  Net earned premiums increased primarily due to increases in direct written premiums in our personal automobile and homeowners business lines as discussed above.

 

Net investment income for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 decreased by $0.1 million, or 1.2%, to $10.0 million from $10.1 million for the comparable 2012 period.  Net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 decreased by $0.4 million, or 1.4%, to $30.1 million from $30.5 million for the comparable 2012 period.  Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio decreased to 3.4% and 3.5%, respectively, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2013 from 3.6% and 3.7%, respectively, for the comparable 2012 periods.  Our duration was 3.8 years at September 30, 2013, up from 3.6 years at December 31, 2012.

 



 

For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $2.8 million, or 2.6%, to $109.2 million from $106.4 million for the comparable 2012 period.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $21.1 million, or 6.9%, to $328.3 million from $307.2 million for the comparable 2012 period.  Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 were 63.4%, 30.7%, and 94.1%, respectively, compared to 65.5%, 30.8%, and 96.3%, respectively, for the comparable 2012 period.  Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were 64.6%, 30.4%, and 95.0%, respectively, compared to 64.4%, 30.7%, and 95.1%, respectively, for the comparable 2012 period.  Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $7.4 million and $21.8 million, respectively, compared to $4.3 million and $11.9 million, respectively, for the comparable 2012 periods.

 

Today, our Board of Directors approved and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.60 per share on the issued and outstanding common stock, payable on December 13, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2013. The Board of Directors today also increased Safety’s existing share repurchase program by authorizing repurchase of an additional $60.0 million of Safety’s outstanding common shares.  Previously, the Board of Directors had authorized up to $90.0 million under the program.  Safety has previously purchased $60.4 million of its common shares on the open market under the program.

 

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, 2012 Form 10-K with the SEC on March 18, 2013 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, 2012 filed with the SEC on March 18, 2013.

 

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)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Securities available for sale:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,100,077 and $1,100,414)

 

$

1,124,982

 

$

1,165,553

 

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $52,879 and $21,237)

 

57,362

 

22,800

 

Total investments

 

1,182,344

 

1,188,353

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

38,305

 

35,383

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

185,546

 

165,750

 

Receivable for securities sold

 

3,441

 

835

 

Accrued investment income

 

10,251

 

10,587

 

Taxes recoverable

 

151

 

5,529

 

Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

12,092

 

6,610

 

Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

58,568

 

52,185

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

17,226

 

16,206

 

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

67,088

 

60,665

 

Deferred income taxes

 

4,207

 

 

Equity and deposits in pools

 

19,550

 

16,965

 

Other assets

 

15,268

 

15,278

 

Total assets

 

$

1,614,037

 

$

1,574,346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

 

$

438,496

 

$

423,842

 

Unearned premium reserves

 

392,265

 

353,219

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

51,246

 

65,458

 

Payable for securities purchased

 

11,277

 

2,630

 

Payable to reinsurers

 

17,674

 

7,056

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

8,202

 

Other liabilities

 

9,638

 

19,580

 

Total liabilities

 

920,596

 

879,987

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock: $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 17,205,134 and 17,052,034 shares issued

 

172

 

170

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

169,154

 

163,041

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes

 

19,103

 

43,356

 

Retained earnings

 

565,380

 

543,361

 

Treasury stock, at cost: 1,819,547 and 1,728,645 shares

 

(60,368

)

(55,569

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

693,441

 

694,359

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,614,037

 

$

1,574,346

 

 



 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Net earned premiums

 

$

172,246

 

$

162,493

 

$

508,235

 

$

477,099

 

Net investment income

 

10,023

 

10,142

 

30,137

 

30,551

 

Net realized gains on investments

 

657

 

153

 

1,199

 

1,226

 

Finance and other service income

 

4,768

 

4,743

 

13,920

 

13,769

 

Total revenue

 

187,694

 

177,531

 

553,491

 

522,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

109,183

 

106,445

 

328,304

 

307,184

 

Underwriting, operating and related expenses

 

52,940

 

50,054

 

154,505

 

146,602

 

Interest expense

 

23

 

22

 

66

 

66

 

Total expenses

 

162,146

 

156,521

 

482,875

 

453,852

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

25,548

 

21,010

 

70,616

 

68,793

 

Income tax expense

 

7,892

 

6,676

 

20,917

 

20,294

 

Net income

 

$

17,656

 

$

14,334

 

$

49,699

 

$

48,499

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per weighted average common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1.15

 

$

0.94

 

$

3.24

 

$

3.17

 

Diluted

 

$

1.14

 

$

0.94

 

$

3.23

 

$

3.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.60

 

$

0.60

 

$

1.80

 

$

1.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in computing earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

15,369,285

 

15,312,178

 

15,355,623

 

15,277,560

 

Diluted

 

15,429,809

 

15,319,885

 

15,395,434

 

15,284,400

 

 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Premium Information

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Written Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

186,627

 

$

179,007

 

$

571,056

 

$

541,090

 

Assumed

 

4,163

 

4,505

 

15,426

 

13,234

 

Ceded

 

(13,066

)

(11,820

)

(40,221

)

(36,341

)

Net written premiums

 

$

177,724

 

$

171,692

 

$

546,261

 

$

517,983

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

181,188

 

$

170,616

 

$

533,023

 

$

499,890

 

Assumed

 

4,647

 

4,139

 

14,412

 

12,560

 

Ceded

 

(13,589

)

(12,262

)

(39,200

)

(35,351

)

Net earned premiums

 

$

172,246

 

$

162,493

 

$

508,235

 

$

477,099