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8-K - CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES - State National Companies, Inc.a15-11085_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACTS:

 

State National Companies, Inc.

David Hale, COO & CFO

817-265-2000

 

Dennard · Lascar Associates

Rick Black

713-529-6600

 

State National Companies Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

 

BEDFORD, TX — May 14, 2015 — State National Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNC) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

 

Total revenues in the first quarter of 2015 were $46.1 million, up 29.9 percent from $35.5 million in the first quarter of 2014.  Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, was $8.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2015, compared to adjusted net income of $4.9 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the same period in 2014.  Reported net income was also $8.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2015. See below for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures.

 

Financial Highlights - First Quarter 2015 Compared to the First Quarter 2014:

·                  Gross written premiums were $297.6 million, up 29.2 percent

·                  Premiums earned were $29.3 million, up 28.5 percent

·                  Ceding fees were $14.1 million, up 42.4 percent

·                  Adjusted net income was $8.7 million, up 77.6 percent

·                  Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.20 up from $0.14

 

Commenting on the quarter, State National’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Terry Ledbetter, stated, “We are excited to announce significant growth in the first quarter with adjusted net income increasing 78 percent, driven by growth in premiums earned in Lender Services and ceding fees in Program Services. We are optimistic about the positive trends in our business and are maintaining our 2015 growth outlook in both our Program and Lender Services segments.

 

“At State National, we simplify and expand access to insurance coverage for our clients and capacity providers.  In Lender Services, we provide high quality service and advanced technology to create process efficiency for our customers.  In Program Services, we provide fronting services that leverage our “A” (Excellent) A.M. Best rating with our expansive licenses and trusted reputation to provide access to the U.S. property and casualty insurance market in exchange for a ceding fee. The growth in both business segments is the direct result of our reputation as a trusted provider of customized insurance solutions and our ability to deliver superior customer service through quality programs.”

 

Program Services Segment

 

Our Program Services business provides fronting to general agents and insurance carriers that lack adequate ratings or licenses to provide access to the U.S. property and casualty insurance market in exchange for a ceding fee. State National issues the policy, and the reinsurer assumes the risk.

 



 

In the first quarter of 2015, total revenues from the Program Services segment were $14.1 million, an increase of $4.2 million, or 42.4 percent, from the first quarter of 2014.  The growth in revenues was driven by increased ceding fees, primarily the result of the rise in gross earned premiums related to the year over year increases totaling $1.5 million from two large programs and $1.9 million from the Nephila program.

 

Lender Services Segment

 

In Lender Services, our Collateral Protection Insurance, or CPI, business is fully vertically integrated and we manage all aspects of the CPI business for our clients, including policy issuance and administration, underwriting and claims. The Company differentiates itself from competitors by establishing long-term relationships with clients, leveraging its alliance with CUNA Mutual, and providing high-quality service and advanced technology to more than 600 customers and over 5.9 million loans.

 

In the first quarter of 2015, total revenues from the Lender Services segment were $30.0 million, an increase of $6.5 million, or 27.7 percent, from the first quarter of 2014.  Premiums earned increased by $6.5 million, or 28.5 percent, to $29.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 from $22.8 million in the first quarter of 2014.  Increases in Lender Services premiums from existing clients, new business and our CUNA Mutual agreement are being driven by overall growth in lenders’ portfolios as a result of  rising automobile sales, higher average automobile loan balances and increasing credit availability.  Our CUNA Mutual alliance continues to generate increases in premiums earned due to increased sales to credit unions and high account retention.

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses were $13.1 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $9.7 million in the same period last year, primarily a result of an increased loss ratio, increased retention for the business subject to the CUNA Mutual alliance and higher earned premiums.  The net loss ratio rose to 44.8 percent in the first quarter of 2015 from 42.8 percent in the first quarter of 2014.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2015 increased by $1.5 million, or 10.3 percent, to $16.1 million from $14.6 million in the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to an increase in direct personnel costs, including stock-based compensation expense, and employee health insurance. In addition, professional fees are higher due to costs associated with being a public company.

 

Balance Sheet

 

State National’s balance sheet reflects low financial leverage with $44.5 million of subordinated debentures.  The subordinated debentures have limited covenant requirements and are interest-only until the mid-2030s. The Company had only $6.5 million of goodwill and other intangibles at March 31, 2015.

 

State National’s investment portfolio is primarily comprised of fixed income securities, the majority of which have investment grade ratings with short duration of approximately four years and are laddered to allow for new funds to reinvest annually as rates change.  Most of the Company’s reserves are ceded to reinsurers.

 

2015 Outlook

 

We maintain our Outlook for 2015 in our Lender and Program Services operating businesses.

 

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In Lender Services, we expect our strong sales and marketing efforts coupled with the ongoing success of our relationship with CUNA Mutual to continue to drive growth.  The trend of rising automobile sales, higher average automobile loan balances and increasing credit availability should also contribute to organic growth in 2015.  Based on these factors, we expect net earned premiums in 2015 to be in the range of $120 million to $130 million, up from $96.7 million in 2014, with an expected combined ratio of 85 to 90 percent.

 

In Program Services, increased capital in the property and casualty insurance market, including the increased role of alternative capital markets in reinsurance, and the growth of offshore markets generally should drive demand for our services, as many of these firms do not have direct access to the U.S. market.  We have a robust pipeline that is partially a result of new dedicated business development staff that was added in the summer of 2014, calling directly on general agents.  In 2015, we expect fees for Program Services to be in the range of $55 million to $60 million.  Included in this projection is our expectation of fees from Meadowbrook and Nephila, each of which is expected to contribute $10 million to $13 million in fees.

 

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

 

This press release includes certain financial measures that have been adjusted for items impacting comparability.  The accompanying information provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures such as net income, earnings per share, return on equity or any other GAAP measure of liquidity or financial performance.

 

Adjusted net income is considered a non-GAAP financial measure because it reflects the following adjustments, as applicable, to net income, which is the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP:  the pro forma provision for income taxes as if the Company had been treated as a C Corporation for each period presented, and the exclusion (net of tax benefit) of the increase in the Company’s deferred tax asset as a result of the conversion to C Corporation status, the amount of founder special compensation and the non-recurring offering-related expenses and contract modification expense related to the amendment to our alliance agreement with CUNA Mutual.  Management believes this measure is helpful to investors because it provides comparability in evaluating core financial performance between periods.

 

Adjusted Net Income

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted net income

 

$

8,674

 

$

4,893

 

Reconciliation of adjusted net income:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

8,674

 

$

(3,400

)

Plus: Provision for income taxes to reflect change to C corporation status (2)

 

 

2,160

 

Plus: Founder special compensation (1) (3)

 

 

6,133

 

Adjusted net income

 

$

8,674

 

$

4,893

 

 

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Adjusted Earnings Per Share

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.20

 

$

0.14

 

Reconciliation of adjusted diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

0.20

 

$

(0.10

)

Plus: Provision for income taxes to reflect change to C corporation status (2)

 

 

0.06

 

Plus: Founder special compensation (1) (3)

 

 

0.18

 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.20

 

$

0.14

 

 


(1)          During the periods presented, we made special compensation payments to our co-founders and principal executive officers, Lonnie Ledbetter and Terry Ledbetter in recognition of their service to our Company.  We refer to these payments as “founder special compensation.”  Following the completion of the private placement, we ceased paying founder special compensation.

 

(2)          Upon the completion of the private placement, our parent company’s status as a Subchapter S corporation terminated and our consolidated income became fully subject to U.S. federal income taxes.  This adjustment represents estimated income taxes as if the Company had been treated as a C Corporation for each period presented.

 

(3)          Founder special compensation is shown net of estimated statutory federal and state income taxes for each period presented.

 

Conference Call

 

State National will host a conference tomorrow morning, May 15, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time) to discuss its first quarter 2015 results. To access the call live, dial (716) 247-5810 and use the passcode 25899422# at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Alternatively, investors can listen live over the Internet by visiting the Company’s website at http://ir.statenational.com/. For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through May 22, 2015 and may be accessed by calling (404) 537-3406 and using pass code 25899422#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available after the call for a period of 90 days on the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at http://www.statenational.com/.

 

About State National Companies, Inc.

 

State National Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNC) is a leading specialty provider of property and casualty insurance operating in two niche markets across the United States. In its Program Services segment, the Company leverages its “A” (Excellent) A.M. Best rating, expansive licenses and reputation to provide access to the U.S. property and casualty insurance market in exchange for a ceding fee. In its Lender Services segment, the company specializes in providing collateral protection insurance, which insures personal automobiles and other vehicles held as collateral for loans made by credit unions, banks and specialty finance companies. To learn more, please visit www.statenational.com.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Various statements contained in this press release, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and our future production, revenues, income and capital spending. Our forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, accompanied by words such as “estimate,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “would,” “will,” “may,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “could,” “continue,” “intend” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control.

 

Examples of forward-looking statements include the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including those relating to future growth of our business, and are based on current expectations that involve assumptions that are difficult or

 

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impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. There can be no assurance that actual developments will be those anticipated by us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements as a result of significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to recover from our capacity providers, the cost and availability of reinsurance coverage, challenges to our use of issuing carrier or fronting arrangements by regulators or changes in state or federal insurance or other statutes or regulations, our dependence on a limited number of business partners, potential regulatory scrutiny of lender-placed automobile insurance, level of new car sales, availability of credit for vehicle purchases and other factors affecting automobile financing, our ability to compete effectively, a downgrade in the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries, our ability to accurately underwrite and price our products and to maintain and establish accurate loss reserves, changes in interest rates or other changes in the financial markets, the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues, changes in the demand for our products, the effect of general economic conditions, breaches in data security or other disruptions with our technology, and changes in pricing  or other competitive environments.

 

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and State National Companies cautions readers that various factors could cause its actual financial and operational results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements made from time-to-time in news releases, reports, proxy statements, registration statements, and other written communications, as well as oral statements made from time to time by representatives of State National Companies. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.   The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

 

5



 

STATE NATIONAL COMPANIES, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

($ in thousands, except for share and per share information)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities — available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost — $310,676, $305,019, respectively)

 

$

318,445

 

$

309,911

 

Equity securities — available-for-sale, at fair value (cost — $1,967, $1,419, respectively)

 

3,171

 

2,642

 

Total investments

 

321,616

 

312,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

31,239

 

38,348

 

Restricted cash and investments

 

3,716

 

6,597

 

Accounts receivable from agents, net

 

23,295

 

18,528

 

Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses

 

948

 

1,200

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

921

 

1,036

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

1,711,956

 

1,656,534

 

Property and equipment, net (includes land held for sale — $1,034, $1,034, respectively)

 

18,020

 

18,397

 

Interest receivable

 

1,829

 

1,795

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

23,037

 

23,864

 

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

 

6,502

 

6,683

 

Other assets

 

5,992

 

6,229

 

Total assets

 

$

2,149,071

 

$

2,091,764

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

$

1,235,049

 

$

1,209,905

 

Unearned premiums

 

508,931

 

480,124

 

Allowance for policy cancellations

 

50,428

 

55,500

 

Deferred ceding fees

 

25,401

 

23,612

 

Accounts payable to agents

 

2,071

 

2,448

 

Accounts payable to insurance companies

 

2,386

 

4,399

 

Subordinated debentures

 

44,500

 

44,500

 

Income taxes payable

 

700

 

1,762

 

Other liabilities

 

27,877

 

28,642

 

Total liabilities

 

1,897,343

 

1,850,892

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.001 par value (150,000,000 shares authorized; 44,477,162 and 44,247,102 shares issued at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively)

 

44

 

44

 

Preferred stock, $.001 par value (10,000,000 authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014)

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

221,343

 

220,577

 

Retained earnings

 

24,340

 

16,108

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

6,001

 

4,143

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

251,728

 

240,872

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

2,149,071

 

$

2,091,764

 

 

6



 

STATE NATIONAL COMPANIES, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 ($ in thousands, except for per share information)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

29,284

 

$

22,786

 

Commission income

 

370

 

417

 

Ceding fees

 

14,144

 

9,902

 

Net investment income

 

1,681

 

1,112

 

Realized net investment gains

 

265

 

400

 

Other income

 

385

 

910

 

Total revenues

 

46,129

 

35,527

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

13,533

 

9,996

 

Commissions

 

1,497

 

836

 

Taxes, licenses, and fees

 

712

 

605

 

General and administrative

 

16,142

 

14,577

 

Founder special compensation

 

 

11,203

 

Interest expense

 

500

 

574

 

Total expenses

 

32,384

 

37,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

13,745

 

(2,264

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

Current tax expense

 

5,244

 

1,678

 

Deferred tax benefit

 

(173

)

(542

)

 

 

5,071

 

1,136

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

8,674

 

$

(3,400

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.20

 

$

(0.10

)

Diluted earnings per share

 

0.20

 

(0.10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends, per share

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.34

 

 

7



 

Program Services Segment — Results of Operations

Unaudited

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

(11

)

$

(16

)

Ceding fees

 

14,144

 

9,902

 

Total revenues

 

14,133

 

9,886

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

414

 

247

 

Commissions

 

 

(5

)

Taxes, licenses, and fees

 

5

 

6

 

General and administrative

 

3,133

 

2,856

 

Total expenses

 

3,552

 

3,104

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

10,581

 

$

6,782

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program gross expense ratio

 

1.2

%

1.4

%

Gross premiums written

 

$

264,912

 

$

204,158

 

Gross premiums earned

 

$

232,933

 

$

175,103

 

 

8



 

Lender Services Segment — Results of Operations

Unaudited

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

29,295

 

$

22,802

 

Commission income

 

370

 

417

 

Other income

 

351

 

311

 

Total revenues

 

30,016

 

23,530

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

13,119

 

9,749

 

Commissions

 

1,497

 

841

 

Taxes, licenses, and fees

 

707

 

599

 

General and administrative

 

10,173

 

10,197

 

Total expenses

 

25,496

 

21,386

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

4,520

 

$

2,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss ratio

 

44.8

%

42.8

%

Net expense ratio

 

42.2

%

51.0

%

Net combined ratio

 

87.0

%

93.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written

 

$

32,649

 

$

26,110

 

Net premiums written

 

$

26,882

 

$

19,368

 

 

9



 

Corporate Segment — Results of Operations

Unaudited

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

$

1,681

 

$

1,112

 

Realized net investment gains

 

265

 

400

 

Other income

 

34

 

599

 

Total revenues

 

1,980

 

2,111

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

2,836

 

1,524

 

Founder special compensation

 

 

11,203

 

Interest expense

 

500

 

574

 

Total expenses

 

3,336

 

13,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

(1,356

)

(11,190

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

5,071

 

1,136

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(6,427

)

$

(12,326

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted pre-tax income (loss)

 

$

(1,356

)

$

13

 

Reconciliation of adjusted pre-tax income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax income (loss)

 

$

(1,356

)

$

(11,190

)

Plus: Founder special compensation (1)

 

 

11,203

 

Adjusted pre-tax income (loss)

 

$

(1,356

)

$

13

 

 


(1) During the periods presented, we made special compensation payments to our co-founders and principal executive officers, Lonnie Ledbetter and Terry Ledbetter in recognition of their service to our Company.  We refer to these payments as “founder special compensation.”  Following the completion of the private placement, we ceased paying founder special compensation.

 

###

 

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