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8-K - 8-K - SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP INCsaft-20160223x8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

Safety_logo_468x102_300dpi

 

SAFETY ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END 2015 RESULTS

 

Boston, Massachusetts, February 23, 2016.  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported fourth quarter 2015 results.  Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 was $10.3 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, compared to net income of $10.4 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, for the comparable 2014 period.  Net loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 was $13.9 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, compared to net income of $59.4 million, or $3.91 per diluted share, for the comparable 2014 period.  Safety’s book value per share decreased to $42.70 at December 31, 2015 from $47.19 at December 31, 2014.  Safety paid $0.70 per share in dividends to investors during the quarters ended December 31, 2015 and December 31,  2014,  respectively.  Safety paid $2.80 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31,  2015 compared to $2.60 per share during the comparable 2014 period.

Direct written premiums for the quarter ended December 31,  2015 increased  by $5.0 million, or 3.0%, to $173.4 million from $168.4 million for the comparable 2014 period. Direct written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased by $20.0 million, or 2.6%, to $785.7 million from $765.7 million for the comparable 2014 period. The 2015 increase occurred primarily in our commercial automobile and homeowners lines of business, which experienced increases in average written premium per exposure of 6.1% and 3.2%, respectively. Written exposures increased in our commercial automobile and our homeowners lines of business by 5.8% and 2.4%, respectively.

Net written premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 increased by $2.7 million, or 1.7%, to $162.5 million from $159.8 million for the comparable 2014 period. Net written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased by $11.3 million, or 1.5%, to $746.2 million from $734.9 million for the comparable 2014 period.    Net earned premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 increased by $4.1 million, or 2.2%, to $186.6 million from $182.5 million for the comparable 2014 period.  Net earned premiums for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased by $21.3 million, or 3.0%, to $738.2 million from $716.9 million for the comparable 2014 period. Net earned premiums increased primarily due to increases in our commercial automobile and homeowners business lines as discussed above.

Net investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 decreased by $1.3 million to $9.7 million compared to $11.0 million for the 2014 period. The decrease in net investment income is a result of a reduction in the fixed maturities balance due to claims paid during 2015.  Net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased by $1.8 million, or 4.2%, to  $40.5 million from  $42.3 million for the comparable 2014 period.   Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2015 was 3.2% and 3.3%, respectively, compared to 3.6% and 3.5% for the comparable 2014 period.  The investment portfolio’s duration was 4.1 years at December 31, 2015 and 3.8 years at December 31, 2014.  

For the quarter ended December 31, 2015, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $1.1 million, or 0.9%, to $128.3 million from $127.2 million for the comparable 2014.  For the year ended December 31, 2015, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $136.2 million, or 28.6%, to $612.6 million from $476.4 million for the comparable 2014 period due to winter snowfall catastrophe losses previously reported in 2015.


 

Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the quarter ended December 31,  2015 were 68.8%,  30.0%, and 98.8%, respectively, compared to 69.7%,  31.1%, and 100.8%, respectively, for the comparable 2014 period.  Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the year ended December 31, 2015 were 83.0%,  29.0%, and 112.0%, respectively, compared to 66.5%,  30.6%, and 97.1%, respectively, for the comparable 2014 period.  Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31,  2015 was $10.5 million and $30.3  million, respectively, compared to $8.0 million and $37.4 million, respectively, for the comparable 2014 periods.

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,  2014 Form 10-K with the SEC on March 2, 2015 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, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 2, 2015.

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, 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities available for sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,063,971 and $1,102,517)

 

$

1,081,637

 

$

1,135,451

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $102,541 and $97,910)

 

 

110,204

 

 

109,153

Other invested assets

 

 

17,602

 

 

11,657

Total investments

 

 

1,209,443

 

 

1,256,261

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

47,494

 

 

42,455

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

178,567

 

 

175,532

Receivable for securities sold

 

 

260

 

 

 —

Accrued investment income

 

 

8,922

 

 

10,295

Taxes recoverable

 

 

15,497

 

 

 —

Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

40,972

 

 

6,267

Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

68,261

 

 

61,245

Ceded unearned premiums

 

 

23,222

 

 

19,638

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

 

68,937

 

 

67,329

Deferred income taxes

 

 

4,430

 

 

 —

Equity and deposits in pools

 

 

23,558

 

 

23,159

Other assets

 

 

14,306

 

 

13,538

Total assets

 

$

1,703,869

 

$

1,675,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

 

$

553,977

 

$

482,012

Unearned premium reserves

 

 

401,961

 

 

390,361

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

53,722

 

 

65,863

Payable for securities purchased

 

 

8,607

 

 

4,591

Payable to reinsurers

 

 

11,547

 

 

7,653

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 —

 

 

1,614

Taxes payable

 

 

 —

 

 

265

Other liabilities

 

 

29,556

 

 

15,077

Total liabilities

 

 

1,059,370

 

 

967,436

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock:  $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 17,373,643 and 17,288,728 shares issued

 

 

174

 

 

173

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

179,896

 

 

175,583

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes

 

 

16,464

 

 

28,715

Retained earnings

 

 

531,800

 

 

587,647

Treasury stock, at cost: 2,279,570 shares

 

 

(83,835)

 

 

(83,835)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

644,499

 

 

708,283

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,703,869

 

$

1,675,719


 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended December 31, 

    

Year Ended December 31, 

 

    

2015

    

2014

 

2015

    

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earned premiums

 

$

186,571

 

$

182,478

 

$

738,164

 

$

716,875

Net investment income

 

 

9,710

 

 

11,012

 

 

40,534

 

 

42,303

Earnings from partnership investments

 

 

951

 

 

878

 

 

2,387

 

 

878

Net realized (losses) gains on investments

 

 

(397)

 

 

(486)

 

 

(469)

 

 

197

Net impairment losses on investments (a)

 

 

(362)

 

 

 —

 

 

(796)

 

 

 —

Finance and other service income

 

 

4,569

 

 

4,763

 

 

18,133

 

 

18,544

Total revenue

 

 

201,042

 

 

198,645

 

 

797,953

 

 

778,797

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

128,288

 

 

127,186

 

 

612,569

 

 

476,366

Underwriting, operating and related expenses

 

 

56,020

 

 

56,820

 

 

213,939

 

 

219,023

Interest expense

 

 

23

 

 

23

 

 

90

 

 

90

Total expenses

 

 

184,331

 

 

184,029

 

 

826,598

 

 

695,479

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

 

16,711

 

 

14,616

 

 

(28,645)

 

 

83,318

Income tax (credit) expense

 

 

6,421

 

 

4,246

 

 

(14,792)

 

 

23,964

Net (loss) income

 

$

10,290

 

$

10,370

 

$

(13,853)

 

$

59,354

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings per weighted average common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.69

 

$

0.69

 

$

(0.93)

 

$

3.93

Diluted

 

$

0.69

 

$

0.69

 

$

(0.93)

 

$

3.91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.70

 

$

0.70

 

$

2.80

 

$

2.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in computing (loss) earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

14,881,666

 

 

14,807,823

 

 

14,866,607

 

 

14,963,047

Diluted

 

 

14,902,596

 

 

14,917,810

 

 

14,866,607

 

 

15,052,745

(a) No portion of the other-than-temporary impairments recognized in the periods were included in other comprehensive income.

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Premium Information

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended  December 31, 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 

 

 

    

2015

    

2014

    

2015

    

2014

 

Written Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

173,370

 

$

168,359

 

$

785,730

 

$

765,685

 

Assumed

 

 

7,185

 

 

6,403

 

 

28,322

 

 

25,602

 

Ceded

 

 

(18,042)

 

 

(15,024)

 

 

(67,872)

 

 

(56,373)

 

Net written premiums

 

$

162,513

 

$

159,738

 

$

746,180

 

$

734,914

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

196,815

 

$

190,427

 

$

776,633

 

$

747,786

 

Assumed

 

 

6,789

 

 

5,879

 

 

25,819

 

 

23,724

 

Ceded

 

 

(17,033)

 

 

(13,828)

 

 

(64,288)

 

 

(54,635)

 

Net earned premiums

 

$

186,571

 

$

182,478

 

$

738,164

 

$

716,875