Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP INCc052-20180801x8k.htm

 Exhibit 99.1

Safety_logo_468x102_300dpi

 

SAFETY ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 2018 RESULTS AND DECLARES THIRD QUARTER 2018 DIVIDEND

Boston, Massachusetts, August 1, 2018.  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported second quarter 2018 results. Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $26.8 million, or $1.75 per diluted share, compared to net income of $21.1 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, for the comparable 2017 period. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $35.9 million, or $2.35 per diluted share, compared to net income of $33.1 million, or $2.18 per diluted share, for the comparable 2017 period. Non-generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) operating income, as defined below, for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $1.81 per diluted share, compared to $1.37 per diluted share, for the comparable 2017 period. Non-GAAP operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $2.52 per diluted share, compared to $2.09 per diluted share, for the comparable 2017 period due to a decline in net unrealized gains. Safety’s book value per share decreased to $45.56 at June 30, 2018 from $46.06 at December 31, 2017.  Safety paid $0.80 and $0.70 per share in dividends to investors during the quarters ended June 30, 2018 and 2017,  respectively. Safety paid $3.00 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31, 2017.

Direct written premiums for the quarter ended June 30,  2018 increased  by $6.0 million, or 2.6%, to $233.0 million from $227.0 million for the comparable 2017 period. Direct written premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $10.1 million, or 2.4%, to $436.8 million from $426.7 million for the comparable 2017 period. The 2018 increase occurred primarily in our commercial automobile and homeowners lines of business. 

Net written premiums for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 increased by $1.7 million, or 0.8%, to $215.5 million from $213.8 million for the comparable 2017 period. Net written premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $0.8 million, or 0.2%, to $405.5 million from $404.7 million for the comparable 2017 period. Net earned premiums for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 increased by $1.3 million, or 0.7%, to $194.1 million from $192.8 million for the comparable 2017 period.  Net earned premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $3.6 million, or 0.9%, to $386.1 million from $382.5 million for the comparable 2017 period. Net written and net earned premiums increased primarily due to increases in our commercial automobile and homeowners business as discussed above.

For the quarter ended June 30,  2018, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred decreased by $3.8 million, or  3.3%, to $113.2 million from $117.0 million for the comparable 2017 period. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $5.4 million, or 2.2%, to $250.9 million from $245.5 million for the comparable 2017 period. Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the quarter ended June 30,  2018 were 58.3%,  31.7%, and 90.0%, respectively, compared to 60.7%,  31.6%, and 92.3%, respectively, for the comparable 2017 period. Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were 65.0%,  31.7%, and 96.7%, respectively, compared to 64.2%,  31.5%, and 95.7%, respectively, for the comparable 2017 period. Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $12.1 million compared to $10.0 million for the comparable 2017 period. Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $26.3 million compared to $20.4 million for the comparable 2017 period.


 

Net investment income for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 increased by $0.5 million, or 4.9%, to $10.2 million from $9.7 million for the comparable 2017 period.  Net investment income for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $1.9 million, or 10.1%, to $20.7 million from $18.8 million for the comparable 2017 period. The increase is a result of fixed maturity amortization and an increase in the average invested asset balance compared to the prior year.    Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was 3.2% compared to 3.1% for the comparable 2017 period. Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was 3.2% compared to 3.0% for the comparable 2017 period.  Our duration was 3.9 years at June 30, 2018 compared to 3.7 years at December 31, 2017.

Today,  our Board of Directors approved a $0.80 per share quarterly cash dividend on its issued and outstanding common stock payable on September  14, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 4, 2018.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Standard

As disclosed in Safety’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, accounting guidance for financial instruments changed in 2018 under ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. We adopted this accounting standard update, effective January 1, 2018, using a cumulative-effect adjustment. This adjustment moved the historical unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, on the equity portfolio from accumulated other comprehensive earnings to retained earnings, but had no impact on overall shareholders’ equity. In addition, for 2018 and forward, the change in fair value for equity securities is required to be recognized through net income rather than through other comprehensive income. As defined below, we exclude these unrealized gains and losses in arriving at non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating income per diluted share. For the quarter ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $2.7 million for the change in unrealized gains  was recognized within income before income taxes and the income tax expense was reduced by $0.6 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $6.2 million for the change in unrealized gains was recognized within income before income taxes and the income tax expense was reduced by $1.3 million.

Non-GAAP Measures

Management has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in presenting the Company’s results. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures better explain the Company’s results of operations and allow for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in the Company’s business. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). In addition, our definitions of these items may not be comparable to the definitions used by other companies.

Non-GAAP operating income and operating income per diluted share consist of our GAAP net income adjusted by the net realized gains (losses), net impairment losses on investments, change in net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities and taxes related thereto. The adjustment for net unrealized losses on equity securities is only applicable for 2018 due to the adoption of the above mentioned accounting standard update. Net income and earnings per diluted share are the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to operating income and operating income per diluted share, respectively. A reconciliation of the GAAP financial measures to these non-GAAP measures is included in the 2018 financial highlights below.

 

About Safety:  Safety Insurance Group, Inc., based in Boston, MA, is the parent of Safety Insurance Company, Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, and Safety Property and Casualty Insurance Company.  Operating exclusively in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, Safety is a leading writer of property and casualty insurance products, including private passenger automobile, commercial automobile, homeowners, dwelling fire, umbrella and business owner policies. 


 

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,  2017 Form 10-K with the SEC on February 28,  2018 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,  2017 filed with the SEC on February 28,  2018.

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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

June 30, 

    

December 31, 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,153,613 and $1,156,697)

 

$

1,145,335

 

$

1,172,026

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $119,571 and $90,481)

 

 

134,764

 

 

111,867

Other invested assets

 

 

23,074

 

 

23,162

Total investments

 

 

1,303,173

 

 

1,307,055

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

18,722

 

 

41,708

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

209,468

 

 

190,649

Receivable for securities sold

 

 

2,673

 

 

1,380

Accrued investment income

 

 

8,847

 

 

8,876

Taxes recoverable

 

 

2,735

 

 

908

Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

24,073

 

 

24,776

Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

96,577

 

 

83,085

Ceded unearned premiums

 

 

36,950

 

 

32,175

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

 

75,223

 

 

72,202

Deferred income taxes

 

 

2,307

 

 

 —

Equity and deposits in pools

 

 

29,699

 

 

28,246

Other assets

 

 

19,879

 

 

16,219

Total assets

 

$

1,830,326

 

$

1,807,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

 

$

579,791

 

$

574,054

Unearned premium reserves

 

 

452,402

 

 

428,257

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

53,269

 

 

60,701

Payable for securities purchased

 

 

7,226

 

 

4,188

Payable to reinsurers

 

 

22,361

 

 

13,801

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 —

 

 

2,917

Other liabilities

 

 

18,809

 

 

22,345

Total liabilities

 

 

1,133,858

 

 

1,106,263

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock:  $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 17,566,461 and 17,499,544 shares issued

 

 

176

 

 

175

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

192,495

 

 

189,714

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes

 

 

(6,540)

 

 

24,269

Retained earnings

 

 

594,172

 

 

570,693

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

 

 

(83,835)

 

 

(83,835)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

696,468

 

 

701,016

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,830,326

 

$

1,807,279

 


 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended  June 30, 

    

Six Months Ended June 30, 

 

    

2018

    

2017

 

2018

    

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earned premiums

 

$

194,125

 

$

192,824

 

$

386,158

 

$

382,535

Net investment income

 

 

10,188

 

 

9,715

 

 

20,719

 

 

18,810

Earnings from partnership investments

 

 

487

 

 

769

 

 

5,351

 

 

882

Net realized gains on investments

 

 

1,589

 

 

567

 

 

2,895

 

 

2,109

Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments

 

 

(2,711)

 

 

 —

 

 

(6,193)

 

 

 —

Finance and other service income

 

 

4,292

 

 

4,374

 

 

8,759

 

 

8,683

Total revenue

 

 

207,970

 

 

208,249

 

 

417,689

 

 

413,019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

113,227

 

 

117,049

 

 

250,871

 

 

245,479

Underwriting, operating and related expenses

 

 

61,573

 

 

60,979

 

 

122,429

 

 

120,649

Interest expense

 

 

23

 

 

23

 

 

45

 

 

45

Total expenses

 

 

174,823

 

 

178,051

 

 

373,345

 

 

366,173

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

33,147

 

 

30,198

 

 

44,344

 

 

46,846

Income tax expense

 

 

6,331

 

 

9,093

 

 

8,403

 

 

13,722

Net income

 

$

26,816

 

$

21,105

 

$

35,941

 

$

33,124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per weighted average common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1.77

 

$

1.40

 

$

2.37

 

$

2.19

Diluted

 

$

1.75

 

$

1.39

 

$

2.35

 

$

2.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.80

 

$

0.70

 

$

1.60

 

$

1.40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in computing earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

15,090,435

 

 

15,020,028

 

 

15,068,321

 

 

15,000,127

Diluted

 

 

15,213,414

 

 

15,114,284

 

 

15,202,338

 

 

15,105,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of  Net Income to Non-GAAP  Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

26,816

 

$

21,105

 

$

35,941

 

$

33,124

Exclusions from net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Net realized gains on investments

 

 

(1,589)

 

 

(567)

 

 

(2,895)

 

 

(2,109)

 Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments

 

 

2,711

 

 

 -

 

 

6,193

 

 

 -

 Income tax (expense) benefit

 

 

(236)

 

 

198

 

 

(693)

 

 

738

Non-GAAP operating income

 

$

27,702

 

$

20,736

 

$

38,546

 

$

31,753

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per diluted share

 

$

1.75

 

$

1.39

 

$

2.35

 

$

2.18

Exclusions from net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Net realized gains on investments

 

 

(0.10)

 

 

(0.04)

 

 

(0.19)

 

 

(0.14)

 Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments

 

 

0.18

 

 

 -

 

 

0.41

 

 

 -

 Income tax (expense) benefit

 

 

(0.02)

 

 

0.02

 

 

(0.05)

 

 

0.05

Non-GAAP operating income per diluted share

 

$

1.81

 

$

1.37

 

$

2.52

 

$

2.09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Premium Information

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended  June 30, 

 

 

Six Months Ended  June 30, 

 

    

2018

    

2017

    

2018

    

2017

Written Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

233,050

 

$

227,048

 

$

436,783

 

$

426,714

Assumed

 

 

8,297

 

 

8,443

 

 

16,245

 

 

17,035

Ceded

 

 

(25,832)

 

 

(21,675)

 

 

(47,500)

 

 

(39,063)

Net written premiums

 

$

215,515

 

$

213,816

 

$

405,528

 

$

404,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

208,297

 

$

203,785

 

$

412,116

 

$

403,039

Assumed

 

 

7,880

 

 

7,986

 

 

16,767

 

 

16,712

Ceded

 

 

(22,052)

 

 

(18,947)

 

 

(42,725)

 

 

(37,216)

Net earned premiums

 

$

194,125

 

$

192,824

 

$

386,158

 

$

382,535