EX-99.1 2 c052-20180502ex9911ebe80.htm EX-99.1 saft_Ex99-1

Exhibit 99.1

Safety_logo_468x102_300dpi

 

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

Boston, Massachusetts, May 2, 2018.  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported first quarter 2018 results. Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 was $9.1 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, compared to net income of $12.0 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, for the comparable 2017 period. Non-generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) operating income, as defined below, for the quarter ended March 31,  2018 was $0.71 per diluted share, compared to $0.72 per diluted share, for the comparable 2017 period. Safety’s book value per share decreased to $44.85 at March 31, 2018 from $46.06 at December 31, 2017 primarily due to a decrease in net unrealized investment gains.  Safety paid $0.80 per share in dividends to investors during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to $0.70 per share during the quarter ended March 31,  2017.   Safety paid $3.00 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31, 2017.

Direct written premiums for the quarter ended March 31,  2018 increased  by $4.0 million, or 2.0%, to $203.7 million from $199.7 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 March 31, 2018 decreased by $0.9 million, or 0.4%, to $190.0 million from $190.9 million for the comparable 2017 period. Net earned premiums for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 increased by $2.3 million, or 1.2%, to $192.0 million from $189.7 million for the comparable 2017 period.  

For the quarter ended March 31,  2018, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $9.2 million, or  7.2%, to $137.6 million from $128.4 million for the comparable 2017 period.  Loss, expense, and combined ratios for the quarter ended March 31,  2018 were 71.7%,  31.7%, and 103.4%, respectively, compared to 67.7%,  31.5%, and 99.2%, respectively, for the comparable 2017 period. Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter ended March 31,  2018 was $14.2 million compared to $10.4 million for the comparable 2017 period. 

Net investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 increased by $1.4 million, or 15.8%, to $10.5 million from $9.1 million for the comparable 2017 period.  The increase was a result of fixed maturity amortization and a larger invested asset base.  Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 was 3.3% compared to 2.9% for the comparable 2017 period. Our duration was 3.8 years at March 31, 2018  and 3.7 years at December 31, 2017, respectively.    

Today, our Board of Directors approved and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.80 per share on the issued and outstanding common stock, payable on June 15, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 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 operating income and operating income per diluted share. For the first quarter of 2018, $3.5 million of unrealized losses were recognized within income before income taxes and the income tax expense was reduced by $0.7 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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

March 31, 

    

December 31, 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,157,244 and $1,156,697)

 

$

1,155,123

 

$

1,172,026

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $98,696 and $90,481)

 

 

116,601

 

 

111,867

Other invested assets

 

 

24,883

 

 

23,162

Total investments

 

 

1,296,607

 

 

1,307,055

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

24,830

 

 

41,708

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

193,213

 

 

190,649

Receivable for securities sold

 

 

1,048

 

 

1,380

Accrued investment income

 

 

10,032

 

 

8,876

Taxes recoverable

 

 

2,568

 

 

908

Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

27,348

 

 

24,776

Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

87,067

 

 

83,085

Ceded unearned premiums

 

 

33,170

 

 

32,175

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

 

71,217

 

 

72,202

Deferred income taxes

 

 

714

 

 

 —

Equity and deposits in pools

 

 

28,660

 

 

28,246

Other assets

 

 

20,863

 

 

16,219

Total assets

 

$

1,797,337

 

$

1,807,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

 

$

579,774

 

$

574,054

Unearned premium reserves

 

 

427,231

 

 

428,257

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

51,275

 

 

60,701

Payable for securities purchased

 

 

9,764

 

 

4,188

Payable to reinsurers

 

 

19,456

 

 

13,801

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 —

 

 

2,917

Other liabilities

 

 

24,192

 

 

22,345

Total liabilities

 

 

1,111,692

 

 

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

 

 

191,328

 

 

189,714

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes

 

 

(1,675)

 

 

24,269

Retained earnings

 

 

579,651

 

 

570,693

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

 

 

(83,835)

 

 

(83,835)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

685,645

 

 

701,016

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,797,337

 

$

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  March 31, 

    

 

    

2018

    

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earned premiums

 

$

192,033

 

$

189,711

 

Net investment income

 

 

10,531

 

 

9,095

 

Earnings from partnership investments

 

 

4,864

 

 

113

 

Net realized gains on investments

 

 

1,306

 

 

1,542

 

Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments

 

 

(3,482)

 

 

 —

 

Finance and other service income

 

 

4,467

 

 

4,309

 

Total revenue

 

 

209,719

 

 

204,770

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

137,644

 

 

128,430

 

Underwriting, operating and related expenses

 

 

60,856

 

 

59,670

 

Interest expense

 

 

22

 

 

22

 

Total expenses

 

 

198,522

 

 

188,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

11,197

 

 

16,648

 

Income tax expense

 

 

2,072

 

 

4,629

 

Net income

 

$

9,125

 

$

12,019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per weighted average common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.60

 

$

0.80

 

Diluted

 

$

0.60

 

$

0.79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.80

 

$

0.70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in computing earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

15,045,962

 

 

14,980,005

 

Diluted

 

 

15,191,139

 

 

15,096,728

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of  Net Income to Non-GAAP  Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

9,125

 

$

12,019

 

Exclusions from net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Net realized gains on investments

 

 

(1,306)

 

 

(1,542)

 

 Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments

 

 

3,482

 

 

 -

 

 Income tax (expense) benefit

 

 

(457)

 

 

324

 

Non-GAAP operating income

 

$

10,844

 

$

10,801

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per diluted share

 

$

0.60

 

$

0.79

 

Exclusions from net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Net realized gains on investments

 

 

(0.09)

 

 

(0.10)

 

 Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments

 

 

0.23

 

 

 -

 

 Income tax (expense) benefit

 

 

(0.03)

 

 

0.03

 

Non-GAAP operating income per diluted share

 

$

0.71

 

$

0.72

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Premium Information

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended  March 31, 

 

 

    

2018

    

2017

    

Written Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

203,733

 

$

199,666

 

Assumed

 

 

7,948

 

 

8,592

 

Ceded

 

 

(21,668)

 

 

(17,388)

 

Net written premiums

 

$

190,013

 

$

190,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

203,819

 

$

199,254

 

Assumed

 

 

8,887

 

 

8,726

 

Ceded

 

 

(20,673)

 

 

(18,269)

 

Net earned premiums

 

$

192,033

 

$

189,711