EX-99.77Q1 2 pr_apr7.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED MARCH 29, 2007

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 


 

APS Announces Fourth Quarter and 2006 Annual Results

 

AUSTIN, TEXAS, March 29, 2007 - American Physicians Service Group, Inc. ("APS") (NASDAQ: AMPH) today announced results for the fourth quarter and year-end 2006.

For the three months ended December 31, 2006, revenues were $10,383,000 versus $11,096,000 in the comparable period a year ago. Net earnings for the quarter were $1,625,000, compared to $1,845,000 in last year's fourth quarter. Diluted earnings per share were $0.56 for the quarter ended December 31, 2006 versus $0.64 in the year-ago period. For the year ended December 31, 2006, APS reported total revenues of $32,360,000 versus $33,973,000 in 2005. Net earnings were $3,194,000 in 2006 compared to $5,640,000 in 2005. Diluted earnings per share were $1.09 versus $1.86 in 2005.

Ken Shifrin, Chairman of the Board, stated, “While our 2006 net income of approximately 10% on sales would be an enviable return for many companies, it represented a decline from 2005 for us. We said at this time last year that we would not repeat the one-time investment gains that we enjoyed in 2005. We had approximately $2 million less in after tax investment gains in 2006 than in 2005, representing about 85% of the decline in net income in 2006 compared to 2005.”

Mr. Shifrin continued, “Operationally, we worked very hard to match last year’s

 

record revenues in our insurance operations. To offset reduced premium rates, our team increased the number of insured physicians by over 20%, compared to 2005. This effort required additional resources, with marketing, increased service personnel, and information technology initiatives combining to increase costs by approximately 10%. Revenues in our Investment Services division declined approximately 9%, but associated cost reductions kept our margin on sales within 2% of last year. This division continues to expand its bank debt/trade claims clearing and investment banking operations.”

Bill Hayes, APS’ CFO, added, “We did not neglect our balance sheet in 2006. Working capital grew from approximately $15.9 million to approximately $19.2 million, and book value per share grew to $10.49 at December 31, 2006 from $9.95 a year earlier. Even while accomplishing this growth we were able to reward shareholders with a 20% dividend increase - from $0.25 per share in 2005 to $0.30 in 2006. We also repurchased approximately $2.4 million of our stock in announced buy-back plans. We remain debt free.”

Mr. Shifrin concluded, “As important as these historical results are, I believe that APS’ real story is contained in our announcement last week of the completion of the acquisition of American Physicians Insurance Exchange. With this new vehicle in place we are eager to move forward into 2007, capitalizing on the growth opportunities that we believe are now open for us. Following the effective date of the merger we will resume our stock buyback, which has been suspended during the proxy process.”

APS is a management and financial services firm with subsidiaries and affiliates which provide: medical malpractice insurance services for doctors; and brokerage and

 

investment services to institutions and high net worth individuals. The Company is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and maintains offices in Dallas.

This press release includes forward-looking statements related to the Company that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These forward-looking statements are made in reliance on the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For further information about these factors that could affect the Company’s future results, please see the Company’s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations. Copies of the filings are available upon request from the Company’s investor relations department.

 

AMERICAN PHYSICIANS SERVICE GROUP, INC.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

2005

 

Revenues

 

$

10,383

 

 

 

$

11,096

 

 

 

$

32,360

 

 

 

$

33,973

 

Expenses

 

 

8,203

 

 

 

 

8,436

 

 

 

 

28,535

 

 

 

 

29,262

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

134

 

Operating income

 

 

2,194

 

 

 

 

2,663

 

 

 

 

3,854

 

 

 

 

4,845

 

Gain on investments (net)

 

 

110

 

 

 

 

45

 

 

 

 

240

 

 

 

 

2,967

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

before interest, income taxes,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and minority interest

 

 

2,304

 

 

 

 

2,708

 

 

 

 

4,094

 

 

 

 

7,812

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other income (net)

 

 

282

 

 

 

 

211

 

 

 

 

945

 

 

 

 

701

 

Income tax expense

 

 

957

 

 

 

 

1,073

 

 

 

 

1,839

 

 

 

 

3,039

 

Minority interest

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

1,625

 

 

 

$

1,845

 

 

 

$

3,194

 

 

 

$

5,460

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Earnings

 

$

0.56

 

 

 

$

0.64

 

 

 

$

1.09

 

 

 

$

1.86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

outstanding (diluted)

 

 

2,926

 

 

 

 

2,896

 

 

 

 

2,933

 

 

 

 

2,931

 

 

 

AMERICAN PHYSICIANS SERVICE GROUP, INC.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA, continued

 

(In thousands)

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

2005

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

$

25,934

 

 

 

$

21,663

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes receivable, less current portion

 

 

—

 

 

 

 

326

 

Property and equipment

 

 

556

 

 

 

 

687

 

Investment in available-for-sale equity and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

fixed income securities

 

 

6,293

 

 

 

 

8,601

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

1,192

 

 

 

 

686

 

Goodwill

 

 

1,247

 

 

 

 

1,247

 

Other assets

 

 

1,054

 

 

 

 

295

 

Total Assets

 

$

36,276

 

 

 

$

33,505

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

$

6,687

 

 

 

$

5,783

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

6,687

 

 

 

 

5,783

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority interests

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholder’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

282

 

 

 

 

278

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

7,944

 

 

 

 

8,204

 

Retained earnings

 

 

21,111

 

 

 

 

18,737

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

net of taxes

 

 

231

 

 

 

 

488

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

29,568

 

 

 

 

27,707

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

36,276

 

 

 

$

33,505

 

 

For further information, visit APS’ Website at www.amph.com or contact:

 

Mr. Kenneth Shifrin, Chairman of the Board (or)

Mr. W. H. Hayes, Sr. Vice President - Finance

American Physicians Service Group, Inc.

1301 Capital of Texas Highway, C-300

Austin, Texas 78746

(512) 328-0888