Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) |
Written Communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a‑12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a‑12) |
Pre‑commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d‑2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d‑2(b)) |
Pre‑commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e‑4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e‑4(c)) |
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Item 2.02 | Results of Operations and Financial Condition. |
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
Exhibit No. | Description | |
99.1 |
▪ | Fourth Quarter 2019 Net Income of $20.5 million -- $0.67 per diluted share and Adjusted Net Operating Income of $23.3 million -- $0.76 per diluted share |
▪ | 65% growth in Core (Excluding Commercial Auto) Excess and Surplus Lines ("E&S") Gross Written Premium versus the prior year quarter, and 55% growth for the full year versus the prior year |
▪ | Fourth quarter Combined Ratio of 93.8%, a 2.7 percentage point improvement over the prior year quarter |
▪ | Underwriting Profit of $13.6 million, an increase of 91%, or $6.5 million, over the prior year quarter |
▪ | Tangible Equity per Share of $18.40, an increase of 20% from year-end 2018, inclusive of dividends |
Earnings Per Diluted Share | Three Months Ended December 31, | ||||||
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
Net Income | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.38 | |||
Adjusted Net Operating Income 1 | $ | 0.76 | $ | 0.56 |
1. | See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below. |
• | Gross written premium of $375.2 million, consisting of the following: |
Three Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | |||||||
Excess and Surplus Lines | $ | 234,449 | $ | 166,417 | 41 | % | ||||
Specialty Admitted Insurance | 94,758 | 91,238 | 4 | % | ||||||
Casualty Reinsurance | 45,963 | 37,655 | 22 | % | ||||||
$ | 375,170 | $ | 295,310 | 27 | % |
• | Net written premium of $224.6 million, consisting of the following: |
Three Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | |||||||
Excess and Surplus Lines | $ | 163,614 | $ | 138,791 | 18 | % | ||||
Specialty Admitted Insurance | 15,012 | 13,513 | 11 | % | ||||||
Casualty Reinsurance | 46,004 | 37,343 | 23 | % | ||||||
$ | 224,630 | $ | 189,647 | 18 | % |
• | Net earned premium of $221.1 million, consisting of the following: |
Three Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | |||||||
Excess and Surplus Lines | $ | 168,176 | $ | 145,057 | 16 | % | ||||
Specialty Admitted Insurance | 14,650 | 13,642 | 7 | % | ||||||
Casualty Reinsurance | 38,280 | 42,857 | (11 | )% | ||||||
$ | 221,106 | $ | 201,556 | 10 | % |
• | The Excess and Surplus Lines segment gross written premium and net written premium increased principally due to 65% growth in core (non-commercial auto) lines gross written premium and 60% growth in core lines net written premium, as eleven out of twelve core underwriting divisions grew. The Commercial Auto division also contributed to the segment's increase in gross written premium, growing 17% over the prior year quarter, |
• | The Specialty Admitted Insurance segment gross written premium and net written premium increased as the segment added 4 new fronted programs throughout the year, growing fee income; |
• | Net earned premium in our Casualty Reinsurance segment decreased from the prior year quarter, which was in line with our expectations and is consistent with plans we put in place two years ago. Gross written premium and net written premium increased from the prior year quarter due to adjustments to premium estimates from previous underwriting years; |
• | The Company had unfavorable reserve development of $8.8 million compared to unfavorable reserve development of $5.8 million in the prior year quarter (representing a 4.0 and 2.9 percentage point increase to the Company’s loss ratio in the periods, respectively); |
• | Pre-tax (unfavorable) favorable reserve development by segment was as follows: |
Three Months Ended December 31, | |||||||
($ in thousands) | 2019 | 2018 | |||||
Excess and Surplus Lines | $ | 46 | $ | (5,781 | ) | ||
Specialty Admitted Insurance | 1,000 | 3,238 | |||||
Casualty Reinsurance | (9,802 | ) | (3,296 | ) | |||
$ | (8,756 | ) | $ | (5,839 | ) |
• | The Casualty Reinsurance segment's $9.8 million of unfavorable development was materially offset by commission slide adjustments of $4.6 million. The Specialty Admitted Insurance segment experienced $1.0 million of favorable development in its workers' compensation business; |
• | Group combined ratio of 93.8% versus 96.5% in the prior year quarter; |
• | Group expense ratio of 16.4% improved from 21.3% in the prior year quarter, driven by a larger portion of our consolidated net earned premium coming from the Excess and Surplus Lines segment, which has significant scale and a lower expense ratio than our other segments; a reduction to sliding scale commissions in the Casualty Reinsurance segment; increased scale in the Specialty Admitted segment coupled with higher fee income; and a reduction to the 2019 compensation bonus pools. |
• | Gross fee income by segment was as follows: |
Three Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | |||||||
Excess and Surplus Lines | $ | 1,944 | $ | 2,410 | (19 | )% | ||||
Specialty Admitted Insurance | 4,248 | 3,876 | 10 | % | ||||||
$ | 6,192 | $ | 6,286 | (1 | )% |
• | Fee income in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment decreased from its level in the prior year quarter. Revenue from certain contracts that was previously recorded as fee for services revenue is now recognized as gross written premium because insurance is now a component of these contracts. Fee income in the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment increased as a result of a mix shift to fronting arrangements with higher fees; |
• | Net investment income was $20.8 million, an increase of 35% from the prior year quarter. Further details can be found in the "Investment Results" section below. |
Three Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | |||||||
Renewable Energy Investments | $ | (329 | ) | $ | 904 | - | ||||
Other Private Investments | 665 | (1,327 | ) | - | ||||||
All Other Net Investment Income | 20,472 | 15,878 | 29 | % | ||||||
Total Net Investment Income | $ | 20,808 | $ | 15,455 | 35 | % |
December 31, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | ||||||
($ in thousands, except for share data) | |||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Invested assets: | |||||||
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | $ | 1,433,626 | $ | 1,184,202 | |||
Equity securities, at fair value | 80,735 | 78,385 | |||||
Bank loan participations, held-for-investment | 260,864 | 260,972 | |||||
Short-term investments | 156,925 | 81,966 | |||||
Other invested assets | 61,210 | 72,321 | |||||
Total invested assets | 1,993,360 | 1,677,846 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 206,912 | 172,457 | |||||
Restricted cash equivalents | 1,199,164 | — | |||||
Accrued investment income | 13,597 | 11,110 | |||||
Premiums receivable and agents’ balances | 369,462 | 307,899 | |||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 668,045 | 467,371 | |||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses | 33,221 | 18,344 | |||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 62,006 | 54,450 | |||||
Goodwill and intangible assets | 218,771 | 219,368 | |||||
Other assets | 259,867 | 207,931 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 5,024,405 | $ | 3,136,776 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses | $ | 2,045,506 | $ | 1,661,459 | |||
Unearned premiums | 524,377 | 386,473 | |||||
Funds held | 1,199,164 | — | |||||
Senior debt | 158,300 | 118,300 | |||||
Junior subordinated debt | 104,055 | 104,055 | |||||
Accrued expenses | 58,416 | 51,792 | |||||
Other liabilities | 156,006 | 105,456 | |||||
Total liabilities | 4,245,824 | 2,427,535 | |||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 778,581 | 709,241 | |||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 5,024,405 | $ | 3,136,776 | |||
Tangible equity (a) | $ | 559,810 | $ | 489,873 | |||
Tangible equity per common share outstanding (a) | $ | 18.40 | $ | 16.34 | |||
Total shareholders’ equity per common share outstanding | $ | 25.59 | $ | 23.65 | |||
Common shares outstanding | 30,424,391 | 29,988,460 | |||||
(a) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures”. |
Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except for share data) | |||||||||||||||
REVENUES | |||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums | $ | 375,170 | $ | 295,310 | $ | 1,470,735 | $ | 1,166,773 | |||||||
Net written premiums | 224,630 | 189,647 | 896,150 | 762,672 | |||||||||||
Net earned premiums | 221,106 | 201,556 | 823,746 | 815,398 | |||||||||||
Net investment income | 20,808 | 15,455 | 75,652 | 61,256 | |||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments (a) | (3,250 | ) | (5,072 | ) | (2,919 | ) | (5,479 | ) | |||||||
Other income | 2,486 | 2,583 | 10,646 | 14,424 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 241,150 | 214,522 | 907,125 | 885,599 | |||||||||||
EXPENSES | |||||||||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 171,038 | 151,522 | 672,102 | 600,276 | |||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 38,621 | 45,321 | 170,908 | 201,035 | |||||||||||
Other expenses | — | 1,334 | 1,055 | 1,300 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | 2,510 | 3,094 | 10,596 | 11,553 | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets | 150 | 150 | 597 | 597 | |||||||||||
Total expenses | 212,319 | 201,421 | 855,258 | 814,761 | |||||||||||
Income before taxes | 28,831 | 13,101 | 51,867 | 70,838 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | 8,360 | 1,469 | 13,528 | 7,008 | |||||||||||
NET INCOME | $ | 20,471 | $ | 11,632 | $ | 38,339 | $ | 63,830 | |||||||
ADJUSTED NET OPERATING INCOME (b) | $ | 23,252 | $ | 17,056 | $ | 42,934 | $ | 70,596 | |||||||
EARNINGS PER SHARE | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 1.27 | $ | 2.14 | |||||||
Diluted | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 1.25 | $ | 2.11 | |||||||
ADJUSTED NET OPERATING INCOME PER SHARE | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.76 | $ | 0.57 | $ | 1.42 | $ | 2.36 | |||||||
Diluted | $ | 0.76 | $ | 0.56 | $ | 1.40 | $ | 2.33 | |||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | 30,407,807 | 29,966,695 | 30,275,184 | 29,887,990 | |||||||||||
Diluted | 30,716,072 | 30,356,990 | 30,673,924 | 30,307,101 | |||||||||||
Cash dividends declared per common share | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.30 | $ | 1.20 | $ | 1.20 | |||||||
Ratios: | |||||||||||||||
Loss ratio | 77.4 | % | 75.2 | % | 81.6 | % | 73.6 | % | |||||||
Expense ratio (c) | 16.4 | % | 21.3 | % | 19.6 | % | 23.0 | % | |||||||
Combined ratio | 93.8 | % | 96.5 | % | 101.2 | % | 96.6 | % | |||||||
Accident year loss ratio | 73.4 | % | 72.3 | % | 73.2 | % | 71.5 | % | |||||||
(a) Includes losses of $2.4 million and gains of $6.3 million for the change in net unrealized gains/losses on equity securities in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, respectively, in accordance with ASU 2016-01 (losses of $5.3 million and $6.0 million for the respective prior year periods). | |||||||||||||||
(b) See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures". | |||||||||||||||
(c) Calculated with a numerator comprising other operating expenses less gross fee income of the Excess and Surplus Lines segment and a denominator of net earned premiums. |
Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | % Change | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | ||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums | $ | 234,449 | $ | 166,417 | 40.9 | % | $ | 922,320 | $ | 656,538 | 40.5 | % | |||||||||
Net written premiums | $ | 163,614 | $ | 138,791 | 17.9 | % | $ | 685,814 | $ | 571,098 | 20.1 | % | |||||||||
Net earned premiums | $ | 168,176 | $ | 145,057 | 15.9 | % | $ | 625,528 | $ | 555,684 | 12.6 | % | |||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | (128,137 | ) | (116,386 | ) | 10.1 | % | (528,133 | ) | (437,904 | ) | 20.6 | % | |||||||||
Underwriting expenses | (20,443 | ) | (18,555 | ) | 10.2 | % | (78,238 | ) | (74,946 | ) | 4.4 | % | |||||||||
Underwriting profit (a), (b) | $ | 19,596 | $ | 10,116 | $ | 19,157 | $ | 42,834 | |||||||||||||
Ratios: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Loss ratio | 76.2 | % | 80.2 | % | 84.4 | % | 78.8 | % | |||||||||||||
Expense ratio | 12.1 | % | 12.8 | % | 12.5 | % | 13.5 | % | |||||||||||||
Combined ratio | 88.3 | % | 93.0 | % | 96.9 | % | 92.3 | % | |||||||||||||
Accident year loss ratio | 76.2 | % | 76.2 | % | 76.2 | % | 76.1 | % | |||||||||||||
(a) See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures". | |||||||||||||||||||||
(b) Underwriting results include fee income of $1.9 million and $9.1 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, respectively ($2.4 million and $13.9 million for the respective prior year periods). These amounts are included in “Other income” in our Condensed Consolidated Income Statements. |
Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | % Change | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | ||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums | $ | 94,758 | $ | 91,238 | 3.9 | % | $ | 387,642 | $ | 374,346 | 3.6 | % | |||||||||
Net written premiums | $ | 15,012 | $ | 13,513 | 11.1 | % | $ | 58,637 | $ | 55,840 | 5.0 | % | |||||||||
Net earned premiums | $ | 14,650 | $ | 13,642 | 7.4 | % | $ | 54,338 | $ | 55,146 | (1.5 | )% | |||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | (9,775 | ) | (7,340 | ) | 33.2 | % | (34,860 | ) | (32,623 | ) | 6.9 | % | |||||||||
Underwriting expenses | (2,720 | ) | (3,710 | ) | (26.7 | )% | (13,565 | ) | (15,551 | ) | (12.8 | )% | |||||||||
Underwriting profit (a), (b) | $ | 2,155 | $ | 2,592 | (16.9 | )% | $ | 5,913 | $ | 6,972 | (15.2 | )% | |||||||||
Ratios: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Loss ratio | 66.7 | % | 53.8 | % | 64.2 | % | 59.2 | % | |||||||||||||
Expense ratio | 18.6 | % | 27.2 | % | 24.9 | % | 28.2 | % | |||||||||||||
Combined ratio | 85.3 | % | 81.0 | % | 89.1 | % | 87.4 | % | |||||||||||||
Accident year loss ratio | 73.5 | % | 77.5 | % | 73.8 | % | 69.2 | % | |||||||||||||
(a) See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures". | |||||||||||||||||||||
(b) Underwriting results include fee income of $4.2 million and $15.8 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, respectively ($3.9 million and $14.8 million for the respective prior year periods). |
Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | % Change | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | ||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums | $ | 45,963 | $ | 37,655 | 22.1 | % | $ | 160,773 | $ | 135,889 | 18.3 | % | |||||||||
Net written premiums | $ | 46,004 | $ | 37,343 | 23.2 | % | $ | 151,699 | $ | 135,734 | 11.8 | % | |||||||||
Net earned premiums | $ | 38,280 | $ | 42,857 | (10.7 | )% | $ | 143,880 | $ | 204,568 | (29.7 | )% | |||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | (33,126 | ) | (27,796 | ) | 19.2 | % | (109,109 | ) | (129,749 | ) | (15.9 | )% | |||||||||
Underwriting expenses | (8,254 | ) | (15,007 | ) | (45.0 | )% | (41,932 | ) | (69,716 | ) | (39.9 | )% | |||||||||
Underwriting (loss) profit (a) | $ | (3,100 | ) | $ | 54 | $ | (7,161 | ) | $ | 5,103 | |||||||||||
Ratios: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Loss ratio | 86.5 | % | 64.9 | % | 75.8 | % | 63.4 | % | |||||||||||||
Expense ratio | 21.6 | % | 35.0 | % | 29.2 | % | 34.1 | % | |||||||||||||
Combined ratio | 108.1 | % | 99.9 | % | 105.0 | % | 97.5 | % | |||||||||||||
Accident year loss ratio | 60.9 | % | 57.2 | % | 59.8 | % | 59.4 | % | |||||||||||||
(a) See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures". |
Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Underwriting profit (loss) of the operating segments: | |||||||||||||||
Excess and Surplus Lines | $ | 19,596 | $ | 10,116 | $ | 19,157 | $ | 42,834 | |||||||
Specialty Admitted Insurance | 2,155 | 2,592 | 5,913 | 6,972 | |||||||||||
Casualty Reinsurance | (3,100 | ) | 54 | (7,161 | ) | 5,103 | |||||||||
Total underwriting profit of operating segments | 18,651 | 12,762 | 17,909 | 54,909 | |||||||||||
Other operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment | (5,023 | ) | (5,639 | ) | (27,664 | ) | (26,903 | ) | |||||||
Underwriting profit (loss) (a) | 13,628 | 7,123 | (9,755 | ) | 28,006 | ||||||||||
Net investment income | 20,808 | 15,455 | 75,652 | 61,256 | |||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments (b) | (3,250 | ) | (5,072 | ) | (2,919 | ) | (5,479 | ) | |||||||
Other income (expenses) | 305 | (1,161 | ) | 82 | (795 | ) | |||||||||
Interest expense | (2,510 | ) | (3,094 | ) | (10,596 | ) | (11,553 | ) | |||||||
Amortization of intangible assets | (150 | ) | (150 | ) | (597 | ) | (597 | ) | |||||||
Consolidated income before taxes | $ | 28,831 | $ | 13,101 | $ | 51,867 | $ | 70,838 | |||||||
(a) Included in underwriting results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019 is fee income of $6.2 million and $24.9 million, respectively ($6.3 million and $28.7 million for the respective prior year periods). | |||||||||||||||
(b) Includes losses of $2.4 million and gains of $6.3 million for the change in net unrealized gains/losses on equity securities in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, respectively, in accordance with ASU 2016-01 (losses of $5.3 million and $6.0 million for the respective prior year periods). |
Three Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
Income Before Taxes | Net Income | Income Before Taxes | Net Income | ||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Income as reported | $ | 28,831 | $ | 20,471 | $ | 13,101 | $ | 11,632 | |||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments (a) | 3,250 | 2,781 | 5,072 | 4,008 | |||||||||||
Other expenses | — | — | 1,134 | 896 | |||||||||||
Impairment of intangible assets | — | — | 200 | 200 | |||||||||||
Interest expense on leased building the Company is deemed to own for accounting purposes | — | — | 405 | 320 | |||||||||||
Adjusted net operating income | $ | 32,081 | $ | 23,252 | $ | 19,912 | $ | 17,056 | |||||||
Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
Income Before Taxes | Net Income | Income Before Taxes | Net Income | ||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Income as reported | $ | 51,867 | $ | 38,339 | $ | 70,838 | $ | 63,830 | |||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments (a) | 2,919 | 3,761 | 5,479 | 4,374 | |||||||||||
Other expenses | 1,055 | 834 | 1,100 | 941 | |||||||||||
Impairment of intangible assets | — | — | 200 | 200 | |||||||||||
Interest expense on leased building the Company was previously deemed to own for accounting purposes | — | — | 1,584 | 1,251 | |||||||||||
Adjusted net operating income | $ | 55,841 | $ | 42,934 | $ | 79,201 | $ | 70,596 | |||||||
(a) Includes losses of $2.4 million and gains of $6.3 million for the change in net unrealized gains/losses on equity securities in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, respectively, in accordance with ASU 2016-01 (losses of $5.3 million and $6.0 million for the respective prior year periods). |
December 31, 2019 | September 30, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except for share data) | Equity | Equity per share | Equity | Equity per share | Equity | Equity per share | |||||||||||||||||
Shareholders' equity | $ | 778,581 | $ | 25.59 | $ | 768,969 | $ | 25.29 | $ | 709,241 | $ | 23.65 | |||||||||||
Goodwill and intangible assets | 218,771 | 7.19 | 218,921 | 7.20 | 219,368 | 7.31 | |||||||||||||||||
Tangible equity | $ | 559,810 | $ | 18.40 | $ | 550,048 | $ | 18.09 | $ | 489,873 | $ | 16.34 | |||||||||||
Dividends to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2019 | 36,786 | 1.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pre-dividend tangible equity | $ | 596,596 | $ | 19.60 |