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8-K - FORM 8-K - HCI Group, Inc.d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Media Contact:      Investor Relations Contact:
Suzie Boland      Jay Madhu
RFB Communications Group      Homeowners Choice, Inc.
813.259.0345      727.213.3660
sboland@rfbcommunications.com      jmadhu@hcpci.com

Homeowners Choice Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Year 2010

Thirteenth Consecutive Quarter of Profitability, $54.8 Million in Cash on the Balance Sheet,

Per Share Book Value Increase of 6.8 percent in 2010 to $7.51

CLEARWATER, Fla. – (March 8, 2011) – Homeowners Choice, Inc. (Nasdaq:HCII), a Florida-based provider of homeowners’ insurance, today announced its results of operations for the three months and year ended Dec. 31, 2010.

Fourth Quarter 2010

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $1.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared with net income of $0.8 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2009.

Gross premiums earned for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased to $30.0 million from $25.9 million in the prior year quarter. Net premiums earned (gross premiums earned reduced by premiums ceded to reinsurance companies that cover certain of the risks from hurricanes and other catastrophes) for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased 25 percent to $15.5 million from $12.4 million in the prior year quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2010, reinsurance costs were 49 percent of the company’s gross premiums earned, compared with 52.1 percent in the prior year quarter.

Homeowners Choice also reported investment income and other income of $390,000 and $820,000, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2010. Investment income was $556,000 and no significant other income was reported in the prior year fourth quarter. In addition, the company reported realized gains on investments sold during the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010 of $469,000. The company had no significant realized investment gains during 2009.

Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the fourth quarter were $8.2 million compared with $6.0 million in the prior year quarter. Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2010 and 2009 were $4.2 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Other operating expenses, which include a variety of general and administrative costs, for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2010 and 2009 were $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

Full Year 2010

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2010, net income was $5.4 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, a decline from net income of $10.9 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009. Book value per share increased from $7.03 at Dec. 31, 2009 to $7.51 at Dec. 31, 2010, an increase of 6.8 percent.

Gross premiums earned for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010 increased by approximately 8.9 percent to $119.8 million from $110.0 million in the prior year. Net premiums earned for 2010 decreased 4.4 percent to $62.4 million from $65.3 million in the prior year. Investment income for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010 was $2.0 million compared with $1.8 million in the prior year. Realized Investment gains of $2.0 million were recognized in 2010.


Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010 were $37.7 million compared with $35.2 million in the prior year. Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses for 2010 and 2009 were $14.9 million and $9.6 million, respectively. Other operating expenses were $7.5 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010 compared with $5.8 million in the prior year.

Stockholders’ equity increased to $46.6 million at Dec. 31, 2010 from $45.4 million at Dec. 31, 2009. The company repurchased a total of 311,239 shares in 2010 in its share buyback program.

“I am pleased with our solid financial performance again this quarter, our 13th consecutive quarter of profitability,” said Homeowners Choice Chief Executive Officer F.X. McCahill. “Our gross premiums earned grew by 8.9 percent in 2010. However, we experienced a year-over-year decrease in net income due primarily to higher reinsurance rates that were in effect during the first five months of the year. We believe we are well positioned for our expansion into Alabama, which is planned for 2011. In addition, we recently announced our intention to issue our second quarterly dividend of $.10 per share, which will be paid in March 2011.”

Homeowners Choice Executive Chairman Paresh Patel added, “Our focus has always been on growing the company and increasing shareholder value. I am pleased with our progress in 2010 and looking forward to what lies ahead in 2011.”

Conference Call

The Company will host an earnings conference call today, March 8, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. EST to discuss its fourth quarter and 2010 results. Interested parties are invited to listen to the call live over the Internet at http://www.ir-site.com/hcpci/events.asp. The call is also available by dialing (877) 407-9210 (toll-free). International participants should instead call (201) 689-8049. Participants should dial into the conference call approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. Replays of the webcast will be available until April 9, 2011.

About Homeowners Choice, Inc.

Homeowners Choice, Inc. is a Florida-based insurance holding company headquartered in Clearwater. Through its subsidiary corporations, Homeowners Choice provides property and casualty homeowners’ insurance, condominium owners’ insurance and tenants’ insurance. Founded in 2006, Homeowners Choice today serves approximately 65,000 policyholders throughout Florida representing approximately $135 million in annualized premiums. The company’s common shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol HCII and are included in the Russell Microcap Index. Warrants trade on the same market under the ticker symbol HCIIW. More information about Homeowners Choice, Inc. is available at www.hcpci.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and “project” and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. For example there can be no assurance that the company will add additional policies in 2010, that the company will continue to be profitable, that the company will be successful with its efforts to expand into Alabama, that strategic growth opportunities will arise or that the


company will pursue them when they do, or that the company will increase shareholder value. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should any risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on the company's business, financial condition, and results of operations. Homeowners Choice, Inc. disclaims all obligations to update any forward-looking statements.


HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

 

     At December 31,  
     2010     2009  
Assets     

Investments:

    

Fixed maturity securities, held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $4,250)

   $ —          4,049   

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $28,432 and $19,763)

     28,564        19,266   

Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value

     884        —     

Time deposits

     14,033        13,507   

Short-term investments

     —          11,521   
                

Total investments

     43,481        48,343   

Cash and cash equivalents

     54,849        43,453   

Accrued interest and dividends receivable

     180        176   

Premiums receivable

     5,822        4,899   

Assumed reinsurance balances receivable

     26        19,525   

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     17,787        7,205   

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     9,407        10,496   

Property and equipment, net

     7,755        399   

Deferred income taxes

     584        2,438   

Other assets

     1,057        958   
                

Total assets

   $ 140,948        137,892   
                
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity     

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     22,146        19,178   

Unearned premiums

     65,034        68,509   

Advance premiums

     1,114        713   

Accrued expenses

     2,385        2,906   

Income taxes payable

     310        167   

Other liabilities

     3,330        1,041   
                

Total liabilities

     94,319        92,514   

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock (no par value 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding)

     —          —     

Common stock, (no par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 6,205,396 and 6,456,635 shares issued and outstanding in 2010 and 2009)

     —          —     

Additional paid-in capital

     18,606        21,164   

Retained earnings

     28,065        24,520   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (42     (306
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     46,629        45,378   
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 140,948        137,892   
                


HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2010     2009     2010     2009  
     (Unaudited)              

Revenue

        

Gross premiums earned

   $ 30,037        25,856      $ 119,757        110,011   

Premiums ceded

     (14,572     (13,475     (57,322     (44,674
                                

Net premiums earned

     15,465        12,381        62,435        65,337   

Net investment income

     390        556        1,962        1,793   

Realized investment gains

     469        —          2,003        —     

Other

     820        (15     2,215        1,248   
                                

Total revenue

     17,144        12,922        68,615        68,378   
                                

Expenses

        

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     8,208        5,953        37,667        35,230   

Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses

     4,189        3,940        14,878        9,611   

Other operating expenses

     1,880        1,665        7,484        5,788   
                                

Total expenses

     14,277        11,558        60,029        50,629   
                                

Income before income taxes

     2,867        1,364        8,586        17,749   

Income taxes

     1,083        557        3,164        6,839   
                                

Net income

   $ 1,784        807      $ 5,422        10,910   
                                

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.29        0.12      $ 0.88        1.62   
                                

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.27        0.11      $ 0.81        1.52   
                                

Dividends per share

   $ 0.30        —        $ 0.30        —