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8-K - 8-K - SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP INCa11-7537_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

 

SAFETY ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END

2010 RESULTS

 

Boston, Massachusetts, March 9, 2011.  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported fourth quarter and year end 2010 results.  Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 was $13.0 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, compared to $10.3 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, for the comparable 2009 period.  Net income for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $56.3 million, or $3.74 per diluted share, compared to $54.2 million, or $3.48 per diluted share, for the comparable 2009 period. Safety’s book value per share increased to $43.37 at December 31, 2010 from $41.20 at December 31, 2009.  Safety paid $0.50 per share in dividends to investors during the quarter ended December 31, 2010 compared to $0.40 per share during the comparable 2009 period.   Safety paid $1.80 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $1.60 per share during the comparable 2009 period.

 

Direct written premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 increased by $11.9 million, or 9.8%, to $133.4 million from $121.5 million for the comparable 2009 period.  Direct written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased by $45.2 million, or 8.1%, to $604.9 million from $559.7 million for the comparable 2009 period. The 2010 increase occurred primarily in our personal automobile and homeowners business lines, which experienced increases of 3.8% and 3.2%, respectively, in average written premium per exposure and increases of 3.3% and 19.6%, respectively, in written exposures.  Partially offsetting these increases was a 4.6% decrease in average written premium per exposure and a 2.2 % decrease in written exposures in our commercial automobile business line.

 

Net written premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 increased by $12.8 million, or 11.2%, to $126.2 million from $113.4 million for the comparable 2009 period.  Net written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased by $44.2 million, or 8.3%, to $576.8 million from $532.6 million for the comparable 2009 period. The 2010 increase was primarily due to the factors that increased direct written premiums.

 

Net earned premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 increased by $11.2 million, or 8.5%, to $143.5 million from $132.3 million for the comparable 2009 period.  Net earned premiums for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased by $20.0 million, or 3.8%, to $552.0 million from $532.0 million for the comparable 2009 period.  The 2010 increase was due to the factors that increased direct written premiums combined with decreases in earned premiums ceded to Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (“CAR”), and partially offset by decreases in earned premiums assumed from CAR.  Earned premiums ceded to and assumed from CAR decreased as a result of the phase-out of the CAR personal automobile reinsurance pool, which was fully replaced by an assigned risk plan, the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Plan, beginning with personal automobile policy effective dates after March 31, 2009.  The effect of assumed and ceded premiums on net written and net earned premiums is presented in the tables below.

 

Net investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 decreased by $1.5 million, or 13.1%, to $9.6 million from $11.1 million for the comparable 2009 period.  Net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2010 decreased by $1.9 million, or 4.4%, to $41.4 million from $43.3 million for the comparable 2009 period.  The 2010 decrease primarily resulted from lower short-term interest rates, risk reduction actions related to municipal bonds, and ongoing maintenance of short duration to protect the portfolio from rising interest rates. Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio decreased to 3.6% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 from 4.2% for the comparable 2009 period.  Net effective annual yield decreased to 3.9% for the year ended December 31, 2010 from 4.1% for the comparable 2009 period.  Our duration was 3.4 years at December 31, 2010, up slightly from 3.3 years at December 31, 2009.

 



 

Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 were 66.9%, 31.0%, and 97.9%, respectively, compared to 64.1%, 36.6%, and 100.7%, respectively, for the comparable 2009 period. For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, underwriting expenses included an increase of $5.8 million related to our previously disclosed settlement with the Massachusetts Attorney General regarding the calculation of motorcycle insurance premiums.  Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under GAAP for the year ended December 31, 2010 were 65.4%, 31.3%, and 96.7%, respectively, compared to 65.1%, 32.2%, and 97.3%, respectively, for the comparable 2009 period.  Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010 was $15.3 million and $48.2 million, respectively, compared to prior year favorable development of $14.0 million and $44.1 million, respectively, for the comparable 2009 periods.

 

About Safety:  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. is the parent of Safety Insurance Company, Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, and Safety Property and Casualty Insurance Company which are Boston, MA, based writers of property and casualty insurance.  Safety is a leading writer of personal automobile insurance in Massachusetts.

 

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, 2009 Form 10-K with the SEC on March 15, 2010 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, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 15, 2010.

 

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)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Securities available for sale:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,030,354 and $989,444)

 

$

1,063,237

 

$

1,018,329

 

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $13,704 and $9,736)

 

14,624

 

9,876

 

Other invested assets, at cost, which approximates fair value

 

2,817

 

409

 

Total investment securities

 

1,080,678

 

1,028,614

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

40,291

 

74,470

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

145,726

 

137,238

 

Accrued investment income

 

9,471

 

10,044

 

Taxes recoverable

 

5,061

 

 

Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

4,579

 

6,851

 

Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses

 

53,147

 

64,874

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

12,461

 

13,698

 

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

52,824

 

47,900

 

Deferred income taxes

 

3,643

 

8,335

 

Equity and deposits in pools

 

19,971

 

23,840

 

Other assets

 

11,600

 

11,973

 

Total assets

 

$

1,439,452

 

$

1,427,837

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

 

$

404,391

 

$

439,706

 

Unearned premium reserves

 

306,053

 

282,434

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

54,239

 

59,869

 

Taxes payable

 

 

3,916

 

Payable to reinsurers

 

5,571

 

4,674

 

Other liabilities

 

15,722

 

16,803

 

Total liabilities

 

785,976

 

807,402

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock: $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 16,795,504 and 16,624,220 shares issued

 

168

 

166

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

151,317

 

144,814

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes

 

21,972

 

18,866

 

Retained earnings

 

535,545

 

506,301

 

Treasury stock, at cost: 1,727,455 and 1,564,548 shares

 

(55,526

)

(49,712

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

653,476

 

620,435

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,439,452

 

$

1,427,837

 

 



 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net earned premiums

 

$

143,460

 

$

132,254

 

$

551,950

 

$

531,969

 

Net investment income

 

9,638

 

11,087

 

41,395

 

43,308

 

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

 

568

 

170

 

863

 

(167

)

Finance and other service income

 

4,869

 

4,266

 

18,511

 

16,844

 

Total revenue

 

158,535

 

147,777

 

612,719

 

591,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

95,943

 

84,746

 

360,848

 

346,301

 

Underwriting, operating and related expenses

 

44,469

 

48,443

 

172,823

 

171,124

 

Interest expenses

 

22

 

69

 

88

 

135

 

Total expenses

 

140,434

 

133,258

 

533,759

 

517,560

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

18,101

 

14,519

 

78,960

 

74,394

 

Income tax expense

 

5,089

 

4,250

 

22,618

 

20,242

 

Net income

 

$

13,012

 

$

10,269

 

$

56,342

 

$

54,152

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per weighted average common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.86

 

$

0.68

 

$

3.74

 

$

3.49

 

Diluted

 

$

0.86

 

$

0.68

 

$

3.74

 

$

3.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.50

 

$

0.40

 

$

1.80

 

$

1.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in computing earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

15,046,283

 

15,055,082

 

15,065,696

 

15,533,331

 

Diluted

 

15,067,428

 

15,072,706

 

15,084,295

 

15,552,063

 

 

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Premium Information

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Written Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

133,430

 

$

121,478

 

$

604,957

 

$

559,747

 

Assumed

 

4,181

 

2,117

 

13,738

 

14,564

 

Ceded

 

(11,427

)

(10,142

)

(41,888

)

(41,682

)

Net written premiums

 

$

126,184

 

$

113,453

 

$

576,807

 

$

532,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

150,436

 

$

139,210

 

$

580,942

 

$

555,020

 

Assumed

 

3,883

 

4,175

 

14,134

 

26,552

 

Ceded

 

(10,859

)

(11,131

)

(43,126

)

(49,603

)

Net earned premiums

 

$

143,460

 

$

132,254

 

$

551,950

 

$

531,969