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8-K - 8-K - KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INCa8-k04x30x15.htm
EX-99.2 - EXHIBIT 99.2 - KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INCa2014shareholderletter.htm


KINGSWAY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2015 RESULTS

Toronto, Ontario (April 30, 2015) - (TSX: KFS, NYSE: KFS) Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (“Kingsway” or the “Company”) today announced its operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless indicated otherwise.

Management Comments
"Last year put us on a path to start realizing the benefits from actions taken by us during the past several years," stated Larry G. Swets, Jr., the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The buy-back of the Management Services Agreement from 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. is a good example of the type of outcome we look to achieve with our value-building philosophy."

Operating Results
The Company reported net income of $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to net loss of $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2014.
Following are highlights of Kingsway’s first quarter of 2015:
Insurance Underwriting segment operating income was $0.3 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to $0.3 million for the first quarter of 2014.
Insurance Services segment operating loss was $0.2 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to $0.2 million for the first quarter of 2014.
Net investment income of $1.3 million was reported in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2014.
Net income not allocated to any segment was $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to net loss of $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2014.
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes, was $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2014.
Adjusted operating income was $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared with $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2014.
Book value has increased to $2.29 per share at March 31, 2015 from $2.12 per share at December 31, 2014. The Company also carries a valuation allowance, in the amount of $14.54 per share at March 31, 2015, against the deferred tax asset, primarily related to its loss carryforwards.

The following events have occurred since December 31, 2014:

The Company terminated the Management Services Agreement that had been in place with its former subsidiary, 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. As a result of the termination, the Company recorded a gain of $6.0 million during the first quarter of 2015, which is included in net income not allocated to any segment.

On April 1, 2015, the Company closed on the sale of its subsidiary, Assigned Risk Solutions Ltd. ("ARS"). As a result, ARS, previously disclosed as part of the Insurance Services segment, has been classified as a discontinued operation at March 31, 2015. The Company will record the gain on disposal of ARS during the second quarter of 2015.






On April 30, 2015, the Company distributed its Annual Letter to Shareholders. For a current review of the Company and a discussion of our plan to create and sustain long-term shareholder value, we invite you to review our Annual Letter to Shareholders, which may be accessed at the Company’s website or directly at http://bit.ly/kfs2014.

About the Company
Kingsway is a holding company functioning as a merchant bank with a focus on long-term value-creation. The Company owns or controls stakes in several insurance industry assets and utilizes its subsidiaries, 1347 Advisors LLC and 1347 Capital LLC, to pursue opportunities acting as an advisor, an investor and a financier. The common shares of Kingsway are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “KFS.”







Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
 
2015

 
2014

Revenues:
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 
$
29,030

 
$
31,920

Service fee and commission income
 
5,398

 
6,065

Net investment income
 
1,313

 
413

Net realized gains
 

 
39

Other-than-temporary impairment loss
 
(10
)
 

Other income
 
7,965

 
2,058

Total revenues
 
43,696

 
40,495

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
Loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
21,953

 
21,061

Commissions and premium taxes
 
5,747

 
6,553

Cost of services sold
 
663

 
856

General and administrative expenses
 
11,561

 
11,904

Restructuring expense
 
15

 
20

Interest expense
 
1,391

 
1,433

Amortization of intangible assets
 
317

 
414

Contingent consideration expense
 
144

 
267

Total expenses
 
41,791

 
42,508

Income (loss) from continuing operations before gain on change in fair value of debt, loss on disposal of subsidiary, equity in net loss of investee and income tax expense
 
1,905

 
(2,013
)
Gain on change in fair value of debt
 
261

 
563

Loss on disposal of subsidiary
 

 
(1,242
)
Equity in net loss of investee
 
(136
)
 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense
 
2,030

 
(2,692
)
Income tax expense
 
22

 
60

Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
2,008

 
(2,752
)
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
1,426

 
1,746

Net income (loss)
 
3,434

 
(1,006
)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries
 
1,224

 
653

Less: dividends on preferred stock
 
81

 
53

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
 
$
2,129

 
$
(1,712
)
Earnings (loss) per share - continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
Basic:
 
$
0.04

 
$
(0.21
)
Diluted:
 
$
0.03

 
$
(0.21
)
Earnings per share - discontinued operations:
 
 
 
 
Basic:
 
$
0.07

 
$
0.11

Diluted:
 
$
0.07

 
$
0.11

Earnings (loss) per share – net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders:
 
 
 
 
Basic:
 
$
0.11

 
$
(0.10
)
Diluted:
 
$
0.10

 
$
(0.10
)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in ‘000s):
 
 
 
 
Basic:
 
19,710

 
16,430

Diluted:
 
21,149

 
16,430








Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)

 
 
March 31, 2015

 
December 31, 2014

 
 
(unaudited)

 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost of $58,432 and $56,000, respectively)
 
$
58,812

 
$
56,195

Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $21,968 and $16,579, respectively)
 
24,635

 
19,618

Limited liability investments
 
11,098

 
7,294

Other investments, at cost which approximates fair value
 
3,551

 
3,576

Short-term investments, at cost which approximates fair value
 
400

 
400

Total investments
 
98,496

 
87,083

Cash and cash equivalents
 
63,566

 
71,234

Investment in investee
 
1,975

 
2,115

Accrued investment income
 
805

 
141

Premiums receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $260 and $1,889, respectively
 
33,971

 
28,885

Service fee receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $247 and $247, respectively
 
734

 
964

Other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $806 and $806, respectively
 
5,214

 
5,145

Reinsurance recoverable
 
3,247

 
3,652

Prepaid reinsurance premiums
 
134

 
8

Deferred acquisition costs, net
 
13,203

 
12,197

Income taxes recoverable
 
54

 
74

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $12,099 and $15,751, respectively
 
5,851

 
5,975

Goodwill
 
10,078

 
10,078

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $5,082 and $4,765, respectively
 
15,663

 
15,980

Other assets
 
3,341

 
3,638

Assets held for sale
 
54,200

 
54,553

Total Assets
 
$
310,532

 
$
301,722

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses:
 
 
 
 
Property and casualty
 
$
59,522

 
$
63,895

Vehicle service agreements
 
2,975

 
2,975

Total unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
62,497

 
66,870

Unearned premiums
 
42,565

 
36,432

Reinsurance payable
 
785

 
525

LROC preferred units, at fair value
 
12,473

 
13,618

Subordinated debt, at fair value
 
41,543

 
40,659

Deferred income tax liability
 
2,859

 
2,837

Deferred service fees
 
34,452

 
35,096

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
41,255

 
35,836

Liabilities held for sale
 
20,537

 
21,653

Total Liabilities
 
258,966

 
253,526

 
 
 
 
 
Class A preferred stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 262,876 and 262,876 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
 
6,360

 
6,330

 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' Equity:
 
 
 
 
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 19,709,706 and 19,709,706 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
 

 

Additional paid-in capital
 
341,045

 
340,844

Accumulated deficit
 
(309,923
)
 
(312,050
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
8,755

 
8,670

Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders
 
39,877

 
37,464

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries
 
5,329

 
4,402

Total Shareholders' Equity
 
45,206

 
41,866

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
$
310,532

 
$
301,722








Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures
Segment Operating Income

Segment operating income represents one measure of the pretax profitability of Kingsway’s segments and is derived by subtracting direct segment expenses from direct segment revenues. Please refer to the section entitled “Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a detailed description of this non-U.S. GAAP measure.
Adjusted Operating Income

Adjusted operating income represents another measure used by the Company to assess the profitability of the Company’s segments, its passive investment portfolio and its merchant banking activities. Adjusted operating income is comprised of segment operating income as well as net investment income, net realized gains, other-than-temporary impairment loss, equity in net loss of investee and net revenues of 1347 Advisors. A reconciliation of segment operating income and adjusted operating income to net income (loss) for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is presented below:

(in thousands)
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
 
2015

 
2014

Segment operating income
 
$
136

 
$
119

Net investment income
 
1,313

 
413

Net realized gains
 

 
39

Other-than-temporary impairment loss
 
(10
)
 

Equity in net loss of investee
 
(136
)
 

Revenues of 1347 Advisors, net of related outside professional and advisory expenses
 
6,012

 

Adjusted operating income
 
7,315

 
571

Corporate operating expenses and other
 
(3,694
)
 
(2,807
)
Interest expense
 
(1,391
)
 
(1,433
)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
(317
)
 
(414
)
Contingent consideration expense
 
(144
)
 
(267
)
Gain on change in fair value of debt
 
261

 
563

Loss on disposal of subsidiary
 

 
(1,242
)
Income from disposed subsidiary
 

 
2,337

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense
 
2,030

 
(2,692
)
Income tax expense
 
22

 
60

Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
2,008

 
(2,752
)
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
1,426

 
1,746

Net income (loss)
 
$
3,434

 
$
(1,006
)

(1)
Corporate operating expenses and other includes corporate operating expenses, foreign exchange gains (losses), stock-based compensation expense and non-cash expenses related to the consolidation of Kingsway Linked Return of Capital Trust.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. Words such as “expects”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “seeks” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect Kingsway management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause





actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, please refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional Information
Additional information about Kingsway, including a copy of its 2014 Annual Report and filings on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, can be accessed on the Canadian Securities Administrators’ website at www.sedar.com, on the EDGAR section of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or through the Company’s website at www.kingsway-financial.com.