Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORP /DE/fac-8k_20160315.htm

 

Exhibit 99

First Acceptance Corporation Reports Operating Results for the Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2015

NASHVILLE, TN, March 15, 2016 – First Acceptance Corporation (NYSE: FAC) today reported its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.

Operating Results

Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2015 increased 30% to $88.5 million from $67.9 million in the same period in the prior year. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased 26% to $331.9 million from $263.2 million in the same period in the prior year.  

Income before income taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2015 was $0.5 million, compared with income before income taxes of $3.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014. Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2015 was $0.3 million, compared with net income of $22.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014.

Loss before income taxes for year ended December 31, 2015 was $2.6 million, compared with income before income taxes of $9.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $1.9 million, compared with net income of $28.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The results for both the three months and year ended December 31, 2014 included a decrease in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $22.4 million.

Excluding litigation settlement costs of $3.7 million and Titan acquisition and integration costs of $1.6 million, for the year ended December 31, 2015, income before income taxes was $2.7 million.

Joe Borbely, President and CEO, commented “Our quarterly revenue growth of 30% over last year and emphasis on cost containment produced record low expense ratios for both the quarter (14.9%) and year (17.8%). These efforts contributed to both a profitable quarter and year (after excluding non-recurring items) despite only slight improvement in the recent elevated claims frequency. The newly-acquired Titan retail stores were rebranded to “Acceptance” during the quarter, and we look forward to maximizing their potential by introducing Acceptance products in 2016. We also remain optimistic that our recent pricing and underwriting actions will positively impact our loss ratio in the coming year.”

Premiums, Commissions and Fee Income. Premiums earned increased by $13.3 million, or 24%, to $69.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, from $56.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015 premiums earned increased by $48.7 million, or 22%, to $267.0 million from $218.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. These improvements were primarily due to higher average premiums and an increase in the number of policies in force.

Commission and fee income increased by $7.2 million, or 69%, to $17.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, from $10.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014. Commission and fee income increased by $20.2 million, or 51%, to $59.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from $39.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the three months and year ended December 31, 2015, revenue from the Titan retail locations acquired on July 1, 2015 accounted for $5.6 million and $12.6 million, respectively, of this increase. The remaining increase in commission and fee income was a result of higher fee income related to commissionable ancillary products sold through our previously-existing retail locations and the increase in the number of policies in force.  

Loss Ratio. The loss ratio was 84.4% for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared with 74.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2014. The loss ratio was 82.0% for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with 73.9% for the year ended December 31, 2014. We experienced favorable development related to prior periods of $0.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared with $2.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we experienced unfavorable development related to prior periods of $0.8 million, compared with favorable development of $4.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The unfavorable loss development for the year ended December 31, 2015 was largely the result of an increase in bodily injury loss adjustment expenses (primarily outside legal costs) driven by the overall increase in claim frequency.

Excluding the development related to prior periods for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the loss ratios were 88.5% and 79.2%, respectively. Excluding the development related to prior fiscal years, the loss ratios for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were 81.7% and 76.1%, respectively. These year-over-year increases in the loss ratio were primarily due to higher than expected claim frequency and severity across multiple coverages principally in property damage liability and collision claims. We believe that an increase in the number of miles driven by insured drivers as a result of lower gas prices and a favorable economy has been a contributing factor to an industry-wide increase in frequency. In response, the Company has continued to implement aggressive rate and underwriting actions as warranted at a state and coverage level.

1


 

Expense Ratio. The expense ratio was 14.9% for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared with 20.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2014. The expense ratio was 17.8% for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with 22.7% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The year-over-year decrease in the expense ratio was primarily due to the increase in premiums earned which resulted in a lower percentage of fixed expenses in our retail operations (such as rent and base salary) and the Company’s efforts on cost containment.

Combined Ratio. The combined ratio increased to 99.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from 95.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the combined ratio increased to 99.8% from 96.6% for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Titan Acquisition

Effective July 1, 2015, we acquired 83 Titan Insurance retail locations, principally in California (48), but also in Texas (12), Arizona (10), Florida (4), Nevada (4) and New Mexico (5), which were previously owned and operated by Nationwide. These agencies, which are now rebranded under our Acceptance Insurance name, sell private passenger non-standard automobile insurance through both Nationwide and other unrelated insurance companies for which our revenues are in the form of commission and fee income.

Going forward, we plan to develop our own products for California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, and introduce our current Texas and Florida products into stores in those states. We have applied for an insurance company license in California and are already licensed in the three other states where we do not currently write business. These new products are not expected to be available until sometime in 2016, and California is subject to the approval of our insurance company license application by the California Department of Insurance.

Revenues and income before income taxes of the acquired retail locations included in our results for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $12.6 million and $0.2 million (excluding acquisition and integration-related costs), respectively.

Next Release of Financial Results

 

We currently plan to report our financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2016 on May 10, 2016.

About First Acceptance Corporation

We are principally a retailer, servicer and underwriter of non-standard personal automobile insurance based in Nashville, Tennessee. Our insurance operations generate revenues from selling non-standard personal automobile insurance policies and related products in 17 states. We conduct our servicing and underwriting operations in 13 states and are licensed as an insurer in 12 additional states. Non-standard personal automobile insurance is made available to individuals because of their inability or unwillingness to obtain standard insurance coverage due to various factors, including payment history, payment preference, failure in the past to maintain continuous insurance coverage or driving record and/or vehicle type.

At December 31, 2015, we leased and operated 440 retail locations and a call center staffed with employee-agents. Our employee-agents primarily sell non-standard personal automobile insurance products underwritten by us, as well as certain commissionable ancillary products. In most states, our employee-agents also sell a complementary insurance product providing personal property and liability coverage for renters underwritten by us. In addition, retail locations in some markets offer non-standard personal automobile insurance serviced and underwritten by other third-party insurance carriers for which we receive a commission. In addition to our retail locations, we are able to complete the entire sales process over the phone via our call center or through the internet via our consumer-based website or mobile platform. On a limited basis, we also sell our products through selected retail locations operated by independent agents. Additional information about First Acceptance Corporation can be found online at www.acceptance.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the expected effects of the recently completed acquisition. These statements, which have been included in reliance on the “safe harbor” provisions of the federal securities laws, involve risks and uncertainties. Investors are hereby cautioned that these statements may be affected by important factors, including, among others, the factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual operations and results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

2


 

FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

  

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

69,564

 

 

$

56,344

 

 

$

266,987

 

 

$

218,315

 

Commission and fee income

 

 

17,640

 

 

 

10,410

 

 

 

59,892

 

 

 

39,733

 

Investment income

 

 

1,329

 

 

 

1,187

 

 

 

5,024

 

 

 

5,123

 

Net realized gains (losses) on investments, available-for-sale

 

 

2

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

(11

)

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

88,535

 

 

 

67,928

 

 

 

331,892

 

 

 

263,194

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

58,727

 

 

 

41,979

 

 

 

219,031

 

 

 

161,302

 

Insurance operating expenses

 

 

27,215

 

 

 

21,589

 

 

 

105,254

 

 

 

87,328

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

245

 

 

 

274

 

 

 

1,126

 

 

 

996

 

Litigation settlement

 

 

32

 

 

 

81

 

 

 

3,677

 

 

 

187

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

35

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

144

 

 

 

185

 

Depreciation

 

 

527

 

 

 

464

 

 

 

1,751

 

 

 

1,767

 

Amortization of identifiable intangibles assets

 

 

253

 

 

 

 

 

 

514

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

1,043

 

 

 

431

 

 

 

2,967

 

 

 

1,706

 

 

 

 

88,077

 

 

 

64,852

 

 

 

334,464

 

 

 

253,471

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

458

 

 

 

3,076

 

 

 

(2,572

)

 

 

9,723

 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

 

171

 

 

 

(18,892

)

 

 

(642

)

 

 

(18,345

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

287

 

 

$

21,968

 

 

$

(1,930

)

 

$

28,068

 

Net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

(0.05

)

 

$

0.68

 

Diluted

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

0.53

 

 

$

(0.05

)

 

$

0.68

 

Number of shares used to calculate net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

41,041

 

 

 

40,997

 

 

 

41,030

 

 

 

40,985

 

Diluted

 

 

41,375

 

 

 

41,294

 

 

 

41,030

 

 

 

41,283

 

3


 

FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

  

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments, available-for-sale at fair value (amortized cost of $128,304 and $119,119,

   respectively)

 

$

131,582

 

 

$

125,085

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

115,587

 

 

 

102,429

 

Premiums, fees, and commissions receivable, net of allowance of $454 and $392

 

 

69,881

 

 

 

56,486

 

Deferred tax assets, net

 

 

18,301

 

 

 

16,521

 

Other investments

 

 

11,256

 

 

 

10,530

 

Other assets

 

 

6,950

 

 

 

5,962

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

5,141

 

 

 

3,173

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

 

5,509

 

 

 

3,459

 

Goodwill

 

 

29,429

 

 

 

 

Identifiable intangible assets, net

 

 

8,491

 

 

 

4,800

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

402,127

 

 

$

328,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

 

$

122,071

 

 

$

96,613

 

Unearned premiums and fees

 

 

83,426

 

 

 

67,942

 

Debentures payable

 

 

40,256

 

 

 

40,211

 

Term loan from principal stockholder

 

 

29,753

 

 

 

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

7,345

 

 

 

3,262

 

Other liabilities

 

 

15,606

 

 

 

13,453

 

Total liabilities

 

 

298,457

 

 

 

221,481

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value, 75,000 shares authorized; 41,060 and 41,016 issued and

   outstanding, respectively

 

 

411

 

 

 

410

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

457,476

 

 

 

457,242

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax of $62 and $923, respectively

 

 

3,491

 

 

 

5,090

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(357,708

)

 

 

(355,778

)

     Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

103,670

 

 

 

106,964

 

     TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

402,127

 

 

$

328,445

 

 

 

4


 

FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Supplemental Data

(Unaudited)

PREMIUMS EARNED BY STATE

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Gross premiums earned:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia

 

$

13,668

 

 

$

10,606

 

 

$

51,287

 

 

$

40,792

 

Florida

 

 

10,463

 

 

 

8,537

 

 

 

41,102

 

 

 

33,519

 

Texas

 

 

9,406

 

 

 

7,381

 

 

 

35,771

 

 

 

28,017

 

Ohio

 

 

6,931

 

 

 

5,805

 

 

 

26,745

 

 

 

22,315

 

Alabama

 

 

6,278

 

 

 

5,423

 

 

 

24,611

 

 

 

21,717

 

Illinois

 

 

5,837

 

 

 

5,527

 

 

 

24,050

 

 

 

20,552

 

South Carolina

 

 

5,563

 

 

 

4,123

 

 

 

20,254

 

 

 

16,407

 

Tennessee

 

 

4,561

 

 

 

3,222

 

 

 

16,702

 

 

 

12,748

 

Pennsylvania

 

 

2,301

 

 

 

2,161

 

 

 

9,224

 

 

 

8,426

 

Indiana

 

 

2,085

 

 

 

1,619

 

 

 

7,954

 

 

 

6,155

 

Missouri

 

 

1,529

 

 

 

1,265

 

 

 

5,844

 

 

 

4,902

 

Mississippi

 

 

858

 

 

 

745

 

 

 

3,398

 

 

 

3,030

 

Virginia

 

 

185

 

 

 

 

 

 

417

 

 

 

 

Total gross premiums earned

 

 

69,665

 

 

 

56,414

 

 

 

267,359

 

 

 

218,580

 

Premiums ceded to reinsurer

 

 

(101

)

 

 

(70

)

 

 

(372

)

 

 

(265

)

Total net premiums earned

 

$

69,564

 

 

$

56,344

 

 

$

266,987

 

 

$

218,315

 

COMBINED RATIOS (INSURANCE OPERATIONS)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Loss

 

 

84.4

%

 

 

74.5

%

 

 

82.0

%

 

 

73.9

%

Expense

 

 

14.9

%

 

 

20.8

%

 

 

17.8

%

 

 

22.7

%

Combined

 

 

99.3

%

 

 

95.3

%

 

 

99.8

%

 

 

96.6

%

NUMBER OF RETAIL LOCATIONS

Retail location counts are based upon the date that a location commenced or ceased writing business.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Retail locations – beginning of period

 

 

438

 

 

 

353

 

 

 

356

 

 

 

360

 

Opened

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

4

 

Acquired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

83

 

 

 

 

Closed

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

(8

)

Retail locations – end of period

 

 

440

 

 

 

356

 

 

 

440

 

 

 

356

 

 

5


 

FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Supplemental Data (continued)

(Unaudited)

RETAIL LOCATIONS BY STATE

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Alabama

 

 

24

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

24

 

Arizona

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

California

 

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

 

Florida

 

 

39

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

31

 

Georgia

 

 

60

 

 

 

60

 

 

 

60

 

 

 

60

 

 

 

60

 

Illinois

 

 

61

 

 

 

60

 

 

 

61

 

 

 

58

 

 

 

60

 

Indiana

 

 

17

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

17

 

Mississippi

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Missouri

 

 

9

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

10

 

Nevada

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

New Mexico

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Ohio

 

 

27

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

27

 

Pennsylvania

 

 

14

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

15

 

South Carolina

 

 

24

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

25

 

Tennessee

 

 

23

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

19

 

Texas

 

 

68

 

 

 

58

 

 

 

63

 

 

 

68

 

 

 

58

 

Total

 

 

440

 

 

 

356

 

 

 

360

 

 

 

438

 

 

 

353

 

SOURCE: First Acceptance Corporation

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:

Michael J. Bodayle

615.844.2885

6