NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (Nasdaq:AFSI), today reported net income of $21.4 million and revenues of $152.9 million for the second quarter 2007. "The second quarter results confirm the validity of our strategic growth objectives, as well as underscore the unique niche that AmTrust continues to occupy in specialized areas of insurance," stated Barry Zyskind, president and chief executive officer.
In addition, AmTrust announced that it has no exposure to sub-prime mortgages. Virtually all of the mortgage-backed securities in the Company's portfolio are government or agency-guaranteed.
The Company reported $21.4 million in net income, or $0.36 per basic share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
Second Quarter and Six Months Highlights:
* Net income from continuing operations up 121.4% for the second
quarter of 2007 compared to the second quarter of 2006
* Net income from continuing operations up 127.4% for the six months
of 2007 compared to the six months of 2006
* Quarterly operating earnings per basic share was $0.31
* Quarterly net realized gains per basic share was $0.05
* Quarterly earnings per basic share was $0.36
* Six months ended June 30, 2007 earnings per basic share was $0.72
* Annualized quarterly return on equity for the second quarter was
23.1%
* Book value per basic share was $6.32 (as of June 30, 2007)
* GAAP combined ratio for the second quarter was 90.0%
* GAAP combined ratio for the six months ended was 89.6%
Second Quarter and Six Months Results:
Revenue:
Net revenue in the second quarter 2007 increased by $65.6 million or 75.1% to $152.9 million (excluding other investment gain on managed assets) from $87.3 million in the second quarter 2006. Net revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by $127.6 million or 76.9% to $293.5 million (excluding other investment gain on managed assets) from $165.9 million in the second quarter 2006.
Net earned premium in the second quarter 2007 increased by $58.0 million or 80.1%, to $130.4 million from $72.4 million in the second quarter 2006. Net earned premium for the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by $106.9 million or 75.2%, to $249.1 million from $142.2 million in the second quarter 2006. The increase is primarily attributable to premium growth achieved through the successful integration of business acquired in renewal rights transactions as well as internal growth.
Net investment income including realized gains and losses in the second quarter 2007 increased by $7.6 million or 71.7% to $18.2 million from $10.6 million in the second quarter 2006. Average invested assets for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $896.5 million compared to $613.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Net investment income including realized gains and losses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by $18.1 million or 103.4% to $35.6 million from $17.5 million in the first half of 2006. The primary reason for the increase is the growth in average invested assets over the periods.
Expenses:
The Company's loss ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 was 65.2% compared to 64.7% for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. The Company's loss ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was 64.0% compared to 63.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2006.
Policy Acquisition Expense, Salaries and Benefits Expense and Other Insurance General and Administrative Expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 increased by $11.4 million to $32.4 million from $21.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Despite the increase, the expense ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 decreased to 24.8% from 29.0% for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Policy Acquisition Expense, Salaries and Benefits Expense and Other Insurance General and Administrative Expense for the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by $22.3 million to $63.5 million from $41.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Despite the increase, the expense ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 decreased to 25.5% from 29.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2006.
The decreases are the result of the Company's ability to leverage its current infrastructure.
Interest expense in the second quarter 2007 increased to $2.5 million from $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2006. The increase is the result of the issuance by the Company in the last twelve months of $70.0 million of trust preferred securities.
Other Matters:
Shareholders' Equity as of June 30, 2007 increased to $379.2 million from $306.9 million as of June 30, 2006.
As of June 30, 2007 the Company's debt-to-capitalization ratio was 24.6%. The Company's debt relates to four trust preferred securities offerings in which the Company participated in between 2005 and March 2007.
Conference Call:
On August 9, 2007 at 10 a.m. ET, the company will hold a conference call that can be accessed as follows:
Dial-in: 866.409.1555
Passcode: 6234315
In order to participate in the conference call, you must register at:
http://ir.amtrustgroup.com
A live broadcast of the call will be available on-line at the above website. An on-line replay will follow shortly after the call.
In addition, a telephonic replay will be available for seven days and can be accessed by dialing 888.203.1112. Enter replay passcode 6234315.
About AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a multinational specialty property and casualty holding company, which, through its insurance carriers, offers specialty property and casualty insurance products, including workers' compensation, commercial automobile and general liability; extended service and warranty coverage. For more information about AmTrust, visit www.amtrustgroup.com, or call AmTrust toll-free at 866.203.3037.
Forward Looking Statement
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that actual developments will be those anticipated by the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of significant risks and uncertainties, including non-receipt of the expected payments, changes in interest rates, effect of the performance of financial markets on investment income and fair values of investments, development of claims and the effect on loss reserves, accuracy in projecting loss reserves, the impact of competition and pricing environments, changes in the demand for the Company's products, the effect of general economic conditions, adverse state and federal legislation, regulations and regulatory investigations into industry practices, developments relating to existing agreements, heightened competition, changes in pricing environments, and changes in asset valuations. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
Income Statement
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
--------------------- ---------------------
2007 2006 2007 2006
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross premium
written $ 210,020 $ 113,732 $ 399,693 $ 237,010
Premium income
Net premium
written $ 163,522 $ 97,991 $ 324,141 $ 208,744
Change in
unearned premium 33,102 25,556 75,029 66,499
--------- --------- --------- ---------
130,420 72,435 249,112 142,245
Fee income 4,292 4,229 8,782 6,115
Investment
income, net 13,234 6,086 24,625 11,421
Net realized gains 4,962 4,515 11,022 6,091
Other investment
gain on managed
assets 2,191 -- 1,901 --
--------- --------- --------- ---------
24,679 14,830 46,330 23,627
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total revenue 155,099 87,265 295,442 165,872
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Loss and loss
adjustment
expense 84,999 46,884 159,556 90,658
Policy acquisition
expenses 17,447 8,149 32,030 16,472
Salaries and
benefits 9,921 6,614 18,933 11,732
Other insurance
general and
administrative
expense 5,004 6,256 12,578 13,039
Other underwriting
expenses 3,427 4,850 6,540 5,826
--------- --------- --------- ---------
120,798 72,753 229,637 137,727
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income from
continuing
operations 34,301 14,512 65,805 28,145
Other income
(expense)
Foreign currency
gain (loss) 629 (113) 119 (15)
Loss from equity
investment (215) -- (215) --
Interest expense (2,531) (1,030) (4,335) (2,243)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
(2,117) (1,143) (4,431) (2,258)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income from
continuing
operations
before provision
for income taxes 32,184 13,369 61,374 25,887
Provision for
income taxes 8,597 3,816 16,599 7,075
Minority interest
in net loss
of subsidiary 2,191 -- 1,901 --
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income from
continuing
operations 21,396 9,553 42,874 18,812
Discontinued
operations -- 250 -- 250
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income
available
to common
shareholders $ 21,396 $ 9,803 $ 42,874 $ 19,062
========= ========= ========= =========
Earnings per
common share:
Basic earnings
per share $ 0.36 $ 0.16 $ 0.72 $ 0.36
Diluted earnings
per share $ 0.35 $ 0.16 $ 0.71 $ 0.36
========= ========= ========= =========
Weighted average
number of
basic shares
outstanding 59,959 59,943 59,959 52,289
Weighted average
number of
diluted shares
outstanding 60,535 59,943 60,297 52,289
Combined ratio 90.0% 93.7% 89.6% 92.7%
Annualized return
on equity 23.1% 12.9% 23.8% 17.9%
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
Balance Sheet Highlights
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
June 30, December 31,
2007 2006
---------- ----------
Cash, cash equivalents
and investments, net $ 929,654 $ 785,780
Premiums receivables 239,257 147,779
Goodwill and intangible assets 40,376 29,369
Total assets 1,653,950 1,223,715
Loss and loss expense reserves 385,961 295,805
Unearned premium 451,995 323,155
Junior subordinate debt 123,714 82,476
Total stockholders' equity $ 379,187 $ 340,479