NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFSI) today reported operating earnings of $31.8 million for the third quarter of 2009. Operating earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income, excluding realized investment gains and losses, net of tax. During the third quarter of 2009, book value per share increased 12.4% to $9.03 per share. Gross written premium for the third quarter of 2009 was $295.9 million and net income was $24.2 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 the Company reported gross written premium of $833.7 million, operating earnings of $93.7 million and net income of $75.2 million.
During the third quarter of 2009, the Company incurred a realized loss on an after-tax basis of $7.6 million on its investment portfolio. The realized loss related to certain fixed income and equity investments.
Third Quarter and Nine Months Highlights:
-- Quarterly diluted operating earnings per share of $0.53 ($0.64
in 2008)
-- Quarterly diluted earnings per share of $0.40 ($0.15 in 2008)
-- Nine months ended September 30, 2009 diluted operating earnings
per share of $1.56 ($1.52 in 2008)
-- Nine months ended September 30, 2009 diluted earnings per share
of $1.25 ($0.95 in 2008)
-- 25.1% annualized operating return on equity during the quarter
-- Book value per share of $9.03 as of September 30, 2009 ($6.54
as of December 31, 2008)
-- Combined ratio for the third quarter of 78.0% (58.0% in 2008)
-- Combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of
79.1% (73.1% in 2008)
-- Closed CyberComp(TM) renewal rights transaction early September
2009
Third Quarter Overview:
Total revenue in the third quarter increased by $74.3 million to $182.0 million, or 69.0%, from $107.7 million in the third quarter of 2008. The Company reported operating earnings of $31.8 million or diluted operating earnings per share of $0.53 for the third quarter of 2009. Net income for the third quarter of 2009 was $24.2 million, or $0.40 diluted earnings per share.
Third Quarter and Nine Months Results:
Revenue:
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2009 increased $74.3 million or 69.0% to $182.0 million from $107.7 million for the third quarter of 2008. Net premium earned increased $53.0 million or 57.4% to $145.3 million during the third quarter of 2009 from $92.3 million during the third quarter of 2008. Gross written premium in the third quarter of 2009 increased by $14.7 million to $295.9 million from $281.2 million for the third quarter of 2008.
Total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $536.4 million, an increase of 31.2% from the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Net premium earned increased $108.8 million or 35.6% to $414.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Gross written premium for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 increased by $16.7 million to $833.7 million from $817.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
Third quarter 2009 net written premium (gross written premium less cessions for reinsurance, including cessions to Maiden Insurance Company (Maiden)) increased $27.9 million or 20.0% to $167.3 million from $139.4 million in the third quarter of 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, net written premium increased $51.7 million or 13.2% to $440.6 million from $388.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
Under the terms of a reinsurance agreement with Maiden, the Company ceded approximately $269.7 million and $353.6 million of written premium during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This agreement with Maiden generated $27.4 million and $37.1 million of earned ceding commission for the third quarter of 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $87.2 million and $92.5 million of earned ceding commission for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As previously disclosed, on September 30, 2009 the parties agreed to extend the agreement until June 30, 2013. The agreement continues to enable the Company to leverage its balance sheet, increase its writings, decrease its expense ratio and, most importantly, increase its return on equity.
Commission and fee income (exclusive of ceding commission from Maiden) for the third quarter 2009 decreased by $1.7 million or 19.5% to $7.0 million from $8.7 million for the third quarter 2008. Commission and fee income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 decreased by $1.4 million or 5.9% to $22.0 million from $23.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
Net investment income, excluding realized gains and losses in the third quarter 2009, was $14.1 million compared to $15.4 million in the third quarter 2008. Net investment income, excluding realized gains and losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, was $41.3 million compared to $43.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. During the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company realized investment losses of $7.6 million and $29.8 million, respectively, on an after-tax basis. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company realized investment losses of $18.6 million and $34.6 million, respectively, on an after-tax-basis.
Expenses:
The Company's loss ratio for the third quarter of 2009 was 53.4% compared to 40.2% for the third quarter of 2008. The Company's loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was 55.3% compared to 54.4% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. The third quarter 2008 and year-to-date loss ratios reflect the third quarter release of $15.0 million of loss reserves related to prior accident years.
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses less Ceding Commission Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2009 increased by $19.4 million to $35.8 million from $16.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008. The expense ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2009 increased to 24.6% from 17.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2008.
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses less Ceding Commission Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 increased by $41.6 million to $98.7 million from $57.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. As a result, the expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 increased to 23.8% from 18.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
The expense ratio for both the quarterly and nine month 2008 comparative periods was positively impacted by the cession of assumed unearned premium in the amount of $78.2 million in connection with the acquisition of Unitrin Business Insurance in the second quarter 2008.
Other Matters:
Shareholders' Equity as of September 30, 2009 increased to $535.6 million from $392.5 million as of December 31, 2008. During the quarter, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share.
As of September 30, 2009, the Company's debt-to-capitalization ratio was 23.9% down from 32.0% from the year ended 2008. During the second quarter of 2008, the Company entered into a three-year $40.0 million term loan, which has been reduced as of September 30, 2009 to $23.3 million. Additionally, the Company has $123.7 million of long-term trust preferred securities.
Conference Call:
On November 4, 2009 at 10 a.m. ET, the Company will host a conference call and audio webcast that may be accessed as follows:
Toll-free (Within the U.S.): 877.397.0291
Toll Call (Outside the U.S.): 719.325.4759
Webcast registration: http://ir.amtrustgroup.com
A replay of the call and webcast will be available at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, November 4, 2009 through Wednesday, November 11, 2009. To listen to the replay please dial 888.203.1112 (Within the U.S.) or 719.457.0820 (Outside the U.S.) and enter replay passcode 3891402 or access http://ir.amtrustgroup.com.
About AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a multinational insurance 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.
The AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3280
Forward Looking Statements
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 except as may be required by law. Additional information about these risks and uncertainties, as well as others that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, is contained in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008.
AFSI-F
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
Income Statement
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------ ------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
-------- -------- -------- --------
Gross written premium $295,942 $281,206 $833,698 $817,024
======== ======== ======== ========
Premium income
Net premium written $167,317 $139,429 $440,616 $388,928
Change in unearned premium (22,025) (47,096) (26,098) (83,237)
-------- -------- -------- --------
145,292 92,333 414,518 305,691
Ceding commission (primarily
related party) 27,369 37,116 87,238 92,522
Commission and fee income 6,951 8,749 22,012 23,411
Investment income, net 14,079 15,391 41,250 43,112
Net realized losses (11,653) (45,885) (28,600) (53,240)
Other investment gain (loss)
on managed assets -- -- -- (2,900)
-------- -------- -------- --------
36,746 15,371 121,900 102,905
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenue 182,038 107,704 536,418 408,596
-------- -------- -------- --------
Loss and loss adjustment
expense 77,531 37,094 229,031 166,393
Acquisition costs and other
underwriting expense 63,154 53,549 185,895 149,572
Other 5,764 6,062 16,732 13,360
-------- -------- -------- --------
146,449 96,705 431,658 329,325
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income from continuing
operations 35,589 10,999 104,760 79,271
Other income (expense):
Foreign currency gain (loss) 552 515 1,196 659
Interest expense (3,813) (3,682) (11,991) (11,852)
-------- -------- -------- --------
(3,261) (3,167) (10,795) (11,193)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income from continuing
operations before provision
for income taxes 32,328 7,832 93,965 68,078
Provision for income taxes 8,107 (1,529) 18,811 13,004
Minority interest in net loss
of subsidiary -- -- -- (2,900)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net income available to common
shareholders $ 24,221 $ 9,361 $ 75,154 $ 57,974
======== ======== ======== ========
Operating earnings(1) $ 31,795 $ 39,186 $ 93,744 $ 92,580
======== ======== ======== ========
Earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per share $ 0.41 $ 0.16 $ 1.26 $ 0.97
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.40 $ 0.15 $ 1.25 $ 0.95
Basic operating earnings
per share $ 0.54 $ 0.65 $ 1.58 $ 1.54
Weighted average number of
basic shares outstanding 59,342 59,995 59,475 59,985
Weighted average number of
diluted shares outstanding 59,988 60,816 59,911 60,906
Combined ratio 78.0% 58.0% 79.1% 73.1%
Reconciliation of net
realized losses:
Other-than-temporary
investment impairments $ (3,147) $(36,662) $(15,360) $(44,633)
Impairments recognized
in other comprehensive
income -- -- -- --
-------- -------- -------- --------
(3,147) (36,662) (15,360) (44,633)
Net realized gains (losses)
on sale of investments (8,506) (9,223) (13,240) (8,607)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net realized losses $(11,653) $(45,885) $(28,600) $(53,240)
======== ======== ======== ========
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
Balance Sheet Highlights
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
------------------ ------------------
Cash, cash equivalents and
investments $ 1,464,501 $ 1,361,440
Premiums receivables 417,647 419,577
Goodwill and intangible assets 108,421 102,425
Total assets 3,315,702 3,143,893
Loss and loss expense reserves 1,060,059 1,014,059
Unearned premium 790,452 759,915
Trust preferred securities 123,714 123,714
Total stockholders' equity $ 535,622 $ 392,548
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------ ------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
-------- -------- -------- --------
Reconciliation of net income
to operating earnings:
Net income $ 24,221 $ 9,361 $ 75,154 $ 57,974
Less: Net realized gains
(losses) net of taxes (7,574) (29,825) (18,590) (34,606)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Operating earnings(1) $ 31,795 $ 39,186 $ 93,744 $ 92,580
======== ======== ======== ========
Operating earnings per
common share:
Basic earnings per share $ 0.54 $ 0.65 $ 1.58 $ 1.54
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.53 $ 0.64 $ 1.56 $ 1.52
(1) Operating earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the
Company as net income excluding realized investment gains and
losses, net of tax and should not be considered an alternative to
net income. The Company's management believes that operating
earnings is a useful indicator of trends in the Company's
underlying operations. The Company's measure of operating earnings
may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other
companies.