Exhibit 99
Press Release | Source: First Acceptance Corporation | |
Contact: Michael Bodayle (615) 844-2885 |
First Acceptance Corporation Reports Operating Results for the Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2007
NASHVILLE, TN, September 13, 2007 /Businesswire-FirstCall/ — First Acceptance Corporation (NYSE: FAC) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.
Operating Results
Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $92.2 million compared with $75.2 million in fiscal 2006. Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $23.9 million, or $(0.50) per share on a diluted basis, compared with net income of $14.7 million, or $0.30 per share on a diluted basis, for the same period of fiscal 2006. Revenues for the year ended June 30, 2007 were $347.6 million, compared with $249.0 million for fiscal year 2006. Net loss for the year ended June 30, 2007 was $16.7 million, or $(0.35) per share on a diluted basis, compared with net income of $28.1 million, or $0.57 per share on a diluted basis, for fiscal year 2006.
Premiums earned increased by $15.6 million, or 24%, to $80.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $64.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Premiums earned increased by $91.9 million, or 44% to $300.7 million for the year ended June 30, 2007, from $208.8 million for fiscal year 2006. The majority of our premium growth was in Florida and Texas, where we opened 81 locations in fiscal year 2006; Chicago, where we acquired 72 locations in January 2006; and South Carolina, where we opened 21 locations in the second half of fiscal 2006. At June 30, 2007, we operated 462 retail locations (or “stores”) compared with 460 stores at June 30, 2006. Our total number of insured policies in force at June 30, 2007 increased 13% to 226,974 from 200,401 at June 30, 2006.
The net loss of $23.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 resulted from: (i) an increase in the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio, including adverse development of $12.6 million related to prior accident periods, and (ii) a $16.9 million increase in the provision for income taxes resulting from a reduction in our deferred tax asset as a result of expired net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards and a reduction in estimated future taxable income available to utilize NOL carryforwards expiring in fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Ratio.Our loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 93.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared with 67.6% for the same period last year. This increase resulted from (i) approximately $12.6 million in adverse development for losses and loss adjustment expenses related to prior accident periods (i.e., losses for accidents that occurred prior to the beginning of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007), (ii) an increase in the loss ratios in Georgia, Florida and Illinois primarily due to an increase in paid severity, and (iii) higher overall loss ratios attributable to our high-growth states. We have increased our premium rates in certain states and intend to take action to increase our rates in certain other states in the next 60 days to improve our loss ratio (see “Rate Actions” below).
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The $12.6 million of adverse development was primarily attributable to significant unanticipated increases in (i) the frequency of Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) losses in Florida, (ii) the severity of Bodily Injury (“BI”) losses in Florida and Georgia, and (3) the severity of Property Damage losses in Georgia and other states. The higher than anticipated severity in Georgia BI losses reflected a higher than anticipated occurrence of large losses (losses of $10,000 or above).
Our loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 80.4% for the year ended June 30, 2007 compared with 67.5% for the same period last year. For the year ended June 30, 2007, we experienced adverse development for losses occurring in prior accident periods of approximately $3.9 million, which was primarily attributable to an increase in paid frequency in Florida related to the BI and PIP coverages.
Expense Ratio.Our expense ratio for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was 21.1%, a slight improvement from 21.6% for the same period in fiscal 2006. Our expense ratio was 19.8% for the year ended June 30, 2007 compared with 21.5% for fiscal year 2006. These decreases were primarily the result of the increase in premiums earned from new stores without a corresponding increase in their fixed operating costs (such as advertising, rent and base compensation of employee-agents). Our combined ratio increased to 114.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2007 from 89.2% for the same period last year, and to 100.2% for fiscal year 2007 from 89.0% for fiscal year 2006, as a result of the increase in the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio discussed above.
Provision for Income Taxes.The provision for income taxes for the three months and year ended June 30, 2007 included (i) a $6.9 million increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance related to a reduction in our estimated future taxable income available to utilize NOL carryforwards expiring in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 and (ii) a $10.0 million non-cash write-down of our deferred tax asset for NOL carryforwards that expired in fiscal year 2007. The increase in the valuation allowance resulted from revisions in management’s estimates for our future taxable income based on the results for the most recent fiscal year. The write-down of our deferred tax asset reflects the reduction in taxable income for the current period caused by the increase in our loss and loss adjustment expense ratio. The provision for the three months and year ended June 30, 2006 included a decrease in the valuation allowance of $10.5 million resulting from revisions in management’s estimates for our future taxable income based on the results for the then most recent fiscal year.
Commenting on these operating results, Stephen J. Harrison, Chief Executive Officer and President, said “I am disappointed with the financial performance of the Company during the past fiscal year. We have reevaluated our key operating areas and we are currently focused on the initiatives detailed below to improve our operating and financial performance.”
Company Initiatives
Rate Actions.In January 2007, we hired a new head of product management with significant experience in rate making for the non-standard automobile insurance sector. We have filed new rates, which are currently effective in Florida (commenced December 2006), South Carolina and Georgia (commenced March 2007) and Pennsylvania (commenced September 1, 2007). We are currently preparing a rate filing for Texas, which we expect to file on or before
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September 30, 2007. We expect to file new rates in the emerging states of Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio within the next 60 days.
We will file new rates for Bodily Injury, Medical Payments, and Uninsured Motorists Coverage in Florida, in conjunction with the change in Florida coverage resulting from the October 1, 2007 expiration of Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law (Personal Injury Protection, or PIP). We also expect to file for new rates for our other Florida coverages (i.e., Property Damage, Comprehensive and Collision, etc.) within 60 days, which should be approved and made effective prior to December 31, 2007. While the scheduled elimination of the PIP coverage will result in a decline in premiums earned in Florida, it may improve our overall loss ratio for Florida. Our loss ratio (exclusive of loss adjustment expenses) for Florida PIP coverage was 133.1% and 107.6% for the three months and year ended June 30, 2007, respectively, on premiums earned of $4.5 million and $15.5 million for the respective periods.
Operational Actions and Initiatives.We are evaluating the underwriting profitability of all of our retail stores and will continue to focus on improving the results of our underperforming stores. We also have initiated a thorough review of our claims-handling operations. This process is being led by our new head of claims, who joined the Company in March 2007. Moreover, we will continue to add experienced analysts to support our product, actuarial, claims and finance initiatives.
Credit Agreement
At June 30, 2007, we were not in compliance with two of the financial covenants under our credit agreement relating to our fixed charge ratio and our combined ratio. Our lenders waived this non-compliance as of June 30, 2007 and we have entered into an amendment to the credit agreement dated September 13, 2007. The amended terms have less restrictive financial covenants, increased the interest rate we pay by 75 basis points and require us to make a prepayment of at least $6.0 million in principal before December 31, 2007. In addition, the availability under our revolving credit facility was permanently reduced from $5.0 million to $2.0 million.
2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Our 2007 annual meeting of stockholders of First Acceptance Corporation will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2007, in Nashville, Tennessee. Further details will be provided in a forthcoming Proxy Statement.
About First Acceptance Corporation
First Acceptance Corporation provides non-standard private passenger automobile insurance, primarily through employee-agents. At June 30, 2007, we leased and operated 462 retail offices in 12 states. Our insurance company subsidiaries are licensed to do business in 25 states. Additional information about First Acceptance Corporation can be found online at www.firstacceptancecorp.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. 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
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important factors, including, among others, the factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K 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. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
($000s EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
($000s EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
Premiums earned | $ | 80,031 | $ | 64,436 | $ | 300,661 | $ | 208,771 | ||||||||
Fee income | 9,649 | 8,035 | 37,324 | 26,757 | ||||||||||||
Investment income | 2,526 | 1,801 | 8,863 | 5,762 | ||||||||||||
Other | 25 | 923 | 789 | 7,712 | ||||||||||||
$ | 92,231 | $ | 75,195 | $ | 347,637 | $ | 249,002 | |||||||||
Costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | $ | 74,400 | $ | 43,542 | $ | 241,908 | $ | 140,845 | ||||||||
Insurance operating expenses | 26,547 | 22,999 | 97,629 | 75,773 | ||||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 441 | 530 | 2,623 | 2,494 | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | 310 | 82 | 1,063 | 500 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 428 | 684 | 1,624 | 1,463 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | 599 | 441 | 1,874 | 898 | ||||||||||||
$ | 102,725 | $ | 68,278 | $ | 346,721 | $ | 221,973 | |||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | $ | (10,494 | ) | $ | 6,917 | $ | 916 | $ | 27,029 | |||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 13,436 | (7,774 | ) | 17,586 | (1,039 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (23,930 | ) | $ | 14,691 | $ | (16,670 | ) | $ | 28,068 | ||||||
Net income (loss) per share: | ||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | (0.50 | ) | $ | 0.31 | $ | (0.35 | ) | $ | 0.59 | ||||||
Diluted | $ | (0.50 | ) | $ | 0.30 | $ | (0.35 | ) | $ | 0.57 | ||||||
Number of shares used to calculate net income (loss) per share: | ||||||||||||||||
Basic | 47,603 | 47,525 | 47,584 | 47,487 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | 47,603 | 49,605 | 47,584 | 49,576 | ||||||||||||
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FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
($000s EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
($000s EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(Unaudited)
June 30, | ||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at market value | $ | 176,555 | $ | 127,828 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 34,161 | 31,534 | ||||||
Premiums and fees receivable, net | 71,771 | 65,095 | ||||||
Reinsurance receivables | 326 | 1,344 | ||||||
Receivable for securities | 19,973 | 999 | ||||||
Deferred tax asset | 30,936 | 48,068 | ||||||
Other assets | 15,512 | 11,259 | ||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | 5,166 | 5,330 | ||||||
Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets | 144,492 | 143,870 | ||||||
TOTAL | $ | 498,892 | $ | 435,327 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 91,446 | 62,822 | ||||||
Unearned premiums and fees | 88,831 | 78,331 | ||||||
Notes payable and capitalized lease obligations | 23,490 | 24,026 | ||||||
Debentures payable | 41,240 | — | ||||||
Other liabilities | 14,401 | 16,725 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 259,408 | 181,904 | ||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 239,484 | 253,423 | ||||||
TOTAL | $ | 498,892 | $ | 435,327 | ||||
Book value per share | $ | 5.03 | $ | 5.33 | ||||
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FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Supplemental Data
($000s EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(Unaudited)
Supplemental Data
($000s EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(Unaudited)
GROSS PREMIUMS EARNED BY STATE
Three Months Ended June 30, | Year Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | Change | 2007 | 2006 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premiums earned: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia | $ | 17,449 | $ | 17,467 | $ | (18 | ) | $ | 70,312 | $ | 68,948 | $ | 1,364 | |||||||||||
Florida | 14,284 | 11,086 | 3,198 | 55,117 | 26,327 | 28,790 | ||||||||||||||||||
Texas | 8,926 | 6,652 | 2,274 | 32,480 | 18,596 | 13,884 | ||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 8,520 | 5,106 | 3,414 | 31,201 | 7,680 | 23,521 | ||||||||||||||||||
Alabama | 7,899 | 7,595 | 304 | 30,316 | 28,952 | 1,364 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee | 5,935 | 6,093 | (158 | ) | 23,800 | 24,387 | (587 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
South Carolina | 5,436 | 872 | 4,564 | 14,797 | 1,238 | 13,559 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ohio | 4,323 | 3,862 | 461 | 16,455 | 14,046 | 2,409 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pennsylvania | 2,220 | 942 | 1,278 | 6,937 | 1,996 | 4,941 | ||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 2,146 | 1,946 | 200 | 8,186 | 6,163 | 2,023 | ||||||||||||||||||
Missouri | 1,600 | 1,466 | 134 | 6,087 | 5,332 | 755 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mississippi | 1,293 | 1,354 | (61 | ) | 4,973 | 5,187 | (214 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total gross premiums earned | 80,031 | 64,441 | 15,590 | 300,661 | 208,852 | 91,809 | ||||||||||||||||||
Premiums ceded | — | (5 | ) | 5 | — | (81 | ) | 81 | ||||||||||||||||
Total net premiums earned | $ | 80,031 | $ | 64,436 | $ | 15,595 | $ | 300,661 | $ | 208,771 | $ | 91,890 | ||||||||||||
GAAP COMBINED RATIOS (INSURANCE COMPANIES)
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 93.0 | % | 67.6 | % | 80.4 | % | 67.5 | % | ||||||||
Expense(1) | 21.1 | % | 21.6 | % | 19.8 | % | 21.5 | % | ||||||||
Combined | 114.1 | % | 89.2 | % | 100.2 | % | 89.0 | % | ||||||||
(1) | Insurance operating expenses are reduced by fee income from insureds and, through December 31, 2006, the transaction service fee received from the Chicago agencies whose business we acquired. |
POLICIES IN FORCE
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Policies in force — beginning of period | 247,034 | 187,048 | 200,401 | 119,422 | ||||||||||||
Net (decrease) increase during period | (20,060 | ) | 13,353 | 26,573 | 80,979 | |||||||||||
Policies in force — end of period | 226,974 | 200,401 | 226,974 | 200,401 | ||||||||||||
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FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Supplemental Data (continued)
(Unaudited)
Supplemental Data (continued)
(Unaudited)
NUMBER OF RETAIL LOCATIONS
Retail location counts are based upon the date that a location commenced writing business.
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Retail locations — beginning of period | 468 | 447 | 460 | 248 | ||||||||||||
Opened | — | 17 | 18 | 149 | ||||||||||||
Acquired | — | — | — | 72 | ||||||||||||
Closed | (6 | ) | (4 | ) | (16 | ) | (9 | ) | ||||||||
Retail locations — end of period | 462 | 460 | 462 | 460 | ||||||||||||
RETAIL LOCATIONS BY STATE
June 30, | March 31, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Alabama | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | ||||||||||||
Florida | 41 | 39 | 42 | 40 | ||||||||||||
Georgia | 62 | 63 | 63 | 63 | ||||||||||||
Illinois | 81 | 86 | 82 | 86 | ||||||||||||
Indiana | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | ||||||||||||
Mississippi | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||
Missouri | 15 | 18 | 15 | 20 | ||||||||||||
Ohio | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | ||||||||||||
Pennsylvania | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 | ||||||||||||
South Carolina | 28 | 21 | 28 | 12 | ||||||||||||
Tennessee | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | ||||||||||||
Texas | 103 | 99 | 103 | 98 | ||||||||||||
Total | 462 | 460 | 468 | 447 | ||||||||||||
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