Exhibit 99 (a)
| Contact: | | Office of Investor Relations |
| e-Mail: | | InvestorRelations@SafetyInsurance.com |
| Telephone: | | 877-951-2522 |
SAFETY ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 2004 RESULTS
Boston, Massachusetts, August 4, 2004. Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported second quarter 2004 results. Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2004 was $10.3 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to $13.1 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the comparable 2003 period. Net realized gains on investment after tax decreased to $0.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2004 from $6.6 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, for the comparable 2003 period.
Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2004 was $16.7 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, compared to $16.0 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, for the comparable 2003 period. Net realized gains on investment after tax decreased to $0.4 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2004 from $6.1 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, for the comparable 2003 period.
Safety’s book value per share increased to $17.69 at June 30, 2004 after paying $0.20 per share in dividends to investors during the first half of 2004, compared to $17.56 at December 31, 2003 after paying $0.34 per share in dividends during 2003.
Direct written premiums for the three months ended June 30, 2004 increased by $15.5 million, or 10.6%, to $161.6 million from $146.1 million for the comparable 2003 period. Direct written premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2004 increased by $28.6 million, or 9.1%, to $342.1 million from $313.5 million for the comparable 2003 period. These increases occurred primarily in our personal automobile line, which experienced a 6.0% increase in average written premium and a 2.5% increase in written exposures. In addition, our commercial automobile line experienced a 8.2% increase in average written premium and a 4.3% increase in written exposures, while our homeowners line had a 7.9% increase in average written premium, which was partly offset by a 0.6% decrease in written exposures.
Net written premiums for the three months ended June 30, 2004 increased by $16.0 million, or 11.1%, to $160.5 million from $144.5 million for the comparable 2003 period. Net written premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2004 increased by $25.3 million, or 8.1%, to $337.0 million from $311.7 million for the comparable 2003 period. These increases were primarily due to an increase in direct written premiums, partly offset by an increase in premiums ceded to Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (“CAR”).
Net earned premiums for the three months ended June 30, 2004 increased by $13.3 million, or 10.0%, to $146.6 million from $133.3 million for the comparable 2003 period. Net earned premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2004 increased by $25.2 million, or 9.5%, to $290.5 million from $265.3 million for the comparable 2003 period. These increases were primarily due to increased rates on personal automobile, commercial automobile and homeowners product lines.
Investment income for the three months ended June 30, 2004 was $6.6 million compared to $7.0 million for the comparable 2003 period. Investment income for the six months ended June 30, 2004 was $13.5 million compared to $14.0 million for the comparable 2003 period. Average cash and investment securities (at amortized cost) increased by $87.1 million, or 14.1%, to $704.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 from $617.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003. Offsetting the effect of this increase was a decrease in net effective yield on our investment portfolio to 3.8% during the six months ended June 30, 2004 from 4.5% during the six months ended June 30, 2003 due to management’s investment strategy to shorten the portfolio duration, shift to higher rated securities, and increase tax-exempt holdings. Our duration decreased to 3.8 years at June 30, 2004 from 4.2 years at December 31, 2003.
GAAP loss, expense and combined ratios for the three months ended June 30, 2004 were 72.1%, 24.9% and 97.0% compared to 76.9%, 24.5% and 101.4% for the comparable 2003 period. GAAP loss, expense and combined ratios for the six months ended June 30, 2004 were 74.7%, 24.2% and 98.9% compared to 78.8%, 24.3% and 103.1% for the comparable 2003 period. Our second quarter 2004 and our first half of 2004 combined ratios decreased by 4.4% and 4.2%, respectively, from the comparable 2003 periods primarily as a result of decreases in the loss ratios due to an increase in average written premium and a decrease in claim frequency in our personal automobile, commercial automobile and homeowners lines of business.
On May 20, 2004, the Board of Directors approved and declared a $0.10 per share quarterly cash dividend on its issued and outstanding common stock, which was paid on June 15, 2004, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2004.
About Safety: Safety Insurance Group, Inc. is the parent of Safety Insurance Company and Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, which are Boston, MA, based writers of property and casualty insurance. Safety is a leading writer of personal automobile insurance in Massachusetts.
Additional Information: Press releases, announcements, SEC Filings and investor information are available under “About Safety”, “Investor Information” on our Company website located at www.SafetyInsurance.com. Safety filed its December 31, 2003 Form 10-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2004, filed its March 31, 2004 Form 10-Q on May 10, 2004, expects to file its June 30, 2004 Form 10-Q no later than August 9, 2004 and urges shareholders to refer to those documents for more complete information concerning Safety’s financial results.
Cautionary Statement under “Safe Harbor” Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This press release contains, and Safety may from time to time make, written or oral “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Safety’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Important factors that could cause the actual results to differ include, but are not necessarily limited to, our concentration of business in Massachusetts personal lines insurance; our dependence on principal employees; our exposure to claims related to severe weather conditions; and rating agency policies and practices. For a more detailed description of these uncertainties and other factors, please see Safety’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Safety assumes no obligation to update or revise any of them in light of new information, future events or otherwise.
Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
| | June 30,
2004 | | December 31,
2003 | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | |
Assets | | | | | |
Investment securities available for sale: | | | | | |
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: $643,456 and $654,175, respectively) | | $ | 646,756 | | $ | 673,636 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | 89,455 | | 26,284 | |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts | | 159,072 | | 134,145 | |
Accrued investment income | | 6,927 | | 7,224 | |
Taxes receivable | | 1,390 | | 1,484 | |
Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses | | 21,563 | | 47,503 | |
Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses | | 80,461 | | 73,539 | |
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | | 42,856 | | 33,474 | |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | 45,872 | | 40,177 | |
Deferred income taxes | | 15,078 | | 8,692 | |
Equity and deposits in pools | | 36,015 | | 26,989 | |
Other assets | | 3,120 | | 3,149 | |
Total assets | | $ | 1,148,565 | | $ | 1,076,296 | |
| | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | |
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | | $ | 421,564 | | $ | 383,551 | |
Unearned premium reserves | | 357,123 | | 301,227 | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | 23,173 | | 37,497 | |
Outstanding claims drafts | | 19,554 | | 20,045 | |
Payable to reinsurers | | 35,066 | | 45,338 | |
Capital lease obligations | | 592 | | 662 | |
Debt | | 19,956 | | 19,956 | |
Total liabilities | | 877,028 | | 808,276 | |
| | | | | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Shareholders’ equity | | | | | |
Common stock: $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; and 15,353,405 shares | | | | | |
and 15,259,991 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | | 154 | | 153 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | 111,464 | | 111,074 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes | | 2,145 | | 12,650 | |
Promissory notes receivable from management | | ____ | | (34 | ) |
Retained earnings | | 157,774 | | 144,177 | |
Total shareholders’ equity | | 271,537 | | 268,020 | |
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 1,148,565 | | $ | 1,076,296 | |
Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share and share data)
| | Three Months Ended
June 30, | | Six Months Ended
June 30, | |
| | 2004 | | 2003 | | 2004 | | 2003 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net earned premiums | | $ | 146,584 | | $ | 133,271 | | $ | 290,510 | | $ | 265,341 | |
Investment income | | 6,633 | | 6,959 | | 13,456 | | 13,988 | |
Net realized gains on investments | | 87 | | 10,100 | | 604 | | 9,371 | |
Finance and other service income | | 3,855 | | 3,600 | | 7,600 | | 7,645 | |
Total revenue | | 157,159 | | 153,930 | | 312,170 | | 296,345 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | | 105,615 | | 102,455 | | 216,927 | | 209,083 | |
Underwriting, operating and related expenses | | 36,454 | | 32,668 | | 70,440 | | 64,470 | |
Interest expenses | | 159 | | 167 | | 312 | | 335 | |
Total expenses | | 142,228 | | 135,290 | | 287,679 | | 273,888 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | 14,931 | | 18,640 | | 24,491 | | 22,457 | |
Income tax expense | | 4,651 | | 5,510 | | 7,841 | | 6,445 | |
Net income | | $ | 10,280 | | $ | 13,130 | | $ | 16,650 | | $ | 16,012 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Earnings per weighted average common share: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.67 | | $ | 0.86 | | $ | 1.09 | | $ | 1.05 | |
Diluted | | $ | 0.66 | | $ | 0.86 | | $ | 1.08 | | $ | 1.05 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash dividends paid per common share | | $ | 0.10 | | $ | 0.07 | | $ | 0.20 | | $ | 0.14 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | 15,269,475 | | 15,259,991 | | 15,264,879 | | 15,259,991 | |
Diluted | | 15,467,370 | | 15,319,125 | | 15,441,924 | | 15,302,378 | |
