Exhibit 99.1
SAFETY ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END 2011 RESULTS
Boston, Massachusetts, March 8, 2012. Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported fourth quarter and year end 2011 results. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 was $4.8 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to $13.0 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the comparable 2010 period. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $13.7 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, compared to $56.3 million, or $3.74 per diluted share, for the comparable 2010 period. Safety’s book value per share decreased to $43.22 at December 31, 2011 from $43.37 at December 31, 2010. Safety paid $0.50 per share in dividends to investors during each of the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. Safety paid $2.00 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $1.80 per share during the comparable 2010 period.
The quarter ended December 31, 2011 was marked by two severe weather events in October, the 2011 Halloween snow storm and the Eastern Massachusetts flood event, both of which caused extensive property damage. Similar to the prior three quarters of 2011, we experienced elevated catastrophe claims activity in our personal and commercial property lines for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. As a result, we incurred $9.6 million of catastrophe losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared to no catastrophe losses for the comparable 2010 period. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $62.7 million of catastrophe losses compared to $9.4 million for the comparable 2010 period.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2011, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $23.3 million, or 24.3%, to $119.2 million from $95.9 million for the comparable 2010 period. For the year ended December 31, 2011, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased by $105.8 million, or 29.3%, to $466.6 million from $360.8 million for the comparable 2010 period. Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 were 77.6%, 30.6%, and 108.2%, respectively, compared to 66.9%, 31.0%, and 97.9%, respectively, for the comparable 2010 period. Loss, expense, and combined ratios calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the year ended December 31, 2011 were 78.0%, 29.9%, and 107.9%, respectively, compared to 65.4%, 31.3%, and 96.7%, respectively, for the comparable 2010 period. Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011 was $11.6 million and $36.7 million, respectively, compared to $15.3 million and $48.2 million, respectively, for the comparable 2010 periods.
Direct written premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 increased by $11.4 million, or 8.6%, to $144.8 million from $133.4 million for the comparable 2010 period. Direct written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased by $44.3 million, or 7.3%, to $649.2 million from $604.9 million for the comparable 2010 period. The 2011 increase occurred primarily in our personal automobile and homeowners business lines, which experienced increases of 3.5% and 3.9%, respectively, in average written premium per exposure and increases of 1.5% and 11.5%, respectively, in written exposures.
Net written premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 increased by $10.6 million, or 8.4%, to $136.8 million from $126.2 million for the comparable 2010 period. Net written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased by $43.5 million, or 7.5%, to $620.3 million from $576.8 million for the comparable 2010 period. Net earned premiums for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 increased by $10.3 million, or 7.2%, to $153.8 million from $143.5 million for the comparable 2010 period. Net earned premiums for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased by $46.4 million, or 8.4%, to $598.4 million from $552.0 million for the comparable 2010 period. Net written and net earned premiums increased primarily due to the factors that increased direct written premiums.
Net investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 decreased by $0.3 million, or 3.1%, to $9.3 million from $9.6 million for the comparable 2010 period. Net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2011 decreased by $2.3 million, or 5.6%, to $39.1 million from $41.4 million for the comparable 2010 period. The 2011 decrease primarily resulted from lower short-term interest rates and ongoing maintenance of short duration to protect the portfolio from rising interest rates. Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio decreased to 3.4% for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 from 3.6% for the comparable 2010 period. Net effective annual yield
decreased to 3.6% for the year ended December 31, 2011 from 3.9% for the comparable 2010 period. Our duration was 3.7 years at December 31, 2011, up from 3.4 years at December 31, 2010.
About Safety: Safety Insurance Group, Inc. is the parent of Safety Insurance Company, Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, and Safety Property and Casualty 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, U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“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, 2010 Form 10-K with the SEC on March 14, 2011 and urges shareholders to refer to this document for more complete information concerning Safety’s financial results.
Contacts:
Safety Insurance Group, Inc.
Office of Investor Relations
877-951-2522
InvestorRelations@SafetyInsurance.com
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. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “aim,” “projects,” or words of similar meaning and expressions that indicate future events and trends, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may”. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company’s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expenditures and financial results, are forward looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause actual future conditions, events, results or trends to differ significantly and/or materially from historical results or those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to the competitive nature of our industry and the possible adverse effects of such competition. Although a number of national insurers that are much larger than we are do not currently compete in a material way in the Massachusetts private passenger automobile market, if one or more of these companies decided to aggressively enter the market it could have a material adverse effect on us. Other significant factors include conditions for business operations and restrictive regulations in Massachusetts, the possibility of losses due to claims resulting from severe weather, the possibility that the Commissioner of Insurance may approve future Rule changes that change the operation of the residual market, our possible need for and availability of additional financing, and our dependence on strategic relationships, among others, and other risks and factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC, such as those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on March 14, 2011.
We are not under any obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You should carefully consider the possibility that actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking statements.
Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
| | December 31, | | December 31, | |
| | 2011 | | 2010 | |
| | | | | |
Assets | | | | | |
Investments: | | | | | |
Securities available for sale: | | | | | |
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,025,814 and $1,030,354) | | $ | 1,079,967 | | $ | 1,063,237 | |
Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $20,431 and $13,704) | | 21,080 | | 14,624 | |
Other invested assets | | 7,701 | | 2,817 | |
Total investments | | 1,108,748 | | 1,080,678 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | 37,890 | | 40,291 | |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts | | 154,143 | | 145,726 | |
Accrued investment income | | 10,169 | | 9,471 | |
Taxes recoverable | | 8,406 | | 5,061 | |
Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses | | 3,526 | | 4,579 | |
Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses | | 51,774 | | 53,147 | |
Ceded unearned premiums | | 14,022 | | 12,461 | |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | 56,716 | | 52,824 | |
Deferred income taxes | | — | | 3,643 | |
Equity and deposits in pools | | 14,507 | | 19,971 | |
Other assets | | 12,665 | | 11,600 | |
Total assets | | $ | 1,472,566 | | $ | 1,439,452 | |
| | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | |
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | | $ | 403,872 | | $ | 404,391 | |
Unearned premium reserves | | 329,562 | | 306,053 | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | 52,104 | | 54,239 | |
Payable to reinsurers | | 5,338 | | 5,571 | |
Deferred income taxes | | 3,014 | | — | |
Other liabilities | | 22,363 | | 15,722 | |
Total liabilities | | 816,253 | | 785,976 | |
| | | | | |
Shareholders’ equity | | | | | |
Common stock: $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 16,915,432 and 16,795,504 shares issued | | 169 | | 168 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | 157,167 | | 151,317 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes | | 35,621 | | 21,972 | |
Retained earnings | | 518,925 | | 535,545 | |
Treasury stock, at cost: 1,728,645 and 1,727,455 shares | | (55,569 | ) | (55,526 | ) |
Total shareholders’ equity | | 656,313 | | 653,476 | |
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 1,472,566 | | $ | 1,439,452 | |
Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
| | Three Months Ended
December 31, | | Twelve Months Ended
December 31, | |
| | 2011 | | 2010 | | 2011 | | 2010 | |
Net earned premiums | | $ | 153,748 | | $ | 143,460 | | $ | 598,368 | | $ | 551,950 | |
Net investment income | | 9,344 | | 9,638 | | 39,060 | | 41,395 | |
Net realized gains on investments | | 1,658 | | 568 | | 4,360 | | 863 | |
Finance and other service income | | 4,639 | | 4,869 | | 18,370 | | 18,511 | |
Total revenue | | 169,389 | | 158,535 | | 660,158 | | 612,719 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | | 119,281 | | 95,943 | | 466,640 | | 360,848 | |
Underwriting, operating and related expenses | | 47,004 | | 44,469 | | 179,157 | | 172,823 | |
Interest expense | | 22 | | 22 | | 88 | | 88 | |
Total expenses | | 166,307 | | 140,434 | | 645,885 | | 533,759 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | 3,082 | | 18,101 | | 14,273 | | 78,960 | |
Income tax (benefit) expense | | (1,678 | ) | 5,089 | | 571 | | 22,618 | |
Net income | | $ | 4,760 | | $ | 13,012 | | $ | 13,702 | | $ | 56,342 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Earnings per weighted average common share: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.31 | | $ | 0.86 | | $ | 0.90 | | $ | 3.74 | |
Diluted | | $ | 0.31 | | $ | 0.86 | | $ | 0.90 | | $ | 3.74 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash dividends paid per common share | | $ | 0.50 | | $ | 0.50 | | $ | 2.00 | | $ | 1.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Number of shares used in computing earnings per share: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | 15,186,737 | | 15,046,283 | | 15,165,065 | | 15,065,696 | |
Diluted | | 15,195,845 | | 15,067,428 | | 15,176,006 | | 15,084,295 | |
Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Additional Premium Information
(Dollars in thousands)
| | Three Months Ended
December 31, | | Twelve Months Ended
December 31, | |
| | 2011 | | 2010 | | 2011 | | 2010 | |
Written Premiums | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 144,880 | | $ | 133,430 | | $ | 649,262 | | $ | 604,957 | |
Assumed | | 4,709 | | 4,181 | | 16,521 | | 13,738 | |
Ceded | | (12,832 | ) | (11,427 | ) | (45,467 | ) | (41,888 | ) |
Net written premiums | | $ | 136,757 | | $ | 126,184 | | $ | 620,316 | | $ | 576,807 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Earned Premiums | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 160,900 | | $ | 150,436 | | $ | 626,483 | | $ | 580,942 | |
Assumed | | 4,291 | | 3,883 | | 15,790 | | 14,134 | |
Ceded | | (11,443 | ) | (10,859 | ) | (43,905 | ) | (43,126 | ) |
Net earned premiums | | $ | 153,748 | | $ | 143,460 | | $ | 598,368 | | $ | 551,950 | |
