Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2002 The NSA Group's net earned premiums fell $8.5 million, or 5.3%, during the three month period ended September 30, 2003. The impact from ceding only 20% of physical damage premiums under the Inter-Ocean reinsurance agreement beginning in the second half of 2003 from 90% in all of 2002 and the first half on 2003 mitigated the decline. Earned premiums excluding the effect of that reinsurance agreement declined $28.9 million, or 14.0%, due primarily to a planned withdrawal of business in non-focus states partially offset by rate increases. The policies in force declined 6.8% from 658,000 at September 2002 to 613,000 at September 2003. The decline in policy counts was primarily due to actions taken in late 2002 to discontinue writing inadequately priced business in certain focus states as well as decisions by insureds no t to renew. Since September 2003, policies in force for the NSA Group are beginning to increase as a result of the marketing of new programs in certain focus states. At the end of October 2003, policies in force increased to 617,000. In addition, gross written premiums for the NSA Group, which represent premiums from insureds before the effect of reinsurance, increased $2.8 million, or 1.4%, for the third quarter of 2003 as compared with the same period in 2002 as a result of these new programs in several focus states as well as significant growth in volume in California, the state from which Infinity derives the greatest amount of revenue. As a result of increases in rates, lower frequency of claims per auto insured and moderate increases in the average cost per claim, as well as reduction of business in non-focus states, the loss and LAE ratio, excluding the impact of the Inter-Ocean reinsurance agreement has improved 2.1 points since the third quarter of 2002.&n bsp; The expense ratio improved by 1.8 points in the third quarter of 2003 primarily as a result of the impact of the ceding commission from the Inter-Ocean reinsurance agreement. Excluding this impact, the expense ratio increased .7 points to 21.8%, in the third quarter of 2003 as compared to the same period in 2002. The .7 point increase in the expense ratio was due to charges of $2.9 million relating to an increase in commissions paid to certain agents based on underwriting results and an increase in amortization of acquisition costs relating to a periodic review of the deferability of acquisition expenses. Excluding these items, the expense ratio fell .6 point for the three month period ended September 30, 2003. The Assumed Agency Business' net earned premiums increased $17.4 millionin the three month period ended September 30, 2003 as compared to the three month period ended September 30, 2002. In the third quarter 2002, Infinity recorded ceded reinsurance to Inter-Ocean retroactive to January 1, 2002. In 2002 and the first half of 2003, Infinity ceded 90% of that business under the reinsurance agreement. Earned premiums excluding the effect of this agreement declined $9.8 million, or 24.2%, due primarily to a reduction in business volume partially offset by rate increases. The policies in force on personal automobile policies declined 15.0% from 131,000 at September 2002 to 110,000 at September 2003. The decline in policy counts is primarily due to actions taken in late 2002 to discontinue writing inadequately priced business in certain focus states as well as decisions by insureds not to renew. In addition, 12,000 of the decline in policies in force is a res ult of the non-renewal of business in New Jersey that began in October 2002. Since September 2003, total policies in force continued to decline as the business in non-focus states continues to decline. At the end of October, policies in force were 108,000. The loss and LAE ratios improved compared to the three month period ended September 30, 2002, due primarily to the effects of the Inter-Ocean reinsurance agreement. Excluding the effects of this agreement, the loss and LAE ratios still showed improvement, dropping from 81.6% for the third quarter of 2002 to 80.5% for the same period of 2003, as a result of increases in rates, lower frequency of claims per autos insured and moderate increases in the average cost per claims, as well as a reduction in volume in non-focus states, such as New Jersey, which were typicallyunprofitable. The expense ratio increased 61.5 points due to the effect of the Inter-Ocean reinsurance agreement. Excluding the eff ects of this agreement, the expense ratio improved by 6.7 points, dropping from 27.8% in the third quarter of 2002 to 21.1% for the same period in 2003, as a result of expense savings from consolidation efforts.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 The NSA Group's net earned premiums fell $60.6 million, or 12.2%, in the nine month period ended September 30, 2003 compared to the nine month period ended September 30, 2002 primarily as a result of actions taken to discontinue writing inadequately priced priced business in certain focus states. Earned premiums excluding the effect of the Inter-Ocean reinsurance agreement declined $98.8 million, or 13.6%, due primarily to a reduction in business volume partially
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