Benefits and losses increased 4.0% during the first quarter of 2003. As a percentage of premiums, benefits and losses were 71.5% for the first quarter compared to 71.9% in the first quarter of 2002. The rate increases implemented by the company during both years on the Medicare supplement line of business have helped to mitigate the impact of higher medical costs.
The company has been reasonably successful in controlling operating costs, while continuing to increase premium revenue. As a percentage of premiums, these expenses were 30.5% for the first quarter of 2003 compared to 29.9% in the first quarter of 2002.
Investment income for the first quarter of 2003 increased $0.6 million, or 16.8% from the first quarter of 2002. The increase in investment income is primarily due to a shift from short-term investments to higher yielding fixed income maturities. The Company’s investment in fixed income securities has increased from $149.8 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2002 to $191.5 million in the first quarter of 2003.
The Company recognized minor realized gains during the first quarter of 2003 compared to a $0.1 million realized gain in the first quarter of 2002. Management continually evaluates the Company’s investment portfolio and when opportunities arise will divest appreciated investments.
Interest expense for the first quarter increased $0.1 million, or 16.2% compared to the same period in 2002. As of March 31, 2003, total debt increased $5.5 million to $49.5 million, from $44.0 million in the first quarter of 2002. On December 4, 2002, a Connecticut statutory business trust created by the Company, issued $17.5 million of trust preferred securities in a pooled private placement. Of the $17.0 million in net proceeds, $12.0 million was used to reduce the principal balance on the Term Loan, all of which matures in June 2004, to $32.0 million from $44.0 million. The trust preferred securities, which have a 30-year term, have an interest rate equivalent of LIBOR plus 4.00% and the portion of the Term Loan that was repaid with the proceeds from the trust preferred issuance had an interest rate equivalent of LIBOR plus 2.75%. The increase in debt level, along with the increase in pricing, accounts for the increase in interest expense for the quarter.
Other expenses (commissions, underwriting expenses, and other expenses) increased $1.7 million, or 15.1%, for the first quarter of 2003 primarily due to an increase in acquisition costs related to new business in addition to an overall increase in operating expenses, specifically salaries which increased $0.3 million during the first quarter of 2003 as compared to the first quarter of 2002. Also, agents’ commissions at American Southern for the first quarter of 2003 increased $0.4 million from the first quarter of 2002. The majority of American Southern’s business is structured in a way that agents are rewarded or penalized based upon the loss ratio of the business they submit to the company. In periods where the loss ratio decreases, commissions and underwriting expenses will increase. On a consolidated basis, as a percentage of earned premiums, other expenses increased to 33.6% in the first quarter of 2003 from 32.1% in the first quarter of 2002.
The major cash needs of the Company are for the payment of claims and expenses as they come due and the maintenance of adequate statutory capital and surplus to satisfy state regulatory requirements and meet debt service requirements of the Company. The Company’s primary source of cash is written premiums and investment income. Cash payments consist of current claim payments to insureds and operating expenses such as salaries, employee benefits, commissions and taxes.
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries reported a combined statutory net income of $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2003 compared to statutory net income of $1.9 million for the first quarter of 2002. The reasons for the increase in statutory earnings in the first three months of 2003 are the same as those previously discussed in “Results of Operations.” Statutory results are further impacted by the recognition of all costs of acquiring business. In a growth scenario, statutory results are generally less than results determined under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company’s insurance subsidiaries reported a combined GAAP net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $2.2 million for the first three months of 2003 compared to $2.9 million for the first three months of 2002. Statutory results for the Casualty Division differ from the results of operations under GAAP due to the deferral of acquisition costs. The Life and Health Division’s statutory results differ from GAAP primarily due to deferral of acquisition costs, as well as different reserving methods.
The Company has two series of preferred stock outstanding, substantially all of which is held by affiliates of the Company’s chairman and principal shareholders. The outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock (“Series B Stock”) have a stated value of $100 per share; accrue annual dividends at a rate of $9.00 per share and are cumulative; in certain circumstances may be convertible into an aggregate of approximately 3,358,000 shares of common stock; and are redeemable at the Company’s option. The Series B Stock is not currently convertible. At March 31, 2003, the Company had accrued, but unpaid, dividends on the Series B Stock totaling $8.7 million. The outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock (“Series C Stock”) have a stated value of $100 per share; accrue annual dividends at a rate of $9.00 per share and are cumulative; in certain circumstances may be convertible into an aggregate of approximately 627,000 shares of common stock; and are redeemable at the Company’s option. The Series C Stock is not currently convertible. The Company paid $0.1 million in dividends to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock during the first three months of 2003.
As of March 31, 2003, the Company’s $49.5 million of borrowings consisted of $32.0 million outstanding under a single term loan (“Term Loan”) with Wachovia Bank N.A. (“Wachovia”) and $17.5 million of trust preferred securities. The Company must repay $2.0 million in principal of the Term Loan on or before December 31, 2003, and the balance at maturity in 2004. The interest rate on the Term Loan is based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an applicable margin, which was 2.75% at March 31, 2003. The Term Loan requires the Company to maintain certain covenants including, among others, ratios that relate funded debt, as defined, to total capitalization and interest coverage. The Company must also comply with limitations on capital expenditures and additional debt obligations. Effective in March 2003, the agreement with Wachovia Bank was amended in order to, among other things, modify an existing covenant pertaining to the ratio of funded debt to consolidated total capitalization. The outstanding $17.5 million of trust preferred securities have a maturity of thirty years from the date of issuance, are callable, in whole or in part, only at the option of the Company after five years and quarterly thereafter, and have an interest rate equivalent to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 4.00%. The principal asset of the Trust is $18.0 million of subordinated debentures issued by the Parent Company with identical rates of interest and maturities as the trust preferred securities. The obligations of the Parent Company with respect to the issuance of the trust preferred securities represent a full and unconditional guarantee by the Parent Company of the Trust’s obligations with respect to the trust preferred securities. Subject to certain exceptions and limitations, the Parent Company may elect from time to time to defer subordinated debenture interest payments, which would result in a deferral of distribution payments on the related trust preferred securities.
The Company intends to repay its obligations under the Term Loan and the trust preferred securities using dividend and tax sharing payments from its subsidiaries. In addition, the Company believes that, if necessary, at maturity, the Term Loan could be refinanced with the current lender, although there can be no assurance of the terms or conditions of such a refinancing.
The Company provides certain administrative and other services to each of its insurance subsidiaries. The amounts charged to and paid by the subsidiaries in the first quarter of 2003 increased over the first quarter of 2002. In addition, the Company has a formal tax-sharing agreement between the Company and its insurance subsidiaries. It is anticipated that this agreement will provide the Company with additional funds from profitable subsidiaries due to the subsidiaries’ use of the Company’s tax loss carryforwards, which totaled approximately $21.7 million at March 31, 2003.
Over 90% of the investment assets of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are in marketable securities that can be converted into cash, if required; however, use of such assets by the Company is limited by state insurance regulations. Dividend payments to the Company by its wholly owned insurance subsidiaries are subject to annual limitations and are restricted to the greater of 10% of statutory surplus or statutory earnings before recognizing realized investment gains of the individual insurance subsidiaries. At March 31, 2003, Georgia Casualty had $17.1 million of statutory surplus, American Southern had $32.9 million of statutory surplus, Association Casualty had $17.1 million of statutory surplus, and Bankers Fidelity had $26.1 million of statutory surplus.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $2.9 million in the first three months of 2003 compared to net cash used by operating activities of $7.8 million in the first three months of 2002. Cash and short-term investments decreased from $41.6 million at December 31, 2002, to $38.0 million at March 31, 2003, mainly due to an increase in longer-term investments. Total investments (excluding short-term investments) increased to $259.3 million due to the shift from short-term investments.
The Company believes that the dividends, fees, and tax-sharing payments it receives from its subsidiaries and, if needed, borrowings from banks will enable the Company to meet its liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future. Management is not aware of any current recommendations by regulatory authorities, which, if implemented, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources or operations.
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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table discloses the amounts of payments due under specified contractual obligations, aggregated by category of contractual obligation, for specified time periods:
| | | | | |
| Payments due by period (in thousands)
|
Contractual Obligations
| Total
| Less than 1 year
| 1 - 3 years
| 3 - 5 years
| More than 5 years
|
Bank debt payable | $ 32,000 | $ 2,000 | $ 30,000 | $ - | $ - |
Trust preferred securities obligation | 17,500 | - | - | - | 17,500 |
Operating Leases
| 8,073
| 1,175
| 3,007
| 1,504
| 2,387
|
Total
| $ 57,573
| $ 3,175
| $ 33,007
| $ 1,504
| $ 19,887
|
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS
Due to the nature of the Company’s business it is exposed to both interest rate and market risk. Changes in interest rates, which represent the largest factor affecting the Company, may result in changes in the fair market value of the Company’s investments, cash flows and interest income and expense. The Company is also subject to risk from changes in equity prices. There have been no material changes to the Company’s market risks since December 31, 2002.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Within the 90 days prior to the date of this Form 10-Q, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our management including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls and procedures or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date the Company carried out its evaluation.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains and references certain information that constitutes forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements, to the extent they are not historical facts, should be considered forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s assessments of various risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions made in accordance with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties, including those identified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002 and the other filings made by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
During 2000, the Company’s subsidiary American Southern renewed one of its larger accounts. Although this contract was renewed through a competitive bidding process, one of the parties bidding for this particular contract contested the award of this business to American Southern and filed a claim to nullify the contract. During the fourth quarter of 2000, American Southern received an unfavorable judgment relating to this litigation and appealed the ruling. The contract, which had accounted for approximately 10% of annualized premium revenue of Atlantic American, remained in effect pending appeal. On March 4, 2003, the South Carolina Court of Appeals reversed the lower court ruling and remanded the case back to the Procurement Review Panel to determine if American Southern was entitled to vendor preference. The contract subject to dispute contractually terminated on April 30, 2003. While management at this time cannot predict the potential outcome in this case, or quantify the actual impact of any future decisions or determinations, it may have a material impact on the future results of operations of the Company.
From time to time the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to litigation occurring in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
99.1 - Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: May 14, 2003 | By: /s/ John G. Sample, Jr. John G. Sample, Jr. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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CERTIFICATIONS
I, Hilton H. Howell, Jr., certify that:
- I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic American Corporation;
- Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
- Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
- The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
- designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
- evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
- presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
- The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
- all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
- any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
- The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
| | |
Date: May 14, 2003 | | /s/ Hilton H. Howell, Jr. Hilton H. Howell, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer |
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CERTIFICATIONS
I, John G. Sample, Jr., certify that:
- I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic American Corporation;
- Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
- Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
- The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
- designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
- evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
- presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
- The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
- all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
- any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
- The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
| | |
Date: May 14, 2003 | | /s/ John G. Sample, Jr. John G. Sample, Jr. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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