The following summarizes Bankers Fidelity’s operating expenses for the second quarter and first six months of 2005 and the comparable periods in 2004 (in thousands):
Benefits and losses increased 9.4% during the second quarter of 2005 and 9.1% during the first six months of 2005 over the comparable periods in 2004. As a percentage of premiums, benefits and losses were 74.2% for the second quarter of 2005 and 73.9% for the first six months of 2005 compared to 70.9% in the second quarter of 2004 and 71.0% for the first six months of 2004. The increase in the loss ratio was primarily due to the previously discussed acquired block of Medicare supplement business. Bankers Fidelity has filed and received approval for the appropriate rate increases for this block of business; however, the impact of these rate increases on the loss ratio is not expected to materialize until the second half of 2005. Rate increases implemented by Bankers Fidelity during both 2005 and 2004 on the Medicare supplement line of business have helped to mitigate the impact of higher medical costs.
Bankers Fidelity has been reasonably successful in controlling operating costs, while continuing to increase premium revenue. As a percentage of premiums, these expenses were 29.7% for the second quarter of 2005 and 29.3% for the first six months of 2005 compared to 32.5% for the second quarter of 2004 and 31.5% for the first six months of 2004. During the 2004 second quarter and year to date period, Bankers Fidelity experienced increased expenses in both printing and postage that resulted from providing new prescription drug cards to policyholders as well as increased marketing costs associated with the increasing number and quality of leads for the company’s agent sales force, which did not reoccur in 2005.
Investment income increased $0.3 million, or 8.4%, during the second quarter of 2005 and $0.4 million, or 4.9%, for six months ended June 30, 2005 over the comparable periods in 2004. The increase in investment income for the 2005 second quarter and year to date period was primarily due to higher average invested assets in addition to a higher average yield on investments.
The Company recognized a $0.03 million net realized gain during the first six months of 2005 compared to a $0.8 million net realized gain in the first six months of 2004. During the first quarter of 2005, the Company repositioned a portion of its fixed income investment portfolio due to rising interest rates which resulted in a net realized loss that offset a realized gain of $0.5 million that occurred during the second quarter of 2005 from the sale of an equity security. The Company does not currently anticipate future sales within its fixed income investment portfolio. During the first six months of 2005 and 2004, the Company recorded impairment charges on certain investment securities. While the write-downs did not impact the carrying value of these investments, they resulted in realized losses of $0.03 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Management continually evaluates the Company’s investment portfolio and, as needed, makes adjustments for impairments and/or will divest investments. (See Item 3 for a discussion about market risks).
Interest expense increased $0.1 million, or 7.6%, during the second quarter of 2005 and $0.04 million, or 2.4%, during the first six months of 2005 over the comparable periods in 2004. The increase in interest expense for the second quarter and first six months of 2005 was due to an increase in the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), which continued throughout 2004 and into 2005. The following factors substantially offset the increase in LIBOR during the first half of 2005. On June 30, 2004, the Company’s $15.0 million notional amount interest rate swap agreement with Wachovia Bank, N.A. (“Wachovia”) matured. During the term of this agreement, the Company paid a fixed interest rate of 5.1% and received a variable interest rate equal to the three-month LIBOR, which was generally lower than the fixed rate. Given the decline in interest rates subsequent to the inception of the swap agreement in 2001, the current increases in interest expense are being partially offset by the elimination of higher fixed rate payments from the matured swap agreement. Additionally, during the second half of 2004, the Company repaid $3.0 million in principal of its term loan to Wachovia, which also helped to offset the increase in interest expense by reducing the average debt level.
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OTHER EXPENSES
Other expenses (commissions, underwriting expenses, and other expenses) increased $0.7 million, or 4.2%, during the second quarter of 2005 and $2.2 million, or 6.5%, during the first six months of 2005 over the comparable periods in 2004. The increase in other expenses for the second quarter and first six months of 2005 was primarily attributable to increased acquisition costs at American Southern resulting from premium growth and profitability. Agents’ variable commissions at American Southern increased $0.3 million during the second quarter of 2005 and $0.6 million for the first six months of 2005 as compared to the same periods in 2004 due primarily to lower loss ratios. 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 and conversely in periods where the loss ratio increases, commissions and underwriting expenses should decrease. Also, fixed commissions at American Southern increased $0.3 million during the first six months of 2005 over the comparable period in 2004 primarily as a result of the new programs and accounts the company has underwritten. Fixed commissions at American Southern for the second quarter of 2005 were consistent with the 2004 second quarter. In addition, the deferral of acquisition costs at American Southern in the 2005 second quarter and year to date period decreased $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, from the comparable periods in 2004 and, as a result, increased other expenses during the second quarter and first half of 2005. The decrease in deferred acquisition costs at American Southern was primarily due to a significantly lower level of premium growth during the first half of 2005 than that which occurred during 2004. The Company has also experienced a significant increase in expenses related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance work and audit fee accruals. These expenses increased $0.3 million, or 194.4%, during the second quarter of 2005 and $0.5 million, or 175.9%, during the first six months of 2005 over the comparable periods in 2004. On a consolidated basis, as a percentage of earned premiums, other expenses decreased to 40.4% in the second quarter of 2005 from 40.7% in the second quarter of 2004. Year to date this ratio decreased to 39.8% from 40.5% in the comparable period in 2004.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The primary cash needs of the Company are for the payment of claims and operating expenses, maintaining adequate statutory capital and surplus levels, and meeting debt service requirements. Current and expected patterns of claim frequency and severity may change from period to period but generally are expected to continue within historical ranges. The Company’s primary sources of cash are written premiums, investment income and the sale and maturity of invested assets. The Company believes that, within each subsidiary, total invested assets will be sufficient to satisfy all policy liabilities and that cash inflows from investment earnings, future premium receipts and reinsurance collections will be adequate to fund the payment of claims and expenses as needed. Cash flows at the Parent company are derived from dividends, management fees, and tax sharing payments from the subsidiaries. The cash needs of the Parent company are for the payment of operating expenses, the acquisition of capital assets and debt service requirements.
The Parent’s insurance subsidiaries reported a combined statutory net income of $3.8 million for the first six months of 2005 compared to statutory net income of $3.7 million for the first six months of 2004. The reasons for the increase in statutory net income in the first six months of 2005 are discussed above in “Underwriting Results.” Statutory results are further impacted by the recognition of all costs of acquiring business. In a scenario in which the Company is growing, statutory results are generally lower than results determined under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Parent’s insurance subsidiaries reported a combined GAAP net income of $2.7 million for the first six months of 2005 compared to $5.0 million for the first six months of 2004. Statutory results for the property and casualty operations differ from the results of operations under GAAP due to the deferral of acquisition costs. The life and health operations’ statutory results differ from GAAP primarily due to the deferral of acquisition costs, as well as the use of different reserving methods.
The Company has one 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 June 30, 2005, the Company had accrued, but unpaid, dividends on the Series B Stock totaling $11.5 million. For all periods in which the Company had an accumulated deficit, dividends on the Series B Stock were accrued from additional paid in capital.
At June 30, 2005, the Company’s $52.7 million of borrowings consisted of $11.5 million of bank debt (the “Term Loan’) with Wachovia and an aggregate of $41.2 million of outstanding junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (“Junior Subordinated Debentures”). The Term Loan requires the Company to pay $0.5 million in principal on June 30, and $1.3 million in principal on December 31, of each year beginning in 2005, with one final payment of $6.8 million at maturity on June 30, 2008. The interest rate on the Term Loan is equivalent to three-month LIBOR plus an applicable margin, and was 5.10% at June 30, 2005. The margin varies based upon the Company’s leverage ratio (debt to total capitalization, each as defined) and ranges from 1.75% to 2.50%. The Term Loan requires the Company to comply with certain covenants including, among others, ratios that relate funded debt, as defined, to total capitalization and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, as well as the maintenance of minimum levels of tangible net worth. The Company must also comply with limitations on capital expenditures, additional debt obligations, equity repurchases and redemptions, as well as minimum risk-based capital levels. On June 30, 2005, in accordance with the Term Loan agreement, the Company repaid $0.5 million in principal to Wachovia, reducing the outstanding amount of the term loan to $11.5 million. Effective May 2, 2005, the Term Loan credit agreement was amended. The amendment temporarily decreased the minimum investment of all bonds rated “2” or better by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) from 70% of the aggregate value of total investments to 50% during the period from May 2, 2005 to and including December 31, 2005. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company cannot make any bond investments that are not rated “2” or better by the NAIC. The amendment to the credit agreement was necessitated by the credit rating downgrade of General Motors Corporation, General Motors Acceptance Corporation, and Ford Motor Credit Company. While management is hopeful that these companies will take the actions necessary to result in the upgrade of their credit ratings, to the extent possible, the Company has begun discussions with Wachovia with respect to a possible further extension of this modification through 2006. While Wachovia has made no firm commitment, it is the opinion of management that an additional modification extension could be negotiated, if required.
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The Company has formed two statutory business trusts which exist for the exclusive purpose of issuing trust preferred securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the trusts and investing the gross proceeds of the trust preferred securities in Junior Subordinated Debentures. The outstanding $41.2 million of Junior Subordinated Debentures have a maturity of thirty years from their original 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 of three-month LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The margin ranges from 4.00% to 4.10%. At June 30, 2005, the effective interest rate was 7.36%. The obligations of the Company with respect to the issuances of the trust preferred securities represent a full and unconditional guarantee by the Parent of each trust’s obligations with respect to the trust preferred securities. Subject to certain exceptions and limitations, the Company may elect from time to time to defer Junior Subordinated Debenture interest payments, which would result in a deferral of distribution payments on the related trust preferred securities.
The Company intends to pay its obligations under the Term Loan and the Junior Subordinated Debentures using dividend and tax sharing payments from the operating subsidiaries, or from potential future financing arrangements. In addition, the Company believes that, if necessary, at maturity, the Term Loan can be refinanced with the current lender, although there can be no assurance of the terms or conditions of such a refinancing, or its availability.
The Parent provides certain administrative and other services to each of its insurance subsidiaries. The amounts charged to and paid by the subsidiaries in the second quarter of 2005 increased over the second quarter of 2004. In addition, there is in place a formal tax-sharing agreement between the Parent and its insurance subsidiaries. It is anticipated that this agreement will provide the Parent with additional funds from profitable subsidiaries due to the subsidiaries’ use of the Parent’s tax loss carryforwards, which totaled approximately $17.6 million at June 30, 2005.
Over 90% of the investment assets of the Parent’s insurance subsidiaries are in marketable securities that can be converted into cash, if required; however, the use of such assets by the Company is limited by state insurance regulations. Dividend payments to the Parent 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 June 30, 2005, Georgia Casualty had $18.5 million of statutory surplus, American Southern had $33.8 million of statutory surplus, Association Casualty had $18.1 million of statutory surplus, and Bankers Fidelity had $33.0 million of statutory surplus.
Net cash used in operating activities was $5.0 million in the first six months of 2005 compared to $5.1 million in the first six months of 2004; and cash and short-term investments decreased from $41.0 million at December 31, 2004 to $37.6 million at June 30, 2005.
The Company believes that the dividends, fees, and tax-sharing payments it receives from its subsidiaries and, if needed, additional borrowings from financial institutions 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
|
| Total
| Less than 1 year
| 1 - 3 years
| 3 - 5 years
| More than 5 years
|
| (In thousands) |
Bank debt payable | $ 11,500 | $ 1,250 | $ 3,500 | $ 6,750 | $ - |
Junior Subordinated Debentures | 41,238 | - | - | - | 41,238 |
Interest payable(1) | 83,900 | 3,233 | 6,811 | 6,052 | 67,804 |
Operating leases | 4,711 | 1,126 | 1,575 | 1,584 | 426 |
Purchase commitments(2) | 9,321 | 9,184 | 137 | - | - |
Losses and claims(3) | 170,588 | 68,235 | 54,588 | 25,588 | 22,177 |
Future policy benefits(4) | 50,620 | 8,605 | 15,186 | 13,667 | 13,162 |
Unearned premiums(5) | 44,876 | 19,297 | 13,463 | 6,283 | 5,833 |
Other policy liabilities | 5,102
| 5,102
| -
| -
| -
|
Total | $ 421,856
| $ 116,032
| $ 95,260
| $ 59,924
| $ 150,640
|
| |
(1) | Interest payable is based on interest rates as of June 30, 2005 and assumes that all debt remains outstanding until its stated contractual maturity. The interest rates on outstanding bank debt and trust preferred obligations are variable and are equal to three-month LIBOR plus an applicable predetermined margin. |
|
(2) | Represents balances due for goods and/or services which have been contractually committed as of June 30, 2005. To the extent contracts provide for early termination with notice but without penalty, only the amounts contractually due during the notice period have been included. |
|
(3) | Losses and claims include case reserves for reported claims and reserves for claims incurred but not reported ("IBNR"). While payments due on claim reserves are considered contractual obligations because they relate to insurance policies issued by the Company, the ultimate amount to be paid to settle both case reserves and IBNR is an estimate, subject to significant uncertainty. The actual amount to be paid cannot be determined until the Company reaches a settlement with any applicable claimant. Final claim settlements may vary significantly from the present estimates, particularly since many claims will not be settled until well into the future. In estimating the timing of future payments by year for quarterly reporting, the Company has assumed that its historical payment patterns will be consistent with those projections at the end of the prior year end. However, the actual timing of future payments will likely vary materially from these estimates due to, among other things, changes in claim reporting and payment patterns and large unanticipated settlements. Amounts reflected do not consider reinsurance amounts which may also be recoverable based on the level of ultimate sustained loss. |
|
(4) | Future policy benefits relate to life insurance policies on which the Company is not currently making payments and will not make future payments until the occurrence of an insurable event, such as a death or disability, or the occurrence of a payment triggering event, such as a surrender of a policy. Occurrence of any of these events is outside the control of the Company and the payment estimates are based on significant uncertainties such as mortality, morbidity, expenses, persistency, investment returns, inflation and the timing of payments. For regulatory purposes, the Company does perform annual cash flow modeling of such liabilities at each year end, which is the basis for the indicated disclosure; however, due to the significance of the assumptions used, the amount presented could materially differ from actual results. |
|
(5) | Unearned premiums represent future revenue for the Company; however, under certain circumstances, such premiums may be refundable with cancellation of the underlying policy. Significantly all unearned premiums will be earned within the following twelve month period as the related future insurance protection is provided. Significantly all costs related to such unearned premiums have already been incurred and paid and are included in deferred acquisition costs; however, future losses related to the unearned premium have not been recorded. The contractual obligations related to unearned premiums reflected in the table represent the estimated prior year end loss ratio applied to the quarter end unearned premium balances, with loss payments projected in comparable proportions to the year end loss and claims reserves. Projecting future losses is subject to significant uncertainties and the projected payments will most likely vary materially from these estimates as a result of differences in future severity, frequency and other anticipated and unanticipated factors. Amounts reflected do not take into account reinsurance amounts which may be recoverable based on the level of ultimate sustained loss. |
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Due to the nature of the Company’s business it is exposed to both interest rate and market risk. Changes in interest rates, which have historically represented 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. During the first quarter of 2005, the fair value of the Company’s investments in fixed maturity securities of General Motors Acceptance Corporation, General Motors Corporation, and Ford Motor Credit Company decreased from December 31, 2004 primarily due to changes in credit risk and interest rates. The carrying amount of these fixed maturity investments at June 30, 2005 was $34.2 million with a cost basis of $40.1 million.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, 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 (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). 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 changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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 current 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 ended December 31, 2004 and the other filings made by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On May 2, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an initial plan that allowed for the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Repurchase Plan”). As amended since its original adoption, the Repurchase Plan currently allows for repurchases of up to an aggregate of 2.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, as determined by an authorized officer of the Company. Such purchases can be made from time to time in accordance with applicable securities laws and other requirements.
Other than pursuant to the Repurchase Plan, no purchases of common stock of the Company were made by or on behalf of the Company during the periods described below.
The table below sets forth information regarding repurchases by the Company of shares of its common stock on a monthly basis during the three months ended June 30, 2005.
| | | | | |
Period
| Total Number of Shares Purchased
| Average Price Paid Per Share
| Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
| Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
|
April 1 - April 30, 2005 | 10,715 | $3.00 | 10,715 | 605,245 |
May 1 - May 31, 2005 | 47 | 3.00 | 47 | 605,198 |
June 1 - June 30, 2005 | -
| -
| -
| 605,198 |
Total | 10,762
| $3.00
| 10,762
| |
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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
On May 3, 2005, the shareholders of the Company cast the following votes at the annual meeting of shareholders with respect to the election of directors of the Company, and the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants.
| | | |
Election of Directors
| Shares Voted
|
Director Nominee | | For | Withheld |
J. Mack Robinson | | 19,842,711 | 608,101 |
Hilton H. Howell, Jr. | | 19,842,721 | 608,091 |
Edward E. Elson | | 20,395,672 | 55,140 |
Harold K. Fischer | | 19,844,792 | 606,020 |
Samuel E. Hudgins | | 19,777,243 | 673,569 |
D. Raymond Riddle | | 20,409,162 | 41,650 |
Harriett J. Robinson | | 19,842,711 | 608,101 |
Scott G. Thompson | | 20,247,780 | 203,032 |
Mark C. West | | 20,409,152 | 41,660 |
William H. Whaley, M.D. | | 19,840,978 | 609,834 |
Dom H. Wyant | | 20,409,152 | 41,660 |
| | | | |
Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accountants | Shares Voted
|
| For | Against | Abstain |
Deloitte & Touche LLP | 20,432,441 | 5,406 | 12,965 |
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
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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: August 11, 2005 | By: /s/ John G. Sample, Jr. John G. Sample, Jr. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX