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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark one)
þ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 0-06334
AssuranceAmerica Corporation
(Exact name of smaller reporting company as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 87-0281240 | |
(State of Incorporation) | (IRS Employer ID Number) |
5500 Interstate North Parkway, Suite 600 | 30328 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(770) 952-0200
(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code)
(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code)
Check whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YESþ NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filero Accelerated filero Non-accelerated filero Smaller reporting companyþ
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YESo NO þ
There were 64,903,881 shares of the Registrant’s $.01 par value Common Stock outstanding as of May 8, 2008.
ASSURANCEAMERICA CORPORATION
Index to Form 10-Q
Index to Form 10-Q
Page | ||||||||
3 | ||||||||
4 | ||||||||
5 | ||||||||
6 | ||||||||
7 | ||||||||
13 | ||||||||
Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | N/A | |||||||
16 | ||||||||
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION | ||||||||
17 | ||||||||
Item 5 Other Information | N/A | |||||||
21 | ||||||||
22 | ||||||||
EX-31.1 SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO | ||||||||
EX-31.2 SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF THE CFO | ||||||||
EX-32.1 SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO & CFO |
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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
ASSURANCEAMERICA CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2008 | December 31, 2007 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | (Audited) | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,003,560 | $ | 5,511,842 | ||||
Short-term investments | 647,089 | 642,924 | ||||||
Long-term investments, available for sale at fair value | 15,180,752 | 14,838,738 | ||||||
Marketable equity securities | 2,296,149 | 2,563,040 | ||||||
Other securities | 155,000 | 155,000 | ||||||
Investment income due and accrued | 202,854 | 158,981 | ||||||
Receivable from insureds | 34,008,314 | 28,802,125 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable (including $9,905,209 and $6,077,396 on paid losses) | 34,219,873 | 29,327,012 | ||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 25,711,455 | 21,145,161 | ||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | 2,643,407 | 2,130,323 | ||||||
Property and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $2,949,851 and $2,737,288) | 2,843,208 | 2,360,747 | ||||||
Other receivables | 2,860,388 | 2,966,287 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | 1,050,441 | 861,588 | ||||||
Intangibles (net of accumulated amortization of $2,346,546 and $2,240,233) | 11,267,333 | 11,368,383 | ||||||
Security deposits | 88,061 | 86,438 | ||||||
Prepaid income tax | — | 148,677 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets | 1,918,096 | 1,824,453 | ||||||
Other assets | 358,181 | 361,419 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 139,454,161 | $ | 125,253,138 | ||||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 8,013,763 | $ | 7,184,132 | ||||
Unearned premium | 37,064,613 | 30,991,565 | ||||||
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | 35,164,465 | 33,660,814 | ||||||
Reinsurance payable | 30,495,079 | 25,174,138 | ||||||
Provisional commission reserve | 3,449,617 | 2,963,308 | ||||||
Debt, related party | 4,198,450 | 4,482,862 | ||||||
Federal income taxes payable | 30,082 | — | ||||||
Junior subordinated debentures payable | 4,970,185 | 4,968,519 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 123,386,254 | 109,425,338 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
Common stock, .01 par value (authorized 120,000,000, outstanding 64,923,881 and 64,803,881) | 649,239 | 648,039 | ||||||
Surplus-paid in | 16,861,687 | 16,782,588 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (1,292,009 | ) | (1,673,332 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income: | ||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities, net of taxes | (151,010 | ) | 70,505 | |||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 16,067,907 | 15,827,800 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 139,454,161 | $ | 125,253,138 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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ASSURANCEAMERICA CORPORATION
(Unaudited) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 27,716,178 | $ | 26,505,097 | ||||
Gross premiums ceded | (19,259,405 | ) | (17,923,795 | ) | ||||
Net premiums written | 8,456,773 | 8,581,302 | ||||||
Increase in unearned premiums, net of prepaid reinsurance premiums | (1,506,754 | ) | (3,034,087 | ) | ||||
Net premiums earned | 6,950,019 | 5,547,215 | ||||||
Commission income | 6,323,953 | 6,724,565 | ||||||
Managing general agent fees | 3,171,644 | 2,574,961 | ||||||
Net investment income | 198,945 | 180,650 | ||||||
Net investment (losses) gains on securities | (27,758 | ) | 1,797 | |||||
Other fee income | 145,286 | 138,616 | ||||||
Total revenue | 16,762,089 | 15,167,804 | ||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 5,600,279 | 4,105,632 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 9,997,020 | 9,190,827 | ||||||
Stock option expense | 21,301 | 126,352 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 318,813 | 329,757 | ||||||
Interest expense | 223,826 | 262,979 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 16,161,239 | 14,015,547 | ||||||
Income before provision for income tax expense | 600,850 | 1,152,257 | ||||||
Income tax provision | 219,526 | 507,121 | ||||||
Net income before minority interest | 381,324 | 645,136 | ||||||
Minority interest | — | 6,012 | ||||||
Net income | $ | 381,324 | $ | 639,124 | ||||
Earnings per common share | ||||||||
Basic | 0.006 | 0.011 | ||||||
Diluted | 0.006 | 0.010 | ||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic | 64,885,639 | 56,286,971 | ||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted | 64,961,836 | 65,697,312 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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ASSURANCEAMERICA COPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(Unaudited) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Net income | $ | 381,324 | $ | 639,124 | ||||
Other comprehensive loss: | ||||||||
Change in unrealized losses of investments: | ||||||||
Unrealized losses arising during the year | (382,182 | ) | (11,588 | ) | ||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized losses (gains) recognized during the year | 27,758 | (1,797 | ) | |||||
Net change in unrealized losses | (354,424 | ) | (13,385 | ) | ||||
Deferred income taxes on above changes | 132,909 | 5,019 | ||||||
Other comprehensive loss | (221,515 | ) | (8,366 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive income | $ | 159,809 | $ | 630,758 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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ASSURANCEAMERICA CORPORATION
(Unaudited) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 381,324 | $ | 639,124 | ||||
Adjustments to net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities | ||||||||
Net investment losses (gains) on securities | 27,758 | (1,797 | ) | |||||
Minority interests | — | 6,012 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 323,411 | 331,424 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | 21,301 | 126,352 | ||||||
Stock issued | 58,998 | 112,100 | ||||||
Deferred tax provision | 39,266 | 40,883 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Investment income due and accrued | (43,873 | ) | (70,720 | ) | ||||
Receivables | (5,100,290 | ) | (9,556,078 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (187,238 | ) | (447,710 | ) | ||||
Unearned premiums | 6,073,048 | 9,239,022 | ||||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses | 1,503,651 | 2,244,119 | ||||||
Ceded reinsurance payable | 5,320,941 | 7,969,808 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable | (4,892,861 | ) | (4,386,105 | ) | ||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | (4,566,294 | ) | (6,204,935 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 829,631 | 728,223 | ||||||
Prepaid income taxes | 178,759 | 459,213 | ||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | (513,084 | ) | (455,906 | ) | ||||
Provisional commission reserve | 486,309 | 492,904 | ||||||
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities | (59,243 | ) | 1,265,933 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Purchases of property and equipment, net | (695,024 | ) | (220,714 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sales, call and maturities of investments | 541,534 | 272,287 | ||||||
Purchases of investments | (1,005,937 | ) | (4,494,606 | ) | ||||
Cash paid for acquisition of agencies, net of cash acquired | (5,200 | ) | (300,000 | ) | ||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (1,164,627 | ) | (4,743,033 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Repayments of notes payable | (284,412 | ) | (273,482 | ) | ||||
Repayments on capital lease obligation | — | (21,104 | ) | |||||
Stock issued | — | — | ||||||
Net cash used by financing activities | (284,412 | ) | (294,586 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (1,508,282 | ) | (3,771,686 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 5,511,842 | 8,185,539 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 4,003,560 | $ | 4,413,853 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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ASSURANCEAMERICA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2008 and 2007
(1) | Description of Business | |
AssuranceAmerica Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) is an insurance holding company whose business is comprised of AssuranceAmerica Insurance Company (“AAIC”), AssuranceAmerica Managing General Agency, LLC (“MGA”) and TrustWay Insurance Agencies, LLC (“TrustWay”), each wholly-owned. The Company solicits and underwrites nonstandard private passenger automobile insurance. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. | ||
(2) | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | |
Basis of Consolidation and Presentation | ||
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Such financial statements do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation have been included in the accompanying financial statements. Certain items in prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. For further information, please refer to our audited consolidated financial statements appearing in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. | ||
Estimates | ||
A discussion of our significant accounting policies and the use of estimates is included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the 2007 Form 10-K. | ||
New Accounting Standards Adopted | ||
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about the information used to measure fair value. SFAS 157 applies whenever other accounting pronouncements require, or permit, assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value; it does not require any new fair value measurements. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on the results of operations or financial position of the Company (See Note 10 for required disclosures). | ||
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”) which permits entities to voluntarily choose to measure many financial instruments at fair value. The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. If the fair value is elected for an instrument, the statement specifies that entities report in earnings unrealized gains and losses at each subsequent reporting date. The Company did not elect the fair value option for any of its financial assets or liabilities. | ||
(3) | Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses | |
The estimated liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) include the accumulation of estimates for losses for claims reported prior to the balance sheet dates (“case reserves”), estimates (based upon actuarial analysis of historical data) of losses for claims incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) and for the development of case reserves to ultimate values, and estimates of expenses for investigating, adjusting and settling all incurred claims. Amounts reported are estimates of the ultimate costs of settlement, net of estimated salvage and subrogation. These estimated liabilities are subject to the outcome of future events, such as changes in medical and repair costs as well as economic and social conditions that impact the settlement of claims. Management believes that, given the inherent variability in any such estimates, the aggregate reserves are reasonably adequate. The methods of making such estimates and for establishing the resulting reserves are reviewed and updated quarterly and any resulting adjustments are reflected in current operations. |
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A summary of unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance ceded, is as follows: |
March 31, 2008 | December 31, 2007 | |||||||
Case basis | $ | 4,268,511 | $ | 4,200,577 | ||||
IBNR | 6,581,290 | 6,210,621 | ||||||
Total | $ | 10,849,801 | $ | 10,411,198 | ||||
(4) | Reinsurance | |
In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce its overall risk levels by obtaining reinsurance from other insurance enterprises or reinsurers. Reinsurance premiums and reserves on reinsured business are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. | ||
Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. The Company periodically reviews the financial condition of its reinsurers to minimize its exposure to losses from reinsurer insolvencies. | ||
Reinsurance assets include balances due from other insurance companies under the terms of reinsurance agreements. Amounts applicable to ceded unearned premiums, ceded loss payments and ceded claims liabilities are reported as assets in the accompanying balance sheets. The Company believes the fair value of its reinsurance recoverables approximates their carrying amounts. | ||
The impact of reinsurance on the statements of operations for the period ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, was as follows: |
March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Premiums written: | ||||||||
Direct | $ | 27,297,115 | $ | 26,151,772 | ||||
Assumed | 419,063 | 353,325 | ||||||
Ceded | 19,259,405 | 17,923,795 | ||||||
Net | $ | 8,456,773 | $ | 8,581,302 | ||||
Premiums earned: | ||||||||
Direct | $ | 21,213,478 | $ | 17,141,155 | ||||
Assumed | 429,653 | 124,920 | ||||||
Ceded | 14,693,112 | 11,718,860 | ||||||
Net | $ | 6,950,019 | $ | 5,547,215 | ||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred: | ||||||||
Direct | $ | 17,580,766 | $ | 13,607,443 | ||||
Assumed | 400,104 | 13,206 | ||||||
Ceded | 12,380,591 | 9,515,017 | ||||||
Net | $ | 5,600,279 | $ | 4,105,632 | ||||
The impact of reinsurance on the balance sheets as of the dates indicated was as follows: |
March 31, 2008 | December 31, 2007 | |||||||
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense: | ||||||||
Direct | $ | 34,869,043 | $ | 33,391,172 | ||||
Assumed | 295,422 | 269,642 | ||||||
Ceded | 24,314,664 | 23,249,616 | ||||||
Net | $ | 10,849,801 | $ | 10,411,198 | ||||
Unearned premiums: | ||||||||
Direct | $ | 36,578,829 | $ | 30,495,191 | ||||
Assumed | 485,784 | 496,374 | ||||||
Ceded | 25,711,455 | 21,145,161 | ||||||
Net | $ | 11,353,158 | $ | 9,846,404 | ||||
The Company received $4,912,279 in commissions on premiums ceded during the three-month period ended March 31, 2008. Had all of the Company’s reinsurance agreements been cancelled at March 31, 2008, the Company would have returned $6,575,585 in reinsurance commissions to its reinsurers and its reinsurers would have returned $25,711,455 in unearned premiums to the Company. |
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(5) | Income Taxes | |
The provisions for federal and state income taxes for the periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, were as follows: |
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Current | $ | 180,260 | $ | 466,238 | ||||
Deferred | 39,266 | 40,883 | ||||||
Total provision for income taxes | $ | 219,526 | $ | 507,121 | ||||
(6) | Capital Stock | |
Common Stock | ||
During the first three months of 2007, 40,000 shares of preferred stock converted to 400,000 shares of common stock. During the first three months of 2008, the Company issued 120,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value to its board of directors. | ||
Stock-Based Compensation | ||
The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the three-months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007, using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model, was $0.4499 and $0.8633, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $39,000. No options were exercised during the three month period ended March 31, 2008. | ||
Total compensation cost for share-based payment arrangements recognized for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 was $21,301 and $126,352, respectively. Effective March 1, 2008 the Company extended the expiration period from five to ten years for options with an exercise price of $.50 cents or greater. This modification of the terms resulted in an exchange of the original award for a new award. The Company revalued the options based on the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award, which was based on the share price, volatility and interest rates as of the date of the modifications. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model using the assumptions noted in the following table. |
March 31, 2008 | March 31, 2007 | |||||||
Weighted-average-grant-date fair value | $.4499 | $.8633 | ||||||
Expected volatility | 110% - 111% | 107% - 120% | ||||||
Weighted average volatility | 109% | 108% | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate | 3.45% - 3.67% | 2.00% - 2.50% | ||||||
Expected term (in years) | 8.2 | 5.0 |
A summary of all stock option activity during the three months ending March 31, 2008 and 2007, were as follows: |
March 31, | March 31, | |||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||||||
Number of | Average | Number of | Average | |||||||||||||
Options Outstanding | Shares | Exercise Price | Shares | Exercise Price | ||||||||||||
January 1 | 4,946,665 | $ | 0.80 | 5,347,225 | $ | 0.85 | ||||||||||
Add (deduct): | ||||||||||||||||
Granted | 462,500 | $ | 0.55 | 330,000 | $ | 1.06 | ||||||||||
Exercised | — | — | (50,000 | ) | $ | 0.25 | ||||||||||
Forfeited | (109,040 | ) | $ | 0.82 | (416,750 | ) | $ | 0.78 | ||||||||
Expired | (450,000 | ) | $ | 0.25 | — | — | ||||||||||
March 31 | 4,850,125 | $ | 0.87 | 5,210,475 | $ | 0.87 | ||||||||||
Exercisable, March 31 | 1,166,550 | $ | 0.74 | 1,445,195 | $ | 0.74 |
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(7) | Commitments and Contingencies | |
Contractual Commitments | ||
The Company leases office space for its corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia under a 12-year lease that commenced on May 1, 2003. The Company leases retail office space at various locations in Georgia, Florida and Alabama under short to medium term commercial leases. The Company also leases office equipment for use in its various locations. Rent expense for long-term leases with predetermined minimum rental escalations is recognized on a straight-line basis, and the difference between the recognized rental expense and amounts payable under the leases, or deferred rent, is included in other liabilities. The Company also has contractual commitments in association with long-term debt owed to current and former owners of the Company and in connection with a Junior Subordinated Debentures issued in December 2005. Please refer to Note 6 of theNotes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as of December 31, 2007 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information about the long-term debt arrangements. | ||
Minimum amounts due under the Company’s noncancelable commitments at March 31, 2008 are as follows: |
Long-Term | Operating | |||||||||||
Debt | Lease | |||||||||||
Payments due by period | Obligations | Obligations | Total | |||||||||
Less than 1 year | $ | 2,725,988 | $ | 1,397,123 | $ | 4,123,111 | ||||||
1-3 years | 1,472,462 | 2,864,240 | 4,336,702 | |||||||||
4-5 years | — | 2,373,358 | 2,373,358 | |||||||||
More than 5 years | 4,970,185 | 1,826,624 | 6,796,809 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 9,168,635 | $ | 8,461,345 | $ | 17,629,980 | ||||||
Defined Contribution Plan | ||
The Company’s associates participate in the AssuranceAmerica Corporation 401(k) defined contribution retirement plan. Under the plan, the Company can elect to make discretionary contributions. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company elected to match 33% of employee contributions up to 6% of gross earnings. Matching contributions during the first three months of 2008 and 2007 were $24,170 and $9,138, respectively. The eligibility requirements are 21 years of age, 6 months of service and full time employment. | ||
(8) | Net Income Per Share | |
Basic and diluted income per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares not included in the calculations of net income per share for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive, are as follows: |
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Stock options | 3,527,625 | 1,806,400 | ||||||
Total | 3,527,625 | 1,806,400 | ||||||
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The reconciliation of the amounts used in the computation of both basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 are as follows: |
Average Shares | Per Share | |||||||||||
Net Income | Outstanding | Amount | ||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2008: | ||||||||||||
Net income — basic | $ | 381,324 | 64,885,639 | 0.006 | ||||||||
Effect of dilutive stock warrants and options | — | 76,197 | ||||||||||
Net income — diluted | $ | 381,324 | 64,961,836 | 0.006 | ||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2007: | ||||||||||||
Net income — basic | $ | 639,124 | 56,286,971 | 0.011 | ||||||||
Effect of common shares issued upon conversion of preferred | — | 8,000,000 | ||||||||||
Effect of dilutive stock warrants and options | — | 1,410,341 | ||||||||||
Net income — diluted | $ | 639,124 | 65,697,312 | 0.010 | ||||||||
(9) | Supplemental Cash Flow Information |
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Cash paid during the three months ended March 31: | ||||||||
Interest | $ | 223,826 | $ | 262,979 | ||||
Income taxes | 1,500 | 7,025 |
The Company recorded net unrealized losses on investment securities in the amount of $221,515 and $7,243, net of taxes, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. | ||
On January 3, 2007, the Company purchased the assets of Frontline Insurance Group, LLC. As part of the purchase agreement, the Company issued a note payable in the amount of $114,400. | ||
On January 16, 2008 the Company purchased the assets of Alabama One Stop, LLC for cash. | ||
The following table illustrates the composition of acquisitions for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007: |
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Fair value of assets acquired | $ | 5,200 | $ | 414,400 | ||||
Cash paid to sellers | (5,200 | ) | (300,000 | ) | ||||
Liabilities assumed | $ | — | $ | 114,400 | ||||
(10) | Recent Accounting Pronouncements | |
In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (SFAS No. 159),The Fair Value for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. This statement is expected to expand the use of fair value measurement, which is consistent with the FASB’s long-term measurement objective for accounting for financial instruments. This statement became effective January 1, 2008. However, the Company has not chosen the fair value option for any assets or liabilities. | ||
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about the information used to measure fair value. SFAS 157 applies whenever other accounting pronouncements require, or permit, assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value; it does not require any new fair value measurements. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on the results of operations or financial position of the Company. |
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The fair value of our investments in fixed income and equity securities is based on observable market quotations, other market observable data, or is derived from such quotations and market observable data. We utilize third party pricing servicers, brokers and internal valuation models to determine fair value. We gain assurance of the overall reasonableness and consistent application of the assumptions and methodologies and compliance with accounting standards for fair value determination through our ongoing monitoring of the fair values received or derived internally. | ||
Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in acitve markets for identical instruments at the measurement date (e.g., U.S. Government securities and active exchange-traded equity securities). Level 2 securities are comprised of securities whose fair value was determined by a nationally recognized pricing service using observable market inputs. Level 3 securities are comprised of (i) securities for which the pricing service is unable to provide a fair value, (ii) securities whose fair value is determined by the pricing service based on unobservable inputs and (iii) securities, other than securities backed by the U.S. Government, that are not rated by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization. | ||
The following table illustrates the fair value measurements as of March 31, 2008: |
Significant | ||||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||||
Quoted Prices in | Significant Other | Unobservable | ||||||||||
Active Markets | Observable Inputs | Inputs | ||||||||||
(Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | ||||||||||
Description: | ||||||||||||
Available for sale securities | $ | 7,082,057 | $ | 8,098,695 | $ | — | ||||||
Marketable equity securities | 2,296,149 | — | — | |||||||||
Total | $ | 9,378,206 | $ | 8,098,695 | $ | — | ||||||
(11) | Segment Reporting | |
The Company’s subsidiaries are each unique operating entities performing a separate business function. AAIC, a property and casualty insurance company focuses on writing nonstandard automobile business in the states of Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. MGA markets AAIC’s policies through more than 1,800 independent agencies in these states. MGA provides all of the underwriting, accounting, product management, legal, policyholder administration and claims functions for AAIC and for two unaffiliated insurer’s that retain the non-standard automobile insurance policies produced by MGA in Florida and Texas. MGA receives various fees related to insurance transactions that vary according to state insurance laws and regulations. TrustWay is comprised of 50 retail insurance agencies that focus on selling nonstandard automobile policies and related coverages in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. TrustWay receives commissions and various fees associated with the sale of the products and services from its appointing insurance carriers. The Company evaluates profitability based on pretax income. Pretax income for each segment is defined as the revenues less the segment’s operating expenses including depreciation, amortization and interest. | ||
Following are the operating results for the Company’s various segments and an overview of segment assets: |
($ in thousands) | MGA | TrustWay | AAIC | Company | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
FIRST QUARTER 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
External customer | $ | 7,683 | $ | 1,888 | $ | 7,191 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 16,762 | ||||||||||||
Intersegment | 1,982 | 1,232 | 901 | 699 | (4,814 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment pretax income (loss) | 320 | (449 | ) | 708 | 22 | — | 601 | |||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment assets | 10,273 | 8,707 | 119,589 | 26,153 | (25,168 | ) | 139,554 |
($ in thousands) | MGA | TrustWay | AAIC | Company | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
FIRST QUARTER 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
External customer | $ | 7,532 | $ | 1,906 | $ | 5,730 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 15,168 | ||||||||||||
Intersegment | 2,031 | 1,532 | 916 | 743 | (5,222 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment pretax income (loss) | 331 | 143 | 865 | (187 | ) | — | 1,152 | |||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment assets | 7,730 | 12,020 | 95,986 | 24,716 | (23,334 | ) | 117,118 |
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Financial Condition
Investments and cash as of March 31, 2008, decreased $1.3 million to $22.6 million from investments and cash from $23.9 million as of December 31, 2007. The decrease was due in part to $0.5 million net purchases in investments and $0.7 million in purchases of property and equipment. The Company continues to invest in upgrading its retail stores and invest in technology to strengthen our infrastructure and support expansion. The Company’s investments of $17.5 million are primarily in direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury as well as those securities unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the United States government or any agency thereof and in high-quality corporate and municipal bonds of Georgia-based issuers. The Company’s investment activities are made in accordance with the Company’s Investment Policy. The objectives of the Investment Policy are to obtain favorable after-tax returns on investments through a diversified portfolio of fixed income, equity and real estate holdings. The Company’s investment criteria and practices reflect the short-term duration of its contractual obligations with policyholders and regulators. Tax considerations include federal and state income tax as well as premium tax abatement and credit opportunities offered to insurance companies in the states where AAIC writes policies.
Premiums receivable as of March 31, 2008, increased $5.2 million to $34.0 million compared to December 31, 2007. The balance represents amounts due from AAIC’s insureds and the increase is directly attributable to the increase in AAIC’s premium writings during the first quarter of 2008. The Company’s policy is to write off receivable balances immediately upon cancellation or expiration, and the Company does not consider an allowance for doubtful accounts to be necessary.
Reinsurance recoverable as of March 31, 2008, increased $4.9 million, to $34.2 million compared to December 31, 2007. The increase is directly related to AAIC’s continued growth. AAIC maintains a quota-share reinsurance treaty with its reinsurers in which it cedes 70% of the majority of premiums and losses. The $34.2 million represents the reinsurers’ portion of losses and loss adjustment expense, both paid and unpaid. All amounts are considered current.
Prepaid reinsurance premiums as of March 31, 2008, increased $4.6 million to $25.7 million compared to December 31, 2007. The increase results from AAIC’s continued growth, and represents premiums ceded to its reinsurers which have not been fully earned.
Deferred acquisition costs as of March 31, 2008 increased $0.5 million to $2.6 million compared to December 31, 2007. The increase resulted from AAIC’s continued growth. The amount represents agents’ commissions and other variable expenses associated with acquiring the insurance policies that are being deferred to coincide with the earnings of the related policy premiums.
Other receivables as of March 31, 2008 decreased $.1 million to $2.8 million compared to December 31, 2007. The balances represent a decrease in TrustWay receivables from insurance carriers for direct bill commissions and balances due to insurance carriers for amounts owed in accordance with the terms of its managing general agency agreements. The change in the TrustWay receivables is directly attributable to a decline in direct bill commissions from carriers and related increased premium produced during the first quarter of 2008. The decrease in the MGA receivables is directly attributable to settlements by the MGA in the states of Florida and Texas on behalf of a two non-affiliated insurers.
Intangible assets as of March 31, 2008, decreased $0.1 million to $11.3 million from the balance of $11.4 million as of December 31, 2007. This decrease is directly related to the amortization of acquired assets.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses as of March 31, 2008, increased $.8 million from December 31, 2007 to $7.2 million. The increase is due to $.5 million of accrued expenses and $.3 million increase in the liability for premium taxes.
Unearned premium as of March 31, 2008 increased $6.1 million to $37.1 million from December 31, 2007, and represents premiums written but not earned. This is directly attributable to the increase in AAIC’s premium writings during the first quarter of 2008.
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses increased $1.5 million to $35.2 million as of March 31, 2008 from $33.7 million at December 31, 2007. This amount represents management’s estimates of future amounts needed to pay claims and related expenses and the increase correlates with the increase in AAIC’s writings and anticipated future losses.
Reinsurance payable as of March 31, 2008 increased $5.3 million to $30.5 million, compared to the balance at December��31, 2007. The amount represents premiums owed to the Company’s reinsurers. AAIC maintains a quota-share reinsurance treaty with its reinsurers in which it cedes 70% of the majority of both premiums and losses. The increase is directly attributable to the increase in AAIC’s premium writings during the first quarter of 2008.
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Provisional commission reserves represent the difference between our minimum ceding commission and the provisional amount paid by the reinsurers. These balances as of March 31, 2008 increased $0.5 million to $3.4 million, compared to the balance at December 31, 2007. The increase is related to increases in AAIC writings during the first quarter of 2008.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was flat compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $1.3 million for the same period of 2007.
Investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 consisted of the purchase of leasehold improvements and property and equipment in the amount of $0.7 million in our retail stores and new technology and $0.5 million in net purchases of investments in compliance with various Departments of Insurance requirements for issuance of Certificates of Authority and general investment policies of the Company.
Financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 included debt repayments for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 were $0.3 million.
The Company’s liquidity and capital needs have been met in the past through premium, commission and fee income, loan from its Chairman and issuance of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, common stock and debt securities. The Company’s related party debt consists of unsecured promissory notes payable to its Chairman. The promissory note carries an interest rate of 8% per annum and provide for the repayment of principal on an annual basis. During the first quarter of 2006, the Company issued 600,000 shares of its common stock for an aggregate consideration of $390,000. On December 22, 2005, the Company, through a newly-formed Delaware statutory trust, AssuranceAmerica Capital Trust I (the “Trust”), consummated the private placement of 5,000 of the Trust’s floating rate capital securities, with a liquidation amount of $1,000 per capital security (the “Capital Securities”). In connection with the Trust’s issuance and sale of the Capital Securities, the Company purchased from the Trust 155 of the Trust’s floating rate common securities, with a liquidation amount of $1,000 per common security (the “Common Securities”). The Trust used the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to purchase $5,155,000 in aggregate principal amount of the floating rate junior subordinated debentures of the Company (the “Debentures”). The Capital Securities mature on December 31, 2035, but may be redeemed at par beginning December 31, 2010 if and to the extent the Company exercises its right to redeem the Debentures. The Capital Securities require quarterly distributions by the Trust to the holders of the Capital Securities, at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 5.75% per annum, reset quarterly. Distributions are cumulative and will accrue from the date of original issuance but may be deferred for a period of up to 20 consecutive quarterly interest payment periods if the Company exercises its right under the Indenture to defer the payment of interest on the Debentures.
The growth of the Company has and will continue to strain its liquidity and capital resources. AAIC is required by the state of South Carolina to maintain minimum capital and surplus of $3.0 million. As of March 31, 2008, AAIC’s capital and surplus was $11.8 million.
New Accounting Standards Adopted
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about the information used to measure fair value. SFAS 157 applies whenever other accounting pronouncements require, or permit, assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value; it does not require any new fair value measurements. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on the results of operations or financial position of the Company (See Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements).
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”) which permits entities to voluntarily choose to measure many financial instruments at fair value. The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. If the fair value is elected for an instrument, the statement specifies that entities report in earnings unrealized gains and losses at each subsequent reporting date. The Company did not elect the fair value option for any of its financial assets or liabilities.
Results of Operations
The Company reported net income of $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to net income of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The Company reported basic earnings per common share of $0.006 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to $0.011 for the three months ended March 31, 2007. Fully diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $0.006 compared to $0.010 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
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Revenues
Premiums
Gross premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $27.7 million. In the comparable period for 2007, AAIC recorded $26.5 million in gross premiums written. 2008 gross premiums written includes insurance premiums written directly by AAIC, “direct premiums written,” of $27.3 million, plus $0.4 million of premiums associated with the insurance risk transferred to AAIC by two unaffiliated insurance companies pursuant to reinsurance contracts, “assumed premiums written.” The majority of our growth occurred in Louisiana and Mississippi, where AAIC began writing policies in 2007. Entry into Louisiana accounted for $2.1 million of the increase during 2008 over the comparable 2007 period. As of March 31, the soft market continues to put pressure on our writings in Georgia and South Carolina. The decline in Georgia premium for the three months ended March 31, 2008. $0.7 million or 6% from the 2007 comparable period. Both Alabama and South Carolina premium declined $0.7 million in response to rate increases and competition, when compared with the first quarter of 2007. Policies inforce increased 9% from December 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008. The Company cedes approximately 70% of its direct premiums written to its reinsurers and the amount ceded for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was $19.3 million.
Premiums written refers to the total amount of premiums billed to the policyholder less the amount of premiums returned, generally as a result of cancellations, during a given period. Premiums written become premiums earned as the policy ages. Barring premium rate changes, if an insurance company writes the same mix of business each three months, premiums written and premiums earned will be equal and the unearned premium reserve will remain constant. During periods of growth, the unearned premium reserve will increase, causing premiums earned to be less than premiums written. Conversely, during periods of decline, the unearned premium reserve will decrease, causing premiums earned to be greater than premiums written. The Company’s net earned premium, after deducting reinsurance, was $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and compares to $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
Commission and Fee Income
MGA and TrustWay produce and service non-standard personal automobile insurance business for our own carrier and other insurers. We receive service fees for agency, underwriting, policy administration, and claims adjusting services performed on behalf of these insurers. We also receive commission and service fee income in TrustWay on other insurance products produced for unaffiliated insurance companies on which we do not bear underwriting risk, including travel protection, vehicle protection and hospital indemnity insurance policies. Commission rates vary between carriers and are applied to written premium to determine commission income.
Commission income for the three-months ended March 31, 2008 as a result of business produced in both TrustWay and the MGA, decreased 6% compared to the same period ended March 31, 2007. Total commission income earned by TrustWay from the production of AAIC for the three- month period ended March 31, 2008 totaled $1.2 million. This amount was eliminated from total commission income and commission expense. AAIC pays MGA commission on the 30% of premium which AAIC retains and is subsequently eliminated upon consolidation. The amount eliminated was $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.
Managing general agent fees for the period ended March 31, 2008 were $3.1 million, an increase of $0.6 million, when compared to the same period of 2007. The increase in fees is due to the increase in premium growth in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Other fee income was flat for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 from the comparable period of 2007. TrustWay collects fees for various services performed and for additional products sold to insureds. As TrustWay writes more direct bill policies, increasing policy renewals and related commissions, fee income is reduced.
Net Investment Income
Our investment portfolio is generally highly liquid and consists substantially of readily marketable, investment-grade debt and equity securities. Net investment income is primarily comprised of interest and dividends earned on these securities, net of related investment expenses. Net investment income increased $18,000 to $0.2 million period ended March 31, 2008 from the comparable 2007 period. This is primarily a result of an increase in average invested assets offset in part by declining yields.
Expenses
Insurance Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses include payments made to settle claims, estimates for future claim payments and changes in those estimates for current and prior periods, as well as loss adjustment expenses incurred in connection with settling claims. Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses are influenced by many factors, such as claims frequency and severity trends, the impact of changes in estimates for prior accident years, and increases in the cost of medical treatment and automobile repairs. The anticipated impact of inflation is considered when we establish our premium rates and set loss reserves. We perform a rolling quarterly actuarial analysis each month and establish or adjust (for prior accident quarters) reserves, based upon our estimate of the ultimate incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses to reflect loss development information and trends that have been updated for the most recent quarter’s activity. Each month our estimate of ultimate loss and loss adjustment expenses is evaluated
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by accident quarter, by state and by major coverage grouping (e.g., bodily injury, physical damage) and changes in estimates are reflected in the period the additional information becomes known.
We have historically used reinsurance to manage our exposure to loss by ceding a portion of our gross losses and loss adjustment expenses to reinsurers. We remain obligated for amounts covered by reinsurance, however, in the event that the reinsurers do not meet their obligations under the agreements (due to, for example, disputes with the reinsurer or the reinsurer’s insolvency). The Company cedes approximately 70% of its direct loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred to its reinsurers and the amount ceded for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was $12.4 million.
After making deductions for the effect of reinsurance, losses and loss adjustment expenses were $5.6 million for the period ended March 31, 2008. As a percentage of earned premiums, this amount increased for the period ended March 31, 2008, from 74.0% to 80.5%, when compared with the same period in 2007. The amount represents actual payments made and changes in estimated future payments to be made to or on behalf of its policyholders, including the expenses associated with settling claims. The increase in the three months-over-three month’s loss ratio is in part due to adverse loss development experienced due to storm activity and increased claim frequency in various states.
Other Expenses
Other operating expenses, including selling and general and administrative increased $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 when compared to the same period of 2007. As a percentage of revenue, selling and general and administrative expenses for the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2008 decreased from 60.6% to 59.6% when compared to the 2007 period. This improvement reflects improved economies of scale and operating leverage of the Company’s growth.
Income Tax Expense
The provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2008 consists of federal and state income taxes at the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company’s tax expense was $0.2 million for the period ended March 31, 2008, representing an effective tax rate of 36.5%. This tax expense compares with $0.5 million for the period ended March 31, 2007, which was an effective tax rate of 44.0%.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to ensure that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms.
Management’s Annual Report on Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2008. In making this assessment, management used the criteria described in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies and procedures may deteriorate. Based on this evaluation, management determined that, as of March 31, 2008, we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting, and there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting made during our most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in Company common stock involves a number of risks. Investors should carefully consider the following information, together with the other information contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, before investing in Company common stock. Further, such factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement contained in this report, statements by us in periodic press releases and oral statements by Company officials to securities analysts and stockholders during presentations about us.
We face intense competition from other automobile insurance providers.
The non-standard automobile insurance business is highly competitive and, except for regulatory considerations, there are relatively few barriers to entry. We compete with both large national insurance providers and smaller regional companies. The largest automobile insurance companies include The Progressive Corporation, The Allstate Corporation, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, GEICO, Farmers Insurance Group, Safeco Corp., and American International Group (AIG). Our chief competitors include some of these companies as well as Mercury General Corporation, Infinity Property & Casualty Corporation, Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc., and Direct General Corporation. Some of our competitors have more capital, higher ratings and greater resources than we have, and may offer a broader range of products and lower prices and down payments than we offer. Some of our competitors that sell insurance policies directly to customers, rather than through agencies or brokerages as we do, may have certain competitive advantages, including increased name recognition among customers, direct relationships with policyholders and potentially lower cost structures. In addition, it is possible that new competitors will enter the non-standard automobile insurance market. Our loss of business to competitors could have a material impact on our growth and profitability. Further, competition could result in lower premium rates and less favorable policy terms and conditions, which could reduce our underwriting margins.
Our concentration on non-standard automobile insurance could make us more susceptible to unfavorable market conditions.
We underwrite exclusively non-standard automobile insurance. Given this focus, negative developments in the economic, competitive or regulatory conditions affecting the non-standard automobile insurance industry could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, these developments could have a greater effect on us, compared to more diversified insurers that also sell other types of automobile insurance products. Our profitability can be affected by cyclicality in the non-standard automobile insurance industry caused by price competition and fluctuations in underwriting capacity in the market, as well as changes in the regulatory environment.
Our success depends on our ability to price the risks we underwrite accurately.
Our results of operations and financial condition depend on our ability to underwrite and set rates accurately for a full spectrum of risks. Rate adequacy is necessary to generate sufficient premiums to pay losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting expenses and to earn a profit. If we fail to assess accurately the risks that we assume, we may fail to establish adequate premium rates, which could reduce our income and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
In order to price our products accurately, we must collect and properly analyze a substantial volume of data; develop, test and apply appropriate rating formulas; closely monitor and timely recognize changes in trends; and project both severity and frequency of losses with reasonable accuracy. Our ability to undertake these efforts successfully, and as a result price our products accurately, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation:
• | availability of sufficient reliable data; | ||
• | incorrect or incomplete analysis of available data; | ||
• | uncertainties inherent in estimates and assumptions, generally; | ||
• | selection and application of appropriate rating formulas or other pricing methodologies; | ||
• | unanticipated or inconsistent court decisions, legislation or regulatory action; | ||
• | ongoing changes in our claim settlement practices, which can influence the amounts paid on claims; | ||
• | changing driving patterns, which could adversely affect both frequency and severity of claims; | ||
• | unexpected inflation in the medical sector of the economy, resulting in increased bodily injury and personal injury protection claim severity; and | ||
• | unanticipated inflation in automobile repair costs, automobile parts prices and used automobile prices, adversely affecting automobile physical damage claim severity. |
Such risks may result in our pricing being based on inadequate or inaccurate data or inappropriate analyses, assumptions or methodologies, and may cause us to estimate incorrectly future increases in the frequency or severity of claims. As a result, we could underprice our products, which would negatively affect our profit margins, or we could overprice our products, which could reduce our volume and competitiveness. In either event, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
Our losses and loss adjustment expenses may exceed our loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, which could adversely impact our results of operation, financial condition and cash flows.
Our financial statements include loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, which represent our best estimate of the amounts that we will ultimately pay on claims and the related costs of adjusting those claims as of the date of the financial statements. We
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rely heavily on our historical loss and loss adjustment expense experience in determining these loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. The historic development of reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses may not necessarily reflect future trends in the development of these amounts. In addition, factors such as inflation, claims settlement patterns and legislative activities, regulatory activities, and litigation trends may also affect loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. As a result of these and other risks and uncertainties, ultimate losses and loss adjustment expenses may deviate, perhaps substantially, from our estimates of losses and loss adjustment expenses included in the loss and loss adjustment expense reserves in our financial statements. If actual losses and loss adjustment expenses exceed our expectations, our net income and our capital would decrease. Actual paid losses and loss adjustment expenses may be in excess of the loss and loss adjustment expense reserve estimates reflected in our financial statements.
We are subject to comprehensive regulation, and our ability to earn profits may be adversely affected by these regulations.
We are subject to comprehensive regulation by government agencies in the states where our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled and where these subsidiaries issue policies and handle claims. Certain states impose restrictions or require prior regulatory approval of certain corporate actions, which may adversely affect our ability to operate, innovate, obtain necessary rate adjustments in a timely manner or grow our business profitably. In addition, certain federal laws impose additional requirements on insurers. Our ability to comply with these laws and regulations, and to obtain necessary regulatory action in a timely manner, is and will continue to be critical to our success.
Required Licensing. We operate under licenses issued by various state insurance authorities. If a regulatory authority denies or delays granting a new license, our ability to enter that market quickly can be substantially impaired.
Transactions Between Insurance Companies and Their Affiliates. Transactions between our subsidiaries and their affiliates (including us) generally must be disclosed to the state regulators, and prior approval of the applicable regulator generally is required before any material or extraordinary transaction may be consummated. State regulators may refuse to approve or delay approval of such a transaction, which may impact our ability to innovate or operate efficiently.
Regulation of Insurance Rates and Approval of Policy Forms. The insurance laws of the states in which our insurance subsidiaries operate require insurance companies to file insurance rate schedules and insurance policy forms for review and/or approval. If, as permitted in some states, we begin using new rates before they are approved, we may be required to issue refunds or credits to our policyholders if the new rates are ultimately deemed excessive or unfair and disapproved by the applicable state regulator. Accordingly, our ability to respond to market developments or increased costs in that state can be adversely affected.
Restrictions on Cancellation, Non-Renewal or Withdrawal. Many states have laws and regulations that limit an insurer’s ability to exit a market. For example, certain states limit an automobile insurer’s ability to cancel or not renew policies. Some states prohibit an insurer from withdrawing from one or more lines of business in the state, except pursuant to a plan approved by the state insurance department. In some states, this restriction applies to significant reductions in the amount of insurance written, not just to a complete withdrawal. These laws and regulations could limit our ability to exit or reduce our writings in unprofitable markets or discontinue unprofitable products in the future.
Other Regulations. We must also comply with regulations involving, among other things:
• | the use of non-public consumer information and related privacy issues; | ||
• | investment restrictions; | ||
• | the use of credit history in underwriting and rating; | ||
• | the payment of dividends; | ||
• | the acquisition or disposition of an insurance company or of any company controlling an insurance company; | ||
• | the involuntary assignments of high-risk policies, participation in reinsurance facilities and underwriting associations, assessments and other governmental charges; and | ||
• | reporting with respect to financial condition. |
Compliance with laws and regulations addressing these and other issues often will result in increased administrative costs. In addition, these laws and regulations may limit our ability to underwrite and price risks accurately, prevent us from obtaining timely rate increases necessary to cover increased costs and may restrict our ability to discontinue unprofitable relationships or exit unprofitable markets. These results, in turn, may adversely affect our results of operation or our ability or desire to grow our business in certain jurisdictions. The failure to comply with these laws and regulations may also result in actions by regulators, fines and penalties, and in extreme cases, revocation of our ability to do business in that jurisdiction. In addition, we may face individual and class action lawsuits by our insureds and other parties for alleged violations of certain of these laws or regulations.
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to minimum capital and surplus requirements. Our failure to meet these requirements could subject us to regulatory action.
The laws of the states of domicile of our insurance subsidiaries impose risk-based capital standards and other minimum capital and surplus requirements. Failure to meet applicable risk-based capital requirements or minimum statutory capital requirements could subject us to further examination or corrective action imposed by state regulators, including limitations on our writing of additional business, state supervision or liquidation. Any changes in existing risk-based capital requirements or minimum statutory capital requirements may require us to increase our statutory capital levels, which we may be unable to do.
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Regulation may become more extensive in the future, which may adversely affect our business.
States may make existing insurance laws and regulations more restrictive in the future or enact new restrictive laws. In such events, we may seek to reduce our premium writings in, or to withdraw entirely from, these states. In addition, from time to time, the United States Congress and certain federal agencies investigate the current condition of the insurance industry to determine whether federal regulation is necessary. We are unable to predict whether and to what extent new laws and regulations that would affect our business will be adopted in the future, the timing of any such adoption and what effects, if any, they may have on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Our failure to pay claims accurately could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We must accurately evaluate and pay claims that are made under our policies. Many factors affect our ability to pay claims accurately, including the training and experience of our claims representatives, our claims organization’s culture and the effectiveness of our management, our ability to develop or select and implement appropriate procedures and systems to support our claims functions and other factors. Our failure to pay claims accurately could lead to material litigation, undermine our reputation in the marketplace, impair our image and materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
In addition, if we do not train new claims employees effectively or lose a significant number of experienced claims employees our claims department’s ability to handle an increasing workload could be adversely affected. In addition to potentially requiring that growth be slowed in the affected markets, we could suffer in decreased quality of claims work, which in turn could lower our operating margins.
The policy service fee revenues could be adversely affected by insurance regulation.
Policy service fee revenues have provided additional revenues equivalent to approximately 11% of gross premium produced by MGA. These fees include policy origination fees and installment fees to compensate us for the costs of providing installment payment plans, as well as late payment, policy cancellation, policy rewrite and reinstatement fees. Our revenues could be reduced by changes in insurance regulation that restrict our ability to charge these fees. Those arrangements are subject to insurance holding company act regulation in the states where our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled. Continued payment of these fees could be affected if insurance regulators in these states determined that these arrangements are not permissible under the insurance holding company acts.
New pricing, claim and coverage issues and class action litigation are continually emerging in the automobile insurance industry, and these new issues could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
As automobile insurance industry practices and regulatory, judicial and consumer conditions change, unexpected and unintended issues related to claims, coverage and business practices may emerge. These issues can have an adverse effect on our business by changing the way we price our products, including limiting the factors we may consider when we underwrite risks, by extending coverage beyond our underwriting intent, by increasing the size or frequency of claims or by requiring us to change our claims handling practices and procedures or our practices for charging fees. The effects of these unforeseen emerging issues could negatively affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
We may be unable to attract and retain independent agents and brokers.
We distribute our products exclusively through independent agents and brokers. We compete with other insurance carriers to attract producers and maintain commercial relationships with them. Some of our competitors offer a larger variety of products, lower prices for insurance coverage or higher commissions. We may not be able to continue to attract and retain independent agents and brokers to sell our products. Our inability to continue to recruit and retain productive independent agents and brokers would have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and could impact our cash flows.
We rely on information technology and telecommunication systems, and the failure of these systems could materially and adversely affect our business.
Our business is highly dependent upon the successful and uninterrupted functioning of our information technology and telecommunications systems. We rely on these systems to process new and renewal business, provide customer service, make claims payments and facilitate collections and cancellations. These systems also enable us to perform actuarial and other modeling functions necessary for underwriting and rate development. The failure of these systems could interrupt our operations or materially impact our ability to evaluate and write new business. Because our information technology and telecommunication systems interface with and depend on third-party systems, we could experience service denials if demand for such service exceeds capacity or such third-party systems fail or experience interruptions. If sustained or repeated, a system failure or service denial could result in a deterioration of our ability to write and process new and renewal business and provide customer service or compromise our ability to pay claims in a timely manner. This outcome could result in a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our ability to operate our company effectively could be impaired if we lose key personnel.
We manage our business with a number of key personnel, including our executive officers, the loss of whom could have a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Only our Chief Executive Officer, Lawrence Stumbaugh and our MGA President, Joseph Skruck, have employment agreements with us. In addition, as our
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business develops and expands, we believe that our future success will depend greatly on our continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel. We may not be able to continue to employ key personnel and may not be able to attract and retain qualified personnel in the future. Failure to retain or attract key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our debt service obligations could impede our operations, flexibility and financial performance.
Our level of debt could affect our financial performance. As of March 31, 2008, we had consolidated indebtedness (other than trade payables and certain other short term debt) of approximately $9.2 million. In addition, borrowings under our trust preferred arrangement bear interest at rates that may fluctuate. Therefore, increases in interest rates on the obligations under our credit agreement would adversely affect our income and cash flow that would be available for the payment of interest and principal on the loans outstanding.
If we do not have enough money to pay our debt service obligations, we may be required to refinance all or part of our existing debt, sell assets, borrow more money or raise equity. In that event, we may not be able to refinance our debt, sell assets, borrow more money or raise equity on terms acceptable to us or at all.
Adverse securities market conditions can have significant and negative effects on our investment portfolio.
Our results of operations depend in part on the performance of our invested assets. As of March 31, 2008, 87% of our investment portfolio was invested in fixed maturity securities with the remainder equity investments. Certain risks are inherent in connection with fixed maturity securities, including loss upon default and price volatility in reaction to changes in interest rates, credit spreads, deterioration in the financial condition of the issuers and general market conditions. An increase in interest rates lowers prices on fixed maturity securities, and any sales we make during a period of increasing interest rates may result in losses. Also, investment income earned from future investments in fixed maturity securities will decrease if interest rates decrease.
In addition, our investment portfolio is subject to risks inherent in the capital markets. The functioning of those markets, the values of our investments and our ability to liquidate investments on short notice may be adversely affected if those markets are disrupted by national or international events including, without limitation, wars, terrorist attacks, recessions or depressions, high inflation or a deflationary environment, the collapse of governments or financial markets, and other factors or events.
If our investment portfolio were impaired by market or issuer-specific conditions to a substantial degree, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. Further, our income from these investments could be materially reduced, and write-downs of the value of certain securities could further reduce our profitability. In addition, a decrease in value of our investment portfolio could put us at risk of failing to satisfy regulatory capital requirements. If we were not able to supplement our subsidiaries’ capital by issuing debt or equity securities on acceptable terms, our ability to continue growing could be adversely affected.
Our operations could be adversely affected if conditions in the states where our business is concentrated were to deteriorate.
For the three months ended March 31, 2008, we generated approximately 74% of our gross written premium in our top two states, Florida and Georgia. Our revenues and profitability are therefore subject to prevailing regulatory, legal, economic, demographic, competitive and other conditions in those states. Changes in any of those conditions could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Adverse regulatory developments in any of those states, which could include, among others, reductions in the rates permitted to be charged, inadequate rate increases, restrictions on our ability to reject applications for coverage or on how we handle claims, or more fundamental changes in the design or implementation of the automobile insurance regulatory framework, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Severe weather conditions and other catastrophes may result in an increase in the number and amount of claims filed against us.
Our business is also exposed to the risk of severe weather conditions and other catastrophes in the states in which we operate. Catastrophes include severe hurricanes, tornadoes, hail storms, floods, windstorms, earthquakes, fires and other events such as terrorist attacks and riots, each of which tends to be unpredictable. Such conditions may result in higher incidence of automobile accidents and increase the number of claims. Because many of our insureds live near the coastlines, we have potential exposure to hurricanes and major coastal storms. In addition, our business could be impaired if a significant portion of our business or systems were shut down by, or if we were unable to gain access to certain of our facilities as a result of such an event. If such events were to occur with enough severity, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Our financial condition may be adversely affected if one or more parties with which we enter into significant contracts becomes insolvent or experiences other financial hardship.
Our business is dependent on the performance by third parties of their responsibilities under various contractual relationships, including without limitation, contracts for the acquisitions of goods and services (such as telecommunications and information technology software, equipment and support and other services that are integral to our operations) and arrangements for transferring certain of our risks (including our corporate insurance policies). If one or more of these parties were to default on the performance of their obligations under their respective contracts or determine to abandon or terminate support for a system, product or service that is significant to our business, we could suffer significant financial losses and operational problems, which could in turn adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
For 2008, each non-officer director may choose between (i) an amount in cash equal to $10,000 plus the number of shares equal to $10,000 divided by the share price on December 31, 2007, or (ii) if they accept all stock for their fee, the number of shares equal to $30,000 divided by the share price on December 31, 2007. During the first three months of 2008, the Company issued 120,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, to members of its board of directors pursuant to this director compensation program. The shares were issued on January 29, 2008 to directors,each an accredited investor, as a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Regulation D. The Company received no consideration for the common stock issued.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
(a) | Exhibits. | ||
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | ||
31.2 | Certification of Acting Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | ||
32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ASSURANCEAMERICA CORPORATION | ||||
By: | /s/ Lawrence Stumbaugh | |||
Lawrence Stumbaugh | ||||
President and CEO | ||||
Date: May 14, 2008
By: | /s/ Gregory D. Woods | |||
Gregory D. Woods | ||||
Acting Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Date: May 14, 2008
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