Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HALLMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR 2004 EARNINGS RESULTS
FORT WORTH, Texas, (March 30, 2005) - Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.
today reported operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended
December 31, 2004. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 was
$1.4 million as compared to a net loss of $0.4 million for the same period
in 2003. Income before extraordinary gain for the year ended December 31,
2004 increased 785% to $5.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, as compared
to Income before extraordinary gain of $0.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted
share, for the same period in 2003.
Total net income for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $5.8 million, or
$0.16 per diluted share, as compared to $8.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted
share for the same period in 2003. Fiscal 2003 included an extraordinary
gain of $8.1 million related to the acquisition of Phoenix Indemnity
Insurance Company. Hallmark's weighted average shares outstanding also
increased to 36.7 million diluted shares during fiscal 2004, compared to
18.8 million diluted shares during fiscal 2003, primarily as a result of a
successful shareholder rights offering completed in the third quarter of
fiscal 2003.
"With these fourth quarter results, we concluded the year with the highest
operating earnings in the Company's history. The fourth quarter reflects
solid financial results and is indicative of the quality of our core books
of business. The Company's record 2004 operating earnings were driven by
continued strength across both of our reporting segments," stated Mark E.
Schwarz, Chief Executive Officer. "These results continue to reflect
sustained favorable market conditions and ongoing initiatives directed at
improving profitability through disciplined underwriting and policy pricing,
improved agency relations and expense management. As we go forward, we
intend to continue to focus on these initiatives, while selectively
expanding the business in areas that offer the best opportunities to
increase profitability," Mr. Schwarz continued.
"Our strong financial results in 2004 reflect improved underwriting
performance in both of our business segments," stated Mark J. Morrison,
Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer. "In our personal lines
segment, the actions commenced in 2003 to restructure the existing book of
business have resulted in significantly improved underwriting results and
increased statutory surplus. The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio for
this segment for the year ended December 31, 2004, was 59% compared to 72%
for 2003, resulting in an increase in income before tax and extraordinary
gain of more than 315% year over year. These results have allowed us to
decrease our use of outside reinsurance and to leverage our increasing
statutory surplus base, thus providing additional margin on business
produced going forward. In the commercial segment, revenue for the year
ended December 31, 2004, increased by more than 18% over 2003. This
improvement is a result of increased premium production arising largely from
premium rate increases on renewal business, increased commission rates
because of improved underwriting performance on policies produced, and
enhanced compensation provisions agreed to with our outside insurance
carrier effective on July 1, 2004. Despite flattening rate increases in
2005, we anticipate that these favorable trends will continue at moderating
levels," Mr. Morrison concluded.
Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. engages primarily in the sale of property
and casualty insurance products. The Company's business involves marketing
and underwriting of non-standard personal automobile insurance primarily in
Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, marketing commercial insurance primarily
in Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, third party claims
administration, and other insurance related services. The Company is
headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and its common stock is listed on the
American Stock Exchange under the symbol "HAF.EC".
Forward-looking statements in this Release are made pursuant to the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995.
Investors are cautioned that actual results may differ substantially from
such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties including, but not limited to, continued acceptance of the
Company's products and services in the marketplace, competitive factors,
interest rate trends, the availability of financing, underwriting loss
experience and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's
periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For further information, please contact:
Mark J. Morrison, Chief Financial Officer at 817.348.1600
www.hallmarkgrp.com
HALLMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except earnings per share)
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31 December 31
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2004 2003 2004 2003
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Gross premiums written $ 10,215 $ 6,934 $ 33,389 $ 43,338
Ceded premiums written (347) 165 (322) (6,769)
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Net premiums written 9,868 7,099 33,067 36,569
Change in net unearned premiums (1,095) 1,551 (622) 5,406
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Net premiums earned 8,773 8,650 32,445 41,975
Investment income, net of expenses 392 376 1,386 1,198
Realized gain (loss) 30 225 (27) (88)
Finance charges 539 608 2,183 3,544
Commission and fees 4,865 5,138 21,100 17,544
Processing and service fees 1,443 1,391 6,003 4,900
Other income 10 40 31 486
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Total revenues 16,052 16,428 63,121 69,559
Losses and loss adjustment expenses 5,037 7,592 19,137 30,188
Other operating costs and expenses 8,944 9,662 35,290 37,386
Interest expense 3 37 64 1,271
Amortization of intangible asset 7 7 28 28
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Total expenses 13,991 17,298 54,519 68,873
Income before income tax expense
(benefit) and extraordinary gain 2,061 (870) 8,602 686
Income tax expense (benefit) 660 (473) 2,753 25
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Income (loss) before
extraordinary gain (loss) $ 1,401 $ (397) $ 5,849 $ 661
Extraordinary gain (loss) - (32) - 8,084
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Net income (loss) $ 1,401 $ (429) $ 5,849 $ 8,745
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Basic earnings per share:
Income (loss) before
extraordinary gain $ 0.04 $ (0.01) $ 0.16 $ 0.03
Extraordinary gain - - - 0.44
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Net income (loss) $ 0.04 $ (0.01) $ 0.16 $ 0.47
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Diluted earnings per share:
Income (loss) before
extraordinary gain $ 0.04 $ (0.01) $ 0.16 $ 0.03
Extraordinary gain - - - 0.43
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Net income (loss) $ 0.04 $ (0.01) $ 0.16 $ 0.46
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