AMERISAFE - 10-Q quarterly report FY

 

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (337) 463-9052

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for 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.

Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o                    Accelerated filer þ                    Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No þ

As of May 1, 2007, there were 18,795,815 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.

 

 

     This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. These forward-looking statements include statements that reflect the current views of our senior management with respect to our financial performance and future events with respect to our business and the insurance industry in general. Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

     The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in this report, including under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of Part I to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate.

See accompanying notes.

See accompanying notes.

See accompanying notes.

     AMERISAFE, Inc. (the “Company”) is an insurance holding company incorporated in the state of Texas. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries: American Interstate Insurance Company (“AIIC”), Silver Oak Casualty, Inc. (“SOCI”), American Interstate Insurance Company of Texas (“AIICTX”), Amerisafe Risk Services, Inc. (“RISK”) and Amerisafe General Agency, Inc. (“AGAI”). AIIC and SOCI are property and casualty insurance companies organized under the laws of the state of Louisiana. AIICTX is a property and casualty insurance company organized under the laws of the state of Texas. RISK, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a claims and safety services company, currently servicing only affiliate insurance companies. AGAI, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a general agent for the Company. AGAI sells insurance, which is underwritten by AIIC, SOCI and AIICTX, as well as by nonaffiliated insurance carriers. The assets and operations of AGAI are not significant to that of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. The terms “AMERISAFE,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to AMERISAFE, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context requires.

     The Company provides workers’ compensation and general liability insurance for small to mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, principally construction, trucking and logging. Assets and revenues of AIIC represent more than 99% of comparable consolidated amounts of the Company for each of 2007 and 2006.

     In the opinion of the management of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position, the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and therefore do not include all information and footnotes to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the year. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained herein should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

     Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

     In connection with the initial public offering of shares of the Company’s common stock in November 2005, the Company’s shareholders approved the AMERISAFE 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Incentive Plan”) and the AMERISAFE 2005 Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan (the “2005 Restricted Stock Plan”). See Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for additional information regarding the Company’s incentive plans.

     On March 10, 2006, the compensation committee of our board of directors approved incentive compensation awards to each of the Company’s executive officers for services rendered in 2005. The awards were composed of cash bonuses and grants of restricted common stock. The restricted stock awards were made pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan. Vesting of those restricted shares that were not forfeited took place on March 10, 2007, the first anniversary of the date of grant. On March 2, 2007, the compensation committee of our board of directors approved incentive compensation awards to each of the Company’s executive officers for services rendered in 2006. The awards were composed of cash bonuses, grants of restricted common stock and stock options, and all were made pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan. The fair value of the restricted shares granted was $230,000. Those restricted shares will vest on March 2, 2008, the first anniversary of the date of grant. The options, totaling 50,000 shares, will vest 20% each year commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date.

     On March 1, 2007, 142 shares of restricted common stock were issued to a new non-employee director pursuant to the 2005 Restricted Stock Plan. The fair value of the restricted shares granted was $2,500, and those restricted shares will vest on June 14, 2007.

     During the first quarter of 2007, there were 77,545 stock options exercised. Related to these exercises, the Company received $34,000 of stock option proceeds in the first quarter of 2007, and $664,000 of stock option proceeds subsequent to the quarter end.

     The Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $281,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and $140,000 for the same period in 2006.

     We compute earnings per share in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” Additionally, we apply the “two-class method” in computing basic and diluted earnings per share. The two-class method was introduced in SFAS 128, and further clarified in Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) No. 03-06, “Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share, (Issue 03-6).” Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between common stock and any securities other than common stock that participate in dividends with common stock. Our redeemable preferred stock qualifies as “participating securities” under SFAS 128 and EITF 03-06.

     The two-class method allocates net income available to common shareholders and participating securities to the extent that each security shares in earnings as if all earnings for the period had been distributed. The amount of earnings allocable to common shareholders is divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Participating securities that are convertible into common stock are included in the computation of basic earnings per share if the effect is dilutive.

     Diluted earnings per share includes potential common shares assumed issued under the “treasury stock method,” which reflects the potential dilution that would occur if any outstanding options are exercised. Diluted earnings per share also includes the “if converted” method for participating securities if the effect is dilutive. The two-class method of calculating diluted earnings per share is used whether the “if converted” result is dilutive or anti-dilutive.

     The table below sets forth the calculation of the percentage of net income allocable to common shareholders, or the “portion allocable to common shareholders.” Under the two-class method, unvested stock options, and out-of-the-money vested stock options are not considered to be participating securities.

     Portion allocable to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2007 was 94.0%, or 18,999,939 divided by 20,214,709. Portion allocable to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2006 was 87.8%, or 17,427,785 divided by 19,857,328.

     The Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), on January 1, 2007. At the adoption date and as of March 31, 2007, the Company had no material unrecognized tax benefits and no adjustments to liabilities or operations were required.

     The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense, which were zero for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

     Tax years 2003 through 2006 are subject to examination by the federal and state taxing authorities. There are no income tax examinations currently in process.

     Comprehensive income was $8,216,000 for the first quarter of 2006. The difference between net income as reported and comprehensive income was changes in unrealized gains and losses, net of tax.

     In September 2005, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) released Statement of Position 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” (“SOP 05-1”). SOP 05-1 requires identification of transactions that result in a substantial change in an insurance contract. If it is determined that a substantial change to an insurance contract has occurred, the related unamortized deferred policy acquisition costs, unearned premiums and other related balances must be written off. The Company adopted SOP 05-1 on January 1, 2007. SOP 05-1 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

     In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (FAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We do not expect the adoption of FAS 157 to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

     In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (FAS 159), which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value, and establishes presentation and disclosure requirements for similar assets and liabilities measured at fair value. FAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The effect of the adoption of FAS 159 on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations will depend on the nature and extent of items elected to be measured at fair value when we initially apply the standard in the first quarter of 2008.

     The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

     We begin our discussion with an overview of our Company to give you an understanding of our business and the markets we serve. We then discuss our critical accounting policies. This is followed with a discussion of our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006. This discussion includes an analysis of certain significant period-to-period variances in our consolidated statements of operations. Our cash flows and financial condition are discussed under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

     AMERISAFE is a holding company that markets and underwrites workers’ compensation insurance through its subsidiaries. Workers’ compensation insurance covers statutorily prescribed benefits that employers are obligated to provide to their employees who are injured in the course and scope of their employment. Our business strategy is focused on providing this coverage to small to mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, principally construction, trucking and logging. Employers engaged in hazardous industries pay substantially higher than average rates for workers’ compensation insurance compared to employers in other industries, as measured per payroll dollar. The higher premium rates are due to the nature of the work performed and the inherent workplace danger of our target employers. Hazardous industry employers also tend to have less frequent but more severe claims as compared to employers in other industries due to the nature of their businesses. We provide proactive safety reviews of employers’ workplaces. These safety reviews are a vital component of our underwriting process and also promote safer workplaces. We utilize intensive claims management practices that we believe permit us to reduce the overall cost of our claims. In addition, our audit services ensure that our policyholders pay the appropriate premiums required under the terms of their policies and enable us to monitor payroll patterns or aberrations that cause underwriting, safety or fraud concerns. We believe that the higher premiums typically paid by our policyholders, together with our disciplined underwriting and safety, claims and audit services, provide us with the opportunity to earn attractive returns on equity.

     We market our insurance in 31 states and the District of Columbia through independent agencies, as well as through our wholly owned insurance agency subsidiary. We are also licensed in an additional 14 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

     It is important to understand our accounting policies in order to understand our financial statements. Management considers some of these policies to be critically important to the presentation of our financial results because they require us to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of our assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosures. Some of the estimates result from judgments that can be subjective and complex and, consequently, actual results in future periods might differ from these estimates.

     Management believes that the most critical accounting policies relate to the reporting of reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses, including losses that have occurred but have not been reported prior to the reporting date, amounts recoverable from reinsurers, assessments, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred income taxes and the impairment of investment securities. These critical accounting policies are more fully described in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of Part II to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

     The following table summarizes our consolidated financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006.

     Gross Premiums Written. Gross premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2007 were $90.5 million, compared to $80.8 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of 12.0%. The increase was attributable to an $8.5 million increase in annual premiums on voluntary policies written during the period and a $1.4 million increase in premiums resulting from payroll audits and related premium adjustments. The increase from payroll audits and related premium adjustments includes an adjustment to estimated “earned but unbilled” premium. These increases were offset by a $158,000 decrease in direct assigned risk premiums.

     Net Premiums Written. Net premiums written for the first three months of 2007 were $85.5 million, compared to $76.4 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of 12.0%. The increase was attributable to the growth in gross premiums written. As a percentage of gross premiums written, ceded premiums were 5.5% for both the first three months of 2007 and the first three months of 2006.

     Net Premiums Earned. Net premiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2007 were $75.9 million, compared to $67.9 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of 11.8%. This increase was attributable to the increase in net premiums written.

     Net Investment Income. Net investment income for the first three months of 2007 was $6.9 million, compared to $6.0 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of 15.9%. The change was primarily attributable to an increase in our investment portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents, from a monthly average of $598.2 million in the first quarter of 2006 to a monthly average of $675.8 million in the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 13.0%. Also contributing to this growth was an increase in the pre-tax investment yield on our investment portfolio from 4.0% per annum during the period ended March 31, 2006, to 4.1% per annum during the period ended March 31, 2007. The tax-equivalent investment yield on our investment portfolio was 5.5% per annum for the period ended March 31, 2007, compared to 5.3% for the same period in 2006.

     Net Realized Gains on Investments. There were no realized gains on investments in the first three months of 2007, compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2006. In the second half of 2006, we sold our equity holdings and purchased value-based exchange traded funds. Since that time, we have not made any trades of equities. The realized gains in the first quarter of 2006 were attributable to the timing of the sale of equity securities in accordance with our investment guidelines and practices during that period.

     Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses Incurred. Loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred were $52.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $47.9 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of $4.6 million, or 9.7%. This increase was due to higher current accident year loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred resulting from increased net premiums earned in the first quarter of 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006. Our net loss ratio was 69.2% for the first three months of 2007, compared to 70.5% for the same period in 2006.

     Underwriting and Certain Other Operating Costs, Commissions and Salaries and Benefits. Underwriting and certain other operating costs, commissions and salaries and benefits for the first three months of 2007 were $17.2 million, compared to $16.4 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of 4.4%. This increase was due to a $729,000 increase in salaries and benefits, which included a $141,000 increase in salary expense attributable to share-based compensation, a $644,000 increase in premium-based assessments and a $608,000 increase in agents’ commissions, which resulted from growth in our gross premiums earned for the first quarter of 2007. Offsetting these increases were a $649,000 decrease in loss-based assessments attributable to a reduction in gross reserves, a $253,000 decrease in professional fees, and a $252,000 increase in ceding commissions from reinsurers, which acts to reduce underwriting expenses. Our underwriting expense ratio declined from 24.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2006 to 22.6% for the same period in 2007.

     Interest Expense. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $878,000, compared to $813,000 for the same period in 2006, an increase of 8.0%. This increase was due to an increase in our weighted average interest rate from 8.6% per annum for the first three months of 2006 to 9.2% per annum for the same period in 2007. Our weighted average borrowings for both three-month periods were $36.1 million.

     Policyholder Dividend Expense. Policyholder dividend expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $521,000, compared to $171,000 for the same period in 2006. The increase was mainly attributable to $241,000 of dividends accrued for Florida policyholders. The dividend was calculated pursuant to a statutory formula based on our underwriting results on policies written in Florida over a consecutive three-year period.

     Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense for the first three months in 2007 was $3.5 million, compared to $2.6 million for the same period in 2006. The increase was primarily attributable to a $2.0 million increase in our pre-tax income, from $9.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006 to $11.9 million for the same period in 2007. Our effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2007 was 29.2%, compared to 26.7% for the first quarter of 2006.

     Our principal sources of operating funds are premiums, investment income and proceeds from sales and maturities of investments. Our primary uses of operating funds include payments of claims and operating expenses. Currently, we pay claims using cash flow from operations and invest our excess cash in fixed maturity and equity securities.

     Net cash provided by operating activities was $10.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, which represented a $4.3 million decrease in cash provided by operating activities from the $15.2 million in net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Premiums collected for the three months ended March 31, 2007 decreased $983,000 compared to the same period in 2006, claim payments increased by $1.1 million, federal income taxes paid increased $1.9 million, and expense disbursements increased $1.4 million. These increases were offset by a $1.1 million increase in recoveries from reinsurers.

     Net cash provided by investing activities was $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to cash used in investing activities of $19.7 million for the same period in 2006. The increase in cash provided was attributable to a decrease in proceeds received from sales and maturities of investments of $1.9 million and a decrease in purchases of investments of $28.0 million.

     Net cash provided by financing activities was $186,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007. This increase, from no activity in the first three months of 2006, was attributable to proceeds of a $34,000 from stock option exercise and $152,000 of tax benefits from share-based compensation.

     As of March 31, 2007, our investment portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents, totaled $675.4 million, an increase of 12.4% from March 31, 2006. The majority of our fixed maturity securities are classified as held-to-maturity, as defined by SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.” As such, the reported value of those securities is equal to their amortized cost, and is not impacted by changing interest rates. We also invest in variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), which are long-term bonds that bear floating interest rates and provide investors with the option to tender or put the bonds at par, generally on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Due to the liquidity of these securities, we classify VRDOs as available-for-sale, as defined by SFAS No. 115. As such, VRDOs are reported at fair value on our balance sheet. Our equity securities are also classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair value.

     The composition of our investment portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents, as of March 31, 2007 is shown in the following table.

     We regularly evaluate our investment portfolio to identify other-than-temporary impairments in the fair values of the securities held in our investment portfolio. As of March 31, 2007, there were no other-than-temporary declines in the fair values of the securities held in our investment portfolio. The tax-equivalent investment yield on our investment portfolio was 5.5% per annum for the period ended March 31, 2007, compared to 5.3% for the same period in 2006.

     In 2006, we began a strategic review of our investment management and related policies. In connection with the review, we retained Prudential Investment Management, Inc., a registered investment advisory firm and a wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial Inc., to manage our portfolio of fixed maturity securities effective November 1, 2006. Additionally, our strategic investment review resulted in two changes regarding our equity investments. First, we changed the benchmark for the fair value of our holdings of equity securities, from not more than 15% of our total investment portfolio, to a range from 20% to 30% of shareholders’ equity, plus redeemable preferred stock, at the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Our second change was to restructure our

equity portfolio such that it would be composed of passively managed investments in equity indexes along with a portion of actively managed equity positions. As a result of this second change, we sold all of the securities in our equity portfolio in September and October of 2006 and invested $21.1 million. As of March 31, 2007, the carrying value of our equity portfolio was $23.7 million, or 12.9% of shareholders’ equity plus redeemable preferred stock at year end 2006. Over the remaining months in 2007, we may purchase more index funds, or we may retain the services of a third-party equity portfolio manager to actively manage a portion of our equity portfolio.

     Market risk is the risk of potential economic loss principally arising from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. The major components of market risk affecting us are credit risk, interest rate risk and equity price risk. We currently have no exposure to foreign currency risk.

     For additional information regarding the Company’s exposure to certain market risks, see Item 7A. “—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC.

     Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms specified by the SEC. We note that the design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving the stated goals under all potential future conditions.

     There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

     None.

     None.

     None.

     None.

     None.

     None.

     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.