NEWS RELEASE For More Information: Ken McEwen Investor Relations Manager 800-282-6242 • 205-439-7903 • KenMcEwen@ProAssurance.com | ![]() |
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) | 2020 | 2019 | Change | 2020 | 2019 | Change | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written* | $ | 245,115 | $ | 265,483 | (7.7 | %) | $ | 692,591 | $ | 766,655 | (9.7 | %) | |||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 213,260 | $ | 228,058 | (6.5 | %) | $ | 605,222 | $ | 663,784 | (8.8 | %) | |||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 194,559 | $ | 215,788 | (9.8 | %) | 605,708 | 633,086 | (4.3 | %) | |||||||||||||
Net investment income | 16,924 | 23,681 | (28.5 | %) | 55,877 | 70,038 | (20.2 | %) | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 4,853 | (1,277 | ) | 480.0 | % | (22,065 | ) | (7,240 | ) | (204.8 | %) | ||||||||||||
Net realized investment gains (losses) | 8,838 | 1,134 | 679.4 | % | 150 | 47,064 | (99.7 | %) | |||||||||||||||
Other income* | 1,723 | 2,548 | (32.4 | %) | 5,668 | 7,419 | (23.6 | %) | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues* | 226,897 | 241,874 | (6.2 | %) | 645,338 | 750,367 | (14.0 | %) | |||||||||||||||
Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | 145,581 | 161,614 | (9.9 | %) | 521,412 | 489,808 | 6.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses* | 59,433 | 61,861 | (3.9 | %) | 180,178 | 185,960 | (3.1 | %) | |||||||||||||||
SPC U.S. federal income tax expense | 871 | — | nm | 1,573 | — | nm | |||||||||||||||||
SPC dividend expense (income) | 3,854 | 3,621 | 6.4 | % | 7,988 | 1,375 | 480.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 3,881 | 4,274 | (9.2 | %) | 11,725 | 12,850 | (8.8 | %) | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment | 161,115 | — | nm | 161,115 | — | nm | |||||||||||||||||
Total expenses* | 374,735 | 231,370 | 62.0 | % | 883,991 | 689,993 | 28.1 | % | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | (147,838 | ) | 10,504 | (1,507.4 | %) | (238,653 | ) | 60,374 | (495.3 | %) | |||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 2,141 | (6,689 | ) | (132.0 | %) | (48,621 | ) | (4 | ) | nm | |||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (149,979 | ) | $ | 17,193 | (972.3 | %) | $ | (190,032 | ) | $ | 60,378 | (414.7 | %) | |||||||||
Non-GAAP operating income (loss) | $ | 2,559 | $ | 16,269 | (84.3 | %) | $ | (31,029 | ) | $ | 24,567 | (226.3 | %) | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 53,889 | 53,762 | 53,854 | 53,732 | |||||||||||||||||||
Diluted | 53,918 | 53,856 | 53,896 | 53,831 | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) per share | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) per diluted share | $ | (2.78 | ) | $ | 0.32 | $ | (3.10 | ) | $ | (3.53 | ) | $ | 1.12 | $ | (4.65 | ) | |||||||
Non-GAAP operating income (loss) per diluted share | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.30 | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (0.58 | ) | $ | 0.46 | $ | (1.04 | ) | ||||||||
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
CONSOLIDATED KEY RATIOS | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
Current accident year net loss ratio | 80.7 | % | 82.3 | % | 91.8 | % | 84.0 | % | |||
Effect of prior accident years’ reserve development | (5.9 | %) | (7.4 | %) | (5.7 | %) | (6.6 | %) | |||
Net loss ratio | 74.8 | % | 74.9 | % | 86.1 | % | 77.4 | % | |||
Underwriting expense ratio | 30.5 | % | 28.7 | % | 29.7 | % | 29.4 | % | |||
Combined ratio | 105.3 | % | 103.6 | % | 115.8 | % | 106.8 | % | |||
Operating ratio | 96.6 | % | 92.6 | % | 106.6 | % | 95.7 | % | |||
Return on equity* | (8.8 | %) | 4.3 | % | (14.1 | %) | 5.2 | % | |||
* Annualized. The 2020 goodwill impairment was not annualized in our calculation of ROE. | |||||||||||
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
• | For the third quarter of 2020, we reported a net loss of $150.0 million, or $2.78 per share, and Non-GAAP operating income of $2.6 million, or $0.05 per share. The net loss is wholly attributable to the previously mentioned $161.1 million non-cash, pre-tax goodwill impairment charge attributable to the Specialty Property & Casualty (“Specialty P&C”) reporting unit. |
• | Despite the net loss, there were several positives in the third quarter from each of our operating segments: |
◦ | In our Specialty P&C segment, re-underwriting and restructuring efforts that began in July of 2019 are substantially complete as of September 30, 2020, and contributed to a reduction of our current accident year net loss ratio by 4.7 percentage points quarter-over-quarter to 89.8%. The segment’s expense ratio was essentially flat at 23.8%, despite the inclusion of one-time expenses related to restructuring, and reflective of incremental improvements in operating efficiencies over the past year. |
◦ | In our Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment, we made permanent organizational adjustments to our business model in the third quarter that we believe will promote profitable growth and enhanced service while also reducing annual expenses by approximately $3.0 million. Further, in recognition of continuing favorable loss trends in 2020, including lower frequency and severity as a result of COVID-19, we reduced our nine-month current accident year net loss ratio to 69.2% from 70.4% as of the first half of 2020, resulting in a current accident year loss ratio of 66.9% for the current quarter. |
◦ | The Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance (“SPCR”) segment reported a 27.4% increase in income from the year-ago period, driven by higher net realized gains and, to a lesser extent, higher net favorable reserve development totaling $4.0 million. The SPCR segment’s combined ratio improved 5.4 percentage points to 74.1%. |
◦ | The combined ratio in our Lloyd’s Syndicates segment improved 10.5 percentage points to 89.6% in the third quarter, driven by higher net favorable development totaling $2.6 million and a reduction in underwriting expenses by approximately $2.5 million due to our reduced participation in Syndicate 1729 at Lloyd’s of London. |
• | Consolidated gross premiums written in the current quarter were $245.1 million, a decrease of approximately $20.4 million, or 7.7%, from the same quarter in 2019, driven by the re-underwriting efforts in our Specialty P&C segment, our decreased participation in Syndicate 1729, and competitive market conditions in our Workers’ Compensation Insurance and SPCR segments. |
• | Consolidated net premiums earned were approximately $194.6 million, a decrease of approximately $21.2 million, or 9.8%, from the year-ago quarter and primarily attributable to the pro rata effect of lower net premiums written during the preceding twelve months. |
• | Our consolidated current accident year net loss ratio decreased 1.6 percentage points to 80.7%, driven by a lower current accident year net loss ratio in our Specialty P&C and Workers' Compensation Insurance segments, partially offset by a higher current accident year net loss ratio in our Lloyd's Syndicates segment. However, our consolidated net loss ratio in the current quarter of 74.8% was relatively unchanged from the year-ago period, as the effect of our lower current accident year net loss ratio was offset by lower prior accident year reserve development. |
• | Net favorable reserve development recognized in the third quarter was $11.5 million, a decrease of $4.4 million from the year-ago quarter. The decrease is attributable to our Specialty P&C segment, which recognized approximately $7.8 million lower favorable reserve development from the comparable period in 2019, partially offset by higher favorable reserve development in each of our remaining operating segments. |
• | Our consolidated expense ratio in the third quarter was 30.5%, an increase primarily attributable to one-time expenses of $3.2 million, mainly comprised of early retirement benefits granted to certain employees during the third quarter of 2020. |
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
• | Our consolidated combined ratio for the quarter was 105.3%, a quarter-over-quarter increase of 1.7 percentage points. |
• | Net investment income decreased to $16.9 million, primarily attributable to a decrease in our allocation to equity assets in our portfolio and lower yields from our short-term investments and corporate debt securities given the actions taken by the Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates in response to COVID-19. |
• | Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries increased by $6.1 million, driven by $9.4 million of income from our LP/LLC investments, which are typically reported to us on a one-quarter lag. As such, the gain in the third quarter was largely driven by an improvement in the global financial markets since the first quarter of 2020, which were depressed due to the onset of COVID-19. |
• | Net realized investment gains were $8.8 million in the current period, primarily driven by realized gains from the sale of certain corporate bonds and, to a lesser extent, unrealized holding gains resulting from an increase in fair value on our equity portfolio and convertible securities. |
• | For the third quarter of 2020, we recognized an income tax expense of $2.1 million, compared to an income tax benefit of $6.7 million in the same quarter of 2019. |
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) | |||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (149,979 | ) | $ | 17,193 | $ | (190,032 | ) | $ | 60,378 | |||||
Items excluded in the calculation of Non-GAAP operating income (loss): | |||||||||||||||
Net realized investment (gains) losses | (8,838 | ) | (1,134 | ) | (150 | ) | (47,064 | ) | |||||||
Net realized gains (losses) attributable to SPCs which no profit/loss is retained (1) | 1,155 | (132 | ) | 732 | 1,531 | ||||||||||
Goodwill impairment | 161,115 | — | 161,115 | — | |||||||||||
Guaranty fund assessments (recoupments) | 88 | 96 | 114 | 202 | |||||||||||
Pre-tax effect of exclusions | 153,520 | (1,170 | ) | 161,811 | (45,331 | ) | |||||||||
Tax effect, 21% (2) | (982 | ) | 246 | (2,808 | ) | 9,520 | |||||||||
After-tax effect of exclusions | 152,538 | (924 | ) | 159,003 | (35,811 | ) | |||||||||
Non-GAAP operating income (loss) | $ | 2,559 | $ | 16,269 | $ | (31,029 | ) | $ | 24,567 | ||||||
Per diluted common share: | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (2.78 | ) | $ | 0.32 | $ | (3.53 | ) | $ | 1.12 | |||||
Effect of exclusions | 2.83 | (0.02 | ) | 2.95 | (0.66 | ) | |||||||||
Non-GAAP operating income (loss) per diluted common share | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.30 | $ | (0.58 | ) | $ | 0.46 | ||||||
(1) Net realized investment gains (losses) on investments related to SPCs are recognized in our Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance segment. SPC results, including any realized gain or loss, that are attributable to external cell participants are reflected in the SPC dividend expense (income). To be consistent with our exclusion of net realized investment gains (losses) recognized in earnings, we are excluding the portion of net realized investment gains (losses) that is included in the SPC dividend expense (income) which is attributable to the external cell participants. | |||||||||||||||
(2) The 21% rate is the annual expected statutory tax rate associated with the taxable or tax deductible items listed above. Our effective tax rate for the respective periods was applied to these items in calculating net income (loss), excluding the 2020 goodwill impairment loss and net realized investment gains (losses) and related adjustments. Net realized investment gains (losses) in our Corporate segment are discrete items and are tax affected at the annual expected statutory tax rate (21%) in the period they are included in our consolidated tax provision and net income (loss). The taxes associated with the net realized investment gains (losses) related to SPCs in our Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance segment are paid by the individual SPCs and are not included in our consolidated tax provision or net income (loss); therefore, both the net realized investment gains (losses) from our Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance segment and the adjustment to exclude the portion of net realized investment gains (losses) included in the SPC dividend expense (income) in the table above are not tax effected. The 2020 goodwill impairment loss was treated as a discrete item in our consolidated tax provision and the portion that is tax deductible was tax affected at the annual expected statutory rate (21%). The remaining portion of the 2020 goodwill impairment loss is not tax deductible and therefore had no associated income tax benefit. See further discussion under the heading "Taxes" in the Executive Summary of Operations section of our September 30, 2020 Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2020. | |||||||||||||||
BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS | |||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) | September 30, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||
Total investments | $ | 3,366,981 | $ | 3,390,409 | |||
Total assets | $ | 4,692,497 | $ | 4,805,599 | |||
Total liabilities | $ | 3,362,604 | $ | 3,293,686 | |||
Common shares (par value $0.01) | $ | 632 | $ | 631 | |||
Retained earnings | $ | 1,289,552 | $ | 1,505,738 | |||
Treasury shares | $ | (415,962 | ) | $ | (415,962 | ) | |
Shareholders’ equity | $ | 1,329,893 | $ | 1,511,913 | |||
Book value per share | $ | 24.68 | $ | 28.11 | |||
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2020 | 2019 | % Change | 2020 | 2019 | % Change | |||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 158,257 | $ | 164,991 | (4.1 | %) | $ | 420,702 | $ | 459,324 | (8.4 | %) | |||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 135,399 | $ | 141,299 | (4.2 | %) | $ | 359,337 | $ | 393,210 | (8.6 | %) | |||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 117,849 | $ | 125,237 | (5.9 | %) | $ | 365,305 | $ | 375,315 | (2.7 | %) | |||||||||
Other income | 726 | 1,858 | (60.9 | %) | 3,515 | 4,536 | (22.5 | %) | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | 118,575 | 127,095 | (6.7 | %) | 368,820 | 379,851 | (2.9 | %) | |||||||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | (102,951 | ) | (107,573 | ) | (4.3 | %) | (373,442 | ) | (321,248 | ) | 16.2 | % | |||||||||
Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses | (28,074 | ) | (29,700 | ) | (5.5 | %) | (82,894 | ) | (89,177 | ) | (7.0 | %) | |||||||||
Total expenses | (131,025 | ) | (137,273 | ) | (4.6 | %) | (456,336 | ) | (410,425 | ) | 11.2 | % | |||||||||
Segment results | $ | (12,450 | ) | $ | (10,178 | ) | (22.3 | %) | $ | (87,516 | ) | $ | (30,574 | ) | (186.2 | %) | |||||
SPECIALTY P&C SEGMENT KEY RATIOS | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
Current accident year net loss ratio | 89.8 | % | 94.5 | % | 107.9 | % | 93.9 | % | |||
Effect of prior accident years’ reserve development | (2.4 | %) | (8.6 | %) | (5.7 | %) | (8.3 | %) | |||
Net loss ratio | 87.4 | % | 85.9 | % | 102.2 | % | 85.6 | % | |||
Underwriting expense ratio | 23.8 | % | 23.7 | % | 22.7 | % | 23.8 | % | |||
Combined ratio | 111.2 | % | 109.6 | % | 124.9 | % | 109.4 | % | |||
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2020 | 2019 | % Change | 2020 | 2019 | % Change | |||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 62,996 | $ | 70,066 | (10.1 | %) | $ | 199,447 | $ | 223,638 | (10.8 | %) | |||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 44,758 | $ | 49,663 | (9.9 | %) | $ | 135,370 | $ | 146,101 | (7.3 | %) | |||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 42,516 | $ | 49,477 | (14.1 | %) | $ | 129,437 | $ | 141,990 | (8.8 | %) | |||||||||
Other income | 441 | 494 | (10.7 | %) | 1,717 | 1,948 | (11.9 | %) | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | 42,957 | 49,971 | (14.0 | %) | 131,154 | 143,938 | (8.9 | %) | |||||||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | (26,455 | ) | (32,356 | ) | (18.2 | %) | (84,648 | ) | (93,424 | ) | (9.4 | %) | |||||||||
Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses | (14,983 | ) | (14,895 | ) | 0.6 | % | (42,604 | ) | (43,456 | ) | (2.0 | %) | |||||||||
Total expenses | (41,438 | ) | (47,251 | ) | (12.3 | %) | (127,252 | ) | (136,880 | ) | (7.0 | %) | |||||||||
Segment results | $ | 1,519 | $ | 2,720 | (44.2 | %) | $ | 3,902 | $ | 7,058 | (44.7 | %) | |||||||||
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE SEGMENT KEY RATIOS | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
Current accident year net loss ratio | 66.9 | % | 68.2 | % | 69.2 | % | 68.2 | % | |||
Effect of prior accident years’ reserve development | (4.7 | %) | (2.8 | %) | (3.8 | %) | (2.4 | %) | |||
Net loss ratio | 62.2 | % | 65.4 | % | 65.4 | % | 65.8 | % | |||
Underwriting expense ratio | 35.2 | % | 30.1 | % | 32.9 | % | 30.6 | % | |||
Combined ratio | 97.4 | % | 95.5 | % | 98.3 | % | 96.4 | % | |||
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2020 | 2019 | % Change | 2020 | 2019 | % Change | |||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 15,933 | $ | 17,281 | (7.8 | %) | $ | 58,068 | $ | 70,556 | (17.7 | %) | |||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 14,011 | $ | 15,268 | (8.2 | %) | $ | 51,246 | $ | 62,886 | (18.5 | %) | |||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 16,052 | $ | 19,779 | (18.8 | %) | $ | 49,780 | $ | 58,566 | (15.0 | %) | |||||||||
Net investment income | 273 | 445 | (38.7 | %) | 832 | 1,261 | (34.0 | %) | |||||||||||||
Net realized gains (losses) | 1,495 | (98 | ) | (1,625.5 | %) | 894 | 1,949 | (54.1 | %) | ||||||||||||
Other income | 12 | 176 | (93.2 | %) | 203 | 397 | (48.9 | %) | |||||||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | (6,858 | ) | (9,778 | ) | (29.9 | %) | (23,890 | ) | (40,496 | ) | (41.0 | %) | |||||||||
Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses | (5,036 | ) | (5,951 | ) | (15.4 | %) | (15,474 | ) | (17,091 | ) | (9.5 | %) | |||||||||
SPC U.S. federal income tax expense(1) | (871 | ) | — | nm | (1,573 | ) | — | nm | |||||||||||||
SPC net results | 5,067 | 4,573 | 10.8 | % | 10,772 | 4,586 | 134.9 | % | |||||||||||||
Segregated portfolio cell dividend (expense) income (2) | (3,854 | ) | (3,621 | ) | 6.4 | % | (7,988 | ) | (1,375 | ) | (480.9 | %) | |||||||||
Segment results (3) | $ | 1,213 | $ | 952 | 27.4 | % | $ | 2,784 | $ | 3,211 | (13.3 | %) | |||||||||
(1) Represents the provision for U.S. federal income taxes for SPCs at Inova Re, which have elected to be taxed as a U.S. corporation under Section 953(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. U.S. federal income taxes are included in the total SPC net results and are paid by the individual SPCs. | |||||||||||||||||||||
(2) Represents the net (profit) loss due to external cell participants. | |||||||||||||||||||||
(3) Represents our share of the net profit (loss) of the SPCs in which we participate. | |||||||||||||||||||||
SEGREGATED PORTFOLIO CELL REINSURANCE SEGMENT KEY RATIOS | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
Current accident year net loss ratio | 67.3 | % | 66.1 | % | 63.3 | % | 82.5 | % | |||
Effect of prior accident years’ reserve development | (24.6 | %) | (16.7 | %) | (15.3 | %) | (13.4 | %) | |||
Net loss ratio | 42.7 | % | 49.4 | % | 48.0 | % | 69.1 | % | |||
Underwriting expense ratio | 31.4 | % | 30.1 | % | 31.1 | % | 29.2 | % | |||
Combined ratio | 74.1 | % | 79.5 | % | 79.1 | % | 98.3 | % | |||
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2020 | 2019 | % Change | 2020 | 2019 | % Change | |||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 23,862 | $ | 30,427 | (21.6 | %) | $ | 72,441 | $ | 83,247 | (13.0 | %) | |||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 19,092 | $ | 21,828 | (12.5 | %) | $ | 59,269 | $ | 61,587 | (3.8 | %) | |||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 18,142 | $ | 21,295 | (14.8 | %) | $ | 61,186 | $ | 57,215 | 6.9 | % | |||||||||
Net investment income | 951 | 1,077 | (11.7 | %) | 3,236 | 3,282 | (1.4 | %) | |||||||||||||
Other gains (losses) | 900 | 120 | 650.0 | % | 1,319 | 447 | 195.1 | % | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | 19,993 | 22,492 | (11.1 | %) | 65,741 | 60,944 | 7.9 | % | |||||||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | (9,317 | ) | (11,907 | ) | (21.8 | %) | (39,432 | ) | (34,640 | ) | 13.8 | % | |||||||||
Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses | (6,938 | ) | (9,411 | ) | (26.3 | %) | (23,373 | ) | (25,445 | ) | (8.1 | %) | |||||||||
Total expenses | (16,255 | ) | (21,318 | ) | (23.7 | %) | (62,805 | ) | (60,085 | ) | 4.5 | % | |||||||||
Total income tax (expense) benefit | — | 161 | nm | 29 | 161 | (82.0 | %) | ||||||||||||||
Segment results | $ | 3,738 | $ | 1,335 | 180.0 | % | $ | 2,965 | $ | 1,020 | 190.7 | % | |||||||||
LLOYD’S SYNDICATES SEGMENT KEY RATIOS | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
Current accident year net loss ratio | 65.9 | % | 58.3 | % | 66.5 | % | 60.5 | % | |||
Effect of prior accident years’ reserve development | (14.5 | %) | (2.4 | %) | (2.1 | %) | — | % | |||
Net loss ratio | 51.4 | % | 55.9 | % | 64.4 | % | 60.5 | % | |||
Underwriting expense ratio | 38.2 | % | 44.2 | % | 38.2 | % | 44.5 | % | |||
Combined ratio | 89.6 | % | 100.1 | % | 102.6 | % | 105.0 | % | |||
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2020 | 2019 | Change | 2020 | 2019 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 15,700 | $ | 22,159 | (29.1 | %) | $ | 51,809 | $ | 65,495 | (20.9 | %) | |||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries: | |||||||||||||||||||||
All other investments, primarily investment fund LPs/LLCs | 9,387 | 4,495 | 108.8 | % | (6,093 | ) | 8,621 | (170.7 | %) | ||||||||||||
Tax credit partnerships | (4,534 | ) | (5,772 | ) | 21.4 | % | (15,972 | ) | (15,861 | ) | (0.7 | %) | |||||||||
Total equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries: | 4,853 | (1,277 | ) | 480.0 | % | (22,065 | ) | (7,240 | ) | (204.8 | %) | ||||||||||
Net realized investment gains (losses) | 6,854 | 947 | 623.8 | % | (1,844 | ) | 44,390 | (104.2 | %) | ||||||||||||
Other income | 775 | 963 | (19.5 | %) | 1,813 | 2,701 | (32.9 | %) | |||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (5,044 | ) | (2,682 | ) | 88.1 | % | (17,632 | ) | (12,676 | ) | 39.1 | % | |||||||||
Interest expense | (3,881 | ) | (4,274 | ) | (9.2 | %) | (11,725 | ) | (12,850 | ) | (8.8 | %) | |||||||||
Income tax (expense) benefit | (2,141 | ) | 6,528 | (132.8 | %) | 48,592 | (157 | ) | nm | ||||||||||||
Segment results | $ | 17,116 | $ | 22,364 | (23.5 | %) | $ | 48,948 | $ | 79,663 | (38.6 | %) | |||||||||
Effective tax rate | (1.4 | %) | (63.7 | %) | 20.4 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
| changes in general economic conditions, including the impact of inflation or deflation and unemployment; |
| our ability to maintain our dividend payments; |
| regulatory, legislative and judicial actions or decisions that could affect our business plans or operations, including changes in interpretations of certain coverages as a result of COVID-19; |
| the enactment or repeal of tort reforms; |
| formation or dissolution of state-sponsored insurance entities providing coverages now offered by ProAssurance which could remove or add sizable numbers of insureds from or to the private insurance market; |
| changes in the interest and tax rate environment, including the actions taken by the federal government and Federal Reserve in response to COVID-19; |
| resolution of uncertain tax matters and changes in tax laws, including the impact of the TCJA and CARES Act; |
| changes in laws or government regulations regarding financial markets or market activity that may affect our business; |
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
| changes in the ability, or perception thereof, of the U.S. government to meet its obligations that may affect the U.S. economy and our business; |
| performance of financial markets affecting the fair value of our investments or making it difficult to determine the value of our investments; |
| changes in requirements or accounting policies and practices that may be adopted by our regulatory agencies, the FASB, the SEC, the PCAOB or the NYSE that may affect our business; |
| changes in laws or government regulations affecting the financial services industry, the property and casualty insurance industry or particular insurance lines underwritten by our subsidiaries or by Syndicates 1729 and 6131; |
| the effect on our insureds, particularly the insurance needs of our insureds, and our loss costs, of changes in the healthcare delivery system and/or changes in the U.S. political climate that may affect healthcare policy or our business; |
| consolidation of our insureds into or under larger entities which may be insured by competitors, or may not have a risk profile that meets our underwriting criteria or which may not use external providers for insuring or otherwise managing substantial portions of their liability risk; |
| the effect of cyclical insurance industry trends on our underwriting, including demand and pricing in the insurance and reinsurance markets in which we operate; |
| uncertainties inherent in the estimate of our loss and loss adjustment expense reserve and reinsurance recoverable; |
| changes in the availability, cost, quality or collectability of insurance/reinsurance; |
| the results of litigation, including pre- or post-trial motions, trials and/or appeals we undertake; |
| effects on our claims costs from mass tort litigation that are different from that anticipated by us; |
| allegations of bad faith which may arise from our handling of any particular claim, including failure to settle; |
| loss or consolidation of independent agents, agencies, brokers or brokerage firms; |
| changes in our organization, compensation and benefit plans; |
| changes in the business or competitive environment may limit the effectiveness of our business strategy and impact our revenues; |
| our ability to retain and recruit senior management and other qualified personnel; |
| the availability, integrity and security of our technology infrastructure or that of our third-party providers of technology infrastructure, including any susceptibility to cyber-attacks which might result in a loss of information or operating capability; |
| the impact of a catastrophic event, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, as it relates to our business and insurance operations, investment results, Lloyd's Syndicates and our insured risks; |
| the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic conditions on our premium volume, loss reserves, investment portfolio, asset valuations, business operations and workforce; |
| the impact of acts of terrorism and acts of war; |
| the effects of terrorism-related insurance legislation and laws; |
| guaranty funds and other state assessments; |
| our ability to achieve continued growth through expansion into new markets or through acquisitions or business combinations; |
| failure to complete our planned acquisition of NORCAL for any reason including but not limited to failure to obtain required regulatory approvals, or failure of any other condition set forth in the acquisition agreement, or our inability to fund the transaction; and if completed, our failure to successfully integrate NORCAL to achieve expected results or synergies after closing; |
| changes to the ratings assigned by rating agencies to our holding company or insurance subsidiaries, individually or as a group; |
| provisions in our charter documents, Delaware law and state insurance laws may impede attempts to replace or remove management or may impede a takeover; |
NEWS RELEASE CONTINUES | |
| state insurance restrictions may prohibit assets held by our insurance subsidiaries, including cash and investment securities, from being used for general corporate purposes; |
| taxing authorities can take exception to our tax positions and cause us to incur significant amounts of legal and accounting costs and, if our defense is not successful, additional tax costs, including interest and penalties; and |
| expected benefits from completed and proposed acquisitions may not be achieved or may be delayed longer than expected due to business disruption; loss of customers, employees or key agents; increased operating costs or inability to achieve cost savings and synergies; and assumption of greater than expected liabilities, among other reasons. |
Additional risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could arise from our membership in the Lloyd's market and our participation in Lloyd's Syndicates include, but are not limited to, the following: | |
| members of Lloyd's are subject to levies by the Council of Lloyd's based on a percentage of the member's underwriting capacity, currently a maximum of 3%, but can be increased by Lloyd's; |
| Syndicate results can be affected by decisions made by the Council of Lloyd's which the management of Syndicate 1729 and Syndicate 6131 have little ability to control, such as a decision to not approve the business plan of Syndicate 1729 or Syndicate 6131, or a decision to increase the capital required to continue operations, and by our obligation to pay levies to Lloyd's; |
| Lloyd's insurance and reinsurance relationships and distribution channels could be disrupted or Lloyd's trading licenses could be revoked, making it more difficult for a Lloyd's Syndicate to distribute and market its products; |
| rating agencies could downgrade their ratings of Lloyd's as a whole; and |
| Syndicate 1729 and Syndicate 6131 operations are dependent on a small, specialized management team, and the loss of their services could adversely affect the Syndicate’s business. The inability to identify, hire and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future could adversely affect the quality and profitability of Syndicate 1729’s or Syndicate 6131's business. |