Kingsway announces first quarter 2014 results

TORONTO, May 8, 2014 /CNW/ - (TSX: KFS, NYSE: KFS) Kingsway Financial Services Inc. ("Kingsway" or the "Company") today announced its operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless indicated otherwise.

Management Comments

Larry G. Swets, Jr., the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased to report a quarterly result that provides further evidence of turning the corner we discussed in the shareholder letter.  During the quarter we eliminated our senior debt, raised capital and completed the IPO of our former wholly owned subsidiary, 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.  As importantly, the improvement in the adjusted operating income of our segments provides the foundation for further value creation." 

Mr. Swets continued, "The turnaround in the Insurance Underwriting segment is an important milestone for the Company and reflects a significant amount of effort from the team dedicated to writing profitable premium.  This stability will allow us to accelerate other merchant banking activity."

Operating Results

The Company reported net loss of $1.0 million for the first quarter of 2014, compared to net loss of $17.3 million for the prior-year period.  The Company also reported adjusted operating income, a non-U.S. GAAP measure defined below, of $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2014, compared to adjusted operating loss of $0.2 million for the prior-year period. The Company looks at adjusted operating income (loss) as a way of assessing the profitability and progress of the subsidiaries in its Insurance Underwriting and Insurance Services segments.

Following are highlights of Kingsway's first quarter of 2014:

• The Insurance Underwriting segment recorded operating income of $0.3 million for the first quarter of 2014, compared to operating loss of $3.0 million in the prior-year period.
  
  
• The Insurance Services segment recorded operating income of $1.9 million for the first quarter of 2014, flat from $1.9 million in the prior-year period.
  
  
• Net investment income of $0.4 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2014, compared to $0.6 million in the prior-year period.
  
  
• Net realized gains of $0.0 million were recorded in the first quarter of 2014, compared to net realized losses of $1.4 million in the prior-year period.
  
  
• Net loss of $3.6 million not allocated to any segment was recorded in the first quarter of 2014, compared to net loss of $15.4 million in the prior-year period.  The 2014 result includes gain on change in fair value of debt of $0.6 million, compared to loss on change in fair value of debt of $9.0 million in the prior-year period. 
  
  
• Book value has increased from $2.25 per share at December 31, 2013 to $2.69 per share at March 31, 2014. The Company also carries a valuation allowance, in the amount of $17.25 per share at March 31, 2014, against the deferred tax asset, primarily related to its loss carryforwards.

For a detailed discussion of Kingsway's earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014 as well as other important information, please refer to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2014. Our Annual Letter to Shareholders may be accessed at the Company's website or directly at http://bit.ly/kfs2013.

About the Company

Kingsway is a holding company functioning as a merchant bank with a focus on long-term value-creation.  The Company owns or controls stakes in several insurance industry assets and utilizes its subsidiaries, 1347 Advisors LLC and 1347 Capital LLC, to pursue opportunities acting as an advisor, an investor and a financier. The common shares of Kingsway are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "KFS."

Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
			Three months ended March 31,
			2014			2013
Revenues:
	Net premiums earned	$	31,920		$	28,068
	Service fee and commission income		14,724			13,124
	Net investment income		413			580
	Net realized gains (losses)		39			(1,409)
	Other income		2,071			2,218
Total revenues			49,167			42,581
Expenses:
	Loss and loss adjustment expenses		21,061			21,831
	Commissions and premium taxes		6,553			6,712
	Cost of services sold		856			—
	General and administrative expenses		18,524			19,604
	Restructuring expense		20			780
	Interest expense		1,433			1,833
	Amortization of intangible assets		414			558
	Contingent consideration expense		267			155
Total expenses			49,128			51,473
Income (loss) before gain (loss) on change in fair value of debt, loss on disposal of subsidiary, loss on buy-back of debt, equity in net income of investee and income tax expense (benefit)			39			(8,892)
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of debt			563			(8,951)
Loss on disposal of subsidiary			(1,242)			—
Loss on buy-back of debt			—			(24)
Equity in net income of investee			—			255
Loss before income tax expense (benefit)			(640)			(17,612)
Income tax expense (benefit)			366			(276)
Net loss			(1,006)			(17,336)
	Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		653			95
	Less: dividends on preferred stock		53			—
	Net loss attributable to common shareholders	$	(1,712)		$	(17,431)
Loss per share - net loss attributable to common shareholders:
Basic:		$	(0.10)		$	(1.33)
Diluted:			(0.10)			(1.33)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in '000s):
Basic:			16,430			13,149
Diluted:			16,430			13,149

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)
			March 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
			(unaudited)
Assets
Investments:
	Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost of $50,778 and $53,455, respectively)	$	51,456		$	54,151
	Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $5,103 and $3,554, respectively)		9,982			7,137
	Limited liability investments		4,701			4,406
	Other investments, at cost which approximates fair value		2,000			3,000
	Short-term investments, at cost which approximates fair value		401			501
Total investments			68,540			69,195
Cash and cash equivalents			72,080			98,589
Investment in investee			7,661			—
Accrued investment income			1,096			614
Premiums receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,839 and $2,123, respectively			32,609			32,035
Service fee receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $245 and $0, respectively			22,622			19,012
Other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,061 and $1,062, respectively			5,106			4,097
Reinsurance recoverable			7,569			10,335
Prepaid reinsurance premiums			148			6,816
Deferred acquisition costs, net			12,559			12,392
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $15,894 and $15,848, respectively			1,671			1,662
Goodwill			10,588			10,588
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $18,997 and $18,583, respectively			48,504			48,918
Other assets			3,525			4,039
Asset held for sale			6,347			6,347
Total Assets		$	300,625		$	324,639
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Liabilities:
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses:
	Property and casualty	$	77,285		$	84,534
	Vehicle service agreements		3,128			3,128
Total unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses			80,413			87,662
Unearned premiums			40,979			48,577
Reinsurance payable			145			1,033
LROC preferred units, at fair value			14,291			14,854
Senior unsecured debentures, at fair value			—			14,356
Subordinated debt, at fair value			28,471			28,471
Deferred income tax liability			4,456			4,173
Deferred service fees			49,262			48,788
Income taxes payable			921			2,984
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			37,538			36,821
Total Liabilities		$	256,476		$	287,719
Shareholders' Equity:
Class A preferred stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 262,876 and zero issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively		$	6,402		$	—
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 16,429,761 and 16,429,761 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively			—			—
Additional paid-in capital			325,427			324,803
Accumulated deficit			(300,640)			(298,930)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			10,973			9,601
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders			42,162			35,474
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries			1,987			1,446
Total Shareholders' Equity			44,149			36,920
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity		$	300,625		$	324,639

Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

Operating Income (Loss)

Operating income (loss) represents one measure of the pretax profitability of our segments and is derived by subtracting direct segment expenses from direct segment revenues.  Please refer to the section entitled "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis section of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 for a detailed description of this non-U.S. GAAP measure.

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)

Adjusted operating income (loss) represents another measure used by the Company to assess the profitability of our segments.  Adjusted operating income (loss) is computed by adding to operating income (loss) the net investment income, net realized gains and depreciation attributable to our segments.  A reconciliation of operating income (loss) and adjusted operating income (loss) to net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is presented below:

(in thousands)	Three months ended March 31,
		2014			2013
Operating income (loss)		2,171			(1,129)
Net investment income of segments		263			281
Net realized gains of segments		39			309
Depreciation of segments		255			356
Adjusted operating income (loss)		2,728			(183)
Net investment income not included in adjusted operating income (loss)		151			299
Net realized gains (losses) not included in adjusted operating income (loss)		—			(1,718)
Other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net		153			(4,388)
Depreciation of segments		(255)			(356)
Stock based compensation expense, net of forfeitures		(624)			—
Interest expense		(1,433)			(1,833)
Amortization of intangible assets		(414)			(558)
Contingent consideration expense		(267)			(155)
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of debt		563			(8,951)
Loss on disposal of subsidiary		(1,242)			—
Loss on buy-back of debt		—			(24)
Equity in net income of investee		—			255
Loss before income tax (expense) benefit		(640)			(17,612)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(366)			276
Net loss		(1,006)			(17,336)

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. Words such as "expects", "believes", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "seeks" and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect Kingsway management's current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, our potential inability to complete the proposed private placement.  For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, please refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.  Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional Information

Additional information about Kingsway, including a copy of its 2013 Annual Report and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, can be accessed on the Canadian Securities Administrators' website at www.sedar.com, on the EDGAR section of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov or through the Company's website at www.kingsway-financial.com.

 

 

 

SOURCE: Kingsway Financial Services Inc.