Kingsway Reports Third Quarter Results

TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - (TSX: KFS, NYSE: KFS) Kingsway Financial Services Inc. ("Kingsway" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless indicated otherwise.

The Company reported a third quarter net loss of $20.0 million ($40.3 million year to date), or a loss of $1.52 ($3.07 year to date) per diluted share.  The book value has decreased from $8.90 per share at December 31, 2011 to $5.88 per share at September 30, 2012. The Company also carries a valuation allowance, in the amount of $20.48 per share at September 30, 2012, against the deferred tax asset, primarily related to its loss carryforwards.  All per share amounts have been adjusted for all periods to reflect the share consolidation implemented as of July 3, 2012, whereby every four of the Company's common shares that were issued and outstanding were automatically combined into one issued and outstanding common share, without any change in the par value of such shares.

The following are the highlights of the third quarter of 2012:

Operational results

• Net operating loss of $16.8 million was recorded in the Insurance Underwriting segment for the third quarter ($23.8 million year to date).  This third quarter 2012 result reflects $13.4 million of charges, including $11.4 million added to the Company's provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses; $1.3 million for abandoned leases; and $0.7 million of the total $2.0 million estimated for severance expense, described in the Company's September 17, 2012 press release.
• Net operating income of $0.4 million was recorded in the Insurance Services segment for the third quarter ($2.9 million year to date).
• Net investment income and realized gains of $1.9 million were recorded for the third quarter ($3.8 million year to date).
• The Company recorded no other-than-temporary impairment loss for the third quarter ($0.5 million year to date).
• Net loss of $5.5 million not allocated to any segment was recorded in the third quarter ($22.7 million year to date). This includes loss on change in fair value of debt of $3.2 million ($9.9 million year to date); equity in net income of investee of $0.1 million (loss of $2.1 million year to date); and interest expense of $1.1 million ($3.3 million year to date) related to the Company's subordinated debt and currently being deferred.  None of these three items impacted the Company's cash flows during the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

On September 17, 2012, the Company announced that it was restructuring its Insurance Underwriting and Insurance Services segments.  As part of the restructuring, the Company intends to streamline its non-standard property and casualty insurance business operations. Specific to Insurance Underwriting, during the third quarter the Company began taking actions to significantly reduce the amount of commercial lines business written at Kingsway Amigo Insurance Company ("Amigo") and to update Amigo's personal lines product offering.  As part of the restructuring, the Company will reduce staffing levels to be consistent with decreased premium volume at its Amigo business.

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 September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
			2012				2011				2012				2011
Revenue:
	Net premiums earned		$	26,501			$	36,614			$	86,753			$	124,825
	Service fee and commission income		7,648				7,687				25,315				24,465
	Net investment income		782				999				2,414				3,228
	Net realized gains		1,109				104				1,359				102
	Other-than-temporary impairment loss		—				—				(488		)		—
	(Loss) gain on change in fair value of debt		(3,177		)		17,189				(9,926		)		25,821
	Other income		1,940				5,587				5,767				8,809
Total revenues			34,803				68,180				111,194				187,250
Expenses:
	Loss and loss adjustment expenses		33,348				34,304				78,739				112,895
	Commissions and premiums taxes		2,458				5,421				11,624				19,707
	General and administrative expenses		16,819				17,986				52,774				62,367
	Restructuring expense		1,972				—				1,972				—
	Interest expense		1,887				1,874				5,652				5,610
	Amortization of other intangible assets		—				18				—				54
Total expenses			56,484				59,603				150,761				200,633
(Loss) income before gain on buy-back of debt, equity in net income (loss) of investee and income tax (benefit) expense			(21,681		)		8,577				(39,567		)		(13,383		)
Gain on buy-back of debt			500				3				500				556
Equity in net income (loss) of investee			93				145				(2,085		)		(384		)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense			(21,088		)		8,725				(41,152		)		(13,211		)
Income tax (benefit) expense			(1,054		)		2,433				(879		)		2,292
(Loss) income from continuing operations			(20,034		)		6,292				(40,273		)		(15,503		)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes			—				—				—				(1,293		)
Net (loss) income			(20,034		)		6,292				(40,273		)		(16,796		)
	Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		(1,165		)		(960		)		(1,888		)		(3,684		)
	Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders		$	(18,869	)		$	7,252			$	(38,385	)		$	(13,112	)
(Loss) income per share -  continuing operations:
	Basic:		$	(1.52	)		$	0.48			$	(3.07	)		$	(1.19	)
Diluted:			(1.52		)		0.48				(3.07		)		(1.19		)
(Loss) income per share - net (loss) income:
	Basic:		$	(1.52	)		$	0.48			$	(3.07	)		$	(1.28	)
Diluted:			(1.52		)		0.48				(3.07		)		(1.28		)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in '000s):
	Basic:		13,149				13,086				13,133				13,071
	Diluted:		13,149				13,086				13,133				13,071

(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations, Net (Loss) Income and Diluted (Loss) Income Per Share

In the third quarter of 2012, we incurred a loss from continuing operations of $20.0 million ($1.52 per diluted share) compared to income of $6.3 million (income of $0.48 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2011.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we incurred a loss from continuing operations of $40.3 million ($3.07 per diluted share) compared to $15.5 million ($1.19 per diluted share) for the same period in 2011.  The loss from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 is attributable to operating losses in Insurance Underwriting, corporate general expenses, interest expense and loss on the change in fair value of debt.  The income from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2011 is due to gain on the change in fair value of debt, offset by Insurance Underwriting operating losses, corporate general expenses and interest expense. The loss from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is due to operating losses in Insurance Underwriting, corporate general expenses and interest expense, offset by gain on the change in fair value of debt.

In the third quarter of 2012, we incurred a net loss of $20.0 million ($40.3 million year to date) compared to income of $6.3 million in the third quarter of 2011 (loss of $16.8 million prior year to date). The diluted loss per share was $1.52 for the third quarter of 2012 ($3.07 year to date) compared to a diluted income per share of $0.48 for the third quarter of 2011 (loss of $1.28 prior year to date).

Loss on Disposal of Discontinued Operations

For the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported no loss on disposal of discontinued operations, compared to a loss of zero and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

Net (Loss) Income and (Loss) Income Per Share - Net (Loss) Income

In the third quarter of 2012, the Company reported net loss of $20.0 million ($40.3 million year to date) compared to net income of $6.3 million in the third quarter of 2011 (net loss of $16.8 million prior year to date). Diluted loss per share was $1.52 for the quarter ($3.07 year to date) compared to diluted income per share of $0.48 for the third quarter of 2011 (diluted loss per share of $1.28 prior year to date).

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)

			September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
			(unaudited)
ASSETS
Investments:
	Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost of $88,054 and $91,344, respectively)		$	90,168			$	93,651
	Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $2,303 and $2,689, respectively)		2,350				2,960
	Limited liability investments		2,413				97
	Other investments, at cost which approximates fair value		—				488
	Short-term investments, at cost which approximates fair value		335				20,334
Total investments			95,266				117,530
Investment in investee			47,173				48,592
Cash and cash equivalents			60,871				85,486
Accrued investment income			2,999				1,999
Premiums receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of 3,665 and 3,653, respectively			33,922				28,732
Service fee receivable			15,683				12,947
Other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $806 and $806, respectively			5,579				6,322
Reinsurance recoverable			10,472				697
Prepaid reinsurance premiums			7,891				2,024
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net			8,039				8,116
Income taxes recoverable			—				8,134
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $19,331 and $27,736			3,323				13,040
Goodwill			510				510
Intangible assets			39,121				39,121
Other assets			1,923				831
Asset held for sale			8,737				—
TOTAL ASSETS			$	341,509			$	374,081
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses			$	104,953			$	120,258
Unearned premiums			44,070				39,423
Reinsurance payable			9,107				1,913
LROC preferred units			13,987				8,845
Senior unsecured debentures			22,921				28,337
Subordinated debt			24,942				16,432
Deferred income tax liability			2,772				2,653
Notes payable			—				2,418
Deferred revenue			14,031				11,128
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			27,432				26,269
TOTAL LIABILITIES			$	264,215			$	257,676
EQUITY
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 13,148,971 and 13,086,471 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively			$	296,621			$	296,489
Additional paid-in capital			15,631				15,403
Accumulated deficit			(248,369		)		(201,208		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			13,752				12,749
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders			77,635				123,433
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries			(341		)		(7,028		)
TOTAL EQUITY			77,294				116,405
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY			$	341,509			$	374,081

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 current or future acquisitions successfully, our inability to successfully implement our restructuring activities, and our inability to adequately estimate and provide for an appropriate level of reserving at our insurance company subsidiaries. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, see Kingsway's securities filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 ("2011 Annual Report") and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.  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.

Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains certain non-U.S. GAAP financial measures. 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 September 30, 2012. 

Additional Information

Additional information about Kingsway, including a copy of its 2011 Annual Report and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, 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.