FAC Reports Operating Results for the Three and Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2012 (11/06/12)
First Acceptance Corporation Reports Operating Results for the Three and Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2012
NASHVILLE, TN, November 6, 2012—First Acceptance Corporation (NYSE: FAC) today reported its financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012.
Operating Results
Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2012 were $59.6 million, compared with $50.0 million for the same period in the prior year. Income before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2012 was $3.4 million, compared with loss before income taxes of $3.6 million for the same period in the prior year. Income before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2012 included the recognition of a net realized gain on investments of $3.2 million, or $0.08 per share on a diluted basis. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2012 was $3.3 million, or $0.08 per share on a basic and diluted basis, compared with net loss of $3.7 million, or $0.08 per share on a basic and diluted basis, for the same period in the prior year.
Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $173.0 million, compared with $155.9 million for the same period in the prior year. Loss before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $9.2 million, compared with loss before income taxes of $58.7 million for the same period in the prior year. The loss before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 included the recognition of a net realized gain on investments of $3.2 million, or $0.08 per share on a diluted basis, while the loss before income taxes for the same period in the prior year included a goodwill and intangible assets impairment charge of $52.4 million, or $1.09 per share on a diluted basis. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $9.1 million, or $0.22 per share on a basic and diluted basis, compared with net loss of $58.8 million, or $1.22 per share on a basic and diluted basis, for the same period in the prior year.
Premiums earned for the three months ended September 30, 2012 were $46.4 million, compared with $40.5 million for the same period in the prior year. Premiums earned for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $139.6 million, compared with $127.1 million for the same period in the prior year. This improvement was primarily due to an increase in the number of policies in force (“PIF”) from 140,930 at September 30, 2011 to 148,799 at September 30, 2012, which we attribute to our continued sales, marketing, customer interaction and product initiatives. In addition, we experienced increases in both new policies sold during the most recent quarter and nine-month period on a year-over-year basis and the number of PIF at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011. For those policies quoted, we continue to experience a higher close ratio for the quarter and nine-month period ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same periods in the prior year.
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Ratio. The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 77.1 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with 82.1 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 82.0 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with 76.4 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. We experienced favorable development related to prior fiscal years of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with unfavorable development of $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we experienced unfavorable development related to prior fiscal years of $4.4 million, compared with favorable development of $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The unfavorable development for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was primarily due to adverse trends in bodily injury and Florida personal injury protection claims for recent accident years.
Excluding the development related to prior periods, the loss and loss adjustment expense ratios for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were 77.4 percent and 79.5 percent, respectively. Excluding the development related to prior periods, the loss and loss adjustment expense ratios for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were 78.8 percent and 77.6 percent, respectively. The year-over-year increase in the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was primarily due to higher loss and loss adjustment expense driven by an increase in frequency experienced during the second quarter of 2012.
In December 2011, we completed the process of implementing new scored pricing programs. We believe these new scored pricing programs provide us with greater pricing segmentation and improve our pricing relative to the risk we are insuring. Currently, approximately 70 percent of our PIF have been underwritten using these new scored pricing programs.
We perform state-by-state reviews of all insurance pricing programs on a quarterly basis and alter rates as we believe necessary. In response to the increases in our loss ratio during recent quarters, we implemented rate increases on most of our non-scored pricing programs during the first quarter and for our scored pricing programs in most states during the second and third quarters. The full benefit of these rate actions will not be fully realized until all customers renew their policies under the new rates, typically six months from the date of rate change implementation.
Expense Ratio. The expense ratio was 22.8 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with 27.5 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The expense ratio was 26.8 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with 29.0 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Excluding the severance and related benefits charges of $1.3 million incurred in connection with the separation of certain executive officers during March 2011, the expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 28.0 percent, compared to 26.8 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Combined Ratio. The combined ratio was 99.9 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with 109.6 percent for the same period in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the combined ratio increased to 108.8 percent from 105.4 percent for the same period in the prior year. Excluding the severance and related benefits charges noted above, the combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 104.3 percent.
About First Acceptance Corporation
We are a retailer, servicer and underwriter of non-standard personal automobile insurance based in Nashville, Tennessee. We currently write non-standard personal automobile insurance in 12 states and are licensed as an insurer in 13 additional states. Non-standard personal automobile insurance is made available to individuals who are categorized as “non-standard” because of their inability or unwillingness to obtain standard insurance coverage due to various factors, including payment history, payment preference, failure in the past to maintain continuous insurance coverage, driving record and/or vehicle type, and in most instances who are required by law to buy a minimum amount of automobile insurance. At September 30, 2012, we leased and operated 369 retail locations, staffed with employee-agents. Our employee-agents primarily sell non-standard personal automobile insurance products underwritten by us, as well as certain commissionable ancillary products and other insurance products. We are able to complete the entire sales process at the local retail office, over the phone and through our website. In select markets, we also sell our products through 13 retail locations operated by independent agents. Additional information about First Acceptance Corporation can be found online at acceptanceinsurance.com.
