First Acceptance Corp (FACO)

[Enterprising Investor]

First Acceptance Corporation Reports Operating Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 (11/10/16)

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 10, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Acceptance Corporation (NYSE:FAC) today reported its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Operating Results

Loss before income taxes, for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $0.3 million, compared with $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $0.3 million, compared with $3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Basic and diluted net loss per share were $0.01 for the three months ended September 30, 2016, compared with $0.07 for the same period in the prior year.

Loss before income taxes, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $39.3 million, compared with $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $25.7 million, compared with $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Basic and diluted net loss per share were $0.63 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with $0.05 for the same period in the prior year.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we recognized $0.1 million of favorable prior period loss development and $27.5 million of unfavorable prior period loss development, respectively. Additionally, the results for these periods were favorably impacted by net realized gains on investments of $4.9 million from the sales of fixed maturities that were sold to increase the statutory capital and surplus of our insurance company subsidiaries. The nine months ended September 30, 2016 also includes a $1.2 million gain on sale of foreclosed real estate. The three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included $3.4 million and $3.6 million, respectively, of costs related to a litigation settlement.

Recently-appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, Ken Russell, commented, “There have been extreme challenges within the automobile insurance industry over the last year, particularly in the non-standard sector. My goal is to return the Company to profitability by combating these obstacles through a focus on appropriate pricing and risk segmentation of our product and efficient processing of claims.”

Loss Ratio. The loss ratio was 92.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2016, compared with 85.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The loss ratio was 104.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with 81.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. We experienced favorable development related to prior periods of $0.1 million and unfavorable development related to prior periods of $27.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. This unfavorable development for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was the result of increased losses primarily from the 2015 accident year across all major coverages. The most significant causes of the development were a greater than usual emergence of reported claims and higher bodily injury severity.

Excluding prior period development, the loss ratio for the 2016 accident year is now estimated to be 92.7%. This elevated loss ratio is primarily due to higher than expected claim frequency across all major coverages and higher bodily injury severity. We believe that an increase in distracted driving, along with an increase in the number of miles driven by insured drivers as a result of lower gas prices and a favorable economy has been a contributing factor to an industry-wide increase in frequency. In response, the Company has continued to implement aggressive rate and underwriting actions as warranted at a state and coverage level and strengthen its claims organization and processes.  
Revenues. Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased 17% to $102.1 million from $87.6 million in the same period in the prior year. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 increased 24% to $301.8 million from $243.4 million in the same period in the prior year.

Premiums earned increased by $9.2 million, or 14%, to $76.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, from $67.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 premiums earned increased by $36.6 million, or 19%, to $234.0 million from $197.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. This improvement was primarily due to higher average premiums resulting from our recent rate increases.

Commission and fee income increased by $0.3 million, or 1%, to $19.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, from $19.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, commission and fee income increased by $15.8 million, or 37%, to $58.1 million from $42.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, primarily as a result of revenue from the former Titan retail locations acquired on July 1, 2015. Commission and fee income also increased as a result of higher fee income related to commissionable ancillary products sold through our previously-existing retail locations.

Expense Ratio. The expense ratio was 13.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2016, compared with 16.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The expense ratio was 14.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with 18.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The year-over-year decrease in the expense ratio was primarily due to the increase in premiums earned which resulted in a lower percentage of fixed expenses in our retail operations (such as rent and base salary) and our ongoing efforts on cost containment. 

Combined Ratio. increased to 106.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from 101.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the combined ratio increased to 119.1% from 100.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Next Release of Financial Results

We currently plan to report our financial results for the three months and year ending December 31, 2016 on March 14, 2017.

About First Acceptance Corporation

We are principally a retailer, servicer and underwriter of non-standard personal automobile insurance based in Nashville, Tennessee. Our insurance operations generate revenues from selling non-standard personal automobile insurance policies and related products in 17 states. We conduct our servicing and underwriting operations in 14 states and are licensed as an insurer in 12 additional states. Non-standard personal automobile insurance is made available to individuals 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 or driving record and/or vehicle type.

At September 30, 2016, we leased and operated 369 retail locations and a call center 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. In most states, our employee-agents also sell a complementary insurance product providing personal property and liability coverage for renters underwritten by us. In addition, retail locations in some markets offer non-standard personal automobile insurance serviced and underwritten by other third-party insurance carriers for which we receive a commission. In addition to our retail locations, we are able to complete the entire sales process over the phone via our call center or through the internet via our consumer-based website or mobile platform. On a limited basis, we also sell our products through selected retail locations operated by independent agents. Additional information about First Acceptance Corporation can be found online at www.acceptance.com.

https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2016/11/10/889052/0/en/First-Acceptance-Corporation-Reports-Operating-Results-for-the-Three-and-Nine-Months-Ended-September-30-2016.html