TORONTO, March 31, 2014 /CNW/ - (TSX: KFS) (NYSE: KFS) Kingsway
Financial Services Inc. ("Kingsway" or the "Company") is pleased to
announce our earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended December
31, 2013. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless indicated otherwise.
"This was an important year for Kingsway. We made significant progress
on our strategic plans in each of our business segments, strengthened
our balance sheet and laid a firm foundation for future growth," stated
Larry G. Swets, Jr., the Company's President and Chief Executive
Officer.
Strategic Progress
Perhaps our most important strategic progress during the year was with
respect to our one remaining legacy business - our collection of
non-standard automobile insurance companies which comprise most of our
Insurance Underwriting Segment. Currently, we write our continuing
business through Mendota Insurance Company and Mendakota Insurance
Company (collectively "Mendota"), while Universal Casualty Company
("UCC") and Kingsway Amigo Insurance Company ("Amigo") are being
operated in voluntary run-offs. Mendota has been reorganized to focus
only on insurance premium which we believe can be written at a profit.
We believe we have positioned the company to begin to achieve a
breakeven or better underwriting result during 2014. Furthermore, our
two run-off companies, UCC and Amigo, are operating well within our
expectations. UCC is no longer expected to negatively affect future
operating results, and Amigo is well along that same path.
An important action which has helped position Mendota, UCC and Amigo to
achieve materially improved results beginning in 2014 relates to how we
have recorded our provisions for unpaid loss and loss adjustment
expenses. Both Mendota and UCC have recorded at December 31, 2013
their provisions for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses at the
highest level within the ranges of estimates provided by our outside
actuarial firm for each of those companies. We feel comfortable that
our strong provisions for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses will
allow our future results to be determined principally by the profitable
business we believe we are writing.
Strengthening Our Balance Sheet
For several years, beginning in late 2008, the Company embarked on an
extensive plan to reduce its indebtedness. The instruments comprising
the Company's indebtedness and the outstanding principal at each of
December 31, 2008 and 2013 are:
|
Instrument
|
Principal at December 31, 2008
|
Principal at December 31, 2013
|
|
Senior notes due 2012
|
$82.1 million
|
$0.00
|
|
Senior notes due 2014
|
$107.5 million
|
$14.4 million
|
|
LROC preferred units
|
$60.9 million
|
$14.9 million
|
|
Subordinated debt
|
$90.5 million
|
$90.5 million
|
|
Total
|
$341.0 million
|
$119.8 million
|
Subsequent to December 31, 2013, the Company repaid the $14.4 million
principal outstanding on its senior notes due 2014. As a result, the
current principal outstanding related to the Company's indebtedness is
$105.4 million.
Also subsequent to December 31, 2013, the Company closed on its
previously announced private placement totaling $6.6 million. At
closing, on February 3, 2014, the Company received gross proceeds of
$6.6 million, resulting from the sale and issuance of 262,876 units for
a purchase price of $25.00 per unit. Each unit consists of one class A
convertible preferred share, series 1 (the "Preferred Shares"), and
6.25 common share class C purchase warrants. Each Preferred Share is
convertible into 6.25 common shares at a conversion price of $4.00 per
common share any time at the option of the holder prior to April 1,
2021. The maximum number of common shares issuable upon conversion of
the Preferred Shares is 1,642,975 common shares. Each warrant will
entitle the subscriber to purchase one common share of Kingsway at a
price of $5.00 per common share at any time after September 16, 2016
and prior to expiry on September 15, 2023.
Laying a Foundation for Future Growth
The Company's management team and its board of directors are extremely
focused on the following key initiatives for 2014:
-
Achieve break-even underwriting results before net investment income and
net realized gains in its non-standard automobile group of insurance
subsidiaries while making conservative loss reserve allocations;
-
Continue to reduce operating and interest expense at the holding
company;
-
Modestly grow each of the Insurance Services Segment businesses;
-
Complete our previously announced plan to conduct an initial public
offering ("IPO") of the common stock of our wholly owned subsidiary,
1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Maison
Insurance Holdings, Inc. ("1347 PIH"). On March 27, 2014, 1347 PIH
filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for the IPO; and
-
Preserve the value of our substantial tax net operating losses.
The Company that your current management team and lead shareholders
assumed control of at the end of 2008 is vastly different from the
Company we present to you today. Through a mixture of creative
financings, strategic acquisitions and the careful preservation of
capital in our underwriting entities, we are in a much greater position
to seize upon the opportunities we see in each of our segments and
shall utilize our mix of talent and industry knowledge to build a
lasting, profitable entity that can deliver reasonable returns to all
stakeholders. Both the management team and the board of directors
believe that the Company has the right mixture of assets, including
financial, strategic and personnel, to execute on its stated plan to
create long-term shareholder value. This is evidenced by our large
ownership stake and alignment of interests.
For a detailed discussion of our capital allocation strategy and plan to
create and sustain long-term shareholder value, we invite you to review
our Annual Letter to Shareholders, which may be accessed at the Company's website or directly at http://bit.ly/kfs2013.
With respect to earnings, we reported a net loss of $10.7 million, or a
loss of $0.75 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter and a net loss
of $36.1 million, or a loss of $2.56 per diluted share for the year.
The book value has decreased from $4.97 per share at December 31, 2012
to $2.25 per share at December 31, 2013. We also carry a valuation
allowance, in the amount of $17.30 per share at December 31, 2013,
against the deferred tax asset, primarily related to our loss
carryforwards. For a detailed discussion of our earnings for the
fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013 as well as other
important information, please refer to our 2013 Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March
31, 2014.
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)
|
|
|
|
Years ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
2012
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net premiums earned
|
|
$
|
109,608
|
|
$
|
114,937
|
|
Service fee and commission income
|
|
49,543
|
|
35,491
|
|
Net investment income
|
|
2,395
|
|
3,165
|
|
Net realized gains
|
|
3,505
|
|
1,084
|
|
Other-than-temporary impairment loss
|
|
(1,800)
|
|
(2,703)
|
|
Other income
|
|
9,027
|
|
7,617
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
172,278
|
|
159,591
|
|
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
Loss and loss adjustment expenses
|
|
87,553
|
|
100,184
|
|
Commissions and premium taxes
|
|
23,134
|
|
15,422
|
|
Cost of services sold
|
|
1,843
|
|
—
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
79,812
|
|
73,856
|
|
Restructuring expense
|
|
1,861
|
|
1,980
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
7,263
|
|
7,638
|
|
Amortization of intangible assets
|
|
2,186
|
|
959
|
|
Contingent consideration expense
|
|
785
|
|
75
|
|
Impairment of asset held for sale
|
|
2,390
|
|
—
|
|
Total expenses
|
|
206,827
|
|
200,114
|
Loss from continuing operations before loss on change in fair value of
debt, (loss) gain
on buy-back of debt, equity in net income (loss) of investee and income
tax (benefit)
expense
|
|
(34,549)
|
|
(40,523)
|
|
Loss on change in fair value of debt
|
|
(9,060)
|
|
(9,234)
|
|
(Loss) gain on buy-back of debt
|
|
(24)
|
|
500
|
|
Equity in net income (loss) of investee
|
|
255
|
|
(1,004)
|
|
Loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
|
|
(43,378)
|
|
(50,261)
|
|
Income tax (benefit) expense
|
|
(67)
|
|
3,017
|
|
Loss from continuing operations
|
|
(43,311)
|
|
(53,278)
|
|
Gain on liquidation of subsidiaries, net of taxes
|
|
7,227
|
|
—
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(36,084)
|
|
$
|
(53,278)
|
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in
consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
777
|
|
(1,195)
|
|
Net loss attributable to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
(36,861)
|
|
$
|
(52,083)
|
|
Loss per share - continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
Basic:
|
|
$
|
(3.07)
|
|
$
|
(4.05)
|
|
Diluted:
|
|
$
|
(3.07)
|
|
$
|
(4.05)
|
|
Loss per share - net loss:
|
|
|
|
Basic:
|
|
$
|
(2.56)
|
|
$
|
(4.05)
|
|
Diluted:
|
|
$
|
(2.56)
|
|
$
|
(4.05)
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding (in '000s):
|
|
|
|
|
Basic:
|
|
14,111
|
|
13,149
|
|
Diluted:
|
|
14,111
|
|
13,149
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2013
|
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost of $53,455 and
$77,858, respectively)
|
|
$
|
54,151
|
|
$
|
79,534
|
|
Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $3,554 and $2,305,
respectively)
|
|
7,137
|
|
3,548
|
|
Limited liability investments
|
|
4,406
|
|
2,333
|
|
Other investments, at cost which approximates fair value
|
|
3,000
|
|
2,000
|
|
Short-term investments, at cost which approximates fair value
|
|
501
|
|
585
|
|
Total investments
|
|
69,195
|
|
88,000
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
98,589
|
|
80,813
|
|
Investment in investee
|
|
—
|
|
41,733
|
|
Accrued investment income
|
|
614
|
|
2,263
|
|
Premiums receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,123
and $4,040 respectively
|
|
32,035
|
|
35,598
|
|
Service fee receivable
|
|
19,012
|
|
15,173
|
|
Other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,062 and
$1,002, respectively
|
|
4,097
|
|
4,750
|
|
Reinsurance recoverable
|
|
10,335
|
|
8,557
|
|
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
|
|
6,816
|
|
7,316
|
|
Deferred acquisition costs, net
|
|
12,392
|
|
14,102
|
|
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $15,848 and
$22,887, respectively
|
|
1,662
|
|
2,709
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
10,588
|
|
8,421
|
|
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $18,583 and
$16,397, respectively
|
|
48,918
|
|
50,583
|
|
Other assets
|
|
4,039
|
|
4,045
|
|
Asset held for sale
|
|
6,347
|
|
8,737
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
$
|
324,639
|
|
$
|
372,800
|
|
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
Property and casualty
|
|
$
|
84,534
|
|
$
|
103,116
|
|
Vehicle service agreements
|
|
3,128
|
|
3,448
|
|
Total unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
|
|
87,662
|
|
106,564
|
|
Unearned premiums
|
|
48,577
|
|
45,047
|
|
Reinsurance payable
|
|
1,033
|
|
4,956
|
|
LROC preferred units, at fair value
|
|
14,854
|
|
13,655
|
|
Senior unsecured debentures, at fair value
|
|
14,356
|
|
23,730
|
|
Subordinated debt, at fair value
|
|
28,471
|
|
23,774
|
|
Deferred income tax liability
|
|
4,173
|
|
3,054
|
|
Deferred service fees
|
|
48,788
|
|
48,987
|
|
Income taxes payable
|
|
2,984
|
|
2,879
|
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
|
36,821
|
|
34,740
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
|
$
|
287,719
|
|
$
|
307,386
|
|
Shareholders' Equity:
|
|
|
|
Class A preferred stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; zero
issued and outstanding at
December 31, 2013
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 16,429,761 and
13,148,971 issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
324,803
|
|
312,378
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
(298,930)
|
|
(262,069)
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
9,601
|
|
14,762
|
|
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders
|
|
35,474
|
|
65,071
|
|
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
1,446
|
|
343
|
|
Total Shareholders' Equity
|
|
36,920
|
|
65,414
|
|
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
|
|
$
|
324,639
|
|
$
|
372,800
|
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. 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 filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission on 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 on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission on 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. We also invite you to review a detailed discussion of our capital
allocation strategy and plan to create and sustain long-term
shareholder value by reading our Annual Letter to Shareholders, which can be accessed through the Company's website or directly at http://bit.ly/kfs2013.
SOURCE Kingsway Financial Services Inc.
