Conifer Holdings Reports 2018 Second Quarter Financial Results - Conifer Holdings (NASDAQ:CNFR)

BIRMINGHAM, Mich., Aug. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conifer Holdings, Inc. CNFR ("Conifer" or the "Company") today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018.

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights (all comparisons to prior year period)

Commercial lines gross written premiums increased 18.5% driven by growth in the Company's core hospitality and small business lines
Personal lines gross written premiums decreased by 74% (wind-exposed premium down 83% for the quarter)
Loss ratio improved to 61.8% from 67.0%
Combined ratio improved to 106.0% for the period, compared to 110.4% in the prior year period (100.7% before the ADC deferred gain and hurricane-related costs)
Net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.13 per diluted share based on 8.5 million weighted average common diluted shares outstanding
Adjusted operating loss per share was $173,000, or $0.02 per diluted share ($121,000 of income before hurricane costs)

Management Comments
James Petcoff, Chairman and CEO, commented, "For the second quarter, our core business continued to perform very well with gross written premiums up almost 20% in commercial lines, led by our hospitality and small business lines. Our on-going commitment to shift our business mix toward our most profitable lines continues as 94% of our premium production in the quarter came from commercial lines."

Mr. Petcoff continued, "Over the past several quarters, Conifer has worked diligently to reposition our personal lines writings, focusing on writing low-value dwelling business, while significantly reducing our wind-exposed premiums overall. We feel this best positions us for continuing and profitable growth going forward.

2018 Second Quarter Financial Results Overview

		At and for the Three Months Ended June 30,							At and for the Six Months Ended June 30,
			2018			2017		% Change		2018			2017		% Change

		(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Gross written premiums		$	26,562		$	26,981		-1.6%	$	50,299		$	53,455		-5.9%
Net written premiums			22,595			23,082		-2.1%		42,439			45,407		-6.5%
Net earned premiums			23,938			24,497		-2.3%		47,739			48,637		-1.8%

Net investment income			838			663		26.4%		1,639			1,240		32.2%
Net realized investment gains (losses)			12			-		**		173			(8	)	**
Change in fair value of equity investments			29			-		**		(268	)		-
Other gains (losses)			-			750		**		-			750		**

Net income (loss)			(1,113	)		(1,067	)	**		(900	)		(2,866	)	**
	Net income (loss) per share, diluted	$	(0.13	)	$	(0.14	)		$	(0.11	)	$	(0.38	)

Adjusted operating income (loss)*			(173	)		(2,098	)	**		1,607			(3,889	)	**
	Adjusted operating income (loss) per share, diluted*	$	(0.02	)	$	(0.28	)	**	$	0.18		$	(0.52	)	**

Book value per common share outstanding		$	5.89		$	8.64			$	5.89		$	8.64

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted			8,520,328			7,633,069				8,520,328			7,633,069

Underwriting ratios:
	Loss ratio (1)		61.8	%		67.0	%			58.5	%		65.7	%
	Expense ratio (2)		44.2	%		43.4	%			44.2	%		44.2	%
	Combined ratio (3)		106.0	%		110.4	%			102.7	%		109.9	%

* The "Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures" section of this release defines and reconciles data that are not based on generally accepted accounting principles.
** Percentage is not meaningful
(1) The loss ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net earned premiums and other income.
(2) The expense ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of policy acquisition costs and operating expenses to net earned premiums and other income.
(3) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. A combined ratio under 100% indicates an underwriting profit. A combined ratio over 100% indicates an underwriting loss.

Second Quarter 2018 Premiums

Gross Written Premiums
Gross written premiums decreased 1.6% in the second quarter of 2018 to $26.6 million, compared to $27.0 million in the prior year period. The decline in gross written premiums was largely attributable to a 73.5% decrease in the Company's personal lines of business, offset by an 18.5% increase in the Company's commercial lines.

Net Earned Premiums
Net earned premiums decreased 2.3% to $23.9 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $24.5 million for the prior year period. The decrease is primarily due to the repositioning of its personal lines, offset by the expansion of the Company's commercial lines, which increased 3.9%.

Commercial Lines Financial and Operational Review

Commercial Lines Financial Review

		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2018			2017			% Change		2018			2017			% Change

		(dollars in thousands)

Gross written premiums		$	25,008		$	21,106		18.5	%	$	46,796		$	42,750		9.5	%
Net written premiums			22,284			18,916		17.8	%		41,706			38,395		8.6	%
Net earned premiums			20,872			20,094		3.9	%		41,000			39,782		3.1	%

Underwriting ratios:
	Loss ratio		58.6	%		58.1	%				54.6	%		60.4	%
	Expense ratio		42.7	%		36.7	%				43.3	%		37.2	%
	Combined ratio		101.3	%		94.8	%				97.9	%		97.6	%

Contribution to combined ratio from net
	(favorable) adverse prior year development		2.7	%		12.1	%				-0.8	%		13.2	%

Accident year combined ratio (1)			98.6	%		82.7	%				98.7	%		84.4	%

⁽¹⁾ The accident year combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio, less changes in net ultimate loss estimates from prior accident year loss reserves. The accident year combined ratio provides management with an assessment of the specific policy year's profitability and assists management in their evaluation of product pricing levels and quality of business written.

The Company's commercial lines of business represented approximately 94% of total gross written premiums in the second quarter of 2018, up from 78% in the prior year period and 92% in the first quarter of 2018. Conifer's commercial lines mainly consist of property and liability coverage offered to owner-operated small- to mid-sized businesses, such as hospitality risks which include restaurants, bars, taverns and professional organizations.

Commercial lines gross written premiums increased by 18.5% to $25.0 million in the second quarter of 2018. This was largely due to continued growth in the Company's hospitality and small business lines.

For the second quarter of 2018, the commercial lines combined ratio was 101.3%, compared to 94.8% in the prior year period with the expense ratio up ticking in the quarter. On a consolidated basis, expenses were basically flat quarter over quarter.

Personal Lines Financial and Operational Review

Personal Lines Financial Review

		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2018			2017			% Change		2018			2017			% Change

		(dollars in thousands)

Gross written premiums		$	1,554		$	5,875		-73.5	%	$	3,503		$	10,705		-67.3	%
Net written premiums			311			4,166		-92.5	%		733			7,012		-89.5	%
Net earned premiums			3,066			4,403		-30.4	%		6,739			8,855		-23.9	%

Underwriting ratios:
	Loss ratio		83.4	%		107.5	%				82.2	%		89.1	%
	Expense ratio		51.1	%		44.2	%				43.7	%		44.0	%
	Combined ratio		134.5	%		151.7	%				125.9	%		133.1	%

Contribution to combined ratio from net
	(favorable) adverse prior year development		28.0	%		39.9	%				25.4	%		22.5	%

Accident year combined ratio			106.5	%		111.8	%				100.5	%		110.6	%

Personal lines, which consist of low-value dwelling and wind-exposed homeowners insurance, represented approximately 6% of total gross written premiums for the second quarter of 2018, compared to 22% in 2017.

Personal lines gross written premiums decreased 73.5% to $1.6 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the prior year period. The decrease was the result of management's strategic decision to deemphasize the Company's Florida homeowners business and other wind-exposed business in Texas and Hawaii, which in total decreased by 83% year-over-year.

For the second quarter of 2018, the personal lines combined ratio was 134.5%, compared to 151.7% in the prior year period. There were $287,000 of additional losses relating to Hurricane Harvey in Texas and $87,000 of reinstatement reinsurance premiums relating to Hurricane Irma in Florida, which also increased the combined ratio in the second quarter.

Combined Ratio Analysis

		Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2018		2017		2018		2017

		(dollars in thousands)

Underwriting ratios:
	Loss ratio	61.8	%	67.0	%	58.5	%	65.7	%
	Expense ratio	44.2	%	43.4	%	44.2	%	44.2	%
	Combined ratio	106.0	%	110.4	%	102.7	%	109.9	%

Contribution to combined ratio from net (favorable)
	adverse prior year development	6.1	%	17.2	%	3.0	%	14.9	%

Accident year combined ratio		99.9	%	93.2	%	99.7	%	95.0	%

Combined Ratio
The Company's combined ratio was 106.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to 110.4% for the same period in 2017, and was 100.7% before the impact of the deferred gain on the ADC and hurricane-related costs.

Loss Ratio: The impact of prior accident year reserves on the Company's loss ratio has been significantly reduced due to the benefits of the ADC. As of June 30, 2018, the Company has ceded $10.4 million under the ADC, leaving $7.1 million of cover in the event of future development. The Company's losses and loss adjustment expenses were $15.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $16.7 million in the prior year period. As a result, Conifer reported an improved loss ratio of 61.8%, compared to 67.0% in the prior year period, despite higher than expected loss trends in the Company's personal lines business during the period.
Expense Ratio: The expense ratio was 44.2% for the second quarter of 2018, compared to 43.4% in the prior year period, which remained largely flat as the Company continued to write a lower amount of gross written premiums in its personal lines business.

Net Investment Income
Net investment income increased 26.4% to $838,000 during the quarter ended June 30, 2018, compared to $663,000 in the prior year period.

Net Loss
In the second quarter of 2018, the Company reported net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, based on 8.5 million weighted average common diluted shares outstanding, compared to net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, based on 7.6 million weighted average common diluted shares outstanding in the prior year period.

Adjusted Operating Loss
In the second quarter of 2018, the Company reported adjusted operating loss of $173,000, or $0.02 per share, compared to adjusted operating loss of $2.1 million, or $0.28 per share, for the same period in 2017. See Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures. Adjusted operating income before hurricane-related costs was $121,000.

Outlook for 2018
Mr. Petcoff concluded, "We have made considerable progress in our return to operating profitability over the first half of 2018. We continue to expand within our best performing sectors where we can provide a unique value proposition to our agents and insureds. We continue to gain market share in our hospitality and small business lines, and we have an infrastructure in place that will allow the Company to simultaneously grow in these markets while not adding additional cost, which will allow our expense ratio to improve gradually."

Earnings Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call/webcast on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss results for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The Company expects to release its second quarter financial results on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 after the close of the market.

Investors, analysts, employees and the general public are invited to listen to the conference call via:

Webcast:	On the Event Calendar at IR.CNFRH.com
Conference Call:	844-868-8843 (domestic) or 412-317-6589 (international)

The webcast will be archived on the Conifer Holdings website and available for replay for at least one year.

Individuals who listen to the call should refer to Conifer Holdings' audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in its annual report on form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and the quarterly report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Company's filings can be accessed at www.sec.gov or the Company's website at IR.CNFRH.com.

About the Company
Conifer Holdings, Inc. is a Michigan-based property and casualty holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Conifer offers specialty insurance coverage for both commercial and personal lines, marketing through independent agents in all 50 states. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol CNFR. Additional information is available on the Company's website at IR.CNFRH.com.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures
Conifer prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Statutory data is prepared in accordance with statutory accounting rules as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, and therefore is not reconciled to GAAP data.

We believe that investors' understanding of Conifer's performance is enhanced by our disclosure of adjusted operating income. Our method for calculating this measure may differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. We define adjusted operating income (loss), a non-GAAP measure, as net income (loss) excluding net realized investment gains and losses, and other gains and losses, after-tax, and excluding the tax impact of changes in unrealized gains and losses. Beginning in 2018, the change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax, and the deferred gain on losses ceded to the ADC are also excluded from net income to arrive at adjusted operating income. We use adjusted operating income as an internal performance measure in the management of our operations because we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of operations and our underlying business performance.

Reconciliations of adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income per share:

		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
			2018			2017			2018			2017

		(dollar in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Net income (loss)		$	(1,113	)	$	(1,067	)	$	(900	)	$	(2,866	)
Less:
Net realized gains (losses) and other gains, net of tax			12			750			173			742
Change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax			29			-			(268	)		-
Tax effect of investment unrealized gains and losses			-			281			-			281
(Increase) in deferred gain on losses ceded to ADC, net of tax			(981	)		-			(2,412	)		-

Adjusted operating income (loss)		$	(173	)	$	(2,098	)	$	1,607		$	(3,889	)

Weighted average common shares, diluted			8,520,328			7,633,069			8,520,328			7,633,069

Diluted income (loss) per common share:
	Net income (loss)	$	(0.13	)	$	(0.14	)	$	(0.11	)	$	(0.38	)
	Less:
	Net realized gains (losses) and other gains, net of tax		-			0.10			0.02			0.10
	Change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax		-			-			(0.03	)		-
	Tax effect of investment unrealized gains and losses, per share		-			0.04			-			0.04
	(Increase) in deferred gain on losses ceded to ADC, net of tax		(0.11	)		-			(0.28	)		-
	Adjusted operating income (loss), per share	$	(0.02	)	$	(0.28	)	$	0.18		$	(0.52	)

Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance, and include Conifer's expectations regarding premiums, earnings, its capital position, expansion, and growth strategies. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information. The forward-looking statements are qualified by important factors, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including those described in our form 10-K ("Item 1A Risk Factors") filed with the SEC on March 15, 2018 and subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date hereof or as of the date specified herein. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws or regulations.



Conifer Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)

				June 30,			December 31,
				2018			2017
Assets				(Unaudited)
Investment securities:
	Debt securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $129,322 and			$	126,677		$	136,536
		$137,004, respectively)
	Equity securities, at fair value (cost of $8,782 and $8,629, respectively)				9,530			9,687
	Short-term investments, at fair value				4,364			11,427
		Total investments			140,571			157,650

Cash					17,016			11,868
Premiums and agents' balances receivable, net					22,129			22,845
Receivable from affiliate					2,161			1,195
Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses					20,467			20,066
Reinsurance recoverables on paid losses					2,874			4,473
Prepaid reinsurance premiums					1,098			1,081
Deferred policy acquisition costs					12,021			12,781
Other assets					8,997			7,073
			Total assets	$	227,334		$	239,032

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Liabilities:
	Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses			$	83,662		$	87,896
	Unearned premiums				52,390			57,672
	Reinsurance premiums payable				2,719			3,299
	Debt				29,060			29,027
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses				9,335			8,312
			Total liabilities		177,166			186,206

Commitments and contingencies					-			-

Shareholders' equity:
	Common stock, no par value (100,000,000 shares authorized;
		8,520,328 issued and outstanding, respectively)			86,659			86,199
	Accumulated deficit				(33,431	)		(33,010	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income				(3,060	)		(363	)
		Total shareholders' equity			50,168			52,826
			Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	227,334		$	239,032


Conifer Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

				Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
				June 30,						June 30,
				2018			2017			2018			2017

Revenue
	Premiums
		Gross earned premiums		$	27,856		$	28,338		$	55,581		$	56,602
		Ceded earned premiums			(3,918	)		(3,841	)		(7,842	)		(7,965	)
			Net earned premiums		23,938			24,497			47,739			48,637
	Net investment income				838			663			1,639			1,240
	Net realized investment gains (losses)				12			-			173			(8	)
	Other gains (losses)				-			750			-			750
	Change in fair value of equity securities				29			-			(268	)		-
	Other income				450			372			807			726
			Total revenue		25,267			26,282			50,090			51,345

Expenses
	Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net				15,067			16,674			28,396			32,407
	Policy acquisition costs				6,472			6,428			12,985			12,900
	Operating expenses				4,303			4,370			8,489			8,900
	Interest expense				617			219			1,236			443
			Total expenses		26,459			27,691			51,106			54,650

Income (loss) before equity earnings and income taxes					(1,192	)		(1,409	)		(1,016	)		(3,305	)
	Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of tax				89			60			144			164
	Income tax (benefit) expense				10			(282	)		28			(275	)
Net income (loss)					(1,113	)		(1,067	)		(900	)		(2,866	)

Earnings (loss) per common share,
	basic and diluted			$	(0.13	)	$	(0.14	)	$	(0.11	)	$	(0.38	)

Weighted average common shares outstanding,
	basic and diluted				8,520,328			7,633,069			8,520,328			7,633,069

For Further Information:
Jessica Gulis, 248.559.0840
ir@cnfrh.com

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