Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. Reports 2017 Third Quarter Results


RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:KNSL) reported net income of $4.2 million for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $8.0 million for the third quarter of 2016. Net income for the third quarter of 2017 included after-tax losses incurred from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma of $5.3 million. Net income was $19.0 million for the first nine months of 2017 compared to $19.3 million for the first nine months of 2016.

Highlights for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 included:

  • 11.5% annualized return on equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017
  • Net income of $4.2 million in the third quarter of 2017, a decrease of 47.4% from the third quarter of 2016
  • Diluted earnings per share of $0.20 for the third quarter of 2017
  • 16.3% growth in gross written premiums to $55.6 million in the third quarter of 2017
  • Underwriting income of $2.5 million in the third quarter of 2017, resulting in a combined ratio of 94.5%
  • 46.0% increase in net investment income to $2.8 million in the third quarter of 2017

"Our third quarter results reflected strong premium growth and profitable underwriting results despite the impact of storm related losses. We achieved a combined ratio of 94.5% for the quarter, which included 17.9 points of losses incurred from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Premium growth continues to be strong, with net written premiums up over 16% for the quarter. As we finish out the year, we remain focused on disciplined underwriting, leveraging the power of our technology driven platform and diligently managing costs,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael P. Kehoe.

Results of Operations

Underwriting Results

Gross written premiums were $55.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $47.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of 16.3%. Gross written premiums were $166.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $141.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of 17.9%. The increase in gross written premiums for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2017 over the same periods last year was due to growth across most lines of business.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company participated in a quota share reinsurance agreement ("multiple line quota share" or "MLQS") whereby it transferred part of its risk to reinsurers in exchange for a proportion of the gross written premiums on that business. The Company did not renew the MLQS program for the 2017 calendar year. For comparative purposes, an exhibit showing the calculation of underwriting income excluding the effects of the MLQS is included under the "Summary of Operating Results" section below.

Underwriting income was $2.5 million resulting in a combined ratio of 94.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $10.7 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 67.5% for same period last year. Underwriting income included pre-tax losses incurred from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma of $8.0 million, net of reinsurance. Net favorable prior year loss reserve development was $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2016. Loss and expense ratios were 70.1% and 24.4%, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 48.4% and 19.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The loss ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2017 included 17.9 points of net incurred losses related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Adjusted loss and expense ratios, each of which excludes the effects of the MLQS, were 44.7% and 27.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2016.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, underwriting income was $20.2 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 84.3%, compared to $24.8 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 74.0% for same period last year. Loss and expense ratios were 58.8% and 25.5%, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 54.0% and 20.0%, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Adjusted loss and expense ratios, each of which excludes the effects of the MLQS, were 50.8% and 26.5%, respectively, for the first nine months of 2016. Excluding the MLQS, the decrease in underwriting income of 20.7% year over year was due to pre-tax losses related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma of $8.0 million and lower net favorable prior year loss reserve development, offset in part by an increase in net earned premiums.

See the tables below under "Summary of Operating Results" for a reconciliation of adjusted loss and expense ratios, and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a reconciliation of underwriting income, which are non-GAAP financial measures.

Investment Results

The Company’s net investment income was $2.8 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2016, an increase of 46.0%. Net investment income was $7.5 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to $5.4 million in the first nine months of 2016. The Company’s investment portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, had an annualized gross investment return of 2.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 2.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Funds are generally invested conservatively in high quality securities, including government agency, mortgage-backed, municipal and corporate bonds with an average credit quality of "AA." The weighted average duration of the fixed maturity investment portfolio, including cash equivalents, was 3.8 years at September 30, 2017 and 3.7 years at December 31, 2016. Cash and invested assets totaled $555.6 million at September 30, 2017 compared to $480.3 million at December 31, 2016.

Other

The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were 20.1% and 30.5%, respectively. The effective tax rate for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was 34.0%. The decrease in the effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was due to higher levels of tax-exempt interest income from municipal bonds and the recognition of tax benefits from share-based compensation.

Total comprehensive income, which includes the change in after-tax unrealized gains and losses from the Company’s investment portfolio, was $5.8 million for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $8.0 million for the same period in 2016. Total comprehensive income was $23.9 million for the first nine months of 2017 compared to $24.3 million for the first nine months of 2016. The change in unrealized gains on investments during the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 resulted from higher overall fair values in the Company's equity securities, as the equity markets remained strong, and in fixed-maturity securities, particularly in the municipal bond sector.

Stockholders' equity was $231.8 million at September 30, 2017, compared to $210.2 million at December 31, 2016. Stockholders' equity increased by 10.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to higher profits and unrealized investment gains, net of taxes. Annualized return on equity was 11.5% for the first nine months of 2017, down from 15.9% for the first nine months of 2016, primarily as the result of higher losses related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Summary of Operating Results

The Company’s operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are summarized as follows:

    
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
                
 ($ in thousands)
Gross written premiums$55,633  $47,823  $166,248  $141,012 
Ceded written premiums(8,562) (14,177) (25,242) (23,910)
Net written premiums$47,071  $33,646  $141,006  $117,102 
        
Net earned premiums$45,030  $32,974  $128,515  $95,354 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses31,568  15,949  75,534  51,526 
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
10,989  6,302  32,775  19,031 
Underwriting income (1)$2,473  $10,723  $20,206  $24,797 
        
Loss ratio70.1% 48.4% 58.8% 54.0%
Expense ratio24.4% 19.1% 25.5% 20.0%
Combined ratio94.5% 67.5% 84.3% 74.0%
        
Annualized return on equity (2)
7.3% 18.8% 11.5% 15.9%
            

The following table summarizes the effect of the catastrophe losses and prior year development, net of reinsurance, on the loss ratio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

    
 Three Months Ended
September 30, 2017
 Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2017
 Losses and loss
adjustment
expenses
 % of Earned
Premiums
 Losses and loss
adjustment
expenses
 % of Earned
Premiums
                  
Loss ratio:($ in thousands)
Current accident year$26,419    58.6% $79,208    61.6%
Catastrophe losses8,044    17.9% 8,157    6.4%
Effect of prior year development(2,895)   (6.4)% (11,831)   (9.2)%
Total$31,568    70.1% $75,534    58.8%


 Three Months Ended
 September 30, 2016
 Nine Months Ended
 September 30, 2016
 Losses and loss
adjustment
expenses
 % of Earned
Premiums
 Losses and loss
adjustment
expenses
 % of Earned
Premiums
              
Loss ratio:($ in thousands)
Current accident year$19,394  58.9% $60,284  63.2%
Catastrophe losses14  % 108  0.1%
Effect of prior year development(3,459) (10.5)% (8,866) (9.3)%
Total$15,949  48.4% $51,526  54.0%
 

The following tables summarize the effect of the MLQS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

    
 Three Months Ended
September 30, 2017
 Three Months Ended
September 30, 2016
 Including
 Quota
Share
 Effects of
Quota
Share
 Excluding
Quota
Share
 Including
 Quota
Share
 Effects of
Quota
Share
 Excluding
Quota
Share
                        
 ($ in thousands)
Gross written premiums$55,633  $  $55,633  $47,823  $  $47,823 
Ceded written premiums(8,562)   (8,562) (14,177) (6,000) (8,177)
Net written premiums$47,071  $  $47,071  $33,646  $(6,000) $39,646 
            
Net earned premiums$45,030  $  $45,030  $32,974  $(5,872) $38,846 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses:           
Current accident year(26,419)   (26,419) (19,394) 2,976  (22,370)
Current accident year - catastrophes(8,044)   (8,044) (14)   (14)
Development on prior accident years2,895    2,895  3,459  (1,574) 5,033 
Total losses and loss adjustment expenses(31,568)   (31,568) (15,949) 1,402  (17,351)
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
(10,989)   (10,989) (6,302) 4,234  (10,536)
Underwriting income (1)$2,473  $  $2,473  $10,723  $(236) $10,959 
            
Loss ratio70.1% %   48.4% 23.9%  
Expense ratio24.4% %   19.1% 72.1%  
Combined ratio94.5% %   67.5% 96.0%  
            
Adjusted loss ratio (3)    70.1%     44.7%
Adjusted expense ratio (3)    24.4%     27.1%
Adjusted combined ratio (3)    94.5%     71.8%


    
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 Including
 Quota
Share
 Effects of
Quota
Share
 Excluding
Quota
Share
 Including
 Quota
Share
 Effects of
Quota
Share
 Excluding
Quota
Share
                        
 ($ in thousands)
Gross written premiums$166,248  $  $166,248  $141,012  $  $141,012 
Ceded written premiums(25,242)   (25,242) (23,910) (774) (23,136)
Net written premiums$141,006  $  $141,006  $117,102  $(774) $117,876 
            
Net earned premiums$128,515  $  $128,515  $95,354  $(16,996) $112,350 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses:           
Current accident year(79,208)   (79,208) (60,284) 9,339  (69,623)
Current accident year - catastrophes(8,157)   (8,157) (108)   (108)
Development on prior accident years11,831    11,831  8,866  (3,742) 12,608 
Total losses and loss adjustment expenses(75,534)   (75,534) (51,526) 5,597  (57,123)
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
(32,775)   (32,775) (19,031) 10,719  (29,750)
Underwriting income (1)$20,206  $  $20,206  $24,797  $(680) $25,477 
            
Loss ratio58.8% %   54.0% 32.9%  
Expense ratio25.5% %   20.0% 63.1%  
Combined ratio84.3% %   74.0% 96.0%  
            
Adjusted loss ratio (3)    58.8%     50.8%
Adjusted expense ratio (3)    25.5%     26.5%
Adjusted combined ratio (3)    84.3%     77.3%

(1)  Underwriting income is a non-GAAP financial measure. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

(2)   Return on equity is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period.

(3)  Adjusted loss ratio, adjusted expense ratio and adjusted combined ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Underwriting Income

Underwriting income is a non-GAAP financial measure that is useful in evaluating the Company's underwriting performance without regard to investment income. Underwriting income represents the pre-tax profitability of the Company's insurance operations and is derived by subtracting losses and loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses from net earned premiums. The Company uses underwriting income as an internal performance measure in the management of its operations because the Company believes it gives management and users of the Company's financial information useful insight into the Company's results of operations and underlying business performance. Underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define underwriting income differently.

Net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, reconciles to underwriting income as follows:

     
  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
                 
  (in thousands)
Net income $4,201  $7,982  $18,977  $19,296 
Income tax expense 1,054  4,112  8,319  9,940 
Income before income taxes 5,255  12,094  27,296  29,236 
Other expenses 27  523  429  1,469 
Net investment income (2,765) (1,894) (7,483) (5,389)
Net realized investment gains (44)   (36) (383)
Other income       (136)
Underwriting income $2,473  $10,723  $20,206  $24,797 
 

Adjusted Loss and Expense Ratios

Adjusted loss ratio, adjusted expense ratio and adjusted combined ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. The Company defines its adjusted loss ratio, adjusted expense ratio and adjusted combined ratio as each of its loss ratio, expense ratio and combined ratio, respectively, excluding the effects of the MLQS. The Company uses these adjusted ratios as internal performance measures in the management of its operations because the Company believes they give management and other users of the Company's financial information useful insight into the Company's results of operations and underlying business performance. The Company's adjusted loss ratio, adjusted expense ratio and adjusted combined ratio should not be viewed as substitutes for its loss ratio, expense ratio and combined ratio, respectively, which are presented in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call

Kinsale Capital Group will hold a conference call to discuss this press release on Friday, November 3, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Members of the public may access the conference call by dialing (844) 239-5282, conference ID# 96128388, or via the Internet by going to www.kinsalecapitalgroup.com and clicking on the "Investor Relations" link. A replay of the call will be available on the website until the close of business on January 3, 2018.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, such forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "believe," "expect," "seek," "may," "will," "intend," "project," "plan," "estimate" or similar words. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Although it is not possible to identify all of these risks and factors, they include, among others, the following: inadequate loss reserves to cover the Company's actual losses; adverse economic factors; inherent uncertainty of models resulting in actual losses that are materially different than the Company's estimates; a decline in the Company's financial strength rating; loss of one or more key executives; loss of a group of brokers that generate significant portions of the Company's business; failure of any of the loss limitations or exclusions the Company employs, or change in other claims or coverage issues; adverse performance of the Company's investment portfolio; adverse market conditions that affect its E&S insurance operations; and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

About Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. is a specialty insurance group headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, focusing on the excess and surplus lines market.

Contact

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.
Bryan Petrucelli
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
804-289-1272
ir@kinsalecapitalgroup.com


KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
     
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
                 
Revenues (in thousands, except per share data)
Gross written premiums $55,633  $47,823  $166,248  $141,012 
Ceded written premiums (8,562) (14,177) (25,242) (23,910)
Net written premiums 47,071  33,646  141,006  117,102 
Change in unearned premiums (2,041) (672) (12,491) (21,748)
Net earned premiums 45,030  32,974  128,515  95,354 
         
Net investment income 2,765  1,894  7,483  5,389 
Net realized investment gains 44    36  383 
Other income       136 
Total revenues 47,839  34,868  136,034  101,262 
         
Expenses        
Losses and loss adjustment expenses 31,568  15,949  75,534  51,526 
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses 10,989  6,302  32,775  19,031 
Other expenses 27  523  429  1,469 
Total expenses 42,584  22,774  108,738  72,026 
Income before income taxes 5,255  12,094  27,296  29,236 
Total income tax expense 1,054  4,112  8,319  9,940 
Net income 4,201  7,982  18,977  19,296 
         
Other comprehensive income        
Change in unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes 1,639  (1) 4,886  5,016 
Total comprehensive income $5,840  $7,981  $23,863  $24,312 
         
Earnings per share - basic:        
Common stock $0.20  $0.24  $0.90  $0.24 
Common stock - Class A $  $0.19  $  $0.98 
Common stock - Class B $  $0.21  $  $0.48 
         
Earnings per share - diluted:        
Common stock $0.20  $0.24  $0.88  $0.24 
Common stock - Class A $  $0.19  $  $0.98 
Common stock - Class B $  $0.20  $  $0.46 
         
Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic:        
Common stock 20,995  20,656  20,978  20,656 
Common stock - Class A   14,111    13,844 
Common stock - Class B   1,682    1,574 
         
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted:        
Common stock 21,520  20,741  21,461  20,741 
Common stock - Class A   14,111    13,844 
Common stock - Class B   1,818    1,644 


KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
  September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
         
Assets (in thousands)
Investments:    
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale $415,893  $411,223 
Equity securities available-for-sale 43,010  18,374 
Total investments 458,903  429,597 
     
Cash and cash equivalents 96,684  50,752 
Investment income due and accrued 3,012  2,293 
Premiums receivable, net 19,103  16,984 
Receivable from reinsurers   8,567 
Reinsurance recoverable 46,487  70,317 
Ceded unearned premiums 13,976  13,512 
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net of ceding commissions 11,725  10,150 
Intangible assets 3,538  3,538 
Deferred income tax asset, net
 4,833  6,605 
Other assets 4,733  2,074 
Total assets $662,994  $614,389 
     
Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity    
Liabilities:    
Reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses $310,934  $264,801 
Unearned premiums 102,299  89,344 
Payable to reinsurers 3,553  4,090 
Funds held for reinsurers   36,497 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 5,947  8,752 
Other 8,503  691 
Total liabilities 431,236  404,175 
     
Stockholders' equity 231,758  210,214 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $662,994  $614,389