RICHFIELD, Ohio, May 3, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Interstate Corporation (Nasdaq:NATL) today reported 2011 first quarter gross premiums written of $134.3 million and net after- tax earnings from operations of $10.0 million or $.52 per share. Gross premiums written increased 27% compared to the 2010 first quarter from growth in existing businesses as well as the favorable impact from the acquisition of Vanliner Insurance Company in July 2010. Net after-tax earnings from operations also increased 9% compared to last year reflecting an increase in investment income and continued profitable underwriting results.
The table below shows the Company's net income determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), reconciled between net after-tax earnings from operations, after-tax net realized gain from investments, the change in the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets related to net capital losses, and the after-tax impact from the balance sheet guaranty related to the Vanliner acquisition, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures.
Earnings from Operations:
Net after-tax earnings from operations, comprised of underwriting income and net investment income, was $10.0 million for the 2011 first quarter compared to $9.2 million for the 2010 first quarter. The increase is the result of greater net investment income and net earned premium, partially offset by higher claims costs. Underwriting expenses were also lower in the 2011 first quarter compared to the prior year. The Company excluded the impact from the balance sheet guaranty associated with the Vanliner acquisition from the net after-tax earnings from operations as well as from the following ratios to reflect the results of ongoing operations:
Claims: The loss and loss adjustment expense (LAE) ratio for the 2011 first quarter of 67.0% was 5.6 percentage points higher than the 2010 first quarter. The period over period variance was due in part to favorable claims results experienced in the 2010 first quarter, elevated losses in the specialty personal lines component in the 2011 first quarter, and the impact from several periods of single digit rate decreases in the traditional transportation products. The 2011 first quarter loss and LAE ratio was consistent with the results achieved for the 2010 full year.
The Company experienced unfavorable development from prior year claims, excluding the Vanliner balance sheet guaranty, of $0.2 million which reduced the loss and LAE ratio by 0.2 percentage points for the 2011 first quarter, compared to 2.4 percentage points of favorable development for the 2010 first quarter.
Expenses: The Company's quarterly underwriting expense ratios could vary based on the mix of business written or non-recurring items such as costs associated with the Vanliner acquisition, but the Company has consistently reported underwriting expense ratios in the mid 20% range for the past several years. The underwriting expense ratio of 23.5% for the 2011 first quarter is within the expected range.
Investment Income: Net investment income of $6.9 million for the 2011 first quarter is 39% above last year reflecting the addition of the Vanliner portfolio. Investment income has increased gradually each quarter since adding the Vanliner portfolio as the cash and maturities from the acquired portfolio have been reinvested in higher yielding instruments.
Dave Michelson, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "All three aspects of our operating earnings, claims, expenses and investments, performed well during the quarter and within expected ranges."
Realized Investment Gains:
The Company generated net realized gains from investments of $1.2 million for the 2011 first quarter primarily from security sales. The sales during the quarter were part of the Company's ongoing investment management which includes realizing gains in the portfolio for reinvestment.
The Company maintains a high quality and diversified portfolio with approximately 90% of its holdings rated as investment grade. The fair value and unrealized gains (losses) by investment type were as follows:
Deferred Income Tax Valuation Allowance and Impact from the Vanliner Guaranteed Runoff Business:
In 2008, the Company established a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets associated with its net realized investment losses, primarily impairment charges during the financial crisis, which increased the 2008 effective tax rate. Beginning in the 2009 first quarter and continuing through the 2010 first quarter, this valuation allowance decreased resulting in a corresponding decrease in the federal income tax expense. No valuation allowance against deferred tax assets existed subsequent to March 31, 2010.
As previously disclosed, the seller of Vanliner provided National Interstate with comprehensive financial guarantees related to the runoff of Vanliner's final balance sheet whereby both favorable and unfavorable balance sheet development inures to the seller. Additionally, as a result of purchase accounting requirements the Company was required to determine the fair value of the future economic benefit of the financial guarantees and acquired loss reserves, as of the date of acquisition, despite the fact that actual gains and losses related to the financial guaranty will be reflected in operations as they are incurred in future periods. As a result, the timing of the revenues and expenses associated with the guaranteed runoff business will not occur in the same period and will result in combined ratios which are not consistent with the negotiated combined ratio which was to approximate 100% for the Vanliner guaranteed business. As such, the after-tax impact from the runoff business guaranteed by the seller of $1.3 million has been removed from the net after-tax earnings from operations to reflect only those results of the ongoing business.
Gross Premiums Written:
Mr. Michelson said, "We are very happy with our continued top line growth. While the Vanliner acquisition again accounted for much of the growth, our Alternative Risk Transfer component is also adding to our top line. In addition, although not a significant contributor in the 2011 first quarter, we are starting to see some signs of improving market conditions in our traditional commercial insurance markets."
The table below summarizes gross premiums written by business component:
Alternative Risk Transfer (ART): The ART component grew 23% for the 2011 first quarter which was attributable to growth in existing programs. Also contributing to this growth was the continued near 100% renewal rate in ART group programs. This component continues to provide growth opportunities for the Company with the potential to enhance existing products such as the introduction of new moving and storage ART group programs and several new opportunities continually in the pipeline.
Transportation: Beginning in the 2010 third quarter, business written as a result of the Vanliner acquisition was reported in the Transportation component, which accounted for the 2011 first quarter growth in this component. The moving and storage premiums that have been written through Vanliner during the initial three quarters following the acquisition were consistent with the Company's expectations. The 2011 first quarter passenger and truck transportation premiums excluding Vanliner were below 2010 first quarter. The Company continues to experience competitive pricing in its traditional transportation products that affects growth opportunities in the Transportation component.
Specialty Personal Lines: Gross premiums written in the specialty personal lines component were down 13% for the 2011 first quarter. The growth in this component slowed in 2010 primarily due to underwriting and pricing actions related to the commercial vehicle product that have been in place since 2009. The Company also experienced a decline in quotes for the recreational vehicle product in the 2011 first quarter which adversely affected the top line for this component.
Hawaii and Alaska: 2011 first quarter gross premiums written in this component were below last year reflecting continued competitive market conditions.
Summary Comments:
"The first quarter provided a very good start to 2011; both our top line and operating earnings are ahead of last year. The Vanliner business continues to perform as expected having a favorable impact on our results. Our underwriting performance with a combined ratio from ongoing operations of 90.5% and our improved investment income and realized investment gains contributed to solid earnings for the quarter," stated Mr. Michelson.
Quarterly Dividend
The Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share on April 28, 2011. The cash dividend will be payable on June 13, 2011 to shareholders of record of the Company's common stock as of the close of business on May 31, 2011.
Earnings Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the 2011 first quarter results tomorrow, Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time. There are two communication modes available to listen to the call. Telephone access to the conference call and Q and A session will be available by dialing 888-679-8040 and providing the confirmation code 78284819. Please dial in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time. To pre-register for the conference call, go to and follow the instructions provided. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. To listen to the call via the Internet, access our website at and follow the instructions at the web cast link. The archived web cast will be available shortly after the call on our website
Forward-Looking Statements
This document, including any information incorporated by reference, contains "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). All statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this press release relative to markets for our products and trends in our operations or financial results, as well as other statements including words such as "may," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "project," and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements. We made these statements based on our plans and current analyses of our business and the insurance industry as a whole. We caution that these statements may and often do vary from actual results and the differences between these statements and actual results can be material. Factors that could contribute to these differences include, among other things: general economic conditions, any weaknesses in the financial markets and other factors, including prevailing interest rate levels and stock and credit market performance which may affect or continue to affect (among other things) our ability to sell our products and to collect amounts due to us, our ability to access capital resources and the costs associated with such access to capital and the market value of our investments; our ability to manage our growth strategy, customer response to new products and marketing initiatives; tax law and accounting changes; increasing competition in the sale of our insurance products and services and the retention of existing customers; changes in legal environment; regulatory changes or actions, including those relating to regulation of the sale, underwriting and pricing of insurance products and services and capital requirements; levels of natural catastrophes, terrorist events, incidents of war and other major losses; adequacy of insurance reserves; and availability of reinsurance and ability of reinsurers to pay their obligations. The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date of this document. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
About National Interstate Corporation
National Interstate Corporation (Nasdaq:NATL), founded in 1989, is the holding company for a specialty property-casualty insurance group which differentiates itself by offering products and services designed to meet the unique needs of niche markets. Products include insurance for passenger, truck, and moving and storage transportation companies, alternative risk transfer, or captive programs for commercial risks, specialty personal lines products focused primarily on recreational vehicle owners and small commercial vehicle accounts, and transportation and general commercial insurance in Hawaii and Alaska. The Company's insurance subsidiaries, including the three primary insurers, National Interstate Insurance Company, Vanliner Insurance Company and Triumphe Casualty Company, are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Headquartered in Richfield, Ohio, National Interstate is an independently operated subsidiary of Great American Insurance Company, a property-casualty subsidiary of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) (Nasdaq:AFG).
CONTACT: Tanya Inama National Interstate Corporation 877-837-0339 investorrelations@nationalinterstate.com www.natl.com