Trisura Group Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

Book Value Per Share Increased to $19.35  

TORONTO, Nov. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trisura Group Ltd. (“Trisura” or “Trisura Group”) (TSX: TSU), a leading international specialty insurance holding company, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2018.

David Clare, CEO of Trisura, stated, “Strong underwriting and topline growth continued in Q3 for our Canadian subsidiary, with correspondingly strong returns. We are also very pleased with the development of our US business, which continues to bind programs, producing gross premiums written of $17.7 million in the third quarter of 2018.”

Highlights

  • Net income of $4.2 million compared to $2.0 million in Q3 2017. Net income was driven by strong Canadian results, favourable reserve development in our Reinsurance segment and lower operating expenses.
     
  • Profitable underwriting in our Canadian business, producing an 85.5% third quarter combined ratio versus 90.2% in Q3 2017 (and 87.2% compared to 87.2% on a YTD comparison) driving a 15.8% trailing twelve-month ROE in Canada. 
     
  • Continued premium growth in our Canadian Specialty P&C business, increasing gross premiums written by 10% in Q3 and 15% YTD.
     
  • Significant progress in our US operations, with $17.7 million of gross written premium in Q3 and bound 12 bound programs YTD.
     
  • Basic and diluted EPS of $0.62 for the quarter and $1.05 (basic) and $1.03 (diluted) on a YTD basis.
     
  • Book value per share of $19.35, a 7.4% increase over past 12 months.
Amounts in millions of Canadian dollars Q3 2018 Q3 2017 variance Q3 2018 YTD Q3 2017 YTD variance
Gross Premiums Written 57.3   36.1   58.6 % 150.8   108.1   39.5 %
Net Premiums Written 30.1   26.7   12.5 % 84.4   73.2   15.3 %
Net Underwriting Income 2.1   1.2   70.4 % 3.3   4.1   (19.1 %)
Net Investment Income 3.6   2.1   76.1 % 7.6   4.4   73.2 %
Net Income (Loss) 4.2   2.0   107.0 % 7.0   (0.3 ) nm
EPS – Basic, $ 0.62   0.35   78.5 % 1.05   0.39   168.5 %
EPS –Diluted, $ 0.62   0.35   78.5 % 1.03   0.39   165.1 %
Book Value Per Share, $ 19.35   18.02   7.4 % 19.35   18.02   7.4 %
Debt-to-Capital Ratio 18.8 % 22.2 % (3.4pts) 18.8 % 22.2 % (3.4pts)
ROE Trailing Twelve Months (‘TTM’) 5.6 % n/a n/a 5.6 % n/a n/a
Combined Ratio – Canadian Specialty P&C 85.5 % 90.2 % (4.7pts) 87.2 % 87.2 % (0.0pts)
Canadian Specialty P&C ROE – TTM 15.8 % 8.6 % 7.2pts 15.8 % 8.6 % 7.2pts

Underwriting

  • $17.7 million of gross premiums written by our new US Specialty P&C business.
     
  • Our Canadian Specialty P&C business generated strong underwriting income with a combined ratio of 85.5% compared to 90.2% in Q3 2017 driven by strong performance in Surety.

Capital

  • The minimum capital test (“MCT”) ratio of our Canadian subsidiary was 247% as at September 30, 2018 (255% as at December 31, 2017), which comfortably exceeds regulatory requirements of 150%.
     
  • The capital and surplus in our US subsidiary of $63.4 million as at September 30, 2018 is well in excess of the $19.4 million minimum capital requirements of the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
     
  • Our international subsidiary had capital of $28.4 million as at September 30, 2018 which was well in excess of its regulatory capital requirement of $0.2 million.
     
  • Consolidated debt-to-capital ratio of 18.8% as at September 30, 2018 is below our long-term target of 20%.

Investments

  • Net investment income of $3.6 million compared to $2.1 million in Q3 2017. Interest and dividend income were slightly higher in Q3 2018, as we continued to benefit from the deployed US portfolio. In Canada, investment income reflected higher interest income and realized gains from rebalancing of the portfolio.

Ratings

  • A.M. Best reaffirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) of both our Canadian subsidiary, Trisura Guarantee Insurance and our US subsidiary, Trisura Specialty with stable outlook.

Management Appointment

  • On October 16, 2018 Trisura announced that David Clare would be succeeding Greg Morrison as President and CEO of Trisura Group.
     
  • Greg Morrison will continue to act as a director of Trisura Group.

About Trisura Group

Trisura Group Ltd. is an international specialty insurance holding company operating in the surety, risk solutions, corporate insurance and reinsurance segments of the market. Trisura has three principal regulated subsidiaries: Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company in Canada, Trisura Specialty Insurance Company in the US and Trisura International Insurance Ltd. in Barbados. Trisura Group is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “TSU”.

Further information is available at http://www.trisura.com/group. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information. Details regarding the operations of Trisura Group are also set forth in regulatory filings. A copy of the filings may be obtained on Trisura Group’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

For more information, please contact:
Name: Bryan Sinclair
Tel: 416 607 2135
Email: [email protected]

Trisura Group Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

As at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
(in thousands of Canadian dollars, except as otherwise noted)

As at September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
 Cash and cash equivalents 102,688  165,675
 Investments 266,318  190,641
 Premiums and accounts receivable, and other assets 33,388  23,172
 Deferred acquisition costs 56,095  40,266
 Recoverable from reinsurers 95,841  65,254
 Capital assets and intangible assets 2,636  2,612
 Deferred tax assets 805  740
Total assets 557,771  488,360
 Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities 21,481  19,795
 Reinsurance premiums payable 30,709  17,555
 Unearned premiums 159,881  115,357
 Unearned reinsurance commissions 14,441  5,566
 Unpaid claims and loss adjustment expenses 173,419  178,885
 Loan payable 29,700  29,700
Total liabilities 429,631  366,858
Shareholders’ equity 128,140  121,502
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 557,771  488,360

Trisura Group Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the three and nine months ended September 30
(in thousands of Canadian dollars, except as otherwise noted)

    Q3 2018 Q3 2017 Q3 2018 YTD Q3 2017 YTD
 Gross premiums written 57,282   36,123   150,767   108,074  
 Net premiums written 30,072   26,742   84,361   73,176  
 Net premiums earned 25,281   21,990   65,826   59,567  
 Fee income 370   216   4,049   3,273  
Total underwriting revenue 25,651   22,206   69,875   62,840  
 Net claims (4,583 ) (5,129 ) (13,482 ) (12,466 )
 Net commissions (8,313 ) (6,799 ) (23,358 ) (19,687 )
 Premium taxes (1,418 ) (1,246 ) (3,480 ) (3,236 )
 Operating expenses (9,245 ) (7,804 ) (26,250 ) (23,366 )
Net claims and expenses (23,559 ) (20,978 ) (66,570 ) (58,755 )
Net underwriting income 2,092   1,228   3,305   4,085  
 Net investment income 3,639   2,067   7,628   4,404  
 Foreign exchange (losses) gains 171   (253 ) (153 ) (138 )
 Interest expense (243 ) (273 ) (709 ) (812 )
 Change in minority interests     2     (5,156 )
Income before income taxes 5,659   2,771   10,071   2,383  
 Income tax expense (1,499 ) (761 ) (3,064 ) (2,648 )
Net income (loss) 4,160   2,010   7,007   (265 )
Other comprehensive loss (2,712 ) (2,965 ) (468 ) (5,636 )
Comprehensive income (loss) 1,448   (955 ) 6,539   (5,901 )

Trisura Group Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the three and nine months ended September 30
(in thousands of Canadian dollars, except as otherwise noted)

    Q3 2018 Q3 2017 Q3 2018 YTD Q3 2017 YTD
Net income (loss) from operating activities 4,160   2,010   7,007   (265 )
Non-cash items to be deducted 457   873   3,089   1,209  
Change in working capital operating items 9,255   12,070   7,010   20,722  
Realized gains (losses) on AFS investments (1,083 ) (340 ) (782 ) (704 )
Income taxes paid (426 ) (968 ) (2,367 ) (6,123 )
Interest paid   (256 ) (286 ) (725 ) (810 )
Net cash from operating activities 12,107   13,359   13,232   14,029  
Proceeds on disposal of investments 49,607   554   81,725   20,386  
Purchases of investments (55,982 ) (12,202 ) (160,731 ) (131,864 )
Net purchases of capital and intangible assets (269 ) (38 ) (584 ) (145 )
Net cash used in investing activities (6,644 ) (11,686 ) (79,590 ) (111,623 )
Change in minority interests   (2 )   5,156  
Dividends paid (24 )   (72 )  
Common shares issued       140,270  
Issuance of new loan payable     29,700    
Repayment of note payable       (355 )
Repayment of loan payable   (500 ) (29,700 ) (4,200 )
Net cash (used in) from financing activities (24 ) (502 ) (72 ) 140,871  
Net increase (decrease) in cash 5,439   1,171   (66,430 ) 43,277  
Cash at beginning of the period 97,739   160,344   165,675   122,096  
Currency translation (490 ) (5,194 ) 3,443   (9,052 )
Cash at the end of the period   102,688   156,321   102,688   156,321  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information

Note: This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of Trisura Group, as well as the outlook for North American and international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods, and include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “forecasts” or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.”

Although we believe that our anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Trisura Group to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors in the countries in which we do business; the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; strategic actions including dispositions; the ability to complete and effectively integrate acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the ability to appropriately manage human capital; the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation within the countries in which we operate; governmental investigations; litigation; changes in tax laws; ability to collect amounts owed; catastrophic events, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts and cyber terrorism; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada.

We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, Trisura Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.