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U.S. SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON D.C. 20549
[Check one]
[ ] Registration Statement Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or
[X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2005 Commission File Number: 1-15212
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
_________________
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Ontario | 6331 | Not Applicable |
(Province or Other Jurisdiction of | (Primary Standard Industrial | (I.R.S. Employer Identification |
Incorporation or Organization) | Classification Code Number) | Number, if applicable) |
5310 Explorer Drive, Suite 200, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L4W 5H8
(905) 629-7888
_________________
(Address and telephone number of Registrants principal executive offices)
Kelly Marketti
Kingsway America Inc.
150 Northwest Point Blvd. 6th Floor Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007
(847) 871-6400
_________________
(Name, address
(including zip code) and telephone number (including area code)
of agent for service in the United States)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Common Shares, no par value | New York Stock Exchange, Inc. |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act. N/A
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act. N/A
For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form:
[X] Annual information form | [X] Audited annual financial statements |
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
56,480,453 Common Shares outstanding as of December 31, 2005
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by filing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). If Yes is marked, indicate the filing number assigned to the Registrant in connection with such Rule.
Yes ____ 82-____ No X
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
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DOCUMENTS FILED UNDER COVER OF THIS FORM
Item | Description | Sequential Page Number | |||
1. | Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2006 for the year ended December 31, 2005. | 3 | |||
2. | Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, including a reconciliation of U.S.and Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. | 20 | |||
3. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. | 76 |
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Document No. 1
March 31, 2006
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1. | INCORPORATION | 4 | |||
2. | INTER-CORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS | 5 | |||
3. | GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS | 5 | |||
4. | NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS | 6 | |||
5. | RISK FACTORS | 8 | |||
6. | DIVIDEND POLICY | 8 | |||
7. | DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE | 8 | |||
8. | MARKET FOR SECURITIES | 10 | |||
9. | DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 10 | |||
10. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 12 | |||
11 | INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS | 12 | |||
12. | AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION | 12 | |||
13. | TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR | 14 | |||
14. | INTERESTS OF EXPERTS | 14 | |||
15. | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 14 | |||
APPENDIX I | 15 |
1. | INCORPORATION |
Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (KFSI) was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on September 19, 1989. On November 10, 1995, KFSI filed articles of amendment deleting its private company share restrictions, subdividing KFSIs outstanding common shares on a three for one basis, and deleting the Class A Special Shares and the Class B Special Shares that were previously authorized. On October 11, 1996, KFSI filed articles of amendment to sub-divide the common shares on a two for one basis. On April 27, 1998, KFSI filed articles of amendment to subdivide the common shares on a two for one basis. The principal and registered office of KFSI is located at 5310 Explorer Drive, Suite 200, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5H8. |
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2. | INTER-CORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS |
KFSIs material subsidiaries and their intercorporate relationship with KFSI as of the most recent financial year end are listed and described in Note 2(a) to the Consolidated Financial Statements of KFSI contained in KFSIs 2005 Annual Report (the Annual Report) which is incorporated herein by reference. All subsidiaries are 100% owned, directly or indirectly, (except for qualifying shares of York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company and Kingsway General Insurance Company held by directors in order to satisfy applicable statutory requirements). |
3. | GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS |
KFSI is a holding company which operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries in the property and casualty insurance business. Since its inception in 1986, Kingsway General Insurance Company (KGIC) has provided property and casualty insurance in specialized lines in Canada, primarily in the automobile insurance market. In 1989, KGIC became a wholly owned subsidiary of KFSI. Since KFSIs initial public offering in 1995, KFSI has made selective acquisitions in Canada and the United States, including its insurance subsidiaries, American Service Insurance Company, Inc., U.S. Security Insurance Company, Jevco Insurance Company (Jevco), Southern United Fire Insurance Company, Universal Casualty Company, Lincoln General Insurance Company, York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, American Country Insurance Company, and Zephyr Insurance Company Inc. (Zephyr). In addition, insurance subsidiaries have developed specific books of business by entering into contracts with program managers. All of the dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, except where otherwise indicated. References to C$ are to Canadian dollars. |
Significant events that have influenced the general development of the business over the last three years include: |
(a) | the completion in May 2003 of a private placement of $17.5 million in 30-year floating rate trust preferred securities; |
(b) | the completion in May 2003 of a private placement of $15 million in 30-year floating rate trust preferred securities; |
(c) | the completion in July 2003 of a public offering only in Canada of 6,710,000 common shares at a price of C$16.70 per share resulting in total gross proceeds of C$112,100,000; |
(d) | the completion in September 2003 of a private placement of $10 million in 30 year floating rate trust preferred securities; |
(e) | the completion in October 2003 of a private placement of $20 million in 30 year floating rate trust preferred securities; |
(f) | the completion in December 2003 of a private placement of $13 million in 30 year floating rate trust preferred securities; |
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(g) | the completion in January 2004 of a private placement of $100 million in 10 year 7.5% senior notes and the completion in March 2004 of the sale of an additional $25 million of the 10-year 7.5% senior notes; |
(h) | the C$150 million syndicated unsecured revolving credit facility in March 2004, the renewal of that credit facility in December 2004 and the replacement of that facility with a C$150 million syndicated unsecured revolving credit facility in February, 2006; |
(i) | the completion of two quota share reinsurance agreements effective April 2004 permitting Lincoln General Insurance Company and Kingsway General Insurance Company to cede a variable amount of premiums to reinsurers rated A+ or better by AM Best which agreements expired and were not renewed in 2005; |
(j) | the completion in July 2005 of the public offering of C$78 million of 5.00% Kingsway Linked Return of Capital Preferred Units (LROC Preferred Units) due June 30, 2015, the net proceeds of which were used for a series of investments that included the purchase of an approximately C$74.1 million 7.12% senior note due June 30, 2015 issued by an affiliate of KFSI; |
(k) | the closing in October 2005 of the acquisition of HI Holdings, Inc. (HI) for approximately $25 million, which includes HIs wholly owned Zephyr Insurance Company Inc.; and |
(l) | the completion, in November, 2005 of a program management agreement between Lincoln General Insurance Company with The Robert Plan Corporation which provides that the KFSI affiliate will assume risk relating to assigned risk obligations acquired from other insurers. |
4. | NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS |
Commercial trucking insurance has become the largest segment of Kingsways business. KFSI is considered to be the largest trucking insurer in North America. This line of business comprised 31% of KFSIs gross premiums written (GPW) (the total premiums on insurance underwritten before deduction of reinsurance premiums ceded) in 2005. |
In 2005, non-standard automobile business accounted for 29% of KFSIs $1,894.7 million of GPW. Non-standard automobile insurance is the insuring of automobile risks for drivers with worse than average driving records primarily as a result of accidents or traffic violations. |
KFSIs premium distribution by line and geographic areas is set out in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report which is incorporated herein by reference. |
In addition to revenue derived from premiums earned, KFSI also derives revenue from premium financing and investment income. This revenue amounted to $131.2 million in 2005 as compared to $94.7 million in 2004. |
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KFSI strives to remain a disciplined underwriter. KFSI has earned a profit from its underwriting activities for 13 of the last 16 fiscal years, including 7 of the last 10 years. The selected Supplemental Financial Information set out on page 77 of the Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference, provides details of the gross premiums written, underwriting profits, and key ratios from KFSIs insurance operations compared to industry results for the eight year period ending December 31, 2005 and are incorporated herein by reference. |
Employees |
As at December 31, 2005, KFSI employed an aggregate of approximately 2,300 personnel, none of whom are unionized. |
Liquidity |
Capital required for KFSIs business has been obtained from KFSIs public offerings of common shares and debt securities, its syndicated term and operating lending facilities, the issuance of trust preferred securities and has been internally generated from underwriting and investment profits. KFSIs operations create liquidity by collecting and investing premiums, as more fully discussed on page 42 of the Annual Report, which are incorporated by reference herein. |
Investment Portfolio |
The fair value of the investment portfolio increased from $2,644.1 million at the end of 2004 to $2,933.0 million at December 31, 2005. Returns on a pre-tax basis were 4.7% for the year compared with 4.0% for 2004. The investment portfolio as at December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 is comprised of assets from a number of different classes as reflected in Note 3 to the 2005 Consolidated Financial Statements set out on pages 64 to 66 of the Annual Report, which are incorporated herein by reference. |
Competitive Position |
The insurance industry is price competitive in all markets in which KFSI's insurance subsidiaries operate. KFSIs subsidiaries strive to employ disciplined underwriting practices with the objective of rejecting underpriced risks. The combined ratio of claims plus underwriting expenses compared to net premiums earned is the traditional measure of underwriting results of property and casualty companies. In any year when the ratio exceeds 100%, it generally indicates that unprofitable business has been underwritten. Through deliberate underwriting, pricing, risk selection, stringent claims management, and non-renewal of unprofitable policies, KFSI has produced an underwriting profit in 13 of the last 16 years. |
KFSI believes that it is better to write less business with higher profits than to compete with other insurers at lower premiums to increase volume at the expense of higher combined ratios. As a result of the softening of the market in certain segments and territories during 2005, KFSIs GPW was reduced. In 2005, Kingsways combined ratio from Canadian and U.S. Operations was 96.1% and 97.7%,respectively, compared with the industry averages of 91.2% and 102.0%, respectively. |
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5. | RISK FACTORS |
The risks faced by KFSI are described on pages 47 to 55 of the Annual Report and those pages are incorporated herein by reference. |
6. | DIVIDEND POLICY |
The ability of KFSI to pay dividends is largely dependent upon its ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries. The insurance subsidiaries are regulated and are required to maintain statutory capital in order to write insurance policies. Regulatory authorities may impose, from time to time, additional restrictions which may affect the actual amounts available to KFSI for the payment of dividends. |
During the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and 2004, KFSI did not pay any dividends. KFSI paid and declared cash dividends in the aggregate amount of C$0.20 per share for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. KFSI has declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.0625 per share payable on March 31, 2006. Any decision to pay dividends on KFSIs common shares in the future will be dependent upon the financial requirements of KFSI to finance future growth, the financial condition of KFSI and other factors which the Board of Directors of KFSI may consider appropriate in the circumstances. |
7. | DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE |
(a) | Common Shares |
General Description of Capital Structure |
The authorized capital of KFSI consists of an unlimited number of common shares, of which, as of March 17, 2006, 56,436,154 common shares were outstanding. All common shares have the same attributes, including the right to one vote per share. |
Change of Control |
Many state insurance laws intended primarily for the protection of policyholders require advance approval by state insurance commissioners of any change in control of an insurance company that is domiciled (or, in some cases, having such substantial business that it is deemed to be commercially domiciled) in that state. Control is generally presumed to exist through the ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a domestic insurance company or of any company that controls a domestic insurance company. In addition, insurance laws in many states contain provisions that require prenotification to the insurance commissioners of a change in control of a non-domestic insurance company licensed in those states. |
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Any future transactions that would constitute a change in control of our U.S. insurance company subsidiaries, including a change of control of KFSI, would generally require the party acquiring control to obtain the prior approval by the insurance departments of the insurance subsidiaries states of domicile or commercial domicile, if any, and may require pre-acquisition notification in applicable states that have adopted pre-acquisition notification provisions. Obtaining these approvals could result in material delay of, or deter, any such transaction. |
In addition, Jevco is a federal property and casualty insurance company continued under the Insurance Companies Act (Canada) (ICA), and licensed to carry on property and casualty insurance business in all of the provinces and territories of Canada. The ICA is administered, and activities of Jevco are supervised, by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). Under the ICA, advance approval by OSFI is required prior to the acquisition of a significant interest in an insurance company licensed thereunder. A significant interest is generally a direct or indirect ownership interest representing 10% of the voting rights or 25% of the shareholders equity of an insurance company. |
(b) | Debt Securities |
KFSI has issued C$78 million of 8.25% unsecured senior debentures with a maturity date of December 31, 2007. The debentures are redeemable prior to the maturity date, at KFSIs option, providing at least 30 days notice to debenture holders. Interest on the debentures is payable semi-annually in arrears. |
Kingsway America Inc., a subsidiary of KFSI, has issued $125 million 7.50% senior notes due in 2014. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by KFSI. The notes will be redeemable at Kingsway America Inc.s option on or after February 1, 2009. |
Between December 4, 2002 and December 16, 2003, six subsidiary trusts of KFSI issued $90.5 million of 30 year capital securities to third parties in separate private transactions. In each instance, a corresponding floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debenture was then issued by Kingsway America Inc. to the trust in exchange for the proceeds from the private sale. The floating rate debentures bear interest at the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits, plus spreads ranging from 3.85% to 4.20%, but until dates ranging from December 4, 2007 to January 8, 2009, the interest rates will not exceed 12.45% to 12.75%. KFSI has the right to call each of these securities at par anytime after five years from their issuance until their maturity. |
In July, 2005, in connection with the offering of LROC Preferred Units, an affiliate of KFSI issued an unsecured senior note in the principal amount of C$74.1 million. This note bears interest at the rate of 7.12% per annum and matures June 30, 2015. |
(c) | Ratings |
The ratings received from rating organizations for securities of KFSI are described on page 44 of the Annual Report and those pages are incorporated herein by reference. |
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8. | MARKET FOR SECURITIES |
(a) | Trading Price and Volume |
The common shares of KFSI are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSE) and the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol KFS). |
The following chart sets forth the high and low sales price and volume for the common shares of KFSI on the TSE for the periods indicated in Canadian dollars: |
Month | High | Low | Volume | ||||
January 2005 | 19 | .98 | 18 | .45 | 2,583,962 | ||
February 2005 | 21 | .48 | 19 | .05 | 5,814,040 | ||
March 2005 | 20 | .20 | 17 | .91 | 3,905,172 | ||
April 2005 | 20 | .15 | 18 | .45 | 2,370,372 | ||
May 2005 | 20 | .94 | 19 | .51 | 2,798,163 | ||
June 2005 | 21 | .80 | 20 | .28 | 2,561,696 | ||
July 2005 | 21 | .95 | 21 | .05 | 1,219,513 | ||
August 2005 | 22 | .80 | 20 | .60 | 3,137,429 | ||
September 2005 | 22 | .00 | 19 | .76 | 1,885,921 | ||
October 2005 | 21 | .00 | 18 | .77 | 2,629,189 | ||
November 2005 | 21 | .98 | 19 | .34 | 3,096,894 | ||
December 2005 | 23 | .62 | 21 | .91 | 1,736,475 |
(b) | Prior Sales |
No common shares of KFSI were issued during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005 except for 270,203 common shares issued on the exercise of options granted pursuant to KFSIs Stock Option Plan. |
9. | DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
The following table and the notes thereto state the names of all executive officers of the Corporation, all other positions or offices with the Corporation and its subsidiaries now held by them, their principal occupations or employment and the number of Common Shares and Options of the Corporation beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by each of them, or over which they exert control or direction as of March 17, 2006. The same information relating to the directors of the Corporation is contained in the Election of Directors section of the Management Information Circular of KFSI dated March 17, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. |
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Name and Municipality of Residence and Present Principal Occupation |
Position with the Corporation |
Common Shares of the Corporation beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or controlled or directed |
Number of Options Held |
|||||
William G. Star | Chairman, President | 416,065 | 600,000 | |||||
Mississauga, ON | and Chief Executive | |||||||
Officer, KFSI | ||||||||
W. Shaun Jackson | Executive | 69,600 | 320,000 | |||||
Oakville, ON | Vice-President and | |||||||
Chief Financial | ||||||||
Officer, KFSI | ||||||||
Frank Amodeo | Vice-President, KFSI | 5,499 | 30,000 | |||||
Toronto, ON | ||||||||
Dennis Fielding | Vice-President, KFSI | 4,363 | 31,000 | |||||
Pickering, ON | ||||||||
Laura Foster | Vice-President, | 1,001 | 9,000 | |||||
Toronto, ON | Internal Audit, KFSI | |||||||
Shelly Gobin | Vice-President and | 36,841 | 45,167 | |||||
Mississauga, ON | Treasurer, KFSI | |||||||
Claude Smith | Vice-President and | 2,159 | 31,000 | |||||
Cambridge, ON | Chief Information | |||||||
Officer, KFSI | ||||||||
Andrew Wright | Vice-President, | 500 | 8,000 | |||||
Toronto, ON | Reinsurance and Risk | |||||||
Management, KFSI | ||||||||
Frank Amodeo joined KFSI in July, 2001. Prior thereto, Mr. Amodeo was Vice-President and General Manager of Winterthur International (The Citadel General Assurance Company). |
Laura Foster joined KFSI in December, 2003. Prior thereto, Ms. Foster was Assistant Vice President, Corporate Compliance at Canada Life Assurance Company from July, 1998 to August, 2003. |
Andrew Wright joined KFSI in July, 2004. Prior thereto, Mr. Wright was Senior Reinsurance Underwriter at Aviva Canada Inc. from April, 2002 to July, 2004. From October, 2000 to April, 2002, Mr. Wright was a consultant and teaching advisor for the Insurance Institute of Canada. |
Except as noted above, for the past five years each executive officer has been engaged in his current occupation or in other capacities within the same or a related entity. |
As a group, the directors and officers of KFSI own, directly or indirectly or exercise control or direction over 721,978 (1.3% of the total outstanding) common shares of KFSI. The information as to shares owned indirectly or over which control or direction is exercised by the directors and officers, but which are not registered in their names, not being within the knowledge of KFSI, has been furnished by such officers of KFSI. |
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The Corporation does not have an Executive Committee. Mr. Walsh serves as KFSIs lead director. The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee comprised solely of outside Directors, namely Messrs. Atkins, Di Giacomo, Farnam and Walsh. In addition, the Corporation has an Investment Committee comprised of Messrs. Di Giacomo, Star, Sullivan and Walsh, a Nominating Committee comprised of Messrs. Atkins, Walsh, Reeve and Sullivan, and a Compensation and Management Resources Committee comprised of Messrs. Di Giacomo, Gluckstein, Beamish and Farnam. |
10. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
In connection with its operations, KFSI and its subsidiaries are, from time to time, named as defendants in actions for damages and costs allegedly sustained by the plaintiffs. While it is not possible to estimate the outcome of the various proceedings at this time, such actions have generally been resolved with minimal damages or expense in excess of amounts provided and KFSI does not believe that it will incur any significant additional loss or expense in connection with such actions. |
11. | INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS |
The Audit Committee reviewed all related party transactions between KFSI and its subsidiaries and the officers and directors of KFSI. The Audit Committee determined that there were no related party transactions that required disclosure under any securities laws other than commissions of approximately C$91,540 paid by a cruise ship operator to a corporation owned by the spouse of the President and Chief Executive Officer of KFSI for an incentive cruise sponsored by KFSI for certain of its brokers. |
12. | AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION |
(a) | Composition of the Audit Committee |
The Audit Committee of KFSI is composed of the following four members: David H. Atkins, Thomas A. Di Giacomo, Walter E. Farnam and F. Michael Walsh. Mr. Farnam was appointed a member in February, 2006. The responsibilities and duties of the Audit Committee are set out in the Audit Committees charter, the text of which is set forth in Appendix I to this Annual Information Form. |
The Board of Directors believes that the composition of the Audit Committee reflects a high level of financial literacy and expertise. Each member of the Audit Committee has been determined by the Board of Directors to be independent and financially literate as such terms are defined under Canadian and United States securities laws and the NYSE rules. In addition, the Board has determined that Mr. Atkins is an Audit Committee Financial Expert as such term is defined under United States securities laws. The Board has made these determinations based on the education and breadth and depth of experience of each member of the Committee. The following is a description of the education and experience of each member of the Committee that is relevant to the performance of his or her responsibilities as a member of the Audit Committee: |
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David H. Atkins is a Senior Advisor to Lang Michener, a Toronto based law firm. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. Mr. Atkins consults to the insurance and other industries regarding business strategy, mergers, acquisitions, governance and financial reporting. He also advises with regard to regulatory compliance. Mr. Atkins has lectured extensively with respect to governance and audit committee issues. Mr. Atkins is Chairman for the Swiss Reinsurance group in Canada and also sits on the Board of the Swiss Reinsurance group in the United States, as well as serving on the boards of several other companies including Pareto Corporation, Pethealth Inc., Nightingale Informatix Inc. and Integrate Asset Management Inc. |
Thomas A. Di Giacomo has been the President of Tadico Limited, a business consulting and investment firm since 1994. Prior thereto he held a number of positions at Manulife Financial, the most recent being Chairman of the Board, President and CEO from 1990-1993. Mr. Di Giacomo is the chairman of RDM Corporation and sits on the Board of several companies including Menu Foods Income Fund, Luxell Corporation and Afriore Corporation, all of which companies are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. |
Walter E. Farnam received a B.A. from Brown University. During his career, Mr. Farnam has held various senior positions in the insurance industry and from 1998 until his retirement in June, 2001 served as Chairman of the Board of the CGU Insurance Group in the United States. Prior to June, 1998 Mr. Farnam was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Accident Insurance in Philadelphia. He also held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of General Accident Insurance in the United States from July, 1985 through August 1991. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is Past Chairman of the Council of Insurance Company Executives. Mr. Farnam also served on the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters/Insurance Institute of America. |
F. Michael Walsh is a retired investment industry executive, who prior to January 2000 was Senior Vice-President, Secretary and a Director of First Marathon Securities Limited (now National Bank Financial) and Vice-President and Secretary of First Marathon Inc. He is a Retired Industry Member of the Ontario District Council of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada and has served as an advisor to the staff of the Ontario Securities Commission and was formerly a member of the Council on Investment Issues of the Conference Board of Canada. He is a Past chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Guelph and received the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003 for excellence in leadership and governance of a post-secondary institution as a volunteer. |
(b) | Shareholders Auditors Service Fees |
Aggregate fees paid to the Shareholders Auditors during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows: |
(in Canadian dollars) | 2005 Fee Amount | 2004 Fee Amount | ||||
Audit Fees | $2,121,000 | $2,064,000 | ||||
Audit-related Fees | $ 169,000 | $ 467,000 | ||||
Tax Fees | $ 245,000 | $ 57,000 | ||||
All Other Fees | $ 2,000 | $ 2,000 | ||||
Total: | $2,437,000 | $2,590,000 | ||||
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13. | TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR |
KFSIs transfer agent and registrar is Computershare Investor Services Inc. of Canada at its principal office in Toronto, Ontario. |
14. | INTERESTS OF EXPERTS |
(a) | Names of Experts |
KPMG LLP prepared an auditors report in regard to the consolidated financial statements of KFSI for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants gives authority to the report. |
David J. Oakden, of Tillinghast, a business of Towers Perrin, prepared an actuary report in regard to the consolidated financial statements of KFSI for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. The Canadian Institute of Actuaries gives authority to the report. |
(b) | Interests of Experts |
As of March 17, 2006, KPMG LLP and its partners did not hold any registered ownership interests, directly or indirectly, in the securities of KFSI or its associates or affiliates. |
15. | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
Financial information about the Corporation is contained in its comparative financial statements and Managements Discussion and Analysis for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and additional information relating to the Corporation is on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. |
Additional information, including directors and officers remuneration and indebtedness, the principal holders of KFSI securities and securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, where applicable, is contained in KFSIs Proxy Circular dated as of March 17, 2006 in connection with its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 4, 2006, which involves the election of directors. |
Copies of the Annual Information Form, as well as copies of the 2005 Annual Report of KFSI for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Proxy Circular dated March 17, 2006 may be obtained from: |
Kingsway
Financial Services Inc., Secretary c/o Fogler Rubinoff LLP 95 Wellington Street West Suite 1200, Toronto-Dominion Centre Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Z9 Telephone: 416-841-8857 Fax: 416-841-8852 |
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I. | Purpose |
The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to (a) the integrity of the Companys financial statements, (b) the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (c) the external auditors qualifications and independence, and (d) the performance of the Companys internal audit function and the performance of the external auditors. The Audit Committees primary duties and responsibilities are to: |
> | Identify and monitor the management of the principal risks that could impact the financial reporting of the Company. |
> | Monitor the integrity of the Companys financial reporting process and system of internal controls regarding financial reporting and accounting appropriateness and compliance. |
> | Monitor the independence and performance of the companys external auditors and the external appointed actuary. |
> | Provide an avenue of communication among the external auditors, external appointed actuary, management and the Board of Directors. |
> | Review the annual audited financial statements with management and the external auditors. |
II. | Organization |
Audit Committee members shall meet the requirements of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee shall be comprised of three or more directors as determined by the Board, each of whom shall be outside directors who are unrelated, free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment. All members of the Committee shall be financially literate, being defined as able to read and understand basic financial statements, and the Chair of the Committee shall have accounting or related financial management expertise. The Audit Committee shall assist the Board in determining whether or not one or more members of the Audit Committee is an audit committee financial expert as defined in SEC Release 33-8177. |
Audit Committee members shall be appointed by the Board annually at the meeting of the Board of Directors immediately following the annual meeting. The Audit Committee Chair shall be designated by the full board or if it does not do so, the members of the Committee may designate a Chair by majority vote of the Committee membership. |
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III. | Structure and Meetings |
The Committee shall meet at least quarterly, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. The Audit Committee Chair shall prepare and/or approve an agenda in advance of each meeting. The Committee should meet privately in executive session with each of management, the external auditors, the external appointed actuary, the internal auditor and as a committee to discuss any matters that the Committee or each of these groups believe should be discussed. |
The Audit Committee has the authority to conduct any investigation appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities, and it has direct access to the external auditors as well any other employees or consultants to Kingsway and its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee has the ability to retain, at the Companys expense, special legal, accounting, or other consultants or experts it deems necessary in the performance of its duties. |
IV. | Responsibilities and Duties |
The Audit Committee shall have the power and authority of the Board of Directors to perform the following duties and fulfil the following responsibilities. |
1. | Review and reassess the adequacy of this Mandate at least annually and submit the mandate to the Board of Directors for approval. |
2. | Review the Companys annual audited financial statements and discuss the Companys quarterly financial statements and related documents prior to filing or distribution. Review should include discussion with management and external auditors of significant issues regarding accounting principles, practice, and significant management estimates and judgments as well as the contents of Managements Discussion and Analysis. |
3. | Annually, in consultation with management, external auditors, and external appointed actuary, consider the integrity of the Companys financial reporting processes and controls. Discuss significant financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor, control, and report such exposures. Review significant findings prepared by the external auditors together with managements responses. |
4. | Review the effectiveness of the overall process for identifying the principal risks affecting financial reporting and provide the Committees view to the Board of Directors. |
5. | Review the Companys quarterly financial results and related documents prior to the release of earnings and/or the companys quarterly financial statements prior to filing or distribution shall be reviewed by the full Board of Directors. |
6. | Discuss the Companys earnings press releases as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. |
Page 17 of 158
7. | The external auditors are ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors, as representatives of the shareholders. The Audit Committee shall review the independence and performance of the auditors and annually recommend to the Board of Directors the appointment of the external auditors or approve any discharge of auditors when circumstances warrant. |
8. | Approve the appointment, compensation and work carried out by the external auditors, including the provision of both audit related and non-audit related services. |
9. | On not less than an annual basis, the Committee should review and discuss with the external auditors all significant relationships they have with the Company that could impair the auditors independence. |
10. | Review the external auditors audit plan discuss and approve audit scope, staffing, locations, reliance upon management and general audit approach. |
11. | On an annual basis review with the external auditors: |
i. | all critical accounting policies and practices to be used in connection with the auditors report. |
ii. | all alternative treatments within GAAP for policies and practices related to material items that have been discussed with management, including ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments; and the treatment preferred by the auditor; and |
iii. | other material written communications between the auditor and the management of the Company, such as any management representation letter, schedule of unadjusted differences, reports on observations and recommendations on internal control, engagement letter and independence letter. |
12. | Prior to releasing the year-end earnings, discuss the results of the audit with the external auditors. Discuss certain matters required to be communicated to audit committees in accordance with the standards established by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. |
13. | Consider the external auditors judgments about the quality and appropriateness of the Companys accounting principles as applied in the Companys financial reporting. |
14. | Set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the external auditors. |
15. | Consider the external appointed actuarys judgment about the appropriateness of managements selection of assumptions of methods to determine the unpaid claims liabilities included in the companys year-end financial statements. |
Page 18 of 158
16. | Discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. |
17. | On an annual basis, obtain and review a report by the external auditor describing the Companys internal quality-control procedures and any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review of the Company. |
18. | Review significant internal audit reports together with managements response and follow-up to these reports. |
19. | Meet separately, periodically, with management, with internal auditors and with external auditors. |
20. | Establish and review formal whistleblower procedures that address the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal controls and auditing matters and the confidential anonymous submission by employees of any concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
21. | On at least an annual basis, review with the Companys counsel any legal matters that could have a significant impact on the organizations financial statements, the Companys compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and inquiries received from regulators or governmental agencies. |
22. | Develop and recommend to the full Board a set of corporate governance principles, review such principles annually and recommend any modifications thereto. |
23. | Consider corporate governance issues that may arise from time to time and make recommendations to the Board with respect thereto. |
24. | Periodically review the Companys director and officer liability insurance coverage. |
25. | Confer, as appropriate, with the General Counsel on matters of corporate governance. |
Page 19 of 158
26. | Annually assess the effectiveness of the committee against this Mandate and report the results of the assessment to the Board. |
27. | Perform any other activities consistent with this Mandate, the Companys by-laws and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate. |
28. | Maintain minutes of meetings and periodically report to the Board of Directors on significant results of the foregoing activities. |
29. | Establish, review, and update periodically a Code of Conduct for the CEO and other Senior Financial Officers and Code of Ethical Conduct for others and ensure that management has established a system to enforce these Codes. |
30. | Review financial and accounting personnel succession planning within the company. |
31. | The Audit Committee will annually review a summary of director and officers related party transactions and potential conflicts of interest. |
February 2004
Page 20 of 158
Document No. 2
Consolidated Financial Statements of
Years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004
Page 21 of 158
Management is responsible for presentation and preparation of the annual consolidated financial statements, Managements Discussion and Analysis (MDA) and all other information in the Companys Annual Report. The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and also include a reconciliation to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Financial information appearing elsewhere in the Companys Annual Report is consistent with the consolidated financial statements.
The MDA has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities regulators as well as the requirements of Item 303 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of the United States, and their related published requirements.
The consolidated financial statements and information in the MDA necessarily include amounts based on informed judgements and estimates of the expected effects of current events and transactions with appropriate consideration to materiality. In addition, in preparing the financial information management must make determinations as to the relevancy of information to be included, and make estimates and assumptions that affect reported information. The MDA also includes information regarding the estimated impact of current transactions and events, sources of liquidity and capital resources, operating trends, risks and uncertainties. Actual results in the future may differ materially from managements present assessment of this information because future events and circumstances may not occur as expected.
In meeting its responsibility for the reliability of the consolidated financial statements and for the accounting systems from which they are derived, management maintains the necessary system of internal controls. These controls are designed to provide management with reasonable assurance that the financial records are reliable for preparing financial statements and other financial information, that assets are safeguarded against unauthorized use or disposition and that liabilities are recognized.
We, as Kingsway Financials Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, will certify the Kingsway Financial Services Inc.s annual filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators and the Securities and Exchange Commission as required in Canada by Multilateral Instrument 52-109 (Certification of Disclosure in Issuers Annual and Interim Filings) and in the United States by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
The Board of Directors oversees managements responsibilities for financial reporting through an Audit Committee, which is composed entirely of directors who are neither officers nor employees of the Company. The Audit Committee reviews the consolidated financial statements and recommends them to the board for approval. The Audit Committee also reviews and monitors the Companys system of internal controls as reported by management or the external auditors.
Page 22 of 158
With respect to the preparation of these financial statements, management prepares a valuation, including the selection of appropriate assumptions, of the Companys obligations at the balance sheet date under insurance policies issued by its subsidiaries. With respect to the preparation of these financial statements, the independent actuary, David J. Oakden of Tillinghast, a business of Towers Perrin, carries out a review of managements valuation of the unpaid claim liabilities and provides an opinion to the Board of Directors regarding the appropriateness of the unpaid claim liabilities recorded by management to meet all policyholder claim obligations of the Company at the balance sheet date. The work to form that opinion includes an examination of the sufficiency and reliability of data, and review of the valuation process used by management. The independent actuary is responsible for assessing whether the assumptions and methods used for the valuation of policy liabilities are in accordance with accepted actuarial practice, applicable legislation, and associated regulations and directives. In performing the review of these liabilities determined by management, which are by their very nature inherently variable, the actuary makes assumptions as to future loss ratios, trends, reinsurance recoveries, expenses and other contingencies, taking into consideration the circumstances of the Company and the nature of the insurance policies. In carrying out their work, the independent actuary makes use of the work of the external auditors with regards to data upon which their calculations are based.
The valuation is based on projections of future claims and claim adjustment expenses on claims incurred at the balance sheet date. It is certain that actual future claims and claim adjustment expenses will not develop exactly as projected and may, in fact, vary significantly from the projections. Further, the projections make no provision for new classes or claim categories not sufficiently recognized in the claims database.
Management is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the underlying data used in the valuation. The actuarys report outlines the scope of the review and the opinion.
The external auditors, KPMG LLP, have been appointed by the shareholders. Their responsibility is to conduct an independent and objective audit of the financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and to report thereon to the shareholders. In carrying out their audit, the auditors make use of the work of the independent actuary and their report on the claim liabilities of the Company. The auditors work on the financial statements encompasses the claim liabilities. The shareholders auditors have full and unrestricted access to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee to discuss audit, financial reporting and related findings. The auditors report outlines the scope of their audit and their opinion.
/s/ William G. Star | /s/ W. Shaun Jackson | ||
William G. Star | W. Shaun Jackson | ||
President & Chief Executive Officer | Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
February 7, 2006
Page 23 of 158
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. as at December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and the consolidated statements of operations, retained earnings, currency translation adjustment and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Chartered Accountants
Toronto, Canada
February 7, 2006 except as to note 13(a) which is as of February 15, 2006
Page 24 of 158
I have reviewed the unpaid claims liabilities of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. determined by management and recorded in its consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2005 and their changes in the consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian accepted actuarial practice.
Under Canadian accepted actuarial practice, the valuation of unpaid claims liabilities reflects the time value of money. Management has chosen not to reflect the time value of money in determining the valuation of the unpaid claims liabilities in the consolidated financial statements.
In my opinion, managements valuation of the unpaid claims liabilities is appropriate except as described in the preceding paragraph and the consolidated financial statements fairly present the results of the valuation.
The unpaid claims liabilities as at December 31, 2004 and the changes in unpaid claims for the two year yearly periods then ended were reviewed by another actuary. The other actuarys report dated February 8, 2005 expressed an opinion without reservation except that it contained a similar exception for management choosing not to reflect the time value of money in determining the valuation of the unpaid claims liabilities as referred to the above.
/s/ David J. Oakden
David J. Oakden, Towers
Perrin Inc.
Fellow Canadian Institute of Actuaries
February 7, 2006
Page 25 of 158
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As at December 31
(In thousands of
U.S. dollars)
2005 | 2004 | ||||
Assets | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 111,034 | $ 87,103 | |||
Investments (note 3) | 2,803,790 | 2,495,708 | |||
Accrued investment income | 25,126 | 21,046 | |||
Accounts receivable and other assets | 282,764 | 328,819 | |||
Due from reinsurers and other insurers (note 8) | 222,974 | 260,396 | |||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 148,829 | 141,910 | |||
Income taxes recoverable | -- | 10,428 | |||
Future income taxes (note 9) | 57,939 | 48,146 | |||
Capital assets (note 4) | 71,608 | 58,516 | |||
Goodwill and intangible assets (notes 2(f) & 11(b)) | 71,130 | 67,320 | |||
$3,795,194 | $3,519,392 | ||||
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity | |||||
Liabilities: | |||||
Bank indebtedness (note 13(a)) | $ 11,767 | $ 59,902 | |||
Loans payable (note 13(d)) | 66,222 | -- | |||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 129,666 | 110,345 | |||
Income taxes payable | 6,817 | -- | |||
Funds withheld payable to reinsurer | -- | 78,691 | |||
Unearned premiums | 649,228 | 634,336 | |||
Unpaid claims (note 10) | 1,844,211 | 1,689,225 | |||
Senior unsecured debentures (note 13(b)) | 192,068 | 189,892 | |||
Subordinated indebtedness (note 13(c)) | 90,500 | 90,500 | |||
2,990,479 | 2,852,891 | ||||
Shareholders equity: | |||||
Share capital (note 5) | 331,470 | 328,544 | |||
Contributed surplus | 3,237 | 1,769 | |||
Currency translation adjustment | 9,958 | 1,720 | |||
Retained earnings | 460,050 | 334,468 | |||
804,715 | 666,501 | ||||
Contingent liabilities (note 15) | |||||
$3,795,194 | $3,519,392 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
On behalf of the Board:
/s/ F. Michael Walsh
Director
/s/ David H. Atkins
Director
Page 26 of 158
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Years ended December 31
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except
per share amounts)
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
Gross premiums written | $ 1,894,660 | $ 2,001,806 | $ 1,887,214 | ||||
Net premiums written | $ 1,824,393 | $ 1,739,264 | $ 1,802,978 | ||||
Revenue: | |||||||
Net premiums earned (note 8) | $ 1,791,943 | $ 1,778,374 | $ 1,711,910 | ||||
Net investment income (note 3) | 93,035 | 74,266 | 56,226 | ||||
Net realized gains (note 3) | 38,239 | 20,392 | 41,466 | ||||
1,923,217 | 1,873,032 | 1,809,602 | |||||
Expenses: | |||||||
Claims incurred (notes 8 and 10) | 1,224,506 | 1,260,093 | 1,275,128 | ||||
Commissions and premium taxes (note 8) | 361,875 | 330,769 | 361,370 | ||||
General and administrative expenses | 155,773 | 148,096 | 102,640 | ||||
Interest expense | 25,921 | 21,171 | 15,106 | ||||
Amortization of intangible assets | 795 | 530 | 611 | ||||
1,768,870 | 1,760,659 | 1,754,855 | |||||
Income before income taxes | 154,347 | 112,373 | 54,747 | ||||
Income taxes(recovery) (note 9): | |||||||
Current | 28,208 | 4,004 | 7,371 | ||||
Future | (8,869 | ) | 7,355 | (13,501 | ) | ||
19,339 | 11,359 | (6,130 | ) | ||||
Net income | $ 135,008 | $ 101,014 | $ 60,877 | ||||
Earnings per share (note 5): | |||||||
Basic | $2.39 | $1.80 | $1.16 | ||||
Diluted | $2.37 | $1.79 | $1.15 | ||||
Dividends declared per common share | C$0.20 | C$ -- | C$ -- | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Page 27 of 158
Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings
Years ended December 31
(In thousands
of U.S. dollars)
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
Retained earnings, beginning of year | $334,468 | $233,454 | $172,577 | ||||
Net income | 135,008 | 101,014 | 60,877 | ||||
Common share dividends | (9,426 | ) | -- | -- | |||
Retained earnings, end of year | $460,050 | $334,468 | $233,454 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Consolidated Statements of Currency Translation Adjustment
Years ended December 31
(In thousands
of U.S. dollars)
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
Currency translation adjustment, | |||||||
beginning of year | $1,720 | $(6,747 | ) | $(24,683 | ) | ||
Net unrealized foreign exchange | |||||||
translation gains | 8,238 | 8,467 | 17,936 | ||||
Currency translation adjustment, | |||||||
end of year | $9,958 | $ 1,720 | $ (6,747 | ) | |||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Page 28 of 158
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended December 31
(In thousands
of U.S. dollars)
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
Cash provided by (used in): | |||||||
Operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ 135,008 | $ 101,014 | $ 60,877 | ||||
Items not affecting cash: | |||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 795 | 530 | 611 | ||||
Amortization of capital assets and deferred | |||||||
charges | 6,884 | 7,422 | 6,702 | ||||
Future income taxes | (6,924 | ) | 7,115 | (19,369 | ) | ||
Net realized gains | (38,239 | ) | (20,392 | ) | (41,466 | ) | |
Amortization of bond premiums and discounts | 10,825 | 19,777 | 10,780 | ||||
108,349 | 115,466 | 18,135 | |||||
Change in non-cash balances: | |||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | (2,868 | ) | (12,339 | ) | (30,616 | ) | |
Due from reinsurers and other insurers | 34,713 | (212,948 | ) | (96,048 | ) | ||
Increase (decrease) in funds withheld | |||||||
payable to reinsurer | (78,691 | ) | 78,691 | -- | |||
Unearned premiums | (10,386 | ) | 27,744 | 94,769 | |||
Unpaid claims | 149,891 | 381,642 | 544,238 | ||||
Increase in contributed surplus | 1,468 | 1,242 | 527 | ||||
Net change in other non-cash balances | 71,271 | 12,162 | (59,707 | ) | |||
273,747 | 391,660 | 471,298 | |||||
Financing activities: | |||||||
Increase of share capital, net | 2,926 | 2,434 | 83,109 | ||||
Common share dividend | (9,426 | ) | -- | -- | |||
Increase (decrease) in bank indebtedness | |||||||
and loans payable | 17,378 | (63,044 | ) | 9,708 | |||
Increase in senior unsecured debentures | -- | 125,000 | -- | ||||
Increase in subordinated indebtedness | -- | -- | 75,500 | ||||
10,878 | 64,390 | 168,317 | |||||
Investing activities: | |||||||
Purchase of investments | (2,590,018 | ) | (2,408,406 | ) | (4,669,561 | ) | |
Proceeds from sale of investments | 2,356,581 | 1,959,283 | 4,010,527 | ||||
Financed premiums receivable, net | 3,973 | (17,617 | ) | 192 | |||
Purchase of subsidiaries, net of | |||||||
cash acquired (note 11) | (11,892 | ) | -- | -- | |||
Additions to capital assets | (19,338 | ) | (12,790 | ) | (26,390 | ) | |
(260,694 | ) | (479,530 | ) | (685,232 | ) | ||
Increase (decrease) in cash during the year | 23,931 | (23,480 | ) | (45,617 | ) | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 87,103 | 110,583 | 156,200 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ 111,034 | $ 87,103 | $ 110,583 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Page 29 of 158
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended December 31
(In thousands
of U.S. dollars)
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
Supplementary disclosure of cash information: | |||||||
Represented by: | |||||||
Cash on hand and balances with banks | $100,290 | $85,879 | $110,583 | ||||
Investments with maturities less than 30 days | 10,744 | 1,224 | -- | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $111,034 | $87,103 | $110,583 | ||||
Cash paid for: | |||||||
Interest | $ 25,474 | $18,753 | $ 14,326 | ||||
Income taxes | 13,141 | 14,995 | 6,141 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Page 30 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (the Company) was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on September 19, 1989. The Company is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries in Canada, United States, Barbados and Bermuda, is engaged in property and casualty insurance.
1. | Change in Reporting Currency: |
As the majority of the Companys operations is in the United States and conducts their business in U.S. dollars, effective December 31, 2005, the Company has reported its consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollars in order to provide more meaningful information to its financial statement users. Prior to this date the Company reported its consolidated results in Canadian dollars. The Companys functional currency will remain Canadian dollars for Canadian and head office operations and U.S. dollars for U.S. operations. Any reported Canadian dollar amounts will be identified with a C$. |
To effect this conversion, the consolidated financial statements have been translated into U.S. dollars using the current rate method, pursuant to which the consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows have been translated using the average rate of exchange for the relevant year. All assets and liabilities have been translated using the relevant year end rate of exchange and share capital amounts have been translated using the rates of exchange in effect as of the dates of various capital transactions. All relevant financial information has been restated to reflect the Companys results as if they had been historically reported in U.S. dollars. Foreign exchange differences arising from the translation as described above have been recorded in the currency translation account which is included as a separate component of shareholders equity. |
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies: |
(a) | Principles of consolidation: |
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Acquisitions are accounted for by the purchase method, whereby the results of acquired companies are included only from the date of acquisition, and divestitures are included up to the date of disposal. Assets and liabilities of the acquired companies are included in the financial statements at their fair values at the date of acquisition. The Company holds interests in variable interest entities that are not included in the consolidated financial statements which are more fully described in note 14. |
Page 31 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies (continued): |
(a) | Principles of consolidation (continued): |
The following is a list of our material subsidiaries, all of which are 100% owned, directly or indirectly, (except for qualifying shares of York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company and Kingsway General Insurance Company held by directors in order to satisfy applicable statutory requirements), with the jurisdiction of incorporation indicated in brackets: |
American Country Holdings Inc. (Illinois); American Country Insurance Company (Illinois); American Country Financial Services Corp. (Illinois); American Country Underwriting Agency Inc. (Illinois); American Country Professional Services Corp. (Illinois); American Service Investment Corporation (Illinois); American Service Insurance Company, Inc. (Illinois); ARK Insurance Agency Inc. (Illinois); Avalon Risk Management, Inc. (Illinois); Appco Finance Corporation (Florida); AOA Payment Plan Inc. (Illinois); Auto Body Tech Inc. (Florida); Funding Plus of America (Alabama); Hamilton Risk Management Company (Florida); HI Holdings, Inc. (Hawaii); Insurance Management Services Inc. (Florida); U.S. Security Insurance Company (Florida); Jevco Insurance Company (Canada); Kingsway America Inc. (Delaware); Kingsway Nova Scotia Finance, ULC (Nova Scotia); Kingsway General Insurance Company (Ontario); Kingsway Reinsurance (Bermuda) Ltd. (Bermuda); Kingsway Reinsurance Corporation (Barbados); Kingsway U.S. Finance Partnership (Delaware); Kingsway U.S. Tier II Finance Partnership (Delaware); Southern United Holding, Inc. (Alabama); Southern United Fire Insurance Company (Alabama); Southern United General Agency of Texas, Inc. (Texas); UCC Corporation (Nevada); Universal Casualty Company (Illinois); Walshire Assurance Company (Pennsylvania); Lincoln General Insurance Company (Pennsylvania); York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company (Ontario); and Zephyr Insurance Company (Hawaii). |
(b) | Use of estimates: |
The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from these estimates and changes in estimates are recorded in the accounting period in which they are determined. |
Page 32 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies (continued): |
(c) | Investments: |
Fixed term investments are carried at amortized cost providing for the amortization of the discount or premium on a constant yield basis to maturity. Investments in common and preferred shares are carried at cost. Where a decline in value of an investment is considered to be other than temporary a write-down of the investment is recorded. |
(d) | Investment income: |
Investment income is recorded as it accrues. Dividend income on common and preferred shares is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Gains and losses on disposal of investments are determined and recorded as at the trade date, and are calculated on the basis of average cost. |
(e) | Cash and cash equivalents: |
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and securities with maturities of less than thirty days. |
(f) | Goodwill and other intangible assets: |
When the Company acquires a subsidiary or other business where it exerts significant influence, the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired is determined and compared to the amount paid for the subsidiary or business acquired. Any excess of the amount paid over the fair value of those net assets is considered to be goodwill. |
Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment to ensure that its fair value is greater than or equal to the carrying value. Any excess of carrying value over fair value is charged to income in the period in which the impairment is determined. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the carrying value of goodwill was $68,880,000 and $64,275,000, respectively (note 11(b)). |
When the Company acquires a subsidiary or other business where it exerts significant influence, certain intangible assets may be acquired, which are recorded at their fair value at the time of the acquisition. Intangible assets with a definite useful life are amortized to income on a straight line basis over its defined useful life. The Company writes down the value of an intangible asset with a definite useful life when the undiscounted cash flows are not expected to allow for full recovery of the carrying value. At December 31, 2005 and 2004 intangible assets with a definite useful life, net of accumulated amortization, were $nil and $795,000, respectively. |
Page 33 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies (continued): |
(f) | Goodwill and other intangible assets (continued): |
Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortization and are tested at least annually for impairment to ensure that its fair value is greater than or equal to its carrying value. Any excess of carrying value over fair value is charged to income in the period in which the impairment is determined. At December 31, 2005 and 2004 the Company had intangible assets with an indefinite life of $2,250,000 and $2,250,000, respectively. |
Amortization of intangible assets reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $795,000, $530,000 and $611,000, respectively. There were no write-downs of goodwill or intangible assets due to impairment during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003. |
(g) | Deferred policy acquisition costs: |
The Company defers brokers commissions, premium taxes and other underwriting and marketing costs relating to the acquisition of premiums written to the extent they are considered recoverable. These costs are then expensed as the related premiums are earned. The method followed in determining the deferred policy acquisition costs limits the deferral to its realizable value by giving consideration to estimated future claims and expenses to be incurred as premiums are earned. Changes in estimates, if any, are recorded in the accounting period in which they are determined. Anticipated investment income is included in determining the realizable value of the deferred policy acquisition costs. |
(h) | Premium revenue and unearned premiums: |
The Company earns premium revenue over the period covered by each individual insurance contract in proportion to the insurance protection provided. For motorcycle premiums, a higher percentage of the premiums is earned during the summer months, which is the motorcycle riding season in Canada. For all other lines of business, the premiums are earned evenly over the contract period. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written related to the unexpired risk portion of the policy at the year end. |
The reinsurers share of unearned premiums is recognized as amounts recoverable using principles consistent with the Companys method for determining the unearned premium liability. |
Page 34 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies (continued): |
(h) | Premium revenue and unearned premiums (continued): |
In Canada, automobile insurance premium rates other than for fleet automobiles are regulated by the provincial government authorities. In the United States, property and casualty insurance premium rates are subject to regulation by state government authorities. Regulation of premium rates is based on claims and other costs of providing insurance coverage. Regulatory approvals can limit or reduce premium rates that can be charged, or delay the implementation of changes in rates. Accordingly, a significant portion of the Companys revenue is subject to regulatory approvals. |
(i) | Unpaid claims: |
The provision for unpaid claims includes adjustment expenses and represents an estimate for the full amount of all expected costs, including investigation, and the projected final settlements of claims incurred on or before the balance sheet date. The provision does not take into consideration the time value of money or make an explicit provision for adverse deviation. |
These estimates of future loss activity are necessarily subject to uncertainty and are selected from a wide range of possible outcomes. All provisions are periodically reviewed and evaluated in the light of emerging claim experience and changing circumstances. The resulting changes in estimates of the ultimate liability are recorded as incurred claims in the accounting period in which they are determined. |
(j) | Reinsurance: |
Net premiums earned and claims incurred are recorded net of amounts ceded to, and recoverable from, reinsurers. Estimates of amounts recoverable from reinsurers on unpaid claims are recorded separately from estimated amounts payable to policyholders. Unearned premiums are also reported before reduction for business ceded to reinsurers and the reinsurers portion is classified with amounts due from reinsurers. |
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated and recognized in a manner consistent with the Companys method for determining the related policy liability associated with the reinsured policy. |
Page 35 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies (continued): |
(j) | Translation of foreign currencies: |
The consolidated financial statements have been presented in U.S. dollars as the Companys principal investments and cash flows are influenced primarily by the U.S. dollar. The operations of its subsidiaries in Canada, Bermuda and its head office operations are self sustaining. Assets and liabilities of non U.S. dollar denominated subsidiaries are translated at year end rates of exchange. Revenue and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange for the year. The net unrealized gains or losses which result from translation are deferred and included in the shareholders equity under the caption currency translation adjustment. The currency translation adjustment will change with fluctuations in the Canadian to U.S. dollar exchange rate. |
All amounts expressed in the financial statements are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. |
(k) | Income taxes: |
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, whereby future tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Future tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted or substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on future tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the date of enactment or substantive enactment. |
(m) | Stock-based compensation plan: |
The Company has a stock-based compensation plan which is described in note 6. The Company uses the fair-value method of accounting for stock-based compensation awards granted to employees and non-employee directors for options granted on or after January 1, 2003. The Company determines the fair value of the stock options on their grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and records the fair value as a compensation expense over the period that the stock options vest, with a corresponding increase to contributed surplus. When these stock options are exercised, the amount of proceeds, together with the amount recorded in contributed surplus, is recorded in share capital. |
Page 36 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies (continued): |
(m) | Stock-based compensation plan (continued): |
No compensation expense is recognized for stock options granted prior to January 1, 2003. The consideration paid by employees and non-employee directors on exercise of these stock options is credited to share capital. |
(n) | Capital assets: |
Capital assets are reported in the financial statements at amortized cost. Amortization of property and equipment has been provided by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of such assets. The useful lives range from 10 to 40 years for buildings, 3 to 39 years for leasehold improvements, 3 to 7 years for furniture and equipment, 3 to 5 years for computers and software development, and 3 to 5 years for automobiles. |
3. | Investments: |
The carrying amounts and fair values of investments are summarized below: |
December 31, 2005 | ||||||||||
Carrying amount |
Gross Unrealized Gains |
Gross Unrealized Losses |
Fair value | |||||||
Term deposits | $ 383,071 | $ 10 | $ 1,347 | $ 381,734 | ||||||
Bonds: | ||||||||||
Canadian Government | 199,500 | 3,432 | 276 | 202,656 | ||||||
Corporate | 279,953 | 6,558 | 756 | 285,755 | ||||||
U.S. Government | 144,835 | 374 | 2,092 | 143,117 | ||||||
Corporate | 1,122,624 | 1,831 | 24,425 | 1,100,030 | ||||||
Other Government | 83,981 | 43 | 1,996 | 82,028 | ||||||
Corporate | 179,002 | 89 | 3,433 | 175,658 | ||||||
Sub-total | $2,392,966 | $12,337 | $34,325 | $2,370,978 | ||||||
Preferred shares Canadian | 1,290 | 62 | -- | 1,352 | ||||||
Common shares Canadian | 152,347 | 32,522 | 6,127 | 178,742 | ||||||
U.S. | 171,483 | 19,087 | 5,357 | 185,213 | ||||||
Financed premiums | 85,704 | -- | -- | 85,704 | ||||||
$2,803,790 | $64,008 | $45,809 | $2,821,989 | |||||||
Page 37 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
3. | Investments (continued): |
The maturity profile of the bonds and term deposits investments at their carrying amounts and fair values as at December 31, 2005 is as follows: |
Carrying Amount |
Fair Value | |||||
Due in one year or less | $ 717,729 | $ 712,709 | ||||
Due after one year through five years | 1,075,914 | 1,057,350 | ||||
Due after five years through ten years | 465,112 | 467,484 | ||||
Due after ten years | 134,211 | 133,435 | ||||
$2,392,966 | $2,370,978 | |||||
December 31, 2004 | ||||||
Carrying Amount | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | |||
Term deposits | $ 264,437 | $ 57 | $ 245 | $ 264,249 | ||
Bonds: | ||||||
Canadian Government | 187,953 | 4,563 | 42 | 192,474 | ||
Corporate | 244,947 | 7,483 | 255 | 252,175 | ||
U.S Government | 177,462 | 666 | 2,166 | 175,962 | ||
Corporate | 964,091 | 5,649 | 7,762 | 961,978 | ||
Other Government | 125,475 | 151 | 975 | 124,651 | ||
Corporate | 174,309 | -- | 2,067 | 172,242 | ||
Sub-total | $2,138,674 | $18,569 | $13,512 | $2,143,731 | ||
Common shares Canadian | 154,268 | 37,017 | 1,265 | 190,020 | ||
U.S. | 115,551 | 21,880 | 1,359 | 136,072 | ||
Financed premiums | 87,215 | -- | -- | 87,215 | ||
$2,495,708 | $77,466 | $16,136 | $2,557,038 | |||
Page 38 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
3. | Investments (continued): |
The maturity profile of the bonds and term deposits investments at their carrying amounts and fair values as at December 31, 2004 is as follows: |
Carrying Amount |
Fair Value | ||
Due in one year or less | $ 480,549 | $ 479,333 | |
Due after one year through five years | 1,237,454 | 1,237,284 | |
Due after five years through ten years | 287,950 | 293,737 | |
Due after ten years | 132,721 | 133,377 | |
$2,138,674 | $2,143,731 | ||
The amounts are shown by contractual maturity. Actual maturity may differ from contractual maturity because certain borrowers have the right to call or repay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. |
The following tables highlight the aggregate unrealized loss position, by security type, of holdings in an unrealized loss position as at December 31, 2005 and 2004. The tables segregate the holdings based on the period of time the securities have been continuously held in an unrealized loss position. |
Page 39 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
3. | Investments (continued): |
December 31, 2005 | |||||
0-6 months | 6-12 months | over 12 months | Total | ||
Common Shares | |||||
Number of Positions | 99 | 5 | 1 | 105 | |
Fair Value | $ 78,026 | $ 11,617 | $ 347 | $ 89,990 | |
Carrying Value | 86,674 | 14,332 | 468 | 101,474 | |
Unrealized Loss | (8,648) | (2,715) | (121) | (11,484) | |
Term Deposits and Bonds | |||||
Number of Positions | 526 | 49 | 18 | 593 | |
Fair Value | $ 998,187 | $ 111,911 | $ 631,370 | $ 1,741,468 | |
Carrying Value | 1,014,577 | 114,085 | 647,131 | 1,775,793 | |
Unrealized Loss | (16,390) | (2,174) | (15,761) | (34,325) | |
Total | |||||
Number of Positions | 625 | 54 | 19 | 698 | |
Fair Value | $ 1,076,213 | $ 123,528 | $ 631,717 | $ 1,831,458 | |
Carrying Value | 1,101,251 | 128,417 | 647,599 | 1,877,267 | |
Unrealized Loss | (25,038) | (4,889) | (15,882) | (45,809) | |
December 31, 2004 | |||||
0-6 months | 6-12 months | over 12 months | Total | ||
Common Shares | |||||
Number of Positions | 45 | 6 | 1 | 52 | |
Fair Value | $ 29,010 | $ 3,164 | $ 190 | $ 32,364 | |
Carrying Value | 31,178 | 3,618 | 192 | 34,988 | |
Unrealized Loss | (2,168) | (454) | (2) | (2,624) | |
Term Deposits and Bonds | |||||
Number of Positions | 248 | 72 | 21 | 341 | |
Fair Value | $ 662,566 | $ 446,031 | $ 170,307 | $ 1,278,904 | |
Carrying Value | 666,762 | 451,467 | 174,187 | 1,292,416 | |
Unrealized Loss | (4,196) | (5,436) | (3,880) | (13,512) | |
Total | |||||
Number of Positions | 293 | 78 | 22 | 393 | |
Fair Value | $ 691,576 | $ 449,195 | $ 170,497 | $ 1,311,268 | |
Carrying Value | 697,940 | 455,085 | 174,379 | 1,327,404 | |
Unrealized Loss | (6,364) | (5,890) | (3,882) | (16,136) | |
Page 40 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
3. | Investments (continued): |
Fair values of term deposits, bonds and common and preferred shares are measured using approximate quoted market values based on the latest bid prices. Financed premiums represent the portion of the insureds monthly premium payments that are not yet due. Certain insureds have the option to pay a portion of the premium when the policy is placed in force and the balance in monthly instalments. The insured pays an additional premium for this option, reflecting handling costs and the investment income that would have been earned on such premium, had the total amount been collected at the beginning of the policy period. The additional premium is essentially an interest payment on the balance of the unpaid premium and is recognized as investment income over the period of the policy. The fair value of financed premiums, which are realized over the term of the related policies of up to one year, approximates their carrying amount. |
Management has reviewed currently available information regarding those investments whose estimated fair value is less than their carrying amount and ascertained that the carrying amounts are expected to be recovered. Debt securities whose carrying amount exceeds fair value can be held until maturity when management expects to receive the principal amount. Principally, unrealized losses on debt securities have arisen due to increases in market interest rates rather than deteriorating creditworthiness of the issuers. |
Management performs a comprehensive quarterly analysis of the Companys investment holdings to determine if declines in market value are other than temporary. The analysis includes some or all of the following procedures: |
| identifying all security holdings in an unrealized loss position that has existed for at least six months; |
| obtaining a valuation analysis from third party investment managers regarding the intrinsic value of these holdings based on their knowledge, experience and other market based valuation techniques; |
| reviewing the trading range of certain securities over the preceding calendar period; |
| assessing if declines in market value are other than temporary for debt security holdings based on the investment grade credit rating from third party security rating agencies; |
Page 41 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
3. | Investments (continued): |
| assessing if declines in market value are other than temporary for any debt security holding with non-investment grade credit rating based on the continuity of their debt service record; and |
| determining the necessary provision for declines in market value that are considered other than temporary based on the analyses performed. |
The risks and uncertainties inherent in the assessment methodology utilized to determine declines in market value that are other than temporary include, but may not be limited to, the following: |
| the opinion of professional investment managers could be incorrect; |
| the past trading patterns of individual securities may not reflect future valuation trends; |
| the credit ratings assigned by independent credit rating agencies may be incorrect due to unforeseen or unknown facts related to a companys financial situation; and |
| the debt service pattern of non-investment grade securities may not reflect future debt service capabilities and may not reflect the companys unknown underlying financial problems. |
The length of time securities may be held in an unrealized loss position may vary based on the opinion of the appointed investment managers and their respective analyses related to valuation and the various credit risks that may prevent the Company from recapturing the principal investment. If the appointed investment manager determines there is little or no risk of default prior to the maturity of a holding, the Company would elect to hold the security in an unrealized loss position until the price recovers or the security matures. |
In situations where facts emerge that might increase the risk associated with recapture of principal, securities would be traded and losses realized. Due to the current volatility of the equity markets, the Company believes there are a number of securities currently trading at values below their respective intrinsic values based on historical valuation measures. In these situations, holdings may be maintained in an unrealized loss position for different periods of time based on the underlying economic assumptions influencing the investment managers valuation of the holding. In cases where the economic realities divert from the underlying assumptions driving the investment managers valuation, securities would be traded and losses realized. In cases where the economic assumptions coincide with valuation assumptions, the holding would be maintained until the market value of the security recovers in the public markets. |
Page 42 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
3. | Investments (continued): |
All of the Companys fixed term investments have fixed interest rates. The coupon rates for the Companys fixed term investments range from 1.50% to 12.00% at December 31, 2005 and 1.50% to 15.00% at December 31, 2004. |
The Company limits its investment concentration in any one investee or related group of investees other than government issues, to less than 5% of the Companys investments. |
Net investment income for the years ended December 31 is comprised as follows: |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Investment income: | ||||
Interest on short-term investments | $ 9,881 | $ 6,335 | $ 5,516 | |
Interest on bonds | 73,615 | 56,114 | 38,269 | |
Dividends | 8,939 | 5,707 | 3,619 | |
Premium finance | 7,059 | 8,614 | 8,414 | |
Other | 1,447 | 2,309 | 3,169 | |
Gross investment income | 100,941 | 79,079 | 58,987 | |
Investment expenses | 7,906 | 4,813 | 2,761 | |
Net investment income | $ 93,035 | $74,266 | $56,226 | |
Net realized gains for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 were $38,239,000, $20,392,000 and $41,466,000, respectively. Included in net realized gains were adjustments to the carrying value of investments for declines in market value considered other than temporary of $4,806,000, $1,291,000 and $2,495,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. |
As at December 31, 2005, bonds and term deposits with an estimated fair value of $34,392,000 (2004 $29,925,000) were on deposit with regulatory authorities. |
Page 43 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
4. | Capital assets: |
2005 | ||||
Cost | Accumulated Amortization |
Carrying Value | ||
Land | $ 7,830 | $ -- | $ 7,830 | |
Buildings | 43,786 | 4,771 | 39,015 | |
Leasehold Improvements | 13,686 | 2,264 | 11,422 | |
Furniture and equipment | 10,407 | 6,389 | 4,018 | |
Computers and software development | 28,240 | 19,642 | 8,598 | |
Automobiles | 1,674 | 949 | 725 | |
Total | $105,623 | $34,015 | $71,608 | |
2004 | ||||
Cost | Accumulated Amortization |
Carrying Value | ||
Land | $ 6,563 | $ -- | $ 6,563 | |
Buildings | 36,678 | 3,517 | 33,161 | |
Leasehold Improvements | 8,026 | 1,070 | 6,956 | |
Furniture and equipment | 9,572 | 5,230 | 4,342 | |
Computers and software development | 24,024 | 17,081 | 6,943 | |
Automobiles | 1,252 | 701 | 551 | |
Total | $86,115 | $27,599 | $58,516 | |
Page 44 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
5. | Share capital: |
Authorized: Unlimited number of common shares |
Share transactions consist of the following: |
Shares Issued | Stock Options | Weighted- Average Exercise Price* |
Amount | ||
Balance as at December 31, 2002 | 48,794,212 | 1,712,220 | $11.17 | $243,002 | |
Issued July 3, 2003 | 6,100,000 | 74,175 | |||
Issued July 11, 2003 | 610,000 | 7,210 | |||
Stock options: | |||||
Granted in year | 525,000 | 13.53 | |||
Exercised in year | 325,582 | (325,582) | 7.40 | 1,724 | |
Forfeited in year | (19,503) | 11.88 | |||
Expired in year | (206,000) | 14.75 | |||
Balance as at December 31, 2003 | 55,829,794 | 1,686,135 | $12.19 | $326,111 | |
Stock options: | |||||
Granted in year | 481,000 | 15.19 | |||
Exercised in year | 380,456 | (380,456) | 8.46 | 2,433 | |
Forfeited in year | (55,167) | 15.69 | |||
Expired in year | 11.50 | ||||
Balance as at December 31, 2004 | 56,210,250 | 1,731,510 | $13.73 | $328,544 | |
Stock options: | |||||
Granted in year | 552,576 | 19.70 | |||
Exercised in year | 270,203 | (270,203) | 11.48 | 2,511 | |
Forfeited in year | (46,368) | 17.91 | |||
Expired in year | -- | -- | |||
Stock-based compensation expense | 415 | ||||
Balance as at December 31, 2005 | 56,480,453 | 1,967,515 | $15.66 | $331,470 | |
*Weighted average price is stated in Canadian dollars as per the terms of the option. |
Page 45 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
5. | Share capital (continued): |
Share issue expenses of $2,232,000 net of applicable income taxes of $1,265,000 were deducted from the amount of share capital issued on July 3, 2003 and July 11, 2003. |
(a) | During the year ended December 31, 2005, options to acquire 270,203 shares (2004 380,456; 2003 325,582 shares) were exercised at prices from C$4.30 to C$19.66 per share (2004 C$4.30 to C$15.19 per share; 2003 C$4.30 to C$11.50 per share). |
(b) | The weighted average number of shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were 56,423,207, 56,123,976 and 52,306,647, respectively. On a diluted basis, the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were 56,962,868, 56,549,496 and 52,770,878, respectively. |
(c) | During 2005, the Company declared dividends of C$0.05 per share payable quarterly in Canadian dollars. Total dividends declared in 2005 were C$0.20 per common share. During 2005 a total of C$11,291,300 was paid in dividends to common shareholders. |
(d) | Options exercised during the year resulted in a $415,000 increase in share capital from contributed surplus. |
6. | Stock-based compensation: |
(a) | The Company has established a stock option incentive plan for directors, officers and key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. At December 31, 2005, the maximum number of common shares that may be issued under the plan is 4,800,000 (2004 4,800,000) common shares. The maximum number of common shares available for issuance to any one person under the stock option plan is 5% of the common shares outstanding at the time of the grant. The exercise price is based on the market value of the shares at the time the option is granted. In general, the options vest evenly over a three year period and are exercisable for periods not exceeding 10 years. |
The following tables summarize information about stock options outstanding as at December 31, 2005, December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003: |
Page 46 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
6. | Stock-based compensation (continued): |
Exercise prices are stated in Canadian dollars as per the terms of the option. |
December 31, 2005 |
Exercise Price |
Date of Grant |
Expiry Date |
Remaining Contractual Life (Years) |
Number Outstanding |
Number Exercisable | ||
C$19.70 | 14-Feb-05 | 14-Feb-10 | 4.1 | 542,500 | -- | ||
C$15.19 | 12-Feb-04 | 12-Feb-09 | 3.1 | 424,004 | 130,337 | ||
C$13.53 | 10-Feb-03 | 10-Feb-13 | 7.1 | 394,505 | 248,672 | ||
C$19.66 | 21-Feb-02 | 21-Feb-12 | 6.2 | 340,000 | 340,000 | ||
C$ 7.80 | 22-Feb-01 | 22-Feb-11 | 5.2 | 146,170 | 146,170 | ||
C$ 4.30 | 24-Feb-00 | 24-Feb-10 | 4.2 | 120,336 | 120,336 | ||
Total | 4.9 | 1,967,515 | 985,515 | ||||
December 31, 2004 |
Exercise Price |
Date of Grant |
Expiry Date |
Remaining Contractual Life (Years) |
Number Outstanding |
Number Exercisable | ||
C$15.19 | 12-Feb-04 | 12-Feb-09 | 4.1 | 453,833 | -- | ||
C$13.53 | 10-Feb-03 | 10-Feb-13 | 8.1 | 485,169 | 182,836 | ||
C$19.66 | 21-Feb-02 | 21-Feb-12 | 7.2 | 403,500 | 269,000 | ||
C$ 7.80 | 22-Feb-01 | 22-Feb-11 | 6.2 | 202,339 | 202,339 | ||
C$ 4.30 | 24-Feb-00 | 24-Feb-10 | 5.2 | 186,669 | 186,669 | ||
Total | 6.3 | 1,731,510 | 840,844 | ||||
December 31, 2003 |
Exercise Price |
Date of Grant |
Expiry Date |
Remaining Contractual Life (Years) |
Number Outstanding |
Number Exercisable | ||
C$13.53 | 10-Feb-03 | 10-Feb-13 | 9.2 | 521,500 | -- | ||
C$19.66 | 21-Feb-02 | 21-Feb-12 | 8.2 | 416,500 | 138,833 | ||
C$ 7.80 | 22-Feb-01 | 22-Feb-11 | 7.2 | 235,177 | 140,177 | ||
C$ 4.30 | 24-Feb-00 | 24-Feb-10 | 6.2 | 337,256 | 337,256 | ||
C$11.50 | 25-Feb-99 | 25-Feb-04 | 0.2 | 175,702 | 175,702 | ||
Total | 7.1 | 1,686,135 | 791,968 | ||||
Page 47 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
6. | Stock-based compensation (continued): |
At December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 the number of options exercisable is 985,515, 840,844 and 791,968, respectively, with weighted average prices of C$13.89, C$12.06 and C$9.21, respectively. |
The Company determines the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The per share fair value of options granted during 2005, 2004 and 2003 was C$3.58, C$3.79 and C$6.11. The Company does not record any compensation expense for stock options granted prior to 2003. When these stock options are exercised, the Company will include the amount of proceeds in share capital. The impact on net income and earnings per share if the Company had measured the compensation element of stock options granted based on the fair value on the date of grant on all outstanding stock options on their grant date is disclosed as follows: |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Stock option expense included in | ||||
employee compensation expense | $ 1,883 | $ 1,242 | $ 527 | |
Net income, as reported | $135,008 | $101,014 | $60,877 | |
Additional expense that would have been recorded | ||||
if all outstanding stock options granted before | ||||
January 1, 2003 had been expensed | 68 | 1,452 | 1,165 | |
Pro forma net income | $134,940 | $ 99,562 | $59,712 | |
Basic earnings per share | ||||
As reported | $2.39 | $1.80 | $1.16 | |
Pro forma | 2.39 | 1.77 | 1.14 | |
Diluted earnings per share | ||||
As reported | $2.37 | $1.79 | $1.15 | |
Pro forma | 2.37 | 1.76 | 1.13 | |
Stock option expense above is charged to earnings and is included as a separate component of Shareholders Equity under the caption Contributed Surplus. |
Page 48 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
6. | Stock-based compensation (continued): |
The fair value of the options granted was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Risk-free interest rate | 3.53% | 3.49% | 5.07% | |
Dividend yield | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
Volatility of the expected market price of the | ||||
Companys common shares | 22.5% | 30.3% | 43.5% | |
Expected option life (in years) | 3.9 | 4.7 | 5.5 | |
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. As the Companys employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in managements opinion, the above pro forma adjustments are not necessarily a reliable single measure of the fair value of the Companys employee stock options. |
(b) | The Company has an employee share purchase plan where qualifying employees can choose each year to have up to 5% of their annual base earnings withheld to purchase the Companys common shares. The Company matches one half of the employee contribution amount, and its contributions vest immediately. All contributions are used by the plan administrator to purchase common shares in the open market. The Companys contribution is expensed as paid and for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 totalled $553,000, $390,000 and $276,000, respectively. |
7. | Pension Benefits: |
The Company maintains a separate defined contribution pension plan in Canada and in the U.S. for all of its qualified employees including the employees of all subsidiaries. In Canada, qualifying employees can choose each year to have up to 5% of their annual base earnings withheld to contribute to the applicable plan. The Company matches one half of the employee contribution amount, and its contributions vest immediately. In the U.S., qualifying employees can choose to voluntarily contribute up to 60% of their annual earnings to an overall limitation of $14,000 in 2005, $13,000 in 2004 and $12,000 in 2003. The Company matches one half of the employee contribution amount up to 5% of their annual base earnings. The contributions |
Page 49 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
7. | Pension Benefits (continued): |
for the U.S. plan vest based on years of service with 100% vesting after five years of service. The Companys contribution is expensed as paid and for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 totalled $1,247,000, $1,058,000 and $858,000, respectively. All Company obligations to the plans were fully funded as of December 31, 2005. |
Prior to December 31, 1997, substantially all salaried employees of the Companys subsidiary American Country were covered by a defined benefit pension plan sponsored by American Country. Effective December 31, 1997, upon resolution of its board of directors, the plan was frozen. The reported pension expense for American Country was $113,000, $60,000 and $76,000 in 2005, 2004, and 2003 respectively. |
8. | Underwriting policy and reinsurance ceded: |
In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce the loss that may arise from catastrophe or other events that cause unfavourable underwriting results by reinsuring certain levels of risk, in various areas of exposure, with other insurers. The Company is not relieved of its primary obligation to the policyholder as a result of the reinsurance transaction. |
Failure of reinsurers to honour their obligations could result in losses to the Company, consequently, the Company continually evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risk to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvency. |
The Company follows the policy of underwriting and reinsuring contracts of insurance, which limits the companys net exposure to the following maximum amounts: |
Years ended December 31 | ||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Property claims | ||||
Canadian operations | C$500 | C$500 | C$500 | |
U.S. operations | $500 | $500 | $500 | |
Casualty claims | ||||
Canadian operations | C$2,500 | C$2,500 | C$2,500 | |
U.S. operations | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | |
Page 50 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
8. | Underwriting policy and reinsurance ceded (continued): |
In addition, the Company has obtained catastrophe reinsurance protection which provides coverage in the event of a series of events. This reinsurance limits its net retained exposure and provides coverage up to certain maximum per occurrence amounts in excess of the retained loss other than catastrophe risks in Hawaii as follows: |
Years ended December 31 | ||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Canada | ||||
Retained loss | C$5,000 | C$5,000 | C$5,000 | |
Maximum coverage | C$145,000 | C$145,000 | C$145,000 | |
United States | ||||
Retained loss | $2,000 | $2,000 | $5,000 | |
Maximum coverage | $18,000 | $18,000 | $45,000 | |
On October 31, 2005, the Company acquired Zephyr Insurance Inc. (Zephyr) in Hawaii. Zephyr is protected by a separate catastrophe reinsurance program under a 95% quota-share treaty and excess of loss treaty. Under this program Zephyr retains up to $7,300,000 in net losses subject to a maximum cover of $911,000,000. |
During 2004, the Company entered into two quota-share contracts. The Company did not renew the quota share reinsurance treaties upon their expiry on April 1, 2005. |
The unearned premium balance is affected by the reinsurance ceded as a portion of the unearned premium will be owed to the reinsurer as the premiums are earned in the subsequent periods. The amounts deducted for reinsurance ceded from net premiums earned, claims incurred and commissions and premium taxes for the years December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were as follows: |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Net premiums earned | $123,715 | $213,135 | $91,414 | |
Claims incurred | 90,506 | 152,187 | 68,017 | |
Commissions and premium taxes | 34,498 | 54,435 | 17,375 | |
The amount of assumed premiums written was $141,799,000, $232,431,000 and $239,294,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The amount of assumed premiums earned was $142,831,000, $235,054,000 and $122,584,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. |
Page 51 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
9. | Income taxes: |
(a) | The Companys provision for income taxes, compared to statutory rates is summarized as follows: |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Provision for taxes at Canadian statutory | ||||
marginal income tax rate | $ 55,750 | $ 40,589 | $ 20,048 | |
Non-taxable investment income | (1,812) | (1,117) | (590) | |
Foreign operations subject to different tax rates | (34,218) | (28,493) | (23,415) | |
Change in tax rates and other | (381) | 380 | (2,173) | |
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes | $ 19,339 | $ 11,359 | $ (6,130) | |
(b) | The components of future income tax balances are as follows: |
2005 | 2004 | ||
Future income tax assets: | |||
Losses carried forward | $10,924 | $10,741 | |
Unpaid claims and unearned premiums | 30,037 | 29,055 | |
Investments | 10,276 | 8,811 | |
Share issue expenses | 1,298 | 2,259 | |
Contingent commission accruals | 12,358 | 3,937 | |
Other | 5,565 | 3,412 | |
Valuation allowance | (500) | (500) | |
Future income tax assets | 69,958 | 57,715 | |
Future income tax liabilities: | |||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | (7,943) | (6,780) | |
Investments | (791) | (417) | |
Guaranteed payments | (2,238) | (2,141) | |
Other | (1,047) | (231) | |
Future income tax liabilities | (12,019) | (9,569) | |
Net future income tax assets | $57,939 | $48,146 | |
Page 52 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
9. | Income taxes (continued): |
(c) | Amounts and expiration dates of the operating loss carryforwards are as follows: |
Year of net operating loss | Expiration date | Net operating loss | |
U.S. operations: | |||
1995 | 2010 | $ 557 | |
1997 | 2012 | 1,284 | |
1999 | 2019 | 1,225 | |
2000 | 2020 | 1,403 | |
2001 | 2021 | 14,936 | |
2002 | 2022 | 4,317 | |
2003 | 2023 | 985 | |
2004 | 2024 | 7,422 | |
(d) | The Company established valuation allowances of $500,000 and $500,000 for its gross future tax assets at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Based on the Companys expectations of adjusted taxable income, its ability to change its investment strategy, as well as reversing gross future tax liabilities, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will fully realize the gross future tax assets, with the exception of its net operating losses. The valuation allowance at December 31, 2005 is a result of the potential inability to utilize net operating losses before expiration. |
10. | Unpaid claims: |
(a) | Nature of unpaid claims: |
The establishment of the provision for unpaid claims is based on known facts and interpretation of circumstances and is therefore a complex and dynamic process influenced by a large variety of factors. These factors include the Companys experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payment patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims, product mix or concentration, claims severity and claim frequency patterns. |
Page 53 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
10. | Unpaid claims (continued): |
Other factors include the continually evolving and changing regulatory and legal environment, actuarial studies, professional experience and expertise of the Companys claim departments personnel and independent adjusters retained to handle individual claims, the quality of the data used for projection purposes, existing claims management practices including claims handling and settlement practices, the effect of inflationary trends on future claims settlement costs, court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes. In addition, time can be a critical part of the provision determination, since the longer the span between the incidence of a loss and the payment or settlement of the claims, the more variable the ultimate settlement amount can be. Accordingly, short tail claims such as property claims, tend to be more reasonably predictable than long tail claims, such as general liability and automobile accident benefit claims that are less predictable. |
Consequently, the process of establishing the provision for unpaid claims is complex and imprecise as it relies on the judgement and opinions of a large number of individuals, on historical precedent and trends, on prevailing legal, economic, social and regulatory trends and on expectations as to future developments. The process of determining the provision necessarily involves risks that the actual results will deviate, perhaps substantially, from the best estimates made. |
(b) | Provision for unpaid claims: |
The Companys annual evaluation of the adequacy of unpaid claims includes a re-estimation of the liability for unpaid claims relating to each preceding financial year compared to the liability that was originally established. The results of this comparison and the changes in the provision for unpaid claims, net of amounts recoverable from reinsurers, for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were as follows: |
Page 54 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
10. | Unpaid claims (continued): |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Unpaid claims beginning of year net | $1,463,280 | $1,188,610 | $ 679,738 | |
Provision for claims occurring: | ||||
In the current year | 1,217,952 | 1,220,604 | 1,125,678 | |
In prior years | 24,233 | 53,196 | 138,482 | |
Claims paid during the year relating to: | ||||
The current year | (424,997) | (446,230) | (453,765) | |
The prior years | (674,373) | (582,869) | (355,503) | |
Claims transferred on expiry of quota share | ||||
agreement | 33,788 | -- | -- | |
Currency translation adjustment | 22,668 | 29,969 | 53,980 | |
Unpaid claims end of year net | 1,662,551 | 1,463,280 | 1,188,610 | |
Reinsurers and other insurers | ||||
share of unpaid claims | 181,660 | 225,945 | 122,013 | |
Unpaid claims end of year | $1,844,211 | $1,689,225 | $1,310,623 | |
The results for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were adversely affected by the evaluation of unpaid claims related to prior years. In 2003, adverse development on unpaid claims came from Ontario and Alberta automobile claims and non-standard automobile claims in the southeastern United States. In 2004, adverse development on unpaid claims came primarily from Alberta non-standard automobile claims and long-haul trucking claims in the U.S. from terminated programs. In 2005, adverse development came primarily from a terminated trucking program and Alberta non-standard automobile claims. |
Ontario Automobile |
Ontario private passenger automobile business contributed $10.5 million of favourable development on the prior years claims in 2005 compared to adverse development of $4.8 million in 2004 and $23.1 million in 2003. |
Page 55 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
10. | Unpaid claims (continued): |
Alberta Automobile |
Alberta non-standard automobile business contributed $12.6 million of the prior years claims development in 2005, compared to $15.7 million in 2004 and $24.3 million in 2003. |
Southeastern United States Non-Standard Automobile |
Southeastern United States private passenger automobile business contributed $5.1 million of favourable development on the prior years claims in 2005, compared to adverse development of $2.3 million in 2004 and $15.7 million in 2003. |
Canadian and U.S. Operations Trucking |
Trucking business contributed $34.2 million of the prior years claims development in 2005, compared to $30.7 million in 2004 and $22.9 million in 2003. |
(c) | The fair value of unpaid claims and adjustment expenses, gross and recoverable from reinsurers, has been omitted because it is not practicable to determine fair value with sufficient reliability. |
11. | Acquisitions: |
(a) | Hamilton: |
In 1999 the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Hamilton Investments, Inc. (Hamilton). All consideration was payable in cash, part of which was paid at closing, with the remaining payments based on the earnings of Hamilton for the fiscal years 1999 to 2003. The present value of the guaranteed future payments was accrued at the date of acquisition. The additional consideration paid during the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $2,013,750, $2,163,000 and $2,369,000, respectively. No contingent consideration based on earnings was paid. |
(b) | Zephyr: |
On October 31, 2005, the Company acquired 100% of the voting shares of HI Holdings Inc. for $25,000,000. The transaction includes HIs wholly owned subsidiary, Zephyr Insurance Company Inc. whose primary business is residential hurricane insurance. The earnings of HI Holdings have been included in the statement of operations from November 1, 2005. |
Page 56 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
11. | Acquisitions (continued): |
(b) | Zephyr (continued): |
HI Holdings, at the time of acquisition had total assets of approximately $71,113,000 (excluding goodwill) consisting primarily of marketable securities and total liabilities of approximately $51,541,000. |
The Company has recorded preliminary goodwill of $4,326,000 relating to the acquisition. As the final purchase price has not yet been determined, as the Company is evaluating certain intangible assets, the allocation of the purchase price is subject to refinement. |
12. | Segmented information: |
The Company provides property and casualty insurance and other insurance related services in three reportable segments: Canada, the United States and corporate and other insurance related services. The Companys Canadian and United States segments include transactions with the Companys reinsurance subsidiaries. At the present time, other insurance related services are not significant. Results for the Companys operating segments are based on the Companys internal financial reporting systems and are consistent with those followed in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. |
The segmented information for December 31, 2005 is summarized as follows: |
Canada | United States |
Corporate and Other |
Total | ||
Gross premiums written | $ 609,934 | $1,284,726 | $ -- | $1,894,660 | |
Net premiums earned | 582,491 | 1,209,452 | -- | 1,791,943 | |
Investment income (loss) | 40,595 | 54,129 | (1,689) | 93,035 | |
Net realized gains (losses) | 23,864 | 14,406 | (31) | 38,239 | |
Interest expense | -- | 19,329 | 6,592 | 25,921 | |
Amortization of capital assets | 1,007 | 4,113 | 1,058 | 6,178 | |
Amortization of intangible assets | -- | 795 | -- | 795 | |
Net income tax expense (recovery) | 22,389 | (5,805) | 2,755 | 19,339 | |
Net income (loss) | 65,579 | 81,553 | (12,124) | 135,008 | |
Goodwill and intangible assets | $ 7,903 | $ 63,227 | $ -- | $ 71,130 | |
Total assets | 1,392,469 | 2,374,081 | 28,644 | 3,795,194 | |
Page 57 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
12. | Segmented information (continued): |
The segmented information for December 31, 2004 is summarized as follows: |
Canada | United States |
Corporate and Other |
Total | ||
Gross premiums written | $ 583,515 | $1,418,291 | $ -- | $2,001,806 | |
Net premiums earned | 501,914 | 1,276,460 | -- | 1,778,374 | |
Investment income (loss) | 31,694 | 42,984 | (412) | 74,266 | |
Net realized gains | 6,629 | 13,750 | 13 | 20,392 | |
Interest expense | -- | 15,166 | 6,005 | 21,171 | |
Amortization of capital assets | 783 | 5,140 | 924 | 6,847 | |
Amortization of intangible assets | -- | 530 | -- | 530 | |
Net income tax expense (recovery) | 11,335 | (2,920) | 2,944 | 11,359 | |
Net income (loss) | 32,770 | 73,769 | (5,525) | 101,014 | |
Goodwill and intangible assets | $ 7,647 | $ 59,673 | $ -- | $ 67,320 | |
Total assets | 1,240,329 | 2,250,479 | 28,584 | 3,519,392 | |
The segmented information for December 31, 2003 is summarized below: |
Canada | United States |
Corporate and Other |
Total | ||
Gross premiums written | $472,908 | $1,414,306 | $ -- | $1,887,214 | |
Net premiums earned | 399,950 | 1,311,960 | -- | 1,711,910 | |
Investment income (loss) | 24,048 | 32,796 | (618) | 56,226 | |
Net realized gains (losses) | 9,589 | 31,897 | (20) | 41,466 | |
Interest expense | -- | 9,441 | 5,665 | 15,106 | |
Amortization of capital assets | 552 | 3,853 | 959 | 5,364 | |
Amortization of intangible assets | -- | 611 | -- | 611 | |
Net income tax expense (recovery) | (5,794) | 7,111 | (7,447) | (6,130) | |
Net income (loss) | (12,868) | 69,013 | 4,732 | 60,877 | |
Goodwill and intangible assets | $ 7,215 | $ 60,164 | $ -- | $ 67,379 | |
Total assets | 906,316 | 1,896,363 | 46,958 | 2,849,637 | |
Page 58 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
12. | Segmented information (continued): |
The Companys gross premiums written are derived from the following business lines and geographical areas: |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Business Line | ||||
Personal Lines: | ||||
Non-Standard Auto | 29% | 35% | 37% | |
Standard Auto | 7% | 6% | 4% | |
Motorcycle | 3% | 2% | 2% | |
Property (including Liability) | 3% | 2% | 1% | |
Other Specialty Lines | 2% | 2% | 2% | |
Total Personal Lines | 44% | 47% | 46% | |
Commercial Lines: | ||||
Trucking | 31% | 29% | 31% | |
Commercial Auto | 12% | 12% | 11% | |
Property (including Liability) | 10% | 10% | 10% | |
Other Specialty Lines | 3% | 2% | 2% | |
Total Commercial Lines | 56% | 53% | 54% | |
Total Gross Premiums Written | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Geographical Area | ||||
United States: | ||||
California | 14% | 14% | 13% | |
Illinois | 11% | 10% | 10% | |
Florida | 10% | 10% | 12% | |
Texas | 6% | 8% | 7% | |
New Jersey | 3% | 3% | 2% | |
Alabama | 2% | 2% | 2% | |
Pennsylvania | 2% | 2% | 2% | |
Other | 20% | 22% | 27% | |
Total United States | 68% | 71% | 75% | |
Canada: | ||||
Ontario | 20% | 17% | 12% | |
Alberta | 5% | 5% | 6% | |
Quebec | 5% | 5% | 5% | |
Other | 2% | 2% | 2% | |
Total Canada | 32% | 29% | 25% | |
Total Gross Premiums Written | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
Page 59 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
13. | Indebtedness and subsequent events: |
(a) | Bank indebtedness: |
On February 23, 1999, the Company entered into a $100 million unsecured credit facility with a syndicate of banks. Under this facility the Company had the option to borrow at various rates. During each of the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 the Company repaid $5 million. The facility matured on March 5, 2004 and was fully repaid by the Company. In March, 1999, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts which matured in March 2004 and had a fair value liability of $1,182,000 as at December 31, 2003. |
On March 5, 2004, the Company entered into a C$150 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of three banks. In December 2004 the facility was extended for a further 364 days and matures March 3, 2006. The facility bears interest at a floating rate based on the type of loan and the Companys senior unsecured debt rating. The amounts outstanding under this facility as at December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004 were $11,178,000, with an effective interest rate of approximately 5%, and $59,902,000 with an effective interest rate of approximately 4%, respectively. |
On February 15, 2006, the Company entered into a new C$150 million 364 day revolving credit facility with a syndicate of two banks that replaces the existing facility that had a maturity date of March 3, 2006. Depending on the type of loan, the facility bears interest at a floating rate that will be based on the Companys senior unsecured debt rating. |
(b) | Senior unsecured debentures: |
On December 6, 2002, the Company issued C$78 million of 8.25% unsecured senior debentures with a maturity date of December 31, 2007. The debentures are redeemable prior to the maturity date, at the Companys option, upon at least 30 days notice to debenture holders. Interest on the debentures is payable semi-annually in arrears. The net proceeds to the Company were C$77,087,420. Annual interest payments were C$6,435,000 for each of the last three years. |
On January 29, 2004, a subsidiary of the Company, Kingsway America Inc., completed the sale of $100 million 7.50% senior notes due 2014. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. The notes will be redeemable at Kingsway Americas option on or after February 1, 2009. In March 2004 an additional $25 million of these senior notes were issued. Interest paid during the year was $9,375,000 and $4,818,000 for 2004. |
Page 60 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
13. | Indebtedness and subsequent events (continued): |
(c) | Subordinated indebtedness: |
Between December 4, 2002 and December 16, 2003, six subsidiary trusts of the Company issued $90.5 million of 30 year capital securities to third parties in separate private transactions. In each instance, a corresponding floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debenture was then issued by Kingsway America Inc. to the trust in exchange for the proceeds from the private sale. The floating rate debentures bear interest at the rate of the London interbank offered interest rate for three month U.S. dollar deposits, plus spreads ranging from 3.85% to 4.20%, but until dates ranging from December 4, 2007 to January 8, 2009, the interest rates will not exceed 12.45% to 12.75%. The Company has the right to call each of these securities at par anytime after five years from their issuance until their maturity. The net proceeds to the Company were $70,877,000 in 2003 after deducting expenses of $4,625,000. |
(d) | Loan payable: |
On July 14, 2005 Kingsway Linked Return of Capital Trust (KLROC Trust) completed its public offering of C$78 million of 5.00% Kingsway Linked Return of Capital Preferred Units due June 30, 2015 of which the Company was a promoter. The net proceeds of the offering were used by KLROC Trust for a series of investments that included the purchase of a C$74.1 million 7.12% senior note due June 30, 2015 issued by an affiliate. |
Kingsway America Inc., a U.S. subsidiary has a promissory note payable balance of approximately $66.2 million with Kingsway ROC LLC, an affiliated company. The note was issued on July 15, 2005 and bears interest at 7.37% annually. The note principal is payable on June 30, 2015. Quarterly interest instalments totaling approximately $4.9 million are due in 2006. |
(e) | Contractual obligations maturity profile: |
The maturity profile of the Companys contractual obligations as described above in items (a) (d) is as follows: |
Payments Due by Period | |||||||
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 & 2010 |
Thereafter | Total | ||
Bank indebtedness | $11,767 | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- | $11,767 | |
Senior unsecured debentures | -- | 67,068 | -- | -- | 125,000 | 192,068 | |
Subordinated indebtedness | -- | -- | -- | -- | 90,500 | 90,500 | |
Loan payable | -- | -- | -- | -- | 66,222 | 66,222 | |
Total | $11,767 | $67,067 | -- | -- | $281,722 | $360,557 | |
Page 61 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
14. | Variable interest entities: |
Variable interest entities include entities where the equity invested in the entity is considered insufficient to finance the entitys activities. The Company has two controlled entities which are variable interest entities and therefore not consolidated based on accounting standards as the Company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for its investment in these entities using the equity method and includes the investment in other assets of the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Companys share of earnings in these entities is included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. As the funds invested in this non-consolidated affiliated entity formed part of the C$74.1 million note referred to in note 13(d), the effect of this transaction is to show additional debt on the Companys financial statements and an off-setting equity investment of C$8.3 million in the non-consolidated affiliated entity. |
15. | Commitments and contingent liabilities: |
(a) | Legal Proceedings: |
In connection with its operations, the Company and its subsidiaries are, from time to time, named as defendants in actions for damages and costs allegedly sustained by the plaintiffs. While it is not possible to estimate the outcome of the various proceedings at this time, such actions have generally been resolved with minimal damages or expense in excess of amounts provided and the Company does not believe that it will incur any significant additional loss or expense in connection with such actions. |
(b) | Statutory Requirements: |
Statutory policyholders capital and surplus of the Companys insurance subsidiaries was $997.5 million and $838.5 million at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. |
The Companys subsidiaries are subject to certain requirements and restrictions under applicable state and provincial insurance legislation including minimum asset requirements and dividend restrictions. At December 31, 2005, under the various insurance regulatory restrictions, the Companys insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries have an aggregate dividend capacity of $377.0 million (2004 $298.1 million). |
Page 62 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
15. | Commitments and contingent liabilities (continued): |
(c) | Letters of Credit: |
On October 4, 2002 the Company entered into an annually renewable syndicated $350 million letter of credit facility. The letter of credit facility is principally used to collateralize inter-company reinsurance balances for statutory capital management purposes. The Company pledges securities to collateralize the utilized portion of the letter of credit facility. At December 31, 2005 and 2004 the letter of credit facility utilization was $227.3 million and $234.0 million, respectively. |
Also, from time to time, the Company pledges securities to third parties to collateralize liabilities incurred under its policies of insurance. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the amount of pledged securities was $39.4 million and $37.9 million, respectively. |
(d) | Charitable donations: |
In 2004 the Company agreed to make a gift contribution of C$3 million to the Trillium Health Centre Foundation to be payable in equal instalments over the period of six years beginning in 2005. This contribution is to be used in creating and operating the Kingsway Financial Spine Centre in Mississauga, Ontario and is expensed as paid. |
(e) | Guarantee: |
The Company provided a guarantee for a non-controlled affiliated entity which entered into a cross-currency swap transaction July 14, 2005 in conjunction with the Kingsway Linked Return of Capital Trust transaction described in note 13 (d) whereby the affiliate swapped fixed Canadian dollar payments for fixed U.S. dollar payments. The guarantee extends until the swap agreement terminates on June 30, 2015. |
(f) | Property: |
Two of the Companys Canadian subsidiaries have formed a real estate joint venture which will be responsible for acquiring and construction of a real estate property that will eventually become the Companys principal office. The cost of this project is estimated to be approximately C$40 million. |
In 2005, Lincoln General, a U.S. subsidiary acquired real estate property for the purpose of constructing a new principal office. The outstanding commitments related to this project were $10,862,390 at December 31, 2005. |
Page 63 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
16. | Fair value disclosure: |
The fair value of financial assets and liabilities, other than investments (note 3), unpaid claims (note 10) and interest rate swaps (note 13) approximate their carrying amounts. |
17. | Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles: |
The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in Canada. The significant differences between Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP, which affect the Companys consolidated financial statements, are described below: |
The following table reconciles the consolidated net income as reported under Canadian GAAP with net income and other comprehensive income in accordance with U.S. GAAP: |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||
Net income based on Canadian GAAP | $135,008 | $101,014 | $60,877 | |
Impact on net income of U.S. GAAP adjustments, net of tax: | ||||
Deferred start-up costs (a) | -- | 671 | 671 | |
Equity accounting (b) | -- | -- | 723 | |
Gain on sale of USA Insurance Group (b) | -- | -- | (1,106) | |
Net income based on U.S. GAAP * | $135,008 | $101,685 | $61,165 | |
Other comprehensive income adjustments: | ||||
Change in unrealized gain on investments | ||||
classified as available for sale (c) | (43,131) | 20,092 | 20,472 | |
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps (d) | -- | 1,182 | 4,323 | |
Less: related future income taxes | (6,165) | 6,973 | 9,074 | |
Other comprehensive income adjustments | (36,966) | 14,301 | 15,721 | |
Currency translation adjustments in the period (e) | 8,238 | 8,467 | 17,936 | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | (28,728) | 22,768 | 33,657 | |
Total comprehensive income | $106,280 | $124,453 | $94,822 | |
*Basic earnings per share based on U.S. GAAP net income | $2.39 | $1.81 | $1.17 | |
*Diluted earnings per share based on U.S. GAAP net income | $2.37 | $1.80 | $1.16 |
Page 64 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
17. | Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (continued): |
The following table reconciles shareholders equity as reported under Canadian GAAP with shareholders equity in accordance with U.S. GAAP: |
2005 | 2004 | ||
Shareholders equity based on Canadian GAAP | $804,715 | $666,501 | |
Other comprehensive income | 6,615 | 43,581 | |
Cumulative net income impact: | |||
Other | (821) | (821) | |
Shareholders equity based on U.S. GAAP | $810,509 | $709,261 | |
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 130 Reporting Comprehensive Income requires the Company to disclose items of other comprehensive income in a financial statement and to disclose accumulated balances of other comprehensive income or loss in the equity section of the Companys consolidated balance sheet. Comprehensive income, which incorporates net income, includes all changes in equity during a period, except those resulting from investments by, and distributions to, owners. There is no requirement to disclose comprehensive income under Canadian GAAP. Total cumulative other comprehensive loss amounted to $16,573,000 and $45,301,000 as at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. |
(a) | Deferred start-up costs: |
Under Canadian GAAP, start-up costs of Avalon Risk Management, Inc. are deferred and amortized over a five year period commencing from the date the start-up period ended. Under U.S. GAAP, such costs are expensed in the periods in which the expenditures are incurred. These costs were fully amortized as at December 31, 2004. |
Page 65 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
17. | Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (continued): |
(b) | Equity accounting: |
Under Canadian GAAP, the Companys 25% equity investment in USA Group was carried at cost as the Company did not have significant influence over the investee. Under U.S. GAAP the Company was deemed to have significant influence because the Companys equity investment exceeded 20%, and the equity method of accounting was used. This method recognized the Companys share of net income or loss of the investee. Also under U.S. GAAP goodwill is recognized and prior to December 31, 2001 was being amortized over a period of 10 years. |
The Company disposed of its equity investment in USA Group in November, 2003 and had to reverse a portion of the gain under U.S. GAAP due to the difference in the cost base of the investment under Canadian and U.S. GAAP. |
(c) | Portfolio investments: |
Under Canadian GAAP, portfolio investments are carried at cost or amortized cost, and where a decline in value of an investment is considered to be other than temporary, a write-down of the investment to its estimated recoverable amount is recorded. Under U.S. GAAP, such investments would be classified as available for sale and are marked to market after write-downs for other than temporary declines in values, and the unrealized gain or loss, net of any future income taxes, is recorded as other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders equity. |
Page 66 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
17. | Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (continued): |
(d) | Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities: |
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (FAS 133), as amended by Statements No. 137 and 138, which established accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments and for hedging activities. Under FAS 133, all derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at their fair values, and changes in such fair values must be recognized immediately in earnings unless specific hedging criteria are met. The Company adopted this statement effective January 1, 2001 for purposes of its U.S. GAAP reconciliation. The Company purchased interest rate swap contracts that were designated as cash flow hedges against the amounts borrowed under the unsecured credit facility. The interest rate swaps matured in March, 2004. The terms of the swaps matched those of the unsecured credit facility, and were entered into to minimize the Companys exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The change in the fair value of interest rate swap contracts is reflected in other comprehensive income. |
(e) | Currency translation adjustments: |
The Company reports its results in U.S. dollars. The operations of the Companys subsidiaries in the Canada, Bermuda and its head office operations are self-sustaining. These subsidiaries hold all of their assets and liabilities and report their results in Canadian dollars. As a result, the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated at the year end rates of exchange. The unrealized gains and losses, which result from translation are deferred and included in shareholders equity under the caption currency translation adjustment. The currency translation account will change with fluctuations in the Canadian to U.S. dollar exchange rate. |
(f) | Future accounting pronouncements: |
In December 2004, the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a new standard amending the accounting for the stock-based compensation. The standard is effective for public companies starting with the first interim period commencing after June 15, 2005. It requires the use of a fair-value based method to measure and account for all stock options or other equity-based awards to employees or directors that vest or become exercisable after the effective date. The transition approach and impact of this change for the Company has not yet been determined. |
Page 67 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
18. | Comparative figures: |
Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the financial statement presentation adopted in the current year. |
19. | Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information: |
In 2004, Kingsway America Inc. (KAI) issued senior notes which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. The following is condensed consolidating financial information for the Company as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 and for the three years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, with a separate column for each of KAI as Issuer, the Company (KFSI) as Guarantor and the other businesses of the Company combined (the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries). For the purposes of the condensed consolidating financial information, the Company and KAI carry their investments under the equity method. |
Page 68 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidating
Statement of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2005
KFSI (the Guarantor) |
KAI (the Issuer) |
Other subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries) |
Consolidation adjustments | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue: | ||||||
Net premiums earned | $ -- | $ -- | $1,791,943 | $ -- | $1,791,943 | |
Investment related income | (1,720) | 4,400 | 128,594 | -- | 131,274 | |
Management fees | 56,945 | 8,988 | -- | (65,933) | -- | |
55,225 | 13,388 | 1,920,537 | (65,933) | 1,923,217 | ||
Expenses: | ||||||
Claims incurred | -- | -- | 1,241,202 | (16,696) | 1,224,506 | |
Commissions and premium taxes | -- | -- | 361,875 | -- | 361,875 | |
Other expenses | 52,716 | 13,511 | 139,578 | (49,237) | 156,568 | |
Interest expense | 6,591 | 18,671 | 659 | -- | 25,921 | |
59,307 | 32,182 | 1,743,314 | (65,933) | 1,768,870 | ||
Income before income taxes | (4,082) | (18,794) | 177,223 | -- | 154,347 | |
Income taxes | 2,755 | (6,743) | 23,327 | -- | 19,339 | |
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries |
141,845 | (319) | -- | (141,526) | -- | |
Net income | $135,008 | $(12,370) | $ 153,896 | $(141,526) | $ 135,008 | |
Page 69 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidating Statement
of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2004
KFSI (the Guarantor) |
KAI (the Issuer) |
Other subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries) |
Consolidation adjustments | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue: | ||||||
Net premiums earned | $ -- | $ -- | $1,778,374 | $ -- | $1,778,374 | |
Investment related income | (399) | 3,086 | 91,971 | -- | 94,658 | |
Management fees | 41,709 | 7,081 | -- | (48,790) | -- | |
41,310 | 10,167 | 1,870,345 | (48,790) | 1,873,032 | ||
Expenses: | ||||||
Claims incurred | -- | -- | 1,272,483 | (12,390) | 1,260,093 | |
Commissions and premium taxes | -- | -- | 330,769 | -- | 330,769 | |
Other expenses | 37,886 | 12,124 | 135,016 | (36,400) | 148,626 | |
Interest expense | 6,005 | 13,550 | 1,616 | -- | 21,171 | |
43,891 | 25,674 | 1,739,884 | (48,790) | 1,760,659 | ||
Income before income taxes | (2,581) | (15,507) | 130,461 | -- | 112,373 | |
Income taxes | 2,944 | (5,461) | 13,876 | -- | 11,359 | |
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries |
106,539 | 3,383 | -- | (109,922) | -- | |
Net income | $101,014 | $ (6,663) | $ 116,585 | $(109,922) | $ 101,014 | |
Page 70 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidating
Statement of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2003
KFSI (the Guarantor) |
KAI (the Issuer) |
Other subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries) |
Consolidation adjustments | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue: | ||||||
Net premiums earned | $ -- | $ -- | $1,711,910 | $ -- | $1,711,910 | |
Investment related income | (638) | 18,162 | 80,168 | -- | 97,692 | |
Management fees | 33,152 | 2,016 | -- | (35,168) | -- | |
32,514 | 20,178 | 1,792,078 | (35,168) | 1,809,602 | ||
Expenses: | ||||||
Claims incurred | -- | -- | 1,285,093 | (9,965) | 1,275,128 | |
Commissions and premium taxes | -- | -- | 361,370 | -- | 361,370 | |
Other expenses | 29,563 | 7,937 | 90,954 | (25,203) | 103,251 | |
Interest expense | 5,665 | 270 | 9,171 | -- | 15,106 | |
35,228 | 8,207 | 1,746,588 | (35,168) | 1,754,855 | ||
Income before income taxes | (2,714) | 11,971 | 45,490 | -- | 54,747 | |
Income taxes | (7,447) | 4,038 | (2,721) | -- | (6,130) | |
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries |
56,144 | 9,656 | -- | (65,800) | -- | |
Net Income | $60,877 | $17,589 | $ 48,211 | $(65,800) | $ 60,877 | |
Page 71 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidating Balance
Sheet
As at December 31, 2005
KFSI (the Guarantor) |
KAI (the Issuer) |
Other subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries) |
Consolidation adjustments | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assets | ||||||
Investments in subsidiaries | $864,800 | $380,764 | $ 159,545 | $(1,405,109) | $ -- | |
Cash | 2,831 | 9,597 | 98,606 | -- | 111,034 | |
Investments | 191 | 2,967 | 2,800,632 | -- | 2,803,790 | |
Goodwill and other intangible assets | -- | -- | 62,497 | 8,633 | 71,130 | |
Other assets | 19,666 | 43,250 | 2,254,733 | (1,508,409) | 809,240 | |
$887,488 | $436,578 | $5,376,013 | $(2,904,885) | $3,795,194 | ||
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity | ||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||
Bank indebtedness | $ 11,178 | $ 66,222 | $ 589 | $ -- | $ 77,989 | |
Other liabilities | 4,527 | 19,563 | 114,451 | (2,058) | 136,483 | |
Unearned premiums | -- | -- | 1,059,190 | (409,962) | 649,228 | |
Unpaid claims | -- | -- | 2,931,723 | (1,087,512) | 1,844,211 | |
Senior unsecured debentures | 67,068 | 125,000 | -- | -- | 192,068 | |
Subordinated indebtedness | -- | 90,500 | -- | -- | 90,500 | |
82,773 | 301,285 | 4,105,953 | (1,499,532) | 2,990,479 | ||
Shareholders equity: | ||||||
Share capital | 331,470 | 157,391 | 1,132,861 | (1,290,252) | 331,470 | |
Contributed surplus | 3,237 | -- | -- | -- | 3,237 | |
Currency translation adjustment | 9,958 | -- | 45,101 | (45,101) | 9,958 | |
Retained earnings | 460,050 | (22,098) | 92,098 | (70,000) | 460,050 | |
804,715 | 135,293 | 1,270,060 | (1,405,353) | 804,715 | ||
$887,488 | $436,578 | $5,376,013 | $(2,904,885) | $3,795,194 | ||
Page 72 of 158
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidating
Balance Sheet
As at December 31, 2004
KFSI (the Guarantor) |
KAI (the Issuer) |
Other subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries) |
Consolidation adjustments | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assets | ||||||
Investments in subsidiaries | $745,559 | $359,480 | $ 464,420 | $(1,569,459) | $ -- | |
Cash | 3,935 | 1,871 | 81,297 | -- | 87,103 | |
Investments | 122 | -- | 2,495,586 | -- | 2,495,708 | |
Goodwill and other intangible assets | -- | -- | 58,968 | 8,352 | 67,320 | |
Other assets | 25,756 | 40,384 | 2,172,989 | (1,369,868) | 869,261 | |
$775,372 | $401,735 | $5,273,260 | $(2,930,975) | $3,519,392 | ||
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity | ||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||
Bank indebtedness | $ 39,702 | $ -- | $ 20,200 | $ -- | $ 59,902 | |
Other liabilities | 4,277 | 18,608 | 167,988 | (1,837) | 189,036 | |
Unearned premiums | -- | -- | 1,005,091 | (370,755) | 634,336 | |
Unpaid claims | -- | -- | 2,639,551 | (950,326) | 1,689,225 | |
Senior unsecured debentures | 64,892 | 125,000 | -- | -- | 189,892 | |
Subordinated indebtedness | -- | 90,500 | -- | -- | 90,500 | |
108,871 | 234,108 | 3,832,830 | (1,322,918) | 2,852,891 | ||
Shareholders equity: | ||||||
Share capital | 328,544 | 177,674 | 1,128,481 | (1,306,155) | 328,544 | |
Contributed surplus | 1,769 | -- | -- | -- | 1,769 | |
Currency translation adjustment | 1,720 | -- | 36,232 | (36,232) | 1,720 | |
Retained earnings | 334,468 | (10,047) | 275,717 | (265,670) | 334,468 | |
666,501 | 167,627 | 1,440,430 | (1,608,057) | 666,501 | ||
$775,372 | $401,735 | $5,273,260 | $(2,930,975) | $3,519,392 | ||
Page 73 of 158
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 31, 2005
KFSI (the Guarantor) |
KAI (the Issuer) |
Other subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries) |
Consolidation adjustments |
Total | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cash provided by (used in): | |||||||||||||||||
Operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 135,008 | $ | (12,370 | ) | $ | 153,896 | $ | (141,526 | ) | $ | 135,008 | |||||
Adjustments to reconcile net | |||||||||||||||||
income to net cash used by | |||||||||||||||||
operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Equity in undistributed earnings in subsidiaries | (141,845 | ) | 319 | | 141,526 | | |||||||||||
Other | 11,390 | (1,506 | ) | 128,855 | | 138,739 | |||||||||||
4,553 | (13,557 | ) | 282,751 | | 273,747 | ||||||||||||
Financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Increase in share capital, net | 2,926 | (20,283 | ) | | 20,283 | 2,926 | |||||||||||
Common share dividend | (9,426 | ) | | | | (9,426 | ) | ||||||||||
Increase/(decrease) in bank indebtedness | (28,532 | ) | 66,222 | (20,312 | ) | | 17,378 | ||||||||||
Increase in senior unsecured indebtedness | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Increase in subordinated indebtedness | | | | | | ||||||||||||
(35,032 | ) | 45,939 | (20,312 | ) | 20,283 | 10,878 | |||||||||||
Investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Purchase of investments | (9,053 | ) | (24,436 | ) | (2,556,529 | ) | | (2,590,018 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of investments | 9,177 | 21,682 | 2,325,722 | | 2,356,581 | ||||||||||||
Purchase of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired | 32,058 | (23,934 | ) | 12,042 | (32,058 | ) | (11,892 | ) | |||||||||
Other | (2,807 | ) | 2,032 | (26,365 | ) | 11,775 | (15,365 | ) | |||||||||
29,375 | (24,656 | ) | (245,130 | ) | (20,283 | ) | (260,694 | ) | |||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash during the year | (1,104 | ) | 7,726 | 17,309 | | 23,931 | |||||||||||
Cash, beginning of year | 3,935 | 1,871 | 81,297 | | 87,103 | ||||||||||||
Cash, end of year | $ | 2,831 | $ | 9,597 | $ | 98,606 | $ | | $ | 111,034 | |||||||
Page 74 of 158
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 31, 2004
KFSI (the Guarantor) |
KAI (the Issuer) |
Other subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries) |
Consolidation adjustments |
Total | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cash provided by (used in): | |||||||||||||||||
Operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 101,014 | $ | (6,663 | ) | $ | 116,585 | $ | (109,922 | ) | $ | 101,014 | |||||
Adjustments to reconcile net | |||||||||||||||||
income to net cash used by | |||||||||||||||||
operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Equity in undistributed earnings in subsidiaries | (106,539 | ) | (3,383 | ) | | 109,922 | | ||||||||||
Other | 6,351 | (8,796 | ) | 304,052 | (10,961 | ) | 290,646 | ||||||||||
826 | (18,842 | ) | 420,637 | (10,961 | ) | 391,660 | |||||||||||
Financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Increase in share capital, net | 2,434 | (88,367 | ) | 54,313 | 34,054 | 2,434 | |||||||||||
Common share dividend | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Increase/(decrease) in bank indebtedness | 23,709 | | (86,753 | ) | | (63,044 | ) | ||||||||||
Increase in senior unsecured | | 125,000 | | | 125,000 | ||||||||||||
indebtedness | |||||||||||||||||
Increase in subordinated indebtedness | | | | | | ||||||||||||
26,143 | 36,633 | (32,440 | ) | 34,054 | 64,390 | ||||||||||||
Investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Purchase of investments | (13,995 | ) | | (2,394,411 | ) | | (2,408,406 | ) | |||||||||
Proceeds from sale of investments | 15,482 | | 1,943,801 | | 1,959,283 | ||||||||||||
Other | (42,812 | ) | (20,199 | ) | 55,697 | (23,093 | ) | (30,407 | ) | ||||||||
(41,325 | ) | (20,199 | ) | (394,913 | ) | (23,093 | ) | (479,530 | ) | ||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash during the year | (14,356 | ) | (2,408 | ) | (6,716 | ) | | (23,480 | ) | ||||||||
Cash, beginning of year | 18,291 | 4,279 | 88,013 | | 110,583 | ||||||||||||
Cash, end of year | $ | 3,935 | $ | 1,871 | $ | 81,297 | $ | | $ | 87,103 | |||||||
Page 75 of 158
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 31, 2003
KFSI (the Guarantor) |
KAI (the Issuer) |
Other subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries) |
Consolidation adjustments |
Total | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cash provided by (used in): | |||||||||||||||||
Operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 60,877 | $ | 17,589 | $ | 48,211 | $ | (65,800 | ) | $ | 60,877 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net | |||||||||||||||||
income to net cash used by | |||||||||||||||||
operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Equity in undistributed earnings in subsidiaries | (56,145 | ) | (9,655 | ) | | 65,800 | | ||||||||||
Other | 40,735 | (40,312 | ) | 426,421 | (16,423 | ) | 410,421 | ||||||||||
45,467 | (32,378 | ) | 474,632 | (16,423 | ) | 471,298 | |||||||||||
Financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Increase in share capital, net | 83,109 | 53,890 | 194,045 | (247,935 | ) | 83,109 | |||||||||||
Common share dividend | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Increase/(decrease) in bank indebtedness | (2,868 | ) | | 12,576 | | 9,708 | |||||||||||
Increase in senior unsecured indebtedness | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Increase in subordinated indebtedness | | 75,500 | | | 75,500 | ||||||||||||
80,241 | 129,390 | 206,621 | (247,935 | ) | 168,317 | ||||||||||||
Investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
Purchase of investments | (21,729 | ) | (5,617 | ) | (4,656,300 | ) | 14,085 | (4,669,561 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of investments | 23,686 | 19,998 | 3,966,843 | | 4,010,527 | ||||||||||||
Other | (110,268 | ) | (107,410 | ) | (58,793 | ) | 250,273 | (26,198 | ) | ||||||||
(108,311 | ) | (93,029 | ) | (748,250 | ) | 264,358 | (685,232 | ) | |||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash during the year | 17,397 | 3,983 | (66,997 | ) | | (45,617 | ) | ||||||||||
Cash, beginning of year | 894 | 296 | 155,010 | | 156,200 | ||||||||||||
Cash, end of year | $ | 18,291 | $ | 4,279 | $ | 88,013 | $ | | $ | 110,583 | |||||||
Page 76 of 158
Document No. 3
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. The commentary is current as of March 17, 2006. Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). See note 17 of the consolidated financial statements for a reconciliation of Canadian and United States GAAP. Additional information relating to Kingsway is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com which can also be accessed from our website www.kingsway-financial.com. This annual report, including the following discussion, contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ substantially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including those set forth under the section entitled Risk Factors and elsewhere in this annual report.
From time to time, we make written and oral forward-looking statements, in this annual report, in other filings with Canadian regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and in other communications. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the Companys objectives and strategies to achieve them. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as believe, expect, may and could. By their very nature, these statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, general and specific, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause such differences are discussed under the section of this annual report entitled Risk Factors and in other regulatory filings made in Canada and with the SEC. The discussion of factors under the section entitled Risk Factors is not exhaustive of all possible factors, and other factors could also adversely affect the Companys results.
All such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to the Company, and undue reliance should not be placed on the Companys forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on its behalf.
All of the dollar amounts in this annual report are expressed in U.S. dollars, except where otherwise indicated. References to U.S. dollars, dollars or US$ are to U.S. dollars and any references to Canadian dollars or C$ are to Canadian dollars. As presented in this annual report, our Canadian and U.S. segment information includes the results of our Bermuda and Barbados reinsurance subsidiaries, respectively.
Exhibit Index appears on Page 151
Page 77 of 158
Non-GAAP Measures
The Company uses both GAAP and certain non-GAAP measures to assess performance. Securities regulators require that companies caution readers about non-GAAP measures that do not have a standardized meaning under GAAP and are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Kingsway, like many insurance companies, analyzes performance based on underwriting ratios such as combined, expense and loss ratios. These terms are defined in the glossary of terms section beginning on page 81 of the Annual Report. The Company also uses investment portfolio per share information which is calculated based on the fair value of the investment portfolio divided by the number of issued and outstanding common shares. The Company uses net operating income information which is calculated as net income excluding after-tax net realized gains and losses on investments. A reconciliation of net income to net operating income is presented below.
(In thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||
Net income, as reported | $ 135,008 | $ 101,014 | $ 60,877 | ||||
Net realized gains before taxes, as reported | 38,239 | 20,392 | 41,466 | ||||
Tax effect on net realized gains | 9,589 | 3,669 | 8,836 | ||||
Net realized gains after tax | 28,650 | 16,723 | 32,630 | ||||
Net operating income | $ 106,358 | $ 84,291 | $ 28,247 | ||||
Change in Reporting Currency
As the majority of the Companys operations are in the United States or are conducted in U.S. dollars, effective December 31, 2005, the Company has prepared its financial statements and its Managements Discussion and Analysis in U.S. dollars in order to provide more meaningful information to its users. However, the Companys functional currency will remain Canadian dollars for Canadian and head office operations and U.S. dollars for U.S. operations. To effect this conversion, figures contained in this report have been translated into U.S. dollars using the current rate method, pursuant to which the consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows have been translated using the average rate of exchange for the relevant year, all assets and liabilities have been translated using the relevant year end rate of exchange and share capital has been translated using the rates of exchange in effect as of the dates of various capital transactions. Foreign exchange differences arising from the translation as described above have been recorded in the currency translation account which is included as a separate component of shareholders equity. All relevant financial information has been restated to reflect the companys results as if they had been historically reported in U.S. dollars.
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Our Company
Kingsway is a specialty provider of personal and commercial lines of property and casualty insurance in the United States and Canada. Our principal lines of business are trucking and non-standard automobile insurance. According to A.M. Best gross premiums written data, we are the largest truck insurer in North America and the seventh largest non-standard auto-mobile insurer in North America. We are also the largest writer of motorcycle insurance in Canada and the largest writer of taxi cab insurance in Chicago, Illinois and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Non-standard automobile insurance covers drivers who do not qualify for standard automobile insurance coverage because of their payment history, driving record, place of residence, age, vehicle type or other factors. Such drivers typically represent higher than normal risks and usually pay higher insurance rates for comparable coverage. We also provide standard automobile insurance as well as insurance for commercial and public vehicles, including taxis.
We also provide motorcycle insurance, specialized commercial and personal property coverages and other specialty coverages, such as customs, bail and surety bonds. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we derived 31% of our gross premiums written from trucking insurance, 29% from non-standard auto, 13% from commercial and personal property coverages, 12% from commercial automobile, 7% from standard automobile, 3% from motorcycle and 5% from other specialty lines.
We are the leading provider of non-standard automobile in Canada and have a prominent position in several U.S. markets in which we currently operate, such as Illinois and Florida. We are the third largest writer of non-standard automobile insurance in Illinois and the seventh largest in Florida according to A.M. Best data. We are the second largest writer of trucking insurance in the United States and a leading trucking insurer in Canada, making us the largest trucking insurer in North America according to A.M. Best data.
Kingsway Financial is the holding company for all of our subsidiaries and Kingsway America is the holding company for all of our U.S. operating subsidiaries. We operate our business through our insurance subsidiaries which include Kingsway General Insurance Company, York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, and Jevco Insurance Company in Canada and Universal Casualty Company, Southern United Fire Insurance Company, American Service Insurance Company, Inc., Lincoln General Insurance Company, U.S. Security Insurance Company, American Country Insurance Company and Zephyr Insurance Company Inc. in the United States. We also have wholly owned reinsurance subsidiaries domiciled in Bermuda and Barbados. During the year ended December 31, 2005, we generated 68% of our gross premiums written from the United States and 32% from Canada.
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In 2005, our gross premiums written were $1.89 billion, compared to $2.00 billion in 2004. Our return on equity averaged 15.0% for the five fiscal years 2001 to 2005, and for the year ended December 31, 2005, was 18.4% compared to 16.6% in 2004. As of December 31, 2005, we had total assets of $3.80 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2005, shareholders equity increased 21% to $804.7 million.
The property and casualty insurance industry is highly competitive and fragmented. However, we generally seek to identify and operate in specialty markets which present opportunities for us to compete effectively due to the narrow scope or limited size of the market or the specialty nature of the coverage or risk. These specialty markets may be defined by geographic area, type of insurance or other factors. We focus on specialty lines of automobile, property and casualty insurance where we believe competition is more limited. We emphasize underwriting profit and will not knowingly underwrite risks at rates which we believe are unprofitable in order to increase our premium volume. We believe that by executing this strategy we will be able to deliver returns that will exceed the average in our industry over a long period of time.
We use the claims ratio, the expense ratio and the combined ratio as important measures of our performance. The claims ratio is derived by dividing the amount of net claims incurred by net premiums earned. The expense ratio is derived by dividing the sum of commissions and premium taxes and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned. The combined ratio is the sum of the claims ratio and the expense ratio. A combined ratio below 100% demonstrates underwriting profit whereas a combined ratio over 100% demonstrates an underwriting loss. We believe that underwriting profit is the true measure of performance of the core business of a property and casualty insurance company. We have reported an underwriting profit in 13 years out of 16 since the Companys first full year of operations in 1990 and in four of the last five years. Managements incentive compensation is directly linked to our combined ratio and our return on equity objectives.
In recent years, the North American property and casualty insurance market, including the trucking and non-standard automobile markets, have been less price competitive than in the late 1990s. Many insurers significantly reduced premium rates from 1998 to 2000 due to higher investment returns and an over-capitalization of the industry which subsequently led to poor underwriting results in 2001 and 2002, investment impairments and an erosion of capital. As a result, premium rates began to rise and the industry posted improved underwriting results for 2003 and 2004 but a slight deterioration is expected for 2005 based on available industry estimates.
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Following the improved results in 2003 and 2004 certain automobile markets experienced pressure from governments to reduce premium rates in 2005. 2005 was also a year in which there was significant storm activity in the southern United States leading to a substantial loss of capital to reinsurers. Short-term interest rates also increased modestly during 2005 from historically low levels, but are still at levels which are much lower than those of the late 1990s. As a result of these trends, we expect that 2006, like 2005, will be a year with good results, slow premium growth and increased reinsurance costs for insurance companies both in the United States and Canada. We believe insurance companies which have traditionally relied extensively on reinsurance capacity to support their premium levels will find this environment particularly challenging. We believe that the combination of these factors will lead to a modest deterioration in underwriting results for the property and casualty industry which will be partially offset by increased investment income in 2006.
Our strategy is to specialize in areas of insurance where we have developed expertise such as trucking, non-standard automobile, motorcycle and taxis. We will then bring this expertise, underwriting discipline and knowledge to a broad range of geographic markets so our risks are well diversified.
Our strategy is to build long-term shareholder value and is characterized by the following principles:
| Strong claims operations tailored to local markets. We seek to protect our business through diligent claims management. Our claims are managed by our experienced personnel located in our regional operating subsidiaries and by selected program managers. We maintain a culture of rigorously investigating claims, promptly paying legitimate claims, preventing fraud and litigating our claims as necessary before final settlement. |
| Distinctive underwriting capabilities in target specialty markets. We manage our business with a strict focus on underwriting profit rather than on premium growth or market share and have demonstrated our willingness to increase pricing or reduce or increase premium volumes based on market conditions. Over the five year period ended December 31, 2005, our combined ratio averaged 99.1%. For the year ended December 31, 2005, our combined ratio was 97.2%. |
We seek to identify market segments where we believe competition is more limited, presenting the potential for above average underwriting results. We operate through a network of regionally based operating subsidiaries. Our decentralized operating structure allows us to target specialized markets and products based on our underwriting expertise and knowledge of local market conditions. |
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We rely on our detailed understanding of our regional markets to take advantage of favourable conditions or trends. We look for opportunities to expand our specialty focus into selected regional markets and to increase the distribution of our core products in our existing territories. We may also look for opportunities to acquire books of business or other companies which are in line with our specialty focus. |
| Rigorous industry leading program management capabilities. Our program management begins with a thorough due diligence review of agents operations and understanding of their historical results. This review is performed by a team of individuals with extensive underwriting, actuarial and claims management expertise. |
We maintain strict control over programs by limiting the claims authority granted to agents and structuring the agents agreements so that we have all pricing and reinsurance authority. Our program managers have the opportunity to significantly increase their compensation through commission incentives which are strictly tied to our underwriting profit on their program. |
Each program manager is subject to regular and vigorous audits to ensure disciplined underwriting and claims processes are in place and being followed in accordance with the agreement. |
| An extensive network of independent agents and program managers focused on specialty markets. We are committed to our distribution network of independent agents, program managers and brokers. We continually strive to provide the highest level of service to our agents, program managers and brokers and to build relationships at the local level in the markets in which we operate. We communicate with our network through a variety of channels and we look for opportunities to increase efficiency and further reduce our operating costs, including through the use of technology and automation. We also look for opportunities to expand our distribution relationships and enhance our product mix. |
| Shared corporate support function. Our corporate structure helps to meet varied local conditions under a cohesive set of policies and procedures designed to provide underwriting discipline, consistency and control. We believe we can derive efficiencies and cost savings by sharing corporate support functions such as investment management, information systems development, purchasing of reinsurance, procurement and accommodation. |
| Outstanding management. Each of our eleven operating subsidiaries is led by an experienced executive team with expertise in their chosen niche lines of business and extensive knowledge of their local markets. The average experience of the president of each subsidiary exceeds twenty years. |
The operating subsidiaries are supported and guided by an executive management team at Kingsway Financial Services Inc.. The individuals on this team average more than 23 years of experience and are led by Bill Star, our President and Chief Executive Officer, who has over fifty years of industry experience. |
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Through our wholly owned subsidiaries in Canada and the United States, we are licensed to write a broad range of property and casualty insurance in all Canadian provinces and territories and in all states and the District of Columbia in the United States. We distribute all of our products through independent agents, program managers, and brokers.
We conduct our operations through our subsidiaries to, among other things:
| maintain discrete brand identities; and |
| develop expertise and organizational cultures that best serve the individual markets in which we operate. |
We believe that the markets for our insurance products differ greatly by community because regulations, legal decisions, government interference, traffic, law enforcement, cultural attitudes, insurance agents, medical services and auto repair services vary greatly by jurisdiction and by community.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are described in note 2 to the audited consolidated financial statements included on pages 63 to 64 of the annual report. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions, some of which may relate to matters that are uncertain. As more information becomes known, these estimates and assumptions could change and thus have a material impact on the Companys financial condition and results of operations in the future. The most significant estimates and assumptions used in preparing our financial statements are described below.
Provision for unpaid claims
A significant degree of judgement is required to determine amounts recorded in the financial statements for the provision for unpaid claims. The process for establishing the provision for unpaid claims reflects the uncertainties and significant judgemental factors inherent in predicting future results of both known and unknown claims. Further information regarding our provision for unpaid claims is discussed in the Provision for Unpaid Claims section of Managements Discussion and Analysis and in note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.
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Impairment of investments
The establishment of an other-than-temporary impairment on an investment security requires a number of judgements and estimates. Management performs a quarterly analysis of our investment holdings to determine if declines in market value are other than temporary. Further information regarding our detailed analysis and factors considered in establishing an other-than-temporary impairment on an investment security are discussed within the portfolio monitoring section in the investment and investment income section of Managements Discussion and Analysis.
Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite life are assessed for impairment at least annually by applying a fair value based test. In determining fair value, valuation models such as price-to-earnings ratios and other multiples are used. Management must make estimates and assumptions in determining the fair value of a business segment which may affect any resulting impairment write-down. Additional information regarding our goodwill and intangible asset accounting policy is included in note 2(f) to the consolidated financial statements.
Income taxes
The provision for income taxes is calculated based on the expected tax treatment of transactions recorded in our consolidated financial statements. In determining our provision for income taxes, we interpret tax legislation in a variety of jurisdictions and make assumptions about the expected timing of the reversal of future tax assets and liabilities and the valuation of future income tax assets related to tax loss carryforwards. Additional information regarding our income tax provision is included in note 2(l) and note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.
Revenues reflected in our consolidated financial statements are derived from insurance premiums earned, investment income and net realized investment gains. Our total revenues increased 3% to $1.92 billion in 2005 from $1.87 billion in 2004 which was an increase of 4% over the $1.81 billion in 2003.
We compete on the basis of numerous factors such as distribution strength, pricing, agency and broker relationships, service, reputation and financial strength. We are the largest truck insurer in North America and the seventh largest non-standard auto insurer. In Canada, where we are the largest insurer of non-standard auto, our main competitor is Pembridge Insurance Company, a subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation. Our main Canadian competition for trucking is Markel Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Northbridge Financial Corporation. In the United States, we face competition in our
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non-standard automobile lines from Progressive, Allstate, State Farm and GEICO and in our trucking lines from Old Republic General Group, Zurich Financial Services Group and Canal Insurance Company. We also compete in both Canada and the United States with numerous smaller insurance companies in our regional markets. Many of our larger competitors have greater financial and other resources than we do, have more favourable A.M. Best ratings and offer more diversified insurance coverages. In the fragmented non-standard automobile markets in the United States, however, many of our competitors are small companies with limited capital resources who generally have less favourable A.M. Best ratings and who have traditionally relied upon the support of reinsurers to supplement their capital. We believe that recent reinsurance market conditions will lead to a contraction of this capital support by reinsurers.
Our competitors include other companies that, like us, serve the independent agency market, as well as companies that sell insurance directly to customers. Direct underwriters do not typically operate in specialty lines of insurance, but may have certain competitive advantages over agency underwriters in standard insurance lines, including increased name recognition, loyalty of the customer base to the insurer rather than an independent agency and, potentially, reduced policy acquisition costs.
Our markets may attract competition from time to time from new or temporary entrants in our niche markets. In some cases, these entrants may, because of inexperience, desire for growth or other reasons, price their insurance below the rates that we believe provide an acceptable premium for the related risk. We believe that it is generally not in our best interest to compete solely on price, and may from time to time experience a loss of market share during periods of intense price competition or soft market conditions.
We believe that our ability to compete successfully in our industry will be based on:
| our ability to identify specialty markets which are more likely to produce an underwriting profit; |
| our disciplined underwriting approach; |
| our diversified product and geographic platforms; |
| our prudent claims management; |
| cost containment and the economics of shared support functions; and |
| the service and competitive commissions we provide to our independent agents, program managers and brokers. |
Any new, proposed or potential legislative or industry developments could further increase competition in our markets. New competition from these developments could cause the prices for insurance to fall, which would adversely affect our underwriting profitability.
We employ stringent underwriting standards to develop a broad spread of risk and to receive an appropriate premium for each risk. Our underwriting philosophy stresses receiving an adequate premium and spread of risks for the business we accept. Rather than attempt to select individual risks, we seek to set premium rates at levels that
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should generate profitable underwriting. Once we have set premium rates that we believe are adequate, we are generally willing to accept as much business within our underwriting guidelines as is available to us. We regularly monitor premium adequacy by territory and class of business and make adjustments as required. We do not reduce our pricing when competitors offer to underwrite certain classes of business at premium rates which are below what we believe is an acceptable level. Instead, we elect to maintain our premium per risk rather than write a large number of risks at premiums which we consider to be inadequate. In such instances, our premium volumes may decrease. Underwriting profitability is primarily dependent on the claims amounts incurred on the policies sold in relation to net premiums earned. At the time premium levels are established, the claims amounts to be incurred on the policies sold is unknown, and the process for estimating claims is inherently uncertain and imprecise.
We regularly consider and implement various initiatives to address adverse profitability trends in our business. These initiatives vary by jurisdiction, but include tightening of underwriting requirements, price increases, reduction in agent commissions, policy non-renewals (where permitted) and other administrative changes. All companies writing automobile insurance in Canada and all lines of business in most U.S. jurisdictions must have their premium rates approved by the applicable regulatory authority. Once these rates are approved, an insurance company is prohibited from altering them without regulatory approval for new rates.
We market and distribute our automobile insurance products through a network of over 2,900 independent agents and approximately 22 program managers in the United States and over 3,000 independent brokers across Canada. We maintain an open market approach which allows these agents and brokers to place business with us with no minimum commitments and provides us with a broad, flexible and easily scalable distribution network. We believe that this approach is different from that used by many automobile insurance companies.
We focus on developing and maintaining strong relationships with our independent agents, program managers and brokers. We continually strive to provide excellent service in the local markets in which we operate, and communicate with them through a variety of channels and we look for opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Our independent agents, program managers and brokers generally have the authority to bind policies on our behalf with respect to specified insurance coverages within our prescribed underwriting guidelines. These guidelines prescribe the kinds and amounts of coverage that may be written and the premium rates that may be charged for specified categories of risk. In most cases, we do not delegate authority to settle or adjust claims, establish underwriting guidelines, develop rates or enter into other transactions or commitments with our independent agents, program managers or brokers. Certain program managers have greater authority than our independent agents and brokers. These relationships are subject to a rigorous audit process to ensure that they adhere to our underwriting standards and claims handling procedures.
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We write automobile insurance primarily for the non-standard automobile and trucking markets. We also write insurance in selected other lines of business for both individuals and commercial customers. Other coverages that we provide for individuals include motorcycle, homeowners and selected specialty lines. Our commercial coverages include automobile (including taxis), trucking, property and selected specialty lines such as customs bonds. Our personal lines business accounted for 44% of our gross premiums written for the year ended December 31, 2005 and 56% were generated from our commercial lines.
Our automobile insurance products provide coverage in three major areas: liability, accident benefits and physical damage. Liability insurance provides coverage, where our insured is responsible for an automobile accident, for the payment for injuries and property damage to third parties. Accident benefit policies or personal injury protection policies provide coverage for loss of income, medical and rehabilitation expenses for insured persons who are injured in an automobile accident, regardless of fault. Physical damage coverages provide for the payment of damages to an insured automobile arising from a collision with another object or from other risks such as fire or theft. Automobile physical damage and liability coverages generally provide more predictable results than automobile personal injury insurance.
Our gross premiums written were $1.89 billion in 2005, compared to $2.00 billion in 2004. In 2005, we experienced an increase of 5% in gross premiums written for our Canadian operations and a decrease of 9% for our U.S. operations.
The following table sets forth our gross premiums written by line of business for the periods indicated:
2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-Standard Automobile | $ 551.3 | 29.1 | % | $ 706.3 | 35.3 | % | ||||
Standard Automobile | 130.0 | 6.9 | 127.3 | 6.3 | ||||||
Motorcycle | 59.5 | 3.2 | 47.0 | 2.3 | ||||||
Property (including liability) | 59.5 | 3.1 | 39.3 | 2.0 | ||||||
Other Specialty Lines | 42.4 | 2.2 | 21.0 | 1.1 | ||||||
Total Personal | $ 842.7 | 44.5 | % | $ 940.9 | 47.0 | % | ||||
Trucking | $ 587.4 | 31.0 | % | $ 582.6 | 29.1 | |||||
Commercial Automobile | 226.8 | 12.0 | 236.8 | 11.8 | ||||||
Property (including liability) | 185.5 | 9.8 | 199.5 | 10.0 | ||||||
Other Specialty Lines | 52.3 | 2.7 | 42.0 | 2.1 | ||||||
Total Commercial | $ 1,052.0 | 55.5 | % | $ 1,060.9 | 53.0 | % | ||||
Total Gross Premiums Written | $ 1,894.7 | 100.0 | % | $ 2,001.8 | 100.0 | % | ||||
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We conduct our business in the United States and Canada. The following table sets forth our gross premiums written by state and province for the periods indicated:
2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | $269.5 | 14.2 | % | $271.3 | 13.6 | % | ||||
Illinois | 210.3 | 11.1 | 207.8 | 10.4 | ||||||
Florida | 186.3 | 9.8 | 208.3 | 10.4 | ||||||
Texas | 113.8 | 6.0 | 156.8 | 7.8 | ||||||
New Jersey | 50.0 | 2.7 | 58.3 | 2.9 | ||||||
Pennsylvania | 41.3 | 2.2 | 45.6 | 2.3 | ||||||
Alabama | 32.2 | 1.7 | 37.2 | 1.9 | ||||||
Other | 381.3 | 20.1 | 433.0 | 21.6 | ||||||
Total United States | $ 1,284.7 | 67.8 | % | $ 1,418.3 | 70.9 | % | ||||
Ontario | $ 381.4 | 20.1 | % | $ 343.0 | 17.1 | % | ||||
Québec | 101.7 | 5.4 | 94.6 | 4.7 | ||||||
Alberta | 94.0 | 5.0 | 108.4 | 5.4 | ||||||
Other | 32.9 | 1.7 | 37.5 | 1.9 | ||||||
Total Canada | $ 610.0 | 32.2 | % | $ 583.5 | 29.1 | % | ||||
Total | $ 1,894.7 | 100.0 | % | $ 2,001.8 | 100.0 | % | ||||
Non-standard automobile insurance accounted for 29% and 35% of our gross premiums written for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Non-standard automobile insurance is principally provided to individuals who do not qualify for standard automobile insurance coverage because of their payment history, driving record, place of residence, age, vehicle type or other factors. Such drivers typically represent higher than normal risks and pay higher insurance rates for comparable coverage. As underwriting standards for providing standard coverages have become more restrictive and many jurisdictions now require insurance regardless of driving record, high risk individuals have been forced to seek non-standard coverage and have contributed to the increase in the size of the non-standard automobile insurance market.
Non-standard automobile insurance is generally accompanied by increased loss exposure, higher claims experience and a higher incidence of consumer and service provider fraud. In addition, policy renewal rates tend to be low for non-standard automobile policies as policyholders often lapse their policies because of non-payment of premiums and subsequently reapply as new policyholders. This creates an ongoing requirement to replace non-renewing policyholders with new policyholders and to react promptly to issue cancellation notices for non-payment of premiums to mitigate potential bad debt write-offs. However, these factors are mitigated to some extent by higher premium rates, the tendency of high-risk individuals to own low value automobiles, and generally lower limits of insurance coverage.
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The insuring of non-standard drivers is often transitory, and when their driving records improve, insureds may qualify to obtain insurance in the standard market at lower premium rates. As a result, our non-standard automobile insurance policies experience a retention rate that is lower than that experienced for standard market risks. Most of our insureds pay their premiums on a monthly instalment basis. We typically limit our risk of non-payment of premiums by requiring a deposit for two months of insurance premiums and the prepayment of subsequent instalments.
In the United States and Canada, automobile insurers are generally required to participate in various involuntary residual market pools and assigned risk plans that provide automobile insurance coverages to individuals or other entities that are unable to purchase such coverage in the voluntary market. For example, in Ontario, every insurer is required to be a member of the Facility Association, an entity that was created to ensure the availability of automobile insurance to every motorist. The Facility Association selects designated carriers to provide coverage and claims handling services to drivers who are unable to purchase insurance through private carriers, in return for an administration fee. Assessments from the Facility Association increased our underwriting profit by $4.3 million in 2005 and by $3.4 million in 2004. Participation in these pools in most jurisdictions is in proportion to voluntary writings of selected lines of business in that jurisdiction.
In Canada, we are the largest writer of non-standard automobile insurance and operate primarily in Ontario, Québec and Alberta, with Ontario being our largest market in 2005. The non-standard automobile insurance market in Canada is primarily focused on providing drivers with minimum levels of liability coverage with accident benefit insurance.
In the United States, we write non-standard automobile insurance in Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Indiana, Texas, Georgia, California, Louisiana, Ohio and Virginia. Our business in Illinois is presently concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area, although we are expanding into other areas. In the United States, non-standard automobile insurance policies generally have lower limits of insurance commensurate with the minimum coverage requirement under the statute of the state in which we write the business. These limits of liability are typically not greater than $40,000 per occurrence.
During the year, we entered into a program management agreement with the Robert Plan Corporation to assume its non-standard automobile risks commencing January 1, 2006. In states where non-standard automobile risks are assigned to standard automobile insurance companies, the Robert Plan, through one of our subsidiaries, offers to assume these assigned risks from the standard insurer for a pre-agreed buy-out fee.
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We provide coverage for liability, accident benefits, physical damage, cargo and comprehensive general liability under a package program throughout both Canada and the United States. In Canada, we may offer policies with limits of liability of up to C$10 million as many of our insured trucks travel throughout the U.S. and Canada. We then purchase reinsurance to limit our exposure for any one risk or occurrence to C$2.5 million. In the United States we do not offer policies for trucking liability in excess of $1 million per risk. Recent market conditions have allowed us to increase our prices and expand our relationships. We are now the largest trucking insurer in North America as well as the second largest in both Canada and the United States.
In the year ended December 31, 2005, gross premiums written from trucking were $587.4 million compared to $582.6 million in 2004. Trucking insurance accounted for 31% and 29% of our gross premiums written for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Commercial automobile policies provide coverage for taxis, rental car fleets and garage risks. Through American Service and American Country, we are the largest writer of taxi risks in Chicago, Illinois and Las Vegas, Nevada. In the year ended December 31, 2005, gross premiums written from commercial automobile decreased by 4% to $226.8 million compared to $236.8 million in 2004.
Standard automobile insurance provides coverage for drivers of standard risk private passenger automobiles. Premiums for these types of policies are usually lower than premiums charged in the non-standard market for comparable coverages. However, the frequency and severity of accidents and other loss events are also typically lower. Our standard automobile business is written in Ontario and Alberta. In the year ended December 31, 2005, gross premiums written from standard automobile increased by 2% to $130.0 million compared to $127.3 million in 2004.
Motorcycle insurance consists primarily of liability, physical damage and personal injury insurance coverages. In Canada, we are the leading writer of motorcycle insurance, writing over 30% of the total market, and we write motorcycle insurance in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and Québec. We also write motorcycle insurance in the United States. In the year ended December 31, 2005, gross premiums written from motorcycle increased by 27% to $59.5 million compared to $47.0 million in 2004.
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We write property (including liability) insurance for businesses and individuals in Canada and the United States. This business focuses on insuring against damage to property and accidents that may occur on such property. Our commercial property and liability business consists of risks that are difficult to place due to class, age, location or occupancy of the risk. These risks are characterized by high premiums and deductibles and limited coverage. We generally limit our exposure to no more than C$0.5 million in Canada and $0.5 million in the United States on any one risk.
Our specialty property business includes insurance for restaurants, rental properties and garages. We also write non-hydrant protected homeowners insurance and habitational risks which do not qualify for coverage by writers of standard insurance. We also offer pet health insurance in the United States.
We provide coverage on a very itemized named perils basis with relatively high rates and high deductibles for risks that are considered substandard by other companies. We believe these risks provide us with the opportunity to achieve attractive returns.
During the year, we acquired Zephyr Insurance Company Inc., a provider of residential wind insurance coverage in the state of Hawaii. Zephyrs operating niche complements our core strategy of providing products and services to specific, defined segments of the insurance marketplace. Zephyr is protected by a reinsurance program further described in the reinsurance section of Managements Discussion and Analysis.
Our strategy is to operate as a niche underwriter of classes of property business that are more difficult to underwrite and offer the potential to achieve higher levels of underwriting profitability. We underwrite this business using our carefully developed underwriting methodology based on a stringent set of criteria. This type of property business is seldom subject to a high degree of competition and we have often been able to write these policies at relatively high rates with fairly restricted coverage.
Our other specialty lines include customs, bail and surety bonds written in both the United States and Canada. Custom bonds involve insuring the timely payment of customs duties on goods imported into the United States and Canada, as well as any penalties incurred due to late payment of the duties or administrative non-compliance. Such duties generally represent less than 5% of the face value of the imported goods. We also write contract payment and performance and other miscellaneous surety bonds as well as bail bonds in California.
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In our warranty insurance business, we assume the liability for performance under the terms of service contracts and limited warranties issued by retailers of automobiles, home appliances, furniture and electronics and by residential home builders. This coverage indemnifies the consumer against loss resulting from service contract claims that occur during a specified period after expiration of the manufacturers or builders warranty which is typically several years later than the year in which the premium is written. We discontinued writing any new warranty business during 2003.
Overview & Strategy
Our business philosophy stresses the importance of both underwriting profits and investment returns to build shareholder value. We manage our investment portfolio primarily to support the liabilities of our insurance operations and to generate investment returns. We invest predominantly in corporate, government and municipal bonds with relatively short durations. We also invest in preferred and common equity securities and other interest-bearing instruments, and we consider our finance premium receivables to be a part of our investment portfolio. Our overall investment strategy is aimed at maximizing returns without compromising liquidity and risk control. All of our investments are managed by professional, third party investment management firms and their performance is actively monitored by management and the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.
Our investment guidelines stress the preservation of capital, market liquidity to support payment of our liabilities and the diversification of risk. With respect to fixed maturity securities, we generally purchase securities with the expectation of holding them to their maturity.
Portfolio Composition
At December 31, 2005, we held cash and investments with a fair value of $2.93 billion and a carrying value of $2.91 billion, resulting in a net unrealized gain of $18.2 million. We currently maintain and intend to maintain an investment portfolio comprised primarily of fixed income securities. Our insurance subsidiaries investments must comply with applicable regulations which prescribe the type, quality and concentration of investments. These regulations in the various jurisdictions in which our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, permit investments in government, state, provincial, municipal and corporate bonds, and preferred and common equities, within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications. Our U.S. operations typically invest in U.S. dollar denominated investments, and our Canadian operations primarily invest in Canadian dollar investments to minimize their exposure to currency rate fluctuations.
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The following table summarizes the fair value of our investment portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents and premium finance receivables, at the dates indicated:
2005 | 2004 | ||||
Type of investment | |||||
Term deposits | $ 381.17 | $ 264.3 | |||
Government bonds | 427.8 | 493.1 | |||
Corporate debt securities | 1,561.5 | 1,386.3 | |||
Subtotal | $ 2,371.0 | $ 2,143.7 | |||
Common shares | $ 363.9 | $ 326.1 | |||
Preferred shares | 1.4 | -- | |||
Finance premiums | 85.7 | 87.2 | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | 111.0 | 87.1 | |||
Total | $ 2,933.0 | $ 2,644.1 | |||
The fair value of equity investments represented 12% of our investment portfolio at December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.
Investment results before the effect of income taxes were as follows:
2005 | 2004 | ||||
Average investments at cost | $ 2,771.9 | $ 2,351.4 | |||
Investment income after expenses | $ 93.0 | $ 74.3 | |||
Percent earned on average Investments (annualized) | 3.4 | % | 3.2 | % | |
Net realized gains | $ 38.2 | $ 20.4 | |||
Total realized yield | 4.7 | % | 4.0 | % | |
Change in unrealized investment gains | $ (43.1 | ) | $ 20.1 | ||
Total return yield | 3.2 | % | 4.9 | % | |
Our investment income, including net realized gains increased by 39% to $131.2 million in 2005, compared to $94.7 million in 2004. The percentages earned on average investments shown in the preceding table compare with the Lehman Brothers Eurodollar Aa or Higher 1-5 Years Index of 1.6% and 2.3% for the Scotia Capital 1-5 Year Euro Canadian Index, 4.9% for the S&P Index and 24.3% for the S&P TSX Index for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005.
The following table summarizes the fair value by contractual maturities of our fixed maturity investment portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, at the dates indicated.
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2005 | 2004 | ||||||||
Due in less than one year | $ 712.7 | 30.1 | % | $ 479.3 | 22.4 | % | |||
Due in one through five years | 1,057.4 | 44.6 | 1,237.3 | 57.7 | |||||
Due after five through ten years | 467.5 | 19.7 | 293.7 | 13.7 | |||||
Due after ten years | 133.4 | 5.6 | 133.4 | 6.2 | |||||
Total | $ 2,371.0 | 100.0 | % | $ 2,143.7 | 100.0 | % | |||
At December 31, 2005, 75% of our fixed income securities, including treasury bills, bankers acceptances, government bonds and corporate bonds have contractual maturities of five years or less compared to 80% as at December 31, 2004.
Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Currently, we maintain a liquid portfolio to ensure there is sufficient cash available for the payment of claims on a timely basis. We believe that our high quality, liquid investment portfolio and our success in underwriting provide us with sufficient liquidity to meet our obligations to our policyholders.
The following table summarizes the composition of the fair value of our fixed maturity investment portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, at the dates indicated, by rating as assigned by S&P or Moodys Investors Service, using the higher of these ratings for any security where there is a split rating.
2005 | 2004 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rating | ||||
AAA/Aaa | 57.1% | 55.1% | ||
AA/Aa2 | 18.8% | 17.9% | ||
A/A2 | 20.0% | 24.2% | ||
Percentage rated A/A2 or better | 95.9% | 97.2% | ||
BBB/Baa2 | 2.0% | 1.0% | ||
BB/Ba2 | 0.9% | 0.2% | ||
B/B2 | 0.5% | 0.1% | ||
CCC/Caa or lower, or not rated | 0.7% | 1.5% | ||
Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
The following chart shows how the fair value of our investment portfolio and cash flow from operations has grown over the last nine years.
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Investment Portfolio at Fair Value (in millions) |
Investment Portfolio Per Share Outstanding (in dollars) |
Cash Flow Generated from Operations (in millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | $ 138 | $ 5.22 | $ 33 |
1997 | 244 | 6.82 | 33 |
1998 | 409 | 11.40 | 43 |
1999 | 457 | 13.43 | 23 |
2000 | 522 | 15.32 | 62 |
2001 | 775 | 15.92 | 134 |
2002 | 1,346 | 27.59 | 382 |
2003 | 2,124 | 38.04 | 471 |
2004 | 2,644 | 47.04 | 392 |
2005 | 2,933 | 51.93 | 274 |
Market risk is the risk that we will incur losses due to adverse changes in interest, equity or currency exchange rates and prices. Our primary market risk exposures are to changes in interest rates and equity prices. We have a smaller exposure to changes in the U.S. to Canadian dollar foreign currency exchange rate.
Because most of our investment portfolio is comprised of fixed income securities which are usually held to maturity, periodic changes in interest rate levels generally impact our financial results to the extent that reinvestment yields are different than the original yields on maturing securities. During periods of rising interest rates, the market value of our existing fixed income securities will generally decrease and our realized gains on fixed income securities will likely be reduced. The reverse is true during periods of declining interest rates.
Duration is a measure used to estimate the extent to which market values change with changes in interest rates. Using this measure, it is estimated that an immediate hypothetical 100 basis point parallel increase in interest rates would decrease the market value of our fixed maturity investments by $66.9 million, representing 2.8% of the $2,371.0 million fair value fixed maturity investment portfolio.
Fluctuations in value of our equity securities, representing approximately 12% of the fair value of the investment portfolio at December 31, 2005, due to changes in general economic or stock market conditions, affect the level and timing of recognition of gains and losses on securities we hold, causing changes in realized and unrealized gains and losses.
We do not hedge any foreign currency exposure that may exist in the portfolio. Our U.S. operations generally hold their investments in U.S. dollar denominated investments, and our Canadian operations in Canadian dollar investments.
With the exception of U.S. and Canadian government bonds, it is our policy to limit our investment concentration at each of our subsidiary companies in any one issuer or related groups to less than 5% of the subsidiary companys investment portfolio.
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Premiums for property and casualty insurance are typically payable at the time a policy is placed in force or renewed. To assist our insureds in making their payments to us, in some instances we offer premium financing either directly or through a separate premium finance company, whereby the insured can pay a portion of the premium in monthly instalments. The insured pays an additional amount for this option, reflecting handling costs and the income we would have earned on such premium, had we received the total amount at the beginning of the policy period. We typically collect sufficient premiums in advance of the period of risk which ensures that in the event of payment default by the insured, we should not have uncollectible balances. The option of monthly premium payments is available only where permitted under the laws or regulations of the specific jurisdictions. Some jurisdictions require the option of monthly premium payments at a specific annual interest rate or monthly charge.
Certain U.S. public companies include this income in computing their combined ratio and underwriting profit. We, however, consider our income from our premium finance activities to be a part of investment income, because this additional amount is essentially an interest payment on the balance of unpaid premium. At December 31, 2005, the balance of our financed premiums receivable was $85.7 million compared to $87.2 million at December 31, 2004. The fair value of financed premiums approximates their carrying amount.
All of our investments are managed by professional, third-party investment management firms and we monitor their performance. We have engaged Conning Asset Management, Royal Bank of Canada (Caribbean), Deans Knight Capital Management Limited and J. Zechner Associates Inc. to oversee the majority of the fixed income investment portfolio. In addition, Burgundy Asset Management, Burgundy International Asset Management, Deans Knight Capital Management Limited, Marquest Investment Counsel, SFE Investment Counsel and Kingwest and Company have each been engaged to manage portions of our subsidiaries equity investment portfolios.
We comply with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 related to Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities and recognized losses on securities whose decline in market value was deemed to be other than temporary. We recognized charges of $4.8 million, $1.3 million and $2.5 million for investment value impairment that was considered other than temporary for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
We perform a quarterly analysis of our investment holdings to determine if declines in market value are other than temporary. The analysis includes some or all of the following procedures:
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| identifying all security holdings in an unrealized loss position that has existed for at least six months; |
| obtaining a valuation analysis from third party investment managers regarding the intrinsic value of these holdings based on their knowledge, experience and other market based valuation techniques; |
| reviewing the trading range of certain securities over the preceding calendar period; |
| assessing if declines in market value are other than temporary for debt security holdings based on the investment grade credit rating from third party security rating agencies; |
| assessing if declines in market value are other than temporary for any debt security holding with a non-investment grade credit rating based on the continuity of its debt service record; and |
| determining the necessary provision for declines in market value that are considered other than temporary based on the analyses performed. |
The risks and uncertainties inherent in the assessment methodology used to determine declines in market value that are other than temporary include, but may not be limited to, the following:
| the opinion of professional investment managers could be incorrect; |
| the past trading patterns of individual securities may not reflect future valuation trends; |
| the credit ratings assigned by independent credit rating agencies may be incorrect due to unforeseen or unknown facts related to a companys financial situation; and |
| the debt service pattern of non-investment grade securities may not reflect future debt service capabilities and may not reflect a companys unknown underlying financial problems. |
The length of time securities may be held in an unrealized loss position may vary based on the opinion of our appointed investment managers and their respective analyses related to valuation and to the various credit risks that may prevent us from recapturing our principal investment. In cases where our appointed investment manager determines that there is little or no risk of default prior to the maturity of a holding, we would elect to hold the security in an unrealized loss position until the price recovers or the security matures.
In situations where facts emerge that might increase the risk associated with recapture of principal, securities would be traded and losses realized. Due to the current volatility of the equity markets, we believe there are a number of securities currently trading at values below their respective intrinsic values based on historical valuation measures. In these situations, holdings may be maintained in an unrealized loss position for different periods of time based on the underlying economic assumptions driving the investment managers valuation of the holding. In cases where the economic realities divert from the underlying assumptions driving the investment managers valuation, securities would be traded and losses realized. In cases
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where the economic assumptions coincide with valuation assumptions, the holding would be maintained until the market value of the security recovers in the public markets.
At December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004, the gross unrealized losses amounted to $45.8 million and $16.1 million, respectively. The unrealized loss attributable to non-investment grade fixed income securities at December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 was $1.3 million and nil, respectively.
At December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, unrealized losses related to government bonds and term deposits were considered temporary as there was no evidence of default risk. Corporate bonds, even those below investment grade, in a material unrealized loss position, continued to pay interest and were not subject to material changes in their respective debt ratings. We concluded that a default risk did not exist at the time and, therefore, the decline in value was considered temporary. As we have the capacity to hold these securities to maturity, no investment impairment provision was considered necessary. Common stock positions in an unrealized loss position for more than six months may not be considered impaired based on the underlying fundamentals of the respective holdings. In making our investment impairment decisions, we utilized the professional expertise of our investment advisors, analyzed independent economic indicators and reviewed stock market trends.
In deciding whether to reduce the carrying value of common shares, we take into account a number of factors, including whether the decline in market value is more than 20% and has persisted for a period exceeding six months. In the case of fixed income securities, we also take into account whether the issuer is in financial distress (unable to pay interest or some other situation that would question the issuers ability to satisfy their debt obligations).
The table below segregates the gross unrealized losses at December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 by security type or industry sector.
(In thousands of U.S. dollars) | December 31, 2005 | December 31, 2004 | |||
Mortgage backed | $ 6,359 | $ 474 | |||
Government | 3,235 | 5,401 | |||
Provincial, State, Municipal | 154 | 21 | |||
Financial Services | 12,664 | 3,343 | |||
Energy | 1,298 | 859 | |||
Telecommunications | 141 | 23 | |||
Information Technology | 630 | 59 | |||
Consumer Products | 6,533 | 841 | |||
Metals & Mining | 1,810 | 76 | |||
Industrials | 9,719 | 3,706 | |||
Utilities | 222 | 70 | |||
Media | 1,176 | 121 | |||
Medical | 130 | 28 | |||
Pharmaceuticals | 1,625 | 523 | |||
Retail | 68 | 591 | |||
Real Estate | 45 | -- | |||
Total | $45,809 | $16,136 | |||
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Claims management is the procedure by which an insurance company determines the validity and amount of a claim. We focus on rigorous claims management. We investigate the actual circumstances of the incident that gave rise to the claim and the actual loss suffered. An important part of claims management is verifying the accuracy of the information provided to the insurance company at the time the policy is underwritten. The nature of non-standard automobile insurance typically requires more thorough claims management and in particular, more thorough investigative procedures than other types of insurance. Insurance claims on our policies are investigated and settled by our local claims adjusters, and we may also employ independent adjusters, private investigators, various experts and legal counsel to adjust claims. We believe that effective claims management is fundamental to our operations.
We establish a provision for unpaid claims to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of both reported but unsettled claims and also unreported claims. Our provision for unpaid claims is based on estimated liabilities on individual reported claims (case reserves), estimated provisions for claims that have not yet been reported and expected future development on case reserves; our provision for unpaid claims also includes an estimate of internal or unallocated claims adjustment expenses which we expect to incur in the future. The provision for claims not yet reported and future development on existing case reserves are sometimes referred to as provisions for incurred but not reported claims (IBNR).
The following table shows the amounts of total case reserves and IBNR as at December 31, 2005 and 2004. During 2005 we continued to significantly strengthen reserves on individual claim files (case reserves) in the U.S. and Canadian operations. IBNR reserves were also strengthened in the Canadian operations to reflect growth in the premium volume.The IBNR reserves were reduced for the U.S. operations as a result of the reduction in earned premium volume and the reduction of the inventory of open claims.
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During 2005, our U.S. operations increased case reserves by 7% and decreased IBNR reserves by 8% with a slight increase of 1% in total reserves compared to December 31, 2004. Our Canadian operations increased case reserves by 19%, IBNR by 22% and total reserves by 20% in Canadian dollars and 24% in U.S. dollars.
2005 | 2004 | (%) Increase | |||||
U.S. Operations | |||||||
Case Reserves | $ 665,309 | $ 620,819 | 7 | % | |||
IBNR | 419,534 | 457,076 | (8 | %) | |||
Total unpaid claims | $1,084,843 | $1,077,895 | 1 | % | |||
Canadian Operations (C$ in 000s) | |||||||
Case Reserves | $ 562,121 | $ 472,471 | 19 | % | |||
IBNR | 321,024 | 262,348 | 22 | % | |||
Total unpaid claims | $ 883,145 | $ 734,819 | 20 | % | |||
Total (U.S.$ in 000s) | $ 759,368 | $ 611,330 | 24 | % | |||
Consolidated unpaid claims | $1,844,211 | $1,689,225 | 9 | % | |||
The process for establishing the provision for unpaid claims reflects the uncertainties and significant judgemental factors inherent in predicting future results of both known and unknown claims. As such, the process is inherently complex and imprecise and we are constantly refining our estimates. Factors affecting the provision for unpaid claims include the continually evolving and changing regulatory and legal environment, actuarial studies, professional experience and expertise of our claims personnel and independent adjustors retained to handle individual claims, the quality of the data used for projection purposes, existing claims management practices, including claims handling and settlement practices, the effect of inflationary trends on future claims settlement costs, court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes. In addition, time can be a critical part of the provisions determination, because the longer the span between the incidence of a loss and the payment or settlement of the claims, the more variable the ultimate settlement amount can be. Accordingly, short-tailed claims, such as property claims, tend to be more predictable than long-tailed claims, such as general liability and automobile accident benefit claims, which are less predictable. We do not have exposure to asbestos, environmental or other products liability exposure. Our provision for unpaid claims is not discounted to reflect the time value of expected future payouts of claims.
The process of establishing the provision for unpaid claims relies on the judgement and opinions of a large number of individuals, on historical precedent and trends, on prevailing legal, economic, social and regulatory trends and on expectations as to future developments. The process of determining the provision necessarily involves risks that the actual results will deviate, perhaps substantially, from the best estimates made. This evaluation includes a
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re-estimation of the liability for unpaid claims relating to each preceding financial year compared to the liability that we originally established. In addition, we conduct a review of all open claims each quarter and consider all factors into the provisions calculation. Accordingly, as experience develops and new information becomes known, we adjust our reserves as necessary following these evaluations. Any adjustments are reflected in our consolidated statement of income in the period in which they become known and are accounted for as changes in estimates. Even after such adjustments, ultimate liability or recovery may exceed or be less than the revised estimates.
Each operating company separately establishes, maintains and evaluates its respective provisions for unpaid claims for statutory reporting purposes. The process undertaken by each operating company includes evaluating all of its respective policy coverages and paid and open claim level data to ascertain claim frequency and severity trends, as well as the effects, if any, inflation or changes in operating structure or process may have on future loss settlements. The management of each operating company has responsibility to ensure that the IBNR reserve methodologies are appropriate, based on lines of business and geographic region. Management incorporates all of the above information to record its best estimate of liabilities for unpaid claims.
Once an amount for liabilities for unpaid claims is established by management of each of our insurance subsidiaries, our independent appointed actuary, Towers Perrin Inc., reviews managements methodologies, data and work papers to ascertain whether the provision for unpaid claims as established by management is reasonably stated and within the appointed independent actuarys range of reserve estimates. As these processes are undertaken independently, the provision recorded by management can differ from the actuarys point estimate. The provisions for unpaid claims established by each operating company are then consolidated. In accordance with actuarial standards, in the United States the independent actuary develops a range of reserve estimates and a recommended point estimate of reserves, and in Canada they develop a point estimate. The point estimate is intended to represent the independent actuarys best estimate and will not necessarily be at the mid-point of the high and low estimates of their range.
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The range of reserve estimates for unpaid claims for our U.S. subsidiaries estimated by our independent appointed actuary and the actual carried provision for unpaid claims were as follows:
Low | High | Carried | |||||
U.S. Operations | |||||||
Lincoln General Insurance Company | $ 689.5 | $ 859.9 | $ 761.7 | ||||
Universal Casualty Insurance Company | 42.1 | 48.7 | 44.3 | ||||
American Service Insurance Company | 72.3 | 83.7 | 78.2 | ||||
American Country Insurance Company | 115.4 | 134.3 | 120.2 | ||||
U.S. Security Insurance Company | 57.0 | 66.0 | 62.5 | ||||
Southern United Fire Insurance Company | 15.0 | 17.3 | 16.3 | ||||
Kingsway Reinsurance Corporation (Barbados) | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | ||||
$ 992.9 | $ 1,211.5 | $ 1,084.8 | |||||
Canadian Operations | |||||||
Kingsway General Insurance Company | $ 587.5 | ||||||
York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company | 123.9 | ||||||
Jevco Insurance Company | 48.0 | ||||||
$ 759.4 | |||||||
Total Consolidated Provision for Unpaid Claims | $ 1,844.2 | ||||||
Low | High | Carried | |||||
U.S. Operations | |||||||
Lincoln General Insurance Company | $ 669.0 | $ 856.6 | $ 759.8 | ||||
Universal Casualty Insurance Company | 35.0 | 46.8 | 43.8 | ||||
American Service Insurance Company | 58.9 | 71.3 | 65.6 | ||||
American Country Insurance Company | 109.5 | 130.8 | 120.2 | ||||
U.S. Security Insurance Company | 58.5 | 66.3 | 61.5 | ||||
Southern United Fire Insurance Company | 22.1 | 25.3 | 23.4 | ||||
Kingsway Reinsurance Corporation (Barbados) | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | ||||
$ 956.6 | $ 1,200.7 | $ 1,077.9 | |||||
Canadian Operations | |||||||
Kingsway General Insurance Company | $ 476.0 | ||||||
York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company | 91.2 | ||||||
Jevco Insurance Company | 44.1 | ||||||
$ 611.3 | |||||||
Total Consolidated Provision for Unpaid Claims | $ 1,689.2 | ||||||
To the extent that managements estimates of reserve levels at our individual insurance subsidiaries are less than the point estimates recommended by our independent actuary, our policy is that those reserve levels will be increased to levels that are no less than the recommended point estimate. Under Canadian actuarial practice the appointed actuary does not provide a range of reserve estimates, but provides a point estimate for estimated claims liabilities. At December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, each of our Canadian subsidiaries recorded at least 100% of the point estimate recommended by the independent appointed actuary.
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The following table summarizes the provision for unpaid claims, net of recoveries from reinsurers, established as at the end of the years 1995 through 2004 for our Canadian operations and at the end of years 1998 to 2004 for our U.S. operations. The table compares the re-estimation of those liabilities as at December 31, 2005.
As at December 31, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except percentages) |
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unpaid claims - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
originally established - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
end of year, gross | 1,844,211 | 1,689,225 | 1,310,623 | 765,322 | 358,431 | 287,589 | 306,400 | 291,642 | 132,421 | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
Less: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable | |||||||||||||||||||||||
on unpaid losses | 181,660 | 225,945 | 122,013 | 85,584 | 64,450 | 61,703 | 83,120 | 88,084 | 44,968 | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
Unpaid claims - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
originally established - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
end of year, net | 1,662,551 | 1,463,280 | 1,188,610 | 679,738 | 293,981 | 225,886 | 223,280 | 203,558 | 87,453 | 47,776 | 17,831 | ||||||||||||
Cumulative paid (net of currency | |||||||||||||||||||||||
translation impact) as of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
One year later | 652,063 | 584,926 | 319,762 | 190,592 | 123,401 | 102,014 | 84,189 | 35,519 | 24,094 | 10,015 | |||||||||||||
Two years later | 961,581 | 588,722 | 264,540 | 197,048 | 159,852 | 134,514 | 52,746 | 32,615 | 14,039 | ||||||||||||||
Three years later | 774,237 | 361,004 | 237,490 | 206,022 | 171,143 | 64,776 | 40,829 | 18,011 | |||||||||||||||
Four years later | 428,345 | 284,187 | 224,388 | 198,501 | 76,710 | 44,424 | 22,356 | ||||||||||||||||
Five years later | 313,360 | 247,982 | 204,960 | 85,312 | 48,324 | 22,995 | |||||||||||||||||
Six years later | 263,347 | 217,441 | 86,367 | 50,461 | 25,008 | ||||||||||||||||||
Seven years later | 225,133 | 89,301 | 51,309 | 25,072 | |||||||||||||||||||
Eight years later | 93,877 | 52,403 | 24,991 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nine years later | 54,090 | 24,511 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ten years later | 25,602 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Re-estimated liability as of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
One year later | 1,487,513 | 1,241,806 | 818,220 | 363,478 | 246,236 | 220,130 | 198,477 | 78,744 | 45,592 | 20,312 | |||||||||||||
Two years later | 1,399,699 | 915,439 | 424,140 | 274,450 | 228,163 | 200,535 | 80,657 | 47,690 | 19,683 | ||||||||||||||
Three years later | 984,681 | 475,385 | 313,491 | 241,142 | 206,453 | 82,584 | 48,527 | 22,225 | |||||||||||||||
Four years later | 496,804 | 335,425 | 263,761 | 217,153 | 84,973 | 48,622 | 22,712 | ||||||||||||||||
Five years later | 343,174 | 274,120 | 226,096 | 90,521 | 49,763 | 23,039 | |||||||||||||||||
Six years later | 275,388 | 230,652 | 94,191 | 51,853 | 23,790 | ||||||||||||||||||
Seven years later | 231,725 | 96,355 | 53,747 | 24,667 | |||||||||||||||||||
Eight years later | 96,107 | 54,506 | 25,093 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nine years later | 54,989 | 25,257 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ten years later | 25,237 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As at December 31, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative deficiency | 24,233 | 211,089 | 304,944 | 202,823 | 117,288 | 52,108 | 28,167 | 8,654 | 7,214 | 7,405 | |||||||||||||
Cumulative deficiency as a % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
of reserves originally | |||||||||||||||||||||||
established - net | 1.66 | % | 17.76 | % | 44.86 | % | 68.99 | % | 51.92 | % | 23.34 | % | 13.84 | % | 9.90 | % | 15.10 | % | 41.53 | % | |||
Re-estimated liability - gross | 1,713,087 | 1,557,886 | 1,115,566 | 582,492 | 415,819 | 363,846 | 334,591 | 141,901 | -- | -- | |||||||||||||
Less: Re-established | |||||||||||||||||||||||
resinsurance recoverable | 225,573 | 158,187 | 130,885 | 85,688 | 72,645 | 88,458 | 102,866 | 45,794 | -- | -- | |||||||||||||
Re-estimated liability - net | 1,487,514 | 1,399,699 | 984,681 | 496,804 | 343,174 | 275,388 | 231,725 | 96,107 | -- | -- | |||||||||||||
Cumulative deficiency - gross | 23,862 | 247,263 | 350,244 | 224,061 | 128,230 | 57,446 | 42,949 | 9,480 | -- | -- | |||||||||||||
% of reserves originally | |||||||||||||||||||||||
established - gross | 1.41 | % | 18.87 | % | 45.76 | % | 62.51 | % | 44.59 | % | 18.75 | % | 14.73 | % | 7.16 | % | -- | -- | |||||
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The foregoing table presents the development of unpaid claims liabilities reflected on our balance sheets as at each year end December 31, 1995 through December 31, 2005. The top line of the table presents the estimated liability for unpaid claims recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. This liability represents the estimated amount of losses and loss adjustment expenses for claims unpaid at the balance sheet date, including losses that had been incurred and not reported. The table also presents the re-estimated liabilities for unpaid claims on a gross basis, with separate disclosure of the re-estimated reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims for years 1997 through 2004. Information related to gross unpaid claims development is not available for years 1996 and prior.
The development of the provision for unpaid claims is shown by the difference between estimates of claims as of the initial year end and the re-estimated liability at each subsequent year end. This is based on actual payments in full or partial settlement of claims, plus re-estimates of the payments required for claims still open or claims still unreported. Favourable development (reserve redundancy) means that the original claim estimates were higher than subsequently determined. Unfavourable development (reserve deficiency) means that the original claim estimates were lower than subsequently determined.
The table presents the cumulative amount paid with respect to the previously recorded liability as of the end of each succeeding year and the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded liability based on experience as of the end of the succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as more information about the claims becomes known for individual years. For example, as of December 31, 2005, we had paid $774.2 million of the currently estimated $979.3 million of claims that had been incurred through the end of 2002; thus an estimated $205.1 million of losses incurred prior to December 31, 2002 remain unpaid as of December 31, 2005.
The cumulative development represents the aggregate change in the estimates over all prior years. For example, unpaid claims at December 31, 1995 have developed adversely by $7.4 million over the subsequent ten years and unpaid claims at December 31, 1998 have developed adversely by $28.2 million over the subsequent seven years. The effects on income during the past three years due to changes in estimates of unpaid claims is shown in note 10(b) to the consolidated financial statements as the prior years contribution to incurred losses.
Each cumulative development amount includes the effects of all changes in amounts during the current year for prior periods and the impact of currency translation. For example, the amount of the development related to losses settled in 2005, but incurred in 1999, will be included in the cumulative development amounts for years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. In addition, the deficiency identified during the year 2005 of $24.2 million was attributable to unpaid claims as at December 31, 2004 for unpaid claims for the year 2004 and all prior years. There was a redundancy of $133.7 million related to claims occurring in accident year 2004 and deficiencies of $88.7 million related to claims occurring in accident year 2003, $47.8 million to claims in 2002, $13.7 million to claims occurring in 2001 and $7.7 million to claims occurring in 2000 and prior years.
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The following table is derived from the unpaid claims re-estimates on the previous page and summarizes the effect of re-estimates, net of reinsurance, on calendar year consolidated operations for the nine-year period ended December 31, 2005. The first number in each row details the amount of reserve re-estimates included in the indicated calendar year and shows the accident year to which the re-estimates apply.
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except percentages)
By Accident Year | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 & prior |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
By Calendar Year | |||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | (24,233 | ) | (133,660 | ) | 88,651 | 47,823 | 13,670 | 6,481 | 195 | 1,321 | (731 | ) | 483 | ||||||||
2004 | (53,196 | ) | (44,023 | ) | 45,974 | 29,311 | 11,575 | 5,803 | 2,392 | 1,405 | 759 | ||||||||||
2003 | (138,482 | ) | 77,820 | 21,621 | 16,422 | 13,676 | 5,273 | 1,776 | 1,894 | ||||||||||||
2002 | (69,497 | ) | 41,283 | 15,235 | 2,279 | 5,152 | 3,458 | 2,090 | |||||||||||||
2001 | (20,350 | ) | 12,317 | 2,118 | 3,529 | 1,248 | 1,141 | ||||||||||||||
2000 | 3,150 | (5,208 | ) | 131 | 1,832 | 95 | |||||||||||||||
1999 | 5,081 | (6,994 | ) | 1,076 | 837 | ||||||||||||||||
1998 | 8,709 | (10,807 | ) | 2,098 | |||||||||||||||||
1997 | 2,184 | (2,184 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | (24,233 | ) | (186,856 | ) | (93,854 | ) | 102,120 | 85,535 | 65,180 | 23,941 | 19,513 | 1,441 | 7,213 | ||||||||
Combined ratio as reported | 97.2 | % | 97.8 | % | 101.6 | % | 99.8 | % | 99.1 | % | 101.0 | % | 102.6 | % | 93.9 | % | 95.8 | % | |||
Net reserve re-estimates | (1.4 | )% | (10.5 | )% | (5.5 | )% | 9.2 | % | 15.2 | % | 17.9 | % | 8.0 | % | 9.2 | % | 1.2 | % | |||
Accident year combined ratio | 95.8 | % | 87.3 | % | 96.1 | % | 109.0 | % | 114.3 | % | 118.9 | % | 110.6 | % | 103.1 | % | 97.0 | % | |||
The following table shows the effect of these re-estimates on our Canadian and U.S. operations combined ratios:
By Accident Year | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canadian Operations | |||||||||||||||||||
Combined ratio as reported | 96.1 | % | 97.9 | % | 111.8 | % | 108.4 | % | 103.1 | % | 101.8 | % | 104.8 | % | 92.0 | % | 95.8 | % | |
Net reserve re-estimates | (0.4 | )% | (18.0 | )% | (19.0 | )% | 10.6 | % | 17.5 | % | 30.3 | % | 16.6 | % | 18.6 | % | 1.2 | % | |
Accident year combined ratio | 95.7 | % | 79.9 | % | 92.8 | % | 119.0 | % | 120.6 | % | 132.1 | % | 121.4 | % | 110.6 | % | 97.0 | % | |
By Accident Year | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Operations | |||||||||||||||||||
Combined ratio as reported | 97.7 | % | 97.7 | % | 98.3 | % | 97.2 | % | 96.8 | % | 100.9 | % | 100.6 | % | 97.0 | % | |||
Net reserve re-estimates | (1.8 | )% | (7.6 | )% | (1.4 | )% | 8.8 | % | 13.8 | % | 7.1 | % | 0.5 | % | (1.5 | )% | |||
Accident year combined ratio | 95.9 | % | 90.1 | % | 96.9 | % | 106.0 | % | 110.6 | % | 108.0 | % | 101.1 | % | 95.5 | % | |||
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Information with respect to our liability for unpaid claims and the subsequent development of those claims is presented in the following tables.
Liability for Unpaid Claims December 31, | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Line of Business | 2005 | 2004 | |||
(In thousands of U.S. dollars) | |||||
Non-Standard Auto | $ 472,459 | $ 495,013 | |||
Standard Auto | 111,491 | 80,661 | |||
Commercial Auto | 211,341 | 184,001 | |||
Trucking | 682,380 | 620,141 | |||
Motorcycle | 89,052 | 66,621 | |||
Property & Liability | 232,236 | 199,463 | |||
Other | 45,252 | 43,325 | |||
Total | $1,844,211 | $1,689,225 | |||
Liability for Unpaid Claims Net of Reinsurance Recoverables December 31, | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Line of Business | 2005 | 2004 | |||
(In thousands of U.S. dollars) | |||||
Non-Standard Auto | $ 459,574 | $ 460,025 | |||
Standard Auto | 107,414 | 77,123 | |||
Commercial Auto | 208,555 | 176,901 | |||
Trucking | 602,451 | 519,615 | |||
Motorcycle | 66,229 | 49,958 | |||
Property & Liability | 178,944 | 142,782 | |||
Other | 39,384 | 36,876 | |||
Total | $1,662,551 | $1,463,280 | |||
These net increases in prior years incurred claims, net of reinsurance, for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were $24.2 million, $53.2 million and $138.5 million, respectively. The following tables identify the relative contribution of the increases (decreases) in incurred claims attributable to the respective products and incurred loss years.
Year Ended December 31, 2005 (In thousands of U.S. dollars) | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Motorcycle | Trucking | Standard Auto |
Non- Standard Auto |
Property & Liability |
Other | Total | |||||||||
2000 & prior | $ 197 | $ (230 | ) | $ (638 | ) | $ 4,883 | $ 2,301 | $ 1,236 | $ 7,749 | ||||||
2001 | (933 | ) | 5,012 | 341 | 4,611 | 3,248 | 1,391 | 13,670 | |||||||
2002 | 1,946 | 15,851 | 1,379 | 13,462 | 8,565 | 6,620 | 47,823 | ||||||||
2003 | (636 | ) | 46,305 | 938 | 17,601 | 17,472 | 6,972 | 88,651 | |||||||
2004 | (3,762 | ) | (32,695 | ) | (12,164 | ) | (62,944 | ) | (13,128 | ) | (8,968 | ) | (133,660 | ) | |
Total | $(3,188 | ) | $ 34,243 | $(10,144 | ) | $(22,387 | ) | $ 18,458 | $ 7,251 | $ 24,233 | |||||
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Year Ended December 31, 2004 (In thousands of U.S. dollars) | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Motorcycle | Trucking | Standard Auto |
Non- Standard Auto |
Property & Liability |
Other | Total | |||||||||
1999 & prior | $ 1,647 | $ 1,302 | $ 337 | $ 5,197 | $ 1,201 | $ 675 | $ 10,359 | ||||||||
2000 | 455 | 1,834 | 853 | 6,922 | 230 | 1,281 | 11,575 | ||||||||
2001 | 2,736 | 7,430 | 1,562 | 14,939 | 1,233 | 1,411 | 29,311 | ||||||||
2002 | 284 | 27,895 | 1,266 | 13,368 | (2,230 | ) | 5,391 | 45,974 | |||||||
2003 | (5,279 | ) | (7,735 | ) | (2,443 | ) | (22,122 | ) | (7,503 | ) | 1,059 | (44,023 | ) | ||
Total | $ (157 | ) | $ 30,726 | $ 1,575 | $ 18,304 | $(7,069 | ) | $9,817 | $ 53,196 | ||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2003 (In thousands of U.S. dollars) | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Motorcycle | Trucking | Standard Auto |
Non- Standard Auto |
Property & Liability |
Other | Total | |||||||||
1998 & prior | $ 107 | $ 2,485 | $ 861 | $ 4,254 | $ 1,378 | $ (142 | ) | $ 8,943 | |||||||
1999 | 196 | 578 | 1,142 | 9,581 | 1,479 | 700 | 13,676 | ||||||||
2000 | 1,357 | 1,219 | 3,431 | 8,247 | 1,585 | 583 | 16,422 | ||||||||
2001 | 277 | 10,237 | 1,863 | 13,119 | 1,343 | (5,218 | ) | 21,621 | |||||||
2002 | (539 | ) | 8,314 | 2,341 | 42,468 | 5,501 | 19,735 | 77,820 | |||||||
Total | $ 1,398 | $22,833 | $9,638 | $77,669 | $11,286 | $ 15,658 | $138,482 | ||||||||
The following table shows the sources of the prior years development in the U.S. and Canada by line of business.
Increase (decrease) in claims incurred for unpaid claims arising from prior periods net for external reinsurance | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
for the year ended December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
(in millions of U.S. dollars) | |||||||
United States Operations | |||||||
Trucking | $ 29.5 | $ 23.8 | $ 13.0 | ||||
Southern United non-standard automobile | (2.4 | ) | 4.1 | 3.4 | |||
Commercial automobile | 3.1 | 3.3 | 10.8 | ||||
Lincoln General program non-standard automobile | (19.4 | ) | 2.9 | 14.8 | |||
Florida non-standard automobile | (2.8 | ) | 0.6 | 13.5 | |||
Other | 14.2 | (12.5 | ) | 9.8 | |||
Subtotal U.S. Operations | $ 22.2 | $ 22.2 | $ 65.3 | ||||
Canadian Operations | |||||||
Alberta non-standard automobile | $ 12.6 | $ 15.7 | $ 24.3 | ||||
Commercial automobile | 2.9 | 7.6 | 13.1 | ||||
Trucking | 4.7 | 6.9 | 9.9 | ||||
Ontario private passenger automobile | (10.5 | ) | 4.8 | 23.1 | |||
Other | (7.7 | ) | (4.0 | ) | 2.8 | ||
Subtotal Canadian Operations | $ 2.0 | $ 31.0 | $ 73.2 | ||||
Total increase in claims incurred for | |||||||
unpaid claims arising from prior periods | $ 24.2 | $ 53.2 | $ 138.5 | ||||
As a % of unpaid claims at prior year end | 1.4 | % | 4.1 | % | 18.1 | % | |
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The other category includes all development both favourable and unfavourable on other lines of business that the Companys subsidiaries write and geographic portions of existing lines of business, already disclosed, where there has been little favourable or unfavourable development. The other lines of business include surety, workers compensation and property and liability lines of business.
United States Operations
Long-Haul Trucking
At December 31, 2005 and 2004 the provision for unpaid claims for our U.S. long-haul trucking business was $519.1 million, and $485.0 million, respectively. Adverse development related to long-haul trucking business in the U.S. was $29.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $23.8 million in 2004. Development was experienced at Lincoln General on the trucking liability line of business for accident years 2003 and 2002. This development was the result of Lincoln General being able to bring the claims settlement process in-house for terminated programs, increased staffing for in-house programs and additional oversight for active programs where third party administrators continue to be utilized.
Commercial Automobile
At December 31, 2005 and 2004 the provision for unpaid claims for our U.S. commercial automobile business was $153.2 million, and $133.9 million, respectively. Adverse development related to commercial automobile in the U.S. was $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $3.3 million in 2004. During 2003 we carried out a more extensive analysis of both internal and external data to determine appropriate levels of indemnity and allocated loss adjustment expenses for our taxi business. We now incorporate a more extensive analysis of both internal and external data as well as a redefinition of the internal costs to be allocated to loss adjustment expenses.
Non-Standard Automobile
Lincoln General experienced favourable development on its non-standard automobile programs of $19.4 million in 2005 and adverse development of $2.9 million in 2004. The development experienced during 2004 and 2003 has been alleviated due to improved trends in loss settlement which, led to favourable development on several non-standard automobile programs at Lincoln General in 2005. The problems experienced in Florida during 2003 were related to personal injury protection litigation which gave rise to increased estimates for allocated loss adjustment expenses. These issues were addressed in the claims handling procedures by U.S. Security and have allowed them to show favourable development of $2.8 million in 2005 on the Florida non-standard automobile business.
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Canadian Operations
Alberta Non-Standard Automobile
Alberta non-standard automobile business contributed $12.6 million of prior years claims development in 2005, compared to $15.7 million in 2004. An increase in average reserves due to the continued escalation in bodily injury claim settlements as well as the standardization of our reserving methodology was the reason for the adverse claims development in 2004 in Alberta, where we increased existing case reserves based on actual settlement patterns.
Ontario Private Passenger Automobile
Ontario automobile business contributed $10.5 million of prior years favourable claims development in 2005, an improvement over the $4.8 million of adverse development experienced in 2004. The improvement in the Ontario results reflect changes made beginning in 2002, when we revised our reserve methodology to react to the changing claims settlement environment. Although our average claims reserves at December 31, 2005 exceeded our average settlements in 2005, we expect claim settlements to approximate our current reserving position in the future.
Trucking and Commercial Automobile
Trucking and commercial automobile business contributed $7.6 million of development in 2005, an improvement over the $14.5 million reported in 2004. Increases in reserves were due to larger than anticipated settlements, particularly in the U.S., which required upward adjustments to open claim files. Average claim file reserves were increased to reflect this pattern of settlement. Case reserves were increased to reflect the increased cost on injury claims similar to the development experienced on the Ontario automobile business during 2002 and 2003.
Reinsurance
We purchase reinsurance from third parties in order to reduce our liability on individual risks and our exposure to catastrophic events. Reinsurance is insurance purchased by one insurance company from another for part of the risk originally underwritten by the purchasing insurance company. The practice of ceding insurance to reinsurers allows an insurance company to reduce its exposure to loss by size, geographic area, type of risk or on a particular policy. An effect of ceding insurance is to permit an insurance company to write additional insurance for risks in greater
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number or in larger amounts than it would otherwise insure independently, having regard to its statutory capital, risk tolerance and other factors.
We generally purchase reinsurance to limit our net exposure to a maximum amount on any one loss of C$0.5 million in Canada and $0.5 million in the United States with respect to property claims and C$2.5 million in Canada and $1.0 million in the United States with respect to liability claims. In addition, we purchase catastrophe reinsurance which provides coverage in the event of a series of claims arising out of a single occurrence, which limits this exposure in Canada to C$5.0 million per occurrence to a maximum coverage of C$145.0 million, and in the United States to $2.0 million per occurrence to a maximum coverage of $18.0 million. Zephyr is protected by a separate catastrophe reinsurance program under a 95% quota-share treaty and excess of loss treaty. Under this program Zephyr retains up to $7.3 million in net losses subject to a maximum cover of $911 million. Our net exposure for Canadian automobile business claims is C$2.5 million. For most of the non-standard automobile business that we write in the United States, the liability is limited to the minimum statutory liability limits, which are typically not greater than $40,000 per occurrence, depending on the state.
On April 1, 2004, the Company entered into two quota share reinsurance arrangements in Canada and the United States. These treaties were not renewed in 2005. These were taken out with reinsurers rated A+ or better by A.M. Best. Under both treaties, the Company had the option to vary the amount of premiums ceded in any quarter, which provided flexibility in managing premium leverage. These treaties increased the ceded reinsurance in 2004 by $194.3 million or 9.7% of gross premiums written and by $40.8 million or 2.2% in 2005, and decreased net income for the year ended December 31, 2004 by $3.7 million and for the year ended December 31, 2005 by $1.1 million. Overall our external reinsurance ceded represented 4.5% of gross premiums written for the year ended December 31, 2003, 13.1% for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 3.7% for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Reinsurance ceded does not relieve us of our ultimate liability to our insureds in the event that any reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations under its reinsurance contracts. We therefore enter into reinsurance contracts with only those reinsurers who we believe have sufficient financial resources to provide the requested coverage. Reinsurance treaties are generally subject to cancellation by our reinsurers or us on the anniversary date and are subject to renegotiation annually. We regularly evaluate the financial condition of our reinsurers and monitor the concentrations of credit risk to minimize our exposure to significant losses as a result of insolvency of a reinsurer. We believe that the amounts we have recorded as reinsurance recoverables are appropriately established. However, estimating amounts of reinsurance recoverables is subject to various uncertainties and the amounts ultimately recoverable may vary from amounts currently recorded. As of December 31, 2005, we had $223.0 million recoverable from third party reinsurers and other insurers. At December 31, 2005, approximately 90% of the receivables were due from reinsurers that were rated A- or higher.
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Estimating amounts of reinsurance recoverables is also impacted by the uncertainties involved in the establishment of provision for unpaid claims. As our underlying reserves continue to develop, the amount ultimately recoverable may vary from amounts currently recorded. Our reinsurance recoverables are generally unsecured. We regularly evaluate our reinsurers, and the respective amounts recoverable, and an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance is provided for, if needed.
The following table summarizes the composition of the amounts due from reinsurers at December 31, 2005, by the rating as assigned by A.M. Best or Standard & Poors to the applicable reinsurers.
December 31 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A.M. Best / S&P Rating | 2005 | 2004 | |||
A++ | 9.1 | % | 21.2 | % | |
A+ | 16.6 | % | 31.5 | % | |
A | 41.4 | % | 31.3 | % | |
A- | 22.8 | % | 9.0 | % | |
B++/B+/B- | 4.2 | % | 6.3 | % | |
C++/C | 0.2 | % | 0.1 | % | |
Not Rated | 5.7 | % | 0.6 | % | |
Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |
The decline in the percentage of amounts due from reinsurers rated A++ and A+ is caused by the non-renewal in 2005 of the two quota-share agreements entered into in April, 2004. Collateral is held or a provision has been made against approximately 45% of the amounts due from reinsurers with a credit rating below A-.
Results of Operations
For the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004
Gross Premiums Written
During the year ended December 31, 2005, gross premiums written were $1.89 billion compared to $2.00 billion in 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, gross premiums written for our U.S. operations were $1.28 billion, a 9% decrease from 2004, and for our Canadian operations were $609.9 million, an increase of 5% over 2004.
For the year ended December 31, 2005, gross premiums written from trucking and commercial automobile decreased 1% to $814.2 million, from $819.5 million in 2004. Gross premiums written for non-standard automobile decreased 22% to $551.3 million compared with $706.3 million in 2004 due to competitive conditions in several markets and the termination of certain programs.
The amount of premium rate increases for trucking and non-standard automobile moderated in 2005. We experienced more competitive conditions in Florida and Texas where gross premiums declined by 11% to $186.2
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million and 27% to $113.8 million, respectively. In Ontario, favourable market conditions led to an increase of 11% in gross premiums written to $381.1 million. The political environment, including regulated rate freezes and premium roll-backs, caused us to continue to reduce our gross premiums written in Alberta by 13% to $94.0 million in 2005.
Net Premiums Written
Net premiums written increased 5% to $1.82 billion compared with $1.74 billion for the year ended December 31, 2004 as lower levels of gross premiums written were more than offset by a decrease in the percentage ceded to reinsurers. Net premiums written from our U.S. operations were unchanged at $1.24 billion. Net premiums written from our Canadian operations increased 17% to $582.7 million compared with $499.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 due primarily to a reduction in the premiums ceded to reinsurers.
Net Premiums Earned
Net premiums earned increased 1% to $1.79 billion for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared with $1.78 billion for 2004. For our U.S. operations, net premiums earned decreased 5% to $1.21 billion in the year ended December 31, 2005 compared with $1.28 billion in 2004, and for our Canadian operations increased by 16% to $582.5 million compared with $501.9 million in 2004.
Investment Income
Investment income increased by 25% to $93.0 million compared with $74.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The fair value of the investment portfolio increased by 11% in 2005 due to positive cash flow from operations and financing activities. Our annualized investment yield for the year ended December 31, 2005 has increased to 3.4% compared to 3.2% in 2004. This increase is due to the reinvestment of maturing fixed income securities into higher yielding securities as short and medium term yields have increased over the past year.
Net Realized Gains
Net realized gains amounted to $38.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2005 compared with net realized gains of $20.4 million in 2004. The majority of these gains were realized from the disposal of equity investments. Net unrealized gains at December 31, 2005 were $18.2 million compared to $61.3 million at December 31, 2004.
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Claims Incurred
We conducted detailed claim file reviews throughout our Canadian and U.S. operations during 2004 and 2005 to determine the adequacy of case reserving. Revised guidelines have been established for setting reserves for many of our lines, including bodily injury and accident benefit claims in all provinces of Canada which were responsible for a significant portion of the claims development experience in the prior years. As a result of these initiatives, consolidated case reserves were increased 13% during 2005 and IBNR was increased 3%. Overall, unpaid claims have increased 9% while levels of unearned premium reserves have remained relatively flat during 2005.
Our claims ratio for 2005 was 68.3%, compared to 70.9% for 2004. The claims ratio for our U.S. operations was 68.4%, compared with 70.3% for 2004. The claims ratio for our Canadian operations was 68.3% compared to 72.3% for 2004. The results for 2005 and 2004 reflect increases in provision for unpaid claims occurring prior to December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. These increases amounted to approximately $24.2 million, which increased the claims ratio by 1.4% for 2005, compared to $53.2 million and 3.0%, respectively, for 2004.
For our U.S. operations, prior years claims development increased the claims incurred by $22.2 million, a 1.8% increase to the claims ratio in 2005 compared to $22.2 million, a 1.7% increase to the claims ratio in 2004. In 2005, the source of the prior yearsdevelopment in the U.S. operations was primarily long haul trucking on terminated programs ($29.5 million). We adjusted our initial loss development factors on a number of our programs to reflect actual loss trends experienced in 2004 and these new loss development factors will be used in the prospective reserving process.
For our Canadian operations, prior years claims development increased the claims incurred by $2.0 million, a 0.4% increase to the claims ratio in 2005 compared to $31.0 million, a 6.2% increase to the claims ratio in 2004. Kingsway Generals Alberta non-standard automobile business contributed $12.6 million of the prior years claims development in 2005, compared to $15.7 million in 2004. An increase in average reserves due to the continued escalation in bodily injury claim settlements was the reason for the adverse claims development in both 2004 and 2005 for Alberta non-standard automobile, where we increased existing case reserves based on actual settlement patterns. Our Ontario private passenger automobile business contributed $10.5 million of favourable prior years claims development in 2005, compared to adverse development of $4.8 million in 2004. Our Canadian trucking business contributed $4.7 million to the 2005 prior years claims development, compared to $6.9 million in 2004. Increases in reserves were due to larger than anticipated settlements, particularly in the U.S., which required upward adjustments to open claim files. Average claim file reserves were increased in 2005 to reflect this pattern of settlement. Our commercial automobile business in Canada contributed $2.9 million of the prior years claims development in 2005 compared to $7.6 million in 2004. Case reserves were increased to reflect the increased cost on injury claims similar to the development experienced on the Ontario automobile business.
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Underwriting Expenses
Our expense ratio for 2005 was 28.9% compared to 26.9% in 2004. The expense ratio for our Canadian operations for 2005 was 27.8%, compared to 25.8% in 2004 and the expense ratio for our U.S. operations was 29.4% and 27.4%, respectively, in 2005 and 2004.
Combined Ratio
The combined ratio improved to 97.2% in 2005 compared with 97.8% in 2004, which produced a record underwriting profit of $49.8 million compared with $39.4 million in 2004. For 2005, our U.S. operations combined ratio was 97.7% (97.7% in 2004) and for our Canadian operations, combined ratio improved to 96.1% (98.1% in 2004). The improvement in the combined ratio is a result of less adverse development experienced in 2005, thereby lowering the loss ratio. Prior years claims development increased the combined ratio by 1.3% and 3.0% for the year ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. For our U.S. operations, prior year claims development increased the combined ratio by 1.8% in 2005 and 1.7% in 2004, and for the Canadian operations by 0.4% in 2005 and 6.2% in 2004. Assessments from the residual market (Facility Association) resulted in an increase to underwriting profit of $4.3 million in 2005 and $3.4 million in 2004 which also improved the Canadian operations combined ratio by 0.7% in both 2005 and 2004 .
Interest Expense
Interest expense for 2005 was $25.9 million, compared to $21.2 million in 2004, reflecting the increased borrowings used to support the growth in operations.
Net Income and Earnings Per Share
Income before income taxes for 2005 increased by 37% to $154.3 million, compared to $112.4 million in 2004. Net income for 2005 was $135.0 million, a 34% increase over the $101.0 million reported for 2004. Diluted earnings per share were $2.37 for 2005, an increase of 32% over the $1.79 for 2004. The improvement in net income is the result of improvement in the combined ratio in Canadian operations and increased investment income.
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Book Value Per Share and Return on Equity
Book value per share increased by 20% to $14.25 at December 31, 2005 from $11.86 at December 31, 2004. Our return on equity was 18.4% for 2005 compared to 16.6% in 2004.
Balance Sheet
Total assets as at December 31, 2005 grew to $3.80 billion, compared to $3.52 billion as at December 31, 2004. The investment portfolio, including cash increased to $2,914.8 million (fair value $2,933.0 million), compared to $2,582.8 million (fair value $2,644.1 million) as at December 31, 2004. The fair value of the investment portfolio per share outstanding increased 10% to $51.93 compared to $47.04 as at December 31, 2004. Net unrealized gains on the investment portfolio were $18.2 million ($0.32 per share outstanding) at December 31, 2005 compared to $61.3 million ($1.09 per share) at December 31, 2004.
Results of Operations
For the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003
Gross Premiums Written
During the year ended December 31, 2004, gross premiums written were $2.00 billion compared to $1.89 billion in 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2004, gross premiums written for our U.S. operations were $1.42 billion, a nil increase from 2003, and for our Canadian operations were $583.5 million, an increase of 23% over 2003.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, gross premiums written from trucking and commercial automobile increased 4% to $819.5 million, from $788.0 million in 2003. Gross premiums written from non-standard automobile increased 2% to $706.3 million compared with $693.0 million in 2003.
The amount of premium rate increases for trucking and non-standard automobile moderated in 2004. We experienced more competitive conditions in Florida and South Carolina where gross premiums declined by 35% to $208.3 million and 50% to $40.5 million, respectively. In Ontario favourable market conditions together with rate increases implemented during 2003 led to an increase of 56% in gross premiums written to $343.0 million. The political environment, including regulatory rate freezes and premium roll-backs, effected the premium writings in Alberta where gross premiums written were $108.4 million in 2004 compared with $105.8 million in 2003.
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Net Premiums Written
Net premiums written decreased 4% to $1.74 billion compared with $1.80 billion for the year ended December 31, 2003 as a result of lower levels of gross premiums written and an increase in the percentage ceded to reinsurers. Net premiums written from our U.S. operations decreased 9% to $1.24 billion compared with $1.36 billion in the year ended December 31, 2003. Net premiums written from our Canadian operations increased 12% to $499.0 million, compared with $445.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Net Premiums Earned
Net premiums earned decreased 4% to $1.78 billion for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared with $1.71 billion for 2003. For our U.S. operations, net premiums earned decreased 3% to $1.28 billion in the year ended December 31, 2004 compared with $1.31 billion in 2003, and for our Canadian operations increased by 25% to $501.9 million compared with $400.0 million in 2003.
Investment Income
Investment income increased by 32% to $74.3 million compared with $56.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The fair value of the investment portfolio increased by 25% in 2004 due to positive cash flow from operations and capital raised. Our annualized investment yield for the year ended December 31, 2004 remained stable at 3.2% compared to 2003.
Net Realized Gains
Net realized gains amounted to $20.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2004 compared with net realized gains of $41.5 million in 2003. The majority of these gains were realized from the disposal of equity investments, which in 2003 included the disposal of an investment in USA Insurance Group amounting to $14.3 million. Net unrealized gains increased to $61.3 million at December 31, 2004 compared to $41.2 million at December 31, 2003.
Claims Incurred
We conducted detailed claim file reviews throughout our Canadian and U.S. operations during 2003 and 2004 to determine the adequacy of case reserving. Revised guidelines were established for setting reserves for many of our lines, including bodily injury and accident benefit claims in all provinces of Canada which were responsible for a significant portion of the claims development experience in the prior years. As a result of these initiatives, consolidated case reserves were increased 40% during 2004 and IBNR was increased 15%. Overall, unpaid claims have increased 22% while levels of unearned premium reserves remained flat during 2004.
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Our claims ratio for 2004 was 70.9%, compared to 74.5% for 2003. The claims ratio for our U.S. operation was 70.3%, compared with 71.5% for 2003. The claims ratio for our Canadian operations was 72.3% compared to 84.1% for 2003. The results for 2004 and 2003 reflect increases in provision for unpaid claims occurring prior to December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. These increases amounted to approximately $53.2 million, which increased the claims ratio by 3.0% for 2004, compared to $138.5 million and 8.1%, respectively, for 2003.
For our U.S. operations, prior years claims development increased the claims incurred by $22.2 million, a 1.7% increase to the claims ratio, in 2004 compared to $65.3 million, a 5.0% increase to the claims ratio in 2003. In 2004, the source of the prior yearsdevelopment in the U.S. operation was primarily long haul trucking on terminated programs ($23.8 million). We adjusted our initial loss development factors on a number of our programs to reflect actual loss trends experienced in 2003 and these new loss development factors will be used in the prospective reserving process.
For our Canadian operations, prior years claims development increased the claims incurred by $31.0 million, a 6.2% increase in the claims ratio, in 2004 compared to $73.2 million, an 18.3% increase in the claims ratio, in 2003. Kingsway Generals Alberta non-standard automobile business contributed $15.7 million of the prior years claims development in 2004, compared to $24.3 million in 2003. An increase in average reserves due to the continued escalation in bodily injury claim settlements was the reason for the adverse claims development in both 2003 and 2004 for Alberta non-standard automobile, where we increased existing case reserves based on actual settlement patterns. Our Ontario private passenger automobile business contributed $4.8 million of the prior yearsclaims development in 2004, compared to $23.1 million in 2003. Continued health care cost inflation and bodily injury award increases beyond expected levels required reserve levels to be increased on open files for Ontario non-standard automobile on average by approximately 22% in 2004. Our Canadian trucking business contributed $6.9 million to the 2004 prior years claims development, compared to $9.9 million in 2003. Increases in reserves were due to larger than anticipated settlements, particularly in the U.S., which required upward adjustments to open claim files. Average claim file reserves were increased in 2004 to reflect this pattern of settlement. Our commercial automobile business in Canada contributed $7.6 million of the prior years claims development in 2004 compared to $13.1 million in 2003. Case reserves were increased to reflect the increased cost on injury claims similar to the development experienced on the Ontario automobile business.
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Underwriting Expenses
Our expense ratio for 2004 improved to 26.9% compared to 27.1% in 2003. The expense ratio for our Canadian operations for 2004 was 25.8%, compared to 28.0% in 2003 and the expense ratios for our U.S. operations were 27.4% and 26.8%, respectively, in 2004 and 2003.
Combined Ratio
The combined ratio improved to 97.8% compared with 101.6% in 2003, which produced a record underwriting profit of $39.4 million compared with an underwriting loss of $27.2 million in 2003. For 2004, our U.S. operations combined ratio was 97.7% (98.4% in 2003) and for our Canadian operations, the combined ratio improved to 98.1% (112.2% in 2003). The improvement in the combined ratio was a result of less adverse development experienced in 2004 thereby lowering the loss ratio and the lower commission rates paid to brokers in Canada. Prior years claims development increased the combined ratio by 3.0% and 8.1% for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. For our U.S. operations prior year claims development increased the combined ratio by 1.7% in 2004 and 5.0% in 2003, and for the Canadian operations by 6.2% in 2004 and 18.8% in 2003. Assessments from the residual market (Facility Association) resulted in an increase to underwriting profit of $3.4 million in 2004 and an increase in our underwriting loss of $4.7 million in 2003 which also improved the Canadian operations combined ratio by 0.7% in 2004 and increased the Canadian operations combined ratio by 1.2% in 2003.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for 2004 was $21.2 million, compared to $15.1 million in 2003, reflecting the increased borrowings used to support the growth in operations.
Net Income and Earnings Per Share
Income before income taxes for 2004 increased by 105.3% to $112.4 million, compared to $54.7 million in 2003. Net income for 2004 was $101.0 million, a 66% increase over the $60.9 million reported for 2003. Diluted earnings per share were $1.79 for 2004, an increase of 56% over the $1.15 for 2003. The improvement in net income was the result of improvement in the combined ratio in both Canadian and U.S. operations.
Book Value Per Share and Return on Equity
Book value per share increased by 20% to $11.86 at December 31, 2004 from $9.91 at December 31, 2003. Our return on equity was 16.6% for 2004 compared to 12.9% in 2003.
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Balance Sheet
Total assets as at December 31, 2004 grew to $3.52 billion, compared to $2.85 billion as at December 31, 2003. The investment portfolio, including cash increased to $2,582.8 million (fair value $2,644.1 million), compared to $2,082.4 million (fair value $2,123.6 million) as at December 31, 2003. The fair value of the investment portfolio per share outstanding increased 24% to $47.04 compared to $38.04 as at December 31, 2003. Net unrealized gains on the investment portfolio were $61.3 million ($1.09 per share outstanding) at December 31, 2004 compared to $41.2 million ($0.74 per share) at December 31, 2003.
Financial Condition
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The purpose of liquidity management is to ensure that there is sufficient cash to meet all financial commitments and obligations as they fall due. The liquidity requirements of the Companys business have been met primarily by funds generated from operations, asset maturities and income and other returns received on investments. Cash provided from these sources is used primarily for claims and claim adjustment expense payments and operating expenses. The timing and amount of catastrophe claims are inherently unpredictable and may create increased liquidity requirements. The cash requirements of each quarterly dividend payment to shareholders of 6.25 cents (Canadian) per share is approximately C$3.5 million based on the number of shares outstanding as at December 31, 2005. The dividend for the first quarter of 2006 will be paid on March 31, 2006.
We believe that we have the flexibility to obtain, from internal sources, the funds needed to fulfill our cash requirements, including the quarterly dividend, during the current financial year and also to satisfy regulatory capital requirements. However, such funds may not provide sufficient capital to enable us to pursue additional market opportunities.
The Board of Directors voted at its meeting held on November 3, 2005 to commence a normal course issuer bid (NCIB) to repurchase up to 2,823,000 common shares of the Company, being approximately five percent of the total number of common shares then outstanding. Purchases were eligible to commence on November 8, 2005 and must end no later than November 7, 2006. As at December 31, 2005 no common shares had been repurchased under the NCIB. Between January 1, 2006 and March 17, 2006 the Company repurchased 87,900 common shares at a total cost of $2,080,459. All of these common shares have been cancelled.
Net cash provided from the growth in operations in 2003 was $471.3 million, in 2004 was $391.7 million and in 2005 was $273.7 million which significantly increased our investment portfolio. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2003 was $168.3 million, in 2004 was $64.4 million and in 2005 was $10.9 million.
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Float
Insurance companies receive premiums well before claims are paid to policyholders. This timing difference generates a float on which the Company has an opportunity to earn investment income. The float is calculated by subtracting amounts due from reinsurers and other insurers and deferred policy acquisition costs from unpaid claims, unearned premiums and funds withheld payable to reinsurers.
The table below shows the float, split between Canadian and U.S. operations at the end of each of the last six years:
As at December 31, (In thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Canadian Operations |
U.S. Operations | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | $820,823 | $1,300,813 | $2,121,636 | ||||
2004 | 667,906 | 1,332,040 | 1,999,946 | ||||
2003 | 510,601 | 1,139,289 | 1,649,890 | ||||
2002 | 262,035 | 779,777 | 1,041,812 | ||||
2001 | 188,225 | 305,441 | 493,666 | ||||
2000 | 172,875 | 186,572 | 359,447 | ||||
An underwriting profit reflects the benefit, in addition to investment income earned, of the float in that year. An underwriting loss reflects the cost of the float in that year, whereas and underwriting profit generates float at no cost. For the five year period to the end of 2005, the underwriting gain was $68.6 million and the float increased by $1.76 billion to $2.12 billion.
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The following is a description of our various financing arrangements, used to support our growth.
Bank Indebtedness
In February 1999, we entered into a $100 million five year fixed term unsecured credit facility at a fixed rate of LIBOR plus a spread which varied with our credit rating. We drew down the facility in full and entered into an interest rate swap transaction whereby we fixed our rate at 5.91% plus a spread based on our credit rating or the ratio of funded debt to total capitalization, whichever was higher, for the term of the facility. This facility matured and was fully repaid in March 2004. The interest rate swap contracts also matured in March 2004.
In May 2002, we entered into a C$66.5 million 364 day revolving credit facility at a floating interest rate determined based on the type of loan and our senior unsecured debt rating. The facility was renewed in May 2003 for one year and was not renewed in 2004.
In March 2004 we entered into a C$150 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of three banks which replaced the $100 million and C$66.5 million facilities. The debt is guaranteed by Kingsway America and had a maturity date of March 4, 2005. In December 2004 the maturity of the facility was further extended to March 3, 2006. On February 15, 2006, the Company entered into a new C$150 million 364 day revolving credit facility that replaces the existing facility that had a maturity date of March 3, 2006. Depending on the type of loan, the facility bears interest that will be based on the Companys unsecured debt rating. The credit facility contains numerous covenants that may limit our ability, among other things, to borrow money, make particular types of investments or other restricted payments, sell assets, merge or consolidate, pay dividends or redeem capital stock, and incur liens to secure indebtedness. The facility also requires us to maintain specified financial ratios. As of December 31, 2005, the effective interest rate was approximately 5%, we were in compliance with all of the covenants of this credit facility and we had approximately $11.2 million outstanding.
Canadian Senior Debenture Offering
On December 6, 2002, Kingsway Financial sold C$78 million aggregate principal amount of 8.25% senior unsecured debentures due December 31, 2007. The net proceeds of the offering amounted to approximately C$77.1 million, after the application of the underwriters discount and commission. The yield to maturity on the debentures is 8.298%. The debentures are unconditionally guaranteed by Kingsway America. Kingsway Financials obligations under, and Kingsway Americas guarantee of, the debentures will rank equally with the senior notes described below.
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U.S. Senior Note Offering
In January 2004 Kingsway America Inc. issued $100 million 7.50% senior notes due 2014. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Kingsway Financial. The notes will be redeemable at Kingsway Americas option on or after February 1, 2009. Approximately $60 million was used to repay existing bank indebtedness and the remainder used for general corporate purposes. In March 2004 an additional $25 million of these senior notes were issued. The proceeds from this reopening were used to repay existing bank indebtedness.
Subordinated Debt
Between December 2002 and December 2003, Kingsway America issued $90.5 million in 30-year subordinated deferrable interest debentures in six private placement transactions. In each instance, a corresponding floating rate, junior subordinated, deferrable interest debenture was then issued by Kingsway America to a trust in exchange for the proceeds from the private sale.
The floating rate debentures bear interest at the rate of the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits, plus spreads ranging from 3.85% to 4.20%, but until dates ranging from December 4, 2007 to January 8, 2009, the interest rates will not exceed 12.45% to 12.75%. The Company has the right to call each of these securities at par anytime after five years from their issuance until their maturity. These debentures are unconditionally guaranteed by Kingsway Financial. The floating rate debenture issued by Kingsway America and Kingsway Financials guarantee of all debentures will rank junior to the senior notes issued by Kingsway America and the guarantee thereof by Kingsway Financial. The net proceeds to the Company were $95,613,000 in 2003 and $22,198,000 in 2002 after deducting expenses of $6,273,000 and $1,438,000, respectively. The proceeds were used to increase the capital of our U.S. insurance subsidiaries.
Loan Payable
On July 14, 2005 Kingsway Linked Return of Capital Trust completed its public offering of C$78 million of 5.00% Kingsway Linked Return of Capital Preferred Units due June 30, 2015 of which the Company was a promoter. The net proceeds of the offering were used for a series of investments that included the purchase of a C$74.1 million 7.12% senior note due June 30, 2015 issued by an affiliate.
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Contractual Obligations
Our provision for unpaid claims do not have contractual maturity dates. We have included an estimate of when we expect our unpaid claims to be paid, based on historical payment patterns, in the table below. The exact timing of the payment of claims cannot be predicted with certainty. We maintain an investment portfolio with varying maturities and a substantial amount in short-term investments to provide adequate cash flows for the payment of claims. The unpaid claims in the table below have not been reduced for amounts recoverable from reinsurers.
Payments Due by Period | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(In thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Thereafter | Total | ||||||||
Contractual Obligations | |||||||||||||||
Bank Indebtedness | $ 11,767 | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- | $ 11,767 | ||||||||
Senior unsecured | |||||||||||||||
debentures | -- | 67,068 | -- | -- | -- | 125,000 | 192,068 | ||||||||
Subordinated | |||||||||||||||
indebtedness | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 90,500 | 90,500 | ||||||||
Loan Payable | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 66,222 | 66,222 | ||||||||
Unpaid claims | 829,895 | 553,263 | 165,979 | 73,768 | 36,884 | 184,422 | 1,844,211 | ||||||||
Total | $841,662 | $620,331 | $165,979 | $73,768 | $36,884 | $466,144 | $2,204,768 | ||||||||
As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately $360.6 million of total indebtedness. This compares with $340.3 million as at December 31, 2004 and $273.1 million as at December 31, 2003. The total amount of our debt service obligations in 2006 is expected to be approximately $28.1 million. Kingsway Americas payments under its debt obligations are funded through dividends from its U.S. subsidiaries and capital infusions by Kingsway Financial.
Capital Requirements
In Canada, property and casualty insurance companies are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and are required to maintain a level of capital sufficient to achieve a target of 150% of a minimum capital test (MCT) formula. As at December 31, 2005, each of the Canadian subsidiaries had capital in excess of the MCT. See the table below for a company by company analysis.
In the United States, a risk based capital (RBC) formula is used by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to identify property and casualty insurance companies that may not be adequately capitalized. As a minimum, the NAIC requires that capital and surplus not fall below 200% of the authorized control level. As at December 31, 2005, the average statutory capital and surplus was 3.9 times the authorized control level for our U.S. subsidiaries. See the table below for a company by company analysis.
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Capital Requirements As at December 31 |
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MCT (%) | Excess over Minimum(1) |
MCT (%) | Excess over Minimum(1) |
||||||
Canadian Insurance Subsidiaries | |||||||||
Kingsway General | 239 | $ 37.4 | 200 | $ 21.4 | |||||
York Fire | 269 | 13.4 | 362 | 18.6 | |||||
Jevco | 189 | 17.0 | 223 | 25.1 | |||||
Kingsway Reinsurance (Bermuda) Ltd. | 19.1 | 10.2 | |||||||
Total Canadian Operations | $ 86.9 | $ 75.3 | |||||||
U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries | RBC (%) | RBC (%) | |||||||
Lincoln General | 288 | $ 44.4 | 350 | $ 68.8 | |||||
Universal Casualty | 567 | 22.0 | 480 | 17.3 | |||||
American Service | 636 | 20.7 | 410 | 11.6 | |||||
American Country | 381 | 12.6 | 250 | 4.7 | |||||
Hamilton Group | 449 | 13.5 | 330 | 11.1 | |||||
Southern United | 1,840 | 18.4 | 1,310 | 18.2 | |||||
Zephyr | 1,297 | 16.1 | 2,015 | 14.8 | |||||
Kingsway Reinsurance Corporation (Barbados) | 305.2 | 228.8 | |||||||
Total U.S. Operations | $ 452.9 | $ 375.3 | |||||||
Total Consolidated | $ 539.8 | $ 450.6 | |||||||
(1) | Excess over regulatory minimum expressed in millions of U.S. dollars. |
Our reinsurance subsidiaries, which are domiciled in Barbados and Bermuda, are required by the regulator in the jurisdictions in which they operate to maintain minimum capital levels. As of December 31, 2005, the capital maintained by Kingsway Reinsurance Corporation was 458% or $305.2 million in excess of the regulatory requirements in Barbados. As of December 31, 2005, the capital maintained by Kingsway Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited was 151% or $19.1 million in excess of the regulatory requirements in Bermuda.
Based on the various regulatory restrictions, our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries would have aggregate dividend capacity of $377.0 million. In most jurisdictions the payment of dividends is subject to regulatory approval.
Off-Balance Sheet Financing
The Company entered into an off-balance sheet transaction through the Kingsway Linked Return of Capital Trust transaction that was completed on July 14, 2005 which is more fully described in notes 13(d) and 14 of the audited consolidated financial statements. The net proceeds from this offering were invested into a Kingsway controlled entity which is not consolidated based on accounting standards. The effect of this transaction is to show additional debt on the Companys financial statements and an offsetting equity investment of C$8.3 million into the non-consolidated affiliated entity. The Company does not have any other off-balance sheet financing arrangements.
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Standard & Poors Rating of Kingsway Financials Counterparty Credit and Senior Unsecured Debt
On January 29, 2004, Standard & Poors issued its rating of BBB- on the $100 million of our senior notes due 2014 issued in January 2004. On March 8, 2004, Standard & Poors issued its rating of BBB- on an additional $25 million of our senior notes due 2014 issued in March 2004.
On March 17, 2005 Standard and Poors Rating services reaffirmed its counterparty and senior unsecured debt credit ratings on Kingsway Financial of BBB- with a stable outlook.
On August 3, 2005, Standard & Poors issued its rating of BBB- on the Kingsway Return of Capital Trust.
According to Standard & Poors, a BBB- rating (fourth out of nine rating levels) indicates that the obligation has adequate protection parameters; however, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitments under the obligation. A plus or minus designation within a ratings category indicates relative standing within the category.
DBRSs Rating of our Senior Debentures and Senior Notes
On January 31, 2006, Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited (DBRS) confirmed its previous rating of BBBwith a stable outlook on the Senior Debentures. According to DBRS, a BBBrating (fourth out of nine rating levels) indicates that protection of interest and principal is considered adequate, but that the entity is more susceptible to adverse changes in financial and economic conditions, or there may be other adversities present which reduce the strength of the entity and its rated securities. DBRS also assigned a rating trend of stable to our Senior Debentures. According to DBRS, a rating trend gives an indication of what direction the rating in question is headed should the given conditions and tendencies continue.
On July 22, 2005, DBRS issued its rating of Pdf-3 (high) with a stable outlook on the Kingsway Return of Capital Trust. According to DBRS, a Pdf-3 rating (third out of six rating levels) indicates adequate credit quality.
On January 31, 2006, DBRS confirmed its previous rating of BBB with a stable outlook on $125 million of our senior notes issued in January 2004.
On January 31, 2006, DBRS reaffirmed the Companys financial strength rating of BBB with a stable outlook.
Impact of Ratings Changes
We would expect that a downgrade in our rating by either Standard & Poors or DBRS would have a negative impact on our business, such as causing an increase in the interest rate on our bank credit facility.
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Shareholders Equity
As a result of our profitability, shareholders equity increased 21% to $804.7 million at December 31, 2005 compared to $666.5 million at December 31, 2004. During 2005, our shareholders equity was increased by $8.2 million as a result of the currency translation adjustment of our Canadian dollar denominated assets into U.S. dollars. Book value per share outstanding was $14.25 per share at December 31, 2005, an increase of 20% compared to $11.86 per share at December 31, 2004. Book value per share outstanding increased 9% in 2000, 29% in 2001, 16% in 2002, 24% in 2003, 25% in 2004 and 20% in 2005.
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, we are, from time to time, involved in various claims and legal proceedings, including class actions. While it is not possible to estimate the final outcome of these various proceedings at this time, we do not believe the outcome of such proceedings will have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Systems and Technology
Information systems and technology are significant contributors to operational efficiency, customer service and the effective management of our business. On-going investments in information technology will introduce new capabilities and enhance current systems to support electronic commerce and electronic data interchange with our independent agents, brokers, program managers and other business partners. We are creating secure Internet access to information, documents, premium payments, and policy quoting, issue, and maintenance. Duplicate entry of information will be reduced by moving transactions electronically between our systems and our partners systems. Back office system for claims management, billing, and reinsurance are being enhanced. Workflow and document management technology will help us achieve greater efficiency and better customer service. Management information and business intelligence applications will help us to manage our growing business.
Employees
As of December 31, 2005, we employed approximately 2,300 personnel, of whom approximately 865 are located in Canada and approximately 1,435 are located in the United States. None of our employees are represented by a labour union and we have never experienced a work stoppage. We believe our relationship with our employees is good.
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Quarterly Results
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except earnings per share amounts)
2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q4 | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Q4 | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | ||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $439,267 | $452,341 | $478,446 | $524,606 | $473,951 | $472,971 | $516,493 | $538,391 | |||||||||
Net premiums earned | 445,372 | 461,446 | 469,300 | 415,825 | 451,332 | 453,329 | 430,851 | 442,862 | |||||||||
Net income | 35,901 | 31,339 | 29,647 | 38,121 | 29,828 | 23,353 | 24,464 | 23,369 | |||||||||
Earning per share | |||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ 0.64 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.42 | $ 0.44 | $ 0.42 | |||||||||
Diluted | 0.63 | 0.55 | 0.52 | 0.67 | 0.53 | 0.41 | 0.43 | 0.41 | |||||||||
Summary of Quarterly Results
Kingsways quarterly earnings, revenue and expenses are modestly affected by seasonal factors. In 2004 and 2005 the most significant factors contributing to the trend of quarterly earnings were the increases in estimates for unpaid claims from prior accident years, the realized net gains from the investment portfolio, currency fluctuations and positive cash flow generated from operating activities which has enabled the Company to increase its investment portfolio. In 2005 gross premiums written have mainly been affected by the softening market conditions in the U.S., partially offset by an increase in the premiums written in the Canadian market driven by premium rate increases.
Quarterly net premiums earned have been impacted by the softening U.S. market described above, offset by the non-renewal in the first quarter of 2005 of the quota-share reinsurance arrangement entered into in the second quarter of 2004.
Fourth Quarter Results
Gross premiums written in the fourth quarter of 2005 declined 7% to $439.3 million compared to $474.0 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2004. This decrease reflects the softening conditions in certain U.S. markets.
Net premiums earned were $445.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 a decline of 1% compared to $451.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. The quota share decreased the net premium earned in the fourth quarter of 2004 by $48.2 million. After adjusting for this, the net premiums earned declined 11% in the fourth quarter of 2005, primarily due to the softening U.S. market.
Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2005 includes net realized investment gains of $8.2 million compared to $7.0 million of gains reported in the fourth quarter of 2004. Investment income increased 21% to $24.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to $20.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2004.
Net income in the fourth quarter of 2005 increased 20% to $35.9 million compared to $29.8 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2004. The increase is a result of the improved underwriting results recorded by the Company in
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2005 with the combined ratio improving to 97.7% for the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to 98.2% reported for the fourth quarter of 2004. As a result of the increased net income, basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2005 increased to 64 cents and 63 cents, or a 21% and 19% increase, respectively, over the 53 cents reported in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the risks described below and all other information contained in this annual report, including the financial statements and accompanying notes. The risks and uncertainties described below are those we currently believe to be material, but they may not be the only ones we face. If any of the following risks, or any other risks and uncertainties that we have not yet identified or that we currently consider not to be material, actually occur or become material risks, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
Our insurance subsidiariesprovisions for unpaid claims may be inadequate, which would result in a reduction in our net income and might adversely affect our financial condition.
Our insurance subsidiariesprovisions for unpaid claims do not represent an exact calculation of our actual liability, but are estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections at a given point in time of what we expect to be the cost of the ultimate settlement and administration of known and unknown claims. The process for establishing the provision for unpaid claims reflects the uncertainties and significant judgemental factors inherent in estimating future results of both known and unknown claims and as such, the process is inherently complex and imprecise. These estimates are based upon various factors, including:
| Actuarial projections of the cost of settlement and administration of claims reflecting facts and circumstances then known; |
| Estimates of future trends in claims severity and frequency; |
| Judicial theories of liability; |
| Variability in claims handling procedures; |
| Economic factors such as inflation; |
| Judicial and legislative trends, and actions such as class action lawsuits and judicial interpretation of coverages or policy exclusions; and |
| The level of insurance fraud. |
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Most or all of these factors are not directly quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis, and the effects of these and unforeseen factors could negatively impact our ability to accurately assess the risks of the policies that we write. In addition, there may be significant reporting lags between the occurrence of the insured event and the time it is actually reported to the insurer and additional lags between the time of reporting and final settlement of claims.
We continually refine our estimates in an ongoing process as claims are reported and settled. The following factors may have a substantial impact on our future claims incurred:
| The amounts of claims payments; |
| The expenses that we incur in resolving claims; |
| Legislative and judicial developments; and |
| Changes in economic conditions, including inflation. |
As time passes and more information about the claims becomes known, the estimates are appropriately adjusted upward or downward to reflect this additional information. Because of the elements of uncertainty encompassed in this estimation process, and the extended time it can take to settle many of the more substantial claims, several years of experience may be required before a meaningful comparison can be made between actual losses and the original provision for unpaid claims.
The development of the provision for unpaid claims is shown by the difference between estimates of claims as of the initial year end and the re-estimated liability at each subsequent year end. Favourable development (reserve redundancy) means that the original claims estimates were higher than subsequently determined or re-estimated. Unfavourable development (reserve deficiency) means that the original claims estimates were lower than subsequently determined or re-estimated. In recent years, we have experienced reserve deficiencies on prior periods. Although we have made adjustments in our reserving practices and have seen a substantial improvement in our development experienced in 2004 and 2005, we cannot assure you that we will not have additional reserve development in the future. In addition, we have in the past, and may in the future, acquire other insurance companies. We cannot assure you that the provisions for unpaid claims of the companies that we acquire are or will be adequate.
Actual claims and claim adjustment expenses we incur under insurance policies that we write may deviate, perhaps substantially, from the amounts of provisions reflected in our financial statements. To the extent that actual claims incurred exceed our expectations and the provision for unpaid claims reflected on our financial statements, we will be required to reflect those changes by increasing our provision for unpaid claims. In addition, government
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regulators could require that we increase our provisions if they determine that our provision for unpaid claims were understated in the past. When we increase the provision for unpaid claims, our pre-tax strengthening of the provision for unpaid claims causes a reduction in our insurance subsidiaries surplus which could cause a downgrading of the ratings of our insurance subsidiaries. Any such downgrade could, in turn, adversely affect our ability to sell insurance policies. See the Risk Factors section for a more detailed discussion of the impact of a ratings downgrade.
We may experience difficulty in managing our growth, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Growth may place a strain on our management systems and operational and financial resources. We plan to continue to expand our specialty focus into selected regional markets in the United States and Canada and to increase the distribution of our core products in our existing markets. Our future growth and the successful integration and management of new program manager relationships, acquired businesses and other new business involve numerous risks that could adversely affect our profitability, and are contingent on many factors, including:
| expanding our financial, operational and management information systems; |
| managing our relationships with independent agents, program managers and brokers, including maintaining adequate controls; |
| expanding our executive management and the infrastructure required to effectively control our growth; |
| maintaining ratings for certain of our insurance subsidiaries; |
| increasing the statutory capital of our insurance subsidiaries to support growth in written premiums; |
| accurately setting provisions for claims for new business where historical underwriting experience may not be available; |
| obtaining regulatory approval for appropriate premium rates; and |
| obtaining the required regulatory approvals to offer additional insurance products or to expand into additional states or provinces. |
We cannot assure you that we will be able to manage our growth effectively or that we will be successful in expanding our business, that our existing infrastructure will be able to support additional expansion or that any new business will be profitable. If we are unable to manage our growth, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
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Our business is subject to risks related to litigation and regulatory actions.
In addition to the occasional employment-related litigation, we are a defendant in a number of claims relating to our insurance and other related business operations. We may from time to time be subject to a variety of legal and regulatory actions relating to our current and past business operations, including, but not limited to:
| Disputes over coverage or claims adjudication; |
| Disputes regarding sales practices, disclosure, premium refunds, licensing, regulatory compliance and compensation arrangements; |
| Disputes with our agents, producers or network providers over compensation and termination of contracts and related claims; |
| Disputes relating to customers regarding the ratio of premiums to benefits in our various business lines; |
| Disputes with taxing authorities regarding our tax liabilities; and |
| Disputes relating to certain businesses acquired or disposed of by us. |
In addition, plaintiffs continue to bring new types of legal claims against insurance and related companies. Current and future court decisions and legislative activity may increase our exposure to these types of claims. Multiparty or class action claims may present additional exposure to substantial economic, non-economic or punitive damage awards. The loss of even one of these claims, if it resulted in a significant damage award or a judicial ruling that was otherwise detrimental, could create a precedent in our industry that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. This risk of potential liability may make reasonable settlements of claims more difficult to obtain. We cannot determine with any certainty what new theories of recovery may evolve or what their impact may be on our business.
We may be subject to governmental or administrative investigations and proceedings in the context of our highly regulated sectors of activity. We cannot predict the outcome of these investigations, proceedings and reviews, and cannot assure you that such investigations, proceedings or reviews or related litigation or changes in operating policies and practices would not materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if we were to experience difficulties with our relationship with a regulatory body in a given jurisdiction, it could have a material adverse effect on our ability to do business in that jurisdiction.
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The insurance and related businesses in which we operate may be subject to periodic negative publicity which may negatively impact our financial results.
Our products and services are ultimately distributed to individual consumers. From time to time, consumer advocacy groups or the media may focus attention on insurance products and services, thereby subjecting our industry to periodic negative publicity. We also may be negatively impacted if participants in one or more of our markets engages in practices resulting in increased public attention to our businesses. Negative publicity may also result in increased regulation and legislative scrutiny of practices in the P&C insurance industry as well as increased litigation, which may further increase our costs of doing business and adversely affect our profitability by impeding our ability to market our products and services, requiring us to change our products or services or increasing the regulatory burdens under which we operate.
We rely on independent agents, program managers and brokers and are exposed to risks.
We market and distribute our automobile insurance products through a network of over 2,900 independent agents and approximately 22 program managers in the United States and over 3,000 independent brokers across Canada. In 2005, approximately 65% of our gross written premiums in the United States were sourced through program managers and approximately 35% were sourced through independent agents. Our insurance products are marketed through a large number of independent agents, program managers and brokers and we rely heavily on their ability to attract new business. These independent agencies and program managers typically represent more than one insurance company, which may expose us to competition within the agencies and, therefore, we cannot rely on their commitment to our insurance products. In some markets, we operate pursuant to open market arrangements in which we have no formal relationships with the brokers who place our risk in these markets. Loss of all or a substantial portion of the business provided by these intermediaries could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our independent agents, program managers and brokers generally have the ability to bind insurance policies and a few program managers may settle claims on our behalf, actions over which we have only a limited ability to exercise control. In the event that an independent agent, program manager or broker exceeds its authority by binding us on a risk that does not comply with our underwriting guidelines, we may be at risk for that policy until we effect a cancellation. Although to date we have not experienced a material loss from improper use of binding authority by our agents, program managers or brokers, any improper use of such authority may result in losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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In accordance with industry practice, our customers often pay the premiums for their policies to agents, program managers or brokers for payment over to us. These premiums are considered paid when received by the agent, program manager or broker and thereafter the customer is no longer liable to us for those amounts, whether or not we have actually received the premiums from the agent, program manager or broker. Consequently, we assume a degree of risk associated with our reliance on independent agents, program managers and brokers in connection with the settlement of insurance balances.
In addition, program managers are subject to regulation as insurance producers, including licensing requirements, and, to the extent that the program manager has the ability to bind insurance policies and to settle claims, the program manager is subject to regulation of these functions. Noncompliance by any of our program managers with applicable regulatory requirements could have adverse regulatory implications on us.
Engaging in acquisitions involves risks and, if we are unable to effectively manage these risks, our business may be materially harmed.
From time to time we engage in discussions concerning acquisition opportunities and, as a result of such discussions, may enter into acquisition transactions. Acquisitions entail numerous risks, including the following:
| difficulties in the integration of the acquired business; |
| assumption of unknown material liabilities, including deficient provisions for unpaid claims; |
| diversion of managements attention from other business concerns; |
| failure to achieve financial or operating objectives; and |
| potential loss of policyholders or key employees of acquired companies. |
We may not be able to integrate successfully any business, operations, personnel, services or products that we may acquire in the future.
The highly competitive environment in which we operate could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The P&C markets in which we operate are highly competitive. We compete, and will continue to compete, with major North American and other insurers, many of which have greater financial, marketing and management resources than we do. There may also be other companies that may be planning to enter the insurance industry of which we are not aware. Insurers in our markets generally compete on the basis of price, consumer recognition,
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coverages offered, claims handling, financial stability, customer service and geographic coverage. Although our pricing is influenced to some degree by that of our competitors, we generally believe that it is not in our best interest to compete solely on price, and may from time to time experience a loss of market share during periods of intense price competition. Our business could be adversely impacted by the loss of business to competitors offering competitive insurance products at lower prices. This competition could affect our ability to attract and retain profitable business.
In our non-standard automobile business, we compete with both large national underwriters and smaller regional companies. Our competitors include other companies that, like us, serve the independent agency market, as well as companies that sell insurance directly to customers. Direct underwriters may have certain competitive advantages over agency underwriters, including increased name recognition, loyalty of the customer base to the insurer rather than to an independent agency and reduced costs to acquire policies. Any new, proposed or potential legislative or industry developments could further increase competition in our markets. New competition from these developments could cause the demand for our products to decrease, which would adversely affect our profitability.
Additionally, in certain provinces or states, government operated risk plans may provide non-standard automobile insurance products at a lower price than those we provide.
From time to time, our markets may also attract competition from new or temporary entrants. In some cases, such entrants may, because of inexperience, the desire for new business or for other reasons, price their insurance below the rates that we believe offer an acceptable premium for the related risk. Further, a number of our competitors, including new entrants to our markets, are developing e-business capabilities which may impact the level of business transacted through our more traditional distribution channels or which may affect pricing in the market as a whole.
Our operating results may fluctuate as a result of many factors, including cyclical patterns in the P&C insurance industry and in the automobile insurance market.
The results of companies in the P&C insurance industry have historically been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties. The industrys profitability can be affected significantly by many factors, including:
| rising costs that are not known by companies at the time they price their products, such as unforeseen case law developments; |
| unpredictable developments, including weather-related and other natural catastrophes; |
| changes in insurance and tax laws and regulation, as well as new legislative initiatives; and |
| general economic conditions, such as fluctuations in interest rates, inflationary pressures and other changes in the investment environment, which affect returns on invested capital and may impact the ultimate payout of loss amounts. |
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In addition, the profitability of automobile insurers can be affected significantly by many factors, including:
| regulatory regimes which limit the ability of insurers to detect and defend against fraudulent claims and fraud rings; |
| developing trends in tort and class action litigation which may encourage frivolous litigation or expose automobile insurers to allegations of bad faith; |
| changes in consumer protection laws which could limit the use of used or like kind and quality after-market parts or to compel compensation for alleged diminution in value notwithstanding repair of the vehicle; and |
| changes in laws or regulations, including the adoption of consumer initiatives regarding rates charged for automobile or other insurance coverage or claims handling procedures. |
The financial performance of the P&C insurance industry has historically tended to fluctuate in cyclical patterns of soft markets characterized generally by increased competition resulting in lower premium rates followed by hardmarkets characterized generally by lessening competition and increasing premium rates. Although an individual insurance companys financial performance depends on its own specific business characteristics, the profitability of most property and casualty insurance companies tends to follow this cyclical market pattern with profitability generally increasing in hard markets and decreasing in soft markets.
Our operations are restricted by the terms of our credit agreements and debt indentures, which could limit our ability to plan for or to react to market conditions or meet our capital needs.
Our credit agreements and debt indentures contain numerous covenants that limit our ability, among other things, to borrow money, make particular types of investments or other restricted payments, sell assets, merge or consolidate, pay dividends or redeem capital stock, and incur liens to secure indebtedness. These agreements also require us to maintain specified financial ratios. The covenants under our debt agreements could limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or to meet our capital needs. Our ability to comply with the capital surplus ratios and other financial covenants in these agreements may be affected by events beyond our control and we may have to curtail some of our operations and growth plans to maintain compliance.
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If we are not able to comply with the covenants and other requirements contained in our credit agreements and debt indentures, an event of default under the relevant debt instrument could occur. If an event of default does occur, it could trigger a default under our other debt instruments, we could be prohibited from accessing additional borrowings, and the holders of the defaulted debt instrument could declare amounts outstanding with respect to such debt to become immediately due and payable. Upon such an event, our assets and cash flow may not be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under our outstanding debt instruments. In addition, such a repayment under an event of default could adversely affect our liquidity and force us to cease or substantially slow our growth.
If we are unable to maintain our current claims-paying ratings, our ability to write insurance and to compete with other insurance companies may be adversely impacted.
Third party rating agencies assess and rate the claims-paying ability of insurers and reinsurers based upon criteria that they have established. Periodically these rating agencies evaluate us to confirm that we continue to meet the criteria of the ratings previously assigned to us. Financial strength ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and may be expected to have an effect on an insurance companys premiums.
All of our insurance companies with the exception of Zephyr are rated by A.M. Best, which issues independent opinions of an insurers financial strength and its ability to meet policyholder obligations. Of our Canadian subsidiaries, Jevco Insurance Company possesses an A- (Excellent) rating (fourth highest of 15 rating levels) and Kingsway General Insurance Company and York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, possess a B++ (Very Good) group rating from A.M. Best (fifth highest of 15 rating levels). Of our U.S. subsidiaries, Lincoln General Insurance Company and Universal Casualty Company have an A- (Excellent) rating (fourth highest of 15 rating levels), American Service Insurance Company, Inc. has a B++ (Very Good) rating (fifth highest of 15 rating levels), American Country Insurance Company and Southern United Fire Insurance Company have a B+ (Very Good) rating (sixth highest of 15 rating levels), and U.S. Security Insurance Company has a B (Fair) rating (seventh highest of 15 rating levels). According to A.M. Best, companies rated as A and A- (Excellent) are deemed secure. These ratings are assigned to insurers which have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best and, in A.M. Bests opinion, have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. According to A.M. Best, insurers rated as B++ and B+ (Very Good) are deemed secure and have, on balance, very good balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best and, in A.M. Bests opinion, have a good ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. According to A.M. Best, companies rated as B (Fair) are deemed vulnerable and this rating is assigned to insurers that have, on balance,
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fair balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best and, in A.M. Bests opinion, have an ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders.
We cannot assure you that A.M. Best will not downgrade our ratings or place them under review with negative implications in the future. If we are unable to maintain our current ratings, our ability to write insurance business and compete with other insurance companies may be adversely affected. Rating agencies evaluate insurance companies based on financial strength and the ability to pay claims, factors which are more relevant to policyholders than to investors. Financial strength ratings by rating agencies are not ratings of securities or recommendations to buy, hold or sell any security and should not be relied upon as such.
The majority of our gross premiums written are derived from the non-standard automobile and trucking insurance markets. If the demand for insurance in these markets declines, our results of operations could decline significantly.
For the year ended December 31, 2005, approximately 31% of our gross premiums written were attributable to trucking insurance and 29% were attributable to non-standard auto insurance. The size of both the trucking insurance and non-standard automobile markets can be affected significantly by many factors outside of our control, such as the underwriting capacity and underwriting criteria of standard automobile insurance carriers and trucking insurers, and we may be specifically affected by these factors. Additionally, an economic downturn in one or more of our principal markets could result in fewer automobile sales and a lower volume of goods shipped by truck, resulting in less demand for these insurance products. To the extent that these insurance markets are affected adversely for any reason, our gross premiums written will be disproportionately affected due to our substantial reliance on these insurance markets.
If we fail to comply with applicable insurance laws or regulatory requirements, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
As an insurance company, we are subject to numerous laws and regulations. These laws and regulations delegate regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers to federal, provincial or state insurance commissioners and agencies. Such regulation generally is designed to protect policyholders rather than shareholders, and is related to matters including:
| rate setting; |
| risk-based capital and solvency standards; |
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| restrictions on the amount, type, nature, quality and quantity of investments; |
| the maintenance of adequate reserves for unearned premiums and unpaid claims; |
| restrictions on the types of terms that can be included in insurance policies; |
| standards for accounting; |
| marketing practices; |
| claims settlement practices; |
| the examination of insurance companies by regulatory authorities, including periodic financial and market conduct examinations; |
| the licensing of insurers and their agents; |
| limitations on dividends and transactions with affiliates; |
| approval of certain reinsurance transactions; and |
| insolvency proceedings. |
In addition, these statutes typically require us to periodically file financial statements and annual reports, prepared on a statutory accounting basis, and other information with insurance regulatory authorities, including information concerning our capital structure, ownership, financial condition and general business operations. We allocate considerable time and resources to comply with these requirements.
Any failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in the imposition of fines or significant restrictions on our ability to do business, which could adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. In addition, any changes in laws or regulations, including the adoption of consumer initiatives regarding rates charged for automobile or other insurance coverage or claims handling procedures, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In order to enhance the regulation of insurer solvency, a risk based capital, or RBC, formula was adopted by the U.S. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC, for U.S. insurance companies. State insurance regulators monitor the financial status of an insurer by reviewing the insurers compliance with RBC requirements. The provinces in which we operate in Canada also have solvency requirements. If our insurance subsidiaries do not comply with these minimum capital requirements, they may be restricted or prohibited from operating. If our insurance subsidiaries are required to increase their reserves in the future, as a result of unexpectedly poor claims experience or otherwise, they may violate these minimum capital requirements unless we are able to take actions to improve the solvency of those subsidiaries. As a result, our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
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We believe that our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements in all material respects. It is not possible to predict the future impact of changing federal, state and provincial regulation on our operations, and there can be no assurance that laws and regulations enacted in the future will not be more restrictive than existing laws and regulations.
Our business could be adversely affected as a result of changing political, regulatory, economic or other influences.
The insurance industry is subject to changing political, economic and regulatory influences. These factors affect the practices and operation of insurance and reinsurance organizations. Legislatures in Canada, the United States, Barbados, Bermuda and local jurisdictions in which we operate have periodically considered programs to reform or amend their respective insurance and reinsurance systems. Recently, the insurance and reinsurance regulatory framework has been subject to increased scrutiny in many jurisdictions.
Changes in current insurance regulation may include increased governmental involvement in the insurance industry and initiatives aimed at premium controls, or may otherwise change the business and economic environment in which insurance industry participants operate. Historically, the automobile insurance industry has been under pressure from time to time from regulators, legislators or special interest groups to reduce, freeze or set rates at levels that are not necessarily related to underlying costs or risks, including initiatives to roll back automobile and other personal line rates. These changes may limit our ability to price automobile insurance adequately and could require us to discontinue unprofitable product lines, make unplanned modifications of our products and services, or may result in delays or cancellations of sales of our products and services. For example, a rate freeze in late 2003 and premium roll-back in 2004 were instituted in Alberta. As a result, we have purposely reduced our business in Alberta until market conditions improve. We cannot predict the future impact of changing laws or regulations on our operations and any changes could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
Our business may be materially adversely affected if the tax laws of the United States or Canada change or relevant tax authorities successfully challenge our interpretations of these laws.
We operate wholly owned subsidiary reinsurance companies in Barbados and Bermuda for the sole purpose of reinsuring risks from our own subsidiaries. Legislation was proposed in 2002 which would have disallowed a deduction for U.S. income tax purposes for premiums paid to certain specified related reinsurers. If this or similar legislation were to be enacted, this could have the effect of increasing the taxes payable by us or certain of our subsidiaries. We cannot assure you that any such legislation or similar legislation will not be enacted.
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Due to our corporate structure and to differences in the tax laws of the United States and Canada, we deduct interest paid on certain debt in the United States as well as in Canada. Such deductions are based on our interpretation of applicable tax laws. There is no guarantee that the Internal Revenue Service or any other tax authority will not challenge our interpretation, and if such a challenge were made and were successful, the taxes payable by us or certain of our subsidiaries could be increased. In addition, amendments or changes in applicable income tax laws or regulations, including those arising from judicial decisions or administrative pronouncements, could deny a deduction for interest to taxpayers with a structure similar to ours.
We may not be able to realize our investment objectives, which could significantly reduce our net income.
We depend on income from our investment portfolio for a substantial portion of our earnings. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, net investment income and net realized capital gains accounted for approximately 5.4%, 5.1% and 6.8%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue. A significant decline in investment yields in our investment portfolio or an impairment of securities that we own could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We currently maintain and intend to continue to maintain an investment portfolio comprising primarily fixed income securities. As of December 31, 2005, the fair value of our investment portfolio included $2.37 billion of fixed income securities. For 2003, 2004 and 2005, the change in net unrealized gains in our portfolio reflected an increase of $20.5 million, an increase of $20.1 million and a decrease of $43.1 million, respectively. Due to fluctuations in the yields on fixed income securities, we face reinvestment risk as these securities mature because the funds may be reinvested at rates lower than that of the maturing security.
Our ability to achieve our investment objectives is affected by general economic conditions that are beyond our control. General economic conditions can adversely affect the markets for interest rate sensitive securities, including the extent and timing of investor participation in such markets, the level and volatility of interest rates and, consequently, the value of fixed income securities. In addition, changing economic conditions can result in increased defaults by the issuers of securities that we own. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond our control.
General economic conditions, stock market conditions and many other factors can also adversely affect the securities markets and, consequently, the value of the securities we own. We may not be able to realize our investment objectives, which could reduce our net income significantly.
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We derive the majority of our premiums from a few geographic areas, which may cause our business to be affected by catastrophic losses or business conditions in these areas.
Despite our wide North American market span, some jurisdictions including Illinois, Florida, Ontario and California generate a significant percentage of premiums. Our results of operations may, therefore, be adversely affected by any catastrophic losses in these areas. Catastrophic losses can be caused by a wide variety of events, including earthquakes, hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, wind, ice storms, hail, fires, terrorism, riots and explosions, and their incidence and severity are inherently unpredictable. Catastrophic losses are characterized by low frequency but high severity due to aggregation of losses, and could result in adverse effects on our results of operations or financial condition. Our results of operations may also be adversely affected by general economic conditions, competition, regulatory actions or other business conditions that affect losses or business conditions in the areas in which we do business.
If reinsurance rates rise significantly or reinsurance becomes unavailable or reinsurers are unable to pay our claims, we may be adversely affected.
We purchase reinsurance from third parties in order to reduce our liability on individual risks. Reinsurance does not relieve us of our primary liability to our insureds. A third party reinsurers insolvency or inability or unwillingness to make payments under the terms of a reinsurance treaty could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. As of December 31, 2005, we had $223.0 million recoverable from third party reinsurers and other insurers. The majority of these recoverables are unsecured. The losses reported by the reinsurance industry since 2001, including losses resulting from the World Trade Center terrorist attacks and recent hurricanes in the southern U.S., have adversely affected the financial resources of some reinsurers and their ability to pay claims. Also, the material decline in the worldwide equity markets and the defaults and credit downgrades on bonds of many companies have contributed to a significant decline in the net equity of some reinsurers.
The amount and cost of reinsurance available to our insurance companies are subject, in large part, to prevailing market conditions beyond our control. Our ability to provide insurance at competitive premium rates and coverage limits on a continuing basis depends in part upon the extent to which we can obtain adequate reinsurance in amounts and at rates that will not adversely affect our competitive position. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our current reinsurance facilities, which generally are subject to annual renewal. If we are unable to renew any of these facilities upon their expiration or to obtain other reinsurance facilities in adequate amounts and at favourable rates, we may need to modify our underwriting practices or reduce our underwriting commitments.
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Kingsway Financial is a holding company and its operating subsidiaries are subject to dividend restrictions.
Kingsway Financial is an insurance holding company with assets consisting primarily of the capital stock of its subsidiaries. Our operations are and will continue to be limited by the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of such earnings to us in the form of dividends, loans, advances or the reimbursement of expenses. The payment of dividends, the making of loans and advances or the reimbursement of expenses to us by our subsidiaries is contingent upon the earnings of those subsidiaries and is subject to various business considerations. In addition, payments of dividends to us by our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are subject to various statutory and regulatory restrictions imposed by the insurance laws of the domiciliary jurisdiction of such subsidiaries, including Barbados and Bermuda. For the year 2006, under these insurance regulatory restrictions, based on our December 31, 2005 financial statements, our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries would have aggregate dividend capacity of $377.0 million. In most jurisdictions payment of dividends is subject to prior regulatory approval. The inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Our business depends upon key employees, and if we are unable to retain the services of these key employees or to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, our business may suffer.
We are dependent on a number of key employees. Our success has been, and will continue to be, dependent on our ability to retain the services of our existing key employees and to attract and retain additional qualified personnel in the future. The loss of the services of any of our key employees, or the inability to identify, hire and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future, could adversely affect the quality and profitability of our business operations. There are no employment contracts in place for any of our executives.
Various factors may inhibit potential acquisition bids that could be beneficial to our shareholders.
Regulatory provisions may delay, defer or prevent a takeover attempt that shareholders may consider in their best interest. For example, under the terms of applicable U.S. state statutes, any person or entity desiring to purchase more than a specified percentage (commonly 10%) of our outstanding voting securities is required to obtain regulatory approval prior to its purchase of our shares. These requirements would generally require a potential bidder to obtain the prior approval by the insurance departments of the states in which our U.S. subsidiaries are domiciled and may require pre-acquisition notification in states that have adopted pre-acquisition notification provisions. Obtaining these approvals could result in material delays or deter any such transaction.
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Regulatory requirements could make a potential acquisition of our company more difficult and may prevent shareholders from receiving the benefit from any premium over the market price of our common shares offered by a bidder in a takeover context. Even in the absence of a takeover attempt, the existence of these provisions may adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common shares if they are viewed as discouraging takeover attempts in the future.
In addition, the Shareholder Rights Plan approved by our shareholders may also have anti-takeover effects. Our Shareholders Rights Plan is designed to protect our shareholders in the event of unsolicited offers to acquire us, and other coercive takeover tactics which, in the opinion of our board of directors, could impair its ability to represent shareholder interests. The provisions of our Shareholder Rights Plan may render an unsolicited takeover more difficult or less likely to occur or might prevent such a takeover, even though such takeover may offer our shareholders the opportunity to sell their shares at a price above the prevailing market price.
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates could negatively affect our results.
Effective December 31, 2005 we prepared our consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollars. In 2005, 32% of our premiums came from our Canadian operations and are currently denominated in Canadian dollars. Therefore, fluctuations in the U.S. to Canadian dollar exchange rate will impact our results of operations and financial condition from period to period. However, the reporting volatility has been reduced due to the larger portion of our operations conducting its business in our reporting currency, U.S. dollars.
Our Canadian insurance operations generally write policies denominated in Canadian dollars and invest in Canadian dollars. Our U.S. operations generally write policies denominated in U.S. dollars and invest in U.S. dollars. Although investing in local currencies limits the effect of currency exchange rate fluctuations on local operating results, fluctuations in such rates could affect our operations or results, and do affect the translation of these results into U.S. dollars in our consolidated financial statements. During 2005, our shareholders equity was increased by $8.2 million as a result of the currency translation adjustment of our Canadian dollar denominated assets into U.S. dollars.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2006, we will commence reporting of our financial results in U.S. dollars. Our results have been influenced by fluctuations in the U.S. to Canadian dollar foreign exchange rate.
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A. | Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) pursuant to Rule 13a-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective and designed to ensure that all material information required to be filed in this annual report has been made known to them in a timely fashion.
B. | Changes in Internal Controls |
There have been no significant changes in internal controls, or in factors that could significantly affect internal controls, that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal controls over financial reporting.
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The Registrants Audit Committee is composed of the following directors: Mr. David H. Atkins (Chair), Mr. Thomas A. Di Giacomo, Mr. F. Michael Walsh and Mr. Walter E. Farnam. The Registrants board of directors has determined that Mr. David H. Atkins is an audit committee financial expert and independent, as that term is defined by the New York Stock Exchanges listing standards applicable to the Registrant. The Commission has indicated that the designation of Mr. Atkins as the audit committee financial expert does not deem him an expert for any purpose, impose any duties, obligations or liability on Mr. Atkins that are greater than those imposed on members of the audit committee and board of directors who do not carry this designation or identification, or affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the audit committee or board of directors.
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The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics and business conduct for all employees and officers. The Registrant has also adopted a code of ethics that applies to Kingsways principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and other senior financial personnel. These codes of ethics are available at the Registrants website, www.kingsway-financial.com/investor.htm.
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KPMG LLP has served as the Registrants independent registered public accounting firm since 1989. In 2005 and 2004, fees for audit, audit-related, tax and other services provided to the Registrant by KPMG LLP were as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||
In Canadian dollars | 2005 | 2004 | |||
Audit fees | $2,121,000 | $2,064,000 | |||
Audit-related fees | $ 169,000 | $ 467,000 | |||
Tax fees | $ 245,000 | $ 57,000 | |||
Other fees | $ 2,000 | $ 2,000 | |||
Total | $2,437,000 | $2,590,000 | |||
Pursuant to the terms of its charter, the Audit Committee establishes the independent registered public accounting firm's fees. Such fees are based upon the complexity of the matters in question and the time incurred by the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee reviews and considers whether the provision of services other than audit services is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm's independence. In 2003, the Audit Committee considered and pre-approved expenditure limits for the Registrants independent registered public accounting firm and established a system to review and pre-approve the provision of non-audit services by the Registrants independent registered public accounting firm to ensure they are consistent with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm's independence. The audit committee pre-approved 100% of the services performed by the Registrants independent registered public accounting firm for audit-related and non-audited related services for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
A discussion of the nature of the services provided under each category is provided below.
Audit Fees
These are services rendered for the audit of the financial statements or services that are provided for statutory and regulatory filings or engagements and include reporting in connection with the various securities offerings of the Registrant.
Audit-Related Fees
These are fees for assurance and related services that are related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements and are not reported in the Audit Fee category. This work primarily included advisory services on internal controls and French translation services in 2005, and in 2004 primarily appointed actuary services.
Tax Fees
These services included analyses of various tax matters affecting the Registrant and its subsidiaries. These services are primarily composed of advice on international tax planning and tax review services for the Registrant and its subsidiaries.
All Other Fees
These services were related to a subscription for online accounting research.
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See page 123 of Item 3 of this report. The off-balance sheet arrangement provided C$8.3 million of additional working capital for our U.S. operations which was sourced from Kingsway Financial. The off-balance sheet arrangements did not materially affect the liquidity of the Company.
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See page 122 of Item 3 of this report.
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A. | Undertaking |
Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F; or transactions in said securities.
B. | Consent to Service of Process |
Registrant has previously filed with the Commission a Form F-X in connection with the registration of Common Shares.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
Exhibit Number | Title | |
1. | Consent of KPMG LLP | |
2. | Consent of Towers Perrin Inc. | |
99.1 | Certification of William G. Star, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act | |
99.2 | Certification of W. Shaun Jackson, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act | |
99.3 | Certification of William G. Star, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) | |
99.4 | Certification of W. Shaun Jackson, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) | |
99.5 | Page 77 of 2005 Annual Report of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. |
Page 150 of 158
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. | ||
March 31, 2006 | By: /s/ W. Shaun Jackson ________________________________ | |
W. Shaun Jackson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Page 151 of 158
EXHIBIT INDEX
Number | Document | Sequential Sequential Page Number |
---|---|---|
1. | Consent of KPMG LLP | 152 |
2. | Consent of Towers Perrin Inc. | 153 |
99.1 | Certification of William G. Star, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to X Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act | 154 |
99.2 | Certification of W. Shaun Jackson, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to X Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act | 155 |
99.3 | Certification of William G. Star, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to X Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) | 156 |
99.4 | Certification of W. Shaun Jackson, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to X Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) | 157 |
99.5 | Page 77 of the 2005 Annual Report of Kingsway Financial Services Inc | 158 |