EX-99.1 2 g18927exv99w1.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1
Exhibit 99.1
(TRIPLE LOGO)
Triple-S Management Corporation
1441 F.D. Roosevelt Ave.
San Juan, PR 00920
www.triplesmanagement.com
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
AT THE COMPANY:   INVESTOR RELATIONS:    
Juan-José Román
Finance Vice President & CFO
(787) 749-4949
  Kathy Waller
(312)-543-6708
   
Triple-S Management Corporation Reports First Quarter 2009 Results
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 5, 2009 — Triple-S Management Corporation (NYSE:GTS), the largest managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $473.9 million and operating income of $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. Net income of $3.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, includes an after tax net loss of $4.3 million or $0.14 per share in net realized and unrealized losses on investments and derivatives.
First Quarter Highlights
  Total consolidated operating revenues increased 12.4 percent year over year to $473.9 million
 
  Operating income was $11.1 million
 
  Excluding net realized and unrealized losses and a derivatives loss included within other income (expenses), net income was $8.2 million, or $0.27 per diluted share
 
  Consolidated loss ratio was 87.2 percent and the medical loss ratio (MLR) was 91.5 percent
 
  Consolidated operating expense ratio increased 10 basis points to 14.8 percent
 
  Continued expansion of Medicare Advantage business: over 40,000 additional member months enrollment during the three months ended March 31, 2009, a 25.9 percent year-over-year increase
 
  Net cash flows provided by operating activities of $30.0 million
“Our solid first-quarter performance augurs well for the remainder of 2009,” said Ramón M. Ruiz-Comas, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The period’s double-digit, top-line growth was driven by a balanced book of business, with particular strength in the Medicare Advantage segment, and excellent retention rates. We are also pleased with the improvement in our adjusted Medicare Advantage MLR, reflecting initiatives that we have put in place without sacrificing the quality of care delivered to our members. Finally, we continued to make significant investments in our new IT system aimed at allowing us to become even more efficient in the future. ”
Ruiz-Comas continued, “More recently, we signed the definitive agreement of the previously announced acquisition of La Cruz Azul, which is expected to close on or about July 1, 2009. Aside from consolidating the Blue Cross Blue Shield brand in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, as well as meaningfully expanding our commercial opportunity,
 
 
 
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we should enjoy substantial administrative cost synergies that will allow this transaction to make a slight bottom-line contribution in the second half of 2009 and be accretive on a rolling 12-month basis.”
Consolidated operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009, were $473.9 million, 12.4 percent higher than the same period of the previous year. The increase resulted primarily from growth in Medicare Advantage membership enrollment. To a lesser degree, growth was aided by higher membership enrollment in the Commercial business, the addition of the Metro North region in the Reform business, and increased premium rates in all businesses.
Consolidated claims incurred and operating expenses for the period were $462.8 million, an increase of 12.8 percent from the same period of the prior year. Consolidated claims incurred were $394.5 million, 12.6 percent above a year ago, principally due to increased claims in the managed care segment. The rise in claims was driven by higher enrollment and slightly higher utilization trends, especially in the Reform business. The consolidated loss ratio rose 60 basis points from the prior-year period, to 87.2 percent, largely reflecting the aforementioned utilization trends and the effect of a $10.5 negative reserve development in our managed care segment. Operating expenses came in at $68.3 million, up 13.8 percent year over year. The consolidated operating expense ratio increased 10 basis points, to 14.8 percent, primarily the result of the higher volume of business, in the managed care segment, in particular, and the addition of the Metro North region ASO contract in November 2008.
Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2009, was $3.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share based on weighted average shares outstanding of 30.3 million. This compares with net income for the three months ended March 31, 2008, of $1.2 million, or $0.04 per diluted share based on weighted average shares outstanding of 32.2 million. The earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2009, include an after tax net loss of $0.12 per diluted share in net realized and unrealized losses and a reduction in the unrealized gain in derivatives of $0.02 per diluted share included within other income (expenses). Excluding the effect of these items in the three months ended March 31, 2009, and 2008, net income was $8.2 million in both periods and earnings per diluted share would have amounted to $0.27 and $0.26, respectively.
                 
    Pro Forma Net Income  
    Three months ended  
(dollar amounts in millions)   March 31,  
  2009   2008  
 
               
Pro forma net income:
               
Net income
  $ 3.9     $ 1.2  
Net realized investment (gains) losses, net of tax
    1.5       (0.5 )
Net unrealized trading investments losses, net of tax
    2.1       5.3  
Derivative loss, net of tax
    0.7       2.2  
 
Pro forma net income
  $ 8.2     $ 8.2  
 
 
               
Diluted pro forma net income per share
  $ 0.27     $ 0.26  
 
 
 
 
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Segment Performance
Triple-S Management operates in three segments: 1) Managed Care, 2) Life Insurance, and 3) Property and Casualty Insurance. Management evaluates performance based primarily on the operating revenues and operating income of each segment. Operating revenues include premiums earned, net administrative service fees and net investment income. Operating costs include claims incurred and operating expenses. The Company calculates operating income or loss as operating revenues minus operating expenses. Operating margin is defined as operating gain or loss divided by operating revenues.
                         
                    Percent  
  2009   2008   Change  
 
                       
Operating revenues:
                       
Managed Care
  $ 419.1     $ 370.1       13.2 %
Life Insurance
    28.5       26.1       9.2 %
Propoerty and Casualty
    27.4       26.3       4.2 %
Other
    (1.1 )     (1.0 )     10.0 %
 
Total operating revenues
  $ 473.9     $ 421.5       12.4 %
 
 
                       
Operating income:
                       
Managed Care
  $ 5.8     $ 5.3       9.4 %
Life Insurance
    3.0       2.5       20.0 %
Propoerty and Casualty
    1.4       2.1       (33.3 )%
Other
    0.9       1.4       (35.7 %)
 
Total operating revenues
  $ 11.1     $ 11.3       (2.8 %)
 
 
                       
Operating margin:
                       
Managed Care
    1.4 %     1.4 %     0  
Life Insurance
    10.5 %     9.6 %     90  
Propoerty and Casualty
    5.1 %     8.0 %     -290  
Other
    2.3 %     2.7 %     -40  
Total operating revenues
                       
Managed Care Results Summary
Total medical premiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $404.5 million, up 12.4 percent versus the same period of 2008, primarily due to higher Medicare Advantage member enrollment and premium rate increases across all businesses.
Medical premiums earned in the Medicare business increased $32.8 million, or 33.8%, to $129.7 million, reflecting an increase in member months enrollment of 37,744, or 19.8 percent, and higher average per member per month premiums. The rise in member months is the net result of an increase of 40,825, or 25.9 percent, in Medicare Advantage membership and a decrease of 3,081, or 9.4 percent, in PDP membership.
Medical premiums earned in the Commercial business climbed $7.9 million, or 4.3 percent, to $189.9 million. The increase is primarily the net result of a rise in member months enrollment of 25,412, or 2.1 percent, and higher average premium rates.
 
 
 
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Medical premiums earned in the Reform business rose $3.9 million, or 4.8 percent, to $84.9 million. The decline in member months enrollment of 55,069, or 5.3 percent, was more than offset by a premium rate increase of approximately 10 percent that became effective on July 1, 2008.
Administrative service fees were up $4.9 million, or 106.5 percent, due to an increase in member months enrollment of 643,608, or 129.7 percent. This sharp rise mainly reflects the Metro-North region ASO contract, which became effective in November 2008.
Medical claims incurred increased by $42.3 million, or 12.9 percent, to $370.2 million largely driven by the higher volume of business and MLR. The overall MLR increased 40 basis points during the three months ended March 31, 2009, to 91.5 percent. This increase was the result of the changes in the reserve estimates that affected the claims reserve in both periods and a 2008 retroactive adjustment reducing capitation rates. Excluding the effect of prior period reserve developments in the 2009 and 2008 period, and considering the effect of the 2008 retroactive capitation adjustment, MLR decreased by 100 basis points. The improvement in MLR is related to the Commercial and Medicare Advantage segments, offset by an increase in MLR in the Reform business.
Operating expenses were up $6.2 million, or 16.8 percent, to $43.1 million, compared with the same period of last year. The increase is primarily attributed to the higher volume, particularly in the Medicare Advantage business, and, to a lesser extent, expenses related to the Metro-North region ASO contract. The segment’s operating expense ratio rose 30 basis points, to 10.4 percent.
                 
Managed Care   Three months ended March 31,  
Additional Data   2009   2008  
 
               
Member months enrollment
               
Commercial:
               
Fully-insured
    1,260,901       1,235,489  
Self-funded
    579,092       496,062  
Total Commercial
    1,839,993       1,731,551  
 
               
Reform:
               
Fully-insured
    978,591       1,033,660  
Self-funded
    560,578        
Total Reform
    1,539,169       1,033,660  
 
               
Medicare:
               
Medicare Advantage
    198,616       157,791  
PDP
    29,657       32,738  
Total Medicare
    228,273       190,529  
Total member months
    3,607,435       2,955,740  
 
               
Medical loss ratio
    91.5 %     91.1 %
Commercial
    90.1 %     90.7 %
Reform
    86.9 %     91.4 %
Medicare
    96.6 %     91.6 %
 
               
Operating expense ratio
    10.4 %     10.1 %
 
 
 
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Managed Care   As of   March 31,  
Membership by Segment   2009   2008  
Members:
               
Commercial:
               
Fully-insured
    422,197       412,692  
Self-funded
    191,349       163,517  
Total Commercial
    613,546       576,209  
 
               
Reform:
               
Fully-insured
    332,659       343,534  
Self-funded
    189,072        
Total Reform
    521,731       343,534  
 
               
Medicare:
               
Medicare Advantage
    64,350       54,626  
PDP
    9,836       10,912  
Total Medicare
    74,186       65,538  
 
               
Total members
    1,209,463       985,281  
Share Repurchase Update
In October 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $40 million of its common shares. Utilizing cash on hand, Triple-S has thus far repurchased approximately 2.9 million Class B shares at an average price of $12.12. The repurchase is being conducted in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Triple-S continues to have approximately $5.2 million earmarked for share repurchases under its current Board authorization.
 
 
 
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2009 Guidance
“We have raised our guidance for this year’s earnings per share by $0.05 to reflect the accretion from our share repurchase program and adjusted the share count,” said Ruiz-Comas. “All of our other performance metrics are tracking our prior expectations and remain unchanged.”
     The Company’s outlook for full year 2009 is as follows:
         
    2009 Range
 
       
Medical enrollment fully-insured (member months)
  9.53-9.95 million
 
       
Medical enrollment self-insured (member months)
  4.45-4.55 million
 
       
Consolidated operating revenues (in millions)
  $1.855.0-$1.930
 
       
Consolidated loss ratio
  83.7%-84.7%
 
       
Medical loss ratio
  88.0%-89.0%
 
       
Consolidated operating expense ratio
  15.0%-15.4%
 
       
Consolidated operating income (in millions)
  $88.5-$97.0
 
       
Consolidated effective tax rate
  26.0%-27.0%
 
       
Earnings per share (includes $0.07 net of tax in new IT system expenses)
  $1.93-$2.03
 
       
Weighted average of diluted shares outstanding (in millions)
  29.6
Conference Call and Webcast
Management will host a conference call and webcast Tuesday, May 5 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results for the first quarter of 2009, as well as expectations for future earnings. To participate, callers within the U.S. and Canada should dial 800-762-8779, and international callers should dial 480-248-5081 about five minutes before the presentation.
To listen to the webcast, participants should visit the Investor Relations section of the Company’s Web site at www.triplesmanagement.com several minutes before the event is broadcast and follow the instructions provided to ensure they have the necessary audio application downloaded and installed. This program is provided at no charge to the user. An archived version of the call, also located on the Investor Relations section of Triple-S Management’s Web site, will be available about two hours after the call ends and for at least the following two weeks. This news release, along with other information relating to the call, will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Web site.
 
 
 
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About Triple-S Management Corporation
Triple-S Management Corporation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. It is the largest managed care company in Puerto Rico, serving approximately 1.2 million members, or about 30% of the population, and has the exclusive right to use the Blue Shield name and mark throughout the country. With more than 50 years of experience in the industry, Triple-S Management offers a broad portfolio of managed care and related products in the commercial, Medicare, and Reform markets under the Blue Shield brand. In addition to its managed care business, Triple-S Management provides non-Blue Shield branded life and property and casualty insurance in Puerto Rico. The Company is the largest provider of life, accident, and health insurance and the fourth largest provider of property and casualty insurance in its market.
For more information about Triple-S Management, visit www.triplesmanagement.com or contact waller_kathleen@yahoo.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future sales, results of operations, developments, regulatory approvals or other circumstances. Sentences that include “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “project”, “may”, “will”, “shall”, “should” and similar expressions, whether in the positive or negative, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements in this news release reflect management’s current views about future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed here as a result of various factors, including all the risks discussed and identified in public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In addition, the Company operates in a highly competitive, constantly changing environment, influenced by very large organizations that have resulted from business combinations, aggressive marketing and pricing practices of competitors, and regulatory oversight. The following factors, if markedly different from the Company’s planning assumptions (either individually or in combination), could cause Triple-S Management’s results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements shared here:
  Trends in health care costs and utilization rates
  Ability to secure sufficient premium rate increases
  Competitor pricing below market trends of increasing costs
  Re-estimates of policy and contract liabilities
  Changes in government laws and regulations of managed care, life insurance or property and casualty insurance
  Significant acquisitions or divestitures by major competitors
  Introduction and use of new prescription drugs and technologies
  A downgrade in the Company’s financial strength ratings
  Litigation or legislation targeted at managed care, life insurance or property and casualty insurance companies
  Ability to contract with providers consistent with past practice
 
 
 
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  Ability to successfully implement the Company’s disease management and utilization management programs
  Volatility in the securities markets and investment losses and defaults
  General economic downturns, major disasters, and epidemics
     This list is not exhaustive. Management believes the forward-looking statements in this release are reasonable. However, there is no assurance that the actions, events or results anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition. In view of these uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. In addition, forward-looking statements are based on information available the day they are made, and (other than as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States) the Company does not intend to update or revise any of them in light of new information or future events.
     Readers are advised to carefully review and consider the various disclosures in the Company’s SEC reports.
-FINANCIAL TABLES ATTACHED-
 
 
 
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
                 
    Unaudited        
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2009     2008  
Assets
               
 
               
Investments
  $ 947,041     $ 1,015,701  
Cash and cash equivalents
    108,682       46,095  
Premium and other receivables, net
    249,532       237,158  
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired
    128,442       126,347  
Property and equipment, net
    59,125       58,448  
Other assets
    61,522       64,710  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 1,554,344     $ 1,548,459  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
 
               
Policy liabilities and accruals
  $ 724,305     $ 690,080  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    198,854       203,973  
Borrowings
    168,897       169,307  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities
    1,092,056       1,063,360  
 
           
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock
    29,687       31,148  
Other stockholders equity
    432,601       453,951  
 
           
 
               
Total stockholders’ equity
    462,288       485,099  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,554,344     $ 1,548,459  
 
           
 
 
 
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
                 
    For the Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    Unaudited     Historical  
    2009     2008  
Revenues:
               
Premiums earned, net
  $ 452,484     $ 404,399  
Administrative service fees
    8,866       3,713  
Net investment income
    12,541       13,432  
 
           
 
               
Total operating revenues
    473,891       421,544  
 
               
Net realized investment (losses) gains
    (1,727 )     609  
Net unrealized investment loss on trading securities
    (2,476 )     (6,250 )
Other expenses, net
    (379 )     (1,521 )
 
           
 
               
Total revenues
    469,309       414,382  
 
           
 
               
Benefits and expenses:
               
Claims incurred
    394,532       350,207  
Operating expenses
    68,252       60,031  
 
           
 
               
Total operating costs
    462,784       410,238  
 
               
Interest expense
    3,264       3,673  
 
           
 
               
Total benefits and expenses
    466,048       413,911  
 
           
 
               
Income before taxes
    3,261       471  
 
           
 
               
Income tax benefit
    (671 )     (731 )
 
           
 
               
Net income
  $ 3,932     $ 1,202  
 
           
 
               
Basic net income per share
  $ 0.13     $ 0.04  
 
               
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.13     $ 0.04  
 
 
 
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
                 
    For the Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    Unaudited     Historical  
    2009     2008  
 
               
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 29,961     $ (610 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Proceeds from investments sold or matured:
               
Securities available for sale:
               
Fixed maturities sold
    56,136       67,267  
Fixed maturities matured
    112,042       48,133  
Equity securities
    1,137        
Fixed maturity securities held to maturity
    2,666       22,863  
Acquisition of investments:
               
Securities available for sale:
               
Fixed maturities
    (105,263 )     (322,974 )
Equity securities
    (1,579 )     (12,143 )
Fixed maturity securities held to maturity
          (5,120 )
Net disbursements for policy loans
    21       376  
Capital expenditures
    (2,726 )     (1,547 )
 
           
 
               
Net cash used in investing activities
    62,434       (203,145 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Change in outstanding checks in excess of bank balances
    (11,306 )     15,446  
Change in short-term borrowings
          9,825  
Repayments of long-term borrowings
    (410 )     (409 )
Repurchase and retirement of common stock
    (17,256 )      
Proceeds from policyholder deposits
    1,169       2,611  
Surrenders of policyholder deposits
    (2,005 )     (1,673 )
Other
          (14 )
 
           
 
               
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (29,808 )     25,786  
 
           
 
               
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    62,587       (177,969 )
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    46,095       240,153  
 
           
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 108,682     $ 62,184  
 
           
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