EX-99.1 2 v320408_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Operating Earnings⁽¹⁾ of $45.4 Million and Net Income of $40.4 Million

Book Value Per Share of $16.46, Up 11.1% Since December 31, 2011

Financial Highlights

Second Quarter 2012

Gross written premium of $637.4 million, up 14.1%, or 24.1% excluding $45.0 million in one-time unearned premium transfers in the prior year

Operating diluted EPS ⁽¹⁾ of $0.72 ($0.02 attributable to gain on life settlement contracts) compared to $0.80 ($0.21 attributable to gain on life settlement contracts) in the second quarter 2011

Annualized operating return on equity⁽¹⁾ of 18.5% and annualized return on equity of 16.5%

Net earned premium of $334.0 million, up 34.5% from second quarter 2011

Commission and other revenues of $96.6 million, up 31.0% from second quarter 2011

Operating earnings ⁽¹⁾ of $45.4 million compared to $49.4 million in the second quarter 2011

Second quarter 2012 results include gain on life settlement contracts net of non-controlling interest of $1.1 million compared to $12.9 million in the second quarter of 2011

Net income of $40.4 million compared to $50.2 million in second quarter 2011

Diluted EPS of $0.64 compared to $0.81 in the second quarter 2011

Combined ratio of 88.9% compared to 90.3% in the second quarter 2011

YTD 2012

Gross written premium of $1.2 billion, up 23.6%, or 29.4% excluding $45.0 million in one-time unearned premium transfers in the prior year

Operating diluted EPS ⁽¹⁾ of $1.43 ($0.02 attributable to gain on life settlement contracts) compared to $1.57 ($0.39 attributable to gain on life settlement contracts) in the YTD 2011

Annualized operating return on equity⁽¹⁾ of 18.9% and annualized return on equity of 16.8%

Net earned premium of $648.0 million, up 44.4% from YTD 2011

Commission and other revenues of $196.8 million, up 31.9% from YTD 2011

Operating earnings ⁽¹⁾ of $89.4 million compared to $96.6 million in YTD 2011

2012 results include gain on life settlement contracts net of non-controlling interest of $1.2 million compared to $23.6 million in YTD 2011

Net income of $79.4 million compared to $95.3 million from YTD 2011

Diluted EPS of $1.27 compared to $1.55 in YTD 2011

Combined ratio of 88.7% compared to 88.8% in YTD 2011

Book value per share of $16.46, up 11.1% from $14.82 as of December 31, 2011

NEW YORK, August 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFSI) (“the Company”) today reported second quarter 2012 operating earnings⁽¹⁾ of $45.4 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to $49.4 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2011. Net income totaled $40.4 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2012 compared to $50.2 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2011.

During the first six months of 2012, net income totaled $79.4 million, down 16.7% from $95.3 million in the first half of 2011. Earnings per diluted share totaled $1.27 in the first six months of 2012, a decrease of 18.1% from $1.55 in the same period a year ago. Operating earnings ⁽¹⁾ totaled $89.4 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, a decrease of 7.5% from $96.6 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2011.

Second Quarter 2012 Results

Total revenue of $430.6 million increased $108.6 million, or 33.7%, from $322.0 million in the second quarter of 2011. Gross written premium of $637.4 million rose $78.9 million, or 14.1%, from $558.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. Net written premium of $391.6 million increased $15.9 million, or 4.2%, from $375.7 million in the second quarter in 2011. Net earned premium of $334.0 million increased $85.7 million, or 34.5%, from $248.3 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Commission and other revenues of $96.6 million increased $22.9 million, or 31.0%, from $73.7 million in the second quarter of 2011 and represented 22.4% of total revenue. The combined ratio totaled 88.9% compared with 90.3% in the second quarter of 2011.

Ceding commissions, primarily related to the reinsurance agreements with Maiden Holdings, Ltd. ("Maiden"), totaled $44.6 million, up 25.8% from $35.4 million a year ago. During the quarter, AmTrust ceded $196.4 million of gross written premium and $170.0 million of earned premium to Maiden compared to $213.9 million of gross written premium and $136.7 million of earned premium ceded in the second quarter of 2011.

Total service and fee income of $33.0 million increased 34.5% from $24.5 million in the second quarter of 2011 and included $6.9 million from related parties compared with $4.5 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Investment income, excluding net realized gains and losses, totaled $16.3 million, an increase of 23.5% from $13.2 million in the second quarter of 2011. In addition, second quarter 2012 results include net realized investment gains of $2.7 million, or $1.8 million after-tax, on certain fixed income and equity investments compared with $0.6 million, or $0.4 million after-tax, in the second quarter of 2011.

In the second quarter 2012, net gain on life settlements including non-controlling interest was $2.0 million, which included a net benefit of $10.0 million from mortality events. Operating earnings ⁽¹⁾ included gain on life settlement contracts of $1.1 million, net of non-controlling interest.

Loss and loss adjustment expense totaled $211.8 million, an increase of $41.8 million from $170.0 million in the second quarter of 2011 and resulted in a loss ratio of 63.4% compared with 68.5% for the second quarter of 2011.

Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses of $129.7 million increased $40.1 million from $89.6 million in the second quarter of 2011. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses less ceding commissions totaled $85.2 million compared with $54.2 million in the second quarter of 2011. The expense ratio was 25.5%, up from 21.8% in the second quarter of 2011.

Other expenses of $32.3 million increased $13.8 million from $18.6 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Year-to-Date 2012 Results

Total revenue of $844.8 million increased $247.0 million, or 41.3%, from $597.8 million YTD 2011. Gross written premium of $1.2 billion rose $236.6 million, or 23.6%, from $1.0 billion YTD 2011. Net written premium of $751.4 million increased $141.7 million, or 23.2%, from $609.7 million YTD 2011. Net earned premium of $648.0 million increased $199.4 million, or 44.4%, from $448.6 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Commission and other revenues of $196.8 million increased $47.6 million, or 31.9%, from $149.2 million YTD 2011 and represented 23.3% of total revenue. The combined ratio totaled 88.7% compared with 88.8% YTD 2011.

Ceding commissions, primarily related to the reinsurance agreements with Maiden, totaled $90.8 million, up 27.7% from $71.1 million a year ago. During the first six months, AmTrust ceded $387.3 million of gross written premium and $336.3 million of earned premium to Maiden compared to $340.6 million of gross written premium and $250.6 million of earned premium ceded YTD 2011.

Total service and fee income of $73.5 million increased 47.9% from $49.7 million YTD 2011 and included $13.0 million from related parties compared with $7.9 million YTD 2011.

Investment income, excluding net realized gains and losses, totaled $30.9 million, an increase of 12.8% from $27.4 million YTD 2011. In addition, YTD 2012 results included net realized investment gains of $1.6 million, or $1.0 million after-tax, on certain fixed income and equity investments compared with $1.0 million, or $0.7 million after-tax, YTD 2011.

Loss and loss adjustment expense totaled $411.7 million, an increase of $113.0 million from $298.7 million YTD 2011 and resulted in a loss ratio of 63.5% compared with 66.6% YTD 2011.

Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses of $253.7 million increased $82.9 million from $170.8 million YTD 2011. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses less ceding commissions totaled $162.9 million compared with $99.7 million YTD 2011. The expense ratio was 25.1%, up from 22.2% YTD 2011.

Other expenses of $68.0 million increased $29.2 million from $38.8 million YTD 2011.

Total assets of $6.3 billion increased 10.8% from $5.7 billion at December 31, 2011 and included a $306.1 million, or 14.7%, increase in cash, cash equivalents and investments to $2.4 billion. Shareholders' equity of $999.5 million increased 12.2% from $890.6 million at year-end 2011.

During the first six months of 2012, the Board of Directors declared two quarterly dividends of $0.09 and $0.10 per share. As of June 30, 2012, the Company’s long-term debt-to-capitalization ratio was 23.0% compared with 23.9% from year-end 2011.

⁽¹⁾References to operating earnings, operating diluted EPS, and operating return on equity are non-GAAP financial measures defined by the Company as net income, diluted earnings per share and return on equity excluding after-tax net realized investment gains and losses on securities, non-cash amortization of certain intangible assets, non-cash interest on convertible senior notes, net of tax and foreign currency transaction gain and loss. Please see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures table at the end of this release for important information about the use of these non-GAAP measures and their reconciliation to GAAP.

Conference Call:

On August 6, 2012 at 9 a.m. ET, CEO Barry Zyskind and CFO Ron Pipoly will review these results via a conference call and webcast that may be accessed as follows:

Toll-Free Dial-in: 877.755.7421

Toll Dial-in (Outside the U.S): 973.200.3087

Webcast registration: http://ir.amtrustgroup.com/events.cfm

A replay of the conference call will be available at approximately 12:00 p.m. ET Monday, August 6, 2012 through Monday August 13, 2012. To listen to the replay, please dial 800.585.8367 (within the U.S.) or 404.537.3406 (outside the U.S.) and enter replay passcode 15067182, or access http://ir.amtrustgroup.com/events.cfm.

About AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a multinational insurance holding company, which, through its insurance carriers, offers specialty property and casualty insurance products, including workers' compensation, commercial automobile and general liability; extended service and warranty coverage. For more information about AmTrust, visit www.amtrustgroup.com, or call AmTrust toll-free at 866.203.3037.

The AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3280

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that actual developments will be those anticipated by the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements as a result of significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, non-receipt of expected payments from insureds or reinsurers, changes in interest rates, a downgrade in the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries, the effect of the performance of financial markets on our investment portfolio, our estimates of the fair value of our life settlement contracts, development of claims and the effect on loss reserves, accuracy in projecting loss reserves, the cost and availability of reinsurance coverage, the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues, changes in the demand for our products, our degree of success in integrating acquired businesses, the effect of general economic conditions, state and federal legislation, regulations and regulatory investigations into industry practices, risks associated with conducting business outside the United States, developments relating to existing agreements, disruptions to our business relationships with Maiden Holdings, Ltd., American Capital Acquisition Corporation, or third party agencies and warranty administrators, difficulties with technology or breaches in data security, heightened competition, changes in pricing environments, and changes in asset valuations. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law. Additional information about these risks and uncertainties, as well as others that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

AFSI-F

CONTACT:	AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

	Investor Relations
	Elizabeth Malone CFA
	beth.malone@amtrustgroup.com
	646.458.7924

	Hilly Gross
	hilly.gross@amtrustgroup.com
	646.458.7925

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

Income Statement

(in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011

Gross written premium	$	637,438		$	558,462		$	1,239,125		$	1,002,489

Premium income:
Net written premium	$	391,589		$	375,681		$	751,366		$	609,700
Change in unearned premium		(57,595	)		(127,399	)		(103,348	)		(161,080	)
Net earned premium		333,994			248,282			648,018			448,620

Ceding commission (primarily related party)		44,550			35,414			90,824			71,098
Service and fee income		33,011			24,542			73,549			49,731
Investment income, net		16,344			13,167			30,862			27,359
Net realized gain (loss)		2,703			616			1,555			1,031
Commission and other revenues		96,608			73,739			196,790			149,219

Total revenue		430,602			322,021			844,808			597,839

Loss and loss adjustment expense		211,787			170,008			411,716			298,704
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expense		129,713			89,580			253,738			170,814
Other expense		32,320			18,564			67,959			38,760
		373,820			278,152			733,413			508,278
Income before other, provision for income taxes, equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary and non-controlling interest		56,782			43,869			111,395			89,561

Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(6,994	)		(4,334	)		(14,085	)		(8,088	)
Foreign currency gain (loss)		(2,455	)		2,520			(2,034	)		2,236
Net gain on life settlement contracts		1,961			22,638			2,051			41,524
		(7,488	)		20,824			(14,068	)		35,672
Income before provision for income taxes, equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary and non-controlling interest		49,294			64,693			97,327			125,233

Provision for income taxes ⁽¹⁾		(11,742	)		(7,289	)		(22,919	)		(16,326	)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary (related party) ⁽¹⁾		3,088			2,514			5,452			4,333
Net income		40,640			59,918			79,860			113,240
Non-controlling interest ⁽¹⁾		(282	)		(9,756	)		(416	)		(17,895	)
Net income attributable to Amtrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	40,358		$	50,162		$	79,444		$	95,345

Operating earnings attributable to Amtrust Financial Services, Inc. ⁽²⁾	$	45,424		$	49,389		$	89,423		$	96,556

Earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per share	$	0.67		$	0.84		$	1.32		$	1.60
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.64		$	0.81		$	1.27		$	1.55
Operating diluted earnings per share ⁽³⁾	$	0.72		$	0.80		$	1.43		$	1.57

Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding		60,376			59,844			60,195			59,724
Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding		62,500			61,622			62,281			61,394

Combined ratio		88.9	%		90.3	%		88.7	%		88.8	%

Return on equity		16.5	%		25.2	%		16.8	%		24.7	%
Operating return on equity ⁽⁴⁾		18.5	%		24.8	%		18.9	%		25.0	%

Reconciliation of net realized losses:
Other-than-temporary investment impairments	$	(1,208	)	$	(345	)	$	(1,208	)	$	(345	)
Impairments recognized in other comprehensive income		-			-			-			-
		(1,208	)		(345	)		(1,208	)		(345	)
Net realized gains on sale of investments		3,911			961			2,763			1,376
Net realized gains	$	2,703		$	616		$	1,555		$	1,031

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

Balance Sheet Highlights

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	June 30,		December 31,
	2012		2011

Cash, cash equivalents and investments	$	2,392,768	$	2,086,638
Premiums receivables		972,069		932,992
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		366,209		314,616
Total assets		6,268,939		5,678,747
Loss and loss expense reserves		2,066,455		1,879,175
Unearned premium		1,537,174		1,366,170
Trust preferred securities		123,714		123,714
Convertible senior notes		159,797		138,506
AmTrust's stockholders' equity	$	999,489	$	890,563

Book value per share	$	16.46	$	14.82

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011

Reconciliation of net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. to operating earnings attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.:
Net income attributable to Amtrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	40,358		$	50,162		$	79,444		$	95,345
Less: Net realized gains (loss) net of tax		1,757			400			1,011			670
Foreign currency transaction gain ( loss)		(2,455	)		2,520			(2,034	)		2,236
Non cash interest on convertible senior notes net of tax		(495	)		-			(893	)		-
Non cash amortization of certain intangible assets		(3,873	)		(2,147	)		(8,063	)		(4,117	)
Operating earnings attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. ⁽²⁾	$	45,424		$	49,389		$	89,423		$	96,556

Reconciliation of diluted earnings per share to diluted operating earnings per share:
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.64		$	0.81		$	1.27		$	1.55
Less: Net realized gains (loss) net of tax		0.03			0.01			0.02			0.01
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)		(0.04	)		0.03			(0.03	)		0.04
Non cash interest convertible senior notes net of tax		(0.01	)		-			(0.02	)		-
Non cash amortization of certain intangible assets		(0.06	)		(0.03	)		(0.13	)		(0.07	)
Operating diluted earnings per share ⁽³⁾	$	0.72		$	0.80		$	1.43		$	1.57

Reconciliation of return on equity to operating return on equity:
Return on equity		16.5	%		25.2	%		16.8	%		24.7	%
Less: Net realized gains (loss) net of tax		0.7	%		0.2	%		0.2	%		0.2	%
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)		(1.0	)%		1.3	%		(0.4	)%		0.5	%
Non cash interest convertible senior notes net of tax		(0.2	)%		-	%		(0.2	)%		-	%
Non cash amortization of certain intangible assets		(1.5	)%		(1.1	)%		(1.7	)%		(1.0	)%
Operating return on equity ⁽⁴⁾		18.5	%		24.8	%		18.9	%		25.0	%

⁽¹⁾

Prior year amounts have been reclassed to present the Company's non-controlling interest related to income on life settlement contracts on a pre-tax basis and the provision for income taxes has been reduced for an equivalent amount. Additionally, prior year amounts have been reclassed to present the Company's income from life settlement contracts included in its 21.25% ownership percentage of ACAC on a net basis. The impact of these reclasses reduced the Company's provision for income taxes by $3,305, reduced equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries by $1,304 and increased non-controlling interest by $2,001. There was no overall impact on net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

⁽²⁾

Operating earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income less realized investment gain (loss) net of tax, foreign currency transaction gain (loss), non cash interest on convertible senior notes net of tax and non cash amortization of certain intangible assets and should not be considered an alternative to net income. The Company's management believes that operating earnings is a useful indicator of trends in the Company's underlying operations because it provides a more meaningful representation of the Company's earnings power. The Company's measure of operating earnings may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

⁽³⁾

Diluted operating earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income less realized investment gain (loss) net of tax, foreign currency transaction gain (loss), non cash interest on convertible senior notes net of tax and non cash amortization of certain intangible assets divided by the weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the period and should not be considered an alternative to diluted earnings per share. The Company's management believes that diluted operating earnings per share is a useful indicator of trends in the Company's underlying operations because it provides a more meaningful representation of the Company’s earnings power. The Company's measure of diluted operating earnings per share may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

⁽⁴⁾

Operating return on equity is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income less realized investment gain (loss) net of tax, foreign currency transaction gain (loss), non cash interest on convertible senior notes net of tax and non cash amortization of certain intangible assets divided by the average shareholders' equity for the period and should not be considered an alternative to return on equity. The Company's management believes that operating return on equity is a useful indicator of trends in the Company's underlying operations because it provides a more meaningful representation of the Company’s earnings power. The Company's measure of operating return on equity may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

Segment Information

(in thousands, except percentages)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Gross written premium
Small Commercial Business	$	214,127		$	174,607		$	446,478		$	315,323
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty		272,610			265,502			506,699			493,250
Specialty Program		121,878			93,354			226,516			143,330
Personal Lines Reinsurance		28,823			24,999			59,432			50,586
	$	637,438		$	558,462		$	1,239,125		$	1,002,489

Net written premium
Small Commercial Business	$	104,270		$	113,221		$	223,160		$	190,872
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty		172,259			185,178			313,420			289,725
Specialty Program		86,237			52,283			155,354			78,517
Personal Lines Reinsurance		28,823			24,999			59,432			50,586
	$	391,589		$	375,681		$	751,366		$	609,700

Net earned premium
Small Commercial Business	$	93,568		$	74,034		$	185,896		$	135,895
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty		141,607			109,631			277,180			194,208
Specialty Program		70,868			40,138			130,529			70,908
Personal Lines Reinsurance		27,951			24,479			54,413			47,609
	$	333,994		$	248,282		$	648,018		$	448,620

Loss Ratio
Small Commercial Business		64.5	%		67.4	%		64.3	%		63.8	%
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty		60.5	%		69.4	%		61.0	%		68.7	%
Specialty Program		67.5	%		70.7	%		67.4	%		67.8	%
Personal Lines Reinsurance		64.5	%		64.0	%		64.5	%		64.0	%
Total		63.4	%		68.5	%		63.5	%		66.6	%

Expense Ratio
Small Commercial Business		28.5	%		24.4	%		28.2	%		25.4	%
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty		19.7	%		16.3	%		19.4	%		16.3	%
Specialty Program		31.1	%		25.6	%		30.7	%		25.5	%
Personal Lines Reinsurance		30.5	%		32.5	%		30.5	%		32.5	%
Total		25.5	%		21.8	%		25.1	%		22.2	%

Combined Ratio
Small Commercial Business		93.0	%		91.9	%		92.5	%		89.2	%
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty		80.1	%		85.7	%		80.4	%		85.0	%
Specialty Program		98.6	%		96.2	%		98.1	%		93.3	%
Personal Lines Reinsurance		95.0	%		96.5	%		95.0	%		96.5	%
Total		88.9	%		90.3	%		88.7	%		88.8	%