News Release
For Further Information:
Jessica Gulis, 248.559.0840
ir@cnfrh.com
For Immediate Release
Conifer Holdings Reports 2016 Third Quarter Financial Results
Birmingham, MI, November 9, 2016 - Conifer Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNFR) (“Conifer” or the
“Company”) today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.
Third Quarter 2016 Highlights (all comparisons to prior year period)
• Gross written premiums increased 17.6% to $28.5 million, largely due to continued growth in
commercial markets of hospitality, small business, and specialty homeowners personal lines
• Net earned premiums increased 30.7% to $23.4 million due to the Company retaining more
earned premiums as a result of the termination of its quota share reinsurance treaty in the prior
year period
• Strengthened reserves in its commercial auto and Florida homeowners lines
• As a result of this strengthening, combined ratio was 107.9%, compared to 96.4% in the prior
year period and 109.7% in the second quarter of 2016
• Net loss of $1.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share
• Book value per share was $9.76 at September 30, 2016, compared to $10.11 at December 31,
2015
Management Comments
James Petcoff, Chairman and CEO, commented, “During the third quarter Conifer continued to
produce consistent topline growth (up 18%) coupled with strong underwriting results in our core
commercial lines. We are steadily expanding geographically within the specialty niche markets that
our underwriters have focused on for decades, particularly in our hospitality business. Further, we
are seeing considerable growth as part of our 2015 investments in specialty markets, such as
security guard liability and quick service restaurants in commercial lines, as well as low-value
dwellings in personal lines.”
Mr. Petcoff continued, “We see positive trends in our combined ratio as our expense ratio also
improves as we grow to efficient operating scale. While the loss ratio was impacted by the Florida
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 2
November 9, 2016
homeowners business in particular, Conifer’s core commercial property and liability lines have
continued to perform as expected.”
2016 Third Quarter Financial Results Overview
Third Quarter 2016 Premiums
Gross Written Premiums
Gross written premiums increased 17.6% in the third quarter of 2016 to $28.5 million, compared to
$24.2 million in the prior year period, driven largely by growth in the Company’s commercial lines.
Net Earned Premiums
Net earned premiums increased 30.7% to $23.4 million for the third quarter of 2016, compared to
$17.9 million for the prior year period. This was primarily due to the Company retaining more
earned premiums as a result of the termination of its quota share reinsurance treaty.
2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change
Gross written premiums 28,497$ 24,242$ 17.6% 83,616$ 68,505$ 22.1%
Net written premiums 24,634 28,599 -13.9% 72,861 58,207 25.2%
Net earned premiums 23,380 17,883 30.7% 65,164 47,491 37.2%
Net investment income 560 505 10.9% 1,625 1,460 11.3%
Net realized investment gains 71 6 ** 604 238 153.8%
Other Gains - 104 ** - 104 **
Net income (loss) (1,475) 1,145 ** (4,016) 2,287 **
Net income (loss) attributable to Conifer (1,475) 1,326 ** (4,016) 2,368 **
Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders (1,475) 1,212 ** (4,016) 1,828 **
Net income (loss) per share, diluted (0.19)$ 0.21$ (0.53)$ 0.40$
Operating income allocable to common shareholders* (1,546) 1,102 ** (4,620) 1,486 **
Operating income (loss) per share, diluted* (0.20)$ 0.19$ (0.61)$ 0.33$
Book value per common share outstanding 9.76$ 10.49$ 9.76$ 10.49$
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted 7,608,284 5,701,794 7,613,954 4,603,451
Underwriting ratios:
Loss ratio (1) 61.6% 53.3% 61.9% 55.9%
Expense ratio (2) 46.3% 43.1% 48.0% 41.8%
Combined ratio (3) 107.9% 96.4% 109.9% 97.7%
** Percentage is not meaningful
* The "Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures" section of this release defines and reconciles data that are not based on generally accepted accounting
principles.
(3) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. A combined ratio under 100% indicates an underwriting profit. A
combined ratio over 100% indicates an underwriting loss.
(2) The expense ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of policy acquisition costs and operating expenses to net earned premiums and other
income.
(1) The loss ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net earned premiums and other income.
At and for the
Three Months Ended September 30,
At and for the
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 3
November 9, 2016
Commercial Lines Operational Review
The Company’s commercial lines of business, which represented 73% of total gross written
premiums in the third quarter of 2016, primarily consists of property, liability, automobile and other
miscellaneous coverage offered to owner-operated small and mid-sized businesses, professional
organizations and hospitality businesses such as restaurants, bars and taverns.
Commercial lines gross written premiums grew by 24.6% to $20.8 million in the third quarter of
2016. The majority of this growth came from commercial multi-peril increases, largely from
expansion in the hospitality and security services product lines.
As a result of the reserve strengthening in the commercial auto line, coupled with increases in
operating costs not yet offset by the Company’s continued progression to efficient operating scale,
the commercial lines combined ratio was 90.4% in the third quarter of 2016 compared to 84.2% in
the prior year period. Excluding the contribution to the combined ratio from prior year adverse
development, the accident year combined ratio on commercial lines was 80.7%, an improvement of
4.5 percentage points from the 2015 third quarter accident year combined ratio and 7.1 percentage
points sequentially from the 2016 second quarter.
2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change
Gross written premiums 20,759$ 16,655$ 24.6% 62,725$ 50,723$ 23.7%
Net written premiums 18,230 20,786 -12.3% 55,767 43,164 29.2%
Net earned premiums 17,878 13,621 31.3% 49,641 33,779 47.0%
Underwriting ratios:
Loss ratio 53.3% 50.3% 55.2% 51.2%
Expense ratio 37.1% 33.9% 37.6% 31.8%
Combined ratio 90.4% 84.2% 92.8% 83.0%
(favorable) adverse prior year development 9.7% -1.0% 5.8% -0.8%
Accident year combined ratio 80.7% 85.2% 87.0% 83.8%
Contribution to combined ratio from net
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial Lines Financial Review
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 4
November 9, 2016
Personal Lines Operational Review
Personal lines, which consist of low-value dwelling and wind-exposed homeowners insurance,
represented 27% of total gross written premiums for the period.
Personal lines gross written premiums increased 2.0% to $7.7 million in the third quarter of 2016
compared to the prior year period. The premium increase was largely driven by the expansion in
the Company’s low-value home dwelling, offset by year-over-year declines in the Company’s Florida
homeowners business as the Company began to lessen its exposure to this market beginning in the
second half of 2015.
The Company increased reserves in its Florida homeowners business, which contributed to a higher
personal lines loss ratio for the quarter of 89.5%. The Company has reduced exposure, ceased
seeking additional growth in this market and has begun to examine potential strategic options for
the Florida homeowners business.
The Company’s personal lines expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2016
remained elevated in comparison to the same period of the prior year as a result of additional
expenses related to the expansion of its underwriting teams in the second half of 2015 without the
corresponding higher gross written premiums that it expects throughout the remainder of 2016.
The Company reported a combined ratio in personal lines of 128.4%, compared to 116.7% in the
prior year period.
2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change
Gross written premiums 7,738$ 7,587$ 2.0% 20,891$ 17,782$ 17.5%
Net written premiums 6,404 7,813 -18.0% 17,094 15,043 13.6%
Net earned premiums 5,502 4,262 29.1% 15,523 13,712 13.2%
Underwriting ratios:
Loss ratio 89.5% 63.3% 83.3% 67.7%
Expense ratio 38.9% 53.4% 43.1% 32.3%
Combined ratio 128.4% 116.7% 126.4% 100.0%
(favorable) adverse prior year development 15.2% 1.6% 17.4% 2.8%
Accident year combined ratio 113.2% 115.1% 109.0% 97.2%
(dollars in thousands)
Contribution to combined ratio from net
Personal Lines Financial Review
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 5
November 9, 2016
Combined Ratio Analysis
Combined Ratio
The Company's combined ratio was 107.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2016,
compared to 96.4% for the same period in 2015. The combined ratio increased primarily due to
reserve strengthening in both the Company’s Florida homeowners line and in commercial auto for
the third quarter.
Excluding additional reserve strengthening, the combined ratio was 96.9%, which was consistent
with the prior year period and a 5.9 percentage point improvement sequentially over the second
quarter of 2016.
The table below details the impact of the reserve strengthening on the Company’s loss ratio:
• Loss Ratio: The Company's loss ratio was impacted by increased reserves in the Florida
homeowners and commercial auto lines of business. The CMP liability line impacted the loss
ratio on a quarter-to-date basis, but was still favorable on a year-to-date basis. The Company
2016 2015 2016 2015
Underwriting ratios:
Loss ratio 61.6% 53.3% 61.9% 55.9%
Expense ratio 46.3% 43.1% 48.0% 41.8%
Combined ratio 107.9% 96.4% 109.9% 97.7%
adverse prior year development 11.0% -0.5% 8.5% 0.3%
Accident year combined ratio 96.9% 96.9% 101.4% 97.4%
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(dollars in thousands)
Contribution to combined ratio from net (favorable)
2016 2015 2016 2015
Loss ratio 61.6% 53.3% 61.9% 55.9%
Less loss ratio impact from:
Florida homeowners reserve strengthening 3.2% 0.1% 3.4% 0.0%
Commercial automobile reserve strengthening 2.5% 0.9% 3.1% 1.4%
Personal automobile; in run-off 0.2% 0.9% 0.8% 1.0%
CMP liability reserve development 4.0% -0.9% -0.1% -1.0%
Other net reserve (favorable) development 1.1% -1.5% 1.3% -1.1%
Accident year loss ratio 50.6% 53.8% 53.4% 55.6%
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 6
August 11, 2016
continues to tighten underwriting guidelines, increase rates, and selectively write in the most
profitable geographies, particularly in commercial auto.
• Expense Ratio: The expense ratio was 46.3% for the third quarter of 2016, compared to
43.1% in the prior year period. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to the
elimination of a quota share reinsurance agreement, increased expenses related to the hiring
of new underwriting managers in commercial and personal lines (without a commensurate
increase in gross written premiums), and other incremental hiring and infrastructure
investments necessary to support the Company’s continued growth rate.
• The 2016 third quarter expense ratio resulted in a 1.7 percentage point improvement from
the 48.0% expense ratio reported for the second quarter of 2016. The Company believes this
ratio will continue to decline over time as the Company grows to efficient operating scale.
Net Income (Loss) Allocable to Common Shareholders
In the third quarter of 2016, the Company reported a net loss of $1.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted
share based on 7.6 million weighted average common diluted shares outstanding, compared to net
income of $1.2 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, based on 5.7 million weighted average common
diluted shares outstanding in the prior year period.
Operating Income (Loss)
The Company defines operating income (loss), a non-GAAP measure, as net income (loss) allocable
to common shareholders excluding net realized investment gains and losses, and other gains and
losses, after tax. In the third quarter of 2016, the Company reported an operating loss of $1.5
million, or $0.20 per share, compared to operating income of $1.1 million, or $0.19 per share, for the
same period in 2015.
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 7
August 11, 2016
Balance Sheet/Investment Overview
September 30, December 31,
2016 2015
Cash and invested assets 140,934$ 130,427$
Reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses 9,953 7,044
Goodwill and intangible assets 1,412 1,427
Total assets 195,919 177,927
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses 45,994 35,422
Unearned premiums 55,475 47,916
Senior debt 14,250 12,750
Total liabilities 121,415 100,665
Total shareholders' equity 74,504 77,262
Net written premium-to-statutory capital and surplus
ratio 1.4 1.1
Debt-to-total capitalization ratio 0.2 0.1
Average tax-equivalent book yield 2.0 2.1
Average fixed maturity duration 3.0 3.1
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
The Company maintains a prudent investment approach with 97% of the portfolio invested in fixed-
income securities (with an average credit quality of AA) and short-term investments. Only 3% of
the portfolio is invested in equities.
Outlook
Mr. Petcoff concluded, “Our goal for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017 is to continue the progress
made toward addressing the challenging personal lines market conditions faced in the first half of
the year. We were encouraged with the commercial underwriting results achieved during the
period, and we have improved our expense ratio sequentially in each quarter throughout 2016,
down almost 800 basis points from the fourth quarter 2015. We believe that there will be continued
incremental gains as we achieve scale in our operations.”
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 8
August 11, 2016
Earnings Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call/webcast on Thursday, November 10th at 8:30 a.m. ET to
discuss results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.
Investors, analysts, employees and the general public are invited to listen to the conference call via:
Webcast: On the Event Calendar at IR.CNFRH.com
Conference Call: 844-868-8843 (domestic) or 412-317-6589 (international)
The webcast will be archived on the Conifer Holdings website and available for replay for at least
one year.
About the Company
Conifer Holdings, Inc. is a Michigan-based insurance holding company formed in 2009. Through its
subsidiaries, Conifer offers insurance coverage in both specialty commercial and specialty personal
product lines marketing through independent agents in all 50 states. The Company completed its
initial public offering in August 2015 and is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq:
CNFR). Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.CNFRH.com.
Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures
Conifer prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Statutory data is prepared in accordance with
statutory accounting rules as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners'
(NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, and therefore is not reconciled to GAAP data.
We believe that investors’ understanding of Conifer’s performance is enhanced by our disclosure of
operating income. Our method for calculating this measure may differ from that used by other
companies and therefore comparability may be limited. We define operating income (loss), a non-
GAAP measure, as net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders excluding net realized
investment gains and losses, and other gains and losses, after-tax. We use operating income as an
internal performance measure in the management of our operations because we believe it gives our
management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of
operations and our underlying business performance.
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 9
November 9, 2016
Reconciliations of operating income and operating income per share:
2016 2015 2016 2015
shareholders (1,475)$ 1,212$ (4,016)$ 1,828$
Net realized gains, net of tax 71 110 604 342
Operating income (loss) allocable to
common shareholders (1,546)$ 1,102$ (4,620)$ 1,486$
Weighted average common shares, diluted 7,608,284 5,701,794 7,613,954 4,603,451
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
Net income (loss) per share (0.19)$ 0.21$ (0.53)$ 0.40$
Net realized gains, net of tax, per share 0.01 0.02 0.08 0.07
Operating income (loss) per share (0.20)$ 0.19$ (0.61)$ 0.33$
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Net income (loss) allocable to common
(dollar in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give
current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance,
and include Conifer’s expectations regarding premiums, earnings, its capital position, expansion,
and growth strategies. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on
management’s good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information. The
forward-looking statements are qualified by important factors, risks and uncertainties, many of
which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements, including those described in our form 10-K (“Item 1A Risk
Factors”) filed with the SEC on March 15, 2016 and subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the
SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date hereof or
as of the date specified herein. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may
be required by any applicable laws or regulations.
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 10
November 9, 2016
2016 2015 2016 2015
Revenue
Premiums
Gross earned premiums 27,253$ 23,042$ 76,057$ 66,203$
Ceded earned premiums (3,873) (5,159) (10,893) (18,712)
Net earned premiums 23,380 17,883 65,164 47,491
Net investment income 560 505 1,625 1,460
Net realized investment gains 71 6 604 238
Other gains - 104 - 104
Other income 303 523 829 1,492
Total revenue 24,314 19,021 68,222 50,785
Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net 14,582 9,813 40,822 27,359
Policy acquisition costs 6,266 4,605 18,282 9,839
Operating expenses 4,710 3,325 13,384 10,636
Interest expense 168 181 468 664
Total expenses 25,726 17,924 72,956 48,498
Income (loss) before equity earnings and income taxes (1,412) 1,097 (4,734) 2,287
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of tax (47) - 111 -
Income tax (benefit) expense 16 (48) (607) -
Net income (loss) (1,475) 1,145 (4,016) 2,287
Less net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest - (181) - (81)
Net income (loss) attributable to Conifer (1,475)$ 1,326$ (4,016)$ 2,368$
Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders (1,475)$ 1,212$ (4,016)$ 1,828$
Earnings (loss) per common share,
basic and diluted (0.19)$ 0.21$ (0.53)$ 0.40$
Weighted average common shares outstanding,
basic and diluted 7,608,284 5,701,794 7,613,954 4,603,451
Conifer Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
September 30,September 30,
Six Months EndedThree Months Ended
Conifer Holdings, Inc. Page 11
November 9, 2016
September 30, December 31,
2016 2015
(Unaudited)
Investment securities:
Fixed maturity securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $112,260 and 113,841$ 107,093$
$107,213, respectively)
Equity securities, at fair value (cost of $3,371 and $3,341, respectively) 4,500 4,240
Short-term investments, at fair value 14,053 6,391
Total investments 132,394 117,724
Cash 8,540 12,703
Premiums and agents' balances receivable, net 19,762 18,010
Receivable from affiliate 1,363 1,792
Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses 6,334 5,405
Reinsurance recoverables on paid losses 3,619 1,639
Ceded unearned premiums 4,851 3,483
Deferred policy acquisition costs 13,203 12,102
Other assets 5,853 5,069
Total assets 195,919$ 177,927$
Liabilities:
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses 45,994$ 35,422$
Unearned premiums 55,475 47,916
Reinsurance premiums payable - 1,069
Senior debt 14,250 12,750
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 5,094 2,758
Other liabilities 602 750
Total liabilities 121,415 100,665
Commitments and contingencies - -
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value (100,000,000 shares authorized;
7,631,230 and 7,644,492 issued and outstanding, respectively) 80,107 80,111
Accumulated deficit (7,047) (3,031)
Accumulated other comprehensive income 1,444 182
Total shareholders' equity 74,504 77,262
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 195,919$ 177,927$
Conifer Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)
Assets
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity