EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press release

Exhibit 99.1

 

Contact: Safeco Investor Relations

Neal Fuller, 206/545-5537

 

Contact: Safeco Media Relations

Paul Hollie, 206/545-3048

 

Safeco Estimates Losses from Hurricane Wilma

 

SEATTLE — (Nov. 10, 2005) — Safeco (NASDAQ: SAFC) today announced estimated after-tax catastrophe losses from Hurricane Wilma of $29 million, or $0.23 per diluted share. Pretax catastrophe losses from the storm are estimated at $45 million.

 

These figures represent estimated losses both from claims received through Nov. 9, 2005 and from future expected claims from policyholders with hurricane damage, and estimated assessments to Safeco.

 

Safeco does not anticipate reimbursement from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund or the company’s property catastrophe reinsurance for losses related to Hurricane Wilma.

 

“As the 2005 hurricane season comes to a close, hundreds of Safeco claims professionals are on the ground, helping customers, agents and brokers recover from Hurricane Wilma — a storm more costly by industry estimates than any one of Florida’s four 2004 hurricanes,” said Mike McGavick, Safeco chairman and chief executive officer.

 

As it has following each of this year’s major hurricanes, Safeco deployed generators and dedicated service personnel to help Florida agents whose business operations were disrupted by Hurricane Wilma, so they could serve their customers.

 

Safeco has 0.7 percent share of the Florida homeowners market and 2.4 percent share of the commercial multi-peril market. The company’s loss estimate is less than proportionate to the company’s market share, due to strict underwriting guidelines in areas susceptible to coastal storms.

 

Safeco estimated losses for Hurricane Wilma using its knowledge of severity and reporting patterns from past storms as well as claims data and assumptions specific to this catastrophe.

 

The company will announce its fourth-quarter financial results on Jan. 18, 2006.

 

Safeco, in business since 1923, is a Fortune 500 property and casualty insurance company based in Seattle. The company sells insurance to drivers, home owners, and owners of small- and medium-sized businesses through a national network of independent agents and brokers.

 

###


FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS

NEWS RELEASE IS SUBJECT TO RISK AND UNCERTAINTY

 

Forward-looking information contained in this release is subject to risk and uncertainty. Information contained in this release that relates to anticipated losses from recent hurricane activity, financial performance, business prospects and plans, regulatory developments and similar matters are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this release that are not historical information are forward-looking. Our business is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

    Risks related to the pricing and underwriting of our products, and the subsequent establishment of reserves, such as:

 

    Successful implementation of the new-business entry model for personal and commercial lines

 

    Our ability to appropriately price and reserve for changes in the mix of our book of business

 

    Inflationary pressures on medical care costs, auto parts and repair, construction costs and other economic factors that increase the severity of claims

 

    The availability and pricing of our reinsurance, including coverage for loss from terrorism and our ability to collect from our reinsurers

 

    Our ability to price for or exclude the risk of loss from terrorism on our policies

 

    Risks related to our Property & Casualty insurance strategy, such as:

 

    Our ability to achieve premium targets and profitability, including realization of growth and business retention estimates

 

    Our ability to achieve overall expense goals

 

    Our ability to run off businesses that we have exited, or intend to exit in the future, without incurring material unexpected charges

 

    The competitive pricing environment, initiatives by competitors and other changes in the competition

 

    Regulatory, judicial and legislative risks, such as:

 

    Our ability to freely enter and exit lines of business

 

    Our ability to successfully obtain regulatory approval of rates and underwriting guidelines, including price-tiered products and the use of insurance scores that include credit information as a component

 

    Interpretation of insurance policy provisions by courts or tax authorities, court decisions regarding coverage and theories of liability, trends in litigation and changes in claims settlement practices

 

    The outcome of any litigation against us

 

    Legislative and regulatory developments affecting the actions of insurers, including requirements regarding rates, taxes, agent and broker commissions and availability of coverage

 

    Unusual loss activity, such as:

 

    Weather conditions, including the severity and frequency of storms, hurricanes, hail, snowfall and winter conditions

 

    The occurrence of significant natural disasters, including earthquakes

 

    The occurrence of significant man-made disasters, such as terrorist attacks or war

 

    The occurrence of bankruptcies that result in losses on insurance products or investments

 

    Financial and economic conditions, such as:

 

    Performance of financial markets

 

    Availability of bank credit facilities

 

    Fluctuations in interest rates

 

    General economic conditions

 

    Operational risks, such as:

 

    Damage to our infrastructure or harm to our workforce resulting in a disruption of our operations

 

    Internal or external fraud perpetrated against us

 

We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this news release.