ICC Holdings, Inc. Reports 2020 Second Quarter and Six Months Results

ROCK ISLAND, Ill., Aug. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ICC Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCH) (the Company), parent company of Illinois Casualty Company, a regional, multi-line property and casualty insurance company focusing exclusively on the food and beverage industry, today reported preliminary, unaudited results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2020.

SECOND QUARTER AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2020 – FINANCIAL RESULTS

Net earnings totaled $782,000 or $0.26 per share, for the second quarter of 2020, compared to net earnings of $442,000, or $0.15 per share, for the second quarter of 2019. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company reported a net loss of $1,191,000, or $0.39 per share, compared to net earnings of $731,000, or $0.24 per share, for the same period in 2019. Additionally, book value per share increased 8.1% to $20.35 at June 30, 2020, from $18.83 at June 30, 2019.

Direct premiums written decreased by $1,873,000, or 11.2%, to $14,912,000 for the second quarter of 2020 from $16,785,000 for the same period in 2019. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, direct premiums written decreased by $2,338,000, or 7.3%, to $29,706,000 from $32,044,000 for the same period in 2019. Net premiums earned decreased by 13.1% to $11,375,000 for the second quarter of 2020, from $13,094,000 for the same period in 2019. Net premiums earned decreased by 4.5% to $24,389,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, from $25,540,000 for the same period in 2019.

For the second quarter of 2020, the Company ceded to reinsurers $3,167,000 of earned premiums, compared to $2,425,000 of earned premiums for the second quarter of 2019. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company ceded earned premiums of $5,561,000, compared to $5,273,000 for the same period in 2019.

Net realized investment losses net of other-than-temporary impairment losses were $439,000 for the second quarter of 2020, compared to gains of $647,000 for the same period in 2019. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, net realized investment losses net of other-than-temporary impairment losses was $343,000, compared to gains of $600,000 for the same period in 2019.

Net investment income increased by $109,000, or 13.6%, to $909,000 for the second quarter of 2020, as compared to $800,000 for the same period in 2019. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, net investment income increased $148,000, or 9.3%, to $1,744,000, from $1,596,000 for the same period in 2019.

Losses and settlement expenses increased by $307,000, or 3.4%, to $9,208,000 for the second quarter of 2020, from $8,901,000 for the same period in 2019. Losses and settlement expenses decreased by $1,457,000, or 7.9%, to $17,051,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, from $18,508,000 for the same period in 2019. The primary driver for the year-to-date decrease in claims was insureds' business closures during the first and second quarters as a result of COVID-19 stay-at-home state mandates. As of June 30, 2020, the Company has received 1,258 claims for business interruption related to COVID-19. Based on policy language and recent court cases with favorable outcomes for insurers, the Company does not anticipate that coverage will be triggered for these property claims requiring any loss payments.

Policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses decreased by $705,000, or 14.2%, to $4,254,000 for the second quarter of 2020 from $4,959,000 for the same period in 2019. Policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses decreased by $790,000, or 8.1% to $9,019,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, from $9,809,000 for the same period in 2019.

Total assets increased by 15.6% from $163,004,000 at December 31, 2019 to $188,428,000 at June 30, 2020. Our investment portfolio, which consists of fixed income securities, common stocks, preferred stock, property held for investment, and other invested assets, increased by 6.0% from $111,768,000 at December 31, 2019, to $118,458,000 at June 30, 2020.

SECOND QUARTER AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2020 – FINANCIAL RATIOS

The Company's losses and settlement expense ratio (defined as losses and settlement expenses divided by net premiums earned) was 80.9% and 69.9% in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, compared with 68.0% and 72.5% in the same periods of 2019, respectively.

The expense ratio (defined as the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and underwriting and administrative expenses divided by net premiums earned) was 37.4% and 37.0% in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, compared to 37.9% and 38.4% in the same periods of 2019, respectively.

The Company's GAAP combined ratio (defined as the sum of the losses and settlement expense ratio and the expense ratio) was 118.3% and 106.9% in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, compared to 105.8% and 110.9% in the same periods of 2019, respectively.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

"The economic disruption caused by COVID-19 continued, along with the new challenge of civil unrest in many insured metropolitan areas. Widespread stay-at-home mandates in the second quarter further depressed written premium. In order to meet customer needs, the Company modified pricing basis for sales and payroll to provide relief to our customers and properly match premium with the new reduced liability exposure. Regarding business interruption claims resulting from the COVID-19 related shutdowns, our policies do have a virus exclusion. As is the industry standard, the policy requires direct physical damage to property as a cause of loss for coverage to be triggered.

"Unfortunately, civil unrest and rioting events occurring in our Illinois and Minnesota markets created a significant property loss event, with a pretax, pre-reinsurance cost of over $10 million. However, the Company's reinsurance program reduced the net cost to approximately $3 million. That event is the driver of year-to-date net loss. On a positive note, investment markets rebounded in the second quarter as our fixed income and equity portfolios recorded strong unrealized gains for the three months ended June 30, 2020. In order to ensure positive cash flow, the Company added an additional $4 million low-interest FHLB loan in addition to $1.6 million borrowed under the CARES act.

"Despite the second quarter's unfavorable loss ratio movement, the first quarter's positive momentum partially offset this quarter's loss experience to generate a year-to-date loss ratio of 69.9%, 2.6 points lower than 2019's first six months. In addition, even with the riot-related property losses, we ended the second quarter with a 106.9% combined ratio, which was 4.0 points lower than the same period in 2019. The year-over-year combined ratio improvement points to an effective 2020 reinsurance program, as well as lower underwriting expenses commensurate with lower written premiums in the second quarter.

"The Company's commitment to geographic expansion and its focused efforts in the second quarter have positioned the Company to sell its first policy in Arizona effective August 1, 2020, ahead of our original April 2021 entry date.  Such focused efforts will continue to positively serve the Company's plans for future growth within the food and beverage industry," stated Arron Sutherland, President and Chief Executive Officer. 

ABOUT ICC HOLDINGS, INC.

ICC Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated company created to facilitate the growth, expansion and diversification of its subsidiaries in order to maximize value to its stakeholders. The group of companies consolidated under ICC Holdings, Inc. engages in diverse, yet complementary business activities, including property and casualty insurance, real estate, and information technology.

The Company's common shares trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol "ICCH". For more information about ICC Holdings, visit http://ir.iccholdingsinc.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release, and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release, contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or the Reform Act, which may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements identified by words such as "believe," "plan," "seek," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "will," and similar expressions. All statements addressing operating performance, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including statements relating to revenue and profit growth; future responses to and effects of COVID-19 pandemic, including their effects on our business operations and claims activity; new theories of liability; judicial, legislative, regulatory and other governmental developments; litigation tactics and developments; product and segment expansion; regulatory approval in connection with expansion; and market share, as well as statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. The forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies and changes in circumstances, many of which are beyond the Company's control. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Although the Company does not make forward-looking statements unless it believes it has a reasonable basis for doing so, the Company cannot guarantee their accuracy. The foregoing factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. For a list of other factors which could affect the Company's results, see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," including "Forward-Looking Information," set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. No undue reliance should be placed on any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE ICC Holdings, Inc.