Triple-S Management Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2011 Results

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Triple-S Management Corporation (NYSE: GTS), one of the leading managed care companies in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $536.8 million and operating income of $15.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011.  Net income of $17.1 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, includes an after tax net gain of $5.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, related to net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments and derivatives.

Second-Quarter Consolidated Highlights

• Total consolidated operating revenues were $529.4 million;
• Operating income was $15.6 million;
• Excluding the after tax net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments and derivatives, net income was $11.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share;
• Consolidated loss ratio was 83.9% and the medical loss ratio (MLR) was 88.0%;
• Medicare member month enrollment increased 59.2%.

Ramon M. Ruiz-Comas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Triple-S Management Corporation, commented on the quarter results, "Despite achieving our expectations with respect to membership, revenue and MLR management, earnings were impacted by higher overall operating expenses stemming from our IT system conversion. As we continue transitioning our members to the new IT system, we increased temporary staffing hours and overtime in order to ensure continuity of service and minimize disruption to members and providers. In the second half of 2011, we anticipate that these costs will continue as we proceed with the IT conversion. We have converted over 50% of our membership and the transition is advancing smoothly and remains on schedule."

Mr. Ruiz-Comas added, "Year to date, our segment MLR is tracking our forecasts, resulting from numerous programs that are beginning to bear fruit.  Within the Commercial business, our pricing strategies and cost-control efforts, which have been centered primarily on the implementation of underwriting and utilization initiatives, continue to be successful.  In the Medicare business, several initiatives that we have put in place, including increasing the number of Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) received, should positively influence the segment's MLR going forward."

"While we are pleased with current trends in our core business, we believe that it is prudent at this juncture to reduce our 2011 EPS guidance range to $2.02-$2.12 from our original guidance of $2.13-$2.23, reflecting higher operating expenses," concluded Mr. Ruiz-Comas.

Selected Quarterly Details

• Pro Forma Net Income was $11.4 million, or $0.39 Per Diluted Share.  Weighted average shares outstanding were 29.0 million.  This compares with pro forma net income of $19.6 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, in the corresponding quarter of 2010, based on weighted average shares outstanding of 29.4 million.
• Consolidated Premiums Increased 1.4%, to $509.8 million.  The increase is principally due to the acquisition of American Health (AH) offset by the termination of the Medicaid contracts in the fourth quarter of 2010.
• Consolidated Administrative Service Fees Declined 42.6%, to $7.0 million.  The significant decrease reflects the termination of the Medicaid contracts and lower Commercial ASO membership.
• Managed Care Membership.  Fully insured Commercial membership was 486,100, down 4.1% from the same period last year.  Medicare membership increased 60.2%, to 104,200, mostly due to the AH acquisition.  Medicaid fully insured membership was 345,300 at the end of the second quarter of 2010.
• Consolidated Loss Ratio Declined by 60 Basis Points, to 83.9%.  The consolidated loss ratio declined as a result of the 50 basis point reduction in the Managed Care MLR and the 440 basis point decrease in the Property and Casualty segment's loss ratio.
• Managed Care MLR Decreased by 50 Basis Points, to 88.0%.  Excluding the effect of the lost Medicaid contracts, the MLR was 10 basis points lower than last year, reflecting the sustained improvement in the Commercial MLR.  This was partially offset by a higher Medicare MLR, resulting from increased utilization trends in our non-dual offering and the addition of AH, which has a greater MLR than our existing Medicare products.
• Consolidated Operating Expense Ratio Rose by 170 Basis Points, to 16.6%.  The higher consolidated operating expense ratio was mainly due to additional operating costs incurred to maintain the historically high level of quality service we offer our members and providers throughout the Managed Care IT transition period.  Also contributing to the increase in this metric is that the AH operations run at a higher operating expense ratio than the Medicaid business.  Consolidated operating expenses increased by $9.2 million, or 12.0%, from a year ago.  In the second quarter, $2.2 million was attributable to enhanced customer service to members and providers during the IT system conversion, and approximately $2.1 million was associated with the amortization of intangible assets related to the AH transaction.
• Consolidated Operating Income Decreased 40.2%, to $15.6 Million.  The decrease mostly reflects the termination of the Medicaid contracts, which contributed $5.9 million to the consolidated operating income last year, and higher consolidated operating expenses.
• Consolidated Operating Income Margin Was 2.9%. The consolidated operating margin declined by 200 basis points year over year due to lower profitability across our Managed Care and Life Insurance segments.
• Consolidated Effective Tax Rate Was 14.5%.  The reduced effective income tax rate is the result of both a lower taxable income from our Managed Care segment, which has a higher effective tax rate, and Puerto Rican tax reform, which became effective in January 2011.  This legislation decreased the maximum corporate tax rate to 30% from 39% and eliminated an additional tax rate imposed in 2009.
• Parent Company Information.  As of June 30, 2011, Triple-S Management had $59.6 million in parent company cash, cash equivalents, and investments.

Six-Month Recap

For the six months ended June 30, 2011, consolidated operating revenues declined 1.3% to $1.03 billion, primarily reflecting the termination of the Medicaid contracts effective September 30, 2010; offset in great part by an increase in member months in the Medicare business attributed to new members acquired from American Health.  Consolidated claims incurred for the six-month period were $830.5 million, down 2.4% year over year.  The six-month consolidated loss ratio decreased 180 basis points to 83.5%, while the MLR fell 160 basis points to 87.7%.  This decline was mostly driven by lower utilization in the Commercial business, offset by an increased Medicare MLR, resulting from increased utilization trends in our non-dual Medicare offering, and the addition of American Health, which has a higher MLR than our existing Medicare products. Consolidated operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were $168.6 million and the operating expense ratio was 16.7%.  Pro forma net income for the six-month period was $24.3 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, based on weighted average shares outstanding of 29.0 million, compared with $30.4 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, based on weighted average shares outstanding of 29.3 million at the same time last year.

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 income or loss divided by operating revenues.

2011 Guidance

Mr. Ruiz-Comas stated, "As we enter the second half of 2011, our goal is to continue to drive organic growth, while further improving our MLR and controlling our operating expenses.  We are adjusting our consolidated operating expense ratio, operating income, effective tax rate and pro forma EPS guidance to reflect the impact of our commitment to offer our members and providers the same level of consistent and reliable service that they have become accustomed to as we proceed with the Managed Care IT system conversion. The consolidated operating expense ratio was increased to 16.0%-16.4% from 15.3%-15.8% and the consolidated operating income was lowered to $80.0-$86.0 million from $89.0-$95.0 million. The consolidated effective tax rate was reduced to 24%-26% from 26%-28%.  We are reaffirming all other metrics in our guidance."

Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host a conference call and webcast on August 3, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, as well as expectations for future earnings.  To participate, callers within the U.S. and Canada should dial 1-877-941-9205, and international callers should dial 1-480-629-9692 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.

About Triple-S Management Corporation

Triple-S Management Corporation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.  It is one of the leading players in the managed care industry in Puerto Rico.  Triple-S Management also has the exclusive right to use the Blue Cross Blue Shield name and mark throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  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 and Medicare Advantage markets under the Blue Cross Blue Shield brand through its subsidiary Triple-S Salud, Inc. and effective February 2011, also offers non-branded Medicare products through American Health Inc.  In addition to its managed care business, Triple-S Management provides non-Blue Cross Blue Shield branded life and property and casualty insurance in Puerto Rico.

For more information about Triple-S Management, visit www.triplesmanagement.com or contact [email protected].

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
• Ability to successfully implement the Company's disease management, utilization management and Star ratings 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.

SOURCE Triple-S Management Corporation