As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13 , 2018
RegistrationReg. No. 333-222470333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS,FG FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 46-1119100 | |||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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Copies of communications to:
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360 Central Ave, Suite 800
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 304-5666
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Larry G. Swets, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
360 Central Ave, Suite 800
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 304-5666
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
The Commission is requested to send copies of all communications to:
Mitchell S. Nussbaum (212) 407-4159 mnussbaum@loeb.com David C. Fischer (212) 407-4827 dfischer@loeb.com Loeb & Loeb LLP 345 Park Avenue New York NY 10154 | Leslie Marlow, Esq. Patrick J. Egan, Esq. Gracin & Marlow, LLP The Chrysler Building 405 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor New York, NY 10174 (212) 907- 6457 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the publicpublic:: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.registration statement is declared effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box.box: [ ]
If this Form is filed to register additional sharessecurities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer | [ ] | Accelerated filer | [ ] | |
Non-accelerated filer | [X] | Smaller reporting company | [X] | |
Emerging growth company | [ ] |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2) | Amount of Registration Fee(3) | ||||||
Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $25.00 per share | $ | 23,000,000 | $ | 2,864.00 |
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Amount to be | Proposed Maximum | Proposed Offering | Amount of Registration | ||||||||||||
Common Stock, $0.001 par value | 3,233,204 | $ | 7.00 | 22,632,428 | 2,469.20 |
(1) | Includes additional shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any. Also includes an indeterminate number of securities that may become offered, issuable or sold to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions, which are included pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). |
(2) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the |
(3) |
The Registrantregistrant hereby amends this Registration Statementregistration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrantregistrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statementregistration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statementregistration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securitiesWe may not be soldsell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities nor does it seekand is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION | DATED |
2,811,482 Shares
800,000Common StockShares8.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A(Liquidation Preference Equivalent to $25.00 Per Share)
FG Financial Group, Inc.
1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.This is a firm commitment public offering 800,000of 2,811,482 shares of its newly designated 8.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, $25.00 liquidation preference per share (the “Preferred Stock”). Dividends on the Preferred Stock are cumulative from the date of original issue and will be payable quarterly on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (each, a “dividend payment date”), commencing on June 15 , 2018 when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. The first dividend record date for the Preferred Stock will be June 1 , 2018. Dividends will be payable out of amounts legally available therefor at a rate equal to 8.00% per annum per $25.00 of stated liquidation preferencecommon stock, par value $0.001 per share, or $2.00Common Stock, of FG Financial Group, Inc., based on an assumed public offering price of $[*] per share, which was the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on August [*], 2021.
Our Common Stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol “FGF.”
The actual public offering price per share of PreferredCommon Stock per year.in this offering will be determined between us and the representative of the underwriters at the time of pricing, and may be at a discount to the current market price for our Common Stock. Therefore, the recent market price used throughout this preliminary prospectus may not be indicative of the final offering price.
The Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to , 2023. On and after that date, the Preferred Stock will be redeemable at our option, for cash, in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share of Preferred Stock, plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date of redemption. See “Description of the Preferred Stock—Redemption” in this prospectus.
The Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption. The Preferred Stock will generally have no voting rights except as provided in the Certificate of Designations or as from time to time provided by law. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock and each other class or series of voting parity stock will be required at any time for us to authorize, create or issue any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to amend any provision of our Certificate of Incorporation so as to materially and adversely affect any rights of the Preferred Stock or to take certain other actions.
We have applied to list the Preferred Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “PIHPP.” If the application is approved, we expect trading to commence within 30 days following the initial issuance of the Preferred Stock. Listing of the Preferred Stock is not a condition to the completion of this offering.
Investing in the Preferredour Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus, as well as the risks described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to read about important factors you should consider before making a decision to invest in the Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock is not expected to be rated and may be subject to the risks associated with non-investment grade securities.6.
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, and we take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of thesethe securities we may be offering or determined if this prospectus is truthfulaccurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Per Share | Total(2) | |||||||
Public offering price | $ | 25.00 | $ | 20,000,000 | ||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | $ | $ | ||||||
Offering proceeds to us, before expenses | $ | $ |
Total | ||||||||
Public offering Price | $ | |||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | $ | $ | ||||||
Proceeds to us, before expenses | $ | $ |
(1) | See “Underwriting” for a description of all underwriting compensation payable in connection with this offering. |
We have granted the representative of the underwriters the rightan option to purchase up to an additional 120,000421,722 shares of our PreferredCommon Stock (15% of the shares of Common Stock sold in this offering) from us at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, within 3045 days from the date of the underwriting agreementthis prospectus to cover over-allotments, if any.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of PreferredCommon Stock in book-entry form only, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Companyto investors on or about , 2018.2021.
Boenning & Scattergood,ThinkEquity
a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc.
The date of this prospectus is , 2018.2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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You should rely only on
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration statement filed by us includes additional information not contained in this prospectus. You may read the registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC at the SEC’s website described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyoneany other person to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared.prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus isWe will not make an offer to sell onlythese securities in any jurisdiction where the shares of Preferred Stock offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where itoffer or sale is lawful to do so. Thenot permitted. You should assume that the information containedappearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its date, regardlesscover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the timedate of deliverythat free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us,” or “the Company” are to FG Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with our consolidated subsidiaries.
For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor any of the underwriters has done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may provide to you in connection with this offering in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any salerestrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of our Preferred Stock.
Unless otherwise indicated, statements incommon stock and the distribution of this prospectus concerning our market and where we operate, including our general expectations and competitive position, business opportunity, and category size, growth and share, are based on information from independent industry organizations and other third-party sources (including industry publications, surveys and forecasts), government publications, data from our internal research and management estimates. Management estimates are derived fromany such free writing prospectus outside of the information and data referred to above, and are based on assumptions and calculations made by us based upon our interpretation of such information and data, and our knowledge of our industry and the categories in which we operate, which we believe to be reasonable. Furthermore, the information and data referred to above are imprecise. Projections, assumptions, expectations and estimates regarding our industry and the markets in which we operate and our future performance are also necessarily subject to risk.United States.
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The followingThis summary description about us and our business highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This summaryIt does not contain all the information that may be important to you. Youyou should consider before investing in our securities. Important information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To understand this offering fully, you should read carefully this prospectus and the more detailed information containeddocuments incorporated by reference in their entirety, including “Risk Factors” included in this prospectus including but not limitedand incorporated by reference, “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and the notes to those financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus, together with the risk factors beginningadditional information described under “Incorporation by Reference.”
Overview
FG Financial Group, Inc. is a reinsurance and investment management holding company focused on page 10. References hereinopportunistic collateralized and loss capped reinsurance, while allocating capital to “we,” “us,” “our,” “PIH” or the “Company” refer toSPAC and SPAC sponsor-related businesses. The Company’s principal business operations are conducted through its subsidiaries and affiliates. On December 17, 2020, we changed our corporate name from 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. Unless otherwise expressly indicated orto FG Financial Group, Inc., to better align with our future business plans.
Our strategy has evolved to focus on opportunistic collateralized and loss capped reinsurance, while allocating capital to special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) and SPAC sponsor-related businesses. Accordingly, in the context otherwise requires,first quarter 2021, we have launched our “SPAC Platform,” as further discussed below. As part of our refined focus, we have adopted the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised.
following capital allocation philosophy:
Defined Terms“Grow intrinsic value per share with a long-term focus using fundamental research, allocating capital to asymmetric risk/reward opportunities.”
“1347 Advisors” means 1347 Advisors LLC,Historically, the Company has operated a Delawarereal estate business through its subsidiary, FGI Metrolina Property Income Fund, LP; however, the Company does not anticipate that its real estate business will be a significant component of its future business plans.
Reinsurance:
The Company has formed a wholly-owned reinsurance subsidiary, Fundamental Global Reinsurance Ltd. (“FGRe”), a Cayman Islands limited liability company, to provide specialty property and casualty reinsurance. FGRe has been granted a Class B(iii) insurer license in accordance with the terms of The Insurance Law, 2010 and underlying regulations thereto and is subject to regulation by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (the “Authority”). FGRe entered into its first reinsurance transaction effective January 1, 2021. The agreement is collateralized through a funds at Lloyds transaction. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss in the transaction is approximately $2,900,000 and will cover all risks written by the syndicates during the 2021 insurance year. On November 12, 2020, FGRe initially funded a trust account at Lloyd’s with approximately $2,400,000 to collateralize its obligations. Furthermore, effective April 1, 2021, FGRe entered into its second reinsurance contract with a leading insurtech company that provides automotive insurance utilizing driver monitoring to predictively segment and price drivers. FGRe’s exposure under this contract is limited by a loss cap.
Asset Management:
The Company has formed a wholly owned subsidiary, of KFSI.
“Brotherhood” means Brotherhood Mutual InsuranceFG Strategic Consulting, LLC, to serve as an investment advisor to FedNat Holding Company mutual insurance company primarily serving churches and related institutions throughoutunder the United States.
“ClaimCor” means ClaimCor, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, a Florida limited liability company that provides claims and underwriting technical solutions to Maison and other insurance companies.“FL Citizens” means Florida Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, a state-created non-profit corporation which provides property insurance for Florida property owners who are unable to obtain insurance from private insurance companies.
“FGI” meansinvestment advisory agreement entered into on December 2, 2019. The Company has also formed Fundamental Global Investors,Asset Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an SEC registered investment advisor that manages equity and fixed income hedge funds. As of the date of this prospectus, FGI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 36.0% of our outstanding common stock.
“FOIR” means Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
“KFSI” means Kingsway Financial Services Inc., a corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). Prior to our initial public offering, KFSI was our ultimate parent company and, as of the date of this prospectus, KFSI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 8.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock and warrants and performance shares to acquire approximately an additional 23.9% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
“LA Citizens” means Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, a state-created corporation which operates the residual market insurance programs designated as the Central Plan and the Fair Plan, which, through these plans, provides property insurance for Louisiana property owners who are unable to obtain insurance from private insurance companies.
“LDI” means Louisiana Department of Insurance.
“Maison” means Maison Insurance Company, our wholly owned subsidiary, a Louisiana insurance company that provides property and casualty insurance to individuals in Louisiana, Texas and Florida.
“MMI” means Maison Managers Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, a Delaware corporation that is a managing general agent responsible for our marketing programs and other management services.“TDI” means Texas Department of Insurance.
“TWIA” means the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, a state-created residual market property insurance company which provides coverage to residential and commercial properties in certain designated portions of the Texas seacoast territory.
Business Overview
We are an insurance holding company specialized in providing personal property insurance in coastal markets including those in Louisiana, Texas and Florida. These markets are characterized as regions where the larger, national insurers have reduced their market share in favor of other, less catastrophe exposed markets. These markets are also characterized by state-administered residual insurers controlling large market shares. These unique markets can trace their roots to Hurricane Andrew, after which larger national carriers limited their capital allocation and approaches to property risk aggregation. These trends accelerated again after back to back exceptionally active hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005. However, the decade following the 2005 Hurricane Katrina had relatively few losses arising from tropical storm activity which led to declines in reinsurance pricing and dramatic increases in its availability. We were incorporated on October 2, 2012 in the State of Delaware to take advantage of these favorable dynamics where premium could be acquired relatively more quickly and under less competitive pressure than in other property insurance markets and reinsurance, a significant expense for primary insurers, was declining from record high levels. We execute on this opportunity via a management teamjoint venture with expertise in the critical facets of our business: underwriting, claims, reinsurance, and operations. Within our broad three-state market, we seek to sell our products in territories with the highest rate per exposure and the least complexity in terms of risk. Further, we seek to leverage our increasingly geographically diverse insurance portfolio to gain efficiencies with respect to reinsurance. As of December 31, 2017 we insure approximately 50,000 homes, an increase of almost 48% from one year prior.
On November 19, 2013, we changed our legal name to 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc., and on March 31, 2014, we completed an initial public offering of our common stock. Prior to March 31, 2014, we were a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway America Inc., which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc., or KFSI, a publicly owned holding company based in Canada. As of the date of this prospectus, KFSI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 8.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock and warrants and performance shares to acquire approximately an additional 23.9% of our outstanding shares of common stock. In addition, as of the date of this prospectus, Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, which owns approximately 61% of the Company’s Common Stock, to sponsor investment advisors that will manage private funds ranging the full spectrum of alternative equities, fixed income, private equity and real estate. In September 2020, the joint venture sponsored the launch of FG Special Situations Fund via an investment of $5.0 million. Approximately $4.0 million of this investment represented the sponsorship of a special purpose acquisition company, FG New America Acquisition Corp., which completed its affiliates, or FGI, beneficially own approximately 36.0%initial public offering on October 2, 2020 and entered into a business combination agreement with Opportunity Financial, LLC on February 9, 2021.
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Insurance
FGRe is currently in the process of establishing and seeking regulatory approvals for a Risk Retention Group (“RRG”) to be domiciled in the state of Vermont for the purpose of providing directors and officers insurance coverage to special purpose acquisition vehicles. The Company expects to begin operation of the RRG in the 4th quarter of 2021. FGRe would anticipate providing capital, along with others, to facilitate the underwriting of such insurance coverage. The Company will focus on fee income derived from originating, underwriting, and servicing the insurance business, while mitigating our financial risk with external reinsurance partners.
SPAC Platform
On December 21, 2020, we formed FG SPAC Solutions LLC (“FGSS”), a Delaware company, to facilitate the launch of our outstanding shares“SPAC Platform.” Under the SPAC Platform, we plan to provide various strategic, administrative, and regulatory support services to newly formed SPACs for a monthly fee. The Company co-founded a partnership, FG SPAC Partners, LP, to participate as a co-sponsor for newly formed SPACs. The Company also participates in the risk capital investments associated with the launch of common stock. D. Kyle Cerminara,such SPACs through its Asset Management business, specifically FG Special Situations Fund, LP. The first transaction entered into under the SPAC Platform occurred on January 11, 2021 by and among FGSS and Aldel Investors LLC, the sponsor of Aldel Financial Inc. (“Aldel”), a member of our Board of Directors, serves as Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founderspecial purpose acquisition company which filed its initial registration statement with the SEC on February 16, 2021 and Partner of FGI,completed its initial public offering on April 12, 2021. Under the agreement between FGSS and Lewis M. Johnson,Aldel Investors, LLC, FGSS has agreed to provide certain accounting, regulatory, strategic advisory, and other administrative services to Aldel, which include assistance with negotiations with a member of our Board of Directors, serves as President, Co-Founder and Partner of FGI.
We have three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Maison Insurance Company, or Maison, Maison Managers Inc., or MMI, and ClaimCor, LLC, or ClaimCor.
Through Maison, we began providing property and casualty insurance to individuals in Louisiana in December 2012. In September 2015, Maison began writing manufactured home policies in Texas on a direct basis. Our current insurance offerings in Louisiana and Texas include homeowners insurance, manufactured home insurance and dwelling fire insurance. We write both full peril property policiespotential merger target for the SPAC as well as wind/hail only exposures and we produce new policies through a network of independent insurance agencies. We refer to the policies that we write through these independent agencies as voluntary policies. We also write commercial business in Texas through a quota-share agreement with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, or Brotherhood. Through this agreement, we have assumed wind/hail only exposures on certain churches and related structures Brotherhood insures throughout Texas.
In addition to the voluntary policies that Maison writes, we have participated in the last six rounds of take-outs from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, or LA Citizens, occurring on December 1st of each year, as well as the inaugural depopulation of policies from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, or TWIA, which occurred on December 1, 2016. Under these programs, state-approved insurance companies, such as Maison, have the opportunity to assume insurance policies written by LA Citizens and TWIA. The majority of policies that we have obtained through LA Citizens as well as all of the policies we have obtained through TWIA cover losses arising only from wind and hail. Prior to our take-out, some of LA Citizens and TWIA policyholders may not have been able to obtain such coverage from any other marketplace.
On March 1, 2017, Maison received a certificate of authority from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, or FOIR, which authorized Maison to write personal lines insurance in Florida. Pursuant to the Consent Order issued, Maison has agreed to comply with certain requirements as outlined by the FOIR until Maison can demonstrate three consecutive years of net income following our admission into Florida as evidenced by its Annual Statement filedassistance with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. To comply with a requirement of the consent order that Maison have at least $35 million in capital and surplus, and maintain an RBC ratio of 300% or more, on March 31, 2017, Maison received a capital contribution from PIH in the amount of $16 million.
On September 29, 2017, Maison received authorization from the FOIR to assume personal lines policies from Florida Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“FL Citizens”) pursuant to a proposal of depopulation which Maison filed with FL Citizens on August 18, 2017. Accordingly, Maison entered the Florida market via the assumption of policies from FL Citizens in December, 2017. The order approving Maison’s assumption of policies limits the number of policies which Maison may assume in 2017 to 14,663, and also stipulates that Maison maintain catastrophe reinsurance at such levels as deemed appropriate by the FOIR.
MMI serves as our management services subsidiary, known as a managing general agency, and provides underwriting, policy administration, claims administration, marketing, accounting and other management services to Maison. MMI contracts primarily with independent agencies for policy sales and services, and also contracts with an independent third-party for policy administration services. As a managing general agency, MMI is licensed by and subject to the regulatory oversight of the LDI, TDI and FOIR. MMI earns commissions on a portion of the premiums Maison writes, as well as a per policy fee which ranges from $0-$75 for providing policy administration, marketing, reinsurance contract negotiation and accounting and analytical services.
On January 2, 2015, we completed our acquisition of 100% of the membership interests of ClaimCor, a claims and underwriting technical solutions company. Maison processes claims made by our policyholders through ClaimCor, and also through various third-party claims adjusting companies during times of high volume, so that we may provide responsive claims handling service when catastrophe events occur which impact many of our policyholders. We have the ultimate authority over the claims handling process, while the agencies that we appoint have no authority to settle our claims or otherwise exercise control over the claimsde-SPAC process.
We have an experienced management team with a collective experience of more than 130 years in the insurance industry. Our executive officers have extensive experience in the property and casualty insurance industry, as well as long-standing relationships with agents and insurance regulators in Louisiana, Texas and Florida.
We currently distribute our insurance policies through a network of independent agents. These agents typically represent several insurance companies in order to provide various insurance product lines to their clients.
As of September 30, 2017, we had total assets of $115.5 million and stockholders’ equity of $45.6 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we had net losses of $2.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately 51,000 direct and assumed policies. Of these policies, approximately 32% were obtained via take-out from LA Citizens, FL Citizens, and TWIA, approximately 66% were voluntary policies obtained from our independent agency force, with the remaining 2% comprised of assumed wind/hail only coverages from Brotherhood.
Our Corporate Structure
The chart below displays our corporate structure:
The Company was originally incorporated under the name Maison Insurance Holdings, Inc. to hold all of the capital stock of two of our subsidiaries, Maison and MMI. We acquired 100% of the membership interests of ClaimCor in January 2015. As a holding company for these subsidiaries, we are subject to regulation by the LDI, TDI and FOIR. As of the date of this prospectus, KFSI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 8.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock and warrants and performance shares to acquire an additional 23.9% of our outstanding shares of common stock and FGI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 36.0% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
We are subject to laws and regulations in Louisiana, Texas and Florida, and will be subject to the regulations of any other states in which we may seek to conduct business in the future. In these states, it is the duty of each respective department of insurance to administer the provisions of the insurance code in that state. The purpose of each state’s insurance code is to regulate the insurance industry in all of its phases, including, but not limited to, the following: licensing of insurers and producers, regulation of investments and solvency, review and approval of forms and rates, and market conduct. Furthermore, as Maison is domiciled in the State of Louisiana, the LDI conducts periodic examinations of the financial condition and market conduct of Maison and requires Maison to file financial and other reports on a quarterly and annual basis.
We believe that our holding company structure gives us flexibility to expand our operations and the products and services we offer. We may diversify our business through existing or newly formed subsidiaries or acquisitions. We may issue additional shares of capital stock or obtain debt financing to fund such diversification.
Competitive Strengths
Since we began operations in December of 2012, our growth has been due to our competitive strengths, which include:
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Our Strategies
Our primary goal is to continue to expand our property and casualty writings. Our goal for Louisiana, the first state where we began to offer insurance, has been to establish a market share of 2% to 3%. At December 31, 2016, our market share was 1.8%, based on the fact that direct written premiums in Louisiana were approximately $2.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2016, for the lines of business that we write. We plan to expand our writings through:
Risks Associated With Our Business
In evaluating our business, the following items should be taken into consideration:
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For a detailed discussion on risk factors associated with our business, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Company” in this prospectus.
Recent Developments
Repurchase of Series BA Preferred StockShare Offering
On January 2, 2018,May 21, 2021, we entered intoconsummated the public offering of 194,580 shares of our 8.0% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) at a stockpublic offering price of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $4,864,500, before deducting underwriting commissions and offering expenses. This includes the exercise in full by the underwriters of their over-allotment option to purchase agreement with 1347 Advisors and IWS Acquisition Corporation, both affiliates of KFSI,up to an additional 25,380 shares. The offering was made pursuant to whichan effective shelf registration statement filed with the SEC. The final prospectus supplement relating to the offering was filed with the SEC on May 19, 2021. Including the May 21, 2021 public offering, we repurchased 60,000 shares ofhave 894,580 Series BA Preferred Stock of the Company from 1347 Advisors for an aggregate purchase price of $1,740,000, representing (i) $1,500,000, comprised of $25 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, and (ii) declared and unpaid dividends in respect of the dividend payment due on February 23, 2018 amounting to $240,000 in the aggregate. We also agreed to repurchase pursuant to the stock purchase agreement an additional 60,000 shares from IWS Acquisition Corporation, upon completion of this offering, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000, comprised of $25 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, without any dividend or interest payment. We intend to use $1.5 million of the net proceeds from this offering to complete the repurchase of the Series B Preferred Shares from IWS Acquisition Corporation. The foregoing transactions were approved by a special committee of the Board of Directors of the Company consisting solely of independent directors.outstanding.
In connection with the stock purchase agreement, the Performance Shares Grant Agreement, dated February 24, 2015, between the Company and 1347 Advisors, which provided for the issuance of an aggregate of 100,000 shares of common stock of the Company to 1347 Advisors upon the Company’s achievement of certain performance milestones, was terminated. In connection with the termination, the Company agreed to pay an aggregate cash payment of $300,000 to 1347 Advisors. No common shares were issued to 1347 Advisors under the agreement.
Impact of Hurricane Harvey
In late August 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and Louisiana. Maison has many policyholders who have been impacted by this hurricane. This event primarily impacted our Texas policyholders along with a relatively smaller number of Louisiana policyholders. Since our Texas products do not cover the peril of flood, we expect our losses to arise primarily from South Texas where strong winds made landfall. Based on our analysis, we expect the gross losses to be $27 million which is within the $200 million per occurrence limit of our catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance program. Therefore, the pre-tax losses arising from Hurricane Harvey incurred by the Company, net of reinsurance, are not expected to exceed our retention of $5 million.
Corporate Information
Our business began in February 2012 as part of KFSI when we began conducting market due diligence, establishing the infrastructure and seeking to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to be able to assume and write homeowners’ insurance policies focusing on wind and hail only coverage for the coastal areas in the gulf states of the United States. On October 2, 2012, KFSI formed our company under the laws of the State ofWe are a Delaware as a wholly owned subsidiary, and contributed this business to us. Our initial public offering was completed on March 31, 2014.corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 1511 N. Westshore Blvd.,360 Central Ave, Suite 870, Tampa,800, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33607. Our33701, and our telephone number at this address is (813) 579-6213.(727) 304-5666. Our website is located at www.1347pih.com. The informationwww.fgfinancial.com. Information contained on, or that may be accessible through, our website is not a part of, this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
As of the date of this prospectus, KFSI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 8.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock and warrants and performance shares to acquire an additional 23.9% of our outstanding shares of common stock. One of our directors, Larry G. Swets, Jr., is the Chief Executive Officer of KFSI.
In addition, as of the date of this prospectus, FGI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 36.0% of our outstanding shares of common stock. D. Kyle Cerminara, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner of Fundamental Global, and Lewis M. Johnson, President, Co-Founder and Partner of FGI, are both directors of the Company.
Emerging Growth Company
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including (i) the exemption from the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) delayed application of newly adopted or revised accounting standards, (iii) the exemptions from say-on-pay, say-on-frequency and say-on-golden parachute voting requirements and (iv) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. Following this offering, we will continue to be an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which we had total annual gross revenues of at least $1 billion (as indexed for inflation), (ii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering (December 31, 2019), (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt, or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” as defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
The Offering
The following summary contains basic information about the Preferred Stock and the offering and is not intended to be complete. For a more complete description of the terms of the Preferred Stock, see “Description of the Preferred Stock” inincorporated into, this prospectus. We reserve the right to reopen this series and issue additional shares of Preferred Stock either through public or private sale at any time.
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Shares of Common Stock Outstanding Following this Offering | 7,821,859 shares of Common Stock | |
Option to Purchase Additional Shares | We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 45 days to purchase up to an additional 421,722 shares of our Common Stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. | |
Use of Proceeds | We estimate that we will receive approximately $ million in net proceeds from this offering (or | |
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Dividend Policy | We do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends to holders of our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the growth of our business. If we decide to pay cash dividends in the future, the declaration and payment of such dividends will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors and may be discontinued at any time. In determining the amount of any future dividends, our board of directors will take into account any legal or contractual limitations, our actual and anticipated future earnings, cash flow, debt service and capital requirements and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. | |
Our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock ranks senior to the shares of our Common Stock with respect to dividend rights. Holders of |
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Risk Factors | An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in this prospectus and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, incorporated by reference herein, and any other risk factors described in the documents incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of certain factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in our Common Stock. |
An investment in our Preferred Stock involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment in our Preferred Stock, youYou should carefully considerread the following risks, as well as the other information contained in this prospectus. Any of the risks described below could materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. As a result, the trading price of the Preferred Stock could decline, and you may lose part or all of your investment. Some statements in this prospectus, including such statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. See the“Risk Factors” section of this prospectus entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Relating To Our Company
We may not have future opportunitiesfor a discussion of factors that you should consider before deciding to participate in take-out programs.
We were able to obtain policies from the last six annual LA Citizens take-outs occurring on December 1st of each year from 2012 to 2017, from which we have approximately 12,000 policies in-force or approximately 24% of our total direct and assumed policies as of December 31, 2017. Furthermore, we participatedinvest in our first depopulation from FL Citizens on December 19, 2017 and the inaugural take-out of policies from TWIA on December 1, 2016. As of December 31, 2017 we have assumed 3,461 and 745 policies for the coverages of wind and hail only from FL Citizens and TWIA, respectively. In the future, we may not be able to obtain the quantity or quality of policies currently obtained due to changes in the take-out programs, our inability to meet take-out program participation requirements, or due to changes to the market in general. Additionally, competitors could change their risk profile characteristics, and write these risks directly, which would cause us to lose these policies. The loss of these policies could impact our ability to absorb fixed expenses with lower volumes in the future.
A substantial portion of our in-force policies have been assumed from state-run insurers and cover losses arising only from wind and hail, which creates large concentration of our business in wind and hail only coverage and limits our ability to implement our restrictive underwriting guidelines.
While both LA Citizens and FL Citizens write full peril protection policies in addition to wind and hail only policies, the majority of policies that we have obtained through these insurers’ take-out programs cover losses arising only from wind and hail. Furthermore, the policies which we have assumed through TWIA are wind and hail only policies, as TWIA does not write full peril protection policies. Prior to our take-out, some of these LA Citizens, FL Citizens and TWIA policyholders may not have been able to obtain such coverage from any other marketplace. Approximately 26% of our total direct and assumed policies as of December 31, 2017 represent LA Citizens, FL Citizens and TWIA wind and hail only coverage that other insurance companies have declined to insure. These exposures may subject us to greater risk from catastrophic events. While our voluntary independent agency program includes various restrictive underwriting strategies, we are unable to implement these strategies to the wind and hail only policies that are taken-out from LA and FL Citizens and TWIA. Pursuant to all of these depopulation programs, we must offer a minimum number of renewals on any policy taken out under the programs, thus limiting our ability to implement some of our underwriting guidelines. Upon renewal of these policies, however, we analyze replacement cost scenarios to ensure appropriate amount of coverage is in effect. Our results may be negatively impacted by these limitations.
We have a risk posed by the lack of geographic diversification and concentration of policyholders in Louisiana and Texas.
As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately 51,000 direct and assumed policies. Of these policies, 34,500, or approximately 68%, are in the State of Louisiana, 12,800, or approximately 25%, are in the State of Texas, while the remaining 3,400 policies, or 7%, are in Florida. These three states have significant exposed coastline. According to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, over 2 million residents — approximately 47% of the state’s population based on 2009 U.S. Census estimates — live in Louisiana’s coastal parishes.
Maison insures personal property located in 63 of the 64 parishes in the State of Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, these policies are concentrated within these parishes, presented as a percentage of our total direct and assumed policies in all states, as follows: Saint Tammany Parish, 9.8%, Jefferson Parish, 9.2%, and East Baton Rouge Parish, 5.8%. No other parish in Louisiana or county in Texas or Florida individually has over 5.0% of our total direct and assumed policies as of December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, Maison has written or assumed policies in 156 of the 254 counties that comprise the State of Texas, and in 28 of the 67 counties in Florida.
If we are not able to significantly expand to other states, we may risk higher reinsurance costs and greater loss experience with storm activity occurring in Texas, Florida and Louisiana.
Our strategy to expand into other states, including Florida, may not succeed.
Our strategy for growth includes potentially entering into new states. This strategy could divert management’s attention. We cannot predict whether we will be able to enter new states or whether applicable state regulators will grant Maison a license to do business in such states. We cannot know if we will realize the anticipated benefits of operating in new states or if there will be substantial unanticipated costs associated with such expansion. Any of these factors could adversely affect our financial position and results of operations. Although we have received authorization from the FOIR via a consent order to write personal lines business in the State of Florida, the order limits the number of policies which Maison may assume in 2017 and stipulates that we maintain catastrophe reinsurance at such levels as deemed appropriate by the FOIR. Should we not be able to comply with these and other regulations, our expansion into Florida may not succeed.
We have exposure to unpredictable catastrophes, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial results if they occur.
We offer full peril protection and wind/hail-only insurance policies that cover homeowners and owners of manufactured homes, as well as dwelling fire policies for owners of property rented to others, for losses that result from, among other things, catastrophes. We are therefore subject to claims arising out of catastrophes that may have a significant effect on our business, results of operations, and/or financial condition. Catastrophes can be caused by various events, including hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, windstorms, earthquakes, hailstorms, explosions, flood, fires and by man-made events, such as terrorist attacks. The incidence and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Our policyholders are currently concentrated in Louisiana and Texas. These states are subject to adverse weather conditions such as hurricanes and tropical storms. For example, in late August 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Louisiana and Texas, impacting many of our policyholders. This event primarily impacted our Texas policyholders along with a relatively smaller number of Louisiana policyholders. Insurance companies are not permitted to reserve for catastrophes until such an event takes place. Therefore, a severe catastrophe, or series of catastrophes, could exceed our reinsurance protection and may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and/or financial condition.
Our results may fluctuate based on many factors, including cyclical changes in the insurance industry.common stock.
The insurance business has historically been a cyclical industry characterized by periodsnumber of intense price competition due to excessive underwriting capacity, as well as periods when shortages of capacity permitted an increase in pricing and, thus, more favorable underwriting profits. An increase in premium levels is often offset over time by an increasing supply of insurance capacity in the form of capital provided by new entrants and existing insurers, which may cause prices to decrease. Any of these factors could lead to a significant reduction in premium rates, less favorable policy terms and fewer opportunities to underwrite insurance risks and any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. In addition to these considerations, changes in the frequency and severity of losses suffered by insureds and insurers may affect the cycles of the insurance business significantly. These factors may cause the priceshares of our common stock to be volatile.
We cannot predict whether market conditions will improve, remain constant or deteriorate. Negative market conditions may impair our ability to write insurance at rates that we consider appropriate relative to the risk assumed. If we are not able to write insurance at appropriate rates, our ability to transact business would be materially and adversely affected.
Increased competition could adversely impact our results and growth.
The property and casualty insurance industryoutstanding after this offering is highly competitive. We compete not only with other stock companies but also with mutual companies, underwriting organizations and alternative risk sharing mechanisms. Manybased on 5,010,377 shares of our competitors have substantially greater resourcescommon stock outstanding as of July 30, 2021, and name recognition than us. While our principal competitors cannot be easily classified, Maison considers its primary competing insurers to be: ASI Lloyds, Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporation, United Property & Casualty, First Community Insurance Company, Southern Fidelity Insurance, Safepoint Insurance Company, Imperial F&C Insurance Company, Americas Insurance Company, Access Home Insurance Company, Family Security Insurance Company, Gulfstream Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Federated National Insurance Company, and Centauri Specialty Insurance Company. As we write both full-peril as well as wind/hail only personal lines insurance throughoutexcludes the states of Texas, Florida, and Louisiana, our principal lines of business are written by numerous other insurance companies. Competition for any one account may come from very large national firms, smaller regional companies or companies that write insurance only in Florida, Louisiana and/or Texas. We compete for business not only on the basis of price, but also on the basis of financial strength, availability of coverage desired by customers, underwriting criteria and quality of service to our agents and insureds. We may have difficulty in continuing to compete successfully on any of these bases in the future.
In addition, industry developments could further increase competition in our industry, including:following:
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These developmentsUnless otherwise indicated, this prospectus reflects and others could makeassumes the property and casualty insurance marketplace more competitive. If competition limits our ability to write new business at adequate rates, our future results of operations would be adversely affected.
If our actual losses from insureds exceed our loss reserves, our financial results would be adversely affected.
We record liabilities, which are referred to as reserves, for specific claims incurred and reported as well as reserves for claims incurred but not reported. The estimates of losses for reported claims are established on a case-by-case basis. Such estimates are based on our particular experience with the type of risk involved and our knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each individual claim. Reserves for reported claims encapsulate our total estimate of the cost to settle the claims, including investigation and defense of the claim, and may be adjusted for differences between costs as originally estimated and the costs as re-estimated or incurred. Reserves for incurred but not reported claims are based on the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims, including the effects of inflation and other social and economic factors, using past experience adjusted for current trends and any other factors that would modify past experience. We use a variety of statistical and actuarial techniques to analyze current claim costs, frequency and severity data, and prevailing economic, social and legal factors. While management believes that amounts included in the consolidated financial statements for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are adequate, there can be no assurance that future changes in loss development, favorable or unfavorable, will not occur. Due to these uncertainties, the ultimate losses may vary materially from current loss reserves which could have a material adverse effect on our future financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
As of September 30, 2017, our net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves of $4.5 million were comprised of incurred but not reported reserves of $2.5 million and known case reserves of $2.0 million.
The effects of emerging claim and coverage issues on our business are uncertain.
As industry practices and legal, judicial, social and other environmental conditions change, unexpected and unintended issues related to claims and coverage may emerge. These changes may have a material adverse effect on our business by extending coverage beyond our underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. In some instances, these changes may not become apparent until sometime after we have issued insurance contracts that are affected by the changes. As a result, the full extent of liability under our insurance contracts may not be known for many years after a contract is issued and/or renewed, and this may have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.
The lack of availability of third party adjusters during periods of high claim frequency, or the failure of third party adjusters to properly evaluate claims or the failure of our claims handling administrator to pay claims fairly could adversely affect our business, financial results and capital requirements.
We have outsourced a portion of our claim adjusting function to third party adjusters and therefore rely on these third party adjusters to accurately evaluate claims that are made under our policies. Many factors affect our ability to pay claims accurately, including the training and experience of their claims representatives, the culture of their respective claims organizations, the effectiveness of their management and their ability to develop or select and implement appropriate procedures and systems to support their claims functions. In periods following catastrophic events, or during other periods of high claims frequency, the availability of third party adjusters may be limited. This lack of availability may result in an inability to pay our claims in a timely manner and damage our reputation in the marketplace.
Furthermore, MMI functions as our claims administrator and authorizes payment based on recommendations from third party adjusters; any failure on the part of the third party adjusters to recommend payment on claims fairly could lead to material litigation, or other extracontractual liabilities, undermine our reputation in the marketplace, impair our image and adversely affect our financial results.
If we are unable to expand our business because our capital must be used to pay greater than anticipated claims, our financial results may suffer.
Our future growth may depend on our ability to expand the number of insurance policies we write, the kinds of insurance products we offer and the geographic markets in which we do business, all balanced by the business risks we choose to assume and cede. Our existing sources of funds include possible sales of our securities and our earnings from operations and investments. Unexpected catastrophic events in our market areas, such as the hurricanes and other storms experienced in Florida, Louisiana and Texas in recent years, may result in greater claims losses than anticipated, which could require us to limit or halt our growth strategy in these and other coastal states we may enter while we deploy our capital to pay these unanticipated claims, unless we are able to raise additional capital.
Our financial results may be negatively affected by the fact that a portion of our income is generated by the investment of our company’s capital and surplus, premiums and loss reserves in various investment vehicles.
A portion of our expected income is likely to be generated by the investment of our cash reserves in money market funds, bonds, and other investment vehicles. The amount of income generated from these investments is a function of our investment policy, available investment opportunities, and the amount of invested assets. If we experience larger than expected losses, our invested assets may need to be liquidated in order to provide the cash needed to pay current claims, which may result in lower investment income. We periodically review our investment policy in light of our then-current circumstances, including liquidity needs, and available investment opportunities. Fluctuating interest rates and other economic factors make it difficult to accurately estimate the amount of investment income that will actually be realized. We may realize losses on our investments, which may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and/or financial condition.
We may experience financial exposure from climate change.
Our financial exposure from climate change is most notably associated with losses in connection with increasing occurrences of weather-related events striking the states in which we insure risks. Our maximum reinsurance coverage amount is determined by subjecting our homeowner exposures to statistical forecasting models that are designed to quantify a catastrophic event in terms of the frequency of a storm occurring once in every 100 years. 100 years is used as a measure of the relative size of a storm as compared to a storm expected to occur once every 250 years, which would be larger, or conversely, a storm expected to occur once every 50 years, which would be smaller. We assess the appropriateness of the level of reinsurance we purchase by giving consideration to our own risk appetite, the opinions of independent rating agencies as well as the requirements of state regulators. Our amount of losses we retain (referred to as our deductible) in connection with a catastrophic event is determined by market capacity, pricing conditions and surplus preservation.
Industry trends, such as increased litigation against the insurance industry and individual insurers, the willingness of courts to expand covered causes of loss, rising jury awards, and the escalation of loss severity, may contribute to increased costs and to the deterioration of the reserves of our insurance subsidiary.
The propensity of policyholders and third party claimants to litigate, the willingness of courts to expand causes of loss and the size of awards may render the loss reserves of our insurance subsidiary inadequate for current and future losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operation and cash flows.
Our ability to compete in the property and casualty insurance industry and our ability to expand our business may be negatively affected by the fact that we do not have a rating from A.M. Best.
We are not rated by A.M. Best, although we currently have a Financial Stability Rating (FSR) of ‘A’ Exceptional from Demotech, Inc. We have never been reviewed by A.M. Best and do not intend to seek a rating from A.M. Best. Unlike Demotech, A.M. Best may penalize companies that are highly leveraged, i.e. that utilize reinsurance to support premium writings. We do not plan to give up revenues or efficiency of size as a means to qualify for an acceptable A.M. Best rating. While our Demotech rating has proved satisfactory to date in attracting an acceptable amount of business from independent agents, some independent agents are reluctant to do business with a company that is not rated by A.M. Best. As a result, not having an A.M. Best rating may prevent us from expanding our business into certain independent agencies or limit our access to credit from certain financial institutions, which may in turn limit our ability to compete with large, national insurance companies and certain regional insurance companies.
An adverse rating from Demotech may negatively impact our ability to write new policies, renew desirable policies, or obtain adequate reinsurance, which could harm our business
Although our insurance subsidiary company currently has a Financial Stability Rating of ‘A’ Exceptional from Demotech, Inc., the withdrawal of our rating could limit or prevent us from writing or renewing desirable insurance policies, from competing with insurers who have higher ratings, or from obtaining adequate reinsurance. The withdrawal or downgrade of our rating could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position because our insurance policies may no longer be acceptable to the secondary marketplace or mortgage lenders. Furthermore, a withdrawal or downgrade of our rating could prevent independent agencies from selling and servicing our insurance policies.
We rely on independent agents to write our insurance policies, and if we are not able to attract and retain independent agents, our revenues would be negatively affected.
While we currently obtain some of our policies through the assumption of policies from LA Citizens and FL Citizens, we still require the cooperation and consent of our network of independent agents. We rely on these independent agents to be the primary source for our property insurance policies. Many of our competitors also rely on independent agents. As a result, we must compete with other insurers for independent agents’ business. Our competitors may offer a greater variety of insurance products, lower premiums for insurance coverage or higher commissions to their agents. If our products, pricing and commissions are not competitive, we may find it difficult to attract business from independent agents to sell our products, or may receive less attractive business than our competitors. A material reduction in the amount of our products that independent agents sell would adversely affect our revenues.
We face a risk of non-availability of reinsurance, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to write business and our results of operations and financial condition.
We use, and we expect to continue to use, reinsurance to help manage our exposure to catastrophic losses due to various events, including hurricanes, windstorms, hailstorms, explosions, power outages, fires and man-made events. The availability and cost of reinsurance are each subject to prevailing market conditions beyond our control which can affect business volume and profitability. We may be unable to maintain our current reinsurance coverage, to obtain additional reinsurance coverage in the event our current reinsurance coverage is exhausted by a catastrophic event, or to obtain other reinsurance coverage in adequate amounts or at acceptable rates. Similar risks exist whether we are seeking to replace coverage terminated during the applicable coverage period or to renew or replace coverage upon its expiration. Each of the FOIR, LDI and TDI require that we maintain a minimum level of reinsurance coverage as a condition of writing insurance in their jurisdictions. Should we not be able to maintain this coverage, these regulators may revoke our license to write insurance. We can provide no assurance that we can obtain sufficient reinsurance to cover losses resulting from one or more storms in the future, or that we can obtain such reinsurance in a timely or cost-effective manner. If we are unable to renew our expiring coverage or to obtain new reinsurance coverage, either our net exposure to risk would increase or, if we are unwilling to accept an increase in net risk exposures, we would have to reduce the amount of risk we underwrite. Either increasing our net exposure to risk or reducing the amount of risk that we underwrite may cause a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our financial condition.
We face a risk of non-collectability of reinsurance, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.
Although reinsurers are liable to us to the extent of the reinsurance coverage we purchase, we remain primarily liable as the direct insurer on all risks that we reinsure. Accordingly, our reinsurance agreements do not eliminate our obligation to pay claims. As a result, we are subject to risk with respect to our ability to recover amounts due from reinsurers, including the risks that: (a) our reinsurers may dispute some of our reinsurance claims based on contract terms, and we may ultimately receive partial or no payment, or (b) the amount of losses that reinsurers incur related to worldwide catastrophes may materially harm the financial condition of our reinsurers and cause them to default on their obligations. While we will attempt to manage these risks through underwriting guidelines, collateral requirements, financial strength ratings, credit reviews and other oversight mechanisms, our efforts may not be successful. Further, while we may require collateral to support balances due from reinsurers not authorized to transact business in the applicable jurisdictions, balances generally are not collateralized because it has not always been standard business practice to require security for balances due. As a result, our exposure to credit risk may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flow.
We use actuarially driven catastrophe models to provide us with risk management guidelines.
As is common practice within the insurance industry, we run our exposures in an actuarially driven model that uses past storm data to predict future loss of certain events reoccurring based upon the location and other data of our insured properties. These models, which are provided by independent third parties, can produce wide ranging results within Louisiana and Texas. While we use these models along with the advice of our reinsurance intermediary to select the amount and type of reinsurance to mitigate the loss of capital from catastrophic wind events, these models are not verified, and there are risks that the amount of reinsurance purchased will be insufficient to cover the ultimate catastrophic wind event. Furthermore, the probability of the occurrence of a catastrophic event may be larger than that predicted by the models.
The failure of the risk mitigation strategies we utilize could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
We utilize a number of strategies to mitigate our risk exposure including:following:
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However, there are inherent limitations in all of these tactics. An event or series of events may result in loss levels which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
The failure of any of the loss limitation methods we employ could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or our results of operations.
Various provisions of our policies, such as limitations or exclusions from coverage which have been drafted to limit our risks, may not be enforceable in the manner we intend. At the present time, we employ a variety of endorsements to our policies that limit exposure to known risks, including but not limited to exclusions relating to flood coverage for homes in close proximity to the coast line. While our insurance product exclusions and limitations reduce the loss exposure to us and help eliminate known exposures to certain risks, it is possible that a court or regulatory authority could nullify or void an exclusion or that legislation could be enacted modifying or barring the use of such endorsements and limitations in a way that would increase our loss experience, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Maison is subject to an independent third party rating agency and must maintain certain rating levels to continue to write much of its current and future policies.
In the event that Maison fails to maintain an “A” rating given by a rating agency acceptable to both our insurance agents and our insureds’ home lenders, it will be unable to continue to write much of its current and future insurance policies. In order to maintain this rating, among several factors, Maison must maintain certain minimum capital and surplus. The loss of such an acceptable rating may lead to a significant decline in our premium volume and adversely affect the results of our operations. Demotech, Inc. affirmed our Financial Stability Rating of “A” on December 8, 2017, based upon their review of Maison’s statutory financial statements as of September 30, 2017. This “Exceptional” rating continues as long as we continue to satisfy their requirements, including improving underwriting results, reporting risk-based capital and other financial measures, submitting quarterly statutory financial statements within 45 days and annual statutory financial statements within 60 days of the period end.
If we fail to establish and maintain an effective system of integrated internal controls, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Ensuring that we have adequate internal financial and accounting controls and procedures in place so that we can produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis is a costly and time-consuming effort that needs to be evaluated frequently. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires public companies to conduct an annual review and evaluation of their internal controls and to include assessments of the effectiveness of internal controls by independent auditors. We currently qualify as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act and a smaller reporting company under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Both emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies are exempt from the requirement to include the auditor’s report of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and we will continue to be exempt until such time as we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company or a smaller reporting company. Regardless of our qualification status, we have implemented substantial control systems and procedures in order to satisfy the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act and applicable requirements of Nasdaq, among other items. Maintaining these internal controls is costly and may divert management’s attention.
Our evaluation of our internal controls over financial reporting may identify material weaknesses that may cause us to be unable to report our financial information on a timely basis and thereby subject us to adverse regulatory consequences, including sanctions by the SEC, or violations of Nasdaq’s listing rules. There also could be a negative reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of investor confidence in us and the reliability of our financial statements. Confidence in the reliability of our financial statements also could suffer if we or our independent registered public accounting firm were to report a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting. This may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and could also lead to a decline in the price of our common stock.
The JOBS Act permits emerging growth companies and the SEC’s rules permit smaller reporting companies like us to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies. As long as we qualify as an emerging growth company or smaller reporting company, we are permitted, and we intend to, omit the auditor’s report on the effectiveness of our internal controls that would otherwise be required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as described above. We also take advantage of the exemption provided for emerging growth companies under the JOBS Act from the requirements to submit say on pay, say on frequency, and say on golden parachute votes to our stockholders and we avail ourselves of reduced executive compensation disclosure that is already available to smaller reporting companies. In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the exemption from complying with new or revised accounting standards provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act as long as we are an emerging growth company. An emerging growth company can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of these benefits until we are no longer an emerging growth company or until we affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of this exemption. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.
We will continue to be an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which we had total annual gross revenues of at least $1 billion (as indexed for inflation), (ii) December 31, 2019 (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” as defined under the Exchange Act. In addition, we will continue to be a smaller reporting company until we have more than $75 million in public float (based on our common equity) measured as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter or, in the event we have no public float (based on our common equity), annual revenues of more than $50 million during the most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available.
Until such time that we lose emerging growth company and/or smaller reporting company status, it is unclear if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile and could cause our stock price to decline. Once we lose emerging growth company and/or smaller reporting company status, we expect the costs and demands placed upon our management to increase, as we would have to comply with additional disclosure and accounting requirements.
We have directors who also serve as directors and/or executive officers for our controlling stockholders, which may lead to conflicting interests.
As a result of our having previously spun off from KFSI, we have directors who also serve as directors and executive officers of KFSI, 1347 Advisors, a wholly owned subsidiary of KFSI, Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFH) (“Atlas”), and Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB) (“Limbach”). As of the date of this prospectus, KFSI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 8.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock and warrants and performance shares to acquire an additional 23.9% of our outstanding shares of common stock. We also have directors who serve as executive officers and/or directors of FGI and its affiliates which together, as of the date of this prospectus, beneficially own approximately 36.0% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Our executive officers and members of our Company’s board of directors have fiduciary duties to our stockholders; likewise, persons who serve in similar capacities at KFSI, 1347 Advisors, Atlas, and Limbach and FGI and its affiliates have fiduciary duties to those companies’ investors. We may find, though, the potential for a conflict of interest if our Company and one or more of these other companies pursue acquisitions, investments and other business opportunities that may be suitable for each of us. Our directors who find themselves in these multiple roles may, as a result, have conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving or affecting more than one of the companies to which they owe fiduciary duties. Furthermore, our directors who find themselves in these multiple roles own stock options, shares of common stock and other securities in some of these entities. These ownership interests could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when the applicable individuals are faced with decisions that could have different implications for our Company and these other entities. From time to time, we may enter into transactions with or participate jointly in investments with KFSI, 1347 Advisors, Atlas, or Limbach, or FGI or its affiliates. We may create new situations in the future in which our directors serve as directors or executive officers in future investment holdings of such entities.
Our information technology systems may fail or suffer a loss of security which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our business is highly dependent upon the successful and uninterrupted functioning of our computer and data processing systems. We rely on these systems to perform actuarial and other modeling functions necessary for our underwriting business, as well as to handle our policy administration processes (such as the printing and mailing of our policies, endorsements, and renewal notices, etc.). Our operations are dependent upon our ability to process our business timely and efficiently and protect our information systems from physical loss or unauthorized access. In the event one or more of our facilities cannot be accessed due to a natural catastrophe, terrorist attack or power outage, or systems and telecommunications failures or outages, external attacks such as computer viruses, malware or cyber-attacks, or other disruptions occur, our ability to perform business operations on a timely basis could be significantly impaired and may cause our systems to be inaccessible for an extended period of time. A sustained business interruption or system failure could adversely impact our ability to perform necessary business operations in a timely manner, hurt our relationships with our business partners and customers and have a material adverse effect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations also depend on the reliable and secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our computer systems and networks. From time to time, we may experience threats to our data and systems, including malware and computer virus attacks, unauthorized access, systems failures and disruptions. Computer viruses, hackers, employee misconduct and other external hazards could expose our data systems to security breaches, cyber-attacks or other disruptions. In addition, we routinely transmit and receive personal, confidential and proprietary information by electronic means. Our systems and networks may be subject to breaches or interference. Any such event may result in operational disruptions as well as unauthorized access to or the disclosure or loss of our proprietary information or our customers’ information, which in turn may result in legal claims, regulatory scrutiny and liability, damage to our reputation, the incurrence of costs to eliminate or mitigate further exposure, the loss of customers or affiliated advisers or other damage to our business.
The development and expansion of our business is dependent upon the successful development and implementation of advanced computer and data processing systems. The failure of these systems to function as planned could slow our growth and adversely affect our future business volume and results of operations.
We believe that our independent agents will play a key role in our efforts to increase the number of voluntary policies written by our insurance subsidiary. We utilize various policy administration, rating, and issuance systems. Internet disruptions or system failures of our current policy administration, policy rating and policy issuance system could affect our future business volume and results of operations. In addition, a security breach of our computer systems could damage our reputation or result in liability. We retain confidential information regarding our business dealings and our customers in our computer systems. We may be required to spend significant capital and other resources to protect against security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches. It is critical that these facilities and infrastructure remain secure. Despite the implementation of security measures, our infrastructure may be vulnerable to physical break-ins, computer viruses, programming errors, attacks by third parties or other disruptive problems. In addition, we could be subject to liability if hackers were able to penetrate our network security or otherwise misappropriate customer’s personal data or other confidential information.
Any failure on the part of our third-party policy administration processor could lead to material litigation, undermine our reputation in the marketplace, impair our image and negatively affect our financial results.
We outsource our policy administration process to an unaffiliated, independent third party service provider. Any failure on the part of such third party to properly handle our policy administration process could lead to material litigation, extracontractual liabilities, regulatory action, undermine our reputation in the marketplace, impair our image and negatively affect our financial results.
We have a limited operating history as a publicly-traded company. Our inexperience as a public company and the requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert management’s attention, affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members and have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.
We have a limited operating history as a publicly-traded company. Our Board of Directors and senior management team has overall responsibility for our management and not all of our directors and members of our senior management team have prior experience in operating a public company. As a publicly-traded company, we are required to develop and implement substantial control systems, policies and procedures in order to satisfy our periodic SEC reporting and Nasdaq obligations. Management’s past experience may not be sufficient to successfully develop and implement these systems, policies and procedures and to operate our company. Failure to do so could jeopardize our status as a public company, and the loss of such status may have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.
In addition, as a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, and Nasdaq rules, including those promulgated in response to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The requirements of these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls for financial reporting. To maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, we need to continually commit significant resources, maintain staff and provide additional management oversight. In addition, sustaining our growth will require us to commit additional management, operational and financial resources to identify new professionals to join our organization and to maintain appropriate operational and financial systems to adequately support expansion. These activities may divert management’s attention from other business concerns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
As a public company, we incur significant annual expenses related to these steps associated with, among other things, director fees, reporting requirements, transfer agent fees, accounting, legal and administrative personnel, auditing and legal fees and similar expenses. We also incur higher costs for director and officer liability insurance. Any of these factors make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our Board of Directors. Finally, we expect to incur additional costs once we lose “emerging growth company” and/or “smaller reporting company” status.
We may require additional capital in the future which may not be available or may only be available on unfavorable terms.
Our future capital requirements depend on many factors, including our ability to write new business successfully and to establish premium rates and reserves at levels sufficient to cover losses. To the extent that our present capital is insufficient to meet future operating requirements or to cover losses, we may need to raise additional funds through financings or curtail our projected growth. Many factors will affect our capital needs as well as their amount and timing, including our growth and profitability, the availability of reinsurance, as well as possible acquisition opportunities, market disruptions and other developments. If we had to raise additional capital, equity or debt financing may not be available at all or may be available only on terms that are not favorable to us. In the case of equity financings, dilution to our stockholders could result, and in any case such securities may have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to those of existing stockholders. If we cannot obtain adequate capital on favorable terms or at all, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Our acquisition strategy may not succeed.
Our strategy for growth includes, among other things, acquisition transactions. This strategy could divert management’s attention, or, if implemented, create difficulties including the integration of operations and the retention of employees, and the contingent and latent risks associated with our transaction partner. The risks associated with the acquisition of a smaller insurance company include:
We may be unable to identify and complete a future transaction on terms favorable to us. We cannot know if we will realize the anticipated benefits of a completed transaction or if there will be substantial unanticipated costs associated with the transaction. In addition, a future transaction may result in tax consequences at either or both the stockholder and company level, potentially dilutive issuances of our securities, the incurrence of additional debt and the recognition of potential impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. Each of these factors could adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.
The development and implementation of new technologies will require an additional investment of our capital resources in the future.
Frequent technological changes, new products and services and evolving industry standards all influence the insurance business. The Internet, for example, is increasingly used to transmit benefits and related information to clients and to facilitate business-to-business information exchange and transactions. We believe that the development and implementation of new technologies will require additional investment of our capital resources in the future. We have not determined, however, the amount of resources and the time that this development and implementation may require, which may result in short-term, unexpected interruptions to our business, or may result in a competitive disadvantage in price and/or efficiency, as we endeavor to develop or implement new technologies.
Our success depends on our ability to accurately price the risks we underwrite.
The results of our operations and the financial condition of our insurance subsidiary depend on our ability to underwrite and set premium rates accurately for a wide variety of risks. Rate adequacy is necessary to generate sufficient premiums to pay losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting expenses and to earn a profit. In order to price our products accurately, we must collect and properly analyze a substantial amount of data, develop, test and apply appropriate rating formulas, closely monitor and timely recognize changes in trends and project both severity and frequency of losses with reasonable accuracy. Our ability to undertake these efforts successfully, and thereby price our products accurately, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are outside our control, including:
Because we have assumed a substantial portion of our current policies from LA Citizens, TWIA and FOIR, our rates are based, to a certain extent, on the rates charged by those insurers. In determining the rates we charge in connection with the policies we have assumed from LA Citizens, our rates must be equal to or less than the rates charged by LA Citizens. If LA Citizens reduces its rates, we must reduce our rates to keep them equivalent to or less than LA Citizens’ rates; however, if LA Citizens increases its rates, we may not automatically increase our rates. Additionally, absent certain circumstances, we must continue to provide coverage to the policyholders that we assume from LA Citizens if we have underwritten the same policyholder for a period of three consecutive years. In determining the rates we charge in connection with the policies we have assumed from TWIA, our rates must be no greater than 115% of premiums charged by TWIA for comparable coverage. Additionally, we must continue to provide coverage to the policyholders under those policies that we have assumed from TWIA for a minimum of three successive renewal periods. If we underprice our risks, it may negatively affect our profit margins and if we overprice risks, it could reduce our customer retention, sales volume and competitiveness. Either event may have a material adverse effect on the profitability of our insurance subsidiary.
Current operating resources are necessary to develop future new insurance products.
We currently intend to expand our product offerings by underwriting additional insurance products and programs, and marketing them through our distribution network. Expansion of our product offerings will result in increases in expenses due to additional costs incurred in actuarial rate justifications, software and personnel. Offering additional insurance products will also require regulatory approval, further increasing our costs and potentially affecting the speed with which we will be able to pursue new market opportunities. There can be no assurance that we will be successful bringing new insurance products to our marketplace.
As an insurance holding company, we are currently subject to regulation by the states of Louisiana, Texas and Florida and in the future may become subject to regulation by certain other states or a federal regulator.
All states regulate insurance holding company systems. State statutes and administrative rules generally require each insurance company in the holding company group to register with the department of insurance in its state of domicile and to furnish information concerning the operations of the companies within the holding company system which may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the group. As part of its registration, each insurance company must identify material agreements, relationships and transactions with affiliates, including without limitation loans, investments, asset transfers, transactions outside of the ordinary course of business, certain management, service, and cost sharing agreements, reinsurance transactions, dividends, and consolidated tax allocation agreements. Insurance holding company regulations generally provide that transactions between an insurance company and its affiliates must be fair and equitable, allocated between the parties in accordance with customary accounting practices, and fully disclosed in the records of the respective parties. Many types of transactions between an insurance company and its affiliates, such as transfers of assets among such affiliated companies, certain dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries and certain material transactions between companies within the system, may be subject to prior notice to, or prior approval by, state regulatory authorities. If we are unable to provide the required materials or obtain the requisite prior approval for a specific transaction, we may be precluded from taking the actions, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our insurance subsidiary currently operates in Louisiana and Texas. Although we have not written any policies in Florida, pursuant to the consent order issued on March 1, 2017, we are subject to the regulatory requirements of the FOIR. In the future, our insurance subsidiary may become authorized to transact business in other states and therefore will become subject to the laws and regulatory requirements of those states. These regulations may vary from state to state, and certain states may have regulations which conflict with the regulations of other states. Currently, the federal government’s role in regulating or dictating the policies of insurance companies is limited. However, Congress, from time to time, considers proposals that would increase the role of the federal government in insurance regulation, either in addition to or in lieu of state regulation. The impact of any future federal insurance regulation on our insurance operations is unclear and may adversely impact our business or competitive position.
Our insurance subsidiary is subject to extensive regulation which may reduce our profitability or inhibit our growth. Moreover, if we fail to comply with these regulations, we may be subject to penalties, including fines and suspensions, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The insurance industry is highly regulated and supervised. Maison, our insurance company subsidiary, is subject to the supervision and regulation of the states in which it is domiciled and the states in which it does business. Such supervision and regulation is primarily designed to protect policyholders rather than stockholders. These regulations are generally administered by a department of insurance in each state and relate to, among other things:
The LDI and regulators in other jurisdictions where our insurance company subsidiary operates or may operate conduct periodic examinations of the affairs of insurance companies and require the filing of annual and other reports relating to financial condition, information relating to and notices and approvals of transactions with affiliated parties, and other matters. These regulatory requirements may adversely affect or inhibit our ability to achieve some or all of our business objectives. These regulatory authorities also conduct periodic examinations into insurers’ business practices. These reviews may reveal deficiencies in our insurance operations or differences between our interpretations of regulatory requirements and those of the regulators. In addition, regulatory authorities have relatively broad discretion to deny or revoke licenses for various reasons, including the violation of regulations. In some instances, we follow practices based on our interpretations of regulations or practices that we believe may be generally followed by the industry. These practices may turn out to be different from the interpretations of regulatory authorities. If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, insurance regulatory authorities could prevent or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our business or otherwise penalize us. Any such outcome may have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate our business.
Finally, changes in the level of regulation of the insurance industry or changes in laws or regulations themselves or interpretations by regulatory authorities may have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate our business.
Maison is subject to minimum capital and surplus requirements, and our failure to meet these requirements could subject us to regulatory action.
Maison is subject to risk-based capital standards and other minimum capital and surplus requirements imposed under the laws of Texas, Florida and Louisiana (and other states where we may eventually conduct business). The risk-based capital standards, based upon the Risk-Based Capital Model Act adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC, require Maison to report its results of risk-based capital calculations to state departments of insurance and the NAIC. These risk-based capital standards provide for different levels of regulatory attention depending upon the ratio of an insurance company’s total adjusted capital, as calculated in accordance with NAIC guidelines, to its authorized control level risk-based capital. Authorized control level risk-based capital is determined by applying the NAIC’s risk-based capital formula, which measures the minimum amount of capital that an insurance company needs to support its overall business operations.
In addition, Maison is required to maintain certain minimum capital and surplus and to limit its written premiums to specified multiples of its capital and surplus. Maison could exceed these ratios if its premium increases faster than anticipated or if its surplus declines due to catastrophic and/or non-catastrophic losses, excessive underwriting and/or operational expenses.
Any failure by Maison to meet the applicable risk-based capital or minimum statutory capital requirements or the writings ratio limitations imposed by the laws of the states in which Maison operates could subject it to further examination or corrective action imposed by state regulators, including limitations on our writing of additional business, state supervision or liquidation. Any changes in existing risk-based capital requirements, minimum statutory capital requirements or applicable writings ratios may require us to increase our statutory capital levels, which we may be unable to do.
Should our retention rate be less than anticipated, future results will be negatively impacted.
We make assumptions about the rate at which our existing policies will renew for the purpose of projecting direct premiums written and the amount of reinsurance which we obtain based upon the projected amount of future exposure. If the actual exposure renewed is less than anticipated, our direct premiums written would be adversely impacted. Furthermore, we may purchase more reinsurance than may be appropriate given the actual amount of coverage in force.
We depend on the ability of our subsidiaries to generate and transfer funds to meet our financial obligations
As an insurance holding company, we are dependent on dividends and other permitted payments from our subsidiary companies to serve as operating capital. The ability of Maison to pay dividends to us is subject to certain restrictions imposed under Louisiana insurance law, which is the state of domicile for Maison. Dividend payments from Maison may be further restricted pursuant to a consent agreement entered into with the LDI and the FOIR as a condition of our licensure in each state. Interest payments on the surplus notes issued to us by Maison is also subject to the prior approval of the LDI. Our other subsidiary companies collect the majority of their revenue through their affiliation with Maison. Our subsidiary company MMI, earns commission income from Maison for underwriting, policy administration, claims handling, and other services provided to Maison. Our subsidiary company, ClaimCor, earns claims adjusting income for adjusting certain of the claims of Maison’s policyholders. While dividend payments from our other subsidiaries are not restricted under insurance law, the underlying contracts between Maison and our other subsidiary companies are regulated by, and subject to the approval of, insurance regulators.
We may be unable to attract and retain qualified employees.
We depend on our ability to attract and retain experienced underwriting talent and other skilled employees who are knowledgeable about our business. If the quality of our underwriters and other personnel decreases, we may be unable to maintain our current competitive position in the specialized markets in which we operate and be unable to expand our operations, which could adversely affect our results. Because we have relatively few employees, the loss of, or failure to attract, key personnel could also significantly impede the financial plans, growth, marketing and other objectives of our company. Our success depends to a substantial extent on the ability and experience of our senior management. We believe that our future success will depend in large part on our ability to attract and retain additional skilled and qualified personnel and to expand, train and manage our employees. We may not be successful in doing so, because the competition for experienced personnel in the insurance industry is intense. Many of the companies with which we compete for experienced personnel have greater resources than we have. We cannot be certain of our ability to identify, hire and retain adequately qualified personnel. We do not have employment agreements with our employees. Failure to identify, hire and retain necessary key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in tax laws could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The U.S. Congress recently passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was signed into law by the President on December 22, 2017. One of the key features of the legislation is a reduction in the Federal corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35%. Due to this reduction, the Company will incur an initial charge to earnings to write off a portion of the net deferred tax asset position recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. However, future operating results would be taxed at the lower rate. The Company’s insurance subsidiary will also have to write-off or otherwise non-admit a portion of its respective deferred tax asset, which would result in a decrease in its respective capital and surplus under statutory accounting principles for insurance companies. This might result in the Company contributing additional capital to its insurance subsidiary in order to maintain desired statutory capital adequacy ratios. If corporate Federal income tax rates were reduced, federal and/or state legislation might be enacted to help offset the decrease in tax revenue to the government. Such legislation might reduce or eliminate certain tax advantages that are currently beneficial to the Company, including tax-exempt interest on municipal securities, the dividends received deduction and certain tax credits. Accordingly, the fair value of the Company’s investments might be adversely impacted. Under the new tax law, the Company estimates a decrease of approximately $325,000 in deferred tax assets on a consolidated basis, and a decrease of $718,000 in deferred tax assets, on a regulatory basis, in the Company’s insurance subsidiary.
Our tax-loss carryforwards are subject to restrictions.
As of December 31, 2016 we had net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, for federal income tax purposes of approximately $ 0.69 million which will be available to offset future taxable income. Pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, utilization of NOLs may be limited after an ownership change, as defined in Section 382. Due to potential changes in our ownership, a significant portion of these carry-forwards may be subject to significant restrictions with respect to our ability to use those amounts to offset future taxable income. Use of our NOLs may be further limited as a result of future equity transactions.
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Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Preferred Stock
We are a holding company and our ability to make dividend payments on the Preferred Stock may depend upon our ability to receive dividends or other distributions from our subsidiaries.
Our operations are substantially conducted through our subsidiaries, Maison, MMI and ClaimCor. As a holding company, we do not own any significant assets other than equity in our subsidiaries. Under Delaware corporate law, we are generally restricted to paying dividends from either Company surplus or from net income from the current or preceding fiscal year so long as the payment of the dividends does not reduce the value of the Company’s net assets below the stated value of the Company’s outstanding preferred shares. Our ability to make dividend payments on the Preferred Stock will be dependent on dividends and other distributions or payments from our subsidiaries. The ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions or other payments to us depends upon the availability of cash flow from operations and proceeds from the sale of assets and other capital-raising activities. We cannot be certain of the future availability of such distributions and the lack of any such distributions may adversely affect our ability to make dividend payments on the Preferred Stock. In addition, dividends or other distributions from our subsidiaries to us may be subject to contractual and other restrictions and are subject to other business considerations.
The ability of Maison, our insurance company subsidiary, to pay dividends to us is subject to certain restrictions imposed under Louisiana insurance law, which is the state of domicile for Maison. Dividends payments to us may also be restricted pursuant to a consent agreement entered into with the LDI and the FOIR as a condition of our licensure in each state. As a result, at times, we may not be able to receive dividends from Maison, which would affect our ability to pay dividends on our capital stock, including the Preferred Stock. Our other subsidiary companies collect the majority of their revenue through their affiliation with Maison. Our subsidiary company MMI, earns commission income from Maison for underwriting, policy administration, claims handling, and other services provided to Maison. Our subsidiary company, ClaimCor, earns claims adjusting income for adjusting certain of the claims of Maison’s policyholders. While dividend payments from our other subsidiaries are not restricted under insurance law, the underlying contracts between Maison and our other subsidiary companies are regulated by, and subject to the approval of insurance regulators.
The Preferred Stock is equity and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, and your interests may be diluted in the event we issue additional shares of preferred stock.
Shares of the Preferred Stock represent equity interests and do not constitute indebtedness. As such, the Preferred Stock will rank junior to all of our indebtedness and other non-equity claims of our creditors with respect to assets available to satisfy our claims, including in our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Our future debt may include restrictions on our ability to pay distributions to preferred stockholders. Unlike indebtedness, where principal and interest would customarily be payable on specified due dates, in the case of preferred stock such as the Preferred Stock, dividends are payable only if declared by our Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof). Our ability to pay dividends on the Preferred Stock may be limited by the terms of our agreements governing future indebtedness and by the provisions of other future agreements.
Subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law and our charter, our Board of Directors is authorized to issue, from our authorized but unissued shares of capital stock, preferred stock in such classes or series as our Board of Directors may determine and to establish from time to time the number of shares of preferred stock to be included in any such class or series. The issuance of additional shares of Preferred Stock or additional shares of preferred stock designated as ranking on parity with the Preferred Stock would dilute the interests of the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock, and the issuance of shares of any class or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking senior to the Preferred Stock or the incurrence of additional indebtedness could affect our ability to pay distributions on, redeem or pay the liquidation preference on the Preferred Stock.
There is no existing market for the Preferred Stock and a trading market that will provide you with adequate liquidity may not develop for the Preferred Stock. In addition, the Preferred Stock has no stated maturity date.
The Preferred Stock is a new issue of securities and currently no market exists for the Preferred Stock. Since the securities have no established maturity date, investors seeking liquidity will be limited to selling their shares in the secondary market. We have applied to list the Preferred Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the trading symbol “PIHPP”; however, the Preferred Stock may not be approved for listing. Listing of the Preferred Stock is not a condition to the completion of this offering. Even if the Preferred Stock is approved for listing, there may be little or no secondary market for the Preferred Stock. The liquidity of any market for the Preferred Stock that may develop will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, our financial condition and operating results, the number of holders of the Preferred Stock, the market for similar securities and the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the Preferred Stock. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our company will lead to the development of a trading market in the Preferred Stock, or how liquid that market might be. If an active market does not develop, you may have difficulty selling your shares of Preferred Stock. The public offering price of the Preferred Stock was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriter and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following the completion of this offering.
If our common stock is delisted, your ability to transfer or sell your shares of Preferred Stock may be limited and the market value of the Preferred Stock will likely be materially adversely affected.
The Preferred Stock does not contain provisions that are intended to protect you if our common stock is delisted from the Nasdaq. Because the Preferred Stock has no stated maturity date, you may be forced to hold your shares of the Preferred Stock and receive stated dividends on the Preferred Stock when, as and if authorized by our Board of Directors and paid by us with no assurance as to ever receiving the liquidation value thereof. Also, if our common stock is delisted from the Nasdaq, it is likely that the Preferred Stock will be delisted from the Nasdaq as well. Accordingly, if our common stock is delisted from the Nasdaq, your ability to transfer or sell your shares of the Preferred Stock may be limited and the market value of the Preferred Stock will likely be materially and adversely affected.
General market conditions and unpredictable factors could adversely affect market prices for the Preferred Stock.
The market prices for the Preferred Stock may fluctuate from the public offering price. Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the market price of the Preferred Stock. Factors that might influence the market price of the Preferred Stock include, but are not limited to:
If you purchase shares of Preferred Stock, the shares may subsequently trade at a discount to the price that you paid for them.
As a holder of Preferred Stock, you will have extremely limited voting rights.
Other than the limited circumstances described in this prospectus and except to the extent from time to time provided by law, holders of Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights. Our shares of common stock are the only class of our securities that carry full voting rights. Voting rights for holders of Preferred Stock exist primarily with respect to voting on amendments to our certificate of incorporation or certificate of designations relating to the Preferred Stock that materially and adversely affects the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock or authorize, increase or create additional classes or series of our capital stock that are senior to the Preferred Stock. Please see the section entitled “Description of the Preferred Stock—Voting Rights.”
There are no voting rights for the holders of the Preferred Stock with respect to our issuance of securities that rank equally with the Preferred Stock.
Upon completion of this offering and the repurchase of 60,000 Shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company pursuant to a stock purchase agreement with IWS Acquisition Corporation, we will not have outstanding any shares of our capital stock that rank equally with or senior to the Preferred Stock. However, we may issue additional securities that rank equally with the Preferred Stock without the vote of the holders of Preferred Stock. See “Description of the Preferred Stock — Voting Rights” in this prospectus. The issuance of securities ranking equally with the Preferred Stock may reduce the amount available for dividends and the amount recoverable by holders of the Preferred Stock in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
We are able to redeem the Preferred Stock beginning , 2023, but are under no obligation to do so. If the Preferred Stock is redeemed, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at a similar return on investment.
On and after , 2023, we may redeem the Preferred Stock. See “Description of the Preferred Stock — Redemption” in this prospectus. We have no obligation to redeem or repurchase the Preferred Stock under any circumstances. If shares of the Preferred Stock are redeemed at a time when prevailing interest rates or preferred stock dividends are lower than the dividend rate applicable to the Preferred Stock, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in an investment with a comparable rate of return.
The Preferred Stock may be rated below investment grade.
We have not sought to obtain a rating for the Preferred Stock. However, we currently expect that the rating of the Preferred Stock, if obtained, would be below investment grade, which could adversely impact the market price of the Preferred Stock. Below investment-grade securities are subject to a higher risk of price volatility than similar, higher-rated securities. Furthermore, increases in leverage or deteriorating outlooks for an issuer, or volatile markets, could lead to significant deterioration in market prices of below-investment grade rated securities.
Ratings only reflect the views of the issuing rating agency and such ratings could at any time be revised downward or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency. Further, a rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any particular security, including the Preferred Stock. In addition, ratings do not market prices or suitability of a security for a particular investor and any rating of the Preferred Stock may not reflect all risks related to us and our business, or the structure or market value of the Preferred Stock.
A classification of the Preferred Stock by NAIC may impact U.S. insurance companies that purchase Preferred Stock.
The NAIC may from time to time, in its discretion, classify securities in insurers’ portfolios as either debt, preferred equity or common equity instruments. The NAIC’s written guidelines for classifying securities as debt, preferred equity or common equity include subjective factors that require the relevant NAIC examiner to exercise substantial judgment in making a classification. There is, therefore, a risk that the Preferred Stock may be classified by NAIC as common equity instead of preferred equity. The NAIC classification determines the amount of risk based capital, or RBC, charges incurred by insurance companies in connection with an investment in a security. Securities classified as common equity by the NAIC carry RBC charges that can be significantly higher than the RBC requirement for debt or preferred equity. Therefore, any classification of the Preferred Stock as common equity may adversely affect U.S. insurance companies that hold Preferred Stock. In addition, a determination by the NAIC to classify the Preferred Stock as common equity may adversely impact the trading of the Preferred Stock in the secondary market.
We will have broad discretion in using the proceeds of this offering, and we may not effectively spend the proceeds.
We expect to use $1.5 million of the net proceeds from this offering to complete the repurchase of the shares of our Series B Preferred Stock from IWS Acquisition Corporation, an affiliate of KFSI, upon the completion of this offering. Following the repurchase of the shares, we expect to use the remainder of the net proceeds from this offering to support our organic growth, and for general corporate purposes, including spending for business development, sales and marketing and working capital, and for future potential acquisition opportunities. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus for more information. We cannot specify with certainty the particular uses of the net proceeds stated above, and these allocations may change depending on the success of our planned initiatives. We will have significant flexibility and broad discretion in applying the net proceeds of this offering, and we may not apply these proceeds effectively. Our management might not be able to yield a significant return, if any, on any investment of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use our net proceeds from this offering.
SPECIAL NOTECAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus containsand the documents incorporated by reference into it may contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company and represents our expectations and beliefs concerning future events that are, or may be considered to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements are therefore entitledintended to the protection ofbe covered by the safe harbor provisions of these laws. Thesefor forward-looking statements may be identifiedprovided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements included herein or incorporated herein by reference include or may include, but are not limited to, (and you should read carefully) statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or use of forward-looking terminologyor contain words, terms, phrases, or expressions such as “anticipate,“achieve,” “forecast,” “plan,” “propose,” “strategy,” “envision,” “hope,” “will,” “continue,” “potential,” “expect,” “believe,” “budget,“anticipate,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “envision,“project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “indicate,“predict,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possibly,” “potential,” “predict,” “probably,” “pro-forma,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “will be,” “will continue,” “would”or similar words, terms, phrases, or expressions or the negative thereofof any of these terms. Any statements in this prospectus or other variations thereon or comparable terminology.
We haveincorporated herein by reference that are not based theseupon historical fact are forward-looking statements onand represent our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe thesebest judgment as to be reasonable, such forward-lookingwhat may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, manyincluding but not limited to those discussed in the “Risk Factors” section contained in Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and the following risks and uncertainties: risks associated with our limited business operations since the closing of our Maison Business (the “Asset Sale”); risks associated with our inability to identify and realize business opportunities, and the undertaking of any new such opportunities, following the Asset Sale; our ability to spend or invest the net proceeds from the Asset Sale in a manner that yields a favorable return; general conditions in the global economy, including the impact of health and safety concerns from the current COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of governmental measures taken in response thereto; the uncertainty and difficulty in predicting the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; our lack of operating history or established reputation in the reinsurance industry; our inability to obtain or maintain the necessary approvals to operate reinsurance subsidiaries; risks associated with operating in the reinsurance industry, including inadequately priced insured risks, credit risk associated with brokers we may do business with, and inadequate retrocessional coverage; our inability to execute on our investment and investment management strategy, including our strategy to invest in real estate assets and the risk capital of special purpose acquisition companies; potential loss of value of investments; risk of becoming an investment company; fluctuations in our short-term results as we implement our new business strategy; risks of not being able to attract and retain qualified management and personnel to implement and execute on our business and growth strategy; failure of our information technology systems, data breaches and cyber-attacks; our ability to establish and maintain an effective system of internal controls; our limited operating history as a publicly traded company; the requirements of being a public company and losing our status as a smaller reporting company or becoming an accelerated filer; any potential conflicts of interest between us and our controlling stockholders and different interests of controlling stockholders; potential conflicts of interest between us and our directors and executive officers; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business of FedNat Holding Company; continued volatility or further decline in the value of the shares of FedNat Holding Company common stock received by us as consideration in the Asset Sale or limitations and restrictions with respect to our ownership of such shares; risks of being a minority stockholder of FedNat Holding Company; risks associated with our related party transactions and investments; risks associated with our inability to continue to satisfy the listing standards of the Nasdaq following completion of the Asset Sale; risks associated with our investments in special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), including the failure of any such SPAC to complete its initial business transaction; and our inability to issue common stock or equity-linked securities due to the limit on our authorized common stock unless stockholders approve an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock, which are beyondcould generally have a material adverse effect on our control. Theseability to finance and other important factors may causeoperate our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Management cautions that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assume that such statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Factors that might cause such a difference include, without limitation:
business. Our expectations and future plans and initiatives may not be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize,materializes, or if our underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Such risks
Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, in reading this prospectus and uncertainties also include those set forththe documents incorporated into this prospectus by reference, you should consider the factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus. Ourprospectus in evaluating any forward-looking statements speakand you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement is made and applies only as of the time that theydate of the particular statement, and we are made and do not necessarily reflect our outlook at any other point in time. Except as required by law or regulation, we undertake no obligationobligated to update, publiclywithdraw, or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or forotherwise. You should consider these risks when reading any other reason.forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributed or attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
5 |
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are incorporated herein by reference (other than, in each case, information furnished, rather than filed), as well as the information contained in this prospectus relating to this offering. Any of those risk factors could significantly and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations, and the trading price of our securities. Although we describe, and will describe, what we believe to be the principal risks related to our Company and the securities we offer, we can also be affected by risks we do not anticipate or do not think will have a material effect upon us. Please also read carefully the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to This Offering
Our share price may be volatile and could decline substantially.
The market price of our Common Stock could be subject to significant fluctuations due to changes in sentiment in the market regarding our operations or business prospects. Since the beginning of the year, the Common Stock has traded at a low of $3.15, on January 8, and a high of $9.99, on June 25. Many factors may cause the market price for our Common Stock to decline, including:
● | shortfalls in revenues, cash flows or continued losses from operations; | |
● | our failure to effectively compete in the insurance and reinsurance industry; | |
● | our inability to carry out our investment and investment management strategy; | |
● | potential losses from our investments in special purpose acquisition companies; | |
● | government action or regulation; and | |
● | unfavorable outcomes from litigation. |
In addition, the stock market experiences extreme fluctuations in price and volume that particularly affect the market price of shares of companies like ours. These price and volume fluctuations are often unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the affected companies. Because of this volatility, we may fail to meet the expectations of our stockholders or of securities analysts, and our stock price could decline as a result. Declines in our stock price for any reason, as well as broad-based market fluctuations or fluctuations related to our financial results or other developments, may adversely affect your ability to sell your shares at a price equal to or above the price at which you purchased them. Decreases in the price of our Common Stock may also lead to de-listing of our Common Stock.
Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from this offering, and we may not use the proceeds effectively.
We will receivehave not allocated specific amounts of the net proceeds from this offering for any specific purpose. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that you do not agree with or that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. See “Use of Proceeds.” Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial results, operating results and/or cash flow and could cause the price of our common stock to decline.
You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of the Common Stock you purchase.
Since the price per share of our Common Stock being offered is higher than the net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock, you will suffer substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the Common Stock you purchase in this offering. Based on the public offering price of $[*] per share, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on August [*], 2021, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, if you purchase shares of Common Stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of $ per share in the pro forma, as-adjusted, net tangible book value of the Common Stock. See the section entitled “Dilution” in this prospectus for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase Common Stock in this offering.
Our outstanding options and warrants, and the availability for resale of certain of the underlying shares, may adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock.
Our outstanding options and warrants could adversely affect our ability to obtain future financing or engage in certain mergers or other transactions, since the holders thereof may exercise them at a time when we may be able to obtain additional capital through a new offering of securities on terms more favorable to us than the terms of outstanding securities. For the life of the options and warrants, the holders have the opportunity to profit from a rise in the market price of our Common Stock without assuming the risk of ownership. The issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options and warrants would also dilute the ownership interests of our existing stockholders.
Additional financing or future equity issuances may result in future dilution to our stockholders.
We expect that we will need to raise additional funds in the future to finance our internal growth, our merger and acquisition plans, investment activities, and for other reasons. Any required additional financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, you may experience significant dilution of your ownership interest and the newly issued securities may have rights senior to those of the holders of our Common Stock. The price per share at which we sell additional securities in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering. Alternatively, if we raise additional funds by obtaining loans from third parties, the terms of those financing arrangements may include negative covenants or other restrictions on our business that could impair our operational flexibility and would also require us to fund additional interest expense. If adequate additional financing is not available when required or is not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully execute our business plan.
Because we do not currently intend to pay cash dividends on our Common Stock, stockholders will primarily benefit from an investment in our stock only if it appreciates in value.
We do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our shares of Common Stock. We currently intend to retain all future earnings, if any, for use in the operations and expansion of the business. As a result, we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of cash dividends or non-cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on factors the board of directors deems relevant, including among others, our results of operations, financial condition and cash requirements, business prospects, and the terms of any of our financing arrangements. Accordingly, realization of a gain on stockholders’ investments will primarily depend on the appreciation of the price of our stock. There is no guarantee that our stock will appreciate in value.
We have issued nearly all of our authorized Common Stock, so, to issue additional shares of Common Stock, including for financing purposes, we will need to amend our certificate of incorporation to increase our authorized shares of Common Stock.
As of July 12, 2021, we had 6,291,888 shares of Common Stock issued and 5,010,377 shares of Common Stock outstanding, and there were 894,580 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. We also had 2,127,567 shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plan, outstanding equity awards and outstanding warrants. Our certificate of incorporation currently provides for 10,000,000 authorized shares of Common Stock. As such, we are nearing the limit of our authorized Common Stock, and given the size of the offering described herein, we may be required to ask our stockholders to approve an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock for additional, future issuances. Prior to such approval, or after if such amendment is not approved, we may be unable to issue Common Stock for a variety of purposes, including, most importantly, for financing purposes. This limitation on our ability to issue Common Stock could generally have a material adverse effect on our ability to finance and operate our business.
Moreover, and even if our certificate of incorporation were amended to increase our authorized Common Stock, in the event that any future financing should be in the form of, be convertible into or exchangeable for, equity securities, or upon the exercise of options or warrants to purchase our Common Stock, investors would experience dilution, and sales of Common Stock by stockholders in the market could lower the price of our Common Stock and the value of our company.
Our investments in special purpose acquisition companies and in sponsors of special purpose acquisition companies involve a high degree of risk.
We expect to invest in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”), including SPACs that are sponsored by our affiliates. In general, a SPAC is a special purpose vehicle, formed to raise capital from the public through an IPO with the purpose, usually, of using the proceeds to acquire a single unspecified business or assets to be identified after the IPO. The IPO proceeds are held in a trust account until released to fund a business combination or used to redeem shares sold in the IPO. SPACs are required to either consummate a business combination or liquidate within a set period of time following their IPO. Because, at the time of the IPO, the SPAC has no operating history or any plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective investment targets, we will have no basis upon which to evaluate a SPAC’s ability to achieve its business objectives. If a SPAC fails to complete its initial business transaction within the required time period, it will never generate any operating revenues, and our SPAC investment may receive only a fixed dollar amount per share upon redemption, or less than such fixed amount in certain circumstances which could significantly affect our operating results and shareholders’ equity.
Additionally, we have invested in equity interests in the sponsor of a SPAC (“Sponsor”) and expect to acquire additional interests in sponsors of SPACs in the future. By investing in a Sponsor, we have provided risk capital which allows the Sponsor to launch the IPO of the SPAC. In exchange for this investment, we own interests in the Sponsor that entitle us to receive distributions of shares and warrants in the SPAC after the lock-up period following the SPAC’s IPO has expired. These Sponsor interests do not have redemption rights to receive any portion of our original investment back from the trust account of the SPAC, as is normally associated with an IPO investment directly into a SPAC. Accordingly, an investment in a Sponsor is subject to a much higher degree of risk than an investment in a SPAC because the entire investment may be lost if the SPAC is not successful in consummating a business combination. Such potential loss could have a material effect on our financial results and shareholders’ equity. In addition, the trading prices of our common stock could fluctuate based on the trading prices of the SPACs in which we invest.
8 |
We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $18.7$ million (or approximately $21.6$ million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), based on thean assumed public offering price of $25.00$[*] per share, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on August [*], 2021, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The actual offering price per share of Common Stock in this offering will be determined between us and the underwriters at the time of pricing, and may be at a discount to the current market price for our Common Stock.
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $[*] per share, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on August [*], 2021, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $ million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this offering. See “Underwriting” in this prospectus.
prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.
We expectcurrently intend to use $1.5 million of the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, operational purposes and potential acquisitions. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion in the allocation and use of the net proceeds of this offering, and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to complete the repurchaseuse of these net proceeds. The precise amount, use and timing of the application of such proceeds will depend upon our funding requirements and the availability and cost of other capital.
We do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends to holders of our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the growth of our business. If we decide to pay cash dividends in the future, the declaration and payment of such dividends will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors and may be discontinued at any time. In determining the amount of any future dividends, our board of directors will take into account any legal or contractual limitations, our actual and anticipated future earnings, cash flow, debt service and capital requirements and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
Our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock ranks senior to the shares of our Series B PreferredCommon Stock from IWS Acquisition Corporation, an affiliate of KFSI, upon completion of this offering. Following the repurchase of the shares, we expect to use the remainder of the net proceeds from this offering to support our organic growth, and for general corporate purposes, including spending for business development, sales and marketing and working capital, and for future potential acquisition opportunities. However, we do not have any current plans, arrangements or understandings with respect to any such acquisition or investment, and we are currently not involved in any negotiations with respect to any such transaction. We cannot specify with certainty the particular usesdividend rights. Holders of the net proceeds stated above, and our allocation of the proceeds may change depending on the successshares of our planned initiatives. We will have broad discretion in using these proceeds. Pending the use of proceeds from this offering as described above, we plan to invest the net proceeds that we receive in this offering in high quality, short- and long-term investments.
Holders of ourSeries A Preferred Stock will beare entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of lawfully available funds for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at a rate of 8.00% per annum of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference (equivalent to $2.00 per annum per share), accruing from , 2018. Dividends will be payable to holders of our Preferred Stock quarterly on or about the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on June 15 , 2018. The record date for dividend payment will be March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year, whether or not a business day, immediately preceding the applicable dividend payment date. The first dividend record date will be June 1 , 2018. Dividends on the Preferred Stock will accumulate whether or not the Company has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of those dividends and whether or not those dividends are declared by the Board of Directors. We intend to declare regular quarterly. All accrued dividends on the shares ofSeries A Preferred Stock following the offering. As of December 31, 2017, prior to the receipt of any net proceeds from this offering, we had $1.6 million available for the payment of dividends. The declaration, paymentshall be paid in cash only when, as and amount of future dividends will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors. Our board of directors expects to take into account a variety of factors when determining whether to declare any future dividends on the Preferred Stock, including (i) our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, retained earnings, and capital requirements, (ii) general business conditions, (iii) legal, tax and regulatory limitations, including those placed on our subsidiary companies, and (iv) any other factors thatif declared by our board of directors deems relevant. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will declare dividends on our preferred shares inout of lawfully available funds therefor or upon a liquidation or redemption of the future.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. It is the present policy of our board of directors to retain earnings, if any, for use in developing and expanding our business. In the future, our payment of dividends on our common stock will also depend on the amount of funds available, our financial condition, capital requirements and such other factors as our board of directors may consider.
Series A Preferred Stock.
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of September 30, 2017:March 31, 2021:
● | on an actual basis; |
● | on | |
● | on a pro forma, as-adjusted, basis to reflect the |
Our capitalization following the closing of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.You should read this table in conjunctioninformation together with the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial ConditionsCondition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhereincorporated by reference in this prospectus.
As of September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | ||||||||
(in thousands) | Actual | As adjusted | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 25,679 | $ | 40,876 | ||||
Series B Preferred Stock, $25.00 par value, 1,000,000 authorized shares, 120,000 shares issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and zero shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis(1) | 2,744 | — | ||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 authorized shares, 6,136,125 shares issued and 5,984,766 shares outstanding on an actual, and pro forma as adjusted basis | 6 | 6 | ||||||
Cumulative Preferred Stock, $25.00 par value, 1,000,000 authorized shares, zero shares issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and 800,000 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis(2) | — | 20,000 | ||||||
Additional paid in capital | 47,052 | 45,735 | ||||||
Retained deficit | (480 | ) | (1,222 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 29 | 29 | ||||||
Total stockholders’ equity(3) | 45,598 | 63,539 | ||||||
Total capitalization | $ | 48,342 | $ | 63,539 |
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITIONAND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
All dollar amounts are in thousands, except share and per share data.
Overview
Maison Insurance Holdings, Inc. was incorporated on October 2, 2012 in the State of Delaware. On November 19, 2013, the Company changed its legal name from Maison Insurance Holdings, Inc. to 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. The Company is a holding company and is engaged, through its subsidiaries, in the property and casualty insurance business.
Prior to March 31, 2014, the Company operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway America, Inc., or KAI. KAI, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services, Inc., or KFSI, a publicly owned holding company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On March 31, 2014, the Company completed an initial public offering of its common stock and then on June 13, 2014, the Company completed a follow-on offering. Through the combination of the initial public offering and follow-on offering, we issued approximately five million shares of our common stock. On October 25, 2017, KAI entered into a purchase agreement with Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, or FGI, pursuant to which KAI agreed to sell 900,000 shares of our common stock to FGI or to one of FGI’s affiliate companies in two separate transactions. The first transaction, for the sale of 475,428 shares of our common stock, occurred on November 1, 2017. The second transaction, for the sale of 424,572 shares of our common stock, is conditioned on approval of the transaction by both the LDI and FOIR. FGI is affiliated with D. Kyle Cerminara, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner, and Lewis M. Johnson, where he serves as President, Co-Founder and Partner. Messrs. Cerminara and Johnson are both members of our Board of Directors. Should the second transaction be consummated, FGI, and entities affiliated with FGI, would own approximately 43% of our outstanding common shares.
We have three wholly-owned subsidiaries; Maison Insurance Company, or Maison, a Louisiana-domiciled property and casualty insurance company, Maison Managers, Inc., or MMI, a managing general agent, incorporated in the State of Delaware on October 2, 2012, and ClaimCor, LLC, or ClaimCor, a Florida based claims and underwriting technical solutions company.
Maison writes personal property and casualty insurance in Louisiana and Florida, and both personal and commercial property and casualty insurance in Texas. Maison provides dwelling policies for wind and hail only, and dwelling, homeowner and mobile home/manufactured home policies for multi-peril property risks.
Maison began writing commercial business in Texas in June 2015, through a quota-share agreement with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, or Brotherhood. Through this agreement, Maison has assumed wind/hail only exposures on certain churches and related structures Brotherhood insures throughout the State of Texas.
Maison distributes its insurance policies through a network of independent agencies in Louisiana and Texas. These agencies typically represent several insurance companies in order to provide various insurance product lines to their clients. The Company refers to these policies as voluntary policies. Maison in currently in the process of establishing a network of independent agencies in Florida.
In addition to the voluntary policies that Maison writes, we have participated in the last six rounds of take-outs from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Company, or LA Citizens, occurring on December 1st of each year, as well as the inaugural depopulation of policies from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, or TWIA, which occurred on December 1, 2016. Under these programs, state-approved insurance companies, such as Maison, have the opportunity to assume insurance policies written by both LA Citizens and TWIA. The majority of policies that we have obtained through LA Citizens as well as all of the policies we have obtained through TWIA cover losses arising only from wind and hail. Prior to our takeout, some of these LA Citizens and TWIA policyholders may not have been able to obtain such coverage from any other marketplace.
On January 2, 2015, the Company completed its acquisition of 100% of the membership interest of ClaimCor, a claims and underwriting technical solutions company. Maison processes claims made by our policyholders through ClaimCor, and also through various third-party claims adjusting companies. We have the ultimate authority over the claims handling process, while the agencies we appoint have no authority to settle our claims or otherwise exercise control over the claims process.
Florida Certificate of Authority
On March 1, 2017, Maison received a certificate of authority from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, or FOIR, which authorizes Maison to write personal lines insurance in the State of Florida. Pursuant to the Consent Order issued, Maison has agreed to comply with certain requirements as outlined by the FOIR until Maison can demonstrate three consecutive years of net income following the Company’s admission into Florida as evidenced by its Annual Statement filed with the FOIR via the National Association of Insurance Commissioners electronic filing system. Among other requirements, the FOIR requires the following as conditions related to the issuance of Maison’s certificate of authority:
To comply with the Consent Order, on March 31, 2017, Maison received a capital contribution from us in the amount of $16,000. As of September 30, 2017, Maison had not written any insurance policies covering risks in the State of Florida.
On September 29, 2017, Maison received authorization from the FOIR to assume personal lines policies from Florida Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, or FL Citizens, pursuant to a proposal of depopulation which Maison filed with FL Citizens on August 18, 2017. Accordingly, Maison entered the Florida market via the assumption of policies from FL Citizens in December, 2017. The order approving Maison’s assumption of policies limited the number of policies which Maison could assume in 2017 to 14,663, and also stipulates that Maison maintain catastrophe reinsurance at such levels as deemed appropriate by the FOIR.
Our Products
As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately 51,000 direct and assumed policies. Of these policies, approximately 32% were obtained via take-out from the LA Citizens, FL Citizens and TWIA, approximately 66% were voluntary policies obtained from our independent agency force, with the remaining 2% comprised of assumed wind/hail only coverages from Brotherhood. In total, from both take-out and voluntary business, 46% of our policies are homeowner multi-peril, approximately 11% are manufactured home multi-peril policies, approximately 36% are wind/hail only policies, approximately 5% are multi-peril dwelling policies, and approximately 2% are dwelling fire policies.
Homeowners’ Insurance
Our homeowners’ insurance policy is written on an owner occupied dwelling which protects from all perils, except for those specifically excluded from coverage by the policy. It also provides replacement cost coverage on the home and other structures and will provide optional coverage for replacement cost on personal property in the home. It may also offer the option of specifically scheduling individual personal property items for coverage. Additionally, coverage for loss of use of the home until it can be repaired is provided. Personal liability and medical payment coverage to others is included, as well.
Wind/Hail Insurance
Our wind/hail insurance policy is written on an owner or non-owner occupied dwelling which primarily protects from the perils of wind and/or hail weather events. This policy type may also provide coverage for personal property, but only for specific types of coverage. It provides replacement cost or actual cash value coverage on the home and other structures depending on the form under which the policy is written. Personal property in the home is written at actual cash value. Additionally, coverage for loss of use of the home is provided.
Manufactured Home Insurance
Our manufactured home insurance policy is written on a manufactured or mobile home and is similar to both the homeowners’ insurance policy and the dwelling fire policy. The policy can provide for coverage on the manufactured home, the insured’s personal property in the home and liability and medical payments can be included. Furthermore, our manufactured home policies can be endorsed to include coverage for flood and earthquake (coverage for these perils is not available under our other policy types. The policy can also be written on either owner occupied or non-owner occupied units. Property coverage can be written on an actual cash value or stated amount basis with an optional replacement cost coverage available for partial loss. There are several other optional coverages that can be included and residential and commercial-use rental units can be written along with seasonal use mobile homes or homes that are used for part of the year.
Dwelling Fire Insurance
Our dwelling fire policy can be issued on an owner occupied or non-owner (tenant) occupied dwelling property. It will also provide coverage against all types of loss unless the peril causing the loss is specifically excluded in the policy. Losses from vandalism and malicious mischief are also included in the coverage. Personal liability and medical payments to others may be included on an optional basis.
Our direct in-force policy counts as well as assumed policies as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
Policies in-force as of December 31, | ||||||||||||
Source of Policies | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||
Total LA Citizens Takeout Policies in Force | 12,002 | 8,892 | 8,957 | |||||||||
Homeowners | 23,283 | 17,685 | 14,283 | |||||||||
Manufactured Homes | 4,975 | 4,694 | 4,343 | |||||||||
Other Dwellings | 5,187 | 2,568 | 806 | |||||||||
Total Voluntary Policies in Force | 33,445 | 24,947 | 19,432 | |||||||||
Total Direct Policies in Force | 45,447 | 33,839 | 28,389 | |||||||||
Assumed through FL Citizens Depopulation Program | 3,461 | — | — | |||||||||
Assumed through Brotherhood Quota-Share Agreement | 1,035 | 522 | 495 | |||||||||
Assumed through TWIA Quota-Share Agreement(1) | 745 | 1,251 | — | |||||||||
Total Assumed Policies | 5,241 | 1,773 | 495 |
|
Maison Managers, Inc.
MMI serves as the Company’s management services subsidiary and provides underwriting, policy administration, claims administration, marketing, accounting and other management services to Maison. MMI contracts with independent agencies for policy sales and services, and contracts with an independent third-party for policy administration services. As a managing general agency, MMI is licensed by and subject to the regulatory oversight of the Louisiana and Texas Departments of Insurance, or LDI and TDI, respectively, as well as the FOIR.
ClaimCor, LLC
ClaimCor serves as the Company’s claims and underwriting technical solutions company. Maison processes claims made by our policyholders through ClaimCor, and also through various third-party claims adjusting companies. We have the ultimate authority over the claims handling process, while the agencies that we appoint have no authority to settle our claims or otherwise exercise control over the claims process.
The Company operates in a single segment – property and casualty insurance.
Non U.S.-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company assesses its results of operations using certain non-U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measures, in addition to U.S. GAAP financial measures. These non-U.S. GAAP financial measures are defined below. The Company believes these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating performance in the same manner as management does.
The non-U.S. GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company’s non-U.S. GAAP financial measures may be defined differently from time to time and may be defined differently than similar terms used by other companies, and accordingly, care should be exercised in understanding how we define our non-U.S. GAAP financial measures.
Underwriting Ratios
The Company, like many insurance companies, analyzes performance based on underwriting ratios such as loss ratio, expense ratio and combined ratio. The loss ratio is derived by dividing the amount of net losses and loss adjustment expenses by net premiums earned. The expense ratio is derived by dividing the sum of amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned. All items included in the loss and expense ratios are presented in the Company’s U.S. GAAP financial statements. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. A combined ratio below 100% demonstrates underwriting profit whereas a combined ratio over 100% demonstrates an underwriting loss.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Estimates and their underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Changes in estimates are recorded in the accounting period in which they are determined. The critical accounting estimates and assumptions in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves (as well as the reinsurance recoverable on those reserves), the valuation of fixed income and equity securities, the valuation of net deferred income taxes, the valuation of various securities that we have issued in conjunction with the termination of the management services agreement with 1347 Advisors and the valuation of deferred policy acquisition costs.
Adoption of Accounting Standards Due to Status as an Emerging Growth Company
Section 107 of the JOBS act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the exemption from complying with new or revised accounting standards provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, as long as we are an emerging growth company. An emerging growth company can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of these benefits until we are no longer an emerging growth company or until we affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of this exemption. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.
Provision for Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
A significant degree of judgment is required to determine amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. The process for establishing the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves reflects the uncertainties and significant judgmental factors inherent in predicting future results of both known and unknown loss events. As such, the process is inherently complex and imprecise and estimates are constantly refined. The process of establishing the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves relies on the judgment and opinions of a large number of individuals, including the opinions of the Company’s independent actuaries.
Factors affecting the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves include the continually evolving and changing regulatory and legal environment, actuarial studies, professional experience and expertise of the Company’s claims departments’ personnel and independent adjusters retained to handle individual claims, the quality of the data used for projection purposes, existing claims management practices including claims handling and settlement practices, the effect of inflationary trends on future loss settlement costs, court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes.
In the actuarial review process, an analysis of the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves is completed for the Company’s insurance subsidiary. Unpaid losses, allocated loss adjustment expenses and unallocated loss adjustment expenses are separately analyzed by line of business or coverage by accident year. A wide range of actuarial methods are utilized in order to appropriately measure ultimate loss and loss adjustment expense costs. These methods include paid loss development, incurred loss development and frequency-severity method. Reasonability tests such as ultimate loss ratio trends and ultimate allocated loss adjustment expense to ultimate loss are also performed prior to selection of the final provision. The provision is indicated by line of business or coverage and is separated into case reserves, reserves for losses incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) and a provision for loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”).
Because the establishment of the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves is an inherently uncertain process involving estimates, current provisions may need to be updated. Adjustments to the provision, both favorable and unfavorable, are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the periods in which such estimates are updated. Management determines the loss and loss adjustment expense reserves as recorded on the Company’s financial statements, while the Company’s independent actuaries develop a range of reasonable estimates and a point estimate of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. The actuarial point estimate is intended to represent the actuaries’ best estimate and will not necessarily be at the mid-point of the high and low estimates of the range.
Valuation of Fixed Income and Equity Securities
The Company’s fixed income and equity securities are recorded at fair value using observable inputs such as quoted prices in inactive markets, quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, benchmark interest rates, broker quotes and other relevant inputs. The Company does not have any fixed income or equity investments in its portfolio which require the Company to use unobservable inputs. Any change in the estimated fair value of its investments could impact the amount of unrealized gain or loss the Company has recorded, which could change the amount the Company has recorded for its investments and other comprehensive loss on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of comprehensive income (loss).
Gains and losses realized on the disposition of investments are determined on the first-in, first-out basis and credited or charged to the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Premium and discount on investments are amortized and accreted using the interest method and charged or credited to net investment income. The Company performs a quarterly analysis of its investment portfolio to determine if declines in market value are other-than-temporary.
Valuation of Net Deferred Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes is calculated based on the expected tax treatment of transactions recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In determining its provision for income taxes, the Company interprets tax legislation in a variety of jurisdictions and makes assumptions about the expected timing of the reversal of deferred income tax assets and liabilities and the valuation of net deferred income taxes.
The ultimate realization of the deferred income tax asset balance is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the Company’s temporary differences reverse and become deductible. A valuation allowance is established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred income tax asset balance will not be realized. In determining whether a valuation allowance is needed, management considers all available positive and negative evidence affecting specific deferred income tax asset balances, including the Company’s past and anticipated future performance, the reversal of deferred income tax liabilities, and the availability of tax planning strategies. To the extent a valuation allowance is established in a period, an expense must be recorded within the income tax provision in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
Securities issued to 1347 Advisors
Pursuant to the termination of the Management Services Agreement with 1347 Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KFSI, the Company issued Series B Preferred Shares, Warrants, and entered into a Performance Share Grant Agreement with 1347 Advisors on February 24, 2015. On January 2, 2018, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with 1347 Advisors and IWS Acquisition Corporation, both affiliates of KFSI, pursuant to which the Company agreed to repurchase all 60,000 Series B Preferred Shares held by 1347 Advisors and all 60,000 Series B Preferred Shares held by IWS Acquisition Corporation. The Company completed the purchase of the shares held by 1347 Advisors on January 2, 2018 and intends to complete the repurchase of the shares held by IWS Acquisition Corporation upon completion of this offering. In connection with the stock purchase agreement, the Performance Share Grant Agreement, dated February 24, 2015, between the Company and 1347 Advisors was terminated. No common shares were issued to 1347 Advisors under the Performance Share Grant Agreement.
Because the Series B Preferred Shares have a provision requiring mandatory redemption on February 24, 2020, the Company was required to classify the Series B Preferred Shares as a liability on its balance sheet. The resulting liability was recorded at a discount to the $4,200 ultimate amount of payments required to be made under the Series B Preferred Shares which includes all periodic dividends to be paid on the Series B Preferred Shares based upon an analysis of the timing and amounts of cash payments expected to occur under the terms of the Series B Preferred Shares discounted for the Company’s estimated cost of equity (13.9%).
The Company has estimated the fair value of the Warrants on grant date based upon the Black-Scholes option pricing model while it utilized a Monte Carlo model to determine the fair value of the Performance Share Grant Agreement due to the fact that the underlying shares are only issuable based upon the achievement of certain market conditions.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Deferred policy acquisition costs represent the deferral of expenses that the Company incurs related to successful efforts to acquire new business or renew existing business. Acquisition costs, which consist of commissions, premium taxes and underwriting and agency expenses related to issuing insurance policies are deferred and charged against income ratably over the terms of the related insurance policies. Management regularly reviews the categories of acquisition costs that are deferred and assesses the recoverability of this asset. Costs associated with unsuccessful efforts or costs that cannot be tied directly to a successful policy acquisition are expensed as incurred, as opposed to being deferred and amortized as the premium is earned.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company uses the fair-value method of accounting for stock-based compensation awards granted. The Company determines the fair value of the stock options on their grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and determines the fair value of restricted stock units on their grant date using multiple Monte Carlo simulations. The fair value of these awards is recorded as compensation expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the expected period over which the awards will vest, with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital. When the stock options are exercised, or correspondingly, when the restricted stock units vest, the amount of proceeds together with the amount recorded in additional paid-in capital is recorded in stockholders’ equity.
New Accounting Pronouncements
ASU 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers:
The FASB has issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, and related amendments ASU 2015-14, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2016-20, ASU 2017-05 and ASU 2017-13, (collectively, “Topic 606”). Topic 606 creates a new comprehensive revenue recognition standard that will serve as a single source of revenue guidance for all companies that either enter into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enter into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards, such as insurance contracts. Topic 606 becomes effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will adopt Topic 606 on the effective date and since virtually all of the Company’s revenues relate to insurance contracts and investment income, the adoption of Topic 606 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s revenues. The Company will continue to monitor and examine transactions that could potentially fall within the scope of Topic 606 as such are consummated.
ASU 2016-01: Financial Instruments-Overall:
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01:Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 amends various aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure for financial instruments. Most significantly, ASU 2016-01 requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of an investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss). ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. ASU 2016-01 will be applied using a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, cash flows, or total comprehensive income, but could impact the Company’s results of operations and earnings per share as changes in fair value will be presented in net income rather than other comprehensive income.
ASU 2016-02: Leases:
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02:Leases. ASU 2016-02 was issued to improve the financial reporting of leasing transactions. Under current guidance for lessees, leases are only included on the balance sheet if certain criteria, classifying the agreement as a capital lease, are met. This update will require the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability, discounted to present value, for all leases that extend beyond 12 months. For operating leases, the asset and liability will be expensed over the lease term on a straight-line basis, with all cash flows included in the operating section of the statement of cash flows. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability will be recognized separately from the amortization of the right-of-use asset in the statement of comprehensive income while the repayment of the principal portion of the lease liability will be classified as a financing activity and the interest component will be included in the operating section of the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, leases will be recognized and measured at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company has reviewed its existing lessee obligations and has determined that ASU 2016-02 will apply should the Company renew its existing leases, or enter into any new lease agreements.
ASU 2016-09: Stock Compensation:
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09:Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 was issued to simplify the accounting for share-based payment awards. The guidance requires that all tax effects related to share-based payment be made through the statement of operations at the time of settlement as opposed to the current guidance that requires excess tax benefits to be recognized in additional paid-in-capital. ASU 2016-09 also removes the requirement to delay recognition of a tax benefit until it reduces current taxes payable. The change is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative effect adjustment to opening accumulated deficit. Additionally, all tax related cash flows resulting from share-based payments are to be reported as operating activities on the statement of cash flows, a departure from the current requirement which presents tax benefits as an inflow from financing activities and an outflow from operating activities. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2016-09 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2016-13: Financial Instruments – Credit Losses:
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13:Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 was issued to provide financial statement users with more useful information regarding the expected credit losses on financial instruments held as assets. Under current GAAP, financial statement recognition for credit losses on financial instruments was generally delayed until the loss was probable of occurring. The amendments of ASU 2016-13 eliminate this probable initial recognition threshold and instead reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. The amendments also broaden the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimates for those assets measured at amortized cost by using forecasted information instead of the current methodology which only considered past events and current conditions. Under ASU 2016-13, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP; however, the amendments require that credit losses be presented as an allowance against the investment, rather than as a write-down. The amendments also allow the entity to record reversals of credit losses in current period net income, which is prohibited under current GAAP. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements.
Analysis of Financial Condition
As of September 30, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016 and as of December 31, 2016 compared to December 31, 20152015
Investments
The Company’s investments in fixed income and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at estimated fair value. The Company held an investment portfolio comprised primarily of fixed income securities issued by the U.S. government, government agencies and high quality corporate issuers. The fixed income portfolio is managed by a third-party investment management firm in accordance with the investment policies and guidelines approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. These guidelines stress the preservation of capital, market liquidity and the diversification of risk. Additionally, an investment committee comprised of a portion of the Company’s directors is in place to identify, evaluate and approve suitable investment opportunities for the Company. This has resulted in a number of equity investments managed by the committee that represent approximately 3.6% of the Company’s total investment portfolio as of September 30, 2017. Investments held by the Company’s insurance company subsidiary must also comply with applicable domiciliary state regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentration of investments.
The table below summarizes, by type, the Company’s investments as of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015.
September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Type of Investment | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 2,899 | 5.8 | % | $ | 1,604 | 5.6 | % | $ | 647 | 3.0 | % | ||||||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 5,365 | 10.8 | % | 2,246 | 7.9 | % | 1,651 | 7.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 16,635 | 33.5 | % | 11,968 | 42.2 | % | 9,082 | 42.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Corporate | 20,308 | 40.9 | % | 10,741 | 37.8 | % | 8,858 | 40.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | 45,207 | 91.0 | % | 26,559 | 93.5 | % | 20,238 | 93.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 1,612 | 3.2 | % | 1,136 | 4.0 | % | — | — | % | |||||||||||||||
Warrants to purchase common stock | 122 | 0.2 | % | — | — | % | — | — | % | |||||||||||||||
Rights to purchase common stock | 37 | 0.1 | % | — | — | % | — | — | % | |||||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 1,771 | 3.5 | % | 1,136 | 4.0 | % | — | — | % | |||||||||||||||
Short-term investments | 1,779 | 3.6 | % | 196 | 0.7 | % | 1,149 | 5.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
Other investments | 945 | 1.9 | % | 505 | 1.8 | % | 248 | 1.2 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total investments | $ | 49,702 | 100.0 | % | $ | 28,396 | 100.0 | % | $ | 21,635 | 100.0 | % |
Pursuant to the certificate of authority that we received from the TDI, we are required to deposit securities with the State of Texas. These securities consist of cash in the amount of $300 as well as various fixed income securities listed in the table above having an amortized cost basis of $2,001 and an estimated fair value of $1,998 as of September 30, 2017.
The Company’s other investments are comprised of equity investments in two limited partnerships which seek to provide equity and asset-backed debt investment in a variety of privately-owned companies. The Company has committed to a total investment of $1,000, of which the limited partnerships have drawn down approximately $645 through September 30, 2017. One of these limited partnerships is managed by Argo Management Group, LLC, an entity which, as of April 21, 2016 is wholly owned by KFSI. The Company has accounted for its investments under the cost method as the instruments do not have readily determinable fair values and the Company does not exercise significant influence over the operations of the limited partnerships or the underlying privately-owned companies.
Also included in other investments is a $300 certificate of deposit with an original term of 18 months deposited with the State of Florida pursuant to the terms of the certificate of authority issued to Maison from the FOIR.
Liquidity and Cash Flow Risk
The table below summarizes the fair value of the Company’s fixed income securities by contractual maturity as of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015. Actual results may differ as issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without penalties, prior to the contractual maturity of these obligations.
September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Matures in: | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | ||||||||||||||||||
One year or less | $ | 2,415 | 5.3 | % | $ | 1,828 | 6.9 | % | $ | 1,012 | 5.0 | % | ||||||||||||
More than one to five years | 19,757 | 43.7 | % | 12,678 | 47.7 | % | 10,414 | 51.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
More than five to ten years | 11,804 | 26.1 | % | 3,918 | 14.8 | % | 2,259 | 11.2 | % | |||||||||||||||
More than ten years | 11,231 | 24.9 | % | 8,135 | 30.6 | % | 6,553 | 32.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 45,207 | 100.0 | % | $ | 26,559 | 100.0 | % | $ | 20,238 | 100.0 | % |
The Company holds cash and high-grade short-term assets which, along with fixed income and equity securities, management believes are sufficient in amount for the payment of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and other operating subsidiary obligations on a timely basis. The Company may not be able to liquidate its investments in the event that additional cash is required to meet obligations to its policyholders; however, the Company believes that the high-quality, liquid investments in its portfolio provide it with sufficient liquidity.
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that the Company will incur losses due to adverse changes in interest or currency exchange rates and equity prices. Given the Company’s operations only invest in U.S. dollar denominated instruments and maintains a relatively insignificant investment in equity instruments, its primary market risk exposures in the investments portfolio are to changes in interest rates.
Because the investments portfolio is comprised of primarily fixed maturity instruments that are usually held to maturity, periodic changes in interest rate levels generally impact the Company’s financial results to the extent that the investments are recorded at market value and reinvestment yields are different than the original yields on maturing instruments. During periods of rising interest rates, the market values of the existing fixed income securities will generally decrease. The reverse is true during periods of declining interest rates.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is defined as the risk of financial loss due to failure of the other party to a financial instrument to discharge an obligation. Credit risk arises from the Company’s positions in short-term investments, corporate debt instruments and government and government agency bonds.
At September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015, the Company’s debt securities had the following quality ratings as assigned by Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”).
September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rating (S&P/Moody’s) | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | Carrying Amount | Percent of Total | ||||||||||||||||||
AAA/Aaa | $ | 22,345 | 49.4 | % | $ | 14,995 | 56.4 | % | $ | 10,741 | 53.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Aa/Aa | 5,551 | 12.3 | % | 2,627 | 9.9 | % | 2,520 | 12.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
A/A | 11,735 | 26.0 | % | 5,516 | 20.8 | % | 4,745 | 23.4 | % | |||||||||||||||
BBB | 5,576 | 12.3 | % | 3,421 | 12.9 | % | 2,232 | 11.1 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | $ | 45,207 | 100.0 | % | $ | 26,559 | 100.0 | % | $ | 20,238 | 100.0 | % |
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment
The length of time an individual investment may be held in an unrealized loss position may vary based on the opinion of the investment manager and their respective analyses related to valuation and to the various credit risks that may prevent the Company from recapturing the principal investment. In the case of an individual investment where the investment manager determines that there is little or no risk of default prior to maturity, the Company would elect to hold the investment in an unrealized loss position until the price recovers or the investment matures. In situations where facts emerge that might increase the risk associated with recapture of principal, the Company may elect to sell the investment at a loss.
The Company performs a quarterly analysis of its investment portfolio to determine if declines in market value are other-than-temporary. As a result of the analysis performed by the Company, there were no write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments related to investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 nor the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
As of September 30, 2017, the gross unrealized losses for fixed income and equity securities amounted to $202 and $59, respectively, and there were no unrealized losses attributable to non-investment grade securities. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and 2015, all unrealized losses on individual investments were considered temporary. Fixed income securities in unrealized loss positions continued to pay interest and were not subject to material changes in their respective debt ratings. The Company concluded the declines in value were considered temporary. As the Company has the capacity to hold these investments to maturity, no impairment provision was considered necessary.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
The Company’s deferred policy acquisition costs (“DPAC”) include commissions, premium taxes, assessments and policy processing fees that are directly related to successful efforts to acquire new or existing insurance policies to the extent they are considered recoverable and represent those costs related to acquiring the premiums the Company has yet to earn (the unearned premium reserve).
DPAC increased $1,803, to $6,192 as of September 30, 2017 from $4,389 as of December 31, 2016. DPAC expressed as a percentage of unearned premium reserves was 19.2% as of September 30, 2017, compared to 17.0% as of December 31, 2016. This increase results from an increase in the effective rate on premium taxes that we pay in Louisiana and Texas due to a change in Louisiana statute whereby the Company no longer qualifies for certain credits on its premium taxes which were related to the value of investments held in the State of Louisiana.
DPAC increased $359, to $4,389 as of December 31, 2016 compared to $4,030 as of December 31, 2015, corresponding to an increase in our unearned premium reserves over the same period. DPAC expressed as a percentage of unearned premium reserves was 17.0% and 17.2% as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Effective January 1, 2016, we amended the terms of our quota-share agreement with Brotherhood such that the premiums we receive, and the commissions we pay, are remitted on an earned basis. Prior to January 1, 2016, commissions and premiums were remitted on an “as written” basis. While this change does not impact the net income earned as a result of the agreement, it does impact certain assets and liabilities on our consolidated financial statements, such as our unearned premium reserves and DPAC asset. This change to our quota-share agreement with Brotherhood resulted in a $221 decrease to DPAC from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016.
Premiums Receivable, Net of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Premiums receivable, net of allowances for credit losses, decreased by $703 to $2,220 as of September 30, 2017 from $2,923 as of December 31, 2016. Due to our participation in the LA Citizens take-out program on December 1, 2016, we had a balance due from LA Citizens for approximately $800 as of December 31, 2016, most of which had been collected as of September 30, 2017.
Premiums receivable, net of allowances for credit losses, increased by $528 to $2,923 as of December 31, 2016 from $2,395 as of December 31, 2015. This increase was primarily attributable to premiums due from LA Citizens and TWIA on the December 1, 2016 depopulation of policies from both insurers. Premiums due from LA Citizens increased by approximately $400 due to a change in the timing of payments LA Citizens makes under its depopulation program. In prior years, LA Citizens would remit premium due to us (less a 16% holdback for endorsements and cancellations) prior to December 31st of the year of the depopulation. For the depopulation which occurred on December 1, 2016, LA Citizens changed the timing of payments such that the premium would be remitted to us in late January, 2017. Since December 1, 2016 represented the first-ever depopulation of policies from TWIA, premiums due from TWIA accounted for approximately $140 of the change year over year.
Ceded Unearned Premiums
Ceded unearned premiums represents the unexpired portion of premiums which have been paid to the Company’s reinsurers. Ceded unearned premiums are charged to income over the terms of the respective reinsurance treaties. Ceded unearned premiums decreased $1,011 to $3,836 as of September 30, 2017 from $4,847 as of December 31, 2016 due predominantly to the amount and timing of installment payments due under our excess of loss catastrophe treaties.
Ceded unearned premiums increased $2,042 to $4,847 as of December 31, 2016 from $2,805 as of December 31, 2015, which again was predominantly due to the timing of installment payments due under our excess of loss catastrophe treaties. As we entered into a new treaty effective June 1, 2016, with higher limits compared to our prior treaty which expired on May 31, 2016, the amount of premium we cede and therefor due under our installment agreement had increased over the prior treaty year.
Reinsurance Recoverable
Reinsurance recoverable on both paid losses and loss and LAE reserves represents amounts due to the Company, or expected to be due to the Company, from its reinsurers, based upon claims paid as well as claims reserves which have exceeded the retention amount under our reinsurance treaties. As of September 30, 2017, we have recorded expected recoveries from our reinsurers of $7,767 on paid losses and $17,560 on loss and LAE reserves, resulting primarily from recoveries due under our catastrophe excess of loss treaty for Hurricane Harvey, which affected the Gulf Coast of Texas in late August, 2017.
As of December 31, 2016 we have recorded an expected recovery of $444 on paid losses and $3,652 on loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, compared to $0 and $120 respectively as of December 31, 2015. The expected recoveries as of December 31, 2016 result from a series of severe storms which produced multiple tornadoes and flooding in the State of Louisiana in late February 2016, a wind and hail event occurring in both Texas and Louisiana in early March 2016, as well as a wind and flooding event which occurred in Louisiana in mid-August 2016.
Funds Deposited with Reinsured Companies
Funds deposited with reinsured companies represents collateral that we had placed on deposit with Brotherhood based upon our quota-share agreement to reinsure a portion of Brotherhood’s business for wind/hail coverage only. Pursuant to the agreement, we were required to fund our pro-rata portion of reserves that Brotherhood had established for losses and loss adjustments expenses, and any other amounts for which Brotherhood had not been able to take credit for on its annual statutory financial statements. As of December 31, 2016, we had funded this obligation via a deposit of $500 made to Brotherhood under a trust agreement. This collateral was returned to the Company in March 2017.
Current Income Taxes Recoverable
Current income taxes recoverable were $632 as of September 30, 2017 compared to $1,195 as of December 31, 2016, and $965 as of December 31, 2015, which represent the estimate of both the Company’s state and federal income taxes paid in excess of amounts due as of each reporting date.
Net Deferred Income Taxes
Net deferred income taxes increased $435 to $855 as of September 30, 2017 compared to $420 as of December 31, 2016. Net deferred income taxes are comprised of approximately $3,483 and $2,359 of deferred tax assets, net of approximately $2,628 and $1,939 of deferred tax liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The change in the net deferred tax asset is primarily due to an increase in deferred tax assets associated with our increase in unearned premium reserves as well as an increase in net operating loss carryforwards due to our net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
The Company’s net deferred tax asset decreased $86, to $420 as of December 31, 2016 from $506 as of December 31, 2015. Net deferred income taxes are comprised of approximately $2,359 of deferred tax assets, net of approximately $1,939 of deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2016. The change in the net deferred tax asset is primarily due to an increase in the deferred tax liabilities related to our deferred policy acquisition costs.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment was $213, $250, and $234 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and 2015 respectively, and consists of computers, office equipment, and improvements at our leased facilities in Tampa, Florida and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shown net of accumulated depreciation. Also included in these balances are vehicles that we have purchased for the use of our sales representatives in Texas, Florida and Louisiana.
Other Assets
Other assets increased $79, to $867 as of September 30, 2017 from $788 as of December 31, 2016. The major components of other assets, are shown below.
Other Assets | September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||||
Accrued interest on investments | $ | 233 | $ | 117 | $ | 77 | ||||||
Security deposits for facility leases | 38 | 38 | 38 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses | 481 | 616 | 590 | |||||||||
Other | 115 | 17 | — | |||||||||
Total | $ | 867 | $ | 788 | $ | 705 |
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves represent the estimated liabilities for reported loss events, incurred and but not reported (“IBNR”) loss events, as well as the related estimated loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”). The table below separates our loss reserves and LAE between IBNR and case specific estimates as of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and also shows the expected reinsurance recoverable on those reserves.
Case Loss Reserves | Case LAE Reserves | Total Case Reserves | IBNR Reserves (including LAE) | Total Reserves | Reinsurance Recoverable on Reserves | |||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Homeowners(1) | $ | 3,348 | $ | 347 | $ | 3,695 | $ | 3,065 | $ | 6,760 | $ | 3,254 | ||||||||||||
Special Property(2) | 10,372 | 600 | 10,972 | 4,359 | 15,331 | 14,306 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 13,720 | $ | 947 | $ | 14,667 | $ | 7,424 | $ | 22,091 | $ | 17,560 | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Homeowners | $ | 1,523 | $ | 463 | $ | 1,986 | $ | 3,302 | $ | 5,288 | $ | 2,565 | ||||||||||||
Special Property | 697 | 88 | 785 | 898 | 1,683 | 1,087 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,220 | $ | 551 | $ | 2,771 | $ | 4,200 | $ | 6,971 | $ | 3,652 | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Homeowners | $ | 758 | $ | 72 | $ | 830 | $ | 1,070 | $ | 1,900 | $ | 120 | ||||||||||||
Special Property | 49 | 9 | 58 | 165 | 223 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 807 | $ | 81 | $ | 888 | $ | 1,235 | $ | 2,123 | $ | 120 |
(1) Homeowners refers to our multi-peril policies for traditional dwellings as well as mobile and manufactured homes.
(2) Special property includes both our fire and allied lines of business, which are primarily wind/hail only products, and also includes the commercial lines wind/hail only business that we have assumed through our agreement with Brotherhood and our personal lines wind/hail only business that we have assumed through our quota-share agreement with TWIA.
Gross reserves as of September 30, 2017 were $22,091, an increase of $15,120 from December 31, 2016. Gross reserves in the approximate amount of $14,200 had been established for PCS Catastrophe 1743, or Harvey, a major storm which made initial landfall in the U.S. as a Category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas. As of September 30, 2017, we anticipate our total incurred losses from Harvey to be $23,000 on a gross basis, or $5,000 on a net basis after recoveries under our catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance program. The reinsurance recoverable on reserves as of September 30, 2017 was $17,560, an increase of $13,908 from December 31, 2016, due, in large part, to the anticipated recoveries due to the Company from Harvey losses. As a result of the foregoing, net loss reserves were $4,531 and $3,319 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
When comparing loss and LAE reserves for the period of December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2015, we experienced redundancy for the 2015 accident year due to a ceded benefit we received under our aggregate treaty which is a part of our catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance program. In March 2016, we experienced the second of two weather related events which, when combined, exceeded the $5,000 retention under our aggregate treaty. This second event allowed us to re-assess all claims we incurred over the reinsurance year covered under our aggregate treaty, or from the period beginning June 1, 2015 and ending May 31, 2016. Thus, in calendar 2016 we ceded approximately $1.4 million of losses related to the 2015 accident year.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company reported $182 of favorable development for net loss and LAE reserves from prior accident years.
We cannot predict whether loss and loss adjustment expense reserves will develop favorably or unfavorably from the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements. Any such development could have a material effect on our consolidated financial results for a given period. Furthermore, while we use, and expect to continue to use, reinsurance to help manage our exposure to catastrophic losses, the availability and cost of reinsurance are each subject to prevailing market conditions beyond our control which can affect business volume and profitability. We may be unable to maintain our current reinsurance coverage, to obtain additional reinsurance coverage in the event our current reinsurance coverage is exhausted by a catastrophic event, or to obtain other reinsurance coverage in adequate amounts or at acceptable rates. Similar risks exist whether we are seeking to replace coverage terminated during the applicable coverage period or to renew or replace coverage upon its expiration.
Unearned Premium Reserves
Unearned premium reserves increased to $32,170 as of September 30, 2017 compared to $25,821 as of December 31, 2016 and $23,442 as of December 31, 2015. The following table outlines the change in unearned premium reserves by line of business.
September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||
Homeowners - LA | $ | 17,725 | $ | 16,644 | $ | 15,585 | ||||||
Special Property - LA | 7,379 | 7,113 | 6,900 | |||||||||
Total Louisiana | 25,104 | 23,757 | 22,485 | |||||||||
Homeowners – TX | 3,439 | 822 | 103 | |||||||||
Special Property – TX | 3,627 | 1,242 | 854 | |||||||||
Total Texas | 7,066 | 2,064 | 957 | |||||||||
Grand Total | $ | 32,170 | $ | 25,821 | $ | 23,442 |
The Company’s increase to its unearned premium reserve is directly related to the increase in written premiums year over year.
Ceded Reinsurance Premiums Payable
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable increased $557 to $5,786 as of September 30, 2017 compared to $5,229 as of December 31, 2016. The bulk of the balance payable as of September 30, 2017 represents a quarterly installment payment due under our catastrophe reinsurance program, which was paid in October, 2017.
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable increased $1,946, to $5,229 as of December 31, 2016 compared to $3,283 as of December 31, 2015 primarily as a result of an increase in the level of coverage we have purchased from year to year, to coincide with the increase in direct and assumed premium we write. The bulk of the balance payable as of December 31, 2016 represents the quarterly payment due under our catastrophe excess of loss treaty, which was paid in January 2017.
Agency Commissions Payable
Agency commissions payable were $716 as of September 30, 2017 compared to $497 as of December 31, 2016, and $403 as of December 31, 2015. As agency commissions are paid one month in arrears, this balance represents commissions owed to the Company’s independent agencies on policies written throughout the months ended September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Since the commissions that we pay to our independent agencies are based upon a percentage of the premium written by our agencies, the balance due will vary directly with the volume of premium written in the month.
Premiums Collected in Advance
Premium deposits were $1,887, $1,128, and $870 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These deposits represent cash that the Company has received for policies which were not yet in-force as of each respective date. Upon the effective date of coverage, advance premiums are reclassified to the unearned premium reserves account.
Funds held under Reinsurance Treaties
Funds held under reinsurance treaties represents collateral that we have received on deposit from our reinsurers under our catastrophe excess of loss treaties and is intended to fund those reinsurers pro-rata portion of reserves that we have established for losses and loss adjustment expenses. As of December 31, 2016, we had received cash deposits of $73 from our reinsurers. This balance was reduced to $48 as of September 30, 2017 as a portion of the balance was applied to reinsurance recoveries due to us on paid losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Our reserve balances as of December 31, 2015 were such that no collateral was required from our reinsurers.
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses increased were $4,483 as of September 30, 2017 and $2,065 and $1,863 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The major components of accrued expenses and other liabilities are shown below.
September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||
Accrued employee compensation | $ | 128 | $ | 95 | $ | 352 | ||||||
Accrued professional fees | 763 | 509 | 267 | |||||||||
Unearned policy fees | 386 | 204 | 168 | |||||||||
Accrued premium taxes and assessments | 2,108 | 1,193 | 1,004 | |||||||||
Funds due to settle bond trades | 1,031 | — | — | |||||||||
Other accounts payable | 67 | 64 | 72 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 4,483 | $ | 2,065 | $ | 1,863 |
Related Party Transactions
As a result of the termination of the Management Services Agreement (“MSA”), which occurred on February 24, 2015, the Company issued the following securities to 1347 Advisors, LLC (“1347 Advisors”), a wholly owned subsidiary of KFSI.
The Performance Shares Grant Agreement granted 1347 Advisors 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon the date that the last sales price of the Company’s common stock equaled or exceeded $10.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-day trading period (the “Milestone Event”). 1347 Advisors was not entitled to any dividends declared or paid on the Company’s stock prior to the Milestone Event having been achieved. As described below, on January 2, 2018, the Performance Shares Grant Agreement was terminated. As the Milestone Event was never achieved, no shares of common stock were issued to 1347 Advisors under the agreement.
Subsequent to the issuance of the Series B Preferred Shares, 1347 Advisors transferred 60,000 of its 120,000 Series B Preferred Shares to IWS Acquisition Corporation, an affiliate of KFSI. On January 2, 2018, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with 1347 Advisors and IWS Acquisition Corporation, pursuant to which the Company repurchased 60,000 Series B Preferred Shares from 1347 Advisors for an aggregate purchase price of $1,740, representing (i) $1,500, comprised of $25.00 per Series B Preferred Share, and (ii) declared and unpaid dividends in respect of the dividend payment due on February 23, 2018 amounting to $240 in the aggregate. The Company also agreed to repurchase pursuant to the stock purchase agreement 60,000 Series B Preferred Shares from IWS Acquisition Corporation, upon completion of this offering, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500, comprised of $25.00 per Series B Preferred Share, without any dividend or interest payment. The foregoing transactions were approved by a special committee of the Board of Directors of the Company consisting solely of independent directors. In connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Performance Shares Grant Agreement, dated February 24, 2015, between the Company and 1347 Advisors was terminated. In connection with the termination, the Company agreed to pay an aggregate cash payment of $300 to 1347 Advisors.
The remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares have a par value of $25.00 dollars and pay annual cumulative dividends at a rate of eight percent per annum. In the event the Company does not consummate the repurchase of the remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares held by IWS Acquisition Corporation, cumulative dividends shall accrue, whether or not declared by the Board and irrespective of whether there are funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Accrued dividends shall be paid in cash only when, as, and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available therefor or upon a liquidation or redemption of the Series B Preferred Shares. In the event of any voluntary of involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distributions to its stockholders, before any payment shall be made to holders of securities junior in preference to the Series B Preferred Shares. The Series B Preferred Shares rank senior to the Company’s common stock, and the Company is not permitted to issue any other series of preferred stock that ranks equal or senior to the Series B Preferred Shares while the Series B Preferred Shares are outstanding. The Company intends to consummate the purchase of the remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares held by IWS Acquisition Corporation upon the completion of this offering. On both February 24, 2017 and 2016, the Company issued a cash payment of $240 to Advisors representing annual dividend payments due on the Series B Preferred Shares. As part of the repurchase price paid by the Company to 1347 Advisors for the repurchase of the Series B Preferred Shares held by 1347 Advisors, the Company paid $240 to 1347 Advisors on January 2, 2018, representing declared and unpaid dividends in respect of the dividend payment due on the Series B Preferred Shares on February 23, 2018.
In the event the Company does not consummate the repurchase of the remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares held by IWS Acquisition Corporation, unless redeemed earlier by the Company as discussed below, with the written consent of the holders of the majority of the Series B Preferred Shares then outstanding, the Company will be required to redeem the Series B Preferred Shares then outstanding on February 24, 2020 (the “Mandatory Redemption Date”), for a redemption amount equal to $25.00 dollars per share outstanding plus all accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares. The Company has the option to redeem the remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares prior to the Mandatory Redemption Date immediately prior to the consummation of any change in control of the Company that may occur.
Since the Series B Preferred Shares have a mandatory redemption provision requiring redemption on February 24, 2020, the Company was required to classify the Series B Preferred Shares as a liability on the balance sheet instead of recording the value of these shares in equity. The resulting liability was recorded at a discount to the ultimate redemption amount of the Series B Preferred Shares based upon an analysis of the cash payments expected to occur under the terms of the Series B Preferred Shares discounted for the Company’s estimated cost of equity (13.9%). As a result, amortization in the amount of $1,889 will be charged to operations during the period the Series B Preferred Shares are outstanding using the effective interest method. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, amortization of the discount on the Series B Preferred Shares totaled $276 and $263, respectively.
Effect of Buyout on Financial Condition and Statement of Operations
Under the original MSA, the Company was required to pay 1347 Advisors a fee of 1% of written premiums on a monthly basis. The Company replaced this ongoing annuity by providing 1347 Advisors with an up-front cash payment and other consideration which lead to a one-time charge of $5,421 to the Company’s operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 as follows:
Year ended December 31, 2015 | ||||
Cash paid | $ | 2,000 | ||
Issuance of Series B Preferred Shares | 2,311 | |||
Issuance of Warrants and Performance Shares | 1,010 | |||
Professional fees incurred in connection with the Buyout | 100 | |||
Loss on termination of MSA | $ | 5,421 |
The issuance of the Warrants and Performance Shares had no effect on the Company’s total stockholders’ equity as they both resulted in equal and offsetting charges to the Company’s retained earnings and additional paid-in capital. The fair value of the Warrant was estimated on grant date based upon the Black-Scholes option pricing model while a Monte Carlo model was utilized to determine the fair value of the Performance Shares due to the fact that these shares are only issuable based upon the achievement of certain market conditions.
Investment in Limited Liability Company
On April 21, 2016, KFSI completed the acquisition of Argo Management Group LLC (“Argo”). Argo’s primary business is to act as the Managing Member of Argo Holdings Fund I, LLC, an investment fund in which the Company has committed to invest $500, of which the Company has invested $211 as of September 30, 2017. The managing member of Argo, Mr. John T. Fitzgerald, was also appointed to KFSI’s board of directors on April 21, 2016.
Contractual Obligations
As of September 30, 2017, the Company had the following amounts due under its operating leases for facilities leased in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Tampa, Florida.
Year ending September 30, | ||||
2018 | $ | 303 | ||
2019 | 298 | |||
2020 | 25 | |||
2021 and thereafter | — | |||
Total | $ | 626 |
Stockholders’ Equity
The primary drivers behind the changes to total stockholders’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as well as for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 resulted from the securities issued in the termination of the MSA (see related party transactions for further discussion), the Company’s repurchase of its common stock, as well as the Company’s net loss and net unrealized gains and losses on its investment portfolio as shown below. Furthermore, on September 14, 2017, the Company sold 28,000 restricted common shares to its Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Case, at a price of $8.00 per share.
Common Shares Outstanding | Treasury Shares | Total Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2015 | 6,358,125 | — | $ | 49,914 | ||||||||
Issuance of performance shares and warrants pursuant to MSA termination transaction | — | — | 1,010 | |||||||||
Stock compensation expense | — | — | 47 | |||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | (223,851 | ) | 223,851 | (1,731 | ) | |||||||
Net loss | — | — | (1,673 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized losses on investment portfolio (net of income taxes) | — | — | (61 | ) | ||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2015 | 6,134,274 | 223,851 | $ | 47,506 | ||||||||
Stock compensation expense | — | — | 38 | |||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | (177,508 | ) | 177,508 | (1,195 | ) | |||||||
Retirement of treasury shares | — | (250,000 | ) | — | ||||||||
Net income | — | — | 11 | |||||||||
Unrealized losses on investment portfolio (net of income taxes) | — | — | (3 | ) | ||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | 5,956,766 | 151,359 | $ | 46,357 | ||||||||
Issuance of common shares | 28,000 | — | 224 | |||||||||
Stock compensation expense | — | — | 19 | |||||||||
Net loss | — | — | (1,096 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized gains on investment portfolio (net of income taxes) | — | — | 94 | |||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | 5,984,766 | 151,359 | $ | 45,598 |
On December 1, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, which expired on December 31, 2016. The Company purchased 177,508 shares at an average price of $6.74 per share for the year ending December 31, 2016 and purchased 223,851 shares at an average price of $7.73 per share for the year ending December 31, 2015. On January 29, 2016, the Company retired 250,000 of its treasury shares, resulting in a reclassification of the purchase price of $1,917 to additional paid in capital.
Results of Operations
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared with Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Gross Premiums Written
The following table shows our gross premiums written by line of business for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2017 and 2016.
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Line of Business | 2017 | 2016 | Change | 2017 | 2016 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
Homeowners | $ | 11,275 | $ | 9,402 | $ | 1,873 | $ | 30,474 | $ | 25,577 | $ | 4,897 | ||||||||||||
Special Property | 5,888 | 4,564 | 1,324 | 18,343 | 13,907 | 4,436 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross Premium Written | $ | 17,163 | $ | 13,966 | $ | 3,197 | $ | 48,817 | $ | 39,484 | $ | 9,333 |
Gross premiums written were $17,163 for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, up 22.9% from $13,966 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. This increase was largely due to organic growth in voluntary production from the Company’s independent agents, particularly in Texas where the Company is reporting solid growth across all of its product lines with homeowner’s policies especially strong.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, gross premiums written in the State of Louisiana represented approximately 74% of total gross written premiums, with the remaining 26% written in Texas. For the same period in the preceding year, gross premiums written in Louisiana and Texas represented 91% and 9%, respectively, as we continue to expand our network in Texas.
Ceded Premiums Written
Ceded premiums written increased to $16,426 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $15,414 for the same period 2016. The increase in ceded premiums written is primarily due to an increase in the total insured value of the Company’s book of business year over year as well as the change in the geographic mix of coverage that we provide. While the limits purchased under our catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance (“CAT XOL”) and aggregate programs did not change year over year, our treaty years run from June 1st through May 31st of each year, thus the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are covered by ceded premiums written under three separate reinsurance treaties. Therefore, the increase in ceded premiums written for the nine month period can also be attributed to the increase in limits purchased when comparing our 2015/2016 treaty with the Company’s two most recent treaties. The following table is a summary of the key provisions under each of our treaties.
2015/2016 CAT XOL Treaty 06/01/15 – 05/31/16 | 2016/2017 CAT XOL Treaty 06/01/16 – 05/31/17 | 2017/2018 CAT XOL Treaty 06/01/17 – 05/31/18 | ||||||||||
Wind/Hail loss occurrence clause(1) | 144 hours | 144 hours | 144 hours | |||||||||
Retention on first occurrence | $ | 4,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | ||||||
Retention on second occurrence | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 2,000 | ||||||
Limit of coverage including first event retention | $ | 140,000 | $ | 200,000 | $ | 200,000 | ||||||
Franchise deductible(2) | $ | — | $ | 125 | $ | 250 |
The total cost of our CAT XOL and aggregate coverage is estimated to be approximately $24,700 for the 2017/2018 treaty year, compared to $21,200 for the 2016/2017 treaty year.
Net Premium Earned
The following table shows our net premiums earned by line of business.
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Line of Business | 2017 | 2016 | Change | 2017 | 2016 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
Homeowners | $ | 6,494 | $ | 4,996 | $ | 1,498 | $ | 17,410 | $ | 15,792 | $ | 1,618 | ||||||||||||
Special Property | 2,138 | 2,140 | (2 | ) | 7,622 | 7,077 | 545 | |||||||||||||||||
Net premium earned | $ | 8,632 | $ | 7,136 | $ | 1,496 | $ | 25,032 | $ | 22,869 | $ | 2,163 |
Premium earned on a gross and ceded basis is as shown in the following table.
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | 2017 | 2016 | Change | 2017 | 2016 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross premium earned | $ | 14,907 | $ | 12,546 | $ | 2,361 | $ | 42,469 | $ | 35,822 | $ | 6,647 | ||||||||||||
Ceded premium earned | 6,275 | 5,410 | 865 | 17,437 | 12,953 | 4,484 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net premium earned | $ | 8,632 | $ | 7,136 | $ | 1,496 | $ | 25,032 | $ | 22,869 | $ | 2,163 |
Other Income
Other income increased $400 to $1,262 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $862 for the same period in 2016. Comparing the three month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, other income increased $129 to $474 from $345. Other income is comprised of policy fee income charged to our policyholders for property inspections, premium financing fees for those policyholders which elect to pay their premiums on an installment basis, and commission revenue resulting from a brokerage sharing agreement between our insurance subsidiary, Maison, and the intermediary Maison uses to place its CAT XOL reinsurance program, whereby a portion of the reinsurance brokerage is shared with us based solely upon the total brokerage collected by our intermediary on the business it places for us. The growth in our book of business is the main driver behind the increase in other income when comparing the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 to 2016.
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
Net losses and LAE represent both actual payments made and changes in estimated future payments to be made to our policyholders. The following table sets forth the components of our losses and loss ratios for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses ($) | Loss Ratio (%) | Losses ($) | Loss Ratio (%) | Losses ($) | Loss Ratio (%) | Losses ($) | Loss Ratio (%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-catastrophe weather losses | $ | 881 | 10.2 | % | $ | 51 | 0.7 | % | $ | 2,753 | 11.0 | % | $ | 430 | 1.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Non-weather losses | 2,836 | 32.9 | % | 1,648 | 23.1 | % | 6,500 | 26.0 | % | 4,876 | 21.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Core loss(1) | 3,717 | 43.1 | % | 1,699 | 23.8 | % | 9,253 | 37.0 | % | 5,306 | 23.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Catastrophe loss(2) | 5,000 | 57.9 | % | 4,798 | 67.2 | % | 6,700 | 26.7 | % | 9,784 | 42.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prior period (redundancy) development(3) | (922 | ) | (10.7 | )% | (54 | ) | (0.7 | )% | (2,144 | ) | (8.5 | )% | (173 | ) | (0.8 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Net losses and LAE incurred | $ | 7,795 | 90.3 | % | $ | 6,443 | 90.3 | % | $ | 13,809 | 55.2 | % | $ | 14,917 | 65.2 | % |
Our net loss ratio (net losses and LAE divided by net premiums earned) for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was 55.2%, compared to a net loss ratio of 65.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. While we experienced an increase in our core loss ratio, this was offset by a decrease in our catastrophe loss ratio when comparing periods. Although Hurricane Harvey was a significant event for us, as we expect our total gross incurred losses to be approximately $23,000 for this storm, due to our reinsurance program, our net incurred losses from Harvey are limited to $5,000. Furthermore, PCS event 1714 was a series of wind/hail storms which impacted our policyholders in both Louisiana and Texas in early February, 2017, resulting in $1,700 in net incurred catastrophe losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. These net losses from event 1714, along with $5,000 in net incurred losses from Hurricane Harvey, represent the extent of our catastrophe losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as shown in the preceding table. In comparison, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we experienced three catastrophe events: PCS event 1616 in February, PCS event 1617 in March, and PCS event 1644 in August. These three events resulted in $9,784 in net incurred losses for prior year. Our net loss ratio for the current year was further reduced due to redundancy in the amount of $2,144 due to the release of reserves relating to prior accident years.
Our net loss ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was 90.3% and was marked by the impact of Harvey, which resulted in $5,000 in net incurred catastrophe losses for the quarter and accounted for over half of the quarter’s net loss ratio. Non-weather losses also accounted for approximately one-third of the quarter’s net loss ratio as we experienced approximately $1,500 in net losses from fire claims and $1,336 from all other non-weather related causes of loss.
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $2,755 compared to $2,095 for the three months ended September 30, 2016, and include items such as commissions earned by our agencies, premium taxes, assessments, and policy processing fees. Expressed as a percentage of gross earned premiums, amortization was 18.5% in the current quarter, compared to 16.7% in the same quarter last year. For the nine month periods ended September 30, amortization as a percentage of gross earned premiums was 18.5% and 16.7% in 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in amortization of deferred acquisition costs as a percentage of gross earned premiums can be attributed to an increase in the effective rate of the premium taxes that we pay due to the loss of an investment credit received on our premium taxes in previous years. Effective January 1, 2017, the State of Louisiana amended this credit such that certain assets such as cash and money market funds held in the state of Louisiana would no longer qualify as a tax credit on the Company’s premium taxes.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses were $2,145 for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to $1,658 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, general and administrative expenses were $6,535 and $4,982, respectively. Expressed as a percentage of gross premium earned, general and administrative expenses were 15.4% and 13.9%, for the nine month periods of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The largest drivers in the increase in general and administrative expense over both the three and nine month periods include employee costs and professional fees. Employee costs accounted for approximately 35% of the nine month increase as we have increased staffing to support our growth in Texas and Florida while professional fees accounted for approximately 50% of the nine month increase as we have completed a review of the rates that we charge on our risks in Louisiana and also have initiated filings for the new products that we plan to offer in Florida.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax benefit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $1,171 and $397, respectively, on pre-tax losses of $3,434 and 1,493, respectively. This resulted in an effective tax rate of 34% and 27%, respectively. For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016, our effective income tax rate was 32% and 28%, respectively. The variances to the effective income tax rate between periods is due, in large, to state income taxes charged to the Company’s subsidiaries.
Net Income
As a result of the foregoing, the Company’s net loss for the third quarter 2017 was $2,263, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1,806, or $0.30 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company’s net loss was $1,096, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1,581 or $0.26 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015
Gross Premiums Written
The following table shows our gross premiums written by line of business for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Line of Business | 2016 | 2015 | Change | |||||||||
Homeowners | $ | 33,615 | $ | 29,987 | $ | 3,628 | ||||||
Special Property | 17,712 | 13,864 | 3,848 | |||||||||
Gross Written Premium | $ | 51,327 | $ | 43,851 | $ | 7,476 |
The increase in gross written premiums was primarily the result of organic growth in voluntary production from our independent agents. Our agents wrote an additional $5,348 in the State of Louisiana and $3,291 in the State of Texas when comparing the year ending December 31, 2016 to 2015. This was offset by a decrease of approximately $1,271 in premiums written through the depopulation of policies from LA Citizens. Finally, our participation in the first-ever depopulation from TWIA accounted for an increase of approximately $186 in premiums when comparing annual periods.
Ceded Premiums Written
Ceded premiums written increased by $7,119 to $20,541 for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $13,422 for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in ceded premiums written is primarily due to an increase in limits purchased under our catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance (“CAT XOL”) program. As our treaty years run from June 1st through May 31st of each year, the twelve month period ending December 31, 2015 covers ceded premiums written under both our 2014/2015 CAT XOL treaty and our 2015/2016 CAT XOL treaty. Similarly, the twelve month period ending December 31, 2016 covers ceded premiums written under both our 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 CAT XOL treaties. The following table is a summary of the key provisions under each of our treaties.
2014/2015 CAT XOL Treaty 06/01/14 – 05/31/15 | 2015/2016 CAT XOL Treaty 06/01/15 – 05/31/16 | 2016/2017 CAT XOL Treaty 06/01/16 – 05/31/17 | ||||||||||
Wind/Hail loss occurrence clause(1) | 120 hours | 144 hours | 144 hours | |||||||||
Retention on first occurrence | $ | 3,000 | $ | 4,000 | $ | 5,000 | ||||||
Retention on second occurrence | $ | 2,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | ||||||
Limit of coverage including first event retention | $ | 92,000 | $ | 140,000 | $ | 200,000 |
The total cost of our CAT XOL coverage was approximately $21,192 for the 2016/2017 treaty year.
Net Premium Earned
The following table shows our net premiums earned by line of business.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Line of Business | 2016 | 2015 | Change | |||||||||
Homeowners | $ | 20,887 | $ | 19,064 | $ | 1,823 | ||||||
Special Property | 9,561 | 6,870 | 2,691 | |||||||||
Net premium earned | $ | 30,448 | $ | 25,934 | $ | 4,514 |
The increase in net premiums earned is due to the increase in gross written premiums less premiums ceded as previously discussed. Premium earned on a direct and ceded basis is as shown in the following table.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | Change | ||||||||||
Gross premium earned | $ | 48,947 | $ | 38,112 | $ | 10,835 | ||||||
Ceded premium earned | 18,499 | 12,178 | 6,321 | |||||||||
Net premium earned | $ | 30,448 | $ | 25,934 | $ | 4,514 |
Other Income
Other income increased $430, to $1,264 as of December 31, 2016, compared to $834 as of December 31, 2015. Other income is comprised of claims adjusting fee revenue earned by our subsidiary, ClaimCor, policy fee income charged to our policyholders for inspections, premium financing fees for those policyholders which elect to pay their premiums on an installment basis, and also commission revenue resulting from a brokerage sharing agreement between our insurance subsidiary, Maison, and the intermediary Maison uses to place its CAT XOL reinsurance program.
Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Net losses and LAE represent both actual payments made and changes in estimated future payments to be made to our policyholders. Net losses and LAE are as shown in the following table.
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
Losses ($) | Loss Ratio (%) | Losses ($) | Loss Ratio (%) | |||||||||||||
Weather-Related Non-Catastrophe Losses | $ | 1,133 | 3.7 | % | $ | 3,349 | 12.9 | % | ||||||||
Non-Weather Related Losses | 5,815 | 19.1 | % | 4,120 | 15.9 | % | ||||||||||
Subtotal Core Losses(1) | 6,948 | 22.8 | % | 7,469 | 28.8 | % | ||||||||||
Catastrophe Losses(2) | 9,805 | 32.2 | % | 2,302 | 8.9 | % | ||||||||||
Prior Period Development (Redundancy)(3) | (381 | ) | (1.2 | )% | 168 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||
Total | $ | 16,372 | 53.8 | % | $ | 9,939 | 38.3 | % |
Our loss ratio (net losses and LAE divided by net premiums earned) for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 53.8% compared to 38.3% for the prior year. We experienced a significant increase in catastrophe related losses due to three Property Claims Services (“PCS”) defined events which impacted us during 2016. These were as follows:
Our loss ratio from weather related non-catastrophe losses has declined year over year, from 12.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 3.7% for the year ended December 31, 2016. This reduction is attributable to the ceded benefit we received under our aggregate treaty which is a part of our catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance program. In March 2016, we experienced the second of two weather related events (CAT 1617 as described above) which, when combined, exceeded the $5,000 retention under our aggregate treaty. This second event allowed us to re-assess all weather-related claims we incurred over the reinsurance year covered under our aggregate treaty, or from the period beginning June 1, 2015 and ending May 31, 2016. Thus we were able to recover approximately $4,300 in weather-related non-catastrophe claims in the current year.
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $8,492, compared to $6,571 for the year ended December 31, 2015 and includes items such as commissions earned by our agencies, premium taxes, assessments, and policy processing fees. This increase correlates with the increase in earned premiums year over year shown by calculating deferred acquisition cost amortization as a percentage of earned premiums, which was 27.8% for 2016, compared to 25.3% for 2015. The increase in amortization of deferred acquisition costs as a percentage of earned premiums can be attributed to an increase in the effective rate of the premium taxes we pay in the State of Louisiana.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased $335 to $6,918 for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $7,253 for the year ended December 31, 2015. The following table delineates the major components for general and administrative expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, as well as the annual change in those major components.
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | Change | ||||||||||
Employee salaries and benefits | $ | 2,875 | $ | 2,641 | $ | 234 | ||||||
Professional fees | 1,225 | 1,755 | (530 | ) | ||||||||
Director’s fees | 340 | 315 | 25 | |||||||||
Rent and facility | 887 | 629 | 258 | |||||||||
Marketing and travel | 322 | 334 | (12 | ) | ||||||||
Insurance | 276 | 270 | 6 | |||||||||
Surveys and underwriting reports | 385 | 368 | 17 | |||||||||
Goodwill and other intangible impairment charge | — | 246 | (246 | ) | ||||||||
Taxes, licenses and fees | 190 | 134 | 56 | |||||||||
Other | 418 | 561 | (143 | ) | ||||||||
Total | $ | 6,918 | $ | 7,253 | $ | (335 | ) |
The change in general and administrative expense was driven primarily by our increased staffing to support our growth in Texas and potentially other states. We went from 22 employees as of December 31, 2015 to 27 employees as of December 31, 2016. While this resulted in an increase in the costs associated with employee salaries, benefits, and rent and facility costs, it also resulted in a decrease in professional fees as we brought in-house many of the services which we previously outsourced. Furthermore, we incurred a charge associated with the impairment of goodwill and other intangibles related to our acquisition of Claimcor in 2015, for which there was no comparable charge in the current year.
Loss on Termination of Management Services Agreement
Upon the termination of the MSA with 1347 Advisors, we recorded a loss of $5,421, representing the estimated fair value of the cash, warrants, preferred shares and performance shares paid to Advisors. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we also recorded amortization charges in the amount of $355 and $282, respectively, which are associated with the discount recorded on the preferred shares when issued in the transaction. See “Related Party Transactions” in the Analysis of Financial Condition previously discussed for further information on the termination of the MSA.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $108 compared to a benefit of $663 for the year ended December 31, 2015. The effective rate for income taxes is 90.8% for the current year, compared to 28.4% for the prior year. The primary cause of the increase in effective tax rate is current state taxes due on income earned by certain of our subsidiary companies in the current year.
Net Income (Loss)
As a result of the foregoing, the Company’s net income for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $11, or $0.00 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $1,673, or $(0.27) per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The purpose of liquidity management is to ensure that there is sufficient cash to meet all financial commitments and obligations as they become due. The liquidity requirements for the Company and its subsidiaries have been met primarily by funds generated from operations, and from the proceeds from the sales of its common and preferred stock. Cash provided from these sources is used primarily for loss and LAE payments as well as other operating expenses. The timing and amount of payments for net losses and loss adjustment expenses may differ materially from the Company’s provisions for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, which may create increased liquidity requirements.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
(unaudited) | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
Summary of Cash Flows | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 3,832 | $ | 1,659 | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (21,182 | ) | (9,428 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (16 | ) | (1,262 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (17,366 | ) | $ | (9,031 | ) |
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net cash provided by operating activities as reported on our consolidated statement of cash flows was $3,832, driven, in large, by our collection of approximately $34,411 in premiums for the period (net of the amounts that we have ceded to our reinsurers), less the payment of approximately $19,920 in loss and LAE expenses (net of ceded recoveries collected from our reinsurers). We also paid approximately $6,830 in commissions to our agencies, Brotherhood and Citizens (as ceding commissions), as well as cash payments in the approximate amount of $3,829 for taxes, assessments and general and administrative expenses.
Net cash used in investing activities as reported on our consolidated statement of cash flows was $21,182, driven primarily by the net purchases of fixed income and equity securities as well as short term investments for our investment portfolio. Net cash used in financing activities was $16, as a result of a dividend payment of $240 made to Advisors as holders of the Preferred Shares issued in the MSA termination transaction, net of $224 in proceeds from the sale of our common stock.
As a result of the foregoing, cash and cash equivalents decreased from $43,045 as of December 31, 2016 to $25,679 as of September 30, 2017.
Nine months ended September 30, 2016
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the net cash provided by operating activities as reported on our consolidated statement of cash flows was $1,659, resulting from our collection of approximately $27,500 in premiums for the year (net of the amounts we have ceded to our reinsurers), less the payment of approximately $13,700 in loss and LAE expenses (net of ceded recoveries collected from our reinsurers). We also paid approximately $5,300 in commissions to our agencies, as well as to Brotherhood and Citizens as ceding commissions. Lastly, cash payments in the approximate amount of $6,800 were made for taxes, assessments and general and administrative expenses.
The net cash used by investing activities as reported on our consolidated statement of cash flows was $9,428, resulting from the net purchases of fixed income, equity securities and short term investments for our investment portfolio. Net cash used by financing activities was $1,262, which resulted from a dividend payment of $240 to Advisors as holders of the Preferred Shares issued in the MSA termination transaction, as well as the payment of $1,022 for the repurchase of 153,905 shares of our common stock pursuant to our share buyback program.
As a result of the foregoing, cash and cash equivalents decreased from $47,957 as of December 31, 2015 to $38,926 as of September 30, 2016.
The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
Summary of Cash Flows | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 3,372 | $ | 5,417 | ||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (6,849 | ) | (9,368 | ) | ||||
Net cash used by financing activities | (1,435 | ) | (1,731 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (4,912 | ) | $ | (5,682 | ) |
Year ended December 31, 2016
For the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash provided by operating activities as reported on our consolidated statement of cash flows was $3,372. Our source of cash resulted from the collection of approximately $51,058 in premiums in the period. This amount was reduced by the payment of $18,595 in ceded reinsurance premiums, the payment of losses and loss adjustment expenses (net of recoveries from our reinsurers) of $15,500, commissions paid to our agents equaling $7,075, salaries and benefits paid to our employees equaling $2,958, payments to various local and federal regulators for premium, assessments, and income taxes in the amount of $2,068, and other net operating payments of $1,490.
Net cash used by investing activities as reported on our consolidated statements of cash flows was $6,849, primarily due to our purchase of fixed income and equity securities for our investment portfolio.
Net cash used by financing activities was $1,435, comprised of our purchase of 177,508 of our common shares at an aggregate purchase price of $1,195, as well as a dividend payment of $240 to the holders of our preferred shares.
As a result of the foregoing, our net decrease in cash and cash equivalents for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $4,912.
Year ended December 31, 2015
For the year ended December 31, 2015, net cash provided by operating activities as reported on our consolidated statement of cash flows was $5,417. Our source of cash resulted from the collection of approximately $43,851 in premiums in the period. This amount was reduced by the payment of ceded reinsurance premiums of $12,460, the payment of losses and loss adjustment expenses (net of recoveries from our reinsurers) of $8,784, the one-time cash payment of $2,000 to Advisors pursuant to the termination of the MSA, commissions paid to our agents equaling $6,219, wages and salaries paid to our employees equaling $2,267, payments to various local and federal regulators for premium and income taxes and assessments in the amount of $2,495, and other net operating payments of $4,209.
Net cash used by investing activities as reported on our consolidated statements of cash flows was $9,368, primarily due to our purchase of fixed income securities for our investment portfolio.
Net cash used by financing activities was $1,731, comprised entirely of our purchase of 223,851 of our common shares pursuant to the Company’s share buyback program.
As a result of the foregoing, our net decrease in cash and cash equivalents for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $5,682.
Regulatory Capital
Risk-Based Capital Requirements
In the United States, a risk-based capital (“RBC”) formula is used by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) to identify property and casualty insurance companies that may not be adequately capitalized. Most states, including Louisiana, the domiciliary state of our insurance subsidiary, Maison, as well as Texas, where Maison began writing business in June 2015, have adopted the NAIC RBC requirements. In general, insurers reporting surplus with respect to policyholders below 200% of the authorized control level, as defined by the NAIC, on December 31st of the previous year are subject to varying levels of regulatory action, which may include discontinuation of operations.
Furthermore, pursuant to the consent order approving Maison’s admission into the State of Texas, Maison has agreed to:
Similarly, pursuant to the consent order approving Maison’s admission into the State of Florida, Maison has agreed to:
As of September 30, 2017, Maison has fulfilled these obligations as its RBC ratio exceeded 300% and its capital surplus was $35,962.
Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
The U.S. Congress recently passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was signed into law by the President on December 22, 2017. One of the key features of the legislation is a reduction in the Federal corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35%. Due to this reduction, the Company will incur an initial charge to earnings to write off a portion of the net deferred tax asset position recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. However, future operating results would be taxed at the lower rate. The Company’s insurance subsidiary will also have to write-off or otherwise non-admit a portion of its respective deferred tax asset, which would result in a decrease in its respective capital and surplus under statutory accounting principles for insurance companies. This might result in the Company contributing additional capital to its insurance subsidiary in order to maintain desired statutory capital adequacy ratios. Due to the reduction in the corporate Federal income tax rate, federal and/or state legislation might be enacted to help offset the decrease in tax revenue to the government. Such legislation might reduce or eliminate certain tax advantages that are currently beneficial to the Company, including tax-exempt interest on municipal securities, the dividends received deduction and certain tax credits. Accordingly, the fair value of the Company’s investments might be adversely impacted. Under the new tax law, the Company estimates a decrease of approximately $325,000 in deferred tax assets on a consolidated basis, and a decrease of $718,000 in deferred tax assets, on a regulatory basis in the Company’s insurance subsidiary.
53
Overview
We are an insurance holding company specialized in providing personal property insurance in coastal markets including those in Louisiana, Texas and Florida. These markets are characterized as regions where the larger, national insurers have reduced their market share in favor of other, less catastrophe exposed markets. These markets are also all characterized by state-administered residual insurers controlling large market shares. These unique markets can trace their roots to Hurricane Andrew, after which larger national carriers limited their capital allocation and approaches to property risk aggregation. These trends accelerated again after back to back exceptionally active Hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005. However, the decade following Hurricane Katrina had relatively few losses arising from tropical storm activity which led to decline in reinsurance pricing and dramatic increases in its availability. We were incorporated on October 2, 2012 in the State of Delaware to take advantage of these favorable dynamics where premium could be acquired relatively more quickly and under less competitive pressure than in other property insurance markets and reinsurance, a significant expense for primary insurers, was declining from record high levels. We execute on this opportunity via a management team with expertise in the critical facets of our business: underwriting, claims, reinsurance, and operations. Within our broad three state market, we seek to sell the products in the territories with the highest rate per exposure and the least complexity in terms of risk. Further we seek to leverage our increasingly geographically diverse insurance portfolio to gain efficiencies with respect to reinsurance. As of December 31, 2017 we insure approximately 50,000 homes, an increase of almost 48% from one year prior.
Prior to March 31, 2014, the Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway America Inc., or KAI. KAI, in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc., or KFSI, a publicly owned holding company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On March 31, 2014, we completed an initial public offering of our common stock and then on June 13, 2014, we completed a follow-on offering. Through the combination of our initial public offering and follow-on offering, we issued approximately five million shares of our common stock. As of the date of this prospectus, KFSI and its affiliates beneficially own approximately 8.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock and warrants and performance shares to acquire an additional 23.9% of our outstanding shares of common stock. In addition, as of the date of this prospectus, Fundamental Global Investors, LLC and its affiliates, or FGI, beneficially own approximately 36.0% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
On October 25, 2017, KAI entered into a purchase agreement with FGI, pursuant to which KAI agreed to sell 900,000 shares of our common stock to FGI or to one of FGI’s affiliate companies in two separate transactions. The first transaction, for the sale of 475,428 shares of our common stock, occurred on November 1, 2017. The second transaction, for the sale of 424,572 shares of our common stock, is conditioned on approval of the transaction by both the LDI and FOIR. FGI is affiliated with D. Kyle Cerminara, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner, and Lewis M. Johnson, where he serves as President, Co-Founder and Partner. Messrs. Cerminara and Johnson are both members of our Board of Directors. Should the second transaction be consummated, FGI, and entities affiliated with FGI, would own approximately 43% of our outstanding common shares.
Through Maison, we began providing property and casualty insurance to individuals in Louisiana in December 2012. In September 2015, Maison began writing manufactured home policies in the State of Texas on a direct basis. Our current insurance offerings in Louisiana and Texas include homeowners insurance, manufactured home insurance and dwelling fire insurance. We write both full peril property policies as well as wind/hail only exposures and we produce new policies through a network of independent insurance agents. We refer to the policies we write through independent agents as voluntary policies.
We also write commercial business in Texas through a quota share agreement with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, or Brotherhood. Through this agreement, we have assumed wind/hail only exposures on certain churches and related structures Brotherhood insures throughout the State of Texas.
We have also participated in depopulation programs implemented by Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Company, or LA Citizens, as well as the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, or TWIA. These programs were instituted by each respective state in order to reduce the number of properties each state insures. Under the programs, state-approved insurance companies such as Maison Insurance have the opportunity to assume insurance policies written by both LA Citizens and TWIA. We have voluntarily participated in the last five depopulation rounds from LA Citizens, occurring on December 1st of each year, while December 1, 2016 marked the inaugural depopulation for TWIA.
Maison Managers Inc., or MMI, serves as our management services subsidiary, known as a managing general agency, and provides underwriting, policy administration, claims administration, marketing, accounting, and other management services to Maison. MMI contracts primarily with independent agencies for policy sales and services, and also contracts with an independent third-party for policy administration services. As a managing general agency, MMI is licensed by and subject to the regulatory oversight of the LDI, TDI and FOIR. MMI earns commissions on a portion of the premiums Maison writes, as well as a per policy fee which ranges from $0-$75 for providing policy administration, marketing, reinsurance contract negotiation, and accounting and analytical services. Both Maison and MMI are licensed by and subject to the regulatory oversight of the Louisiana Department of Insurance, or LDI, the Texas Department of Insurance, or TDI, and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, or FOIR.
On January 2, 2015, we completed our acquisition of 100% of the membership interest of ClaimCor, a claims and underwriting technical solutions company. Maison processes claims made by its policyholders through ClaimCor, and also through various third-party claims adjusting companies.
Florida Certificate of Authority
On March 1, 2017 Maison received a certificate of authority from the FOIR, which authorizes Maison to write personal lines insurance in Florida. Pursuant to the Consent Order issued, Maison has agreed to comply with certain requirements as outlined by the FOIR until Maison can demonstrate three consecutive years of net income following the Company’s admission into Florida as evidenced by our Annual Statement filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Among other requirements, the FOIR requires the following as conditions related to the issuance of Maison’s certificate of authority:
To comply with the consent order, on March 31, 2017, Maison received a capital contribution from PIH in the amount of $16,000. As of September 30, 2017, Maison has not written any insurance policies covering risks in the State of Florida.
On September 29, 2017, Maison received authorization from the FOIR to assume personal lines policies from Florida Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, or FL Citizens, pursuant to a proposal of depopulation which Maison filed with FL Citizens on August 18, 2017. Accordingly, Maison entered the Florida market via the assumption of policies from FL Citizens in December, 2017. The order approving Maison’s assumption of policies limits the number of policies which Maison may assume in 2017, and also stipulates that Maison maintain catastrophe reinsurance at such levels as deemed appropriate by the FOIR.
Business Strategy
Our primary goal is to continue to expand our property and casualty writings. Our goal for Louisiana, the first state where we began to offer insurance, has been to establish a market share of 2% to 3%. At December 31, 2016, our market share was 1.8%, based on the fact that direct written premiums in Louisiana were approximately $2.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2016, for the lines of business that we write. We plan to expand our writings through:
Competition
We operate in a highly competitive market and face competition from national and regional insurance companies, many of whom are larger and have greater financial and other resources and offer more diversified insurance coverage. Our competitors include companies which market their products through independent agents, as well as companies with captive agents. Large national companies may have certain competitive advantages over regional companies such as ours, including increased name recognition, increased loyalty of their customer base and reduced policy acquisition costs.
We may also face competition from new entrants in our niche markets. In some cases, these companies may price their products below ours due to their interest in quickly growing their business in Louisiana or Texas. Although our pricing is inevitably influenced to some degree by that of our competitors, we believe that it is generally not in our best interest to compete solely on price. We also compete on the basis of underwriting criteria, our distribution network and superior policy, underwriting and claims service to our agents and insureds.
Some of the national and regional companies which compete with us in the Texas and Louisiana homeowners’ markets include ASI Lloyds, Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporation, United Property & Casualty, First Community Insurance Company, Southern Fidelity Insurance, Safepoint Insurance Company, Imperial F&C Insurance Company, Americas Insurance Company, Access Home Insurance Company, Family Security Insurance Company, Gulfstream Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Federated National Insurance Company, and Centauri Specialty Insurance Company.
Claims Administration
Claims administration and adjusting involves the handling of routine “non-catastrophic” as well as catastrophic claims. In the event of a hurricane or other catastrophic claim, our claims volume would increase significantly. Rather than increase the size of our staff in anticipation of such an event, we believe that outsourcing claims adjusting improves our operational efficiency because an appropriately selected third party will have the resources to adjust the catastrophe related claims cost effectively and with the level of service we endeavor to provide for our policyholders. Accordingly, we have outsourced our claims adjusting program to certain third party adjusters with experience in Texas and Louisiana. We expect to implement a similar model in Florida when appropriate.
Under the terms of the service contract between Maison and MMI, MMI handles the actual claims administration for both catastrophic and non-catastrophic insurable events. In handling the claims administration, the examiner for MMI reviews all claims and loss reports, and if warranted, investigates such claims and losses.
Field adjusting is outsourced to our wholly-owned subsidiary, ClaimCor, as well as third-party service providers, who, subject to company guidance and oversight, either settle or contest the claims. Approval for payment of a claim is given by MMI after careful review of the field adjuster’s report. We pay adjusters based on a pre-determined fee schedule. Although we are ultimately responsible for paying the claims made by our policyholders, we believe that outsourcing our claims handling program while maintaining an oversight function is an efficient mechanism for handling individual matters. Furthermore, by delivering responsive service in a challenging situation, we optimize the relationship between insured and insurer.
Reinsurance
Maison follows the industry practice of reinsuring a portion of its risk. When an insurance company purchases reinsurance, it transfers or “cedes” all or a portion of its exposure on insurance underwritten by it to another insurer-the “reinsurer.” Although reinsurance is intended to reduce an insurance company’s risk, the ceding of insurance does not legally discharge the insurance company from its primary liability for the full obligation of its policies. If the reinsurer fails to meet its obligations under the reinsurance agreement, the ceding company is still required to pay the insured for the loss. Maison and its reinsurance broker are selective in choosing reinsurers and they consider various factors, including, but not limited to, the financial stability of the reinsurers, the reinsurers’ history of responding to claims, as well as the reinsurer’s overall reputation in making such determinations.
From year-to-year, both the availability of reinsurance and the costs associated with the acquisition of reinsurance will vary. These fluctuations are not subject to our control and may limit our insurance subsidiary’s ability to purchase adequate coverage.
In order to limit the credit risk associated with amounts which may become due from our reinsurers, Maison uses several different reinsurers, which have an A.M. Best Rating of A- (Excellent) or better. Absent such rating, we have required the reinsurers to place collateral on deposit with an independent financial institution under a trust agreement for our benefit. A partial listing of the reinsurance companies which we currently use include Allianz Risk Transfer, AXIS Specialty Limited, Everest Re, DaVinci Re, Renaissance Re, Odyssey Re, Gen Re, as well as various Lloyd’s of London participating syndicates.
The Company’s excess of loss reinsurance treaties are based upon a treaty year beginning on June 1st of each year and expiring on May 31st of the following year. Thus, the financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 as well as the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 contain premiums ceded under four separate excess of loss treaties. The following table is a summary of the key provisions under each of our treaties.
2014/2015 CAT XOL Treaty 06/01/14 – 05/31/15 | 2015/2016 CAT |
| 2016/2017 CAT |
| 2017/2018 CAT XOL Treaty 06/01/17 – 05/31/18 | |||||||
Wind/Hail loss occurrence clause(1) | 120 hours | 144 hours | 144 hours | 144 hours | ||||||||
Retention on first occurrence | $ | 3,000 | $ | 4,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | ||||
Retention on second occurrence | $ | 2,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 2,000 | ||||
Limit of coverage including first event retention | $ | 92,000 | $ | 140,000 | $ | 200,000 | $ | 200,000 | ||||
Franchise deductible(2) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 125 | $ | 250 |
We have purchased reinstatement premium protection contracts to fully indemnify us against the potential cost of reinstatement premiums under the traditional catastrophe excess of loss contracts, thus each layer of our program includes one reinstatement. We have also purchased a catastrophe aggregate reinsurance contract providing $25 million of coverage with no reinstatement. The catastrophe aggregate contract can be used to indemnify us against large losses above $175 million per event or an aggregation of small losses subject to a franchise deductible per event as listed in the preceding table. The Company also purchases per risk reinsurance having a retention of $250 with a limit of $1,750 for all losses occurring prior to June 1, 2017, and a retention of $400 with a limit of $1,600 for all losses occurring June 1, 2017 and thereafter.
The Company estimates that the total cost of its reinsurance program will be approximately $24.7 million for the 2017-2018 treaty-year. From year-to-year, both the availability of reinsurance and the costs associated with the acquisition of reinsurance will vary. Any catastrophic event or multiple catastrophes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
Investments
We have historically tailored our investment policy in an effort to minimize risk in the current financial market. Although applicable laws and regulations permit investments (within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications) in federal, state and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, preferred and common equity securities and real estate mortgages, as of September 30, 2017, we invested primarily in high quality fixed income instruments rated “BBB” or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services.
The cash balances of our subsidiaries may be invested in other types of securities subject to domiciliary state regulations, but those investments are subject to pre-approval by our investment committee and the performance of such investments must be reported to our Board of Directors quarterly. Our investment policy is approved by our investment committee and is reviewed on a regular basis in order to ensure that our investment policy evolves in response to changes in the financial market. Our investment policy is designed to maximize investment income within specified guidelines, with a strong emphasis on protection of principal.
Technology
Our business depends upon the use, development and implementation of integrated technology systems. These systems enable us to provide a high level of service to agents and policyholders by: processing business in a timely and efficient manner; communicating and sharing data with agents; providing a variety of methods for the payment of premiums and; allowing for the accumulation and analysis of information for the management of our insurance subsidiary. We believe the availability and use of these technology systems has resulted in improved service to agents and customers and increased efficiencies in processing the business of Maison and resulted in lower operating costs.
Regulation
We are subject to the laws and regulations in Louisiana, Florida and Texas, and will be subject to the regulations of any other states in which we may seek to conduct business in the future. In these states, it is the duty of each respective department of insurance to administer the provisions of the insurance code in that state. The purpose of each state’s insurance code is to regulate the insurance industry in all of its phases, including, but not limited to the following: licensing of insurers and producers, regulation of investments and solvency, review and approval of forms and rates, and market conduct. Furthermore, since Maison is domiciled in the State of Louisiana, the LDI conducts periodic examinations of the financial condition and market conduct of Maison and requires Maison to file financial and other reports on a quarterly and annual basis.
Regulation of the Payment of Dividends and other Transactions between Affiliates
Dividends paid by Maison are restricted by the Louisiana Insurance Code. Dividends can only be paid if Maison’s paid-in capital and surplus exceed the minimum required by the Louisiana Insurance Code. Any dividend or distribution (that when aggregated with any other dividends or distributions made within the preceding twelve months) which exceed the lesser of (a) ten percent of the insurer’s surplus as regards policyholders as of the thirty-first day of December next preceding; or (b) the net income of the insurer, not including realized capital gains, for the twelve month period ending the thirty-first day of December next preceding; is considered to be extra-ordinary and shall not be paid until thirty days after the LDI has received notice of the declaration thereof and has not within that period disapproved the payment, or until the LDI has approved the payment within the thirty-day period. In determining whether a dividend or distribution is extra-ordinary, an insurer may carry forward net income from the previous two calendar years that has not already been paid out in dividends. Pursuant to the Consent Order issued to us, Maison is restricted from issuing any dividends to its stockholder without receiving prior approval from the FOIR.
Our other subsidiary companies collect the majority of their revenue through their affiliation with Maison. Our subsidiary company MMI, earns commission income from Maison for underwriting, policy administration, claims handling, and other services provided to Maison. Our subsidiary company, ClaimCor, earns claims adjusting income for adjusting certain of the claims of Maison’s policyholders. While dividend payments from our other subsidiaries are not restricted under insurance law, the underlying contracts between Maison and our other subsidiary companies are regulated by, and subject to the approval of, insurance regulators.
As of December 31, 2017, Maison has not paid any dividends to its sole stockholder, the Company.
Regulation of Rates and Rules
Maison is subject to state laws and regulations regarding approval of rates and rules with respect to its insurance policies. Each state’s respective department of insurance has the exclusive authority to approve insurance rates or rate changes for the lines of property and casualty insurance which Maison writes. Maison’s ability to establish and change rates and the relative timing of the rate making process are dependent upon each state’s statutory and regulatory requirements.
Requirements for Exiting Geographic Markets and/or Canceling or Non-renewing Policies
Maison is subject to Florida, Louisiana and Texas state laws and regulations which may restrict Maison’s timing or ability to either discontinue or substantially reduce its writings in the states in which it operates. These laws and regulations limit the reasons for cancellation or non-renewal, typically require prior notice, and in some instances require prior approval from the respective regulatory agency. For example, in Louisiana, no insurer may cancel or fail to renew a homeowner’s policy of insurance or increase the policy deductible that has been in effect and renewed for more than three years unless the change is based upon non-payment of premium, fraud of the insured, a material change in the risk being insured, two or more claims within a period of three years, or if continuance of such policy endangers the solvency of the insurer.
Risk of Assessment by Florida, Louisiana and Texas
Maison is a member of the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association as a condition of its authority to transact insurance in Louisiana and is subject to assessment as set forth in the Louisiana Insurance Code.
Maison is also required to participate, as a condition of its authority to transact insurance in Louisiana, in the residual insurance market programs operated by Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and designated as the Coastal Plan and the Fair Plan. Maison is subject to assessment as set forth in the Louisiana Insurance Code for its participation in the Coastal Plan and its participation in the Fair Plan.
As a property insurer licensed in Texas, Maison is a member of TWIA, which provides wind and hail coverage to coastal risks unable to procure coverage in the voluntary market. Maison may become subject to assessment from TWIA should a major loss event deplete TWIA’s available loss reserves and reinsurance coverage. Maison is also a member insurer of the Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association and the FAIR Plan and is subject to assessment by each as set forth in the Texas Insurance Code.
Upon our entry into the Florida market, we will be required to participate in the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (“FIGA”), the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”), and FL Citizens. FIGA services claims of member insurance companies which have become insolvent and are ordered to be liquidated. In the event of an insolvency, Maison may be subject to assessment from FIGA based upon the amount of premium Maison writes in Florida. Similarly, as an admitted insurer in Florida, Maison is subject to assessment from the FHCF and FL Citizens based upon the amount of premium Maison writes in Florida. While current regulations allow the Company to recover from policyholders the amount of these assessments imposed upon the Company, the Company’s payment of the assessments and recoveries may not offset each other in the same year.
Insurance Regulatory Information System
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) developed the Insurance Regulatory Information System (“IRIS”) to help state regulators identify companies that may require special attention. Using IRIS, financial examiners develop key financial ratios in order to assess the financial condition of insurance companies such as Maison. Each ratio has an established “usual range” of results. A ratio which falls outside the usual range however, is not considered a failing result, but instead may be viewed as part of the regulatory early monitoring system. In some cases, it may not be unusual for financially sound companies to have several ratios with results outside of the usual range.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, Maison had twelve of the thirteen IRIS ratio results within the usual range. The ratio which had results which fell outside of the usual range was due to the fact that Maison’s yield on investments was below the lower end of the usual range (3%) due to the general low investment yields currently realized on the highly rated fixed income securities we hold as part of our overall investment strategy.
Management does not anticipate regulatory action as a result of these IRIS ratio results.
Risk Based Capital Requirements
In the United States, a risk-based capital (“RBC”) formula is used by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) to identify property and casualty insurance companies that may not be adequately capitalized. Most states, including Louisiana, Texas, and Florida have adopted the NAIC RBC requirements. In general, insurers reporting surplus with respect to policyholders below 200% of the authorized control level, as defined by the NAIC, on December 31st of the previous year are subject to varying levels of regulatory action, which may include discontinuation of operations. Furthermore, pursuant to the consent order approving Maison’s admission into the State of Texas, Maison has agreed to maintain a RBC ratio of 300% or more, and provide calculation of such ratio to the TDI on a periodic basis. As of September 30, 2017, Maison’s RBC ratio was above 300%.
State Deposits
States routinely require deposits of assets for the protection of policyholders. As of December 31, 2017, Maison held certificates of deposit with an estimated fair value of approximately $100 and $300 as a deposit with the LDI and FOIR, respectively. Maison also held cash and investment securities with an estimated fair value of approximately $1,988 as of December 31, 2017, as a deposit with the TDI.
Employees
As of December 31, 2017, we had thirty employees, twenty-one of whom work at our offices in Tampa, Florida, five of whom work at our offices in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, three of whom work from Texas, and one which works from Georgia. From time to time, we employ and supplement our staff with temporary employees and consultants. We are not a party to any collective bargaining agreement and believe that relations with our employees are satisfactory. Each of our employees has entered into confidentiality agreements with us.
Website
Our corporate website address iswww.1347pih.com.
Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus.
The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of our directors and executive officers.
There are no family relationships between any of our executive officers and directors. Except as set forth below, the business address of each of our executive officers and directors is 1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 870, Tampa, FL 33607.
Director Biographies
Douglas N. Raucy, age 61, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors since the inception of the Company in October 2012. He has served in the same positions at our wholly-owned subsidiary companies, Maison Company and at Maison Managers Inc. since their inception in October 2012. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Raucy served as the Chief Executive Officer and President and as a member of the Board of Directors of Access Home Holdings LLC, Access Home Insurance Company and Access Home Managers LLC from August 2011 to October 2012. He also served as the Chief Executive Officer and President and as a member of the Board of Directors of Prepared Holdings LLC, Prepared Insurance Company and Prepared Managers LLC. From January 2001 to August 2008, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS), a property mitigation firm that focuses on disaster-resistance property research and education. Mr. Raucy’s prior executive experience also includes positions held during his 20 year tenure at Allstate Insurance Company, including his role as the Director and Founder of the National Catastrophe Team and National Catastrophe Center from 1995 through 2001, where he led Allstate Insurance Company’s efforts for every major national catastrophe. He previously served as a member of the advisory board for Marshall Swift/Boech and a consultant to the Ocean Research & Resources Advisory Panel, a U.S. federal advisory committee studying the effects of the ocean on global weather patterns. Mr. Raucy obtained a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University. We believe Mr. Raucy’s business and management experience make him a qualified and valuable member of our Board of Directors.
Larry G. Swets, Jr., age 43, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since November 21, 2013 and has served as our Chairman since March 5, 2017. Mr. Swets currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway Financial Services, Inc. (TSX: KFS, NYSE: KFS). Beginning in July 2010, Mr. Swets has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and, since September 2013, as a member of the board of directors, of Kingsway. Prior to that, Mr. Swets served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development for Kingsway from January 2010 to July 2010. Before joining Kingsway, in 2005, Mr. Swets founded Itasca Financial LLC, an advisory and investment firm specializing in the insurance industry from which Mr. Swets separated in December 2009. Prior to his work at Itasca Financial, Mr. Swets served as an insurance company executive and advisor, including the role of Director of Investments and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager for Kemper Insurance (from June 1997 to May 2005). At Kemper Insurance, he also evaluated business units, executed corporate transactions and divestitures, and developed financial projections and analysis for the company during its runoff stage. Mr. Swets began his career in insurance as an intern in the Kemper Scholar program in 1994. Mr. Swets is a member of the board of directors of Kingsway, Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFH), Itasca Capital Ltd. (TSX-V: ICL) and Limbach Holdings, Inc., f/k/a 1347 Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: LMB). He is currently a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization. Previously, he served as a member of the board of directors of United Insurance Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: UIHC), from 2008 to March 2012, and Risk Enterprise Management Ltd from November 2007 to May 2012. Mr. Swets obtained a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and a Master’s degree in finance from DePaul University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. We believe Mr. Swet’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his more than ten years of executive management and leadership experience in the insurance industry.
D. Kyle Cerminara, age 40, was appointed to our Board of Directors on December 27, 2016. Mr. Cerminara has been Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor that manages equity and fixed income hedge funds, since April 2012. Fundamental Global Investors, LLC is a significant stockholder of the Company. Mr. Cerminara has also served as the Co-Chief Investment Officer of CWA Asset Management Group, LLC d/b/a Capital Wealth Advisors (“CWA”), a wealth advisor and multi-family office affiliated with Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, since December 2012. In addition, he has served Ballantyne Strong, Inc., a holding company with diverse business activities focused on serving the cinema, retail, financial and government markets, as a director since February 2015, as its Chairman since May 2015 and as its Chief Executive Officer since November 2015. Mr. Cerminara also serves as President and Trustee of StrongVest ETF Trust and Chief Executive Officer of StrongVest Global Advisors, LLC. StrongVest Global Advisors, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ballantyne Strong, is an investment advisor, and CWA is a sub-advisor, to CWA Income ETF, an exchange-traded fund and series of StrongVest ETF Trust. Mr. Cerminara is a member of the Board of Directors of a number of publicly-held companies focused in the technology, insurance and communication sectors, including Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (NYSE American: BTN), since 2015, RELM Wireless Corporation (NYSE American: RWC), a publicly-traded manufacturer, since 2015, and Itasca Capital, Ltd. (TSXV: ICL) (formerly Kobex Capital Corp.), a publicly-traded investment firm, since June 2016. He also served on the Board of Directors of Iteris, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITI), a provider of intelligent information solutions for traffic management, from August 2016 to November 2017, and Magnetek, Inc., a publicly-traded manufacturer, in 2015. Prior to co-founding FGI and partnering with Capital Wealth Advisors, Mr. Cerminara was a Portfolio Manager at Sigma Capital Management from 2011 to 2012, a Director and Sector Head of the Financials Industry at Highside Capital Management from 2009 to 2011, and a Portfolio Manager and Director at CR Intrinsic Investors from 2007 to 2009. Before joining CR Intrinsic Investors, Mr. Cerminara was a Vice President, Associate Portfolio Manager and Analyst at T. Rowe Price from 2001 to 2007 and an Analyst at Legg Mason from 2000 to 2001. Mr. Cerminara received an M.B.A. from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and a B.S. degree in Finance and Accounting from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, an NCAA Academic All American and Co-Captain of the men’s varsity tennis team. He also completed a China Executive Residency at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing, China. Mr. Cerminara holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. We believe Mr. Cerminara brings to the Board the perspective of one of the Company’s largest stockholders. He also offers to the Board valuable insights obtained through his management and operational experience and extensive experience in the financial industry, including investing, capital allocation, finance and financial analysis of public companies. The business addresses for Mr. Cerminara are c/o Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, 4201 Congress Street, Suite 140, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209; c/o Ballantyne Strong, Inc., 11422 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68154; and 131 Plantation Ridge Dr., Suite 100, Mooresville, North Carolina 28117.
Joshua S. Horowitz, age 40, was appointed to our Board of Directors in April 2015. From July 2014 to July 2016, he served as a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee Chairman of Limbach Holdings, Inc., f/k/a 1347 Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: LMB). Since January 2012, Mr. Horowitz has served as a portfolio manager and Managing Director at Palm Management (US) LLC, a family office private investment firm that invests in a wide range of public and private companies. From October 2011 to December 2011, Mr. Horowitz worked as an independent consultant providing research and analysis of publicly-held investments. From September 2010 to September 2011, Mr. Horowitz served as Director of Research of Inverlochy Capital Ltd., a private asset management company. From April 2009 to April 2010, Mr. Horowitz served as managing director of Sapinda GmbH, a private investment holding company. From March 2004 to October 2008, Mr. Horowitz served as Director of Research for Berggruen Holdings, Inc., a family office with over $2 billion in assets under management globally. In these positions, Mr. Horowitz has analyzed and managed investments in hundreds of companies, with an emphasis on insurance and financial firms. Mr. Horowitz has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Lincoln General Insurance Company, a private insurance company, from October 2011 until October 2015. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Birner Dental Management Services, Inc. (OTCQX:BDMS) and a director of Democracy at Work, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Mr. Horowitz obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Binghamton University. In March 2015, Mr. Horowitz successfully completed the Business of Insurance Certificate Program at St. John’s University. We believe Mr. Horowitz’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his executive management experience, his experience with the analysis and management of investments in companies in the insurance sector, and his service on the boards of several public companies, including a private insurance company.
Lewis M. Johnson, age 48, was appointed to our Board of Directors on April 3, 2017. Since May 2016, Mr. Johnson has also served on the Board of Directors of Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (NYSE American: BTN), a holding company with diverse business activities focused on serving the cinema, retail, financial, and government markets, as well as RELM Wireless Corporation (NYSE American: RWC), a company which designs, manufactures and markets two-way land mobile radios, repeaters and related components. Since April 2012, Mr. Johnson has served as President, Co-Founder and Partner of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor that manages equity and fixed income hedge funds. In addition, since April 2012, Mr. Johnson has served as Co-Chief Investment Officer of CWA Asset Management Group, LLC, a wealth advisory firm associated with Fundamental Global Investors. Prior to co-founding Fundamental Global Investors, LLC and partnering with Capital Wealth Advisors, Mr. Johnson was a private investor from 2010 to 2012. From 2008 to 2010 Mr. Johnson served as Portfolio Manager and Managing Director at Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy, a diversified merchant energy company involved in the marketing and merchandising of energy commodities as well as the ownership and operation of energy-related infrastructure assets. Previously Mr. Johnson was a Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Analyst at Pequot Capital from 2006 to 2007. Prior to joining Pequot Capital, he was a Vice President and Analyst at T. Rowe Price from 2000 to 2006. He interned as an Analyst at Capital Research and Management during the summer of 1999 and worked as a Vice President at AYSA from 1992 to 1998. Mr. Johnson received an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in addition to a MA in Political Science and a BA in International Studies from Emory University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. We believe Mr. Johnson’s extensive experience in the financial industry, including asset investment, capital allocation, finance and financial analysis of public companies, qualify him to serve on our Board of Directors. The business addresses for Mr. Johnson are c/o CWA Asset Management Group, LLC, 9130 Galleria Court, Third Floor, Naples, Florida 34109 and c/o Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, 4201 Congress Street, Suite 140, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209.
Scott D. Wollney, age 49, was appointed to our Board of Directors on March 30, 2015. Since December 2010, Mr. Wollney has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFH), a specialty commercial automobile insurance company. From July 2009 until December 2010, Mr. Wollney was President and Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway America Inc. (KAI), a property and casualty holding company and subsidiary of Kingsway. From May 2008 to March 2009, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln General Insurance Company (a subsidiary of KAI), a property and casualty insurance company. Mr. Wollney co-founded Avalon Risk Management, Inc., an insurance broker, in 1998 and served as its President from 2002 to 2008. Mr. Wollney has more than 26 years of experience in property and casualty insurance. During his tenure in the industry, Mr. Wollney has held executive positions at both insurance companies as well as brokerage operations. Mr. Wollney is a MBA graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management with a concentration in finance and management strategy and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois. We believe Mr. Wollney’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his direct operating experience with respect to numerous disciplines which are critical to the insurance business.
Dennis A. Wong, age 48, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since August 2015. Since 2005, Mr. Wong has served as the owner of and a consultant with Insurance Resolution Group, a consulting firm focused on providing strategic advisory and financial consulting for domestic and international insurance carriers. From 1997 to 2005, Mr. Wong worked in a variety of corporate roles with Kemper Insurance Companies, a leading national insurance provider, including as Chief Financial Officer of its international operations. From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Wong worked as a public accountant with KPMG LLP, where he specialized in accounting and operational advisory services for the insurance industry. Mr. Wong obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with an Accountancy Cognate from the University of Illinois. Mr. Wong is a Certified Public Accountant. We believe Mr. Wong’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his insurance industry experience, as well as his experience as an auditor for various insurance companies.
Executive Officer Biographies
Please see “—Director Biographies” above for the biography of Mr. Raucy, our President and Chief Executive Officer.
John S. Hill, CPA, age 61, has served as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since July 2013 and was also appointed as Secretary in March 2015. He has served as the Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director of our subsidiary, Maison Company and has held the roles of Vice President, Treasurer and Director for our subsidiary, Maison Managers Inc. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Hill served as an Accounting Manager at AmeriLife Group, LLC, a company involved in the distribution of annuity, life and health insurance products, from June 2013 to July 2013 and as the founder and owner of his consulting business, Hill Consulting Services LLC from July 2009 to June 2013. From June 2010 to September 2011, Mr. Hill served as the Chief Financial Officer of Prepared Insurance Company and prior to that, he served as the Chief Financial Officer, Controller and Treasurer of Travelers of Florida from May 1998 to June 2009. Mr. Hill also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Carolina Casualty Insurance Company from 1989 to 1997. Mr. Hill served on the Board of Governors of the Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association from 1999 through 2003. Mr. Hill’s executive experience includes his prior roles as a national insurance audit instructor and peer review team member in KPMG’s insurance practice. He also holds the designation of certified public accountant (inactive) and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs. Mr. Hill obtained a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University with a double major in economics and accounting.
Dean E. Stroud, age 66, has served as our Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer and has been a member of the Board of Directors of Maison Company since October 2012 and a member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of Maison Managers, Inc. since February 2015. Prior to joining the Company, he was the Chief Underwriting Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Access Home Insurance Company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from September 2011 to October 2012, where he managed and supervised company underwriting operations. Mr. Stroud served as the Senior Underwriting Consultant of Americas Insurance Company from January 2011 to September 2011 and prior to that, served as their Chief Underwriting Officer from April 2010 to January 2011. From October 2003 to May 2009, he was the Vice President of MacNeill Group, Inc., where he directed Louisiana underwriting and claims operations as a service provider for Citizens. Mr. Stroud’s prior executive experience also includes several positions held at Audubon Insurance Company, which he joined in 1971. At Audubon Insurance Company, Mr. Stroud held the position of Senior Vice President with responsibility for companywide standard lines underwriting operations and all company branch offices. Subsequently, Mr. Stroud became President and Chief Operating Officer of Audubon Insurance Group and President of Audubon Insurance Company and Audubon Indemnity Company. He also was a director of Audubon Insurance Company and Audubon Indemnity Company. Mr. Stroud has held positions on advisory committees to the Professional Insurance Agents of Louisiana and has served on the Board of Directors of the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 1974.
Dan Case,age 39, has served as our Chief Operating Officer since May 23, 2017. Mr. Case has 17 years of experience in financial services during which time he has focused exclusively on the insurance and reinsurance industries. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Case was an Executive Vice President at BMS Re, an independent reinsurance intermediary, from September 2016 to March 2017, and a founding partner at Advocate Reinsurance Partners, a privately-held reinsurance intermediary for middle-market insurance carriers, captives, risk retention groups and other specialty insurance operations, from October 2010 until its purchase by BMS Re in September 2016. At Advocate Reinsurance Partners, Mr. Case led the property reinsurance practice and advised both personal lines and commercial clients with catastrophe exposure. Mr. Case began his career as an analyst in Banc of America Securities’ Financial Institutions Group in 2000, where he worked in raising both private and public capital until 2002. In 2002, Mr. Case joined Aon Benfield Securities, a specialist investment bank, where he served the insurance and reinsurance industries until 2006. In 2006, he joined HBK Investments, an investment management firm based in Dallas, Texas, as an analyst managing private equity, collateralized reinsurance investments, and traded securities in the property casualty insurance and reinsurance market. Mr. Case was also a partner at TigerRisk Partners, an independent reinsurance intermediary, from 2009 – 2010. Mr. Case obtained a B.A. in Mathematics-Economics from Wesleyan University.
The Board of Directors
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. We currently have seven directors, five of whom are considered independent under the applicable rules of Nasdaq and the SEC. Our directors have discretion to increase or decrease the size of the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each class being elected to a three-year term. Class I directors are serving terms ending at the 2018 annual meeting, Class II directors are serving terms ending at the 2019 annual meeting and Class III directors are serving terms ending at the 2020 annual meeting.
Joshua S. Horowitz and Douglas N. Raucy are Class I directors, Dennis A. Wong and Lewis M. Johnson are Class II directors and Larry G. Swets, Jr., Scott D. Wollney and D. Kyle Cerminara are Class III directors.
Our Board of Directors held 11 meetings during the year ended December 31, 2017. No director attended fewer than 75% of i) the total number of meetings held by the Board of Directors during the period for which he has been a director; and ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he served (during the period that he served).
Director Independence
The Board has determined that five of its members are “independent directors” as defined under the applicable rules of Nasdaq and the SEC. The five independent directors are Messrs. Wollney, Wong, Horowitz, Cerminara and Johnson. In making its determination of independence, the Board considered questionnaires completed by each director and all ordinary course transactions between the Company and all entities with which the director is employed. Nasdaq’s listing rules require that the Board of Directors be comprised of a majority of independent directors.
Board Committees and Committee Member Independence
Our Board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation and Management Resources Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The table below provides committee assignments for each of the committees of our Board. Our Board utilizes the Nasdaq rules and independence standards in determining whether its members are independent.
As of March 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||
Cash | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
* Indicates committee chair.
The following is a summary of the respective responsibilities of each of the Board’s standing committees. The Board of Directors has approved and adopted a written charter for each of the committees listed, copies of which are posted on the Company’s website at www.1347pih.com under the heading “Governance Documents.”
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee was appointed by the Board of Directors to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the external auditor’s qualifications, independence, and performance, and the performance of the Company’s internal audit function. The Audit Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities are to:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 6,291,888 shares issued; 5,010,377 shares outstanding(2) |
Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit | ||||||||||||
Less: treasury stock at cost; 1,281,511 shares | ||||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to FG Financial Group, Inc. | ||||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | ||||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | $ |
$ | $ |
Audit committee members shall meet independence requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, the independence requirements of the Nasdaq listing standards and all other applicable rules and regulations. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Wong is the “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in SEC regulations. Each member of the Audit Committee is independent and satisfies the applicable requirements for Audit Committee membership under the Nasdaq rules. The Audit Committee held eight meetings during the year ended December 31, 2017.
(1) | Pro Forma: Series A preferred stock, $25.00 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 894,580 shares issued and outstanding; Liquidation valued $25.00 per share. $22,364,500 aggregate. |
(2) | Pro Forma, As-Adjusted: Common stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 7,821,859 shares issued and outstanding. |
Compensation and Management Resources Committee. The primary purpose of the Compensation & Management Resources Committee, or the Compensation Committee, is to assist the Board of Directors in discharging its responsibilities with respect to compensation of the Company’s senior officers and subsidiary presidents and to provide recommendations to the Board in connection with directors’ compensation. The Compensation Committee receives input and recommendations from the Company’s executive officers. Neither the Compensation Committee nor management engaged a compensation consultant for compensation related to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. Each Compensation Committee member is independent and satisfies the applicable requirements for Compensation Committee membership under the Nasdaq rules. The Compensation Committee held six meetings during the year ended December 31, 2017.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, or the Nominating Committee, is to identify, evaluate and recommend individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors, consistent with criteria approved by the Board of Directors, select, or recommend that the Board select the director nominees to stand for election at each annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company in which directors will be elected or to fill vacancies on the Board, develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company, oversee the annual performance evaluation of the Board and its committees and management, and otherwise take a leadership role in shaping and providing oversight of the corporate governance of the Company, including recommending directors eligible to serve on all committees of the Board. Each Nominating Committee member is independent and satisfies the applicable requirements for Nominating Committee membership under the Nasdaq rules. The Nominating Committee did not hold any meetings during the year ended December 31, 2017 as all matters were voted upon by unanimous written consent.
Although the Nominating Committee has not formulated any specific minimum qualifications that the committee believes must be met by a director-nominee that the committee recommends to the Board, the factors it will take into account will include judgement, skill, diversity, experiences with businesses and other organizations of comparable size and scope, the interplay of the candidate’s experience with the experience of other directors, and the extent to which the candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board of Directors and any committees of the Board. Each of the Company’s current directors was recommended by independent members of the Board of Directors.
The Nominating Committee will consider recommendations for directorships submitted by stockholders. Any such director nominee recommendations must be addressed to the Secretary of the Company, 1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 870, Tampa, FL 33606, and include appropriate biographical information concerning each proposed nominee. The secretary will forward recommendations to the Nominating Committee and those candidates will be given the same consideration as all other candidates. Each recommendation should set forth the candidate’s name, age, business address, business telephone number, residence address, and principal occupation or employment as well the submitting stockholder’s name, address and telephone number and number of shares held. The committee may require the recommended candidate to furnish additional information.
Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight DILUTION
Our BoardIf you purchase our securities in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of Directors does not have a policy on whether the same person should serve as bothdifference between the Chief Executive Officerpublic offering price per share of our Common Stock and the Chairman of the Board or, if the roles are separate, whether the Chairman should be selected from the non-employee directors or should be an employee. Our Board believes that it should have the flexibility to periodically determine the leadership structure that it believes is best for the Company. Currently, the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are separated. The Chief Executive Officer currently serves as the only member of management on the Board.
The Chairman of the Board typically presides at all meetings of the Board and is elected to serve by the directors. The Chairman’s role also includes providing feedback on the direction and performance of the Company, setting the agenda of meetings of the Board of Directors and leading the Board of Directors in anticipating and responding to changes in our business.
Our Board is actively involved in oversight of risks that could affect the Company. This oversight is conducted primarily through committees of the Board as disclosed in the descriptions of each of the committees herein and in the charters of each of the committees, but the full Board has retained responsibility for general oversight of risks. Our Board satisfies this responsibility through full reports by each committee chair regarding the applicable committee’s considerations and actions, as well as through regular reports directly from officers responsible for oversight of particular risks within the Company. The Board believes that the leadership structure described above facilitates the Board’s oversight of risks because it allows the Board, working through its committees, to participate actively in the oversight of management actions.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics applicable to all employees and directors of the Company. Our code of ethics has been posted on our corporate website: www.1347pih.com under the heading “Governance Documents.”
Compensation of Executive Officers
With respect to executive compensation, the Compensation Committee’s primary goal is to retain and motivate highly skilled executives aligning their pay with the Company’s performance and stockholder returns. Our compensation consists primarily of five components: (i) base salary, (ii) an annual cash bonus, (iii) equity-based incentive awards, (iv) retirement benefits in the form of Company paid matching and profit sharing contributions to the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan, and (v) premiums paid by the Company on the behalfnet tangible book value per share of our employees for health, dental, lifeCommon Stock after this offering. We calculate net tangible book value per common share by dividing our net tangible assets less preferred shareholder equity and other ancillary insurance coverage.
The following table summarizes the compensation for our named executive officers for the years shown. The Company does not have any employment agreements with its employees.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1) | All Other Compensation ($)(2) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||
Douglas N. Raucy | 2017 | 315,000 | — | 288,000 | 34,583 | 637,583 | ||||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | 2016 | 300,000 | 75,000 | — | 36,591 | 411,591 | ||||||||||||||||
John S. Hill | 2017 | 207,717 | — | 230,400 | 25,912 | 464,029 | ||||||||||||||||
VP, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary | 2016 | 190,000 | 35,000 | — | 27,583 | 252,583 | ||||||||||||||||
Dean E. Stroud | 2017 | 197,500 | — | 21,600 | 11,374 | 230,474 | ||||||||||||||||
VP & Chief Underwriting Officer | 2016 | 190,000 | 35,000 | — | 11,670 | 236,670 | ||||||||||||||||
Dan E. Case(3) | 2017 | 172,933 | 30,000 | — | 17,467 | 220,400 | ||||||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — |
The following table shows the number of outstanding equity awards that are held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2017. The Company’s named executive officers did not exercise any stock options during the year ended December 31, 2017.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END | ||||||||||||||||||
Option awards | Stock awards | |||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($) | |||||||||||
Douglas N. Raucy | 03/31/2014(1) | 52,256 | 13,065 | 8.00 | 03/31/2019 | — | — | |||||||||||
04/04/2014(1) | 4,530 | 1,133 | 8.69 | 04/04/2019 | — | — | ||||||||||||
05/29/2015(2) | — | — | — | 12,500 | 90,625 | |||||||||||||
12/15/2017(3) | — | — | — | 40,000 | 290,000 | |||||||||||||
John S. Hill
| 03/31/2014(1) | 8,622 | 2,156 | 8.00 | 03/31/2019 | — | — | |||||||||||
04/04/2014(1) | 748 | 187 | 8.69 | 04/04/2019 | — | — | ||||||||||||
05/29/2015(2) | — | — | — | 4,000 | 29,000 | |||||||||||||
12/15/2017(3) | — | — | — | 32,000 | 232,000 | |||||||||||||
Dean E. Stroud
| 03/31/2014(1) | 17,506 | 4,376 | 8.00 | 03/31/2019 | — | — | |||||||||||
04/04/2014(1) | 1,518 | 379 | 8.69 | 04/04/2019 | — | — | ||||||||||||
05/29/2015(2) | — | — | — | 4,000 | 29,000 | |||||||||||||
12/15/2017(3) | — | — | — | 3,000 | 21,750 |
Dan Case, a named executive officer, did not have any outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2017.
Biographical information regarding Mr. Raucy is above under “—Director Biographies” and biographical information regarding Messrs. Hill, Stroud and Case is above under “—Executive Officer Biographies.”
Executive Officer Share Matching Arrangements
On May 31, 2017, the Compensation Committee approved a share matching arrangement for certain purchases made by Douglas N. Raucy, John S. Hill and Dean E. Stroud. Messrs. Raucy, Hill and Stroud had the opportunity to purchase up to 20,000, 20,000, and 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively, in each case through the open market, independently and without assistance from the Company, during the six months beginning on May 31, 2017 and ending on November 30, 2017 and, at the end of the six-month purchase period, the Company agreed to match any such shares purchased by them with a grant of restricted stock units, or RSUs, of the Company equal to two RSUs for each share purchased by them. Accordingly, on December 15, 2017, the Committee granted 40,000, 32,000 and 3,000 RSUs to Messrs. Raucy, Hill and Stroud, respectively.
Each RSU will entitle the grantee to one share of the Company’s common stock upon the vesting date of the RSU, which shall vest 20% per year over a period of five years following the date granted, subject to each officer’s continued employment with the Company. The officers will be required to maintain ownership of the shares purchased through the full five-year vesting period, except as set forth above. For additional information on the vesting terms of the RSUs, see “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
The RSUs granted to Messrs. Raucy, Hill and Stroud pursuant to the share matching arrangement were granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.
Appointment of New Chief Operating Officer
In connection with our appointment of Dan Case as our new Chief Operating Officer effective May 23, 2017, we entered into an offer letter with Mr. Case, which provides for an annual base salary of $275,000 and a sign-on bonus of $30,000 following thirty days of employment with the Company. Mr. Case will also be eligible for an annual bonus, subject to the determination of the Board of Directors. In addition, the offer letter provides Mr. Case with the opportunity to purchase up to 68,027 shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market or in direct purchases from the Company during his first six months of employment with the Company, which purchase period was extended by the Board of Directors to June 15, 2018. At the end of the purchase period, the Company will match any such shares purchased by Mr. Case with a grant of restricted stock units, or RSUs, of the Company equal to two RSUs for each share purchased by Mr. Case. The RSUs will vest 20% per year over five years following the date granted, subject to continued employment through such vesting date. The aggregate maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be acquired pursuant to this arrangement, including through open market purchases, purchases from the Companyour Common Stock issued and grants from the Company, is 204,081. Any shares purchased directly from the Company will be made at a price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the prior trading day, but at a price not less than the Company’s latest quarter end published book value per share. This arrangement was entered into outside of the Company’s existing stockholder approved equity plan (the Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan), and was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors as an inducement material to Mr. Case entering into employment with the Company in reliance on Nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4). As of February 13 , 2018, Mr. Case had purchased 56,276 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to this arrangement, 28,000 of which shares were purchased directly from the Company at a purchase price of $8.00 per share on September 14, 2017.
Director Compensation
The Board determines the form and amount of non-employee director compensation after its review of recommendations made by the Compensation Committee. Non-employee directors receive such compensation as determined by a majority of the Board. Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive compensation for their service as directors.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company compensated non-employee directors with cash payments that included a yearly fee of $50,000 paid, in four equal quarterly installments, to each member of the Board serving at each payment date, as well as an additional $25,000 paid to the Chairman of the Board and an additional $15,000 paid to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Director Share Matching Arrangements
On May 31, 2017, the Compensation Committee approved a share matching arrangement for certain purchases made by the Company’s non-employee directors, as described below. Each current non-employee director had the opportunity, independently and without assistance from the Company, to purchase up to 3,333 shares of the Company’s common stock, through the open market and during the six months beginning on May 31, 2017 and ending on November 30, 2017, and at the end of the six-month purchase period, the Company agreed to match any such shares purchased by the director with a grant of RSUs of the Company equal to two RSUs for each share purchased them. Accordingly, on December 15, 2017, the Committee granted 6,666 RSUs to each of directors Swets, Cerminara, Horowitz, Johnson and Wong.
Each RSU will entitle the grantee to one share of the Company’s common stock upon the vesting date of the RSU, which shall vest 20% per year over a period of five years following the date granted, subject to each director’s continued service on the Board, provided that if a director makes himself available and consents to be nominated by the Company for continued service but is not nominated by the Board for election by the shareholders, other than for good reason as determined by the Board in its discretion, then such director’s RSUs shall vest in fulloutstanding as of his last date of service as a director with the Company. Directors will be required to maintain ownership of the shares purchased through the full five-year vesting period, except as set forth above. For additional information on the vesting terms of the RSUs, see “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
The RSUs granted to the directors pursuant to the share matching arrangements were granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.
The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by each of our non-employee directors for the year ended DecemberMarch 31, 2017. Mr. Raucy did not receive any compensation for his service as a director as he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Non-Employee Director | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1) | Stock Awards ($)(2)(7) | Total ($) | |||||||||
Larry G. Swets, Jr.(3) | 68,750 | 47,995 | 116,745 | |||||||||
Scott D. Wollney | 50,000 | — | 50,000 | |||||||||
Joshua S. Horowitz | 50,000 | 47,995 | 97,995 | |||||||||
Dennis A. Wong(4) | 65,000 | 47,995 | 112,995 | |||||||||
D. Kyle Cerminara | 50,000 | 47,995 | 97,995 | |||||||||
Lewis M. Johnson(5) | 37,500 | 47,995 | 85,495 | |||||||||
Gordon G. Pratt(6) | 18,750 | — | 18,750 |
|
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control2021.
Our Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which was approved by our stockholders on May 29, 2015, contains certain provisions concerning the vesting and termination of equity awards granted under the Plan upon a termination of employment or upon a change in control. The Company’s restricted stock unit agreements entered into under the Plan also contain provisions concerning the vesting and termination of the RSUs granted thereunder.
Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan
Stock options granted under the Plan (except for stock options granted to directors of the Company) generally vest in five equal installments, with the first installment vesting on the grant date of the option. If an optionee’s employment is terminated voluntarily, without cause or due to a disability, all unvested stock options will vest pro-rata. Upon the death of an optionee, all unvested options will vest in full. If an optionee’s employment is terminated for cause, all outstanding options will terminate immediately.
In addition, the Plan provides that in the event an optionee’s employment is terminated voluntarily, without cause, due to a disability, or due to the optionee’s death, then any outstanding options will expire 90 days from the termination date.
Under the Plan, “cause” and “disability” are defined as follows:
“Cause” generally means a participant’s involuntary separation from employment for any of the following reasons: (i) an intentional act of fraud, embezzlement, theft or any other illegal or unethical act that the Company determines has materially injured or is highly likely to materially injure the Company, or any other terminable offense; (ii) intentional damage to the Company’s assets; (iii) conviction of (or plea of nolo contendere to) any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude; (iv) improper, willful and material disclosure or use of the Company’s confidential information or other willful material breach of the participant’s duty of loyalty to the Company; (v) a willful, material violation of the Company’s policies and procedures or a material violation of the Company’s code of conduct that the Company determines has materially injured or is highly likely to materially injure the Company; or (vi) the participant’s willful failure or refusal to follow the lawful and good faith directions of the Company.
“Disability” means the inability of a participant to continue employment with the Company or a subsidiary of the Company due to a long-term disability for which benefits are claimed or received under an insurance plan established by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
Under the Plan, upon a change in control of the Company, the Company’s board of directors (as constituted immediately prior to such change in control) may, in its discretion, (i) require that shares of the corporation resulting from such change in control, or a parent corporation thereof, be substituted for some or all of the common shares subject to an outstanding award granted under the Plan, with an appropriate and equitable adjustment as shall be determined by the board, and/or (ii) require outstanding awards granted under the Plan, in whole or in part, to be surrendered to the Company by the holder, and to be immediately cancelled by the Company, and to provide for the holder to receive: (1) a cash payment in an amount equal to the aggregate number of common shares then subject to the portion of any stock option surrendered multiplied by the excess, if any, of the fair marketnet tangible book value (as defined under the Plan) of a common share as of the date of the change in control, over the exercise price per common share subject to such stock option; (2) shares of capital stock of the corporation resulting from or succeeding to the business of the Company pursuant to such change in control, or a parent corporation thereof, having a fair market value not less than the amount determined under clause (1) above; or (3) a combination of the payment of cash pursuant to clause (1) above and the issuance of shares pursuant to clause (2) above.
A “change in control” under the Plan generally means (i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the then outstanding common shares or the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company, with certain exceptions; (ii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, unless (A) the Company’s current beneficial owners retain more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding shares and combined voting power following such transaction, (B) no new individual entity or group will beneficially own 50% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares or combined voting power following such transaction, or (C) current members of the board will constitute at least a majority of the board following such transaction; or (iii) the consummation of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
The Compensation Committee has the discretion to determine the form, amount and timing of each award granted under the Plan and all other terms and conditions of the award, including, without limitation, the form of the agreement evidencing the award. As such, future awards granted under the Plan may be subject to additional terms providing for accelerated vesting, pay outs or termination of the award upon a termination of employment or a change in control of the Company.
Restricted Stock Unit Agreements
The Company’s restricted stock unit agreements entered into with executive officers and non-employee directors under the Plan generally provide that the RSUs granted thereunder remain restricted until the applicable vesting date set forth in the agreement. In the event the grantee’s employment with the Company or service on the Company’s board of directors, as applicable, is terminated due to the grantee’s death or disability (as defined under the Plan) prior to one or more of the vesting dates, all unvested RSUs will vest as of the date of death or the date the grantee is determined to be experiencing a disability. In addition, in the event the grantee’s employment with the Company or service on the Company’s board of directors, as applicable, is terminated by the Company or by the grantee for any reason other than death or disability (as defined under the Plan), all unvested RSUs granted under the agreement will be forfeited as of the date of termination.
In addition to the general provisions described above, the restricted stock unit agreements entered into by the Company in connection with the share matching arrangements for Messrs. Raucy, Hill and Stroud and the Company’s non-employee directors (other than Mr. Wollney), as described above under “Executive Officer Share Matching Arrangements,” and “Director Share Matching Arrangements,” contain special acceleration and termination provisions. Specifically, the agreements for Messrs. Raucy, Hill and Stroud provide that the vesting of the RSUs thereunder is subject to the continued employment of the executive through the applicable vesting date, with the ability of the board, in its discretion, to accelerate vesting in the event of the executive’s early retirement, and provided that the executive maintains ownership of the shares purchased through the full five-year vesting period. The agreements for the non-employee directors provide that the vesting of the RSUs granted thereunder is subject to the director’s continued service on the board through the applicable vesting date, provided that if a director makes himself available and consents to be nominated by the Company for continued service but is not nominated by the Board for election by the shareholders, other than for good reason as determined by the Board in its discretion, then such director’s RSUs will vest in full as of his last date of service as a director with the Company.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to review and approve, ratify or disapprove proposed transactions or courses of dealings with respect to which executive officers or directors or members of their immediate families have an interest (including all transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s related person disclosure requirements). In accordance with the Audit Committee’s Charter, the Audit Committee will annually review a summary of directors’ and officers’ related party transactions and potential conflicts of interest.
Investment by Fund Management Group LLC
On January 23, 2014, Fund Management Group LLC, or FMG, an entity of which our former Chairman of the Board, Gordon G. Pratt, is a managing member and controlling equity holder, invested $2 million in the Company in exchange for 80,000 convertible preferred shares of the Company. We used the proceeds from this investment to settle balances due to our then-immediate parent, KAI. The preferred shares were issued in a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
The preferred shares were non-voting, ranked senior to all classes of our capital stock and did not pay any dividends. On March 31, 2014, the effective date of our initial public offering, the preferred shares were converted into (i) 312,5002021, was $ , or $ per share, based on 5,010,377 shares of our common stockCommon Stock outstanding. After giving effect to the receipt of net proceeds of $ from the issuance and (ii) warrants to purchase up to 312,500sale of 194,580 shares of our common stock. Each warrant issued to FMG entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stockSeries A Preferred Stock on May 21, 2021 at a price equal to $9.60, subject to certain adjustments under a warrant agreement. The warrants have an expiry date of March 31, 2019 and vested 100% upon issuance. The warrants may be redeemable by the Company at a price of $0.01 per warrant during any period in which the closing price of the Company’s common shares is at or above $14.00 per share for 20 consecutive trading days. The warrant holder is entitled to a 30-day notice prior to the date of such redemption. The common stock issued to FMG has piggyback registration rights for future registrations of the Company’s common stock under the Securities Act (other than certain excluded registrations). FMG also had a one-time demand registration right for the common stock, subject to certain restrictions, on the two-year anniversary of our initial public offering.
As of the date of this prospectus, Mr. Pratt beneficially owns 10.2% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, which includes the common stock and warrants to purchase common stock held by FMG as well as options to purchase 17,745 shares of our common stock which were granted to Mr. Pratt for his service on our Board of Directors.
Transactions with KFSI and its Affiliates
Prior to our initial public offering on March 31, 2014, the Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kingsway America Inc., or KAI, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc., or KFSI, a publicly owned holding company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As of the date of this prospectus, KFSI and its affiliates beneficially own 8.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock and warrants and performance shares to acquire an additional 23.9% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Larry G. Swets, Jr., the Chairman of our Board of Directors, is the Chief Executive Officer of KFSI.
Management Services Agreement; Repurchase of Series B Preferred Shares
On February 11, 2014, we entered into a Management Services Agreement, or MSA, with 1347 Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KFSI, which provided for certain services that we received from 1347 Advisors, including forecasting, analysis of capital structure and reinsurance programs, consultation in future restructuring or capital raising transactions, and consultation in corporate development initiatives. For the services performed, we paid 1347 Advisors a monthly fee equal to 1% of our gross written premiums, as defined in the MSA. On February 24, 2015, we entered into an Agreement to Buyout and Release with 1347 Advisors to terminate the MSA, or the Buyout Agreement. In connection with the Buyout Agreement and in consideration for 1347 Advisors agreeing to voluntarily terminate the MSA, we: (i) paid 1347 Advisors $2 million in cash, (ii) issued to 1347 Advisors 120,000 shares of our Series B preferred stock having a liquidation amount per share equal to $25.00, (iii) issued to 1347 Advisors a seven-year warrant to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $15.00 per share, and (iv) entered into a Performance Shares Grant Agreement dated February 24, 2015 with 1347 Advisors, whereby 1347 Advisors is entitled to receive 100,000 shares of our common stock from us if at any time the last sales price of our common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period. The Series B Preferred Shares and the warrant were issued in a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Subsequent to the issuance of the Series B Preferred Shares, 1347 Advisors transferred 60,000 of its 120,000 Series B Preferred Shares to IWS Acquisition Corporation, an affiliate of KSFI.
On January 2, 2018, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with 1347 Advisors and IWS Acquisition Corporation, pursuant to which we repurchased 60,000 Series B Preferred Shares from 1347 Advisors for an aggregate purchase price of $1,740,000, representing (i) $1,500,000, comprised of $25 per share of Series B Preferred Shares, and (ii) declared and unpaid dividends in respect of the dividend payment due on February 23, 2018 amounting to $240,000 in the aggregate. We also agreed to repurchase pursuant to the stock purchase agreement 60,000 Series B Preferred Shares from IWS Acquisition Corporation, upon completion of this offering, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000, comprised of $25 per share of Series B Preferred Shares, without any dividend or interest payment. The foregoing transactions were approved by a special committee of the Board of Directors of the Company consisting solely of independent directors.
In connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Performance Shares Grant Agreement, dated February 24, 2015, between the Company and 1347 Advisors was terminated. As the Milestone Event was never achieved, no shares of common stock were issued to 1347 Advisors under the agreement. We paid $300,000 to 1347 Advisors in consideration of its agreement to voluntarily terminate the agreement.
The remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares have a par value of $25.00 per share, after deducting underwriting commissions and pay annual cumulative dividendsoffering expenses our pro forma net tangible book value at a rate of 8%March 31, 2021, would be $ or $ per annum. In the event the Company does not consummate the repurchase of the remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares held by IWS Acquisition Corporation, cumulative dividends shall accrue, whether or not declared by the Board and irrespective of whether there were funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Accrued dividends are paid in cash only when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available therefor or upon a liquidation or redemption of the Series B Preferred Shares. The remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares rank senior to our common stock, and we are not permitted to issue any other series of preferred stock that rank equal or seniorshare. After giving effect to the Series B Preferred Shares whilepro forma adjustments and the Series B Preferred Shares are outstanding. The Company intends to consummate the repurchaseissuance and sale of the remaining outstanding2,811,482 shares of Series B PreferredCommon Stock from IWS Corporation upon the completion ofin this offering. On both February 24, 2017 and 2016, the Company issued a cash payment of $240,000 to 1347 Advisors representing annual dividend payments due on the Series B Preferred Shares. As part of the repurchase price paid by the Company to 1347 Advisors for the repurchase of the Series B Preferred Shares, the Company paid $240,000 to 1347 Advisors on January 2, 2018, representing declared and unpaid dividends in respect of the dividend payment due on the Series B Preferred Shares on February 23, 2018.
Transition Services Agreement
On March 31, 2014, we entered into a Transition Services Agreement, or TSA, with KFSI. The TSA provided us with temporary access to necessary services and resources for which we were reliant on KFSI prior to the completion of our initialoffering at an assumed public offering including resources and services related to accounting and reporting, cash management, taxes, compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Actprice of 2002, payroll processing and benefits administration, information technology systems and support, human resource functions, and external audit. The charges for the transition services were intended to allow KFSI to fully recover the costs directly associated with providing the services, plus all out-of-pocket costs and expenses. The charges of each of the transition services generally were based on either a pre-determined flat fee or an allocation of the cost incurred by KFSI (or an affiliate or subsidiary thereof) for providing the service, including certain fees and expenses of third-party service providers. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company began the process of bringing the necessary resources in-house in order to reduce its reliance on KFSI and the services provided under the TSA. This process was substantially completed as of December 31, 2014 and as such, services provided under the TSA ceased beginning in the first quarter of 2015.
Performance Share Grant Agreement
On March 26, 2014, the Company entered into a Performance Share Grant Agreement, or PSGA, with KAI, whereby KAI$[*] per share, which is entitled to receive up to an aggregate of 375,000 shares of our common stock upon achievement of certain milestones regarding the Company’s stock price. Pursuant to the terms of the PSGA, if at any time the last sales price of our common stock equals or exceeds: (i) $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of our common stock; (ii) $15.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of our common stock (in addition to the 125,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clause (i) herein); and (iii) $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of our common stock (in addition to the 250,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) herein). The shares of common stock granted to KAI will have a valuation equal to the last salesreported sale price of our common stock on the day priorThe Nasdaq Global Market on August [*], 2021, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses our pro forma, as-adjusted, net tangible book value at March 31, 2021, would be $ or $ per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $ per share to such grant. Asexisting stockholders and an immediate dilution of December 31, 2017, we have not issued any shares under the PSGA.
Trademark License Agreement
We are party$ per share to a Trademark License Agreement with 1347 Advisors, dated as of February 28, 2014, whereby 1347 Advisors granted us a limited personal, non-exclusive, royalty-free right and license to use the trade name “1347”investors in our corporate name and corporate logo. The agreement may be terminated by either party upon providing sixty day’s written notice to the other party. The agreement also expires upon the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Investment in Argo Management Group LLC
On April 21, 2016, KFSI completed the acquisition of Argo Management Group LLC, or Argo. Argo’s primary business is to act as the managing member of Argo Holdings Fund I, LLC, an investment fund in which the Company has committed to invest $500. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has invested $211 into the investment fund. The managing member of Argo, Mr. John T. Fitzgerald, was also appointed to KFSI’s board of directors on April 21, 2016.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements provide that we will, among other things, indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any such person in any action or proceeding, including any action by us arising out of such person’s services as our director or officer, or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request. We believe that these agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
this offering. The following table sets forth certain information regardingillustrates this per share dilution:
Public offering price per share of common stock | $ | |||||||
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021 | $ | |||||||
Decrease per share attributable to the Series A Preferred Stock offering | $ | |||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021, after the Series A Preferred Stock offering | $ | |||||||
Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share | ||||||||
Pro forma, as-adjusted, net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021, after this offering | $ | |||||||
Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering | $ |
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the beneficial ownershipassumed public offering price of shares$[*] per share, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on August [*], 2021, would increase (decrease) the pro forma, as of January 31, 2018 by:
Theadjusted, net tangible book value by $ , the pro forma, as adjusted, net tangible book value per share after this offering by $ per share and the dilution in pro forma, as adjusted, net tangible book value per share to investors in this offering by $ per share, assuming that the number and percentage of shares beneficially owned are basedoffered by us, as set forth on 5,984,766 common shares outstanding as of January 31, 2018. Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, officer and beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Shares of common stock that may be acquired by an individual or group within 60 days of the datecover page of this prospectus, pursuantremains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the pro forma, as-adjusted, net tangible book value after this offering would be $ per share, representing an increase in net tangible book value of $ per share to existing stockholders and immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $ per share to new investors participating in this offering.
To the exercise ofextent that outstanding options or warrants are deemedexercised, or we issue new options under our equity incentive plans, you will experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individualraise additional capital due to market conditions or group, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table. Except as indicated in footnotes to this table,strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that the stockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown to be beneficially owned by them, based on information provided to us by such stockholders. The address for each director and executive officer listed is: c/o 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc., 1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 870, Tampa, FL 33607.
Beneficially Owned | ||||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares | Percentage of Shares | ||||||
5% Beneficial Owners | ||||||||
Fundamental Global Investors, LLC(1) | ||||||||
4201 Congress Street, Suite 140, Charlotte, NC 28209 | 2,152,080 | 36.0 | % | |||||
Kingsway Financial Services, Inc.(2) | ||||||||
150 Pierce Road, Itasca, IL 60143 | 1,999,572 | 26.7 | % | |||||
Gordon G. Pratt(3) | ||||||||
1101 Brickell Avenue, South Tower, 8th Floor, Miami, FL 33131 | 642,745 | 10.2 | % | |||||
Harbert Discovery Fund, LP(4) | ||||||||
2100 Third Avenue North, Suite 600, Birmingham, AL 35203 | 461,141 | 7.7 | % | |||||
Solas Capital Management, LLC(5) | ||||||||
1063 Post Rd., 2nd Floor, Darien, CT 06820 | 383,250 | 6.4 | % | |||||
Named Executive Officers and Directors | ||||||||
D. Kyle Cerminara(1)(8) | 2,155,413 | 36.0 | % | |||||
Lewis M. Johnson(1)(8) | 2,155,413 | 36.0 | % | |||||
Dennis A. Wong(8) | 3,500 | * | ||||||
Larry G. Swets, Jr.(6)(8) | 21,095 | * | ||||||
Scott D. Wollney | 3,000 | * | ||||||
Joshua S. Horowitz(7)(8) | 65,974 | 1.1 | % | |||||
Douglas N. Raucy(9)(12) | 90,984 | 1.5 | % | |||||
John S. Hill(10)(12) | 27,713 | * | ||||||
Dan E. Case | 56,276 | * | ||||||
Dean E. Stroud(11)(12) | 25,279 | * | ||||||
Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (10 individuals)(13) | 2,452,567 | 40.1 | % |
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Transaction between KFSI and FGI
On October 25, 2017, KAI entered into a purchase agreement with FGI, pursuant to which KAI agreed to sell 900,000 shares of our common stock to FGI or to one of FGI’s affiliate companies in two separate transactions. The first transaction, foradditional capital is raised through the sale of 475,428 shares ofCommon Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, such issuance could result in further dilution to our common stock, occurred on November 1, 2017. The second transaction, for the sale of 424,572 shares of our common stock, is conditioned on approval of the transaction by both the LDI and FOIR. FGI is affiliated with D. Kyle Cerminara, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner, and Lewis M. Johnson, where he serves as President, Co-Founder and Partner. Messrs. Cerminara and Johnson are both members of our Board of Directors. Should the second transaction be consummated, FGI, and entities affiliated with FGI, would own approximately 43% of our outstanding common shares.
stockholders.
The dilution information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual offering price, the number of shares we sell and other terms of this offering that will be determined at pricing.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDCOMMON STOCK
The following summarydescription of certain terms of the terms and provisions of the PreferredCommon Stock in this prospectus does not purport to be complete and is in all respects subject to, and qualified in its entirety by referencereferences to the pertinent sectionsrelevant provisions of our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as corrected and amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), our fourth amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”) and Delaware corporate law. You are strongly encouraged to read our certificate of incorporation and bylaws in their entirety for a complete description of the Third Amendedrights and Restated Certificatepreferences of Incorporationour securities, copies of the Company, which we have previouslybeen filed with the SEC, and the Certificate of Designations creating the Preferred Stock, which will be included as an exhibit toSEC. These documents that we file with the SEC, includingare also incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
General
The CertificateCompany’s authorized capital stock consists of Designations setting forth the specific rights, preferences, limitations10,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and other terms of the Preferred Stock will be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company as of the date of this prospectus. The Preferred Stock is a single series of authorized preferred stock consisting of 800,000 shares, or up to 920,000 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full.
Our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation permits us to authorize the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or morepar value $25.00 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), all of which shares have been designated as a single series without stockholder action. Theof 8.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock, constituteSeries A (the “Series A Preferred Stock”).
Under Delaware law, stockholders generally are not personally liable for a corporation’s acts or debts.
Exchange and Trading Symbol
The Common Stock is listed for trading on The Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol “FGF.”
Rights and Preferences
All outstanding shares of Common Stock are duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of shares of Common Stock have no conversion, preemptive or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and any series of our authorized preferred stock. WePreferred Stock that the Company may designate and issue in the future.
Voting Rights
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by the stockholders. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Common Stock. Except for the approval required to amend the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws and except as otherwise required by law, all other matters brought to a vote of the holders of Common Stock are determined by a majority of the votes cast, and, except as may be provided with respect to any other outstanding class or series of the Company’s stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock possess the exclusive voting power.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (including the Series A Preferred Stock), the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time without notice to orby the consentCompany’s Board of holdersDirectors out of the Preferred Stock, issue shares of preferred stock that rank equally with or junior to the Preferred Stock. We may also from time to time, without notice to or consent of holders of the Preferred Stock, issue additional shares of the Preferred Stock; provided, that any such additional shares of Preferred Stock are not treated as “disqualified preferred stock” within the meaning of Section 1059(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code and such additional shares of Preferred Stock are otherwise treated as fungible with the Preferred Stock offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The additional shares of Preferred Stock would form a single series with the Preferred Stock offered hereby. We have the authority to issue fractional shares of Preferred Stock.
The Preferred Stock will be fully paid and non-assessable when issued. Holders of the Preferred Stock will not have preemptive or similar rights to acquire any of our capital stock. Holders will not have the right to convert Preferred Stock into, or exchange Preferred Stock for, shares of any other class or series of shares or other securities of ours. The Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund, retirement fund or purchase fund or other obligation of the Company to redeem or purchase the Preferred Stock.legally available funds.
RankingLiquidation
The Preferred Stock will rank senior to our common stock and any other junior stock (as defined herein) with respect toIn the paymentevent of dividends and distributions of assets uponthe Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, equally with each other series of our preferred stock that we may issue the terms of which provide that they rank equally with the Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up and junior to each other series of our preferred stock that we may issue in the future the terms of which provide that they rank senior to the Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. Upon completion of this offering and the repurchase of 60,000 Shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company pursuant to a stock purchase agreement with IWS Acquisition Corporation, we will not have outstanding any series or class of preferred stock.
Dividends
Holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of lawfully available funds for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends from the original issue date at the rate of 8.00% of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference per annum (equivalent to $2.00 per annum per share). Dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be payable quarterly on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on June 15 , 2018. In the event that we issue additional Preferred Stock after the original issue date, dividends on such additional shares may accrue from the original issue date or any other date that we specify at the time such additional shares are issued.
Dividends, if so declared, will be payable to holders of record of the PreferredCommon Stock as they appear on our books on the applicable record date, which shall be March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, as applicable, immediately preceding the applicable dividend payment date (each, a “dividend record date”). These dividend record dates will apply regardless of whether a particular dividend record date is a business day. As a result, holders of shares of Preferred Stock will not be entitled to receive dividends on a dividend payment date if such shares were not issued and outstanding on the applicable dividend record date. The first dividend record date will be June 1 , 2018.
A dividend period is the period from and including a dividend payment date to but excluding the next dividend payment date, except that the initial dividend period will commence on and include the original issue date of the Preferred Stock and will end on and exclude the June 15 , 2018 dividend payment date. Dividends payable on the Preferred Stock will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. If any date on which dividends would otherwise be payable is not a business day, then the dividend payment date will be the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect as if made on the original dividend payment date, and no additional dividends shall accrue on the amount so payable from such date to such next succeeding business day.
In this subsection, the term “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions are not authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in New York, New York.
No dividends on shares of Preferred Stock shall be authorized by our Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) or paid or set apart for payment by us at any time when the terms and provisions of any agreement of ours, including any agreement relating to our indebtedness, prohibit the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment thereof or provide that the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment thereof would constitute a breach of the agreement or a default under the agreement, or if the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law. You should review the information appearing above under “Risk Factors—We may not be able to pay dividends on the Preferred Stock” for information as to these and other circumstances under which we may be unable to pay dividends on the Preferred Stock.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Preferred Stock will accrue whether or not we have earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of those dividends and whether or not those dividends are declared by our Board of Directors. No interest, or sum in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Preferred Stock that may be in arrears, and holders of the Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any dividends in excess of full cumulative dividends described above. Any dividend payment made on the Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliest accumulated but unpaid dividend due with respect to those shares.
Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside or contemporaneously is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods):
As used in this prospectus, “junior stock” means any class or series of our capital stock that ranks junior to the Preferred Stock either as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. As of the date of this prospectus, junior stock consists solely of our common stock.
As used in this prospectus, “parity stock” means any class or series of our capital stock that ranks equally with the Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and in the distribution of assets on our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. As of the date of this prospectus, we did not have any outstanding shares of any class or series of capital stock that would constitute parity stock.
When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Preferred Stock and any parity stock, all dividends declared upon the Preferred Stock and any party stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Preferred Stock and such parity stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the Preferred Stock and such parity stock (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Preferred Stock that may be in arrears.
Our ability to pay dividends on the Preferred Stock may be limited by the terms of our agreements governing our existing and future indebtedness and by the provisions of other existing and future agreements. In addition, we are a holding company and our ability to make dividend payments on the Preferred Stock may depend on our ability to receive dividends or other distributions from our subsidiaries, including our insurance subsidiary, Maison. The ability of Maison, our insurance subsidiary, to pay dividends to us is subject to certain restrictions imposed under Louisiana insurance law, which is the state of domicile for Maison. Dividends payments to us may also be restricted pursuant to a consent agreement entered into with the LDI and the FOIR as a condition of our licensure in each state. As a result, at times, we may not be able to receive dividends from Maison, which would affect our ability to pay dividends on our capital stock, including the Preferred Stock. Our other subsidiary companies collect the majority of their revenue through their affiliation with Maison. Our subsidiary company MMI, earns commission income from Maison for underwriting, policy administration, claims handling, and other services provided to Maison. Our subsidiary company, ClaimCor, earns claims adjusting income for adjusting certain of the claims of Maison’s policyholders. While dividend payments from our other subsidiaries are not restricted under insurance law, the underlying contracts between Maison and our other subsidiary companies are regulated by, and subject to the approval of, insurance regulators.
Liquidation Rights
Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of the Preferred Stock and any parity stock are entitled to receive out of ourshare ratably in the assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after satisfactionthe payment of all of the Company’s known debts and liabilities to creditors,and after adequate provision has been made for each class of stock having preference over the Common Stock, if any,any.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Delaware Anti-Takeover Law
The Company is subject to the preferential rightsSection 203 of the holdersDelaware General Corporation Law (“Section 203”). Section 203 generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of any class or series of capital stock that we may issue ranking senior to the Preferred Stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, a liquidating distribution in the amount equal to the liquidation preference of $25.00 per share of Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including,three years after the date of payment, but before any distribution of assets is madethe transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder unless:
● | prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
● | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
● | at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 203 defines a “business combination” to holders of our common stock or any class or series of our capital stock we may issue that ranks junior to the Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.generally include:
● | any merger or consolidation of the corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation with the interested stockholder; |
● | any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of such corporation, to or with the interested stockholder of assets of the corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the corporation; |
● | subject to certain exceptions, any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation of any stock of the corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder; |
● | subject to certain exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of securities, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the corporation or of any such subsidiary; and |
● | any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of such corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary. |
In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any such distribution, if our assets are not sufficient to payentity or person that (i) is the liquidation distributions in full to all holdersowner of 15% or more of the Preferred Stockoutstanding voting stock of the corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and all holderswas the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any parity stock,time within the amounts paidthree-year period immediately prior to the holdersdate on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder, and the affiliates and associates of Preferred Stocksuch person.
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Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws include anti-takeover provisions that:
● | authorize the Board of Directors, without further action by the stockholders, to issue shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and with respect to each series, to fix the number of shares constituting that series, and establish the rights and terms of that series; |
● | establish advance notice procedures for stockholders to submit nominations of candidates for election to the Board of Directors to be brought before a stockholders meeting; |
● | allow the Company’s directors to establish the size of the Board of Directors and fill vacancies on the Board created by an increase in the number of directors (subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances); |
● | require the affirmative vote of the holders of shares representing at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors in order to remove a director or the entire Board of Directors, with or without cause; |
● | do not provide stockholders cumulative voting rights with respect to director elections; |
● | do not permit stockholders to take action by written consent; |
● | provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or at the request of 50% or more of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote on any issue contemplated to be considered at such proposed special meeting; |
● | require the approval of 66 2/3% or more of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors to amend the Certificate of Incorporation; and |
● | provide that the Company’s Bylaws may be amended by the Board of Directors without stockholder approval; provided, however, that the stockholders may amend the Bylaws only with the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. |
Provisions of the holdersCompany’s Certificate of any parity stock will be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation distributions of those holders. In any such distribution, the liquidation distribution to any holder of preferred stock means the amount payable to such holder in such distribution, including any declared but unpaid dividends (and any unpaid, accrued cumulative dividendsIncorporation and Bylaws may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in the caseCompany’s control or change in the Company’s Board of any holder of shares on which dividends accrue on a cumulative basis). If the liquidation distributions have been paid in full to all holders of shares of the Preferred Stock and any holders of shares of parity stock and shares ranking senior to the Preferred Stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolutionDirectors or winding-up, the holders of our other classes of capital stock will be entitled to receive all of our remaining assets according to their respective rights and preferences.
For purposes of this section, a consolidation or merger involving the Company with any other entity,management, including the consolidation or mergertransactions in which the holders of Preferred Stockstockholders might otherwise receive cash, securities or other propertya premium for their shares or transactions that the sale or transfer of all or substantially allCompany’s stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of the property and assets of the Company for cash, securities or other property, will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.Common Stock.
RedemptionAuthorized and Unissued Shares
The PreferredCompany’s authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock is not subjectare available for future issuance without stockholder approval except as may otherwise be required by applicable stock exchange rules or Delaware law. The Company may issue additional shares for a variety of purposes, including future offerings to any mandatory redemption, sinkingraise additional capital, to fund retirement fund, purchase fundacquisitions and as employee and consultant compensation. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock could render more difficult, or other similar provisions.discourage an attempt, to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
The Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to , 2023. OnCompany’s Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock with such designations, rights and after that date, the Preferred Stock will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the redemption date. Holders of the Preferred Stock will have no right to require the redemption of the Preferred Stock.
In connection with any redemption of Preferred Stock, the Company shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date, unless a redemption date falls after a dividend record date and prior to the corresponding dividend payment date, in which case each holder of Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before such Dividend Payment Date.
If shares of the Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall be given by first class mail to the holders of record of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed, mailed not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof (provided that, if the Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company, or “DTC,” we may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC). Each notice of redemption will include a statement setting forth:
In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other mannerpreferences as we may determine to be fair and equitable.
If notice of redemption of any shares of Preferred Stock has been given and if the Company has irrevocably set aside the funds necessary for such redemption, then, from and after the redemption date (unless the Company shall default in providing for the payment of the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any), dividends will cease to accumulate on such shares of Preferred Stock, such shares of Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of such shares of Preferred Stock will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption.
Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Preferred Stock shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been or contemporaneously is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, no shares of Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed, and the Company shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Preferred Stock (except by exchanging it for its junior stock); provided, however, that the Company may purchase or acquire shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.
Our ability to redeem the Preferred Stock as described above may be limited by the terms of our agreements governing our existing and future indebtedness and by the provisions of other existing and future agreements.
Voting Rights
The holders of Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, except as set forth below or as otherwisedetermined from time to time provided by law, nor will the Company’s Board of Directors. Accordingly, the Board of Directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue shares of preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights that could adversely affect the value, voting power or other rights of holders of Common Stock. In addition, the Preferred Stock be given any noticeBoard of Directors may, under certain circumstances, issue preferred stock in order to delay, defer, prevent or make more difficult a change of control transaction such as a merger, tender offer, business combination or proxy contest, assumption of control by a holder of a meetinglarge block of the Company’s securities or vote bythe removal of incumbent management of the Company, even if those events were favorable to the interests of the Company’s stockholders.
In any matter on which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each $25.00 of liquidation preference.
So long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Preferred Stock and each other class or series of voting parity stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting together as a single class) (a) authorize, create, or issue, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of stock ranking senior to the Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company or reclassify any authorized shares of capital stock of the Company into such stock, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such stock; or (b) amend, alter or repeal our Certificate of Incorporation, whether by way of a merger, consolidation, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of our assets or otherwise (an “Event”), so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Preferred Stock or the holders thereof; provided, however, with respect to the occurrence of any of the Events set forth in (b) above, so long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain outstanding with the terms thereof unchanged or the holders of shares of Preferred Stock receive capital stock of the successor with substantially identical rights (taken as a whole), taking into account that, upon the occurrence of an Event, we may not be the surviving entity, the occurrence of such Event shall not be deemed to adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of holders of Preferred Stock, and in such case such holders shall not have any voting rights with respect to the occurrence of any of the Events set forth in (b) above. In addition, if the holders of the Preferred Stock receive the greater of the full trading price of the Preferred Stock on the date of an Event set forth in (b) above or the $25.00 liquidation preference per share of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the occurrence of any of the Events set forth in (b) above, then such holders will not have any voting rights with respect to the Events set forth in (b) above. Moreover, if any Event set forth in (b) above would adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Preferred Stock disproportionately relative to other classes or series of parity stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, will also be required.
Holders of the Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote with respect to (x) any increase in the total number of authorized shares of parity stock or junior stock of the Company, or (y) any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Stock or the creation or issuance of any other class or series of parity stock or junior stock, and any such authorization, creation or issuances will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock.
The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds, in cash, shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption and irrevocable instructions have been given to the paying agent to pay the redemption price and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Stock.
Conversion
Holders will not have the right to convert Preferred Stock into, or exchange Preferred Stock for, any other securities or property of the Company.
Listing of the Preferred Stock
We have applied to list the Preferred Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “PIHPP.” If the application is approved, we expect trading to commence within 30 days following the initial issuance of the Preferred Stock. Listing of the Preferred Stock is not a condition to the completion of this offering.
Transfer Agent Registrar, Dividend Disbursing Agent and Redemption Agent
VStock Transfer, LLC will be the transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent for the Preferred Stock. The address of VStock Transfer, LLC is 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, NY, 11598.
Book-Entry; Delivery and FormRegistrar
The Preferred Stock will be represented by one or more global securities that will be deposited with and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. This means that we will not issue certificates to youtransfer agent for the PreferredCompany’s Common Stock except in limited circumstances. The global securities will be issued to DTC, the depository for the Preferred Stock, who will keep a computerized record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the Preferred Stock. Each participant will then keep a record of its clients. Unless exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated security, a global security may not be transferred. However, DTC, its nominees, and their successors may transfer a global security as a whole to one another. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be shown on, and transfers of the global securities will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.
DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the United States Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants (direct participants) deposit with DTC. DTC also records the settlement among direct participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for direct participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Neither we nor the underwriters take any responsibility for these operations or procedures, and you are urged to contact DTC or its participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC’s book-entry system is also used by other organizations such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that work through a direct participant. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
When you purchase Preferred Stock through the DTC system, the purchases must be made by or through a direct participant, who will receive credit for the Preferred Stock on DTC’s records. Since you actually own the Preferred Stock, you are the beneficial owner and your ownership interest will only be recorded in the direct (or indirect) participants’ records. DTC has no knowledge of your individual ownership of the Preferred Stock. DTC’s records only show the identity of the direct participants and the amount of the Preferred Stock held by or through them. You will not receive a written confirmation of your purchase or sale or any periodic account statement directly from DTC. You will receive these from your direct (or indirect) participant. Thus, the direct (or indirect) participants are responsible for keeping accurate account of the holdings of their customers like you.Vstock Transfer, LLC.
We will wire dividend payments to DTC’s nominee and we will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of the global securities for all purposes. Accordingly, we will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global securities to you or any other beneficial owners in the global securities.
Any redemption notices will be sent by us directly to DTC, who will in turn inform the direct participants, who will then contact you as a beneficial holder.
It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment of dividends or liquidation amount, to credit direct participants’ accounts on the payment date based on their holdings of beneficial interests in the global securities as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to direct participants whose accounts are credited with preferred securities on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities, and voting by participants, will be based on the customary practices between the participants and owners of beneficial interests, as is the case with the Preferred Stock held for the account of customers registered in “street name.” However, payments will be the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC or us.
Shares of Preferred Stock represented by global securities will be exchangeable for certificated securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:
If the book-entry-only system is discontinued, the transfer agent will keep the registration books for the Preferred Stock at its corporate office.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be applicable to “U.S. holders” and “non-U.S. holders” (each as defined below) with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Preferred Stock offered by this prospectus.
This discussion is based upon provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, (the “Code”), U.S. Treasury Regulations, and administrative rulings and court decisions, all as in effect or in existence on the date of this filing and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or a court, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the Preferred Stock to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we,” “our” or “us” are references to 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.
The following discussion applies only to purchasers who hold the Preferred Stock as a “capital asset” (generally, property held for investment purposes). The following discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation which may be important to particular holders of the Preferred Stock in light of their individual circumstances, such as (i) holders of Preferred Stock subject to special tax rules (e.g., banks or other financial institutions, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, insurance companies, broker-dealers, traders that elect to mark-to-market for U.S. federal income tax purposes, tax-exempt organizations and retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and tax-deferred accounts, or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States) or to holders that will hold the Preferred Stock as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale, or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or their partners, (iii) U.S. holders (as defined below) that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, or (iv) holders who acquire Preferred Stock in a compensation transaction, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below.
If a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our Preferred Stock, the tax treatment of its partners generally will depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our Preferred Stock, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to you of the partnership’s ownership of our Preferred Stock.
No ruling has been obtained or will be requested from the IRS, regarding any matter affecting us or prospective holders of our Preferred Stock. The statements made herein may be challenged by the IRS and, if so challenged, may not be sustained upon review in a court.
This discussion does not contain information regarding any state or local, estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations concerning the ownership or disposition of the Preferred Stock.
Each prospective holder of our Preferred Stock should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Preferred Stock.
U.S. Holders
Subject to the qualifications set forth above, the following discussion summarizes the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may relate to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Preferred Stock by “U.S. holders.” You are a “U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of Preferred Stock and you are for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
Distributions in GeneralUNDERWRITING
If distributions are made with respect toThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., is acting as the Preferred Stock, such distributions (pursuant to Section 301representative of the Code) will be treatedunderwriters of this offering, which we refer to as dividends to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined under the Code. Any portion of a distribution that exceeds such earnings and profits will first be applied to reduce a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Preferred Stock on a share-by-share basis, and the excess will be treated as gain from the disposition of the Preferred Stock, the tax treatment of which is discussed below under “– U.S. Holders: Disposition of Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions.”
Under current law, dividends received by individual holders of the Preferred Stock will be subject to a reduced maximum tax rate of 20% if such dividends are treated as “qualified dividend income” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The rate reduction does not apply to dividends received to the extent that the individual stockholder elects to treat the dividends as “investment income,” which may be offset against investment expenses. Furthermore, the rate reduction does not apply to dividends that are paid to individual stockholders with respect to Preferred Stock that is held for 60 days or less during the 121 day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which the Preferred Stock becomes ex-dividend (or where the dividend is attributable to a period or periods aggregating in excess of 366 days, Preferred Stock that is held for 90 days or less during the 181 day period beginning on the date which is 90 days before the date on which the Preferred Stock becomes ex-dividend). Also, if a dividend received byRepresentative. We have entered into an individual stockholder that qualifies for the rate reduction is an “extraordinary dividend” within the meaning of Section 1059 of the Code, any loss recognized by such individual stockholder on a subsequent disposition of the stock will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of such “extraordinary dividend,” irrespective of such stockholder’s holding period for the stock. In addition, dividends recognized by U.S. holders that are individuals could be subject to the 3.8% tax on net investment income. Individual stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of these rules in light of their particular circumstances.
Dividends received by corporate stockholders generally will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Generally, this deduction is allowed if the underlying stock is held for at least 46 days during the 91 day period beginning on the date 45 days before the ex-dividend date of the stock (or where the dividend is attributable to a period or periods aggregating in excess of 366 days, Preferred Stock that is held for at least 91 days during the 181 day period beginning on the date which is 90 days before the date on which the Preferred Stock becomes ex-dividend). Corporate stockholders of the Preferred Stock should also consider the effect of Section 246A of the Code, which reduces the dividends-received deduction allowed to a corporate stockholder that has incurred indebtedness that is “directly attributable” to an investment in portfolio stock such as preferred stock. If a corporate stockholder receives a dividend on the Preferred Stock that is an “extraordinary dividend” within the meaning of Section 1059 of the Code, the stockholder in certain instances must reduce its basis in the Preferred Stock by the amount of the “nontaxed portion” of such “extraordinary dividend” that results from the application of the dividends-received deduction. If the “nontaxed portion” of such “extraordinary dividend” exceeds such corporate stockholder’s basis, any excess will be taxed as gain as if such stockholder had disposed of its shares in the year the “extraordinary dividend” is paid. Each domestic corporate holder of the Preferred Stock is urged to consult with its tax advisors with respect to the eligibility for and the amount of any dividends received deduction and the application of Code Section 1059 to any dividends it may receive on the Preferred Stock.
Disposition of Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions
Upon any sale, exchange, redemption (except as discussed below) or other disposition of the Preferred Stock, a U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. holder and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Stock. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the Preferred Stock is longer than one year. A U.S. holder should consult its own tax advisors with respect to applicable tax rates and netting rules for capital gains and losses. Certain limitations exist on the deduction of capital losses by both corporate and non-corporate taxpayers. In addition, gains recognized by U.S. holders that are individuals could be subject to the 3.8% tax on net investment income.
A redemption of shares of the Preferred Stock will generally be a taxable event. If the redemption is treated as a sale or exchange, instead of a distribution pursuant to Section 301 of the Code, a U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss (which will be long-term capital gain or loss, if the U.S. holder’s holding period for such Preferred Stock exceeds one year) equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. holder and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Stock redeemed, except to the extent that any cash received is attributable to dividends which were declared on the Preferred Stock prior to any action toward redemption (such dividends will be subject to the rules discussed above in “– U.S. Holders – Distributions in General).” A payment made in redemption of Preferred Stock may be treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 301 of the Code, rather than as payment in exchange for the Preferred Stock, unless the redemption:
In determining whether any of these tests have been met, a U.S. holder must take into account not only shares of the Preferred Stock and the common stock that the U.S. Holder actually owns, but also shares of stock that the U.S. holder constructively owns within the meaning of Section 318 of the Code.
A redemption payment will be treated as “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” if it results in a “meaningful reduction” in a U.S. holder’s aggregate stock interest in the company, which will depend on the U.S. holder’s particular facts and circumstances at such time. If the redemption payment is treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 301 of the Code, the rules discussed above in “– U.S. Holders – Distributions in General” apply.
Satisfaction of the “complete redemption” and “substantially disproportionate” exceptions is dependent upon complianceunderwriting agreement, dated , 2021 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with the objective tests set forth in Section 302(b)(3) and Section 302(b)(2) of the Code, respectively. A redemption will result in a “complete redemption” if either all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by a U.S. holder are exchanged in the redemption or all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. holder are exchanged in the redemption and the U.S. holder is eligible to waive, and the U.S. holder effectively waives, the attribution of shares of our stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder in accordance with the procedures described in Section 302(c)(2) of Code. A redemption does not qualify for the “substantially disproportionate” exception if the stock redeemed is only non-voting stock, and for this purpose, stock which does not have voting rights until the occurrence of an event is not voting stock until the occurrence of the specified event. Accordingly, any redemption of the Preferred Stock generally will not qualify for this exception because the voting rights are limited. For purposes of the “redemption from non-corporate stockholders in a partial liquidation” test, a distribution will be treated as in partial liquidation of a corporation if the distribution is not essentially equivalent to a dividend (determined at the corporate level rather than the stockholder level) and the distribution is pursuant to a plan and occurs within the taxable year in which the plan was adopted or within the succeeding taxable year. For these purposes, a distribution is generally not essentially equivalent to a dividend if the distribution results in a corporate contraction. The determination of what constitutes a corporate contraction is factual in nature, and has been interpreted under case law to include the termination of a business or line of business. Each U.S. holder of the Preferred Stock should consult its own tax advisors to determine whether a payment made in redemption of the Preferred Stock will be treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 301 of the Code or a payment in exchange for the Preferred Stock. If the redemption payment is treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 301 of the Code, the rules discussed above in “– U.S. Holders – Distributions in General” apply. Under proposed Treasury regulations, if any amount received by a U.S. holder in redemption of Preferred Stock is treated as a distribution with respect to such holder’s Preferred Stock, but not as a dividend, such amount will be allocated to all shares of the Preferred Stock held by such holder immediately before the redemption on a pro rata basis. The amount applied to each share will reduce such holder’s adjusted tax basis in that share and any excess after the basis is reduced to zero will result in taxable capital gain. If such holder has different bases in shares of the Preferred Stock, then the amount allocated could reduce a portion of the basis in certain shares while reducing all of the basis, and giving rise to taxable gain, in other shares. Thus, such holder could have gain even if such holder’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in all shares of the Preferred Stock held exceeds the aggregate amount of such distribution.
The proposed Treasury regulations permit the transfer of basis in the redeemed shares of the Preferred Stock to the holder’s remaining, unredeemed Preferred Stock (if any), but not to any other class of stock held, directly or indirectly, by the holder. Any unrecovered basis in the Preferred Stock would be treated as a deferred loss to be recognized when certain conditions are satisfied. The proposed Treasury regulations would be effective for transactions that occur after the date the regulations are published as final Treasury regulations. There can, however, be no assurance as to whether, when and in what particular form such proposed Treasury regulations are ultimately finalized.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting and backup withholding may apply with respect to payments of dividends on the Preferred Stock and to certain payments of proceeds on the sale or other disposition of the Preferred Stock. Certain non-corporate U.S. holders may be subject to U.S. backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) on payments of dividends on the Preferred Stock and certain payments of proceeds on the sale or other disposition of the Preferred Stock unless the beneficial owner thereof furnishes the payor or its agent with a taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, and certain other information, or otherwise establishes, in the manner prescribed by law, an exemption from backup withholding. U.S. backup withholding tax is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, which may entitle the U.S. holder to a refund, provided the U.S. holder timely furnishes the required information to the Internal Revenue Service.
Non-U.S. Holders
Representative. Subject to the qualifications set forth above under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” the following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax consequencesterms and conditions of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Preferred Stock by certain “Non-U.S. holders.” You are a “Non-U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of the Preferred Stock and you are not a “U.S. holder.”
Distributions on the Preferred Stock
If distributions are made with respect to the Preferred Stock, such distributions will be treated as dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined under the Code and may be subject to withholding as discussed below. Any portion of a distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits will first be applied to reduce the Non-U.S. holder’s basis in the Preferred Stock and, to the extent such portion exceeds the Non-U.S. holder’s basis, the excess will be treated as gain from the disposition of the Preferred Stock, the tax treatment of which is discussed below under “– Non-U.S. Holders – Disposition of Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions.” In addition, if we are a U.S. real property holding corporation,i.e. a “USRPHC,” and any distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we will need to choose to satisfy our withholding requirements either by treating the entire distribution as a dividend, subject to the withholding rules in the following paragraph (and withhold at a minimum rate of 15% or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty for distributions from a USRPHC), or by treating only the amount of the distribution equal to our reasonable estimate of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as a dividend, subject to the withholding rules in the following paragraph, with the excess portion of the distribution subject to withholding at a rate of 15% or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty as if such excess were the result of a sale of shares in a USRPHC (discussed below under “– Non-U.S. Holders – Disposition of Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions”), with a credit generally allowed against the Non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability in an amount equal to the amount withheld from such excess.
Dividends paid to a Non-U.S. holder of the Preferred Stock will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. However, dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, where a tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. holder in the United States) are not subject to the withholding tax, provided that certain certification and disclosure requirements are satisfied including completing Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form). Instead, such dividends are subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States person as defined under the Code, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. Any such effectively connected dividends received by a foreign corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. A Non-U.S. holder of the Preferred Stock who wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate and avoid backup withholding, as discussed below, for dividends will be required to (i) complete Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form) and certify under penalty of perjury that such holder is not a United States person as defined under the Code and is eligible for treaty benefits, or (ii) if the Preferred Stock is held through certain foreign intermediaries, satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable Treasury regulations. A Non-U.S. holder of the Preferred Stock eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service.
Disposition of Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions
Any gain realized by a Non-U.S. holder on the disposition of the Preferred Stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless:
A Non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point immediately above will generally be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States person as defined under the Code, and if it is a corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits or at such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. Gain described in the second bullet point immediately above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower applicable treaty rate), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses. A Non-U.S. holder described in the third bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax under regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates with respect to the gain recognized in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States person as defined under the Code.
If a Non-U.S. holder is subject to U.S. federal income tax on any sale, exchange, redemption (except as discussed below), or other disposition of the Preferred Stock, such a Non-U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized by the Non-U.S. holder and the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Stock. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the Preferred Stock is longer than one year. A Non-U.S. holder should consult its own tax advisors with respect to applicable tax rates and netting rules for capital gains and losses. Certain limitations exist on the deduction of capital losses by both corporate and non-corporate taxpayers.
If a Non-U.S. holder is subject to U.S. federal income tax on any disposition of the Preferred Stock, a redemption of shares of the Preferred Stock will be a taxable event. If the redemption is treated as a sale or exchange, instead of a distribution pursuant to Section 301 of the Code, a Non-U.S. holder generally will recognize long-term capital gain or loss, if the Non-U.S. holder’s holding period for such Preferred Stock exceeds one year, equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and fair market value of property received and the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Stock redeemed, except to the extent that any cash received is attributable to dividends which were declared on the Preferred Stock prior to any action toward redemption (such dividends will be subject to the rules discussed above in “– Non-U.S. Holders – Distributions on the Preferred Stock”). A payment made in redemption of the Preferred Stock may be treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 301 of the Code, rather than as payment in exchange for the Preferred Stock, in the same circumstances discussed above under “– U.S. Holders – Disposition of Preferred Stock, including Redemptions.” Each Non-U.S. holder of the Preferred Stock should consult its own tax advisors to determine whether a payment made in redemption of the Preferred Stock will be treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 301 of the Code or as payment in exchange for the Preferred Stock.
Information reporting and backup withholding
We must report annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to each Non-U.S. holder the amount of dividends paid to such Non-U.S. holder and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends, regardless of whether withholding was required. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the Non-U.S. holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. A Non-U.S. holder will not be subject to backup withholding on dividends paid to such Non-U.S. holder as long as such Non-U.S. holder certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a Non-U.S. holder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. holder is a United States person as defined under the Code), or such Non-U.S. holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Depending on the circumstances, information reporting and backup withholding may apply to the proceeds received from a sale or other disposition of the Preferred Stock unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a Non-U.S. holder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a United States person as defined under the Code), or such owner otherwise establishes an exemption. U.S. backup withholding tax is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (provisions which are commonly referred to as “FATCA”), generally impose a 30% withholding tax on dividends on Preferred Stock paid on or after July 1, 2014 and the gross proceeds of a sale or other disposition of Preferred Stock paid on or after January 1, 2019 to: (i) a foreign financial institution (as that term is defined in Section 1471(d)(4) of the Code) unless that foreign financial institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department to collect and disclose information regarding U.S. account holders of that foreign financial institution (including certain account holders that are foreign entities that have U.S. owners) and satisfies other requirements; and (ii) specified other foreign entities unless such an entity certifies that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner and such entity satisfies other specified requirements. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of FATCA to them and whether it may be relevant to their purchase, ownership and disposition of Preferred Stock.
Under the terms and subject to the conditions in an underwriting agreement, the underwriters named below, for whom Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. is acting as representative, have severally agreed to purchase on a firm commitment basis, andUnderwriting Agreement, we have agreed to sell to them,each underwriter named below and each underwriter named below has severally and not jointly agreed to purchase from us, at the public offering price per share less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of PreferredCommon Stock indicated below.
listed next to its name in the following table:
Underwriters | Number of Shares | |||
Total |
All of the shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the underwriters will be purchased from us.
The underwriting agreementUnderwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the shares of PreferredCommon Stock offered by this prospectus are subject to various conditions and representations and warranties, including the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the Underwriting Agreement. The shares of Common Stock are offered by the underwriters, subject to certain other conditions.prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offersthe offer to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the shares of PreferredCommon Stock offered by this prospectus if any such shares of PreferredCommon Stock are taken. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides
We expect that the purchase commitmentsdelivery of the non-defaulting underwriters mayCommon Stock will be increasedmade against payment therefor on or about , 2021. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the underwriting agreement may be terminated; however,Exchange Act, trades in the underwriterssecondary market generally are not required to take or pay forsettle in two business days, unless the shares of Preferred Stock covered by the underwriters’ over-allotment option described below.parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise.
Over-Allotment Option
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30no later than 45 calendar days fromafter the dateclosing of this prospectus,offering, to purchase up to 120,000an additional 421,722 shares of PreferredCommon Stock (15% of the shares of Common Stock sold in this offering) from us to cover over-allotments, if any, at a price per share of Common Stock equal to the public offering price, of $25.00 per share.less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of coveringonly to cover over-allotments if any, made in connection with this offering. If the offering of Preferred Stock offered byunderwriters exercise this prospectus. Tooption in whole or in part, then the extent the option is exercised, each underwriterunderwriters will become obligated,be severally committed, subject to certainthe conditions described in the Underwriting Agreement, to purchase aboutthese additional shares of Common Stock. If any additional shares of Common Stock are purchased, the same percentage ofunderwriters will offer the additional shares of PreferredCommon Stock on the same terms as those on which the number listed next to the underwriter’s name in the preceding table bears to the total number of shares of PreferredCommon Stock listed next to the names of all underwriters in the preceding table.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of any of those liabilities.are being offered hereby.
Discounts, Commissions and DiscountsReimbursement
The Representative has advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares of PreferredCommon Stock to the public at the public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of this prospectus andprospectus. The underwriters may offer shares to certainsecurities dealers at the public offeringthat price minusless a concession of not in excess of $.895more than $ per share. After the initial offering to the public, the public offering price concession and any other selling terms of this offering may be changed by the underwriters. Representative.
The following table showssummarizes the public offering price, underwriting discountdiscounts and commissions and proceeds before expenses to us assuming both no exercise and full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option:
Per Share | Total Without | Total With | ||||||||||
Public offering price | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Underwriting discount (7%) | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ | $ |
We have paid an expense deposit of $ (the “Advance”) to the Representative, which will be applied against the actual out-of-pocket accountable expenses that we will paybe paid by us to the underwriters in connection with this offering.offering and will be reimbursed to us to the extent not incurred.
Per Share | Total Without Over-allotment | Total With Over-allotment | ||||||||||
Public offering price | $ | 25.00 | $ | 20,000,000 | $ | 23,000,000 | ||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid by us | $ | 0.895 | $ | 716,000 | $ | 823,400 | ||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | 24.105 | $ | 19,284,000 | $ | 22,176,600 |
We have also agreed to pay certain ofreimburse the underwriters’Representative for all reasonable and actual accountable expenses relating to the offering, including (a) all filing fees incurred in clearing this offering with FINRA; (b) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of securities offered under the securities laws of foreign jurisdictions designated by the representative; (c) the expenses incurredRepresentative in connection with any investor presentations on any “road show” undertakenthis offering up to a maximum of $100,000 in connection with the marketing ofaggregate, including the securities not to exceed $20,000; and (d) the reasonable fees and expenses of the representative’sunderwriters’ legal counsel notand any expenses incurred by the Representative in conducting its due diligence, including background checks of our officers and directors, less the Advance previously paid to exceed $75,000.
the Representative.
We estimate that the total expenses of this offering payable by us, in connection with this offering, other than thenot including underwriting discounts and commissions, referred to above, will be approximately $547,000.$ ..
ListingLock-up Agreements
PriorPursuant to this offering, there has been no public market for the Preferred Stock. We have applied to list the Preferred Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “PIHPP.” If the application is approved, we expect trading of the Preferred Stock on the Nasdaq to begin within the 30-day period after the initial delivery of the Preferred Stock. Listing of the Preferred Stock is not a condition to the completion of this offering.
No Sales of Similar Securities
We“lock-up” agreements, our directors and officers have agreed, that,subject to limited exceptions, for a period of 90 daysthree (3) months from the date hereof, we will not,of the underwriting agreement, without the prior written consent of the representative on behalfRepresentative, that they will not offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, encumber, grant any option for the sale of or otherwise dispose of any of our securities.
In addition, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, we and any of our successors have agreed, for a period of three (3) months from the date of the underwriters, issue,Underwriting Agreement, that each will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Preferred Stock or any shares of preferredour capital stock ranking on parity with or senior to the Preferred Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stockour capital stock; (ii) file or caused to be filed any registration statement with the SEC relating to the offering of any shares of preferredour capital stock ranking on paror any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our capital stock; (iii) complete any offering of our debt securities, other than entering into a line of credit with a traditional bank; or senior to the Preferred Stock;(iv) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Preferred Stockour capital stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of our capital stock or such parityother securities, in cash or senior preferred stock; fileotherwise.
Right of First Refusal
In addition, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of this offering, we agreed to grant to the Representative, an irrevocable right of first refusal to act as sole investment banker, sole book-runner and/or sole placement agent, at the Representative’s sole discretion, for each and every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financings, during such twelve (12) month period for us, or any registration statementsuccessor to or any subsidiary of us, on terms agreed to by both us and the Representative. The Representative will have the sole right to determine whether or not any other broker-dealer shall have the right to participate in any such offering and the economic terms of any such participation.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against liabilities relating to this offering arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, liabilities arising from breaches of some or all of the representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.
Determination of Offering Price
The public offering price of the securities we are offering was negotiated between us and the Representative based on the trading price of our Common Stock prior to the offering, among other things. Other factors considered in determining the public offering price of the shares of Common Stock include our history and prospects, the stage of development of our business, our business plans for the future and the extent to which they have been implemented, an assessment of our management, general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering and such other factors as were deemed relevant.
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Listing; Nasdaq Global Market
The Common Stock is listed for traded on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “FGF.”
Transfer Agent
Our transfer agent for our Common Stock is VStock Transfer, LLC, 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598.
Other Relationships
From time to time, certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking and other financial services for us for which services they have received and, may in the future receive, customary fees. In the course of their businesses, the underwriters and their affiliates may actively trade our securities or loans for their own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, the underwriters and their affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities or loans.
On May 18, 2021, we entered into an underwriting agreement (the “May 2021 Underwriting Agreement”) with the Representative, which provided for the issuance and sale by us and the purchase by the Representative, in a firm commitment underwritten public offering, of 194,580 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, including 25,380 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of their over-allotment option. The Representative was paid a commission equal to 8% of the gross proceeds of the offering in addition to the payment of $75,000 for its expenses incurred in such offering. In addition, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the May 2021 Underwriting Agreement, we agreed to grant to the Representative, subject to certain exceptions, an irrevocable right of first refusal to act as sole sales agent, at the Representative’s sole discretion, for each and every future “at-the-market” offering, during such twelve (12) month period for us, or any successor to or any subsidiary of us, on terms customary for the Representative. The Representative will have the sole right to determine whether or not any other broker-dealer shall have the right to participate in any such offering and the economic terms of any shares of Preferred Stock or any shares of preferred stock ranking on par with or senior to the Preferred Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction.participation.
Price Stabilization, Short Position
Until the distribution of the shares of Preferred Stock is completed, SEC rules may limit the ability of the underwriters to bid for or purchase shares of Preferred Stock. However, the underwriters may engage in transactions that have the effect of stabilizing the price of the Preferred Stock, such as purchases that peg, fix or maintain that price.
If the underwriters create a short position in the Preferred Stock in connection with this offering, i.e., if they sell more shares of Preferred Stock than are listed on the cover page of this prospectus, the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing Preferred Stock in the open market. Purchases of shares of Preferred Stock that stabilize the per share price or reduce a short position may cause the price of the Preferred Stock to be higher than it might be in the absence of those purchases.
Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Preferred Stock. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in those transactions or that those transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Electronic Offer, SalePositions and Distribution of SharesPenalty Bids
In connection with this offering, certainthe underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our Common Stock. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot in connection with this offering by selling more shares of our Common Stock than are set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. This creates a short position in shares of our Common Stock for its own account. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares of Common Stock over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of shares of Common Stock that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of shares of Common Stock involved is greater than the number of shares Common Stock in the over-allotment option. To close out a short position, the underwriters may elect to exercise all or part of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also elect to stabilize the price of our Common Stock or reduce any short position by bidding for, and purchasing, Common Stock in the open market.
The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter or dealer repays selling concessions allowed to it for distributing shares of Common Stock in this offering because the underwriter repurchases the shares of Common Stock in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
Finally, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, shares of our Common Stock in market making transactions, including “passive” market making transactions as described below.
These activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of our Common Stock at a price that is higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the absence of these activities. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may discontinue any of these activities at any time without notice. These transactions may be effected on the national securities exchange on which our shares of Common Stock are traded, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise.
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Passive Market Making
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may engage in passive market making transactions in shares of our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act during the period before the commencement of offers or sales of shares of our Common Stock and extending through the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bids at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of the security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, that bid must be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.
Electronic Distribution
This prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or securities dealers may distribute this prospectus by electronic means, such as e-mail. In addition, certain of the underwriters may facilitate Internet distribution for this offering to certain of their Internet subscription customers. Each such underwriter may allocate a limited number of shares of Preferred Stock for sale to its online brokerage customers. An electronic prospectus may be available on the Internet web site maintained by each such underwriter.affiliates. Other than this prospectus in electronic format, the information on any such underwriter’s web siteunderwriters’ website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of this prospectus.
Conflictsprospectus or the registration statement of Interest
The underwriters havewhich this prospectus forms a part, has not historically, but maybeen approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter in the future, provide investment bankingits capacity as underwriter, and advisory services to us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business, for which they have received, or may receive, compensation for such services.should not be relied upon by investors.
Selling Restrictions Outside the United States
Other than in the United States, noNo action has been taken by us orin any jurisdiction (except in the underwritersUnited States) that would permit a public offering of shares of our Common Stock, or the securities offered bypossession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus or any other material relating to us or shares of our Common Stock in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectusAccordingly, shares of our Common Stock may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor mayand this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securitiesour Common Stock may be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with theany applicable rules and regulations of thatany such country or jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
Australia
This prospectus is not a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act, has not been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act. Accordingly, (i) the offer of the securities under this prospectus is only made to persons to whom it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act under one or more exemptions set out in section 708 of the Australian Corporations Act, (ii) this prospectus is made available in Australia only to those persons as set forth in clause (i) above, and (iii) the offeree must be sent a notice stating in substance that by accepting this offer, the offeree represents that the offeree is such a person as set forth in clause (i) above, and, unless permitted under the Australian Corporations Act, agrees not to sell or offer for sale within Australia any of the securities sold to the offeree within 12 months after its transfer for the offeree under this prospectus.
Canada
The shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
China
The information in this document does not constitute a public offer of the securities, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the People’s Republic of China (excluding, for purposes of this paragraph, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan). The securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to legal or natural persons other than directly to “qualified domestic institutional investors.”
European Economic Area — Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and NetherlandsUnited Kingdom
The information in this document has been prepared on the basis that all offers of securities will be made pursuantIn relation to an exemption under the Directive 2003/71/EC (“Prospectus Directive”), as implemented ineach Member StatesState of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom (each a “Relevant Member State”), fromno shares of our Common Stock have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.
An offeroffering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of securitiesa prospectus in relation to the Common Stock which has not been made,approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of shares may not be made to the public in athat Relevant Member State except pursuant to one ofat any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive as implemented in that Relevant Member State:Regulation:
to legal entities |
by the underwriters to fewer than |
● | in any other circumstances falling within Article |
France
This document is not being distributedprovided that no such offer of Common Stock shall result in the context of a public offering of financial securities (offre au public de titres financiers) in France within the meaning of Article L.411-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier) and Articles 211-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Autorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”). The securities have not been offeredrequirement for us or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly,any underwriter to the public in France.
This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the AMF for approval in France and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.
Such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to (i) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-1 to D.411-3, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation and/or (ii)publish a restricted number of non-qualified investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-4, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation.
Pursuantprospectus pursuant to Article 211-3 of the General Regulation of the AMF, investors in France are informed that the securities cannot be distributed (directly or indirectly) to the public by the investors otherwise than in accordance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 to L.621-8-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.
Ireland
The information in this document does not constitute a prospectus under any Irish laws or regulations and this document has not been filed with or approved by any Irish regulatory authority as the information has not been prepared in the context of a public offering of securities in Ireland within the meaning of the Irish Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (the “Prospectus Regulations”). The securities have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered, sold or delivered directly or indirectly in Ireland by way of a public offering, except to (i) qualified investors as defined in Regulation 2(l)3 of the Prospectus Regulations and (ii) fewer than 100 naturalRegulation or legal persons who are not qualified investors.supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of Common Stock to the public” in relation to any Common Stock in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Common Stock to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for our Common Stock, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
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Israel
The securities offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Israeli Securities Authority, or the ISA, nor have such securities been registered for sale in Israel. The shares of common stock may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Israel, absent the publication of a prospectus. The ISA has not issued permits, approvals or licenses in connection with the Offering or publishing the prospectus; nor has it authenticated the details included herein, confirmed their reliability or completeness, or rendered an opinion as to the quality of the securities being offered. Any resale in Israel, directly or indirectly, to the public of the securities offered by this prospectus is subject to restrictions on transferability and must be effected only in compliance with the Israeli securities laws and regulations.
Italy
The offering of the securities in the Republic of Italy has not been authorized by the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa, “CONSOB” pursuant to the Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no offering material relating to the securities may be distributed in Italy and such securities may not be offered or sold in Italy in a public offer within the meaning of Article 1.1(t) of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998 (“Decree No. 58”), other than:
Any offer, sale or delivery of the securities or distribution of any offer document relating to the securities in Italy (excluding placements where a Qualified Investor solicits an offer from the issuer) under the paragraphs above must be:
Any subsequent distribution of the securities in Italy must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under Decree No. 58 and the Regulation No. 11971 as amended, unless an exception from those rules applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such securities being declared null and void and in the liability of the entity transferring the securities for any damages suffered by the investors.
Japan
The securities have not been and will not be registered under Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948), as amended (the “FIEL”) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements applicable to a private placement of securities to Qualified Institutional Investors (as defined in and in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 3 of the FIEL and the regulations promulgated thereunder).
Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan other than Qualified Institutional Investors. Any Qualified Institutional Investor who acquires securities may not resell them to any person in Japan that is not a Qualified Institutional Investor, and acquisition by any such person of securities is conditional upon the execution of an agreement to that effect.
Portugal
This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offer of financial securities (oferta pública de valores mobiliários) in Portugal, within the meaning of Article 109 of the Portuguese Securities Code (Código dos Valores Mobiliários). The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal. This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários) for approval in Portugal and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to qualify as a public offer under the Portuguese Securities Code. Such offers, sales and distributions of securities in Portugal are limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Portuguese Securities Code). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.
Sweden
This document has not been, and will not be, registered with or approved by Finansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority). Accordingly, this document may not be made available, nor may the securities be offered for sale in Sweden, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to require a prospectus under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980) (Sw. lag (1991:980) om handel med finansiella instrument). Any offering of securities in Sweden is limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Financial Instruments Trading Act). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.
Switzerland
The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.
This document is personal to the recipient only and not for general circulation in Switzerland.
United Arab Emirates
Neither this document nor the securities have been approved, disapproved or passed on in any way by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates, nor has the company received authorization or licensing from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates to market or sell the securities within the United Arab Emirates.
This document does not constitute and may not be used for the purpose of an offer or invitation. No services relating to the securities, including the receipt of applications and/or the allotment or redemption of such shares, may be rendered within the United Arab Emirates by the company.
No offer or invitation to subscribe for securities is valid or permitted in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
United Kingdom
Neither the information in this document nor any other document relatingThis prospectus has only been communicated or caused to the offer hashave been delivered for approval to the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdomcommunicated and no prospectus (within the meaning of section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”)) has been publishedwill only be communicated or is intendedcaused to be published in respect of the securities. This document is issued on a confidential basis to “qualified investors” (within the meaning of section 86(7) of FSMA) in the United Kingdom, and the securities may not be offered or sold in the United Kingdom by means of this document, any accompanying letter or any other document, except in circumstances which do not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to section 86(1) FSMA.
This document should not be distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part, nor may its contents be disclosed by recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom.
Anycommunicated as an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of sectionSection 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000, or the FSMA) as received in connection with the issue or sale of the securities has only been communicated or caused to be communicated and will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in the United Kingdomour Common Stock in circumstances in which sectionSection 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us. All applicable provisions of the FSMA will be complied with in respect to anything done in relation to our Common Stock in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Canada
The shares of our Common Stock may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts, or NI 33-105, the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Australia
This prospectus is not a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act, has not been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act. Accordingly, (i) the offer of the securities under this prospectus is only made to persons to whom it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act under one or more exemptions set out in section 708 of the Australian Corporations Act, (ii) this prospectus is made available in Australia only to those persons as set forth in clause (i) above, and (iii) the offeree must be sent a notice stating in substance that by accepting this offer, the offeree represents that the offeree is such a person as set forth in clause (i) above, and, unless permitted under the Australian Corporations Act, agrees not to sell or offer for sale within Australia any of the securities sold to the offeree within 12 months after its transfer to the offeree under this prospectus.
China
The information in this document does not constitute a public offer of the securities, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the People’s Republic of China (excluding, for purposes of this paragraph, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan). The securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to legal or natural persons other than directly to “qualified domestic institutional investors.”
France
This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offering of financial securities (offre au public de titres financiers) in France within the meaning of Article L.411-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code Monétaire et Financier) and Articles 211-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Autorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”). The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.
This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the AMF for approval in France and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.
Such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to (i) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-1 to D.411-3, D.744-1, D.754-1 ;and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation and/or (ii) a restricted number of non-qualified investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-4, D.744-1, D.754-1; and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation.
Pursuant to Article 211-3 of the General Regulation of the AMF, investors in France are informed that the securities cannot be distributed (directly or indirectly) to the public by the investors otherwise than in accordance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 to L.621-8-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.
Ireland
The information in this document does not constitute a prospectus under any Irish laws or regulations and this document has not been filed with or approved by any Irish regulatory authority as the information has not been prepared in the context of a public offering of securities in Ireland within the meaning of the Irish Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (the “Prospectus Regulations”). The securities have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered, sold or delivered directly or indirectly in Ireland by way of a public offering, except to (i) qualified investors as defined in Regulation 2(l) of the Prospectus Regulations and (ii) fewer than 100 natural or legal persons who are not qualified investors.
Israel
The securities offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Israel Securities Authority (the “ISA”), nor have such securities been registered for sale in Israel. The securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Israel, absent the publication of a prospectus that has been approved by the ISA. The ISA has not issued permits, approvals or licenses in connection with this offering or publishing this prospectus, nor has it authenticated the details included herein, confirmed their reliability or completeness, or rendered an opinion as to the quality of the securities being offered.
This document does not constitute a prospectus under the Israeli Securities Law and has not been filed with or approved by the ISA. In the United Kingdom,State of Israel, this document is beingmay be distributed only to, and ismay be directed only at, and any offer of the securities may be directed only at, (i) to the extent applicable, a limited number of persons (i)in accordance with the Israeli Securities Law and (ii) investors listed in the first addendum to the Israeli Securities Law (the “Addendum”) consisting primarily of joint investment in trust funds, provident funds, insurance companies, banks, portfolio managers, investment advisors, members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd., underwriters, venture capital funds, entities with equity in excess of NIS 50 million and “qualified individuals,” each as defined in the Addendum (as it may be amended from time to time), collectively referred to as qualified investors (in each case purchasing for their own account or, where permitted under the Addendum, for the accounts of their clients who have professional experienceare investors listed in mattersthe Addendum). Qualified investors will be required to submit written confirmation that they fall within the scope of the Addendum, are aware of the meaning of same and agree to it.
Italy
The offering of the securities in the Republic of Italy has not been authorized by the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa, “CONSOB”) pursuant to the Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no offering material relating to investments fallingthe securities may be distributed in Italy and such securities may not be offered or sold in Italy in a public offer within the meaning of Article 19(5) (investment professionals)1.1(t) of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998 (“Decree No. 58”), other than:
● | to Italian qualified investors, as defined in Article 100 of Decree No. 58 by reference to Article 34-ter of CONSOB Regulation no. 11971 of 14 May 1999 (“Regulation no. 11971”) as amended (“Qualified Investors”); and |
● | in other circumstances that are exempt from the rules on public offer pursuant to Article 100 of Decree No. 58 and Article 34-ter of Regulation No. 11971 as amended. |
Any offer, sale or delivery of the securities or distribution of any offer document relating to the securities in Italy (excluding placements where a Qualified Investor solicits an offer from the issuer) under the paragraphs above must be:
● | made by investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993 (as amended), Decree No. 58, CONSOB Regulation No. 16190 of 29 October 2007 and any other applicable laws; and | |
● | in compliance with all relevant Italian securities, tax and exchange controls and any other applicable laws. |
Any subsequent distribution of the securities in Italy must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under Decree No. 58 and the Regulation No. 11971 as amended, unless an exception from those rules applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such securities being declared null and void and in the liability of the entity transferring the securities for any damages suffered by the investors.
Japan
The securities have not been and will not be registered under Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial ServicesInstruments and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (“FPO”)Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948), (ii) who fall withinas amended (the “FIEL”) pursuant to an exemption from the categoriesregistration requirements applicable to a private placement of persons referredsecurities to Qualified Institutional Investors (as defined in and in accordance with Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.)2, paragraph 3 of the FPOFIEL and the regulations promulgated thereunder). Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or (iii)sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, whom itor for the benefit of, any resident of Japan other than Qualified Institutional Investors. Any Qualified Institutional Investor who acquires securities may otherwise be lawfully communicated (together “relevant persons”). The investmentsnot resell them to which this document relates are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase will be engagedperson in only with, relevant persons. Any person whoJapan that is not a relevantQualified Institutional Investor, and acquisition by any such person shouldof securities is conditional upon the execution of an agreement to that effect.
Portugal
This document is not actbeing distributed in the context of a public offer of financial securities (oferta pública de valores mobiliários) in Portugal, within the meaning of Article 109 of the Portuguese Securities Code (Código dos Valores Mobiliários). The securities have not been offered or rely onsold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal. This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (Comissăo do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários) for approval in Portugal and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to qualify as a public offer under the Portuguese Securities Code. Such offers, sales and distributions of securities in Portugal are limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Portuguese Securities Code). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.
Sweden
This document has not been, and will not be, registered with or approved by Finansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority). Accordingly, this document may not be made available, nor may the securities be offered for sale in Sweden, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to require a prospectus under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980) (Sw. lag (1991:980) om handel med finansiella instrument). Any offering of securities in Sweden is limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Financial Instruments Trading Act). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.
Switzerland
The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
This document is personal to the recipient only and not for general circulation in Switzerland.
United Arab Emirates
Neither this document nor the securities have been approved, disapproved or passed on in any way by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates, nor has the Company received authorization or licensing from the Central Bank of its contents.the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates to market or sell the securities within the United Arab Emirates. This document does not constitute and may not be used for the purpose of an offer or invitation. No services relating to the securities, including the receipt of applications and/or the allotment or redemption of such shares, may be rendered within the United Arab Emirates by the Company.
No offer or invitation to subscribe for securities is valid or permitted in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
21 |
The validity of the shares of Preferred Stocksecurities offered by this prospectus and certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed uponon for us by Thompson Hine LLP.Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed uponon for the underwriters by Cozen O’Connor P.C.Gracin & Marlow, LLP, New York, New York.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 20162020 and 20152019 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2016 included2020 and 2019, incorporated in this Prospectus and inprospectus by reference to the Registration StatementCompany’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, have been so includedincorporated in reliance on the report of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhereincorporated herein and in the Registration Statement,by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditingaccounting and accounting.auditing.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEDISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION
FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
As permittedInsofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the rulesSecurities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with these requirements, we file, electronically, with the SEC, annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, information statements, and other information. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, we provide free access to these materials through our website, www.fgfinancial.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are allowedfiled with or furnished to the SEC. Information contained on, or (other than our SEC filings) that may be accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference intoinformation in this prospectusdocument. This means that we can disclose important business information about the Company that is contained into you by referring you to documents that we have previously filed with the SEC or documents that we will file with the SEC butin the future. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be an important part of this prospectus, except for any information that are notis superseded by information that is included directly in or delivered with this prospectus. You may obtain copies of these documents, without charge, from the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, as well as other sources.
document.
All futureWe are incorporating by reference in this prospectus the following documents subsequentlywhich we have previously filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d)(other than any portions of the Exchange Act (other than thoseCurrent Reports on Form 8-K that were furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC)applicable SEC rules):
(1) | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on March 18, 2021; |
(2) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed on May 14, 2021; |
(3) | Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 19, 2021, March 18, 2021, April 16, 2021, May 14, 2021, May 19, 2021, May 21, 2021 and August 3, 2021; |
(4) | the description of our shares of common stock contained in (i) our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on March 19, 2014, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description and (ii) Exhibit 4.4—Description of Securities to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 18, 2021; and |
(5) | the description of our shares of 8.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A contained in (i) our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on February 26, 2018, and (ii) Exhibit 4.4—Description of Securities to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 18, 2021. |
Whenever after the effective date of filing the registration statement of which this prospectus formsis a part, and prior to the terminationuntil all of the securities to which this prospectus relates have been sold or the offering shallis otherwise terminated, we file reports or documents under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, those reports and documents will be deemed to be part of this prospectus from the time they are filed. Any statements made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference intoin this prospectus.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shallprospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document whichthat is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes suchthe statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall notNothing in this prospectus will be deemed except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a partincorporate information furnished by us on Form 8-K that under the rules of this prospectus.
the SEC, is not deemed “filed” for purposes of the Exchange Act.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the reports or documentsinformation that havehas been incorporated by reference in thisthe prospectus, but not delivered with the prospectus, upon oral or written request, free of charge. Any requests for this prospectusinformation should be made by calling or sending a letter at no cost upon written or oral request. You may request a copy of these reports or documents (other than an exhibit to a report or document unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that report or document) at no cost by writing, telephoning or e-mailing usour principal executive offices at the following address, telephone number or e-mail address:
FG Financial Group, Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations
360 Central Ave, Suite 800
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Telephone: (727)-304-5666
1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.2,811,482 1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 870Tampa, Florida 33607(855) 862-0436jhellman@equityny.comShares of Common Stock
Copies of these reports and documents are also available through the “Investor Relations” section of our website at www1347pih.com. For other ways to obtain a copy of these reports and documents, please refer to “Where You Can Find More Information” below.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the Exchange Act and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have also filed a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act, including exhibits, with respect to the shares of Preferred Stock covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement, but does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits. For further information about us and the shares of Preferred Stock, we refer you to the documents we publicly file with the SEC and the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including the documents filed as exhibits thereto. You can find our public filings with the SEC and the registration statement, including exhibits, on the internet at a website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or from our website at http://www.1347pih.com. You may also read and copy our public filings with the SEC and the registration statement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. We also make available on our website our annual, quarterly and current reports and amendments as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website address is www.1347pih.com. The information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
September 30, | December 31, 2016 | |||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||
Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $45,252 and $26,793, respectively) | $ | 45,207 | $ | 26,559 | ||||
Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $1,682 and $1,000, respectively) | 1,771 | 1,136 | ||||||
Short-term investments, at cost | 1,779 | 196 | ||||||
Other investments, at cost | 945 | 505 | ||||||
Total investments | 49,702 | 28,396 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 25,679 | 43,045 | ||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net | 6,192 | 4,389 | ||||||
Premiums receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $39 and $38, respectively | 2,220 | 2,923 | ||||||
Ceded unearned premiums | 3,836 | 4,847 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses | 7,767 | 444 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 17,560 | 3,652 | ||||||
Funds deposited with reinsured companies | — | 500 | ||||||
Current income taxes recoverable | 632 | 1,195 | ||||||
Deferred tax asset, net | 855 | 420 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 213 | 250 | ||||||
Other assets | 867 | 788 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 115,523 | $ | 90,849 | ||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 22,091 | $ | 6,971 | ||||
Unearned premium reserves | 32,170 | 25,821 | ||||||
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable | 5,786 | 5,229 | ||||||
Agency commissions payable | 716 | 497 | ||||||
Premiums collected in advance | 1,887 | 1,128 | ||||||
Funds held under reinsurance treaties | 48 | 73 | ||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses | 4,483 | 2,065 | ||||||
Series B Preferred Shares, $25.00 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 120,000 shares issued and outstanding for both periods | 2,744 | 2,708 | ||||||
Total liabilities | $ | 69,925 | $ | 44,492 | ||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16) | ||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 6,136,125 and 6,108,125 shares issued and 5,984,766 and 5,956,766 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively | $ | 6 | $ | 6 | ||||
Additional paid-in capital | 47,052 | 46,809 | ||||||
Retained (deficit) earnings | (480 | ) | 616 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 29 | (65 | ) | |||||
46,607 | 47,366 | |||||||
Less: treasury stock at cost; 151,359 shares for both periods | (1,009 | ) | (1,009 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 45,598 | 46,357 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 115,523 | $ | 90,849 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||
Revenue: | |||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 8,632 | $ | 7,136 | $ | 25,032 | $ | 22,869 | |||||||||
Net investment income | 248 | 151 | 700 | 393 | |||||||||||||
Other income | 474 | 345 | 1,262 | 862 | |||||||||||||
Total revenue | 9,354 | 7,632 | 26,994 | 24,124 | |||||||||||||
Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | 7,795 | 6,443 | 13,809 | 14,917 | |||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 2,755 | 2,095 | 7,867 | 6,148 | |||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 2,145 | 1,658 | 6,535 | 4,982 | |||||||||||||
Accretion of discount on Series B Preferred Shares | 93 | 89 | 276 | 263 | |||||||||||||
Total expenses | 12,788 | 10,285 | 28,487 | 26,310 | |||||||||||||
Loss before income tax benefit | (3,434 | ) | (2,653 | ) | (1,493 | ) | (2,186 | ) | |||||||||
Income tax benefit | (1,171 | ) | (847 | ) | (397 | ) | (605 | ) | |||||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,263 | ) | $ | (1,806 | ) | $ | (1,096 | ) | $ | (1,581 | ) | |||||
Net loss per common share: | |||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.38 | ) | $ | (0.30 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (0.26 | ) | |||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | 5,961,636 | 6,022,983 | 5,958,407 | 6,076,838 | |||||||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,263 | ) | $ | (1,806 | ) | $ | (1,096 | ) | $ | (1,581 | ) | |||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments available for sale, net of income taxes | 25 | (11 | ) | 94 | 310 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive loss | $ | (2,238 | ) | $ | (1,817 | ) | $ | (1,002 | ) | $ | (1,271 | ) |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
(in thousands, except per share data)
Common Stock | Treasury Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Total Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance-January 1, 2016 | 6,134,274 | $ | 6 | 223,851 | $ | (1,731 | ) | $ | 48,688 | $ | 605 | $ | (62 | ) | $ | 47,506 | ||||||||||||||||
Stock compensation expense | — | — | — | — | 38 | — | — | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock | (177,508 | ) | — | 177,508 | (1,195 | ) | — | — | — | (1,195 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement of treasury shares | — | — | (250,000 | ) | 1,917 | (1,917 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2016 | 5,956,766 | $ | 6 | 151,359 | $ | (1,009 | ) | $ | 46,809 | $ | 616 | $ | (65 | ) | $ | 46,357 | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common shares | 28,000 | — | — | — | 224 | — | — | 224 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock compensation expense | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | (1,096 | ) | — | (1,096 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | — | — | 94 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance – September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | 5,984,766 | $ | 6 | 151,359 | $ | (1,009 | ) | $ | 47,052 | $ | (480 | ) | $ | 29 | $ | 45,598 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||
2017 | 2016 | |||||||
Cash provided by: | ||||||||
Operating activities: | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (1,096 | ) | $ | (1,581 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Accretion of discount on Series B Preferred Shares | 276 | 263 | ||||||
Net deferred income taxes | (483 | ) | (209 | ) | ||||
Stock compensation expense | 19 | 30 | ||||||
Depreciation expense | 55 | 49 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Premiums receivable | 703 | 293 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses and loss reserves | (21,231 | ) | (7,866 | ) | ||||
Amounts held on deposit with reinsured companies | 500 | 725 | ||||||
Ceded unearned premiums | 1,011 | (1,646 | ) | |||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net | (1,803 | ) | (339 | ) | ||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 15,120 | 6,504 | ||||||
Premiums collected in advance | 759 | 819 | ||||||
Unearned premium reserves | 6,349 | 2,902 | ||||||
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable | 557 | 2,333 | ||||||
Current income taxes recoverable | 563 | (606 | ) | |||||
Other, net | 2,533 | (12 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 3,832 | 1,659 | ||||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||
Purchases of furniture and equipment | (18 | ) | (81 | ) | ||||
Purchases of fixed income securities | (18,459 | ) | (7,424 | ) | ||||
Purchase of equity investments | (682 | ) | (1,000 | ) | ||||
Purchase of other investments | (440 | ) | (139 | ) | ||||
Net purchases of short-term investments | (1,583 | ) | (784 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (21,182 | ) | (9,428 | ) | ||||
Financing activities: | ||||||||
Payment of dividends on preferred shares | (240 | ) | (240 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of common stock | 224 | — | ||||||
Purchases of treasury stock | — | (1,022 | ) | |||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (16 | ) | (1,262 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (17,366 | ) | (9,031 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 43,045 | 47,957 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 25,679 | $ | 38,926 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||
Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||
Income taxes | $ | 35 | $ | 293 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
1. Nature of Business
Maison Insurance Holdings,FG Financial Group, Inc. was incorporated on October 2, 2012 in the State of Delaware. On November 19, 2013, its legal name was changed from Maison Insurance Holdings, Inc. to 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“PIH”). PIH is a holding company and is engaged, through its subsidiaries, in the property and casualty insurance business. Unless context denotes otherwise, the terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries.
Prior to March 31, 2014, PIH was a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway America Inc. (“KAI”). KAI, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (“KFSI”), a publicly owned holding company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On March 31, 2014, PIH completed an initial public offering (“IPO”) of its common stock. On June 13, 2014, PIH completed a follow-on offering of its common stock to the public. Through the combination of the IPO and follow-on offering, PIH issued approximately five million shares of its common stock, while KAI, and entities affiliated with KAI retained one million shares of PIH. On October 25, 2017, KAI entered into a purchase agreement with Fundamental Global Investors, LLC (“FGI”) pursuant to which KAI agreed to sell 900,000 shares of our common stock to FGI or to one of FGI’s affiliate companies in two separate transactions. The first transaction, for the sale of 475,428 shares of our common stock, occurred on November 1, 2017. The second transaction, for the sale of 424,572 shares of our common stock is conditioned on approval of the transaction by both the LDI and FL OIR by January 23, 2018. FGI is affiliated with D. Kyle Cerminara, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner, and Lewis M. Johnson, where he serves as President, Co-Founder and Partner. Messrs. Cerminara and Johnson are also members of our Board of Directors. Should the second transaction be consummated, FGI, and entities affiliated with FGI, would own 43% of our outstanding common shares.
PIH has three wholly-owned subsidiaries; Maison Insurance Company (“Maison”), a Louisiana-domiciled property and casualty insurance company, Maison Managers, Inc. (“MMI”), a managing general agent, incorporated in the State of Delaware, and ClaimCor, LLC (“ClaimCor”), a Florida based claims and underwriting solutions company. Maison processes claims made by its policyholders through ClaimCor, and also through various third-party claims adjusting companies. MMI has ultimate authority over the claims handling process, while the agencies that we appoint have no authority to settle our claims or otherwise exercise control over the claims process.
Maison began providing homeowners insurance, manufactured home insurance and dwelling fire insurance to individuals in Louisiana in December 2012. Maison writes both full peril property policies as well as wind/hail only exposures in Louisiana and distributes its policies through a network of independent insurance agencies. Maison began assuming wind/hail only insurance for commercial properties in Texas beginning in June 2015. In September 2015, Maison began writing manufactured home policies in the State of Texas on a direct basis, and in March 2016, Maison began writing homeowner policies in Texas.
In addition to the voluntary policies that Maison writes, Maison has participated in the last five rounds of take-outs from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Company (“LA Citizens”), occurring on December 1st of each year, as well as the inaugural depopulation of policies from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (“TWIA”), which occurred on December 1, 2016. Under these programs, state-approved insurance companies, such as Maison, have the opportunity to assume insurance policies written by both LA Citizens and TWIA. The majority of policies that we have obtained through LA Citizens as well as all of the policies we have obtained through TWIA cover losses arising only from wind and hail. Prior to our takeout, some of these LA Citizens and TWIA policyholders may not have been able to obtain such coverage from any other marketplace.
On March 1, 2017, Maison received a certificate of authority from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“FL OIR”) which authorizes Maison to write personal lines insurance in the State of Florida. Pursuant to the consent order issued, Maison has agreed to comply with certain requirements as outlined by the FL OIR until Maison can demonstrate three consecutive years of net income following the Company’s admission into Florida as evidenced by its Annual Statement filed with the FL OIR via the National Association of Insurance Commissioners electronic filing system. Among other requirements, the FL OIR requires the following as conditions related to the issuance of Maison’s certificate of authority:
To comply with the consent order, on March 31, 2017, Maison received a capital contribution from PIH in the amount of $16,000. As of September 30, 2017, Maison has not written any insurance policies covering risks in the State of Florida.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
On September 29, 2017, Maison received authorization from the FL OIR to assume personal lines policies from Florida Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“FL Citizens”) pursuant to a proposal of depopulation which Maison filed with FL Citizens on August 18, 2017. Accordingly, Maison plans to enter the Florida market via the assumption of policies from FL Citizens in December, 2017. The order approving Maison’s assumption of policies limits the number of policies which Maison may assume in 2017, and also stipulates that Maison maintain catastrophe reinsurance at such levels as deemed appropriate by the FL OIR.
MMI serves as the Company’s management services subsidiary, known as a managing general agency, and provides underwriting, policy administration, claims administration, marketing, accounting, and other management services to Maison. MMI contracts primarily with independent agencies for policy sales and services, and also contracts with an independent third-party for policy administration services. As a managing general agency, MMI is licensed by and subject to the regulatory oversight of the Louisiana Department of Insurance (“LDI”), Texas Department of Insurance (“TDI”) and the FL OIR.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation:
These statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Principles of Consolidation:
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
The Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period reported. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the accounting period in which the change is determined. The critical accounting estimates and assumptions in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves (as well as the associated reinsurance recoverable on those reserves), the valuation of fixed income and equity securities, the valuation of net deferred income taxes, the valuation of various securities that we have issued in conjunction with the termination of the management services agreement with 1347 Advisors, LLC, and the valuation of deferred policy acquisition costs.
Investments:
Investments in fixed income and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and reported at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, until sold or an other-than-temporary impairment is recognized, at which point the cumulative unrealized gains or losses are transferred to the consolidated statement of operations.
Other investments include investments in limited liability companies in which the Company’s interests are deemed minor and, therefore, are accounted for under the cost method of accounting, which approximates their fair value. Also included in other investments is a fixed rate certificate of deposit with an original maturity of 15 months.
Short-term investments, which consist of investments with maturities between three months and one year, are reported at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature.
Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on a first-in, first-out basis, and are included in net investment income.
Interest income is included in net investment income and is recorded as it accrues.
The Company accounts for its investments using trade date accounting.
The Company conducts a quarterly review to identify and evaluate investments that show objective indications of possible impairment. Impairment is charged to the statement of operations if the fair value of the instrument falls below its amortized cost and the decline is considered other-than-temporary. Factors considered in determining whether a loss is other-than-temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less.
Premiums Receivable:
Premiums receivable include premium balances due and uncollected as well as installment premiums not yet due from our independent agencies and insureds. Premiums receivable are reported net of an estimated allowance for credit losses.
Reinsurance:
Reinsurance premiums, losses, and loss adjustment expenses are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Premiums and losses ceded to other companies have been reported as a reduction of premium revenue and incurred net losses and loss adjustment expenses. A reinsurance recoverable is recorded for that portion of paid and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses that are ceded to other companies.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs:
The Company defers commissions, premium taxes, assessments and other underwriting and agency expenses that are directly related to successful efforts to acquire new or existing insurance policies to the extent they are considered recoverable. Costs deferred on insurance products are amortized over the period in which premiums are earned. Costs associated with unsuccessful efforts or costs that cannot be tied directly to a successful policy acquisition are expensed as incurred, as opposed to being deferred and amortized as the corresponding premium is earned. The method followed in determining the deferred policy acquisition costs limits the deferral to its realizable value by giving consideration to estimated future loss and loss adjustment expenses to be incurred as revenues are earned. Anticipated investment income is included in determining the realizable value of the deferred policy acquisition costs. Changes in estimates, if any, are recorded in the accounting period in which they are determined.
Income Taxes:
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, whereby deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for (i) the differences between the financial statement carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and (ii) loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the date of enactment. Future tax benefits are recognized to the extent that realization of such benefits is more likely than not and a valuation allowance is established for any portion of a deferred tax asset that management believes will not be realized. Current federal income taxes are charged or credited to operations based upon amounts estimated to be payable or recoverable as a result of taxable operations for the current year. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense (benefit).
Property and Equipment:
Property and equipment is reported at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment is recorded on a straight-line basis over estimated useful life which range from seven years for furniture, five years for vehicles, three years for computer equipment, and the shorter of estimated useful life or the term of the lease for leasehold improvements. Property and equipment is estimated to have no salvage value at its useful life-end.
Rent expense for the Company’s office leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Rent expense was $255 and $258 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves:
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves represent the estimated liabilities for reported loss events, incurred but not yet reported loss events and the related estimated loss adjustment expenses. The Company performs a continuing review of its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, including its reserving techniques as well as the impact of reinsurance on our loss reserves. The loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are also reviewed, at minimum, on an annual basis by qualified third party actuaries. Since the loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are based on estimates, the ultimate liability may be more or less than such reserves. The effects of changes in such estimated reserves are included in the results of income in the period in which the estimates are changed. Such changes in estimates could occur in a future period and may be material to the Company’s results of operations and financial position in such period.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
Concentration of Credit Risk:
Financial instruments which potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk include investments, cash, premiums receivable, and amounts due from reinsurers on losses incurred. The Company maintains its cash with two major U.S. domestic banking institutions and two regional banks headquartered in the Southeastern United States. Such amounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250 per institution. At September 30, 2017, the Company held funds on deposit at these institutions in excess of these FDIC insured amounts. The terms of these deposits are on demand to mitigate some of the associated risk. The Company has not incurred losses related to these deposits.
The Company has not experienced significant losses related to premiums receivable from its policyholders and management believes that amounts provided as an allowance for credit losses is adequate.
The Company has not experienced any losses on amounts due from reinsurers. In order to limit the credit risk associated with amounts potentially due from reinsurers, the Company uses several different reinsurers, all of which have an A.M. Best Rating of A- (Excellent) or better. Absent such rating, the Company has required its reinsurers to place collateral on deposit with an independent institution under a trust agreement for the Company’s benefit.
The Company also has risk associated with the lack of geographic diversification due to the fact that through September 30, 2017, Maison exclusively underwrote policies in Louisiana and Texas. The Company insures personal property located in 63 of the 64 parishes in the State of Louisiana. As of September 30, 2017, these policies are concentrated within these parishes, presented as a percentage of our total policies in force in all states, as follows: Jefferson Parish 12.6%, Saint Tammany Parish 12.5%, East Baton Rouge Parish 7.2%, and Livingston Parish 5.1%. No other parish individually has over 5.0% of the policies in force as of September 30, 2017. On a direct basis, Maison writes in 150 of the 254 counties that comprise the State of Texas; however, no single county represents over 5.0% of the Company’s total policies in force as of September 30, 2017.
Revenue Recognition:
Premium revenue is recognized on a pro rata basis over the term of the respective policy contract. Unearned premium reserves represent the portion of premium written that is applicable to the unexpired term of policies in force.
Service charges on installment premiums are recognized as income upon receipt of related installment payments and are reflected in other income.
Revenue from other policy fees is deferred and recognized over the terms of the respective policy period, with revenue reflected in other income.
Any customer payment received is applied first to any service charge or policy fee due, with the remaining amount applied toward any premium due.
Ceded premiums are charged to income over the applicable term of the various reinsurance contracts with third party reinsurers. Ceded unearned premiums represent the unexpired portion of premiums ceded to reinsurers and are reported as an asset on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Premiums collected in advance occur when the policyholder premium is paid in advance of the effective commencement period of the policy and are recorded as a liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Stock-Based Compensation:
The Company has accounted for stock-based compensation under the provisions of ASC Topic 718 –Stock Compensation, which requires the use of the fair-value based method to determine compensation for all arrangements under which employees and others receive shares of stock or equity instruments (stock options and common stock purchase warrants). The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model using assumptions for expected volatility, expected dividends, expected term, and the risk-free interest rate. The fair value of each stock option award is recorded as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the period in which the stock options vest, with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital.
The Company has also issued restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to certain of its employees which have been accounted for as equity based awards since, upon vesting, they are required to be settled in the Company’s common shares. The Company used a Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate the fair value of these awards upon grant date as the vesting of these RSUs occurs solely upon market-based conditions. The fair value of each RSU is recorded as compensation expense over the derived service period, as determined by the valuation model. Should the market-based condition be achieved prior to the expiration of the derived service period, any unrecognized cost will be recorded as compensation expense in the period in which the RSUs actually vest.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
The carrying values of certain financial instruments, including cash, short-term investments, premiums receivable and accounts payable, approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The Company measures the fair value of financial instruments in accordance with GAAP, which defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset (or paid to transfer a liability) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset (or liability) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. GAAP also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.
Earnings Per Common Share:
Basic earnings per common share is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the respective period.
Diluted earnings per common share assumes conversion of all potentially dilutive outstanding stock options, warrants or other convertible financial instruments. Potential common shares outstanding are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share if their effect is anti-dilutive.
Operating Segments:
The Company operates in a single segment – property and casualty insurance.
3. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
ASU 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers:
The FASB has issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, and related amendments ASU 2015-14, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2016-20, ASU 2017-05 and ASU 2017-13, (collectively, “Topic 606”). Topic 606 creates a new comprehensive revenue recognition standard that will serve as a single source of revenue guidance for all companies that either enter into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enter into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards, such as insurance contracts. Topic 606 becomes effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will adopt Topic 606 on the effective date and since virtually all of the Company’s revenues relate to insurance contracts and investment income, the adoption of Topic 606 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s revenues. The Company will continue to monitor and examine transactions that could potentially fall within the scope of Topic 606 as such are consummated.
ASU 2016-01: Financial Instruments-Overall:
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01:Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 amends various aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure for financial instruments. Most significantly, ASU 2016-01 requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of an investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss). ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. ASU 2016-01 will be applied using a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, cash flows, or total comprehensive income, but could impact the Company’s results of operations and earnings per share as changes in fair value will be presented in net income rather than other comprehensive income.
ASU 2016-02: Leases:
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02: Leases. ASU 2016-02 was issued to improve the financial reporting of leasing transactions. Under current guidance for lessees, leases are only included on the balance sheet if certain criteria, classifying the agreement as a capital lease, are met. This update will require the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability, discounted to present value, for all leases that extend beyond 12 months. For operating leases, the asset and liability will be expensed over the lease term on a straight-line basis, with all cash flows included in the operating section of the statement of cash flows. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability will be recognized separately from the amortization of the right-of-use asset in the statement of comprehensive income while the repayment of the principal portion of the lease liability will be classified as a financing activity and the interest component will be included in the operating section of the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, leases will be recognized and measured at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company has reviewed its existing lessee obligations and has determined that ASU 2016-02 will apply should the Company renew its existing leases, or enter into any new lease agreements.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
ASU 2016-09: Stock Compensation:
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09:Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 was issued to simplify the accounting for share-based payment awards. The guidance requires that all tax effects related to share-based payment be made through the statement of operations at the time of settlement as opposed to the current guidance that requires excess tax benefits to be recognized in additional paid-in-capital. ASU 2016-09 also removes the requirement to delay recognition of a tax benefit until it reduces current taxes payable. The change is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative effect adjustment to opening accumulated deficit. Additionally, all tax related cash flows resulting from share-based payments are to be reported as operating activities on the statement of cash flows, a departure from the current requirement which presents tax benefits as an inflow from financing activities and an outflow from operating activities. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2016-09 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2016-13: Financial Instruments – Credit Losses:
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13:Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.ASU 2016-13 was issued to provide financial statement users with more useful information regarding the expected credit losses on financial instruments held as assets. Under current GAAP, financial statement recognition for credit losses on financial instruments was generally delayed until the loss was probable of occurring. The amendments of ASU 2016-13 eliminate this probable initial recognition threshold and instead reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. The amendments also broaden the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimates for those assets measured at amortized cost by using forecasted information instead of the current methodology which only considered past events and current conditions. Under ASU 2016-13, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP; however, the amendments require that credit losses be presented as an allowance against the investment, rather than as a write-down. The amendments also allow the entity to record reversals of credit losses in current period net income, which is prohibited under current GAAP. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements.
4. Investments
A summary of the amortized cost, estimated fair value, and gross unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s investments in fixed income and equity securities at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is as follows.
As of September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 2,911 | $ | 6 | $ | (18 | ) | $ | 2,899 | |||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 5,379 | 12 | (26 | ) | 5,365 | |||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 16,727 | 26 | (119 | ) | 16,635 | |||||||||||
Corporate | 20,235 | 113 | (40 | ) | 20,308 | |||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | 45,252 | 157 | (202 | ) | 45,207 | |||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 1,571 | 66 | (25 | ) | 1,612 | |||||||||||
Warrants to purchase common stock | 72 | 79 | (29 | ) | 122 | |||||||||||
Rights to purchase common stock | 39 | 3 | (5 | ) | 37 | |||||||||||
Total equity securities | 1,682 | 148 | (59 | ) | 1,771 | |||||||||||
Total fixed income and equity securities | $ | 46,934 | $ | 305 | $ | (261 | ) | $ | 46,978 | |||||||
As of December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 1,623 | $ | 1 | $ | (20 | ) | $ | 1,604 | |||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 2,271 | 2 | (27 | ) | 2,246 | |||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 12,095 | 9 | (136 | ) | 11,968 | |||||||||||
Corporate | 10,804 | 28 | (91 | ) | 10,741 | |||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | 26,793 | 40 | (274 | ) | 26,559 | |||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 1,000 | 136 | — | 1,136 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 1,000 | 136 | — | 1,136 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed income and equity securities | $ | 27,793 | $ | 176 | $ | (274 | ) | $ | 27,695 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
The table below summarizes the Company’s fixed income securities at September 30, 2017 by contractual maturity periods. Actual results may differ as issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without penalties, prior to the contractual maturity of these obligations.
Matures in: | Amortized Cost | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||
One year or less | $ | 2,416 | $ | 2,415 | ||||
More than one to five years | 19,759 | 19,757 | ||||||
More than five to ten years | 11,780 | 11,804 | ||||||
More than ten years | 11,297 | 11,231 | ||||||
Total | $ | 45,252 | $ | 45,207 |
The following table highlights, by loss position and security type, those fixed income and equity securities in unrealized loss positions as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The tables segregate the holdings based on the period of time the investments have been continuously held in unrealized loss positions. There were 149 and 122 fixed income investments that were in unrealized loss positions as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company held 12 equity investments in unrealized loss positions as of September 30, 2017.
Less than 12 Months | Greater than 12 Months | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | Estimated Fair Value | Unrealized Loss | Estimated Fair Value | Unrealized Loss | Estimated Fair Value | Unrealized Loss | ||||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 2,041 | $ | (18 | ) | $ | 175 | $ | — | $ | 2,216 | $ | (18 | ) | ||||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 2,357 | (13 | ) | 589 | (13 | ) | 2,946 | (26 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 11,682 | (83 | ) | 1,675 | (36 | ) | 13,357 | (119 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Corporate | 6,568 | (23 | ) | 556 | (16 | ) | 7,124 | (39 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | 22,648 | (137 | ) | 2,995 | (65 | ) | 25,643 | (202 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 237 | (25 | ) | — | — | 237 | (25 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Warrants to purchase common stock | 23 | (29 | ) | — | — | 23 | (29 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Rights to purchase common stock | 18 | (5 | ) | — | — | 18 | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 278 | (59 | ) | — | 278 | (59 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total fixed income and equity securities | $ | 22,926 | $ | (196 | ) | $ | 2,995 | $ | (65 | ) | $ | 25,921 | $ | (261 | ) | |||||||||
As of December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 1,303 | $ | (20 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,303 | $ | (20 | ) | ||||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 1,537 | (27 | ) | — | — | 1,537 | (27 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 9,552 | (133 | ) | 460 | (3 | ) | 10,012 | (136 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Corporate | 5,952 | (91 | ) | — | — | 5,952 | (91 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | $ | 18,344 | $ | (271 | ) | $ | 460 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 18,804 | $ | (274 | ) |
Under the terms of the certificate of authority granted to Maison by the Texas Department of Insurance, Maison is required to pledge securities totaling at least $2,000 with the State of Texas. Maison deposited the required securities with the State of Texas on May 13, 2015. These securities consist of various fixed income securities listed in the preceding tables which have an amortized cost basis of $2,001 and estimated fair value of $1,998 as of September 30, 2017.
The Company’s other investments are comprised of investments in two limited partnerships which seek to provide equity and asset-backed debt investment in a variety of privately-owned companies. The Company has committed to a total investment of $1,000, of which the limited partnerships have drawn down approximately $645 through September 30, 2017. One of these limited partnerships is managed by Argo Management Group, LLC, an entity which, as of April 21, 2016 is wholly owned by KFSI (see Note 12 – Related Party Transactions). The Company has accounted for its investments under the cost method as the instruments do not have readily determinable fair values and the Company does not exercise significant influence over the operations of the limited partnerships or the underlying privately-owned companies.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
Also included in other investments is a certificate of deposit in the amount of $300 with an original term of 18 months deposited with the State of Florida pursuant to the terms of the certificate of authority issued to Maison from the FL OIR.
Other-than-Temporary Impairment:
The establishment of an other-than-temporary impairment on an investment requires a number of judgments and estimates. The Company performs a quarterly analysis of the individual investments to determine if declines in market value are other-than-temporary. The analysis includes some or all of the following procedures as deemed appropriate by the Company:
The risks and uncertainties inherent in the assessment methodology used to determine declines in market value that are other-than-temporary include, but may not be limited to, the following:
The Company has reviewed currently available information regarding the investments it holds which have estimated fair values that are less than their carrying amounts and believes that these unrealized losses are primarily due to temporary market and sector-related factors rather than to issuer-specific factors. The Company does not intend to sell these investments in the short term, and it is not likely that it will be required to sell these investments before the recovery of their amortized cost.
Accordingly, all of the Company’s investments were in good standing and there were no write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments on the Company’s investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
The Company does not have any exposure to subprime mortgage-backed investments. Net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | 2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||
Investment income: | ||||||||||||||||
Interest on fixed income securities | $ | 231 | $ | 123 | $ | 548 | $ | 332 | ||||||||
Interest on cash and cash equivalents | 30 | 34 | 126 | 89 | ||||||||||||
Realized gain upon sale of securities | 4 | — | 68 | — | ||||||||||||
Other | — | 5 | — | 7 | ||||||||||||
Gross investment income | 265 | 162 | 742 | 428 | ||||||||||||
Investment expenses | (17 | ) | (11 | ) | (42 | ) | (35 | ) | ||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 248 | $ | 151 | $ | 700 | $ | 393 |
5. Reinsurance
The Company reinsures, or cedes, a portion of its written premiums on a per risk and excess of loss basis to non-affiliated insurers in order to limit its loss exposure. Although reinsurance is intended to reduce the Company’s exposure risk, the ceding of insurance does not legally discharge the Company from its primary liability for the full amount of coverage under its policies. If our reinsurers fail to meet their obligations under the applicable reinsurance agreements, the Company would still be required to pay the insured for the loss.
Under the Company’s per-risk treaty, reinsurance recoveries are received for up to $1,750 in excess of a retention of $250 for each loss occurring prior to June 1, 2017. Effective June 1, 2017, the Company amended its per-risk treaty such that recoveries are received for up to $1,600 in excess of a retention of $400 for each loss occurring on June 1, 2017 or thereafter. The Company has ceded $405 and $438 in written premiums under its per-risk treaties for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The Company’s excess of loss treaties are based upon a treaty year beginning on June 1st of each year and expiring on May 31st of the following year. Thus, the financial statements for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 contain premiums ceded under three separate excess of loss treaties. Under the Company’s 2015/2016 excess of loss treaty which expired on May 31, 2016, for each catastrophic event occurring within a 144-hour period, the Company receives reinsurance recoveries of up to $121,000 in excess of a retention of $4,000 per event. The Company had also procured a “top, drop and aggregate” layer of reinsurance protection that may be used for any event above $125,000, up to a maximum recovery of $15,000. This $15,000 second layer of coverage applied in total to all events occurring during the treaty year of June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016.
For both the treaty years beginning June 1, 2016 and June 1, 2017, the Company’s excess of loss treaties cover losses of up to $170,000 in excess of a $5,000 retention per event. For any event above $175,000, the Company again purchased top, drop and aggregate coverage, with an additional limit of $25,000. The $25,000 aggregate coverage applies in total to all events occurring during each of the treaty years.
The Company has ceded $16,021 and $14,976 in written premiums under its excess of loss treaties for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
In June 2015, we began writing business through a quota-share agreement with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company (“Brotherhood”). Through this agreement, we act as a reinsurer, and have assumed wind/hail only exposures on certain churches and related structures that Brotherhood insures throughout the State of Texas. Our quota-share percentage varies from 25%-100% of the wind/hail premium written by Brotherhood, dependent upon the geographic location (coastal areas versus non-coastal areas) within the State of Texas. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we have written $1,427 in assumed premiums through our agreement with Brotherhood, compared to $1,367 in assumed premiums for the same period in 2016.
On December 1, 2016, we participated TWIA’s inaugural depopulation program whereby Maison assumed personal lines policies for wind and hail only exposures along the Gulf Coast area of Texas. The depopulation program was structured such that Maison reinsures TWIA under a 100% quota share agreement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we have written $1,401 in assumed premiums through the TWIA quota share agreement.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
The impact of reinsurance treaties on the Company’s financial statements is as follows:
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
Premium written: | ||||||||||||||||
Direct | $ | 16,533 | $ | 13,457 | $ | 45,989 | $ | 38,117 | ||||||||
Assumed | 630 | 509 | 2,828 | 1,367 | ||||||||||||
Ceded | (6,051 | ) | (5,973 | ) | (16,426 | ) | (15,414 | ) | ||||||||
Net premium written | $ | 11,112 | $ | 7,993 | $ | 32,391 | $ | 24,070 | ||||||||
Premium earned: | ||||||||||||||||
Direct | $ | 14,056 | $ | 12,037 | $ | 40,015 | $ | 34,455 | ||||||||
Assumed | 851 | 509 | 2,454 | 1,367 | ||||||||||||
Ceded | (6,275 | ) | (5,410 | ) | (17,437 | ) | (12,953 | ) | ||||||||
Net premium earned | $ | 8,632 | $ | 7,136 | $ | 25,032 | $ | 22,869 | ||||||||
Losses and LAE incurred: | ||||||||||||||||
Direct | $ | 20,451 | $ | 12,529 | $ | 31,297 | $ | 25,985 | ||||||||
Assumed | 5,734 | 562 | 8,937 | 2,340 | ||||||||||||
Ceded | (18,390 | ) | (6,648 | ) | (26,425 | ) | (13,408 | ) | ||||||||
Net losses and LAE incurred | $ | 7,795 | $ | 6,443 | $ | 13,809 | $ | 14,917 |
6. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Deferred policy acquisition costs (“DPAC”) consist primarily of commissions, premium taxes, assessments and other policy processing fees incurred which are related to successful efforts to acquire new or renewal insurance contracts. Acquisition costs deferred on insurance products are amortized over the period in which the related revenues are earned. Costs associated with unsuccessful efforts or costs that cannot be tied directly to a successful policy acquisition are expensed as incurred.
DPAC as well as the related amortization expense associated with DPAC for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, is as follows:
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
Balance, beginning of period, net | $ | 5,545 | $ | 4,139 | $ | 4,389 | $ | 4,030 | ||||||||
Additions | 3,402 | 2,325 | 9,670 | 6,487 | ||||||||||||
Amortization | (2,755 | ) | (2,095 | ) | (7,867 | ) | (6,148 | ) | ||||||||
Balance, September 30, net | $ | 6,192 | $ | 4,369 | $ | 6,192 | $ | 4,369 |
7. Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
The Company continually revises its estimates of the ultimate financial impact of claims made. A significant degree of judgment is required to determine amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) reserves. The process for establishing this provision reflects the uncertainties and significant judgmental factors inherent in predicting future results of both known and unknown loss events. The process of establishing the provision for loss and LAE reserves relies on the judgment and opinions of a large number of individuals, including the opinions of the Company’s independent actuaries.
The Company’s evaluation of the adequacy of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves includes a re-estimation of the liability for loss and LAE reserves relating to each preceding financial year compared to the liability that was previously established. The results of this comparison and the changes in the provision, net of amounts recoverable from reinsurers, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
Balance, beginning of period, gross of reinsurance | $ | 9,583 | $ | 5,884 | $ | 6,971 | $ | 2,123 | ||||||||
Less reinsurance recoverable on loss and LAE expense reserves | (6,012 | ) | (3,431 | ) | (3,652 | ) | (120 | ) | ||||||||
Balance, beginning of period, net of reinsurance | 3,571 | 2,453 | 3,319 | 2,003 | ||||||||||||
Incurred related to: | ||||||||||||||||
Current year | 8,717 | 6,487 | 15,953 | 15,090 | ||||||||||||
Prior years | (922 | ) | (44 | ) | (2,144 | ) | (173 | ) | ||||||||
Paid related to: | ||||||||||||||||
Current year | (7,246 | ) | (5,671 | ) | (12,060 | ) | (12,719 | ) | ||||||||
Prior years | 411 | 36 | (537 | ) | (940 | ) | ||||||||||
Balance, September 30, net of reinsurance | 4,531 | 3,261 | 4,531 | 3,261 | ||||||||||||
Plus reinsurance recoverable related to loss and LAE expense reserves | 17,560 | 5,366 | 17,560 | 5,366 | ||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, gross of reinsurance | $ | 22,091 | $ | 8,627 | $ | 22,091 | $ | 8,627 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
8. Income Taxes
Actual income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 varies from the amount that would result by applying the applicable statutory federal income tax rate of 34% to income before income taxes as summarized in the following table:
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
Income tax benefit at statutory income tax rate | $ | (1,168 | ) | $ | (902 | ) | $ | (508 | ) | $ | (743 | ) | ||||
State income tax (net of federal tax benefit) | (5 | ) | 54 | 104 | 131 | |||||||||||
Other | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||||
Income tax benefit | $ | (1,171 | ) | $ | (847 | ) | $ | (397 | ) | $ | (605 | ) |
The Company carries a net deferred income tax asset of $855 and $420 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, all of which the Company believes is more likely than not to be fully realized based upon management’s assessment of future taxable income. Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:
(unaudited) | September 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
Deferred income tax assets: | ||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 49 | $ | 35 | ||||
Unearned premium reserves | 2,055 | 1,503 | ||||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | 736 | 235 | ||||||
Share-based compensation | 335 | 316 | ||||||
Other | 308 | 270 | ||||||
Deferred income tax assets | $ | 3,483 | $ | 2,359 | ||||
Deferred income tax liabilities: | ||||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | $ | 2,105 | $ | 1,492 | ||||
State deferred taxes | 444 | 397 | ||||||
Other | 79 | 50 | ||||||
Deferred income tax liabilities | $ | 2,628 | $ | 1,939 | ||||
Net deferred income tax assets | $ | 855 | $ | 420 |
As of September 30, 2017, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits. The Company analyzed its tax positions in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740,Income Taxes, and has determined that there are currently no uncertain tax positions. The Company generally recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense (benefit).
9. Net Loss Per Share
Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the periods presented. In calculating diluted loss per share, those potential common shares that are found to be anti-dilutive are excluded from the calculation. The table below provides a summary of the numerators and denominators used in determining basic and diluted loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
Basic and Diluted: | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,263 | ) | $ | (1,806 | ) | $ | (1,096 | ) | $ | (1,581 | ) | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding | 5,961,636 | 6,022,983 | 5,958,407 | 6,076,838 | ||||||||||||
Loss per common share | $ | (0.38 | ) | $ | (0.30 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (0.26 | ) |
The following potentially dilutive securities outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding as their effect would be anti-dilutive.
(unaudited) | As of September 30, | |||||||
2017 | 2016 | |||||||
Options to purchase common stock | 177,456 | 210,489 | ||||||
Warrants to purchase common stock | 1,906,875 | 1,906,875 | ||||||
Restricted stock units | 20,500 | 20,500 | ||||||
Performance shares | 475,000 | 475,000 | ||||||
2,579,831 | 2,612,864 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
10. Options, Warrants, and Restricted Stock Units
The Company has established an equity incentive plan for employees and directors of the Company (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to create incentives designed to motivate recipients to contribute toward the Company’s growth and success, and also to attract and retain persons of outstanding competence, and provide such persons with an opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company.
The types of awards available for issuance under the Plan include non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance shares, performance cash awards, and other stock-based awards. The Plan provides for the issuance of 354,912 shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2017, both stock options and RSUs had been issued to the Company’s employees under the Plan resulting in 156,956 shares available for future issuance under the Plan.
There were no grants, exercises, or cancellations of the Company’s stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The following table summarizes the Company’s stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2017.
Stock Options Outstanding as of September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Date of Grant | Exercise Price ($) | Expiration Date | Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Number Outstanding | Number Exercisable | ||||||||||||||
03/31/2014 | 8.00 | 03/31/2019 | 1.50 | 163,301 | 143,704 | ||||||||||||||
04/04/2014 | 8.69 | 04/04/2019 | 1.51 | 14,155 | 12,456 | ||||||||||||||
Total | 177,456 | 156,160 |
On May 29, 2015, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors granted RSUs to certain of its executive officers under the Plan. Each RSU granted entitles the grantee to one share of the Company’s common stock upon the vesting date of the RSU. The RSUs vest as follows: (i) 50% upon the date that the closing price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share; and (ii) 50% upon the date that the closing price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share. Prior to the vesting of the RSUs, the grantee will not be entitled to any dividends declared on the Company’s common stock. The RSUs do not expire; however, should the grantee discontinue employment with the Company for any reason other than death or disability, all unvested RSUs will be deemed forfeited on the date employment is discontinued.
On May 23, 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the potential issuance of RSUs to the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Case. Mr. Case will be awarded two matching RSUs for each share of the Company’s common stock that he purchases on the open market or directly from the Company during the period beginning May 23, 2017 and ending June 15, 2018, up to a maximum of 136,054 RSUs. Each RSU will entitle Mr. Case to one share of the Company’s common stock upon the vesting date of the RSU, which shall vest 20% per year over a period of five years following the date granted, subject to Mr. Case’s continued employment with the Company. Mr. Case will also be required to maintain ownership of the shares purchased through the full five-year vesting period. The RSUs will be issued to Mr. Case outside of the Plan as an inducement grant material to Mr. Case entering into employment with the Company. Through September 30, 2017, Mr. Case had purchased 50,092 shares of the Company’s common stock, of which 28,000 restricted common shares were purchased directly from the Company.
On May 31, 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the potential issuance of additional RSUs to the Company’s Officers and Directors under the Plan. The number of RSUs to be granted will be based upon the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that each participating Officer and Director purchases in open market transactions, independently, and without assistance from the Company, during the period beginning May 31, 2017 and ending November 30, 2017 (the “Purchase Period”). At the end of the Purchase Period, the Company will issue to each participating Officer and Director a total of two RSUs for each share of the Company’s common stock purchased during the Purchase Period, subject to a maximum of 40,000 RSUs for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Raucy, 40,000 RSUs for the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Hill, 20,000 RSUs for the Company’s Chief Underwriting Officer, Mr. Stroud, and 6,666 RSUs for each of the Company’s non-employee Directors. Each RSU will entitle the grantee to one share of the Company’s common stock upon the vesting date of the RSU, which shall vest 20% per year over a period of five years following the date granted, subject to each Officer’s continued employment with the Company and each Director’s continued service on the Board, provided that if a Director makes himself available and consents to be nominated by the Company for continued service but is not nominated by the Board for election by the shareholders, other than for good reason as determined by the Board in its discretion, then such director’s RSUs shall vest in full as of his last date of service as a director with the Company. Participating Officers and Directors will be required to maintain ownership of the shares purchased through the full five-year vesting period. Pursuant to the arrangement, a maximum number of 139,996 RSUs may be granted to the Company’s Officers and Directors at the end of the Purchase Period under the Plan. Through September 30, 2017, the Company’s Officers and Directors had purchased 41,565 shares of the Company’s common stock.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
The following table summarizes RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Restricted Stock Units | Number of Units | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||
Non-vested units, December 31, 2016 | 20,500 | $ | 1.34 | |||||
Granted | — | — | ||||||
Vested | — | — | ||||||
Forfeited | — | — | ||||||
Non-vested units, September 30, 2017(unaudited) | 20,500 | $ | 1.34 |
Total stock based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $19 and $30, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, total unrecognized stock compensation expense of $11 remained, which will be recognized through March 31, 2018.
There were no grants, exercises, or cancellations of the Company’s common stock warrants for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The following table summarizes the Company’s warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2017.
Date of Grant | Exercise Price ($) | Expiration Date | Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Number Outstanding and Exercisable | |||||||||||
03/31/2014 | 9.60 | 03/31/2019 | 1.50 | 312,500 | |||||||||||
03/31/2014 | 10.00 | 03/31/2019 | 1.50 | 94,375 | |||||||||||
02/24/2015 | 15.00 | 02/24/2022 | 4.41 | 1,500,000 | |||||||||||
Total | 1,906,875 |
11. Shareholders’ Equity
Treasury Shares
On December 1, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, which expired on December 31, 2016. Through December 31, 2016, the Company has repurchased an aggregate 401,359 shares at an aggregate purchase price of $2,927, or $7.29 per share, including all fees and commissions.
On January 29, 2016, the Company retired 250,000 of its treasury shares, resulting in a reclassification of the purchase price of $1,917 to additional paid in capital.
12. Related Party Transactions
Related party transactions are carried out in the normal course of operations and are measured in part by the amount of consideration paid or received as established and agreed by the parties. Management believes that consideration paid for such services in each case approximates fair value. Except where disclosed elsewhere in these consolidated financial statements, the following is a summary of related party transactions.
Performance Share Grant Agreement
On March 26, 2014, the Company entered into a Performance Share Grant Agreement (“PSGA”) with KAI, whereby KAI will be entitled to receive up to an aggregate of 375,000 shares of PIH common stock upon achievement of certain milestones regarding the Company’s stock price. Pursuant to the terms of the PSGA, if at any time the last sales price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds: (i) $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of the Company’s common stock; (ii) $15.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (in addition to the 125,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clause (i) herein); and (iii) $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (in addition to the 250,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) herein). The shares of common stock granted to KAI will have a valuation equal to the last sales price of PIH common stock on the day prior to such grant. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has not issued any shares under the PSGA.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
Termination of Management Services Agreement
As a result of the termination of the Management Services Agreement (“MSA”), which occurred on February 24, 2015, the Company has issued the following securities to 1347 Advisors, LLC (“Advisors”), a wholly owned subsidiary of KFSI:
The Performance Shares Grant Agreement grants Advisors 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon the date that the last sales price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-day trading period (the “Milestone Event”). Advisors will not be entitled to any dividends declared or paid on the Company’s stock prior to the Milestone Event having been achieved.
The Preferred Shares have a par value of $25.00 and pay annual cumulative dividends at a rate of eight percent per annum. Cumulative dividends shall accrue, whether or not declared by the Board and irrespective of whether there are funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Accrued dividends shall be paid in cash only when, as, and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available therefor or upon a liquidation or redemption of the Preferred Shares. In the event of any voluntary of involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distributions to its shareholders, before any payment shall be made to holders of securities junior in preference to the Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares rank senior to the Company’s common stock, and the Company is not permitted to issue any other series of preferred stock that ranks equal or senior to the Preferred Shares while the Preferred Shares are outstanding. On both February 24, 2017 and 2016, the Company issued a cash payment of $240 to Advisors representing annual dividend payments due on the Preferred Shares.
Unless redeemed earlier by the Company as discussed below, with the written consent of the holders of the majority of the Preferred Shares then outstanding, the Company will be required to redeem the Preferred Shares then outstanding on February 24, 2020 (the “Mandatory Redemption Date”), for a redemption amount equal to $25.00 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares. The Company has the option to redeem the Preferred Shares prior to the Mandatory Redemption Date immediately prior to the consummation of any change in control of the Company that may occur.
Since the Preferred Shares have a mandatory redemption provision requiring redemption on February 24, 2020, the Company was required to classify the Preferred Shares as a liability on the balance sheet instead of recording the value of these shares in equity. The resulting liability was recorded at a discount to the ultimate redemption amount of the Preferred Shares based upon an analysis of the cash payments expected to occur under the terms of the Preferred Shares discounted for the Company’s estimated cost of equity (13.9%). As a result, amortization in the amount of $1,889 will be charged to operations during the period the Preferred Shares are outstanding using the effective interest method. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, amortization of the discount on the Preferred Shares totaled $276 and $263, respectively.
Investment in Limited Liability Company
On April 21, 2016, KFSI completed the acquisition of Argo Management Group LLC (“Argo”). Argo’s primary business is to act as the Managing Member of Argo Holdings Fund I, LLC, an investment fund in which the Company has committed to invest $500, of which the Company has invested $211 as of September 30, 2017. The managing member of Argo, Mr. John T. Fitzgerald, was also appointed to KFSI’s board of directors on April 21, 2016.
13. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The table below details the change in the balance of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
(unaudited) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine month ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, beginning of period | $ | 4 | $ | 259 | $ | (65 | ) | $ | (62 | ) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | 40 | (10 | ) | 187 | 478 | |||||||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (3 | ) | (6 | ) | (45 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||||
Income taxes | (12 | ) | 5 | (48 | ) | (160 | ) | |||||||||
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) | 25 | (11 | ) | 94 | 310 | |||||||||||
Balance, September 30 | $ | 29 | $ | 248 | $ | 29 | $ | 248 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
14. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is best evidenced by quoted bid or ask price, as appropriate, in an active market. Where bid or ask prices are not available, such as in an illiquid or inactive market, the closing price of the most recent transaction of that instrument subject to appropriate adjustments as required is used. Where quoted market prices are not available, the quoted prices of similar financial instruments or valuation models with observable market based inputs are used to estimate the fair value. These valuation models may use multiple observable market inputs, including observable interest rates, foreign exchange rates, index levels, credit spreads, equity prices, counterparty credit quality, corresponding market volatility levels and option volatilities. Minimal management judgment is required for fair values calculated using quoted market prices or observable market inputs for models. Greater subjectivity is required when making valuation adjustments for financial instruments in inactive markets or when using models where observable parameters do not exist. Also, the calculation of estimated fair value is based on market conditions at a specific point in time and may not be reflective of future fair values. For the Company’s financial instruments carried at cost or amortized cost, the book value is not adjusted to reflect increases or decreases in fair value due to market fluctuations, including those due to interest rate changes, as it is the Company’s intention to hold them until there is a recovery of fair value, which may be to maturity.
The Company classifies its investments in fixed income and equity securities as available-for-sale and reports these investments at fair value. Fair values of fixed income securities for which no active market exists are derived from quoted market prices of similar instruments or other third-party evidence.
The FASB has issued guidance that defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for and asset (or paid to transfer a liability) in the principal, or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants. This guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires and entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The guidance categorizes assets and liabilities at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observation of the inputs employed in the measurements, as follows:
Financial instruments measured at fair value as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 in accordance with this guidance are as follows.
September 30, 2017 (unaudited) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | — | $ | 2,899 | $ | — | $ | 2,899 | ||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 5,365 | — | 5,365 | ||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage Obligations | — | 16,635 | — | 16,635 | ||||||||||||
Corporate | — | 20,308 | — | 20,308 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | — | 45,207 | — | 45,207 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 1,612 | — | — | 1,612 | ||||||||||||
Warrants to purchase common stock | 122 | — | — | 122 | ||||||||||||
Rights to purchase common stock | 37 | — | — | 37 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 1,771 | — | — | 1,771 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed income and equity securities | $ | 1,771 | $ | 45,207 | $ | — | $ | 46,978 | ||||||||
December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | — | $ | 1,604 | $ | — | $ | 1,604 | ||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 2,246 | — | 2,246 | ||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage Obligations | — | 11,968 | — | 11,968 | ||||||||||||
Corporate | — | 10,741 | — | 10,741 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | $ | — | $ | 26,559 | $ | — | $ | 26,559 | ||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 1,136 | — | — | 1,136 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 1,136 | — | — | 1,136 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed income and equity securities | $ | 1,136 | $ | 26,559 | $ | — | $ | 27,695 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
15. Statutory Requirements
The Company’s insurance subsidiary, Maison, prepares statutory basis financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the LDI. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include state laws, rules and regulations as well as accounting practices and rules as outlined in a variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices that are not prescribed, but instead have been specifically requested by an insurer and allowed by the state in which the insurer is domiciled (in Maison’s case, Louisiana). Permitted practices may differ from state to state, company to company within a state, and may change in the future. In converting from statutory accounting basis to U.S. GAAP, typical adjustments include the deferral of acquisition costs (which are all charged to operations as incurred on a statutory basis), the inclusion of statutorily non-admitted assets on the balance sheet, the inclusion of net unrealized holding gains or losses related to investments included on the balance sheet, as well as the inclusion of changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities in the statement of operations.
Statutory Surplus and Capital Requirements
In order to retain its certificate of authority in the States of Louisiana and Florida, Maison is required to maintain a minimum capital surplus of $5,000 and $35,000, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, Maison’s capital surplus was $35,962.
The LDI employs risk-based capital (“RBC”) reports to monitor Maison’s financial condition. Risk-based capital is determined in accordance with a formula adopted by the NAIC which takes into consideration the covariance between asset risk, credit risk, underwriting risk, and other business risks. The RBC report determines whether Maison falls into the “no action” level or one of the four action levels set forth in the Louisiana Insurance Code. Furthermore, in order to retain its certificate of authority in the State of Texas, Maison is required to maintain an RBC ratio of 300% or more. As of September 30, 2017, Maison’s RBC ratio was above 300%.
States routinely require deposits of assets for the protection of policyholders. As of September 30, 2017, Maison held certificates of deposit with an estimated fair value of approximately $100 and $300 as a deposit with the LDI and FL OIR, respectively. Maison also held investment securities with an estimated fair value of approximately $2,000 as a deposit with the TDI.
Surplus Notes
PIH, as the parent company of Maison, is subject to the insurance holding company laws of the State of Louisiana, which, among other things, regulate the terms of surplus notes issued by insurers to their parent company. Maison’s capital is comprised of six surplus notes issued to PIH for the total principal amount of $9,000, all of which have been approved by the LDI prior to their issuance. Notes accrue interest at 10% per annum. Interest payments on the notes are due annually, and are also subject to prior approval by the LDI. The Company’s surplus notes, as of September 30, 2017, are as follows.
Date of Issuance | Maturity Date | Principal Amount | |||||
October 22, 2013 | October 22, 2017 | $ | 650 | ||||
December 21, 2015 | December 21, 2017 | 850 | |||||
March 31, 2016 | March 31, 2018 | 550 | |||||
September 29, 2016 | September 29, 2018 | 3,450 | |||||
November 14, 2016 | November 14, 2018 | 550 | |||||
September 28, 2017 | September 28, 2019 | 2,950 | |||||
$ | 9,000 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
Dividend Restrictions
As a Louisiana domiciled insurer, the payment of dividends from our insurance subsidiary is restricted by the Louisiana Insurance Code. Dividends can only be paid if an insurer’s paid-in capital and surplus exceed the minimum required by the Louisiana Insurance Code. Any dividend or distribution that when aggregated with any other dividends or distributions made within the preceding twelve months exceeds the lesser of (a) ten percent of the insurer’s surplus as regards policyholders as of the thirty-first day of December next preceding; or (b) the net income of the insurer, not including realized capital gains, for the twelve month period ending the thirty-first day of December next preceding; is considered to be extra-ordinary and shall not be paid until thirty days after the LDI has received notice of the declaration thereof and has not within that period disapproved the payment, or until the LDI has approved the payment within the thirty-day period. In determining whether a dividend or distribution is extra-ordinary, an insurer may carry forward net income from the previous two calendar years that has not already been paid out in dividends.
Furthermore, pursuant to the consent order issued to Maison by the FL OIR, Maison is restricted from paying dividends which have not been approved in advance by the FL OIR.
As of September 30, 2017, Maison had not paid any dividends to its sole shareholder, PIH.
16. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings:
From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Currently, it is not possible to predict legal outcomes and their impact on the future development of claims. Any such development will be affected by future court decisions and interpretations. Because of these uncertainties, additional liabilities may arise for amounts in excess of the Company’s current reserves. In addition, the Company’s estimate of ultimate loss and loss adjustment expenses may change. These additional liabilities, or increases in estimates, or a range of either, cannot be reasonably estimated, and could result in income statement charges that could be material to the Company’s results of operations in future periods.
Operating Lease Commitments:
As of September 30, 2017, the Company had the following amounts due under its operating leases for facilities leased in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Tampa, Florida.
Year ending September 30, | ||||
2018 | $ | 303 | ||
2019 | 298 | |||
2020 | 25 | |||
2021 and thereafter | — | |||
$ | 626 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Shareholders
1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.
Tampa, FL
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
March 16, 2017
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||
Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $26,793 and $20,332, respectively) | $ | 26,559 | $ | 20,238 | ||||
Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $1,000 and $0, respectively) | 1,136 | — | ||||||
Short-term investments, at cost | 196 | 1,149 | ||||||
Limited liability investments, at cost | 505 | 248 | ||||||
Total investments | 28,396 | 21,635 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 43,045 | 47,957 | ||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net | 4,389 | 4,030 | ||||||
Premiums receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $38 and $3, respectively | 2,923 | 2,395 | ||||||
Ceded unearned premiums | 4,847 | 2,805 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses | 444 | — | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 3,652 | 120 | ||||||
Funds deposited with reinsured companies | 500 | 725 | ||||||
Current income taxes recoverable | 1,195 | 965 | ||||||
Deferred tax asset, net | 420 | 506 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 250 | 234 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $0 and $3, respectively | — | 6 | ||||||
Other assets | 788 | 705 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 90,849 | $ | 82,083 | ||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 6,971 | $ | 2,123 | ||||
Unearned premium reserves | 25,821 | 23,442 | ||||||
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable | 5,229 | 3,283 | ||||||
Agent commissions payable | 497 | 403 | ||||||
Premiums collected in advance | 1,128 | 870 | ||||||
Funds held under reinsurance treaties | 73 | — | ||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses | 2,065 | 1,863 | ||||||
Series B Preferred Shares, $25.00 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 120,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively | 2,708 | 2,593 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 44,492 | 34,577 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 19) | ||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 6,108,125 and 6,358,125 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively | 6 | 6 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 46,809 | 48,688 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 616 | 605 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (65 | ) | (62 | ) | ||||
47,366 | 49,237 | |||||||
Less: treasury stock at cost, 151,359 and 223,851 shares as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively | (1,009 | ) | (1,731 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 46,357 | 47,506 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 30,448 | $ | 25,934 | ||||
Net investment income | 544 | 362 | ||||||
Other income | 1,264 | 834 | ||||||
Total revenue | 32,256 | 27,130 | ||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | 16,372 | 9,939 | ||||||
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 8,492 | 6,571 | ||||||
General and administrative expenses | 6,918 | 7,253 | ||||||
Loss on termination of Management Services Agreement | — | 5,421 | ||||||
Accretion of discount on Series B Preferred Shares | 355 | 282 | ||||||
Total expenses | 32,137 | 29,466 | ||||||
Income (Loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | 119 | (2,336 | ) | |||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 108 | (663 | ) | |||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 11 | $ | (1,673 | ) | |||
Net earnings (loss) per common share: | ||||||||
Basic | $ | — | $ | (0.27 | ) | |||
Diluted | $ | — | $ | (0.27 | ) | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||
Basic | 6,047,979 | 6,286,706 | ||||||
Diluted | 6,047,979 | 6,286,706 | ||||||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 11 | $ | (1,673 | ) | |||
Unrealized losses on investments available for sale, net of income taxes | (3 | ) | (61 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 8 | $ | (1,734 | ) |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity($ in thousands, except share amounts)
Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Treasury Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Total Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2015 | — | — | 6,358,125 | $ | 6 | — | — | $ | 47,631 | $ | 2,278 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 49,914 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock compensation expense | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of performance shares and warrants pursuant to MSA termination transaction | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,010 | — | — | 1,010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchases of common stock | — | — | (223,851 | ) | — | 223,851 | (1,731 | ) | — | — | — | (1,731 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (1,673 | ) | — | (1,673 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (61 | ) | (61 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2015 | — | $ | — | 6,134,274 | $ | 6 | 223,851 | $ | (1,731 | ) | $ | 48,688 | $ | 605 | $ | (62 | ) | $ | 47,506 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stock compensation expense | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | — | — | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchases of common stock | — | — | (177,508 | ) | — | 177,508 | (1,195 | ) | — | — | — | (1,195 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement of treasury shares | — | — | — | — | (250,000 | ) | 1,917 | (1,917 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | — | $ | — | 5,956,766 | $ | 6 | 151,359 | $ | (1,009 | ) | $ | 46,809 | $ | 616 | $ | (65 | ) | $ | 46,357 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
($ in thousands)
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||
Operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 11 | $ | (1,673 | ) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Issuance of Preferred Shares, Performance Shares, and Warrants pursuant to MSA termination transaction | — | 3,321 | ||||||
Accretion of discount on Series B Preferred Shares | 355 | 282 | ||||||
Charge for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets | — | 251 | ||||||
Net deferred income taxes | 87 | (243 | ) | |||||
Stock compensation expense | 38 | 47 | ||||||
Depreciation expense | 67 | 53 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition: | ||||||||
Premiums receivable, net | (528 | ) | (309 | ) | ||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses and loss reserves | (3,976 | ) | 243 | |||||
Amounts held on deposit with reinsured companies | 225 | (725 | ) | |||||
Ceded unearned premiums | (2,042 | ) | (1,244 | ) | ||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net | (359 | ) | (939 | ) | ||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 4,848 | 912 | ||||||
Premiums collected in advance | 258 | 310 | ||||||
Due to related party | — | (145 | ) | |||||
Unearned premium reserves | 2,379 | 5,739 | ||||||
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable | 1,946 | 724 | ||||||
Current income taxes payable | (230 | ) | (1,227 | ) | ||||
Other, net | 293 | 40 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 3,372 | 5,417 | ||||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||
Purchases of furniture and equipment | (83 | ) | (48 | ) | ||||
Acquisition of entity, net of cash acquired | — | (305 | ) | |||||
Purchases of limited liability investments | (258 | ) | (248 | ) | ||||
Net purchases of fixed income securities | (6,461 | ) | (9,817 | ) | ||||
Purchases of equity securities | (1,000 | ) | — | |||||
Net proceeds from the sales of short-term investments | 953 | 1,050 | ||||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (6,849 | ) | (9,368 | ) | ||||
Financing activities: | ||||||||
Payment of dividends on preferred shares | (240 | ) | — | |||||
Purchases of treasury stock | (1,195 | ) | (1,731 | ) | ||||
Net cash used by financing activities | (1,435 | ) | (1,731 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (4,912 | ) | (5,682 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 47,957 | 53,639 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 43,045 | $ | 47,957 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||
Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||
Income taxes | $ | 128 | $ | 775 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-27
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
1. Nature of Business
Maison Insurance Holdings, Inc. was incorporated on October 2, 2012 in the State of Delaware. On November 19, 2013, the Company changed its legal name from Maison Insurance Holdings, Inc. to 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“PIH”). PIH is a holding company and is engaged, through its subsidiaries, in the property and casualty insurance business. Unless context denotes otherwise, the terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our,” refer to 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries.
Prior to March 31, 2014, the Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway America Inc. (“KAI”). KAI in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (“KFSI”), a publicly owned holding company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On March 31, 2014, the Company completed an initial public offering of its common stock and then on June 13, 2014, the Company completed a follow-on offering. Through the combination of the Company’s IPO and follow-on offering, we issued approximately five million shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2016 KAI and companies affiliated with KAI held approximately 975,000 shares of our common stock, equivalent to 16.4% of our outstanding shares.
PIH has three wholly-owned subsidiaries; Maison Insurance Company (“Maison”), a Louisiana-domiciled property and casualty insurance company, Maison Managers, Inc. (“MMI”), a managing general agent, incorporated in the State of Delaware, and ClaimCor, LLC (“ClaimCor”), a Florida based claims solutions company.
Maison began providing homeowners insurance, manufactured home insurance and dwelling fire insurance to individuals in Louisiana in December 2012. Maison writes both full peril property policies as well as wind/hail only exposures in Louisiana and distributes its policies through independent insurance agents. Maison began assuming wind/hail only insurance for commercial properties in Texas beginning in June 2015. In September 2015, Maison began writing manufactured home policies in the State of Texas on a direct basis.
In addition to the voluntary policies Maison writes, we have participated in the last five rounds of depopulation programs implemented by Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Company (“Citizens”), occurring on December 1st of each year as well as the inaugural depopulation of policies from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (“TWIA”) which occurred on December 1, 2016. Under these programs, state-approved insurance companies, such as Maison, have the opportunity to assume insurance policies written by both Citizens and TWIA.
MMI serves as the Company’s management services subsidiary as a general agency providing underwriting, policy administration, claims administration, marketing, financial and other management services to Maison. MMI contracts with independent agents for policy sales and services, and contracts with an independent third-party for policy administration services. As a managing general agency, MMI is licensed by, and subject to the regulatory oversight of both the Louisiana and Texas Departments of Insurance (“LDI” and “TDI”, respectively).
On January 2, 2015, the Company completed its acquisition of 100% of the membership interest of ClaimCor, a claims and underwriting technical solutions company. Maison processes claims made by its policyholders through ClaimCor, and also through various third-party claims adjusting companies.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation:
These statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Principles of Consolidation:
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
The Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period reported. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the accounting period in which the change is determined. The critical accounting estimates and assumptions in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, valuation of fixed income securities, valuation of net deferred income taxes, the valuation of various securities we have issued in conjunction with the termination of the management services agreement with 1347 Advisors, LLC, the valuation of deferred policy acquisition costs, and stock-based compensation expense.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Investments:
Investments in fixed income and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and reported at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, until sold or an other-than-temporary impairment is recognized, at which point the cumulative unrealized gains or losses are transferred to the consolidated statement of operations.
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Limited liability investments include investments in limited liability companies in which the Company’s interests are deemed minor and therefor, are accounted for under the cost method of accounting which approximates their fair value.
Short-term investments, which consist of investments with original maturities between three months and one year, are reported at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature.
Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on a first-in, first-out basis, and are included in net investment income.
Interest income is included in net investment income and is recorded as it accrues.
The Company accounts for its investments using trade date accounting.
The Company conducts a quarterly review to identify and evaluate investments that show objective indications of possible impairment. Impairment is charged to the statement of operations if the fair value of the instrument falls below its amortized cost and the decline is considered other-than-temporary. Factors considered in determining whether a loss is other-than-temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery.
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less.
Premiums Receivable:
Premiums receivable include premium balances due and uncollected and installment premiums not yet due from agents and insureds. Premiums receivable are reported net of an estimated allowance for credit losses.
Reinsurance:
Reinsurance premiums, losses, and loss adjustment expenses are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Premiums and losses ceded to other companies have been reported as a reduction of premium revenue and incurred net losses and loss adjustment expenses. A reinsurance recoverable is recorded for that portion of paid and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses that are ceded to other companies.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs:
The Company defers commissions, premium taxes and other underwriting and agency expenses that are directly related to successful efforts to acquire new or existing insurance policies to the extent they are considered recoverable. Costs deferred on insurance products are amortized over the period in which premiums are earned. Costs associated with unsuccessful efforts or costs that cannot be tied directly to a successful policy acquisition are expensed as incurred, as opposed to being deferred and amortized as the premium is earned. The method followed in determining the deferred policy acquisition costs limits the deferral to its realizable value by giving consideration to estimated future loss and loss adjustment expenses to be incurred as revenues are earned. Changes in estimates, if any, are recorded in the accounting period in which they are determined. Anticipated investment income is included in determining the realizable value of the deferred policy acquisition costs.
Income Taxes:
For taxable periods ending on or prior to March 31, 2014, the Company was included in the U.S. consolidated federal income tax return of Kingsway America II Inc. and its eligible U.S. subsidiaries (“KAI Tax Group”). The method of allocating federal income taxes among the companies in the KAI Tax Group is subject to written agreement, approved by each company’s Board of Directors. The allocation is made primarily on a separate return basis, with current credit for any net operating losses or other items utilized in the consolidated federal income tax return. For taxable periods beginning after March 31, 2014, the Company has filed its own U.S. consolidated federal income tax return.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, whereby deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for (i) the differences between the financial statement carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and (ii) loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the date of enactment. Future tax benefits are recognized to the extent that realization of such benefits is more likely than not and a valuation allowance is established for any portion of a deferred tax asset that management believes will not be realized. Current federal income taxes are charged or credited to operations based upon amounts estimated to be payable or recoverable as a result of taxable operations for the current year. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense (benefit).
Property and Equipment:
Property and equipment is reported at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment is recorded on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives which range from seven years for furniture, five years for vehicles, three years for computer equipment, and the shorter of estimated useful life or the term of the lease for leasehold improvements. Property and equipment is estimated to have no salvage value at its useful life-end.
Rent expense for the Company’s office leases is recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. Rent expense was $343 and $214 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves:
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves represent the estimated liabilities for reported loss events, incurred but not yet reported loss events and the related estimated loss adjustment expenses. The Company performs a continuing review of its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, including its reserving techniques and its reinsurance. The loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are also reviewed at minimum, on an annual basis by qualified third party actuaries. Since the loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are based on estimates, the ultimate liability may be more or less than such reserves. The effects of changes in such estimated reserves are included in the results of income in the period in which the estimates are changed. Such changes in estimates could occur in a future period and may be material to the Company’s results of operations and financial position in such period.
Concentration of Credit Risk:
Financial instruments which potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk include investments, cash, premiums receivable, and amounts due from reinsurers on losses incurred. The Company maintains its cash with two major U.S. domestic banking institutions and three regional banks headquartered in the Southeastern U.S. Such amounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250 per institution. At December 31, 2016 the Company held funds in excess of these FDIC insured amounts. The terms of these deposits are on demand to mitigate some of the associated risk. The Company has not incurred losses related to these deposits.
The Company has not experienced significant losses related to premiums receivable from its policyholders and management believes that amounts provided as an allowance for credit losses is adequate.
The Company has not experienced any losses on amounts due from reinsurers. In order to limit the credit risk associated with amounts potentially due from reinsurers, the Company uses several different reinsurers, all of which have an A.M. Best Rating of A- (Excellent) or better. Absent such rating, the Company has required its reinsurers to place collateral on deposit with an independent institution under a trust agreement for the Company’s benefit.
The Company also has risk associated with the lack of geographic diversification due to the fact that Maison primarily underwrites policies in Louisiana and Texas. The Company insures personal property located in 62 of the 64 parishes in the State of Louisiana. As of December 31, 2016, these policies are concentrated within these parishes as follows: Saint Tammany Parish 15.2%, Jefferson Parish 14.2%, East Baton Rouge Parish 7.7%, Orleans Parish 5.6%, Livingston Parish 5.6%, Tangipahoa Parish 5.3%, and Terrebonne Parish 5.2%. No other parish individually has over 5.0% of the total direct policies in force as of December 31, 2016. The remaining 56 parishes combine to equal 33% of our total policies in force as of December 31, 2016. On a direct basis, Maison writes in 105 of the 254 counties that comprise the State of Texas, however no single county represents over 5.0% of our total direct policies in force as of December 31, 2016.
Revenue Recognition:
Premium revenue is recognized on a pro rata basis over the term of the respective policy contract. Unearned premium reserves represent the portion of premium written that is applicable to the unexpired term of policies in force.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Service charges on installment premiums are recognized as income upon receipt of related installment payments and are reflected in other income.
Revenue from policy fees is deferred and recognized over the term of the respective policy period, with revenue reflected in other income.
Any customer payment received is applied first to any service charge or policy fee due, with the remaining amount applied toward any premium due.
Ceded premiums are charged to income over the applicable term of the various reinsurance contracts with third party reinsurers. Ceded unearned premiums represent the unexpired portion of premiums ceded to reinsurers and are reported as an asset on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Premiums collected in advance occur when the policyholder premium is paid in advance of the effective commencement period of the policy and are recorded as a liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Stock-Based Compensation:
The Company has accounted for stock-based compensation under the provisions of ASC Topic 718 –Stock Compensation which requires the use of the fair-value based method to determine compensation for all arrangements under which employees and others receive shares of stock or equity instruments (stock options and common stock purchase warrants). The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model using assumptions for expected volatility, expected dividends, expected term, and the risk-free interest rate. The fair value of each stock option award is recorded as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the period in which the stock options vest, with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital.
The Company has also issued restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to certain of its employees which have been accounted for as equity based awards since, upon vesting, they are required to be settled in the Company’s common shares. The Company used a Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate the fair value of these awards upon grant date as the vesting of these RSUs occurs solely upon market-based conditions. The fair value of each RSU is recorded as compensation expense over the derived service period, as determined by the valuation model. Should the market-based condition be achieved prior to the expiration of the derived service period, any unrecognized cost will be recorded as compensation expense in the period in which the RSUs actually vest. See Note 11 for further disclosure.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
The carrying values of certain financial instruments, including cash, short-term investments, premiums receivable, accounts payable, and other accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The Company measures the fair value of financial instruments in accordance with GAAP which defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset (or paid to transfer a liability) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset (or liability) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. GAAP also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. See Note 15 for further information on the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments.
Earnings (loss) Per Common Share:
Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the respective period.
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share assumes conversion of all potentially dilutive outstanding stock options, warrants or other convertible financial instruments. Potential common shares outstanding are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share if their effect is anti-dilutive.
Operating Segments:
The Company operates in a single segment – property and casualty insurance.
3. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
ASU 2015-09: Financial Services – Insurance:
In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-09:Financial Services – Insurance (Topic 944): Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts.This update provides for an increase in the transparency of accounting estimates made by companies in the measurement of short-duration contracts and unpaid claim and claim adjustment expense liabilities by requiring additional disclosures, as well as improvements to existing disclosures. The Company has elected to apply early application of the amendments as permitted in the ASU. The adoption of the amendments did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. The new standard did provide for additional disclosures surrounding our loss and loss adjustment expenses and expense reserves which the Company has included in Note 7 of this report.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
ASU 2016-01: Financial Instruments-Overall:
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01:Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 amends various aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure for financial instruments. Most significantly, ASU 2016-01 requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of an investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss). ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. ASU 2016-01 will be applied using a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, cash flows, or total comprehensive income, but could impact the Company’s results of operations and earnings (loss) per share as changes in fair value will be presented in net income (loss) rather than other comprehensive income (loss). For the year ended December 31, 2016 the Company had an unrealized gain of $90, on its equity investments, net of the effect of income taxes.
ASU 2016-02: Leases:
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02:Leases. ASU 2016-02 was issued to improve the financial reporting of leasing transactions. Under current guidance for lessees, leases are only included on the balance sheet if certain criteria, classifying the agreement as a capital lease, are met. This update will require the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability, discounted to the present value, for all leases that extend beyond 12 months. For operating leases, the asset and liability will be expensed over the lease term on a straight-line basis, with all cash flows included in the operating section of the statement of cash flows. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability will be recognized separately from the amortization of the right-of-use asset in the statement of comprehensive income while the repayment of the principal portion of the lease liability will be classified as a financing activity and the interest component will be included in the operating section of the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, leases will be recognized and measured at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company has reviewed its existing lessee obligations and has determined that ASU 2016-02 will apply should the Company renew its existing leases, or enter into any new lease agreements.
ASU 2016-09: Stock Compensation:
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09:Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 was issued to simplify the accounting for share-based payment awards. The guidance requires that all tax effects related to share-based payment be made through the statement of operations at the time of settlement as opposed to the current guidance that requires excess tax benefits to be recognized in additional paid-in-capital. ASU 2016-09 also removes the requirement to delay recognition of a tax benefit until it reduces current taxes payable. The change is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative effect adjustment to opening accumulated deficit. Additionally, all tax related cash flows resulting from share-based payments are to be reported as operating activities on the statement of cash flows, a departure from the current requirement which presents tax benefits as an inflow from financing activities and an outflow from operating activities. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2016-09 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2016-13: Financial Instruments – Credit Losses:
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13:Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 was issued to provide financial statement users with more useful information regarding the expected credit losses on financial instruments held as assets. Under current GAAP, financial statement recognition for credit losses on financial instruments was generally delayed until the loss was probable of occurring. The amendments of ASU 2016-13 eliminate this probable initial recognition threshold and instead reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. The amendments also broaden the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimates for those assets measured at amortized cost by using forecasted information instead of the current methodology which only considered past events and current conditions. Under ASU 2016-13, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however, the amendments require that credit losses be presented as an allowance against the investment, rather than as a write-down. The amendments also allow the entity to record reversals of credit losses in current period net income, which is prohibited under current GAAP. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
4. Investments
A summary of the amortized cost, estimated fair value, and gross unrealized gains and losses on fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2016 and 2015 is as follows.
As of December 31, 2016 | Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 1,623 | $ | 1 | $ | (20 | ) | $ | 1,604 | |||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 2,271 | 2 | (27 | ) | 2,246 | |||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 12,095 | 9 | (136 | ) | 11,968 | |||||||||||
Corporate | 10,804 | 28 | (91 | ) | 10,741 | |||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | 26,793 | 40 | (274 | ) | 26,559 | |||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 1,000 | 136 | — | 1,136 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 1,000 | 136 | — | 1,136 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed income and equity securities | $ | 27,793 | $ | 176 | $ | (274 | ) | $ | 27,695 | |||||||
As of December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 650 | $ | — | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 647 | |||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 1,656 | 2 | (7 | ) | 1,651 | |||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 9,123 | 14 | (55 | ) | 9,082 | |||||||||||
Corporate | 8,903 | 16 | (61 | ) | 8,858 | |||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | $ | 20,332 | $ | 32 | $ | (126 | ) | $ | 20,238 |
The table below summarizes the Company’s fixed income securities at December 31, 2016 by contractual maturity periods. Actual results may differ as issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without penalties, prior to the contractual maturity of these obligations.
Matures in: | Amortized Cost | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||
One year or less | $ | 1,827 | $ | 1,828 | ||||
More than one to five years | 12,737 | 12,678 | ||||||
More than five to ten years | 3,987 | 3,918 | ||||||
More than ten years | 8,242 | 8,135 | ||||||
Total | $ | 26,793 | $ | 26,559 |
The following table highlights the aggregate unrealized loss position and security type, those fixed income securities in unrealized loss positions as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The tables segregate the holdings based on the period of time the investments have been continuously held in unrealized loss positions. There were 122 and 107 fixed income investments that were in unrealized loss positions as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company held no equity securities in unrealized loss positions at either date.
Less than 12 Months | Greater than 12 Months | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2016 | Estimated Fair Value | Unrealized Loss | Estimated Fair Value | Unrealized Loss | Estimated Fair Value | Unrealized Loss | ||||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 1,303 | $ | (20 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,303 | $ | (20 | ) | ||||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 1,537 | (27 | ) | — | — | 1,537 | (27 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 9,552 | (133 | ) | 460 | (3 | ) | 10,012 | (136 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Corporate | 5,952 | (91 | ) | — | — | 5,952 | (91 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total investments in fixed income securities | $ | 18,344 | $ | (271 | ) | $ | 460 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 18,804 | $ | (274 | ) | |||||||||
As of December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | 346 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 346 | $ | (3 | ) | ||||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | 1,014 | (7 | ) | — | — | 1,014 | (7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | 7,472 | (55 | ) | — | — | 7,472 | (55 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate | 5,236 | (61 | ) | — | — | 5,236 | (61 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total investments in fixed income securities | $ | 14,068 | $ | (126 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 14,068 | $ | (126 | ) |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Under the terms of the certificate of authority granted to Maison by the Texas Department of Insurance, Maison is required to pledge securities totaling approximately $2,000 with the State of Texas. These securities consist of cash in the amount of $300 as well as various fixed income securities listed in the preceding tables which have an amortized cost basis of $1,701 and estimated fair value of $1,692 as of December 31, 2016.
The Company’s limited liability investments are comprised of investments in two limited partnerships which seek to provide equity and asset-backed debt investment in a variety of privately-owned companies. The Company has committed to a total investment of $1,000, of which the limited partnerships have drawn down approximately $505 through December 31, 2016. One of these limited partnerships is managed by Argo Management Group, LLC, an entity which, as of April 21, 2016, is wholly owned by KFSI. The Company has accounted for its limited liability investments under the cost method as the instruments do not have readily determinable fair values and the Company does not exercise significant influence over the operations of the limited partnerships or the underlying privately-owned companies.
Other-than-Temporary Impairment:
The establishment of an other-than-temporary impairment on an investment requires a number of judgments and estimates. The Company performs a quarterly analysis of the individual investments to determine if declines in market value are other-than-temporary. The analysis includes some or all of the following procedures as deemed appropriate by the Company:
The risks and uncertainties inherent in the assessment methodology used to determine declines in market value that are other-than-temporary include, but may not be limited to, the following:
The Company has reviewed currently available information regarding its investments with estimated fair values that are less than their carrying amounts and believes that these unrealized losses are primarily due to temporary market and sector-related factors rather than to issuer-specific factors. The Company does not intend to sell these investments in the short term, and it is not likely that it will be required to sell these investments before the recovery of their amortized cost.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Accordingly, all of the Company’s investments were deemed to be in good standing and not impaired as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. Additionally, there were no write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments on the Company’s investments for the years then ended.
The Company does not have any exposure to subprime mortgage-backed investments.
Net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Investment income: | ||||||||
Interest on fixed income securities | $ | 471 | $ | 285 | ||||
Interest on cash and cash equivalents | 129 | 114 | ||||||
Realized gains on sale of fixed income securities | 9 | — | ||||||
Gross investment income | 609 | 399 | ||||||
Investment expenses | (65 | ) | (37 | ) | ||||
Net investment income | $ | 544 | $ | 362 |
5. Reinsurance
The Company reinsures, or cedes, a portion of its written premiums on a per-risk and an excess of loss basis to non-affiliated insurers in order to limit its loss exposure. Although reinsurance is intended to reduce the Company’s exposure risk, the ceding of insurance does not legally discharge the Company from its primary liability for the full amount of coverage under its policies. If our reinsurers fail to meet their obligations under the applicable reinsurance agreements, the Company would still be required to pay the insured for the loss.
Under the Company’s per-risk treaties, reinsurance recoveries are received for up to $1,750 in excess of a retention of $250 for each risk. The Company ceded $569 and $342 in written premiums under its per-risk treaties for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively.
The Company’s excess of loss treaties are based upon a treaty year beginning on June 1st of each year and expiring on May 31st of the following year. Thus, the financial statements for the years ending December 31, 2016 and 2015 contain premiums ceded under three separate excess of loss treaties. Under the Company’s 2015/2016 excess of loss treaty which expired on May 31, 2016, for each catastrophic event occurring within a 144-hour period, the Company receives reinsurance recoveries of up to $121,000 in excess of a retention of $4,000 per event. The Company had also procured another layer of reinsurance protection that may be used for any event above $125,000, up to a maximum recovery of $15,000. This $15,000 second layer of coverage applied in total to all events occurring during the treaty year of June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016. Thus, the aggregate loss which the Company retained for the two catastrophes which occurred during the 2015/2016 treaty year was $5,000.
On June 1, 2016 the Company entered into a new excess of loss treaties whereby for each catastrophic event occurring within a 144-hour period, the Company receives reinsurance recoveries of up to $170,000 in excess of a $5,000 retention per event. For any event above $175,000, the Company purchased aggregate coverage, with an additional limit of $25,000 and subject to a franchise deductible of $125 for each 144-hour occurrence. The $25,000 aggregate coverage applies in total to all events occurring during the June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017 treaty year. The aggregate loss the Company could retain for two catastrophes occurring during the treaty year is $7,000.
The Company ceded $19,972 and $13,080 in written premiums under its excess of loss treaties for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
In June 2015, we began writing business through a quota-share agreement with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company (“Brotherhood”). Through this agreement, we act as a reinsurer, and have assumed wind/hail only exposures on certain churches and related structures Brotherhood insures throughout the State of Texas. Our quota-share percentage varies from 35%-100% of wind/hail premium written by Brotherhood, dependent upon the geographic location (coastal versus non-coastal) within the State of Texas. As of December 31, 2016, we have written $1,150 in assumed premiums on 522 policies through the Brotherhood agreement.
On December 1, 2016 we participated TWIA’s inaugural depopulation program whereby Maison assumed policies for wind and hail only exposures along the Gulf Coast area of Texas. The depopulation program was structured such that Maison reinsures TWIA under a 100% quota share agreement. As of December 31, 2016, we have written $186 in assumed premiums on approximately 1,300 policies through the TWIA quota share agreement.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
The impact of reinsurance treaties on the Company’s financial statements is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Premium written: | ||||||||
Direct | $ | 49,991 | $ | 42,677 | ||||
Assumed | 1,336 | 1,174 | ||||||
Ceded | (20,541 | ) | (13,422 | ) | ||||
Net premium written | $ | 30,786 | $ | 30,429 | ||||
Premium earned: | ||||||||
Direct | $ | 46,851 | $ | 37,699 | ||||
Assumed | 2,096 | 413 | ||||||
Ceded | (18,499 | ) | (12,178 | ) | ||||
Net premium earned | $ | 30,448 | $ | 25,934 | ||||
Losses and LAE incurred: | ||||||||
Direct | $ | 28,372 | $ | 10,316 | ||||
Assumed | 3,414 | 90 | ||||||
Ceded | (15,414 | ) | (467 | ) | ||||
Net losses and LAE incurred | $ | 16,372 | $ | 9,939 |
6. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Deferred policy acquisition costs (“DPAC”) consist primarily of commissions, premium taxes, assessments and other policy processing fees incurred which are related to successful efforts to acquire new or renewal insurance contracts. Acquisition costs deferred on insurance products are amortized over the period in which the related revenues are earned. Costs associated with unsuccessful efforts or costs that cannot be tied directly to a successful policy acquisition are expensed as incurred.
DPAC as well as the related amortization expense associated with DPAC for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Balance, January 1, net | $ | 4,030 | $ | 3,091 | ||||
Additions | 8,851 | 7,510 | ||||||
Amortization | (8,492 | ) | (6,571 | ) | ||||
Balance, December 31, net | $ | 4,389 | $ | 4,030 |
7. Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
The Company continually revises its estimates of the ultimate financial impact of claims made. A significant degree of judgment is required to determine amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) reserves. The process for establishing the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves reflects the uncertainties and significant judgmental factors inherent in predicting future results of both known and unknown loss events. The process of establishing the provision for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves relies on the judgment and opinions of a large number of individuals within the Company.
The Company’s evaluation of the adequacy of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves includes a re-estimation of the liability for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves relating to each preceding financial year compared to the liability that was previously established. The following tables illustrate incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2016, net of reinsurance, along with cumulative claim frequency and total incurred-but-not-reported (“IBNR”) liabilities as well as paid claims development on reported claims within the net incurred claims amounts. We have presented this information separately for both our homeowners’ multi-peril policies, which includes our traditional dwelling policies and also mobile and manufactured home policies, as well as for our special property policies, which include both our fire and allied lines of business. Our allied lines primarily consist of wind/hail only policies (including those assumed through Citizens and TWIA) as well as the commercial wind/hail only policies we have assumed through our agreement with Brotherhood. The information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2012 through 2015 is presented as unaudited supplementary information.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Cumulative Incurred Losses and LAE, Net of Reinsurance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | As of December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2012 (unaudited) | 2013 (unaudited) | 2014 (unaudited) | 2015 (unaudited) | 2016 | Total of IBNR Liabilities Plus Expected Development on Reported Losses | Cumulative Number of Reported Claims | |||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | — | |||||||||||||||
2013 | 460 | 380 | 355 | 355 | — | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 3,680 | 3,878 | 4,357 | — | 557 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 8,442 | 7,734 | 170 | 1,207 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 15,862 | 1,152 | 2,704 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total – Homeowners Multi-Peril Policies | $ | 28,308 | $ | 1,322 | 4,525 |
For the Years Ended December 31, | As of December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2012 (unaudited) | 2013 (unaudited) | 2014 (unaudited) | 2015 (unaudited) | 2016 | Total of IBNR Liabilities Plus Expected Development on Reported Losses | Cumulative Number of Reported Claims | |||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | 9,392 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | — | |||||||||||||||
2013 | 2,478 | 2,375 | 2,363 | 2,400 | — | 406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 115 | 120 | 120 | — | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 1,331 | 1,142 | 30 | 191 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 891 | 448 | 232 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total – Special Property Policies | $ | 4,553 | $ | 478 | 862 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | As of December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2012 (unaudited) | 2013 (unaudited) | 2014 (unaudited) | 2015 (unaudited) | 2016 | Total of IBNR Liabilities Plus Expected Development on Reported Losses | Cumulative Number of Reported Claims | |||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | 9,392 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | — | |||||||||||||||
2013 | 2,938 | 2,755 | 2,718 | 2,755 | — | 463 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 3,795 | 3,998 | 4,477 | — | 590 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 9,773 | 8,876 | 200 | 1,398 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 16,753 | 1,600 | 2,936 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total – All Lines | $ | 32,861 | $ | 1,800 | 5,387 |
Cumulative Paid Losses and LAE, Net of Reinsurance | ||||||||||||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2012 (unaudited) | 2013 (unaudited) | 2014 (unaudited) | 2015 (unaudited) | 2016 | |||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
2013 | 309 | 352 | 355 | 355 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2,925 | 3,674 | 4,058 | |||||||||||||||||
2015 | 6,867 | 7,426 | ||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 13,745 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total Paid Losses and LAE, net of reinsurance – Homeowners Multi-Peril Policies | $ | 25,584 | ||||||||||||||||||
Liability for Losses and LAE, net of reinsurance – Homeowners Multi-Peril Policies | $ | 2,724 |
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2012 (unaudited) | 2013 (unaudited) | 2014 (unaudited) | 2015 (unaudited) | 2016 | |||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
2013 | 2,275 | 2,325 | 2,346 | 2,340 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 99 | 120 | 120 | |||||||||||||||||
2015 | 1,124 | 1,112 | ||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 386 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total Paid Losses and LAE, net of reinsurance – Special Property Policies | $ | 3,958 | ||||||||||||||||||
Liability for Losses and LAE, net of reinsurance – Special Property Policies | $ | 595 | ||||||||||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2012 (unaudited) | 2013 (unaudited) | 2014 (unaudited) | 2015 (unaudited) | 2016 | |||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
2013 | 2,584 | 2,677 | 2,701 | 2,695 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 3,024 | 3,794 | 4,178 | |||||||||||||||||
2015 | 7,991 | 8,538 | ||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 14,131 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total Paid Losses and LAE, net of reinsurance – All Lines | $ | 29,542 | ||||||||||||||||||
Liability for Losses and LAE, net of reinsurance – All Lines | $ | 3,319 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
A reconciliation of the net incurred and paid loss development tables to the liability for loss and loss adjustment expenses on the balance sheet is as follows.
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Net Liability for Loss and LAE Reserves | ||||||||
Homeowners Multi-Peril Policies | $ | 2,724 | $ | 1,780 | ||||
Special Property Policies | 595 | 223 | ||||||
Liability for Loss and LAE, net of reinsurance – All Lines | $ | 3,319 | $ | 2,003 | ||||
Reinsurance Recoverable on Loss and LAE Reserves | ||||||||
Homeowners Multi-Peril Policies | $ | 2,565 | $ | 120 | ||||
Special Property Policies | 1,087 | — | ||||||
Reinsurance Recoverable on Loss and LAE Reserves – All Lines | $ | 3,652 | $ | 120 | ||||
Total Gross Liability for Loss and LAE Reserves – All Lines | $ | 6,971 | $ | 2,123 |
The following supplementary information provides average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2016.
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Losses by Age, Net of Reinsurance (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Age of loss (in years) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||
Homeowners Multi-Peril Policies | 84.2 | % | 4.8 | % | 1.4 | % | — | % | ||||||||
Special Property Policies | 85.3 | % | 1.3 | % | 0.4 | % | — | % | ||||||||
All Lines | 84.4 | % | 4.3 | % | 1.2 | % | — | % |
8. Income Taxes
A summary of income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Current income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 20 | $ | (452 | ) | |||
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | 88 | (211 | ) | |||||
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 108 | $ | (663 | ) |
Actual income tax expense (benefit) differs from the income tax expense computed by applying the applicable effective federal and state tax rates to income before income tax expense (benefit) as follows:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
$ | % | $ | % | |||||||||||||
Provision for taxes at U.S. statutory marginal income tax rate of 34% | $ | 40 | 34.0 | % | $ | (794 | ) | 34.0 | % | |||||||
Nondeductible expenses | 15 | 12.4 | % | 20 | (0.8 | )% | ||||||||||
State tax (net of federal benefit) | 53 | 44.4 | % | 105 | (4.5 | )% | ||||||||||
Other | — | — | % | 6 | (0.3 | )% | ||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 108 | 90.8 | % | $ | (663 | ) | 28.4 | % |
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes as compared to the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Deferred income tax assets: | ||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 35 | $ | 22 | ||||
Unearned premium reserves | 1,503 | 1,462 | ||||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | 235 | 284 | ||||||
Share-based compensation | 316 | 264 | ||||||
Other | 270 | 278 | ||||||
Deferred income tax assets | $ | 2,359 | $ | 2,310 | ||||
Deferred income tax liabilities: | ||||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | $ | 1,492 | $ | 1,370 | ||||
State deferred taxes | 397 | 378 | ||||||
Other | 50 | 56 | ||||||
Deferred income tax liabilities | $ | 1,939 | $ | 1,804 | ||||
Net deferred income tax assets | $ | 420 | $ | 506 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
The Company has recorded a net deferred tax asset of $420 and $506 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Realization of net deferred tax asset is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income in future periods. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized and as such no valuation allowance has been recorded against the net deferred tax asset. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. As of December 31, 2016, based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences. When assessing the need for valuation allowances, the Company considers future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the ability to realize the deferred tax assets in future years, the Company would record valuation allowances as deemed appropriate in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding charge to net income. The resolution of tax reserves and changes in valuation allowances could be material to the Company’s results of operations for any period, but is not expected to be material to the Company’s financial position.
As of December 31, 2016 the Company had net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) for federal income tax purposes of approximately $691 which will be available to offset future taxable income. As a result of certain changes in ownership and pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, these NOLs are subject to a yearly limitation. The amount and expiration date of the NOL carryforwards are as follows:
Year of Occurrence | Year of Expiration | Amount | |||||||
2013 | 2032 | $ | 684 | ||||||
2014 | 2033 | 7 | |||||||
Total | $ | 691 |
Based upon the results of the Company’s analysis and the application of ASC 740-10, management has determined that all material tax positions meet the recognition threshold and can be considered as highly certain tax positions. This is based on clear and unambiguous tax law, and the Company is confident that the full amount of each tax position will be sustained upon possible examination. Accordingly, the full amount of the tax positions is anticipated to be recognized in the financial statements.
The Company files federal income tax returns as well as multiple state and local tax returns. The Company’s consolidated federal and state income tax returns for the years 2012 - 2015 are open for review by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and the various state taxing authorities.
9. Purchase of ClaimCor LLC
On January 2, 2015, the Company acquired a 100% interest in ClaimCor, a Florida domiciled independent adjusting company in order to complement the Company’s strategic plan and growth objectives by entering into the insurance services outsourcing industry. Under the terms of the membership interest purchase agreement, the purchase price was $323, paid by the Company, in cash, at closing. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the previous managing members of ClaimCor entered into a non-compete agreement with the Company, whereby the members will not engage in, continue in, or carry on any business that competes with ClaimCor for a period of three years from the date of purchase.
The ClaimCor purchase was accounted for under the acquisition method as outlined in ASC Topic 805 –Business Combinations.Under the acquisition method, the acquiring company is required to recognize the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value as of the acquisition date. Excess purchase price, if any, over the fair value of the net assets acquired, is recognized as goodwill. The following table presents the estimated allocation of the purchase price to the net assets of ClaimCor as of January 2, 2015.
Cash | $ | 18 | ||
Accounts receivable | 132 | |||
Intangible asset: Non-compete agreement | 9 | |||
Intangible asset: Customer base | 43 | |||
Goodwill | 211 | |||
Other assets | 7 | |||
Total assets | $ | 420 | ||
Accounts payable | 89 | |||
Other liabilities | 8 | |||
Total liabilities assumed | $ | 97 | ||
Net assets acquired | $ | 323 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
As a result of the purchase, we initially recorded goodwill in the amount of $211 on our consolidated balance sheet as of January 2, 2015. The goodwill was not amortized, but rather subject to impairment testing on, at minimum, an annual basis. We also recognized the estimated fair value of the non-compete agreement as well as a customer base asset as part of the ClaimCor acquisition at a combined total of $52 as of January 2, 2015. The non-compete agreement was amortized over a two year period and on December 31, 2016, the remaining unamortized balance of the non-compete agreement was charged to operations due to its de-minimus nature. The customer base asset was to be amortized over an estimated useful-life of 5 years. The Company recognized expense related to the amortization of these assets in the amount of $6 and $11 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
In the fourth quarter 2015, after analyzing ClaimCor’s performance in comparison to management’s expectations and forecasts at the time of acquisition, the Company noted that an impairment to the value of the goodwill and other intangibles which were recorded was likely. Accordingly, the Company’s analysis resulted in a charge of $246 associated with the impairment of goodwill and the customer base asset and has been charged to general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company used a date of December 1, 2015 for purposes of calculating the impairment charges.
10. Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Net earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the periods presented. In calculating diluted earnings per share, those potential common shares that are found to be anti-dilutive are excluded from the calculation. The table below provides a summary of the numerators and denominators used in determining basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Basic: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 11 | $ | (1,673 | ) | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding | 6,047,979 | 6,286,706 | ||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $ | — | $ | (0.27 | ) | |||
Diluted: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 11 | $ | (1,673 | ) | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding | 6,047,979 | 6,286,706 | ||||||
Dilutive stock options outstanding | — | — | ||||||
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 6,047,979 | 6,286,706 | ||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $ | — | $ | (0.27 | ) |
The following potentially dilutive securities outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding as their effect would be anti-dilutive.
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Options to purchase common stock | 177,456 | 210,489 | ||||||
Warrants to purchase common stock | 1,906,875 | 1,906,875 | ||||||
Restricted stock units | 20,500 | 20,500 | ||||||
Performance shares (Note 13) | 475,000 | 475,000 | ||||||
2,579,831 | 2,612,864 |
11. Equity Incentive Plan
The Company has established a stock option incentive plan for employees and directors of the Company (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to create incentives designed to motivate recipients to significantly contribute toward the Company’s growth and success, and also to attract and retain persons of outstanding competence, and provide such persons with an opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company.
The Plan is administered by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors. All members of such committee must be non-employee directors and independent directors as defined in the Plan. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, the committee has the authority to grant awards as well as determine the general provisions of each award including the purchase price, term, number of shares, and performance criteria, and also to establish vesting schedules and other terms and conditions of the award.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
In April 2015, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Plan to allow for the issuance of additional award types under the Plan. In addition to non-qualified stock options issuable under the Plan, the amendment provides for the issuance of restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance shares, performance cash awards, and other stock-based awards. The Plan provides for the issuance of 354,912 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2016, both stock options and RSUs had been issued to the Company’s employees under the Plan resulting in 156,956 shares available for future issuance under the Plan.
Stock option information for the two years ended December 31, 2016 is as follows.
Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | ||||||||||||||||
Common Stock Options | ||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding, January 1, 2015 | 210,489 | $ | 8.05 | 3.62 | $ | 0.96 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
Exercisable, January 1, 2015 | 125,308 | $ | 8.04 | 3.18 | $ | 0.88 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
Granted | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Exercised | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Cancelled | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding, December 31, 2015 | 210,489 | $ | 8.05 | 2.81 | $ | 0.96 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
Exercisable, December 31, 2015 | 146,603 | $ | 8.04 | 2.62 | $ | 0.90 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
Granted | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Exercised | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Cancelled | (33,033 | ) | 8.00 | |||||||||||||||||
Outstanding, December 31, 2016 | 177,456 | $ | 8.06 | 2.25 | $ | 1.07 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
Exercisable, December 31, 2016 | 134,865 | $ | 8.06 | 2.25 | $ | 1.07 | $ | — |
A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested employee stock options is as follows.
Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |||||||
Non-Vested Common Stock Options | ||||||||
Non-vested, January 1, 2015 | 85,181 | $ | 1.07 | |||||
Granted | — | — | ||||||
Vested | (21,295 | ) | 1.07 | |||||
Cancelled | — | — | ||||||
Non-vested, December 31, 2015 | 63,886 | $ | 1.07 | |||||
Granted | — | — | ||||||
Vested | (21,295 | ) | 1.07 | |||||
Cancelled | — | — | ||||||
Non-vested, December 31, 2016 | 42,591 | $ | 1.07 |
On May 29, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors granted RSUs to certain of its executive officers under the Plan. Each RSU granted entitles the grantee to one share of the Company’s common stock upon the vesting date of the RSU. The RSUs vest as follows: (i) 50% upon the date that the closing price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share and; (ii) 50% upon the date that the closing price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share. Prior to the vesting of the RSUs, the grantee will not be entitled to any dividends declared on the Company’s common stock. The RSUs do not expire, however, should the grantee discontinue employment with the Company for any reason other than death or disability, all unvested RSUs will be deemed forfeited on the date employment is discontinued. The following table summarizes RSU activity for the two years ended December 31, 2016.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Restricted Stock Units | Number of Units | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||
Non-vested units, January 1, 2015 | — | $ | — | |||||
Granted | 20,500 | 1.34 | ||||||
Vested | — | — | ||||||
Forfeited | — | — | ||||||
Non-vested units, December 31, 2015 | 20,500 | $ | 1.34 | |||||
Granted | — | — | ||||||
Vested | — | — | ||||||
Forfeited | — | — | ||||||
Non-vest units, December 31, 2016 | 20,500 | $ | 1.34 |
Total stock based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $38 and $47, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, total unrecognized stock compensation expense of $30 remains, which will be recognized ratably through March 31, 2018.
Stock warrants issued, exercised and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 are as follows.
Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||||
Common Stock Warrants | ||||||||
Outstanding, January 1, 2015 | 406,875 | $ | 9.69 | |||||
Exercisable, January 1, 2015 | 312,500 | $ | 9.60 | |||||
Granted | 1,500,000 | 15.00 | ||||||
Exercised | — | |||||||
Cancelled | — | |||||||
Outstanding, December 31, 2015 | 1,906,875 | $ | 13.87 | |||||
Exercisable, December 31, 2015 | 1,906,875 | $ | 13.87 | |||||
Granted | — | — | ||||||
Exercised | — | — | ||||||
Cancelled | — | — | ||||||
Outstanding, December 31, 2016 | 1,906,875 | $ | 13.87 | |||||
Exercisable, December 31, 2016 | 1,906,875 | $ | 13.87 |
On March 31, 2014, the Company issued warrants to purchase 94,375 shares of its common stock to the underwriters of the Company’s IPO. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of PIH at a price of $10.00 per share at any time after March 31, 2015 and prior to expiry on March 31, 2019.
Also on March 31, 2014, in connection with the conversion of Series A Preferred Shares then outstanding into the Company’s common shares, the Company issued warrants to purchase 312,500 shares of the Company’s common stock to Fund Management Group LLC, an entity of which the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Gordon G. Pratt, is a Managing Member and controlling equity holder. Each warrant issued to Fund Management Group LLC entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price equal to $9.60, subject to certain adjustments under a warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”). The warrants have an expiry date of March 31, 2019 and vested upon issuance. The warrants may be redeemable by the Company at a price of $0.01 per warrant during any period in which the closing price of the Company’s common shares is at or above $14.00 per share for 20 consecutive trading days. The warrant holder is entitled to a 30-day notice prior to the date of such redemption.
The details of the Company’s remaining warrants issued and outstanding are discussed in Note 13 – Related Party Transactions, below.
12. Shareholders’ Equity
Treasury Shares
On December 1, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock which expired on December 31, 2016. Through December 31, 2016, the Company has repurchased an aggregate 401,359 shares at an aggregate purchase price of $2,927, or $7.29 per share, including all fees and commissions.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
On January 29, 2016, the Company retired 250,000 of its treasury shares, resulting in a reclassification of the purchase price of $1,917 to additional paid in capital.
13. Related Party Transactions
Related party transactions are carried out in the normal course of operations and are measured in part by the amount of consideration paid or received as established and agreed by the parties. Management believes that consideration paid for such services in each case approximates fair value. Except where disclosed elsewhere in these consolidated financial statements, the following is a summary of related party transactions.
Performance Share Grant Agreement
On March 26, 2014, the Company entered into a Performance Share Grant Agreement (“PSGA”) with KAI, whereby KAI will be entitled to receive up to an aggregate of 375,000 shares of PIH common stock upon achievement of certain milestones regarding the Company’s stock price. Pursuant to the terms of the PSGA, if at any time the last sales price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds: (i) $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of the Company’s common stock; (ii) $15.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (in addition to the 125,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clause (i) herein); and (iii) $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, KAI will receive 125,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (in addition to the 250,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) herein). The shares of common stock granted to KAI will have a valuation equal to the last sales price of PIH common stock on the day prior to such grant. As of December 31, 2016, the Company has not issued any shares under the PSGA.
Termination of Management Services Agreement
As a result of the termination of the Management Services Agreement (“MSA”), which occurred on February 24, 2015, the Company has issued the following securities to 1347 Advisors, LLC (“Advisors”), a wholly owned subsidiary of KFSI.
The Performance Shares Grant Agreement grants Advisors 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon the date that the last sales price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds ten dollars per share for any twenty trading days within any 30-day trading period (the “Milestone Event”). Advisors will not be entitled to any dividends declared or paid on the Company’s stock prior to the Milestone Event having been achieved.
The Preferred Shares have a par value of twenty five dollars and pay annual cumulative dividends at a rate of eight percent per annum. Cumulative dividends shall accrue, whether or not declared by the Board and irrespective of whether there are funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Accrued dividends shall be paid in cash only when, as, and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available therefor or upon a liquidation or redemption of the Preferred Shares. In the event of any voluntary of involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distributions to its shareholders, before any payment shall be made to holders of securities junior in preference to the Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares rank senior to the Company’s common stock, and the Company is not permitted to issue any other series of preferred stock that ranks equal or senior to the Preferred Shares while the Preferred Shares are outstanding. On February 22, 2016 the Company’s board of directors authorized a dividend payment on the Preferred Shares for shareholders of record as of February 23, 2016. Accordingly, on February 24, 2016, the Company issued a cash payment of $240 to Advisors representing the first annual dividend payment the Company has made on the Preferred Shares.
Unless redeemed earlier by the Company as discussed below, with the written consent of the holders of the majority of the Preferred Shares then outstanding, the Company will be required to redeem the Preferred Shares then outstanding on February 24, 2020 (the “Mandatory Redemption Date”), for a redemption amount equal to twenty five dollars per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares. The Company has the option to redeem the Preferred Shares prior to the Mandatory Redemption Date immediately prior to the consummation of any change in control of the Company that may occur.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Accounting for the termination of the MSA
As a result of the termination of the MSA agreement, the Company recognized an expense in the amount of $5,421 for the year ended December 31, 2015 as follows:
Year ended December 31, 2015 | ||||
Cash paid | $ | 2,000 | ||
Issuance of Series B Preferred Shares (recorded at a discount to redemption amount) | 2,311 | |||
Issuance of Warrants and Performance Shares | 1,010 | |||
Professional fees incurred in connection with the Buyout | 100 | |||
Loss on termination of MSA | $ | 5,421 |
The Company applied the guidance outlined in ASC 480 –Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity in recording the issuance of the Series B Preferred Shares. Due to the fact that the Preferred Shares have a mandatory redemption date of February 24, 2020, the guidance required that we classify the Preferred Shares as a liability on our consolidated balance sheet, rather than recording the value of the shares in equity. The resulting liability was recorded at a discount to the $4,200 redemption amount plus dividends expected to be paid on the Preferred Shares while outstanding, discounted for the Company’s estimated cost of equity (13.9%). As a result, total amortization in the amount of $355 and $282 was charged to operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. An additional $1,252 is expected to be charged to operations through February 2020 using the effective interest method.
The Company applied the guidance outlined in ASC 505-50 –Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employeesin recording the issuance of the Warrants and Performance Shares by recognizing an increase to equity for the estimated fair value of both instruments as of their date of grant. We estimated the fair value of the Warrants on grant date based upon the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Significant assumptions used in determining the fair value of the Warrants were as follows:
PRELIMINARY ROSPECTUS | ||||
We utilized a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine the estimated fair value of the Performance Shares due to the fact that shares are only issuable based upon the achievement of certain market conditions. This pricing model uses multiple simulations to evaluate the probability of achieving the market conditions, as well as a number of other inputs (some of which are Level 3 inputs as defined by the FASB) with respect to the expected volatility and dividend yield (among other inputs) of the Company’s common shares.
Based upon these models, the total estimated fair value of both the Warrants and Performance Shares was determined to be $1,010 on the date of grant.
14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The table below details the change in the balance of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities: | ||||||||
Balance, January 1 | $ | (62 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | ||
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | 1 | (95 | ) | |||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | (6 | ) | — | |||||
Income taxes | 2 | 34 | ||||||
Net current-period other comprehensive loss | (3 | ) | (61 | ) | ||||
Balance, December 31 | $ | (65 | ) | $ | (62 | ) |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESThinkEquity
Notes to Consolidateda division of Fordham Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)Management, Inc.
15. Fair Value of Financial Instruments, 2021
Fair value is best evidenced by quoted bid or ask price, as appropriate, in an active market. Where bid or ask prices are not available, such as in an illiquid or inactive market, the closing price of the most recent transaction of that instrument subject to appropriate adjustments as required is used. Where quoted market prices are not available, the quoted prices of similar financial instruments or valuation models with observable market based inputs are used to estimate the fair value. These valuation models may use multiple observable market inputs, including observable interest rates, foreign exchange rates, index levels, credit spreads, equity prices, counterparty credit quality, corresponding market volatility levels and option volatilities. Minimal management judgment is required for fair values calculated using quoted market prices or observable market inputs for models. Greater subjectivity is required when making valuation adjustments for financial instruments in inactive markets or when using models where observable parameters do not exist. Also, the calculation of estimated fair value is based on market conditions at a specific point in time and may not be reflective of future fair values. For the Company’s financial instruments carried at cost or amortized cost, the book value is not adjusted to reflect increases or decreases in fair value due to market fluctuations, including those due to interest rate changes, as it is the Company’s intention to hold them until there is a recovery of fair value, which may be to maturity.
The Company classifies its investments in fixed income and equity securities as available-for-sale and reports these investments at fair value. Fair values of fixed income securities for which no active market exists are derived from quoted market prices of similar instruments or other third-party evidence.
The FASB has issued guidance that defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset (or paid to transfer a liability) in the principal, or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants. This guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The guidance categorizes assets and liabilities at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observation of the inputs employed in the measurements, as follows:
Financial instruments measured at fair value as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 in accordance with this guidance are as follows.
As of December 31, 2016 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | — | $ | 1,604 | $ | — | $ | 1,604 | ||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 2,246 | — | 2,246 | ||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | — | 11,968 | — | 11,968 | ||||||||||||
Corporate | — | 10,741 | — | 10,741 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed income securities | — | 26,559 | — | 26,559 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 1,136 | — | — | 1,136 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 1,136 | — | — | 1,136 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed income and equity securities | $ | 1,136 | $ | 26,559 | $ | — | $ | 27,695 | ||||||||
As of December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government | $ | — | $ | 647 | $ | — | $ | 647 | ||||||||
State municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 1,651 | — | 1,651 | ||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations | — | 9,082 | — | 9,082 | ||||||||||||
Corporate | — | 8,858 | — | 8,858 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | — | $ | 20,238 | $ | — | $ | 20,238 |
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
16. Statutory Requirements
The Company’s insurance subsidiary, Maison, prepares statutory basis financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the LDI. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include state laws, rules and regulations as well as accounting practices and rules as outlined in a variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices that are not prescribed, but instead have been specifically requested by an insurer and allowed by the state in which the insurer is domiciled (in Maison’s case, Louisiana). Permitted practices may differ from state to state, or company to company within a state, and may change in the future. In converting from statutory accounting basis to U.S. GAAP, typical adjustments include the deferral of acquisition costs (which are all charged to operations as incurred on a statutory basis), the inclusion of statutorily non-admitted assets on the balance sheet, the inclusion of net unrealized holding gains or losses related to investments included on the balance sheet, as well as the inclusion of changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities in the statement of operations.
Statutory Surplus and Capital Requirements
In order to retain its certificate of authority in the State of Louisiana, Maison is required to maintain a minimum capital surplus of $5,000. As of December 31, 2016 Maison’s capital surplus was $19,835.
The LDI employs risk-based capital (“RBC”) reports to monitor Maison’s financial condition. Risk-based capital is determined in accordance with a formula adopted by the NAIC which takes into consideration the covariance between asset risk, credit risk, underwriting risk, and other business risks. The RBC report determines whether Maison falls into the “no action” level or one of the four action levels set forth in the Louisiana Insurance Code. In order to retain its certificate of authority in the State of Texas, Maison is required to maintain an RBC ratio of 300% or more.
As of December 31, 2016, Maison’s RBC ratio was 346%, as a result, our surplus was considered to be in the “no action” level.
States routinely require deposits of assets for the protection of policyholders either in those states or for all policyholders. As of December 31, 2016, Maison held investment securities with a fair value of approximately $100 as a deposit with the LDI and cash and investment securities with a fair value of approximately $1,992 as a deposit with the TDI.
Surplus Notes
PIH, as the parent company of Maison, is subject to the insurance holding company laws of the State of Louisiana, which, among other things, regulate the terms of surplus notes issued by insurers to their parent company. Maison’s capital includes five surplus notes issued to PIH in the amount of $6,050, all of which were approved by the LDI prior to their issuance. Notes accrue interest at 10% per annum. Interest payments on the notes are due annually, and are also subject to prior approval by the LDI. The Company’s surplus notes, as of December 31, 2016, are as follows.
Date of Issuance | Maturity Date | Principal Amount | |||||
October 22, 2013 | October 22, 2017 | $ | 650 | ||||
December 21, 2015 | December 21, 2017 | 850 | |||||
March 31, 2016 | March 31, 2018 | 550 | |||||
September 29, 2016 | September 29, 2018 | 3,450 | |||||
November 14, 2016 | November 14, 2018 | 550 | |||||
$ | 6,050 |
Dividend Restrictions
As a Louisiana domiciled insurer, the payment of dividends from our insurance subsidiary is restricted by the Louisiana Insurance Code. Dividends can only be paid if an insurer’s paid-in capital and surplus exceed the minimum required by the Louisiana Insurance Code by one hundred percent or more, or as otherwise provided. Any dividend or distribution that when aggregated with any other dividends or distributions made within the preceding twelve months exceeds the lesser of (a) ten percent of the insurer’s surplus as regards policyholders as of the thirty-first day of December next preceding; or (b) the net income of the insurer, not including realized capital gains, for the twelve month period ending the thirty-first day of December next preceding; is considered to be extra-ordinary and shall not be paid until thirty days after the LDI has received notice of the declaration thereof and has not within that period disapproved the payment, or until the LDI has approved the payment within the thirty-day period. In determining whether a dividend or distribution is extra-ordinary, an insurer may carry forward net income from the previous two calendar years that has not already been paid out in dividends. As of December 31, 2016, Maison had not paid any dividends to its shareholder, PIH.
See Note 20 – Subsequent Events, for additional statutory requirements regarding the certificate of authority granted to Maison from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
1347 PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
17. Retirement plans
The 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “Retirement Plan”) was established effective January 1, 2015, as a defined contribution plan. The Retirement Plan is subject to the provisions for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”); eligible employees of the Company and its subsidiaries may participate in the plan. Employees who have completed one month of service are eligible to participate and are permitted to make annual pre and post-tax salary reduction contributions not to exceed the limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Contributions are invested at the direction of the employee participant in various money market and mutual funds. The Company matches contributions up to 100% of each participant’s contribution, limited to contributions up to 4% of a participant’s earnings. The Company may also elect to make a profit sharing contribution to the Retirement Plan based upon discretionary amounts and percentages authorized by the Company’s board of directors. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company made matching contributions to the Retirement Plan in the amount of $75 and $67, respectively.
18. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings:
From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Currently, it is not possible to predict legal outcomes and their impact on the future development of claims. Any such development will be affected by future court decisions and interpretations. Because of these uncertainties, additional liabilities may arise for amounts in excess of the Company’s current reserves. In addition, the Company’s estimate of ultimate loss and loss adjustment expenses may change. These additional liabilities, or increases in estimates, or a range of either, cannot be reasonably estimated, and could result in income statement charges that could be material to the Company’s results of operations in future periods.
Operating Lease Commitments:
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had the following amounts due under its operating leases for facilities leased in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Tampa, Florida.
Year ended December 31, | |||||
2017 | $ | 344 | |||
2018 | 291 | ||||
2019 | 249 | ||||
Total | $ | 884 |
19. Subsequent Events
Florida Certificate of Authority
On March 1, 2017 Maison received a certificate of authority from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”) which authorizes Maison to write personal lines insurance in the state of Florida. Pursuant to the Consent Order issued, Maison has agreed to comply with certain requirements as outlined by the OIR until Maison can demonstrate three consecutive years of net income following the Company’s admission into Florida as evidenced by its Annual Statement filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Among other requirements, the OIR requires the following as conditions related to the issuance of Maison’s certificate of authority:
To comply with the Consent Order, Maison will receive a capital contribution from its parent company, 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc., in the approximate amount of $15 million. This contribution is expected to be in the form of one or more surplus notes as well as a direct contribution to paid in and contributed surplus and is expected to occur prior to March 31, 2017. As of March 16, 2017 Maison has not written any insurance policies covering risks in the state of Florida.
800,000Shares8.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock(Liquidation Preference Equivalent to $25.00 Per Share)
PROSPECTUS
Boenning & Scattergood, Inc.
, 2018
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the various costs and expenses payableto be paid by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered.registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All such costs and expenses shall be borne by us. All amounts shown are estimates except for the fees payable toregistration fee required by the SEC. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
SEC Registration Fee | $ | 2,864 | ||
FINRA Filing Fee | 3,950 | |||
Nasdaq Listing Fee | 100,000 | |||
Printing Expenses | 20,000 | |||
Accounting Fees and Expenses | 35,000 | |||
Legal Fees and Expenses | 325,000 | |||
Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses | 15,000 | |||
Miscellaneous | 45,000 | |||
Total | $ | 546,814 |
SEC registration fee | $ | |||
FINRA filing fee | ||||
Nasdaq additional listing fee | ||||
Accounting fees and expenses | ||||
Legal fees and expenses | ||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses | ||||
Printing fees and expenses | ||||
Miscellaneous | ||||
Total | $ |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The Registrant is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in summary, that a director or DGCL, authorizes the Registrant to indemnify any person who was orofficer of a Delaware corporation is a party or is threatenedentitled, under certain circumstances, to be madeindemnified against all expenses and liabilities (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by him, as a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by orresult of suits brought against him in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registranthis capacity as a director or officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the personhe acted in good faith and in a manner the personthey reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to theour best interests of the Registrant,company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’shis conduct was unlawful.
Further, the Registrant may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant,unlawful; provided that no indemnification shallmay be made against expenses in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have beena director or officer was adjudged to be liable to the Registrantcompany, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determinedetermines, upon application, that, despite the adjudication of liability, but, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such personhe is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses whichthat the Delaware Courtcourt deems proper. Any such indemnification may be made by us only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the stockholders, disinterested directors, or independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. To the extent that a present or former director or officer of the Registrant has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding discussed above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the Registrant is required to indemnify such person against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.conduct.
The terms of Section 145 of the DGCL are sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933,Our By-laws, as amended, or the Securities Act.
As permitted by the DGCL, the Registrant’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or the Certificate of Incorporation, and Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, or the Bylaws, provideprovides that the Registrant is required to indemnify itsour directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware General Corporation Law, as it now exists or may in the DGCL, subjectfuture be amended.
We may in the future enter into agreements with our directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the exceptions set forthindemnification provided in the DGCL described above; provided, however, that, except for proceedingsour By-laws. Our By-laws also permit us to enforce rights to indemnification, the Registrant is not obligated to indemnify any director or officer or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Registrant’s Board of Directors. In addition, as permitted by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws authorize the Registrant to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding upon receipt by the Registrant of an undertaking by orsecure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether the directorbylaws or officer receivingDelaware General Corporation Law would permit indemnification. We have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the advancementcost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to repayindemnify the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant.
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Under the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, the Registrant may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Registrant’s Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Registrant similar to those conferred to the Registrant’s directors and officers.
Further, underThese provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the Bylaws, unless ordered byeffect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a court, no indemnificationstockholder’s investment may be provided to a director, officer or employee unless a determination has been made that such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposedadversely affected to the best interestsextent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. We believe that these provisions, the Registrantinsurance and with respectthe indemnity agreements are necessary to any criminal proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Such determination shall be made by (a) a majority vote of the disinterestedattract and retain talented and experienced directors even though less than a quorum of the Registrant’s Board of Directors, (b) a committee comprised of disinterested directors, such committee having been designated by a majority vote of the disinterested directors (even though less than a quorum), (c) if there are no such disinterested directors, or if a majority of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (d) by the stockholders of the Corporation. A “disinterested director” means a director of the Registrant who is not and was not a party to the proceeding in question.
The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws also provides that the rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are not exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Further, any repeal or modification of the indemnification provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws by the stockholders of the Registrant will not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director or officer of the Registrant existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.officers.
In addition, Section 102(b)(7)any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of Common Stock being registered hereby, the underwriter will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us, within the meaning of the DGCL grants the Registrant the right to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty, subject to certain limitations. As permitted by the DGCL, the Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that eliminate the personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability:
The Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation further provides that if the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Registrant shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors and certain executive officers to provide these directors and executive officers additional contractual assurances regarding the scope of the indemnification set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and to provide additional procedural protections. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, executive officer or employee of the Registrant regarding which indemnification is sought. Reference is also made to section 6 of the Underwriting Agreement, which provides for the indemnification of executive officers, directors and controlling persons of the RegistrantSecurities Act, against certain liabilities.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
The Bylaws provide that the Registrant may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer or employee against any liability of any character asserted against or incurred by the Registrant or any such director, officer or employee, or arising out of any such person’s “corporate status” with the Registrant, or status as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL or the provisions of the Bylaws.
The Registrant maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
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Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
On January 23, 2014, the Registrant issued 80,000 shares of its Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $25.00 per share, or the Series A Preferred Shares, to Fund Management Group LLC, of which the Registrant’s former Chairman of the Board, Gordon G. Pratt, is a managing member and controlling equity holder, for $2 million. The Series A Preferred Shares were issued in reliance on the private placement exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act on the basis that the sale did not involve a public offering. The Series A Preferred Shares were non-voting and ranked senior to all classes of capital stock of the Registrant. On March 31, 2014, the effective date of the Registrant’s initial public offering, the Series A Preferred Shares were converted into 312,500 shares of the Registrant’s common stock and a warrant to purchase up to 312,500 shares of the Registrant’s common stock at a price equal to $9.60 per share, subject to certain adjustments set forth in a warrant agreement. The warrant, which became exercisable upon issuance, expires on March 31, 2019. The Registrant may redeem the warrant at a price of $0.01 per share during any period in which the closing price of the Registrant’s common stock is at or above $14.00 per share for 20 consecutive trading days.None.
On February 24, 2015, the Registrant entered into an agreement with 1347 Advisors, LLC, or 1347 Advisors, a subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc., the Registrant’s largest stockholder, to terminate a Management Services Agreement between the Registrant and 1347 Advisors whereby 1347 Advisors provided certain services to the Registrant. As part of the consideration paid to 1347 Advisors for agreeing to voluntarily terminate the Management Services Agreement, the Registrant issued to 1347 Advisors 120,000 shares of the Registrant’s Series B preferred stock, par value $25.00 per share, or the Series B Preferred Shares, and a warrant to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock at an exercise price of $15.00 per share, subject to certain adjustments set forth in a warrant agreement. 1347 Advisors subsequently transferred 60,000 of the shares to IWS Acquisition, an affiliate of KFSI. The Series B Preferred Shares are non-voting and rank senior to all classes of capital stock of the Registrant. The warrant, which became exercisable on issuance, expires on February 24, 2022. The Registrant and 1347 Advisors also entered into a Performance Shares Grant Agreement, dated February 24, 2015, whereby 1347 Advisors was entitled to receive 100,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock from the Registrant if at any time the last sales price of the common stock equaled or exceeded $10.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period. The Series B Preferred Shares and the warrant were issued in reliance on the private placement exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act on the basis that the sale did not involve a public offering. On January 2, 2018, the Registrant entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with 1347 Advisors and IWS Acquisition Corporation pursuant to which the Registrant agreed to repurchase the 60,000 Series B Preferred Shares held by 1347 Advisors for an aggregate purchase price of $1,740,000, representing (i) $1,500,000, comprised of $25 per share of Series B preferred stock, and (ii) declared and unpaid dividends in respect of the dividend payment due on February 23, 2018 amounting to $240,000 in the aggregate. The Registrant also agreed to repurchase pursuant to the stock purchase agreement 60,000 Series B Preferred Shares from IWS Acquisition Corporation, upon completion of this offering, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000, comprised of $25 per share of Series B preferred stock, without any dividend or interest payment. In connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Performance Shares Grant Agreement, dated February 24, 2015, between the Registrant and 1347 Advisors was terminated. The Registrant paid 1347 Advisors $300,000 in connection with the termination. No common shares were issued to 1347 Advisors under the Performance Shares Grant Agreement.
On May 23, 2017, the Company announced that Dan Case has been appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer. In connection with Mr. Case’s new employment, Mr. Case has the opportunity to purchase up to 68,027 shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market or in direct purchases from the Company until June 15, 2018 and at the end of the purchase period, the Company will match any such shares purchased by Mr. Case with a grant of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) of the Company equal to two RSUs for each share purchased by Mr. Case. The RSUs will vest 20% per year over five years following the date granted, subject to continued employment through such vesting date. The aggregate maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be acquired pursuant to this arrangement, including through open market purchases, purchases from the Company and grants from the Company, is 204,081. Any shares purchased directly from the Company will be made at a price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the prior trading day, but not less than the latest quarter end published book value per share. This arrangement was entered into outside of the Company’s existing stockholder approved equity plans and was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors as an inducement material to Mr. Case entering into employment with the Company in reliance on Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). As of February 13 , 2018, Mr. Case had purchased 56,276 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to this arrangement, 28,000 of which shares were purchased directly from the Company at a purchase price of $8.00 per share on September 14, 2017. The shares of the Company’s common stock issued under this arrangement were issued pursuant to an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Exhibits.
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* Filed herewith. | |
| |
(b) Financial statement schedules.** To be filed by amendment.
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
No financial statement schedules are provided because[1] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2020
[2] Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A1 (Reg. No. 333-193314), filed January 30, 2014
[3] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 27, 2015
[4] Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A1 (Reg. No. 333-222470), filed February 5, 2018
[5] Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2019
[6] Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed April 30, 2015
[7] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2018
[8] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 19, 2021
[9] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2018
[10] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 2, 2015
[11] Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended September 30, 2018
[12] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 19, 2017
[13] Registrant’s Current on Report on Form 8-K filed August 28, 2018
[14] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 2, 2019
[15] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 16, 2020
[16] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 6, 2020
[17] Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the information called for is either not required or is shown either in the financial statements or the notes thereto.year ended December 31, 2020
[18] Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 21, 2021
Item 17. Undertakings
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be in the initialbona fide offering thereof.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(i) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(b) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
(c) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that: |
(1) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the |
(2) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statementregistration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Tampa,St. Petersburg, State of Florida, on the 13th day of February, 2018.August 4, 2021.
By: | /s/ | |
Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||
Each of the undersigned, whose signature appears below, hereby constitutes and appoints Larry G. Swets, Jr. and Brian D. Bottjer and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and execute, in the name of the undersigned, any and all instruments which said attorney-in-fact and agent may deem necessary or advisable in order to enable the Company to comply with the Securities Act and any requirements of the SEC in respect thereof, in connection with the filing with the SEC of this Registration Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act, including specifically but without limitation, power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned to such Registration Statement, and any amendments to such Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, to sign any and all applications, registration statements, notices or other documents necessary or advisable to comply with applicable state securities laws, and to file the same, together with other documents in connection therewith with the appropriate state securities authorities, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statementregistration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicatedand on the 13th day of February, 2018.
dates indicated.
Signature | Date | |||
/s/ | August 4, 2021 | |||
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||||
/s/ Brian D. | August 4, 2021 | |||
Brian D. | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ | August 4, 2021 | |||
/s/ | Director | August 4, 2021 | ||
/s/ | Director | August 4, 2021 | ||
/s/ Scott D. Wollney* | Director | August 4, 2021 | ||
Scott D. Wollney | ||||
/s/ Dennis A. Wong* | Director | August 4, 2021 | ||
Dennis A. Wong |
*By: /s/ Larry G. Swets, Jr. | August 4, 2021 | |||
Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||||
Attorney-in-fact |
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