Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (KFS, Financial) filed Annual Report for the period ended 2011-12-31.
Kingsway Finl has a market cap of $44.7 million; its shares were traded at around $0.77 with and P/S ratio of 0.2.
Goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite life are assessed for impairment annually as of December 31, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, by applying a fair value-based test. In determining fair value, valuation models such as price-to-earnings ratios and other multiples are used. Management must make estimates and assumptions in determining the fair value of a reporting unit that may affect any resulting impairment write-down. This includes assumptions regarding fluctuations in future earnings from the reporting units. Management then compares the fair value of a reporting unit to the carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of that reporting unit, a second step of impairment is performed to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit with the carrying amount. In connection with the annual impairment assessment performed as of December 31, 2011, all reporting units were tested. Based on the assessment, an impairment provision of $2.8 million has been recorded against the goodwill of the Company related to the Itasca acquisition described in the "Acquisitions, Discontinued Operations and Dispositions" section in Item 1 of this 2011 Annual Report. The Company concluded that the carrying amount of goodwill related to the Itasca acquisition exceeded its fair value and, therefore, was not recoverable. The determination that the fair value of the goodwill was less than its carrying value resulted primarily from a decline in the quoted value of Kingsway's common stock as compared to the book value per share of the Company at December 31, 2011. Additional information regarding our goodwill and intangible assets accounting is included in Note 10, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets," to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net investment income decreased to $4.1 million in 2011 compared to $12.8 million in 2010. The decrease is a result of several factors. First, the Company's total investments, cash and cash equivalents have declined approximately 40% since December 31, 2009 as a result of reduced volumes of business and acceleration of claim payments in Insurance Underwriting as well as corporate debt buy-backs and other corporate initiatives. Second, the percentage of the Company's total investments, cash and cash equivalents which is comprised of cash and cash equivalents, which carry lower investment yields, has increased from approximately 15% to approximately 42% since December 31, 2009 as a result of the sales of investments to realize gains and an intention to maintain higher liquidity given the planned shrinkage of business in Insurance Underwriting and other corporate needs. Third, yields on fixed maturities remain at historically low levels such that reinvestment of maturing investments occurs at yields lower than the yields on the maturing investments.
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Kingsway Finl has a market cap of $44.7 million; its shares were traded at around $0.77 with and P/S ratio of 0.2.
Highlight of Business Operations:
Tables 1 and Table 2 below set forth our gross premiums written by line of business and geographic region, respectively, for Insurance Underwriting for the periods indicated. For the year ended December 31, 2011, gross premiums written for non-standard automobile insurance decreased 38.6% to $119.6 million as compared to $194.7 million in 2010. Non-standard automobile insurance accounted for 86.4% and 92.0% of our gross premiums written for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The significant decrease in gross premiums written is due to the various steps taken to discontinue unprofitable lines and exit the managing general agent distribution channel, primarily at UCC. Also contributing to the reduction in non-standard automobile premium volumes is the continuing poor economic conditions in much of the United States. The non-standard automobile insurance market tends to contract during periods of high unemployment as was experienced in the United States throughout 2011.Goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite life are assessed for impairment annually as of December 31, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, by applying a fair value-based test. In determining fair value, valuation models such as price-to-earnings ratios and other multiples are used. Management must make estimates and assumptions in determining the fair value of a reporting unit that may affect any resulting impairment write-down. This includes assumptions regarding fluctuations in future earnings from the reporting units. Management then compares the fair value of a reporting unit to the carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of that reporting unit, a second step of impairment is performed to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit with the carrying amount. In connection with the annual impairment assessment performed as of December 31, 2011, all reporting units were tested. Based on the assessment, an impairment provision of $2.8 million has been recorded against the goodwill of the Company related to the Itasca acquisition described in the "Acquisitions, Discontinued Operations and Dispositions" section in Item 1 of this 2011 Annual Report. The Company concluded that the carrying amount of goodwill related to the Itasca acquisition exceeded its fair value and, therefore, was not recoverable. The determination that the fair value of the goodwill was less than its carrying value resulted primarily from a decline in the quoted value of Kingsway's common stock as compared to the book value per share of the Company at December 31, 2011. Additional information regarding our goodwill and intangible assets accounting is included in Note 10, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets," to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net investment income decreased to $4.1 million in 2011 compared to $12.8 million in 2010. The decrease is a result of several factors. First, the Company's total investments, cash and cash equivalents have declined approximately 40% since December 31, 2009 as a result of reduced volumes of business and acceleration of claim payments in Insurance Underwriting as well as corporate debt buy-backs and other corporate initiatives. Second, the percentage of the Company's total investments, cash and cash equivalents which is comprised of cash and cash equivalents, which carry lower investment yields, has increased from approximately 15% to approximately 42% since December 31, 2009 as a result of the sales of investments to realize gains and an intention to maintain higher liquidity given the planned shrinkage of business in Insurance Underwriting and other corporate needs. Third, yields on fixed maturities remain at historically low levels such that reinvestment of maturing investments occurs at yields lower than the yields on the maturing investments.
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