UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)
March 26, 2018
   
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
Georgia
0-3722
58-1027114
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
   
4370 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia
30319
    (Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
   
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
(404) 266-5500
   
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 



Item 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On March 26, 2018, Atlantic American Corporation (the “Registrant”) reported its results of operations for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. A copy of the press release issued by the Registrant concerning the foregoing results is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press release dated March 26, 2018, reporting the results of operations of the Registrant for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.

The information contained herein and in the accompanying exhibit shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Registrant, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, unless expressly incorporated by specific reference to such filing. The information in this report, including the exhibit hereto, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,  or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 or 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
 ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
   
By:
/s/ J. Ross Franklin
 
J. Ross Franklin
 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Date:  March 26, 2018



ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION REPORTS
FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END RESULTS FOR 2017
AND DECLARES 2018 ANNUAL DIVIDEND

ATLANTA, Georgia, March 26, 2018 - Atlantic American Corporation (Nasdaq- AAME) today reported its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.  For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company reported net income of $2.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, up from $1.3 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016.  The increase was attributable to an increase in realized investment gains of $5.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2017.  Premiums for the fourth quarter of 2017 increased 10.6% to $40.3 million compared to $36.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, primarily as a result of premium growth in the Medicare supplement line of business in the life and health operation.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $4.5 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, as compared to $2.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2016.  Total premiums earned during 2017 increased 6.4% to $163.3 million from $153.5 million in 2016.  Premiums in the property and casualty operation decreased slightly in 2017 as compared to 2016; but were offset by a 10.0% premium increase in the life and health operations in the comparable years.  Benefits and losses increased 13.9% in 2017 as compared with 2016; while commissions and underwriting expenses decreased 3.0% over the comparable prior year period.  Realized investment gains were $9.2 million in 2017 as compared to $2.6 million in 2016.

Commenting on the results, Hilton H. Howell, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer, stated, “We are delighted to close out another profitable year and are enthusiastic about our prospects for 2018.  In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company reported a significant realized gain due to the conclusion of one of the Company’s real estate partnerships.  While the life and health operation experienced some growing pains over the last year, we have completed a number of strategic pricing adjustments for our Medicare supplement product and expect loss experience trends to normalize.  Our property and casualty operation continues to perform exceedingly well and reported an improvement in net income over the prior year.  In recognition of our enthusiasm for 2018, our Board of Directors recently approved our 7th consecutive annual dividend of $0.02 per share to shareholders of record on April 13, 2018, payable on or about April 23, 2018.”

Atlantic American is an insurance holding company involved through its subsidiary companies in specialty markets of the life, health, and property and casualty insurance industries.  Its principal insurance subsidiaries are American Southern Insurance Company, American Safety Insurance Company, Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company and Bankers Fidelity Assurance Company.

Note regarding Private Securities Litigation Reform Act: Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors and risks detailed from time to time in statements and reports that Atlantic American Corporation files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information contact:
   
J. Ross Franklin
 
Hilton H. Howell, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer
 
Chairman, President & CEO
Atlantic American Corporation
 
Atlantic American Corporation
404-266-5580
 
404-266-5505


Atlantic American Corporation
Financial Data

     Three months ended    
Year ended
 
    December 31,    
December 31,
 
(Unaudited; In thousands, except per share data)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
                         
Insurance premiums
                       
Life and health
 
$
26,938
   
$
23,066
   
$
109,666
   
$
99,702
 
Property and casualty
   
13,393
     
13,387
     
53,661
     
53,763
 
Investment income
   
2,116
     
2,361
     
8,496
     
9,884
 
Realized investment gains, net
   
6,350
     
1,184
     
9,168
     
2,595
 
Other income
   
28
     
31
     
123
     
133
 
                                 
Total revenue
   
48,825
     
40,029
     
181,114
     
166,077
 
                                 
Insurance benefits and losses incurred
                               
Life and health
   
21,462
     
15,325
     
83,029
     
68,789
 
Property and casualty
   
8,607
     
9,170
     
34,486
     
34,408
 
Commissions and underwriting expenses
   
11,646
     
10,458
     
43,446
     
44,797
 
Interest expense
   
450
     
408
     
1,723
     
1,562
 
Other expense
   
3,773
     
3,194
     
13,074
     
12,997
 
                                 
Total benefits and expenses
   
45,938
     
38,555
     
175,758
     
162,553
 
                                 
Income before income taxes
   
2,887
     
1,474
     
5,356
     
3,524
 
                                 
Income tax expense
   
345
     
126
     
828
     
888
 
                                 
Net income
 
$
2,542
   
$
1,348
   
$
4,528
   
$
2,636
 
                                 
Earnings per common share (basic and diluted)
 
$
0.12
   
$
0.06
   
$
0.20
   
$
0.11
 
                                 
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure
                               
                                 
Net income
 
$
2,542
   
$
1,348
   
$
4,528
   
$
2,636
 
Income tax expense
   
345
     
126
     
828
     
888
 
Realized investment gains, net
   
(6,350
)
   
(1,184
)
   
(9,168
)
   
(2,595
)
                                 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
(3,463
)
 
$
290
   
$
(3,812
)
 
$
929
 

   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
Selected Balance Sheet Data
 
2017
   
2016
 
             
Total cash and investments
 
$
272,058
   
$
257,429
 
Insurance subsidiaries
   
244,754
     
235,499
 
Parent and other
   
27,304
     
21,930
 
Total assets
   
343,239
     
318,600
 
Insurance reserves and policyholder funds
   
173,583
     
162,679
 
Debt
   
33,738
     
33,738
 
Total shareholders' equity
   
112,983
     
105,506
 
Book value per common share
   
5.26
     
4.89
 
Statutory capital and surplus
               
Life and health
   
34,135
     
33,430
 
Property and casualty
   
43,348
     
41,489