Crawford & Company Reports 2018 Third Quarter Results

Company Reaffirms 2018 Guidance

ATLANTA, Nov. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crawford & Company (www.crawfordandcompany.com) (NYSE:  CRD-A  and CRD-B), the world’s largest publicly listed independent provider of claims management solutions to insurance companies and self-insured entities, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

The Company’s two classes of stock are substantially identical, except with respect to voting rights and the Company’s ability to pay greater cash dividends on the non-voting Class A Common Stock (CRD-A) than on the voting Class B Common Stock (CRD-B), subject to certain limitations. In addition, with respect to mergers or similar transactions, holders of CRD-A must receive the same type and amount of consideration as holders of CRD-B, unless different consideration is approved by the holders of 75% of CRD-A, voting as a class.

Consolidated Results
Third Quarter 2018 Summary

• Revenues before reimbursements of $255.0 million, compared with $270.6 million for the 2017 third quarter
   
• Net income attributable to shareholders of $7.9 million, compared to $11.8 million in the same period last year
   
• Diluted earnings per share of $0.15 for CRD-A and $0.13 for CRD-B, compared with $0.22 for CRD-A and $0.20 for CRD-B in the prior year third quarter

Non-GAAP Consolidated Results
Third Quarter 2018 Summary

Non-GAAP consolidated results have been calculated excluding the impact of the Garden City Group business the “GCG business”, disposed of on June 15, 2018, and before restructuring and special charges in 2017, and the loss on disposition of business line in 2018.

• Revenues before reimbursements, on a non-GAAP basis, of $255.0 million up 2%, compared with $250.5 million for the 2017 third quarter
   
• Net income attributable to shareholders, on a non-GAAP basis, totaled $8.8 million in the 2018 third quarter, compared to $11.8 million in the same period last year
   
• Diluted earnings per share, on a non-GAAP basis, of $0.17 for CRD-A and $0.15 for CRD-B in the 2018 third quarter compared to $0.22 for CRD-A and $0.20 for CRD-B in the prior year third quarter
   
• Consolidated adjusted operating earnings, on a non-GAAP basis, were $16.5 million, or 6% of revenues, in the 2018 third quarter, compared with $22.6 million or 9% of revenues in the 2017 third quarter
   
• Consolidated adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $25.5 million or 10% of revenues in the 2018 third quarter, compared with $31.1 million or 12% of revenues in the 2017 period

Mr. Harsha V. Agadi, president and chief executive officer of Crawford & Company, stated, “Our third quarter results demonstrate the continued progress we are achieving as we return Crawford & Company to sustained revenue growth, though we fell short of our expectations for operating earnings. For the quarter, sales increased nearly 2% after excluding the results from the disposal of the GCG business from the year ago period. On a year to date basis, after adjusting for the GCG business disposal, Crawford has delivered 4% revenue growth versus 2017 which represents a marked acceleration as our initiatives begin to take hold.

To deliver this growth and increase the pace of growth, we have made strategic investments in four primary areas: one, in technology to become more efficient; two, in our sales people to drive market share; three, in on-going staff development and training; and four, in new product development to deliver innovative solutions designed to solve industry challenges where we see large, untapped market opportunities. Additionally, we remain committed to ensuring the success of our reorganization to Global Service Lines.

As can be seen, our investments are clearly delivering revenue growth while positioning Crawford for future success. That said, the increased investment spend is temporarily suppressing our operating margins and earnings.  Importantly, we are carefully managing the business and watching our gross profit dollar growth and margins to ensure that we are not sacrificing long-term profitability for revenue growth. Excluding the results of the GCG business, our nearly $30 million in pro forma revenue growth so far this year has generated an impressive gross profit contribution which we have reinvested back into the business.”

Mr. Agadi concluded, “The pace of business is accelerating at Crawford as our investments continue to deliver top line results, and our long term goal remains to deliver 5% revenue growth and 15% earnings growth, annually. While operating margins and earnings have been impacted by short-term investments needed to drive future growth, we remain confident that we can manage spending and expenses to deliver margin expansion and an acceleration to earnings growth looking to 2019 and beyond.”

Segment Results for the Third Quarter

Crawford Claims Solutions

Crawford Claims Solutions revenues before reimbursements were $85.3 million in the third quarter of 2018, decreasing 1% from $86.3 million in the third quarter of 2017. On a constant dollar basis, third quarter 2018 revenues were $84.4 million. Operating loss was $(0.7) million in the 2018 third quarter, compared with operating income of $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2017, representing an operating margin of (1)% in 2018 and 2% in the 2017 quarter.

Crawford TPA Solutions: Broadspire

Crawford TPA Solutions: Broadspire segment revenues before reimbursements were $100.3 million in the 2018 third quarter, increasing 3% from $97.2 million in the 2017 third quarter. On a constant dollar basis, a non-GAAP measure, third quarter 2018 revenues were $100.0 million. Crawford TPA Solutions: Broadspire recorded operating earnings of $8.1 million in the third quarter of 2018, representing an operating margin of 8%, compared with $9.9 million, or 10% of revenues in the 2017 third quarter.

Crawford Specialty Solutions

Crawford Specialty Solutions revenues before reimbursements were $69.4 million in the third quarter of 2018, down 20% from $87.0 million in the same period of 2017. On a constant dollar basis, third quarter 2018 revenues were $68.8 million. Excluding GCG revenues of $20.0 million in the third quarter of 2017, revenues increased 4% for the quarter as compared to the third quarter of 2017. Operating earnings were $14.9 million in the 2018 third quarter compared with $16.4 million in the 2017 period. The segment’s operating margin for the 2018 quarter was 21%, as compared to 19% in the 2017 quarter.

Unallocated Corporate and Shared Costs and Credits, Net

Unallocated corporate costs, net were $5.8 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared with $4.3 million in the same period of 2017. The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was due to increases in self-insured expenses and in our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable.

Restructuring and Special Charges

The Company recorded no restructuring and special charges in the 2018 third quarter and restructuring charges of $1.4 million in the 2017 third quarter. Restructuring costs for the 2017 third quarter were comprised of costs related to the establishment and phase in of the Company's global business and technology service centers, restructuring and integration costs and other restructuring charges for asset impairments and lease termination costs.

Loss on Disposition of Business Line

On June 15, 2018, the Company completed the sale of all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in its Garden City Group business to EPIQ Class Action & Claims Solutions, Inc. The sale resulted in the recognition of a pretax loss on the sale for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, of $19.0 million after including transaction costs of $2.2 million related to the sale. Adjustments to the loss of $1.2 million pretax were recognized during the third quarter ended September 30, 2018. The loss on sale of the GCG business is presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as a separate charge "Loss on Disposition of Business Line".

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

The Company’s consolidated cash and cash equivalents position as of September 30, 2018, totaled $53.3 million, compared with $54.0 million at December 31, 2017. The Company’s total debt outstanding as of September 30, 2018, totaled $212.9 million, compared with $225.7 million at December 31, 2017.

During the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company repurchased 43,190 shares of CRD-A and 10,867 of CRD-B at an average cost of $8.86 and $8.87, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company repurchased 1,055,148 shares of CRD-A and 64,755 shares of CRD-B at an average cost of $8.30 and $8.95, respectively.

The Company’s operations provided $16.0 million of cash during the 2018 period, compared with $13.9 million in the 2017 period. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable partially offset by increased voluntary pension contributions in 2018, compared to 2017.

The Company made contributions of $19.0 million and $4.2 million to its U.S. and U.K. defined benefit pension plans, respectively for the 2018 nine month period, compared with contributions of $9.0 million and $4.0 million, respectively, in the 2017 period. For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, in addition to its expected $3.0 million quarterly contribution, the Company made a one-time voluntary contribution of $10.0 million to its U.S. defined benefit pension plan, which generated a one time U.S. tax benefit. The Company does not expect to make any additional contributions to its U.S. and U.K. plans during the remainder of 2018.

2018 Guidance

Crawford & Company is reaffirming its guidance for 2018 as follows:

• Consolidated revenues before reimbursements between $1.07 and $1.12 billion;
• Net income attributable to shareholders of Crawford & Company between $31.0 and $36.0 million, or $0.56 to $0.66 diluted earnings per CRD-A share, and $0.49 to $0.59 diluted earnings per CRD-B share;
• Consolidated operating earnings between $85.0 and $95.0 million;
• Consolidated adjusted EBITDA between $127.0 and $137.0 million;
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to shareholders of Crawford & Company, before loss on disposition of business line, between $43.0 and $48.0 million, or $0.78 to $0.88 diluted earnings per CRD-A share, and $0.71 to $0.81 diluted earnings per CRD-B share.

To a significant extent, Crawford’s business depends on case volumes. The Company cannot predict the future trend of case volumes for a number of reasons, including the fact that the frequency and severity of weather-related claims and the occurrence of natural and man-made disasters, which are a significant source of claims and revenue for the Company, are generally not subject to accurate forecasting.

Conference Call

As previously announced, Crawford & Company will host a conference call on November 6, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its third quarter 2018 results. The conference call can be accessed live by dialing 1-800-374-2518 and using Conference ID 9392449. A presentation for tomorrow’s call can also be found on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website, http://www.crawco.com. The call will be recorded and available for replay through December 6, 2018. You may dial 1-855-859-2056 to listen to the replay.

Non-GAAP Presentation

In the normal course of business, our operating segments incur certain out-of-pocket expenses that are thereafter reimbursed by our clients. Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), these out-of-pocket expenses and associated reimbursements are required to be included when reporting expenses and revenues, respectively, in our consolidated results of operations. In the foregoing discussion and analysis of segment results of operations, we do not include a gross up of segment expenses and revenues for these pass-through reimbursed expenses. The amounts of reimbursed expenses and related revenues offset each other in our results of operations with no impact to our net income or operating earnings. A reconciliation of revenues before reimbursements to consolidated revenues determined in accordance with GAAP is self-evident from the face of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Operating earnings is the primary financial performance measure used by our senior management and chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) to evaluate the financial performance of our Company and operating segments, and make resource allocation and certain compensation decisions. Unlike net income, segment operating earnings is not a standard performance measure found in GAAP. We believe this measure is useful to others in that it allows them to evaluate segment and consolidated operating performance using the same criteria used by our senior management and CODM. Consolidated operating earnings represent segment earnings including certain unallocated corporate and shared costs and credits, but before net corporate interest expense, stock option expense, amortization of customer-relationship intangible assets, goodwill impairment charges, restructuring and special charges, loss on disposition of business line, income taxes, and net income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests.

Gross profit is defined as revenues less direct costs which exclude indirect overhead costs allocated to the business.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a term defined by GAAP and as a result our measure of adjusted EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. However, adjusted EBITDA is used by management to evaluate, assess and benchmark our operational results. The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA is relevant and useful information widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to shareholders of the Company with adjustments for depreciation and amortization, net corporate interest expense, income taxes, restructuring and special charges, loss on disposition of business line and stock-based compensation expense.

Unallocated corporate and shared costs and credits include expenses and credits related to our chief executive officer and Board of Directors, certain provisions for bad debt allowances or subsequent recoveries such as those related to bankrupt clients, defined benefit pension costs or credits for our frozen U.S. pension plan, certain unallocated professional fees, and certain self-insurance costs and recoveries that are not allocated to our individual operating segments. Restructuring and special charges and loss on disposition of business line are non-core items not directly related to our normal business operations, or our future performance.

Income taxes, net corporate interest expense, stock option expense, and amortization of customer-relationship intangible assets are recurring components of our net income, but they are not considered part of our segment operating earnings because they are managed on a corporate-wide basis. Income taxes are calculated for the Company on a consolidated basis based on statutory rates in effect in the various jurisdictions in which we provide services, and vary significantly by jurisdiction. Net corporate interest expense results from capital structure decisions made by senior management and the Board of Directors, affecting the Company as a whole. Stock option expense represents the non-cash costs generally related to stock options and employee stock purchase plan expenses which are not allocated to our operating segments. Amortization expense is a non-cash expense for finite-lived customer-relationship and trade name intangible assets acquired in business combinations. None of these costs relate directly to the performance of our services or operating activities and, therefore, are excluded from segment operating earnings in order to better assess the results of each segment's operating activities on a consistent basis.

Income taxes are calculated for the non-GAAP presentation of net income before restructuring and special charges and loss on disposition of business line based on statutory rates in effect in the various jurisdictions in which charges exist, and vary by jurisdiction.

Following is a reconciliation of segment and consolidated operating earnings to net income attributable to shareholders of Crawford & Company on a GAAP basis. The reconciliation of 2018 guidance is to the midpoint of the guidance range.

Following is a reconciliation of net income attributable to shareholders of Crawford & Company on a GAAP basis to adjusted EBITDA. The reconciliation of 2018 guidance is to the midpoint of the guidance range.

Following are the reconciliations of GAAP Revenue, Operating Earnings, Pretax Earnings, Net Income, Earnings Per Share and EBITDA to related non-GAAP Adjusted figures, which exclude the results of the disposal of the GCG business, restructuring and special changes, and the loss of disposition of business line for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

Following is information regarding the weighted average shares used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share.

Further information regarding the Company’s operating results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018, and financial position as of September 30, 2018, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is shown on the attached unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

About Crawford & Company

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Crawford & Company (www.crawco.com) is the world's largest publicly listed independent provider of claims management solutions to the risk management and insurance industry, as well as to self-insured entities, with an expansive global network serving clients in more than 70 countries.

The Company’s shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbols CRD-A and CRD-B. The Company's two classes of stock are substantially identical, except with respect to voting rights and the Company's ability to pay greater cash dividends on the non-voting Class A Common Stock than on the voting Class B Common Stock, subject to certain limitations. In addition, with respect to mergers or similar transactions, holders of Class A Common Stock must receive the same type and amount of consideration as holders of Class B Common Stock, unless different consideration is approved by the holders of 75% of the Class A Common Stock, voting as a class.

Earnings per share may be different between CRD-A and CRD-B due to the payment of a higher per share dividend on CRD-A than CRD-B, and the impact that has on the earnings per share calculation according to generally accepted accounting principles.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PRESS RELEASE, PLEASE CALL BRUCE SWAIN AT (404) 300-1051.

CRAWFORD & COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Unaudited
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts and Percentages)

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CRAWFORD & COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
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(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts and Percentages)

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CRAWFORD & COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
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(In Thousands, Except Par Values)

CRAWFORD & COMPANY
SUMMARY RESULTS BY OPERATING SEGMENT
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(In Thousands, Except Percentages)

Three Months Ended September 30,

                                                                                                               
Nine Months Ended September 30,

(1) A non-GAAP financial measurement which represents net income attributable to the applicable reporting segment excluding income taxes, net corporate interest expense, stock option expense, amortization of customer-relationship intangible assets, restructuring and special charges, loss on disposition of business line, and certain unallocated corporate and shared costs and credits. See pages 4-5 for additional information about segment operating earnings.

CRAWFORD & COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017
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(In Thousands)