American Physicians Service Group, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Earnings


AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 14, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Physicians Service Group, Inc. ("APS") (Nasdaq:AMPH) today announced results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2002. For the three months ended September 30, 2002, revenues increased to $7,241,000 from $6,268,000 in the year-ago period. Net earnings were $296,000 or $.13 per share, compared to $117,000 or $.05 per share, in the comparable year-ago period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2002, revenues increased to $19,533,000 from $17,851,000 in the comparable year-ago period. Net earnings were $3,347,000 or $1.40 per share, compared to $527,000 or $.20 per share in the comparable year-ago period. Excluding non-recurring investment gains and asset sales, net of income taxes, net earnings increased 46% to $171,000 for the quarter and 67% to $881,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.

Ken Shifrin, APS Chairman of the Board stated: "Our core insurance and financial services businesses continued their strong performances experienced in 2001. Insurance services revenues and profits improved in all periods presented. Financial services did very well in a tough securities market, showing improvement in revenues and operating income in the third quarter comparison and narrowing the gap with the prior nine month period, revenues and operating income being off only 5% and 9%, respectively."

Mr. Shifrin concluded: "During this quarter, we continued to streamline the Company by making the decision to sell our environmental consulting segment. This business had been collateral on a note receivable, was acquired in foreclosure, and was not a part of our long-term business plan. The sale is expected to close before year-end and will not have a material financial impact."

APS is a management and financial services firm with subsidiaries and affiliates which provide: medical malpractice insurance services for doctors; brokerage and investment services to institutions and high net worth individuals; and dedicated care facilities for Alzheimer's patients. The Company is headquartered in Austin, Texas and maintains offices in Dallas and Houston.

This press release includes forward-looking statements related to the Company that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These forward-looking statements are made in reliance on the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For further information about the factors that could affect the Company's future results, please see the Company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations. Copies of the filings are available upon request from the Company's investor relations department.


              AMERICAN PHYSICIANS SERVICE GROUP, INC.
                      SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
                (In thousands, except per share data)

                             Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                               September 30          September 30,
                              2002       2001       2002       2001
                            --------   --------   --------   --------

 Revenues                   $  7,241   $  6,268   $ 19,533   $ 17,851

 Expenses                      6,713      5,959     16,888     16,510

 Operating income                528        309      2,645      1,341

 Gain on sale of investments      64        --       2,855        --

 Equity in earnings of
  unconsolidated
  affiliates                     --          34        (44)       (62)

 Earnings from continuing
  operations before
  income taxes and
  minority interest              592        343      5,456      1,279

 Interest expense                  4        124         25        393

 Income tax expense              222         95      1,899        364

 Minority interest               (70)       (42)      (185)      (105)

 Earnings from
  continuing operations          296         82      3,347        417

 Discontinued operations:
  Earnings from discontinued
  operations net of income
  tax expense of $18 and $56
  for the three and nine
  months in 2001                 --          35        --         110

 Net earnings                    296        117      3,347        527

 Diluted earnings per share:

   Net earnings             $   0.13   $   0.05   $   1.40   $   0.20

   Weighted average shares
    outstanding (diluted)      2,357      2,608      2,393      2,601

For further information, visit APS' website at www.amph.com


            

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