GWG Holdings Reports Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results

GWG Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:GWGH), the parent company of GWG Life, a financial services company committed to transforming the life insurance industry through disruptive and innovative products and services, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Highlights for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

• GAAP Financial Information
  • Total revenue of $11.7 million
  • GAAP net loss attributable to common shareholders of $7.7 million, or ($1.34) per basic and fully diluted share
• Adjusted Non-GAAP Financial Information1
  • Non-GAAP income attributable to common shareholders of $7.3 million2
• Increased the number of financial advisors able to sell our investment products to 5,520 – the largest network of advisors in the Company’s history
• Raised $66.2 million of capital from investment product offerings – our second highest quarterly amount on record
• Continued to improve our capital structure with our planned redemption of Series I Secured Notes and Series A Preferred Stock in conjunction with a pending extension of our senior credit facility expected to close by September 2017 that will be used to fund premium expenses of the portfolio over a renewed ten-year term
• Completed a nationwide rollout of the LifeCare Xchange suite of products to Insurance Marketing Organizations (IMOs), Brokerage General Agencies (BGAs) and life insurance agents
• Increased the number of financial advisors and life insurance agents appointed to source life insurance policies (referred to as Appointed Agents) to 3,950 – the largest network of Appointed Agents in the Company’s history
• Received recognition in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Policy Bulletin supporting innovative solutions that provide private-market options for financing long-term care services
• Took a definitive organizational step to further M-Panel technology by naming Tom Nodine as Executive Vice President of the division charged with commercializing our epigenetic-based predictive technologies for the global life insurance industry
• Purchased $88.7 million in face value of policy benefits comprised of 49 policies
• Acquired 20 percent of the purchased policies directly from Appointed Agents, as compared to 32 percent in the second quarter of 2016
• Recognized $11.0 million in policy benefits from nine life insurance policies during the quarter, and an additional $0.4 million in policy benefits from two policies since quarter end
• Reported a total portfolio of $1.53 billion in face value of life insurance policy benefits, covering 709 unique lives; representing a net year-over-year growth of $371 million or 32 percent
• Reported a total liquidity position of $105 million at June 30, 20173             

“We believe we may be reaching the tipping point of widespread adoption of insurance-based planning and products that utilize the advantages of the life insurance secondary market,” said GWG Holdings’ Chairman and CEO Jon Sabes. “While the credit crisis and other factors derailed the growth of this market for years, we have seen innovators and early adopters continue to advance this market forward, and, now, with the NAIC Policy Bulletin and other market factors signaling change, we believe adoption may begin occurring at rates we have not before experienced. Our company is uniquely positioned to lead the continued development of this marketplace that analysts have long suggested is a multi-billion dollar opportunity. We have built a strategy, team, and infrastructure to lead the development of this marketplace and I am highly optimistic in our future role in a large and growing marketplace – to say nothing of the insurtech resources we now own and are in the process of commercializing.”     

“We continue to execute our business plan and achieve many of the operating metric goals we have set for ourselves,” said William Acheson, Chief Financial Officer. “While quarter-to-quarter actuarial and mortality variability challenge our near-term GAAP results, the main lever of long-term profitability – maintaining a large, profitable life insurance portfolio – is strong. Our industry continues to draw increasing amounts of positive attention and capital in-flows as consumers and investors alike wake up to its unique value proposition. From a capital markets perspective, the competition for life insurance policy assets in the secondary market has never been stronger – making our current portfolio of life insurance and, importantly, our direct origination strategy and operating infrastructure increasingly valuable.”

Second Quarter 2017 Financial Summary

Total revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 was $11.7 million, as compared to $20.8 million for the same period in 2016. Revenue was negatively affected by a charge of $6.6 million relating to the periodic update of life expectancy estimates on certain insured lives within our portfolio. This impact was partially offset by an unrealized gain of $4.1 million due to a decrease in the discount rate used to value our portfolio of life insurance policies. Realized gain from policy benefits for the second quarter was $7.9 million, as compared to $8.1 million for the same period in 2016. The Company recognized $10.9 million of life insurance policy benefits from nine policies during the quarter, as compared to $9.8 million from six policies for the same period in 2016. Total unrealized gain from policy acquisitions during the second quarter was $8.0 million, as compared to $9.8 million for the same period in 2016, reflecting lower acquisition volumes quarter over quarter.

Total expenses for the second quarter of 2017 were $21.1 million, as compared to $16.5 million for the same period in 2016. Included in the second quarter numbers is a charge of $0.9 million relating to a secured loan made by one of our subsidiaries in the merchant cash advance industry. The remainder of the increase in expenses versus the prior-year period was related to increased interest and financing costs due to higher debt balances outstanding. General and administrative costs also increased year over year as a result of continued investment in headcount and infrastructure - although the sequential growth rate of these costs has decreased significantly in recent quarters. 

                                                                          

1. See non-GAAP Financial Measures below. 
2. We calculate non-GAAP net income by recognizing the actuarial gain accruing within our life insurance policies at the expected internal rate of return, exclusive of interest costs, of the policies we own without regard to fair-value measurements required by GAAP. We net this actuarial gain against our adjusted costs during the same period to calculate adjusted non-GAAP net income.
3. Includes cash, restricted cash, policy benefits receivable, if any, and amounts available, if any, on our senior credit facilities.

Other Information

Reconciliation of Gain on Life Insurance Policies

		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Change in estimated probabilistic cash flows		$	16,446,000			$	17,972,000			$	32,849,000			$	27,425,000
Unrealized gain on acquisitions			8,044,000				9,822,000				18,646,000				17,841,000
Premiums and other annual fees			(11,859,000	)			(8,995,000	)			(22,949,000	)			(17,441,000	)
Change in discount rate			4,143,000				629,000				4,143,000				838,000
Change in life expectancy evaluation			(6,662,000	)			(1,545,000	)			(8,604,000	)			(914,000	)
Realized gain on maturities			7,920,000				8,137,000				24,526,000				22,765,000
Fair value of matured policies			(6,736,000	)			(5,637,000	)			(17,915,000	)			(12,417,000	)
Gain on life insurance contracts, net		$	11,296,000			$	20,383,000			$	30,696,000			$	38,097,000

Life Insurance Portfolio Summary

Total portfolio face value of policy benefits			$	1,525,363,000
Average face value per policy			$	1,924,000
Average age of insured (yrs.)*				81.5
Average life expectancy estimate (yrs.)*				6.9
Total number of policies				793
Number of unique lives				709
Demographics				74% Males; 26% Females
Number of smokers				30
Largest policy as % of total portfolio				0.87	%
Average policy as % of total portfolio				0.13	%
Average annual premium as % of face value				3.21	%

Distribution of Policies and Policy Benefits by Current Age of Insured

											Percentage of Total
Min Age		Max Age		Policies		Policy Benefits			Wtd. Avg. Life Expectancy (yrs.)*			Number of Policies				Policy Benefits
95		99		8		$	12,392,000		1.1			1.0	%			0.8	%
90		94		71		$	135,898,000		2.9			8.9	%			8.9	%
85		89		195		$	393,983,000		4.7			24.6	%			25.8	%
80		84		171		$	401,496,000		6.3			21.6	%			26.3	%
75		79		144		$	270,779,000		9.0			18.2	%			17.8	%
70		74		133		$	210,775,000		10.2			16.8	%			13.8	%
60		69		71		$	100,040,000		11.3			8.9	%			6.6	%
Total				793		$	1,525,363,000		6.9			100.0	%			100.0	%

(*) Weighted average by face amount of policy benefits

Life Insurance Portfolio Activity

Insurance policy purchases for the three months ended:

		Three months ended June 30,										Three months ended June 30,
		2017										2016
		$		%		#		%		Avg. Face		$		%		#		%		Avg. Face
Broker4		71,100,000		80.1		39		79.6		1,823,000		120,660,000		88.2		60		68.2		2,011,000
Direct5		17,640,000		19.9		10		20.4		1,764,000		16,182,000		11.8		28		31.8		578,000
Total		88,740,000		100.0		49		100.0		1,811,000		136,842,000		100.0		88		100.0		1,555,000

Insurance policy purchases for the six months ended:

		Six months ended June 30,										Six months ended June 30,
		2017										2016
		$		%		#		%		Avg. Face		$		%		#		%
Broker4		152,351,000		78.7		92		75.4		1,656,000		219,665,000		91.9		126		77.3		1,743,000
Direct5		41,144,000		21.3		30		24.6		1,371,000		19,341,000		8.1		37		22.7		523,000
Total		193,495,000		100.0		122		100.0		1,586,000		239,006,000		100.0		163		100.0		1,466,000

(4)     Licensed life settlement brokers(5)     Includes Appointed Agent, internet and other lead sources

Insurance Benefits Realized

Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
June 30, 2017				June 30, 2016				June 30, 2017				June 30, 2016
$		#		$		#		$		#		$		#
10,935,000		9		9,829,000		6		29,910,000		19		29,067,000		12

Trailing 12 Month Policy Benefits Recognized and Premiums Paid

Quarter End Date		Portfolio Face Amount ($)				12-MonthTrailing Benefits Collected ($)				12-Month Trailing Premiums Paid ($)				12-MonthTrailing Benefits/Premium Coverage Ratio
December 31, 2014			779,099,000				18,050,000				23,265,000				77.6	%
March 31, 2015			754,942,000				46,675,000				23,786,000				196.2	%
June 30, 2015			806,274,000				47,125,000				24,348,000				193.5	%
September 30, 2015			878,882,000				44,482,000				25,313,000				175.7	%
December 31, 2015			944,844,000				31,232,000				26,650,000				117.2	%
March 31, 2016			1,027,821,000				21,845,000				28,771,000				75.9	%
June 30, 2016			1,154,798,000				30,924,000				31,891,000				97.0	%
September 30, 2016			1,272,078,000				35,867,000				37,055,000				96.8	%
December 31, 2016			1,361,675,000				48,452,000				40,240,000				120.4	%
March 31, 2017			1,447,558,000				48,189,000				42,753,000				112.7	%
June 30, 2017			1,525,363,000				49,295,000				45,414,000				108.5	%

Conference Call Details

Management will host a conference call today at 4:00 pm Eastern Time to discuss the Company's financial and operating results. The conference call number for U.S. participants is [phone] and the conference call number for participants outside the U.S. is [phone]. The conference ID number for both conference call numbers is 62234062. The call may also be accessed via webcast on the Company’s website at investors.gwglife.com.

A replay of the call will be available through Thursday, August 17, 2017 by dialing [phone] (U.S.) or [phone] (international), using the passcode 62234062.

About GWG Holdings, Inc.

GWG Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:GWGH) the parent company of GWG Life, is a financial services company committed to transforming the life insurance industry through disruptive and innovative products and services. The company has developed a new suite of options for the life insurance secondary market called LifeCare Xchange (LCX). This new capability provides seniors with the exchange value of their life insurance policies they can apply to long-term care and other post-retirement needs. GWG Life seeks to further transform the industry by applying proprietary M-Panel epigenetic technology to disrupt traditional life insurance underwriting practices. Since 2006 GWG Life has provided seniors over $436 million in exchange value for their life insurance and, as of June 30, 2017, owned a portfolio of over $1.53 billion in face value of policy benefits.

For more information about GWG Holdings, Inc. email [e-mail] or visit www.gwgh.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "would," "target" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about our estimates regarding future revenue and financial performance. We may not actually achieve the expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. More information about potential factors that could affect our business and financial results is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional information will also be set forth in our future quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, annual reports on Form 10-K and other filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no duty, to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein.

GWG HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
		June 30, 2017(unaudited)				December 31, 2016
A S S E T S
Cash and cash equivalents		$	52,293,472			$	78,486,982
Restricted cash			46,159,631				37,826,596
Investment in life insurance policies, at fair value			577,049,552				511,192,354
Secured MCA advances			3,525,381				5,703,147
Life insurance policy benefits receivable			6,970,000				5,345,000
Deferred taxes, net			1,620,303				-
Other assets			3,875,810				4,688,103
TOTAL ASSETS		$	691,494,149			$	643,242,182
L I A B I L I T I E S  &  S T O C K H O L D E R S’  E Q U I T Y
LIABILITIES
Senior Credit Facilities		$	149,008,826			$	156,064,818
Series I Secured Notes			6,680,961				16,404,836
L Bonds			400,832,308				381,312,587
Accounts payable			4,160,097				2,226,712
Interest payable			14,387,044				16,160,599
Other accrued expenses			2,535,674				1,676,761
Deferred taxes, net			-				2,097,371
TOTAL LIABILITIES		$	577,604,910			$	575,943,684
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(par value $0.001; shares authorized 40,000,000; shares outstanding 2,671,663 and 2,640,521; liquidation preference of $20,037,000 and $19,804,000 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)			19,732,262				19,701,133
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK
(par value $0.001; shares authorized 100,000; shares outstanding 99,127 and59,183; liquidation preference of $99,127,000 and $59,183,000 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)			97,728,821				59,025,164
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK SERIES 2
(par value $0.001; shares authorized 100,000; shares outstanding 22,536 and 0; liquidation preference of $22,536,000 and $0 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)			20,979,019				-
COMMON STOCK
(par value $0.001: shares authorized 210,000,000; shares issued and outstanding 5,783,555 and 5,941,790 on June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016)			5,784				5,980
Additional paid-in capital			-				7,383,515
Accumulated deficit			(24,556,647	)			(18,817,294	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY			113,889,239				67,298,498
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY		$	691,494,149			$	643,242,182

GWG HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
			Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
				June 30, 2017			June 30, 2016			June 30, 2017			June 30, 2016
REVENUE
Gain on life insurance policies, net			$	11,296,266		$	20,383,347		$	30,696,086		$	38,097,059
MCA income				133,583			223,255			380,159			368,216
Interest and other income				237,737			170,880			679,686			216,100
TOTAL REVENUE				11,667,586			20,777,482			31,755,931			38,681,375
EXPENSES
Interest expense				12,246,025			9,764,657			25,490,241			18,913,811
Employee compensation and benefits				3,741,299			3,071,507			6,904,360			5,537,705
Legal and professional fees				1,330,589			1,304,353			2,276,937			2,510,481
Provision for MCA advances				878,000			300,000			878,000			400,000
Other expenses				2,883,098			2,032,685			5,663,420			4,344,845
TOTAL EXPENSES				21,079,011			16,473,202			41,212,958			31,706,842
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME   TAXES				(9,411,425	)		4,304,280			(9,457,027	)		6,974,533
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)				(3,717,174	)		1,822,030			(3,717,674	)		2,906,747
NET INCOME (LOSS)			$	(5,694,251	)	$	2,482,250		$	(5,739,353	)	$	4,067,786
Preferred stock dividends				2,031,097			600,924			3,898,857			1,112,155
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO   COMMON SHAREHOLDERS			$	(7,725,348	)	$	1,881,326		$	(9,638,210	)	$	2,955,631
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic			$	(1.34	)	$	0.32		$	(1.69	)	$	0.50
Diluted			$	(1.34	)	$	0.30		$	(1.69	)	$	0.49
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES   OUTSTANDING
Basic				5,777,724			5,967,098			5,710,909			5,954,944
Diluted				5,777,724			8,017,349			5,710,909			8,002,335

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures for evaluating financial results, planning and forecasting, and maintaining compliance with covenants contained in borrowing agreements. The application of current GAAP fair value standards, especially during a period of significant growth of our portfolio and our company may result in current period GAAP financial results that may be not be reflective of our long term earnings potential or overall financial condition. Management believes that the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures permit investors to better focus on our long-term earnings performance without regard to the volatility in GAAP financial results that can and do occur during this phase of our portfolio and company growth.

We disclose these non-GAAP financial measures to investors to provide an alternative method for assessing our financial condition and operating results. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies, including other companies within our industry. The presentation of non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable amounts prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measures described above can be found below.

Adjusted Non-GAAP Net Income. Our DZ Bank/Autobahn senior revolving credit facility requires us to maintain a positive net income calculated on an adjusted non-GAAP basis. We calculate our adjusted non-GAAP net income by recognizing the actuarial gain accruing within our life insurance policies at the expected internal rate of return, exclusive of interest costs, of the policies we own without regard to fair value. We net this actuarial gain against our adjusted costs during the same period to calculate our net income on a non-GAAP basis.

	Three Months EndedJune 30,								Six Months EndedJune 30,
	2017				2016				2017				2016
GAAP net income/loss	$	(5,694,251	)		$	2,482,250			$	(5,739,353	)		$	4,067,786
Unrealized fair value gain (6)		(15,235,502	)			(21,241,376	)			(29,119,335	)			(32,772,929	)
Adjusted cost basis increase (7)		22,739,544				16,372,918				44,460,622				31,739,965
Accrual of unrealized actuarial gain (8)		7,505,266				7,460,000				12,415,448				13,527,000
Total adjusted non-GAAP income (9)	$	9,315,057			$	5,073,791			$	22,017,382			$	16,561,822
Preferred stock dividends		2,031,097				600,924				3,898,857				1,112,155
Non-GAAP income attributable to common shareholders		7,283,960				4,472,867				18,118,525				15,449,667

6. Reversal of GAAP unrealized fair value gain of life insurance policies.
7. Adjusted cost basis is increased to include those acquisition, financing and servicing expenses that are not capitalized under GAAP (non-GAAP Investment Cost Basis)
8. Accrual of actuarial gain at the expected internal rate of return based on the non-GAAP Investment Cost Basis for the applicable period.
9. We must maintain an annual positive consolidated adjusted non-GAAP income to maintain compliance with our DZ Bank/Autobahn revolving credit facility.

 

Media Contact:
Dan Callahan
Director of Communication
GWG Holdings, Inc.
[phone]
[e-mail]