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Affirmative Insurance Announces 2006 First Quarter Results and Share Repurchase Program

ADDISON, Texas--May 1, 20060, 2006--Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc. , a producer and provider of personal non-standard automobile insurance, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

Key Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2006

                                         Three months ended March 31,
                                          2006       2005    % Change
                                        ---------- --------- ---------
                                                   Restated
                                        (dollars in millions, except
                                                per share data)
Gross premiums written                      $88.7    $105.1     -15.6%
Net premiums written                        $87.1    $104.1     -16.4%
Net premiums earned                         $73.0     $67.9       7.5%
Total revenues                              $92.2     $90.2       2.3%
Net income                                   $6.2      $7.8     -19.8%
Net income per common share - diluted       $0.40     $0.45     -11.1%


First Quarter Financial Results

In the first quarter of 2006, we had net income of $6.2 million or $0.40 per diluted share, as compared to the net income of $7.8 million or $0.45 income per diluted share for the same period in 2005. Weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the first quarter were 15.5 million compared to 17.1 million for the year-ago period, largely as a result of our acquisition of 2.0 million shares of treasury stock in June 2005.

Net premiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2006 were $73.0 million, an increase of $5.1 million or 7.5% compared to net premiums earned of $67.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to our increased retention of gross premiums written in previous periods. We increased the surplus in our insurance companies with proceeds from our IPO in July 2004 and our issuance of trust preferred securities in December 2004 to enable us to increase our gross premiums written. In the first quarter of 2006, our gross premiums written were down 15.6% as compared to the first quarter of 2005

Net premiums written decreased 16.4% to $87.1 million due to the decline in our gross premiums written.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2006, our loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 65.2% as compared to 65.6% in the first quarter of the prior year. This improvement reflects decreases in our overall loss and loss adjustment expense ratios for both our owned and non-owned programs due to favorable claims development in the current period relative to the loss ratios estimated in previous periods.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2006, our expense ratio was 22.1% as compared to 17.6% in the prior year. This increase in our expense ratio reflects the effect of the widely used industry calculation method that offsets our operating expenses (selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization) with our other revenues (commission income and fees) in the dividend, with the divisor consisting of only net premiums earned. The revenue from commission income and fees included in our consolidated financial statements decreased to $17.5 million in the first quarter of 2006 from $21.0 million in the comparable period in 2005 as a result of the elimination entries related to our increased retention of business produced.

Our combined ratio (the sum of the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio and the expense ratio) for the first quarter of 2006 was 87.4% as compared to 83.2% for the comparable quarter in 2005.

Share Repurchase Program

On May 9, 2006, the board of directors approved a share repurchase program for up to $15 million of our common stock over the next 12 months. From time to time, repurchases may be made on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of management based on management's assessment of market conditions and other relevant factors. We expect to fund the purchases initially through internally available funds.

"This repurchase program clearly expresses the Board's confidence in the long term value of our Company," said Kevin Callahan, chairman and interim chief executive officer, "Furthermore, it provides another means for the Company to effectively deploy its capital to enhance shareholder value."

Restatement

We have restated our previously issued financial statements to correct consolidating elimination entries made in prior periods that were not in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, and to correct the allocation of commission income and fees among the first three quarters of 2005. The erroneous elimination entries had no effect on reported net income, earnings per share, cash, invested assets or stockholders' equity, but did have the effect of materially understating gross revenues and expenses and misstating certain assets and liabilities. The restatement of misallocation of commission income and fees among the first three quarters of 2005 reduced commission and fee income for the first quarter of 2005 by $345,000 ($223,000 after incomes taxes) that is now included in the third quarter of 2005. The previously issued unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 have been restated. All financial information in this announcement gives effect to the restatement.

                 Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc.
          Consolidated Statements of Operations - Unaudited
            (dollars in thousands, except per share data)



                                       Three months ended March 31,
                                        2006        2005     % Change
                                     ----------- ----------- ---------
                                                  Restated
Revenues
Net premiums earned                     $73,038     $67,936       7.5%
Commission income and fees               17,499      20,995     -16.7%
Net investment income                     2,060       1,257      63.9%
Realized gains (losses)                    (367)          3        NM
                                     ----------- -----------
   Total revenues                        92,230      90,191       2.3%
                                     ----------- -----------
Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses      47,652      44,567       6.9%
Selling, general and administrative
 expenses                                32,601      31,926       2.1%
Depreciation and amortization             1,060       1,029       3.0%
Interest expense                          1,085         579      87.4%
                                     ----------- -----------
   Total expenses                        82,398      78,101       5.5%
                                     ----------- -----------
   Net income before income taxes,
    minority interest and equity
    interest in unconsolidated
    subsidiaries                          9,832      12,090     -18.7%
Income tax expense                        3,520       4,284     -17.8%
Minority interest, net of income
 taxes                                       81          33     145.5%
                                     ----------- -----------
Net income (loss)                        $6,231      $7,773     -19.8%
                                     =========== ===========

Net income (loss) per common share -
 Basic                                    $0.40       $0.46     -13.0%
                                     =========== ===========

Net income (loss) per common share -
 Diluted                                  $0.40       $0.45     -11.1%
                                     =========== ===========

Weighted average shares outstanding
 - Basic                             15,432,557  16,845,934      -8.4%
Weighted average shares outstanding
 - Diluted                           15,463,132  17,119,853      -9.7%

Operational Information
Gross premiums written                  $88,749    $105,102     -15.6%
Net premiums written                    $87,058    $104,110     -16.4%
 Percentage retained                       98.1%       99.1%

Loss Ratio                                 65.2%       65.6%
Expense Ratio                              22.1%       17.6%
                                     ----------- -----------
 Combined Ratio                            87.4%       83.2%
                                     =========== ===========



                 Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc.
                Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
       (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)



                                              March 31,  December 31,
Assets                                          2006         2005
-----------                                  ----------- -------------
Fixed maturities - available for sale          $229,418      $210,273
Short-term investments                                -           477
                                             ----------- -------------
   Total invested assets                        229,418       210,750
Cash and cash equivalents                        26,570        48,037
Fiduciary and restricted cash                    35,227        29,689
Premiums and fees receivable                     98,401        81,680
Commissions receivable                            4,945         2,144
Receivable from reinsurers                       24,345        28,137
Deferred acquisition costs                       28,069        24,453
Deferred tax asset, net                          15,264        14,866
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net        83,805        80,616
Other assets                                     20,365        23,753
                                             ----------- -------------
           Total assets                        $566,409      $544,125
                                             =========== =============
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
-------------------------------------
Liabilities
   Reserves for losses and loss adjustment
    expenses                                    127,911       126,940
   Unearned premium                             111,441        97,344
   Amounts due reinsurers                        12,262         8,715
   Deferred revenue                              28,152        27,101
   Notes payable                                 56,702        56,702
   Other liabilities                             24,107        27,361
                                             ----------- -------------
           Total liabilities                    360,575       344,163
                                             ----------- -------------
Stockholders' equity
   Common stock                                     175           175
   Additional paid-in capital                   159,067       158,904
   Treasury stock, at cost                      (28,746)      (28,746)
   Accumulated other comprehensive income
    (loss)                                         (742)         (529)
   Retained earnings                             76,080        70,158
                                             ----------- -------------
           Total stockholders' equity           205,834       199,962
                                             ----------- -------------
           Total liabilities and
            stockholders' equity               $566,409      $544,125
                                             =========== =============


Notes payable as % of capitalization               21.6%         22.1%
Actual shares outstanding                    15,432,557    15,432,557
Book value per share                             $13.34        $12.96
Tangible book value per share                     $7.91         $7.73

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

Certain information in this news release and other statements or materials are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements relating to such matters as future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives. In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we provide the following cautionary remarks regarding important factors that, among others, could cause our actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, results of our business, and the other matters referred to above include, but are not limited to: general volatility of the non-standard personal automobile and reinsurance markets; the market price of our common stock; changes in business strategy; severe weather conditions; availability, terms and deployment of capital; the degree and nature of competitor product and pricing activity; changes in the non-standard personal automobile insurance industry, interest rates or the general economy; identification and integration of potential acquisitions; claims experience; and availability of qualified personnel.

About Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc.

Headquartered in Addison, Texas, Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc. is a producer and provider of personal non-standard automobile insurance policies to individual consumers in highly targeted geographic markets. We currently offer products and services in 12 states, including Texas, Illinois, California and Florida.