Exhibit 99.1
| For Immediate Release | Contact: Ann Storberg, Investor Relations | |
| (517) 324-6629 |
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AGREES TO ACQUIRE MINORITY INTEREST IN PIC
WISCONSIN
East Lansing, Mich. (Oct. 11, 2004)— American Physicians Capital, Inc. (APCapital) (NASDAQ:ACAP) announced today that its subsidiary, American Physicians Assurance Corporation (APA), has entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement as of September 17, 2004 with various shareholders of Physicians Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Inc. (PICW) to acquire a substantial minority interest in PICW. The Agreement states that APA will purchase 4,450 shares of PICW common stock at a purchase price of $3,800 per share in cash, which is slightly below PICW’s statutory book value per share as of December 31, 2003. If the transaction is completed, APCapital will own approximately 22.7% of PICW’s outstanding shares as of September 13, 2004, with a total investment of approximately $17 million. The closing of the purchase is subject to various conditions, including the receipt of approval from Wisconsin’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI). APCapital has been informed that PICW intends to oppose its request for OCI approval.
PICW is based in Madison, Wisconsin and is the leading provider of medical professional liability insurance in Wisconsin.
Neither this release nor any statement contained herein is intended to constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell securities of PICW.
Corporate Description
American Physicians Capital, Inc. is a regional provider of medical professional liability insurance focused primarily in the Midwest markets through American Physicians Assurance Corporation and its other subsidiaries. Further information about the companies is available on the Internet at http://www.apcapital.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
Certain statements made by American Physicians Capital, Inc. in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. When we use words such as “will,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. While we believe any forward-looking statements we have made are reasonable, they are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the potential inadequacy of our loss and loss adjustment expense reserves; a deterioration in the current accident year experience could result in a portion or all of our deferred policy acquisition costs not being recoverable, which would result in a charge to income; we may experience unforeseen costs or the need for unanticipated reserve enhancements
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associated with our exit from the workers’ compensation, health and personal and commercial insurance lines, which could result in future charges to income; an adverse outcome in the putative shareholder class action lawsuit against us; substantial jury awards against our insureds could impose liability on us exceeding our policy limits or the funds we have reserved for the payment of claims; increased pressures on premium rates and our potential inability to obtain rate increases; changes in competitive conditions; an unanticipated increase in claims frequency or severity patterns; our potential inability to obtain adequate and affordable reinsurance coverage from creditworthy reinsurers; adverse regulatory and market changes in certain states of operation where our business is concentrated; the loss of our relationships with medical associations; an interruption or change in our principal third-party distribution relationship; the potential insolvency of any of the guaranty associations in which we participate; the potential inability to obtain regulatory approval of rate increases; our potential inability to comply with insurance regulations; a further reduction in our A.M. Best Company rating; negative changes in financial market conditions; a downturn in general economic conditions; our potential inability to obtain OCI approval of the purchase of PICW shares, the possibility of litigation that could prevent us from completing our acquisition of PICW shares, and any other factors listed or discussed in the reports filed by APCapital with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. APCapital does not undertake, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter its statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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