The table below shows the reconciliation of net income to net income before impact of LPT Agreement for the three months ended:
Net income decreased $4.6 million, or 18.2%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the same period of 2008. The change in net income was primarily driven by a $35.7 million increase in net premiums earned, a $28.5 million increase in losses and LAE and a $14.8 million increase in underwriting and other operating expenses. Net income decreased an additional $1.6 million as a result of the acquired operations of AmCOMP. Net income includes amortization of deferred reinsurance gain—LPT Agreement of $4.3 million and $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Excluding the impact of the LPT Agreement, net income would have been $16.5 million and $20.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Net premiums earned increased 47.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the same period of 2008. The increase was primarily attributable to net premiums earned from our newly acquired Florida insurance subsidiaries, EPIC and EAC, which contributed $44.6 million to net premiums earned for the quarter. This increase was partially offset by lower premiums in certain markets, primarily California and Nevada, which had $6.2 million and $6.6 million lower direct premiums written in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008, respectively, as a result of rate reductions, competition and impacts of the economic contraction. Our average in-force policy size increased 9.3% to
$9,892 from $9,050 at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Excluding the impact of the acquisition, our average in-force policy size would have decreased $1,723, or 19.0%, to $7,327 at March 31, 2009, as compared to March 31, 2008.
Net investment income increased $4.4 million, or 23.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase in net investment income was related to the increase in invested assets. Fixed maturity securities acquired from AmCOMP accounted for a 22.5% increase in invested assets for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the same period of 2008.
Realized losses on investments remained relatively unchanged from the same period last year. The realized losses were the result of other-than-temporary impairments on equity securities due to the continued economic contraction and decline in the markets that began in the first quarter of 2008.
Expenses
Losses and LAE increased 93.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. Excluding the impact of the acquisition, losses and LAE would have decreased 9.8%, primarily attributable to the decrease in earned premium. Losses and LAE were 53.0% and 40.3% of net premiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. During the first quarter of 2009, favorable prior accident year loss development increased $2.1 million, to $13.5 million, compared to the first quarter of 2008. Additionally, our current accident year loss estimates were 67.9% and 61.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
The table below reflects the losses and LAE reserve adjustments for the three months ended:
| | | | | | | |
| | March 31, | |
| |
| |
| | 2009 | | 2008 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (in millions) | |
| | | | | | | |
Prior accident year favorable development, net | | $ | 13.5 | | $ | 11.4 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| | | | | | | |
LPT amortization of the deferred reinsurance gain | | $ | 4.4 | | $ | 4.8 | |
LPT reserve favorable change | | $ | — | | $ | — | |
There was no adjustment to the direct reserves subject to the LPT Agreement in either period. Excluding the impact from the LPT agreement, losses and LAE would have been $63.5 million and $35.4 million, or 56.9% and 46.7%, of net premiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Commission expense increased 28.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008, primarily as a result of the acquisition. Our commissions were 12.2% and 14.0% of net premiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Excluding the impact of the acquisition, our commission expense would have decreased $1.5 million, or 14.2%, due to lower premiums earned.
Dividends to policyholders increased $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, directly related to the acquired operations of AmCOMP, particularly the policyholders’ dividend plans in Florida and Wisconsin.
Underwriting and other operating expenses increased 68.0% quarter over quarter, primarily related to the acquired operations of AmCOMP. The acquired operations contributed $12.1 million to our expenses for the first quarter of 2009. Excluding the impact of the AmCOMP acquisition, our underwriting and other operating expenses would have decreased $1.2 million, primarily related to compensation not related to restructuring. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2009, we incurred total one-time integration and restructuring charges of $3.8 million, including $3.0 million in severance expenses related to our corporate restructuring.
Income taxes decreased $6.5 million for the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter 2008, resulting in a tax benefit of $1.2 million. The decrease was primarily due to an $11.1 million decrease in pre-tax income and the impact of tax exempt investment income. Tax exempt income as a percentage of pre-tax income was 44.4% and 24.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The acquisition of AmCOMP resulted in an increase of $1.1 million in tax exempt income during the first quarter of 2009. Further contributing to the tax benefit was $1.6 million in reserve reductions for periods prior to the privatization of the Nevada State Industrial Insurance System, the predecessor to EICN, which are tax exempt. While we expect the levels of tax preferred investment income to remain relatively stable during 2009, we cannot be certain how changes to pre-tax income may ultimately impact our effective rate in future periods.
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Combined Ratio
The combined ratio increased 16.8 percentage points for the three months ended March 31, 2009, to 99.8%, compared to 83.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The acquisition of AmCOMP resulted in an increase in the combined ratio of 11.7 percentage points. The remainder of the increase was primarily the result of lower premiums earned for the period due to rate cuts, competitive pressures, and overall economic conditions.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Parent Company. We are a holding company and substantially all of our operations have historically been conducted through our insurance subsidiaries, EICN and ECIC. On October 31, 2008, we completed the acquisition of AmCOMP and, as a result, added two new insurance subsidiaries: EPIC and EAC. Dividends to EHI from our insurance subsidiaries are contingent upon our subsidiaries’ earnings and subject to business considerations and regulatory requirements. The primary uses of cash are to pay stockholder dividends, repurchase common stock, pay interest and principal payments on outstanding debt obligations and support general operating expenses.
Historically, we have met our cash requirements and financed our growth principally from underwriting operations, asset maturities, and investment income. The recent acquisition of AmCOMP was funded through a combination of available cash and funds provided by the Amended Credit Facility.
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to insurance regulations, which restrict their ability to distribute dividends. The maximum amount that may be paid by our insurance subsidiaries to EHI without prior approval by state regulators is $17.7 million.
In February 2008, EHI’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program. The program authorized us to repurchase up to $100 million of our common stock through June 30, 2009. In February 2009, the Board of Directors extended this program through December 31, 2009. Shares may be repurchased from time to time at prevailing market prices in open market or private transactions, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and subject to market conditions and other factors. The repurchases may be commenced or suspended from time to time without prior notice. There can be no assurance that we will continue to undertake any repurchase of our common stock pursuant to the 2008 Program. Through March 31, 2009, we have repurchased 2,410,990 shares of common stock, at the average price paid including commissions of $12.31 per share, for a total of approximately $29.7 million.
Operating Subsidiaries. The primary sources of cash for our insurance operating subsidiaries are funds generated from underwriting operations, asset maturities and income received from investments. Our primary use of cash is to pay claims and operating expenses, to purchase investments, and to pay dividends to the parent holding company subject to state insurance laws and regulations.
Our net cash flows are generally invested in marketable securities. We closely monitor the duration of our investments and investment purchases, and sales are executed with the objective of having adequate funds available for the payment of claims at the subsidiary level and for the subsidiaries to pay dividends to EHI. Because our investment strategy focuses on asset and liability durations, and not on cash flows, asset sales may be required to satisfy obligations or rebalance asset portfolios. At March 31, 2009, our investment portfolio had an effective duration of 4.97 with individual maturities extending out to 40 years.
The purchase of reinsurance protects us against the costs of severe claims and catastrophic events. On July 1, 2008, we entered into a new reinsurance program that is effective through July 1, 2009, and now includes the acquired operations of AmCOMP. The reinsurance program consists of three agreements, one excess of loss agreement and two catastrophic loss agreements. The reinsurance program provides coverage up to $200.0 million per loss occurrence, subject to certain exclusions. Our loss retention for the program year beginning July 1, 2008, is $5.0 million. The coverage is subject to an aggregate loss cession limitation in the first layer ($5.0 million in excess of our $5.0 million retention) of $20.0 million. Additionally, in the second through fifth layers of our reinsurance program, our ultimate net loss shall not exceed $10.0 million for any one life, and we are permitted one reinstatement for each layer upon the payment of additional premium. We believe that our reinsurance program meets our needs and that we are sufficiently capitalized for the above described retention.
As of March 31, 2009, we had cash, short-term investments and fixed maturity securities that will mature over the next 24 months of approximately $450.4 million. We plan to repay $50 million of the line of credit provided by the Amended Credit Facility on or before each December 31, 2009 and 2010. Additionally, we expect one-time integration and restructuring charges of approximately $9.6 million in 2009. Other capital expenditures may include such things as
24
stock repurchases, future stockholder dividends, and support of our growth strategy. We believe that our liquidity needs over the next 24 months will be met with cash from operations, maturing investments and prudent use of credit.
Cash Flows
We monitor cash flows at both the consolidated and subsidiary levels and project future cash needs using trend and variance analyses.
The table below shows our net cash flows for the three months ended:
| | | | | | | |
| | March 31, | |
| |
| |
| | 2009 | | 2008 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (in thousands) | |
| | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in): | | | | | | | |
Operating activities | | $ | 30,776 | | $ | 26,085 | |
Investing activities | | | (26,974 | ) | | 6,090 | |
Financing activities | | | (16,264 | ) | | (3,773 | ) |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | | $ | (12,462 | ) | $ | 28,402 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the same period of 2008.
Items increasing in net cash provided by operations included:
| | |
| • | increased net premiums earned of $28.0 million; |
| | |
| • | increased investment income of $4.8 million; |
| | |
| • | decreased other assets that provided an additional $8.8 million in cash; and |
| | |
| • | decreased income taxes paid of $10.7 million. |
Items decreasing net cash provided by operations included:
| | |
| • | increased losses and LAE payments of $24.2 million; |
| | |
| • | increased underwriting and other operating expenses of $16.3 million; |
| | |
| • | increased commission expense of $3.0 million; |
| | |
| • | increased policyholder dividends of $2.0 million; and |
| | |
| • | increased interest expense of $2.0 million on the amended credit facility and surplus notes. |
Net cash used in financing activities was $16.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, as compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2008. The majority of cash used by financing activities was used to repurchase approximately $13.4 million of our common stock and pay dividends to stockholders.
Investments
We employ an investment strategy that emphasizes asset quality and the matching of maturities of fixed maturity securities against anticipated claim payments and expenditures, other liabilities and capital needs. Our investment portfolio is structured so that investments mature periodically over time in reasonable relation to current expectations of future claim payments. Currently, we make claim payments from positive cash flow from operations and use excess cash to invest in operations, invest in marketable securities, return capital to our stockholders and fund our growth strategy. As of March 31, 2009, the amortized cost of our investment portfolio was $2.01 billion and the fair value was $2.08 billion.
At March 31, 2009, our investment portfolio, which is classified as available-for-sale, was made up almost entirely of investment grade fixed maturity securities whose fair values may fluctuate due to interest rate changes. We strive to limit interest rate risk by managing the duration of our fixed maturity securities. As of March 31, 2009, our fixed maturity securities (excluding cash and cash equivalents) had a duration of 4.97. To minimize interest rate risk, our portfolio is weighted toward short-term and intermediate-term bonds; however, our investment strategy balances consideration of duration, yield and credit risk. Our current investment guidelines require that the minimum weighted average quality of our fixed maturity securities portfolio shall be “AA.” As of March 31, 2009, our fixed maturity
25
securities portfolio had an average quality of “AA+,” with approximately 79.3% of the carrying value of our investment portfolio rated “AA” or better. Our investment portfolio is comprised of less than 0.01% of subprime mortgage debt securities or derivative securities relating thereto. Agency-backed mortgage pass-throughs totaled $319.8 million, or 15.4%, of the total portfolio.
We carry our portfolio of equity securities on our balance sheet at fair value. In order to minimize our exposure to equity price risk and the resulting increases and decreases to our assets, we invest primarily in equity securities of mid-to-large capitalization issuers and seek to diversify our equity holdings across several industry sectors. At March 31, 2009, our equity allocation was 2.5% of our investment portfolio. Our equity position has fallen below our selected target of 6% due to declining market valuations and the consolidation of the AmCOMP investment portfolio, which contained no equity securities.
Our overall investment philosophy is to maximize total investment returns within the constraints of prudent portfolio risk. We employ Conning Asset Management (Conning) to act as our independent investment advisor. Conning follows our written investment guidelines based upon strategies approved by the EHI Board of Directors. In addition to the construction and management of the portfolio, we utilize the investment advisory services of Conning. These services include investment accounting and company modeling using Dynamic Financial Analysis (DFA). The DFA tool is utilized in developing a tailored set of portfolio targets and objectives that are used in constructing an optimal portfolio.
The following table shows the fair values of various categories of invested assets, the percentage of the total fair value of our invested assets represented by each category and the tax equivalent yield based on the fair value of each category of invested assets as of March 31, 2009:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Category | | Fair Value | | Percentage of Total | | Yield | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | (in thousands, except percentages) | |
| | | |
U.S. Treasury securities | | $ | 156,650 | | | 7.5 | % | 4.1 | % | |
U.S. Agency securities | | | 147,012 | | | 7.1 | | 4.4 | | |
Tax-exempt municipal securities | | | 1,029,132 | | | 49.4 | | 5.8 | | |
Corporate securities | | | 315,192 | | | 15.1 | | 6.3 | | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | | 323,612 | | | 15.5 | | 5.8 | | |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | | 41,662 | | | 2.0 | | 5.1 | | |
Asset-backed securities | | | 17,134 | | | 0.8 | | 5.2 | | |
Equities securities | | | 52,825 | | | 2.6 | | 3.8 | | |
| |
|
| |
|
| | | | |
Total | | $ | 2,083,219 | | | 100.0 | % | | | |
| |
|
| |
|
| | | | |
Weighted average yield | | | | | | | | 5.6 | % | |
We regularly monitor our portfolio to preserve principal values whenever possible. All securities in an unrealized loss position are reviewed to determine whether the impairment is other-than-temporary. Factors considered in determining whether a decline is considered to be other-than-temporary include the length of time and the extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and our ability and intent to hold the security until its expected recovery or maturity. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, we recognized an impairment of $1.8 million in the fair values of equity securities in our investment portfolio. The impairment was recognized as a result of the severity and duration of the decline in market value of these securities. We believe that we have appropriately identified other-than-temporary declines in the fair values of our remaining unrealized losses at March 31, 2009. We have the ability and intent to hold fixed maturity and equity securities with unrealized losses for a sufficient amount of time to allow them to recover their value or reach maturity.
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The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and estimated fair value of our investments at March 31, 2009, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cost or Amortized Cost | | Gross Unrealized Gains | | Gross Unrealized Losses | | Estimated Fair Value | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | (in thousands) | |
| | | |
U.S. government | | $ | 267,035 | | $ | 22,912 | | $ | — | | $ | 289,947 | |
All other governments | | | 623 | | | 17 | | | — | | | 640 | |
States and political subdivisions | | | 580,069 | | | 23,463 | | | (2,556 | ) | | 600,976 | |
Special revenue | | | 415,997 | | | 13,798 | | | (5,702 | ) | | 424,093 | |
Public utilities | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Industrial and miscellaneous | | | 300,497 | | | 10,519 | | | (11,672 | ) | | 299,344 | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | | 372,261 | | | 16,770 | | | (6,622 | ) | | 382,409 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Total fixed maturity investments | | | 1,936,482 | | | 87,479 | | | (26,552 | ) | | 1,997,409 | |
Short-term investments | | | 32,752 | | | 233 | | | — | | | 32,985 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Total fixed maturity and short-term investments | | | 1,969,234 | | | 87,712 | | | (26,552 | ) | | 2,030,394 | |
Equity securities | | | 41,232 | | | 14,226 | | | (2,633 | ) | | 52,825 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Total investments | | $ | 2,010,466 | | $ | 101,938 | | $ | (29,185 | ) | $ | 2,083,219 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Changes in interest rates directly impact the fair value of our fixed maturity securities portfolio. The decline in the U.S. Treasury rates during the first quarter resulted in a $21.7 million increase in net unrealized gains of our fixed maturity securities portion of our portfolio from $39.2 million at December 31, 2008, to $60.9 million at March 31, 2009.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity and short-term investments at March 31, 2009, by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
| | | | | | | |
| | Amortized Cost | | Estimated Fair Value | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (in thousands) | |
| | | |
Due in one year or less | | $ | 110,736 | | $ | 112,194 | |
Due after one year through five years | | | 470,239 | | | 491,399 | |
Due after five years through ten years | | | 552,073 | | | 574,769 | |
Due after ten years | | | 463,925 | | | 469,623 | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | | 372,261 | | | 382,409 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Total | | $ | 1,969,234 | | $ | 2,030,394 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
We are required by various state laws and regulations to keep securities in a depository account. At March 31, 2009 and 2008, securities having a fair value of $592.3 million and $536.1 million, respectively, were on deposit. These laws and regulations govern not only the amount, but also the type of security that is eligible for deposit and in all cases are restricted or limited to fixed maturity securities. Additionally, certain reinsurance contracts require company funds to be held in trust for the benefit of the ceding reinsurer to secure the outstanding liabilities assumed by us. The fair value of securities held in trust for reinsurance at March 31, 2009 and 2008, was $7.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively. The Amended Credit Facility is secured by fixed maturity securities which had a fair value of $212.6 million at March 31, 2009.
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Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following table identifies our long-term debt and contractual obligations as of March 31, 2009:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Payment Due By Period | |
| |
| |
| | Total | | Less Than 1 Year | | 1-3 Years | | 4-5 Years | | More Than 5 Years | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | (in thousands) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Leases | | $ | 32,058 | | $ | 6,279 | | $ | 11,227 | | $ | 6,564 | | $ | 7,988 | |
Purchased Liabilities | | | 3,491 | | | 1,452 | | | 1,609 | | | 430 | | | — | |
Notes Payable(1) | | | 230,181 | | | 53,751 | | | 105,472 | | | 3,492 | | | 67,466 | |
Capital Leases | | | 386 | | | 340 | | | 46 | | | — | | | — | |
Losses and LAE reserves(2)(3) | | | 2,494,554 | | | 253,059 | | | 306,968 | | | 211,323 | | | 1,723,204 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Total Contractual Obligations | | $ | 2,760,670 | | $ | 314,881 | | $ | 425,322 | | $ | 221,809 | | $ | 1,798,658 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
(1) | Notes payable obligations reflect payments for the principal and estimated interest expense that is based on LIBOR rates plus a margin. The estimated interest expense was based on the contractual obligations of the debt outstanding as of March 31, 2009. The interest rates range from 1.75% to 5.50%. |
| |
(2) | The losses and LAE reserves are presented gross of our reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses, which are as follows for each of the periods presented above: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Recoveries Due By Period | |
| |
| |
| | Total | | Less Than 1 Year | | 1-3 Years | | 4-5 Years | | More Than 5 Years | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | (in thousands) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reinsurance recoverables | | $ | (1,066,678 | ) | $ | (43,861 | ) | $ | (83,341 | ) | $ | (78,389 | ) | $ | (861,087 | ) |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
(3) | Estimated losses and LAE reserve payment patterns have been computed based on historical information. As a result, our calculation of losses and LAE reserve payments by period is subject to the same uncertainties associated with determining the level of reserves and to the additional uncertainties arising from the difficulty of predicting when claims (including claims that have not yet been reported to us) will be paid. For a discussion of our reserving process, see “—Critical Accounting Policies-Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses.” Actual payments of losses and LAE by period will vary, perhaps materially, from the above table to the extent that current estimates of losses and LAE reserves vary from actual ultimate claims amounts as a result of variations between expected and actual payout patterns. |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies
These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include amounts based on informed estimates and judgments of management for those transactions that are not yet complete. Such estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Those estimates and judgments that were most critical to the preparation of the financial statements involved the following: (a) reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses; (b) reinsurance recoverables; (c) recognition of premium income; (d) deferred policy acquisition costs; (e) deferred income taxes; and (f) valuation of investments. These estimates and judgments require the use of assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and therefore are subject to change as facts and circumstances develop. If different estimates and judgments had been applied, materially different amounts might have been reported in the financial statements. Our accounting policies are discussed under “Critical Accounting Policies” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report. Additional information regarding our accounting policy for reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses and reinsurance recoverables follows.
Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
We are directly liable for losses and LAE under the terms of insurance policies our insurance subsidiaries underwrite. Significant periods of time can elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss to the insurer and the insurer’s payment of that loss. Our loss reserves are reflected in our balance sheets under the line
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item caption “unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses.” As of March 31, 2009, our reserves for unpaid losses and LAE, net of reinsurance, were $1.43 billion.
Accounting for workers’ compensation insurance requires us to estimate the liability for the expected ultimate cost of unpaid losses and LAE, referred to as loss reserves, as of a balance sheet date. Our estimate of loss reserves is intended to equal the difference between the expected ultimate losses and LAE of all claims that have occurred as of a balance sheet date and amounts already paid. Management establishes the loss reserve based on its own analysis of emerging claims experience and environmental conditions in our markets and a review of the results of various actuarial projection methods and their underlying assumptions. Our aggregate carried reserve for unpaid losses and LAE is a point estimate, which is the sum of our reserves for each accident year in which we have exposure. This aggregate carried reserve calculated by us represents our best estimate of our outstanding unpaid losses and LAE.
Although claims for which reserves are established may not be paid for several years or more, we do not discount loss reserves in our financial statements for the time value of money.
The three main components of our reserves for unpaid losses and LAE are case reserves, “incurred but not reported” or IBNR reserves, and LAE reserves.
Case reserves are estimates of future claim payments based upon periodic case-by-case evaluation and the judgment of our claims adjusting staff, as applied at the individual claim level. Our claims examiners determine these case reserves for reported claims on a claim-by-claim basis, based on the examiner’s judgment and experience and on our case reserving practices. We update and monitor our case reserves frequently to appropriately reflect current information.
IBNR is an actuarial estimate of future claim payments beyond those considered in the case reserve estimates, relating to claims arising from accidents that occurred during a particular time period on or prior to the balance sheet date. Thus, IBNR is the compilation of the estimated ultimate losses for each accident year less amounts that have been paid and case reserves. IBNR reserves, unlike case reserves, do not apply to a specific claim, but rather apply to the entire body of claims arising from a specific time period. IBNR primarily provides for costs due to:
| | |
| • | future claim payments in excess of case reserves on recorded open claims; |
| | |
| • | additional claim payments on closed claims; and |
| | |
| • | the cost of claims that have not yet been reported to us. |
Most of our IBNR reserves relate to estimated future claim payments over and above our case reserves on recorded open claims. For workers’ compensation, most claims are reported to the employer and to the insurance company relatively quickly, and relatively small amounts are paid on claims that already have been closed (which we refer to as “reopenings”). Consequently, late reporting and reopening of claims are a less significant part of IBNR for our insurance subsidiaries.
LAE reserves are our estimate of the diagnostic, legal, administrative and other similar expenses that we will pay in the future to manage claims that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date. LAE reserves are established in the aggregate, rather than on a claim-by-claim basis.
A portion of our losses and LAE obligations are ceded to unaffiliated reinsurers. We establish our losses and LAE reserves both gross and net of ceded reinsurance. The determination of the amount of reinsurance that will be recoverable on our losses and LAE reserves includes both the reinsurance recoverable from our excess of loss reinsurance policies, as well as reinsurance recoverable under the terms of the LPT Agreement. Our reinsurance arrangements also include an intercompany pooling arrangement between EICN, ECIC, EPIC and EAC whereby each of the insurance subsidiaries cedes some of its premiums, losses, and LAE to the other, but this intercompany pooling arrangement does not affect our consolidated financial statements.
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Our reserve for unpaid losses and LAE (gross and net), as well as the above-described main components of such reserves were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2009 | | December 31, 2008 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (in thousands) | |
|
Case reserves | | $ | 878,317 | | $ | 886,789 | |
IBNR | | | 1,292,116 | | | 1,293,313 | |
LAE | | | 324,121 | | | 326,376 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Gross unpaid losses and LAE | | | 2,494,554 | | | 2,506,478 | |
Less: Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and LAE, gross | | | 1,066,678 | | | 1,076,350 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Net unpaid losses and LAE | | $ | 1,427,876 | | $ | 1,430,128 | |
| |
|
| |
|
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Actuarial methodologies are used by workers’ compensation insurance companies, including us, to analyze and estimate the aggregate amount of unpaid losses and LAE. As mentioned above, management considers the results of various actuarial projection methods and their underlying assumptions among other factors in establishing the reserves for unpaid losses and LAE.
Judgment is required in the actuarial estimation of unpaid losses and LAE. The judgments include the selection of methodologies to project the ultimate cost of claims; the selection of projection parameters based on historical company data, industry data, and other benchmarks; the identification and quantification of potential changes in parameters from historical levels to current and future levels due to changes in future claims development expectations caused by internal or external factors; and the weighting of differing reserve indications that result from alternative methods and assumptions. The adequacy of our ultimate loss reserves, which are based on estimates, is inherently uncertain and represents a significant risk to our business, which we attempt to mitigate through our claims management process and by monitoring and reacting to statistics relating to the cost and duration of claims. However, no assurance can be given as to whether the ultimate liability will be more or less than our loss reserve estimates.
We retain an independent actuarial consulting firm (Consulting Actuary) to perform comprehensive studies of our losses and LAE liability on a semi-annual basis. The role of our Consulting Actuary is to conduct sufficient analyses to produce a range of reasonable estimates, as well as a point estimate, of our unpaid losses and LAE liability, and to present those results to our actuarial staff and to management.
For purposes of analyzing claim payment and emergence patterns and trends over time, we compile and aggregate our claims data by grouping the claims according to the year or quarter in which the claim occurred (“accident year” or “accident quarter”), since each such group of claims is at a different stage of progression toward the ultimate resolution and payment of those claims. The claims data is aggregated and compiled separately for different types of claims and/or claimant benefits. For our Nevada business, where a substantial detailed historical database is available from the Nevada State Industrial Insurance System (the Fund), (from which our Nevada insurance subsidiary, EICN, assumed assets, liabilities and operations in 2000), these separate groupings of benefit types include death, permanent total disability, permanent partial disability, temporary disability, medical care and vocational rehabilitation. Third party subrogation recoveries are separately analyzed and projected.
Both the Consulting Actuary and the internal actuarial staff select and apply a variety of generally accepted actuarial methods to our data. The methods applied vary somewhat according to the type of claim benefit being analyzed. The primary methods utilized in recent evaluations are: Paid Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method; Reported Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method; Paid Development Method; Reported Development Method; Frequency-Severity Method; and Initial Expected Loss Method. Each of the methods requires the selection and application of parameters and assumptions. The key parameters and assumptions are: the pattern with which our aggregate claims data will be paid or will emerge over time; claims cost inflation rates; and trends in the frequency of claims, both overall and by severity of claim. Of these, we believe the most important are the pattern with which our aggregate claims data will be paid or emerge over time and claims cost inflation rates.
Management along with internal actuarial staff and the Consulting Actuary separately analyze LAE and estimate unpaid LAE. This analysis relies primarily on examining the relationship between the aggregate amount that has been spent on LAE historically, as compared with the dollar volume of claims activity for the corresponding historical
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calendar periods. Based on these historical relationships, and judgmental estimates of the extent to which claim management resources are focused more intensely on the initial handling of claims than on the ongoing management of claims, the Consulting Actuary selects a range of future LAE estimates that is a function of the projected future claim payment activity. The portion of unpaid LAE that will be recoverable from reinsurers is estimated based on the contractual reinsurance terms.
Based on the results of the analyses conducted, the stability of the historical data, and the characteristics of the various claims segments analyzed, the Consulting Actuary selects a range of estimated unpaid losses and LAE and a point estimate of unpaid losses and LAE, for presentation to internal actuarial staff and management. The selected range is intended to represent the range in which it is most likely that the ultimate losses will fall. This range is narrower than the range of indications produced by the individual methods applied because it is not likely, although it is possible, that the high or low result will emerge for every state, benefit type and accident year. The actuarial point estimate of unpaid losses and LAE is based on a judgmental selection for each benefit type from within the range of results indicated by the different actuarial methods.
Management formally establishes loss reserves for financial statement purposes on a quarterly basis. In doing so, we make reference to the most current analyses of our Consulting Actuary, including a review of the assumptions and the results of the various actuarial methods used by the Consulting Actuary. Comprehensive studies are conducted as of June 30 and December 31 by both internal actuarial staff and the Consulting Actuary. On the alternate quarters, the preceding study results are updated for actual claim payment activity during the quarter.
The Consulting Actuary provides the following analyses using information provided by the Company:
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| • | claim frequency and claim severity trends indicated by the claim activity as well as any emerging claims environment or operational issues that may indicate changing trends; and |
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| • | workers’ compensation industry trends as reported by industry rating bureaus, the media, and other similar sources. |
Management determines the IBNR and LAE components of our loss reserves by establishing a point in the range of the Consulting Actuary’s most recent analysis of unpaid losses and LAE with the selection of the point based on management’s own view of recent and future claim emergence patterns, payment patterns, and trends information obtained from internal actuarial staff pertaining to:
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| • | view of the markets in which we are operating, including economic, business and political conditions; |
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| • | the characteristics of the business we have written in recent quarters; |
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| • | recent and pending recoveries from reinsurance; |
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| • | our view of trends in the future costs of managing claims; and |
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| • | other similar considerations as we view relevant. |
The aggregate carried reserve calculated by management represents our best estimate of our outstanding unpaid losses and LAE. We believe that we should be conservative in our reserving practices due to the “long tail” nature of workers’ compensation claims payouts, the susceptibility of those future payments to unpredictable external forces such as medical cost inflation and other economic conditions, and the actual variability of loss reserve adequacy that we have observed in the workers’ compensation insurance industry.
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The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending loss reserves on a GAAP basis:
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| | For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 | | For the Year Ended December 31, 2008 | |
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| | (in thousands) | |
Unpaid losses and LAE, gross of reinsurance, at beginning of period | | $ | 2,506,478 | | $ | 2,269,710 | |
Less reinsurance recoverables, excluding bad debt allowance, on unpaid losses and LAE | | | 1,076,350 | | | 1,052,641 | |
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Net unpaid losses and LAE at beginning of period | | | 1,430,128 | | | 1,217,069 | |
Losses and LAE, net of reinsurance, acquired in business combinations | | | — | | | 247,006 | |
Losses and LAE, net of reinsurance, incurred in: | | | | | | | |
Current period | | | 77,010 | | | 226,643 | |
Prior periods | | | (13,500 | ) | | (71,707 | ) |
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Total net losses and LAE incurred during the period | | | 63,510 | | | 154,936 | |
Deduct payments for losses and LAE, net of reinsurance, related to: | | | | | | | |
Current period | | | 6,800 | | | 53,397 | |
Prior periods | | | 58,962 | | | 135,486 | |
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Total net payments for losses and LAE during the period | | | 65,762 | | | 188,883 | |
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Ending unpaid losses and LAE, net of reinsurance | | | 1,427,876 | | | 1,430,128 | |
Reinsurance recoverable, excluding bad debt allowance, on unpaid losses and LAE | | | 1,066,678 | | | 1,076,350 | |
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Unpaid losses and LAE, gross of reinsurance, at end of period | | $ | 2,494,554 | | $ | 2,506,478 | |
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Estimates of incurred losses and LAE attributable to insured events of prior years decreased due to continued favorable development in such prior accident years (actual losses and LAE paid and current projections of unpaid losses and LAE were less than we originally anticipated). The reduction in the estimated liability for unpaid losses and LAE related to prior years was $13.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and $71.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
The major sources of favorable development include: (a) actual paid losses have been less than expected and (b) the impact of new information on selected patterns of claims emergence and claim payment used in the projection of future loss payments.
We review our loss reserves each quarter and, as mentioned earlier, our Consulting Actuary assists our review by performing a comprehensive actuarial analysis and projection of unpaid losses and LAE twice each year. We may adjust our reserves based on the results of our reviews and these adjustments could be significant. If we change our estimates, these changes are reflected in our results of operations during the period in which they are made. Our overall actual claims and LAE experience and emergence in recent years have been more favorable than anticipated in prior evaluations. Our insurance subsidiaries have been operating in a period of drastically changing environmental conditions in our major markets, entry into new markets, and operational changes. During periods characterized by such changes, at each evaluation, the actuaries and management must make judgments as to the relative weight to accord to long-term historical and recent company data, external data, evaluations of environmental changes and other factors in selecting the methods to use in projecting ultimate losses and LAE, the parameters to incorporate in those methods, and the relative weights to accord to the different projection indications. Since the loss reserves are providing for claim payments that will emerge over many years, if management’s projections and loss reserves were established in a manner that reacted quickly to each new emerging trend in the data or in the environment, there would be a high likelihood that future adjustments, perhaps significant in magnitude, would be required to correct for trends that turned out not to be persistent. At each balance sheet evaluation, some losses and LAE projection methods have produced indications above the loss reserve selected by management and some losses and LAE projection methods have produced indications lower than the loss reserve selected by management. At each evaluation, management has given weight to new data, recent indications, and evaluations of environmental conditions and changes that implicitly reflect management’s expectation as to the degree to which the future will resemble the most recent information and most recent changes, as compared with long-term claim payment, claim emergence, and claim cost inflation patterns.
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As patterns and trends recur consistently over a period of quarters or years, management gives greater implicit weight to these recent patterns and trends in developing our future expectations. In our view, in establishing loss reserves at each historical balance sheet date, we have used prudent judgment in balancing long-term data and recent information.
It is likely that ultimate losses and LAE will differ from the loss reserves recorded in our March 31, 2009 balance sheet. Actual losses and LAE payments could be greater or less than our projections, perhaps significantly.
Our reserve estimates reflect expected increases in the costs of contested claims and assume we will not be subject to losses from significant new legal liability theories. While it is not possible to predict the impact of changes in this environment, if expanded legal theories of liability emerge, our IBNR claims may differ substantially from our IBNR reserves. Our reserve estimates assume that there will not be significant future changes in the regulatory and legislative environment. The impact of potential changes in the regulatory or legislative environment is difficult to quantify in the absence of specific, significant new regulation or legislation. In the event of significant new regulation or legislation, we will attempt to quantify its impact on our business.
The range of potential variation of actual ultimate losses and LAE from our current reserve for unpaid losses and LAE is difficult to estimate because of the significant environmental changes in the markets, particularly California and Florida, and because our insurance subsidiaries do not have a lengthy operating history in the markets outside Nevada.
Loss Portfolio Transfer (LPT)
Under the LPT Agreement, $1.525 billion in liabilities for incurred but unpaid losses and LAE related to claims incurred by EICN prior to July 1, 1995 was ceded for consideration of $775.0 million in cash. The estimated remaining liabilities subject to the LPT Agreement were approximately $919.7 million and $929.6 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Losses and LAE paid with respect to the LPT Agreement totaled approximately $457.8 million and $447.9 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
We account for the LPT Agreement in accordance with SFAS No. 113,Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance of Short-Term and Long-Duration Contracts,and as retroactive reinsurance. Upon entry into the LPT Agreement, an initial deferred reinsurance gain was recorded as a liability in our consolidated balance sheet. This gain is being amortized using the recovery method, whereby the amortization is determined by the proportion of actual reinsurance recoveries to total estimated recoveries, and the amortization is reflected in losses and LAE. In addition, we are entitled to receive a contingent commission under the LPT Agreement. The contingent commission is estimated based on both actual results to date and projections of expected ultimate losses under the LPT Agreement. Increases and decreases in the estimated contingent commission are reflected in our commission expense in the period that the estimate is revised.
New Accounting Standards
In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FSP FAS 115-2,Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments(FSP FAS 115-2). FSP FAS 115-2 changes the accounting for other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) on debt securities by: (a) replacing the current requirement that a holder has the positive intent to hold an impaired debt security to recovery with a requirement that a holder does not have the intent to sell an impaired debt security and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery; (b) requiring the OTTI to be separated into: (i) the amount representing the decrease in cash flows expected to be collected (Credit Loss), which is recognized in earnings and (ii) the amount representing all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income; and (c) amending existing disclosure requirements, extending those requirements to interim periods and requiring new disclosures intended to provide further disaggregated information as well as information about how the amount of OTTI that was recognized in earnings was determined. Upon adoption, FSP FAS 115-2 requires entities to report a cumulative effect adjustment as of the beginning of the period of adoption to reclassify the non-Credit Loss component, previously recognized in earnings, from retained earnings to other comprehensive income. FSP FAS 115-2 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not elected to early adopt FSP FAS 115-2 and is currently assessing the impact adoption will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4,Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Indentifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly(FSP FAS 157-4). FSP FAS 157-4 provides additional guidance on: (a) estimating fair value when the volume of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased in relation to normal market activity for the asset or liability; and (b) identifying circumstances that may indicate that a transaction is not orderly. FSP FAS 157-4 requires additional interim disclosures of the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Additionally FSP FAS 157-4 modifies the current fair
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value disclosure categories for debt and equity securities. FSP FAS 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not elected to early adopt FSP FAS 157-4 and is currently assessing the impact that its adoption will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1,Interim Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments(FSP FAS 107-1). FSP FAS 107-1 extends the annual disclosure requirements of SFAS 107,Fair Value of Financial Instruments, to interim financial statements of publicly traded companies. FSP FAS 107-1 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not elected to early adopt FSP FAS 107-1 and is currently assessing the impact that its adoption will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of potential economic loss principally arising from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. The major components of market risk affecting us are credit risk, interest rate risk and equity price risk. We have not experienced any material changes in credit or equity price risk since December 31, 2008.
Interest Rate Risk
Our investment portfolio consists primarily of fixed maturity securities with a fair value of $2.03 billion at March 31, 2009. The primary market risk exposure to our fixed maturity securities portfolio is interest rate risk, which we limit by managing the duration of our portfolio.
Fixed maturity securities include residential mortgage-backed securities, which totaled $323.6 million, or 15.5% of the portfolio as of March 31, 2009. Agency-backed mortgage pass-throughs totaled $319.8 million, or 98.8% of the mortgage-backed securities portion of the portfolio, and 15.4% of the total portfolio. Interest rates have declined recently leading to some increase in expected prepayment activity.
The following table summarizes our interest rate risk illustrating the sensitivity of the fair value of fixed maturity securities to selected hypothetical changes in interest rates as of March 31, 2009. The selected scenarios are not predictions of future events, but rather illustrate the effect that such events may have on the fair value of our fixed maturity securities portfolio and stockholders’ equity.
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| | | Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates | | Estimated Increase (Decrease) in Fair Value | |
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| | | | | (in thousands, except percentages) | |
300 | | | basis point rise | | $ | (270,880 | ) | | (13.3 | )% |
200 | | | basis point rise | | | (183,337 | ) | | (9.0 | ) |
100 | | | basis point rise | | | (92,245 | ) | | (4.5 | ) |
50 | | | basis point decline | | | 46,785 | | | 2.3 | |
100 | | | basis point decline | | | 94,472 | | | 4.7 | |
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to provide assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms specified by the SEC.
There have not been any changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, the Company is involved in pending and threatened litigation in the normal course of business in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, arising from such pending or threatened litigation is not expected to have a material effect on our results of operations, liquidity or financial position.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
We have disclosed in our Annual Report the most significant risk factors that can impact year-to-year comparisons and may affect the future performance of the Company’s business. On a quarterly basis, we review these disclosures and update the risk factors, as appropriate. As of the date of this report, there have been no material changes to the risk factors described in our Annual Report.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table summarizes the repurchase of our common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2009:
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Period | | Total Numbers of Shares Purchased | | Average Priced Paid Per Share(1) | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program | | Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Program(2) | |
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| | | | | | | | | (millions) | |
January 1—January 31, 2009 | | — | | $ | — | | — | | $ | 85.8 | |
February 1—February 28, 2009 | | — | | | — | | — | | | 85.8 | |
March 1—March 31, 2009 | | 1,624,195 | | | 9.56 | | 1,624,195 | | | 70.3 | |
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Total 2009 Repurchase | | 1,624,195 | | $ | 9.56 | | 1,624,195 | | | | |
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(1) | Includes fees and commissions paid on stock repurchases. |
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(2) | On February 21, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $100.0 million of our common stock through June 30, 2009. On February 25, 2009, the Board of Directors extended this program through December 31, 2009. The shares may be repurchased from time to time at prevailing market prices in open market or private transactions. The repurchases may be commenced or suspended from time to time without prior notice. There can be no assurance that we will continue to undertake any repurchase of our common stock pursuant to the program. |
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibits:
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| | | | | | Incorporated by Reference Herein |
Exhibit No. | | | | Included Herewith | |
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| Description of Exhibit | | | Form | | Exhibit | | Filing Date |
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10.1 | | Employment Agreement by and between Employers Holdings, Inc. and John P. Nelson, dated December 17, 2008, and effective as of January 1, 2009 | | X | | | | | | |
31.1 | | Certification of Douglas D. Dirks Pursuant to Section 302 | | X | | | | | | |
31.2 | | Certification of William E. Yocke Pursuant to Section 302 | | X | | | | | | |
32.1 | | Certification of Douglas D. Dirks Pursuant to Section 906 | | X | | | | | | |
32.2 | | Certification of William E. Yocke Pursuant to Section 906 | | X | | | | | | |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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| EMPLOYERS HOLDINGS, INC. | |
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| Date: | May 7, 2009 | By: | | /s/ DOUGLAS D. DIRKS |
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| | | | Name: | Douglas D. Dirks |
| | | | Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | | (Principal Executive Officer) |
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| Date: | May 7, 2009 | By: | | /s/ WILLIAM E. YOCKE |
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| | | | Name: | William E. Yocke |
| | | | Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |