UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
OR
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ________________to __________________
Commission File Number: 0-10956
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Iowa | | 42-6234555 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
717 Mulberry Street, Des Moines, Iowa | | 50309 |
(Address of principal executive office) | | (Zip Code) |
(515) 345-2902 |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
¨ Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | x |
Non accelerated filer | ¨ | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
¨ Yes x No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class | | Outstanding at October 29, 2010 |
Common stock, $1.00 par value | | 12,917,410 |
| | PAGE |
PART I | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | |
Item 1. | | 3 |
Item 2. | | 37 |
Item 3. | | 52 |
Item 4. | | 52 |
| | |
PART II | OTHER INFORMATION | |
Item 2. | | 53 |
Item 6. | | 54 |
| | |
| 55 |
| | |
| 56 |
ITEM 1. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
| | September 30, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
ASSETS | | | | | | |
Investments: | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities: | | | | | | |
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $398,488 and $460,877) | | $ | 352,655 | | | $ | 410,005 | |
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $884,407,173 and $858,129,177) | | | 949,935,129 | | | | 884,688,114 | |
Fixed maturity securities on loan: | | | | | | | | |
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $786,221 and $14,065,597) | | | 850,909 | | | | 14,492,872 | |
Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $74,048,368 and $73,114,920) | | | 92,443,462 | | | | 90,189,979 | |
Other long-term investments, at cost | | | 34,917 | | | | 47,083 | |
Short-term investments, at cost | | | 46,017,719 | | | | 55,390,096 | |
Total investments | | | 1,089,634,791 | | | | 1,045,218,149 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash | | | 357,300 | | | | 278,534 | |
Reinsurance receivables due from affiliate | | | 32,386,659 | | | | 30,544,558 | |
Prepaid reinsurance premiums due from affiliate | | | 9,699,324 | | | | 5,112,386 | |
Deferred policy acquisition costs (all affiliated) | | | 41,214,399 | | | | 36,650,628 | |
Amounts due from affiliate to settle quarterly transaction balances | | | 9,409,595 | | | | - | |
Accrued investment income | | | 11,730,474 | | | | 11,082,132 | |
Accounts receivable | | | 2,341,292 | | | | 1,611,740 | |
Income taxes recoverable | | | 2,530,044 | | | | - | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 144,853 | | | | 15,044,357 | |
Goodwill | | | 941,586 | | | | 941,586 | |
Securities lending collateral | | | 891,738 | | | | 14,941,880 | |
Other assets (affiliated $3,541,432 and $2,058,189) | | | 3,680,553 | | | | 4,361,843 | |
Total assets | | $ | 1,204,962,608 | | | $ | 1,165,787,793 | |
All affiliated balances presented above are the result of related party transactions with Employers Mutual.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
| | September 30, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
LIABILITIES | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses (affiliated $564,358,163 and $553,787,770) | | $ | 567,249,077 | | | $ | 556,151,577 | |
Unearned premiums due to affiliate | | | 183,185,885 | | | | 159,486,096 | |
Other policyholders' funds due to affilate | | | 7,503,467 | | | | 7,918,665 | |
Surplus notes payable to affiliate | | | 25,000,000 | | | | 25,000,000 | |
Amounts due affiliate to settle quarterly transaction balances | | | - | | | | 13,488,724 | |
Employee retirement benefits payable to affiliate | | | 21,107,292 | | | | 18,176,720 | |
Income taxes payable | | | - | | | | 5,488,760 | |
Securities lending obligation | | | 891,738 | | | | 14,941,880 | |
Other liabilities (affiliated $15,735,057 and $20,335,197) | | | 21,953,035 | | | | 22,717,686 | |
Total liabilities | | | 826,890,494 | | | | 823,370,108 | |
| | | | | | | | |
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | | | | | | |
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, 12,911,410 shares in 2010 and 13,114,481 shares in 2009 | | | 12,911,410 | | | | 13,114,481 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 88,581,022 | | | | 92,804,282 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | | | | |
Net unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities with "other-than-temporary" impairments | | | 73,549 | | | | (104,847 | ) |
Other net unrealized gains | | | 54,518,480 | | | | 28,744,673 | |
Employee retirement benefits payable to affiliate | | | (12,036,039 | ) | | | (12,587,484 | ) |
Total accumulated other comprehensive income | | | 42,555,990 | | | | 16,052,342 | |
Retained earnings | | | 234,023,692 | | | | 220,446,580 | |
Total stockholders' equity | | | 378,072,114 | | | | 342,417,685 | |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | | $ | 1,204,962,608 | | | $ | 1,165,787,793 | |
All affiliated balances presented above are the result of related party transactions with Employers Mutual.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
| | Three months ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
REVENUES | | | | | | |
Premiums earned (affiliated $96,134,999 and $95,195,148) | | $ | 97,284,237 | | | $ | 96,732,817 | |
Investment income, net | | | 12,235,007 | | | | 11,804,810 | |
Net realized investment gains, excluding impairment losses on available-for-sale securities | | | 2,116,249 | | | | 3,531,873 | |
Total "other-than-temporary" impairment losses on available-for-sale securities | | | (366,319 | ) | | | (610,563 | ) |
Net realized investment gains | | | 1,749,930 | | | | 2,921,310 | |
Other income (all affiliated) | | | 229,520 | | | | 224,191 | |
| | | 111,498,694 | | | | 111,683,128 | |
LOSSES AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses (affiliated $67,706,628 and $71,193,945) | | | 67,572,519 | | | | 72,276,245 | |
Dividends to policyholders (all affiliated) | | | 1,905,231 | | | | 1,517,886 | |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (affiliated $21,306,350 and $20,066,798) | | | 21,590,581 | | | | 20,446,161 | |
Other underwriting expenses (all affiliated) | | | 9,422,956 | | | | 9,497,185 | |
Interest expense (all affiliated) | | | 225,000 | | | | 225,000 | |
Other expense (affiliated $810,159 and $1,239,318) | | | 965,956 | | | | 1,249,722 | |
| | | 101,682,243 | | | | 105,212,199 | |
Income before income tax expense | | | 9,816,451 | | | | 6,470,929 | |
| | | | | | | | |
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | | | | | | | | |
Current | | | 2,055,285 | | | | 71,457 | |
Deferred | | | 302,591 | | | | 1,348,697 | |
| | | 2,357,876 | | | | 1,420,154 | |
Net income | | $ | 7,458,575 | | | $ | 5,050,775 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net income per common share | | | | | | | | |
-basic and diluted | | $ | 0.57 | | | $ | 0.38 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Dividend per common share | | $ | 0.18 | | | $ | 0.18 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Average number of common shares outstanding | | | | | | | | |
-basic and diluted | | | 12,979,372 | | | | 13,229,225 | |
All affiliated balances presented above are the result of related party transactions with Employers Mutual.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
| | Nine months ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
REVENUES | | | | | | |
Premiums earned (affiliated $282,671,314 and $283,705,370) | | $ | 286,060,414 | | | $ | 285,285,371 | |
Investment income, net | | | 37,414,018 | | | | 35,254,663 | |
Net realized investment gains, excluding impairment losses on available-for-sale securities | | | 3,724,710 | | | | 4,961,286 | |
Total "other-than-temporary" impairment losses on available-for-sale securities | | | (2,174,873 | ) | | | (9,727,119 | ) |
Portion of impairment losses on fixed maturity available-for-sale securities recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes) | | | (120,539 | ) | | | - | |
Net impairment losses on available-for-sale securities | | | (2,295,412 | ) | | | (9,727,119 | ) |
Net realized investment gains (losses) | | | 1,429,298 | | | | (4,765,833 | ) |
Other income (all affiliated) | | | 656,567 | | | | 575,449 | |
| | | 325,560,297 | | | | 316,349,650 | |
LOSSES AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses (affiliated $193,367,014 and $190,134,810) | | | 194,767,211 | | | | 191,217,110 | |
Dividends to policyholders (all affiliated) | | | 5,778,317 | | | | 7,273,968 | |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (affiliated $65,181,923 and $63,598,194) | | | 66,096,981 | | | | 63,979,022 | |
Other underwriting expenses (affiliated $28,973,059 and $28,934,786) | | | 28,922,785 | | | | 28,934,786 | |
Interest expense (all affiliated) | | | 675,000 | | | | 675,000 | |
Other expense (affiliated $1,498,705 and $1,970,472) | | | 1,464,866 | | | | 1,980,876 | |
| | | 297,705,160 | | | | 294,060,762 | |
Income before income tax expense (benefit) | | | 27,855,137 | | | | 22,288,888 | |
| | | | | | | | |
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT) | | | | | | | | |
Current | | | 6,591,688 | | | | 6,498,841 | |
Deferred | | | 628,309 | | | | (2,031,723 | ) |
| | | 7,219,997 | | | | 4,467,118 | |
Net income | | $ | 20,635,140 | | | $ | 17,821,770 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net income per common share | | | | | | | | |
-basic and diluted | | $ | 1.58 | | | $ | 1.35 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Dividend per common share | | $ | 0.54 | | | $ | 0.54 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Average number of common shares outstanding | | | | | | | | |
-basic and diluted | | | 13,077,450 | | | | 13,238,296 | |
All affiliated balances presented above are the result of related party transactions with Employers Mutual.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
| | Three months ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
| | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 7,458,575 | | | $ | 5,050,775 | |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | | | | | | | | |
Change in unrealized holding gains on investment securities, net of deferred income tax expense of $8,763,683 and $14,966,145 | | | 16,275,411 | | | | 27,794,265 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Reclassification adjustment for realized investment gains included in net income, net of income tax expense of $612,476 and $1,022,459 | | | (1,137,454 | ) | | | (1,898,851 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Change in unrealized holding gains on fixed maturity securities with "other-than-temporary" impairment, net of deferred income tax expense of $19,030 and $0 | | | 35,338 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | |
Adjustment associated with affiliate's retirement benefit plans, net of deferred income tax expense of $98,477 and $61,842: | | | | | | | | |
Net actuarial loss | | | 260,933 | | | | 192,875 | |
Prior service credit | | | (78,040 | ) | | | (78,035 | ) |
| | | 182,893 | | | | 114,840 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income | | | 15,356,188 | | | | 26,010,254 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive income | | $ | 22,814,763 | | | $ | 31,061,029 | |
All affiliated balances presented above are the result of related party transactions with Employers Mutual.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
| | Nine months ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
| | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 20,635,140 | | | $ | 17,821,770 | |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | | | | | | | | |
Change in unrealized holding gains on investment securities, net of deferred income tax expense of $14,420,647 and $21,116,237 | | | 26,781,201 | | | | 39,215,868 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Reclassification adjustment for realized investment (gains) losses included in net income, net of income tax (expense) benefit of ($542,443) and $1,668,042 | | | (1,007,394 | ) | | | 3,097,791 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Change in unrealized holding gains on fixed maturity securities with "other-than-temporary" impairment, net of deferred income tax expense of $53,872 and $0 | | | 100,045 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | |
Reclassification adjustment for realized investment losses from fixed maturity securities with "other-than-temporary" impairment included in net income, net of income tax benefit of $42,188 and $0 | | | 78,351 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | |
Adjustment associated with affiliate's retirement benefit plans, net of deferred income tax expense of $296,931 and $321,582: | | | | | | | | |
Net actuarial loss | | | 785,569 | | | | 831,313 | |
Prior service credit | | | (234,124 | ) | | | (234,097 | ) |
| | | 551,445 | | | | 597,216 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income | | | 26,503,648 | | | | 42,910,875 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive income | | $ | 47,138,788 | | | $ | 60,732,645 | |
All affiliated balances presented above are the result of related party transactions with Employers Mutual.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
| | Nine months ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 20,635,140 | | | $ | 17,821,770 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses (affiliated $10,570,393 and ($6,688,172)) | | | 11,097,500 | | | | (5,599,269 | ) |
Unearned premiums (affiliated $23,699,789 and $19,887,760) | | | 23,699,789 | | | | 19,893,925 | |
Other policyholders' funds due to affilitate | | | (415,198 | ) | | | 1,015,288 | |
Amounts due to affiliate to settle quarterly transaction balances | | | (22,898,319 | ) | | | (35,295,071 | ) |
Employee retirement benefits payable to affiliate | | | 3,778,948 | | | | 3,316,122 | |
Reinsurance receivables due from affiliate | | | (1,842,101 | ) | | | 3,839,800 | |
Prepaid reinsurance premiums due from affiliate | | | (4,586,938 | ) | | | (1,141,863 | ) |
Commission payable (affiliated ($1,635,680) and ($2,306,302)) | | | (1,594,362 | ) | | | (2,306,302 | ) |
Interest payable to affiliate | | | (225,000 | ) | | | (214,375 | ) |
Prepaid assets due from affiliate | | | (1,473,248 | ) | | | (1,043,943 | ) |
Deferred policy acquisition costs (affiliated ($4,563,771) and ($5,130,681)) | | | (4,563,771 | ) | | | (5,131,873 | ) |
Stock-based compensation payable to affiliate | | | 112,054 | | | | 259,223 | |
Accrued investment income | | | (648,342 | ) | | | 1,048,721 | |
Accrued income tax: | | | | | | | | |
Current | | | (8,018,462 | ) | | | 8,245,771 | |
Deferred | | | 628,309 | | | | (2,031,723 | ) |
Realized investment (gains) losses | | | (1,429,298 | ) | | | 4,765,833 | |
Accounts receivable | | | (729,552 | ) | | | (1,168,544 | ) |
Amortization of premium/discount on fixed maturity securities | | | (802,570 | ) | | | (430,982 | ) |
Other, net (affiliated ($2,749,455) and $3,016,606) | | | (2,819,580 | ) | | | 3,016,606 | |
| | | (12,730,141 | ) | | | (8,962,656 | ) |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | $ | 7,904,999 | | | $ | 8,859,114 | |
All affiliated balances presented above are the result of related party transactions with Employers Mutual.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, CONTINUED
(Unaudited)
| | Nine months ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | |
Maturities of fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity | | $ | 57,734 | | | $ | 78,542 | |
Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | | | (149,067,364 | ) | | | (297,417,060 | ) |
Disposals of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | | | 143,105,230 | | | | 295,233,876 | |
Purchases of equity securities available-for-sale | | | (28,260,083 | ) | | | (45,890,346 | ) |
Disposals of equity securities available-for-sale | | | 28,550,120 | | | | 44,362,307 | |
Disposals of other long-term investments | | | 12,166 | | | | 14,142 | |
Net disposals of short-term investments | | | 9,372,377 | | | | 3,671,617 | |
Net cash provided by investing activities | | | 3,770,180 | | | | 53,078 | |
| | | | | | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | |
Issuance of common stock through affilate's stock option plans | | | 755,705 | | | | 181,434 | |
Excess tax benefit associated with affilate's stock option plans | | | 342 | | | | - | |
Repurchase of common stock | | | (5,294,432 | ) | | | (1,814,573 | ) |
Dividends paid to stockholders (affiliated ($4,237,840) and ($4,237,840)) | | | (7,058,028 | ) | | | (7,146,681 | ) |
Net cash used in financing activities | | | (11,596,413 | ) | | | (8,779,820 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET INCREASE IN CASH | | | 78,766 | | | | 132,372 | |
Cash at the beginning of the year | | | 278,534 | | | | 182,538 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash at the end of the period | | $ | 357,300 | | | $ | 314,910 | |
All affiliated balances presented above are the result of related party transactions with Employers Mutual.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
EMC Insurance Group Inc., a 61 percent owned subsidiary of Employers Mutual Casualty Company (Employers Mutual), is an insurance holding company with operations in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. Both commercial and personal lines of insurance are written, with a focus on medium-sized commercial accounts. The term “Company” is used interchangeably to describe EMC Insurance Group Inc. (Parent Company only) and EMC Insurance Group Inc. and its subsidiaries.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The Company has evaluated all subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the interim periods reported are not necessarily indicativ e of results to be expected for the year. The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2009 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.
Certain amounts previously reported in prior years’ consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
In reading these financial statements, reference should be made to the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K or the 2009 Annual Report to Stockholders for more detailed footnote information.
2. NEW ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) updated its guidance related to the Insurance Topic 944 of the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (ASC) to clarify which costs associated with the acquisition of insurance contracts that should be capitalized and deferred for recognition during the coverage period. This guidance specifies that only costs that are incremental or directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts are to be capitalized as a deferred acqui sition cost. Currently, industry practice is such that deferred costs typically also include costs relating to unsuccessful insurance contract acquisitions. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods (and interim reporting periods of those annual reporting periods) beginning on or after December 15, 2011, and may be adopted prospectively or retrospectively. Adoption of this guidance will have an impact on the consolidated financial position and operating results of the Company since certain costs associated with contract acquisition that are currently deferred will not likely meet the criteria for deferral under the new guidance. The Company has not yet established an estimate of the impact this statement will have on its financial statements.
In July 2010, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Receivables Topic 310 of the ASC to require additional disclosures regarding credit risk exposures and the allowance for credit losses, as well as a description of the accounting policies and methodology used to estimate the liability for off-balance-sheet credit exposures and related charges. Additional disclosures as of the end of a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010, and disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Adoption of this guidance will result in some additional disclosure, but will have no effect on the consolidated financial position or operating results of the Company.
In January 2010, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic 820 of the ASC to require additional disclosures regarding transfers in and out of fair value measurement Levels 1 and 2, the display of Level 3 activity on a gross basis (rather than net), fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities (rather than by line item within the statement of financial position), and additional disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques. This guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which is effective for fiscal years (and interim periods of those fiscal years) beginning after December 15, 2010. Adoption of this guidance had no effect on the consolidated financial position or operating results of the Company.
In May 2009, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Subsequent Events Topic 855 of the ASC (issued as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 165, “Subsequent Events”), which sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management shall evaluate events or transactions for potential recognition or disclosure, the circumstances under which an entity shall recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date, and disclosures to make about events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date. This guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. In February 2010, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Subsequent Events Topic 855 to remove the re quirement to disclose the date through which subsequent events were evaluated for Securities and Exchange Commission filers. This updated guidance was effective immediately. Adoption of this updated guidance had no effect on the consolidated financial position or operating results of the Company.
The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned, and losses and settlement expenses incurred, for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is presented below.
| | Three months ended September 30, 2010 | |
| | Property and casualty insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Total | |
Premiums written | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 81,394,172 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 81,394,172 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 479,401 | | | | 28,820,228 | | | | 29,299,629 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 99,302,343 | | | | - | | | | 99,302,343 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (6,764,258 | ) | | | (7,479,832 | ) | | | (14,244,090 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (81,394,172 | ) | | | - | | | | (81,394,172 | ) |
Net premiums written | | $ | 93,017,486 | | | $ | 21,340,396 | | | $ | 114,357,882 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Premiums earned | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 63,131,881 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 63,131,881 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 468,565 | | | | 26,962,298 | | | | 27,430,863 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 82,236,907 | | | | - | | | | 82,236,907 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (5,731,160 | ) | | | (6,652,373 | ) | | | (12,383,533 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (63,131,881 | ) | | | - | | | | (63,131,881 | ) |
Net premiums earned | | $ | 76,974,312 | | | $ | 20,309,925 | | | $ | 97,284,237 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses incurred | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 49,032,278 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 49,032,278 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 415,104 | | | | 14,627,067 | | | | 15,042,171 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 56,912,799 | | | | 226,058 | | | | 57,138,857 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (890,982 | ) | | | (3,717,527 | ) | | | (4,608,509 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (49,032,278 | ) | | | - | | | | (49,032,278 | ) |
Net losses and settlement expenses incurred | | $ | 56,436,921 | | | $ | 11,135,598 | | | $ | 67,572,519 | |
| | Three months ended September 30, 2009 | |
| | Property and casualty insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Total | |
Premiums written | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 80,465,984 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 80,465,984 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 610,620 | | | | 19,984,276 | | | | 20,594,896 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 103,137,225 | | | | - | | | | 103,137,225 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (6,713,237 | ) | | | (541,425 | ) | | | (7,254,662 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (80,465,984 | ) | | | - | | | | (80,465,984 | ) |
Net premiums written | | $ | 97,034,608 | | | $ | 19,442,851 | | | $ | 116,477,459 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Premiums earned | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 58,721,350 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 58,721,350 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 584,469 | | | | 19,378,229 | | | | 19,962,698 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 83,084,587 | | | | - | | | | 83,084,587 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (5,739,229 | ) | | | (575,239 | ) | | | (6,314,468 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (58,721,350 | ) | | | - | | | | (58,721,350 | ) |
Net premiums earned | | $ | 77,929,827 | | | $ | 18,802,990 | | | $ | 96,732,817 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses incurred | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 44,016,784 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 44,016,784 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 173,206 | | | | 14,473,800 | | | | 14,647,006 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 58,233,986 | | | | 204,663 | | | | 58,438,649 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (401,189 | ) | | | (408,221 | ) | | | (809,410 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (44,016,784 | ) | | | - | | | | (44,016,784 | ) |
Net losses and settlement expenses incurred | | $ | 58,006,003 | | | $ | 14,270,242 | | | $ | 72,276,245 | |
| | Nine months ended September 30, 2010 | |
| | Property and casualty insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Total | |
Premiums written | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 204,537,723 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 204,537,723 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 1,538,687 | | | | 79,832,753 | | | | 81,371,440 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 263,962,168 | | | | - | | | | 263,962,168 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (17,908,066 | ) | | | (20,692,109 | ) | | | (38,600,175 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (204,537,723 | ) | | | - | | | | (204,537,723 | ) |
Net premiums written | | $ | 247,592,789 | | | $ | 59,140,644 | | | $ | 306,733,433 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Premiums earned | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 183,888,408 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 183,888,408 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 1,587,343 | | | | 75,391,944 | | | | 76,979,287 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 243,094,381 | | | | - | | | | 243,094,381 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (17,083,150 | ) | | | (16,930,104 | ) | | | (34,013,254 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (183,888,408 | ) | | | - | | | | (183,888,408 | ) |
Net premiums earned | | $ | 227,598,574 | | | $ | 58,461,840 | | | $ | 286,060,414 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses incurred | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 128,610,391 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 128,610,391 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 1,456,825 | | | | 44,733,410 | | | | 46,190,235 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 160,005,878 | | | | 585,975 | | | | 160,591,853 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (4,214,468 | ) | | | (7,800,409 | ) | | | (12,014,877 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (128,610,391 | ) | | | - | | | | (128,610,391 | ) |
Net losses and settlement expenses incurred | | $ | 157,248,235 | | | $ | 37,518,976 | | | $ | 194,767,211 | |
| | Nine months ended September 30, 2009 | |
| | Property and casualty insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Total | |
Premiums written | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 193,427,053 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 193,427,053 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 1,816,110 | | | | 56,450,182 | | | | 58,266,292 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 265,719,799 | | | | - | | | | 265,719,799 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (17,914,843 | ) | | | (1,486,457 | ) | | | (19,401,300 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (193,427,053 | ) | | | - | | | | (193,427,053 | ) |
Net premiums written | | $ | 249,621,066 | | | $ | 54,963,725 | | | $ | 304,584,791 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Premiums earned | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 170,734,207 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 170,734,207 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 1,891,320 | | | | 56,272,431 | | | | 58,163,751 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 245,867,355 | | | | - | | | | 245,867,355 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (17,200,516 | ) | | | (1,545,219 | ) | | | (18,745,735 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (170,734,207 | ) | | | - | | | | (170,734,207 | ) |
Net premiums earned | | $ | 230,558,159 | | | $ | 54,727,212 | | | $ | 285,285,371 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses incurred | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | $ | 117,678,427 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 117,678,427 | |
Assumed from nonaffiliates | | | 1,069,640 | | | | 42,491,675 | | | | 43,561,315 | |
Assumed from affiliates | | | 152,570,235 | | | | 528,834 | | | | 153,099,069 | |
Ceded to nonaffiliates | | | (3,806,679 | ) | | | (1,636,595 | ) | | | (5,443,274 | ) |
Ceded to affiliates | | | (117,678,427 | ) | | | - | | | | (117,678,427 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net losses and settlement expenses incurred | | $ | 149,833,196 | | | $ | 41,383,914 | | | $ | 191,217,110 | |
Individual lines in the above tables are defined as follows:
| · | “Direct” represents policies issued by the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. |
| · | “Assumed from nonaffiliates” for the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries represents their aggregate 30 percent pool participation percentage of the involuntary business assumed by the pool participants pursuant to state law. For the reinsurance subsidiary, this represents the reinsurance business assumed through the quota share agreement and the German-based reinsurance business assumed outside the quota share agreement. |
| · | “Assumed from affiliates” for the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries represents their aggregate 30 percent pool participation percentage of all the pool members’ direct business. Losses and settlement expenses incurred also includes claim-related services provided by Employers Mutual that is allocated to the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the reinsurance subsidiary. |
| · | “Ceded to nonaffiliates” for the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries represents their aggregate 30 percent pool participation percentage of the ceded reinsurance agreements that provide protection to the pool and each of its participants. For the reinsurance subsidiary, this line includes reinsurance business that is assumed under the quota share agreement and ceded on a 100 percent basis to other insurance companies in connection with “fronting” activities conducted by Employers Mutual. |
| · | “Ceded to affiliates” represents the cession of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries’ direct business to Employers Mutual under the terms of the pooling agreement. |
The Company’s operations consist of a property and casualty insurance segment and a reinsurance segment. The property and casualty insurance segment writes both commercial and personal lines of insurance, with a focus on medium-sized commercial accounts. The reinsurance segment provides reinsurance for other insurers and reinsurers. The segments are managed separately due to differences in the insurance products sold and the business environment in which they operate.
Summarized financial information for the Company’s segments is as follows:
Three months ended September 30, 2010 | | Property and casualty insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Parent company | | | Consolidated | |
Premiums earned | | $ | 76,974,312 | | | $ | 20,309,925 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 97,284,237 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting profit (loss) | | | (6,811,922 | ) | | | 3,604,872 | | | | - | | | | (3,207,050 | ) |
Net investment income | | | 9,111,308 | | | | 3,123,829 | | | | (130 | ) | | | 12,235,007 | |
Realized investment gains | | | 1,340,740 | | | | 409,190 | | | | - | | | | 1,749,930 | |
Other income | | | 229,520 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 229,520 | |
Interest expense | | | 225,000 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 225,000 | |
Other expenses | | | 206,750 | | | | 416,176 | | | | 343,030 | | | | 965,956 | |
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | | $ | 3,437,896 | | | $ | 6,721,715 | | | $ | (343,160 | ) | | $ | 9,816,451 | |
Three months ended September 30, 2009 | | Property and casualty insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Parent company | | | Consolidated | |
Premiums earned | | $ | 77,929,827 | | | $ | 18,802,990 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 96,732,817 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting profit (loss) | | | (7,232,037 | ) | | | 227,377 | | | | - | | | | (7,004,660 | ) |
Net investment income | | | 8,781,681 | | | | 3,022,390 | | | | 739 | | | | 11,804,810 | |
Realized investment gains | | | 2,030,639 | | | | 890,671 | | | | - | | | | 2,921,310 | |
Other income | | | 224,191 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 224,191 | |
Interest expense | | | 225,000 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 225,000 | |
Other expenses | | | 208,518 | | | | 728,520 | | | | 312,684 | | | | 1,249,722 | |
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | | $ | 3,370,956 | | | $ | 3,411,918 | | | $ | (311,945 | ) | | $ | 6,470,929 | |
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 | | Property and casualty insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Parent company | | | Consolidated | |
Premiums earned | | $ | 227,598,574 | | | $ | 58,461,840 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 286,060,414 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting profit (loss) | | | (15,297,098 | ) | | | 5,792,218 | | | | - | | | | (9,504,880 | ) |
Net investment income | | | 27,997,409 | | | | 9,422,006 | | | | (5,397 | ) | | | 37,414,018 | |
Realized investment gains | | | 1,134,882 | | | | 294,416 | | | | - | | | | 1,429,298 | |
Other income | | | 656,567 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 656,567 | |
Interest expense | | | 675,000 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 675,000 | |
Other expenses | | | 633,558 | | | | (237,116 | ) | | | 1,068,424 | | | | 1,464,866 | |
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | | $ | 13,183,202 | | | $ | 15,745,756 | | | $ | (1,073,821 | ) | | $ | 27,855,137 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | $ | 897,317,659 | | | $ | 306,157,977 | | | $ | 378,299,302 | | | $ | 1,581,774,938 | |
Eliminations | | | - | | | | - | | | | (374,106,667 | ) | | | (374,106,667 | ) |
Reclassifications | | | - | | | | (2,705,663 | ) | | | - | | | | (2,705,663 | ) |
Net assets | | $ | 897,317,659 | | | $ | 303,452,314 | | | $ | 4,192,635 | | | $ | 1,204,962,608 | |
Nine months ended September 30, 2009 | | Property and casualty insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Parent company | | | Consolidated | |
Premiums earned | | $ | 230,558,159 | | | $ | 54,727,212 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 285,285,371 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting profit (loss) | | | (7,722,721 | ) | | | 1,603,206 | | | | - | | | | (6,119,515 | ) |
Net investment income | | | 26,334,016 | | | | 8,905,851 | | | | 14,796 | | | | 35,254,663 | |
Realized investment losses | | | (3,060,164 | ) | | | (1,705,669 | ) | | | - | | | | (4,765,833 | ) |
Other income | | | 575,449 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 575,449 | |
Interest expense | | | 675,000 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 675,000 | |
Other expenses | | | 614,847 | | | | 335,396 | | | | 1,030,633 | | | | 1,980,876 | |
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | | $ | 14,836,733 | | | $ | 8,467,992 | | | $ | (1,015,837 | ) | | $ | 22,288,888 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | $ | 883,361,416 | | | $ | 280,261,990 | | | $ | 342,901,891 | | | $ | 1,506,525,297 | |
Eliminations | | | - | | | | - | | | | (340,269,959 | ) | | | (340,269,959 | ) |
Reclassifications | | | - | | | | - | | | | (467,545 | ) | | | (467,545 | ) |
Net assets | | $ | 883,361,416 | | | $ | 280,261,990 | | | $ | 2,164,387 | | | $ | 1,165,787,793 | |
The following table displays the net premiums earned of the property and casualty insurance segment and the reinsurance segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, by line of business.
| | Three months ended September 30, | | | Nine months ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Property and casualty insurance segment | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial lines: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Automobile | | $ | 16,499,022 | | | $ | 16,606,480 | | | $ | 49,231,303 | | | $ | 49,346,767 | |
Property | | | 16,508,912 | | | | 15,829,437 | | | | 48,756,488 | | | | 46,199,490 | |
Workers' compensation | | | 15,786,454 | | | | 16,232,149 | | | | 47,197,686 | | | | 48,878,685 | |
Liability | | | 14,691,512 | | | | 16,151,997 | | | | 43,520,587 | | | | 47,681,608 | |
Other | | | 2,069,367 | | | | 2,218,138 | | | | 6,297,880 | | | | 6,611,669 | |
Total commercial lines | | | 65,555,267 | | | | 67,038,201 | | | | 195,003,944 | | | | 198,718,219 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Personal lines: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Automobile | | | 6,472,251 | | | | 6,000,770 | | | | 18,961,331 | | | | 17,441,006 | |
Property | | | 4,811,642 | | | | 4,742,075 | | | | 13,228,322 | | | | 13,962,345 | |
Liability | | | 135,152 | | | | 148,781 | | | | 404,977 | | | | 436,589 | |
Total personal lines | | | 11,419,045 | | | | 10,891,626 | | | | 32,594,630 | | | | 31,839,940 | |
Total property and casualty insurance | | $ | 76,974,312 | | | $ | 77,929,827 | | | $ | 227,598,574 | | | $ | 230,558,159 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reinsurance segment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pro rata reinsurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property and casualty | | $ | 1,728,524 | | | $ | 1,764,226 | | | $ | 5,380,181 | | | $ | 5,271,033 | |
Property | | | 3,287,102 | | | | 4,826,268 | | | | 10,012,201 | | | | 14,285,259 | |
Marine/Aviation | | | 292,139 | | | | 183,166 | | | | 593,626 | | | | 437,143 | |
Casualty | | | 336,666 | | | | 436,028 | | | | 847,567 | | | | 1,065,608 | |
Crop | | | 333,555 | | | | 125,759 | | | | 911,126 | | | | 313,250 | |
Total pro rata reinsurance | | | 5,977,986 | | | | 7,335,447 | | | | 17,744,701 | | | | 21,372,293 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Excess-of-loss reinsurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property | | | 11,743,929 | | | | 8,993,651 | | | | 32,662,649 | | | | 25,955,780 | |
Casualty | | | 2,597,033 | | | | 2,476,694 | | | | 8,060,652 | | | | 7,414,330 | |
Surety | | | (9,023 | ) | | | (2,802 | ) | | | (6,162 | ) | | | (15,191 | ) |
Total excess-of-loss reinsurance | | | 14,331,939 | | | | 11,467,543 | | | | 40,717,139 | | | | 33,354,919 | |
Total reinsurance | | $ | 20,309,925 | | | $ | 18,802,990 | | | $ | 58,461,840 | | | $ | 54,727,212 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated | | $ | 97,284,237 | | | $ | 96,732,817 | | | $ | 286,060,414 | | | $ | 285,285,371 | |
The actual income tax expense for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 differed from the “expected” income tax expense for those periods (computed by applying the United States federal corporate tax rate of 35 percent to income before income tax expense) as follows:
| | Three months ended | | | Nine months ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Computed "expected" income tax expense | | $ | 3,435,758 | | | $ | 2,264,825 | | | $ | 9,749,298 | | | $ | 7,801,111 | |
Increases (decreases) in tax resulting from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tax-exempt interest income | | | (1,221,533 | ) | | | (1,281,998 | ) | | | (3,718,265 | ) | | | (3,855,908 | ) |
Dividends received deduction | | | (122,858 | ) | | | (120,348 | ) | | | (344,326 | ) | | | (369,217 | ) |
Proration of tax-exempt interest and dividends received deduction | | | 201,659 | | | | 210,352 | | | | 609,389 | | | | 633,769 | |
Elimination of deduction for Medicare Part D retiree drug subsidy | | | - | | | | - | | | | 794,383 | | | | - | |
Other, net | | | 64,850 | | | | 347,323 | | | | 129,518 | | | | 257,363 | |
Income tax expense | | $ | 2,357,876 | | | $ | 1,420,154 | | | $ | 7,219,997 | | | $ | 4,467,118 | |
As a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and the follow-up Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872) signed into law on March 23, 2010 and March 30, 2010, respectively (the “Acts”), beginning in 2013 the Company will no longer be able to claim a tax deduction for drug expenses that are reimbursed under the Medicare Part D retiree drug subsidy program. Although this tax change does not take effect until 2013, the Company is required to recognize the financial impact of this tax change in the period in which the Acts were signed. As a result of the Acts, the Company recognized a decrease in its deferred tax asset of $794,383 during the first quarter of 2010.
The Company had no provision for uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009. The Company did not recognize any interest or other penalties related to U.S. federal or state income taxes during the three months or nine months September 30, 2010 or 2009. It is the Company’s accounting policy to reflect income tax penalties as other expense, and interest as interest expense.
The Company files a U.S. federal tax return, along with various state income tax returns. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2005.
6. | EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS |
The components of net periodic benefit cost for Employers Mutual’s pension and postretirement benefit plans is as follows:
| | Three months ended | | | Nine months ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Pension plans: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service cost | | $ | 2,316,334 | | | $ | 2,819,908 | | | $ | 8,038,274 | | | $ | 7,415,220 | |
Interest cost | | | 2,475,369 | | | | 2,203,152 | | | | 7,471,895 | | | | 7,341,974 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (3,169,247 | ) | | | (2,279,132 | ) | | | (9,507,743 | ) | | | (7,240,600 | ) |
Amortization of net actuarial loss | | | 994,174 | | | | 926,143 | | | | 2,996,742 | | | | 4,074,275 | |
Amortization of prior service costs | | | 113,020 | | | | 113,075 | | | | 339,060 | | | | 339,223 | |
Net periodic pension benefit cost | | $ | 2,729,650 | | | $ | 3,783,146 | | | $ | 9,338,228 | | | $ | 11,930,092 | |
| | Three months ended | | | Nine months ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Postretirement benefit plans: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service cost | | $ | 982,900 | | | $ | 692,870 | | | $ | 2,948,700 | | | $ | 2,078,610 | |
Interest cost | | | 1,383,440 | | | | 1,070,393 | | | | 4,150,320 | | | | 3,211,178 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (738,123 | ) | | | (603,005 | ) | | | (2,214,367 | ) | | | (1,809,016 | ) |
Amortization of net actuarial loss | | | 337,737 | | | | 24,514 | | | | 1,013,211 | | | | 73,542 | |
Amortization of prior service credit | | | (532,814 | ) | | | (532,814 | ) | | | (1,598,442 | ) | | | (1,598,442 | ) |
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost | | $ | 1,433,140 | | | $ | 651,958 | | | $ | 4,299,422 | | | $ | 1,955,872 | |
Net periodic pension benefit cost allocated to the Company amounted to $845,049 and $1,162,990 for the three months and $2,879,931 and $3,663,171 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net periodic postretirement benefit cost allocated to the Company amounted to $409,930 and $183,242 for the three months and $1,229,796 and $549,728 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Employers Mutual plans to contribute approximately $25,000,000 to the pension plan and approximately $2,750,000 to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust in 2010. As of September 30, 2010, Employers Mutual has not made a contribution to the pension plan and has contributed $1,130,000 to the postretirement benefit plan’s VEBA trust.
7. | STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION |
The Company has no stock-based compensation plans of its own; however, Employers Mutual has several stock plans which utilize the common stock of the Company. Employers Mutual can provide the common stock required under its plans by: 1) using shares of common stock that it currently owns; 2) purchasing common stock on the open market; or 3) directly purchasing common stock from the Company at the current fair value. Employers Mutual has historically purchased common stock from the Company for use in its stock option plans and its non-employee director stock purchase plan. Employers Mutual generally purchases common stock on the open market to fulfill its obligations under its employee stock p urchase plan.
Employers Mutual maintains three separate stock option plans for the benefit of officers and key employees of Employers Mutual and its subsidiaries. A total of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for issuance under the 1993 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Incentive Stock Option Plan (1993 Plan), a total of 1,500,000 shares have been reserved for issuance under the 2003 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Incentive Stock Option Plan (2003 Plan) and a total of 2,000,000 shares have been reserved for issuance under the 2007 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Stock Incentive Plan (2007 Plan).
The 1993 Plan and the 2003 Plan provide for awards of incentive stock options only, while the 2007 Plan provides for the awarding of performance shares, performance units, and other stock-based awards, in addition to qualified (incentive) and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units. All three plans provide for a ten-year time limit for granting awards. Options can no longer be granted under the 1993 Plan and no additional options will be granted under the 2003 Plan now that Employers Mutual is utilizing the 2007 Plan. Options granted under the plans generally have a vesting period of five years, with options becoming exercisable in equal annual cumulative increments commencing on the first anniversa ry of the option grant. Option prices cannot be less than the fair value of the common stock on the date of grant.
The Senior Executive Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the “Committee”) of Employers Mutual’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) grants the awards and is the administrator of the plans. The Company’s Compensation Committee must consider and approve all awards granted to the Company’s senior executive officers.
The Company recognized compensation expense from these plans of $27,978 ($23,844 net of tax) and $63,075 ($54,203 net of tax) for the three months and $112,054 ($91,374 net of tax) and $259,223 ($209,252 net of tax) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. No compensation expense was recognized during the three months or nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 related to a separate stock appreciation rights agreement that is accounted for as a liability-classified award because the fair value of the award did not exceed the floor contained in the agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, 216,976 non-qualified stock options were granted under the 2007 Plan to eligible participants at a price of $20.675. During the three months ended June 30, 2010, 2,500 non-qualified stock options were granted under the 2007 Plan to an eligible participant at a price of $24.375. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, 58,719 options were exercised under the plans at prices ranging from $9.25 to $19.35.
The weighted average fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 amounted to $1.77 and $2.30, respectively. The Company estimated the fair value of each option grant on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model and the following assumptions:
| Nine months ended September 30, |
| 2010 | | 2009 |
Weighted-average dividend yield | 3.47% | | 3.82% |
Expected volatility | 16.7% - 23.6% | | 22.7% - 43.8% |
Weighted-average volatility | 19.17% | | 35.24% |
Risk-free interest rate | 0.16% - 2.99% | | 0.38% - 2.81% |
Expected term (years) | 0.25 - 6.30 | | 0.25 - 6.30 |
The expected term of the options granted in 2010 was estimated using historical data that were adjusted to remove the effect of option exercises prior to the normal vesting period due to the retirement of the option holder. The expected term of options granted to individuals who are, or will be, eligible to retire prior to the completion of the normal vesting period has been adjusted to reflect the potential accelerated vesting period. This produced a weighted-average expected term of 2.63 years.
The expected volatility in the price of the underlying shares for the 2010 option grant was computed by using the historical average high and low monthly prices of the Company’s common stock for a period covering 6.3 years, which approximates the average term of the options and produced an expected volatility of 21.8 percent. The expected volatility of options granted to individuals who are, or will be, eligible to retire prior to the completion of the normal vesting period was computed by using the historical average high and low daily, weekly, or monthly prices for the period approximating the expected term of those options. This produced expected volatility ranging from 16.7 percent to 23.6 percent.
8. | DISCLOSURES ABOUT THE FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
The carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments are summarized below.
| | Carrying | | | Estimated | |
| | amount | | | fair value | |
September 30,2010 | | | | | | |
Assets: | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | $ | 352,655 | | | $ | 398,488 | |
Total fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity | | | 352,655 | | | | 398,488 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | |
U.S. treasury | | | 4,856,690 | | | | 4,856,690 | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | | 147,314,672 | | | | 147,314,672 | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 410,664,531 | | | | 410,664,531 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | | 91,996,266 | | | | 91,996,266 | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 27,051,381 | | | | 27,051,381 | |
Other asset-backed | | | 10,127,487 | | | | 10,127,487 | |
Corporate | | | 258,775,011 | | | | 258,775,011 | |
Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | | | 950,786,038 | | | | 950,786,038 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Equity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 9,355,551 | | | | 9,355,551 | |
Information technology | | | 16,351,639 | | | | 16,351,639 | |
Healthcare | | | 10,906,261 | | | | 10,906,261 | |
Consumer staples | | | 6,749,948 | | | | 6,749,948 | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 12,021,233 | | | | 12,021,233 | |
Energy | | | 9,010,526 | | | | 9,010,526 | |
Industrials | | | 8,523,261 | | | | 8,523,261 | |
Other | | | 10,878,243 | | | | 10,878,243 | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | 8,646,800 | | | | 8,646,800 | |
Total equity securities available-for-sale | | | 92,443,462 | | | | 92,443,462 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Short-term investments | | | 46,017,719 | | | | 46,017,719 | |
Other long-term investments | | | 34,917 | | | | 34,917 | |
Securities lending collateral | | | 891,738 | | | | 891,738 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Surplus notes | | | 25,000,000 | | | | 25,694,143 | |
Securities lending obligation | | | 891,738 | | | | 891,738 | |
| | Carrying | | | Estimated | |
| | amount | | | fair value | |
December 31, 2009 | | | | | | |
Assets: | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | $ | 410,005 | | | $ | 460,877 | |
Total fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity | | | 410,005 | | | | 460,877 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | |
U.S. treasury | | | 4,983,045 | | | | 4,983,045 | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | | 150,415,530 | | | | 150,415,530 | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 391,764,812 | | | | 391,764,812 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | | 82,391,701 | | | | 82,391,701 | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 31,055,295 | | | | 31,055,295 | |
Other asset-backed | | | 9,885,609 | | | | 9,885,609 | |
Corporate | | | 228,684,994 | | | | 228,684,994 | |
Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | | | 899,180,986 | | | | 899,180,986 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Equity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 10,666,469 | | | | 10,666,469 | |
Information technology | | | 19,693,053 | | | | 19,693,053 | |
Healthcare | | | 12,935,253 | | | | 12,935,253 | |
Consumer staples | | | 7,043,221 | | | | 7,043,221 | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 7,581,367 | | | | 7,581,367 | |
Energy | | | 8,811,055 | | | | 8,811,055 | |
Industrials | | | 5,826,770 | | | | 5,826,770 | |
Other | | | 9,370,291 | | | | 9,370,291 | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | 8,262,500 | | | | 8,262,500 | |
Total equity securities available-for-sale | | | 90,189,979 | | | | 90,189,979 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Short-term investments | | | 55,390,096 | | | | 55,390,096 | |
Other long-term investments | | | 47,083 | | | | 47,083 | |
Securities lending collateral | | | 14,941,880 | | | | 14,941,880 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Surplus notes | | | 25,000,000 | | | | 22,752,800 | |
Securities lending obligation | | | 14,941,880 | | | | 14,941,880 | |
The estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, equity securities, short-term investments, securities lending collateral and securities lending obligation is based on quoted market prices, where available. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on a variety of valuation techniques depending on the type of security.
Other long-term investments, consisting primarily of holdings in limited partnerships and limited liability companies, are valued by the various fund managers. In management’s opinion, these values reflect fair value at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
The fair value of the surplus notes is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on what the Company’s current incremental borrowing rate would be for similar debt obligations.
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following fair value hierarchy prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value:
| Level 1 - | Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access. |
| Level 2 - | Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data. |
| Level 3 - | Prices or valuation techniques that require significant unobservable inputs. The unobservable inputs may reflect the Company’s own judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use. |
The Company uses an independent pricing source to obtain the estimated fair value of a majority of its securities. The fair value is based on quoted market prices, where available. This is typically the case for equity securities and short-term investments, which are accordingly classified as Level 1 fair value measurements. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based on a variety of valuation techniques depending on the type of security. Many of the fixed maturity securities in the Company’s portfolio do not trade on a daily basis; however, observable inputs are utilized in their valuations, and these securities are therefore classified as Level 2 fair value measurements. Following is a brief descri ption of the various pricing techniques used for different asset classes.
| · | U.S. Treasury securities (including bonds, notes, and bills) are priced according to a number of live data sources, including active market makers and inter-dealer brokers. Prices from these sources are reviewed based on the sources’ historical accuracy for individual issues and maturity ranges. |
| · | U.S. government-sponsored agencies and corporate securities (including fixed-rate corporate bonds, medium-term notes, and retail notes) are priced by determining a bullet (non-call) spread scale for each issuer for maturities going out to forty years. These spreads represent credit risk and are obtained from the new issue market, secondary trading, and dealer quotes. An option adjusted spread model is incorporated to adjust spreads of issues that have early redemption features. The final spread is then added to the U.S. Treasury curve. For notes with odd coupon payment dates, a cash discounting yield/price routine calculates prices from final yields. |
| · | Obligations of states and political subdivisions are priced by tracking and analyzing actively quoted issues and trades reported by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). Municipal bonds with similar characteristics are grouped together into market sectors, and internal yield curves are constructed daily for these sectors. Individual bond evaluations are extrapolated from these sectors, with the ability to make individual spread adjustments for attributes such as discounts, premiums, alternative minimum tax, and/or whether or not the bond is callable. |
| · | Mortgage-backed securities are priced with models using spreads and other information solicited from Wall Street buy- and sell-side sources, including primary and secondary dealers, portfolio managers, and research analysts, to produce pricing for each tranche. To determine a tranche’s price, first the cash flow for each tranche is generated (using consensus prepayment speed assumptions including, as appropriate, a proprietary prepayment projection based on historical statistics of the underlying collateral), then a benchmark yield is determined (in relation to the U.S. Treasury curve for the maturity corresponding to the tranche’s average life estimate), and finally collateral performance and tranche level attributes are incorporated to adjust the benchmark yield to determine the tranche-specific spread. This is then used to discount the cash flows to generate the price. 0;When cash flows or other security structure or market information is not available to appropriately price a security, broker quotes may be used with a zero spread bid-side valuation, resulting in the same values for the mean and ask prices. |
On a quarterly basis, the Company receives from its independent pricing service a list of fixed maturity securities that were priced solely from broker quotes. Since this is not an observable input, any fixed maturity security in the Company’s portfolio that is on this list is classified as a Level 3 fair value measurement. At September 30, 2010, the Company did not hold any fixed maturity securities that were priced solely from broker quotes.
A small number of the Company’s securities are not priced by the independent pricing service. One is an equity security that is reported as a Level 3 fair value measurement at December 31, 2009, since no reliable observable inputs are used in its valuation. This equity security continues to be reported at the fair value obtained from the Securities Valuation Office (SVO) of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The SVO establishes a per share price for this security based on an annual review of that company’s financial statements. This review is typically performed during the second quarter, and resulted in a fair value for the shares held by the Company of $2,130 and $2,014 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The remaining two securities not priced by the Company’s independent pricing service are fixed maturity securities. These two fixed maturity securities are classified as Level 2 fair value measurements and are carried at aggregate fair values of $8,023,820 at September 30, 2010 and $7,722,288 at December 31, 2009. The fair values for these two fixed maturity securities were obtained from the Company’s investment custodian using independent pricing services which utilize similar pricing techniques as the Company’s independent pricing service.
Prior to the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company held Class B shares of Insurance Services Office Inc. (now known as Verisk Analytics, Inc. (“Verisk”) following its Initial Public Offering on October 7, 2009). The Company was reporting this investment as a Level 3 fair value measurement at the fair value obtained from applying a 20 percent marketability discount to the quarterly valuations of the Class A shares produced by a nationally recognized independent financial advisory firm. This resulted in a fair value of $14,965,502 for the Class B shares at December 31, 2008. The Company sold its entire holding of Verisk during the fourth quarter of 2009 in conjunction with Verisk’s Initial Public Offering. This sale resulted in a rea lized capital gain of $22,473,792 (before tax).
The estimated fair values obtained from the independent pricing sources are reviewed by the Company for reasonableness and any discrepancies are investigated for final valuation. This includes comparing valuations from the independent pricing source, the Company’s investment custodian and the SVO. From these comparisons, material variances are identified and resolved to determine the final valuations used in the financial statements.
The Company’s fixed maturity and equity securities available-for-sale, as well as short-term investments, are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. No assets or liabilities are currently measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Presented in the table below are the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
| | Fair value measurements at September 30, 2010 using | |
Description | | Total | | | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | | | Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) | |
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. treasury | | $ | 4,856,690 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 4,856,690 | | | $ | - | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | | 147,314,672 | | | | - | | | | 147,314,672 | | | | - | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 410,664,531 | | | | - | | | | 410,664,531 | | | | - | |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | | 91,996,266 | | | | - | | | | 91,996,266 | | | | - | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 27,051,381 | | | | - | | | | 27,051,381 | | | | - | |
Other asset-backed | | | 10,127,487 | | | | - | | | | 10,127,487 | | | | - | |
Corporate | | | 258,775,011 | | | | - | | | | 258,775,011 | | | | - | |
Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | | | 950,786,038 | | | | - | | | | 950,786,038 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 9,355,551 | | | | 9,353,421 | | | | - | | | | 2,130 | |
Information technology | | | 16,351,639 | | | | 16,351,639 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Healthcare | | | 10,906,261 | | | | 10,906,261 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Consumer staples | | | 6,749,948 | | | | 6,749,948 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 12,021,233 | | | | 12,021,233 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Energy | | | 9,010,526 | | | | 9,010,526 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Industrials | | | 8,523,261 | | | | 8,523,261 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Other | | | 10,878,243 | | | | 10,878,243 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | 8,646,800 | | | | 8,646,800 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Total equity securities available-for-sale | | | 92,443,462 | | | | 92,441,332 | | | | - | | | | 2,130 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short-term investments | | | 46,017,719 | | | | 46,017,719 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | $ | 1,089,247,219 | | | $ | 138,459,051 | | | $ | 950,786,038 | | | $ | 2,130 | |
| | Fair value measurements at December 31, 2009 using | |
Description | | Total | | | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | | | Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. treasury | | $ | 4,983,045 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 4,983,045 | | | $ | - | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | | 150,415,530 | | | | - | | | | 150,415,530 | | | | - | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 391,764,812 | | | | - | | | | 391,764,812 | | | | - | |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | | 82,391,701 | | | | - | | | | 82,391,701 | | | | - | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 31,055,295 | | | | - | | | | 31,055,295 | | | | - | |
Other asset-backed | | | 9,885,609 | | | | - | | | | 9,885,609 | | | | - | |
Corporate | | | 228,684,994 | | | | - | | | | 228,684,994 | | | | - | |
Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | | | 899,180,986 | | | | - | | | | 899,180,986 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 10,666,469 | | | | 10,664,455 | | | | - | | | | 2,014 | |
Information technology | | | 19,693,053 | | | | 19,693,053 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Healthcare | | | 12,935,253 | | | | 12,935,253 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Consumer staples | | | 7,043,221 | | | | 7,043,221 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 7,581,367 | | | | 7,581,367 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Energy | | | 8,811,055 | | | | 8,811,055 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Industrials | | | 5,826,770 | | | | 5,826,770 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Other | | | 9,370,291 | | | | 9,370,291 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | 8,262,500 | | | | 8,262,500 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Total equity securities available-for-sale | | | 90,189,979 | | | | 90,187,965 | | | | - | | | | 2,014 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short-term investments | | | 55,390,096 | | | | 55,390,096 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | $ | 1,044,761,061 | | | $ | 145,578,061 | | | $ | 899,180,986 | | | $ | 2,014 | |
Presented in the table below is a reconciliation of the assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Any unrealized gains or losses on these securities are recognized in other comprehensive income. Any gains or losses from disposals or impairments of these securities would be reported as realized investment gains or losses in net income.
| | Fair value measurements using significant | |
| | unobservable inputs (Level 3) | |
| | Equity securities | | | | |
| | available-for-sale, | | | | |
Three months ended September 30, 2010 | | Financial services | | | Total | |
Balance at June 30, 2010 | | $ | 2,130 | | | $ | 2,130 | |
Total unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income | | | - | | | | - | |
Balance at September 30, 2010 | | $ | 2,130 | | | $ | 2,130 | |
| | Fair value measurements using significant | |
| | unobservable inputs (Level 3) | |
| | Equity securities | | | | |
| | available-for-sale, | | | | |
Three months ended September 30, 2009 | | Financial services | | | Total | |
Balance at June 30, 2009 | | $ | 14,974,410 | | | $ | 14,974,410 | |
Total unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income | | | (6,894 | ) | | | (6,894 | ) |
Balance at September 30, 2009 | | $ | 14,967,516 | | | $ | 14,967,516 | |
| | Fair value measurements using significant | |
| | unobservable inputs (Level 3) | |
| | Equity securities | | | | |
| | available-for-sale, | | | | |
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 | | Financial services | | | Total | |
Balance at December 31, 2009 | | $ | 2,014 | | | $ | 2,014 | |
Total unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income | | | 116 | | | | 116 | |
Balance at September 30, 2010 | | $ | 2,130 | | | $ | 2,130 | |
| | Fair value measurements using significant | |
| | unobservable inputs (Level 3) | |
| | Equity securities | | | | |
| | available-for-sale, | | | | |
Nine months ended September 30, 2009 | | Financial services | | | Total | |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | | $ | 14,969,143 | | | $ | 14,969,143 | |
Total unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income | | | (1,627 | ) | | | (1,627 | ) |
Balance at September 30, 2009 | | $ | 14,967,516 | | | $ | 14,967,516 | |
There were no transfers into or out of Levels 1 or 2 for the three months or nine months ended September 30, 2010.
Investments of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to the insurance laws of the state of their incorporation. These laws prescribe the kind, quality and concentration of investments that may be made by insurance companies. In general, these laws permit investments, within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications, in federal, state and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, preferred and common stocks and real estate mortgages. The Company believes that it is in compliance with these laws.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities held-to-maturity and available-for-sale as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows. Securities classified as held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost. All other securities have been classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value.
| | | | | Gross | | | Gross | | | | |
| | Amortized | | | unrealized | | | unrealized | | | Estimated | |
September 30, 2010 | | cost | | | gains | | | losses | | | fair value | |
Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | $ | 352,655 | | | $ | 45,833 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 398,488 | |
Total securities held-to-maturity | | $ | 352,655 | | | $ | 45,833 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 398,488 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. treasury | | $ | 4,745,608 | | | $ | 111,082 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 4,856,690 | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | | 143,223,237 | | | | 4,094,872 | | | | 3,437 | | | | 147,314,672 | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 384,485,897 | | | | 26,276,409 | | | | 97,775 | | | | 410,664,531 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | | 79,977,280 | | | | 12,018,986 | | | | - | | | | 91,996,266 | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 25,369,408 | | | | 1,765,148 | | | | 83,175 | | | | 27,051,381 | |
Other asset-backed | | | 8,712,154 | | | | 1,415,333 | | | | - | | | | 10,127,487 | |
Corporate | | | 238,679,810 | | | | 20,111,035 | | | | 15,834 | | | | 258,775,011 | |
Total fixed maturity securities | | | 885,193,394 | | | | 65,792,865 | | | | 200,221 | | | | 950,786,038 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 7,488,217 | | | | 2,096,667 | | | | 229,333 | | | | 9,355,551 | |
Information technology | | | 11,725,940 | | | | 4,779,405 | | | | 153,706 | | | | 16,351,639 | |
Healthcare | | | 8,525,761 | | | | 2,463,830 | | | | 83,330 | | | | 10,906,261 | |
Consumer staples | | | 6,010,693 | | | | 801,161 | | | | 61,906 | | | | 6,749,948 | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 8,145,764 | | | | 3,894,481 | | | | 19,012 | | | | 12,021,233 | |
Energy | | | 7,403,108 | | | | 1,772,386 | | | | 164,968 | | | | 9,010,526 | |
Industrials | | | 7,033,295 | | | | 1,605,502 | | | | 115,536 | | | | 8,523,261 | |
Other | | | 8,715,590 | | | | 2,174,097 | | | | 11,444 | | | | 10,878,243 | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | 9,000,000 | | | | 273,600 | | | | 626,800 | | | | 8,646,800 | |
Total equity securities | | | 74,048,368 | | | | 19,861,129 | | | | 1,466,035 | | | | 92,443,462 | |
Total securities available-for-sale | | $ | 959,241,762 | | | $ | 85,653,994 | | | $ | 1,666,256 | | | $ | 1,043,229,500 | |
| | | | | Gross | | | Gross | | | | |
| | Amortized | | | unrealized | | | unrealized | | | Estimated | |
December 31, 2009 | | cost | | | gains | | | losses | | | fair value | |
Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | $ | 410,005 | | | $ | 50,872 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 460,877 | |
Total securities held-to-maturity | | $ | 410,005 | | | $ | 50,872 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 460,877 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. treasury | | $ | 4,739,194 | | | $ | 243,851 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 4,983,045 | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | | 151,440,800 | | | | 1,011,484 | | | | 2,036,754 | | | | 150,415,530 | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 380,605,547 | | | | 15,604,731 | | | | 4,445,466 | | | | 391,764,812 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | | 75,563,896 | | | | 6,827,805 | | | | - | | | | 82,391,701 | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 31,017,352 | | | | 961,646 | | | | 923,703 | | | | 31,055,295 | |
Other asset-backed | | | 9,164,445 | | | | 739,434 | | | | 18,270 | | | | 9,885,609 | |
Corporate | | | 219,663,540 | | | | 10,284,043 | | | | 1,262,589 | | | | 228,684,994 | |
Total fixed maturity securities | | | 872,194,774 | | | | 35,672,994 | | | | 8,686,782 | | | | 899,180,986 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 7,447,765 | | | | 3,276,169 | | | | 57,465 | | | | 10,666,469 | |
Information technology | | | 13,366,462 | | | | 6,326,591 | | | | - | | | | 19,693,053 | |
Healthcare | | | 10,066,840 | | | | 2,901,926 | | | | 33,513 | | | | 12,935,253 | |
Consumer staples | | | 6,323,889 | | | | 768,181 | | | | 48,849 | | | | 7,043,221 | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 6,100,052 | | | | 1,499,876 | | | | 18,561 | | | | 7,581,367 | |
Energy | | | 6,995,036 | | | | 1,858,794 | | | | 42,775 | | | | 8,811,055 | |
Industrials | | | 5,239,316 | | | | 683,747 | | | | 96,293 | | | | 5,826,770 | |
Other | | | 8,075,560 | | | | 1,324,137 | | | | 29,406 | | | | 9,370,291 | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | 9,500,000 | | | | 15,500 | | | | 1,253,000 | | | | 8,262,500 | |
Total equity securities | | | 73,114,920 | | | | 18,654,921 | | | | 1,579,862 | | | | 90,189,979 | |
Total securities available-for-sale | | $ | 945,309,694 | | | $ | 54,327,915 | | | $ | 10,266,644 | | | $ | 989,370,965 | |
The following table sets forth the estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses associated with investment securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, listed by length of time the securities were in an unrealized loss position.
September 30, 2010 | | Less than twelve months | | | Twelve months or longer | | | Total | |
| | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | | Unrealized | |
| | value | | | losses | | | value | | | losses | | | value | | | losses | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | $ | 10,996,563 | | | $ | 3,437 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 10,996,563 | | | $ | 3,437 | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 4,046,120 | | | | 97,775 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,046,120 | | | | 97,775 | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 811,978 | | | | 9,117 | | | | 2,893,101 | | | | 74,058 | | | | 3,705,079 | | | | 83,175 | |
Corporate | | | 982,600 | | | | 15,834 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 982,600 | | | | 15,834 | |
Total, fixed maturity securities | | | 16,837,261 | | | | 126,163 | | | | 2,893,101 | | | | 74,058 | | | | 19,730,362 | | | | 200,221 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 1,791,835 | | | | 229,333 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,791,835 | | | | 229,333 | |
Information technology | | | 1,838,730 | | | | 153,706 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,838,730 | | | | 153,706 | |
Healthcare | | | 2,194,906 | | | | 83,330 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 2,194,906 | | | | 83,330 | |
Consumer staples | | | 1,656,555 | | | | 61,906 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,656,555 | | | | 61,906 | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 710,607 | | | | 19,012 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 710,607 | | | | 19,012 | |
Energy | | | 1,444,645 | | | | 164,968 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,444,645 | | | | 164,968 | |
Industrials | | | 1,867,476 | | | | 115,536 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,867,476 | | | | 115,536 | |
Other | | | 491,550 | | | | 11,444 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 491,550 | | | | 11,444 | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,373,200 | | | | 626,800 | | | | 4,373,200 | | | | 626,800 | |
Total, equity securities | | | 11,996,304 | | | | 839,235 | | | | 4,373,200 | | | | 626,800 | | | | 16,369,504 | | | | 1,466,035 | |
Total temporarily impaired securities | | $ | 28,833,565 | | | $ | 965,398 | | | $ | 7,266,301 | | | $ | 700,858 | | | $ | 36,099,866 | | | $ | 1,666,256 | |
December 31, 2009 | | Less than twelve months | | | Twelve months or longer | | | Total | |
| | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | | Unrealized | |
| | value | | | losses | | | value | | | losses | | | value | | | losses | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | $ | 102,035,965 | | | $ | 2,036,754 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 102,035,965 | | | $ | 2,036,754 | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 83,487,876 | | | | 3,832,182 | | | | 6,314,420 | | | | 613,284 | | | | 89,802,296 | | | | 4,445,466 | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 3,317,513 | | | | 93,216 | | | | 10,535,690 | | | | 830,487 | | | | 13,853,203 | | | | 923,703 | |
Other asset-backed | | | - | | | | - | | | | 503,730 | | | | 18,270 | | | | 503,730 | | | | 18,270 | |
Corporate | | | 43,994,473 | | | | 684,520 | | | | 18,830,648 | | | | 578,069 | | | | 62,825,121 | | | | 1,262,589 | |
Total, fixed maturity securities | | | 232,835,827 | | | | 6,646,672 | | | | 36,184,488 | | | | 2,040,110 | | | | 269,020,315 | | | | 8,686,782 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 1,092,716 | | | | 57,465 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,092,716 | | | | 57,465 | |
Healthcare | | | 1,550,018 | | | | 33,513 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,550,018 | | | | 33,513 | |
Consumer staples | | | 1,901,671 | | | | 48,849 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,901,671 | | | | 48,849 | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 406,500 | | | | 18,561 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 406,500 | | | | 18,561 | |
Energy | | | 1,502,064 | | | | 42,775 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,502,064 | | | | 42,775 | |
Industrials | | | 1,387,906 | | | | 96,293 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,387,906 | | | | 96,293 | |
Other | | | 2,078,197 | | | | 29,406 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 2,078,197 | | | | 29,406 | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | - | | | | - | | | | 5,247,000 | | | | 1,253,000 | | | | 5,247,000 | | | | 1,253,000 | |
Total, equity securities | | | 9,919,072 | | | | 326,862 | | | | 5,247,000 | | | | 1,253,000 | | | | 15,166,072 | | | | 1,579,862 | |
Total temporarily impaired securities | | $ | 242,754,899 | | | $ | 6,973,534 | | | $ | 41,431,488 | | | $ | 3,293,110 | | | $ | 284,186,387 | | | $ | 10,266,644 | |
Unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities totaled $200,221 at September 30, 2010 and were primarily associated with municipal securities and residential mortgage-backed securities. All but three of these securities (those three being residential mortgage-backed securities) are considered investment grade by credit rating agencies. Because management does not intend to sell these securities, does not believe it will be required to sell these securities before recovery, and believes it will collect the amounts due on these securities, it was determined that these securities were not “other-than-temporarily” impaired at September 30, 2010.
The unrealized losses on common stocks at September 30, 2010 are not concentrated in a particular sector or an individual security. The Company believes the unrealized losses on common stocks are primarily due to general fluctuations in the equity markets. Because the Company has the ability and intent to hold these securities for a reasonable amount of time to allow for recovery, it was determined that the securities were not “other-than-temporarily” impaired at September 30, 2010.
All of the Company’s preferred stock holdings are perpetual preferred stocks. The Company evaluates perpetual preferred stocks for “other-than-temporary” impairment similar to fixed maturity securities since they have debt-like characteristics such as periodic cash flows in the form of dividends and call features, are rated by rating agencies and are priced like other long-term callable fixed maturity securities. There was no evidence of any credit deterioration in the issuers of the preferred stocks and the Company does not intend to sell these securities before recovery, nor does it believe it will be required to sell these securities before recovery; therefore, it was determined that the securities were not “other-than-temporarily& #8221; impaired at September 30, 2010.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2010, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without call or prepayment penalties.
| | Amortized | | | Estimated | |
| | cost | | | fair value | |
Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | |
Due in one year or less | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
Due after one year through five years | | | - | | | | - | |
Due after five years through ten years | | | - | | | | - | |
Due after ten years | | | - | | | | - | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | | 352,655 | | | | 398,488 | |
Totals | | $ | 352,655 | | | $ | 398,488 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | |
Due in one year or less | | $ | 31,201,515 | | | $ | 31,937,874 | |
Due after one year through five years | | | 75,918,009 | | | | 81,337,985 | |
Due after five years through ten years | | | 173,046,754 | | | | 186,459,505 | |
Due after ten years | | | 499,680,428 | | | | 532,003,027 | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | | 105,346,688 | | | | 119,047,647 | |
Totals | | $ | 885,193,394 | | | $ | 950,786,038 | |
A summary of realized investment gains and losses is as follows:
| | Three months ended | | | Nine months ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross realized investment gains | | $ | 310,544 | | | $ | 1,268,657 | | | $ | 496,941 | | | $ | 1,449,664 | |
Gross realized investment losses | | | (87,082 | ) | | | - | | | | (87,082 | ) | | | - | |
"Other-than-temporary" impairments | | | - | | | | (350,000 | ) | | | (204,045 | ) | | | (2,569,779 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross realized investment gains | | | 2,168,050 | | | | 2,694,746 | | | | 4,067,950 | | | | 5,564,616 | |
Gross realized investment losses | | | (275,263 | ) | | | (431,530 | ) | | | (753,099 | ) | | | (2,052,994 | ) |
"Other-than-temporary" impairments | | | (366,319 | ) | | | (260,563 | ) | | | (2,091,367 | ) | | | (7,157,340 | ) |
Totals | | $ | 1,749,930 | | | $ | 2,921,310 | | | $ | 1,429,298 | | | $ | (4,765,833 | ) |
The cost of investments sold is determined on the specific identification method using the highest cost basis first. The amounts reported as “other-than-temporary” impairments on equity securities available-for-sale reflect the impairment of six equity securities during the third quarter of 2010 and 22 equity securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to three and 31 equity securities during the same periods of 2009, respectively. The large amount of impairment losses recognized on equity securities during the first nine months of 2009 was a result of the severe and prolonged turmoil in the financial markets resulting from the 2008 financial crisis. The “other-than-temporary” impairment losses on fixed maturi ty securities available-for-sale reflect the impairment of two fixed maturity securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. The “other-than-temporary” impairment losses recognized on fixed maturity securities in the first nine months of 2009 resulted from a bankruptcy filing made by Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, now known as Chemtura Corporation, during the first quarter of 2009, and an impairment of US Freightways Corporation fixed maturity securities during the third quarter of 2009.
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company determined that the credit loss associated with a residential mortgage-backed security that was “other-than-temporarily” impaired during 2009 increased. This increase in credit loss resulted in an additional $120,539 impairment loss recognized in earnings in the first quarter; however, the fair value of the security has partially recovered as of September 30, 2010, resulting in a $153,917 unrealized gain recognized in other comprehensive income at September 30, 2010. The Company also recognized $83,506 of “other-than-temporary” impairment loss on a second residential mortgage-backed security during the first quarter of 2010 due to management’s intent to sell the security, which was completed du ring the second quarter.
Following is a tabular roll forward of the amount of credit losses recognized in earnings from “other-than-temporary” impairments. Note that this table only includes the credit loss component of “other-than-temporary” impairments, and does not include the non-credit component of impairments (which is recognized through “other comprehensive income”) or impairments that are recognized through earnings in their entirety (not subject to bifurcation between credit and non-credit components).
Three months ended September 30, 2010 | | Credit losses recognized in earnings | |
Balance at June 30, 2010 | | $ | 207,854 | |
| | | | |
Additional increases to the amount related to credit loss for which an "other-than-temporary" impairment loss was previously recognized | | | - | |
Balance at September 30, 2010 | | $ | 207,854 | |
Three months ended September 30, 2009 | | Credit losses recognized in earnings | |
| | | |
Balance at June 30, 2009 | | $ | 1,229,779 | |
| | | | |
Reduction for securities sold during the period | | | (1,229,779 | ) |
Balance at September 30, 2009 | | $ | - | |
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 | | Credit losses recognized in earnings | |
Balance at January 1, 2010 | | $ | 87,315 | |
| | | | |
Additional increases to the amount related to credit loss for which an "other-than-temporary" impairment loss was previously recognized | | | 120,539 | |
Balance at September 30, 2010 | | $ | 207,854 | |
Nine months ended September 30, 2009 | | Credit losses recognized in earnings | |
| | | |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | | $ | - | |
| | | | |
Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment loss was not previously recognized | | | 1,229,779 | |
Reduction for securities sold during the period | | | (1,229,779 | ) |
Balance at September 30, 2009 | | $ | - | |
The Company currently participates in a securities lending program administered by Mellon Bank, N.A. whereby certain fixed maturity securities from the investment portfolio are loaned to other institutions for short periods of time; however, during the fourth quarter of 2009, management decided to discontinue its participation in the securities lending program and as a result, began to unwind the program. The Company receives a fee for each security loaned out under this program and requires initial collateral equal to 102 percent of the fair value of the loaned securities. The collateral is primarily cash, but other forms of collateral are occasionally accepted, including letters of credit or U.S. Treasury securities. The cash collateral is invested in a De laware business trust that is managed by Mellon Bank. In this trust, cash collateral funds of the Company are pooled with cash collateral funds of other security lenders administered by Mellon Bank, and these funds are invested in securities with high credit quality standards, maturity restrictions, and liquidity levels consistent with the short-term nature of securities lending transactions. The acceptable investments include time deposits, commercial paper, floating rate notes, asset-backed floating rate notes, and repurchase agreements. The earnings from this trust are used, in part, to pay the fee the Company receives for each security loaned under the program. The Company has a risk of loss associated with the collateral pool if the aggregate fair value of the collateral pool were to decline below the aggregate liability represented by the collateral, assuming all securities loaned and backed by the collateral pool were returned. The securities on l oan to others are segregated from the other invested assets on the Company’s balance sheet. In accordance with relevant accounting literature, the collateral held by the Company is accounted for as a secured borrowing and is recorded as an asset on the Company’s balance sheet, with a corresponding liability reflecting the Company’s obligation to return this collateral upon the return of the loaned securities.
10. | CONTINGENT LIABILITIES |
The Company and Employers Mutual and its other subsidiaries are parties to numerous lawsuits arising in the normal course of the insurance business. The Company believes that the resolution of these lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or its results of operations. The companies involved have established reserves which are believed adequate to cover any potential liabilities arising out of all such pending or threatened proceedings.
The participants in the pooling agreement have purchased annuities from life insurance companies, under which the claimant is payee, to fund future payments that are fixed pursuant to specific claim settlement provisions. The Company’s share of case loss reserves eliminated by the purchase of these annuities was $1,711,614 at December 31, 2009. The Company has a contingent liability of $1,711,614 at December 31, 2009 should the issuers of these annuities fail to perform. The information to determine the contingent liability at interim periods is not available; however, management believes the contingent liability at September 30, 2010 has not changed materially from the amount at December 31, 2009. The probability of a material loss due to f ailure of performance by the issuers of these annuities is considered remote. The Company’s share of the amount due from any one life insurance company does not equal or exceed one percent of its subsidiaries’ aggregate policyholders’ surplus.
11. | STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM |
On March 10, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $15,000,000 stock repurchase program. On October 31, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors announced an extension of the stock repurchase program, authorizing an additional $10,000,000. This program became effective immediately and does not have an expiration date. The timing and terms of the purchases are determined by management based on market conditions and are conducted in accordance with the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Common stock purchased under this program is being retired by the Company.
During the third quarter of 2010, the Company repurchased 188,800 shares of its common stock at an average cost of $21.49 per share, and for the first nine months of 2010 repurchased 244,300 shares at an average cost of $21.67 per share. Since the inception of the repurchase program the Company has repurchased 980,433 shares of common stock at a cost of $23,146,330, leaving $1,853,670 available for the repurchase of additional shares.
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
(Unaudited)
The term “Company” is used below interchangeably to describe EMC Insurance Group Inc. (Parent Company only) and EMC Insurance Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, and the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides issuers the opportunity to make cautionary statements regarding forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement contained in this report is based on management’s current beliefs, assumptions and expectations of the Company’s future performance, taking all information currently available into account. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as the result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to management. If a change occurs, the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the actual results of the Company include, but are not limited to, the following:
| · | catastrophic events and the occurrence of significant severe weather conditions; |
| · | the adequacy of loss and settlement expense reserves; |
| · | state and federal legislation and regulations; |
| · | changes in the property and casualty insurance industry, interest rates or the performance of financial markets and the general economy; |
| · | “other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses; and |
| · | other risks and uncertainties inherent to the Company’s business, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
Management intends to identify forward-looking statements when using the words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project” or similar expressions. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements.
COMPANY OVERVIEW
The Company, a 61 percent owned subsidiary of Employers Mutual Casualty Company (Employers Mutual), is an insurance holding company with operations in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance.
Property and casualty insurance operations are conducted through three subsidiaries and represent the most significant segment of the Company’s business, totaling approximately 80 percent of consolidated premiums earned during the first nine months of 2010. The property and casualty insurance operations are integrated with the property and casualty insurance operations of Employers Mutual through participation in a reinsurance pooling agreement. Because the Company conducts its property and casualty insurance operations together with Employers Mutual through the reinsurance pooling agreement, the Company shares the same business philosophy, management, employees and facilities as Employers Mutual and offers the same types of insurance products.
Reinsurance operations are conducted through EMC Reinsurance Company, and represented approximately 20 percent of consolidated premiums earned during the first nine months of 2010. The principal business activity of EMC Reinsurance Company is to assume, through a quota share reinsurance agreement, the voluntary reinsurance business written directly by Employers Mutual with unaffiliated insurance companies (subject to certain limited exceptions). Effective January 1, 2009, EMC Reinsurance Company began writing a small amount of German assumed reinsurance business on a direct basis (outside the quota share agreement) as a result of regulatory changes in Germany.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the interim periods reported are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting policies considered by management to be critically important in the preparation and understanding of the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures are presented in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company’s 2009
Form 10-K.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Segment information and consolidated net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
| | Three months ended | | | Nine months ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
($ in thousands) | | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Property and Casualty Insurance | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Premiums earned | | $ | 76,974 | | | $ | 77,929 | | | $ | 227,598 | | | $ | 230,558 | |
Losses and settlement expenses | | | 56,437 | | | | 58,006 | | | | 157,248 | | | | 149,833 | |
Acquisition and other expenses | | | 27,349 | | | | 27,156 | | | | 85,647 | | | | 88,448 | |
Underwriting loss | | $ | (6,812 | ) | | $ | (7,233 | ) | | $ | (15,297 | ) | | $ | (7,723 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and settlement expense ratio | | | 73.3 | % | | | 74.4 | % | | | 69.1 | % | | | 65.0 | % |
Acquisition expense ratio | | | 35.5 | % | | | 34.9 | % | | | 37.6 | % | | | 38.3 | % |
Combined ratio | | | 108.8 | % | | | 109.3 | % | | | 106.7 | % | | | 103.3 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Insured events of current year | | $ | 67,878 | | | $ | 64,574 | | | $ | 188,431 | | | $ | 181,025 | |
Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years | | | (11,441 | ) | | | (6,568 | ) | | | (31,183 | ) | | | (31,192 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total losses and settlement expenses | | $ | 56,437 | | | $ | 58,006 | | | $ | 157,248 | | | $ | 149,833 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Catastrophe and storm losses | | $ | 15,529 | | | $ | 16,354 | | | $ | 31,754 | | | $ | 28,708 | |
| | Three months ended | | | Nine months ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
($ in thousands) | | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Reinsurance | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Premiums earned | | $ | 20,310 | | | $ | 18,803 | | | $ | 58,462 | | | $ | 54,727 | |
Losses and settlement expenses | | | 11,135 | | | | 14,270 | | | | 37,519 | | | | 41,384 | |
Acquisition and other expenses | | | 5,570 | | | | 4,305 | | | | 15,151 | | | | 11,740 | |
Underwriting profit | | $ | 3,605 | | | $ | 228 | | | $ | 5,792 | | | $ | 1,603 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and settlement expense ratio | | | 54.8 | % | | | 75.9 | % | | | 64.2 | % | | | 75.6 | % |
Acquisition expense ratio | | | 27.5 | % | | | 22.9 | % | | | 25.9 | % | | | 21.5 | % |
Combined ratio | | | 82.3 | % | | | 98.8 | % | | | 90.1 | % | | | 97.1 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Insured events of current year | | $ | 18,515 | | | $ | 16,448 | | | $ | 52,523 | | | $ | 49,431 | |
Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years | | | (7,380 | ) | | | (2,178 | ) | | | (15,004 | ) | | | (8,047 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total losses and settlement expenses | | $ | 11,135 | | | $ | 14,270 | | | $ | 37,519 | | | $ | 41,384 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Catastrophe and storm losses | | $ | 3,559 | | | $ | (322 | ) | | $ | 7,339 | | | $ | 2,237 | |
| | Three months ended | | | Nine months ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
($ in thousands) | | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Consolidated | | | | | | | | | | | | |
REVENUES | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Premiums earned | | $ | 97,284 | | | $ | 96,732 | | | $ | 286,060 | | | $ | 285,285 | |
Net investment income | | | 12,235 | | | | 11,805 | | | | 37,414 | | | | 35,255 | |
Realized investment gains (losses) | | | 1,749 | | | | 2,921 | | | | 1,429 | | | | (4,766 | ) |
Other income | | | 230 | | | | 225 | | | | 657 | | | | 576 | |
| | | 111,498 | | | | 111,683 | | | | 325,560 | | | | 316,350 | |
LOSSES AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses | | | 67,572 | | | | 72,276 | | | | 194,767 | | | | 191,217 | |
Acquisition and other expenses | | | 32,919 | | | | 31,461 | | | | 100,798 | | | | 100,188 | |
Interest expense | | | 225 | | | | 225 | | | | 675 | | | | 675 | |
Other expense | | | 966 | | | | 1,250 | | | | 1,465 | | | | 1,981 | |
| | | 101,682 | | | | 105,212 | | | | 297,705 | | | | 294,061 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income before income tax expense | | | 9,816 | | | | 6,471 | | | | 27,855 | | | | 22,289 | |
Income tax expense | | | 2,358 | | | | 1,420 | | | | 7,220 | | | | 4,467 | |
Net income | | $ | 7,458 | | | $ | 5,051 | | | $ | 20,635 | | | $ | 17,822 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income per share | | $ | 0.57 | | | $ | 0.38 | | | $ | 1.58 | | | $ | 1.35 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and settlement expense ratio | | | 69.5 | % | | | 74.7 | % | | | 68.1 | % | | | 67.0 | % |
Acquisition expense ratio | | | 33.8 | % | | | 32.5 | % | | | 35.2 | % | | | 35.1 | % |
Combined ratio | | | 103.3 | % | | | 107.2 | % | | | 103.3 | % | | | 102.1 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and settlement expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Insured events of current year | | $ | 86,393 | | | $ | 81,022 | | | $ | 240,954 | | | $ | 230,456 | |
Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years | | | (18,821 | ) | | | (8,746 | ) | | | (46,187 | ) | | | (39,239 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total losses and settlement expenses | | $ | 67,572 | | | $ | 72,276 | | | $ | 194,767 | | | $ | 191,217 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Catastrophe and storm losses | | $ | 19,088 | | | $ | 16,032 | | | $ | 39,093 | | | $ | 30,945 | |
The Company reported net income of $7,458,000 ($0.57 per share) for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $5,051,000 ($0.38 per share) for the same period in 2009. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net income increased to $20,635,000 ($1.58 per share) from $17,822,000 ($1.35 per share) for the same period in 2009. The improvement in third quarter net income is primarily due to improved underwriting performance in the reinsurance segment although the property and casualty insurance segment did improve slightly as well. For the first nine months of 2010, improved underwriting results in the reinsurance segment were more than offset by a decline in the underwriting results of the property and casualty insurance segment. T he increase in net income for the first nine months of 2010is largely the result of a decline in the amount of “other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses recognized and an increase in net investment income. Storm losses increased 19.1 percent for the third quarter and 26.3 percent for the first nine months of 2010 due to the high level of storm activity experienced during the first nine months of the year throughout the Midwestern and Eastern sections of the country.
Premiums Earned
Premiums earned increased 0.6 percent and 0.3 percent to $97,284,000 and $286,060,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $96,732,000 and $285,285,000 for the same periods in 2009. The reinsurance segment was able to increase premium income through the addition of several new reinsurance contracts and increased participation on existing reinsurance business; however, this increase in premium income was mostly offset by a decline in premium income in the property and casualty insurance segment. While premium rate levels for the property and casualty insurance segment stabilized during 2009, the use of discretionary rate credits has increased, keeping overall premium rate levels flat to slightly lower. Competition remains very st rong in the commercial lines of business; however, moderate rate increases have been implemented in personal lines. Management continues to implement commercial lines rate increases where they are warranted, but overall rate levels are not expected to improve until the economy recovers, which is now projected to occur in 2012. Pricing in the reinsurance marketplace was essentially flat during the first nine months of the year.
Premiums earned for the property and casualty insurance segment decreased 1.2 percent and 1.3 percent to $76,974,000 and $227,598,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $77,929,000 and $230,558,000 for the same periods in 2009. These decreases primarily reflect a decline in earned premium rate levels resulting from rate decreases implemented in 2008 and 2009. Premium rates have improved somewhat in the personal lines of business, but the commercial lines of business, which account for more than 80 percent of the property and casualty insurance segment’s premiums, remain very competitive. Overall, the industry has continued to report average rate declines of three to six percent in commercial lines of business depending o n policy size and line of business; however, the Company’s average rate decline for commercial lines has been relatively steady at approximately 1.3 percent. Rate competition in the commercial lines of business is being driven, at least in part, by the weak economy. Most companies are content to retain their good business at current pricing levels and wait for the economy to improve. As a result, management expects the current level of rate competition to continue through the end of the year and probably into 2012. New business premium increased approximately three percent during the first nine months of 2010 and accounted for approximately 17 percent of net written premiums; however, the increase in premium income from this new business was largely offset by a decline in premium income associated with prior years’ rate reductions and policies not retained. Policy retention rates remained relatively stable at approximately 86 percent, though the personal lines retention rate was somewhat suppressed due to management’s decision in 2009 to exit personal lines business in some regions of the country. Policy counts increased slightly in both the commercial and personal lines of business during the first nine months of 2010.
Premiums earned for the reinsurance segment increased 8.0 percent and 6.8 percent to $20,310,000 and $58,462,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $18,803,000 and $54,727,000 for the same periods in 2009. These increases are primarily associated with the addition of new facility business during 2010 (includes facultative and property and casualty reinsurance business from small to mid-size insurance companies), as well as new property business in central and eastern Europe. Due to the mild 2009 and 2010 hurricane seasons and a recovery in the reinsurance industry’s capital level, premium rate levels were generally flat for the January 1, 2010 renewal season and have remained flat through the first nine months of 2010.
Losses and settlement expenses
Losses and settlement expenses decreased 6.5 percent to $67,572,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 from $72,276,000 for the same period in 2009, but increased 1.9 percent to $194,767,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $191,217,000 for the same period in 2009. Likewise, the loss and settlement expense ratio decreased to 69.5 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2010 from 74.7 percent for the same period in 2009, but increased to 68.1 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from 67.0 percent for the same period in 2009. The decrease in the loss and settlement expense ratio for the third quarter of 2010 is primarily attributed to a significant increase in the amount of favorable development experienced on prior ye ar reserves. Favorable development on prior years’ reserves also increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2010; however, the increase was more than offset by an increase in catastrophe and storm losses. Development on prior years’ reserves can vary greatly from one reporting period to the next depending on many factors, including the specific claims that get settled during the periods, and should therefore not be considered a reliable factor in assessing the adequacy of the Company’s carried reserves. The most recently completed actuarial analysis of the Company’s carried reserves as of June 30, 2010 indicates that the level of reserve adequacy is consistent with other recent evaluations. From management’s perspective, this measure is more relevant to an understanding of the Company’s results of operations than the composition of the underwriting results between the current and prior accident years.
The loss and settlement expense ratio for the property and casualty insurance segment decreased to 73.3 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2010 from 74.4 percent for the same period in 2009, but increased to 69.1 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from 65.0 percent for the same period in 2009. Catastrophe and storm losses are well above average in both 2010 and 2009, adding 20.2 and 21.0 percentage points, respectively, to the loss and settlement expense ratios for the third quarters and 14.0 and 12.5 percentage points, respectively, to the loss and settlement expense ratios for the first nine months. Favorable development on prior years’ reserves was relatively flat for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, but increased signi ficantly in the third quarter. In aggregate, the favorable development experienced in 2010 continues to be associated with closed claims. The loss and settlement expense ratios for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 reflect increased claim frequency in commercial property and other liability lines of business, increased severity (including large losses) in the workers’ compensation and personal liability lines of business, as well as previously implemented premium rate level reductions. Included in the reported amounts of favorable development for 2010 is $36,000 of favorable development and $325,000 of adverse development experienced on prior years’ catastrophe and storm loss reserves for the three months and nine months, respectively. For 2009, favorable development on prior years’ catastrophe and storm losses totaled $833,000 and $2,969,000 for the three months and nine months, respectively.
The loss and settlement expense ratio for the reinsurance segment decreased to 54.8 percent and 64.2 percent for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 from 75.9 percent and 75.6 percent for the same periods in 2009. These decreases reflect a decline in large loss activity from the high level experienced in 2009 (an industry-wide occurrence in 2009), as well as an increase in the amount of favorable development experienced on prior years’ reserves, primarily on accident year 2009. The favorable development amounts reported in 2010 and 2009 are primarily attributed to changes in incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserves during those periods, with the 2010 change predominantly attributed to the property pro rata and catastrophe and casualty exces s business.
Acquisition and other expenses
Acquisition and other expenses increased 4.6 percent and 0.6 percent to $32,919,000 and $100,798,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $31,461,000 and $100,188,000 for the same periods in 2009. The acquisition expense ratio increased to 33.8 percent and 35.2 percent for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 from 32.5 percent and 35.1 percent for the same periods in 2009. These increases are largely attributed to an increase in contingent commission expense in the reinsurance segment, which reflects the favorable underwriting results experienced on the assumed reinsurance business. A large decline in the amount of policyholder dividends accrued for the safety dividend groups and continued declines in the am ounts accrued for contingent salaries and executive bonuses in the property and casualty insurance segment offset much of the increase in contingent commission expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
For the property and casualty insurance segment, the acquisition expense ratio increased to 35.5 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2010 from 34.9 for the same period in 2009, but declined to 37.6 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from 38.3 percent for the same period in 2009. Both of these fluctuations reflect changes in the expense for policyholder dividends; with the three-month increase attributed to improved profitability of several smaller safety dividend groups and policies with participating dividend features, and the nine-month decrease attributed to reduced profitability of the pool’s larger safety dividend groups. The acquisition expense ratios for both periods also reflect a decline in the amounts accrued for contingen t salaries and executive bonuses due to the continued decline in the property and casualty insurance segment’s underwriting results.
For the reinsurance segment, the acquisition expense ratio increased to 27.5 percent and 25.9 percent for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 from 22.9 percent and 21.5 percent for the same periods in 2009. These increases are primarily attributed to increases in contingent commission expense, reflecting the favorable underwriting performance of the assumed book of business. An increase in commission expense associated with the new facility business, which carries a higher commission rate than the reinsurance segment’s other business, also contributed to the increase in the acquisition expense ratio for the first nine months of 2010.
Investment results
Net investment income increased 3.6 percent and 6.1 percent to $12,235,000 and $37,414,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $11,805,000 and $35,255,000 for the same periods in 2009. These increases are the result of a higher average balance of fixed maturity securities, which reflects the reinvestment of short-term holdings into Build America Bonds and other securities in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Net realized investment gains declined to $1,749,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 from $2,921,000 for the same period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, net realized investment gains totaled $1,429,000, compared to a net realized investment loss of $4,766,000 for the same period in 2009. Reflected in the net realized investment gains reported for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are $366,000 and $2,295,000, respectively, of “other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses recognized during those periods. The impairment losses recognized during the third quarter were associated with six equity securities, while the impairment losses for the first nine months reflect $2,091,000 on 22 equity secu rities, $121,000 from the determination of credit loss (all contractual cash flows are not expected to be collected) on a residential mortgage-backed security and $83,000 associated with management’s intent to sell another residential mortgage-backed security in an unrealized loss position. “Other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses totaled $611,000 and $9,727,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2009. The amount for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 includes $2,220,000 recognized during the first quarter on a fixed maturity security due to a bankruptcy filing.
For the third quarter of 2010, the Company’s equity portfolio had a return of 9.21 percent, compared to 11.29 percent for the S&P 500. Year-to-date, the equity portfolio had a return of 2.87 percent compared to 3.89 percent for the S&P 500. The current annualized yield on the bond portfolio is 5.08 percent and the effective duration is 5.25 years, which is down from 5.27 percent and 6.12 years at December 31, 2009.
Income tax
Income tax expense totaled $2,358,000 and $7,220,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to $1,420,000 and $4,467,000 for the same periods in 2009. The effective tax rates for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 were 24.0 percent and 25.9 percent, respectively, compared to 21.9 percent and 20.0 percent for the same periods in 2009. The fluctuations in the effective tax rates for these periods primarily reflect the changes in pre-tax income earned during these periods relative to the amount of tax-exempt interest income earned. The effective tax rates for 2010 also reflect tax law changes included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and the follow-up Health Care and Education R econciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872) signed into law on March 23, 2010 and March 30, 2010, respectively (the “Acts”). In accordance with these Acts, beginning in 2013 the Company will no longer be able to claim a tax deduction for drug expenses that are reimbursed under the Medicare Part D retiree drug subsidy program. Although this tax change does not take effect until 2013, the Company is required to recognize the financial impact of the change beginning in the period in which the Acts were signed. As a result of the Acts, the Company recognized a decrease in its deferred tax asset of $794,000 during the first quarter of 2010 and has not accrued any additional deferred tax asset in 2010.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
Liquidity is a measure of a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet cash obligations. The Company had positive cash flows from operations of $7,905,000 and $8,859,000 during the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company typically generates substantial positive cash flows from operations because cash from premium payments is generally received in advance of cash payments made to settle claims. These positive cash flows provide the foundation of the Company’s asset/liability management program and are the primary drivers of the Company’s liquidity. When investing funds made available from operations, the Company invests in securities with maturities that approximate the anticipated payments o f losses and settlement expenses of the underlying insurance policies. In addition, the Company maintains a portion of its investment portfolio in relatively short-term and highly liquid assets as a secondary source of liquidity should net cash flows from operating activities prove insufficient to fund current operating needs. As of September 30, 2010, the Company did not have any significant variations between the maturity dates of its investments and the expected payments of its loss and settlement expense reserves.
The Company is a holding company whose principal asset is its investment in its insurance subsidiaries. As a holding company, the Company is dependent upon cash dividends from its insurance company subsidiaries to meet all its obligations, including cash dividends to stockholders and the funding of the Company’s stock repurchase program. State insurance regulations restrict the maximum amount of dividends insurance companies can pay without prior regulatory approval. The maximum amount of dividends that the insurance company subsidiaries can pay to the Company in 2010 without prior regulatory approval is approximately $44,986,000. The Company received $14,000,000 and $8,500,000 of dividends from its insurance company subsidiaries and paid ca sh dividends to its stockholders totaling $7,058,000 and $7,147,000 in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively. The excess dividends received from the insurance company subsidiaries were used to partially fund the Company’s $25,000,000 stock repurchase program. At September 30, 2010, approximately $1,854,000 of the authorized stock repurchase program remains available for the purchase of additional shares.
The Company’s insurance and reinsurance company subsidiaries must have adequate liquidity to ensure that their cash obligations are met; however, because of their participation in the pooling agreement and the quota share agreement, they do not have the daily liquidity concerns normally associated with an insurance or reinsurance company. This is because under the terms of the pooling and quota share agreements, Employers Mutual receives all premiums and pays all losses and expenses associated with the insurance business produced by the pool participants and the assumed reinsurance business ceded to the Company’s reinsurance subsidiary, and then settles the inter-company balances generated by these transactions with the participating companies within 45 days after the end of each quarter.
At the insurance company subsidiary level, the primary sources of cash are premium income, investment income and maturing investments. The principal outflows of cash are payments of claims, commissions, premium taxes, operating expenses, income taxes, dividends, interest and principal payments on debt, and investment purchases. Cash outflows vary because of uncertainties regarding settlement dates for unpaid losses and the potential for large losses, either individually or in the aggregate. Accordingly, the insurance company subsidiaries maintain investment and reinsurance programs intended to provide adequate funds to pay claims without forced sales of investments. In addition, the insurance company subsidiaries have access to a line of credit ma intained by Employers Mutual with the Federal Home Loan Bank to provide additional liquidity if needed.
The Company maintains a portion of its investment portfolio in relatively short-term and highly liquid investments to ensure the availability of funds to pay claims and expenses. A variety of maturities are maintained in the Company’s investment portfolio to assure adequate liquidity. The maturity structure of the fixed maturity securities is also established by the relative attractiveness of yields on short, intermediate and long-term securities. The Company does not invest in high-yield, non-investment grade debt securities. Any non-investment grade securities held by the Company are the result of rating downgrades subsequent to their purchase.
The Company invests for the long term and generally purchases fixed maturity securities intending to hold them to maturity. Despite this intent, the Company currently classifies purchases of fixed maturity securities as available-for-sale to provide flexibility in the management of its investment portfolio. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had net unrealized holding gains, net of deferred taxes, on its fixed maturity securities available-for-sale of $42,635,000 and $17,541,000, respectively. The fluctuation in the fair value of these investments is primarily due to changes in the interest rate environment during this time period, but also reflects fluctuations in risk premium spreads over U.S. Treasuries for corporate and U.S. governm ent-sponsored agency securities. Since the Company does not actively trade in the bond market, such fluctuations in the fair value of these investments are not expected to have a material impact on the operations of the Company, as forced liquidations of investments are not anticipated. The Company closely monitors the bond market and makes appropriate adjustments in its portfolio as conditions warrant.
The majority of the Company’s assets are invested in fixed maturity securities. These investments provide a substantial amount of investment income that supplements underwriting results and contributes to net earnings. As these investments mature, or are called, the proceeds are reinvested at current interest rates, which may be higher or lower than those now being earned; therefore, more or less investment income may be available to contribute to net earnings. Due to the declining interest rate environment, the Company experienced a high level of call activity on fixed maturity securities during the second and third quarters of 2010. The proceeds from these called securities have been reinvested at lower yields, which will have a negative i mpact on future investment income.
The Company currently participates in a securities lending program administered by Mellon Bank, N.A. whereby certain fixed maturity securities from the investment portfolio are loaned to other institutions for short periods of time; however, during the fourth quarter of 2009, management decided to discontinue its participation in the securities lending program and as a result, began to unwind the program. The Company receives a fee for each security loaned out under this program and requires initial collateral equal to 102 percent of the fair value of the loaned securities. The collateral is primarily cash, but other forms of collateral are occasionally accepted, including letters of credit or U.S. Treasury securities. The cash collateral is invested in a De laware business trust that is managed by Mellon Bank. In this trust, cash collateral funds of the Company are pooled with cash collateral funds of other security lenders administered by Mellon Bank, and these funds are invested in securities with high credit quality standards, maturity restrictions, and liquidity levels consistent with the short-term nature of securities lending transactions. The acceptable investments include time deposits, commercial paper, floating rate notes, asset-backed floating rate notes, and repurchase agreements. The earnings from this trust are used, in part, to pay the fee the Company receives for each security loaned under the program. The Company has a risk of losses associated with the collateral pool if the aggregate fair value of the collateral pool were to decline below the aggregate liability represented by the collateral, assuming all securities loaned and backed by the collateral pool were returned. The Company had s ecurities on loan with a fair value of $851,000 and $14,493,000 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Collateral held in connection with these loaned securities totaled $892,000 and $14,942,000 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
The Company held $35,000 and $47,000 in minority ownership interests in limited partnerships and limited liability companies at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The Company does not hold any other unregistered securities.
The Company’s cash balance was $357,000 and $279,000 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
During the first nine months of 2010, Employers Mutual contributed $1,130,000 to its postretirement benefit plans, and made no contribution to its pension plan. The Company reimbursed Employers Mutual $315,000 for its share of the contribution to the postretirement benefit plans. In 2010, Employers Mutual expects to make contributions totaling $25,000,000 to the pension plan and $2,750,000 to the postretirement benefit plans.
Employers Mutual contributed $17,000,000 to its pension plan and $2,550,000 to its postretirement benefit plans in 2009. During the first nine months of 2009, Employers Mutual contributed $2,000,000 to the pension plan and $1,000,000 to the postretirement benefit plans. The Company reimbursed Employers Mutual $5,204,000 for its share of the 2009 pension contribution ($612,000 for contributions through the first nine months of 2009) and $724,000 for its share of the 2009 postretirement benefit plans contribution ($286,000 for contributions through the first nine months of 2009).
Capital Resources
Capital resources consist of stockholders’ equity and debt, representing funds deployed or available to be deployed to support business operations. For the Company’s insurance and reinsurance company subsidiaries, capital resources are required to support premium writings. Regulatory guidelines suggest that the ratio of a property and casualty insurer’s annual net premiums written to its statutory surplus should not exceed three to one. On an annualized basis, all of the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries were well under this guideline at September 30, 2010.
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required to maintain a certain minimum level of surplus on a statutory basis, and are subject to regulations under which the payment of dividends from statutory surplus is restricted and may require prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are also subject to Risk Based Capital (RBC) requirements that may further impact their ability to pay dividends. RBC requirements attempt to measure minimum statutory capital needs based upon the risks in a company’s mix of products and investment portfolio. At December 31, 2009, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries had total adjusted statutory capital of $327,244,000, which was well in excess of the minimum RBC requirement of $56,862,000.
The Company’s total cash and invested assets at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are summarized as follows:
| | September 30, 2010 | |
($ in thousands) | | Amortized Cost | | | Fair Value | | | Percent of Total Fair Value | | | Carrying Value | |
Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity | | $ | 353 | | | $ | 398 | | | | 0.1 | % | | $ | 353 | |
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | | | 885,193 | | | | 950,786 | | | | 87.2 | | | | 950,786 | |
Equity securities available-for-sale | | | 74,048 | | | | 92,443 | | | | 8.5 | | | | 92,443 | |
Cash | | | 357 | | | | 357 | | | | - | | | | 357 | |
Short-term investments | | | 46,018 | | | | 46,018 | | | | 4.2 | | | | 46,018 | |
Other long-term investments | | | 35 | | | | 35 | | | | - | | | | 35 | |
| | $ | 1,006,004 | | | $ | 1,090,037 | | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 1,089,992 | |
| | December 31, 2009 | |
($ in thousands) | | Amortized cost | | | Fair value | | | Percent of total fair value | | | Carrying value | |
Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity | | $ | 410 | | | $ | 461 | | | | 0.1 | % | | $ | 410 | |
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | | | 872,195 | | | | 899,181 | | | | 86.0 | | | | 899,181 | |
Equity securities available-for-sale | | | 73,115 | | | | 90,190 | | | | 8.6 | | | | 90,190 | |
Cash | | | 279 | | | | 279 | | | | - | | | | 279 | |
Short-term investments | | | 55,390 | | | | 55,390 | | | | 5.3 | | | | 55,390 | |
Other long-term investments | | | 47 | | | | 47 | | | | - | | | | 47 | |
| | $ | 1,001,436 | | | $ | 1,045,548 | | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 1,045,497 | |
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity and equity securities at September 30, 2010 were as follows:
($ in thousands) | | Amortized cost | | | Gross unrealized gains | | | Gross unrealized losses | | | Estimated fair value | |
Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | $ | 353 | | | $ | 45 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 398 | |
Total securities held-to-maturity | | $ | 353 | | | $ | 45 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 398 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. treasury | | $ | 4,746 | | | $ | 111 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 4,857 | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | | 143,223 | | | | 4,095 | | | | 3 | | | | 147,315 | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 384,486 | | | | 26,277 | | | | 98 | | | | 410,665 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | | 79,977 | | | | 12,019 | | | | - | | | | 91,996 | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 25,369 | | | | 1,765 | | | | 83 | | | | 27,051 | |
Other asset-backed | | | 8,712 | | | | 1,415 | | | | - | | | | 10,127 | |
Corporate | | | 238,680 | | | | 20,111 | | | | 16 | | | | 258,775 | |
Total fixed maturity securities | | | 885,193 | | | | 65,793 | | | | 200 | | | | 950,786 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 7,488 | | | | 2,097 | | | | 229 | | | | 9,356 | |
Information technology | | | 11,726 | | | | 4,780 | | | | 154 | | | | 16,352 | |
Healthcare | | | 8,526 | | | | 2,463 | | | | 83 | | | | 10,906 | |
Consumer staples | | | 6,011 | | | | 801 | | | | 62 | | | | 6,750 | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 8,146 | | | | 3,894 | | | | 19 | | | | 12,021 | |
Energy | | | 7,403 | | | | 1,772 | | | | 165 | | | | 9,010 | |
Industrials | | | 7,033 | | | | 1,606 | | | | 116 | | | | 8,523 | |
Other | | | 8,715 | | | | 2,174 | | | | 11 | | | | 10,878 | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | 9,000 | | | | 274 | | | | 627 | | | | 8,647 | |
Total equity securities | | | 74,048 | | | | 19,861 | | | | 1,466 | | | | 92,443 | |
Total securities available-for-sale | | $ | 959,241 | | | $ | 85,654 | | | $ | 1,666 | | | $ | 1,043,229 | |
The Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have $25,000,000 of surplus notes issued to Employers Mutual at an interest rate of 3.60 percent. Reviews of the interest rate are conducted by the Inter-Company Committees of the Boards of Directors of the Company and Employers Mutual every five years, with the next review due in 2013. Payment of interest and repayment of principal can only be made out of the applicable subsidiary’s statutory surplus and is subject to prior approval by the insurance commissioner of the respective state of domicile. The surplus notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all obligations or liabilities of the applicable insurance subsidiaries. Total interest expense incurred on these surplus notes was $675,000 during the first nine months of both 2010 and 2009. At December 31, 2009, the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries had received approval for the payment of interest accrued on the surplus notes during 2009.
As of September 30, 2010, the Company had no material commitments for capital expenditures.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Employers Mutual receives all premiums and pays all losses and expenses associated with the assumed reinsurance business ceded to the reinsurance subsidiary and the insurance business produced by the pool participants, and then settles the inter-company balances generated by these transactions with the participating companies on a quarterly basis. When settling the inter-company balances, Employers Mutual provides the reinsurance subsidiary and the pool participants with full credit for the premiums written during the quarter and retains all receivable amounts. Any receivable amounts that are ultimately deemed to be uncollectible are charged-off by Employers Mutual and the expense is charged to the reinsurance subsidiary or allocated to the pool members on the basis of pool participation. As a result, the Company has an off-balance sheet arrangement with an unconsolidated entity that results in a credit-risk exposure that is not reflected in the Company’s financial statements. Based on historical data, this credit-risk exposure is not considered to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.
Investment Impairments and Considerations
The Company recorded “other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses totaling $366,000 on six equity securities during the third quarter of 2010, compared to $611,000 on three equity securities and one fixed maturity security during the third quarter of 2009. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized “other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses totaling $2,295,000 on 22 equity securities and two residential mortgage-backed securities, compared to $9,727,000 on 31 equity securities and two fixed maturity securities during the first nine months of 2009.
The Company has no direct exposure to sub-prime residential lending, and holds no sub-prime residential collateralized debt obligations or sub-prime collateralized mortgage obligations. The Company does have indirect exposure to sub-prime residential lending markets as it has significant holdings of government agency securities, prime and Alt-A collateralized mortgage obligations, as well as fixed maturity and equity securities in both the banking and financial services sectors. While these holdings do not include companies engaged in originating residential lending as their primary business, they do include companies that may be indirectly engaged in this type of lending.
At September 30, 2010, the Company had unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities as presented in the table below. The estimated fair value is based on quoted market prices, where available. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on a variety of valuation techniques depending on the type of security. None of these securities are considered to be in concentrations by either security type or industry. The Company uses several factors to determine whether the carrying value of an individual security has been “other-than-temporarily” impaired. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the security’s value and performance in the context of the overall markets, length of time and extent the security’s fair value has been below carrying value, key corporate events and collateralization of fixed maturity securities. Based on these factors, the absence of management’s intent to sell these securities prior to recovery or maturity, and the fact that management does not anticipate that it will be forced to sell these securities prior to recovery or maturity, it was determined that the carrying value of these securities were not “other-than-temporarily” impaired at September 30, 2010. Risks and uncertainties inherent in the methodology utilized in this evaluation process include interest rate risk, equity price risk, and the overall performance of the economy, all of which have the potential to adversely affect the value of the Company’s investments. Should a determination be made at some point in the future that these unrealized losses are “other-than-temporary”, the Company’s earnings would be reduced by approximately $1,083,000 net of tax; however, the Company’s financial position would not be affected because unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities are reflected in the Company’s financial statements as a component of stockholders’ equity, net of deferred taxes.
Following is a schedule of the length of time securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2010.
September 30, 2010 | | Less than twelve months | | | Twelve months or longer | | | Total | |
($ in thousands) | | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | | Unrealized | |
| | value | | | losses | | | value | | | losses | | | value | | | losses | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | | $ | 10,997 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 10,997 | | | $ | 3 | |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | | 4,046 | | | | 98 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,046 | | | | 98 | |
Residential mortgage-backed | | | 812 | | | | 9 | | | | 2,893 | | | | 74 | | | | 3,705 | | | | 83 | |
Corporate | | | 983 | | | | 16 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 983 | | | | 16 | |
Total, fixed maturity securities | | | 16,838 | | | | 126 | | | | 2,893 | | | | 74 | | | | 19,731 | | | | 200 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial services | | | 1,792 | | | | 229 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,792 | | | | 229 | |
Information technology | | | 1,839 | | | | 154 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,839 | | | | 154 | |
Healthcare | | | 2,195 | | | | 83 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 2,195 | | | | 83 | |
Consumer staples | | | 1,656 | | | | 62 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,656 | | | | 62 | |
Consumer discretionary | | | 711 | | | | 19 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 711 | | | | 19 | |
Energy | | | 1,445 | | | | 165 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,445 | | | | 165 | |
Industrials | | | 1,867 | | | | 116 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,867 | | | | 116 | |
Other | | | 492 | | | | 11 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 492 | | | | 11 | |
Non-redeemable preferred stocks | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,373 | | | | 627 | | | | 4,373 | | | | 627 | |
Total, equity securities | | | 11,997 | | | | 839 | | | | 4,373 | | | | 627 | | | | 16,370 | | | | 1,466 | |
Total temporarily impaired securities | | $ | 28,835 | | | $ | 965 | | | $ | 7,266 | | | $ | 701 | | | $ | 36,101 | | | $ | 1,666 | |
The Company does not purchase non-investment grade securities. Any non-investment grade securities held are the result of rating downgrades that occurred subsequent to their purchase. At September 30, 2010, non-investment grade fixed maturity securities held by the Company included American Airlines, Weyerhaeuser Company and ten residential mortgage-backed securities. Of these securities, only three of the residential mortgage-backed securities were in an unrealized loss position for an aggregate unrealized loss of $83,000.
Following is a schedule of gross realized losses recognized in the first nine months of 2010 from the sale of securities and from “other-than-temporary” investment impairments. The schedule is aged according to the length of time the underlying securities were in an unrealized loss position. This schedule does not include realized losses stemming from corporate actions such as calls, pay-downs, redemptions, etc.
| | Nine months ended September 30, 2010 | |
| | Realized losses from sales | | | "Other-than- | | | Total | |
| | | | | | | | Gross | | | temporary" | | | gross | |
| | Book | | | Sales | | | realized | | | impairment | | | realized | |
($ in thousands) | | value | | | price | | | losses | | | losses | | | losses | |
Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Three months or less | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
Over three months to six months | | | 4,760 | | | | 4,673 | | | | 87 | | | | - | | | | 87 | |
Over six months to nine months | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Over nine months to twelve months | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Over twelve months | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 204 | | | | 204 | |
| | | 4,760 | | | | 4,673 | | | | 87 | | | | 204 | | | | 291 | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Three months or less | | | 8,865 | | | | 8,121 | | | | 744 | | | | 1,911 | | | | 2,655 | |
Over three months to six months | | | 46 | | | | 37 | | | | 9 | | | | 180 | | | | 189 | |
Over six months to nine months | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Over nine months to twelve months | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Over twelve months | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | 8,911 | | | | 8,158 | | | | 753 | | | | 2,091 | | | | 2,844 | |
| | $ | 13,671 | | | $ | 12,831 | | | $ | 840 | | | $ | 2,295 | | | $ | 3,135 | |
LEASES, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
One of the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries leases office facilities in Bismarck, North Dakota with lease terms expiring in 2014. Employers Mutual has entered into various leases for branch and service office facilities with lease terms expiring through 2021. All lease costs are included as expenses under the pooling agreement, after allocation of a portion of the expenses to the subsidiaries that do not participate in the pooling agreement. The Company’s contractual obligations as of September 30, 2010 did not change materially from those presented in the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K.
The participants in the pooling agreement are subject to guaranty fund assessments by states in which they write business. Guaranty fund assessments are used by states to pay policyholder liabilities of insolvent insurers domiciled in those states. Many states allow assessments to be recovered through premium tax offsets. Estimated guaranty fund assessments of $1,292,000 and $1,236,000 have been accrued as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Premium tax offsets of $1,344,000 and $692,000, which are related to guarantee fund assessment prior payments and estimates, have been accrued as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The guaranty fund assessments are expected to be paid over the next two years and the premium tax offsets are expected to be realized within ten years of the payments. The participants in the pooling agreement are also subject to second-injury fund assessments, which are designed to encourage employers to employ a worker with a pre-existing disability. Estimated second-injury fund assessments of $1,496,000 and $1,709,000 have been accrued as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The second injury fund assessment accruals are based on projected loss payments. The periods over which the assessments will be paid is not known.
The participants in the pooling agreement have purchased annuities from life insurance companies, under which the claimant is payee, to fund future payments that are fixed pursuant to specific claim settlement provisions. The Company’s share of case loss reserves eliminated by the purchase of these annuities was $1,712,000 at December 31, 2009. The Company had a contingent liability of $1,712,000 at December 31, 2009 should the issuers of these annuities fail to perform. The information to determine the contingent liability at interim periods is not available; however, management believes the contingent liability at September 30, 2010 has not changed materially from the amount at December 31, 2009. The probability of a material loss due to f ailure of performance by the issuers of these annuities is considered remote. The Company’s share of the amount due from any one life insurance company does not equal or exceed one percent of its subsidiaries’ aggregate policyholders’ surplus.
NEW ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) updated its guidance related to the Insurance Topic 944 of the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (ASC) to clarify which costs associated with the acquisition of insurance contracts that should be capitalized and deferred for recognition during the coverage period. This guidance specifies that only costs that are incremental or directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts are to be capitalized as a deferred acqui sition cost. Currently, industry practice is such that deferred costs typically also include costs relating to unsuccessful insurance contract acquisitions. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods (and interim reporting periods of those annual reporting periods) beginning on or after December 15, 2011, and may be adopted prospectively or retrospectively. Adoption of this guidance will have an impact on the consolidated financial position and operating results of the Company since certain costs associated with contract acquisition that are currently deferred will not likely meet the criteria for deferral under the new guidance. The Company has not yet established an estimate of the impact this statement will have on its financial statements.
In July 2010, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Receivables Topic 310 of the ASC to require additional disclosures regarding credit risk exposures and the allowance for credit losses, as well as a description of the accounting policies and methodology used to estimate the liability for off-balance-sheet credit exposures and related charges. Additional disclosures as of the end of a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010, and disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Adoption of this guidance will result in some additional disclosure, but will have no effect on the consolidated financial position or operating results of the Company.
In January 2010, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic 820 of the ASC to require additional disclosures regarding transfers in and out of fair value measurement Levels 1 and 2, the display of Level 3 activity on a gross basis (rather than net), fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities (rather than by line item within the statement of financial position), and additional disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques. This guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which is effective for fiscal years (and interim periods of those fiscal years) beginning after December 15, 2010. Adoption of this guidance had no effect on the consolidated financial position or operating results of the Company.
In May 2009, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Subsequent Events Topic 855 of the ASC (issued as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 165, “Subsequent Events”), which sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management shall evaluate events or transactions for potential recognition or disclosure, the circumstances under which an entity shall recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date, and disclosures to make about events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date. This guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. In February 2010, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Subsequent Events Topic 855 to remove the re quirement to disclose the date through which subsequent events were evaluated for Securities and Exchange Commission filers. This updated guidance was effective immediately. Adoption of this updated guidance had no effect on the consolidated financial position or operating results of the Company.
| QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
The main objectives in managing the Company’s investment portfolios are to maximize after-tax investment return while minimizing credit risks, in order to provide maximum support for the underwriting operations. Investment strategies are developed based upon many factors including underwriting results, regulatory requirements, fluctuations in interest rates and consideration of other market risks. Investment decisions are centrally managed by investment professionals and are supervised by the investment committees of the respective boards of directors for each of the Company’s subsidiaries.
Market risk represents the potential for loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments, and is directly influenced by the volatility and liquidity in the markets in which the related underlying assets are traded. The market risks of the financial instruments of the Company relate to the investment portfolio, which exposes the Company to interest rate (inclusive of credit spreads) and equity price risk and, to a lesser extent, credit quality and prepayment risk. Monitoring systems and analytical tools are in place to assess each of these elements of market risk; however, there can be no assurance that future changes in interest rates, creditworthiness of issuers, prepayment activity, liquidity available in the market and other general market con ditions will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial position.
Two categories of influences on market risk exist as it relates to financial instruments. First are systematic aspects, which relate to the investing environment and are out of the control of the investment manager. Second are non-systematic aspects, which relate to the construction of the investment portfolio through investment policies and decisions, and are under the direct control of the investment manager. The Company is committed to controlling non-systematic risk through sound investment policies and diversification.
Further analysis of the components of the Company’s market risk (including interest rate risk, equity price risk, credit quality risk, and prepayment risk) can be found in the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K.
The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely making known to them material information relating to the Company and the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange A ct.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the third quarter of 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. | OTHER INFORMATION |
ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
The following table sets forth information regarding purchases of equity securities by the Company and affiliated purchasers for the three months ended September 30, 2010:
Period | | (a) Total number of shares (or units) purchased (1) | | | (b) Average price paid per share (or unit) | | | (c) Total number of shares (or units) purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (2) | | | (d) Maximum number (or approximate dollar value) of shares (or units) that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (2 & 3) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
7/1/10 - 7/31/10 | | | 95,967 | | | $ | 22.25 | | | | 88,200 | | | $ | 8,438,960 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
8/1/10 - 8/31/10 | | | 64,139 | | | | 20.90 | | | | 64,100 | | | | 7,099,052 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
9/1/10 - 9/30/10 | | | 37,994 | | | | 20.68 | | | | 36,500 | | | | 6,344,231 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 198,100 | | | $ | 21.51 | | | | 188,800 | | | | | |
(1) | Included in these amounts are 77, 39 and 1,494 shares purchased in the open market in July, August and September, respectively, to fulfill the Company’s obligations under its dividend reinvestment and common stock purchase plan. 7,690 shares were purchased in the open market during July under Employers Mutual Casualty Company’s employee stock purchase plan. |
(2) | On March 10, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $15,000,000 stock repurchase program and on October 31, 2008, announced an extension of the program, authorizing an additional $10,000,000. This purchase program was effective immediately and does not have an expiration date. A total of $1,853,670 remains available in this plan for the purchase of additional shares. |
(3) | On May 12, 2005, the Company announced that its parent company, Employers Mutual Casualty Company, had initiated a $15,000,000 stock purchase program under which Employers Mutual would purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market. This purchase program was effective immediately and does not have an expiration date; however, this program is currently dormant and will remain so while the Company’s repurchase program is active. A total of $4,490,561 remains in this plan. |
| 31.1 | Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 31.2 | Certification of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 32.1 | Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 32.2 | Certification of the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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, on November 8, 2010.
| EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. |
| Registrant |
| |
| |
| /s/ Bruce G. Kelley |
| Bruce G. Kelley |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
| |
| |
| /s/ Mark E. Reese |
| Mark E. Reese |
| Senior Vice President and |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit number | Item |
| |
| Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
| Certification of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
| Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
| Certification of the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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