UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K/A [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003 [ ] 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 (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 717 Mulberry Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 - -------------------------------------- -------- (Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (515) 280-2902 --------------- Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, Par Value $1.00 ----------------------------- (Title of Class) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X] Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). [ ] Yes [X] No The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2003 was $40,895,145. The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock, $1.00 par value, on March 5, 2004, were 11,534,691. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 1. Portions of the registrant's annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2003 are incorporated by reference under Parts II and IV. 2. Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before April 16, 2004, are incorporated by reference under Part III. EXPLANATORY NOTE EMC Insurance Group Inc. is filing this amendment on Form 10-K/A in response to comments received from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with its review of EMC Insurance Group Inc.'s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-117406). This amendment makes changes to Part I - Item 1, "Business" and Part II - Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." The primary changes were made to clarify the critical accounting policies of the Company, expand the discussions relating to changes in loss and settlement expense reserve estimates of prior periods, expand the discussions relating to liquidity and capital resources and include a contractual obligations table. Unless otherwise stated, all information contained in this amendment is as of March 29, 2004, the filing date of the Company's original Annual Report on Form 10-K. TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I Item 1. Business ........................................................ 2 Item 2. Properties ...................................................... 28 Item 3. Legal Proceedings ............................................... 28 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders ............. 28 Part II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters .................................. 28 Item 6. Selected Financial Data ......................................... 28 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations .......................... 28 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk ...... 28 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data ..................... 29 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure .......................... 29 Item 9A. Controls and Procedures ......................................... 29 Part III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant .............. 29 Item 11. Executive Compensation .......................................... 30 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters ............... 30 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions .................. 31 Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services .......................... 31 Part IV Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K .................................................. 32 Index to Financial Statement Schedules ................................... 32 Signatures ............................................................... 35 Index to Exhibits ........................................................ 44 PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS. - ------- --------- GENERAL - ------- EMC Insurance Group Inc. is an insurance holding company incorporated in Iowa in 1974. EMC Insurance Group Inc. is 80.9 percent owned by Employers Mutual Casualty Company (Employers Mutual), a multiple-line property and casualty insurance company organized as an Iowa mutual insurance company in 1911 that is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The term "Company" is used interchangeably to describe EMC Insurance Group Inc. (Parent Company only) and EMC Insurance Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. Employers Mutual and all of its subsidiaries (including the Company) and an affiliate, are referred to as the "EMC Insurance Companies." The Company conducts its insurance business through two business segments as follows: ............................... : : : EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. : :.............................: : : Property and : Casualty Insurance : Reinsurance ......................:................................ : : : : Illinois EMCASCO Insurance Company (Illinois EMCASCO) EMC Dakota Fire Insurance Company (Dakota Fire) Reinsurance Farm and City Insurance Company (Farm and City) Company EMCASCO Insurance Company (EMCASCO) : : EMC Underwriters, LLC Illinois EMCASCO was formed in Illinois in 1976 and was redomesticated to Iowa in 2001, Dakota Fire was formed in North Dakota in 1957 and EMCASCO was formed in Iowa in 1958 for the purpose of writing property and casualty insurance. Farm and City was formed in Iowa in 1962 to write nonstandard risk automobile insurance and was purchased by the Company in 1984. These companies are licensed to write insurance in a total of 37 states and are participants in a pooling agreement with Employers Mutual (see "Property and Casualty Insurance - Pooling Agreement"). EMC Reinsurance Company was formed in 1981 to assume reinsurance business from Employers Mutual. The company assumes a 100 percent quota share portion of Employers Mutual's assumed reinsurance business, exclusive of certain reinsurance contracts, and is licensed to do business in nine states. The Company's excess and surplus lines insurance agency, EMC Underwriters, LLC, was acquired in 1985. The company was formed in Iowa in 1975 as a broker for excess and surplus lines insurance. Effective December 31, 1998, the excess and surplus lines insurance agency was converted to a limited liability company and the ownership was contributed to EMCASCO. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDUSTRY SEGMENTS - --------------------------------------------- For information concerning the Company's revenues, operating income and identifiable assets attributable to each of its industry segments over the past three years, see note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K. PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE - ------------------------------- POOLING AGREEMENT The four property and casualty insurance subsidiaries of the Company and two subsidiaries and an affiliate of Employers Mutual (Union Insurance Company of Providence, EMC Property & Casualty Company and Hamilton Mutual Insurance Company) are parties to reinsurance pooling agreements with Employers Mutual (collectively the "pooling agreement"). Under the terms of the pooling agreement, each company cedes to Employers Mutual all of its insurance business, with the exception of any voluntary reinsurance business assumed from nonaffiliated insurance companies, and assumes from Employers Mutual an amount equal to its participation in the pool. All losses, settlement expenses and other underwriting and administrative expenses, excluding the voluntary reinsurance business assumed by Employers Mutual from nonaffiliated insurance companies, are prorated among the parties on the basis of participation in the pool. The aggregate participation of the Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries is 23.5 percent. Operations of the pool give rise to inter-company balances with Employers Mutual, which are settled on a quarterly basis. Effective December 31, 2003, the pooling agreement was amended to provide that Employers Mutual will make up any shortfall or difference resulting from an error in its systems and/or computational processes that would otherwise result in the required restatement of the pool participants' financial statements. The investment and income tax activities of the pool participants are not subject to the pooling agreement. On January 22, 2004, the Company announced that Farm and City Insurance Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary, would discontinue writing nonstandard risk automobile insurance and institute non-renewal procedures on all existing business. Farm and City will continue to participate in the pooling agreement even though it will no longer write any direct business. The purpose of the pooling agreement is to spread the risk of an exposure insured by any of the pool participants among all the companies. The pooling agreement produces a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for all companies in the pool than might be experienced individually. In addition, each company benefits from the capacity of the entire pool, rather than being limited to policy exposures of a size commensurate with its own assets, and from the wide range of policy forms, lines of insurance written, rate filings and commission plans offered by each of the companies. A single set of reinsurance treaties is maintained for the protection of all companies in the pool. The pooling agreement is continuous, but may be amended or terminated at the end of any calendar year as to any one or more parties. PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS The Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the other parties to the pooling agreement underwrite both commercial and personal lines of insurance. The following table sets forth the aggregate direct written premiums of all parties to the pooling agreement for the three years ended December 31, 2003. Percent Percent Percent of of of Line of Business 2003 total 2002 total 2001 total - ---------------- ---------- ----- ---------- ----- -------- ----- (Dollars in thousands) Commercial Lines: Automobile .......... $ 239,960 21.6% $ 224,321 21.5% $216,371 21.7% Property ............ 202,124 18.2 180,622 17.3 162,670 16.4 Workers' compensation 209,171 18.8 194,853 18.7 208,652 21.0 Liability ........... 213,150 19.1 195,682 18.8 176,774 17.8 Other ............... 22,524 2.0 20,489 2.0 19,325 1.9 ---------- ----- ---------- ----- -------- ----- Total commercial lines ............ 886,929 79.7 815,967 78.3 783,792 78.8 ---------- ----- ---------- ----- -------- ----- Personal Lines: Automobile .......... 128,671 11.5 134,405 12.9 126,280 12.7 Property ............ 95,550 8.6 89,248 8.6 81,124 8.2 Liability ........... 1,972 0.2 1,815 0.2 3,284 0.3 ---------- ----- ---------- ----- -------- ----- Total personal lines 226,193 20.3 225,468 21.7 210,688 21.2 ---------- ----- ---------- ----- -------- ----- Total .......... $1,113,122 100.0% $1,041,435 100.0% $994,480 100.0% ========== ===== ========== ===== ======== ===== MARKETING Marketing of insurance by the parties to the pooling agreement, excluding the nonstandard risk automobile insurance sold by Farm and City, is conducted through 16 branch offices located throughout the United States and approximately 3,150 independent insurance agencies. These branch offices allow the Company to respond quickly to changes in local market conditions. Each branch office employs underwriting, claims, marketing and risk improvement representatives, as well as field auditors and branch administrative technicians. The branch offices are supported by technicians and specialists that operate out of Employers Mutual's home office. Systems are in place to monitor the underwriting results of each branch office and to maintain guidelines and policies consistent with the underwriting and marketing environment in each region. Farm and City had specialized in insuring private passenger automobile risks that are found to be unacceptable in the standard automobile insurance market. Farm and City is licensed in a six state area that includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Private passenger automobile policies were solicited through the Independent Agency System using approximately 725 agencies. The following table sets forth the geographic distribution of the aggregate direct written premiums of all parties to the pooling agreement for the three years ended December 31, 2003. 2003 2002 2001 ---- ---- ---- Arizona ............................ 3.6 3.8 3.8 Illinois ........................... 4.3 4.7 5.1 Iowa ............................... 15.4 15.9 16.8 Kansas ............................. 8.9 8.8 8.8 Michigan ........................... 4.9 5.1 4.2 Minnesota .......................... 3.3 3.3 3.5 Nebraska ........................... 6.9 6.8 7.0 North Carolina ..................... 2.9 2.7 3.1 Pennsylvania ....................... 3.1 3.1 2.8 Texas .............................. 4.9 5.0 5.2 Wisconsin .......................... 5.5 5.0 5.0 Other * ............................ 36.3 35.8 34.7 ----- ----- ----- 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% ===== ===== ===== * Includes all other jurisdictions, none of which accounted for more than 3 percent. COMPETITION The property and casualty insurance business is very competitive. The Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the other pool members compete in the United States insurance market with numerous insurers, many of which have greater financial resources. Competition in the types of insurance in which the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries are engaged is based on many factors, including the perceived overall financial strength of the insurer, premiums charged, contract terms and conditions, services offered, speed of claim payments, reputation and experience. Because the insurance products of the pool members are marketed exclusively through independent agencies, the Company faces competition to retain qualified independent agencies, as well as competition within the agencies. The pool members also compete with direct writers, who utilize salaried employees and generally offer their products at a lower cost, exclusive agencies who write insurance business for only one company, and to a lesser extent, Internet- based enterprises. The pool members utilize a profit-sharing plan as an incentive for the independent agencies to place high-quality insurance business with them. BEST'S RATING A.M. Best Company rates insurance companies based on their relative financial strength and ability to meet their contractual obligations. A.M. Best announced on July 10, 2001 that their rating of the EMC Insurance Companies, which includes the Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries, was changed from "A" (Excellent) to "A-" (Excellent). This rating action reflected A.M. Best's opinion of the EMC Insurance Companies' underwriting performance and operating losses during the three years ended December 31, 2000. Despite this rating action, A.M. Best stated that the EMC Insurance Companies' "Excellent" rating reflects its strong capitalization, conservative operating strategies and local-market presence. A.M. Best reevaluates its ratings from time to time (normally on an annual basis) and there can be no assurance that the Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the other pool members will maintain their current rating in the future. Management believes that a Best's rating of "A-" (Excellent) or better is important to the Company's business since many insureds require that companies with which they insure be so rated. Best's publications indicate that these ratings are assigned to companies that have achieved excellent overall performance and have a strong ability to meet their obligations over a long period of time. Best's ratings are based upon factors of concern to policyholders and insurance agents and are not necessarily directed toward the protection of investors. REINSURANCE CEDED The parties to the pooling agreement cede insurance in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of limiting their maximum loss exposure through diversification of their risks. The pool participants also purchase catastrophe reinsurance to cover multiple losses arising from a single event. All major reinsurance treaties, with the exception of the pooling agreement and a boiler treaty, are on an "excess of loss" basis whereby the reinsurer agrees to reimburse the primary insurer for covered losses in excess of a predetermined amount, up to a stated limit. The boiler treaty provides for 100 percent reinsurance of the pool's direct boiler coverage written. Facultative reinsurance from approved domestic markets, which provides reinsurance on an individual risk basis and requires specific agreement of the reinsurer as to the limits of coverage provided, is purchased when coverage by an insured is required in excess of treaty capacity or where a high-risk type policy could expose the treaty reinsurance programs. Each type of reinsurance coverage is purchased in layers, and each layer may have a separate retention level. Retention levels are adjusted according to reinsurance market conditions and the surplus position of the EMC Insurance Companies. The inter-company pooling arrangement aids efficient buying of reinsurance since it allows for higher retention levels and correspondingly decreased dependence on the reinsurance marketplace. A summary of the reinsurance treaties benefiting the parties to the pooling agreement during 2003 is presented below. Retention amounts reflect the accumulated retentions of all layers within a treaty. Type of Reinsurance Treaty Retention Limits -------------------------- ----------- -------------------------- Property per risk ........... $ 3,000,000 100 percent of $37,000,000 Property catastrophe ........ $13,950,000 96 percent of $79,000,000 Casualty .................... $ 2,000,000 100 percent of $38,000,000 Workers' compensation excess $ - $20,000,000 excess of $40,000,000 Umbrella .................... $ 2,000,000 100 percent of $ 8,000,000 Fidelity .................... $ 1,200,000(1) 95 percent of $ 4,000,000 Surety ...................... $ 2,200,000(1) 91 percent of $14,000,000 Non-obligatory surety quota share ............... $10,500,000 70 percent of $35,000,000 Boiler ...................... $ - 100 percent of $50,000,000 Property terrorism .......... $10,000,000 100 percent of $30,000,000 Terrorism aggregate excess of loss ................... $23,500,000 70 percent of $45,000,000 Employment practices liability ................. $ 500,000 50 percent of $ 1,000,000 (1) Subject to annual aggregate limits for all losses of $14,000,000. Although reinsurance does not discharge the original insurer from its primary liability to its policyholders, it is the practice of insurers for accounting purposes to treat reinsured risks as risks of the reinsurer since the primary insurer would only reassume liability in those situations where the reinsurer is unable to meet the obligations it assumed under the reinsurance agreements. The ability to collect reinsurance is subject to the solvency of the reinsurers. The major participants in the pool members' reinsurance programs during 2003 are presented below. The percentages represent the reinsurers' share of the total reinsurance protection under all coverages. Each type of coverage is purchased in layers, and an individual reinsurer may participate in more than one type of coverage and at various layers within these coverages. The property per risk, property catastrophe and casualty reinsurance programs are handled by a reinsurance intermediary (broker). The reinsurance of those programs is syndicated to approximately 50 domestic and foreign reinsurers. In formulating reinsurance programs, Employers Mutual is selective in its choice of reinsurers. Employers Mutual selects reinsurers on the basis of financial stability and long-term relationships, as well as price of the coverage. Reinsurers are generally required to have a Best's rating of "A-" (Excellent) or higher and a minimum policyholders' surplus of $250,000,000. Percent of total 2003 Property per risk, property catastrophe reinsurance Best's and casualty coverages: protection rating - --------------------------------------- ---------- ------ Underwriters at Lloyd's of London .................... 25.6% A- Mutual Reinsurance Bureau ............................ 15.4 (1) Converium AG, Zurich ................................. 7.8 A Transatlantic Reinsurance Company .................... 5.4 A++ Hannover Ruckversicherung AG ......................... 5.3 A Ace Tempest Reinsurance Company ...................... 2.7 A+ Workers' compensation excess coverage: - -------------------------------------- Underwriters at Lloyd's of London .................... 74.6% A- American National Insurance Company .................. 25.4 A+ Umbrella coverage: - ------------------ January 1 - June 30, 2003 General Reinsurance Corporation ...................... 100.0% A++ July 1 - December 31, 2003 Partner Reinsurance Company .......................... 27.5% A+ Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance .................... 25.0 A TOA Reinsurance Company .............................. 17.5 A+ Hannover Ruckversicherung AG ......................... 30.0 A Fidelity and surety coverages: - ------------------------------ Transatlantic Reinsurance Company .................... 40.0% A++ SCOR Reinsurance Company ............................. 20.0 A- Hannover Ruckversicherung AG ......................... 18.0 A Everest Reinsurance Company .......................... 17.0 A+ Berkley Insurance Company ............................ 5.0 A Boiler coverage: - ---------------- Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company 100.0% A+ Property terrorism: - ------------------- Underwriters at Lloyd's of London .................... 100.0% A- Terrorism aggregate excess of loss: - ----------------------------------- Axis Specialty LTD ................................... 40.0% A Arch Reinsurance Company ............................. 20.0 A- Everest Reinsurance Company .......................... 10.0 A+ Employment Practices Liability: - ------------------------------- General Reinsurance Corporation (January 1 - July 1, 2003) ...................................... 100.0% A++ (1) Mutual Reinsurance Bureau (MRB) is composed of Employers Mutual and three other nonaffiliated mutual insurance companies. Each of the four members cede primarily property insurance to MRB and assume, on an equal and joint basis, proportionate shares of this business. Each member benefits from the increased capacity provided by MRB. MRB is backed by the financial strength of the four member companies. All of the members of MRB were assigned an "A-" (Excellent) or better rating by A.M. Best. Premiums ceded under the pool members' reinsurance programs by all pool members and by the Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2003 are presented below. Each type of reinsurance coverage is purchased in layers, and an individual reinsurer may participate in more than one type of coverage and at various layers within the coverages. Since each layer of coverage is priced separately, with the lower layers being more expensive than the upper layers, a reinsurer's overall participation in a reinsurance program does not necessarily correspond to the amount of premiums it receives. Premiums ceded by ------------------------ Property and casualty All pool insurance Reinsurer members subsidiaries - --------- ----------- ------------ Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company $12,895,680 $ 3,030,485 General Reinsurance Corporation..................... 3,740,975 879,129 XL Reinsurance America Inc. ........................ 2,828,842 664,778 Axis Specialty Limited ............................. 2,494,011 586,093 Hannover Ruckversicherung AG ....................... 2,386,009 560,712 Transatlantic Reinsurance Company .................. 2,023,973 475,634 Converium AG, Zurich ............................... 1,474,996 346,624 Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance .................. 1,302,151 306,005 Managing Agency Partners ........................... 1,266,852 297,710 Partner Reinsurance Company of the US .............. 1,155,000 271,425 Other Reinsurers ................................... 15,114,903 3,552,002 ----------- ------------ Total ............................................ $46,683,392 $ 10,970,597 =========== ============ The parties to the pooling agreement also cede reinsurance on both a voluntary and a mandatory basis to state and national organizations in connection with various workers' compensation and assigned risk programs and to private organizations established to handle large risks. Premiums ceded by all pool members and by the Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2003 are presented below. Premiums ceded by ------------------------ Property and casualty All pool insurance Reinsurer members subsidiaries - --------- ----------- ------------ Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau ............... $16,032,519 $ 3,767,642 North Carolina Reinsurance Facility ................ 1,681,332 395,113 Michigan Catastrophe Claims Association ............ 1,355,025 318,431 Other Reinsurers ................................... 1,518,826 356,926 ----------- ------------ Total ............................................ $20,587,702 $ 4,838,112 =========== ============ The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 ("TRIA") provides a temporary Federal backstop on losses from certified terrorism events from foreign sources and is effective until December 31, 2005. Coverage includes most direct commercial lines of business, including coverage for losses from nuclear, biological, and chemical exposures. Each insurer has a deductible amount, which is calculated as a percentage of the prior year's direct earned commercial lines premium and a ten percent retention above the deductible. The percentage used in the deductible calculation will increase from seven percent in 2003 to ten percent in 2004 and to fifteen percent in 2005. TRIA caps losses at $100 billion annually; no insurer that has met its deductible will be liable for payment of any portion above that amount. Though it is uncertain whether TRIA will be extended beyond 2005, it has and continues to provide marketplace stability. As a result, coverage for terrorist events in both the insurance and reinsurance markets is often available. For the Company, the TRIA deductible was approximately $13,000,000 in 2003. The March 1, 2003 renewal of Employers Mutual's reinsurance coverage for terrorism claims saw a broadening of coverage with limits corresponding to the TRIA deductible (approximately $55,000,000 for the EMC Insurance Companies). Coverage includes all commercial lines of business, losses from both certified and non-certified terrorist events, and nuclear, biological and chemical coverage. For information concerning amounts due the Company from reinsurers for losses and settlement expenses and prepaid reinsurance premiums and the effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned, and losses and settlement expenses incurred, see "Property and Casualty Insurance Subsidiaries and Reinsurance Subsidiary - Reinsurance Ceded." RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NET PREMIUMS WRITTEN AND SURPLUS The amount of insurance a property and casualty insurance company writes under industry standards is commonly expressed as a multiple of its surplus calculated in accordance with statutory accounting practices. Generally, a ratio of 3 to 1 or less is considered satisfactory by regulatory authorities. The ratios of the pool members for the past three years are as follows: Year ended December 31, ------------------------------ 2003 2002 2001 ---- ---- ---- Employers Mutual .................... 1.26 1.55 1.35 EMCASCO ............................. 2.15 2.41 2.25 Illinois EMCASCO .................... 2.07 2.36 2.20 Dakota Fire ......................... 2.11 2.41 2.23 Farm and City ....................... 2.35 2.49 2.70 EMC Property & Casualty Company ..... .92 .94 .97 Union Insurance Company of Providence .91 .93 .96 Hamilton Mutual Insurance Company ... 2.02 2.13 2.34 The ratios for three of the Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries (EMCASCO, Illinois EMCASCO and Dakota Fire) reflect the issuance of an aggregate of $25,000,000 of surplus notes to Employers Mutual on December 28, 2001. Surplus notes are considered to be a component of surplus for statutory reporting purposes; however, under generally accepted accounting principals, surplus notes are considered to be debt and are reported as a liability in the Company's financial statements. OUTSTANDING LOSSES AND SETTLEMENT EXPENSES The property and casualty insurance subsidiaries' reserve information is included in the property and casualty loss reserve development for 2003. See "Property and Casualty Insurance Subsidiaries and Reinsurance Subsidiary - Outstanding Losses and Settlement Expenses." REINSURANCE The reinsurance subsidiary is a property and casualty treaty reinsurer with a concentration in property lines. The reinsurance subsidiary assumes a 100 percent quota share portion of Employers Mutual's assumed reinsurance business, exclusive of certain reinsurance contracts. The reinsurance subsidiary assumes its quota share portion of all premiums and related losses and settlement expenses of this business, subject to a maximum loss of $1,500,000 per event. The reinsurance subsidiary does not reinsure any of Employers Mutual's direct insurance business, or any "involuntary" facility or pool business that Employers Mutual assumes pursuant to state law. In addition, the reinsurance subsidiary is not liable for credit risk in connection with the insolvency of any reinsurers of Employers Mutual. Operations of the quota share agreement give rise to inter-company balances with Employers Mutual, which are settled on a quarterly basis. The investment and income tax activities of the reinsurance subsidiary are not subject to the quota share agreement. PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS The reinsurance subsidiary assumes both pro rata and excess of loss reinsurance from Employers Mutual. The following table sets forth the assumed written premiums of the reinsurance subsidiary for the three years ended December 31, 2003. Percent Percent Percent of of of Line of Business 2003 total 2002 total 2001 total - ---------------- ------- ----- ------- ----- ------- ----- (Dollars in thousands) Pro rata reinsurance: Property and Casualty $20,025 22.2% $17,856 23.4% $10,716 16.2% Property ............. 15,282 17.0 11,417 15.0 12,935 19.5 Crop ................. 2,693 3.0 1,535 2.0 2,605 3.9 Casualty ............. 1,771 2.0 2,886 3.8 2,819 4.3 Marine/aviation ...... 12,377 13.7 12,073 15.8 6,380 9.6 ------- ----- ------- ----- ------- ----- Total pro rata Reinsurance ...... 52,148 57.9 45,767 60.0 35,455 53.5 ------- ----- ------- ----- ------- ----- Excess reinsurance: Excess per risk reinsurance: Property ............. 23,744 26.4 18,925 24.9 20,050 30.2 Casualty ............. 12,954 14.4 10,610 13.9 10,124 15.3 Surety ............... 1,212 1.3 902 1.2 658 1.0 ------- ----- ------- ----- ------- ----- Total excess per risk reinsurance 37,910 42.1 30,437 40.0 30,832 46.5 ------- ----- ------- ----- ------- ----- Total .............. $90,058 100.0% $76,204 100.0% $66,287 100.0% ======= ===== ======= ===== ======= ===== MARKETING Over the last several years Employers Mutual has emphasized writing excess of loss reinsurance business and has worked to increase its participation on existing contracts that had favorable terms. Employers Mutual strives to be flexible in the types of reinsurance products it offers, but generally limits its writings to direct reinsurance business rather than providing retrocessional covers. During the last three years there has been a trend in the reinsurance marketplace for "across the board" participation on excess of loss reinsurance contracts. As a result, reinsurance companies must be willing to participate on all layers offered under a specific contract in order to be considered a viable reinsurer. COMPETITION The reinsurance marketplace is generally considered to be competitive; however, competition for reinsurance business has declined significantly as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Industry-wide premium increases for January 2003 renewals averaged 11.2 percent for excess of loss business and retention levels increased again as well. Exclusions for terrorist activities remained commonplace. The market for terrorism coverage is still evolving, but is becoming more available (sometimes including nuclear, biological and chemical perils). Terrorism coverage is still being written on a stand-alone basis. New reinsurance capacity, primarily from Bermuda, has entered the reinsurance marketplace to take advantage of higher reinsurance pricing, which could lead to increased rate competition in the future. Employers Mutual competes in the global reinsurance market with numerous reinsurance companies, many of which have greater financial resources. Competition for reinsurance business is based on many factors, including financial strength, industry ratings, stability in products offered and licensing status. During the last several years, some ceding companies have tended to favor large, financially strong reinsurance companies who are able to provide "mega" line capacity for multiple lines of business. The Company faces the risk of ceding companies becoming less interested in diversity and spread of reinsurance risk in favor of having fewer well capitalized reinsurance companies on their program. REINSURANCE CEDED The reinsurance subsidiary does not purchase outside reinsurance protection due to the $1,500,000 cap on losses assumed per event under the terms of the quota share agreement with Employers Mutual. The reinsurance subsidiary pays an annual override commission to Employers Mutual for this protection, which amounted to $4,052,600 in 2003. The reinsurance subsidiary also pays for 100 percent of the outside reinsurance protection Employers Mutual purchases to protect itself from catastrophic losses on the assumed reinsurance business. This cost is recorded as a reduction to the premiums received by the reinsurance subsidiary and amounted to $3,802,878 in 2003. BEST'S RATING The most recent Best's Property Casualty Key Rating Guide gives the reinsurance subsidiary an "A-" (Excellent) policyholders' rating. Best's ratings are based upon factors of concern to policyholders and insurance agents and are not necessarily directed toward the protection of investors. OUTSTANDING LOSSES AND SETTLEMENT EXPENSES The reinsurance subsidiary's reserve information is included in the property and casualty loss reserve development for 2003. See "Property and Casualty Insurance Subsidiaries and Reinsurance Subsidiary - Outstanding Losses and Settlement Expenses." PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE SUBSIDIARIES AND REINSURANCE SUBSIDIARY - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Employers Mutual provides various services to all of its subsidiaries and affiliates. Such services include data processing, claims, financial, actuarial, auditing, marketing and underwriting. Employers Mutual allocates a portion of the cost of these services to the subsidiaries that do not participate in the pooling agreement based upon a number of criteria, including usage and number of transactions. The remaining costs are charged to the pooling agreement and each pool participant shares in the total cost in accordance with its pool participation percentage. Costs allocated to the Company by Employers Mutual for services provided to the holding company and its subsidiaries that do not participate in the pooling agreement amounted to $2,097,057, $1,765,287 and $2,040,822 in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Costs allocated to the Company through the operation of the pooling agreement amounted to $63,293,517, $56,897,066 and $51,041,812 in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. STATUTORY COMBINED RATIOS The following table sets forth the statutory combined ratios of the Company's insurance subsidiaries and the property and casualty insurance industry averages for the five years ended December 31, 2003. The combined ratios below are the sum of the following: the loss ratio, calculated by dividing losses and settlement expenses incurred by net premiums earned, and the expense ratio, calculated by dividing underwriting expenses incurred by net premiums written and policyholder dividends by net premiums earned. Generally, if the combined ratio is below 100 percent, a company has an underwriting profit; if it is above 100 percent, a company has an underwriting loss. Year ended December 31, -------------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Property and casualty insurance Loss ratio ................... 70.3% 69.8% 83.0% 82.2% 83.6% Expense ratio ................ 32.2 31.2 28.5 30.8 32.0 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Combined ratio ............. 102.5% 101.0% 111.5% 113.0% 115.6% ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Reinsurance Loss ratio ................... 65.2% 70.7% 86.6% 86.1% 83.1% Expense ratio ................ 27.2 31.6 29.1 29.1 30.6 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Combined ratio ............. 92.4% 102.3% 115.7% 115.2% 113.7% ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Total insurance operations Loss ratio ................... 68.9% 70.0% 83.8% 83.0% 83.5% Expense ratio ................ 30.9 31.3 28.6 30.5 31.7 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Combined ratio ............. 99.8% 101.3% 112.4% 113.5% 115.2% ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Property and casualty insurance industry averages (1) Loss ratio ................... 76.1% 81.7% 88.5% 81.5% 78.6% Expense ratio ................ 25.0 25.7 27.5 28.9 29.2 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Combined ratio ............. 101.1% 107.4% 116.0% 110.4% 107.8% ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== (1) As reported by A.M. Best Company. The ratio for 2003 is an estimate; the actual combined ratio is not currently available. The 2001 expense ratios and combined ratios for "property and casualty insurance" and "total insurance operations" are distorted by $13,884,000 of additional written premiums that were recorded in 2001 in connection with a change in the recording of installment-based insurance policies. Excluding this adjustment, the expense ratios would have been 30.2 percent and 30.0 percent, respectively, and the combined ratios would have been 113.2 percent and 113.8 percent, respectively. REINSURANCE CEDED The following table presents amounts due to the Company from reinsurers for losses and settlement expenses and prepaid reinsurance premiums as of December 31, 2003: 2003 Amount Percent Best's recoverable of total rating ----------- -------- ------ Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau .. $ 4,862,984 25.4% (1) XL Reinsurance America ................ 2,180,744 11.4 A+ Minnesota Workers' Comp Reins Assoc ... 1,857,178 9.7 (1) Hartford Steam Boiler Insp. & Ins. .... 1,772,704 9.3 A+ General Reinsurance Corporation ....... 1,576,805 8.2 A++ National Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Pool .................... 1,516,420 7.9 (1) Mutual Reinsurance Bureau ............. 389,681 2.0 (2) Converium Rens North America Inc ...... 376,509 2.0 A North Carolina Reins Faculity ......... 344,435 1.8 (1) Hartford Fire Insurance Company ....... 332,775 1.7 A+ Other Reinsurers ...................... 3,948,747 20.6 ----------- -------- Total ........................... $19,158,982(3) 100.0% =========== ======== (1) Amounts recoverable reflect the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries' pool participation percentage of amounts ceded to these organizations by Employers Mutual in connection with its role as "service carrier." Under these arrangements, Employers Mutual writes business for these organizations on a direct basis and then cedes 100 percent of the business to these organizations. Credit risk associated with these amounts is minimal as all companies participating in these organizations are responsible for the liabilities of such organizations on a pro rata basis. (2) Mutual Reinsurance Bureau (MRB) is composed of Employers Mutual and three other nonaffiliated mutual insurance companies. Each of the four members cede primarily property insurance to MRB and assume, on an equal and joint basis, proportionate shares of this business. Each member benefits from the increased capacity provided by MRB. MRB is backed by the financial strength of the four member companies. All of the members of MRB were assigned an "A-" (Excellent) or better rating by A.M. Best. (3) The total amount recoverable at December 31, 2003 represented $1,054,360 in paid losses and settlement expenses, $14,807,394 in unpaid losses and settlement expenses and $3,297,228 in unearned premiums. The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned, and losses and settlement expenses incurred for the three years ended December 31, 2003 is presented below. Year ended December 31, ---------------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ------------ ------------ ------------ Premiums written: Direct ........................ $220,741,419 $235,596,547 $272,027,823 Assumed from nonaffiliates .... 3,816,789 3,985,370 1,898,509 Assumed from affiliates ....... 351,641,368 320,940,551 299,990,245 Ceded to nonaffiliates ........ (15,808,709) (11,089,041) (11,189,227) Ceded to affiliates ........... (220,741,419) (235,596,547) (272,027,823) ------------ ------------ ------------ Net premiums written ........ $339,649,448 $313,836,880 $290,699,527 ============ ============ ============ Premiums earned: Direct ........................ $221,662,098 $241,939,466 $255,764,274 Assumed from nonaffiliates .... 3,629,346 3,501,616 1,786,132 Assumed from affiliates ....... 341,947,846 304,462,790 274,352,821 Ceded to nonaffiliates ........ (14,954,382) (10,921,373) (10,859,095) Ceded to affiliates ........... (221,662,098) (241,939,466) (255,764,274) ------------ ------------ ------------ Net premiums earned ......... $330,622,810 $297,043,033 $265,279,858 ============ ============ ============ Losses and settlement expenses incurred: Direct ........................ $157,500,290 $165,218,514 $221,314,633 Assumed from nonaffiliates .... 3,270,406 2,876,808 1,336,824 Assumed from affiliates ....... 233,823,801 206,614,356 227,650,959 Ceded to nonaffiliates ........ (10,589,657) (2,433,308) (7,069,033) Ceded to affiliates ........... (157,500,290) (165,218,514) (221,314,633) ------------ ------------ ------------ Net losses and settlement expenses incurred ......... $226,504,550 $207,057,856 $221,918,750 ============ ============ ============ Effective January 1, 2001, the Company began recording the full-term written premium at the inception of insurance policies that are billed on an installment basis. Previously, such amounts were recorded as each installment became due. As a result, written premiums assumed from affiliates for 2001 increased $13,884,423. Earned premiums were not affected by this change, as unearned premiums were increased by the same amount. OUTSTANDING LOSSES AND SETTLEMENT EXPENSES The Company maintains reserves for losses and settlement expenses with respect to both reported and unreported claims. The amount of reserves for reported claims is primarily based upon a case-by-case evaluation of the specific type of claim, knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each claim and the policy provisions relating to the type of loss. Reserves on assumed reinsurance business are the amounts reported by the ceding company. The amount of reserves for unreported claims is determined on the basis of statistical information for each line of insurance with respect to the probable number and nature of claims arising from occurrences that have not yet been reported. Established reserves are closely monitored and are frequently recomputed using a variety of formulas and statistical techniques for analyzing actual claim costs, frequency data and other economic and social factors. The Company does not discount reserves. Inflation is implicitly provided for in the reserving function through analysis of cost trends, reviews of historical reserving results and projections of future economic conditions. Large ($100,000 and over) incurred and reported gross reserves are reviewed regularly for adequacy. In addition, long-term and lifetime medical claims are periodically reviewed for cost trends and the applicable reserves are appropriately revised. Loss reserves are estimates at a given time of what the insurer expects to pay on incurred losses, based on facts and circumstances then known. During the loss settlement period, which may be many years, additional facts regarding individual claims become known, and accordingly, it often becomes necessary to refine and adjust the estimates of liability on a claim. Settlement expense reserves are intended to cover the ultimate cost of investigating claims and defending lawsuits arising from claims. These reserves are established each year based on previous years experience to project the ultimate cost of settlement expenses. To the extent that adjustments are required to be made in the amount of loss reserves each year, settlement expense reserves are correspondingly revised. Changes in reserves for losses and settlement expenses are reflected in operating results in the year such changes are recorded. Despite the inherent uncertainties of estimating insurance company loss and settlement expense reserves, management believes that the Company's reserves are being calculated in accordance with sound actuarial practices and, based upon current information, that the Company's reserves for losses and settlement expenses at December 31, 2003 are adequate. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of beginning and ending reserves for losses and settlement expenses of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the reinsurance subsidiary. Amounts presented are on a net basis, with a reconciliation of beginning and ending reserves to the gross amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements. Year ended December 31, ---------------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ------------ ------------ ------------ Gross reserves at beginning of year $331,226,753 $314,518,588 $286,489,028 Ceded reserves at beginning of year (10,367,624) (11,848,597) (11,224,797) ------------ ------------ ------------ Net reserves at beginning of year .. 320,859,129 302,669,991 275,264,231 ------------ ------------ ------------ Incurred losses and settlement expenses - --------------------- Provision for insured events of the current year ............ 219,028,236 200,059,798 216,752,003 Increase in provision for insured events of prior years .. 7,476,314 6,998,058 5,166,747 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total incurred losses and settlement expenses ...... 226,504,550 207,057,856 221,918,750 ------------ ------------ ------------ Payments - -------- Losses and settlement expenses attributable to insured events of the current year ............ 86,072,127 81,124,276 94,983,112 Losses and settlement expenses attributable to insured events of prior years ................. 108,175,065 107,744,442 99,529,878 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total payments ............. 194,247,192 188,868,718 194,512,990 ------------ ------------ ------------ Net reserves at end of year ........ 353,116,487 320,859,129 302,669,991 Ceded reserves at end of year ...... 14,807,394 10,367,624 11,848,597 ------------ ------------ ------------ Gross reserves at end of year ...... $367,923,881 $331,226,753 $314,518,588 ============ ============ ============ During the three years ended December 31, 2003, the Company experienced adverse development in the provision for insured events of prior years. The majority of this adverse development has come from the property and casualty insurance segment, primarily in the workers' compensation line of business. Following are the significant issues and trends that the Company has identified as contributors to this adverse development. Workers' compensation claim severity has increased significantly over the past five years, with the projected ultimate average claim amount increasing approximately 67 percent over the five year period. An increase of this magnitude has made the establishment of adequate case reserves challenging. A review of the Company's claims data indicates that claims adjusters have recently underestimated medical costs and the length of time injured workers are away from work. In addition, partial disability benefits have been underestimated or unanticipated. Large increases in drug costs and the availability and utilization of new and costly medical procedures have contributed to rapidly escalating medical costs. Construction defect claims arising from general liability policies issued to contractors have increased significantly during the past three years. States with significant construction defect losses include Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Texas. Large umbrella claims have recently contributed to the adverse development experienced in the other liability line of business. The Company's pattern of increasing umbrella claims severity is believed to be generally consistent with industry umbrella severity trends. Also contributing to overall umbrella reserve development is an increase in claims arising from underlying general liability policies associated with claims arising from commercial auto policies. Legal expenses for the other liability line of business have also increased rapidly over the past three years, with defense costs increasing at an average rate of approximately 15 percent per year. This increase in legal expenses has occurred despite a reduction in the number of new lawsuits. The Company has also noticed increased attorney involvement in uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. Under recent privacy constraints, claimant medical information is often not forthcoming, which contributes to the difficulty in establishing adequate case reserves for these types of claims. Following is a detailed analysis of the adverse development the Company has experienced during the past three years. Year ended December 31, 2003 - ---------------------------- Property and casualty insurance segment - --------------------------------------- For the property and casualty insurance segment, the December 31, 2003 estimate of loss and settlement expense reserves for accident years 2002 and prior increased $9,015,000 from the estimate at December 31, 2002. This increase represents 3.9 percent of the December 31, 2002 carried reserves and is attributed to a combination of newly reported claims in excess of carried IBNR reserves, development on case reserves of previously reported claims, and bulk reserve strengthening. None of the adverse development experienced in 2003 is associated with changes in the key actuarial assumptions utilized to estimate loss and settlement expense reserves, although a shortage in workers' compensation individual case reserves led to the establishment of a bulk case reserve for that line of business. The emergence of IBNR claims in excess of carried IBNR reserves resulted in approximately $3,977,000 of adverse development in 2003. The most significant development occurred in the workers' compensation ($1,742,000), other liability ($1,565,000) and commercial auto liability ($659,000), lines of business. Approximately 85 percent of the workers' compensation adverse development was from accident years 1998 - 2002. The other liability development is primarily attributed to construction defect and asbestos claims for accident years prior to 1998, with modest downward development for accident years 1998 - 2002. For commercial auto, the upward development arose mainly from accident years 1998 - 2001, with 2002 developing downward. For all other lines combined, IBNR reserves developed modestly upward with no significant variations. Reserves on previously reported claims also developed upward in 2003 by approximately $3,529,000. Adverse case reserve development occurred primarily in the workers' compensation ($7,234,000) and commercial auto liability ($1,562,000) lines of business. Partially offsetting these two lines was favorable development in the remaining lines, most notably other liability ($1,520,000), property ($1,324,000) and auto physical damage ($1,193,000). About 80 percent of the workers' compensation adverse development came from the latest four accident years. For all lines combined, the latest four accident years developed upward by $3,800,000, with the prior accident years combined developing modestly downward. The Company also strengthened IBNR reserves in 2003 in response to the results of a regularly-scheduled actuarial analysis, which indicated a higher ratio of IBNR emergence in relation to premiums earned than the 2002 review. The portion of IBNR reserve strengthening allocated to prior accident years totaled $1,980,000. The largest indicated increase in IBNR reserves was in the other liability line of business, where strengthening totaled $1,428,000. Relatively minor strengthening also occurred in the other lines of business, the greatest of which was workers' compensation ($238,000). As previously noted, case reserves for the property and casualty insurance segment developed upward during 2003, which represented a significant change from the historical development pattern. To supplement the individual case reserves, the Company established a bulk case reserve for the workers' compensation line of business, which was primarily responsible for the adverse development. The portion of this bulk reserve allocated to prior accident years was $917,000. This action does not represent a change in assumptions, but rather a reaction to a change in circumstances that occurred in 2003. Prior to 2003, there was no indication that overall case reserves were inadequate. Settlement expense reserves were also strengthened during 2003. Actuarial analyses completed in 2003 indicated generally higher ultimate expense to loss ratios for the other liability line of business, along with higher estimates of ultimate losses than during 2002. Accordingly, the Company strengthened settlement expense reserves, with $1,597,000 of the increase allocated to prior accident years. The above results reflect reserve development on a direct basis. During 2003, ceded losses for prior accident years increased $3,224,000. Approximately three-fourths of the increase was in the other liability, workers' compensation and surety bond lines of business, primarily as a result of large claims exceeding the Company's excess of loss treaties' retentions. The impact of the increase in reinsurance recoveries was to offset some of the adverse development on direct business described above. The Company also experienced $410,000 of adverse development on involuntary pools during 2003. This development affected the auto and workers' compensation lines of business. Since involuntary pool reserves are booked as reported (except for a lag in IBNR reserves), this development did not result from any change in actuarial assumptions. Reinsurance Segment - ------------------- For the reinsurance segment, the December 31, 2003 estimate of loss and settlement expense reserves for accident years 2002 and prior decreased $1,539,000 from the estimate at December 31, 2002. This decrease represents 1.5 percent of the December 31, 2002 carried reserves and is primarily attributed to the 2002 accident year in the HORAD book of business, which developed downward by $3,139,000. Much of this favorable development can be attributed to reported policy year 2002 losses that were approximately $3,200,000 below 2002 implicit projections. HORAD accident years 2001 and prior developed upward approximately $1,190,000. Reserve strengthening implemented in 2003 in response to an independent consultant's analysis of the reinsurance segment's exposure to asbestos exposures resulted in $326,000 of adverse development. The remainder of the upward development arose from the accident years 1997 - 2001, primarily from casualty and marine losses. MRB reserves developed upward by $411,000 in 2003. Most of this development arose from accident years 1995 - 1999 and is attributed to construction defect claims arising from an account that has been in runoff since 2000. The reserve development experienced in 2003 did not result from any changes in the key actuarial assumptions utilized to estimate loss and settlement expense reserves. Year ended December 31, 2002 - ---------------------------- Property and casualty insurance segment - --------------------------------------- For the property and casualty insurance segment, the December 31, 2002 estimate of loss and settlement expense reserves for accident years 2001 and prior increased $4,645,000 from the estimate at December 31, 2001. This increase represents 2.1 percent of the December 31, 2001 carried reserves and is attributed to three sources: direct IBNR reserves, involuntary pools and contingent salary plan reserves. None of the adverse development experienced in 2002 is associated with changes in the key actuarial assumptions utilized to estimate loss and settlement expense reserves. The emergence of IBNR claims in excess of carried IBNR reserves (before consideration of IBNR reserve strengthening) resulted in approximately $1,332,000 of adverse development in 2002. On a direct basis, adverse IBNR development occurred in the surety bond ($914,000), workers' compensation ($905,000) and property ($587,000) lines of business. More than 90 percent of the bond and property development arose from the latest two accident years and about 85 percent of the workers' compensation development arose from the latest five accident years. For all other lines, IBNR reserves developed downward. The Company also strengthened direct IBNR reserves in 2002, with $945,000 of this strengthening allocated to prior accident years. This reserve strengthening was implemented in response to an actuarial analysis that indicated a higher ratio of IBNR emergence in relation to premiums earned than the prior review completed in 2001. The largest indicated increase was in the other liability line of business, with minor adjustments being made in the other lines of business. Reserves on previously reported claims developed downward by approximately $2,411,000 in 2002. The favorable case reserve development was primarily in the auto physical damage ($1,973,000) and property ($1,513,000) lines of business, with smaller contributions from other liability ($844,000), homeowners ($837,000) and bonds ($433,000). Only the workers' compensation line of business showed substantial adverse case reserve development ($2,724,000), which partially offset the downward development in the other lines. Over 90 percent of the workers' compensation adverse case reserve development was from the latest two accident years. Excluding workers' compensation, 70 percent of the other lines' favorable case reserve development arose from accident years 1997 - 2001. Reserves for asbestos and pollution exposures were strengthened by $3,126,000 during 2002. The asbestos strengthening was implemented in response to an independent consultant's ground up study of asbestos exposures that was completed in early 2003 and increased total direct asbestos reserves to the consultant's point estimate. Pollution reserves were increased to achieve a targeted three-year survival ratio in the neighborhood of twelve. The reserve strengthening for asbestos and pollution primarily affected the other liability line of business. These reserves relate primarily to exposures from mid-1980 and prior. Settlement expense reserves were also strengthened during 2002. An important assumption in the actuarial settlement expense methodology is stability over time in the development pattern of the settlement expense to loss ratio, which would result in stable projected ratios of ultimate settlement expenses to ultimate losses from one evaluation to the next. However, actuarial analyses in 2002 indicated generally higher estimated ultimate ratios of settlement expense to loss for the other liability line of business than in 2001. As a result, settlement expense reserves were strengthened, with approximately $635,000 allocated to prior accident years. This strengthening did not result from a change in assumptions, but rather from a change in the indicated reserve arising from the data entering the standard calculations. Additional adverse development resulted from involuntary pool business and the implementation of an employee contingent salary plan in 2002. The Company records the reserves reported by the management of the involuntary pools, along with a reserve for a lag in reporting. In 2002, these bookings resulted in modest upward development of $400,000. This development affected the auto and workers' compensation lines of business. Employers Mutual implemented a contingent salary plan in 2002 and $400,000 of the reserve established for this plan at December 31, 2002 was allocated to settlement expenses for prior accident years. This reserve is allocated to all lines of business. Reinsurance segment - ------------------- For the reinsurance segment, the December 31, 2002 estimate of loss and settlement expense reserves for accident years 2001 and prior increased $2,353,000 from the estimate at December 31, 2001. This increase represents 2.6 percent of the December 31, 2001 carried reserves. Virtually all of the increase came from the MRB pool. Accident years 1995 - 1999 accounted for about 85 percent of the development, with the majority of it coming from construction defect claims arising from an account that has been in runoff since 2000. HORAD reserves developed slightly upward ($61,000) in 2002. Accident year 2001 developed upward by $2,160,000. This is partially due to reported policy year 2001 losses that exceeded implicit 2001 projections by approximately $1,000,000. The remainder can be attributed to a substantial increase in estimated policy year 2001 premiums during 2002. Accident years 2000 and prior developed downward by $2,100,000. Accident years 1981 - 1987 contributed $500,000 of favorable development from reductions in indicated development factors. Another $526,000 was due to a reduction in IBNR reserves booked as reported for a large marine contract. Most of the remainder can be attributed to a 2002 decision to reallocate a modest amount of IBNR between accident years. The overall reinsurance target reserve level is the upper quartile of the indicated reserve range; a decision was made in 2002 to reserve prior accident years nearer the middle of their respective ranges and to reserve the latest policy year more conservatively. This decision was made in recognition of the fact that the latest policy year has the most uncertainty. This action did not affect the total reserve level because the overall upper quartile target was maintained. The reserve development experienced in 2002 did not result from any changes in the key actuarial assumptions utilized to estimate loss and settlement expense reserves. Year ended December 31, 2001 - ---------------------------- Property and casualty insurance segment - --------------------------------------- During 2001, the property and casualty insurance segment experienced modest adverse reserve development of $1,192,000. Before taking into account a strengthening of IBNR reserves, the emergence of IBNR claims in excess of carried IBNR reserves resulted in adverse development of $6,623,000. The bulk of this adverse IBNR development occurred in the other liability ($4,849,000) and workers' compensation ($1,562,000) lines of business. More than 80 percent of the workers' compensation development was from accident years 1996 - 2000 and 90 percent of the other liability development arose from accident years 1991 - 2000. The adverse development on IBNR claims is not due to any change in actuarial assumptions; rather, emerged IBNR losses during 2001 plus the year-end 2001 prior years' IBNR reserve (before IBNR reserve strengthening), which is allocated to accident years by formula, exceeded the 2000 IBNR reserve. Reserves on previously reported claims developed downward by $7,304,000; the lines of business with the greatest favorable case reserve development were other liability ($4,427,000), property ($3,113,000), and auto physical damage ($2,127,000). More than 90 percent of the property and auto physical damage and two-thirds of the other liability favorable development came from the latest three accident years. Case reserves for the commercial auto liability and workers' compensation lines of business developed upward by $2,827,000 and $926,000, respectively, offsetting a portion of the downward development from other lines. Almost 95 percent of the commercial auto liability adverse development arose from the latest three accident years, and accident years 1999 and 2000 were responsible for the workers' compensation adverse development, with prior accident years developing downward overall. The overall favorable development on previously reported claims resulted from the claim department's re-evaluation of individual claims during 2001 based on the latest information available, not from any change in assumptions. In addition to the above, the Company strengthened direct IBNR reserves. An assumption in estimating IBNR reserves is that the ratio of emerged IBNR losses to prior year premiums earned (adjusted for rate level changes) will remain constant. However, an actuarial analysis in 2001 indicated a higher ratio than the prior review in 2000. In response to this analysis, IBNR reserves were strengthened, with $2,086,000 of the strengthening allocated to prior accident years. The vast majority of the increase occurred in the other liability line of business ($2,056,000). This strengthening did not result from a change in assumptions, but rather from a change in the indicated reserve arising from the updated data entering the standard calculations in 2001. Reinsurance segment - ------------------- The reinsurance segment experienced $3,975,000 of adverse reserve development in 2001. Almost 75 percent of this development arose from the MRB pool and is primarily associated with accident years 1998 - 2000. Accident years 1997 and prior developed upward less than $200,000. The 1998 - - 1999 development was due largely to casualty losses, including construction defect claims arising from one account which has been in runoff since 2000. The accident year 2000 development included late 1999 winter storm losses reported during 2000. The HORAD book of business experienced upward development of $1,050,000. Accident year 2000 developed upward by approximately $4,924,000, primarily due to reported policy year losses that exceeded projections implicit in year-end 2000 development factors by approximately $3,900,000. Accident years 1999 and prior developed downward by $3,874,000 primarily due to reductions in the industry development factors used for casualty projections ($1,500,000), reductions in projection factors for accident years 1981 - 1987 ($1,200,000) and a reduction in IBNR reserves that was booked as reported for a large marine contract ($700,000). The above development was not due to any change in actuarial assumptions but instead resulted from reported losses and updated projection factors. The following table shows the calendar year development of loss and settlement expense reserves of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the reinsurance subsidiary. Amounts presented are on a net basis with (i) a reconciliation of the net loss and settlement expense reserves to the gross amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements and (ii) disclosure of the gross re-estimated loss and settlement expense reserves and the related re-estimated reinsurance receivables. Reflected in this table is (1) the reinsurance subsidiary's commutation of all outstanding reinsurance balances ceded to Employers Mutual under catastrophe and aggregate excess of loss reinsurance treaties related to accident years 1991 through 1993 in 1994, and (2) the increase in the reinsurance subsidiary's quota share assumption of Employers Mutual's assumed reinsurance business from 95 percent to 100 percent in 1997. The table has been restated to reflect the addition of Hamilton Mutual to the pooling agreement effective January 1, 1997 and the addition of Farm and City to the pooling agreement effective January 1, 1998. In evaluating the table, it should be noted that each cumulative redundancy (deficiency) amount includes the effects of all changes in reserves for prior periods. Conditions and trends that have affected development of the liability in the past, such as a time lag in the reporting of assumed reinsurance business, the high rate of inflation associated with medical services and supplies and the reform measures implemented by several states to control administrative costs for workers' compensation insurance, may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it may not be appropriate to project future development of reserves based on this table. Year ended December 31, - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Statutory reserves for losses and settlement expenses ...... $182,072 191,514 196,293 191,892 205,606 230,937 257,201 276,103 303,643 321,945 354,200 Retroactive restatement of reserves in conjunction with admittance of new participants into the pooling agreement ... 5,248 6,603 6,809 7,018 3,600 - - - - - - -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Statutory reserves after reclassification ............. 187,320 198,117 203,102 198,910 209,206 230,937 257,201 276,103 303,643 321,945 354,200 GAAP adjustments ............... (2,405) (2,479) (3,098) (3,186) (858) (890) (948) (839) (973) (1,086) (1,084) -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Reserves for losses and settlement expenses .......... 184,915 195,638 200,004 195,724 208,348 230,047 256,253 275,264 302,670 320,859 353,116 Paid (cumulative) as of: One year later ............... 60,162 57,247 62,012 59,856 62,949 77,699 87,599 99,530 107,744 108,175 - Two years later .............. 89,153 88,831 92,626 92,191 99,870 119,620 138,701 156,337 170,512 - - Three years later ............ 107,372 106,691 112,985 113,343 122,455 147,561 173,840 196,400 - - - Four years later ............. 116,856 118,705 124,450 126,507 136,975 167,529 198,221 - - - - Five years later ............. 123,843 126,384 132,044 135,321 148,708 181,008 - - - - - Six years later .............. 128,931 130,977 137,522 143,105 157,808 - - - - - - Seven years later ............ 132,036 134,923 143,044 149,313 - - - - - - - Eight years later ............ 135,007 139,263 147,994 - - - - - - - - Nine years later ............. 137,630 143,345 - - - - - - - - - Ten years later .............. 140,918 - - - - - - - - - - Reserves reestimated as of: End of year .................. 184,915 195,638 200,004 195,724 208,348 230,047 256,253 275,264 302,670 320,859 353,116 One year later ............... 179,527 179,818 183,760 188,579 197,271 224,313 254,350 280,431 309,668 328,335 - Two years later .............. 170,653 173,162 182,285 185,465 194,287 225,288 256,111 288,465 321,761 - - Three years later ............ 166,778 172,118 179,797 181,392 193,505 227,010 260,715 296,837 - - - Four years later ............. 166,133 170,570 176,176 180,686 192,824 229,336 265,802 - - - - Five years later ............. 165,548 167,763 175,465 179,898 195,910 232,446 - - - - - Six years later .............. 163,406 166,764 174,695 181,567 198,162 - - - - - - Seven years later ............ 161,985 166,280 176,012 182,690 - - - - - - - Eight years later ............ 160,459 167,889 176,866 - - - - - - - - Nine years later ............. 162,578 168,627 - - - - - - - - - Ten years later .............. 163,251 - - - - - - - - - - -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Cumulative redundancy (Deficiency) ................. $ 21,664 27,011 23,138 13,034 10,186 (2,399) (9,549) (21,573) (19,091) (7,476) - ======== ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Gross loss and settlement expense reserves - end of year (A) ............ $202,370 209,785 212,231 209,521 221,378 245,610 266,514 286,489 314,519 331,227 367,924 Reinsurance receivables ........ 17,455 14,147 12,227 13,797 13,030 15,563 10,261 11,225 11,849 10,368 14,808 -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net loss and settlement expense reserves - end of year ....... $184,915 195,638 200,004 195,724 208,348 230,047 256,253 275,264 302,670 320,859 353,116 ======== ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Gross re-estimated reserves - latest (B) ................. $179,285 183,169 192,080 200,052 213,017 248,303 276,798 309,119 335,734 341,934 367,924 Re-estimated reinsurance receivables - latest ......... 16,034 14,542 15,214 17,362 14,855 15,857 10,996 12,282 13,973 13,599 14,808 -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net re-estimated reserves - latest ..................... $163,251 168,627 176,866 182,690 198,162 232,446 265,802 296,837 321,761 328,335 353,116 ======== ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Gross cumulative redundancy (deficiency) (A-B) ........... $ 23,085 26,616 20,151 9,469 8,361 (2,693) (10,284) (22,630) (21,215) (10,707) - ======== ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Asbestos and Environmental Claims The Company has exposure to asbestos and environmental related claims associated with the insurance business written by the parties to the pooling agreement and the reinsurance business assumed from Employers Mutual by the reinsurance subsidiary. Estimating loss and settlement expense reserves for asbestos and environmental claims is very difficult due to the many uncertainties surrounding these types of claims. These uncertainties exist because the assignment of responsibility varies widely by state and claims often emerge long after a policy has expired, which makes assignment of damages to the appropriate party and to the time period covered by a particular policy difficult. In establishing reserves for these types of claims, management monitors the relevant facts concerning each claim, the current status of the legal environment, the social and political conditions and the claim history and trends within the Company and the industry. During 2002, the Company re-evaluated the estimated ultimate losses for direct asbestos and environmental exposures. Based on this re-evaluation, the Company reallocated $752,000 of bulk IBNR reserves and $324,303 of settlement expense reserves to these exposures. In addition, the Company diligently evaluated the adequacy of its asbestos reserves by commissioning a "ground-up" study to better quantify its exposure to asbestos liabilities. This study concluded that the Company's exposure for direct asbestos claims ranged from $1,000,000 to $5,100,000, with a point estimate of $3,000,000 at December 31, 2002. Based on the results of this study, the Company elected to increase the IBNR and settlement expense reserves carried for direct asbestos exposures by $2,068,705 at December 31, 2002, to $2,985,402. The study's results for asbestos exposures on assumed reinsurance business were received during 2003, and the Company elected to increase its IBNR reserves carried for assumed asbestos exposures by $326,000 to the study's point estimate. The study and its results assume no improvement in the current asbestos litigation environment; however, federal legislation currently being considered could reduce the ultimate losses from asbestos litigation below the levels currently being projected for the industry. The following table presents asbestos and environmental related losses and settlement expenses incurred and reserves outstanding for the Company: Year ended December 31, -------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ---------- ---------- ---------- Losses and settlement expenses incurred: Asbestos: Property and casualty insurance ........ $ - $2,377,631 $ 64,451 Reinsurance ............................ 293,413 (25,001) (9,167) ---------- ---------- ---------- 293,413 2,352,630 55,284 ---------- ---------- ---------- Environmental: Property and casualty insurance ........ - 774,489 (120,610) Reinsurance ............................ - 21,479 20,615 ---------- ---------- ---------- - 795,968 (99,995) ---------- ---------- ---------- Total losses and settlement expenses incurred ................ $ 293,413 $3,148,598 $ (44,711) ========== ========== ========== Loss and settlement expense reserves: Asbestos: Property and casualty insurance ........ $2,885,148 $2,982,809 $ 719,590 Reinsurance ............................ 732,112 533,687 566,477 ---------- ---------- ---------- 3,617,260 3,516,496 1,286,067 ---------- ---------- ---------- Environmental: Property and casualty insurance ........ 1,164,756 1,175,541 454,460 Reinsurance ............................ 802,180 834,906 824,988 ---------- ---------- ---------- 1,966,936 2,010,447 1,279,448 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total loss and settlement expense reserves ......................... $5,584,196 $5,526,943 $2,565,515 ========== ========== ========== Based upon current facts, management believes the reserves established for asbestos and environmental related claims at December 31, 2003 are adequate. Although future changes in the legal and political environment may result in adjustments to these reserves, management believes any adjustments will not have a material impact on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. EMPLOYEES - --------- EMC Insurance Group Inc. and its subsidiaries have no employees. The Company's business activities are conducted by the 2,217 employees of Employers Mutual. EMC Insurance Group Inc., EMC Reinsurance Company and Underwriters, LLC are charged their proportionate share of salary and employee benefit costs based on time allocations. Costs not allocated to these companies and other subsidiaries of Employers Mutual outside the pooling agreement are charged to the participants in the pooling agreement. The property and casualty insurance subsidiaries share the costs charged to the pooling agreement in accordance with their pool participation percentages. See "Property and Casualty Insurance - Pooling Agreement." REGULATION - ---------- The Company's insurance subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation and supervision by their state of domicile, as well as those states in which they do business. The purpose of such regulation and supervision is primarily to provide safeguards for policyholders rather than to protect the interests of stockholders. The insurance laws of the various states establish regulatory agencies with broad administrative powers, including the power to grant or revoke operating licenses and to regulate trade practices, investments, premium rates, deposits of securities, the form and content of financial statements and insurance policies, accounting practices and the maintenance of specified reserves and capital for the protection of policyholders. Premium rate regulation varies greatly among jurisdictions and lines of insurance. In most states in which the Company's subsidiaries write insurance, premium rates for their lines of insurance are subject to either prior approval or limited review upon implementation. States require rates for property and casualty insurance that are adequate, not excessive, and not unfairly discriminatory. The Company's insurance subsidiaries are required to file detailed annual reports with the appropriate regulatory agency in each state where they do business based on applicable statutory regulations, which differ from generally accepted accounting principles. Their businesses and accounts are subject to examination by such agencies at any time. Since EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Employers Mutual are domiciled in Iowa, the State of Iowa exercises principal regulatory supervision, and Iowa law requires periodic examination. The Company's insurance subsidiaries are subject to examination by state insurance departments on a periodic basis, as applicable law requires. State laws governing insurance holding companies also impose standards on certain transactions with related companies, which include, among other requirements, that all transactions be fair and reasonable and that an insurer's surplus as regards policyholders be reasonable and adequate in relation to its liabilities. Under Iowa law, dividends or distributions made by registered insurers are restricted in amount and may be subject to approval from the Iowa Commissioner of Insurance. "Extraordinary" dividends or distributions are subject to prior approval and are defined as dividends or distributions made within a 12 month period which exceed the greater of 10 percent of statutory surplus as regards policyholders as of the preceding December 31, or net income of the preceding calendar year on a statutory basis. North Dakota imposes similar restrictions on the payment of dividends and distributions. At December 31, 2003, $22,244,303 was available for distribution in 2004 to the Company without prior approval. See note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The NAIC utilizes a risk-based capital model to help state regulators assess the capital adequacy of insurance companies and identify insurers that are in, or are perceived as approaching, financial difficulty. This model establishes minimum capital needs based on the risks applicable to the operations of the individual insurer. The risk-based capital requirements for property and casualty insurance companies measure three major areas of risk: asset risk, credit risk and underwriting risk. Companies having less statutory surplus than required by the risk-based capital requirements are subject to varying degrees of regulatory scrutiny and intervention, depending on the severity of the inadequacy. At December 31, 2003, the Company's insurance subsidiaries had total adjusted statutory capital of $170,232,871, which is well in excess of the minimum risk-based capital requirement of $39,609,015. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES. - ------- ----------- The Company does not own any real property. Lease costs of the Company's office facilities in Bismarck, North Dakota, which total approximately $384,000 annually, are included as expenses under the pooling agreement. Expenses of office facilities owned and leased by Employers Mutual are borne by the parties to the pooling agreement, less the rent received from the space used and paid for by non-insurance subsidiaries and outside tenants. See "Property and Casualty Insurance - Pooling Agreement" under Item 1 of this Form 10-K. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. - ------- ------------------ 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 reserves that are believed adequate to cover any potential liabilities arising out of all such pending or threatened proceedings. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. - ------- ---------------------------------------------------- None. PART II ------- ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED - ------- ------------------------------------------------- STOCKHOLDER MATTERS. -------------------- The "Stockholder Information" section from the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2003, which is included as Exhibit 13(d) to this Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA. - ------- ------------------------ The "Selected Financial Data" section from the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2003, which is included as Exhibit 13(a) to this Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND - ------- --------------------------------------------------------------- RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. ---------------------- The "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section from the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2003, which is included as Exhibit 13(b) to this Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. - -------- ----------------------------------------------------------- The information under the caption "Market Risk" in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section from the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2003, which is included as Exhibit 13(b) to this Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA. - ------- -------------------------------------------- The consolidated financial statements from the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2003, which is included as Exhibit 13(c) to this Form 10-K, are incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON - ------- ------------------------------------------------ ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. ------------------------------------ None. ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. - -------- ------------------------ Within the 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the Company can meet its disclosure obligations. Since the date of the most recent evaluation of the Company's internal controls by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer there have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls. PART III -------- ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT. - -------- --------------------------------------------------- See the information under the caption "Election of Directors" in the Company's Proxy Statement in connection with its Annual Meeting to be held on May 21, 2004, which information is incorporated herein by reference. The following sets forth information regarding all executive officers of the Company. NAME AGE POSITION ---- --- -------- Bruce G. Kelley 50 President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of Employers Mutual since 1992. Treasurer of Employers Mutual from 1996 until 2000 and the Company from 1996 until February 2001. He was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Employers Mutual from 1991 to 1992 and was Executive Vice President of the Company and Employers Mutual from 1989 to 1991. He has been employed by Employers Mutual since 1985. William A. Murray 57 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Employers Mutual since 2001. He was Resident Vice President and Branch Manager of Employers Mutual from 1992 until 2001. He has been employed by Employers Mutual since 1985. Ronald W. Jean 54 Executive Vice President for Corporate Development of the Company and Employers Mutual since 2000. He was Senior Vice President - Actuary of the Company and Employers Mutual from 1997 until 2000. He was Vice President - Actuary of the Company and Employers Mutual from 1985 until 1997. He has been employed by Employers Mutual since 1979. NAME AGE POSITION ---- --- -------- Raymond W. Davis 58 Senior Vice President - Investments of the Company and Employers Mutual since 1998. Treasurer of the Company since 2001 and of Employers Mutual since 2000. He was Vice President - Investments of the Company and of Employers Mutual from 1985 until 1998. He has been employed by Employers Mutual since 1979. Donald D. Klemme 58 Senior Vice President - Administration and Secretary of the Company since 1998. Senior Vice President - Administration of Employers Mutual since 1998. He was Vice President - Administration and Secretary of the Company from 1996 until 1998 and was Vice President - Director of Internal Audit prior to that. He has been employed by Employers Mutual since 1972. David O. Narigon 51 Senior Vice President - Claims of the Company and of Employers Mutual since 1998. He was Vice President - Claims of the Company from 1988 until 1998. He has been employed by Employers Mutual since 1983. Steven C. Peck 56 Senior Vice President - Actuary of the Company and of Employers Mutual since 2003. He was Vice President of the Company and of Employers Mutual from 1997 until 2003. He has been employed by Employers Mutual since 1984. Mark E. Reese 46 Vice President of the Company and Employers Mutual since 1996 and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Employers Mutual since 1997. He has been employed by Employers Mutual since 1984. The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The code of ethics is posted on the Investor Relations section of the Company's internet website found at www.emcinsurance.com. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. - -------- ----------------------- See the information under the caption "Compensation of Management" in the Company's Proxy Statement in connection with its Annual Meeting to be held on May 21, 2004, which information is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND - -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS. ---------------------------- The information under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners" and "Security Ownership of Management and Directors" in the Company's Proxy Statement in connection with its Annual Meeting to be held on May 21, 2004, which information is incorporated herein by reference. The following table presents information regarding Employers Mutual's equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2003: Number of securities remaining available for Number of future issuance securities to under equity be issued upon Weighted-average compensation exercise of exercise price plans (excluding outstanding of outstanding securities options, warrants options, warrants reflected in Plan category and rights and rights column (a)) - ------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- (a) (b) (c) ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 630,615 $12.86 386,775 Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders - N/A N/A ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Total 630,615 $12.86 386,775 ================= ================= ================= ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS. - -------- ----------------------------------------------- See the information under the caption "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" in the Company's Proxy Statement in connection with its Annual Meeting to be held on May 21, 2004, which information is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES. - -------- --------------------------------------- See the information under the captions "Audit Fees", "Audit Related Fees", "Tax Fees" and "All Other Fees" in the Company's Proxy Statement in connection with its Annual Meeting to be held on May 21, 2004, which information is incorporated herein by reference. PART IV ------- ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K. - -------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- (a) List of Financial Statements and Schedules. 1. Financial Statements Page ---- Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm .................................... 32* Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2003 and 2002 ..... 33* Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 ......................... 35* Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 ............. 36* Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 ............. 37* Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 ......................... 38* Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements .................. 40-68* * Refers to the respective page of the financial information insert of EMC Insurance Group Inc.'s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders. The Consolidated Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report, which are included as Exhibit 13(c), are incorporated by reference. With the exception of the portions of such Annual Report specifically incorporated by reference in this Item and Items 5, 6, 7, 7A and 8, such Annual Report shall not be deemed filed as part of this Form 10-K or otherwise subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 2. Schedules Form 10-K Page ---- Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, On Schedules ....................... 36 Schedule I - Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties ............... 37 Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant 38 Schedule III - Supplementary Insurance Information .......... 41 Schedule IV - Reinsurance .................................. 42 Schedule VI - Supplemental Information Concerning Property-Casualty Insurance Operations ..... 43 All other schedules have been omitted for the reason that the items required by such schedules are not present in the consolidated financial statements, are covered in the notes to the consolidated financial statements or are not significant in amount. 3. Management contracts and compensatory plan arrangements Exhibit 10(b). 2003 Senior Executive Compensation Bonus Program. Exhibit 10(d). Deferred Bonus Compensation Plans. Exhibit 10(e). 2003 Executive Contingent Salary Plan - EMC Reinsurance Company. Exhibit 10(g). Employers Mutual Casualty Company Excess Retirement Benefit Agreement. Exhibit 10(h). Employers Mutual Casualty Company 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Exhibit 10(i). 1993 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Incentive Stock Option Plan, as amended. Exhibit 10(j). 2003 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. Exhibit 10(k). Employers Mutual Casualty Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Exhibit 10(l). EMCC Option It! Deferred Bonus Compensation Plan. Exhibit 10(m). EMCC Board of Directors Option It! Deferred Compensation Plan. Exhibit 10(n). Employers Mutual Casualty Company Executive Non- Qualified Excess Plan. Exhibit 10(o). 2003 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Incentive Stock Option Plan. (b) Reports on Form 8-K. An 8-K was filed on November 4, 2003 announcing the Company's financial results for the third quarter of 2003. (c) Exhibits. 3. Articles of incorporation and by-laws: (a) Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998.) (b) By-Laws of the Company, as amended. Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2001.) 10. Material contracts. (a) Quota Share Reinsurance Contract between Employers Mutual Casualty Company and EMC Reinsurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2000.) (b) 2003 Senior Executive Compensation Bonus Program. (c) EMC Insurance Companies reinsurance pooling agreements between Employers Mutual Casualty Company and certain of its affiliated companies, as amended. (d) Deferred Bonus Compensation Plans. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998.) (e) 2003 Executive Contingent Salary Plan - EMC Reinsurance Company. (f) EMC Insurance Group Inc. Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Registration No. 33-34499.) (g) Employers Mutual Casualty Company Excess Retirement Benefit Agreement. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998.) (h) Employers Mutual Casualty Company 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Registration No. 33-49335.) (i) 1993 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Registration Nos. 33-49337 and 333-45279.) (j) 2003 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Registration No. 333-104469.) (k) Employers Mutual Casualty Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2000.) (l) EMCC Option It! Deferred Bonus Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2001.) (m) EMCC Board of Directors Option It! Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2001.) (n) Employers Mutual Casualty Company Executive Non-Qualified Excess Plan. (o) 2003 Employers Mutual Casualty Company Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Registration No. 333-103722.) 13. Annual Report to Security Holders. (a) Selected Financial Data from the Company's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders. (b) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations from the Company's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders. (c) Consolidated Financial Statements from the Company's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders. (d) Stockholder Information from the Company's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders. 14. Code of Ethics. (Incorporated by reference to the Investor Relations section of the Company's internet website found at www.emcinsurance.com.) 21. Subsidiaries of the Registrant. 23. Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, with respect to Forms S-8 (Registration Nos. 33-49335, 33-49337, 333-104469, 333-45279 and 333-103722) and Form S-3 (Registration no. 33-34499). 24. Power of Attorney. 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 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 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. (d) Financial statements required by Regulation S-X which are excluded from the Annual Report to Stockholders by Rule 14a-3(b)(1). None. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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 September 27, 2004. EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. /s/ Bruce G. Kelley ----------------------- Bruce G. Kelley President and Chief Executive Officer /s/ Mark E. Reese ----------------------- Mark E. Reese Vice President - Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on September 27, 2004. /s/ Mark E. Reese ------------------------ George C. Carpenter III* Director /s/ Mark E. Reese ------------------------ E. H. Creese* Director /s/ Mark E. Reese ------------------------ David J. Fisher* Director /s/ Bruce G. Kelley ------------------------ Bruce G. Kelley Director /s/ Mark E. Reese ------------------------ George W. Kochheiser* Chairman of the Board /s/ Mark E. Reese ------------------------ Raymond A. Michel* Director /s/ Mark E. Reese ------------------------ Fredrick A. Schiek* Director * by power of attorney REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We have audited the consolidated financial statements of EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, and have issued our report thereon dated February 27, 2004 (included elsewhere in this Amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A). Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in Item 15(a)2 of this Amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. These schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedules referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. /s/ Ernst & Young LLP February 27, 2004 Des Moines, Iowa EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Schedule I - Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties December 31, 2003 Amount at which shown Fair in the Type of investment Cost value balance sheet ------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------- Securities held-to-maturity: Fixed maturities: United States Government and government agencies and authorities .............. $ 47,547,267 $ 51,327,598 $ 47,547,267 Mortgage-backed securities ..... 2,298,081 2,526,826 2,298,081 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total fixed maturity securities ............. 49,845,348 53,854,424 49,845,348 ------------ ------------ ------------ Securities available-for-sale: Fixed maturities: United States Government and government agencies and authorities .............. 170,445,955 171,149,194 171,149,194 States, municipalities and political subdivisions ....... 140,694,351 146,775,232 146,775,232 Mortgage-backed securities ..... 19,311,455 21,278,600 21,278,600 Public utilities ............... 20,171,434 21,799,337 21,799,337 Corporate securities ........... 148,887,343 162,783,395 162,783,395 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total fixed maturity securities ............. 499,510,538 523,785,758 523,785,758 ------------ ------------ ------------ Equity securities: Common stocks Banks, trusts and insurance companies .................. 6,528,117 9,624,863 9,624,863 Industrial, miscellaneous and all other .................. 31,969,958 38,855,135 38,855,135 Non-redeemable preferred stocks ..................... 500,000 528,500 528,500 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total equity securities ............ 38,998,075 49,008,498 49,008,498 ------------ ------------ ------------ Other long-term investments ........ 4,758,019 4,758,019 4,758,019 Short-term investments ............. 63,568,064 63,568,064 63,568,064 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total investments ...... $656,680,044 $694,974,763 $690,965,687 ============ ============ ============ EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Condensed Balance Sheets December 31, -------------------------- 2003 2002 ------------ ------------ ASSETS Investment in common stock of subsidiaries (equity method) .................. $176,087,397 $154,552,425 Fixed maturity investments: Securities available-for-sale, at fair value .. 516,775 1,676,455 Short-term investments .......................... 3,768,427 1,455,824 Cash ............................................ 168,072 58,676 Accrued investment income ....................... 4,545 42,088 Income taxes recoverable ........................ 211,760 212,502 Deferred income taxes ........................... 204,310 12,764 ------------ ------------ Total assets ............................... $180,961,286 $158,010,734 ============ ============ LIABILITIES Accounts payable ................................ $ 199,015 $ 227,207 Indebtedness to related party ................... 11,720 15,163 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities .......................... 210,735 242,370 ------------ ------------ STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, 11,501,065 shares in 2003 and 11,399,050 shares in 2002 ......... 11,501,065 11,399,050 Additional paid-in capital ...................... 69,113,228 67,270,591 Accumulated other comprehensive income .......... 22,285,668 14,218,330 Retained earnings ............................... 77,850,590 64,880,393 ------------ ------------ Total stockholders' equity ................. 180,750,551 157,768,364 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $180,961,286 $158,010,734 ============ ============ EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant, Continued Condensed Statements of Income Years ended December 31, ------------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ----------- ----------- ----------- REVENUES Dividends received from subsidiaries .. $ 7,255,228 $ 6,250,016 $ 5,525,096 Investment income ..................... 30,368 113,843 194,326 Realized investment gains ............. - 5,313 - ----------- ----------- ----------- 7,285,596 6,369,172 5,719,422 Operating expenses .................... 609,563 436,688 438,687 ----------- ----------- ----------- Income before income tax benefit and equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries ..... 6,676,033 5,932,484 5,280,735 Income tax benefit .................... (195,932) (101,747) (110,263) ----------- ----------- ----------- Income before equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries 6,871,965 6,034,231 5,390,998 Equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries .............. 13,477,158 10,067,507 (7,497,130) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net income (loss) ....... $20,349,123 $16,101,738 $(2,106,132) =========== =========== =========== Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income Years ended December 31, ---------------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ------------ ------------ ------------ Net income (loss) .................. $ 20,349,123 $ 16,101,738 $ (2,106,132) ------------ ------------ ------------ Other Comprehensive Income: Unrealized holding gains arising during the period, net of deferred income tax expense .... 8,638,869 4,845,443 962,453 Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss), net of income tax expense (benefit) .............. (759,797) 2,053,481 (506,701) Adjustment for minimum pension liability associated with Employers Mutual's pension plan, net of deferred income tax expense (benefit) .............. 188,266 (188,266) - ------------ ------------ ------------ Other comprehensive income ....... 8,067,338 6,710,658 455,752 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total comprehensive income (loss) ..................... $ 28,416,461 $ 22,812,396 $ (1,650,380) ============ ============ ============ EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant, Continued Condensed Statements of Cash Flows Years ended December 31, ------------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities ................ $ 6,691,273 $ 5,988,850 $ 5,316,361 ----------- ----------- ----------- Cash flows from investing activities Maturities of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale ..... 1,665,000 1,505,313 - Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale ..... (500,000) (1,694,104) - Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments ...................... (2,312,603) (467,269) 1,169,110 ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash (used) provided by investing activities ........... (1,147,603) (656,060) 1,169,110 ----------- ----------- ----------- Cash flows from financing activities Balances resulting from related party transactions with Employers Mutual: Issuance of common stock ........ 1,944,652 1,326,451 502,007 Dividends paid to Employers Mutual ........................ (5,522,994) (5,423,042) (5,275,938) Dividends to Employers Mutual (reimbursement for non-GAAP expense) ...................... (505,196) - - Dividends paid to stockholders ...... (1,350,736) (1,405,064) (1,511,382) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash used in financing activities ..................... (5,434,274) (5,501,655) (6,285,313) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net increase (decrease) in cash ....... 109,396 (168,865) 200,158 Cash at beginning of year ............. 58,676 227,541 27,383 ----------- ----------- ----------- Cash at end of year ................... $ 168,072 $ 58,676 $ 227,541 =========== =========== =========== Income taxes received ................. $ - $ 2,253 $ 6,588 Interest received .................... $ - $ - $ 123 EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Schedule III - Supplementary Insurance Information For Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 Deferred Loss and policy settlement Net acquisition expense Unearned Premium investment Segment costs reserves premiums revenue income ------- ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ----------- Year ended December 31, 2003: Property and casualty insurance $22,844,736 $251,260,260 $107,136,936 $241,237,313 $20,724,017 Reinsurance ................... 3,893,048 116,663,621 17,695,671 89,385,497 8,948,076 Parent company ................ - - - - 30,368 ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ----------- Consolidated ............. $26,737,784 $367,923,881 $124,832,607 $330,622,810 $29,702,461 =========== ============ ============ ============ =========== Year ended December 31, 2002: Property and casualty insurance $21,181,714 $229,876,996 $ 98,723,419 $225,013,076 $23,517,163 Reinsurance ................... 3,745,147 101,349,757 17,023,395 72,029,957 9,147,127 Parent company ................ - - - - 113,843 ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ----------- Consolidated ............. $24,926,861 $331,226,753 $115,746,814 $297,043,033 $32,778,133 Year ended December 31, 2001: Property and casualty insurance $18,536,512 $221,986,108 $ 86,532,102 $203,392,845 $22,457,799 Reinsurance ................... 2,827,016 92,532,480 12,850,074 61,887,013 8,317,505 Parent company ................ - - - - 194,326 ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ----------- Consolidated ............. $21,363,528 $314,518,588 $ 99,382,176 $265,279,858 $30,969,630 =========== ============ ============ ============ =========== Amortization Losses and of deferred settlement policy Other expenses acquisition underwriting Premiums Segment incurred costs expenses written (1) ------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Year ended December 31, 2003: Property and casualty insurance $168,238,623 $ 52,932,215 $ 24,548,745 $249,591,675 Reinsurance ................... 58,265,927 19,027,017 5,376,197 90,057,773 Parent company ................ - - - - ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Consolidated ............. $226,504,550 $ 71,959,232 $ 29,924,942 $339,649,448 Year ended December 31, 2002: Property and casualty insurance $156,152,022 $ 49,057,682 $ 20,447,874 $237,633,602 Reinsurance ................... 50,905,834 16,669,334 6,481,098 76,203,278 Parent company ................ - - - - ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Consolidated ............. $207,057,856 $ 65,727,016 $ 26,928,972 $313,836,880 ============ ============ ============ ============ Year ended December 31, 2001: Property and casualty insurance $168,344,370 $ 42,062,510 $ 17,990,128 $224,412,085 Reinsurance ................... 53,574,380 13,624,505 4,749,785 66,287,442 Parent company ................ - - - - ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Consolidated ............. $221,918,750 $ 55,687,015 $ 22,739,913 $290,699,527 ============ ============ ============ ============ (1) Written premiums for 2001 include $13,884,423 of additional premiums from a change in the recording of installment-based policies. See note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements which is included as Exhibit 13(c) of this Form 10-K. EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Schedule IV - Reinsurance For years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 Percentage Ceded to Assumed of amount Gross other from other Net assumed amount companies companies amount to net ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ----------- Year ended December 31, 2003: Consolidated earned premiums ........... $221,662,098 $236,616,480 $345,577,192 $330,622,810 104.5% ============ ============ ============ ============ ========== Year ended December 31, 2002: Consolidated earned premiums ........... $241,939,466 $252,860,839 $307,964,406 $297,043,033 103.7% ============ ============ ============ ============ ========== Year ended December 31, 2001: Consolidated earned premiums ........... $255,764,274 $266,623,369 $276,138,953 $265,279,858 104.1% ============ ============ ============ ============ ========== EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Schedule VI - Supplemental Insurance Information Concerning Property-Casualty Insurance Operations For Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 Discount, Deferred Reserves for if any, policy losses and deducted Net Consolidated property- acquisition settlement from Unearned Earned investment casualty entities costs expenses reserves premiums premiums income - ---------------------- ----------- ------------ -------- ------------ ------------ ----------- Year ended December 31, 2003: $26,737,784 $367,923,881 $ -0- $124,832,607 $330,622,810 $29,672,093 =========== ============ ======== ============ ============ =========== Year ended December 31, 2002: $24,926,861 $331,226,753 $ -0- $115,746,814 $297,043,033 $32,664,290 =========== ============ ======== ============ ============ =========== Year ended December 31, 2001: $21,363,528 $314,518,588 $ -0- $ 99,382,176 $265,279,858 $30,775,304 =========== ============ ======== ============ ============ =========== Losses and Amortization settlement expenses of deferred Paid incurred related to policy losses and Consolidated property- Current Prior acquisition settlement Premiums casualty entities Year Years costs expenses Written (1) - ---------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------ Year ended December 31, 2003: $219,028,236 $ 7,476,314 $ 71,959,232 $194,247,192 $339,649,448 ============ =========== ============ ============ ============ Year ended December 31, 2002: $200,059,798 $ 6,998,058 $ 65,727,016 $188,868,718 $313,836,880 ============ =========== ============ ============ ============ Year ended December 31, 2001: $216,752,003 $ 5,166,747 $ 55,687,015 $194,512,990 $290,699,527 ============ =========== ============ ============ ============ (1) Written premiums for 2001 include $13,884,423 of additional premiums from a change in the recording of installment-based policies. See note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements which is included as Exhibit 13(c) of this Form 10-K. EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Subsidiaries Index to Exhibits Exhibit number Item Page number -------- ---- ----------- 10(b) 2003 Senior Executive Compensation Bonus Program. 45-49 10(c) EMC Insurance Companies reinsurance pooling agreement between Employers Mutual Casualty Company and certain of its affiliated companies, as amended. 50-77 10(e) 2003 Executive Contingent Salary Plan - EMC Reinsurance Company. 78-79 10(n) Employers Mutual Casualty Company Executive Non-Qualified Excess Plan. 80-109 13(a) Selected Financial Data. 110 13(b) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 111-149 13(c) Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 150-187 13(d) Stockholder Information. 188 21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant. 189 23 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 190 24 Power of Attorney. 191 31.1 Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002. 192-193 31.2 Certification of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002. 194-195 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. 196 32.2 Certification of the 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. 197