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8-K - EMC INSURANCE 8-K 5-10-2011 - EMC INSURANCE GROUP INCform8k.htm

EXHIBIT 99



EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. REPORTS
2011 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS AND
REVISES 2011 OPERATING INCOME
GUIDANCE

First Quarter 2011
Operating Loss Per Share – $0.01
Net Income Per Share – $0.40
Realized Investment Gains Per Share – $0.41
Catastrophe and Storm Losses Per Share – $0.47
Large Losses Per Share – $0.20
GAAP Combined Ratio – 113.5 percent

2011 Operating Income Guidance – $0.40 to $0.65 per share

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 10, 2011) - EMC Insurance Group Inc. (Nasdaq OMX/GS:EMCI) today reported an operating loss of $0.01 per share for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, compared to operating income of $0.73 per share for the first quarter of 20101.

Net income, including realized investment gains and losses, totaled $5,221,000 ($0.40 per share) for the first quarter of 2011 compared to $9,878,000 ($0.75 per share) for the first quarter of 2010.

 “First quarter 2011 is a stark reminder of our business purpose to insure our policyholders against loss. Our hearts go out to all those affected by the catastrophic events of the first quarter,” stated Bruce G. Kelley, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Both our property and casualty insurance and our reinsurance segments tallied large losses from national and world-wide events of the quarter.”

Kelley went on to say that, “catastrophe and storm losses totaled $9,405,000 ($0.47 per share after taxes) and accounted for 9.8 percentage points of our first quarter loss ratio; this compares to $3,421,000 ($0.17 per share after taxes) in the first quarter of 2010 and is significantly greater than the 10-year (2001 through 2010) first quarter average of 3.0 percentage points. Non-catastrophic large losses accounted for an additional 4.2 percentage points of the loss ratio.”

 
 

 

“Approximately 64 percent of the catastrophe and storm losses are attributable to our reinsurance segment and about half of those losses ($3.0 million) were a result of the Japan earthquake and tsunami, which occurred on March 11, 2011,” continued Kelley. “Within the property and casualty insurance segment, losses came from the weight of excessive snow and ice on roofs, as well as other winter weather-related claims from mid-western and eastern U.S. storms. There has been some media speculation that global storm activity is increasing in both frequency and severity; however, we believe the recent increase in storm-related losses, though somewhat unusual, is not a permanent change. Nonetheless, we remain diligent in the evaluation of our losses and are prepared to take necessary pricing and underwriting actions, if deemed necessary.”

Premiums earned increased 4.3 percent to $96,287,000 for the first quarter of 2011, from $92,345,000 for the first quarter of 2010.  “Premium rates in the commercial lines of business continue to be competitive, but we are beginning to see some signs of improvement in both rate levels and insured exposures,” stated Kelley. “Personal lines rates continue to increase moderately and overall, premium rates are up slightly. In the reinsurance segment, premium rate levels declined slightly during the January 1, 2011 renewal season.”

Investment income decreased 3.5 percent to $12,079,000 in the first quarter of 2011 from $12,517,000 in the first quarter of 2010.

The Company experienced $3,907,000 ($0.20 per share after taxes) of favorable development on prior years’ reserves during the first quarter of 2011, compared to $21,420,000 ($1.06 per share after taxes) in the first quarter of 2010.  The property and casualty insurance segment continued to experience favorable development on prior years’ reserves, but the amount was substantially less than the amount reported in the first quarter of 2010. Approximately $4.0 million, or 44 percent, of the decline in favorable development is attributed to a change in the methodology used to allocate bulk reserves to the various accident years that was implemented December 31, 2010. Under the revised methodology, a larger portion of the current quarter’s bulk reserves is being allocated to the prior accident years.  This had the effect of reducing the amount of favorable development reported in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. Most of the remaining decline in favorable development is attributed to a higher level of adverse development on open claims during the first quarter of 2011. The amount of favorable development experienced on closed claims was very similar to the amount experienced in the first quarter of 2010. The reinsurance subsidiary experienced adverse development on its prior years’ reserves due to higher than anticipated reported losses.

 
 

 

Net realized investment gains totaled $8,300,000 ($0.41 per share after taxes) for the first quarter of 2011 compared to $525,000 ($0.02 per share after taxes) in 2010.  During the first quarter of 2011, the Company’s outside equity manager rebalanced the equity portfolio to improve future performance, which triggered a significant amount of realized gains.  “Other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses declined slightly to $246,000 ($0.01 per share after taxes) in the first quarter of 2011 from $352,000 ($0.01 per share after taxes) in the first quarter of 2010.

Large losses (which the Company defines as losses greater than $500,000 for the pool), excluding catastrophe and storm losses, increased to $4,037,000 ($0.20 per share after taxes) in the first quarter of 2011 from $3,409,000 ($0.17 per share after taxes) in the first quarter of 2010.

The Company’s GAAP combined ratio was 113.5 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 98.1 percent in the first quarter of 2010.

At March 31, 2011, consolidated assets totaled $1.2 billion, including $1.1 billion in the investment portfolio and stockholders’ equity totaled $370.0 million, an increase of 0.4 percent from December 31, 2010. Net book value of the Company’s stock increased slightly to $28.56 per share from $28.52 per share at December 31, 2010.  Book value excluding accumulated other comprehensive income increased to $26.83 per share from $26.63 per share at December 31, 2010.

The Company currently expects losses associated with storms that occurred during the month of April, including a tornado in Mapleton, Iowa and a record number of tornados in Alabama and several other southern states, to total approximately $15,000,000, or $0.75 per share after tax.  These losses will be included in the Company’s second quarter results.  As a result of the unusually large amount of April storm losses, management is lowering its 2011 operating income guidance from the previous range of $1.00 to $1.25 per share to a range of $0.40 to $0.65 per share. This guidance is based on a projected GAAP combined ratio of 110.6 percent for the year.

The Company will hold an earnings teleconference call at 11:00 a.m. eastern standard time on May 10, 2011 to allow securities analysts, stockholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the Company’s results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, as well as its expectations for the remainder of 2011. Dial-in information for the call is toll-free 1-877-407-9205 (International: 1-201-689-8054). The event will be archived and available for digital replay through August 1, 2011. The replay access information is toll-free 1-877-660-6853 (International: 1-201-612-7415); passcodes required for playback: account number 286, conference ID number 370904.

 
 

 

Members of the news media, investors and the general public are invited to access a live webcast of the conference call via the Company’s investor relations page at www.emcins.com/ir.  The webcast will be archived and available for replay until August 1, 2011. A transcript of the teleconference will also be available on the Company’s website shortly after the completion of the teleconference.

EMC Insurance Group Inc. is a publicly held insurance holding company with operations in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, which was formed in 1974 and became publicly held in 1982. The Company’s common stock trades on the Global Select Market tier of the NASDAQ OMX Stock Market under the symbol EMCI. EMCI’s parent company is Employers Mutual Casualty Company (EMCC).  EMCI and EMCC, together with their subsidiary and affiliated companies, conduct operations under the trade name EMC Insurance Companies. Additional information regarding EMC Insurance Companies may be found at www.emcins.com.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides issuers the opportunity to make cautionary statements regarding forward-looking statements.  Accordingly, any forward-looking statement contained in this report is based on management’s current beliefs, assumptions and expectations of the Company’s future performance, taking into account all information currently available to management.  These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as the result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to management.  If a change occurs, the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.  The risks and uncertainties that may affect the actual results of the Company include, but are not limited to, the following:

 
·
catastrophic events and the occurrence of significant severe weather conditions;
 
·
the adequacy of loss and settlement expense reserves;
 
·
state and federal legislation and regulations;
 
·
changes in the property and casualty insurance industry, interest rates or the performance of financial markets and the general economy;
 
·
rating agency actions;
 
·
“other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses; and
 
·
other risks and uncertainties inherent to the Company’s business, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Management intends to identify forward-looking statements when using the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” or similar expressions.  Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements.

 
 

 
 
¹The Company uses a non-GAAP financial measure called “operating income (loss) ” that management believes is useful to investors because it illustrates the performance of our normal, ongoing operations, which is important in understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations.  While this measure is consistent with measures utilized by investors to evaluate performance, it is not a substitute for the U.S. GAAP financial measure of net income (loss). Therefore, the Company has provided the following reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure of operating income (loss) to the U.S. GAAP financial measure of net income. Management also uses non-GAAP financial measures for goal setting, determining employee and senior management awards and compensation, and evaluating performance.

Reconciliation of operating income (loss) to net income:

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Operating income (loss)
  $ (146,477 )   $ 9,536,899  
Net realized investment gains
    5,367,827       341,193  
Net income
  $ 5,221,350     $ 9,878,092  
 
 
 

 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS – UNAUDITED

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
ASSETS
           
Investments:
           
Fixed maturities:
           
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $382,905 and $389,679)
  $ 335,320     $ 340,803  
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $883,749,482 and $909,582,782)
    912,992,330       941,537,026  
Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $84,461,376 and $75,721,039)
    109,114,446       101,138,982  
Other long-term investments, at cost
    26,002       29,827  
Short-term investments, at cost
    54,445,536       36,616,111  
Total investments
    1,076,913,634       1,079,662,749  
                 
Cash
    728,827       491,994  
Reinsurance receivables due from affiliate
    32,868,653       30,256,586  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums due from affiliate
    8,793,643       9,530,426  
Deferred policy acquisition costs (affiliated $37,670,566 and $37,584,448)
    37,683,733       37,584,448  
Prepaid pension benefits due from affiliate
    4,692,991       5,125,701  
Accrued investment income
    11,587,420       10,925,854  
Accounts receivable
    1,027,521       1,716,150  
Income taxes recoverable
    741,523       2,350,864  
Deferred income taxes
    8,297,229       6,690,218  
Goodwill
    941,586       941,586  
Other assets (affiliated $2,398,198 and $2,433,445)
    2,563,031       2,517,922  
Total assets
  $ 1,186,839,791     $ 1,187,794,498  
 
 
 

 

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
LIABILITIES
           
Losses and settlement expenses (affiliated $564,103,373 and $553,125,183)
  $ 567,422,231     $ 556,140,956  
Unearned premiums (affiliated $167,746,796 and $167,896,119)
    167,817,489       167,896,119  
Other policyholders' funds due to affiliate
    8,573,012       8,315,751  
Surplus notes payable to affiliate
    25,000,000       25,000,000  
Amounts due affiliate to settle quarterly transaction balances
    10,493,402       18,380,813  
Pension and postretirement benefits payable to affiliate
    20,987,377       20,418,716  
Other liabilities (affiliated $16,464,544 and $22,861,092)
    16,586,572       23,001,141  
Total liabilities
    816,880,083       819,153,496  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, 12,953,116 shares in 2011 and 12,927,678 shares in 2010
    12,953,116       12,927,678  
Additional paid-in capital
    89,556,825       88,937,294  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
               
Net unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities with "other-than-temporary" impairments
    (5,210 )     (69,852 )
Other net unrealized gains
    35,037,556       37,361,774  
Pension and postretirement benefits payable to affiliate
    (12,624,231 )     (12,796,435 )
Total accumulated other comprehensive income
    22,408,115       24,495,487  
Retained earnings
    245,041,652       242,280,543  
Total stockholders' equity
    369,959,708       368,641,002  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,186,839,791     $ 1,187,794,498  
 
 
 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - UNAUDITED
 
   
Property and
                   
   
Casualty
         
Parent
       
Quarter Ended March 31, 2011
 
Insurance
   
Reinsurance
   
Company
   
Consolidated
 
Revenues:
                     
Premiums earned
  $ 77,311,292     $ 18,975,522     $ -     $ 96,286,814  
Investment income, net
    8,897,650       3,180,547       398       12,078,595  
Other income
    203,830       -       -       203,830  
      86,412,772       22,156,069       398       108,569,239  
Losses and expenses:
                               
Losses and settlement expenses
    51,167,688       22,201,913       -       73,369,601  
Dividends to policyholders
    2,512,969       -       -       2,512,969  
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    19,732,697       4,078,085       -       23,810,782  
Other underwriting expenses
    9,090,607       530,717       -       9,621,324  
Interest expense
    225,000       -       -       225,000  
Other expenses
    162,716       421,286       348,376       932,378  
      82,891,677       27,232,001       348,376       110,472,054  
Operating income (loss) before income taxes
    3,521,095       (5,075,932 )     (347,978 )     (1,902,815 )
Realized investment gains
    6,353,354       1,904,842       -       8,258,196  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    9,874,449       (3,171,090 )     (347,978 )     6,355,381  
Income tax expense (benefit):
                               
Current
    2,831,702       (1,092,835 )     (121,792 )     1,617,075  
Deferred
    (134,522 )     (348,522 )     -       (483,044 )
      2,697,180       (1,441,357 )     (121,792 )     1,134,031  
Net income (loss)
  $ 7,177,269     $ (1,729,733 )   $ (226,186 )   $ 5,221,350  
Average shares outstanding
                            12,935,554  
Per Share Data:
                               
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted
  $ 0.55     $ (0.13 )   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.40  
Decrease (increase) in provision for insured events of prior years (after tax)
  $ 0.24     $ (0.04 )   $ -     $ 0.20  
Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)
  $ (0.17 )   $ (0.30 )   $ -     $ (0.47 )
Dividends per share
                          $ 0.19  
Book value per share
                          $ 28.56  
Effective tax rate
                            17.8 %
Annualized net income as a percent of beg. SH equity
                            5.7 %
Other Information of Interest:
                               
Net written premiums
  $ 76,628,300     $ 20,156,866     $ -     $ 96,785,166  
Increase (decrease) in provision for insured events of prior years
  $ (4,682,025 )   $ 774,736     $ -     $ (3,907,289 )
Catastrophe and storm losses
  $ 3,423,338     $ 5,981,344     $ -     $ 9,404,682  
GAAP Combined Ratio:
                               
Loss ratio
    66.2 %     117.0 %     -       76.2 %
Expense ratio
    40.5 %     24.3 %     -       37.3 %
      106.7 %     141.3 %     -       113.5 %

 
 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - UNAUDITED - CONTINUED

   
Property and
                   
   
Casualty
         
Parent
       
Quarter Ended March 31, 2010
 
Insurance
   
Reinsurance
   
Company
   
Consolidated
 
Revenues:
                     
Premiums earned
  $ 74,787,363     $ 17,557,703     $ -     $ 92,345,066  
Investment income, net
    9,416,496       3,104,100       (3,609 )     12,516,987  
Other income
    206,686       -       -       206,686  
      84,410,545       20,661,803       (3,609 )     105,068,739  
Losses and expenses:
                               
Losses and settlement expenses
    44,014,288       12,028,336       -       56,042,624  
Dividends to policyholders
    2,354,462       -       -       2,354,462  
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    18,251,004       3,614,111       -       21,865,115  
Other underwriting expenses
    9,051,013       1,314,181       -       10,365,194  
Interest expense
    225,000       -       -       225,000  
Other expenses
    227,724       (310,195 )     280,674       198,203  
      74,123,491       16,646,433       280,674       91,050,598  
Operating income (loss) before income taxes
    10,287,054       4,015,370       (284,283 )     14,018,141  
Realized investment gains
    405,511       119,402       -       524,913  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    10,692,565       4,134,772       (284,283 )     14,543,054  
Income tax expense (benefit):
                               
Current
    3,069,962       1,182,987       (99,499 )     4,153,450  
Deferred
    587,145       (75,633 )     -       511,512  
      3,657,107       1,107,354       (99,499 )     4,664,962  
Net income (loss)
  $ 7,035,458     $ 3,027,418     $ (184,784 )   $ 9,878,092  
Average shares outstanding
                            13,123,810  
Per Share Data:
                               
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted
  $ 0.54     $ 0.23     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.75  
Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years (after tax)
  $ 0.67     $ 0.39     $ -     $ 1.06  
Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)
  $ (0.12 )   $ (0.05 )   $ -     $ (0.17 )
Dividends per share
                          $ 0.18  
Book value per share
                          $ 27.32  
Effective tax rate
                            31.1 %
Annualized net income as a percent of beg. SH equity
                            11.5 %
Other Information of Interest:
                               
Net written premiums
  $ 72,555,642     $ 17,996,129     $ -     $ 90,551,771  
Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years
  $ (13,611,773 )   $ (7,808,189 )   $ -     $ (21,419,962 )
Catastrophe and storm losses
  $ 2,363,529     $ 1,057,087     $ -     $ 3,420,616  
GAAP Combined Ratio:
                               
Loss ratio
    58.9 %     68.5 %     -       60.7 %
Expense ratio
    39.6 %     28.1 %     -       37.4 %
      98.5 %     96.6 %     -       98.1 %
 
 
 

 
 
INVESTMENTS

The Company had total cash and invested assets with a carrying value of $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2011 and  December 31, 2010.  The following table summarizes the Company’s cash and invested assets as of the dates indicated:

   
March 31, 2011
 
               
Percent of
       
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Total
   
Carrying
 
($ in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Fair Value
   
Value
 
Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity
  $ 335     $ 383       -     $ 335  
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale
    883,749       912,992       84.7 %     912,992  
Equity securities available-for-sale
    84,461       109,114       10.1 %     109,114  
Cash
    729       729       0.1 %     729  
Short-term investments
    54,446       54,446       5.1 %     54,446  
Other long-term investments
    26       26       -       26  
    $ 1,023,746     $ 1,077,690       100.0 %   $ 1,077,642  


   
December 31, 2010
 
               
Percent of
       
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Total
   
Carrying
 
($ in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Fair Value
   
Value
 
Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity
  $ 341     $ 390       -     $ 341  
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale
    909,583       941,537       87.2 %     941,537  
Equity securities available-for-sale
    75,721       101,139       9.4 %     101,139  
Cash
    492       492       -       492  
Short-term investments
    36,616       36,616       3.4 %     36,616  
Other long-term investments
    30       30       -       30  
    $ 1,022,783     $ 1,080,204       100.0 %   $ 1,080,155  

 
 

 
 
NET WRITTEN PREMIUMS

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31, 2011
 
         
Percent of
 
         
Increase/
 
   
Percent of
   
(Decrease) in
 
   
Net Written
   
Net Written
 
   
Premiums
   
Premiums
 
Property and Casualty Insurance
           
Commercial Lines:
           
Automobile
    17.2 %     5.0 %
Liability
    15.6 %     5.5 %
Property
    17.4 %     9.8 %
Workers' Compensation
    16.0 %     11.8 %
Other
    1.7 %     (18.2 ) %
Total Commercial Lines
    67.9 %     7.1 %
                 
Personal Lines:
               
Automobile
    7.1 %     (12.1 ) %
Property
    4.8 %     18.2 %
Liability
    0.1 %     5.6 %
Total Personal Lines
    12.0 %     (2.0 ) %
Total Property and Casualty Insurance
    79.9 %     5.6 %
                 
Reinsurance (1)
    20.1 %     6.9 %
Total
    100.0 %     5.9 %

(1)
Excludes $920,597 positive portfolio adjustment related to the January 1, 2011 increased participation in the MRB pool.