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8-K - EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC 8-K 5-8-2012 - EMC INSURANCE GROUP INCform8k.htm

EXHIBIT 99
 
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EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. REPORTS
2012 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

First Quarter Ended March 31, 2012
Operating Income Per Share – $1.04
Net Income Per Share – $1.49
Net Realized Investment Gains Per Share – $0.45
Catastrophe Losses Per Share – $0.49
Large Losses Per Share – $0.32
GAAP Combined Ratio – 92.4 percent

Certain amounts previously reported in 2011 have been adjusted in conjunction with the Company’s retrospective adoption of new accounting guidance for the calculation of deferred policy acquisition costs that became effective January 1, 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 8, 2012) - EMC Insurance Group Inc. (Nasdaq OMX/GS:EMCI) today reported operating income of $1.04 per share for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $0.03 per share for the first quarter of 20111.

Net income, including realized investment gains and losses, totaled $19,224,000 ($1.49 per share) for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $5,740,000 ($0.44 per share) for the first quarter of 2011.

“The Company experienced another strong quarter,” stated Bruce G. Kelley, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Our property and casualty insurance segment and our reinsurance segment both benefited from increases in premium income and favorable reserve development.”

Premiums earned increased 14.0 percent to $109,760,000 for the first quarter of 2012, from $96,287,000 for the first quarter of 2011.  The property and casualty insurance segment reported a 10.0 percent increase in premiums earned, while the reinsurance segment reported a 30.3 percent increase.

“The increase in premium income in the property and casualty insurance segment is the result of several factors, including rate level increases in all lines of business, growth in insured exposures, and strong retention of policies,” continued Kelley. “The large increase in the reinsurance segment was primarily driven by Employers Mutual’s participation in a new offshore energy and liability proportional account written through a specialty marine underwriter, but also reflects double-digit rate level increases implemented on January 1, 2012 renewals as well.  The new marine account is expected to generate between $17 and $21 million of annual premiums, which will more than offset the loss of a large account in the Mutual Reinsurance Bureau book of business that was cancelled in the first quarter of 2012 due to poor experience.”

Investment income decreased 7.6 percent to $11,157,000 in the first quarter of 2012 from $12,078,000 in the first quarter of 2011. This decrease is attributed to the continued decline in the average coupon rate on the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio, as well as an increase in short-term investments, which carry even lower yields.

“Investment income continues to decline as a result of the low interest rate environment that has persisted for the past several years,” stated Kelley. “At the end of the first quarter, management reinvested approximately $35 million from the current equity portfolio and $10 million of cash into a new equity strategy with an emphasis on dividend income.  In addition to a higher dividend return, this new equity strategy is expected to carry less market volatility.”
 
 
 

 
 
Catastrophe losses totaled $9,703,000 ($0.49 per share after tax) in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $9,405,000 ($0.47 per share after tax) in the first quarter of 2011.  On a segment basis, 2012 catastrophe losses amounted to $5,554,000 ($0.28 per share after taxes) in the property and casualty insurance segment and $4,149,000 ($0.21 per share after tax) in the reinsurance segment.

The Company experienced $16,263,000 ($0.82 per share after tax) of favorable development on prior years’ reserves during the first quarter of 2012, compared to $3,907,000 ($0.20 per share after tax) in the first quarter of 2011. As in recent periods, the majority of the favorable development was associated with the final settlement of prior accident years’ claims. The most recent actuarial analysis of the Company’s carried reserves indicates a level of adequacy consistent with other recent evaluations.

Net realized investment gains totaled $5,797,000 ($0.45 per share) for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $5,368,000 ($0.42 per share) in 2011.

During the first quarter of 2012, the Company recognized no “other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses. This compares to $246,000 ($0.01 per share after tax) of “other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses in the first quarter of 2011.

Large losses (which the Company defines as losses greater than $500,000 for the EMC Insurance Companies’ pool, excluding catastrophe losses) increased to $6,324,000 ($0.32 per share after tax) in the first quarter of 2012 from $4,037,000 ($0.20 per share after tax) in the first quarter of 2011.

The Company’s GAAP combined ratio was 92.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 112.7 percent in the first quarter of 2011.

At March 31, 2012, consolidated assets totaled $1.3 billion, including $1.2 billion in the investment portfolio, and stockholders’ equity totaled $375.9 million, an increase of 6.7 percent from December 31, 2011. Net book value of the Company’s stock increased to $29.18 per share from $27.37 per share at December 31, 2011.  Book value excluding accumulated other comprehensive income increased to $26.54 per share from $25.24 per share at December 31, 2011.

Management’s 2012 operating income guidance is currently a range of $1.30 to $1.55 per share, and is based on a projected GAAP combined ratio of 104.9 percent for the year.  As noted in the Company’s April 23 pre-release of first quarter operating results, management is not revising its 2012 operating earnings guidance at this time because operating results in the second and third quarters can be extremely volatile depending on the frequency and severity of Midwest storms, and the potential for hurricane losses.

As previously disclosed, on November 3, 2011 the Company’s board of directors authorized a new $15 million stock repurchase program.  This program became effective immediately and does not have an expiration date.  The timing and terms of the purchases are determined by management based on market conditions and are conducted in accordance with the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Common stock repurchased under this new program will be retired by the Company.  No shares were repurchased under this new program during the first quarter of 2012.

The Company’s parent organization, Employers Mutual Casualty Company, currently has a stock purchase program in place, with about $4.5 million of its $15 million authorization remaining.  This program has been dormant and will remain so while the Company’s new repurchase program is active.

The Company will hold an earnings teleconference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on May 8, 2012 to allow securities analysts, stockholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the Company’s results for the quarter, as well as its expectations for the rest of 2012. 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 7, 2012. The replay access information is toll-free 1-877-660-6853 (International: 1-201-612-7415); passcodes required for playback: account number 286 and conference ID number 391452.
 
 
 

 
 
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 8, 2012. A transcript of the teleconference will also be available on the Company’s website shortly after the completion of the teleconference.

ABOUT EMCI: 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.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides issuers the opportunity to make cautionary statements regarding forward-looking statements.  Accordingly, any forward-looking statement contained in this report is based on management’s current beliefs, assumptions and expectations of the Company’s future performance, taking 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” 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 GAAP financial measure of net income. Therefore, the Company has provided the following reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure of operating income to the 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 to net income:
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Operating income
  $ 13,426,821     $ 372,011  
Net realized investment gains
    5,796,914       5,367,827  
Net income
  $ 19,223,735     $ 5,739,838  
 
 
 

 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - UNAUDITED
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
      2011*  
ASSETS
             
Investments:
             
Fixed maturities:
             
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $857,820,238 and $899,939,616)
  $ 922,004,894     $ 958,203,576  
Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $106,958,665 and $90,866,131)
    131,049,385       111,300,053  
Other long-term investments, at cost
    12,903       14,527  
Short-term investments, at cost
    101,770,552       42,628,926  
Total investments
    1,154,837,734       1,112,147,082  
                 
Cash
    424,315       255,042  
Reinsurance receivables due from affiliate
    39,646,296       39,517,108  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums due from affiliate
    7,131,407       9,378,026  
Deferred policy acquisition costs (affiliated $30,789,364 and $30,849,717)
    31,044,881       30,849,717  
Accrued investment income
    10,457,901       10,256,499  
Accounts receivable
    2,156,360       1,644,782  
Income taxes recoverable
    2,054,688       9,670,459  
Deferred income taxes
    2,065,055       6,710,919  
Goodwill
    941,586       941,586  
Other assets (affiliated $6,240,825 and $2,584,111)
    6,406,549       2,659,942  
Total assets
  $ 1,257,166,772     $ 1,224,031,162  
                 
LIABILITIES
               
Losses and settlement expenses (affiliated $582,158,934 and $588,846,586)
  $ 586,913,370     $ 593,300,247  
Unearned premiums (affiliated $176,759,939 and $180,689,377)
    176,852,210       180,689,377  
Other policyholders' funds (all affiliated)
    4,884,098       5,061,160  
Surplus notes payable to affiliate
    25,000,000       25,000,000  
Amounts due affiliate to settle inter-company transaction balances
    5,997,017       21,033,627  
Pension and postretirement benefits payable to affiliate
    31,005,479       29,671,835  
Other liabilities (affiliated $11,604,219 and $16,744,447)
    50,657,596       16,934,321  
Total liabilities
    881,309,770       871,690,567  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, 12,882,331 shares in 2012 and 12,875,591 shares in 2011
    12,882,331       12,875,591  
Additional paid-in capital
    88,513,103       88,310,632  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
               
Net unrealized gains from investments
    57,378,993       51,153,622  
Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit obligations (all affiliated)
    (23,378,556 )     (23,813,112 )
Total accumulated other comprehensive income
    34,000,437       27,340,510  
Retained earnings
    240,461,131       223,813,862  
Total stockholders' equity
    375,857,002       352,340,595  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,257,166,772     $ 1,224,031,162  

Prior year amounts restated, where applicable, for new accounting guidance regarding deferrable acquisition costs (effective January 1, 2012).
 
 
 

 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME  - UNAUDITED

   
Property and
                   
   
Casualty
         
Parent
       
Quarter ended March 31, 2012
 
Insurance
   
Reinsurance
   
Company
   
Consolidated
 
Revenues:
                       
Premiums earned
  $ 85,031,390     $ 24,728,366     $ -     $ 109,759,756  
Investment income, net
    8,175,127       2,983,925       (2,270 )     11,156,782  
Other income
    238,998       -       -       238,998  
      93,445,515       27,712,291       (2,270 )     121,155,536  
Losses and expenses:
                               
Losses and settlement expenses
    52,018,253       13,222,036       -       65,240,289  
Dividends to policyholders
    1,651,525       -       -       1,651,525  
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    14,619,935       4,594,443       -       19,214,378  
Other underwriting expenses
    14,841,655       416,214       -       15,257,869  
Interest expense
    225,000       -       -       225,000  
Other expenses
    219,164       19,765       347,588       586,517  
      83,575,532       18,252,458       347,588       102,175,578  
Operating income (loss) before income taxes
    9,869,983       9,459,833       (349,858 )     18,979,958  
Realized investment gains
    7,904,789       1,013,540       -       8,918,329  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    17,774,772       10,473,373       (349,858 )     27,898,287  
Income tax expense (benefit):
                               
Current
    5,313,503       2,423,749       (122,450 )     7,614,802  
Deferred
    138,017       921,733       -       1,059,750  
      5,451,520       3,345,482       (122,450 )     8,674,552  
Net income (loss)
  $ 12,323,252     $ 7,127,891     $ (227,408 )   $ 19,223,735  
Average shares outstanding
                            12,879,020  
Per Share Data:
                               
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted
  $ 0.96     $ 0.55     $ (0.02 )   $ 1.49  
Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years (after tax)
  $ 0.53     $ 0.29     $ -     $ 0.82  
Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)
  $ (0.28 )   $ (0.21 )   $ -     $ (0.49 )
Dividends per share
                          $ 0.20  
Book value per share
                          $ 29.18  
Effective tax rate
                            31.1 %
Annualized net income as a percent of beg. SH equity
                            21.8 %
Other Information of Interest:
                               
Net written premiums
  $ 85,895,096     $ 22,076,663     $ -     $ 107,971,759  
Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years
  $ (10,504,577 )   $ (5,758,196 )   $ -     $ (16,262,773 )
Catastrophe and storm losses
  $ 5,554,285     $ 4,148,904     $ -     $ 9,703,189  
GAAP Combined Ratio:
                               
Loss ratio
    61.2 %     53.5 %     -       59.4 %
Expense ratio
    36.6 %     20.2 %     -       33.0 %
      97.8 %     73.7 %     -       92.4 %
 
 
 

 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME – UNAUDITED

   
Property and
                   
   
Casualty
         
Parent
       
Quarter Ended March 31, 2011 (restated)*
 
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
    13,426,533       4,022,549       -       17,449,082  
Other underwriting expenses
    14,624,767       560,584       -       15,185,351  
Interest expense
    225,000       -       -       225,000  
Other expenses
    162,716       421,286       348,376       932,378  
      82,119,673       27,206,332       348,376       109,674,381  
Operating income (loss) before income taxes
    4,293,099       (5,050,263 )     (347,978 )     (1,105,142 )
Realized investment gains
    6,353,354       1,904,842       -       8,258,196  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    10,646,453       (3,145,421 )     (347,978 )     7,153,054  
Income tax expense (benefit):
                               
Current
    2,831,702       (1,092,835 )     (121,792 )     1,617,075  
Deferred
    135,679       (339,538 )     -       (203,859 )
      2,967,381       (1,432,373 )     (121,792 )     1,413,216  
Net income (loss)
  $ 7,679,072     $ (1,713,048 )   $ (226,186 )   $ 5,739,838  
Average shares outstanding
                            12,935,554  
Per Share Data:
                               
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted
  $ 0.59     $ (0.13 )   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.44  
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
                          $ 28.15  
Effective tax rate
                            19.8 %
Annualized net income as a percent of beg. SH equity
                            6.3 %
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
    39.5 %     24.2 %     -       36.5 %
      105.7 %     141.2 %     -       112.7 %
 
*
Amounts restated, where applicable, for new accounting guidance regarding deferrable acquisition costs (effective January 1, 2012).
 
 
 

 

INVESTMENTS

The Company had total cash and invested assets with a carrying value of $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.  The following table summarizes the Company's cash and invested assets as of the dates indicated:

   
March 31, 2012
 
               
Percent of
       
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Total
   
Carrying
 
($ in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Fair Value
   
Value
 
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale
  $ 857,820     $ 922,005       79.9 %   $ 922,005  
Equity securities available-for-sale
    106,959       131,049       11.3 %     131,049  
Cash
    424       424       -       424  
Short-term investments
    101,771       101,771       8.8 %     101,771  
Other long-term investments
    13       13       -       13  
    $ 1,066,987     $ 1,155,262       100.0 %   $ 1,155,262  
                                 
   
December 31, 2011
 
                   
Percent of
         
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Total
   
Carrying
 
($ in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Fair Value
   
Value
 
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale
  $ 899,940     $ 958,204       86.1 %   $ 958,204  
Equity securities available-for-sale
    90,866       111,300       10.0 %     111,300  
Cash
    255       255       -       255  
Short-term investments
    42,629       42,629       3.9 %     42,629  
Other long-term investments
    14       14       -       14  
    $ 1,033,704     $ 1,112,402       100.0 %   $ 1,112,402  

NET WRITTEN PREMIUMS

   
Three Months Ended
   
March 31, 2012
         
Percent of
         
Increase/
   
Percent of
   
(Decrease) in
   
Net Written
   
Net Written
   
Premiums
   
Premiums
Property and Casualty Insurance
           
Commercial Lines:
           
Automobile
    17.9 %     17.2 %
Liability
    15.9 %     14.7 %
Property
    17.0 %     9.9 %
Workers' Compensation
    16.2 %     14.2 %
Other
    1.6 %     5.4  %
Total Commercial Lines
    68.6 %     13.7  %
                 
Personal Lines:
               
Automobile
    6.5 %     1.9  %
Property
    4.4 %     3.8  %
Liability
    0.1 %     14.2  %
Total Personal Lines
    11.0 %     2.8  %
Total Property and Casualty Insurance
    79.6 %     12.1  %
                 
Reinsurance (1) (2)
    20.4 %     14.8  %
Total
    100.0 %     12.6  %

(1) 
Includes $3,065,279 negative portfolio adjustment related to the January 1, 2012 cancellation of a large pro rata account.
(2) 
Percent increase excludes $920,597 positive portfolio adjustment related to the January 1, 2011 increased participation in the MRB pool.