OREANDA-NEWS. EMC Insurance Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EMCI) (the “Company”), today reported net income of $746,000 ($0.03 per share) and a loss and settlement expense ratio of 77.1 percent for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to net income of $4.1 million ($0.20 per share) and a loss and settlement expense ratio of 71.1 percent for the third quarter of 2016. This decline is primarily attributed to a record $19.5 million of catastrophe and storm losses incurred by the reinsurance segment during the third quarter, which is $17.2 million higher than the third quarter of 2016 primarily due to losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The decline in the reinsurance segment’s results was partially offset by improvement in the property and casualty insurance segment due to a $4.9 million reduction in catastrophe and storm losses and improvement in the underlying loss and settlement expense ratio* (which excludes the impact of catastrophe and storm losses and development on prior years’ reserves) compared to the third quarter of 2016.

The property and casualty insurance segment’s underlying loss and settlement expense ratio has become more consistent during 2017. The underlying loss and settlement expense ratio of 61.9 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, is the result of steadily improving results during 2017, from 65.3 percent for the first quarter, to 62.1 percent for the second quarter, to 58.5 percent for the third quarter. The decline in the third quarter primarily reflects reductions in the current accident year ultimate loss and settlement expense ratio projections in the personal auto liability, workers’ compensation and commercial property lines of business.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company reported net income of $13.1 million ($0.61 per share) and a loss and settlement expense ratio of 71.9 percent, compared to net income of $24.9 million ($1.19 per share) and a loss and settlement expense ratio of 67.1 percent for the same period in 2016. This decline is also primarily attributed to the catastrophe and storm losses incurred by the reinsurance segment during the third quarter, as well as a reduction in the amount of favorable development experienced on prior years’ reserves in the reinsurance segment. 

“Losses in the reinsurance segment during the quarter were manageable, especially given the considerable hurricane losses incurred by the industry,” stated President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce G. Kelley. “Having filled the annual aggregate retention under the intercompany reinsurance treaty will help the reinsurance segment mitigate catastrophe and storm losses that might occur during the fourth quarter.”

“Catastrophe and storm losses in the third quarter declined in the property and casualty insurance segment, which experienced minimal impact from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma due to our disciplined underwriting approach along coastal regions and limited loss exposures in Florida,” continued Kelley. “In addition, the underlying loss and settlement expense ratio of this segment improved during the quarter despite the softening market.”

Non-GAAP operating income, which excludes realized investment gains/losses from net income, totaled $1.1 million ($0.05 per share) for the third quarter of 2017, compared to $4.9 million ($0.23 per share) for the third quarter of 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company reported non-GAAP operating income of $11.6 million ($0.55 per share), compared to $25.3 million ($1.21 per share) for the same period in 2016.

The Company’s GAAP combined ratio was 106.7 percent in the third quarter of 2017, compared to 102.9 percent in the third quarter of 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, the Company’s GAAP combined ratio was 103.8 percent, compared to 99.8 percent in 2016.

Premiums earned increased 2.0 percent and 1.8 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. In the property and casualty insurance segment, premiums earned increased 3.5 percent for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. The majority of these increases are attributed to growth in insured exposures and an increase in retained policies in the commercial lines of business. In the reinsurance segment, premiums earned decreased 3.0 percent and 3.5 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. These decreases, which occurred in the pro rata line of business and stem from the Mutual Reinsurance Bureau underwriting association’s withdrawal from non-standard automobile business, were partially offset by increases in the excess of loss line of business. 

Catastrophe and storm losses totaled $29.4 million ($0.90 per share after tax) in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $17.1 million ($0.53 per share after tax) in the third quarter of 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, catastrophe and storm losses totaled $57.9 million ($1.77 per share after tax), compared to $45.5 million ($1.41 per share after tax) for the same period in 2016. On a segment basis, catastrophe and storm losses amounted to $9.9 million ($0.30 per share after tax) and $29.9 million ($0.91 per share after tax) in the property and casualty insurance segment, and $19.5 million ($0.60 per share after tax) and $28.0 million ($0.86 per share after tax) in the reinsurance segment, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

In the third quarter of 2017, the reinsurance segment retained approximately $15.8 million of catastrophe and storm losses to fill the $20 million retention amount under the reinsurance subsidiary’s intercompany annual aggregate catastrophe excess of loss treaty with Employers Mutual, which has a limit of $100 million, and 20 percent co-participation above the retention. The reinsurance segment retained an additional $2.2 million of catastrophe and storm losses representing their 20 percent co-participation on $11.2 million of losses above the retention amount, and recovered $9.0 million from Employers Mutual. Having filled the annual aggregate retention, the reinsurance segment will be a 20 percent co-participant on any fourth quarter catastrophic events that are greater than $500,000, up to the $100 million limit of coverage. No recoveries were made under this program during 2016. Taking the loss recoveries received and the premiums paid to Employers Mutual into consideration, the intercompany reinsurance program reduced the catastrophe and storm loss ratios by 20.4 and 5.4 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. In addition, the reinsurance segment accrued approximately $1.3 million of reinstatement premiums stemming from the hurricane losses sustained during the quarter.

No recoveries were made under the property and casualty insurance segment’s July 1 through December 31 intercompany excess of loss reinsurance treaty with Employers Mutual. Approximately $5.1 million of retention remains under the 2017 treaty, meaning catastrophe and storm losses will be capped at $5.1 million in the fourth quarter, unless the $12.0 million limit of protection is exceeded. The property and casualty insurance segment was further into the $15.0 million retention amount at September 30, 2016; therefore, fourth quarter of 2016 catastrophe and storm losses in the property and casualty insurance segment were capped at $512,000.

The property and casualty insurance subsidiaries ceded $3.0 million and $19.0 million of catastrophe and storm losses to Employers Mutual under the 2017 inter-company reinsurance program during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $3.5 million and $5.1 million during the same periods in 2016. In both years, the ceded amounts are applicable to the treaties that covered the first half of each year. Taking the loss recoveries received and the premiums paid to Employers Mutual into consideration, the intercompany reinsurance program with Employers Mutual reduced the catastrophe and storm loss ratios by 2.1 and 2.4 percentage points for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the catastrophe and storm loss ratios were reduced by 4.1 and 0.1 percentage points, respectively.

The Company reported $4.4 million ($0.13 per share after tax) of favorable development on prior years’ reserves during the third quarter of 2017, compared to $7.6 million ($0.24 per share after tax) in the third quarter of 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, favorable development totaled $17.6 million ($0.54 per share after tax), compared to $23.5 million ($0.73 per share after tax) in 2016. Included in the favorable development amount reported for the first nine months of 2017 is $4.5 million of adverse development in the property and casualty insurance segment stemming from the settlement of claims for past and future legal fees and losses on a multi-year asbestos exposure associated with a former insured. Excluded from the favorable development amounts reported for 2016 is $5.6 million of “mechanical” favorable development stemming from the change in the property and casualty insurance segment’s reserving methodology that had no impact on earnings.

Net investment income totaled $11.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, which is consistent with the third quarter of 2016. Net investment income decreased 6.1 percent to $33.7 million for the first nine months of 2017, from $35.9 million for the same period in 2016. This decrease primarily reflects a lower book yield in the fixed maturity portfolio as well as a decline in dividend income.

Net realized investment losses totaled $594,000 ($0.02 per share after tax) for the third quarter of 2017, compared to $1.2 million ($0.03 per share after tax) in the third quarter of 2016. Net realized investment gains totaled $2.2 million ($0.06 per share after tax) for the first nine months of 2017, compared to net realized investment losses of $643,000 ($0.02 per share after tax) for the same period in 2016. Included in net realized investment gains/losses reported for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 are $1.0 million and $4.6 million, respectively, of net realized investment losses attributed to a decline in the carrying value of a limited partnership that helps protect the Company from a sudden and significant decline in the value of its equity portfolio (the equity tail-risk hedging strategy). Included in net realized investment losses reported for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 are $1.9 million and $5.3 million, respectively, attributed to declines in the carrying value of this limited partnership.

At September 30, 2017, consolidated assets totaled $1.7 billion, including $1.5 billion in the investment portfolio, and stockholders’ equity totaled $575.1 million, an increase of 3.9 percent from December 31, 2016. Book value of the Company’s common stock increased 3.2 percent to $26.90 per share from $26.07 per share at December 31, 2016. Book value excluding accumulated other comprehensive income was relatively flat at $23.89 per share at September 30, 2017, compared to $23.90 per share at December 31, 2016.

Based on results for the first nine months of 2017 and projections for the remainder of the year, management is lowering its 2017 non-GAAP operating income guidance to a range of $1.15 to $1.35 per share from the previous range of $1.35 to $1.55 per share. The revised guidance is based on a projected GAAP combined ratio of 101.2 percent for the year and investment income that is flat to down slightly. The projected GAAP combined ratio has a load of 9.9 points for catastrophe and storm losses.

The Company will hold an earnings conference call at noon Eastern time on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 to allow securities analysts, stockholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the Company’s results for the third quarter, as well as its expectations for the remainder of 2017. Dial-in information for the call is toll-free 1-844-850-0550 (International: 1-412-317-5180).

Members of the news media, investors and the general public are invited to access a live webcast of the earnings conference call via the Company’s investor relations page at investors.emcins.com. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for approximately 90 days following the earnings conference call. A transcript will be available on the Company’s website shortly after the completion of the earnings conference call. 

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 Stock Market under the symbol EMCI. Additional information regarding the Company may be found at investors.emcins.com. 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.

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

The risks and uncertainties that may affect the actual results of the Company include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • catastrophic events and the occurrence of significant severe weather conditions;
  • the adequacy of loss and settlement expense reserves;
  • state and federal legislation and regulations;
  • changes in the property and casualty insurance industry, interest rates or the performance of financial markets and the general economy;
  • 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”, “may”, “intend”, “likely” or similar expressions. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements or to announce publicly the results of any revisions that it may make to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Definition of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures
The Company prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures for evaluating the Company’s performance. These measures are considered non-GAAP financial measures under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules because they are not displayed as separate line items in the consolidated financial statements or are not required to be disclosed in the notes to financial statements or, in some cases, include or exclude certain items not ordinarily included or excluded in the most comparable GAAP financial measure. The Company’s calculation of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similar measures used by other companies, so investors should exercise caution when comparing the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to the measures used by other companies. The following discussion includes reconciliations of the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this report.

Non-GAAP operating income: One of the primary non-GAAP financial measures utilized by management for evaluating the Company’s performance is operating income. Non-GAAP operating income is calculated by excluding net realized investment gains/losses (defined as realized investment gains and losses after applicable federal and state income taxes) from net income. While realized investment gains/losses are integral to the Company’s insurance operations over the long term, the decision to realize investment gains or losses in any particular period is subject to changing market conditions and management’s discretion, and is independent of the Company’s insurance operations.

Management’s operating income guidance is also considered a non-GAAP financial measure. Net realized investment gains/losses resulting from the sale of assets are not predictable due to changing market conditions and the discretionary nature of such events. As a result, management is unable to accurately project the Company’s annual net income and therefore utilizes non-GAAP operating income in the Company’s projected annual guidance.

Management believes non-GAAP operating income is useful to investors because it illustrates the performance of the Company’s normal, ongoing insurance operations, which is important in understanding and evaluating the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. While this measure is consistent with measures utilized by investors and analysts to evaluate performance, it is not intended as a substitute for the GAAP financial measure of net income.  

               
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME    
($ in thousands)              
  Three months ended September 30,   Nine months ended September 30,
    2017       2016       2017     2016  
Net income $   746     $   4,129     $   13,054   $   24,911  
Realized investment gains (losses)     (594 )       (1,192 )       2,166       (643 )
Income tax expense (benefit)     (208 )       (417 )       758       (225 )
Net realized investment gains (losses)     (386 )       (775 )       1,408       (418 )
Non-GAAP operating income $   1,132     $   4,904     $   11,646   $   25,329  
               
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE TO NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME PER SHARE     
  Three months ended September 30,   Nine months ended September 30,
    2017       2016       2017     2016  
Net income $   0.03     $   0.20     $   0.61   $   1.19  
Realized investment gains (losses)     (0.03 )       (0.05 )       0.10       (0.03 )
Income tax expense (benefit)     (0.01 )       (0.02 )       0.04       (0.01 )
Net realized investment gains (losses)     (0.02 )       (0.03 )       0.06       (0.02 )
Non-GAAP operating income $   0.05     $   0.23     $   0.55   $   1.21  
               

Property and casualty insurance segment’s underlying loss and settlement expense ratio: The loss and settlement expense ratio is the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of losses and settlement expenses incurred to premiums earned, which management uses as a measure of underwriting profitability of the Company’s property and casualty insurance business. The underlying loss and settlement expense ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure which represents the loss and settlement expense ratio, excluding the impact of catastrophe and storm losses and development on prior years’ reserves. Management uses this ratio as an indicator of the property and casualty insurance segment’s underwriting discipline and performance for the current accident year. Management believes this ratio is useful for investors to understand the property and casualty insurance segment’s periodic earnings and variability of earnings caused by the unpredictable nature (i.e., the timing and amount) of catastrophe and storm losses and development on prior years’ reserves. While this measure is consistent with measures utilized by investors and analysts to evaluate performance, it is not intended as a substitute for the GAAP financial measure of loss and settlement expense ratio. 

               
RECONCILIATION OF THE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE SEGMENT'S LOSS AND SETTLEMENT     
EXPENSE RATIO TO THE UNDERLYING LOSS AND SETTLEMENT EXPENSE RATIO        
  Three months ended September 30,   Nine months ended September 30,
  2017     2016     2017     2016  
Loss and settlement expense ratio 61.5 %   70.2 %   66.0 %   66.5 %
Catastrophe and storm losses   (8.2  )%     (12.7  )%     (8.5  )%     (10.3  )%
Favorable development on prior               
years' reserves** 5.2 %   5.9 %   4.4 %   4.9 %
Underlying loss and settlement expense ratio 58.5 %   63.4 %   61.9 %   61.1 %
               

**During the third quarter of 2016, management implemented a new reserving methodology for the determination of direct bulk reserves in the property and casualty insurance segment. The new methodology, which is referred to as the accident year ultimate estimate approach, better conforms to industry practices and provides increased transparency of the drivers of the property and casualty insurance segment’s performance. In connection with this change in reserving methodology, there was a reallocation of incurred but not reported (IBNR) loss reserves and allocated settlement expense reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year in multiple lines of business. This change resulted in the movement of approximately $5.6 million of reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year that was reported as favorable development; however, this development is “mechanical in nature”, and did not have an impact on earnings because the total amount of carried reserves did not change. This “mechanical” favorable development has been excluded from the amounts presented for 2016.

Industry Metric
Premiums written: Premiums written is an industry metric used in statutory accounting to quantify the amount of insurance sold during a specified reporting period. Management analyzes trends in premiums written to assess business efforts, and uses it as a financial measure for goal setting and determining a portion of employee and senior management awards and compensation. Premiums earned, used in both statutory and GAAP accounting, is the recognition of the portion of premiums written directly related to the expired portion of an insurance policy for a given reporting period. The unexpired portion of premiums written is referred to as unearned premiums, and represents the portion of premiums written that would be returned to a policyholder upon cancellation of a policy.

               
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED              
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)                  
    Property and               
    Casualty       Parent       
Quarter ended September 30, 2017   Insurance   Reinsurance   Company   Consolidated  
Revenues:                  
Premiums earned   $   120,472     $   34,718     $   -     $   155,190    
Investment income, net       8,252         3,237         12         11,501    
Other income (loss)       179         (358 )       -         (179 )  
        128,903         37,597         12         166,512    
Losses and expenses:                
Losses and settlement expenses       74,039         45,537         -         119,576    
Dividends to policyholders       46         -         -         46    
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs       19,491         6,939         -         26,430    
Other underwriting expenses       19,109         412         -         19,521    
Interest expense        84         -         -         84    
Other expenses       170         -         531         701    
        112,939         52,888         531         166,358    
Operating income (loss) before income taxes       15,964         (15,291 )       (519 )       154    
Realized investment losses       (108 )       (486 )       -         (594 )  
Income (loss) before income taxes       15,856         (15,777 )       (519 )       (440 )  
Income tax expense (benefit):                
Current       3,428         (5,473 )       (152 )       (2,197 )  
Deferred       1,466         (425 )       (30 )       1,011    
        4,894         (5,898 )       (182 )       (1,186 )  
Net income (loss)   $   10,962     $   (9,879 )   $   (337 )   $   746    
Average shares outstanding                 21,356,588    
Per Share Data:                
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted      $   0.52     $   (0.46 )   $   (0.03 )   $   0.03    
Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)      $   0.30     $   0.60     $   -     $   0.90    
Favorable (unfavorable) development on prior                
years' reserves (after tax)   $   0.19     $   (0.06 )   $   -     $   0.13    
Dividends per share                $   0.21    
Other Information of Interest:                
Premiums written   $   144,011     $   36,523     $   -     $   180,534    
Catastrophe and storm losses      $   9,922     $   19,499     $   -     $   29,421    
(Favorable) unfavorable development on prior                
years' reserves   $   (6,242 )   $   1,822     $   -     $   (4,420 )  
GAAP Ratios:                
Loss and settlement expense ratio     61.5 %     131.2 %       -       77.1 %  
Acquisition expense ratio     32.0 %     21.1 %       -       29.6 %  
Combined ratio     93.5 %     152.3 %       -       106.7 %  
                   
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED            
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)                
    Property and             
    Casualty       Parent     
Quarter ended September 30, 2016   Insurance   Reinsurance   Company   Consolidated
Revenues:                
Premiums earned   $   116,372     $   35,809     $   -     $   152,181  
Investment income, net       8,185         3,285         4         11,474  
Other income (loss)       172         (257 )       -         (85 )
        124,729         38,837         4         163,570  
Losses and expenses:              
Losses and settlement expenses       81,643         26,530         -         108,173  
Dividends to policyholders       3,944         -         -         3,944  
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs       19,206         7,639         -         26,845  
Other underwriting expenses       16,690         916         -         17,606  
Interest expense        84         -         -         84  
Other expenses       190         -         489         679  
        121,757         35,085         489         157,331  
Operating income (loss) before income taxes       2,972         3,752         (485 )       6,239  
Realized investment losses       (799 )       (393 )       -         (1,192 )
Income (loss) before income taxes       2,173         3,359         (485 )       5,047  
Income tax expense (benefit):              
Current       569         1,024         (145 )       1,448  
Deferred       (264 )       (108 )       (158 )       (530 )
        305         916         (303 )       918  
Net income (loss)   $   1,868     $   2,443     $   (182 )   $   4,129  
Average shares outstanding                 21,060,665  
Per Share Data:              
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted      $   0.09     $   0.12     $   (0.01 )   $   0.20  
Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)      $   0.46     $   0.07     $   -     $   0.53  
Favorable development on prior years'                
reserves1 (after tax)   $   0.22     $   0.02     $   -     $   0.24  
Dividends per share                $   0.19  
Other Information of Interest:              
Premiums written   $   138,904     $   37,339     $   -     $   176,243  
Catastrophe and storm losses      $   14,787     $   2,266     $   -     $   17,053  
Favorable development on prior years' reserves1   $   (6,850 )   $   (796 )   $   -     $   (7,646 )
GAAP Ratios:              
Loss and settlement expense ratio     70.2 %     74.1 %       -       71.1 %
Acquisition expense ratio     34.2 %     23.9 %       -       31.8 %
Combined ratio     104.4 %     98.0 %       -       102.9 %
                 
1 During the third quarter of 2016, management implemented a new reserving methodology for the determination of direct bulk reserves in the property and casualty insurance segment.  The new methodology, which is referred to as the accident year ultimate estimate approach, better conforms to industry practices and provides increased transparency of the drivers of the property and casualty insurance segment's performance.  In connection with this change in reserving methodology, there was a reallocation of IBNR loss reserves and allocated settlement expense reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year in multiple lines of business.  This change resulted in the movement of approximately $5.6 million of reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year that was reported as favorable development; however, this development is "mechanical in nature", and did not have an impact on earnings because the total amount of carried reserves did not change.  This "mechanical" favorable development has been excluded from the amounts presented for 2016. 
                 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED              
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)                  
    Property and               
    Casualty       Parent       
Nine months ended September 30, 2017   Insurance   Reinsurance   Company   Consolidated  
Revenues:                  
Premiums earned      $   350,307     $   99,207     $   -     $   449,514    
Investment income, net          24,225         9,421         33         33,679    
Other income (loss)       623         (1,457 )       -         (834 )  
        375,155         107,171         33         482,359    
Losses and expenses:                
Losses and settlement expenses          231,067         92,022         -         323,089    
Dividends to policyholders          5,184         -         -         5,184    
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs          59,186         21,588         -         80,774    
Other underwriting expenses          56,294         1,438         -         57,732    
Interest expense          253         -         -         253    
Other expenses          580         -         1,684         2,264    
        352,564         115,048         1,684         469,296    
Operating income (loss) before income taxes          22,591         (7,877 )       (1,651 )       13,063    
Realized investment gains (losses)          3,033         (867 )       -         2,166    
Income (loss) before income taxes          25,624         (8,744 )       (1,651 )       15,229    
Income tax expense (benefit):                
Current          5,565         (3,044 )       (603 )       1,918    
Deferred          1,208         (976 )       25         257    
        6,773         (4,020 )       (578 )       2,175    
Net income (loss)      $   18,851     $   (4,724 )   $   (1,073 )   $   13,054    
Average shares outstanding                    21,295,882    
Per Share Data:                
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted      $   0.89     $   (0.22 )   $   (0.06 )   $   0.61    
Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)      $   0.91     $   0.86     $   -     $   1.77    
Favorable development on prior years'                  
reserves (after tax)   $   0.48     $   0.06     $   -     $   0.54    
Dividends per share                $   0.63    
Book value per share                $   26.90    
Effective tax rate                  14.3 %  
Annualized net income as a percent of beg. SH equity                 3.2 %  
Other Information of Interest:                
Premiums written   $   385,209     $   95,345     $   -     $   480,554    
Catastrophe and storm losses      $   29,922     $   27,996     $   -     $   57,918    
Favorable development on prior years' reserves   $   (15,555 )   $   (2,062 )   $   -     $   (17,617 )  
GAAP Ratios:                
Loss and settlement expense ratio     66.0 %     92.8 %       -       71.9 %  
Acquisition expense ratio     34.4 %     23.2 %       -       31.9 %  
Combined ratio     100.4 %     116.0 %       -       103.8 %  
                   
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED              
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)                  
    Property and               
    Casualty       Parent       
Nine months ended September 30, 2016   Insurance   Reinsurance   Company   Consolidated  
Revenues:                  
Premiums earned   $   338,589     $   102,775     $   -     $   441,364    
Investment income, net       25,524         10,350         9         35,883    
Other income (loss)       466         (485 )       -         (19 )  
        364,579         112,640         9         477,228    
Losses and expenses:                
Losses and settlement expenses       225,207         70,895         -         296,102    
Dividends to policyholders       11,292         -         -         11,292    
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs       58,129         22,611         -         80,740    
Other underwriting expenses       49,839         2,295         -         52,134    
Interest expense        253         -         -         253    
Other expenses       558         -         1,495         2,053    
        345,278         95,801         1,495         442,574    
Operating income (loss) before income taxes       19,301         16,839         (1,486 )       34,654    
Realized investment losses       (627 )       (16 )       -         (643 )  
Income (loss) before income taxes       18,674         16,823         (1,486 )       34,011    
Income tax expense (benefit):                
Current       6,425         5,601         (586 )       11,440    
Deferred       (1,778 )       (494 )       (68 )       (2,340 )  
        4,647         5,107         (654 )       9,100    
Net Income (loss)   $   14,027     $   11,716     $   (832 )   $   24,911    
Average shares outstanding                 20,964,236    
Per Share Data:                
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted      $   0.67     $   0.56     $   (0.04 )   $   1.19    
Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)      $   1.08     $   0.33     $   -     $   1.41    
Favorable development on prior years'                  
reserves1 (after tax)   $   0.52     $   0.21     $   -     $   0.73    
Dividends per share                $   0.57    
Book value per share                $   26.67    
Effective tax rate                  26.8 %  
Annualized net income as a percent of beg. SH equity               6.3 %  
Other Information of Interest:                
Premiums written   $   370,704     $   98,754     $   -     $   469,458    
Catastrophe and storm losses      $   34,787     $   10,747     $   -     $   45,534    
Favorable development on prior years' reserves1   $   (16,637 )   $   (6,880 )   $   -     $   (23,517 )  
GAAP Ratios:                
Loss and settlement expense ratio     66.5 %     69.0 %       -       67.1 %  
Acquisition expense ratio     35.2 %     24.2 %       -       32.7 %  
Combined ratio     101.7 %     93.2 %       -       99.8 %  
                   
1 During the third quarter of 2016, management implemented a new reserving methodology for the determination of direct bulk reserves in the property and casualty insurance segment.  The new methodology, which is referred to as the accident year ultimate estimate approach, better conforms to industry practices and provides increased transparency of the drivers of the property and casualty insurance segment's performance.  In connection with this change in reserving methodology, there was a reallocation of IBNR loss reserves and allocated settlement expense reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year in multiple lines of business.  This change resulted in the movement of approximately $5.6 million of reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year that was reported as favorable development; however, this development is "mechanical in nature", and did not have an impact on earnings because the total amount of carried reserves did not change.  This "mechanical" favorable development has been excluded from the amounts presented for 2016.   
                   
         
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS        
  September 30,   December 31,  
   2017    2016  
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)      
ASSETS        
Investments:        
  Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at fair value         
  (amortized cost $1,233,772 and $1,189,525) $   1,258,340   $   1,199,699  
  Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value         
  (cost $150,428 and $147,479)     231,719       213,839  
  Other long-term investments     14,471       12,506  
  Short-term investments     25,255       39,670  
  Total investments     1,529,785       1,465,714  
         
Cash     402       307  
Reinsurance receivables due from affiliate     26,079       21,326  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums due from affiliate     15,759       9,309  
Deferred policy acquisition costs (affiliated $43,836 and $40,660)     44,110       40,939  
Amounts due from affiliate to settle inter-company        
transaction balances     4,210       -   
Prepaid pension and postretirement benefits due from affiliate     11,407       12,314  
Accrued investment income     11,963       11,050  
Amounts receivable under reverse repurchase agreements     16,500       20,000  
Accounts receivable     813       2,076  
Income taxes recoverable     3,850       -  
Goodwill     942       942  
Other assets (affiliated $4,818 and $4,632)     5,018       4,836  
  Total assets $   1,670,838   $   1,588,813  
         
LIABILITIES        
Losses and settlement expenses (affiliated $720,901 and $685,533) $   726,461   $   690,532  
Unearned premiums (affiliated $281,055 and $243,682)     282,443       244,885  
Other policyholders' funds (all affiliated)     9,847       13,068  
Surplus notes payable to affiliate     25,000       25,000  
Amounts due affiliate to settle inter-company transaction balances     -       11,222  
Pension benefits payable to affiliate     3,807       4,097  
Income taxes payable     -       2,359  
Deferred income taxes     21,403       11,321  
Other liabilities (affiliated $24,155 and $27,871)     26,815       32,987  
  Total liabilities     1,095,776       1,035,471  
         
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY         
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 30,000,000         
  shares; issued and outstanding, 21,379,763        
  shares in 2017 and 21,222,535 shares in 2016     21,380       21,223  
Additional paid-in capital     122,640       119,054  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     64,326       46,081  
Retained earnings     366,716       366,984  
  Total stockholders' equity     575,062       553,342  
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $   1,670,838   $   1,588,813