ITEM 1. Business
Forward-looking Information
It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in “Item 1A.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
The following are certain risk factors that could affect the Company’s business, financial results and results of operations. In addition, refer to the risk factors disclosed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-looking Information”, listed on page of this report for certain important factors that may cause our financial condition and results of operations to differ materially from current expectations. The risks that the Company has highlighted in these two sections of this report are not the only ones that the Company faces. In this discussion, the Company is also referred to as “our”, “we” and “us”.
The Company’s business involves various risks and uncertainties which are based on the lines of business the Company writes as well as more global risks associated with the general business and insurance industry environments.
Current volatile financial markets and economic environments.
Markets in the U.S. and elsewhere have experienced extreme volatility and disruption for more than 12 months, due largely to the stresses affecting the global banking system, which accelerated significantly in the second half of 2008. The U.S. has entered a severe recession that is likely to persist well into and perhaps even beyond 2009, despite past and expected governmental intervention in the economy. These circumstances have exerted significant downward pressure on prices of equity securities and many other investment asset classes and have resulted in substantially increased market volatility, severely constrained credit and capital markets, particularly for financial institutions, and an overall loss of investor confidence. Economic conditions have continued to deteriorate in early 2009. Like other financial institutions, which face significant financial markets risk in their operations, the Company has been adversely affected by these conditions.
If our investment strategy is not successful, we could suffer unexpected losses.
The success of our investment strategy is crucial to the success of our business. Specifically, our fixed income portfolio is subject to a number of risks including:
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market value risk, which is the risk that our invested assets will decrease in value due to a change in the yields realized on our assets and prevailing market yields for similar assets, an unfavorable change in the liquidity of the investment or an unfavorable change in the financial prospects or a downgrade in the credit rating of the issuer of the investment;
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credit risk, which is the risk that the value of certain investments becomes impaired due to deterioration in financial condition of one or more issuers of those instruments or the deterioration in performance or credit quality of the underlying collateral of certain structured securities and, ultimately, the risk of permanent loss in the event of default by an issuer or underlying credit;
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market fundamentals risk, which is the risk that there are changes in the market that can have an unfavorable impact on securities valuation such as availability of credit in the capital markets, re-pricing of credit risk, reduced market liquidity, and increased market volatility;
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reinvestment risk, which is the risk that interest rates will decline and funds reinvested will earn less than expected;
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concentration risk, which is the risk that the portfolio may be too heavily concentrated in the securities of one or more issuers, sectors or industries, which could result in a significant decrease in the value of the portfolio in the event of deterioration in the financial condition of those issuers or the market value of their securities;
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liquidity risk, which is the risk that liabilities are surrendered or mature sooner than anticipated requiring us to sell assets at an undesirable time to provide for policyholder surrenders, withdrawals or claims; and
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regulatory risk, which is the risk that regulatory bodies or governments, in the U.S. or in other countries, may make substantial investments or take significant ownership positions in, or ultimately nationalize, financial institutions or other issuers of securities held in the Company’s investment portfolio, which could adversely impact the seniority or contractual terms of the securities.
In addition to significant steps taken to mitigate these risks through our investment guidelines, policies and procedures, we also attempt to mitigate these risks through product pricing, product features and the establishment of policy reserves, but we cannot provide assurance that assets will be properly matched to meet anticipated liabilities or that our investments will provide sufficient returns to enable us to satisfy our guaranteed fixed benefit obligations.
Although historically the Company has not been a party to these transactions, from time to time we could also enter into foreign currency, interest rate, credit derivative and other hedging transactions in an effort to manage risks. We cannot provide assurance that we will successfully structure those derivatives and hedges so as to effectively manage these risks. If our calculations are incorrect, or if we do not properly structure our derivatives or hedges, we may have unexpected losses and our assets may not be adequate to meet our needed reserves, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Declining financial markets could also cause, and in the past have caused, the value of the investments in our defined benefit pension plan to decrease, resulting in additional pension expense, a reduction in other comprehensive income and an increase in required contributions to the defined benefit pension plan.
Our financial condition and results of operations may be, and in the past have been, adversely affected by volatile or declining financial market conditions.
Conditions in the U.S. and international financial markets affect the sale and profitability of our annuity products. In general, sales of variable annuities decrease when financial markets are declining or experiencing a higher than normal level of volatility over an extended period of time. Therefore, weak and/or volatile financial market performance may adversely affect sales of our variable annuity products to potential customers, may cause current customers to withdraw or reduce the amounts invested in our variable annuity products and may reduce the market value of existing customers’ investments in our variable annuity products, in turn reducing the amount of variable annuity fee revenues generated. In addition, some of our variable annuity contracts offer guaranteed minimum death benefit features, which provide for a benefit if the annuitant dies and the contract value is less than a specified amount. A decline in the financial markets could cause the contract value to fall below this specified amount, increasing our exposure to losses from variable annuity products featuring guaranteed minimum death benefits. Declining or volatile financial markets may also impact the valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs.
Interest rate fluctuations could negatively affect the income we derive from the difference between the interest rates we earn on our investments and the interest we pay under our fixed annuity and interest-sensitive life contracts.
Significant changes in interest rates expose us to the risk of not earning income or experiencing losses based on the differences between the interest rates earned on our investments and the credited interest rates paid on our outstanding fixed annuity and interest-sensitive life contracts. Significant changes in interest rates may affect:
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the unrealized gains and losses in our investment portfolio and the related after-tax effect on our shareholders’ equity and total capital;
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the book yield of our investment portfolio; and
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the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to maintain appropriate interest rate spreads over the fixed rates guaranteed in their life and annuity products.
Both rising and declining interest rates can negatively affect the income we derive from these interest rate spreads. During periods of falling interest rates, our investment earnings will be lower because new investments in fixed maturity securities will likely bear lower interest rates. We may not be able to fully offset the decline in investment earnings with lower crediting rates on our annuity contracts. During periods of rising interest rates, there may be competitive pressure to increase the crediting rates on our annuity contracts. We may not, however, have the ability immediately to acquire investments with interest rates sufficient to offset an increase in crediting rates under our annuity contracts. Although we develop and maintain asset/liability management programs and procedures designed to reduce the volatility of our income when interest rates are rising or falling, changes in interest rates can affect our interest rate spreads.
Changes in interest rates may also affect our business in other ways. For example, a rapidly changing interest rate environment may result in less competitive crediting rates on certain of our fixed-rate products which could make those products less attractive, leading to lower sales and/or increases in the level of life insurance and annuity product surrenders and withdrawals. Interest rate fluctuations may also impact the valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs.
Losses due to defaults by others could reduce our profitability or negatively affect the value of our investments.
Third parties that owe us money, securities or other assets may not pay or perform their obligations. These parties may include the issuers whose securities we hold, borrowers under mortgage loans, customers, trading counterparties, counterparties under swaps and other derivative contracts, reinsurers, clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses and other financial intermediaries. These parties may default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, downturns in the economy or real estate values, operational failure or other reasons.
The default of a major market participant could disrupt the securities markets or clearance and settlement systems in the U.S. or abroad. A failure of a major market participant could cause some clearance and settlement systems to assess members of that system, including our broker-dealer subsidiary, or could lead to a chain of defaults that could adversely affect us. A default of a major market participant could disrupt various markets, which could in turn cause market declines or volatility and negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Catastrophic events can have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Underwriting results of property and casualty insurers are subject to weather and other conditions prevailing in an accident year. While one year may be relatively free of major weather or other disasters, another year may have numerous such events causing results for such a year to be materially worse than for other years.
Our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have experienced, and we anticipate that in the future they will continue to experience, catastrophe losses. A catastrophic event or a series of multiple catastrophic events could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.
Various events can cause catastrophes, including hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, hail, terrorism, explosions, severe winter weather and wildfires. The frequency and severity of these catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposures in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Although catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of property and casualty lines, most of the catastrophe-related claims of our insurance subsidiaries are related to homeowners’ coverages. Our ability to provide accurate estimates of ultimate catastrophe costs is based on several factors, including:
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the proximity of the catastrophe occurrence date to the date of our estimate;
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potential inflation of property repair costs in the affected area;
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the occurrence of multiple catastrophes in a geographic area over a relatively short period of time; and
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the outcome of litigation which may be filed against the Company by policyholders, state attorneys general and other parties relative to loss coverage disputes and loss settlement payments.
Based on 2008 direct premiums earned, approximately 58% of the total annual premiums for our property and casualty business were for policies issued in the ten largest states in which our insurance subsidiaries write property and casualty coverage. Included in this top ten group are certain states which are considered to be more prone to catastrophe occurrences: Florida, California, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Georgia.
As an ongoing practice, but particularly following the significant catastrophic claims from hurricanes in 2005 and 2004, we attempt to manage our exposure to catastrophes. Reductions in property and casualty business written in catastrophe-prone areas may have a negative impact on near-term business growth and results of operations.
In addition to the potential impact on our property and casualty subsidiaries, our life subsidiary could experience claims of a catastrophic magnitude from events such as pandemics; terrorism; nuclear, biological or chemical explosions; or other acts of war.
Our insurance subsidiaries seek to reduce their exposure to catastrophe losses through their underwriting strategies and the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance. Nevertheless, reinsurance may prove inadequate if:
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a major catastrophic loss exceeds the reinsurance limit;
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a series of major catastrophic events in a single year exhaust the reinsurance coverage; or
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an insurance subsidiary incurs multiple, smaller catastrophic losses which, individually, do not exceed the subsidiary’s loss retention level.
Uncollectible reinsurance, as well as reinsurance availability and pricing, can have a material adverse effect upon our business volume and profitability.
Reinsurance is a contract by which one insurer, called a reinsurer, agrees to cover a portion of the losses incurred by a second insurer in the event a claim is made under a policy issued by the second insurer. Our insurance subsidiaries obtain reinsurance to help manage their exposure to property, casualty and life insurance risks. Although a reinsurer is liable to our insurance subsidiaries according to the terms of its reinsurance policy, the insurance subsidiaries remain primarily liable as the direct insurers on all risks reinsured. As a result, reinsurance does not eliminate the obligation of our insurance subsidiaries to pay all claims, and each insurance subsidiary is subject to the risk that one or more of its reinsurers will be unable or unwilling to honor its obligations.
Although we limit participation in our reinsurance programs to reinsurers with high financial strength ratings, our insurance subsidiaries cannot guarantee that their reinsurers will pay in a timely fashion, if at all. Reinsurers may become financially unsound by the time that they are called upon to pay amounts due, which may not occur for many years. In the case of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”), financial deficits and difficulties in accessing the capital markets may require the FHCF to make additional assessments against participating insurers. Additional coverage made available by the FHCF to the insurance industry in future contract periods, as was done for the 2007 and 2008 contract periods, could increase the likelihood of assessments in periods following significant hurricane losses.
Additionally, the availability and cost of reinsurance are subject to prevailing market conditions beyond our control. For example, the significant level of losses from hurricanes in 2005 and 2004 and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have had a significant adverse pricing impact on the reinsurance market.
If one of our insurance subsidiaries is unable to obtain adequate reinsurance at reasonable rates, that insurance subsidiary would have to increase its risk exposure and/or reduce the level of its underwriting commitments, which could have a material adverse effect upon the business volume and profitability of the subsidiary. Alternately, the insurance subsidiary could elect to pay the higher than reasonable rates for reinsurance coverage, which could have a material adverse effect upon its profitability until policy premium rates could be raised, in some cases subject to approval by state regulators, to incorporate this additional cost.
Our property and casualty loss reserves may not be adequate.
Our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries maintain loss reserves to provide for their estimated ultimate liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period. If these loss reserves prove inadequate, we will record a loss measured by the amount of the shortfall and, as a result, the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries will be adversely affected, potentially affecting their ability to distribute cash to the holding company.
Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Reserves represent estimates, generally involving actuarial projections at a given time, of what our insurance subsidiaries expect the ultimate settlement and adjustment of claims will cost, net of salvage and subrogation. Estimates are based on assessments of known facts and circumstances, assumptions related to the ultimate cost to settle such claims, estimates of future trends in claims severity and frequency, changing judicial theories of liability and other factors. These variables are affected by both internal and external events, including changes in claims handling procedures, economic inflation, unpredictability of court decisions, plaintiffs’ expanded theories of liability, risks inherent in major litigation and legislative changes. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis. Significant reporting lags may exist between the occurrence of an insured event and the time it is actually reported. Our insurance subsidiaries adjust their reserve estimates regularly as experience develops and further claims are reported and settled.
Due to the inherent uncertainty in estimating reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses, we cannot be certain that the ultimate liability will not exceed amounts reserved, with a resulting adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Deviations from assumptions regarding future market appreciation, interest spreads, persistency, mortality and morbidity used in calculating life and annuity reserves and deferred policy acquisition expense amounts could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
The processes of calculating reserve and deferred policy acquisition expense amounts for our life and annuity businesses involve the use of a number of assumptions, including those related to market appreciation (the rate of growth in market value of the underlying variable annuity subaccounts due to price appreciation), interest spreads (the interest rates expected to be received on investments less the rate of interest credited to contractholders), persistency (how long a contract stays with the company), mortality (the relative incidence of death over a given period of time) and morbidity (the relative incidence of disability resulting from disease or physical impairment). We periodically review the adequacy of these reserves and deferred policy acquisition expenses on an aggregate basis and, if future experience differs significantly from assumptions, adjustments to reserves and deferred policy acquisition expenses may be required which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
A write-down of all or part of our goodwill could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
At December 31, 2008, we had $47.4 million of goodwill recorded on our consolidated balance sheet. Goodwill was recorded when the Company was acquired in 1989 and when Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company was acquired in 1994, in both instances reflecting the excess of cost over the fair market value of net assets acquired. The December 31, 2008 balance represents the portion which was unamortized at January 1, 2002, when the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. SFAS No. 142 eliminated the scheduled amortization of goodwill and established a new method of testing goodwill for impairment, as described in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”. If an evaluation of the Company’s fair value or, if required, of the Company’s segments’ fair value, indicated that all or a portion of the goodwill balance was impaired, the Company would be required to write off the impaired portion. Such a write-off could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Any downgrade in or adverse change in outlook for our claims-paying ratings, financial strength ratings or credit ratings could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Claims-paying ratings and financial strength ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. In the evolving 403(b) annuity market, school districts and benefit consultants have been placing increased emphasis on the relative financial strength ratings of competing companies. Each rating agency reviews its ratings periodically and from time to time may modify its rating criteria including, among other factors, its expectations regarding capital adequacy, profitability and revenue growth. A downgrade in the ratings or adverse change in the ratings outlook of any of our insurance subsidiaries by a major rating agency could result in a substantial loss of business for that subsidiary if school districts, policyholders or independent agents move their business to other companies having higher claims-paying ratings and financial strength ratings than we do. This loss of business could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of that subsidiary.
The financial covenants related to the Company’s outstanding indebtedness, including the Bank Credit Agreement, consist primarily of relationships of (1) debt to capital, (2) insurance subsidiaries’ insurance financial strength ratings issued by A.M. Best and (3) net worth, as defined in the financial covenants. For instance, if the insurance subsidiaries’ A.M. Best financial strength rating is lowered beneath the A- rating assigned at the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company would be in default under its Bank Credit Agreement. This could adversely impact our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
A downgrade in our holding company debt rating could adversely impact our cost and flexibility of borrowing which could have an adverse impact on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Reduction of the statutory surplus of our insurance subsidiaries could adversely affect their ability to write insurance business.
Insurance companies write business based, in part, upon guidelines including a ratio of premiums to surplus for property and casualty insurance companies and a ratio of reserves to surplus for life insurance companies. If our insurance subsidiaries cannot maintain profitability in the future or if significant investment valuation losses are incurred, they may be required to draw on their surplus in order to pay dividends to us to enable us to meet our financial obligations. As their surplus is reduced by the payment of dividends, continuing losses or both, our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to write business and maintain acceptable financial strength ratings could also be reduced. This could have a material adverse effect upon the business volume and profitability of our insurance subsidiaries.
If we are not able to effectively develop and expand our marketing operations, including agents and other points of distribution, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our success in marketing and selling our products is largely dependent upon the efforts of our full-time, dedicated agent sales force and the success of their agency operations. As we expand our business, we may need to expand the number of agencies marketing our products. If we are unable to appoint additional agents, fail to retain current agents or are unable to increase the productivity of agency operations, sales of our products would likely decline and our financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.
Since 2006, the Company has been transitioning from a single-person agent operation to its Agency Business Model, with agents in outside offices with support personnel and licensed producers, designed to remove capacity constraints and increase productivity. Building on this foundation, beginning in 2009 the Company is offering the opportunity for agents to be appointed by the Company as non-employee, independent contractor, Exclusive Agents. If we and the agency force are unable to successfully implement these approaches to expanding our points of distribution and further increasing the productivity of agents, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
If we are not able to maintain and secure 1) payroll reduction authorizations and 2) product sponsorships and other relationships with the educational community, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our ability to successfully grow new business in the educator market is largely dependent on our ability to effectively access educators either in their school buildings or through other approaches. While this is especially true for the sale of 403(b) tax-qualified annuity products via payroll reduction, any significant decrease in access, either through fewer payroll slots, increased security measures or other causes could potentially adversely affect the sale of all lines of our business and require us to change our traditional worksite marketing and advertising approach. With the changes in the IRS regulations regarding Section 403(b) arrangements, including annuities, our ability to maintain and grow our share of the 403(b) market, and the access it gives us for other product lines, will depend on our ability to successfully adapt our products, services offered, and administrative systems, which could potentially increase our cost of doing business in this market. School districts and benefit consultants have been placing additional emphasis on the relative financial strength ratings of competing companies, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to other more highly-rated insurance companies. See also “Business - Regulation - Regulation at Federal Level”.
Our ability to maintain and obtain product sponsorships from local, state and national education associations is important to our marketing strategy. Horace Mann has had a long relationship with the NEA, the nation’s largest confederation of state and local teachers’ associations, and many of the state and local education associations affiliated with the NEA. In addition to these organizations, we have established relationships with various other educator, principal and school administrator groups. These contacts and endorsements help to establish our brand name and presence in the educational community and to enhance our access to educators.
The insurance industry is highly regulated.
We are subject to extensive regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which we do business. Each jurisdiction has a unique and complex set of laws and regulations. Furthermore, certain federal laws impose additional requirements on businesses, including insurers. Regulation generally is designed to protect the interests of policyholders, as opposed to stockholders and non-policyholder creditors. Such regulations, among other things, impose restrictions on the amount and type of investments our subsidiaries may hold. Certain states also regulate the rates insurers may charge for certain property and casualty products. Legislation and voter initiatives have expanded, in some instances, the states’ regulation of rates and have increased data reporting requirements. Consumer-related pressures to roll back rates, even if not enacted by legislation or upheld upon judicial appeal, may affect our ability to obtain timely rate increases or operate at desired levels of profitability. Changes in insurance regulations, including those affecting the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to distribute cash to us and those affecting the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to write profitable property and casualty insurance policies in one or more states, may adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries. Consumer privacy requirements, such as those of the Payment Card Industry (“PCI”) Security Standards, may increase our cost of processing business. Our ability to comply with laws and regulations, at a reasonable cost, and to obtain necessary regulatory action in a timely manner, is and will continue to be critical to our success.
Examples of governmental regulation that has adversely affected the operations of our insurance subsidiaries include:
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the adoption in several states of legislation and other regulatory action intended to reduce the premiums paid for automobile and homeowners insurance by residents of those states;
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limitations on the use of key underwriting information, such as consumer credit, to properly price the assumed risk;
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restrictions on a company’s ability to achieve pricing adequacy and/or reduce their volume of business in catastrophe prone areas; and
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requirements that insurance companies:
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pay assessments to support associations that fund state-sponsored insurance operations, or
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involuntarily issue policies for high-risk automobile drivers.
Regulation that could adversely affect our insurance subsidiaries also includes statutory surplus and risk-based capital requirements. Maintaining appropriate levels of surplus, as measured by statutory accounting principles, is considered important by state insurance regulatory authorities and the private agencies that rate insurers’ claims-paying abilities and financial strength. The failure of an insurance subsidiary to maintain levels of statutory surplus that are sufficient for the amount of its insurance written could result in increased regulatory scrutiny, action by state regulatory authorities or a downgrade by rating agencies.
Similarly, the NAIC has adopted a system of assessing minimum capital adequacy that is applicable to our insurance subsidiaries. This system, known as risk-based capital, is used to identify companies that may merit further regulatory action by analyzing the adequacy of the insurer’s surplus in relation to statutory requirements.
Because state legislatures remain concerned about the availability and affordability of property and casualty insurance and the protection of policyholders, our insurance subsidiaries expect that they will continue to face efforts by those legislatures to expand regulations to address these concerns. Resulting new legislation could adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.
In the event of the insolvency, liquidation or other reorganization of any of our insurance subsidiaries, our creditors and stockholders would have no right to proceed against any such insurance subsidiary or to cause the liquidation or bankruptcy of any such insurance subsidiary under federal or state bankruptcy laws. The insurance laws of the domiciliary state would govern such proceedings and the relevant insurance commissioner would act as liquidator or rehabilitator for the insurance subsidiary. Creditors and policyholders of any such insurance subsidiary would be entitled to payment in full from the assets of the insurance subsidiary before we, as a stockholder, would be entitled to receive any distribution.
The financial position of our insurance subsidiaries also may be affected by court decisions that expand insurance coverage beyond the intention of the insurer at the time it originally issued an insurance policy.
In 2008, the United States Treasury Department issued a report, “Blueprint for Financial Regulatory Reform”, including recommendations to improve regulatory oversight of the financial services sector. The report includes a proposal that would establish a federal insurance regulatory structure and allow individual insurance companies the option of obtaining a federal charter, similar to the current dual-chartering system for banking. Congress
also has pending proposals regarding optional federal chartering of insurance companies and other various insurance-related matters which have been subject to congressional hearings in 2008. Due to the volatility in the financial markets which accelerated in the last half of 2008, and in particular volatility for companies in the financial services sector, it is possible that additional oversight or regulation could be proposed at the federal and/or state levels. Management will continue to monitor the existing proposals and any new proposals. Additional regulations could adversely affect the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes, financial condition and results of operations of the Company, insurers of similar size and/or the insurance industry as a whole.
The insurance industry is highly cyclical.
The results of companies in the insurance industry historically have been subject to significant fluctuations due to competition, economic conditions, interest rates and other factors. In particular, companies in the property and casualty insurance segment of the industry historically have experienced pricing and profitability cycles. With respect to these cycles, the factors having the greatest impact include intense price competition, less restrictive underwriting standards, aggressive marketing and increased advertising, which have resulted in higher industry-wide combined loss and expense ratios.
The personal lines insurance and annuity markets are highly competitive and our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by competitive forces.
We operate in a highly competitive environment and compete with numerous insurance companies, as well as mutual fund families, independent agent companies and financial planners. In some instances and geographic locations, competitors have specifically targeted the educator marketplace with specialized products and programs. We compete in our target market with a number of national providers of personal automobile and homeowners insurance and life insurance and annuities.
The insurance industry consists of a large number of insurance companies, some of which have substantially greater financial resources, more diversified product lines, greater economies of scale and/or lower-cost marketing approaches, such as direct marketing, mail, Internet and telemarketing, compared to us. In our target market, we believe that the principal competitive factors in the sale of property and casualty insurance products are price, service, name recognition and education association sponsorships. We believe that the principal competitive factors in the sale of life insurance and annuity products are product features, perceived stability of the insurer, service, name recognition, price and education association sponsorships.
Particularly in the property and casualty business, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced, and expect to experience in the future, periods of intense competition during which they may be unable to increase policyholders and revenues without adversely impacting profit margins. The inability of an insurance subsidiary to compete successfully in the property and casualty business would adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations and its resulting ability to distribute cash to us.
In our annuity business, the new Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Section 403(b) regulations, which generally took effect January 1, 2009, make the 403(b) market more similar to the 401(k) market than it has been in the past. While this may drive some competitors out of this market, it may make the 403(b) market more attractive to some of the larger 401(k) providers, including both insurance and mutual fund companies, that had not previously been active competitors in this business. The inability of an insurance subsidiary to compete successfully in these markets would adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations and its resulting ability to distribute cash to the holding company.
Economic and other factors affecting our niche market could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Horace Mann’s strategic objective is to become the company of choice in meeting the insurance and financial services needs of the educational community. With K-12 teachers, administrators, and support personnel representing a significant percentage of our business, the financial condition and results of operations of our subsidiaries could be more prone than many of our competitors to the effects of economic forces and other issues affecting the educator market including, but not limited to, state budget deficits and cut-backs and adverse changes in state tax revenues.
A reduction or elimination of the tax advantages of life and annuity products and/or a change in the tax benefits of various government-authorized retirement programs, such as 403(b) annuities and IRAs, could make our products less attractive to clients and adversely affect our operating results.
A significant part of our annuity business involves fixed and variable 403(b) tax-qualified annuities, which are annuities purchased voluntarily by individuals employed by public school systems or other tax-exempt organizations. While the recent changes in IRS regulations governing 403(b) plans did not change the relative tax advantages of 403(b) annuities, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by changes in federal and state laws and regulations that do affect the relative tax and other advantages of our life and annuity products to clients or the tax benefits of programs utilized by our clients. See also “Business - Regulation at Federal Level”.
Current federal income tax laws generally permit the tax-deferred accumulation of earnings on the premiums paid by the holders of annuities and life insurance products. Taxes, if any, are payable on income attributable to a distribution under the contract for the year in which the distribution is made. From time to time, Congress has considered legislation that would reduce or eliminate the benefit of such deferral of taxation on the accretion of value with life insurance and non-qualified annuity contracts. Enactment of this legislation, including a simplified “flat tax” income structure with an exemption from taxation for investment income, could result in fewer sales of our life insurance and annuity products.
Litigation may harm our financial strength or reduce our profitability.
Companies in the insurance industry have been subject to substantial litigation resulting from claims, disputes and other matters. Most recently, they have faced expensive claims, including class action lawsuits, alleging, among other things, improper sales practices and improper claims settlement procedures. Negotiated settlements of certain such actions have had a material adverse effect on many insurance companies. The resolution of such claims against any of our insurance subsidiaries, including the potential adverse effect on our reputation and charges against the earnings of our insurance subsidiaries as a result of legal defense costs, a settlement agreement or an adverse finding or findings against our insurance subsidiaries in such a claim, could materially adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.
Successful execution of our growth strategy is highly dependent on effective implementation of new technology solutions.
Our ability to effectively execute our growth strategy and leverage potential economies of scale is dependent on our ability to provide the requisite technology components of that strategy. While we have effectively upgraded our infrastructure technologies with improvements in our data center, a new communications platform and enhanced disaster recovery capabilities, our ability to build upon this foundation and replace dated, single-function legacy systems with fully functional, flexible, maintainable and user-friendly technology solutions, including current efforts underway to replace major components of our property and casualty administrative system, will be necessary to achieve our plans. The inherent difficulty in implementing large technology solutions, coupled with the Company’s lack of experience in these types of endeavors, presents increased risk to delivering these technology solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner. Utilization of third-party vendors can augment the Company’s internal capacity for these implementations, but may not reduce the risks of timely and cost effective delivery.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. Properties
HMEC’s home office property at 1 Horace Mann Plaza in Springfield, Illinois, consists of an office building totaling 230,000 square feet, approximately 200,000 square feet of which is office space, which is owned by the Company. Also in Springfield, the Company owns and leases some smaller buildings at other locations. In addition, the Company leases office space in suburban Dallas, Texas, and Raleigh, North Carolina, for its claims operations and leases office space in a number of states for its field marketing operations. These properties, which are utilized by all of the Company’s business segments, are adequate and suitable for the Company’s current and anticipated future needs.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is not currently party to any material pending legal proceedings other than routine litigation incidental to its business.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information and Dividends
HMEC’s common stock began trading on the NYSE in November 1991 under the symbol of HMN at a price of $9 per share. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of the common stock on the NYSE Composite Tape and the cash dividends paid per share of common stock during the periods indicated.
The payment of dividends in the future is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors of HMEC and will depend upon general business conditions, legal restrictions and other factors the Board of Directors may deem to be relevant. See also “Business - Cash Flow”.
Stock Price Performance Graph
The graph below compares cumulative total return* of Horace Mann Educators Corporation, the S&P 500 Insurance Index and the S&P 500 Index. The graph assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2003 in HMEC, the S&P 500 Insurance Index and the S&P 500 Index.
* The S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Insurance Index, as published by Standard and Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”), assume an annual reinvestment of dividends in calculating total return. Horace Mann Educators Corporation assumes reinvestment of dividends when paid.
Holders and Shares Issued
As of February 19, 2009, the approximate number of holders of HMEC’s common stock was 3,000.
During 2008, no stock options were exercised.
The equity compensation plan information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data
The information required by Item 301 of Regulation S-K is contained in the table in Item 1 - “Business - Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data”.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The information required by Item 303 of Regulation S-K is listed on page of this report.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The information required by Item 305 of Regulation S-K is contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” listed on page of this report.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The Company’s consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedules, the report of its independent registered public accounting firm and the selected quarterly financial data required by Item 302 of Regulation S-K are listed on page of this report.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
a.) Management’s Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2008, the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
b.) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of Horace Mann is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
(i) Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
(ii) Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and
(iii) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Management of Horace Mann conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, using the criteria set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Based on this evaluation, management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, determined that, as of December 31, 2008, the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.
c.) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The information required by Item 308(b) of Regulation S-K is contained in the “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” listed on page of this report.
d). Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by Items 401, 405, 407(d)(4) and 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Horace Mann Educators Corporation has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and all other employees of the Company. In addition, the Board of Directors of Horace Mann Educators Corporation has adopted the code of ethics for its Board members as it applies to each Board member’s business conduct on behalf of the Company. The code of ethics is posted on the Company’s Web site, www.horacemann.com, under “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance”.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by Items 402, 407(e)(4) and 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by Items 201(d) and 403 of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by Items 404 and 407(a) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by Item 9(e) of Schedule 14A is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) The following consolidated financial statements of the Company are contained in the Index to Financial Information on Page of this report:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
(a)(2) The following financial statement schedules of the Company are contained in the Index to Financial Information on page of this report:
Schedule I-Summary of Investments-Other than Investments in Related Parties.
Schedule II-Condensed Financial Information of Registrant.
Schedules III and VI Combined-Supplementary Insurance Information and Supplemental Information Concerning Property and Casualty Insurance Operations.
Schedule IV-Reinsurance.
(a)(3) The following items are filed as Exhibits. Management contracts and compensatory plans are indicated by an asterisk (*).
Copies of Form 10-K, Exhibits to Form 10-K, Horace Mann Educators Corporation’s Code of Ethics and charters of the committees of the Board of Directors are available through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s Internet Web site, www.horacemann.com. Copies also may be obtained by writing to Investor Relations, Horace Mann Educators Corporation, 1 Horace Mann Plaza, C-120, Springfield, Illinois 62715-0001.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Horace Mann Educators Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
/s/ Louis G. Lower II
Louis G. Lower II
President and Chief Executive 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 Horace Mann Educators Corporation and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Principal Executive Officer:
Directors:
/s/ Louis G. Lower II
/s/ Joseph J. Melone
Louis G. Lower II
Joseph J. Melone, Chairman of the
President,
Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer and a Director
/s/ Mary H. Futrell
Mary H. Futrell, Director
Principal Financial Officer:
/s/ Stephen J. Hasenmiller
Stephen J. Hasenmiller, Director
/s/ Peter H. Heckman
/s/ Jeffrey L. Morby
Peter H. Heckman
Jeffrey L. Morby, Director
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Charles A. Parker
Charles A. Parker, Director
Principal Accounting Officer:
/s/ Gabriel L. Shaheen
Gabriel L. Shaheen, Director
/s/ Bret A. Conklin
/s/ Roger J. Steinbecker
Bret A. Conklin
Roger J. Steinbecker, Director
Senior Vice President and Controller
/s/ Charles R. Wright
Charles R. Wright, Director
Dated: March 2, 2009
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
INDEX TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
Forward-looking Information
Statements made in the following discussion that state the Company’s or management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of future events or the Company’s future financial performance are forward-looking statements and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Horace Mann is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements due to, among other risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business, the following important factors:
•
Changes in the composition of the Company’s assets and liabilities which may result from occurrences such as acquisitions, divestitures, impairment in asset values or changes in estimates of insurance reserves.
•
Fluctuations in the fair value of securities in the Company’s investment portfolio and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s shareholders’ equity and total capital through either realized or unrealized investment losses, as well as the potential impact on the ability of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to distribute cash to the holding company and/or need for the holding company to make capital contributions to the insurance subsidiaries. In addition, the impact of fluctuations in the financial markets on the Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s operating expenses, shareholders’ equity and total capital.
•
The impact of fluctuations in the financial markets on the Company’s variable annuity fee revenues, valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs, and the level of guaranteed minimum death benefit reserves.
•
The impact of fluctuations in the capital markets on the Company’s ability to refinance outstanding indebtedness or repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock.
•
Defaults on interest or dividend payments in the Company’s investment portfolio due to credit issues and the resulting impact on investment income.
•
Prevailing interest rate levels, including the impact of interest rates on (1) unrealized gains and losses in the Company’s investment portfolio and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s shareholders’ equity and total capital, (2) the book yield of the Company’s investment portfolio, (3) the Company’s ability to maintain appropriate interest rate spreads over the fixed rates guaranteed in the Company’s life and annuity products and (4) valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs.
•
The cyclicality of the insurance industry and the related effects of changes in price competition and industry-wide underwriting results.
•
The frequency and severity of catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes, storms and wildfires and the ability of the Company to provide accurate estimates of ultimate catastrophe costs in its consolidated financial statements in light of such factors as: the proximity of the catastrophe occurrence date to the date of the consolidated financial statements; potential inflation of property repair costs in the affected area; the occurrence of multiple catastrophes in a geographic area over a relatively short period of time; the outcome of litigation which may be filed against the Company by policyholders, state attorneys general and other parties relative to loss coverage disputes and loss settlement payments; and the ability of state insurance facilities to assess participating insurers when financial deficits occur.
•
The Company’s risk exposure to catastrophe-prone areas. Based on full year 2008 property and casualty direct earned premiums, the Company’s ten largest states represented 58% of the segment total. Included in this top ten group are certain states which are considered more prone to catastrophe occurrences: Florida, California, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Georgia.
•
The potential near-term, adverse impact of underwriting actions to mitigate the Company’s risk exposure to catastrophe-prone areas on premium, policy and earnings growth.
•
The ability of the Company to maintain a favorable catastrophe reinsurance program considering both availability and cost; and the collectibility of reinsurance receivables.
•
Adverse development of property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expense reserve experience and its impact on estimated claims and claim settlement expenses for losses occurring in prior years.
•
Adverse changes in market appreciation, interest spreads, business persistency and policyholder mortality and morbidity rates and the resulting impact on both estimated reserves and the valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs.
•
Changes in insurance regulations, including (1) those affecting the ability of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to distribute cash to the holding company and (2) those impacting the Company’s ability to profitably write property and casualty insurance policies in one or more states.
•
Changes in federal income tax laws and changes resulting from federal tax audits affecting corporate tax rates or taxable income.
•
Changes in federal and state laws and regulations, which affect the relative tax and other advantages of the Company’s life and annuity products to customers, including, but not limited to, changes in IRS regulations governing Section 403(b) plans.
•
The resolution of legal proceedings and related matters including the potential adverse impact on the Company’s reputation and charges against the Company’s earnings resulting from legal defense costs, a settlement agreement and/or an adverse finding or findings against the Company from the proceedings.
•
The Company’s ability to maintain favorable claims-paying ability ratings.
•
The Company’s ability to maintain favorable financial strength and debt ratings.
•
The Company’s ability to profitably expand its property and casualty business in highly competitive environments.
•
The competitive impact of the new Section 403(b) tax-qualified annuity regulations, including (1) their potential to lead plan sponsors to restrict the number of providers and (2) the possible entry into the 403(b) market of larger competitors experienced in 401(k) plans.
•
The Company’s ability to develop and expand its marketing operations, including agents and other points of distribution, as well as the Company’s ability to maintain and secure sponsorships by local, state and national education associations.
•
The Company’s dated and complex information systems, which are difficult to upgrade and more prone to error than advanced technology systems.
•
Disruptions of the general business climate, investments, capital markets and consumer attitudes caused by pandemics or geopolitical acts such as terrorism, war or other similar events.
Executive Summary
Horace Mann Educators Corporation (“HMEC”; and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Horace Mann”) is an insurance holding company. Through its subsidiaries, HMEC markets and underwrites personal lines of property and casualty insurance, retirement annuities and life insurance in the U.S. The Company markets its products primarily to K-12 teachers, administrators and other employees of public schools and their families.
For 2008, the Company’s net income of $10.9 million represented a decrease of $71.9 million compared to 2007, including a $39.3 million reduction in after-tax net realized investment gains and losses. Catastrophe costs increased $32.8 million after tax and non-catastrophe weather-related losses also increased compared to the prior year. In addition, compared to 2007, net income in the current year was negatively impacted by $1.2 million due to a modestly reduced level of favorable prior years’ property and casualty reserve development. Including all factors, the property and casualty combined ratio was 100.7% for 2008 compared to 91.9% for 2007. As described in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Income Tax Expense (Benefit)”, the current year net income benefited by $4.2 million as a result of the completion of Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) examinations. Annuity segment net income decreased slightly compared to 2007, due to a decline in contract charges and fees nearly offset by a federal income tax benefit. On a pretax basis for the annuity segment, current year improvements in the interest margin were offset by the adverse impact of the financial markets on the level of contract charges earned, the valuation of deferred policy acquisition costs and the Company’s guaranteed minimum death benefit reserve. Life segment net income decreased $0.9 million, or 5%, compared to a year earlier, as growth in earned premium and investment income was more than offset by higher mortality costs.
Premiums written and contract deposits declined a modest 1% compared to 2007 primarily reflecting the expected decrease in single premium annuity deposit receipts in 2008. For 2008, reduced costs associated with the Company’s property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance program represented a $6.9 million increase in premiums written compared to 2007. New automobile sales units in 2008 were 7% less than 2007, with quarterly sales improving sequentially throughout the year. The 2008 sales decrease was somewhat offset by favorable policy retention, resulting in voluntary automobile policies in force equal to December 31, 2007. However, automobile policies of educators increased 2% compared to a year earlier. Annuity contract deposits for 2008 decreased 8% compared to a year earlier, and life segment insurance premiums and contract deposits were comparable to the prior year.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions based on information available at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of the Company’s consolidated assets, liabilities, shareholders’ equity and net income. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and because of the possibility that subsequent events and available information may differ markedly from management’s judgements at the time the consolidated financial statements were prepared. Management has discussed with the Audit Committee the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting. The discussions generally included such matters as the consistency of the Company’s accounting policies and their application, and the clarity and completeness of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which include related disclosures. For the Company, the areas most subject to significant management judgements include: liabilities for property and casualty claims and claim settlement expenses, liabilities for future policy benefits, deferred policy acquisition costs for annuity and interest-sensitive life products, fair value measurements, other-than-temporary impairment of investments, goodwill, deferred taxes and valuation of assets and liabilities related to the defined benefit pension plan.
Liabilities for Property and Casualty Claims and Claim Settlement Expenses
Underwriting results of the property and casualty segment are significantly influenced by estimates of the Company’s ultimate liability for insured events. There is a high degree of uncertainty inherent in the estimates of ultimate losses underlying the liability for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses. This inherent uncertainty is particularly significant for liability-related exposures due to the extended period, often many years, that transpires between a loss event, receipt of related claims data from policyholders and ultimate settlement of the claim. Reserves for property and casualty claims include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims (“case reserves”), claims incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”) and associated settlement expenses (together, “loss reserves”). The process by which these reserves are established requires reliance upon estimates based on known facts and on interpretations of circumstances, including the Company’s experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payments and related patterns, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as other factors including court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes.
Reserves are reestimated quarterly. Changes to reserves are recorded in the period in which development factor changes result in reserve reestimates. Detailed discussion of the process utilized to estimate loss reserves, risk factors considered and the impact of adjustments recorded during recent years is included in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 4 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses” listed on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Due to the nature of the Company’s personal lines business, the Company has no exposure to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under homeowners insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold.
Based on the Company’s products and coverages, historical experience, and modeling of various actuarial methodologies used to develop reserve estimates, the Company estimates that the potential variability of the property and casualty loss reserves within a reasonable probability of other possible outcomes may be approximately plus or minus 6%, which equates to plus or minus approximately $12 million of net income based on reserves as of December 31, 2008. Although this evaluation reflects the most likely outcomes, it is possible the final outcome may fall below or above these estimates.
There are a number of assumptions involved in the determination of the Company’s property and casualty loss reserves. Among the key factors affecting recorded loss reserves for both long-tail and short-tail related coverages, claim severity and claim frequency are of particular significance. Management estimates that a 2% change in claim severity or claim frequency for the most recent 36-month period is a reasonably likely scenario based on recent experience and would result in a change in the estimated loss reserves of between $6.0 million and $10.0 million for long-tail liability related exposures (automobile liability coverages) and between $3.0 million and $4.0 million for short-tail liability related exposures (homeowners and automobile physical damage coverages). Actual results may differ, depending on the magnitude and direction of the deviation.
The Company’s loss and loss adjustment expense actuarial analysis is discussed with management. As part of this discussion, the indicated point estimate of the IBNR loss reserve by line of business (coverage) is reviewed. The Company actuaries also discuss any indicated changes to the underlying assumptions used to calculate the indicated point estimate. Review of the variance between the indicated reserves from these changes in assumptions and the previously carried reserves takes place. After discussion of these analyses and all relevant risk factors, management determines whether the reserve balances require adjustment. The Company’s best estimate of loss reserves may change depending on a revision in the underlying assumptions.
The Company’s liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses were as follows:
(1) These amounts are gross, before reduction for ceded reinsurance reserves.
The facts and circumstances leading to the Company’s reestimate of reserves relate to revisions of the development factors used to predict how losses are likely to develop from the end of a reporting period until all claims have been paid. Reestimates occur because actual loss amounts are different than those predicted by the estimated development factors used in prior reserve estimates. At December 31, 2008, the impact of a reserve reestimation resulting in a 1% increase in net reserves would be a decrease of approximately $2 million in net income. A reserve reestimation resulting in a 1% decrease in net reserves would increase net income by approximately $2 million.
Favorable reserve reestimates increased net income in 2008 by approximately $11.8 million, primarily the result of favorable frequency and severity trends in voluntary automobile loss and loss adjustment expense emergence for accident years 2005 and prior. The lower than expected claims and expense emergence and resultant lower expected loss ratios caused the Company to lower its reserve estimate.
Information regarding the Company’s property and casualty claims and claims settlement expense reserve development table as of December 31, 2008 is located in “Business - Property and Casualty Segment - Property and Casualty Reserves”. Information regarding property and casualty reserve reestimates for each of the three years ended December 31, 2008 is located in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Benefits, Claims and Settlement Expenses”.
Liabilities for Future Policy Benefits
Liabilities for future benefits on life and annuity policies are established in amounts adequate to meet the estimated future obligations on policies in force. Liabilities for future policy benefits on certain life insurance policies are computed using the net level premium method and are based on assumptions as to future investment yield, mortality and withdrawals. Mortality and withdrawal assumptions for all policies have been based on actuarial tables which are consistent with the Company’s own experience. In the event actual experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required. This would result in a charge to income for the period in which the increase in reserves occurred. Liabilities for future benefits on annuity contracts and certain long-duration life insurance contracts are carried at accumulated policyholder values without reduction for potential surrender or withdrawal charges.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs for Annuity and Interest-sensitive Life Products
Policy acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, policy issuance and other costs, which vary with and are primarily related to the production of business, are capitalized and amortized on a basis consistent with the type of insurance coverage. For all investment (annuity) contracts, acquisition costs are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. Capitalized acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life contracts are also amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits.
The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. For the variable deposit portion of the annuity segment, the Company amortizes policy acquisition costs utilizing a future financial market performance assumption of a 10% reversion to the mean approach with a 200 basis point corridor around the mean during the reversion period, representing a cap and a floor on the Company’s assumed long-term assumption. The Company’s practice with regard to returns on separate accounts assumes that long-term appreciation in equity markets is not changed by short-term market fluctuations, but is only changed when sustained interim deviations are experienced. The Company monitors these changes and only changes the assumption when its long-term expectation changes. The effect of an increase/(decrease) by 100 basis points in the assumed future rate of return is reasonably likely to result in a decrease/(increase) in the deferred policy acquisition costs balance of approximately $1 million. At December 31, 2008, the ratio of capitalized annuity policy acquisition costs to the total annuity accumulated cash value was approximately 6%.
In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company may be required to record a material charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment is made. As noted above, there are key assumptions involved in the valuation of capitalized policy acquisition costs. In terms of the sensitivity of this amortization to two of the more significant assumptions, assuming all other assumptions are met, (1) a 10 basis point deviation in the annual targeted interest rate spread assumption would currently impact amortization between $0.10 million and $0.20 million and (2) a 1% deviation from the targeted financial market performance for the underlying mutual funds of the Company’s variable annuities would currently impact amortization between $0.15 million and $0.25 million. These results may change depending on the magnitude and direction of the deviations but represent a range of reasonably likely experience for the noted assumptions. Detailed discussion of the impact of adjustments to the amortization of capitalized acquisition costs is included in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Amortization of Policy Acquisition Expenses and Intangible Assets”.
Fair Value Measurements
As discussed in “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 3 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments”, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, effective January 1, 2008. SFAS No. 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value that includes a hierarchy used to classify the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 1 assets and liabilities include debt and equity securities (both common stock and preferred stock) that are traded in an active exchange market, as well as U.S. Treasury securities.
Level 2
Unadjusted observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments. This category generally includes certain U.S. Government, agency mortgage-backed debt securities, non-agency structured securities, corporate debt securities and preferred stocks.
Level 3
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. This category generally includes certain private debt and equity investments.
The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008, Level 3 assets comprised approximately 0.8% of the Company’s total investment portfolio fair value.
(1) Short-term investments are included in Short-term and Other Investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Inputs to fair value measurements are provided only for those investments carried at fair value.
Valuation of Investments
Fair values for the Company’s fixed maturity securities are based on prices provided by its investment managers and its custodian bank. Both the investment managers and the custodian bank use a variety of independent, nationally recognized pricing sources to determine market valuations. Each designate specific pricing services or indexes for each sector of the market based upon the provider’s expertise. Typical inputs used by these pricing sources include, but are not limited to, reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids, offers, and/or estimated cash flows and prepayment speeds. When the pricing sources cannot provide fair value determinations, the Company obtains non-binding price quotes from broker-dealers. The broker-dealers’ valuation methodology is sometimes matrix-based, using indicative evaluation measures and adjustments for specific security characteristics and market sentiment. The Company analyzes market valuations received to verify reasonableness, to understand the key assumptions used and their sources, to conclude the prices obtained are appropriate, and to determine an appropriate SFAS No. 157 fair value hierarchy level based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. Based on this evaluation and investment class analysis, each price is classified into Level 1, 2 or 3. The Company has in place certain control processes to determine the reasonableness of the financial asset fair values. These processes are designed to ensure the values received are accurately recorded and that the data inputs and valuation techniques utilized are appropriate, consistently applied, and that the assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value. For example, on a continuing basis, the Company assesses the reasonableness of individual security values received from pricing sources that vary from certain thresholds. Historically, the control processes have not resulted in adjustments to the valuation provided by pricing sources. The Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio is primarily publicly traded, which allows for a high percentage of the portfolio to be priced through pricing services. Approximately 94% of the portfolio was priced through pricing services or index priced as of December 31, 2008. The remainder of the portfolio was priced by broker-dealers, and these inputs were generally Level 2. There were no significant changes to the valuation process during 2008.
Fair values of equity securities have been determined by the Company from observable market quotations, when available. Private placement securities and equity securities where a public quotation is not available are valued by using non-binding broker quotes or through the use of internal models or analysis. These inputs are based on assumptions deemed appropriate given the circumstances and are believed to be consistent with what other market participants would use when pricing such securities.
Short-term investments are comprised of short-term fixed income securities. Because of the nature of these assets, carrying amounts approximate fair values, which have been determined from public quotations, when available.
Separate Account assets represent variable annuity contractholder funds invested in various mutual funds. Fair values of these assets have been determined from public quotations.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Investments
The Company’s methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments is based on security-specific facts and circumstances as of the date of the reporting period. Based on these facts, if management believes it is probable that amounts due will not be collected according to the contractual terms of a debt security, or if the Company does not have the ability and intent to hold a debt or equity security with an unrealized loss until it matures or recovers in value, an other-than-temporary impairment is considered to have occurred. As a general rule, if the fair value of a debt security has fallen below 80% of book value, this security will be reviewed for an other-than-temporary impairment. Also as a general rule, if the fair value of an equity security has declined below cost, this security will be reviewed for an other-than-temporary impairment including an assessment of whether recovery in fair value is likely to occur within a reasonable period of time. Additionally, if events become known that call into question whether the security issuer has the ability to honor its contractual commitments, whether or not such security has been trading above an 80% fair value to book value relationship, such security holding will be evaluated to determine whether or not such security has suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value.
The Company reviews the fair value of all investments in its portfolio on a monthly basis to assess whether an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred. These reviews, in conjunction with the Company’s investment managers’ monthly credit reports and relevant factors such as (1) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (2) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost for fixed maturity securities or cost for equity securities, (3) the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment long enough to allow for the anticipated recovery in fair value or until it matures, (4) the stock price trend of the issuer, (5) the market leadership position of the issuer, (6) the debt ratings of the issuer, (7) the cash flows of the issuer or the underlying cash flows for asset-backed securities and (8) a near-term recovery period for equity securities, are all considered in the impairment assessment. A write-down of an investment is recorded when a decline in the fair value of that investment is deemed to be other-than-temporary, with a realized investment loss charged to income for the period.
With respect to fixed income securities involving securitized financial assets - primarily asset backed and commercial mortgage backed securities in the Company’s portfolio - which fall under the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 99-20, “Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests that Continue to be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets”, all of the Company’s securitized financial assets fair values are determined by observable inputs. In addition, the securitized financial asset securities’ underlying collateral cash flows were stress tested to determine there was no adverse change in the expected cash flows.
The Company’s intent and ability to hold securities requires the Company to consider at each accounting period end its broad portfolio management objectives such as asset/liability duration management, issuer and industry segment exposures, interest rate views and the overall total return focus. In following these portfolio management objectives, changes in facts and circumstances that were present in past reporting periods may trigger a decision to sell securities that were held in prior reporting periods. The Company attempts to anticipate these types of changes and if a sale decision has been made on an impaired security and that security is not expected to recover prior to the expected time of sale, the security will be deemed other-than-temporarily impaired in the period that the sale decision was made and an other-than-temporary impairment loss will be recognized.
A decline in fair value below amortized cost is not assumed to be other-than-temporary for fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses due to changes in interest rates, spread widening or market illiquidity where there exists a reasonable expectation based on the Company’s consideration of all objective information available that the Company will recover all amounts due under the contractual terms of the security and the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investment until maturity or a market recovery is realized. An other-than-temporary impairment loss will be recognized based upon all relevant facts and circumstances for each investment, as appropriate.
Goodwill
Financial Accounting Standards Board SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, requires that goodwill balances be reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would indicate that a triggering event, as defined in SFAS No. 142, has occurred. A reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. The Company’s reporting units, for which goodwill has been allocated, are equivalent to the Company’s operating segments.
The goodwill impairment test follows a two step process as defined in SFAS No. 142. In the first step, the fair value of a reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed for purposes of measuring the impairment. In the second step, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit to determine an implied goodwill value. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied goodwill value, an impairment loss would be recognized in an amount equal to that excess, and the charge could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Management’s determination of the fair value of each reporting unit incorporates multiple inputs including discounted cash flow calculations, the level of the Company’s own share price and assumptions that market participants would make in valuing the reporting unit. Other assumptions include levels of economic capital, future business growth, earnings projections, assets under management for reporting units and the discount rate utilized.
The Company completed its annual goodwill assessment for the individual reporting units as of December 31, 2008. The conclusion reached as a result of the annual goodwill impairment testing was that the fair value of each reporting unit, for which goodwill had been allocated, was in excess of the respective reporting unit’s carrying value, and therefore determined not to be impaired.
As part of the Company’s goodwill analysis, the Company compared the fair value of the aggregated reporting units to the market capitalization of the Company using the December 31, 2008 common stock price. The difference between the aggregated fair value of the reporting units and the market capitalization of the Company was attributed to transaction premium. The amount of the transaction premium was determined to be reasonable based on recent insurance transactions and specific facts and circumstances related to the Company.
If current market conditions persist during 2009, in particular if the Company’s share price remains below book value per share, or if the Company’s actions to limit risk associated with its products or investments causes a significant change in any one reporting unit’s fair value, the Company may need to reassess goodwill impairment at the end of each quarter as part of an interim impairment test. Subsequent reviews of goodwill could result in an impairment of goodwill during 2009.
Deferred Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the tax effect of the differences between the financial statement carrying value of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, the Company evaluates deferred tax assets periodically to determine if they are realizable. Factors in the determination include the performance of the business including the ability to generate capital gains from a variety of sources and tax planning strategies. If, based on available information, it is more likely than not that the deferred income tax asset will not be realized, then a valuation allowance must be established with a corresponding charge to net income.
If current market conditions persist during 2009, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance may be necessary. Charges to establish a valuation allowance could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Valuation of Assets and Liabilities Related to the Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Effective April 1, 2002, participants stopped accruing benefits under the defined benefit pension plan but continue to retain the benefits they had accrued to that date.
The Company’s cost estimates for its defined benefit pension plan are determined annually based on assumptions which include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, anticipated retirement rate and estimated lump sum distributions. A discount rate of 6.27% was used by the Company for estimating accumulated benefits under the plan at December 31, 2008, which was based on the average yield for long-term, high grade securities
having maturities generally consistent with the defined benefit pension payout period. To set its discount rate, the Company looks to leading indicators, including the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. The expected annual return on plan assets assumed by the Company at December 31, 2008 was 7.5%. The assumption for the long-term rate of return on plan assets was determined by considering actual investment experience during the lifetime of the plan, balanced with reasonable expectations of future growth considering the various classes of assets and percentage allocation for each asset class. Management believes that it has adopted reasonable assumptions for investment returns, discount rates and other key factors used in the estimation of pension costs and asset values.
To the extent that actual experience differs from the Company’s assumptions, subsequent adjustments may be required, with the effects of those adjustments charged or credited to income and/or shareholders’ equity for the period in which the adjustments are made. Generally, a change of 50 basis points in the discount rate would inversely impact pension expense and accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) by approximately $0.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively. In addition, for every $1 million increase (decrease) in the value of pension plan assets, there is a comparable increase (decrease) in AOCI.
Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008
Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges
Insurance Premiums Written and Contract Deposits
(Includes annuity and life contract deposits)
Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges Earned
(Excludes annuity and life contract deposits)
For 2008, the Company’s premiums written and contract deposits decreased 1.5% compared to 2007, largely due to decreases in single premium annuity deposit receipts in 2008. The reduced costs associated with the Company’s property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance program, as described below, represented a $6.9 million increase to premiums for 2008. For 2007, the Company’s premiums written and contract deposits increased 0.5% compared to 2006, primarily reflecting growth in annuity deposits received partially offset by the decrease in other property and casualty premiums as described below. The additional costs associated with the Company’s property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance program represented a $2.3 million decrease to premiums for 2007. Voluntary property and casualty business represents policies sold through the Company’s marketing organization and issued under the Company’s underwriting guidelines. Involuntary property and casualty business consists of allocations of business from state mandatory insurance facilities and assigned risk business.
The Company’s dedicated agency force totaled 670 at December 31, 2008, reflecting a decrease of 15.2% compared to 790 at December 31, 2007. At December 31, 2006, the Company had 848 agents. Of the current period-end total, 146 agents were in their first 24 months with the Company, down 33.9% compared to December 31, 2007. The number of experienced agents in the agent force, 524, decreased 7.9% compared to a year earlier. In addition to agents, the Company’s total points of distribution include licensed producers who work with the agents. At December 31, 2008, there were 394 licensed producers, compared to 253 at December 31, 2007 and 117 at December 31, 2006. Including these licensed producers, the Company’s total points of distribution increased to 1,064 at December 31, 2008, a growth of 2.0% compared to 12 months earlier. At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management anticipates that over the next several quarters the agent count will continue to decline modestly during the Company’s continued transition to its Agency Business Model and Exclusive Agent agreement, with an increase in total points of distribution resulting from the growing number of licensed producers supporting agents who adopt the new model.
In 2006, the Company began the transition from a single-person agent operation to its Agency Business Model, with agents in outside offices with support personnel and licensed producers, designed to remove capacity constraints and increase productivity. Building on the foundation of the Agency Business Model, in the fourth quarter of 2008 the Company introduced its Exclusive Agent (“EA”) agreement which is designed to place agents in the position to become business owners and invest their own capital to grow their agencies. By January 1, 2009, the first 71 individuals migrated from being employee agents to functioning as independent Exclusive Agents. See additional description in “Business - Corporate Strategy and Marketing - Dedicated Agency Force”.
In 2008, total new automobile sales units were 6.8% less than the prior year, including a 9.2% decrease in true new automobile sales units. New homeowners sales units decreased 5.6% compared to 2007. For the Company, as well as other personal lines property and casualty companies, new business levels have been impacted by the economy and the decreases in automobile and home sales. Annuity new business declined 9.5% compared to 2007, primarily due to a decline in single premium and rollover deposits, particularly from the independent agent distribution channel, somewhat mitigated by new business growth in the Company’s core scheduled deposit business from the Company’s dedicated agents. The decline in single premium and rollover deposits was expected during the transition to the new IRS regulations governing section 403(b) plans. Life new business decreased 17.7% compared to 2007 primarily reflecting reduced sales of partner company products. For 2008, total new business sales decreased 10.0% compared to a year earlier. In total, dedicated
agent sales for 2008 decreased 6.5% compared to 2007, reflecting the lower number of agents in the current period. Average overall productivity per agent increased moderately compared to 2007. Compared to 2007, average productivity of the 245 agents who had completed the Agency Business School (“ABS”) training continued to exceed their non-ABS counterparts in the Company’s lead voluntary automobile and annuity lines of business. Average agent productivity is measured as new sales premiums from the dedicated agent force per the average number of dedicated agents for the period.
Total voluntary automobile and homeowners premium written increased 2.2%, or $11.6 million, in 2008, including the $6.9 million reduction in the cost of catastrophe reinsurance which reflected the elimination of the catastrophe aggregate reinsurance coverage as well as favorable pricing on the remaining coverages for 2008. The automobile and homeowners average written premium per policy each increased compared to 2007 with the change in average premium for both lines moderated by the improved quality of the books of business. For 2008, approved rate increases for the Company’s automobile and homeowners business were minimal, similar to rate actions in 2007. At December 31, 2008, there were 535,000 voluntary automobile and 263,000 homeowners policies in force, for a total of 798,000 policies, compared to a total of 801,000 policies at December 31, 2007 and 799,000 policies at December 31, 2006.
Based on policies in force, the voluntary automobile 6-month retention rate for new and renewal policies was 91.1% at December 31, 2008 compared to 91.0% at December 31, 2007 and 90.5% at December 31, 2006. The property 12-month new and renewal policy retention rate was 88.6% at December 31, 2008 compared to 88.3% a year earlier and 87.4% at December 31, 2006.
Voluntary automobile premium written increased 0.7% ($2.5 million) compared to 2007. In 2007, voluntary automobile premium written decreased 0.7% ($2.7 million) compared to 2006. In 2008, automobile average written premium per policy and average earned premium per policy increased modestly, while policies in force were equal to December 31, 2007. In 2007, the growth in automobile policies in force offset approximately one-half of the decline in premiums written attributable to the decrease in average written premium per policy. Average written premium per policy and average earned premium per policy both decreased 3% compared to 2006. Automobile policies in force at December 31, 2008 were equal to December 31, 2007 which had increased by 2,000 compared to December 31, 2006. Educator policies increased throughout the periods.
Voluntary homeowners premium written increased 5.5% ($9.1 million) compared to 2007 including the lower amount of catastrophe reinsurance premiums described above. In 2007, voluntary homeowners premium written increased 4.2% ($6.7 million) compared to 2006 including the higher amount of catastrophe reinsurance premiums described above. Homeowners average written premium per policy increased 3% in 2008 and 6% in 2007, while average earned premium per policy increased 5% in 2008 and 4% in 2007. Homeowners policies in force at December 31, 2008 decreased 3,000 compared to December 31, 2007, as growth in the number of educator policies was offset by expected reductions, primarily in non-educator policies, due to the Company’s risk mitigation programs, including actions in catastrophe-prone coastal areas. The Company continues to evaluate and implement actions to further mitigate its risk exposure in hurricane-prone areas. Such actions could include, but
are not limited to, non-renewal of homeowners policies, restricted agent geographic placement, limitations on agent new business sales, further tightening of underwriting standards and increased utilization of third-party vendor marketing alliances. Homeowners policies in force at December 31, 2007 were equal to a year earlier.
Prior to 2008, the primary component of involuntary and other property and casualty earned premiums, which represented less than 2% of total property and casualty premiums for full year 2007, had been educator excess professional liability insurance purchased by the National Education Association (“NEA”) for all of its members. The NEA’s five-year contract to purchase this insurance from the Company expired on August 31, 2007 and represented approximately $8.6 million of premiums written in 2006, with 1/2, or approximately $0.7 million, of that premium earned each month during the September 2006 through August 2007 coverage period. The Company’s underwriting results from educator excess professional liability insurance have generally represented amounts which were not a material portion of net income for the Company or for the property and casualty segment. The other significant component of involuntary and other property and casualty premiums is automobile business assumed from state mandatory insurance facilities and in 2008 this component decreased approximately $1.9 million compared to 2007.
Annuity deposits received decreased 7.5% in 2008 and increased 3.5% in 2007, compared to the respective prior years. In 2008, scheduled annuity deposits decreased 3.7% compared to the prior year while single premium and rollover deposits decreased 14.2%, impacted by the industry-wide effect on 403(b) transfers of the transition to the new Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Section 403(b) regulations and also the 2008 level of new single premium deposits from the independent agent distribution channel. In 2008, new deposits to variable accounts decreased 10.3%, or $15.5 million, and new deposits to fixed accounts decreased 5.3%, or $9.9 million, compared to the prior year. In 2007, new deposits to variable accounts increased 8.2%, or $11.4 million, while new deposits to fixed accounts were equal to the prior year. In addition to external contractholder deposits, annuity new deposits include contributions and transfers for the 401(k) group annuity contract by the Company’s employees.
The Company utilizes a nationwide network of independent agents who comprise a supplemental distribution channel for the Company’s 403(b) tax-qualified annuity products. The independent agent distribution channel included 1,108 authorized agents at December 31, 2008. During 2008, this channel generated $21.3 million in annualized new annuity sales for the Company compared to $32.9 million in 2007 and $38.7 in 2006, with the declines primarily in single and rollover deposit business. The decrease in 2008 was anticipated as management continued to focus this channel on 403(b) and other tax-qualified business in addition to the anticipated effect of the interim restrictions of the new IRS Section 403(b) rules.
The Company is one of the largest participants in the 403(b) tax-qualified annuity market, measured by 403(b) net written premium on a statutory accounting basis, and has approved 403(b) payroll reduction capabilities in approximately one-third of the 15,500 school districts in the U.S. More detail regarding the IRS Section 403(b) regulation changes which were effective January 1, 2009 is provided in “Business - Regulation - Regulation at Federal Level”. As of the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company has received responses from school districts resulting in retention of approximately 90% of its previous payroll reduction slots. Responses from some school districts have not yet been received. Throughout this process, the Company has been granted payroll reduction slots in a number of new school districts.
Total annuity accumulated cash value of $3.3 billion at December 31, 2008 decreased 12.2% compared to a year earlier, reflecting the increase from new deposits received and favorable retention more than offset by unfavorable financial market performance over the 12 months. Total annuity accumulated cash value of $3.7 billion at December 31, 2007 increased 3.7% compared to a year earlier, reflecting the increase from new deposits received, continued favorable retention and modestly improved financial market performance over the 12 months ended December 31, 2007. At December 31, 2008, the number of annuity contracts outstanding of 171,000 increased 2.4% or 4,000 contracts, compared to December 31, 2007 and increased 3.6%, or 6,000 contracts, compared to December 31, 2006.
Variable annuity accumulated balances were 38.2% lower at December 31, 2008 than at December 31, 2007, primarily reflecting financial market performance, and annuity segment contract charges earned decreased 18.8%, or $4.1 million, compared to 2007. Variable annuity accumulated balances were 4.5% higher at December 31, 2007 than at December 31, 2006 and annuity segment contract charges earned increased 10.7%, or $2.1 million, compared to 2006.
Life segment premiums and contract deposits were comparable to 2007. In 2007, life segment premiums and contract deposits declined 1.4%, or $1.5 million, compared to 2006. The ordinary life insurance in force lapse ratio was 5.4% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2008 compared to 5.8% and 5.7% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Net Investment Income
For 2008, pretax investment income of $230.3 million increased 2.9%, or $6.5 million, (2.8%, or $4.2 million, after tax) compared to 2007. Pretax investment income of $223.8 million for 2007 increased 7.1%, or $14.8 million, (6.9%, or $9.8 million, after tax) compared to 2006. The increase in 2008 primarily reflected growth in the size of the average investment portfolio on an amortized cost basis. Average invested assets (excluding securities lending collateral) increased 3.0% over the 12 months ended December 31, 2008. The average pretax yield on the investment portfolio was 5.52% (3.75% after tax) for 2008, compared to pretax yields of 5.53% (3.76% after tax) and 5.40% (3.68% after tax) for 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses
Net realized investment losses (pretax) were $63.9 million for 2008 compared to net realized investment losses of $3.4 million in 2007 and net realized investment gains of $10.9 million in 2006. The net gains and losses in all periods were realized from recording of impairment charges and ongoing investment portfolio management activity. In addition, 2008, 2007 and 2006 included $1.1 million, $0.3 million and $5.1 million, respectively, of litigation proceeds on previously impaired WorldCom, Inc. debt securities.
The Company recorded impairment write-downs of $53.1 million, $8.5 million and $0.1 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In 2008, the Company recorded a total of $53.1 million of impairment write-downs - $5.8 million in the fourth quarter, $33.4 million in the third quarter, $11.2 million in the second quarter and $2.7 million in the first quarter. The Company, from time to time, sells invested assets subsequent to the balance sheet date that were considered temporarily impaired at the balance sheet date. Such sales are generally due to events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date that result in a change in the Company’s intent or ability to hold an invested asset. The types of events that may result in a sale include significant changes in the economic facts and circumstances related to the
invested asset, significant unforeseen changes in liquidity needs, or changes in the Company’s investment strategy. The fourth quarter 2008 write-downs of $5.8 million were related primarily to high-yield and preferred stock investments that the Company no longer intended to hold for a period of time necessary to recover the decline in value, with the remainder related to securities for which impairment write-downs were previously recorded. The third quarter 2008 write-downs of $33.4 million included approximately $23.7 million related to fixed maturity security and preferred stock impairments for which the issuer’s ability to pay future interest and principal based upon contractual terms has been compromised - namely, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), and American International Group, Inc. The remaining amount of write-downs - primarily of financial institution securities and high yield bonds - was primarily attributable to the Company no longer having the intent to hold the securities for a period of time necessary to recover the decline in value. The second quarter 2008 write-downs of $11.2 million were primarily related to 2 collateralized debt obligation securities and 5 equity securities, including 4 financial industry preferred stock issues. The first quarter 2008 write-downs of $2.7 million were primarily related to certain below investment grade fixed maturity securities, with $2.3 million of the write-downs attributable to 6 securities of telecommunications and telecommunications-related media issuers, which at March 31, 2008 the Company no longer intended to hold until the value fully recovered. In addition, net realized losses in 2008 included $23.0 million of realized other-than-temporary impairment losses, primarily on financial institution and below investment grade fixed maturity securities that were disposed of during the period. Net realized investment losses in 2008 included additional realized losses of $1.9 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in the third quarter of 2008, additional realized losses of $2.7 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in the second quarter of 2008, as well as gains of (1) $0.2 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in the first quarter of 2008 and (2) $0.1 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in 2007. In 2007, the Company recorded $8.5 million of impairment write-downs. In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $5.9 million, $3.8 million of which was attributable to one sub-prime residential mortgage-backed security, 2006 vintage, having a fair value of $1.1 million at December 31, 2007. The remaining $2.1 million of the impairment charge in the quarter was attributable to non-mortgage related securities, primarily corporate high yield bonds and preferred stocks, which the Company intended to sell. In the third quarter of 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $0.3 million related to fixed income securities from one issuer in the paper sector, and a portion of these securities were subsequently sold in October 2007. In the second quarter of 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $2.3 million from the home builder sector of its fixed income security portfolio, and these securities were subsequently sold in July 2007. In 2006, the $0.1 million impairment charge was recorded in the third quarter and related to one issuer, and the security was sold later in 2006 at the impaired value. Net realized investment losses in 2007 included gains of $2.9 million from sales of securities for which impairment write-downs were recorded in 2002, while net realized investment gains in 2006 included $0.3 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005.
There were securities priced below 80% of book value at December 31, 2008 that were not impaired. The illiquidity in the marketplace, continued concern over economic weakness, continued write-offs related to mortgage and structured securities, distressed sellers in the marketplace and overall spread widening related to demand for increased risk premiums contributed to the decline in security valuations. With respect to fixed income securities involving securitized financial assets, the underlying collateral cash flows were stress tested to
determine there was no adverse change in the expected cash flows. Management views the decrease in value of all of these securities as temporary, anticipates continued payments under the contractual terms of the securities and has the intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or a recovery in fair value occurs.
The table below presents the Company’s fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolios as of December 31, 2008 by major asset class, including the ten largest sectors of the Company’s corporate bond holdings (based on fair value) and the sectors of the equity securities holdings. In 2008, the unprecedented uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets caused significant spread-widening and interest rate volatility, which had a significant adverse effect on the fair value of investments. The Company’s pretax net unrealized loss at December 31, 2008 was spread over numerous asset classes, and commercial mortgage-backed securities, investment grade bonds, and financial institution securities (both bonds and preferred stocks) were most impacted.
* Less than $0.1 million.
(1) The All Other Corporates category contains 20 additional industry classifications. Metal and mining, defense, technology, broadcasting and media, automobiles and real estate represented $251.7 million of fair value at December 31, 2008, with the remaining 14 classifications each representing less than $31 million.
(2) Based on fair value, 98.1% of the collateralized debt obligation securities were rated investment grade by Standard and Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) and/or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) at December 31, 2008.
At December 31, 2008, the Company’s diversified fixed maturity securities portfolio consisted of 1,538 investment positions, issued by 1,157 entities, and totaled approximately $3.5 billion in fair value. This portfolio was 96.1% investment grade, based on fair value, with an average quality rating of AA-.
At December 31, 2008, the Company had limited exposure to subprime and “Alt-A” mortgage loans. The Company had three subprime securities with a fair value of $3.9 million and an unrealized gain of $0.1 million at December 31, 2008. The characteristics of the Company’s sub-prime securities include the following: low average Fair Isaac Credit Organization (“FICO”) score (less than 650), high weighted average coupon relative to other mortgage-backed and home equity securities of similar loan age and issue date, high prepayment penalties, and a high percentage of hybrid loans or negative amortizing loans. The “Alt-A” mortgage loan exposure was comprised of five securities with a total fair value of approximately $7.1 million, of which $4.7 million was vintage year 2004 and prior, with an unrealized loss of approximately $0.7 million at December 31, 2008. The characteristics of the Company’s “Alt-A” mortgage loans include the following: low average FICO score (less than 680), borrowers meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standards for credit scores but might not meet standard guidelines for documentation requirements, property type, and debt ratio or loan-to-value ratio.
At December 31, 2008, the Company had $493.3 million fair value invested in municipal bonds, primarily in the portfolios of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries, with an unrealized loss of $14.1 million. The overall credit quality of these securities was AA, with approximately 61% of the value insured at December 31, 2008. This represents approximately 8% of the Company’s total investment portfolio that is guaranteed by the mono-line credit insurers. When selecting securities, the Company focuses primarily on the quality of the underlying security and does not place significant reliance on the additional insurance benefit. Excluding the effect of insurance, the credit quality of the underlying municipal bond portfolio was AA at December 31, 2008.
At December 31, 2008, the fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolio had $395.6 million pretax of gross unrealized losses related to 1,021 positions. The following table provides information regarding all fixed maturity securities and equity securities that had an unrealized loss at December 31, 2008, including the length of time that the securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.
Investment Positions With Unrealized Losses Segmented by
Quality and Period of Continuous Unrealized Loss
As of December 31, 2008
* Less than $0.1 million.
(1) Includes nonredeemable (perpetual) preferred stocks and common stocks.
Of the investment positions (fixed maturity securities and equity securities) with unrealized losses, 334 were trading below 80% of book value at December 31, 2008 and the table below provides additional information regarding these securities. These positions were structured securities, investment grade bonds, preferred stock (both fixed maturity securities and equity securities in nature), and below investment grade bonds.
Investment Positions With Fair Value Below 80% of Amortized Cost
Segmented by Quality and Period of Continuous Valuation Below 80%
As of December 31, 2008
* Less than $0.1 million.
The 334 securities with fair values below 80% of book value at December 31, 2008 represented approximately 11% of the Company’s total investment portfolio at fair value. And, approximately 71% of those securities have been below 80% of book value for three months or less as of December 31, 2008. Of the total securities trading below 80% of book value, 69 securities had fair values less than 50% of book value, representing 2% of the Company’s total investment portfolio, with a pretax unrealized loss of $124.5 million. Commercial mortgage-backed securities represented $81.5 million of the pretax unrealized loss from securities with fair value less than 50% of book value at December 31, 2008.
The Company views the decrease in value of all of the securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2008 - which was driven largely by spread widening, market illiquidity and changes in interest rates - as temporary, expects recovery in fair value in a reasonable timeframe, anticipates continued payments under the contractual terms of the securities including expected underlying cash flows, and has the intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or a recovery in fair value occurs. Therefore, no impairment of these securities was recorded at December 31, 2008. Future changes in circumstances related to these and other securities could require subsequent recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. The Company’s investment guidelines generally limit single corporate issuer concentrations to 1.0% of invested assets for “AA” or “AAA” rated securities, 0.75% of invested assets for “A” rated securities, 0.5% of invested assets for “BBB” rated securities, and 0.2% of invested assets for non-investment grade securities.
The following table provides information regarding the fixed maturity securities and equity securities that were trading below 80% of book value at December 31, 2007.
Investment Positions With Fair Value Below 80% of Amortized Cost
Segmented by Quality and Period of Continuous Valuation Below 80%
As of December 31, 2007
Benefits, Claims and Settlement Expenses
N.M.- Not meaningful.
(1) See footnote (2) to the table below.
Property and Casualty Claims and Claim Expenses (“losses”)
(1) Shows the amounts by which the Company decreased its reserves in each of the periods indicated for claims occurring in previous periods to reflect subsequent information on such claims and changes in their projected final settlement costs.
(2) (Favorable)/unfavorable development of prior years’ reserves was recorded as follows:
The year ended December 31, 2006 included development of prior years’ reserves for catastrophe losses, recorded in the second quarter, in captions related to catastrophe losses/costs as well as captions related to prior years’ reserve development as follows: total property and casualty, unfavorable development of $1.4 million; voluntary automobile, favorable development of $1.5 million; and total property, unfavorable development of $2.9 million.
* Included approximately $5 million related to reserve development for catastrophe activity in the second quarter of 2008.
** Included approximately $7 million related to reserve development for hurricane catastrophe activity in the third quarter of 2008.
For 2008, the Company’s benefits, claims and settlement expenses increased compared to the prior year, including a significant increase in catastrophe losses - primarily from third quarter hurricanes and severe storm and tornado events in the second quarter, a smaller decrease in estimated reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years, and unfavorable life mortality experience.
In 2008, the Company’s benefits, claims and settlement expenses of $471.5 million increased 15.4%, or $63.0 million, compared to 2007. This increase included a $50.3 million increase in catastrophe losses, largely resulting from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Property and casualty claims in 2008 also reflected an increase in non-catastrophe weather-related losses. In 2007, the Company’s benefits, claims and settlement expenses increased $19.8 million compared to 2006, including a decrease in estimated reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years, more than offset by a modest increase in property and automobile claim frequencies for the 2007 accident period, consistent with industry experience, and an increase in catastrophe losses. Catastrophe losses in 2007 and 2006 reflected non-hurricane events, including Minnesota hail storms in 2006, California wildfires in 2007, and non-hurricane wind damage in both years.
In 2008, the current period favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty reserves of $18.1 million was the result of actual and remaining projected losses for prior years being below the level anticipated in the December 31, 2007 loss reserve estimate, primarily the result of favorable frequency and severity trends in voluntary automobile loss and loss adjustment expense emergence for accident years 2005 and prior. In 2007, the current period favorable development of prior years’ reserves of $20.0 million was the result of actual and remaining projected losses for prior years, primarily accident years 2006 and 2005, being below the level anticipated in the December 31, 2006 loss reserve estimate for both the voluntary automobile and homeowners lines of business. The favorable development was driven primarily by emerging claim trends related to voluntary automobile claim severity and homeowners claim frequency. Favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty reserves totaled $19.2 million in 2006, primarily the result of favorable frequency trends in voluntary automobile loss and loss adjustment expense emergence for accident years 2005 and 2004. Catastrophe losses in 2006 included $1.4 million of adverse development of prior years’ catastrophe loss reserves, primarily due to increases in ultimate net settlement cost related to two third quarter 2005 events: a severe hail storm in Minnesota and Hurricane Katrina.
For 2008, the voluntary automobile loss ratio of 68.0% decreased by 1.7 percentage points compared to 2007, including a 0.7 percentage point increase due to the higher level of catastrophe losses and a 1.0 percentage point decrease due to the higher level of favorable development of prior years’ reserves in the current period. The homeowners loss ratio of 97.2% for 2008 increased 36.8 percentage points compared to a year earlier, including an increase of 26.8 percentage points due to the higher level of catastrophe costs and an increase of 5.1 percentage points due to a small amount of unfavorable development of prior years’ reserves recorded in 2008 compared to favorable development of prior years’ reserves recorded in 2007. In 2008, in addition to the significant increase in catastrophe events in the second and third quarters, late-winter storms in some sections of the U.S. and heavy thunderstorms and tornadoes across the Southern U.S. contributed to higher than average first quarter catastrophic losses for the Company as well as the industry. For 2008, catastrophe costs represented 40.4 percentage points of the homeowners loss ratio compared to 13.6 percentage points for 2007. Also, the homeowners loss ratio reflected an increase in non-catastrophe weather-related losses due to the more severe weather in 2008. For 2006, the voluntary automobile loss ratio was 65.3% and the homeowners loss ratio was 55.6%, including 11.3 percentage points due to catastrophe costs.
For the annuity segment, benefits for 2008 increased $1.5 million compared to 2007 following a decrease of $0.9 million compared to 2006. The Company’s guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”) reserve was $1.3 million at December 31, 2008, compared to less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2007 and $0.7 million at December 31, 2006. The increase in this reserve in 2008 reflected the impact of poor financial markets performance. The decrease at December 31, 2007 was primarily the result of a reserve refinement.
For the life segment, benefits in 2008 increased $5.8 million compared to 2007, primarily reflecting higher mortality costs in 2008. Life segment benefits increased modestly in 2007, compared to 2006.
Interest Credited to Policyholders
Compared to 2007, the current year increase in annuity segment interest credited reflected a 5.0% increase in average accumulated fixed deposits, partially offset by a 6 basis point decline in the average annual interest rate credited to 4.28%. Compared to 2006, the 2007 increase in annuity segment interest credited reflected a 4.7% increase in average accumulated fixed deposits, partially offset by a 3 basis point decline in the average annual interest rate credited to 4.34%. Life insurance interest credited increased in both 2008 and 2007 as a result of the growth in interest-sensitive life insurance reserves.
The net interest spread on fixed annuity account value on deposit measures the difference between the rate of income earned on the underlying invested assets and the rate of interest which policyholders are credited on their account values. Fixed annuity crediting rates were lowered in recent years to reflect the decline in the rate of income on invested assets caused by lower investment rates on new and reinvested funds. The net interest spreads for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were 154 basis points, 143 basis points and 126 basis points, respectively.
As of December 31, 2008, fixed annuity account values totaled $2.3 billion, including $2.0 billion of deferred annuities. Approximately 20% of the deferred annuity account values had minimum guaranteed interest rates of 3% or lower while approximately 70% of account values had minimum guaranteed rates of 4.5% or greater. For $1.7 billion of the deferred annuity account values, the credited interest rate was equal to the minimum guaranteed rate. The annuity net interest spread increased 11 basis points compared to 2007, due to improvements in the Company’s investment portfolio yield and continued decreases in average interest crediting rates. Compared to 2006, the annuity net interest spread increased 17 basis points in 2007.
Operating Expenses
In 2008, operating expenses decreased 4.7%, or $6.6 million, compared to 2007. The 2008 decline was attributable primarily to lower incentive compensation, which was impacted by the decline in Horace Mann’s stock price during the year, partially offset by the impact of increased strategic investments in distribution and technology initiatives. In 2007, operating expenses decreased 1.5%, or $2.1 million, compared to 2006. A significant portion of this variance amount between periods was due to the Company’s expense control initiatives, which helped mitigate the impact of increased strategic investments in distribution and technology initiatives in 2007, and a litigation settlement charge in 2006. The property and casualty expense ratio of 23.8% for 2008 decreased 0.7 percentage point compared to 2007, reflecting the items above and the Company’s overall expense control discipline. The property and casualty expense ratio was 24.3% in 2006.
Amortization of Policy Acquisition Expenses and Intangible Assets
For the year ended December 31, 2008, the combined amortization of policy acquisition expenses and intangible assets of $84.4 million increased $3.3 million compared to 2007, primarily reflecting an increase in the current year from the valuation of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs with the favorable impact of the investment losses recognized in the year more than offset by the adverse impact of the financial markets on variable deposit fund performance.
Amortized policy acquisition expenses were $79.1 million for 2008 compared to $75.7 million and $74.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The December 31, 2008 valuation of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs resulted in an increase in amortization of $4.0 million, as the approximately $7 million favorable impact of investment losses recognized in 2008 was more than offset by the approximately $11 million adverse impact of financial market performance, compared to a $1.2 million increase in amortization from a similar valuation at December 31, 2007. For the life segment, the December 31, 2008 valuation of deferred policy acquisition costs resulted in a $0.2 million increase in amortization equal to the $0.2 million increase for the 2007 valuation. The December 31, 2006 valuations of annuity and life deferred policy acquisition costs resulted in increases of $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The remaining increases in amortized policy acquisition costs were due to scheduled amortization of capitalized costs.
Amortization of intangible assets was $5.3 million, $5.4 million and $6.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The December 31, 2008 valuation of Annuity VIF resulted in no change in amortization compared to increases of $0.2 million and $0.7 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The amortization of Annuity VIF was completed as of December 31, 2008. The remaining $0.2 million of value of acquired insurance in force for the life segment will be amortized in the first three months of 2009.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $10.7 million on pretax income, including net realized investment gains and losses, of $0.2 million. The 2008 amount included a reduction of $4.2 million as a result of the IRS completing its examination of the 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 tax years in 2008. This reduction benefited the net income of the Company’s segments as follows: annuity segment $2.6 million, corporate and other segment $1.2 million, and property and casualty segment $0.4 million. The effective income tax rate on the Company’s pretax income including net realized investment gains and losses, was 29.3% and 29.7% for the years ended December 31 2007 and 2006, respectively. Income from investments in tax-advantaged securities reduced the effective income tax rate 6.4 and 5.6 percentage points for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and due to the reduced level of income in 2008, expression of the impact as a percentage is not meaningful for that year. Income from tax-advantaged securities was comparable between the three years. (See also “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 7 - Income Taxes”.)
At September 30, 2008, the Company established a deferred tax allowance of $11.5 million related to realized and unrealized investment losses. Based on an assessment that gross realized and unrealized gains at December 31, 2008 were then sufficient, in conjunction with other tax planning strategies, to offset gross unrealized investment losses, the $11.5 million deferred tax allowance was reduced to zero at year-end.
The Company records liabilities for uncertain tax filing positions where it is more-likely-than-not that the position will not be sustainable upon audit by taxing authorities. These liabilities are reevaluated routinely and are adjusted appropriately based upon changes in facts or law. The Company has no unrecorded liabilities from uncertain tax filing positions.
At December 31, 2008, the Company had income tax returns for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 tax years still open and subject to adjustment upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company has recorded $1.2 million of uncertain tax position liabilities including interest related to all open tax years.
Net Income
For 2008, the Company’s net income of $10.9 million represented a decrease of $71.9 million compared to 2007, including a $39.3 million reduction in after-tax net realized investment gains and losses. Catastrophe costs increased $32.8 million after tax and non-catastrophe weather-related losses also increased compared to the prior year. In addition, compared to 2007, net income in the current year was negatively impacted by $1.2 million due to a modestly reduced level of favorable prior years’ property and casualty reserve development. Including all factors, the property and casualty combined ratio was 100.7% for 2008 compared to 91.9% for 2007. As described above in “Income Tax Expense (Benefit)”, the current year net income benefited by $4.2 million as a result of the completion of IRS examinations. Annuity segment net income decreased slightly compared to 2007, due to a decline in contract charges and fees nearly offset by the federal income tax benefit described above. On a pretax basis for the annuity segment, current year improvements in the interest margin were offset by the adverse impact of the financial markets on the level of contract charges earned, the valuation of deferred policy acquisition costs and the Company’s guaranteed minimum death benefit reserve. Life segment net income decreased $0.9 million,
or 5.2%, compared to a year earlier, as growth in earned premium of $2.3 million and investment income of $2.3 million was more than offset by higher mortality costs.
For 2007, the Company’s net income decreased $15.9 million compared to 2006, including a $9.3 million reduction in after tax realized investment gains. Consistent with management’s expectations and industry experience, the increase in property and casualty average loss costs per policy exceeded the increase in average premium per policy for the 2007 accident period, which adversely impacted the combined ratio and net income. Compared to 2006, results in 2007 were positively impacted by a comparable level of favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty non-catastrophe reserves but were negatively impacted by the increased cost of the Company’s catastrophe reinsurance program. In 2007, catastrophe costs increased compared to 2006. Including all of these factors, the property and casualty combined ratio was 91.9% for 2007 compared to 87.6% for 2006. Annuity segment net income increased $4.4 million, or 33% compared to 2006, driven by double-digit growth in both the interest margin and contract charges earned. Life segment net income increased $2.8 million, or 19%, compared to a year earlier, reflecting growth in investment income and favorable mortality experience.
For 2006, the Company’s net income benefited from a moderate level of catastrophe losses. In 2006, earnings from the property and casualty segment continued to benefit from underwriting and pricing actions taken in prior years, ongoing improvements in claims processes, cost containment initiatives, and low non-catastrophe claim frequencies, somewhat offset by the increased costs of the Company’s enhanced catastrophe reinsurance program. Net income in 2006 also benefited from favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty claim reserves. The property and casualty combined ratio was 87.6% for 2006.
Net income (loss) by segment and net income per share were as follows:
N.M.- Not meaningful.
(1) The corporate and other segment includes interest expense on debt, realized investment gains and losses, certain public company expenses and other corporate level items. The Company does not allocate the impact of corporate level transactions to the insurance segments, consistent with the basis for management’s evaluation of the results of those segments.
For the three years ended December 31, 2008, the changes in net income for the property and casualty, annuity and life segments are described above.
For the corporate and other segment, the 2008 increase in net loss compared to 2007 was due to a greater amount of net realized investment losses compared to 2007. The 2007 decline in net income compared to 2006 was due primarily to net realized investment losses in 2007, compared to net realized investment gains in 2006, and an increase in debt interest expense.
Return on shareholders’ equity based on net income was 2%, 12% and 17% for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS” or “FAS”) No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”. The Company’s management did not elect to measure any additional eligible financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value and, as a result, adoption of this SFAS did not have an effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. This pronouncement did not require any new fair value measurements and its adoption did not affect the results of operations or financial position of the Company. In February 2008, upon issuance, the Company adopted, FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, and pursuant to its provisions has delayed the application of SFAS No. 157 for fair value measurements used in the impairment testing of goodwill. In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset in a Market That Is Not Active”. FSP No. FAS 157-3 was effective upon issuance, and applied to periods for which financial statements had not been issued. The Company adopted FSP No. FAS 157-3 in the preparation of its September 30, 2008 financial statements; however, adoption did not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company. Effective October 1, 2008, the Company adopted FSP No. Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 99-20-1, “Amendments to the Impairment Guidance of EITF No. 99-20”. FSP No. EITF 99-20-1 aligns impairment guidance in determining whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred; the Company began reflecting this guidance prospectively as of October 1, 2008.
Outlook for 2009
At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management estimates that 2009 full year net income before realized investment gains and losses will be within a range of $1.45 to $1.65 per diluted share. This projection anticipates, for the Company’s property and casualty segment, a return to more normal catastrophe levels, a reduced level of favorable prior years’ reserve development and a modest increase in underlying combined ratios; and, for the annuity segment, a return to historical market appreciation levels for 2009. As described in “Critical Accounting Policies”, certain of the Company’s significant accounting measurements require the use of estimates and assumptions. As additional information becomes available, adjustments may be required. Those adjustments are charged or credited to income for the period in which the adjustments are made and may impact actual results compared to management’s current estimate. A projection of net income including realized investment gains and losses is not accessible on a forward-looking basis because it is not possible to provide a reliable forecast of realized investment gains and losses, which can vary substantially from one period to another and may have a significant impact on net income.
Liquidity and Financial Resources
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
At December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or for other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, the Company is not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if the Company had engaged in such relationships.
Investments
Information regarding the Company’s investment portfolio, which is comprised primarily of investment grade, fixed income securities, is located in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses”, “Business - Investments” and in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 2 - Investments” listed on page of this report.
Cash Flow
The short-term liquidity requirements of the Company, within a 12-month operating cycle, are for the timely payment of claims and benefits to policyholders, operating expenses, interest payments and federal income taxes. Cash flow generated from operations has been, and is expected to be, adequate to meet the Company’s operating cash needs in the next 12 months. Cash flow in excess of operational needs has been used to fund business growth, retire short-term debt, pay dividends to shareholders and repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Long-term liquidity requirements, beyond one year, are principally for the payment of future insurance policy claims and benefits and retirement of long-term debt.
Operating Activities
As a holding company, HMEC conducts its principal operations in the personal lines segment of the property and casualty and life insurance industries through its subsidiaries. HMEC’s insurance subsidiaries generate cash flow from premium and investment income, generally well in excess of their immediate needs for policy obligations, operating expenses and other cash requirements. Cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects net cash generated by the insurance subsidiaries. For 2008, net cash provided by operating activities decreased compared to 2007, primarily reflecting an increase in the level of benefits/claims paid, including the impact of significant property and casualty catastrophe claims in 2008.
Payment of principal and interest on debt, dividends to shareholders and parent company operating expenses are dependent upon the ability of the insurance subsidiaries to pay cash dividends or make other cash payments to HMEC, including tax payments pursuant to tax sharing agreements. Payments for share repurchase programs also have this dependency. The insurance subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions which limit the amount of annual dividends or other distributions, including loans or cash advances, available to HMEC without prior approval of the insurance regulatory authorities. Dividends which may be paid by the insurance subsidiaries to HMEC during 2009 without prior approval are approximately $55 million. Although regulatory restrictions exist, dividend availability from subsidiaries has been, and is expected to be, adequate for HMEC’s capital needs.
Investing Activities
HMEC’s insurance subsidiaries maintain significant investments in fixed maturity securities to meet future contractual obligations to policyholders. In conjunction with its management of liquidity and other asset/liability management objectives, the Company, from time to time, will sell fixed maturity securities prior to maturity and reinvest the proceeds in other investments with different interest rates, maturities or credit characteristics. Accordingly, the Company has classified the entire fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolios as “available for sale”.
Financing Activities
Financing activities include primarily payment of dividends, the receipt and withdrawal of funds by annuity contractholders, repurchases of the Company’s common stock, fluctuations in bank overdraft balances, and borrowings, repayments and repurchases related to its debt facilities.
The Company’s annuity business produced net positive cash flows in 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2008, receipts from annuity contracts decreased $25.4 million, or 7.5% compared to 2007, as described in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges”. Annuity contract benefits and withdrawals decreased $17.0 million, or 8.7%, compared to 2007. Cash value retentions for variable and fixed annuity options were 93.2% and 93.5%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2008. Net transfers to variable annuity accumulated cash values decreased $71.2 million, or 49.3%, compared to 2007.
On October 2, 2008, the Company borrowed $75.0 million under its existing $125.0 million Bank Credit Facility. Prior to December 31, 2008, the Company repaid $37.0 million of this borrowing leaving a balance of $38.0 million outstanding at December 31, 2008.
During 2008, the Company repurchased 3,198,225 shares of its common stock, or 7.6% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2007, at an aggregate cost of $54.3 million, or an average cost of $16.99 per share, under its stock repurchase programs, which are further described in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 6 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options”. The repurchase of shares was financed through use of cash. As of June 30, 2008, the Company had completed its authorized share repurchase programs. See also “Liquidity and Financial Resources - Capital Resources”.
Contractual Obligations
(1) This information represents estimates of both the amounts to be paid to policyholders and the timing of such payments.
(2) Includes principal and interest.
(3) The Company has entered into various operating lease agreements, primarily for real estate (claims and agency offices across the country and portions of the home office complex) and also for computer equipment and copy machines.
Estimated Future Policy Benefit and Claim Payments-Annuity and Life Segments
The following table duplicates information above and summarizes the Company’s life and annuity contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2008 expected to be paid in the periods presented. Payment amounts reflect the Company’s estimate of undiscounted cash flows related to these obligations and commitments. Balance sheet amounts were determined in accordance with GAAP and in many cases differ significantly from the summation of undiscounted cash flows. The most significant difference relates to future policy benefits related to life insurance, which includes discounting.
For the majority of the Company’s annuity and life insurance operations, the estimated contractual obligations for future policyholder benefits as presented in the table above were derived from the annual cash flow testing analysis used to develop actuarial opinions of statutory reserve adequacy for state regulatory purposes. These cash flows are materially representative of the cash flows under generally accepted accounting principles. Actual amounts may vary, potentially in a significant manner, from the amounts indicated due to deviations between assumptions and actual results and the addition of new business in future periods.
Amounts presented in the table above represent the estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders undiscounted by interest and including assumptions related to the receipt of future premiums and deposits, future interest credited, full and partial withdrawals, policy lapses, surrender charges, annuitization, mortality, and other contingent events as appropriate to the respective product types. Additionally, coverage levels are assumed to remain unchanged from those provided under contracts in force at December 31, 2008. Separate account payments are not reflected due to the matched nature of these obligations and the fact that the contract owners maintain the investment risk on such deposits.
See “Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Future Policy Benefits, Interest-sensitive Life Contract Liabilities and Annuity Contract Liabilities” listed on page of this report for a description of the Company’s method for establishing life and annuity reserves in accordance with GAAP.
Estimated Claims and Claim Related Payments-Property and Casualty Segment
The table below duplicates information above and presents the amount and estimated future timing of claims and claim related payments for property and casualty insurance. Both the total liability and the estimated payments are based on actuarial projection techniques, at a given accounting date. These estimates include assumptions of the ultimate settlement and administrative costs based on the Company’s assessment of facts and circumstances then known, review of historical settlement patterns, estimates of trends in claims severity, frequency and other factors. Variables in the reserve estimation process can be affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in claims handling procedures, economic inflation, legal trends and legislative changes. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis. Additionally, there may be significant reporting lags between the occurrence of a claim and the time it is actually reported to the Company. The future cash flows related to the items contained in the table below required estimation of both amount (including severity considerations) and timing. Amount and timing are frequently estimated separately. An estimation of both amount and timing of future cash flows related to claims and claim related payments is generally reliable only in the aggregate with some unavoidable estimation uncertainty.
The following table includes estimated future claims and claims related payments at December 31, 2008. The amounts reported in the table are presented on a nominal basis, have not been discounted and represent the estimated timing of future payments for both reported and unreported claims incurred and related claim adjustment expenses.
Capital Resources
The Company has determined the amount of capital which is needed to adequately fund and support business growth, primarily based on risk-based capital formulas including those developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). Historically, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries have generated capital in excess of such needed capital. These excess amounts have been paid to HMEC through dividends. HMEC has then utilized these dividends and its access to the capital markets to service and retire long-term debt, pay dividends to its shareholders, fund growth initiatives, repurchase shares of its common stock and for other corporate purposes. Management anticipates that the Company’s sources of capital will continue to generate capital in excess of the needs for business growth, debt interest payments and shareholder dividends.
The total capital of the Company was $686.3 million at December 31, 2008, including $199.5 million of long-term debt and $38.0 million of short-term debt outstanding. Total debt represented 27.4% of total capital excluding unrealized investment gains and losses (34.6% including unrealized investment gains and losses) at December 31, 2008, which was modestly above the Company’s long-term target of 25% and within a range consistent with the Company’s debt ratings assigned as of December 31, 2008.
Shareholders’ equity was $448.8 million at December 31, 2008, including a net unrealized loss in the Company’s investment portfolio of $182.1 million after taxes and the related impact on deferred policy acquisition costs associated with annuity and interest-sensitive life policies. The market value of the Company’s common stock and the market value per share were $359.0 million and $9.19, respectively, at December 31, 2008. Book value per share was $11.49 at December 31, 2008 ($16.15 excluding investment fair value adjustments).
Additional information regarding the net unrealized loss in the Company’s investment portfolio at December 31, 2008 is included in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses”.
In September 2007, HMEC’s Board of Directors (“Board”) authorized a new $50.0 million share repurchase program and ended the May 1999 authorization. The new program authorized the repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions. By February 19, 2008, the Company had completed the $50.0 million authorized by the new program, resulting in a total of 2,738,376 shares repurchased under this program at an average cost of $18.28 per share. In March 2008, the Board authorized an additional $25.0 million share repurchase program allowing for repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions (the “March 2008 Program”). As of June 30, 2008, the Company had completed the March 2008 Program, resulting in a total of 1,571,449 shares repurchased under this program at an average cost of $15.93 per share. As of June 30, 2008, the Company had completed all of its authorized share repurchase programs. See also “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 6 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options - Share Repurchase Program and Treasury Shares Held”.
As of December 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes (“Senior Notes due 2015”), which will mature on June 15, 2015, issued at a discount resulting in an effective yield of 6.1%. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2015 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.05%. Detailed information regarding the redemption terms of the Senior Notes due 2015 is contained in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 5 - Debt” listed on page of this report.
The Senior Notes due 2015 have an investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) (BBB), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) (Baa3), and A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) (bbb-). See also “Financial Ratings”. The Senior Notes due 2015 are traded in the open market (HMN 6.05).
As of December 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding $125.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.85% Senior Notes (“Senior Notes due 2016”), which will mature on April 15, 2016, issued at a discount of 0.305% resulting in an effective yield of 6.893%. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2016 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.85%. Detailed information regarding the redemption terms of the Senior Notes due 2016 is contained in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 5 - Debt” listed on page of this report.
The Senior Notes due 2016 have an investment grade rating from S&P (BBB), Moody’s (Baa3), and A.M. Best (bbb-). See also “Financial Ratings”. The Senior Notes due 2016 are traded in the open market (HMN 6.85).
As of December 31, 2008, the Company had $38.0 million outstanding under its Bank Credit Facility. The Bank Credit Facility provides for unsecured borrowings of up to $125.0 million and expires on December 19, 2011. Interest accrues at varying spreads relative to corporate or Eurodollar base rates and is payable monthly or quarterly depending on the applicable base rate (London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 0.6%, or 4.7%, at December 31, 2008; LIBOR plus 0.6%, or 1.12%, as of the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). The unused portion of the Bank Credit Facility is subject to a variable commitment fee, which was 0.125% on an annual basis at December 31, 2008. The Company elected to borrow $75.0 million on October 2, 2008, in light of the illiquidity in the credit markets at that time, to provide the holding company flexibility for future capital needs, including capital contributions to the Company’s insurance subsidiaries, if necessary, to maintain capital and operating ratios at a level consistent with the insurance subsidiaries’ financial strength ratings as of September 30, 2008. Prior to December 31, 2008, the Company repaid $37.0 million of the amount borrowed in October 2008. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, no capital contributions had been made to the insurance subsidiaries.
To provide additional capital management flexibility, the Company filed a “universal shelf” registration on Form S-3 with the SEC in November 2008. The registration statement, which registers the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of up to $300 million of various securities, which may include debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants and/or delayed delivery contracts, was declared effective on January 7, 2009. Unless fully utilized or withdrawn by the Company earlier, this registration statement will remain effective through January 7, 2012. No securities associated with the registration statement have been issued as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges (with fixed charges including interest credited to policyholders on interest-sensitive contracts) for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was 1.0x, 1.8x and 2.0x, respectively. See also “Exhibit 12 - Statement Regarding Computation of Ratios”. The Company’s ratio of earnings before interest expense to interest expense was 1.0x, 9.3x and 11.7x for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Total shareholder dividends were $15.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. In March, May, September and December 2008, the Board of Directors announced regular quarterly dividends per share of $0.105, $0.105, $0.105 and $0.0525, respectively.
Information regarding the reinsurance program for the Company’s property and casualty segment is located in “Business - Property and Casualty Segment - Property and Casualty Reinsurance”.
Information regarding the reinsurance program for the Company’s life segment is located in “Business - Life Segment”.
Financial Ratings
The Company’s principal insurance subsidiaries are rated by S&P, Moody’s and A.M. Best. These rating agencies have also assigned ratings to the Company’s long-term debt securities.
Assigned ratings as of February 19, 2009 were unchanged from the disclosure in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. On October 9, 2008, S&P affirmed the Company’s ratings and revised its outlook for those ratings from stable to negative citing the relatively high catastrophe frequency in the property and casualty industry, as well as general credit and equity market deterioration. On September 17, 2008, Moody’s affirmed the Company’s ratings and the outlook for those ratings. On May 23, 2008, A.M. Best affirmed the Company’s ratings and the outlook of those ratings. Assigned ratings as of February 19, 2009 were as follows (the insurance financial strength ratings for the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the Company’s principal life insurance subsidiary are the same):
(1) This agency has not yet rated Horace Mann Lloyds.
Market Value Risk
Market value risk, the Company’s primary market risk exposure, is the risk that the Company’s invested assets will decrease in value. This decrease in value may be due to (1) a change in the yields realized on the Company’s assets and prevailing market yields for similar assets, (2) an unfavorable change in the liquidity of the investment, (3) an unfavorable change in the financial prospects of the issuer of the investment, or (4) a downgrade in the credit rating of the issuer of the investment. See also “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses”.
Significant changes in interest rates expose the Company to the risk of experiencing losses or earning a reduced level of income based on the difference between the interest rates earned on the Company’s investments and the credited interest rates on the Company’s insurance liabilities. See also “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Interest Credited to Policyholders”.
The Company seeks to manage its market value risk by coordinating the projected cash inflows of assets with the projected cash outflows of liabilities. For all its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maintain reasonable durations, consistent with the maximization of income without sacrificing investment quality, while providing for liquidity and diversification. The investment risk associated with variable annuity deposits and the underlying mutual funds is assumed by those contractholders, and not by the Company. Certain fees that the Company earns from variable annuity deposits are based on the market value of the funds deposited.
Through active investment management, the Company invests available funds with the objective of funding future obligations to policyholders, subject to appropriate risk considerations, and maximizing shareholder value. This objective is met through investments that (1) have similar characteristics to the liabilities they support; (2) are diversified among industries, issuers and geographic locations; and (3) are predominately investment-grade fixed maturity securities classified as available for sale. No derivatives are used to manage the exposure to interest rate risk in the investment portfolios. At December 31, 2008, approximately 20% of the fixed investment portfolio represented investments supporting the property and casualty operations and approximately 80% supported the annuity and life business. For discussions regarding the Company’s investments see “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses” and “Business - Investments”.
The Company’s annuity and life earnings are affected by the spreads between interest yields on investments and rates credited or accruing on fixed annuity and life insurance liabilities. Although substantially all credited rates on fixed annuities may be changed annually (subject to minimum guaranteed rates), competitive pricing and other factors, including the impact on the level of surrenders and withdrawals, may limit the Company’s ability to adjust or to maintain crediting rates at levels necessary to avoid narrowing of spreads under certain market conditions. See also “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008 - Interest Credited to Policyholders”.
Using financial modeling and other techniques, the Company regularly evaluates the appropriateness of investments relative to the characteristics of the liabilities that they support. Simulations of cash flows generated from existing business under various interest rate scenarios measure the potential gain or loss in fair value of interest-rate sensitive assets and
liabilities. Such estimates are used to closely match the duration of assets to the duration of liabilities. The overall duration of liabilities of the Company’s multiline insurance operations combines the characteristics of its long duration annuity and interest-sensitive life liabilities with its short duration non-interest-sensitive property and casualty liabilities. Overall, at December 31, 2008, the duration of both the fixed income securities portfolio and the Company’s insurance liabilities was estimated to be approximately 6 years.
The annuity and life operations participate in the cash flow testing procedures imposed by statutory insurance regulations, the purpose of which is to insure that such liabilities are adequate to meet the Company’s obligations under a variety of interest rate scenarios. Based on these procedures, the Company’s assets and the investment income expected to be received on such assets are adequate to meet the insurance policy obligations and expenses of the Company’s insurance activities in all but the most extreme circumstances.
The Company periodically evaluates its sensitivity to interest rate risk. Based on commonly used models, the Company projects the impact of interest rate changes, assuming a wide range of factors, including duration and prepayment, on the fair value of assets and liabilities. Fair value is estimated based on the net present value of cash flows or duration estimates. At December 31, 2008, assuming an immediate decrease of 100 basis points in interest rates, the net fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities would decrease by approximately $20 million after tax, or 4% of shareholders’ equity. A 100 basis point increase would decrease the fair value of assets and liabilities by approximately $7 million after tax, or 2% of shareholders’ equity. At December 31, 2007, assuming an immediate decrease of 100 basis points in interest rates, the net fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities would increase by approximately $16 million after tax, or 2% of shareholders’ equity. A 100 basis point increase would decrease the fair value of assets and liabilities by approximately $42 million after tax, or 6% of shareholders’ equity. In each case, these changes in interest rates assume a parallel shift in the yield curve.
While the Company believes that these assumed market rate changes are reasonably possible, actual results may differ, particularly as a result of any management actions that would be taken to mitigate such hypothetical losses in fair value of shareholders’ equity. Based on the Company’s overall exposure to interest rate risk, the Company believes that these changes in interest rates would not materially affect its consolidated near-term financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Recent Accounting Changes
FSP FAS 132(R)-1
In December 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS” or “FAS”) No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits”, through issuance of FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets”. For fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009, the FSP requires employers to disclose additional information about investment allocation decisions, major categories of plan assets and fair value techniques and inputs used to measure plan assets. Management believes the adoption of this FSP will not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
SFAS No. 163
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 163, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60”. SFAS No. 163 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This statement applies to financial guarantee insurance and reinsurance contracts, including the recognition and measurement of premium revenue and claim liabilities. Management believes this pronouncement will not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
SFAS No. 162
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. SFAS No. 162 will be effective 60 days following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s related amendments to remove the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) hierarchy from auditing standards. SFAS No. 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principals used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with GAAP. Management believes the adoption of this pronouncement will not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
FSP APB 14-1
In May 2008, the FASB issued FSP Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement)”. FSP APB 14-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This FSP requires issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion to separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods. Management believes the adoption of this FSP will not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
FSP FAS 142-3
In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets”. FSP FAS 142-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This FSP requires companies estimating the useful life of a recognized intangible asset to consider their historical experience in renewing or extending similar arrangements or, in the absence of historical experience, to consider assumptions that market participants would use about renewal or extension as adjusted for SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. Management anticipates that adoption of this FSP will not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
FSP FAS 140-3
In February 2008, the FASB amended SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities - a replacement of FASB Statement No. 125”, through issuance of FSP FAS 140-3, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Repurchase Financing Transactions”. FSP FAS 140-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This FSP presumes that an initial transfer of a financial asset and a repurchase financing are considered part of the same arrangement unless four conditions are all met. Transactions that meet all four criteria will be accounted for separately from repurchase financings. Management believes the adoption of this FSP will not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
SFAS No. 157
In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, to partially defer the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a non-recurring basis. The FSP does not defer the recognition and disclosure requirements for financial or nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at least annually. The FSP is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management believes the adoption of this FSP will not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
Other Matters
Ariel Capital Management, Inc., HMEC’s largest shareholder with 12.0% of the common shares outstanding per their SEC filing on Form 13G as of December 31, 2008, is the investment adviser for two of the mutual funds offered to the Company’s annuity customers.
Effects of Inflation and Changes in Interest Rates
The Company’s operating results are affected significantly in at least three ways by changes in interest rates and inflation. First, inflation directly affects property and casualty claims costs. Second, the investment income earned on the Company’s investment portfolio and the fair value of the investment portfolio are related to the yields available in the fixed-income markets. An increase in interest rates will decrease the fair value of the investment portfolio, but will increase investment income as investments mature and proceeds are reinvested at higher rates. Third, as interest rates increase, competitors will typically increase crediting rates on annuity and interest-sensitive life products, and may lower premium rates on property and casualty lines to reflect the higher yields available in the market. The risk of interest rate fluctuation is managed through asset/liability management techniques, including cash flow analysis.
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Horace Mann Educators Corporation
The consolidated balance sheets of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 have been prepared by management, who is responsible for their integrity and reliability. The statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include some amounts that are based upon management’s best estimates and judgements. Management has discussed with the Audit Committee the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting. The discussions generally included such matters as the consistency of the Company’s accounting policies and their application, and the clarity and completeness of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which include related disclosures. The financial information contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is consistent with that contained in the consolidated financial statements.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability of financial reporting. The concept of reasonable assurance is based on the recognition that there are inherent limitations in all systems of internal control, and that the cost of such systems should not exceed the benefits derived therefrom. A professional staff of internal auditors reviews on an ongoing basis the related internal control system design, the accounting policies and procedures supporting this system and compliance therewith. Management believes this system of internal control effectively meets its objective of reliable financial reporting. See also “Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” included in “Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” listed in the Index to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In connection with their annual audits, the independent registered public accounting firm performs an audit, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), which includes the consideration of the system of internal control to the extent necessary to form an independent opinion on the fairness of presentation of the consolidated financial statements prepared by management.
The Board of Directors, through its Audit Committee composed solely of independent directors, is responsible for overseeing the integrity and reliability of the Company’s accounting and financial reporting practices and the effectiveness of its system of internal controls. The independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors meet regularly with this committee, and have access to this committee with and without management present, to discuss the results of their audit work.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Horace Mann Educators Corporation:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited financial statement schedules I to IV and VI. We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (Item 9A.b.). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules, and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position (“SOP”) 05-1, Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts, effective January 1, 2007. As discussed in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No 109, effective January 1, 2007. As discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, as of December 31, 2006.
Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
/s/ KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 2, 2009
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31, 2008 and 2007
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), specifically Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-K. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (1) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, (2) disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and (3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“HMEC”; and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Horace Mann”). HMEC and its subsidiaries have common management, share office facilities and are parties to several intercompany service agreements for management, administrative, data processing, agent commissions, agency services, utilization of personnel and investment advisory services. Under these agreements, costs have been allocated among the companies in conformity with GAAP consistently applied. In addition, certain of the subsidiaries have entered into intercompany reinsurance agreements. HMEC and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, and there are related tax sharing agreements. The tax sharing agreements provide that tax on income is charged to the subsidiaries as if they were filing separate federal income tax returns and the subsidiaries receive the benefits of any losses or tax credits to the extent utilized in the consolidated return. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The subsidiaries of HMEC market and underwrite tax-qualified retirement annuities and private passenger automobile, homeowners, and life insurance products, primarily to K-12 teachers, administrators and other employees of public schools and their families. The Company’s principal operating subsidiaries are Horace Mann Life Insurance Company, Horace Mann Insurance Company, Teachers Insurance Company, Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Horace Mann Lloyds.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Investments
The Company invests primarily in fixed maturity securities. This category includes primarily bonds and notes, but also includes redeemable preferred stocks. These securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. The net adjustment for unrealized gains and losses on all securities available for sale, carried at fair value, is recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of applicable deferred tax asset or liability and the related impact on deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force associated with interest-sensitive life and annuity contracts that would have occurred if the securities had been sold at their aggregate fair value and the proceeds reinvested at current yields.
Equity securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. This category includes primarily nonredeemable preferred stocks and also common stocks.
Short-term and other investments are comprised of policy loans, carried at unpaid principal balances; short-term fixed income securities, carried at cost which approximates fair value; and mortgage loans, carried at unpaid principal less a valuation allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts.
Interest income is recognized as earned. Investment income reflects amortization of premiums and accrual of discounts on an effective-yield basis.
Realized gains and losses arising from the sale (recorded on a trade date basis) or impairment of securities are determined based upon specific identification of securities. The Company reviews the fair value of all investments in its portfolio on a monthly basis to assess whether an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred. These reviews, in conjunction with the Company’s investment managers’ monthly credit reports and relevant factors such as (1) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (2) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost for fixed maturity securities or cost for equity securities, (3) the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment long enough to allow for the anticipated recovery in fair value or until it matures, (4) the stock price trend of the issuer, (5) the market leadership position of the issuer, (6) the debt ratings of the issuer, (7) the cash flows of the issuer or the underlying cash flows for asset-backed securities and (8) a near-term recovery period for equity securities, are all considered in the impairment assessment. A write-down of an investment is recorded when a decline in the fair value of that investment is deemed to be other-than-temporary, with a realized investment loss charged to income for the period.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
The Company’s methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments is based on security-specific facts and circumstances as of the date of the reporting period. Based on these facts, if management believes it is probable that amounts due will not be collected according to the contractual terms of a debt security, or if the Company does not have the ability and intent to hold a debt or equity security with an unrealized loss until it matures or recovers in value, an other-than-temporary impairment is considered to have occurred. As a general rule, if the fair value of a debt security has fallen below 80% of book value, this security will be reviewed for an other-than-temporary impairment. Also as a general rule, if the fair value of an equity security has declined below cost, this security will be reviewed for an other-than-temporary impairment including an assessment of whether recovery in fair value is likely to occur within a reasonable period of time. Additionally, if events become known that call into question whether the security issuer has the ability to honor its contractual commitments, whether or not such security has been trading above an 80% fair value to book value relationship, such security holding will be evaluated to determine whether or not such security has suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value. With respect to fixed income securities involving securitized financial assets, the underlying collateral cash flows will be stress tested to determine if there has been any adverse change in the expected cash flows.
A decline in fair value below amortized cost is not assumed to be other-than-temporary for fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses due to changes in interest rates, spread widening or market illiquidity where there exists a reasonable expectation based on the Company’s consideration of all objective information available that the Company will recover all amounts due under the contractual terms of the security and the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investment until maturity or a market recovery is realized. Management believes that its intent and ability to hold a fixed maturity investment with a continuous material unrealized loss due to market conditions or industry-related events for a period of time sufficient to allow a market recovery or to maturity is a decisive factor when considering an impairment loss. In the event that the Company’s intent or ability to hold a fixed maturity investment with a continuous unrealized loss for a period of time sufficient to allow a market recovery or to maturity were to change, an evaluation for other-than-temporary impairment is performed. An other-than-temporary impairment loss will be recognized based upon all relevant facts and circumstances for each investment, as appropriate, in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 59, “Accounting for Non-Current Marketable Equity Securities”, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS” or “FAS”) No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 99-20, “Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests That Continue to Be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets”, and related guidance.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Policy acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, policy issuance and other costs, which vary with and are primarily related to the production of business, are capitalized and amortized on a basis consistent with the type of insurance coverage. For all investment (annuity) contracts, acquisition costs are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. Capitalized acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life contracts are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. For other individual life contracts, acquisition costs are amortized in proportion to anticipated premiums over the terms of the insurance policies (10, 15, 20 and 30 years). For property and casualty policies, acquisition costs are amortized over the terms of the insurance policies (six and twelve months). The Company periodically reviews the assumptions and estimates used in capitalizing policy acquisition costs and also periodically reviews its estimations of gross profits. The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company may be required to record a material charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment is made.
Deferred policy acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life and investment contracts are adjusted for the impact on estimated future gross profits as if net unrealized investment gains and losses had been realized at the balance sheet date. The impact of this adjustment is included in net unrealized gains and losses within shareholders’ equity.
Deferred policy acquisition costs are reviewed for recoverability from future income, including investment income, and costs which are deemed unrecoverable are expensed in the period in which the determination is made. No such costs have been deemed unrecoverable during the periods reported.
Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position (“SOP”) 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” and did not utilize the alternative application guidance outlined in paragraphs 18 and 19 of SOP 05-1. Adoption of SOP 05-1 did not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
SOP 05-1 provides guidance on accounting for deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in SFAS No. 97, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments”. SOP 05-1 defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights or coverages that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. Modifications that result in a replacement contract that is substantially unchanged from the replaced contract are accounted for as a continuation of the replaced contract. When modifications represent a substantial change compared to the replaced contract, the transaction is accounted for as an extinguishment of the replaced contract, and unamortized DAC and unearned revenue liabilities from the replaced contract are written off. For the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, internal replacements of traditional non-interest-sensitive life insurance contracts which represented substantial changes compared to the replaced contracts resulted in $172 and $207 of additional DAC amortization for the respective years.
Value of Acquired Insurance In Force and Goodwill
When the Company was acquired in 1989, intangible assets were recorded in the application of purchase accounting to recognize the value of acquired insurance in force and goodwill. In addition, goodwill was recorded in 1994 related to the purchase of Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company. The value of acquired insurance in force is being amortized over the following periods, utilizing the indicated methods for life and annuity, respectively, as follows: 20 years, in proportion to coverage provided; 20 years, in proportion to estimated gross profits.
The Company’s value of acquired insurance in force is an intangible asset with a definite life and is amortized under the provisions of SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. Goodwill, under SFAS No. 142, is no longer subject to amortization, but is evaluated for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. A reporting unit is the operating segment or a business unit one level below the operating segment, if separate financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management at that level. The Company’s reporting units, for which goodwill has been allocated, are equivalent to the Company’s operating segments.
The allocation of goodwill by reporting unit is as follows:
The process of evaluating goodwill for impairment requires judgments and assumptions to be made to determine the fair value of reporting unit, including discounted cash flow calculations, the level of the Company’s own share price and assumptions that market participants would make in valuing the reporting unit. Other assumptions include levels of economic capital, future business growth, earnings projections, assets under management for reporting units and the discount rate utilized.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Any amount of goodwill determined to be impaired will be recorded as an expense in the period in which the impairment determination is made. During each year from 2006 through 2008, the Company completed the required annual testing under SFAS No. 142; no impairment charges were necessary as a result of such assessments.
For the amortization of the value of acquired insurance in force, the Company periodically reviewed its estimates of gross profits. The most significant assumptions that were involved in the estimation of gross profits included interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. In the event actual experience differed significantly from assumptions or assumptions were significantly revised, the Company was required to record a charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment was made.
The value of acquired insurance in force for investment contracts was adjusted for the impact on estimated future gross profits as if net unrealized investment gains and losses had been realized at the balance sheet date. The impact of this adjustment was included in net unrealized gains and losses within shareholders’ equity.
The balances of value of acquired insurance in force by segment at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:
The Company expects to amortize the $223 December 31, 2008 balance of value of acquired insurance in force related to the life segment in 2009. The value of acquired insurance in force related to the annuity segment was fully amortized as of December 31, 2008.
By segment, the amount of interest accrued on the unamortized balance of value of acquired insurance in force and the interest accrual rates were as follows:
* Not Applicable
The accumulated amortization of intangibles as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $185,053 and $179,724, respectively.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and are included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Depreciation and amortization are calculated on the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment by asset type are generally as follows: real estate, identified by specific property, 20-45 years; furniture, 10 years; telephones, 5 years; vehicles, 2.5 to 3 years; and data processing hardware and software and personal computers, 2 to 5 years or 10 years.
Separate Account (Variable Annuity) Assets and Liabilities
Separate account (variable annuity) assets, carried at fair value, and liabilities represent variable annuity funds invested in various mutual funds. The investment income, gains and losses of these accounts accrue directly to the policyholders and are not included in the operations of the Company. The Company’s contract charges earned include fees charged to the separate accounts, including mortality charges, risk charges, policy administration fees, investment management fees and surrender charges.
Future Policy Benefits, Interest-sensitive Life Contract Liabilities and Annuity Contract Liabilities
Liabilities for future benefits on life and annuity policies are established in amounts adequate to meet the estimated future obligations on policies in force. Liabilities for future policy benefits on certain life insurance policies are computed using the net level premium method and are based on assumptions as to future investment yield, mortality and withdrawals. As a result of the application of purchase accounting, future policy benefits for direct individual life insurance policies issued through August 29, 1989 were revalued using interest rates of 9% graded to 8% over 10 years. For policies issued from August 30, 1989 through December 31, 1992, future policy benefits are computed using an interest rate of 6.5%. An interest rate of 5.5% is used to compute future policy benefits for policies issued after December 31, 1992. The Life by Design product portfolio introduced in February 2006 uses an interest rate of 5% for future policy benefits. Mortality and withdrawal assumptions for all policies have been based on actuarial tables which are consistent with the Company’s own experience. In the event actual experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required. This would result in a charge to income for the period in which the increase in reserves occurred. Liabilities for future benefits on annuity contracts and certain long-duration life insurance contracts are carried at accumulated policyholder values without reduction for potential surrender or withdrawal charges. The liability also includes provisions for the unearned portion of certain policy charges.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
A guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”) generally provides a benefit if the annuitant dies and the contract value is less than a contractually defined amount. The Company has established a GMDB reserve on variable annuity contracts in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position (“SOP”) 03-1, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts”. Contractually defined amounts vary from contract to contract based on the date the contract was entered into as well as the GMDB feature elected by the contractholder. The Company regularly monitors the GMDB reserve considering fluctuations in the financial markets. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the GMDB reserve was $1,265 and $14, respectively. The Company has a relatively low exposure to GMDB because approximately 27% of contract values have no guarantee; approximately 67% have only a return of premium guarantee; and only approximately 6% have a guarantee of premium roll-up at an annual interest rate of 3% or 5%. The aggregate in-the-money death benefits under the GMDB provision totaled $206,268 and $19,272 at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses
Liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims, claims incurred but not yet reported and associated settlement expenses. All of the Company’s reserves for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses are carried at the full value of estimated liabilities and are not discounted for interest expected to be earned on reserves. Estimated amounts of salvage and subrogation on unpaid property and casualty claims are deducted from the liability for unpaid claims. Due to the nature of the Company’s personal lines business, the Company has no exposure to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under homeowners insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold.
Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges Earned
Property and casualty insurance premiums are recognized as revenue ratably over the related contract periods in proportion to the risks insured. The unexpired portions of these property and casualty premiums are recorded as unearned premiums, using the monthly pro rata method.
Premiums and contract charges for interest-sensitive life and investment (annuity) contracts consist of charges for the cost of insurance, policy administration and withdrawals. Premiums for long-term traditional life policies are recognized as revenues when due over the premium-paying period. Annuity and interest-sensitive life contract deposits represent funds deposited by policyholders and are not included in the Company’s premiums or contract charges earned.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Stock Based Compensation
The Company grants stock options to executive officers, other employees and directors. The exercise price of the option is equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Additional information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation plans is contained in Note 6 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for stock option grants using the intrinsic value based method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and accordingly, recognized no compensation expense for the stock option grants which had an exercise price equal to market price on the date of grant resulting in an intrinsic value of $0.
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, which requires companies to recognize compensation cost for share-based compensation plans, determined based on the fair value at the grant dates. The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized $1,332, $1,102 and $656, respectively, in expense as a result of the vesting of stock options during the respective periods.
There were 622,828 options granted in 2008 having a weighted average grant date fair value of $3.47. The fair value of options granted was estimated on the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: risk-free interest rate of 3.1%; expected dividend yield of 2.2%; expected life of 5.6 years; and expected volatility (based on historical volatility) of 28.0%. The weighted average fair value of nonvested options outstanding on December 31, 2008 was $4.18. Total unrecognized compensation expense relating to the nonvested options outstanding as of December 31, 2008 was approximately $2,500, which will be recognized over the remainder of the vesting period currently scheduled to be completed in September 2013. Expense is reflected on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award.
HMEC’s Board of Directors approved the acceleration of vesting of all outstanding stock options effective June 30, 2004 in an effort to recognize employees’ significant contributions to increasing shareholder value and improving underlying Company operating trends. The Board placed certain restrictions on the transfer of shares obtained by this vesting acceleration for members of the Board of Directors and 10 of HMEC’s key executive officers. At June 30, 2004, the majority of the options vested were out-of-the-money. The accelerated vesting did not have a material effect on the Company’s operating expenses.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Income Taxes
The Company uses the liability method for calculating deferred federal income taxes. Income tax provisions are generally based on income reported for financial statement purposes. The provisions for federal income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 include amounts currently payable and deferred income taxes resulting from the cumulative differences in the Company’s assets and liabilities, determined on a tax return versus financial statement basis.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities include provisions for unrealized investment gains and losses as well as the net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and minimum pension liability adjustments with the changes for each period included in the respective components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding, to the extent dilutive. The common stock equivalents relate to outstanding common stock options, Director Stock Plan units, Employee Stock Plan units and Incentive Compensation Plan restricted common stock units. In addition, prior to the final redemption on May 14, 2007, the Company’s Senior Convertible Notes were common stock equivalents under the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) consensus on issue 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Instruments on Diluted Earnings per Share”.
The computations of net income per share on both basic and diluted bases, including reconciliations of the numerators and denominators, were as follows:
Options to purchase 3,849,600 shares of common stock at $14.95 to $25.63 per share were granted in 1999 through 2008 but were not included in the computation of 2008 diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares during 2008. The options, which expire in 2009 through 2015, were still outstanding at December 31, 2008.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) represents the change in shareholders’ equity during a reporting period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-shareholder sources. For the Company, comprehensive income (loss) is equal to net income plus or minus the change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities, the change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and, in 2006 and prior years, the change in the minimum pension liability adjustment for the period as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity.
In December 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 158, “Employer’s Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”. SFAS No. 158 requires the recognition in the balance sheet of the funded status of defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax.
The components of comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:
Statements of Cash Flows
For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash constitutes cash on deposit at banks.
Reclassification
The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior period information to conform with the 2008 presentation.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Adopted Accounting Standards
Adoption of FSP No. EITF 99-20-1
Effective October 1, 2008, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 99-20-1, “Amendments to the Impairment Guidance of EITF No. 99-20”. This FSP amended EITF Issue No. 99-20, “Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests That Continue to Be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets”, to resolve differences between the measurement of declines in fair value under EITF 99-20 and SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”. This FSP retains fair value as its measurement attribute for other-than-temporary impairment; however, it removes the market participant notion from EITF 99-20 and requires a probability assessment for adverse changes in cash flows. This FSP does not change requirements in SFAS No. 115 to apply the other-than-temporary impairment guidance. FSP No. EITF 99-20-1 was effective upon issuance and applied to periods ending after December 15, 2008; the Company began reflecting this guidance prospectively as of October 1, 2008.
Adoption of SFAS No. 159
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS” or “FAS”) No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”. SFAS No. 159 permits all entities to choose to elect, at specified election dates, to measure eligible financial instruments, as defined in SFAS No. 159, at fair value. Changes in unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date and upfront costs and fees related to those items will be reported in earnings as incurred and not deferred. At adoption, for those financial assets and financial liabilities which management has elected to carry at fair value, an entity will report the effect of the first remeasurement to fair value as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The Company’s management did not elect to measure any additional eligible financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value and as a result, adoption of this SFAS did not have an effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
Adoption of SFAS No. 157
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This pronouncement did not require any new fair value measurements and its adoption did not affect the results of operations or financial position of the Company. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, which defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are not disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis. The FSP did not defer the recognition and disclosure requirements for financial or nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at least annually. In February 2008, the Company adopted FSP No. FAS 157-2, and pursuant to its
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
provisions has delayed the application of SFAS No. 157 for fair value measurements used in the impairment testing of goodwill. In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset in a Market That Is Not Active”. FSP No. FAS 157-3 was effective upon issuance, and applies to periods for which financial statements have not been issued. The FSP’s guidance clarifies various application issues with respect to the objective of a fair value measurement, distressed transactions, relevance of observable data, and the use of management’s assumptions. The Company adopted FSP No. FAS 157-3 in the preparation of its September 30, 2008 financial statements; however, adoption did not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company. The Company’s expanded disclosures as a result of SFAS No. 157 are included in “Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements”.
Risk Disclosures
The Company’s business involves various risks and uncertainties which are based on general business and insurance industry environments. The following are some of the risk factors that could affect the Company:
Investment Risks
The Company’s fixed income portfolio is subject to a number of risks including:
•
market value risk, which is the risk that invested assets will decrease in value due to a change in the yields realized on assets and prevailing market yields for similar assets, an unfavorable change in the liquidity of the investment or an unfavorable change in the financial prospects or a downgrade in the credit rating of the issuer of the investment;
•
credit risk, which is the risk that the value of certain investments becomes impaired due to deterioration in financial condition of one or more issuers of those instruments or the deterioration in performance or credit quality of the underlying collateral of certain structured securities and, ultimately, the risk of permanent loss in the event of default by an issuer or underlying credit;
•
market fundamentals risk, which is the risk that there are changes in the market that can have an unfavorable impact on securities valuation such as availability of credit in the capital markets, re-pricing of credit risk, reduced market liquidity, and increased market volatility;
•
reinvestment risk, which is the risk that interest rates will decline and funds reinvested will earn less than expected;
•
concentration risk, which is the risk that the portfolio may be too heavily concentrated in the securities of one or more issuers, sectors or industries, which could result in a significant decrease in the value of the portfolio in the event of deterioration in the financial condition of those issuers or the market value of their securities;
•
liquidity risk, which is the risk that liabilities are surrendered or mature sooner than anticipated requiring the Company to sell assets at an undesirable time to provide for policyholder surrenders, withdrawals or claims; and
•
regulatory risk, which is the risk that regulatory bodies or governments, in the U.S. or in other countries, may make substantial investments or take significant ownership positions in, or ultimately nationalize, financial institutions or other issuers of securities held in the Company’s investment portfolio, which could adversely impact the seniority or contractual terms of the securities.
NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)
Interest Rate Risk
Significant changes in interest rates expose the Company to the risk of not earning income or experiencing losses based on the differences between the interest rates earned on investments and the credited interest rates paid on outstanding fixed annuity and interest-sensitive life contracts. Significant changes in interest rates may affect:
•
the unrealized gains and losses in the investment portfolio
•
the book yield of the investment portfolio; and
•
the ability of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to maintain appropriate interest rate spreads over the fixed rates guaranteed in their life and annuity products.
Credit Risk
Third parties that owe money, securities or other assets to the Company may not pay or perform their obligations. These parties may include the issuers of securities, customers, reinsurers, and other financial intermediaries. If adequate reinsurance cannot be obtained at reasonable rates, the Company would have to increase its risk exposure and/or reduce the level of underwriting commitments, which could have a material adverse effect upon the business volume and profitability. Alternately, the Company could elect to pay the higher than reasonable rates for reinsurance coverage, which could also have a material adverse effect upon its profitability.
Ratings Risk
Claims-paying ratings and financial strength ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. Each rating agency reviews its ratings periodically and from time to time may modify its rating criteria including, among other factors, its expectations regarding capital adequacy, profitability and revenue growth. A downgrade in the ratings or adverse change in the ratings outlook of any of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries could result in a substantial loss of business. A downgrade in HMEC’s debt rating could adversely impact the cost and flexibility of borrowing which could have an adverse impact on liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Legal/Regulatory Risk
The Company is subject to extensive regulation and supervision designed to protect the interests of policyholders. The ability to comply with laws and regulations, at a reasonable cost, and to obtain necessary regulatory action in a timely manner, is and will continue to be critical. Legal/regulatory risk also includes risks related to market conduct and appropriate product sales to policyholders.
NOTE 2 - Investments
Net Investment Income
The components of net investment income for the following periods were:
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Realized investment gains (losses) for the following periods were:
NOTE 2 - Investments-(Continued)
In 2008, the Company recorded a total of $53,080 of impairment write-downs - $5,772 in the three months ended December 31, 2008, $33,400 in the three months ended September 30, $11,170 in the three months ended June 30 and $2,738 in the three months ended March 31. The Company, from time to time, sells invested assets subsequent to the balance sheet date that were considered temporarily impaired at the balance sheet date. Such sales are generally due to events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date that result in a change in the Company’s intent or ability to hold an invested asset. The types of events that may result in a sale include significant changes in the economic facts and circumstances related to the invested asset, significant unforeseen changes in liquidity needs, or changes in the Company’s investment strategy. The fourth quarter 2008 write-downs were related primarily to high-yield and preferred stock investments that the Company no longer intended to hold for a period of time necessary to recover the decline in value, with the remainder related to securities for which impairment write-downs were previously recorded. The third quarter 2008 write-downs included $23,706 related to fixed maturity security and preferred stock impairments for which the issuer’s ability to pay future interest and principal based upon contractual terms has been compromised - namely, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), and American International Group, Inc. The remaining amount of write-downs - primarily of financial institution securities and high yield bonds - was primarily attributable to the Company no longer having the intent to hold the securities for a period of time necessary to recover the decline in value. The second quarter 2008 write-downs were primarily related to 2 collateralized debt obligation securities and 5 equity securities, including 4 financial industry preferred stock issues. The first quarter 2008 write-downs were primarily related to certain below investment grade fixed maturity securities, with $2,291 of the write-downs attributable to 6 securities of telecommunications and telecommunications-related media issuers, which at March 31, 2008 the Company no longer intended to hold until the value fully recovered. In addition, net realized losses in 2008 included $23,084 of realized other-than-temporary impairment losses, primarily on financial institution and below investment grade fixed maturity securities, that were disposed of during the period.
In 2007, the Company recorded investment impairment charges of $8,471. In the three months ended December 31, 2007, $5,867 of impairment charges were recorded for the fixed maturity securities portfolio as follows: $3,778 from one sub-prime residential mortgage-backed security, $1,082 from preferred stocks and $1,007 from corporate high-yield bonds. Certain of these securities were subsequently sold in January 2008. In the three months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $285 from the paper sector of its fixed maturity securities portfolio, and certain of these securities were subsequently sold in October 2007. In the three months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $2,319 from the home builder sector of its fixed maturity securities portfolio, and these securities were subsequently sold in July 2007. There were no other impairment charges recorded in 2007.
In 2006, the Company recorded an impairment of $139 related to fixed income securities from one issuer.
NOTE 2 - Investments-(Continued)
Fixed Maturity Securities (“fixed maturities”) and Equity Securities
The following table presents the fair value and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturity securities and equity securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company views the decrease in value of all of the securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2008 - which was driven largely by spread widening, market illiquidity and changes in interest rates - as temporary, expects recovery in fair value in a reasonable timeframe, anticipates continued payments under the terms of the securities, and has the intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or a recovery in fair value occurs. Therefore, no impairment of these securities was recorded at December 31, 2008.
NOTE 2 - Investments-(Continued)
At December 31, 2008, the gross unrealized loss position in the fixed maturity and equity securities portfolio was $395,616 (1,021 positions and 11% of the portfolio). Fixed maturity and equity securities with an investment grade rating represented 90% of the unrealized loss. The largest single unrealized loss was $7,316 on a corporate bond issued by Teck Cominco Limited. The fixed maturity and equity securities portfolio included 397 securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months, with an unrealized loss totaling $203,090. The Company views the decrease in value of all of the securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2008 - which was largely driven by changes in interest rates, spread widening and market illiquidity - as temporary, expects recovery in fair value in a reasonable timeframe, anticipates continued payments under the terms of the securities, and has the intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or a recovery in fair value occurs. With respect to fixed income securities involving securitized financial assets, the underlying collateral cash flows were stress tested to determine there was no adverse change in the expected cash flows. Therefore, no impairment of securities with unrealized losses was recorded at December 31, 2008.
The amortized cost, unrealized investment gains and losses, and fair values of all fixed maturities and equity securities in the portfolio as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:
(1) Fair value includes securities issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) of $494,604 and $714,720; Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (“FHLMA”) of $390,217 and $332,811; and Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) of $35,778 and $38,816 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
NOTE 2 - Investments-(Continued)
The Company’s investment portfolio includes no derivative financial instruments (futures, forwards, swaps, option contracts or other financial instruments with similar characteristics).
Maturities/Sales Of Investments
The amortized cost and fair value of the Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio at December 31, 2008, by estimated expected maturity, are shown below. Estimated expected maturities differ from contractual maturities, reflecting assumptions regarding borrowers’ utilization of the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Estimated expected maturities consider broker dealer survey values and are verified for consistency with the interest rate and economic environments.
The average option-adjusted duration for the Company’s fixed maturity securities was 5.9 years at December 31, 2008.
Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities and gross gains and gross losses realized as a result of those sales for each year were:
NOTE 2 - Investments-(Continued)
Unrealized Gains and Losses on Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities
Net unrealized gains and losses are computed as the difference between fair value and amortized cost for fixed maturities or cost for equity securities. A summary of the net change in unrealized investment gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities, less applicable income taxes, is as follows:
Securities Lending
The Company loans fixed income securities to third parties, primarily major brokerage firms. Beginning in the third quarter of 2007, the Company reduced the amount of fixed income securities that it loans compared to previous levels and, as of December 31, 2008 and the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s securities lending program is suspended. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, fixed maturities with a fair value of $0 and $74,658, respectively, were on loan. Loans of securities are required at all times to be secured by collateral from borrowers at least equal to 102% of the fair value of the securities loaned. The Company maintains effective control over the loaned securities and therefore reports them as Fixed Maturity Securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Securities lending collateral is classified as short-term investments with a corresponding liability in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Investment in Entities Exceeding 10% of Shareholders’ Equity
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, there were no investments which exceeded 10% of total shareholders’ equity in entities other than obligations of the U.S. Government and federally sponsored government agencies and authorities.
Deposits
At December 31, 2008, securities with a carrying value of $19,956 were on deposit with governmental agencies as required by law in various states in which the insurance subsidiaries of HMEC conduct business.
NOTE 3 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company is required under GAAP to disclose estimated fair values for certain financial instruments. Fair values of the Company’s insurance contracts other than annuity contracts are not required to be disclosed. However, the fair values of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the Company’s overall management of interest rate risk through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, which provides a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP. FSP No. FAS 157-2 defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are not disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis.
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 1 assets and liabilities include debt and equity securities (both common stock and preferred stock) that are traded in an active exchange market, as well as U.S. Treasury securities.
Level 2
Unadjusted observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments. This category generally includes certain U.S. Government and agency mortgage-backed debt securities, non-agency structured securities, corporate debt securities and preferred stocks.
Level 3
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. This category generally includes certain private debt and equity investments.
As required by SFAS No. 157, when the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the level within which fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. As a result, a Level 3 fair value measurement may include inputs that are observable (Level 1 or Level 2) and unobservable (Level 3). Net transfers in (out) of Level 3 are reported as having occurred at the end of the reporting period in which the transfers were determined.
NOTE 3 - Fair Value Measurements-(Continued)
The following discussion describes the valuation methodologies used for financial assets measured at fair value. The techniques utilized in estimating the fair values are affected by the assumptions used, including discount rates and estimates of the amount and timing of future cash flows. The use of different methodologies, assumptions and inputs may have a material effect on the estimated fair values of the Company’s securities holdings. Care should be exercised in deriving conclusions about the Company’s business, its value or financial position based on the fair value information of financial assets presented below.
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on available market information and judgments about the financial asset, including estimates of timing, amount of expected future cash flows and the credit standing of the issuer. In some cases, the fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets. In addition, the disclosed fair value may not be realized in the immediate settlement of the financial asset. In addition, the disclosed fair values do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time an entire holding of a particular financial asset. In periods of market disruption, the ability to observe prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments. This condition could cause an instrument to be reclassified from Level 1 to Level 2 or from Level 2 to Level 3. Potential taxes and other expenses that would be incurred in an actual sale or settlement are not reflected in amounts disclosed.
Investments
Fair values for the Company’s fixed maturity securities are based on prices provided by its investment managers and its custodian bank. Both the investment managers and the custodian bank use a variety of independent, nationally recognized pricing sources to determine market valuations. Each designate specific pricing services or indexes for each sector of the market based upon the provider’s expertise. Typical inputs used by these pricing sources include, but are not limited to, reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids, offers, and/or estimated cash flows and prepayment speeds. When the pricing sources cannot provide fair value determinations, the Company obtains non-binding price quotes from broker-dealers. The broker-dealers’ valuation methodology is sometimes matrix-based, using indicative evaluation measures and adjustments for specific security characteristics and market sentiment. The Company analyzes market valuations received to verify reasonableness, to understand the key assumptions used and their sources, to conclude the prices obtained are appropriate, and to determine an appropriate SFAS No. 157 fair value hierarchy level based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. Based on this evaluation and investment class analysis, each price is classified into Level 1, 2, or 3. The Company has in place certain control processes to determine the reasonableness of the financial asset fair values. These processes are designed to ensure the values received are accurately recorded and that the data inputs and valuation techniques utilized are appropriate, consistently applied, and that the assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value. For example, on a continuing basis, the Company assesses the reasonableness of individual security values received from pricing sources that vary from certain thresholds. Historically, the control processes have not resulted in adjustments to the valuations provided by pricing sources. The Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio is primarily publicly traded, which allows for a high percentage of the portfolio to be priced through pricing services. Approximately 94% of the portfolio was priced
NOTE 3 - Fair Value Measurements-(Continued)
through pricing services or index priced as of December 31, 2008. The remainder of the portfolio was priced by broker-dealers, and these inputs were generally Level 2. There were no significant changes to the valuation process during 2008.
Fair values of equity securities have been determined by the Company from observable market quotations, when available. Private placement securities and equity securities where a public quotation is not available are valued by using non-binding broker quotes or through the use of internal models or analysis. These inputs are based on assumptions deemed appropriate given the circumstances and are believed to be consistent with what other market participants would use when pricing such securities.
Short-term and other investments are comprised of policy loans, short-term fixed income securities and mortgage loans. The fair value of policy loans is based on estimates using discounted cash flow analysis and current interest rates being offered for new loans. For short-term fixed income securities, because of the nature of these assets, carrying amounts approximate fair values, which have been determined from public quotations, when available. The fair value of mortgage loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and the same remaining maturities.
Separate Account
Separate Account assets represent variable annuity contractholder funds invested in various mutual funds. Fair values of these assets have been determined from public quotations.
Annuity Contract Liabilities and Policyholder Account Balances on Interest-sensitive Life Contracts
The fair values of annuity contract liabilities and policyholder account balances on interest-sensitive life contracts are equal to the discounted estimated future cash flows (using the Company’s current interest rates for similar products including consideration of minimum guaranteed interest rates).
Other Policyholder Funds
Other policyholder funds are liabilities related to supplementary contracts without life contingencies and dividend accumulations, which represent deposits that do not have defined maturities. The carrying value of these funds is used as a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Short-term Debt
The carrying value of short-term debt is used as a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Long-term Debt
The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on quoted market prices of publicly traded issues.
NOTE 3 - Fair Value Measurements-(Continued)
The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008, Level 3 assets comprised approximately 0.8% of the Company’s total investment portfolio fair value. In addition, the table includes the carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments at December 31, 2007.
(1) At December 31, 2008, this information is not required for financial liabilities or for periods prior to the adoption of SFAS No.157.
(2) Fair value of “Short-term and other investments” includes investments for which inputs to fair value measurements are not required. Inputs to fair value measurements are provided only for those investments carried at fair value.
NOTE 3 - Fair Value Measurements-(Continued)
The following table presents a reconciliation for all Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008.
For the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, there were no realized gains or losses included in earnings that were attributable to Level 3 assets still held at December 31, 2008. Transfers into Level 3 during the year ended December 31, 2008 were attributable to a change in the availability of observable market information for individual fixed maturities.
NOTE 4 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses
The following table sets forth an analysis of property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses and provides a reconciliation of beginning and ending reserves for the periods indicated.
(1) Unpaid claims and claim expenses as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets also include life, annuity, and group accident and health reserves of $13,485, $9,192 and $8,931 at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, in addition to property and casualty reserves.
(2) Reserves net of anticipated reinsurance recoverables.
(3) Shows the amounts by which the Company decreased its reserves in each of the periods indicated for claims occurring in previous periods to reflect subsequent information on such claims and changes in their projected final settlement costs. Also refer to the paragraphs below for additional information regarding the reserve development recorded in 2008, 2007 and 2006.
(4) Benefits, claims and settlement expenses as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations also include life, annuity, and group accident and health amounts of $55,427, $48,059 and $48,105 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, in addition to the property and casualty amounts.
NOTE 4 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses-(Continued)
Underwriting results of the property and casualty segment are significantly influenced by estimates of the Company’s ultimate liability for insured events. There is a high degree of uncertainty inherent in the estimates of ultimate losses underlying the liability for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses. This inherent uncertainty is particularly significant for liability-related exposures due to the extended period, often many years, that transpires between a loss event, receipt of related claims data from policyholders and ultimate settlement of the claim. Reserves for property and casualty claims include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims (“case reserves”), claims incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”) and associated settlement expenses (together “loss reserves”). The process by which these reserves are established requires reliance upon estimates based on known facts and on interpretations of circumstances, including the Company’s experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payments and related patterns, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as other factors including court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes.
The Company believes the property and casualty loss reserves are appropriately established based on available facts, laws, and regulations. The Company calculates and records a single best reserve estimate as of each balance sheet date, in conformity with generally accepted actuarial standards, for each line of business and its components (coverages and perils) for reported losses and for IBNR losses and as a result believes no other estimate is better than the recorded amount. Due to uncertainties involved, the ultimate cost of losses may vary materially from recorded amounts.
The Company continually updates loss estimates using both quantitative and qualitative information from its reserving actuaries and information derived from other sources. Adjustments may be required as information develops which varies from experience, or, in some cases, augments data which previously were not considered sufficient for use in determining liabilities. The effects of these adjustments may be significant and are charged or credited to income in the period in which the adjustments are made.
Numerous risk factors will affect more than one product line. One of these factors is changes in claim department practices, including claim closure rates, number of claims closed without payment, the use of outside claims adjusters and the level of needed case reserve estimated by the adjuster. Other risk factors include changes in claim frequency, changes in claim severity, regulatory and legislative actions, court actions, changes in economic conditions and trends (e.g. medical costs, labor rates and the cost of materials), the occurrence of unusually large or frequent catastrophic loss events, timeliness of claim reporting, the state in which the claim occurred and degree of claimant fraud. The extent of the impact of a risk factor will also vary by coverages within a product line. Individual risk factors are also subject to interactions with other risk factors within product line coverages.
While all product lines are exposed to these risks, there are some loss types or product lines for which the financial effect will be more significant. For instance, the use of outside adjusters for large catastrophe losses adds a level of risk to this loss type not present when employee adjusters handle claims. Also, given the relatively large proportion (approximately 70% at December 31, 2008) of the Company’s reserves that are in the longer-tail automobile liability coverages, regulatory and court actions and changes in economic conditions and trends could be expected to impact this product line more extensively than others.
NOTE 4 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses-(Continued)
Reserves are established for claims as they occur for each line of business based on estimates of the ultimate cost to settle the claims. The actual loss results are compared to prior estimates and differences are recorded as reestimates. The primary actuarial techniques (development of paid loss dollars, development of reported loss dollars, methods based on expected loss ratios and methods utilizing frequency and severity of claims) used to estimate reserves and provide for losses are applied to actual paid losses and reported losses (paid losses plus individual case reserves set by claim adjusters) for an accident year or a calendar year to create an estimate of how losses are likely to develop over time. An accident year refers to classifying claims based on the year in which the claim occurred. A calendar year refers to classifying claims based on the year in which the claims are reported. Both classifications are used to prepare estimates of required reserves for payments to be made in the future. For estimating short-tail coverage reserves (e.g. homeowners and automobile physical damage), which comprise approximately 30% of the Company’s total loss reserves at December 31, 2008, the primary actuarial technique utilized is the development of paid loss dollars due to the relatively quick claim settlement period. As it relates to estimating long-tail coverage reserves (e.g. automobile liability), which comprise approximately 70% of the Company’s total loss reserves at December 31, 2008, the primary actuarial technique utilized is the development of reported loss dollars due to the relatively long claim settlement period.
In all of the loss estimation techniques referred to above, a ratio (development factor) is calculated which compares current results to results in the prior period for each accident year. Various development factors, based on historical results, are multiplied by the current experience to estimate the development of losses of each accident year from the current time period into the next time period. The development factors for the next time period for each accident year are compounded over the remaining calendar years to calculate an estimate of ultimate losses for each accident year. Occasionally, unusual aberrations in loss patterns are caused by factors such as changes in claim reporting, settlement patterns, unusually large losses, process changes, legal or regulatory environment changes, and other influences. In these instances, analyses of alternate development factor selections are performed to evaluate the effect of these factors, and actuarial judgment is applied to make appropriate development factor assumptions needed to develop a best estimate of ultimate losses. Paid losses are then subtracted from estimated ultimate losses to determine the indicated loss reserves. The difference between indicated reserves and recorded reserves is the amount of reserve reestimate.
Reserves are reestimated quarterly. When new development factors are calculated from actual losses, and they differ from estimated development factors used in previous reserve estimates, assumptions about losses and required reserves are revised based on the new development factors. Changes to reserves are recorded in the period in which development factor changes result in reserve reestimates.
NOTE 4 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses-(Continued)
Numerous actuarial estimates of the types described above are prepared each quarter to monitor losses for each line of business (coverages and perils) and for reported losses and IBNR. Often, several different estimates are prepared for each detailed component, incorporating alternative analyses of changing claim settlement patterns and other influences on losses, from which the Company selects the best estimate for each component, occasionally incorporating additional analyses and actuarial judgment, as described above. These estimates also incorporate the historical impact of inflation into reserve estimates, the implicit assumption being that a multi-year average development factor represents an adequate provision. Based on the Company’s review of these estimates, as well as the review of the independent reserve studies, the best estimate of required reserves for each line of business and its components (coverages and perils) is determined by management and is recorded for each accident year, and the required reserves for each component are summed to create the reserve balances carried on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Based on the Company’s products and coverages, historical experience and modeling of various actuarial methodologies used to develop reserve estimates, the Company estimates that the potential variability of the property and casualty loss reserves, within a reasonable probability of other possible outcomes, may be approximately plus or minus 6%, which equates to plus or minus approximately $12,000 based on 2008 net income. Although this evaluation reflects the most likely outcomes, it is possible the final outcome may fall below or above these estimates.
Net favorable development of total reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years was $18,100 in 2008, primarily the result of favorable frequency and severity trends in voluntary automobile loss and loss adjustment expense emergence for accident years 2005 and prior. In 2007, net favorable development of total reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years was $19,968 reflecting the emergence of favorable voluntary automobile severity trends in accident years 2005 and prior and favorable frequency trends in homeowners for accident year 2006. In 2006, net favorable development of total reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years was $19,210 reflecting emergence of favorable claim trends, primarily for accident years 2005 and 2004, for the voluntary automobile line of business related primarily to claim frequencies, which were more favorable than previously estimated.
The Company completes a detailed study of property and casualty reserves based on information available at the end of each quarter and year. Trends of reported losses (paid amounts and case reserves on claims reported to the Company) for each accident year are reviewed and ultimate loss costs for those accident years are estimated. The Company engages an independent property and casualty actuarial consulting firm to prepare an independent study of the Company’s property and casualty reserves at December 31 of each year, supplemented by other analyses throughout the year. The result of the independent actuarial study at December 31, 2008 was consistent with management’s analyses and selected estimates and did not result in any adjustments to the Company’s recorded property and casualty reserves.
NOTE 4 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses-(Continued)
Based on an assessment of the relative weight given to emerging trends resulting from recent business process changes, pricing, underwriting and claims handling, at both December 31, 2008 and 2007 the Company recorded property and casualty reserves toward the higher end (upper quartile) of a reasonable range of reserve estimates, due primarily to reserves related to the automobile liability coverages.
At the time each of the reserve analyses were performed, the Company believed that each estimate was based upon sound and correct methodology and such methodology was appropriately applied and that there were no trends which indicated the likelihood of future loss reserve development. The financial impact of the net reserve development was therefore accounted for in the period that the development was determined.
No other unusual adjustments were made in the determination of the liabilities during the periods covered by these consolidated financial statements. Management believes that, based on data currently available, it has reasonably estimated the Company’s ultimate losses.
NOTE 5 - Debt
Indebtedness and scheduled maturities at December 31, 2008 and 2007 consisted of the following:
Credit Agreement with Financial Institutions (“Bank Credit Facility”)
On May 31, 2005, HMEC entered into a new Bank Credit Agreement (the “Current Bank Credit Facility”). As amended and restated on December 19, 2006, the Current Bank Credit Facility agreement provides for unsecured borrowings of up to $125,000 and expires on December 19, 2011. Interest accrues at varying spreads relative to corporate or Eurodollar base rates and is payable monthly or quarterly depending on the applicable base rate (London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 0.6%, or 4.7%, at December 31, 2008; LIBOR plus 0.6%, or 1.12%, as of the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). The unused portion of the Current Bank Credit Facility is subject to a variable commitment fee, which was 0.125% on an annual basis at December 31, 2008. On October 2, 2008, the Company borrowed $75,000 under its existing $125,000 Bank Credit Facility. Prior to December 31, 2008, the Company repaid $37,000 of this borrowing leaving a balance of $38,000 outstanding at December 31, 2008. In March and April 2006, the Company borrowed a total of $74,000 and subsequently repaid this balance in full on April 21, 2006, utilizing a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2016, described below. On May 31, 2005, the Company borrowed $25,000 and subsequently repaid this balance in full on June 13, 2005, utilizing a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2015, described below.
NOTE 5 - Debt-(Continued)
6.05% Senior Notes due 2015 (“Senior Notes due 2015”)
On June 9, 2005, the Company issued $75,000 aggregate principal amount of senior notes at an effective yield of 6.1%, which will mature on June 15, 2015. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2015 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.05%. The Senior Notes due 2015 are redeemable in whole or in part, at any time, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of their principal amount or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted, on a semi-annual basis, at the Treasury yield (as defined in the indenture) plus 30 basis points, plus, in either of the above cases, accrued interest to the date of redemption.
The net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2015 were used to (1) repay the Current Bank Credit Facility, (2) redeem the Senior Notes due 2006, described below, and (3) make a capital contribution to HMEC’s primary life insurance subsidiary to substantially offset the early recapture of the Company’s life reinsurance agreement with the United States branch of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.
6.85% Senior Notes due 2016 (“Senior Notes due 2016”)
On April 21, 2006, the Company issued $125,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.85% senior notes, which will mature on April 15, 2016, issued at a discount of 0.305% resulting in an effective yield of 6.893%. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2016 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.85%. The Senior Notes due 2016 are redeemable in whole or in part, at any time, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted, on a semi-annual basis, at the Treasury yield (as defined in the indenture) plus 30 basis points, plus, in either of the above cases, accrued interest to the date of redemption.
A portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2016 was used to repay in full the $74,000 balance then outstanding on the Bank Credit Facility. As described below, an additional $9,419 of the net proceeds was used in July 2006 for repurchases of Senior Convertible Notes. Remaining net proceeds were used to redeem the remaining outstanding Senior Convertible Notes on May 14, 2007, as described below, and for general corporate purposes.
1.425% Senior Convertible Notes (“Senior Convertible Notes”)
In March, April and July 2006, the Company repurchased $175,947 aggregate principal amount, $83,575 carrying value, of the outstanding Senior Convertible Notes at an aggregate cost of $82,846. The March and April 2006 repurchases were initially funded utilizing the Company’s Bank Credit Facility and the July 2006 repurchase was funded with a portion of the cash proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2016.
NOTE 5 - Debt-(Continued)
On May 14, 2007, pursuant to provisions of the indenture, HMEC redeemed its remaining outstanding Senior Convertible Notes ($68,553 aggregate principal amount; $32,563 carrying value) at $475.00 per $1,000.00 principal amount. The $32,563 aggregate cost was funded with a portion of the remaining cash proceeds from HMEC’s April 2006 issuance of 6.85% Senior Notes Due 2016. None of the Senior Convertible Notes were converted into shares of HMEC’s common stock. No early termination penalties were incurred as a result of this redemption.
The $231,947 aggregate principal amount of Senior Convertible Notes which HMEC previously held in brokerage accounts and the $68,553 aggregate principal amount of Senior Convertible Notes redeemed on May 14, 2007 have been canceled.
Universal Shelf Registration
To provide additional capital management flexibility, the Company filed a “universal shelf” registration on Form S-3 with the SEC in November 2008. The registration statement, which registers the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of up to $300,000 of various securities, which may include debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants and/or delayed delivery contracts, was declared effective on January 7, 2009. Unless fully utilized or withdrawn by the Company earlier, this registration statement will remain effective through January 7, 2012. No securities associated with the registration statement have been issued as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Debt Retirement Gain/Charges
The redemption of the remaining outstanding Senior Convertible Notes on May 14, 2007 resulted in neither a gain nor a loss.
The repurchases of the Senior Convertible Notes during the year ended December 31, 2006 resulted in a pretax gain for the period of $159, which was reported as a component of interest expense for this period.
Covenants
The Company is in compliance with all of the financial covenants contained in the Senior Notes due 2015 indenture and the Senior Notes due 2016 indenture and the Bank Credit Facility Agreement, consisting primarily of relationships of (1) debt to capital, (2) insurance subsidiaries’ insurance financial strength ratings issued by A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) and (3) net worth, as defined in the financial covenants. For instance, compliance with the Bank Credit Agreement requires the Company’s insurance subsidiaries’ A.M. Best financial strength ratings to be at or above the “A-” rating assigned at the time of this Annual Report on form 10-K. A lower rating would result in default under this agreement, which could adversely impact the Company’s liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
NOTE 6 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options
Share Repurchase Program and Treasury Shares Held (Common Stock)
As disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, on September 12, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) authorized a new share repurchase program allowing repurchases up to $50,000 and ended the May 1999 authorization. The new share repurchase program authorized the repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions.
From September 12, 2007 through December 31, 2007, the Company repurchased 1,111,600 shares of its common stock, or 2.6% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2006, at an aggregate cost of $20,748, or an average cost of $18.66 per share, under its new share repurchase program. From January 1, 2008 through February 19, 2008, the Company completed the new program by repurchasing an additional 1,626,776 shares of its common stock, or 3.9% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2007. In total, 2,738,376 shares were repurchased under the $50,000 program at an average cost of $18.28 per share. The repurchase of shares was financed through use of cash.
On March 7, 2008, the Board authorized an additional $25,000 share repurchase program allowing for repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions (the “March 2008 Program”). As of June 30, 2008, the Company completed the March 2008 Program resulting in a total of 1,571,449 shares of its common stock repurchased under this program at an average cost of $15.93 per share. Shares repurchased under the March 2008 Program represented 3.7% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2007. The repurchase of shares was financed through use of cash.
At December 31, 2008, the Company held 21,813,196 shares in treasury. As of June 30, 2008, the Company had completed its authorized share repurchase programs.
Authorization of Preferred Stock
In 1996, the shareholders of HMEC approved authorization of 1,000,000 shares of $0.001 par value preferred stock. The Board of Directors is authorized to (1) direct the issuance of the preferred stock in one or more series, (2) fix the dividend rate, conversion or exchange rights, redemption price and liquidation preference, of any series of the preferred stock, (3) fix the number of shares for any series and (4) increase or decrease the number of shares of any series. No shares of preferred stock were outstanding at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
NOTE 6 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options-(Continued)
Director Stock Plan
In 1996, the shareholders of HMEC approved the Deferred Equity Compensation Plan (“Director Stock Plan”) for directors of the Company and reserved 600,000 shares for issuance pursuant to the Director Stock Plan. Shares of the Company’s common stock issued under the Director Stock Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or shares that have been reacquired by the Company. As of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, 254,060, 227,757 and 214,238 units, respectively, were outstanding under this plan representing an equal number of common shares to be issued in the future. The outstanding units of currently serving directors accrue dividends at the same rate as dividends paid to HMEC’s shareholders; outstanding units of retired directors do not accrue dividends. These dividends are reinvested into additional common stock units.
Employee Stock Plan
In 1997, the Board of Directors of HMEC approved the Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees (“Employee Stock Plan”). Shares of the Company’s common stock issued under the Employee Stock Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or shares that have been reacquired by the Company. As of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, 215,200, 219,030 and 149,396 units, respectively, were outstanding under this plan representing an equal number of common shares to be issued in the future. The Employee Stock Plan allows distributions to be either in common shares or cash. Through December 31, 2008, all distributions under the Employee Stock Plan have been in cash. The outstanding units accrue dividends at the same rate as dividends paid to HMEC’s shareholders. These dividends are reinvested into additional common stock units.
Stock Options and Restricted Common Stock Units
The shareholders of HMEC approved the 1991 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1991 Plan”), the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2001 Plan”), and the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan and the Amended and Restated 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan (together, the “2002 Plan”) and reserved a total of 9,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under these plans. Under the 1991 Plan, the 2001 Plan and the 2002 Plan, options to purchase shares of HMEC common stock may be granted to executive officers, other employees and directors. The options become exercisable in installments based on service generally beginning in the first year from the date of grant and generally become fully vested 4 to 5 years from the date of grant. The options generally expire 7 to 10 years from the date of grant. The exercise price of the option is equal to the market price of HMEC’s common stock on the date of grant resulting in a grant date intrinsic value of $0. Shares issued upon exercise of options may be either new shares or treasury shares; however, the Company has historically issued new shares.
Beginning in 2005, restricted common stock units also were issued under the 2002 Plan. As of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, 293,379, 341,801 and 252,867 units, respectively, were outstanding representing an equal number of common shares to be issued in the future. The outstanding units accrue dividends at the same rate as dividends paid to HMEC’s shareholders. These dividends are reinvested into additional restricted common stock units.
NOTE 6 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options-(Continued)
Changes in outstanding options and shares available for grant under the 1991 Plan, the 2001 Plan and the 2002 Plan were as follows:
* The Company’s stock options and restricted common stock units are subject to a common pool of authorized shares. Common stock shares issued and issuable for the restricted common stock units outstanding at December 31, 2008 would also draw on this available for grant balance.
The weighted average grant date fair values were $3.47, $5.49 and $5.16 for options granted in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The weighted average prices of vested and exercisable options as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $19.00 and $19.04, respectively.
NOTE 6 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options-(Continued)
For options outstanding at December 31, 2008, information segregated by ranges of exercise prices was as follows:
As of December 31, 2008, based on a closing stock price of $9.19 per share, the aggregate intrinsic (in-the-money) values of vested options and all options outstanding were $8 and $30, respectively.
NOTE 7 - Income Taxes
The income tax assets and liabilities included in Other Assets and Other Liabilities, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for all future tax consequences attributable to “temporary differences” between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. There are no deferred tax liabilities that have not been recognized. The “temporary differences” that give rise to the deferred tax balances at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:
NOTE 7 - Income Taxes-(Continued)
The Company evaluated sources and character of income, including historical earnings, loss carryback potential, taxable income from future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences, and taxable income from prudent and feasible tax-planning strategies. Although realization of deferred tax assets is not assured, the Company believes it is more-likely-than-not that gross deferred tax assets will be fully realized and that a valuation allowance with respect to the realization of the total gross deferred tax assets was not necessary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007.
At December 31, 2008, the Company had $10,675 of capital loss carryforwards, which if not used, will begin to expire in 2013.
The components of income tax expense (benefit) were as follows:
Income tax expense for the following periods differed from the expected tax computed by applying the federal corporate tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes as follows:
At December 31, 2008, the Company had federal income tax returns for the 2005 through 2007 tax years still open and subject to examination by all major taxing authorities. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its examination of tax years 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. As a result, the Company recorded a reduction in its liability for uncertain tax positions, including interest of, $4,180.
NOTE 7 - Income Taxes-(Continued)
Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an Interpretation of FASB Statement No 109”. Adoption of FIN 48 did not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company. FIN 48 provides recognition of tax benefits from tax return positions only if it is more likely than not the position will be sustainable, upon examination, on its technical merits and any relevant administrative practices or precedents. As a result, the Company now applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties. There were no differences between the amounts previously recognized for uncertain tax positions and the amounts determined under FIN 48, including changes in accrued interest and penalties.
The Company records liabilities for uncertain tax filing positions where it is more-likely-than-not that the position will not be sustainable upon audit by taxing authorities. These liabilities are reevaluated routinely and are adjusted appropriately based upon changes in facts or law. The Company has no unrecorded liabilities from uncertain tax filing positions.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, is as follows:
All of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. There are no positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.
The Company classifies all interest and penalties as income tax expense. The 2008 expense for interest and penalties was $12 ($8 net of tax benefits); for 2007 and 2006, this amount was $306 ($199 net of tax benefits) and $192 ($125 net of tax benefits), respectively. The Company has recorded $163 and $883 in liabilities for tax related interest and penalties on its Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
NOTE 8 - Statutory Surplus and Subsidiary Dividend Restrictions
The insurance departments of various states in which the insurance subsidiaries of HMEC are domiciled recognize as net income and surplus those amounts determined in conformity with statutory accounting principles prescribed or permitted by the insurance departments, which differ in certain respects from GAAP.
Reconciliations of statutory capital and surplus and net income, as determined using statutory accounting principles, to the amounts included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are as follows:
NOTE 8 - Statutory Surplus and Subsidiary Dividend Restrictions-(Continued)
The Company has principal insurance subsidiaries domiciled in Illinois, California and Texas. The statutory financial statements of these subsidiaries are prepared in accordance with accounting principles prescribed or permitted by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Insurance), the California Department of Insurance and the Texas Department of Insurance, as applicable. Prescribed statutory accounting principles include a variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”), as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules.
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions which limit the amount of annual dividends or other distributions, including loans or cash advances, available to HMEC without prior approval of the insurance regulatory authorities. The aggregate amount of dividends that may be paid by the insurance subsidiaries to HMEC during 2009 without prior approval is approximately $55,000.
The NAIC has adopted risk-based capital guidelines to evaluate the adequacy of statutory capital and surplus in relation to risks assumed in investments, reserving policies, and volume and types of insurance business written. State insurance regulations prohibit insurance companies from making any public statements or representations with regard to their risk-based capital levels. Based on current guidelines, the risk-based capital statutory requirements are not expected to have a negative regulatory impact on the Company’s insurance subsidiaries. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, statutory capital and surplus of each of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries was above required levels.
At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and during each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2008, the Company had no financial reinsurance agreements in effect.
NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company has the following retirement plans: a defined contribution plan; a 401(k) plan; a defined benefit plan for employees hired on or before December 31, 1998; and certain employees participate in a supplemental defined contribution plan or a supplemental defined benefit plan or both.
After completing the first year of employment, all employees participate in the defined contribution plan. Under this plan, the Company makes contributions to each participant’s account based on eligible compensation and years of service. Contribution percentages are currently as follows: (1) employees hired on or after April 1, 1997, 5% of eligible compensation; (2) employees hired prior to April 1, 1997 with less than 15 years of service, 6% of eligible compensation; and (3) employees hired prior to April 1, 1997 with 15 or more years of service, 7% of eligible compensation. Through December 31, 2006, participants were 100% vested in this plan after 5 years of service. Effective January 1, 2007, participants are 100% vested in this plan after 3 years of service.
All employees of the Company participate in a 401(k) plan. Beginning January 1, 2002, the Company automatically contributes 3% of eligible compensation to each employee’s account, which is 100% vested at the time of the contribution. In addition, employees may voluntarily contribute up to 20% of their eligible compensation into their account.
NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)
Effective April 1, 2002, participants stopped accruing benefits under the defined benefit and supplemental defined benefit plans but continue to retain the benefits they had accrued to date. Amounts earned under the defined benefit and supplemental defined benefit plans are based on years of service and the highest 36 consecutive months of earnings while under the plan (through March 31, 2002). Participants were 100% vested in these defined benefit plans effective April 1, 2007.
The Company’s policy with respect to funding the defined benefit plan is to contribute to the plan trust amounts which are actuarially determined to provide the plan with sufficient assets to meet future benefit payments consistent with the funding requirements of federal laws and regulations. For the defined contribution, 401(k) and defined benefit plans, investments have been set aside in separate trust funds. The supplemental retirement plans are unfunded, non-qualified plans.
Employees whose compensation exceeds the limits covered under the qualified plans participate in an unfunded, non-qualified defined contribution plan. The Company accrues an amount for each participant based on their compensation, years of service and account balance. Participants are 100% vested in this plan after 5 years of service.
Total expense recorded for the qualified and non-qualified defined contribution, 401(k), defined benefit and supplemental retirement plans was $12,947, $13,089 and $14,823 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Qualified Defined Contribution Plan, 401(k) Plan and Non-qualified Defined Contribution Plan
Pension benefits under the qualified defined contribution plan are fully funded. Contributions to employees’ accounts under this plan were expensed in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments for this plan are set aside in a trust fund and none of the trust fund assets for the plan have been invested in shares of HMEC’s common stock.
The 401(k) plan is fully funded. Contributions to employees’ accounts under this plan were expensed in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments for this plan are set aside through an annuity contract underwritten by the Company’s principal life insurance subsidiary. The annuity contract includes a fixed return account option and several variable return account options, with the account options selected by the individual plan participants for both the Company and participant portions contributed. One of the variable return account options invests in shares of HMEC common stock.
The non-qualified defined contribution plan is an unfunded plan. Contributions to employees’ accounts under the non-qualified defined contribution plan are equal to cash payments to retirees for the period.
NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)
Contributions to employees’ accounts under the qualified defined contribution plan, the 401(k) plan and the non-qualified defined contribution plan, as well as total assets of the plans, were as follows:
Defined Benefit Plan and Supplemental Retirement Plans
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”, effective for years ending after December 15, 2006. As a result of adopting this standard on December 31, 2006, the Company’s shareholders’ equity and book value per share increased by approximately $7,000 and 16 cents, respectively, related to the defined benefit pension plan and postretirement benefit plan, and also incorporating the previously disclosed changes to its retiree health care benefit plan. The changes to the retiree health care benefit plan decreased the Company’s postretirement benefit obligations, which are included in Other Liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, by approximately $10,000 at December 31, 2006. SFAS No. 158 requires recognition in the balance sheet of the funded status of defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans, including all previously unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and unamortized prior service cost, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. There was no impact on results of operations or cash flows.
NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)
The following tables summarize the funding status of the defined benefit and supplemental retirement pension plans and identify (1) the assumptions used to determine the projected benefit obligation and (2) the components of net pension cost for the defined benefit plan and supplemental retirement plans for the following periods:
NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)
The increase in the Company’s 2008 AOCI for the defined benefit plan of $10,412 was attributable primarily to the performance in plan assets. The decrease in the 2007 AOCI for the defined benefit plan of $3,991 was primarily attributable to improvements in asset performance and decreases in settlements. In addition, the 2007 AOCI was favorably impacted by the increase in the discount rate used to determine the benefit obligations as of December 31, 2007. These changes were recorded to a separate component of shareholders’ equity.
The assumption for the long-term rate of return on plan assets was determined by considering actual investment experience during the lifetime of the plan, balanced with reasonable expectations of future growth considering the various classes of assets and percentage allocation for each asset class.
NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)
The allocation by asset category of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets at fair value as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 (the measurement dates) were as follows:
(1) None of the trust fund assets for the defined benefit pension plan have been invested in shares of HMEC’s common stock.
The Company has an investment policy for the defined benefit pension plan that aligns the assets within the plan’s trust to an approximate 70% equity and 30% stable value funds allocation. Management believes this allocation will produce the targeted long-term rate of return on assets necessary for payment of future benefit obligations, while providing adequate liquidity for payments to current beneficiaries. Assets are reviewed against the defined benefit pension plan’s investment policy and the trustee has been directed to adjust invested assets at least quarterly to maintain the target allocation percentages.
The Company expects to contribute $5,400 to the defined benefit plan and expects to contribute $1,147 to the supplemental retirement plans in 2009. In addition, the Company expects amortization of net losses of $1,348 and $156 for the defined benefit plan and the supplemental retirement plans, respectively, to be included in net periodic pension expense in 2009.
Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions
In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company also provides certain health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees and their eligible dependents. Effective January 1, 2001, the eligibility requirement was age 55 and 20 years of service. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2001 are not eligible for postretirement medical benefits. Effective January 1, 2004, only employees who were at least age 50 with at least 15 years of service by December 31, 2003 are eligible to participate in this program. Postretirement benefits other than pensions of active and retired employees are accrued as expense over the employees’ service years.
Effective January 1, 2007, the Company eliminated the previous health care benefits for retirees 65 years of age and over and established a Health Reimbursement Account (“HRA”) for each eligible participant. Health care benefits for eligible retirees under 65 years of age will continue to be provided as a bridge to Medicare eligibility. Eligible participants will receive a one-time credit of $10 to their HRA account to use for covered expenses incurred on or after age 65. As of December 31, 2006, HRA accounts were established for eligible participants and totaled $7,310. As of December 31, 2008, the balance of the HRA accounts was $5,178. Also, the new plan does not provide life insurance benefits to individuals who retired after December 31, 1993.
NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)
As a result of the changes in the plan for other postretirement benefits, the Company recorded a reduction in its expenses of $2,304 and $4,550 in 2008 and 2007, respectively, and anticipates a reduction in its expenses of approximately $350 in 2009.
The following table presents the funded status of postretirement benefits other than pensions of active and retired employees (including employees on disability more than 2 years) as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 (the measurement dates) reconciled with amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:
The Company expects to contribute $686 to the postretirement benefit plans other than pensions in 2009. In addition, the Company expects amortization of net gains and losses of $601 included in net periodic pension expense in 2009.
NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)
Sensitivity Analysis for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions
A one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate for each year would change the accumulated postretirement benefit obligations as follows:
The discount rates at December 31, 2008 were based on the average yield for long-term, high-grade securities available during the benefit payout period. To set its discount rate, the Company looks to leading indicators, including the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve.
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
The Company’s defined benefit and supplemental defined benefit plans are subject to settlement accounting. Assumptions for both the number of individuals retiring in a calendar year and their elections regarding lump sum distributions are significant factors impacting the payout patterns for these plans. Therefore, actual results could vary from the estimates below. Estimated future benefit payments at December 31, 2008 are as follows:
NOTE 10 - Catastrophes and Reinsurance
In the normal course of business, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries assume and cede reinsurance with other insurers. Reinsurance is ceded primarily to limit losses from large exposures and to permit recovery of a portion of direct losses; however, such a transfer does not relieve the originating insurance company of contingent liability.
The Company is a national underwriter and therefore has exposure to catastrophic losses in certain coastal states and other regions throughout the U.S. Catastrophes can be caused by various events including hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, hail, severe winter weather and wildfires, and the frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The financial impact from catastrophic losses results from both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the catastrophe as well as the severity of the event. The Company seeks to reduce its exposure to catastrophe losses through the geographic diversification of its insurance coverage, deductibles, maximum coverage limits and the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance.
The Company’s net catastrophe losses incurred of approximately $73,931 for the year ended December 31, 2008 reflected losses from Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike, wind/hail/tornado events in May and June, and winter storms in December. The Company’s net catastrophe losses incurred of approximately $23,538 for the year ended December 31, 2007 reflected losses in October from wildfires in California and wind/hail/tornado events in June and August as well as other smaller weather events. The Company’s net catastrophe losses incurred of approximately $19,223 for the year ended December 31, 2006 reflected wind/hail/tornado events in April and August as well as other smaller weather events.
The total amounts of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid insurance reserves classified as assets and reported in Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:
NOTE 10 - Catastrophes and Reinsurance-(Continued)
The Company recognizes the cost of reinsurance premiums over the contract periods for such premiums in proportion to the insurance protection provided. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses, including estimated amounts for unsettled claims, claims incurred but not yet reported and policy benefits, are estimated in a manner consistent with the insurance liability associated with the policy. The effects of reinsurance on premiums written and contract deposits; premiums and contract charges earned; and benefits, claims and settlement expenses were as follows:
Ceded premiums written and earned for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 included approximately $15, $30 and $600, respectively, of catastrophe reinsurance reinstatement premium.
There were no losses from uncollectible reinsurance recoverables in the three years ended December 31, 2008. Past due reinsurance recoverables as of December 31, 2008 were not material.
Through 2008, the Company maintained catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance coverage. The excess of loss coverage consisted of three contracts in addition to coverage with the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”). The primary contract (“first event”) provided 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $25,000 per occurrence up to $150,000 per occurrence. This contract consisted of three layers, each of which provided for one mandatory reinstatement. The layers were $25,000 excess of $25,000, $40,000 excess of $50,000, and $60,000 excess of $90,000. The second excess of loss contract (“second event”) provided 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $15,000 per occurrence up to $25,000 per occurrence, after the Company retained $10,000 of losses above $15,000 per occurrence. The third excess of loss contract (“third event”) provided 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $15,000 per occurrence up to $25,000 per occurrence, after the Company retained $10,000 of losses above $15,000 per occurrence and less than $25,000 per occurrence, and after the second excess of loss contract described above was exhausted. Neither the second nor the third excess of loss contract provided for a reinstatement. In addition, the Company’s predominant insurance subsidiary for property and casualty business written in Florida reinsured 90% of hurricane losses in that state above an estimated retention of $13,800 up to $77,800 with the FHCF, based on the FHCF’s financial resources. The FHCF contract is a one-year contract, effective June 1, 2008. The Company’s FHCF coverage reflects the acquisition of additional coverage made available to the industry
NOTE 10 - Catastrophes and Reinsurance-(Continued)
by the FHCF for the 2008-2009 contract period which resulted in changes to attachment points under the Company’s primary reinsurance contract. Additional coverage made available by the FHCF to the industry in future contract periods could increase the likelihood of assessments in periods following significant hurricane losses.
For liability coverages, in 2008 the Company reinsured each loss above a retention of $700 up to $20,000. For property coverages, in 2008 the Company reinsured each loss above a retention of $750 up to $2,500, including catastrophe losses that in the aggregate were less than the retention levels above.
The maximum individual life insurance risk retained by the Company is $200 on any individual life and a maximum of $100 or $125 is retained on each group life policy depending on the type of coverage. Excess amounts are reinsured. The Company also maintains a life catastrophe reinsurance program. The Company reinsures 100% of the catastrophe risk in excess of $1,000 up to $15,000 per occurrence with one reinstatement. Starting in 2007, the Company’s life catastrophe risk reinsurance program began covering acts of terrorism and including nuclear, biological and chemical explosions but excludes other acts of war.
NOTE 11 - Contingencies and Commitments
Lawsuits and Legal Proceedings
Companies in the insurance industry have been subject to substantial litigation resulting from claims, disputes and other matters. Most recently, they have faced expensive claims, including class action lawsuits, alleging, among other things, improper sales practices and improper claims settlement procedures. Negotiated settlements of certain such actions have had a material adverse effect on many insurance companies.
There are various lawsuits and legal proceedings against the Company. Management and legal counsel are of the opinion that the ultimate disposition of such litigation will have no material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.
Assessments for Insolvencies of Unaffiliated Insurance Companies
The Company is also contingently liable for possible assessments under regulatory requirements pertaining to potential insolvencies of unaffiliated insurance companies. Liabilities, which are established based upon regulatory guidance, have generally been insignificant.
Leases
The Company has entered into various operating lease agreements, primarily for real estate (offices for claims operations and field marketing operations across the country and portions of the home office complex). Rental expenses were $4,651, $4,766 and $7,901 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Future minimum lease payments under leases expiring subsequent to December 31, 2008 are as follows:
NOTE 12 - Supplementary Data on Cash Flows
A reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is as follows:
The Company’s repurchase of debt in 2006 resulted in non-cash financing gains of $339.
NOTE 13 - Segment Information
The Company conducts and manages its business through four segments. The three operating segments, representing the major lines of insurance business, are: property and casualty insurance, principally personal lines automobile and homeowners products; annuity products, principally individual, tax-qualified fixed and variable deposits; and life insurance. The Company does not allocate the impact of corporate level transactions to the insurance segments, consistent with the basis for management’s evaluation of the results of those segments, but classifies those items in the fourth segment, corporate and other. In addition to ongoing transactions such as debt service, realized investment gains and losses and certain public company expenses, within the past five years such items have included debt retirement costs/gains and restructuring charges.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in “Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”. The Company accounts for intersegment transactions, primarily the allocation of agent and overhead costs from the corporate and other segment to the property and casualty, annuity and life segments, on a direct cost basis.
NOTE 13 - Segment Information-(Continued)
Summarized financial information for these segments is as follows:
Additional significant financial information for these segments is as follows:
NOTE 14 - Unaudited Selected Quarterly Financial Data
Selected quarterly financial data is presented below.
(a) Rounded to thousands.
SCHEDULE I
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS-OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES
December 31, 2008
(Dollars in thousands)
(1) Bonds at original cost reduced by repayments and adjusted for amortization of premiums or accrual of discounts and impairment in value of specifically identified investments.
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
(Parent Company Only)
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31, 2008 and 2007
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
See accompanying note to condensed financial statements.
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
(Parent Company Only)
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying note to condensed financial statements.
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
(Parent Company Only)
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying note to condensed financial statements.
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
(Parent Company Only)
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
NOTE TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The accompanying condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes thereto.
SCHEDULE III & VI (COMBINED)
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
SCHEDULE III: SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
SCHEDULE VI: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION CONCERNING PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands)
N/A Not applicable.
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE IV
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
REINSURANCE
(Dollars in thousands)
NOTE: Premiums above include insurance premiums earned and contract charges earned.
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
EXHIBITS
To
FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 2008
VOLUME 1 OF 1
The following items are filed as Exhibits to Horace Mann Educators Corporation’s (“HMEC”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Management contracts and compensatory plans are indicated by an asterisk (*).
EXHIBIT INDEX