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Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number 0-15341

 

 

Donegal Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   23-2424711

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1195 River Road, P.O. Box 302, Marietta, PA 17547

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(717) 426-1931

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 20,038,469 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,576,775 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding on April 30, 2012.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

DONEGAL GROUP INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q REPORT

 

          Page  
PART I   

Financial Information

  
Item 1.   

Financial Statements

     1   
Item 2.   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     16   
Item 3.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     23   
Item 4.   

Controls and Procedures

     23   
Item 4T.   

Controls and Procedures

     24   
PART II   

Other Information

  
Item 1.   

Legal Proceedings

     25   
Item 1A.   

Risk Factors

     25   
Item 2.   

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     25   
Item 3.   

Defaults upon Senior Securities

     25   
Item 4.   

Removed and Reserved

     25   
Item 5.   

Other Information

     25   
Item 6.   

Exhibits

     26   
Signatures         27   


Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     March 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
     (Unaudited)        
Assets     

Investments

    

Fixed maturities

    

Held to maturity, at amortized cost

   $ 56,384,171      $ 58,489,619   

Available for sale, at fair value

     671,689,994        646,598,178   

Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value

     4,391,697        7,437,538   

Investments in affiliates

     33,189,375        32,322,246   

Short-term investments, at cost, which approximates fair value

     16,826,080        40,461,410   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments

     782,481,317        785,308,991   

Cash

     15,985,551        13,245,378   

Accrued investment income

     7,069,065        6,713,038   

Premiums receivable

     110,775,307        104,715,327   

Reinsurance receivable

     202,172,794        209,823,907   

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     37,263,527        36,424,955   

Deferred tax asset, net

     8,395,214        9,919,720   

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     108,904,124        106,450,018   

Property and equipment, net

     5,886,247        6,154,383   

Accounts receivable - securities

     —          1,507,500   

Federal income taxes recoverable

     1,465,293        2,661,808   

Goodwill

     5,625,354        5,625,354   

Other intangible assets

     958,010        958,010   

Other

     1,323,262        1,285,089   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,288,305,065      $ 1,290,793,478   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity     

Liabilities

    

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ 437,278,505      $ 442,407,615   

Unearned premiums

     346,018,101        336,937,261   

Accrued expenses

     17,856,990        20,956,549   

Reinsurance balances payable

     16,896,964        20,039,339   

Borrowings under line of credit

     54,500,000        54,500,000   

Cash dividends declared to stockholders

     —          2,996,076   

Subordinated debentures

     20,465,000        20,465,000   

Due to affiliate

     1,494,596        5,386,391   

Drafts payable

     808,812        1,548,953   

Other

     2,060,381        2,104,702   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     897,379,349        907,341,886   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

    

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued

     —          —     

Class A common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 30,000,000 shares, issued 20,784,419 and 20,752,999 shares and outstanding 20,002,861 and 19,971,441 shares

     207,845        207,530   

Class B common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued 5,649,240 shares and outstanding 5,576,775 shares

     56,492        56,492   

Additional paid-in capital

     171,402,865        170,836,943   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     22,451,600        23,533,447   

Retained earnings

     207,594,434        199,604,700   

Treasury stock

     (10,787,520     (10,787,520
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     390,925,716        383,451,592   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,288,305,065      $ 1,290,793,478   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012      2011  

Revenues:

     

Net premiums earned

   $ 114,691,791       $ 103,795,279   

Investment income, net of investment expenses

     5,089,722         5,230,144   

Net realized investment gains

     2,309,980         373,073   

Lease income

     247,365         231,682   

Installment payment fees

     1,834,785         1,833,864   

Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation

     1,174,519         119,400   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     125,348,162         111,583,442   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses:

     

Net losses and loss expenses

     76,609,219         73,079,565   

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

     17,881,000         16,992,000   

Other underwriting expenses

     19,246,819         17,446,912   

Policyholder dividends

     289,324         207,014   

Interest

     570,544         443,470   

Other expenses

     903,522         818,346   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses

     115,500,428         108,987,307   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income tax expense

     9,847,734         2,596,135   

Income tax expense

     1,837,587         390,199   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 8,010,147       $ 2,205,936   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per common share:

     

Class A common stock – basic

   $ 0.32       $ 0.09   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class A common stock – diluted

   $ 0.31       $ 0.09   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class B common stock – basic and diluted

   $ 0.29       $ 0.08   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Net income

   $ 8,010,147      $ 2,205,936   

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax

    

Unrealized (loss) gain on securities:

    

Unrealized holding income during the period, net of income tax of $202,864 and $242,490

     442,740        461,001   

Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of income tax of $785,393 and $126,845

     (1,524,587     (246,228
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

     (1,081,847     214,773   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 6,928,300      $ 2,420,709   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

 

     Class A
Shares
     Class B
Shares
     Class A
Amount
     Class B
Amount
     Additional
Paid-In Capital
     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Retained
Earnings
    Treasury Stock     Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 

Balance, December 31, 2011

     20,752,999         5,649,240       $ 207,530       $ 56,492       $ 170,836,943       $ 23,533,447      $ 199,604,700      $ (10,787,520   $ 383,451,592   

Issuance of common stock (stock compensation plans)

     31,420            315            540,803               541,118   

Net income

                      8,010,147          8,010,147   

Cash dividends declared

                      (2,401       (2,401

Grant of stock options

                 18,012           (18,012       —     

Tax benefit on exercise of stock options

                 7,107             —          7,107   

Other comprehensive loss

                    (1,081,847         (1,081,847
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, March 31, 2012

     20,784,419         5,649,240       $ 207,845       $ 56,492       $ 171,402,865       $ 22,451,600      $ 207,594,434      $ (10,787,520   $ 390,925,716   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net income

   $ 8,010,147      $ 2,205,936   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,106,129        1,131,706   

Net realized investment gains

     (2,309,980     (373,073

Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation

     (1,174,519     (119,400

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Losses and loss expenses

     (5,129,110     5,768,001   

Unearned premiums

     9,080,840        17,070,402   

Premiums receivable

     (6,059,980     (5,401,141

Deferred acquisition costs

     (838,572     (218,299

Deferred income taxes

     2,107,034        (1,087,865

Reinsurance receivable

     7,651,113        (716,966

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     (2,454,106     (8,675,686

Accrued investment income

     (356,027     314,654   

Due to affiliate

     (3,891,795     (1,458,178

Reinsurance balances payable

     (3,142,375     (832,854

Current income taxes

     1,196,515        1,372,287   

Accrued expenses

     (3,099,559     (1,314,721

Other, net

     (822,638     (1,523,197
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net adjustments

     (8,137,030     3,935,670   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (126,883     6,141,606   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    

Purchases of fixed maturities, available for sale

     (65,787,791     (53,208,414

Purchases of equity securities, available for sale

     (1,000,111     (9,128,187

Maturity of fixed maturities:

    

Held to maturity

     2,010,962        600,981   

Available for sale

     25,742,108        15,813,825   

Sales of fixed maturities, available for sale

     16,266,860        30,493,102   

Sales of equity securities, available for sale

     4,428,189        1,348,466   

Purchase of Michigan Insurance Company

     —          (7,207,471

Net sales of property and equipment

     21,761        —     

Net sales of short-term investments

     23,635,330        14,988,472   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     5,317,308        (6,299,226
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Cash dividends paid

     (2,998,477     (2,873,125

Issuance of common stock

     548,225        272,488   

Borrowings under line of credit

     —          3,888,282   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (2,450,252     1,287,645   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash

     2,740,173        1,130,025   

Cash at beginning of period

     13,245,378        16,342,212   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash at end of period

   $ 15,985,551      $ 17,472,237   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid during period – Interest

   $ 510,916      $ 355,455   

Net cash paid (received) during period – Taxes

   $ (1,423,035   $ —     

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1 – Organization

Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (“Donegal Mutual”) organized us as an insurance holding company on August 26, 1986. Our insurance subsidiaries, Atlantic States Insurance Company (“Atlantic States”), Southern Insurance Company of Virginia (“Southern”), Le Mars Insurance Company (“Le Mars”), the Peninsula Insurance Group (“Peninsula”), which consists of Peninsula Indemnity Company and The Peninsula Insurance Company, Sheboygan Falls Insurance Company (“Sheboygan”) and Michigan Insurance Company (“MICO”), write personal and commercial lines of property and casualty coverages exclusively through a network of independent insurance agents in certain Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, New England and Southern states. We have three operating segments: our investment function, our personal lines of insurance and our commercial lines of insurance. The personal lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of homeowners and private passenger automobile policies. The commercial lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation policies. We also own 48.2% of the outstanding stock of Donegal Financial Services Corporation (“DFSC”), a grandfathered savings and loan holding company that owns Union Community Bank FSB (“UCB”). Donegal Mutual owns the remaining 51.8% of the outstanding stock of DFSC.

At March 31, 2012, Donegal Mutual held approximately 39% of our outstanding Class A common stock and approximately 75% of our outstanding Class B common stock. This ownership provides Donegal Mutual with approximately two-thirds of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have interrelated operations. While each company maintains its separate corporate existence, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group. As such, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries share the same business philosophy, the same management, the same employees and the same facilities and offer the same types of insurance products.

Atlantic States, our largest subsidiary, participates in a pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual. Under the pooling agreement, the two companies pool their insurance business, and each company receives an allocated percentage of the pooled business. Atlantic States has an 80% share of the results of the pooled business, and Donegal Mutual has a 20% share of the results of the pooled business.

On February 23, 2009, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we may purchase up to 300,000 shares of our Class A common stock at prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in privately negotiated transactions. We did not purchase any shares of our Class A common stock under this program during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We have purchased a total of 136,628 shares of our Class A common stock under this program from its inception through March 31, 2012.

 

2 – Basis of Presentation

Our financial information for the interim periods included in this Form 10-Q Report is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of our management, are necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for those interim periods. Our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations we expect for the year ending December 31, 2012.

You should read these interim financial statements in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

3 – Earnings Per Share

We have two classes of common stock, which we refer to as our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock. Our certificate of incorporation provides that whenever our board of directors declares a dividend on our Class B common stock, our board of directors must also declare a dividend on our Class A common stock that is payable at the same time to holders as of the same record date at a rate that is at least 10% greater than the rate at which our board of directors declared a dividend on our Class B common stock. Accordingly, we use the two-class method to compute our earnings per common share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share separately for each class of common

 

5


Table of Contents

stock based on dividends we have declared and an allocation of our remaining undistributed earnings using a participation percentage that reflects the dividend rights of each class. The table below presents for the periods indicated a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators we used to compute basic and diluted net income per share for each class of our common stock:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012      2011  
     Class A      Class B      Class A      Class B  
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Basic and diluted net income per share:

           

Numerator:

           

Allocation of net income

   $ 6,390       $ 1,620       $ 1,772       $ 434   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

           

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     19,996,285         5,576,775         20,012,648         5,576,775   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.32       $ 0.29       $ 0.09       $ 0.08   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share:

           

Numerator:

           

Allocation of net income

   $ 6,390       $ 1,620       $ 1,772       $ 434   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

           

Number of shares used in basic computation

     19,996,285         5,576,775         20,012,648         5,576,775   

Weighted-average shares effect of dilutive securities

           

Add: Director and employee stock options

     364,836         —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Number of shares used in per share computations

     20,361,121         5,576,775         20,012,648         5,576,775   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.31       $ 0.29       $ 0.09       $ 0.08   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We did not include outstanding options to purchase the following number of shares of Class A common stock in our computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price of the options was greater than the average market price of our Class A common stock during the period:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012      2011  

Number of shares excluded

     1,235,000         4,001,667   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

4 – Reinsurance

Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual have participated in a pooling agreement since 1986 under which each company places all of its direct written business into the pool, and Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual then share the underwriting results of the pool in accordance with the terms of the pooling agreement. Atlantic States has an 80% share of the results of the pool, and Donegal Mutual has a 20% share of the results of the pool.

 

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Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual purchase certain third-party reinsurance on a combined basis. Le Mars, MICO, Peninsula and Sheboygan also purchase separate third-party reinsurance that provides coverage that is commensurate with their relative size and exposures. Our insurance subsidiaries use several different reinsurers, all of which, consistent with requirements of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, have an A.M. Best rating of A- (Excellent) or better or, with respect to foreign reinsurers, have a financial condition that, in the opinion of our management, is equivalent to a company with at least an A- rating from A.M. Best. The following information describes the external reinsurance our insurance subsidiaries have in place during 2012:

 

   

excess of loss reinsurance, under which losses are automatically reinsured, through a series of reinsurance agreements, over a set retention (generally $1.0 million), and

 

   

catastrophe reinsurance, under which Donegal Mutual, Atlantic States and Southern recover, through a series of reinsurance agreements, 90% to 100% of an accumulation of many losses resulting from a single event, including natural disasters, over a set retention (generally $5.0 million).

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual also purchase facultative reinsurance to cover exposures from losses that exceed the limits provided by their reinsurance agreements with third parties.

MICO maintains a quota-share reinsurance agreement with third-party reinsurers to reduce its net exposures. Effective from December 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011, the quota-share reinsurance percentage was 50%. Effective January 1, 2012, MICO reduced the quota-share reinsurance percentage from 50% to 40%.

In addition to the pooling agreement and third-party reinsurance, our insurance subsidiaries have various reinsurance agreements with Donegal Mutual.

Other than a change in the MICO quota-share reinsurance agreement we discuss above, we made no significant changes to our third-party reinsurance or the reinsurance agreements between our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

5 – Investments

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of our fixed maturities and equity securities at March 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Amortized Cost      Gross Unrealized
Gains
     Gross Unrealized
Losses
     Estimated Fair
Value
 
     (in thousands)  

Held to Maturity

           

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 1,000       $ 44       $ —         $ 1,044   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     54,912         2,426         —           57,338   

Corporate securities

     250         2         —           252   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     222         17         —           239   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

   $ 56,384       $ 2,489       $ —         $ 58,873   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Amortized Cost      Gross Unrealized
Gains
     Gross Unrealized
Losses
     Estimated Fair
Value
 
     (in thousands)  

Available for Sale

           

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 78,590       $ 1,009       $ 441       $ 79,158   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     369,378         25,760         202         394,936   

Corporate securities

     70,137         2,259         457         71,939   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     122,206         3,509         58         125,657   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

     640,311         32,537         1,158         671,690   

Equity securities

     4,630         170         408         4,392   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

   $ 644,941       $ 32,707       $ 1,566       $ 676,082   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

At March 31, 2012, our holdings of obligations of states and political subdivisions included general obligation bonds with an aggregate fair value of $358.7 million and an amortized cost of $336.3 million. Our holdings also included special revenue bonds with an aggregate fair value of $93.5 million and an amortized cost of $88.0 million. With respect to both categories, we held no securities of any issuer that comprised more than 10% of the category at March 31, 2012. Education bonds and water and sewer utility bonds represented 56% and 16%, respectively, of our total investments in special revenue bonds based on

 

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their carrying values at March 31, 2012. Many of the issuers of the special revenue bonds we held at March 31, 2012 have the authority to impose ad valorem taxes. In that respect, many of the special revenue bonds we held were similar to general obligation bonds.

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of our fixed maturities and equity securities at December 31, 2011 were as follows:

 

     Amortized Cost      Gross Unrealized
Gains
     Gross Unrealized
Losses
     Estimated Fair
Value
 
     (in thousands)  

Held to Maturity

           

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 1,000       $ 54       $ —         $ 1,054   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     56,966         2,857         —           59,823   

Corporate securities

     250         3         —           253   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     274         19         1         292   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

   $ 58,490       $ 2,933       $ 1       $ 61,422   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Amortized Cost      Gross Unrealized
Gains
     Gross Unrealized
Losses
     Estimated Fair
Value
 
     (in thousands)  

Available for Sale

           

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 59,432       $ 1,546       $ —         $ 60,978   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     372,663         26,252         39         398,876   

Corporate securities

     62,837         1,805         528         64,114   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     119,367         3,307         44         122,630   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

     614,299         32,910         611         646,598   

Equity securities

     7,239         606         407         7,438   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

   $ 621,538       $ 33,516       $ 1,018       $ 654,036   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

At December 31, 2011, our holdings of obligations of states and political subdivisions included general obligation bonds with an aggregate fair value of $372.2 million and an amortized cost of $348.4 million. Our holdings also included special revenue bonds with an aggregate fair value of $86.5 million and an amortized cost of $81.0 million. With respect to both categories, we held no securities of any issuer that comprised more than 10% of the category at December 31, 2011. Education bonds and water and sewer utility bonds represented 59% and 17%, respectively, of our total investments in special revenue bonds based on their carrying values at December 31, 2011. Many of the issuers of the special revenue bonds we held at December 31, 2011 have the authority to impose ad valorem taxes. In that respect, many of the special revenue bonds we held were similar to general obligation bonds.

 

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We show below the amortized cost and estimated fair value of our fixed maturities at March 31, 2012, by contractual maturity. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

     Amortized Cost      Estimated Fair
Value
 
     (in thousands)  

Held to maturity

     

Due in one year or less

   $ 2,000       $ 2,048   

Due after one year through five years

     44,997         46,902   

Due after five years through ten years

     9,165         9,684   

Due after ten years

     —           —     

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     222         239   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total held to maturity

   $ 56,384       $ 58,873   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Available for sale

     

Due in one year or less

   $ 21,027       $ 21,309   

Due after one year through five years

     70,590         72,786   

Due after five years through ten years

     192,948         201,805   

Due after ten years

     233,540         250,133   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     122,206         125,657   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total available for sale

   $ 640,311       $ 671,690   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross realized gains and losses from investments before applicable income taxes were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012      2011  
     (in thousands)  

Gross realized gains:

     

Fixed maturities

   $ 1,496       $ 441   

Equity securities

     829         89   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,325         530   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross realized losses:

     

Fixed maturities

     5         102   

Equity securities

     10         55   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     15         157   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized gains

   $ 2,310       $ 373   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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We held fixed maturities and equity securities with unrealized losses representing declines that we considered temporary at March 31, 2012 as follows:

 

     Less Than 12 Months      More Than 12 Months  
     Fair Value      Unrealized Losses      Fair Value      Unrealized Losses  
     (in thousands)  

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 34,185       $ 441       $ —         $ —     

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     13,561         175         534         27   

Corporate securities

     9,293         457         —           —     

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     9,346         43         885         15   

Equity securities

     2,155         408         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

   $ 68,540       $ 1,524       $ 1,419       $ 42   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We held fixed maturities and equity securities with unrealized losses representing declines that we considered temporary at December 31, 2011 as follows:

 

     Less Than 12 Months      More Than 12 Months  
     Fair Value      Unrealized Losses      Fair Value      Unrealized Losses  
     (in thousands)  

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ —         $ —         $ —         $ —     

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     1,638         17         540         21   

Corporate securities

     10,101         528         —           —     

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     7,412         44         1         —     

Equity securities

     4,084         408         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

   $ 23,235       $ 997       $ 541       $ 21   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Of our total fixed maturity securities with an unrealized loss at March 31, 2012, we classified 35 securities with a fair value of $67.4 million and an unrealized loss of $1.2 million as available-for-sale and carried them at fair value on our balance sheet.

Of our total fixed maturity securities with an unrealized loss at December 31, 2011, we classified 19 securities with a fair value of $19.7 million and an unrealized loss of $610,646 as available-for-sale and carried them at fair value on our balance sheet.

We have no direct exposure to sub-prime residential mortgage-backed securities and hold no collateralized debt obligations. Substantially all of the unrealized losses in our fixed maturity investment portfolio have resulted from general market conditions and the related impact on our fixed maturity investment valuations. We make estimates concerning the valuation of our investments and the recognition of other-than-temporary declines in the value of our investments. For equity securities, when we consider the decline in value of an individual investment to be other than temporary, we write the investment down to its fair value, and we reflect the amount of the write-down as a realized loss in our results of operations. We individually monitor all investments for other-than-temporary declines in value. Generally, if an individual equity security has depreciated in value by more than 20% of its original cost, and has been in such an unrealized loss position for more than six months, we assume there has been an other-than-temporary decline in value. We held six equity securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012. Based upon our analysis of general market conditions and underlying factors impacting these equity securities, we consider these declines in value to be temporary. With respect to a debt security that is in an unrealized loss position, we first assess if we intend to sell the debt security. If we intend to sell the debt security, we recognize the impairment loss in our results of operations. If we do not intend to sell the debt security, we determine whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security prior to recovery. If it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we recognize an impairment loss in our results of operations. If it is more

 

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likely than not that we will not be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we then evaluate whether a credit loss has occurred. To determine whether a credit loss has occurred, we compare the amortized cost of the debt security to the present value of the cash flows we expect to collect. If we expect a cash flow shortfall, we consider a credit loss to have occurred. If we consider a credit loss to have occurred, we consider the impairment to be other than temporary. We then recognize the amount of the impairment loss related to the credit loss in our results of operations, and we recognize the remaining portion of the impairment loss in our other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. In addition, we may write down securities in an unrealized loss position based on a number of other factors, including whether the fair value of the investment is significantly below its cost, whether the financial condition of the issuer of the security has deteriorated, the occurrence of industry, company and geographic events that have negatively impacted the value of the security and rating agency downgrades. We determined that no investments with fair values below cost had declined on an other-than-temporary basis during the first three months of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We amortize premiums and discounts on debt securities over the life of the security as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. We compute realized investment gains and losses using the specific identification method.

We amortize premiums and discounts for mortgage-backed debt securities using anticipated prepayments.

We account for investments in our affiliates using the equity method of accounting. Under this method, we record our investment at cost, with adjustments for our share of our affiliates’ earnings and losses as well as changes in our affiliates’ equity due to unrealized gains and losses. Our investments in affiliates include our 48.2% ownership interest in DFSC. We include our share of DFSC’s net income in our results of operations. We have compiled the following summary financial information for DFSC at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, from the unaudited financial statements of DFSC.

 

Balance sheets:    March 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     (in thousands)  

Total assets

   $ 519,905       $ 532,938   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 452,108       $ 466,940   

Stockholders equity

     67,797         65,998   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders equity

   $ 519,905       $ 532,938   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
Income statements:    2012      2011  
     (in thousands)  

Net income

   $ 2,436       $ 248   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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6 – Segment Information

We evaluate the performance of our personal lines and commercial lines segments based upon the underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries using statutory accounting principles (“SAP”) that various state insurance departments prescribe or permit. Our management uses SAP to measure the performance of our insurance subsidiaries instead of GAAP. Financial data by segment is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  
     (in thousands)  

Revenues:

    

Premiums earned

    

Commercial lines

   $ 40,837      $ 34,904   

Personal lines

     73,858        70,676   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

     114,695        105,580   

GAAP adjustments

     (3     (1,785
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

GAAP premiums earned

     114,692        103,795   

Net investment income

     5,090        5,230   

Realized investment gains

     2,310        373   

Other

     3,256        2,185   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 125,348      $ 111,583   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes:

    

Underwriting income (loss):

    

Commercial lines

   $ 2,477      $ 126   

Personal lines

     (2,759     (2,991
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

SAP underwriting loss

     (282     (2,865

GAAP adjustments

     947        (1,065
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

GAAP underwriting income (loss)

     665        (3,930

Net investment income

     5,090        5,230   

Realized investment gains

     2,310        373   

Other

     1,783        923   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 9,848      $ 2,596   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

7 – Borrowings

Line of Credit

In June 2011, we renewed our existing credit agreement with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (“M&T”) relating to a $60.0 million unsecured, revolving line of credit that expires in July 2014. We have the right to request a one-year extension of the credit agreement as of each anniversary date of the agreement. In December 2010 and March 2011, we borrowed $35.0 million and $3.5 million, respectively, in connection with our acquisition of MICO. In May 2011, we borrowed $19.0 million in connection with the merger of Union National Financial Corporation (“UNNF”) with and into DFSC. At March 31, 2012, we had $54.5 million in outstanding borrowings and had the ability to borrow an additional $5.5 million at interest rates equal to M&T’s current prime rate or the then current LIBOR rate plus between 1.75% and 2.25%, depending on our leverage ratio. The interest rate on our outstanding borrowings is adjustable quarterly. At March 31, 2012, the interest rate on our outstanding borrowings was 2.25%. We pay a fee of 0.2% per annum on the loan commitment amount regardless of usage. The credit agreement requires our compliance with certain covenants, which include minimum levels of our net worth, leverage ratio and statutory surplus and the A.M. Best ratings of our insurance subsidiaries. With the exception of a requirement that we maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio, we complied with all the requirements of the credit agreement during the year ended December 31, 2011. M&T waived the minimum interest coverage ratio requirement at December 31, 2011. We calculate our interest coverage ratio using data for the most recent eight quarterly periods. Our interest coverage ratio exceeded the minimum requirement at March 31, 2012. We complied with all other requirements of the credit agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

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Subordinated Debentures

On October 29, 2003, we received $10.0 million in net proceeds from the issuance of subordinated debentures. The debentures mature on October 29, 2033 and may be called at our option, at par. The debentures carry an interest rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 3.85%, which is adjustable quarterly. At March 31, 2012, the interest rate on these debentures was 4.40% and was next subject to adjustment on April 29, 2012.

On May 24, 2004, we received $5.0 million in net proceeds from the issuance of subordinated debentures. The debentures mature on May 24, 2034 and may be called at our option, at par. The debentures carry an interest rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 3.85%, which is adjustable quarterly. At March 31, 2012, the interest rate on these debentures was 4.34% and was next subject to adjustment on May 24, 2012.

In January 2002, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company (“West Bend”) purchased a $5.0 million surplus note from Michigan at face value to increase Michigan’s statutory surplus. On December 1, 2010, Donegal Mutual purchased the surplus note from West Bend at face value. The surplus note carries an interest rate of 5.00%, and any repayment of principal or interest requires prior insurance regulatory approval.

 

8 – Share–Based Compensation

We measure all share-based payments to employees, including grants of stock options, using a fair-value-based method and the recording of such expense in our consolidated statements of income. In determining the expense we record for stock options granted to directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates other than Donegal Mutual, we estimate the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The significant assumptions we utilize in applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model are the risk-free interest rate, expected term, dividend yield and expected volatility.

We charged compensation expense for our stock compensation plans against income before income taxes of $119,858 and $40,382 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, with a corresponding income tax benefit of $41,950 and $13,730. At March 31, 2012, we had $809,808 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation granted under our stock compensation plans. We expect to recognize this cost over a weighted average period of 7.4 years.

We account for share-based compensation to employees and directors of Donegal Mutual as share-based compensation to employees of a controlling entity. As such, we measure the fair value of the award at the grant date and recognize the fair value as a dividend to Donegal Mutual. This accounting applies to options we grant to employees and directors of Donegal Mutual, the employer of a majority of the employees that provide services to us. We recorded implied dividends of $18,012 and $34,606 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 of $190,961 and $0, respectively. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions from option exercises of share-based compensation of $7,107 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

9 – Fair Value Measurements

We account for financial assets using a framework that establishes a hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of inputs, or assumptions, we use in the determination of fair value, and we classify financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value in one of the following three categories:

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

Level 2 – directly or indirectly observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices; and

Level 3 – unobservable inputs not corroborated by market data.

For investments that have quoted market prices in active markets, we use the quoted market price as fair value and include these investments in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. We classify publicly traded equity securities as Level 1. When quoted market prices in active markets are not available, we base fair values on quoted market prices of comparable instruments or price estimates we obtain from independent pricing services through a bank trustee. We classify our fixed maturity investments as Level 2. Our fixed maturity investments consist of U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies, obligations of states and political subdivisions, corporate securities and residential mortgage-backed securities.

 

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We present our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of a security may differ from the amount that could be realized if we sold the security in a forced transaction. In addition, the valuation of fixed maturity investments is more subjective when markets are less liquid, increasing the potential that the estimated fair value does not reflect the price at which an actual transaction would occur. We utilize nationally recognized independent pricing services to estimate fair values or obtain market quotations for substantially all of our fixed maturity and equity investments. We generally obtain one price per security. The pricing services utilize market quotations for fixed maturity and equity securities that have quoted prices in active markets. For fixed maturity securities that generally do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing services prepare estimates of fair value measurements based predominantly on observable market inputs. The pricing services do not use broker quotes in determining the fair values of our investments. Our investment personnel review the estimates of fair value the pricing services provide to determine if the estimates obtained are representative of fair values based upon their general knowledge of the market, their research findings related to unusual fluctuations in value and their comparison of such values to execution prices for similar securities. Our investment personnel monitor the market and are familiar with current trading ranges for similar securities and pricing of specific investments. Our investment personnel review all pricing estimates that we receive from the pricing services against their expectations with respect to pricing based on fair market curves, security ratings, coupon rates, security type and recent trading activity. Our investment personnel review documentation with respect to the pricing services’ pricing methodology that they obtain periodically to determine if the primary pricing sources, market inputs and pricing frequency for various security types are reasonable. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we received one estimate per security from one of the pricing services, and we priced all but an insignificant amount of our Level 1 and Level 2 investments using those prices. In our review of the estimates the pricing services provided at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we did not identify any discrepancies, and we did not make any adjustments to the estimates the pricing services provided.

We present our cash and short-term investments at estimated fair value. The carrying values in the balance sheet for premium receivables and reinsurance receivables and payables for premiums and paid losses and loss expenses approximate their fair values. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for our subordinated debentures and borrowings under line of credit approximate their fair values. We classify these items as Level 3.

We evaluate our assets and liabilities on a recurring basis to determine the appropriate level at which to classify them for each reporting period.

The following table presents our fair value measurements for our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at March 31, 2012:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using  
     Fair Value      Quoted
Prices in  Active

Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable

Inputs  (Level 3)
 
     (in thousands)  

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 79,158       $ —         $ 79,158       $ —     

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     394,936         —           394,936         —     

Corporate securities

     71,939         —           71,939         —     

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     125,657         —           125,657         —     

Equity securities

     4,392         2,898         1,494         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

   $ 676,082       $ 2,898       $ 673,184       $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We did not have any transfers between Levels 1 and 2 during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

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The following table presents our fair value measurements for our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at December 31, 2011:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using  
     Fair Value      Quoted
Prices in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable

Inputs  (Level 3)
 
     (in thousands)  

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 60,978       $ —         $ 60,978       $ —     

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     398,877         —           398,877         —     

Corporate securities

     64,114         —           64,114         —     

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     122,630         —           122,630         —     

Equity securities

     7,437         6,178         1,259         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

   $ 654,036       $ 6,178       $ 647,858       $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

10 – Income Taxes

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, we had no material unrecognized tax benefits or accrued interest and penalties. Tax years 2008 through 2010 remained open for examination at March 31, 2012. We provide a valuation allowance when we believe it is more likely than not that we will not realize some portion of the tax asset. We established a valuation allowance of $440,778 related to a portion of the net operating loss carryforward of Le Mars at January 1, 2004. We have determined that we are not required to establish a valuation allowance for the other net deferred tax assets of $33.0 million and $34.6 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, since it is more likely than not that we will realize these deferred tax assets through reversals of existing temporary differences, future taxable income and the implementation of tax planning strategies. At March 31, 2012, we had remaining a net operating loss carryforward of $8.7 million related to the tax loss we incurred in 2011, which is available to offset our future taxable income and will expire in 2031 if not utilized. We also have a net operating loss carryforward of $5.1 million related to Le Mars, which will begin to expire in 2012 if not utilized and is subject to an annual limitation in the amount that we can use in any one year of approximately $376,000.

 

11 – Impact of New Accounting Standards

In October 2010, the FASB issued updated guidance to address the diversity in practice for the accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. This guidance modifies the definition of acquisition costs to specify that a cost must relate directly to the successful acquisition of a new or renewal insurance contract to qualify for deferral. If application of this guidance would result in the capitalization of acquisition costs that a reporting entity had not previously capitalized, the entity may elect not to capitalize those costs. The updated guidance is effective for periods ending after December 15, 2011. We adopted this new guidance prospectively in 2012. The amount of acquisition costs we capitalized during the first quarter of 2012 did not change materially from the amount of acquisition costs that we would have capitalized had our previous policy been applied during the period. Our adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the concepts of in-use and in-exchange when measuring fair value of all financial instruments. The fair value of a financial asset should be measured on a standalone basis and cannot be measured as part of a group. The new guidance requires several new disclosures including the disclosure of all transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and additional disclosures regarding Level 3 assets. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011, and should be applied prospectively. We adopted this new guidance in 2012. Our adoption of this new guidance did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In June 2011, the FASB issued new guidance related to the presentation of other comprehensive income. The new guidance provides entities with an option to either replace the income statement with a statement of comprehensive income,

 

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which would display both the components of net income and comprehensive in a combined statement, or to present a separate statement of comprehensive income immediately following the income statement. The new guidance does not affect the components of other comprehensive income or the calculation of earnings per share. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The new guidance is to be applied retrospectively with early adoption permitted. We adopted this new guidance in 2012. Our adoption of this new guidance did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In September 2011, the FASB issued new guidance related to evaluating goodwill for impairment. The new guidance provides entities with the option to perform a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount before applying the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it would not be required to perform the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. Entities also have the option to bypass the assessment of qualitative factors for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to performing the first step of the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test, as was required prior to the issuance of this new guidance. An entity may begin or resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this new guidance in 2011. Our adoption of this new guidance did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

You should read the following information in conjunction with the historical financial information and the footnotes to that financial information we include in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You should also read Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We combine our financial statements with those of our insurance subsidiaries and present our financial statements on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Our insurance subsidiaries make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on the amounts and disclosures we report in our financial statements. The most significant estimates relate to the reserves of our insurance subsidiaries for property and casualty insurance unpaid losses and loss expenses, our valuation of investments and our determination of other-than-temporary impairment and the policy acquisition costs of our insurance subsidiaries. While we believe our estimates and the estimates of our insurance subsidiaries are appropriate, the ultimate amounts may differ from the estimates provided. We regularly review our methods for making these estimates and we reflect any adjustment we consider necessary in our current results of operations.

Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses

Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses are estimates at a given point in time of the amounts an insurer expects to pay with respect to policyholder claims based on facts and circumstances the insurer knows at the time. At the time an insurer establishes its estimates, it recognizes that its ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses will exceed or be less than those estimates. Our insurance subsidiaries base their estimates of liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses on assumptions as to future loss trends and expected claims severity, judicial theories of liability and other factors, including prevailing economic conditions. However, during the loss adjustment period, our insurance subsidiaries may learn additional facts regarding individual claims, and, consequently, it often becomes necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to adjust their estimates of liability. Our insurance subsidiaries reflect any adjustments to their liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses in their results of operations for the period in which our insurance subsidiaries change their estimates.

Our insurance subsidiaries maintain liabilities for the payment of unpaid losses and loss expenses with respect to both reported and unreported claims. The intent of our insurance subsidiaries is that their liabilities for loss expenses will cover the ultimate costs of settling all losses, including investigation and litigation costs relative to those losses. Our insurance subsidiaries base the amount of their liabilities for reported losses primarily upon a case-by-case evaluation of the type of risk involved, knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each claim and the provisions of our insurance policies relating to the type of loss. Our insurance subsidiaries determine the amount of their liabilities for incurred but unreported claims and loss expenses on the basis of historical information by line of insurance. Our insurance subsidiaries account for inflation in the

 

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reserving function through analysis of costs and trends and reviews of historical reserving results. Our insurance subsidiaries closely monitor their liabilities and recompute them periodically using new information on reported claims and a variety of statistical techniques. Our insurance subsidiaries do not discount their liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses.

Reserve estimates can change over time because of unexpected changes in assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment and, to a lesser extent, assumptions as to our insurance subsidiaries’ internal operations. For example, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced a decrease in claims frequency on workers’ compensation claims during the past several years while claims severity has gradually increased. These trend changes give rise to greater uncertainty as to the pattern of future loss settlements on workers’ compensation claims. Related uncertainties regarding future trends include the cost of medical technologies and procedures and changes in the utilization of medical procedures. Assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment include the absence of significant changes in tort law and the legal environment that increase liability exposure, consistency in judicial interpretations of insurance coverage and policy provisions and the rate of loss cost inflation. Internal assumptions include consistency in the recording of premium and loss statistics, consistency in the recording of claims, payment and case reserving methodology, accurate measurement of the impact of rate changes and changes in policy provisions, consistency in the quality and characteristics of business written within a given line of business and consistency in reinsurance coverage and the collectibility of reinsured losses, among other items. To the extent our insurance subsidiaries determine that the factors underlying their assumptions have changed, our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments for such changes in their reserves. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses will likely differ from the amount recorded at March 31, 2012. For every 1% change in our estimate of our insurance subsidiaries’ liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, the effect on our pre-tax results of operations would be approximately $2.4 million.

The establishment of appropriate liabilities is an inherently uncertain process. There can be no assurance that the ultimate liability of our insurance subsidiaries will not exceed our insurance subsidiaries’ unpaid loss and loss expense reserves and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, we cannot predict the timing, frequency and extent of adjustments to our insurance subsidiaries’ estimated future liabilities, because the historical conditions and events that serve as a basis for our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of ultimate claim costs may change. As is the case for substantially all property and casualty insurance companies, our insurance subsidiaries have found it necessary in the past to increase their estimated future liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses in certain periods, and in other periods their estimates have exceeded their actual liabilities. Changes in our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of their liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses generally reflect actual payments and the evaluation of information they have received since the prior reporting date.

Excluding the impact of periodic catastrophic weather events in recent years, our insurance subsidiaries have generally noted stable amounts in the number of claims incurred and a slight downward trend in the number of claims outstanding at period ends relative to their premium base. However, the amount of the average claim outstanding has increased gradually over the past several years. We attribute this increase to increased litigation trends and economic conditions that have extended the estimated length of disabilities and contributed to increased medical loss costs and a general slowing of settlement rates in litigated claims. Our insurance subsidiaries could make further adjustments to their estimates for liabilities in the future based on the factors we describe above. However, on the basis of our insurance subsidiaries’ internal procedures, which analyze, among other things, their prior assumptions, their experience with similar cases and historical trends such as reserving patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes, we believe that our insurance subsidiaries have made adequate provision for their liability for losses and loss expenses at March 31, 2012.

Atlantic States’ participation in the pool with Donegal Mutual exposes Atlantic States to adverse loss development on the business of Donegal Mutual included in the pool. However, pooled business represents the predominant percentage of the net underwriting activity of both companies, and Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share any adverse risk development of the pooled business according to their respective participation in the pool. The business in the pool is homogeneous, and the pooling agreement provides that each company has a percentage share of the entire pool. Since Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual pool substantially all their business and each company shares the results according to its respective participation under the terms of the pooling agreement, the intent of the underwriting pool is to produce a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for each company than they might experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual.

The risk profiles of the business Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual write have historically been substantially similar and we expect this similarity to continue. The same executive management and underwriting personnel administer the products, classes of business underwritten, pricing practices and underwriting standards of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries.

 

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In addition, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries, operating together as the Donegal Insurance Group, share a combined business plan designed to achieve market penetration and underwriting profitability objectives. The products our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual offer are generally complementary, thereby allowing Donegal Insurance Group to offer a broader range of products to a given market and to expand Donegal Insurance Group’s ability to service an entire personal lines or commercial lines account. Distinctions within the products of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries generally relate to specific risk profiles targeted within similar classes of business, such as preferred tier products compared to standard tier products, but we do not allocate all of the standard risk gradients to one company. Therefore, the underwriting profitability of the business the individual companies write directly will vary. However, because the pool homogenizes the risk characteristics of all business Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States write directly and each company shares the results according to each company’s participation percentage, each company realizes its percentage share of the underwriting results of the pool. Our insurance subsidiaries’ unpaid liability for losses and loss expenses by major line of business at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 consisted of the following:

 

     March 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 
     (in thousands)  

Commercial lines:

     

Automobile

   $ 28,711       $ 28,164   

Workers’ compensation

     60,696         60,134   

Commercial multi-peril

     38,827         38,895   

Other

     3,937         3,992   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total commercial lines

     132,171         131,185   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Personal lines:

     

Automobile

     88,739         87,977   

Homeowners

     18,507         21,125   

Other

     3,064         2,728   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total personal lines

     110,310         111,830   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total commercial and personal lines

     242,481         243,015   

Plus reinsurance recoverable

     194,798         199,393   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ 437,279       $ 442,408   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

We have evaluated the effect on our insurance subsidiaries’ unpaid loss and loss expense reserves and our stockholders’ equity in the event of reasonably likely changes in the variables we considered in establishing the loss and loss expense reserves of our insurance subsidiaries. We established the range of reasonably likely changes based on a review of changes in accident year development by line of business and applied those changes to our insurance subsidiaries’ loss reserves as a whole. The selected range does not necessarily indicate what could be the potential best or worst case or the most likely scenario. The following table sets forth the estimated effect on our insurance subsidiaries’ unpaid loss and loss expense reserves and our stockholders’ equity in the event of reasonably likely changes in the variables we considered in establishing loss and loss expense reserves:

 

Percentage Change in Loss
and Loss Expense Reserves
Net of Reinsurance

    Adjusted Loss and Loss
Expense Reserves Net of
Reinsurance at March 31,
2012
    Percentage Change
in Stockholders’ Equity at
March 31, 2012(1)
    Adjusted Loss and Loss
Expense Reserves Net of
Reinsurance at
December 31, 2011
    Percentage Change
in Stockholders’ Equity at
December 31, 2011(1)
 
(dollars in thousands)  
  (10.0 )%    $ 218,233        4.0   $ 218,714        4.1
  (7.5     224,295        3.0        224,789        3.1   
  (5.0     230,357        2.0        230,864        2.1   
  (2.5     236,419        1.0        236,940        1.0   
  Base        242,481        —          243,015        —     
  2.5        248,543        (1.0     249,090        (1.0
  5.0        254,605        (2.0     255,166        (2.1
  7.5        260,667        (3.0     261,241        (3.1
  10.0        266,729        (4.0     267,317        (4.1

 

(1) Net of income tax effect.

 

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Statutory Combined Ratios

We evaluate our insurance operations by monitoring certain key measures of growth and profitability. In addition to using GAAP-based performance measurements, we also utilize certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe are valuable in managing our business and for comparison to our peers. These non-GAAP measures are underwriting (loss) income, combined ratio and net premiums written. An insurance company’s statutory combined ratio is a standard measure of underwriting profitability. This ratio is the sum of the ratio of calendar-year incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned; the ratio of expenses incurred for commissions, premium taxes and underwriting expenses to net premiums written and the ratio of dividends to policyholders to premiums earned. The combined ratio does not reflect investment income, federal income taxes or other non-operating income or expense. A combined ratio of less than 100 percent generally indicates underwriting profitability. The statutory combined ratio differs from the GAAP combined ratio. In calculating the GAAP combined ratio, we do not deduct installment payment fees from incurred expenses, we base the expense ratio on premiums earned instead of premiums written and we adjust GAAP premiums earned to reflect acquisition accounting adjustments. The following table sets forth our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory combined ratios by major line of business for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Commercial lines:

    

Automobile

     92.9     91.5

Workers’ compensation

     93.7        95.8   

Commercial multi-peril

     88.2        102.2   

Other

     28.2        40.0   

Total commercial lines

     88.8        94.3   

Personal lines:

    

Automobile

     106.9        101.9   

Homeowners

     95.5        105.4   

Other

     77.3        82.0   

Total personal lines

     101.6        101.8   

Total commercial and personal lines

     96.9        99.1   

Investments

We make estimates concerning the valuation of our investments and the recognition of other-than-temporary declines in the value of our investments. For equity securities, we write down the investment to its fair value and we reflect the amount of the write-down as a realized loss in our results of operations when we consider the decline in value of an individual investment to be other than temporary. We individually monitor all investments for other-than-temporary declines in value. Generally, we assume there has been an other-than-temporary decline in value if an individual equity security has depreciated in value by more than 20% of original cost and has been in such an unrealized loss position for more than six months. We held six equity securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012. Based upon our analysis of general market conditions and underlying factors impacting these equity securities, we considered these declines in value to be temporary. With respect to a debt security that is in an unrealized loss position, we first assess if we intend to sell the debt security. If we determine we intend to sell the debt security, we recognize the impairment loss in our results of operations. If we do not intend to sell the debt security, we determine whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security prior to recovery. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we recognize an impairment loss in our results of operations. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we then evaluate whether a credit loss has occurred. We determine whether a credit loss has occurred by comparing the amortized cost of the debt security to the present value of the cash flows we expect to collect. If we expect a cash flow shortfall, we consider that a credit loss has occurred. If we determine that a credit loss has occurred, we consider the impairment to be other than temporary. We then recognize the amount of the impairment loss related to the credit loss in our results of operations, and we recognize the remaining portion of the impairment loss in our other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. In addition, we may write down securities in an unrealized loss position based on a number of other factors, including when the fair value of an investment is significantly below its cost, when the financial condition of the issuer of a security has deteriorated, the occurrence of industry, company or geographic events that have negatively impacted the value of a security and rating agency downgrades. We held 35 debt securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012. Based upon our analysis of general market conditions and underlying factors impacting these debt securities, we considered these declines in value to be temporary. We did not recognize any impairment losses in the first three months of 2012 or 2011.

 

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We present our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of a security may differ from the amount that could be realized if we sold the security in a forced transaction. In addition, the valuation of fixed maturity investments is more subjective when markets are less liquid, increasing the potential that the estimated fair value does not reflect the price at which an actual transaction would occur. We utilize nationally recognized independent pricing services to estimate fair values or obtain market quotations for substantially all of our fixed maturity and equity investments. We generally obtain one price per security. The pricing services utilize market quotations for fixed maturity and equity securities that have quoted prices in active markets. For fixed maturity securities that generally do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing services prepare estimates of fair value measurements based predominantly on observable market inputs. The pricing services do not use broker quotes in determining the fair values of our investments. Our investment personnel review the estimates of fair value the pricing services provide to determine if the estimates obtained are representative of fair values based upon their general knowledge of the market, their research findings related to unusual fluctuations in value and their comparison of such values to execution prices for similar securities. Our investment personnel monitor the market and are familiar with current trading ranges for similar securities and pricing of specific investments. Our investment personnel review all pricing estimates that we receive from the pricing services against their expectations with respect to pricing based on fair market curves, security ratings, coupon rates, security type and recent trading activity. Our investment personnel review documentation with respect to the pricing services’ pricing methodology that they obtain periodically to determine if the primary pricing sources, market inputs and pricing frequency for various security types are reasonable. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we received one estimate per security from one of the pricing services and we priced all but an insignificant amount of our Level 1 and Level 2 investments using those prices. In our review of the estimates the pricing services provided at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we did not identify any discrepancies and we did not make any adjustments to the estimates the pricing services provided.

Policy Acquisition Costs

Our insurance subsidiaries defer their policy acquisition costs, consisting primarily of commissions, premium taxes and certain other underwriting costs that relate directly to the successful acquisition of insurance policies. We amortize these costs over the period in which our insurance subsidiaries earn the related premiums. The method we follow in computing deferred policy acquisition costs limits the amount of such deferred costs to their estimated realizable value. This method gives effect to the premiums to be earned, related investment income, losses and loss expenses and certain other costs we expect to incur as our insurance subsidiaries earn the premiums.

Results of Operations – Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

Net Premiums Written. Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $121.3 million, an increase of $9.1 million, or 8.1%, from the $112.2 million of net premiums written for the first quarter of 2011. We primarily attribute the increase to a change in MICO’s quota-share reinsurance, the impact of personal lines premium rate increases and an increase in commercial lines new business writings. Effective January 1, 2012, MICO reduced its external quota-share percentage from 50% to 40%. Personal lines net premiums written increased $2.8 million, or 4.0%, for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. The increase included $1.2 million related to the MICO quota-share change, with the remainder of the increase attributable to premium rate increases our insurance subsidiaries implemented throughout 2011 and 2012. Commercial lines net premiums written increased $6.4 million, or 14.8%, for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. The increase included $1.5 million related to the MICO quota-share change, with the remainder of the increase attributable to increased writings of new accounts in the commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation lines of business.

Net Premiums Earned. Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums earned for the first quarter of 2012 were $114.7 million, an increase of $10.9 million, or 10.5%, compared to $103.8 million for the first quarter of 2011, reflecting increases in net premiums written during 2012 and 2011. Our insurance subsidiaries earn premiums and recognize them as revenue over the terms of their policies, which are one year or less in duration. Therefore, increases or decreases in net premiums earned generally reflect increases or decreases in net premiums written in the preceding 12-month period compared to the comparable period one year earlier.

Investment Income. Our net investment income decreased to $5.1 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $5.2 million for the first quarter of 2011. We attribute this decrease primarily to lower average investment yields on our invested assets that offset an increase in our average invested assets from $728.2 million for the first quarter of 2011 to $783.9 million for the first quarter of 2012.

 

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Net Realized Investment Gains. Net realized investment gains for the first quarter of 2012 were $2.3 million, compared to $373,073 for the first quarter of 2011. The net realized investment gains for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011 resulted primarily from strategic sales of fixed maturities within our investment portfolio. We did not recognize any impairment losses during the first quarter of 2012 or 2011.

Losses and Loss Expenses. Our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned, for the first quarter of 2012 was 66.8%, a decrease from our insurance subsidiaries’ 70.4% loss ratio for the first quarter of 2011. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced lower weather-related losses during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. Our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines loss ratio decreased to 59.7% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to 66.1% for the first quarter of 2011, primarily due to decreases in their workers’ compensation and commercial multi-peril loss ratios. The personal lines loss ratio decreased slightly to 70.1% for the first quarter of 2012, compared to 71.0% for the first quarter of 2011, primarily due to a decrease in the homeowners loss ratio. Our insurance subsidiaries had virtually no development during the first three months of 2012 in their reserves for prior accident years, compared to $1.5 million in favorable development during the first three months of 2011.

Underwriting Expenses. Our insurance subsidiaries’ expense ratio, which is the ratio of policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned, for the first quarters of 2012 and 2011 was 32.4% and 33.2%, respectively. MICO’s underwriting expenses for the first quarter of 2011 included non-deferrable costs in the amount of approximately $700,000 for which MICO recognized offsetting ceding commissions over the terms of the policies to which the expenses related. Our insurance subsidiaries’ GAAP expense ratio for the first quarter of 2011 reflected this additional expense.

Combined Ratio. Our insurance subsidiaries’ combined ratio was 99.4% and 103.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The combined ratio represents the sum of the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the dividend ratio, which is the ratio of workers’ compensation policy dividends incurred to premiums earned. We primarily attribute the improvement in the combined ratio to an decrease in the loss ratio.

Interest Expense. Our interest expense for the first quarter of 2012 was $570,544, compared to $443,470 for the first quarter of 2011. The higher interest expense in the 2012 period reflected an increase in our borrowings under our line of credit in May 2011.

Income Taxes. Income tax expense was $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2012, representing an effective tax rate of 18.7%, compared to $390,199 for the first quarter of 2011, representing an effective tax rate of 15.0%. The effective tax rate in both periods represented an estimate based on projected annual taxable income.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share. Our net income for the first quarter of 2012 was $8.0 million, or $.31 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $.29 per share of Class B common stock, compared to net income of $2.2 million, or $.09 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $.08 per share of Class B common stock, for the first quarter of 2011. We had 20.0 million shares of our Class A shares outstanding for both periods. We had 5.6 million Class B shares outstanding for both periods.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is a measure of an entity’s ability to secure enough cash to meet its contractual obligations and operating needs as they arise. Our major sources of funds from operations are the net cash flows generated from our insurance subsidiaries’ underwriting results, investment income and maturing investments.

We have historically generated sufficient net positive cash flow from our operations to fund our commitments and add to our investment portfolio, thereby increasing future investment returns. The impact of the pooling agreement between Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States has historically been cash flow positive because of the consistent underwriting profitability of the pool. We settle the pool monthly, thereby resulting in cash flows substantially similar to cash flows that would result from the underwriting of direct business. We have not experienced any unusual variations in the timing of claim payments associated with the loss reserves of our insurance subsidiaries. We maintain significant liquidity in our investment portfolio in the form of readily marketable fixed maturities, equity securities and short-term investments. We structure our fixed-maturity investment portfolio following a “laddering” approach, so that projected cash flows from investment income and principal maturities are evenly distributed from a timing perspective, thereby providing an additional measure of liquidity to meet our obligations should an unexpected variation occur in the future. Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities in the first three months of 2012 and 2011 were ($126,883) and $6.1 million, respectively, with the change in cash flows due primarily to an increase in our insurance subsidiaries’ claim settlements during the first three months of 2012 compared to the prior-year period.

 

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At March 31, 2012, we had $54.5 million in outstanding borrowings under our line of credit and had the ability to borrow $5.5 million at interest rates equal to M&T’s current prime rate or the then current LIBOR rate plus between 1.75% and 2.25%, depending on our leverage ratio.

The following table shows our expected payments for significant contractual obligations at March 31, 2012.

 

     Total      Less than 1 year      1-3 years      4-5 years      After 5 years  
     (in thousands)  

Net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries

   $ 242,481       $ 109,181       $ 110,281       $ 10,317       $ 12,702   

Subordinated debentures

     20,465         —           —           —           20,465   

Borrowings under line of credit

     54,500         —           54,500         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

   $ 317,446       $ 109,181       $ 164,781       $ 10,317       $ 33,167   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We estimate the date of payment for the net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries based on historical experience and expectations of future payment patterns. We show the liability net of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses to reflect expected future cash flows related to such liability. Amounts Atlantic States assumes pursuant to the pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, and amounts Atlantic States cedes pursuant to the pooling agreement represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses. We include cash settlement of Atlantic States’ assumed liability from the pool in monthly settlements of pooled activity, as we net amounts ceded to and assumed from the pool. Although Donegal Mutual and we do not anticipate any changes in the pool participation levels in the foreseeable future, any such change would be prospective in nature and therefore would not impact the timing of expected payments by Atlantic States for its percentage share of pooled losses occurring in periods prior to the effective date of such change.

We estimate the timing of the amounts for the borrowings under our line of credit based on their contractual maturities we discuss in Note 7 – Borrowings. Our borrowings under our line of credit carry interest rates that vary as we discuss in Note 7 – Borrowings. Based upon the interest rates in effect at March 31, 2012, our annual interest cost associated with our borrowings under our line of credit is approximately $1.2 million. For every 1% change in the interest rate associated with our borrowings under our line of credit, the effect on our annual interest cost would be approximately $545,000.

We estimate the timing of the amounts for the subordinated debentures based on their contractual maturities. We may redeem the debentures at our option, at par, on dates we discuss in Note 7 – Borrowings. We pay interest on our subordinated debentures at interest rates that vary as we discuss in Note 7 – Borrowings. Based upon the interest rates in effect at March 31, 2012, our annual interest cost associated with our subordinated debentures is approximately $907,000. For every 1% change in the three-month LIBOR rate, the effect on our annual interest cost would be approximately $200,000.

On February 23, 2009, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we may purchase up to 300,000 shares of our Class A common stock at prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of applicable SEC rules and in privately negotiated transactions. We did not purchase any shares of our Class A common stock under this program during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We have purchased a total of 136,628 shares of our Class A common stock under this program from its inception through March 31, 2012.

On April 19, 2012, our board of directors declared quarterly cash dividends of 12.25 cents per share of our Class A common stock and 11.00 cents per share of our Class B common stock, payable on May 15, 2012 to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 1, 2012. We are not subject to any restrictions on our payment of dividends to our stockholders, although there are state law restrictions on the payment of dividends by our insurance subsidiaries to us. Dividends from our insurance subsidiaries are our principal source of cash for payment of dividends to our stockholders. Applicable laws require our insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain minimum surplus on a statutory basis and require prior approval of the applicable domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities for dividends in excess of 10% of statutory surplus. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements. At December 31, 2011, our insurance subsidiaries’ capital levels were each substantially above the applicable RBC requirements. At January 1, 2012, amounts available for distribution as dividends to us from our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities were $17.4 million from Atlantic States, $1.8 million from Southern, $2.5 million from Le Mars, $4.1 million from Peninsula, $0 from Sheboygan and $3.9 million from MICO.

 

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At March 31, 2012, we had no material commitments for capital expenditures.

Equity Price Risk

Our portfolio of marketable equity securities, which we carry on our consolidated balance sheets at estimated fair value, has exposure to the risk of loss resulting from an adverse change in prices. We manage this risk by performing an analysis of prospective investments and through regular reviews of our portfolio by our investment staff.

Credit Risk

Our portfolio of fixed-maturity securities and, to a lesser extent, our portfolio of short-term investments is subject to credit risk, which we define as the potential loss in market value resulting from adverse changes in the borrower’s ability to repay its debt. We manage this risk by performing an analysis of prospective investments and through regular reviews of our portfolio by our investment staff. We also limit the percentage and amount of our total investment portfolio that we invest in the securities of any one issuer.

Our insurance subsidiaries provide property and casualty insurance coverages through independent insurance agencies. We bill the majority of this business directly to the insured, although we bill a portion of our commercial business through licensed insurance agents to whom our insurance subsidiaries extend credit in the normal course of business.

Because the pooling agreement does not relieve Atlantic States of primary liability as the originating insurer, Atlantic States is subject to a concentration of credit risk arising from business ceded to Donegal Mutual. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain reinsurance agreements with Donegal Mutual and with a number of other major unaffiliated authorized reinsurers.

Impact of Inflation

We establish property and casualty insurance premium rates before we know the amount of unpaid losses and loss expenses or the extent to which inflation may impact such expenses. Consequently, our insurance subsidiaries attempt, in establishing rates, to anticipate the potential impact of inflation.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Our market risk generally represents the risk of gain or loss that may result from the potential change in the fair value of the securities we hold in our investment portfolio as a result of fluctuations in prices and interest rates and, to a lesser extent, our debt obligations. We manage our interest rate risk by maintaining an appropriate relationship between the average duration of our investment portfolio and the approximate duration of our liabilities, i.e., policy claims of our insurance subsidiaries and debt obligations.

Our investment mix shifted slightly due to a shift from lower-yielding short-term investments to fixed maturity investments during the first three months of 2012. We have maintained approximately the same duration of our investment portfolio to our liabilities from December 31, 2011 to March 31, 2012.

There have been no material changes to our quantitative or qualitative market risk exposure from December 31, 2011 through March 31, 2012.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information we, including our consolidated subsidiaries, are required to disclose in our periodic filings with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to affect materially, our internal control over financial reporting.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

We base all statements contained in this report that are not historic facts on current expectations. Such statements are forward-looking in nature (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and necessarily involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements we make may be identified by our use of words such as “will,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions. Actual results could vary materially. The factors that could cause our actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements we have previously made, include, but are not limited to, our ability to maintain profitable operations, the adequacy of the loss and loss expense reserves of our insurance subsidiaries, business and economic conditions in the areas in which we operate, interest rates, competition from various insurance and other financial businesses, terrorism, the availability and cost of reinsurance, adverse and catastrophic weather events, legal and judicial developments, changes in regulatory requirements, our ability to integrate and manage successfully the companies we may acquire from time to time and the other risks that we describe from time to time in our filings with the SEC. We disclaim any obligation to update such statements or to announce publicly the results of any revisions that we may make to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

 

Item 4T. Controls and Procedures.

Not applicable.

 

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Part II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

None.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Our business, results of operations and financial condition, and, therefore, the value of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, are subject to a number of risks. For a description of certain risks, we refer to “Risk Factors” in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2012. There have been no material changes in the risk factors disclosed in that Form 10-K Report during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

Period

  

(a) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased

  

(b) Average Price Paid per
Share (or Unit)

  

(c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
or Programs

   (d) Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
 

Month #1 January 1-31, 2012

  

Class A – None

Class B – None

  

Class A – None

Class B – None

  

Class A – None

Class B – None

  

Month #2 February 1-29, 2012

  

Class A – None

Class B – None

  

Class A – None

Class B – None

  

Class A – None

Class B – None

  

Month #3 March 1-31, 2012

  

Class A – None

Class B – 8,300

  

Class A – None

Class B – $21.00

  

Class A – None

Class B – 8,300

          (1) 

Total

  

Class A – None

Class B – 8,300

  

Class A – None

Class B – $21.00

  

Class A – None

Class B – 8,300

  

 

(1) Donegal Mutual purchased these shares pursuant to its announcement on August 17, 2004 that it will, at its discretion, purchase shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock at market prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of SEC Rule 10b-18 and in privately negotiated transactions. Such announcement did not stipulate a maximum number of shares that may be purchased under this program. We reference Donegal Mutual’s August 17, 2004 announcement in each Form 10-Q and Form 10-K we file with the SEC.

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities.

None.

 

Item 4. Removed and Reserved.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

Exhibit 31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 32.1    Statement of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code
Exhibit 32.2    Statement of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code

 

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    DONEGAL GROUP INC.
May 7, 2012     By:  

/s/ Donald H. Nikolaus

     

Donald H. Nikolaus, President
and Chief Executive Officer

May 7, 2012     By:  

/s/ Jeffrey D. Miller

     

Jeffrey D. Miller, Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer

 

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