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8-K - 8-K - EMC INSURANCE GROUP INCearnings8k20161231.htm
EXHIBIT 99

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NEWS RELEASE

EMC Insurance Group Inc. Reports 2016 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results, and Announces 2017 Non-GAAP Operating Income1 Guidance and Participation by Management at Industry Conferences


Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2016
Net Income Per Share - $1.01
Non-GAAP Operating Income Per Share - $0.86
Net Realized Investment Gains Per Share - $0.15
Catastrophe and Storm Losses Per Share - $0.07
GAAP Combined Ratio - 91.7 percent

Year Ended December 31, 2016
Net Income Per Share - $2.20
Non-GAAP Operating Income Per Share - $2.07
Net Realized Investment Gains Per Share - $0.13
Catastrophe and Storm Losses Per Share - $1.48
GAAP Combined Ratio - 97.7 percent

2017 Non-GAAP Operating Income Guidance - $1.35 to $1.55 per share

DES MOINES, Iowa (February 10, 2017) - EMC Insurance Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EMCI) (the “Company”), today reported net income of $21.3 million ($1.01 per share) for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to net income of $9.9 million ($0.48 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported net income of $46.2 million ($2.20 per share), compared to $50.2 million ($2.43 per share) for the same period in 2015.

Non-GAAP operating income, which excludes realized investment gains/losses from net income, totaled $18.2 million ($0.86 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $13.4 million ($0.65 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported non-GAAP operating income of $43.6 million ($2.07 per share), compared to $46.2 million ($2.24 per share) for the same period in 2015.

The Company’s GAAP combined ratio was 91.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to 94.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company’s GAAP combined ratio was 97.7 percent, compared to 96.3 percent in 2015.

“We are pleased to report our lowest fourth quarter GAAP combined ratio since 2005,” stated President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce G. Kelley. “The property and casualty insurance segment performed better than expected, which allowed us to exceed expectations.”

“Our new intercompany reinsurance program for the property and casualty insurance segment performed as expected given the quarterly amount of catastrophe and storm losses that were reported. For 2017, we anticipate more consistency in our quarterly results as the intercompany reinsurance programs for both the property and casualty insurance segment and the reinsurance segment were renewed.”




Management is projecting 2017 non-GAAP operating income will be within a range of $1.35 to $1.55 per share. This guidance is based on a projected GAAP combined ratio of 100.3 percent for the year and investment income flat to down slightly. The projected GAAP combined ratio has a load of 9.4 points for catastrophe and storm losses, up from the relatively low 8.1 points experienced in 2016. Net realized investment gains/losses resulting from the sale of assets are not predictable due to changing market conditions and the discretionary nature of such events. As a result, management is unable to accurately project the Company’s annual net income, and therefore utilizes non-GAAP operating income in the Company’s projected annual guidance.

Kelley continued, “The 2017 guidance reflects management’s expectation for further rate softening and increased competition, which will continue to pressure margins in both segments. As we continue to gain traction from the commercial auto and personal lines initiatives we have underway, we remain optimistic that we will begin to see gradual improvement in the performance of these lines of business during 2017.”

Premiums earned increased 7.0 percent and 3.9 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. In the property and casualty insurance segment, premiums earned increased 3.4 percent and 2.1 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. The new intercompany reinsurance program between the Company’s three property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and Employers Mutual Casualty Company (Employers Mutual), the Company’s parent organization, reduced premiums earned by $765,000 and $7.8 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. Excluding the cost of this program, premiums earned increased 4.1 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. The majority of these increases are attributed to growth in insured exposures, an increase in new business, an increase in retained policies in the commercial lines of business, and small rate level increases on renewal business.

In the reinsurance segment, premiums earned increased 22.1 percent and 10.5 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. These increases reflect changes in the total cost of the revised intercompany reinsurance program with Employers Mutual, as well as a $7.2 million negative premium adjustment recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015. Excluding these factors, premiums earned decreased approximately 3.0 percent for the fourth quarter, but increased approximately 2.6 percent for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease for the fourth quarter was driven by a decline in pro rata business, which was partially offset by an increase in excess of loss business.

The total cost of the reinsurance segment’s revised intercompany reinsurance program increased $134,000 for the fourth quarter, but declined $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. In 2016, the total cost of the intercompany reinsurance program includes the premiums paid to Employers Mutual, as well as the cost of Industry Loss Warranties (ILWs) that were purchased from external parties to provide increased protection in peak exposure territories. During 2015, the premium paid to Employers Mutual (8 percent of total assumed reinsurance premiums written) included the cost of ILWs purchased by Employers Mutual for its benefit.

Catastrophe and storm losses totaled $2.4 million ($0.07 per share after tax) in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $3.6 million ($0.11 per share after tax) in the fourth quarter of 2015. Catastrophe and storm losses were capped at $512,000 in the property and casualty insurance segment because the retention amount under the July 1 to December 31 treaty was reached. Fourth quarter 2016 catastrophe and storm losses accounted for 1.6 percentage points of the combined ratio, which was below the Company’s most recent 10-year average of 3.1 percentage points for this period and the 2.6 percentage points experienced in the fourth quarter of 2015.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, catastrophe and storm losses totaled $47.9 million ($1.48 per share after tax), compared to $44.4 million ($1.40 per share after tax) in 2015. The property and casualty insurance segment recovered $7.5 million of catastrophe and storm losses from Employers



Mutual under the intercompany reinsurance program during 2016. No recoveries were made under the reinsurance segment’s intercompany reinsurance program during 2016.

The Company reported $11.8 million ($0.36 per share after tax) of favorable development on prior years’ reserves during the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $15.2 million ($0.47 per share after tax) in the fourth quarter of 2015. Included in the reported amount for the fourth quarter of 2015 is $1.9 million of favorable “mechanical” development resulting from a change in the allocation of bulk reserves between the current and prior accident years. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported favorable development of $40.9 million ($1.27 per share after tax), compared to $35.1 million ($1.11 per share after tax) in 2015. Included in the reported amount for 2016 is $5.6 million of favorable “mechanical” development resulting from the change in the property and casualty insurance segment’s reserving methodology, and included in the 2015 amount is $0.6 million of adverse “mechanical” development resulting from a change in the allocation of bulk reserves between the current and prior accident years. Excluding the “mechanical” development amounts, which do not have any impact on earnings, the implied amounts of favorable development that had an impact on earnings would be approximately $11.8 million and $35.3 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $13.3 million and $35.7 million for the same periods in 2015.

On a segment basis, fourth quarter 2016 favorable development totaled $7.8 million in the property and casualty insurance segment and $4.0 million in the reinsurance segment. The favorable development in the property and casualty insurance segment was primarily driven by moderate reductions in the ultimate loss ratios for several accident years in the workers’ compensation line of business and a reduction in settlement expense reserves. The favorable development in the reinsurance segment was primarily driven by a reduction in carried reserves primarily associated with the 2015 accident year.

Large losses are defined as reported current accident year losses greater than $500,000 for the EMC Insurance Companies' pool, excluding catastrophe and storm losses. Under the property and casualty insurance segment's prior reserving methodology, large losses had a direct impact on earnings. Under the new reserving methodology, large losses are taken into consideration when establishing the current accident quarter/year ultimate estimates of losses, but there is no longer a direct relationship between large losses and earnings. As a result, beginning in the third quarter of 2016, large losses are no longer being reported separately.

Net investment income totaled $11.6 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016, which is consistent with the fourth quarter of 2015. Net investment income increased 4.2 percent to $47.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $45.6 million for the same period in 2015. This increase primarily reflects growth in dividend income and income from other invested assets portfolio.

Net realized investment gains totaled $4.7 million ($0.15 per share after tax) and $4.1 million ($0.13 per share after tax) for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, compared to net realized investment losses of $5.4 million ($0.17 per share after tax) and net realized investment gains of $6.2 million ($0.19 per share after tax) for the same periods in 2015. Included in net realized investment gains reported for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 are $1.2 million and $6.5 million, respectively, of net realized investment losses attributed to declines in the carrying value of a limited partnership that helps protect the Company from a sudden and significant decline in the value of its equity portfolio. Included in the net realized investment gains/losses reported for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 are net realized investment losses of $5.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, attributed to declines in the carrying value of this limited partnership.

Income tax expense totaled $7.9 million and $17.0 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $4.0 million and $21.5 million for the same periods. The effective tax rate was 27.1 percent and 26.9 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, compared to 28.9 percent and 30.0 percent for the same periods in 2015. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company benefited from an investment in a limited liability company that is designed to provide a



return on investment through the receipt of renewable energy tax credits. The tax credits reduced the income tax expense, resulting in an increase in net income of approximately $1.3 million. Without these credits, the effective tax rate would have been 31.9 percent and 29.1 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.

At December 31, 2016, consolidated assets totaled $1.6 billion, including $1.5 billion in the investment portfolio, and stockholders’ equity totaled $553.3 million, an increase of 5.4 percent from December 31, 2015. Book value of the Company’s stock increased 3.2 percent to $26.07 per share from $25.26 per share at December 31, 2015, but declined 2.2 percent from September 30, 2016, due to a decline in the market value of the investment portfolio caused by an increase in interest rates. Book value excluding accumulated other comprehensive income increased 6.5 percent to $23.90 per share from $22.45 per share at December 31, 2015, and increased 3.5% from $23.09 on September 30, 2016. These increases were primarily driven by net income for the periods represented.

The Company will hold an earnings teleconference call at noon Eastern time on Friday, February 10, 2017, to allow securities analysts, stockholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the Company’s results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, as well as its expectations for 2017. Dial-in information for the call is toll-free 1-866-652-5200 (International: 1-412-317-6060).

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

Participation by Management at Industry Conferences
On March 8, 2017, Mark E. Reese, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will participate in meetings with institutional investors at the RBC Capital Markets Financial Institutions Conference in New York. The conference will take place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, located at 455 Madison Avenue, New York, NY.

Additionally, on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Bruce G. Kelley and Kevin J. Hovick, Executive Vice President & COO, will present at the 21st Annual New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) Insurance Conference in New York. The presentation will occur at 11:20 a.m. Eastern time at the offices of the NYSSA, located at 1540 Broadway, New York, NY. Interested persons may access the presentation slides on the Company’s investor relations website at http://www.emcins.com/ir/Presentations.aspx on the day of the presentation. A live webcast of the event will not be available to the general public.

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides issuers the opportunity to make cautionary statements regarding forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement contained in this report is based on management’s current beliefs, assumptions and expectations of the Company’s future performance, taking into account all information currently available to management. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as the result of many possible events or



factors, not all of which are known to management. If a change occurs, the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.


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

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

Management intends to identify forward-looking statements when using the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” or similar expressions. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements or to announce publicly the results of any revisions that it may make to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Definition of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures
The Company prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures for evaluating the Company’s performance. One of the primary non-GAAP financial measures utilized by management for evaluating the Company’s performance is operating income. Management’s operating income guidance is also considered a non-GAAP financial measure.

1Non-GAAP Operating income: Non-GAAP operating income is calculated by excluding net realized investment gains/losses (defined as realized investment gains and losses after applicable federal and state income taxes) from net income. While realized investment gains/losses are integral to the Company’s insurance operations over the long term, the decision to realize investment gains or losses in any particular period is subject to changing market conditions and management’s discretion, and is independent of the Company’s insurance operations. The Company’s calculation of non-GAAP operating income may differ from similar measures used by other companies, so investors should exercise caution when comparing the Company’s measure of non-GAAP operating income to the measure used by other companies.

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



RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended 
 December 31,
 
Year ended 
 December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net income
 
$
21,292

 
$
9,895

 
$
46,203

 
$
50,162

Realized investment gains (losses)
 
4,717

 
(5,402
)
 
4,074

 
6,153

Income tax expense (benefit)
 
1,651

 
(1,890
)
 
1,426

 
2,154

Net realized investment gains (losses)
 
3,066

 
(3,512
)
 
2,648

 
3,999

Non-GAAP operating income
 
$
18,226

 
$
13,407

 
$
43,555

 
$
46,163


RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE TO NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME PER SHARE
 
 
Three months ended 
 December 31,
 
Year ended 
 December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net income per share
 
$
1.01

 
$
0.48

 
$
2.20

 
$
2.43

Realized investment gains (losses) per share
 
0.22

 
(0.26
)
 
0.19

 
0.29

Income tax expense (benefit) per share
 
0.07

 
(0.09
)
 
0.06

 
0.10

Net realized investment gains (losses) per share
 
0.15

 
(0.17
)
 
0.13

 
0.19

Non-GAAP operating income per share
 
$
0.86

 
$
0.65

 
$
2.07

 
$
2.24



Industry Metric - Premiums Written
2Premiums written: Premiums written is an industry metric used in statutory accounting to quantify the amount of insurance sold during a specified reporting period. Management analyzes trends in premiums written to assess business efforts, and uses it as a financial measure for goal setting and determining a portion of employee and senior management awards and compensation. Premiums earned, used in both statutory and GAAP accounting, is the recognition of the portion of premiums written directly related to the expired portion of an insurance policy for a given reporting period. The unexpired portion of premiums written is referred to as unearned premiums, and represents the portion of premiums written that would be returned to a policyholder upon cancellation of a policy.




CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter ended December 31, 2016
 
Property and Casualty Insurance
 
Reinsurance
 
Parent Company
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums earned
 
$
117,878

 
$
33,166

 
$

 
$
151,044

Investment income, net
 
8,362

 
3,241

 
4

 
11,607

Other income
 
128

 
902

 

 
1,030

 
 
126,368

 
37,309

 
4

 
163,681

Losses and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and settlement expenses
 
69,162

 
21,633

 

 
90,795

Dividends to policyholders
 
2,508

 

 

 
2,508

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
20,364

 
7,299

 

 
27,663

Other underwriting expenses
 
16,624

 
854

 

 
17,478

Interest expense
 
84

 

 

 
84

Other expenses
 
163

 

 
511

 
674

 
 
108,905

 
29,786

 
511

 
139,202

Operating income (loss) before income taxes
 
17,463

 
7,523

 
(507
)
 
24,479

Realized investment gains
 
4,709

 
8

 

 
4,717

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
22,172

 
7,531

 
(507
)
 
29,196

Income tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
5,646

 
1,122

 
(147
)
 
6,621

Deferred
 
1,309

 
(129
)
 
103

 
1,283

 
 
6,955

 
993

 
(44
)
 
7,904

Net income (loss)
 
$
15,217

 
$
6,538

 
$
(463
)
 
$
21,292

Average shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21,132,500

Per Share Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted
 
$
0.72

 
$
0.31

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
1.01

Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)
 
$
0.01

 
$
0.06

 
$

 
$
0.07

Large losses* (after tax)
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

Reported favorable development experienced on prior years' reserves (after tax)
 
$
0.24

 
$
0.12

 
$

 
$
0.36

Favorable development that had no impact on earnings (after tax)
 

 

 

 

Implied favorable development that had an impact on earnings (after tax)
 
$
0.24

 
$
0.12

 
$

 
$
0.36

Dividends per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.210

Other Information of Interest:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums written2
 
$
92,969

 
$
32,276

 
$

 
$
125,245

Catastrophe and storm losses
 
$
512

 
$
1,861

 
$

 
$
2,373

Large losses*
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

Reported favorable development experienced on prior years' reserves
 
$
(7,784
)
 
$
(4,048
)
 
$

 
$
(11,832
)
Favorable development that had no impact on earnings
 

 

 

 

Implied favorable development that had an impact on earnings
 
$
(7,784
)
 
$
(4,048
)
 
$

 
$
(11,832
)
GAAP Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and settlement expense ratio
 
58.7
%
 
65.2
%
 

 
60.1
%
Acquisition expense ratio
 
33.5
%
 
24.6
%
 

 
31.6
%
Combined ratio
 
92.2
%
 
89.8
%
 

 
91.7
%



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Large losses are defined as reported current accident year losses greater than $500 for the EMC Insurance Companies' pool, excluding catastrophe and storm losses. Under the property and casualty insurance segment's prior reserving methodology, large losses had a direct impact on earnings. Under the new reserving methodology implemented during the third quarter of 2016, large losses are taken into consideration when establishing the current accident quarter/year ultimate estimates of losses, but there is no longer a direct relationship between large losses and earnings. As a result, it is no longer meaningful to report large losses separately.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter ended December 31, 2015
 
Property and Casualty Insurance
 
Reinsurance
 
Parent Company
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums earned
 
$
113,985

 
$
27,157

 
$

 
$
141,142

Investment income, net
 
8,367

 
3,269

 

 
11,636

Other income (loss)
 
189

 
(86
)
 

 
103

 
 
122,541

 
30,340

 

 
152,881

Losses and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and settlement expenses
 
76,415

 
13,718

 

 
90,133

Dividends to policyholders
 
1,213

 

 

 
1,213

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
19,698

 
3,663

 

 
23,361

Other underwriting expenses
 
16,170

 
1,897

 

 
18,067

Interest expense
 
84

 

 

 
84

Other expenses
 
180

 

 
518

 
698

 
 
113,760

 
19,278

 
518

 
133,556

Operating income (loss) before income taxes
 
8,781

 
11,062

 
(518
)
 
19,325

Realized investment losses
 
(3,703
)
 
(1,699
)
 

 
(5,402
)
Income (loss) before income taxes
 
5,078

 
9,363

 
(518
)
 
13,923

Income tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
317

 
2,880

 
(180
)
 
3,017

Deferred
 
862

 
149

 

 
1,011

 
 
1,179

 
3,029

 
(180
)
 
4,028

Net income (loss)
 
$
3,899

 
$
6,334

 
$
(338
)
 
$
9,895

Average shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20,755,198

Per Share Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted
 
$
0.19

 
$
0.31

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
0.48

Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)
 
$
0.03

 
$
0.08

 
$

 
$
0.11

Large losses* (after tax)
 
$
0.40

 
$

 
$

 
$
0.40

Reported (adverse) favorable development experienced on prior years' reserves (after tax)
 
$
(0.01
)
 
$
0.48

 
$

 
$
0.47

Favorable development that had no impact on earnings (after tax)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.04
)
 

 
(0.05
)
Implied (adverse) favorable development that had an impact on earnings (after tax)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
0.44

 
$

 
$
0.42

Dividends per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.190

Other Information of Interest:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums written2
 
$
90,105

 
$
27,590

 
$

 
$
117,695

Catastrophe and storm losses
 
$
958

 
$
2,661

 
$

 
$
3,619

Large losses*
 
$
12,786

 
$

 
$

 
$
12,786

Reported adverse (favorable) development experienced on prior years' reserves
 
$
338

 
$
(15,495
)
 
$

 
$
(15,157
)



Favorable development that had no impact on earnings
 
423

 
1,454

 

 
1,877

Implied adverse (favorable) development that had an impact on earnings
 
$
761

 
$
(14,041
)
 
$

 
$
(13,280
)
GAAP Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and settlement expense ratio
 
67.0
%
 
50.5
%
 

 
63.9
%
Acquisition expense ratio
 
32.6
%
 
20.5
%
 

 
30.2
%
Combined ratio
 
99.6
%
 
71.0
%
 

 
94.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Large losses are defined as reported current accident year losses greater than $500 for the EMC Insurance Companies' pool, excluding catastrophe and storm losses.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2016
 
Property and Casualty Insurance
 
Reinsurance
 
Parent Company
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums earned
 
$
456,467

 
$
135,941

 
$

 
$
592,408

Investment income, net
 
33,886

 
13,591

 
13

 
47,490

Other income
 
594

 
417

 

 
1,011

 
 
490,947

 
149,949

 
13

 
640,909

Losses and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and settlement expenses
 
294,369

 
92,528

 

 
386,897

Dividends to policyholders
 
13,800

 

 

 
13,800

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
78,493

 
29,910

 

 
108,403

Other underwriting expenses
 
66,463

 
3,149

 

 
69,612

Interest expense
 
337

 

 

 
337

Other expenses
 
721

 

 
2,006

 
2,727

 
 
454,183

 
125,587

 
2,006

 
581,776

Operating income (loss) before income taxes
 
36,764

 
24,362

 
(1,993
)
 
59,133

Realized investment gains (losses)
 
4,082

 
(8
)
 

 
4,074

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
40,846

 
24,354

 
(1,993
)
 
63,207

Income tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
12,071

 
6,723

 
(733
)
 
18,061

Deferred
 
(469
)
 
(623
)
 
35

 
(1,057
)
 
 
11,602

 
6,100

 
(698
)
 
17,004

Net income (loss)
 
$
29,244

 
$
18,254

 
$
(1,295
)
 
$
46,203

Average shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21,006,302

Per Share Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted
 
$
1.39

 
$
0.87

 
$
(0.06
)
 
$
2.20

Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)
 
$
1.09

 
$
0.39

 
$

 
$
1.48

Large losses* (after tax)
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

Reported favorable development experienced on prior years' reserves (after tax)
 
$
0.93

 
$
0.34

 
$

 
$
1.27

Favorable development that had no impact on earnings (after tax)
 
(0.17
)
 

 

 
(0.17
)
Implied favorable development that had an impact on earnings (after tax)
 
$
0.76

 
$
0.34

 
$

 
$
1.10

Dividends per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.780

Book value per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
26.07

Effective tax rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26.9
%



Net income as a percent of beg. SH equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.8
%
Other Information of Interest:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums written2
 
$
463,673

 
$
131,030

 
$

 
$
594,703

Catastrophe and storm losses
 
$
35,299

 
$
12,608

 
$

 
$
47,907

Large losses*
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

Reported favorable development experienced on prior years' reserves
 
$
(30,013
)
 
$
(10,928
)
 
$

 
$
(40,941
)
Favorable development that had no impact on earnings
 
5,592

 

 

 
5,592

Implied favorable development that had an impact on earnings
 
$
(24,421
)
 
$
(10,928
)
 
$

 
$
(35,349
)
GAAP Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and settlement expense ratio
 
64.5
%
 
68.1
%
 

 
65.3
%
Acquisition expense ratio
 
34.8
%
 
24.3
%
 

 
32.4
%
Combined ratio
 
99.3
%
 
92.4
%
 

 
97.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Large losses are defined as reported current accident year losses greater than $500 for the EMC Insurance Companies' pool, excluding catastrophe and storm losses. Under the property and casualty insurance segment's prior reserving methodology, large losses had a direct impact on earnings. Under the new reserving methodology implemented during the third quarter of 2016, large losses are taken into consideration when establishing the current accident quarter/year ultimate estimates of losses, but there is no longer a direct relationship between large losses and earnings. As a result, it is no longer meaningful to report large losses separately. The amount of large losses previously reported for the first six months of 2016 has not been carried forward and disclosed for the year ended December 31, 2016, because it would not be comparable to the amount reported for 2015.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2015
 
Property and Casualty Insurance
 
Reinsurance
 
Parent Company
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums earned
 
$
447,197

 
$
123,069

 
$

 
$
570,266

Investment income, net
 
32,668

 
12,923

 
(9
)
 
45,582

Other income
 
771

 
954

 

 
1,725

 
 
480,636

 
136,946

 
(9
)
 
617,573

Losses and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and settlement expenses
 
291,883

 
78,853

 

 
370,736

Dividends to policyholders
 
7,705

 

 

 
7,705

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
75,701

 
26,483

 

 
102,184

Other underwriting expenses
 
63,954

 
4,464

 

 
68,418

Interest expense
 
337

 

 

 
337

Other expenses
 
748

 

 
1,942

 
2,690

 
 
440,328

 
109,800

 
1,942

 
552,070

Operating income (loss) before income taxes
 
40,308

 
27,146

 
(1,951
)
 
65,503

Realized investment gains
 
4,163

 
1,990

 

 
6,153

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
44,471

 
29,136

 
(1,951
)
 
71,656

Income tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
10,830

 
8,463

 
(682
)
 
18,611

Deferred
 
2,174

 
709

 

 
2,883

 
 
13,004

 
9,172

 
(682
)
 
21,494

Net income (loss)
 
$
31,467

 
$
19,964

 
$
(1,269
)
 
$
50,162

Average shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20,621,919

Per Share Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted
 
$
1.52

 
$
0.97

 
$
(0.06
)
 
$
2.43

Catastrophe and storm losses (after tax)
 
$
0.93

 
$
0.47

 
$

 
$
1.40




Large losses* (after tax)
 
$
1.08

 
$

 
$

 
$
1.08

Reported favorable development experienced on prior years' reserves (after tax)
 
$
0.44

 
$
0.67

 
$

 
$
1.11

(Favorable) adverse development that had no impact on earnings (after tax)
 
(0.02
)
 
0.03

 

 
0.01

Implied favorable development that had an impact on earnings (after tax)
 
$
0.42

 
$
0.70

 
$

 
$
1.12

Dividends per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.693

Book value per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
25.26

Effective tax rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30.0
%
Net income as a percent of beg. SH equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.0
%
Other Information of Interest:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums written2
 
$
454,434

 
$
124,504

 
$

 
$
578,938

Catastrophe and storm losses
 
$
29,609

 
$
14,765

 
$

 
$
44,374

Large losses*
 
$
34,239

 
$

 
$

 
$
34,239

Reported favorable development experienced on prior years' reserves
 
$
(13,839
)
 
$
(21,275
)
 
$

 
$
(35,114
)
Favorable (adverse) development that had no impact on earnings
 
423

 
(1,041
)
 

 
(618
)
Implied favorable development that had an impact on earnings
 
$
(13,416
)
 
$
(22,316
)
 
$

 
$
(35,732
)
GAAP Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and settlement expense ratio
 
65.3
%
 
64.1
%
 

 
65.0
%
Acquisition expense ratio
 
32.9
%
 
25.1
%
 

 
31.3
%
Combined ratio
 
98.2
%
 
89.2
%
 

 
96.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Large losses are defined as reported current accident year losses greater than $500 for the EMC Insurance Companies' pool, excluding catastrophe and storm losses.




CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 
 2016
 
December 31, 
 2015
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $1,189,525 and $1,130,217)
 
$
1,199,699

 
$
1,161,025

Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $147,479 and $144,176)
 
213,839

 
206,243

Other long-term investments
 
12,506

 
9,930

Short-term investments
 
39,670

 
38,599

Total investments
 
1,465,714

 
1,415,797

 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
307

 
224

Reinsurance receivables due from affiliate
 
21,326

 
24,236

Prepaid reinsurance premiums due from affiliate
 
9,309

 
6,563

Deferred policy acquisition costs (affiliated $40,660 and $40,535)
 
40,939

 
40,720

Prepaid pension and postretirement benefits due from affiliate
 
12,314

 
12,133

Accrued investment income
 
11,050

 
10,789

Amounts receivable under reverse repurchase agreements
 
20,000

 
16,850

Accounts receivable
 
2,076

 
804

Income taxes recoverable
 

 
1,735

Goodwill
 
942

 
942

Other assets (affiliated $4,632 and $4,595)
 
4,836

 
5,162

Total assets
 
$
1,588,813

 
$
1,535,955

 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Losses and settlement expenses (affiliated $685,533 and $671,169)
 
$
690,532

 
$
678,774

Unearned premiums (affiliated $243,682 and $238,637)
 
244,885

 
239,435

Other policyholders' funds (all affiliated)
 
13,068

 
8,721

Surplus notes payable to affiliate
 
25,000

 
25,000

Amounts due affiliate to settle inter-company transaction balances
 
11,222

 
6,408

Pension benefits payable to affiliate
 
4,097

 
4,299

Income taxes payable
 
2,359

 

Deferred income taxes
 
11,321

 
19,029

Other liabilities (affiliated $27,871 and $28,598)
 
32,987

 
29,351

Total liabilities
 
1,035,471

 
1,011,017

 
 
 
 
 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, 21,222,535 shares in 2016 and 20,780,439 shares in 2015
 
21,223

 
20,781

Additional paid-in capital
 
119,054

 
108,747

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
46,081

 
58,433

Retained earnings
 
366,984

 
336,977

Total stockholders' equity
 
553,342

 
524,938

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
1,588,813

 
$
1,535,955






LOSS AND SETTLEMENT EXPENSE BY LINE OF BUSINESS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
 
Premiums earned
 
Losses and settlement expenses
 
Loss and settlement expense ratio
 
Premiums earned
 
Losses and settlement expenses
 
Loss and settlement expense ratio
Property and casualty insurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial lines:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Automobile
 
$
28,492

 
$
23,601

 
82.8
 %
 
$
27,206

 
$
24,291

 
89.3
%
Property
 
27,720

 
11,822

 
42.6
 %
 
26,785

 
12,154

 
45.4
%
Workers' compensation
 
25,245

 
11,691

 
46.3
 %
 
23,678

 
18,212

 
76.9
%
Liability
 
24,544

 
18,693

 
76.2
 %
 
23,713

 
13,731

 
57.9
%
Other
 
2,128

 
(660
)
 
(31.0
)%
 
2,035

 
60

 
3.0
%
Total commercial lines
 
108,129

 
65,147

 
60.2
 %
 
103,417

 
68,448

 
66.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Personal lines
 
9,749

 
4,015

 
41.2
 %
 
10,568

 
7,967

 
75.4
%
Total property and casualty insurance
 
$
117,878

 
$
69,162

 
58.7
 %
 
$
113,985

 
$
76,415

 
67.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro rata reinsurance
 
$
12,142

 
$
5,131

 
42.3
 %
 
$
7,267

 
$
5,965

 
82.1
%
Excess of loss reinsurance
 
21,024

 
16,502

 
78.5
 %
 
19,890

 
7,753

 
39.0
%
Total reinsurance
 
$
33,166

 
$
21,633

 
65.2
 %
 
$
27,157

 
$
13,718

 
50.5
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated
 
$
151,044

 
$
90,795

 
60.1
 %
 
$
141,142

 
$
90,133

 
63.9
%




 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
 
Premiums earned
 
Losses and settlement expenses
 
Loss and settlement expense ratio
 
Premiums earned
 
Losses and settlement expenses
 
Loss and settlement expense ratio
Property and casualty insurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial lines:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Automobile
 
$
110,941

 
$
93,364

 
84.2
 %
 
$
105,904

 
$
86,134

 
81.3
%
Property
 
105,012

 
64,509

 
61.4
 %
 
104,303

 
65,806

 
63.1
%
Workers' compensation
 
96,517

 
51,371

 
53.2
 %
 
92,828

 
57,803

 
62.3
%
Liability
 
96,630

 
56,738

 
58.7
 %
 
92,665

 
48,399

 
52.2
%
Other
 
8,374

 
(12
)
 
(0.1
)%
 
8,079

 
854

 
10.6
%
Total commercial lines
 
417,474

 
265,970

 
63.7
 %
 
403,779

 
258,996

 
64.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Personal lines
 
38,993

 
28,399

 
72.8
 %
 
43,418

 
32,887

 
75.7
%
Total property and casualty insurance
 
$
456,467

 
$
294,369

 
64.5
 %
 
$
447,197

 
$
291,883

 
65.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro rata reinsurance
 
$
56,317

 
$
31,498

 
55.9
 %
 
$
47,421

 
$
29,433

 
62.1
%
Excess of loss reinsurance
 
79,624

 
61,030

 
76.6
 %
 
75,648

 
49,420

 
65.3
%
Total reinsurance
 
$
135,941

 
$
92,528

 
68.1
 %
 
$
123,069

 
$
78,853

 
64.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated
 
$
592,408

 
$
386,897

 
65.3
 %
 
$
570,266

 
$
370,736

 
65.0
%




PREMIUMS WRITTEN2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended 
 December 31, 2016
 
Three months ended 
 December 31, 2015
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
Premiums written
 
Percent of premiums written
 
Premiums written
 
Percent of premiums written
 
Change in premiums written
Property and casualty insurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial lines:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Automobile
 
$
23,199

 
18.5
%
 
$
21,735

 
18.5
%
 
6.7%
Property
 
21,066

 
16.8
%
 
20,818

 
17.7
%
 
1.2%
Workers' compensation
 
18,613

 
14.9
%
 
17,717

 
15.0
%
 
5.1%
Liability
 
19,359

 
15.5
%
 
19,095

 
16.2
%
 
1.4%
Other
 
1,783

 
1.4
%
 
1,619

 
1.4
%
 
10.1%
Total commercial lines
 
84,020

 
67.1
%
 
80,984

 
68.8
%
 
3.7%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Personal lines
 
8,949

 
7.1
%
 
9,121

 
7.8
%
 
(1.9)%
Total property and casualty insurance
 
$
92,969

 
74.2
%
 
$
90,105

 
76.6
%
 
3.2%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro rata reinsurance
 
$
10,918

 
8.7
%
 
$
8,420

 
7.1
%
 
29.7%
Excess of loss reinsurance
 
21,358

 
17.1
%
 
19,170

 
16.3
%
 
11.4%
Total reinsurance
 
$
32,276

 
25.8
%
 
$
27,590

 
23.4
%
 
17.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated
 
$
125,245

 
100.0
%
 
$
117,695

 
100.0
%
 
6.4%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended 
 December 31, 2016
 
Year ended 
 December 31, 2015
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
Premiums written
 
Percent of premiums written
 
Premiums written
 
Percent of premiums written
 
Change in premiums written
Property and casualty insurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial lines:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Automobile
 
$
113,173

 
19.1
%
 
$
108,682

 
18.7
%
 
4.1%
Property
 
106,600

 
17.9
%
 
106,671

 
18.4
%
 
(0.1)%
Workers' compensation
 
99,509

 
16.7
%
 
94,629

 
16.4
%
 
5.2%
Liability
 
97,815

 
16.5
%
 
94,860

 
16.4
%
 
3.1%
Other
 
8,646

 
1.4
%
 
8,032

 
1.4
%
 
7.6%
Total commercial lines
 
425,743

 
71.6
%
 
412,874

 
71.3
%
 
3.1%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Personal lines
 
37,930

 
6.4
%
 
41,560

 
7.2
%
 
(8.7)%
Total property and casualty insurance
 
$
463,673

 
78.0
%
 
$
454,434

 
78.5
%
 
2.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro rata reinsurance
 
$
52,996

 
8.9
%
 
$
48,652

 
8.4
%
 
8.9%
Excess of loss reinsurance
 
78,034

 
13.1
%
 
75,852

 
13.1
%
 
2.9%
Total reinsurance
 
$
131,030

 
22.0
%
 
$
124,504

 
21.5
%
 
5.2%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated
 
$
594,703

 
100.0
%
 
$
578,938

 
100.0
%
 
2.7%



Contacts
Investors:                        Media:
Steve Walsh, 515-345-2515                Lisa Hamilton, 515-345-7589
steve.t.walsh@emcins.com                 lisa.l.hamilton@emcins.com