Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008

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 1-10890

 

 

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   37-0911756

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 Horace Mann Plaza, Springfield, Illinois 62715-0001

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 217-789-2500

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the 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 the registrant’s filer status, as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.

 

  Large accelerated filer  x   Accelerated filer  ¨  
  Non-accelerated filer  ¨   Smaller reporting company  ¨  

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

As of April 30, 2008, 40,623,637 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, were outstanding, net of 20,251,347 shares of treasury stock.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2008

INDEX

 

         Page

PART I -

  FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
  Item 1. Financial Statements   
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   1
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   2
 

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

   3
 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

   4
 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   5
 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  
 

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

   6
 

Note 2 - Debt

   8
 

Note 3 - Investments

   9
 

Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

   12
 

Note 5 - Share Repurchase Programs and Treasury Shares Held

   14
 

Note 6 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

   15
 

Note 7 - Reinsurance

   17
 

Note 8 - Segment Information

   18
  Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    19
  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    45
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures    45

PART II -

  OTHER INFORMATION   
  Item 1A. Risk Factors    45
  Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    46
  Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    46
  Item 5. Other Information    46
  Item 6. Exhibits    46

SIGNATURES

   47


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Horace Mann Educators Corporation:

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of March 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 28, 2008, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it was derived.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP

Chicago, Illinois

May 8, 2008

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

 

Investments

    

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value

    

Fixed maturities (amortized cost 2008, $3,746,493; 2007, $3,795,665)

   $ 3,697,435     $ 3,798,343  

Fixed maturity securities on loan (amortized cost 2008, $67,389; 2007, $74,599)

     68,685       74,658  
                

Total fixed maturities

     3,766,120       3,873,001  

Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost 2008, $94,278; 2007, $94,083)

     84,231       86,548  

Short-term and other investments

     235,339       143,990  

Short-term investments, loaned securities collateral

     70,479       76,711  
                

Total investments

     4,156,169       4,180,250  

Cash

     8,856       13,209  

Accrued investment income and premiums receivable

     103,481       101,427  

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     266,290       261,789  

Goodwill

     47,396       47,396  

Value of acquired insurance in force

     4,059       5,380  

Other assets

     101,277       87,652  

Separate Account (variable annuity) assets

     1,392,762       1,562,210  
                

Total assets

   $ 6,080,290     $ 6,259,313  
                

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Policy liabilities

    

Fixed annuity contract liabilities

   $ 2,042,899     $ 2,014,211  

Interest-sensitive life contract liabilities

     667,819       663,087  

Unpaid claims and claim expenses

     314,366       315,382  

Future policy benefits

     189,967       188,117  

Unearned premiums

     196,122       202,527  
                

Total policy liabilities

     3,411,173       3,383,324  

Other policyholder funds

     136,402       138,470  

Liability for securities lending agreements

     71,376       76,850  

Other liabilities

     226,366       205,696  

Short-term debt

     —         —    

Long-term debt

     199,501       199,485  

Separate Account (variable annuity) liabilities

     1,392,762       1,562,210  
                

Total liabilities

     5,437,580       5,566,035  
                

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 75,000,000 shares; issued, 2008, 60,874,984; 2007, 60,855,455

     61       61  

Additional paid-in capital

     354,543       353,841  

Retained earnings

     708,404       698,539  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss net of taxes:

    

Net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities

     (34,291 )     (2,621 )

Net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     (3,217 )     (3,217 )

Treasury stock, at cost, 2008, 20,251,347 shares; 2007, 18,614,971 shares

     (382,790 )     (353,325 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     642,710       693,278  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 6,080,290     $ 6,259,313  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     2008     2007

Revenues

    

Insurance premiums and contract charges earned

   $ 162,549     $ 161,153

Net investment income

     56,613       54,854

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     (2,451 )     3,468

Other income

     2,557       2,580
              

Total revenues

     219,268       222,055
              

Benefits, losses and expenses

    

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses

     106,914       98,377

Interest credited

     32,055       31,155

Policy acquisition expenses amortized

     21,028       19,110

Operating expenses

     34,780       34,978

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,245       1,538

Interest expense

     3,401       3,689
              

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     199,423       188,847
              

Income before income taxes

     19,845       33,208

Income tax expense

     5,589       9,940
              

Net income

   $ 14,256     $ 23,268
              

Net income per share

    

Basic

   $ 0.35     $ 0.54
              

Diluted

   $ 0.34     $ 0.52
              

Weighted average number of shares and equivalent shares (in thousands)

    

Basic

     41,055       43,118

Diluted

     42,146       45,396

Comprehensive income (loss)

    

Net income

   $ 14,256     $ 23,268

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

    

Change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities

     (31,670 )     524

Change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     —         —  
              

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     (31,670 )     524
              

Total

   $ (17,414 )   $ 23,792
              

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Common stock

    

Beginning balance

   $ 61     $ 61  

Options exercised, 2008, 0 shares; 2007, 51,340 shares

     —         —    

Conversion of Director Stock Plan units, 2008, 16,355 shares; 2007, 761 shares

     —         —    

Conversion of restricted stock units, 2008, 3,174 shares; 2007, 0 shares

     —         —    
                

Ending balance

     61       61  
                

Additional paid-in capital

    

Beginning balance

     353,841       347,873  

Options exercised and conversion of Director Stock Plan units and restricted stock units

     369       914  

Share-based compensation expense

     333       236  
                

Ending balance

     354,543       349,023  
                

Retained earnings

    

Beginning balance

     698,539       634,110  

Net income

     14,256       23,268  

Cash dividends, $0.105 per share

     (4,391 )     (4,600 )
                

Ending balance

     708,404       652,778  
                

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

    

Beginning balance

     (5,838 )     7,614  

Change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities

     (31,670 )     524  

Change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     —         —    
                

Ending balance

     (37,508 )     8,138  
                

Treasury stock, at cost

    

Beginning balance, 2008, 18,614,971 shares; 2007, 17,503,371 shares

     (353,325 )     (332,577 )

Purchase of 1,636,376 shares in 2008; 0 shares in 2007

     (29,465 )     —    
                

Ending balance, 2008, 20,251,347 shares; 2007, 17,503,371 shares

     (382,790 )     (332,577 )
                

Shareholders’ equity at end of period

   $ 642,710     $ 677,423  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Cash flows - operating activities

    

Premiums collected

   $ 154,197     $ 162,021  

Policyholder benefits paid

     (114,048 )     (102,975 )

Policy acquisition and other operating expenses paid

     (58,189 )     (63,148 )

Federal income taxes recovered

     —         11,035  

Investment income collected

     54,999       56,695  

Interest expense paid

     (40 )     (40 )

Other

     3,129       3,007  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     40,048       66,595  
                

Cash flows - investing activities

    

Fixed maturities

    

Purchases

     (244,990 )     (451,059 )

Sales

     188,573       205,197  

Maturities, paydowns, calls and redemptions

     130,611       186,587  

Net cash used in short-term and other investments

     (91,580 )     (10,198 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (17,386 )     (69,473 )
                

Cash flows - financing activities

    

Dividends paid to shareholders

     (4,391 )     (4,600 )

Purchase of treasury stock

     (29,465 )     —    

Exercise of stock options

     —         895  

Annuity contracts, variable and fixed

    

Deposits

     73,909       81,526  

Benefits and withdrawals

     (45,971 )     (48,599 )

Net transfer to Separate Account (variable annuity) assets

     (20,480 )     (35,500 )

Life policy accounts

    

Deposits

     251       231  

Withdrawals and surrenders

     (1,502 )     (1,409 )

Change in bank overdrafts

     634       3,431  
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (27,015 )     (4,025 )
                

Net decrease in cash

     (4,353 )     (6,903 )

Cash at beginning of period

     13,209       13,438  
                

Cash at end of period

   $ 8,856     $ 6,535  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

March 31, 2008 and 2007

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Horace Mann Educators Corporation (“HMEC”; and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Horace Mann”) have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), specifically Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The Company believes that these consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2008, and the consolidated results of operations, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (1) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, (2) disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and (3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The subsidiaries of HMEC market and underwrite tax-qualified retirement annuities and private passenger automobile, homeowners, and life insurance products, primarily to K-12 educators and other employees of public schools and their families. The Company’s principal operating subsidiaries are Horace Mann Life Insurance Company, Horace Mann Insurance Company, Teachers Insurance Company, Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Horace Mann Lloyds.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior period information to conform with the 2008 presentation.

 

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Note 1 - Basis of Presentation-(Continued)

Adoption of SFAS No. 159

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS” or “FAS”) No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”. SFAS No. 159 permits all entities to choose to elect, at specified election dates, to measure eligible financial instruments, as defined in SFAS No. 159, at fair value. Changes in unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date and upfront costs and fees related to those items will be reported in earnings as incurred and not deferred. At adoption, for those financial assets and financial liabilities which management has elected to carry at fair value, an entity will report the effect of the first remeasurement to fair value as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The Company’s management did not elect to measure any additional eligible financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value and as a result, adoption of this SFAS did not have an effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.

Adoption of SFAS No. 157

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This pronouncement did not require any new fair value measurements and its adoption did not affect the results of operations or financial position of the Company. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, to defer the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are not disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis. The FSP did not defer the recognition and disclosure requirements for financial or nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at least annually. The Company’s expanded disclosures as a result of SFAS No. 157 are included in “Note 4 — Fair Value of Financial Instruments”.

 

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Note 2 - Debt

Indebtedness outstanding was as follows:

 

     March 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Short-term debt:

     

Bank Credit Facility

   $ —      $ —  

Long-term debt:

     

6.05% Senior Notes, due June 15, 2015. Aggregate principal amount of $75,000 less unaccrued discount of $192 and $198 (6.1% imputed rate)

     74,808      74,802

6.85% Senior Notes, due April 15, 2016. Aggregate principal amount of $125,000 less unaccrued discount of $307 and $317 (6.9% imputed rate)

     124,693      124,683
             

Total

   $ 199,501    $ 199,485
             

The Bank Credit Facility, 6.05% Senior Notes due 2015 (“Senior Notes due 2015”) and 6.85% Senior Notes due 2016 (“Senior Notes due 2016”) are described in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 4 — Debt” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

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Note 3 - Investments

Fixed Maturity Securities and Equity Securities

The following table presents the composition and value of the Company’s fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolios by rating category. The Company has classified the entire fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolios as available for sale, which are carried at fair value.

 

     Percent of Total Carrying Value     March 31, 2008

Rating (1)

   March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
    Carrying
Value (2)
   Amortized
Cost

Fixed maturity securities

         

AAA

   44.3 %   47.0 %   $ 1,669,734    $ 1,653,207

AA

   10.2     9.4       382,820      397,279

A

   20.8     19.5       782,303      815,043

BBB

   19.7     19.0       741,454      749,499

BB

   2.4     1.7       89,590      92,795

B

   2.6     3.3       98,215      104,166

CCC or lower

   —       0.1       1,168      1,210

Not rated (3)

   —       —         836      683
                         

Total

   100.0 %   100.0 %   $ 3,766,120    $ 3,813,882
                         

Equity securities

         

AAA

   —       —         —        —  

AA

   12.5 %   17.6 %   $ 10,501    $ 13,041

A

   61.6     61.3       51,880      56,947

BBB

   19.5     16.3       16,414      16,980

BB

   3.0     1.1       2,545      3,575

B

   —       —         —        —  

CCC or lower

   —       —         —        —  

Not rated (4)

   3.4     3.7       2,891      3,735
                         

Total

   100.0 %   100.0 %   $ 84,231    $ 94,278
                         

 

(1) Ratings are as assigned primarily by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) when available, with remaining ratings as assigned on an equivalent basis by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”). Ratings for publicly traded securities are determined when the securities are acquired and are updated monthly to reflect any changes in ratings.
(2) Carrying values are equal to fair values, with fair values based on quoted market prices, when available. Fair values for private placements and certain other securities that are infrequently traded are estimated by the Company with the assistance of its investment advisors utilizing recognized valuation methodology, including cash flow modeling. See also “Note 4 —Fair Value of Financial Instruments”.
(3) This category includes $685 (fair value) of private placement securities not rated by either S&P or Moody’s. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has rated 93.9% of these private placement securities as investment grade. The remaining $151 (fair value) of securities in this category were obtained in partial settlement of a default that occurred in 2002 and are not rated by S&P, Moody’s or the NAIC.
(4) This category includes common stocks that are not rated by either S&P or Moody’s.

 

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Note 3 - Investments-(Continued)

 

The following table presents the distribution of the Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio by estimated expected maturity. Estimated expected maturities differ from contractual maturities, reflecting assumptions regarding borrowers’ utilization of the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Estimated expected maturities consider broker dealer survey values and are verified for consistency with the interest rate and economic environments.

 

     Percent of Total Fair Value     March 31, 2008
     March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
    Fair Value    Amortized
Cost

Due in 1 year or less

   6.9 %   6.8 %   $ 259,527    $ 262,818

Due after 1 year through 5 years

   27.1     28.5       1,019,921      1,032,856

Due after 5 years through 10 years

   33.6     33.6       1,264,579      1,280,616

Due after 10 years through 20 years

   11.3     11.3       427,343      432,763

Due after 20 years

   21.1     19.8       794,750      804,829
                         

Total

   100.0 %   100.0 %   $ 3,766,120    $ 3,813,882
                         

The average option adjusted duration for the Company’s fixed maturity securities was 5.7 years at March 31, 2008 and 5.5 years at December 31, 2007.

In the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company recorded impairment write downs of $2,738 primarily related to certain below investment grade securities, with $2,291 of the write downs attributable to 6 securities of telecommunications and telecommunications-related media issuers, which at March 31, 2008 the Company no longer intended to hold until the value fully recovers. In addition, net realized losses in the first three months of 2008 included $3,852 of realized impairment losses on financial institution and below investment grade securities that were disposed of during the quarter.

 

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Note 3 - Investments-(Continued)

 

The following table presents the fair value and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. The Company views the decrease in value of all of the securities with unrealized losses at March 31, 2008 — which was largely driven by spread widening, market illiquidity and interest rates — as temporary, expects recovery in fair value in a reasonable timeframe, anticipates continued payments under the terms of the securities, and has the intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or a recovery in fair value occurs. Therefore, no impairment of these securities was recorded at March 31, 2008.

 

     12 months or less    More than 12 months    Total
     Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Losses

As of March 31, 2008

                 

U.S. government and federally sponsored agency obligations:

                 

Mortgage-backed securities

   $ 7,068    $ 117    $ 149,897    $ 1,627    $ 156,965    $ 1,744

Other

     —        —        —        —        —        —  

Municipal bonds

     167,714      5,022      62,939      2,447      230,653      7,469

Foreign government bonds

     —        —        —        —        —        —  

Corporate bonds

     590,619      31,450      420,957      24,613      1,011,576      56,063

Other mortgage-backed securities

     189,067      33,008      43,281      5,698      232,348      38,706
                                         

Totals

   $ 954,468    $ 69,597    $ 677,074    $ 34,385    $ 1,631,542    $ 103,982
                                         

As of December 31, 2007

                 

U.S. government and federally sponsored agency obligations:

                 

Mortgage-backed securities

   $ 72,311    $ 185    $ 380,995    $ 5,353    $ 453,306    $ 5,538

Other

     64,423      40      25,730      85      90,153      125

Municipal bonds

     87,593      1,379      56,253      741      143,846      2,120

Foreign government bonds

     —        —        3,911      35      3,911      35

Corporate bonds

     398,575      17,454      520,356      16,218      918,931      33,672

Other mortgage-backed securities

     147,594      9,019      46,602      1,512      194,196      10,531
                                         

Totals

   $ 770,496    $ 28,077    $ 1,033,847    $ 23,944    $ 1,804,343    $ 52,021
                                         

The Company’s investment portfolio includes no derivative financial instruments (futures, forwards, swaps, option contracts or other financial instruments with similar characteristics).

Securities Lending

The Company loans fixed income securities to third parties, primarily major brokerage firms. As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, fixed maturity securities with a fair value of $68,685 and $74,658, respectively, were on loan. Loans of securities are required at all times to be secured by collateral from borrowers at least equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned. The Company maintains effective control over the loaned securities and therefore reports them as Fixed Maturity Securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Securities lending collateral is classified as short-term investments with a corresponding liability in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

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Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, which provides a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP. FSP No. FAS 157-2 defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are not disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis.

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1    Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 1 assets and liabilities include debt and equity securities that are traded in an active exchange market, as well as U.S. Treasury securities.
Level 2    Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments. This category generally includes certain U.S. Government and agency mortgage-backed debt securities and corporate debt securities.
Level 3    Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. This category generally includes certain private debt and equity investments.

The disclosed fair values do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time an entire holding of a particular financial instrument. In addition, potential taxes and other expenses that would be incurred in an actual sale or settlement are not reflected in amounts disclosed.

 

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Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments-(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2008.

 

     Fair    Fair Value Measurements at
Reporting Date Using

March 31, 2008

   Value    Level 1    Level 2    Level 3

Financial Assets

           

Investments

           

Fixed maturities

   $ 3,766,120    $ 41,904    $ 3,723,531    $ 685

Equity securities

     84,231      43,931      39,843      457

Short-term investments (1)

     131,940      130,019      1,921      —  

Short-term investments, loaned securities collateral

     70,479      —        70,479      —  
                           

Total

   $ 4,052,770    $ 215,854    $ 3,835,774    $ 1,142
                           

Separate Account (variable annuity) assets

   $ 1,392,762    $ 1,392,762      —        —  

 

(1) Short-term investments are included in Short-term and Other Investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. At March 31, 2008, total Short-term and Other Investments was $235,339.

The following table presents a reconciliation for all Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the period January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2008. As required by SFAS No. 157, when the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the level within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

     Level 3 Assets  

Level 3 Instruments Only

   Fixed
Maturities
    Equity
Securities
   Total  

Financial Assets

       

Beginning balance

   $ 688     $ 457    $ 1,145  

Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized)

     —         —        —    

Paydowns

     (3 )     —        (3 )

Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements

     —         —        —    

Transfers in (out) of Level 3

     —         —        —    
                       

Ending balance

   $ 685     $ 457    $ 1,142  
                       

For the period January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2008, there were no gains or losses included in earnings or shareholders’ equity that were attributable to either (1) realized gains or losses or (2) the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to Level 3 assets still held at March 31, 2008.

 

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Note 5 - Share Repurchase Programs and Treasury Shares Held (Common Stock)

As disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, on September 12, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) authorized a new share repurchase program allowing repurchases up to $50,000. The new share repurchase program authorized the repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions.

From September 12, 2007 through December 31, 2007, the Company repurchased 1,111,600 shares of its common stock, or 2.6% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2006, at an aggregate cost of $20,748, or an average cost of $18.66 per share, under its new share repurchase program. From January 1, 2008 through February 19, 2008, the Company completed the new program by repurchasing an additional 1,626,776 shares of its common stock, or 3.9% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2007. In total, 2,738,376 shares were repurchased under the $50,000 program at an average cost of $18.28 per share. The repurchase of shares was financed through use of cash.

On March 7, 2008, the Board authorized an additional $25,000 share repurchase program allowing for repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions (the “March 2008 Program”). Through March 31, 2008, 9,600 shares were repurchased under the March 2008 Program at an aggregate cost of $158, or an average cost of $16.46 per share. The repurchase of shares was financed through use of cash.

At March 31, 2008, the Company held 20,251,347 shares in treasury. As of March 31, 2008, $24,842 remained authorized for future share repurchases.

 

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Note 6 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company has the following retirement plans: a defined contribution plan; a 401(k) plan; a defined benefit plan for employees hired on or before December 31, 1998; and certain employees participate in a supplemental defined contribution plan or a supplemental defined benefit plan or both. Additional information regarding the Company’s retirement plans is contained in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 9 — Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic pension cost recognized for the defined benefit plan and the supplemental defined benefit plans for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.

 

     Defined Benefit Plan     Supplemental
Defined Benefit Plans
 
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Components of net periodic pension expense:

        

Service cost

   $ —       $ —       $ (11 )   $ (12 )

Interest cost

     249       360       235       245  

Expected return on plan assets

     (289 )     (376 )     —         —    

Recognized net actuarial loss

     136       230       146       227  

Settlement loss

     57       169       —         —    
                                

Net periodic pension expense

   $ 153     $ 383     $ 370     $ 460  
                                

Consistent with disclosure in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 9 — Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company expects to contribute $1,140 to the supplemental defined benefit plans in 2008, of which $319 was contributed during the three months ended March 31, 2008. Also consistent with disclosures in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company does not expect to make a contribution to the defined benefit plan in 2008.

In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company also provides certain health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees, who meet the Plan’s eligibility requirements, and their eligible dependents. As described in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 9 — Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits”, effective January 1, 2007, the Company eliminated the previous health care benefits for retirees 65 years of age and over and established a Health Reimbursement Account (“HRA”) for each eligible participant. Also, the new plan does not provide life insurance benefits to individuals who retired after December 31, 1993. As a result of the changes in the plan for other postretirement benefits, the Company anticipates a reduction in its expenses of approximately $2,390 in 2008.

 

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Note 6 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the components of the net periodic benefit cost (gain) for postretirement benefits other than pension for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Components of net periodic cost (gain):

    

Service cost

   $ 1     $ 12  

Interest cost

     38       358  

Amortization of prior service cost

     (527 )     (1,162 )

Recognized net actuarial gain

     (110 )     (328 )
                

Net periodic benefit gain

   $ (598 )   $ (1,120 )
                

Consistent with disclosure in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 9 — Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company expects to contribute $730 to the postretirement benefit plans other than pensions in 2008, of which $122 was contributed during the three months ended March 31, 2008.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006

In the third quarter of 2006, the federal government enacted the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the “Act”) which changes the manner in which pension funding is determined. The new rules are effective for funding beginning in 2008. Management does not expect the Act to have a material impact on the Company’s funding activity.

The Company’s funding policy for the defined benefit pension plan is to contribute amounts which are actuarially determined to provide the plan with sufficient assets to meet future benefit payments consistent with the funding requirements of federal laws and regulations. There was no minimum funding requirement for the defined benefit pension plan as of March 31, 2008. The Company’s obligations have not changed as a result of these developments.

 

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Note 7 - Reinsurance

The Company recognizes the cost of reinsurance premiums over the contract periods for such premiums in proportion to the insurance protection provided. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses, including estimated amounts for unsettled claims, claims incurred but not reported and policy benefits, are estimated in a manner consistent with the insurance liability associated with the policy. The effects of reinsurance on premiums written and contract deposits; premiums and contract charges earned; and benefits, claims and settlement expenses were as follows:

 

Three months ended March 31, 2008

   Gross
Amount
   Ceded    Assumed     Net

Premiums written and contract deposits

   $ 232,283    $ 7,877    $ 181     $ 224,587

Premiums and contract charges earned

     170,841      8,618      326       162,549

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses

     109,165      2,582      331       106,914

Three months ended March 31, 2007

                    

Premiums written and contract deposits

   $ 238,804    $ 9,615    $ 1,089     $ 230,278

Premiums and contract charges earned

     169,965      10,214      1,402       161,153

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses

     103,215      4,214      (624 )     98,377

 

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Note 8 - Segment Information

The Company conducts and manages its business through four segments. The three operating segments, representing the major lines of insurance business, are: property and casualty insurance, principally personal lines automobile and homeowners products; annuity products, principally individual, tax-qualified fixed and variable deposits; and life insurance. The Company does not allocate the impact of corporate level transactions to the insurance segments, consistent with the basis for management’s evaluation of the results of those segments, but classifies those items in the fourth segment, corporate and other. In addition to ongoing transactions such as debt service, realized investment gains and losses and certain public company expenses, within the past five years such items have included debt retirement costs/gains and restructuring charges. Summarized financial information for these segments is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Insurance premiums and contract charges earned

    

Property and casualty

   $ 132,987     $ 132,197  

Annuity

     4,775       5,391  

Life

     24,787       23,565  
                

Total

   $ 162,549     $ 161,153  
                

Net investment income

    

Property and casualty

   $ 9,180     $ 9,200  

Annuity

     33,055       31,501  

Life

     14,627       13,914  

Corporate and other

     23       515  

Intersegment eliminations

     (272 )     (276 )
                

Total

   $ 56,613     $ 54,854  
                

Net income (loss)

    

Property and casualty

   $ 13,035     $ 16,825  

Annuity

     2,938       3,394  

Life

     2,635       3,559  

Corporate and other

     (4,352 )     (510 )
                

Total

   $ 14,256     $ 23,268  
                

Amortization of intangible assets, pretax (included in segment net income)

    

Value of acquired insurance in force

    

Annuity

   $ 918     $ 1,199  

Life

     327       339  
                

Total

   $ 1,245     $ 1,538  
                
     March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

Assets

    

Property and casualty

   $ 894,708     $ 908,209  

Annuity

     3,927,135       4,086,619  

Life

     1,196,670       1,199,147  

Corporate and other

     98,824       102,250  

Intersegment eliminations

     (37,047 )     (36,912 )
                

Total

   $ 6,080,290     $ 6,259,313  
                

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)

Forward-looking Information

Statements made in the following discussion that state the Company’s or management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of future events or the Company’s future financial performance are forward-looking statements and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Horace Mann is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements due to, among other risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business, the following important factors:

 

   

Changes in the composition of the Company’s assets and liabilities which may result from occurrences such as acquisitions, divestitures, impairment in asset values or changes in estimates of insurance reserves.

 

   

Fluctuations in the fair value of securities in the Company’s investment portfolio and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s shareholders’ equity and total capital through either realized or unrealized investment losses. In addition, the impact of fluctuations in the financial markets on the Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s operating expenses, shareholders’ equity and total capital.

 

   

The impact of fluctuations in the financial markets on the Company’s variable annuity fee revenues, valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force, and the level of guaranteed minimum death benefit reserves.

 

   

The impact of fluctuations in the capital markets on the Company’s ability to refinance outstanding indebtedness or repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

   

Defaults on interest or dividend payments in the Company’s investment portfolio due to credit issues and the resulting impact on investment income.

 

   

Prevailing interest rate levels, including the impact of interest rates on (1) unrealized gains and losses in the Company’s investment portfolio and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s shareholders’ equity and total capital, (2) the book yield of the Company’s investment portfolio, (3) the Company’s ability to maintain appropriate interest rate spreads over the fixed rates guaranteed in the Company’s life and annuity products and (4) valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force.

 

   

The cyclicality of the insurance industry and the related effects of changes in price competition and industry-wide underwriting results.

 

   

The frequency and severity of catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes, storms and wildfires and the ability of the Company to provide accurate estimates of ultimate catastrophe costs in its consolidated financial statements in light of such factors as: the proximity of the catastrophe occurrence date to the date of the consolidated financial statements; potential inflation of property repair costs in the affected area; the occurrence of multiple catastrophes in a geographic area over a relatively short period of time; the outcome of litigation which may be filed against the Company by policyholders, state attorneys general and other parties relative to loss coverage disputes and loss settlement payments; and the ability of state insurance facilities to assess participating insurers when financial deficits occur.

 

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The Company’s risk exposure to catastrophe-prone areas. Based on 2007 property and casualty direct earned premiums, the Company’s ten largest states represented 57% of the segment total. Included in this top ten group are certain states which are considered more prone to catastrophe occurrences: Florida, California, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Georgia.

 

   

The potential near-term, adverse impact of underwriting actions to mitigate the Company’s risk exposure to catastrophe-prone areas on premium, policy and earnings growth.

 

   

The ability of the Company to maintain a favorable catastrophe reinsurance program considering both availability and cost; and the collectibility of reinsurance receivables.

 

   

Adverse development of property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expense reserve experience and its impact on estimated claims and claim settlement expenses for losses occurring in prior years.

 

   

Adverse changes in business persistency, policyholder mortality and morbidity rates, interest spreads and market appreciation and the resulting impact on both estimated reserves and the valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force.

 

   

Changes in insurance regulations, including (1) those affecting the ability of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to distribute cash to the holding company and (2) those impacting the Company’s ability to profitably write property and casualty insurance policies in one or more states.

 

   

Changes in federal income tax laws and changes resulting from federal tax audits affecting corporate tax rates or taxable income.

 

   

Changes in federal and state laws and regulations, which affect the relative tax and other advantages of the Company’s life and annuity products to customers, including, but not limited to, changes in IRS regulations governing Section 403(b) plans.

 

   

The resolution of legal proceedings and related matters including the potential adverse impact on the Company’s reputation and charges against the Company’s earnings resulting from legal defense costs, a settlement agreement and/or an adverse finding or findings against the Company from the proceedings.

 

   

The Company’s ability to maintain favorable claims-paying ability, financial strength and debt ratings.

 

   

The Company’s ability to profitably expand its property and casualty business in highly competitive environments.

 

   

The competitive impact of the new Section 403(b) tax-qualified annuity regulations, including (1) their potential to lead plan sponsors to restrict the number of providers and (2) the possible entry into the 403(b) market of larger competitors experienced in 401(k) plans.

 

   

The Company’s ability to develop and expand its agency operations, including its agent force and their licensed producers and support staff, as well as the Company’s ability to maintain and secure sponsorships by local, state and national education associations.

 

   

The Company’s dated and complex information systems, which are difficult to upgrade and more prone to error than advanced technology systems.

 

   

Disruptions of the general business climate, investments, capital markets and consumer attitudes caused by pandemics or geopolitical acts such as terrorism, war or other similar events.

 

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Executive Summary

Horace Mann Educators Corporation (“HMEC”; and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Horace Mann”) is an insurance holding company. Through its subsidiaries, HMEC markets and underwrites personal lines of property and casualty insurance, retirement annuities and life insurance in the U.S. The Company markets its products primarily to K-12 educators and other employees of public schools and their families.

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company’s net income decreased $9.0 million compared to the prior year, including a $3.9 million reduction in after-tax realized investment gains and losses. Consistent with industry experience, the current quarter reflected a relatively high level of catastrophe losses and the continued impact of a challenging financial market environment, as well as the adverse effect of a slowing economy on both home and automobile sales. Compared to the first three months of 2007, results in the current period were also negatively impacted by a reduced level of favorable prior years’ property and casualty reserve development. Including all factors, the property and casualty combined ratio was 93.5% for the first quarter of 2008 compared to 89.5% for the same period in 2007. Annuity segment net income decreased $0.4 million, or 12%, compared to the first three months of 2007, as current period improvements in the interest margin were more than offset by the adverse impact of the financial market on the valuation of deferred policy acquisition costs and the level of contract charges earned. Life segment net income decreased $1.0 million, or 28%, compared to a year earlier, reflecting higher mortality costs which more than offset growth in investment income.

Premiums written and contract deposits declined 2% compared to the first three months of 2007, largely due to decreases in annuity rollover deposits in 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, reduced costs associated with the Company’s property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance program represented a $1.9 million increase in premiums written compared to 2007. New automobile sales units in the current quarter were 12% less than the first three months of 2007. This sales level was somewhat offset by favorable policy retention, resulting in voluntary automobile policies in force equal to March 31, 2007. However, automobile policies of educators increased compared to a year earlier. Annuity contract deposits for the first three months of 2008 decreased 9% compared to a year earlier, and life segment insurance premiums and contract deposits increased 2% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions based on information available at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of the Company’s consolidated assets, liabilities, shareholders’ equity and net income. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and because of the possibility that subsequent events and available information may differ markedly from management’s judgements at the time the consolidated financial statements were prepared. Management has discussed with the Audit Committee the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting. The discussions generally included such matters as the consistency of the Company’s accounting policies and their application, and the clarity and completeness of the Company’s consolidated financial

 

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statements, which include related disclosures. For the Company, the areas most subject to significant management judgements include: liabilities for property and casualty claims and claim settlement expenses, liabilities for future policy benefits, deferred policy acquisition costs, value of acquired insurance in force for annuity and interest-sensitive life products, valuation of investments and valuation of assets and liabilities related to the defined benefit pension plan.

Liabilities for Property and Casualty Claims and Claim Settlement Expenses

Underwriting results of the property and casualty segment are significantly influenced by estimates of the Company’s ultimate liability for insured events. There is a high degree of uncertainty inherent in the estimates of ultimate losses underlying the liability for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses. This inherent uncertainty is particularly significant for liability-related exposures due to the extended period, often many years, that transpires between a loss event, receipt of related claims data from policyholders and ultimate settlement of the claim. Reserves for property and casualty claims include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims (“case reserves”), claims incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”) and associated settlement expenses (together, “loss reserves”). The process by which these reserves are established requires reliance upon estimates based on known facts and on interpretations of circumstances, including the Company’s experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payments and related patterns, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as other factors including court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes.

Reserves are reestimated quarterly. Changes to reserves are recorded in the period in which development factor changes result in reserve reestimates. Detailed discussion of the process utilized to estimate loss reserves, risk factors considered and the impact of adjustments recorded during recent years is included in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3 — Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Due to the nature of the Company’s personal lines business, the Company has no exposure to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under homeowners insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold.

Based on the Company’s products and coverages, historical experience, and modeling of various actuarial methodologies used to develop reserve estimates, the Company estimates that the potential variability of the property and casualty loss reserves within a reasonable probability of other possible outcomes may be approximately plus or minus 6%, which equates to plus or minus approximately $12 million of net income based on reserves as of March 31, 2008. Although this evaluation reflects the most likely outcomes, it is possible the final outcome may fall below or above these estimates.

 

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There are a number of assumptions involved in the determination of the Company’s property and casualty loss reserves. Among the key factors affecting recorded loss reserves for both long-tail and short-tail related coverages, claim severity and claim frequency are of particular significance. Management estimates that a 2% change in claim severity or claim frequency for the most recent 36-month period is a reasonably likely scenario based on recent experience and would result in a change in the estimated loss reserves of between $6.0 million and $10.0 million for long-tail liability related exposures (automobile liability coverages) and between $3.0 million and $4.0 million for short-tail liability related exposures (homeowners and automobile physical damage coverages). Actual results may change, depending on the magnitude and direction of the deviation.

The Company’s loss and loss adjustment expense actuarial analysis is discussed with management. As part of this discussion, the indicated point estimate of the IBNR loss reserve by line of business (coverage) is reviewed. The Company actuaries also discuss any indicated changes to the underlying assumptions used to calculate the indicated point estimate. Review of the variance between the indicated reserves from these changes in assumptions and the previously carried reserves takes place. After discussion of these analyses and all relevant risk factors, management determines whether the reserve balances require adjustment. The Company’s best estimate of loss reserves may change depending on a revision in the underlying assumptions.

The Company’s liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses were as follows:

 

     March 31, 2008    December 31, 2007
     Case
Reserves
   IBNR
Reserves
   Total (1)    Case
Reserves
   IBNR
Reserves
   Total (1)

Automobile liability

   $ 78.4    $ 133.6    $ 212.0    $ 77.3    $ 135.4    $ 212.7

Automobile other

     5.1      0.9      6.0      6.7      0.8      7.5

Homeowners

     14.5      36.9      51.4      14.0      36.2      50.2

All other

     3.1      30.8      33.9      3.5      32.3      35.8
                                         

Total

   $ 101.1    $ 202.2    $ 303.3    $ 101.5    $ 204.7    $ 306.2
                                         

 

(1) These amounts are gross, before reduction for ceded reinsurance reserves.

The facts and circumstances leading to the Company’s reestimate of reserves relate to revisions of the development factors used to predict how losses are likely to develop from the end of a reporting period until all claims have been paid. Reestimates occur because actual loss amounts are different than those predicted by the estimated development factors used in prior reserve estimates. At March 31, 2008, the impact of a reserve reestimation resulting in a 1% increase in net reserves would be a decrease of approximately $2 million in net income. A reserve reestimation resulting in a 1% decrease in net reserves would increase net income by approximately $2 million.

Favorable reserve reestimates increased net income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 by approximately $1.8 million, reflecting the emergence of favorable educator excess liability claim frequency trends in accident years 2006 and prior and favorable trends in automobile and homeowners loss adjustment expense emergence for accident years 2007 and 2006. The lower than expected claims and expense emergence and resultant lower expected loss ratios caused the Company to lower its reserve estimate.

 

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Information regarding the Company’s property and casualty claims and claims settlement expense reserve development table as of December 31, 2007 is located in “Business — Property and Casualty Segment — Property and Casualty Reserves” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Liabilities for Future Policy Benefits

Liabilities for future benefits on life and annuity policies are established in amounts adequate to meet the estimated future obligations on policies in force. Liabilities for future policy benefits on certain life insurance policies are computed using the net level premium method and are based on assumptions as to future investment yield, mortality and withdrawals. Mortality and withdrawal assumptions for all policies have been based on actuarial tables which are consistent with the Company’s own experience. In the event actual experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required. This would result in a charge to income for the period in which the increase in reserves occurred. Liabilities for future benefits on annuity contracts and certain long-duration life insurance contracts are carried at accumulated policyholder values without reduction for potential surrender or withdrawal charges.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Acquired Insurance in Force for Annuity and Interest-sensitive Life Products

Policy acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, policy issuance and other costs, which vary with and are primarily related to the production of business, are capitalized and amortized on a basis consistent with the type of insurance coverage. For all investment (annuity) contracts, acquisition costs, and also the value of annuity business acquired in the 1989 acquisition of the Company (“Annuity VIF”), are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. Capitalized acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life contracts are also amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits.

The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. For the variable deposit portion of the annuity segment, the Company amortizes policy acquisition costs and the Annuity VIF utilizing a future financial market performance assumption of a 10% reversion to the mean approach with a 200 basis point corridor around the mean. At March 31, 2008, the ratio of capitalized annuity policy acquisition costs and the Annuity VIF asset to the total annuity accumulated cash value was approximately 4%.

In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company may be required to record a material charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment is made. As noted above, there are key assumptions involved in the valuation of capitalized policy acquisition costs and the Annuity VIF. In terms of the sensitivity of this amortization to two of the more significant assumptions, assuming all other assumptions are met, (1) a 10 basis point deviation in the annual targeted interest rate spread assumption would currently impact amortization between $0.25 million and $0.35 million and (2) a 1% deviation from the targeted financial market performance for the underlying mutual funds of the Company’s variable annuities would currently impact amortization between $0.15 million and $0.25 million. These results may change depending on the magnitude and direction of the deviations but represent a range of reasonably likely experience for the noted assumptions. Detailed discussion of the impact of

 

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adjustments to the amortization of capitalized acquisition costs and Annuity VIF is included in “Results of Operations — Amortization of Policy Acquisition Expenses and Intangible Assets”.

Valuation of Investments

Market valuations for the fixed maturity securities portfolio are based on prices provided by the Company’s custodian bank and its investment managers. Both the custodian bank and the investment managers use a variety of pricing sources to determine market valuations. Each designate specific pricing services or indexes for each sector of the market based upon the provider’s expertise. Broker-dealers are also used to price certain types of securities. The broker-dealers’ valuation methodology is sometimes matrix-based, using indicative evaluation measures and adjustments for specific security characteristics and market sentiment. The Company analyzes market valuations received to verify reasonableness. The Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio is highly liquid, which allows for a high percentage of the portfolio to be priced through pricing services. Approximately 90% of the portfolio was priced through pricing services or index priced as of March 31, 2008. The remainder of the portfolio was priced by broker-dealers.

The Company’s methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments is based on security-specific facts and circumstances as of the date of the reporting period. Based on these facts, if management believes it is probable that amounts due will not be collected according to the contractual terms of a debt security, or if the Company does not have the ability and intent to hold a debt security with an unrealized loss until it matures or recovers in value, an other-than-temporary impairment is considered to have occurred. As a general rule, if the fair value of a debt security has fallen below 80% of book value for more than six months, this security will be reviewed for an other-than-temporary impairment. Additionally, if events become known that call into question whether the security issuer has the ability to honor its contractual commitments, whether or not such security has been trading above an 80% fair value to book value relationship, such security holding will be evaluated to determine whether or not such security has suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value.

The Company reviews the fair value of all investments in its portfolio on a monthly basis to assess whether an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred. These reviews, in conjunction with the Company’s investment managers’ monthly credit reports and relevant factors such as (1) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (2) the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment long enough to allow for the anticipated recovery in fair value, (3) the stock price trend of the issuer, (4) the market leadership position of the issuer, (5) the debt ratings of the issuer and (6) the cash flows of the issuer, are all considered in the impairment assessment. A write down of an investment is recorded when a decline in the fair value of that investment is deemed to be other-than-temporary, with a realized investment loss charged to income for the period.

A decline in fair value below amortized cost is not assumed to be other-than-temporary for fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses due to changes in interest rates, spread widening or market illiquidity where there exists a reasonable expectation that fair value will recover in a reasonable timeframe versus historical cost and the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investment until maturity or a market recovery is realized. An other-than-temporary impairment loss will be recognized based upon all relevant facts and circumstances for each investment, as appropriate.

 

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Valuation of Assets and Liabilities Related to the Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Effective April 1, 2002, participants stopped accruing benefits under the defined benefit pension plan but continue to retain the benefits they had accrued to that date.

The Company’s cost estimates for its defined benefit pension plan are determined annually based on assumptions which include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, anticipated retirement rate and estimated lump sum distributions. A discount rate of 6.05% was used by the Company for estimating accumulated benefits under the plan at December 31, 2007, which was based on the average yield for long-term, high grade securities having maturities generally consistent with the defined benefit pension payout period. To set its discount rate, the Company looks to leading indicators, including the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. The expected annual return on plan assets assumed by the Company at December 31, 2007 was 7.5%. The assumption for the long-term rate of return on plan assets was determined by considering actual investment experience during the lifetime of the plan, balanced with reasonable expectations of future growth considering the various classes of assets and percentage allocation for each asset class. Management believes that it has adopted reasonable assumptions for investment returns, discount rates and other key factors used in the estimation of pension costs and asset values.

To the extent that actual experience differs from the Company’s assumptions, subsequent adjustments may be required, with the effects of those adjustments charged or credited to income and/or shareholders’ equity for the period in which the adjustments are made. Generally, a change of 50 basis points in the discount rate would inversely impact pension expense and accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) by approximately $0.1 million and $1.5 million, respectively. In addition, for every $1 million increase (decrease) in the value of pension plan assets, there is a comparable increase (decrease) in AOCI.

 

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Results of Operations

Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges

Insurance Premiums Written and Contract Deposits

(Includes annuity and life contract deposits)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
   Change From
Prior Year
 
     2008    2007    Percent     Amount  

Property & casualty

          

Automobile and property (voluntary)

   $ 126.6    $ 124.5    1.7 %   $ 2.1  

Involuntary and other property & casualty

     0.2      0.8    -75.0 %     (0.6 )
                        

Total property & casualty

     126.8      125.3    1.2 %     1.5  

Annuity deposits

     73.9      81.5    -9.3 %     (7.6 )

Life

     23.9      23.5    1.7 %     0.4  
                        

Total

   $ 224.6    $ 230.3    -2.5 %   $ (5.7 )
                        

Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges Earned

(Excludes annuity and life contract deposits)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
   Change From
Prior Year
 
     2008     2007    Percent     Amount  

Property & casualty

         

Automobile and property (voluntary)

   $ 133.3     $ 129.7    2.8 %   $ 3.6  

Involuntary and other property & casualty

     (0.3 )     2.5    -112.0 %     (2.8 )
                         

Total property & casualty

     133.0       132.2    0.6 %     0.8  

Annuity

     4.7       5.4    -13.0 %     (0.7 )

Life

     24.8       23.6    5.1 %     1.2  
                         

Total

   $ 162.5     $ 161.2    0.8 %   $ 1.3  
                         

For the first three months of 2008, the Company’s premiums written and contract deposits decreased 2.5% compared to the prior year, largely due to decreases in annuity rollover deposit receipts in 2008. The reduced costs associated with the Company’s property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance program represented a $1.9 million increase to premiums for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Voluntary property and casualty business represents policies sold through the Company’s marketing organization and issued under the Company’s underwriting guidelines. Involuntary property and casualty business consists of allocations of business from state mandatory insurance facilities and assigned risk business.

The Company’s exclusive agent force totaled 758 at March 31, 2008, reflecting a decrease of 8.7% compared to 830 agents at March 31, 2007 and a decrease of 4.1% compared to 790 at December 31, 2007. Of the current period-end total, 201 agents were in their first 24 months with the Company, down 19.0% compared to March 31, 2007. The number of experienced agents in the agent force, 557, decreased 4.3% compared to a year earlier. In addition to agents, the Company’s total points of distribution include licensed producers who work with the agents. At March 31, 2008, there were 284 licensed producers, compared to 158 at March 31, 2007. At the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, management anticipates that over the next several quarters the agent count will continue to decline modestly during the Company’s transition to its new Agency Business Model, with an increase in total points of distribution resulting from the growing number of licensed producers supporting agents who adopt the new model.

 

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In 2006, the Company began the transition from a single-person agent operation to its new Agency Business Model, with agents in outside offices with support personnel and licensed producers, designed to remove current capacity constraints and increase productivity. The first Agency Business School session was conducted in October 2006, beginning the formal roll-out of this model. From October 2006 through March 31, 2008, 209 of the agents at March 31, 2008 and all field sales management completed this training. See additional description in “Business — Corporate Strategy and Marketing — Exclusive Agency Force” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

For the first three months of 2008, new automobile sales units were 11.6% less than for the same period a year earlier. New homeowners sales units decreased 13.5% compared to the first quarter of 2007. For the Company, as well as other personal lines property and casualty companies, new business levels have been impacted by the economy and the decreases in automobile and home sales. Annuity new business declined 16.4% compared to the first quarter of 2007, reflecting a lower level of single premium and rollover deposits, particularly from the independent agent distribution channel, somewhat offset by new business growth in the Company’s core scheduled deposit business. Life new business decreased 19.9% compared to the prior year. For the first three months of 2008, total new business sales decreased 15.2% compared to a year earlier. In total, exclusive agent sales for the first three months of 2008 decreased 7.2% compared to prior year, reflecting the lower number of agents in the current period. Average overall productivity per agent was comparable to the first three months of 2007. Average agent productivity is measured as new sales premiums from the exclusive agent force per the average number of exclusive agents for the period.

Total voluntary automobile and homeowners premium written increased 1.7%, or $2.1 million, in the first three months of 2008, including the $1.9 million reduction in the cost of catastrophe reinsurance in 2008. The automobile average written premium per policy was equal to a year earlier while the homeowners average premium increased in the current period compared to prior year, with the change in average premium for both lines adversely impacted by the improved quality of the books of business. At March 31, 2008, there were 534,000 voluntary automobile and 265,000 homeowners policies in force, for a total of 799,000 policies, compared to a total of 801,000 policies at December 31, 2007 and 800,000 at March 31, 2007.

Based on policies in force, the voluntary automobile 6-month retention rate for new and renewal policies was 90.8% at March 31, 2008 compared to 90.3% at March 31, 2007. The property 12-month new and renewal policy retention rate was 88.6% at March 31, 2008 compared to 87.3% a year earlier. For the first three months of 2008, approved rate increases for the Company’s automobile and homeowners business were minimal, similar to rate actions in 2007.

Voluntary automobile premium written increased 0.2% ($0.2 million) compared to the first three months of 2007. In the first three months of 2008, automobile policies in force and average written premium per policy were comparable to the same period in 2007. Average earned premium per policy decreased 1% compared to a year ago. Automobile policies in force at March 31, 2008 decreased by 1,000 compared to December 31, 2007 and were equal to March 31, 2007. Educator policies increased throughout the period.

Voluntary homeowners premium written increased 5.8% ($1.9 million) compared to the first quarter of 2007 including the lower amount of catastrophe reinsurance premiums described above. Homeowners average written premium per policy increased 4% compared to a year earlier, while average earned premium per policy increased 6%. Homeowners

 

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policies in force at March 31, 2008 decreased 1,000 compared to both December 31, 2007 and a year earlier, as growth in the number of educator policies was offset by expected reductions, primarily in non-educator policies, due to the Company’s pricing and underwriting actions, including actions in catastrophe-prone coastal areas. The Company continues to evaluate and implement actions to further mitigate its risk exposure in hurricane-prone areas. Such actions could include, but are not limited to, non-renewal of homeowners policies, restricted agent geographic placement, limitations on agent new business sales, further tightening of underwriting standards and increased utilization of third-party vendor marketing alliances.

The primary component of involuntary and other property and casualty premiums, which represented less than 2% of total property and casualty premiums for full year 2007, has been educator excess professional liability insurance purchased by the National Education Association (“NEA”) for all of its members. The NEA’s five-year contract to purchase this insurance from the Company expired on August 31, 2007 and represented approximately $8.6 million of premiums written in 2006, with approximately $0.7 million, or 1/12, of that premium earned each month during the September 2006 through August 2007 coverage period. The Company’s underwriting results from educator excess professional liability insurance have generally represented amounts which were not a material portion of net income for the Company or for the property and casualty segment. The other significant component of involuntary and other property and casualty premiums is automobile business assumed from state mandatory insurance facilities and this component decreased $0.8 million compared to the first three months of 2007.

Annuity deposits received decreased 9.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. In the first three months of 2008, scheduled annuity deposits were comparable to the prior year while single premium and rollover deposits decreased 26.4%, impacted by the industry-wide effect on 403(b) transfers of the transition to the new Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Section 403(b) regulations. In the first three months of 2008, new deposits to variable accounts decreased 2.5%, or $0.9 million, and new deposits to fixed accounts decreased 14.9%, or $6.7 million, compared to the prior year. In addition to external contractholder deposits, annuity new deposits include contributions and transfers for the 401(k) group annuity contract by the Company’s employees.

The Company utilizes a nationwide network of independent agents who comprise a supplemental distribution channel for the Company’s 403(b) tax-qualified annuity products. The independent agent distribution channel included 924 authorized agents at March 31, 2008. During the first three months of 2008, this channel generated $5.0 million in annualized new annuity sales for the Company compared to $10.9 million for the first quarter of 2007. The decrease in 2008 was anticipated as management continued to focus this channel on 403(b) and other tax-qualified business.

Total annuity accumulated cash value of $3.6 billion at March 31, 2008 decreased 1.3% compared to a year earlier, reflecting the increase from new deposits received and favorable retention more than offset by unfavorable financial market performance over the 12 months. At March 31, 2008, the number of annuity contracts outstanding of 168,000 increased 0.6%, or 1,000 contracts, compared to December 31, 2007 and increased 1.8%, or 3,000 contracts, compared to March 31, 2007.

 

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Variable annuity accumulated balances were 8.2% lower at March 31, 2008 than at March 31, 2007 and annuity segment contract charges earned decreased 13.0%, or $0.7 million, compared to the first three months of 2007.

Life segment premiums and contract deposits increased 1.7%, or $0.4 million, compared to the first three months of 2007. The ordinary life insurance in force lapse ratio was 5.7% for the 12 months ended March 31, 2008 compared to 5.8% for the 12 months ended March 31, 2007.

Net Investment Income

Pretax investment income of $56.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased 3.1%, or $1.7 million, (3.2%, or $1.2 million, after tax) compared to prior year. The increase reflected growth in the size of the investment portfolio and a modest increase in the portfolio yield. Average invested assets (excluding securities lending collateral) increased 2.4% over the prior 12 months. The average pretax yield on the investment portfolio was 5.49% (3.73% after tax) for the first three months of 2008, compared to a pretax yield of 5.45% (3.70% after tax) a year earlier.

Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses

Net realized investment losses (pretax) were $2.4 million for the first three months of 2008 compared to net realized investment gains of $3.5 million in the prior year’s first quarter. The net gains and losses in both periods were realized from ongoing investment portfolio management activity and recording of impairment charges. In addition, the first quarter of 2008 included $1.1 million of litigation proceeds on previously impaired WorldCom, Inc. debt securities.

The Company recorded $2.7 million of impairment write downs in the first quarter of 2008 and no impairment write downs were recorded in the first quarter of 2007. The current period write downs were primarily related to certain below investment grade securities, with $2.3 million of the write downs attributable to 6 securities of telecommunications and telecommunications-related media issuers, which at March 31, 2008 the Company no longer intended to hold until the value fully recovers. In addition, net realized losses in the first quarter of 2008 included $3.9 million of realized impairment losses on financial institution and below investment grade securities that were disposed of during the quarter. Net realized investment losses in the first three months of 2008 included gains of $0.1 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in 2007. Net realized investment gains in the first quarter of 2007 included $1.7 million from sales of securities for which impairment write downs were recorded in 2002.

 

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The table below presents the Company’s fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolios as of March 31, 2008 by major asset class, including the ten largest sectors of the Company’s corporate bond holdings (based on fair value) and the sectors of the equity securities holdings.

 

      Number of
Issuers
   Fair
Value
   Amortized
Cost
   Pretax
Unrealized
Gain(Loss)
 

Fixed Maturity Securities

           

Corporate bonds

           

Banking and Finance

   52    $ 309.6    $ 320.6    $ (11.0 )

Energy

   54      305.4      304.6      0.8  

Utilities

   27      189.6      190.1      (0.5 )

Telecommunications

   21      171.9      173.9      (2.0 )

Health Care

   33      142.9      147.0      (4.1 )

Insurance

   22      81.5      84.4      (2.9 )

Transportation

   14      73.1      74.1      (1.0 )

Metal and Mining

   13      63.5      66.7      (3.2 )

Automobiles

   10      58.4      57.6      0.8  

Food and Beverage

   13      57.6      57.1      0.5  

All Other Corporates (1)

   136      414.9      422.7      (7.8 )
                           

Total corporate bonds

   395      1,868.4      1,898.8      (30.4 )

Mortgage-backed securities

           

U.S. government and federally sponsored agencies

   416      858.4      847.6      10.8  

Other

   101      228.7      254.8      (26.1 )

Municipal bonds

   174      524.8      524.2      0.6  

Government bonds

           

U.S.

   7      151.7      147.0      4.7  

Foreign

   4      16.0      14.4      1.6  

Collateralized debt obligations (2)

   7      13.0      20.9      (7.9 )

Asset-backed securities

   33      105.1      106.2      (1.1 )
                           

Total fixed maturity securities

   1,137    $ 3,766.1    $ 3,813.9    $ (47.8 )
                           

Equity Securities

           

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

           

Banking and Finance

   27    $ 52.5    $ 59.5    $ (7.0 )

Insurance

   7      9.0      9.1      (0.1 )

Real estate

   12      7.9      8.2      (0.3 )

U.S. federally sponsored agencies

   2      7.3      9.0      (1.7 )

Utilities

   4      4.7      4.8      (0.1 )

Common stocks

           

Cable

   3      2.4      3.7      (1.3 )

Technology and other

   2      0.4      *      0.4  
                           

Total equity securities

   57    $ 84.2    $ 94.3    $ (10.1 )
                           

Total

   1,194    $ 3,850.3    $ 3,908.2    $ (57.9 )
                           

 

* Less than $0.1 million.
(1) The All Other Corporates category contains 18 additional industry classifications. Broadcasting and media, defense, cable, real estate, technology and manufacturing represented $274.9 million of fair value at March 31, 2008, with the remaining 12 classifications each representing less than $33 million.
(2) All of the collateralized debt obligation securities were rated investment grade by Standard and Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) and/or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) at March 31, 2008.

 

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At March 31, 2008, the Company’s diversified fixed maturity securities portfolio consisted of 1,516 investment positions, issued by 1,137 entities, and totaled approximately $3.8 billion in fair value. This portfolio was 95.0% investment grade, based on fair value, with an average quality rating of AA-. At March 31, 2008, the Company had limited exposure to subprime and “Alt-A” mortgage loans. The Company had one subprime mortgage loan with a fair value of $1.0 million at March 31, 2008. The characteristics of the Company’s sub-prime mortgage loan, a collateralized debt obligation, include the following: low average Fair Isaac Credit Organization (“FICO”) score (less than 650), high weighted average coupon relative to other mortgage-backed securities of similar loan age and issue date, high prepayment penalties, and a high percentage of hybrid loans or negative amortizing loans. The “Alt-A” mortgage loan exposure was comprised of five securities with a total fair value of approximately $8.4 million, with an unrealized loss of approximately $0.5 million at March 31, 2008, of which $4.2 million was acquired in 2003, $0.8 million was acquired in 2004, $2.9 million was acquired in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $0.5 million was acquired in the first quarter of 2008. The characteristics of the Company’s “Alt-A” mortgage loans include the following: low average FICO score (less than 680), borrowers meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standards for credit scores but might not meet standard guidelines for documentation requirements, property type, and debt ratio or loan-to-value ratio. At the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, management does not anticipate any additional other-than-temporary impairments of these securities.

At March 31, 2008, the Company had $524.8 million fair value invested in municipal bonds, primarily in the portfolios of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries, with an unrealized gain of $0.6 million. The overall credit quality of these securities was AAA, with approximately 64% of the value insured at March 31, 2008. This represents approximately 8% of the Company’s total investment portfolio that is guaranteed by the mono-line credit insurers. When selecting securities, the Company focuses primarily on the quality of the underlying security and does not place significant reliance on the additional insurance benefit. Excluding the effect of insurance, the credit quality of the underlying municipal bond portfolio was AA at March 31, 2008.

 

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At March 31, 2008, the fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolio had $114.9 million pretax of gross unrealized losses related to 826 positions. The following table provides information regarding all fixed maturity securities and equity securities that had an unrealized loss at March 31, 2008, including the length of time that the securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.

Investment Positions With Unrealized Losses Segmented by Quality

and Period of Continuous Unrealized Loss

As of March 31, 2008

 

      Number of
Positions
   Fair
Value
   Amortized
Cost
   Pretax
Unrealized
Loss
 

Fixed Maturity Securities

           

Investment grade

           

3 Months or less

   168    $ 513.0    $ 528.0    $ (15.0 )

4 through 6 months

   51      74.9      80.2      (5.3 )

7 through 9 months

   32      18.1      19.3      (1.2 )

10 through 12 months

   64      243.4      283.9      (40.5 )

13 through 24 months

   50      156.5      171.7      (15.2 )

25 through 36 months

   65      280.7      293.8      (13.1 )

37 through 48 months

   39      149.9      151.5      (1.6 )

Greater than 48 months

   13      50.8      52.1      (1.3 )
                           

Total

   482    $ 1,487.3    $ 1,580.5    $ (93.2 )
                           

Non-investment grade

           

3 Months or less

   45    $ 29.8    $ 30.7    $ (0.9 )

4 through 6 months

   46      20.6      21.7      (1.1 )

7 through 9 months

   21      10.0      10.6      (0.6 )

10 through 12 months

   71      44.6      49.6      (5.0 )

13 through 24 months

   32      20.1      22.0      (1.9 )

25 through 36 months

   28      11.9      12.8      (0.9 )

37 through 48 months

   14      6.6      7.0      (0.4 )

Greater than 48 months

   —        —        —        —    
                           

Total

   257    $ 143.6    $ 154.4    $ (10.8 )
                           

Not rated, all greater than 48 months

   4    $ 0.6    $ 0.6      *  
                           

Total fixed maturity securities

   743    $ 1,631.5    $ 1,735.5    $ (104.0 )
                           

Equity Securities

           

Investment grade

           

3 Months or less

   18    $ 14.0    $ 14.8    $ (0.8 )

4 through 6 months

   12      3.9      4.1      (0.2 )

7 through 9 months

   46      40.1      46.1      (6.0 )

10 through 12 months

   —        —        —        —    

13 through 24 months

   1      3.7      4.5      (0.8 )

25 through 36 months

   —        —        —        —    

37 through 48 months

   —        —        —        —    

Greater than 48 months

   1      1.9      2.7      (0.8 )
                           

Total

   78    $ 63.6    $ 72.2    $ (8.6 )
                           

Non-investment grade, all 7 through 9 months

   1    $ 1.5    $ 2.5    $ (1.0 )
                           

Not rated

           

3 Months or less

   2    $ 0.3    $ 0.3      *  

4 through 6 months

   1      0.5      0.7      (0.2 )

7 through 12 months

   —        —        —        —    

13 through 24 months

   1      1.6      2.7      (1.1 )

Greater than 24 months

   —        —        —        —    
                           

Total

   4    $ 2.4    $ 3.7    $ (1.3 )
                           

Total equity securities

   83    $ 67.5    $ 78.4    $ (10.9 )
                           

Total fixed maturity securities and equity securities

   826    $ 1,699.0    $ 1,813.9    $ (114.9 )
                           

 

* Less than $0.1 million.

 

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Of the investment positions (fixed maturity securities and equity securities) with unrealized losses, no single issuer had a pretax unrealized loss greater than $3.5 million. Of these securities, 29 were trading below 80% of book value at March 31, 2008 and the table below provides additional information regarding these securities. Structured securities represented 19 of these positions which were priced below 80% due to the illiquidity of the market. The other 10 securities were primarily equities and below investment grade securities.

Investment Positions With Fair Value Below 80% of Amortized Cost

Segmented by Quality and Period of Continuous Below 80% Valuation

As of March 31, 2008

 

      Number of
Positions
   Fair
Value
   Amortized
Cost
   Pretax
Unrealized
Loss
 

Fixed Maturity Securities

           

Investment grade

           

3 Months or less

   17    $ 67.6    $ 94.8    $ (27.2 )

4 through 6 months

   2      3.6      6.0      (2.4 )

7 through 9 months

   1      1.4      4.9      (3.5 )

Greater than 9 months

   —        —        —        —    
                           

Total

   20      72.6      105.7      (33.1 )

Non-investment grade, all 3 months or less

   4      4.5      6.7      (2.2 )

Not rated

   —        —        —        —    
                           

Total fixed maturity securities

   24    $ 77.1    $ 112.4    $ (35.3 )
                           

Equity Securities

           

Investment grade, all 3 Months or less

   3    $ 5.4    $ 7.5    $ (2.1 )

Non-investment grade, all 4 through 6 months

   1      1.5      2.5      (1.0 )

Not rated, all 7 through 9 months

   1      2.1      3.4      (1.3 )
                           

Total equity securities

   5    $ 9.0    $ 13.4    $ (4.4 )
                           

Total fixed maturity securities and equity securities

   29    $ 86.1    $ 125.8    $ (39.7 )
                           

The Company views the decrease in value of all of the securities with unrealized losses at March 31, 2008 — which was largely driven by spread widening, market illiquidity and interest rates — as temporary, expects recovery in fair value in a reasonable timeframe, anticipates continued payments under the terms of the securities, and has the intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or a recovery in fair value occurs. Therefore, no impairment of these securities was recorded at March 31, 2008. Future changes in circumstances related to these and other securities could require subsequent recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. The Company’s investment guidelines generally limit single corporate issuer concentrations to 1.0% of invested assets for “AA” or “AAA” rated securities, 0.75% of invested assets for “A” rated securities, 0.5% of invested assets for “BBB” rated securities, and 0.2% of invested assets for non-investment grade securities.

 

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Benefits, Claims and Settlement Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
   Change From
Prior Year
     2008    2007    Percent     Amount

Property and casualty

   $ 91.7    $ 86.0    6.6 %   $ 5.7

Annuity

     0.5      0.3    66.7 %     0.2

Life

     14.7      12.1    21.5 %     2.6
                      

Total

   $ 106.9    $ 98.4    8.6 %   $ 8.5
                      

Property and casualty catastrophe losses, included above

   $ 5.4    $ 2.5    116.0 %   $ 2.9
                      

Property and Casualty Claims and Claim Expenses (“losses”)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Incurred claims and claim expenses:

    

Claims occurring in the current year

   $ 94.4     $ 91.5  

Decrease in estimated reserves for claims occurring in prior years (1)

     (2.7 )     (5.5 )
                

Total claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ 91.7     $ 86.0  
                

Property and casualty loss ratio:

    

Total

     69.0 %     65.0 %

Effect of catastrophe costs, included above

     4.1 %     1.8 %

 

(1) Shows the amounts by which the Company decreased its reserves in each of the periods indicated for claims occurring in previous periods to reflect subsequent information on such claims and changes in their projected final settlement costs.

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company’s benefits, claims and settlement expenses increased compared to the prior year, including an increase in catastrophe losses, a smaller decrease in estimated reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years, and unfavorable life mortality experience.

The current period favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty reserves of $2.7 million was the result of actual and remaining projected losses for prior years, primarily accident years 2006 and prior, being below the level anticipated in the December 31, 2007 loss reserve estimate for the voluntary automobile, homeowners and other liability lines of business. The favorable development was driven by emerging trends related to educator excess liability claim frequency, as well as favorable voluntary automobile and homeowners loss adjustment expense emergence.

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the voluntary automobile loss ratio of 71.2% increased by 2.4 percentage points compared to the same period a year earlier, including a 1.9 percentage point increase due to the lower level of favorable development of prior years’ reserves in the current period. The homeowners loss ratio of 66.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased 12.6 percentage points compared to a year earlier, reflecting the higher level of catastrophe costs and the lower level of favorable development of prior years’ reserves recorded in 2008, which contributed 5.6 percentage points of the

 

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increase. In 2008, late-winter storms in some sections of the U.S. and heavy thunderstorms and tornadoes across the Southern U.S. contributed to higher catastrophic losses than average for the Company as well as the industry. Catastrophe costs represented 12.1 percentage points of the homeowners loss ratio for the current period compared to 6.0 percentage points for the prior year, an increase of 6.1 percentage points. The current period homeowners loss ratio also reflected an increase in non-catastrophe weather-related losses due to the more severe winter weather in 2008, particularly in the Northeast region.

For the annuity segment, benefits in the current quarter increased $0.2 million compared to prior year. The Company’s guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”) reserve was $0.1 million at March 31, 2008, compared to less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2007 and $0.6 million at March 31, 2007.

For the life segment, benefits in the current quarter increased compared to a year earlier reflecting higher mortality costs.

Interest Credited to Policyholders

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
   Change From
Prior Year
     2008    2007    Percent     Amount

Annuity

   $ 22.6    $ 22.0    2.7 %   $ 0.6

Life

     9.5      9.2    3.3 %     0.3
                      

Total

   $ 32.1    $ 31.2    2.9 %   $ 0.9
                      

Compared to prior year, the current period increase in annuity segment interest credited reflected a 3.5% increase in average accumulated fixed deposits, partially offset by an 8 basis point decline in the average annual interest rate credited to 4.27%. Life insurance interest credited increased as a result of the growth in interest-sensitive life insurance reserves.

The net interest spread on fixed annuity account value on deposit measures the difference between the rate of income earned on the underlying invested assets and the rate of interest which policyholders are credited on their account values. Fixed annuity crediting rates were lowered in recent years to reflect the decline in the rate of income on invested assets caused by lower investment rates on new and reinvested funds. The net interest spreads for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 were 151 basis points and 137 basis points, respectively.

As of March 31, 2008, fixed annuity account values totaled $2.2 billion, including $1.9 billion of deferred annuities. Approximately 19% of the deferred annuity account values had minimum guaranteed interest rates of 3% or lower while approximately 71% of account values had minimum guaranteed rates of 4.5% or greater. For $1.6 billion of the deferred annuity account values, the credited interest rate was equal to the minimum guaranteed rate. The annuity net interest spread increased 14 basis points compared to the first three months of 2007, due to improvements in the Company’s investment portfolio yield and continued decreases in average interest crediting rates.

 

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Operating Expenses

For the first three months of 2008, operating expenses decreased 0.9%, or $0.3 million, compared to the prior year. The continuation of the Company’s expense control measures more than offset the impact of increased strategic investments in distribution and technology initiatives in the first three months of 2008. The property and casualty expense ratio of 24.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was equal to the prior year.

Amortization of Policy Acquisition Expenses and Intangible Assets

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the combined amortization of policy acquisition expenses and intangible assets was $22.2 million compared to $20.6 million recorded for the same period in the prior year.

Amortized policy acquisition expenses were $21.0 million for the first three months of 2008 compared to $19.1 million for the same period in 2007. The March 31, 2008 valuation of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs resulted in an increase in amortization of $2.3 million, primarily driven by financial market performance, compared to a $0.5 million increase in amortization resulting from a similar valuation at March 31, 2007. For the life segment, both the March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs resulted in no change to scheduled amortization. The remaining increase in amortized policy acquisition costs was due to scheduled amortization of capitalized costs.

Amortization of intangible assets was $1.2 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The March 31, 2008 valuation of Annuity VIF resulted in a $0.1 million decrease in amortization compared to a $0.2 million increase at March 31, 2007.

Income Tax Expense

The effective income tax rate on the Company’s pretax income, including net realized investment gains and losses, was 28.1% and 29.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Income from investments in tax-advantaged securities reduced the effective income tax rate 8.3 and 5.8 percentage points for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. While the income from tax-advantaged securities decreased somewhat compared to a year earlier, the reduced level of taxable income in the current period resulted in this having a greater impact on the effective income tax rate for 2008.

The Company records liabilities for uncertain tax filing positions where it is more-likely-than-not that the position will not be sustainable upon audit by taxing authorities. These liabilities are reevaluated routinely and are adjusted appropriately based upon changes in facts or law. The Company has no unrecorded liabilities from uncertain tax filing positions.

At March 31, 2008, the Company had income tax returns for the 2002 through 2007 tax years still open and subject to adjustment upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for tax years 2002, 2004 and 2005. The Company has recorded $5.3 million of uncertain tax position liabilities including interest related to all open tax years.

 

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Net Income

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company’s net income decreased $9.0 million compared to the prior year, including a $3.9 million reduction in after-tax realized investment gains and losses. Consistent with industry experience, the current quarter reflected a relatively high level of catastrophe losses and the continued impact of a challenging financial market environment, as well as the adverse effect of a slowing economy on both home and automobile sales. Compared to the first three months of 2007 results in the current period were also negatively impacted by a reduced level of favorable prior years’ property and casualty reserve development. Including all factors, the property and casualty combined ratio was 93.5% for the first quarter of 2008 compared to 89.5% for the same period in 2007. Annuity segment net income decreased $0.4 million, or 12%, compared to the first three months of 2007, as current period improvements in the interest margin were more than offset by the adverse impact of the financial market on the valuation of deferred policy acquisition costs and the level of contract charges earned. Life segment net income decreased $1.0 million, or 28%, compared to a year earlier, reflecting higher mortality costs which more than offset growth in investment income.

Net income by segment and net income per share were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Change From
Prior Year
 
     2008     2007     Percent     Amount  

Analysis of net income (loss) by segment:

        

Property and casualty

   $ 13.0     $ 16.8     -22.6 %   $ (3.8 )

Annuity

     3.0       3.4     -11.8 %     (0.4 )

Life

     2.6       3.6     -27.8 %     (1.0 )

Corporate and other (1)

     (4.3 )     (0.5 )   N.M.       (3.8 )
                          

Net income

   $ 14.3     $ 23.3     -38.6 %   $ (9.0 )
                          

Effect of catastrophe costs, after tax, included above

   $ (3.5 )   $ (1.6 )   118.8 %   $ (1.9 )
                          

Diluted:

        

Net income per share

   $ 0.34     $ 0.52     -34.6 %   $ (0.18 )
                          

Weighted average number of shares and equivalent shares (in millions)

     42.1       45.4     -7.3 %     (3.3 )

Property and casualty combined ratio:

        

Total

     93.5 %     89.5 %   N.M.       4.0 %

Effect of catastrophe costs, included above

     4.1 %     1.8 %   N.M.       2.3 %

 

N.M. – Not meaningful.

(1) The corporate and other segment includes interest expense on debt, realized investment gains and losses, certain public company expenses and other corporate level items. The Company does not allocate the impact of corporate level transactions to the insurance segments, consistent with the basis for management’s evaluation of the results of those segments.

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the changes in net income for the property and casualty, annuity and life segments are described above.

 

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For the corporate and other segment, the current period decline in net income compared to the first quarter 2007 was due primarily to net realized investment losses, compared to net realized investment gains in the first quarter of 2007.

Return on shareholders’ equity based on net income was 11% and 16% for the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

At the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, based on the underlying results for the full year 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, management estimates that 2008 full year net income before realized investment gains and losses will be within a range of $1.70 to $1.90 per diluted share. This projection anticipates (1) a modest increase in property and casualty combined ratios compared to 2007, pressured by recent, industry-wide claims frequency trends, (2) a moderate decline in annuity and life profit margins compared to 2007, following a year of strong, double-digit earnings growth in 2007 and in anticipation of continued volatility in the financial markets and (3) a reduced level of cost savings in 2008 from postretirement benefit plan changes made in 2006 and reflects the completion of the Company’s $50 million share repurchase authorization in the first quarter of 2008. As described in “Critical Accounting Policies”, certain of the Company’s significant accounting measurements require the use of estimates and assumptions. As additional information becomes available, adjustments may be required. Those adjustments are charged or credited to income for the period in which the adjustments are made and may impact actual results compared to management’s current estimate. A projection of net income including realized investment gains and losses is not accessible on a forward-looking basis because it is not possible to provide a reliable forecast of realized investment gains and losses, which can vary substantially from one period to another and may have a significant impact on net income.

Liquidity and Financial Resources

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or for other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, the Company is not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if the Company had engaged in such relationships.

Investments

Information regarding the Company’s investment portfolio, which is comprised primarily of investment grade, fixed income securities, is located in “Results of Operations — Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses” and in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3 — Investments”.

Cash Flow

The short-term liquidity requirements of the Company, within a 12-month operating cycle, are for the timely payment of claims and benefits to policyholders, operating expenses, interest payments and federal income taxes. Cash flow generated from operations has been, and is expected to be, adequate to meet the Company’s operating cash needs in the next 12 months. Cash flow in excess of operational needs has been used to fund business growth, retire short-

 

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term debt, pay dividends to shareholders and repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Long-term liquidity requirements, beyond one year, are principally for the payment of future insurance policy claims and benefits and retirement of long-term debt.

Operating Activities

As a holding company, HMEC conducts its principal operations in the personal lines segment of the property and casualty and life insurance industries through its subsidiaries. HMEC’s insurance subsidiaries generate cash flow from premium and investment income, generally well in excess of their immediate needs for policy obligations, operating expenses and other cash requirements. Cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects net cash generated by the insurance subsidiaries. For the first three months of 2008, net cash provided by operating activities decreased compared to the same period in 2007, primarily reflecting a lower level of net cash received from premiums collected versus benefits/claims paid, as well as the nonrecurrance of a federal income tax recovery in the prior year.

Payment of principal and interest on debt, dividends to shareholders and parent company operating expenses are dependent upon the ability of the insurance subsidiaries to pay cash dividends or make other cash payments to HMEC, including tax payments pursuant to tax sharing agreements. Payments for the share repurchase programs also have this dependency. The insurance subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions which limit the amount of annual dividends or other distributions, including loans or cash advances, available to HMEC without prior approval of the insurance regulatory authorities. Dividends which may be paid by the insurance subsidiaries to HMEC during 2008 without prior approval are approximately $93 million, of which $24.5 million was paid during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and an additional $10 million was declared in March 2008 and subsequently paid in April 2008. Although regulatory restrictions exist, dividend availability from subsidiaries has been, and is expected to be, adequate for HMEC’s capital needs.

Investing Activities

HMEC’s insurance subsidiaries maintain significant investments in fixed maturity securities to meet future contractual obligations to policyholders. In conjunction with its management of liquidity and other asset/liability management objectives, the Company, from time to time, will sell fixed maturity securities prior to maturity and reinvest the proceeds in other investments with different interest rates, maturities or credit characteristics. Accordingly, the Company has classified the entire fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolios as “available for sale”.

Financing Activities

Financing activities include primarily payment of dividends, the receipt and withdrawal of funds by annuity contractholders, repurchases of the Company’s common stock, fluctuations in bank overdraft balances, and borrowings, repayments and repurchases related to its debt facilities.

 

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For the three months ended March 31, 2008, receipts from annuity contracts decreased $7.6 million, or 9.3%, compared to the same period in the prior year. Annuity contract benefits and withdrawals decreased $2.6 million, or 5.3%, compared to the prior year. Cash value retentions for variable and fixed annuity options were 91.3% and 91.9%, respectively, for the 12 month period ended March 31, 2008. Net transfers to variable annuity accumulated cash values decreased $15.0 million, or 42.3%, compared to the prior year.

During the first three months of 2008, the Company repurchased 1,636,376 shares of its common stock, or 3.9% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2007, at an aggregate cost of $29.5 million, or an average cost of $18.01 per share, under its stock repurchase programs, which are further described in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 5 — Share Repurchase Programs and Treasury Shares Held”. The repurchase of shares was financed through use of cash. As of March 31, 2008, $24.8 million remained authorized for future share repurchases. See also “Liquidity and Financial Resources — Capital Resources” and “Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds — Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities”.

Capital Resources

The Company has determined the amount of capital which is needed to adequately fund and support business growth, primarily based on risk-based capital formulas including those developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). Historically, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries have generated capital in excess of such needed capital. These excess amounts have been paid to HMEC through dividends. HMEC has then utilized these dividends and its access to the capital markets to service and retire long-term debt, pay dividends to its shareholders, fund growth initiatives, repurchase shares of its common stock and for other corporate purposes. Management anticipates that the Company’s sources of capital will continue to generate capital in excess of the needs for business growth, debt interest payments and shareholder dividends.

The total capital of the Company was $842.2 million at March 31, 2008, including $199.5 million of long-term debt and no short-term debt outstanding. Total debt represented 22.8% of total capital excluding unrealized investment gains and losses (23.7% including unrealized investment gains and losses) at March 31, 2008, which was below the Company’s long-term target of 25%.

Shareholders’ equity was $642.7 million at March 31, 2008, including a net unrealized loss in the Company’s investment portfolio of $34.3 million after taxes and the related impact on deferred policy acquisition costs and the value of acquired insurance in force associated with annuity and interest-sensitive life policies. The market value of the Company’s common stock and the market value per share were $710.1 million and $17.48, respectively, at March 31, 2008. Book value per share was $15.82 at March 31, 2008 ($16.66 excluding investment fair value adjustments).

In September 2007, HMEC’s Board of Directors (“Board”) authorized a new $50 million share repurchase program and ended the May 1999 authorization. The new program authorized the repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions. By February 19, 2008, the Company had completed the $50.0 million authorized by the new program, resulting in a total of 2,738,376 shares repurchased under this program at an average cost of $18.28 per share. In March 2008, the Board authorized an additional $25.0 million share repurchase program

 

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allowing for repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions (the “March 2008 Program”). Through March 31, 2008, 9,600 shares were repurchased under the March 2008 Program, at an aggregate cost of $0.2 million, or an average cost of $16.46 per share. As of March 31, 2008, $24.8 million remained authorized for future share repurchases. See also “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 5 — Share Repurchase Programs and Treasury Shares Held”.

As of March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes (“Senior Notes due 2015”), which will mature on June 15, 2015, issued at a discount resulting in an effective yield of 6.1%. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2015 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.05%. Detailed information regarding the redemption terms of the Senior Notes due 2015 is contained in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 4 — Debt” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The Senior Notes due 2015 have an investment grade rating from S&P (BBB), Moody’s (Baa3), and A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) (bbb-). See also “Financial Ratings”. The Senior Notes due 2015 are traded in the open market (HMN 6.05).

As of March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding $125.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.85% Senior Notes (“Senior Notes due 2016”), which will mature on April 15, 2016, issued at a discount of 0.305% resulting in an effective yield of 6.893%. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2016 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.85%. Detailed information regarding the redemption terms of the Senior Notes due 2016 is contained in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 4 — Debt” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The Senior Notes due 2016 have an investment grade rating from S&P (BBB), Moody’s (Baa3), and A.M. Best (bbb-). See also “Financial Ratings”. The Senior Notes due 2016 are traded in the open market (HMN 6.85).

As of March 31, 2008, the Company had no balance outstanding under its Bank Credit Facility. The Bank Credit Facility provides for unsecured borrowings of up to $125.0 million and expires on December 19, 2011. Interest accrues at varying spreads relative to corporate or Eurodollar base rates and is payable monthly or quarterly depending on the applicable base rate. The unused portion of the Bank Credit Facility is subject to a variable commitment fee, which was 0.125% on an annual basis at March 31, 2008.

To provide additional capital management flexibility, the Company filed a “universal shelf” registration on Form S-3 with the SEC in December 2003. The registration statement, which registers the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of up to $300 million of various securities, which may include debt securities, preferred stock, common stock and/or depositary shares, was declared effective on December 30, 2003. Unless fully utilized or withdrawn by the Company earlier, this registration statement will remain effective through December 1, 2008. The $75.0 million face amount of Senior Notes due 2015 and $125.0 million face amount of Senior Notes due 2016 were issued utilizing this registration statement. No other securities associated with the registration statement have been issued as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

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Total shareholder dividends were $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. In March 2008, the Board of Directors announced regular quarterly dividends of $0.105 per share.

Information regarding the reinsurance program for the Company’s property and casualty segment is located in “Business — Property and Casualty Segment — Property and Casualty Reinsurance” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Information regarding the reinsurance program for the Company’s life segment is located in “Business — Life Segment” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Financial Ratings

The Company’s principal insurance subsidiaries are rated by S&P, Moody’s and A.M. Best. These rating agencies have also assigned ratings to the Company’s long-term debt securities.

Assigned ratings as of April 30, 2008, which were unchanged from the disclosure in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, were as follows (the insurance financial strength ratings for the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the Company’s principal life insurance subsidiary are the same):

 

    

Insurance
Financial
Strength Ratings
(Outlook)

  

Debt Ratings
(Outlook)

As of April 30, 2008

     

S&P (1)

   A(stable)    BBB(stable)

Moody’s (1)

   A3(stable)    Baa3(stable)

A.M. Best

   A-(stable)    bbb-(stable)

 

(1) This agency has not yet rated Horace Mann Lloyds.

Market Value Risk

Market value risk, the Company’s primary market risk exposure, is the risk that the Company’s invested assets will decrease in value. This decrease in value may be due to (1) a change in the yields realized on the Company’s assets and prevailing market yields for similar assets, (2) an unfavorable change in the liquidity of the investment, (3) an unfavorable change in the financial prospects of the issuer of the investment, or (4) a downgrade in the credit rating of the issuer of the investment. See also “Results of Operations — Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses”.

Significant changes in interest rates expose the Company to the risk of experiencing losses or earning a reduced level of income based on the difference between the interest rates earned on the Company’s investments and the credited interest rates on the Company’s insurance liabilities. See also “Results of Operations — Interest Credited to Policyholders”.

The Company seeks to manage its market value risk by coordinating the projected cash inflows of assets with the projected cash outflows of liabilities. For all its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maintain reasonable durations, consistent with the maximization of

 

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income without sacrificing investment quality, while providing for liquidity and diversification. The investment risk associated with variable annuity deposits and the underlying mutual funds is assumed by those contractholders, and not by the Company. Certain fees that the Company earns from variable annuity deposits are based on the market value of the funds deposited.

More detailed descriptions of the Company’s exposure to market value risks and the management of those risks is presented in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Market Value Risk” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Recent Accounting Changes

FSP FAS 140-3

In February 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS” or “FAS”) No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities – a replacement of FASB Statement No. 125”, through issuance of FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS 140-3, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Repurchase Financing Transactions”. FSP FAS 140-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This FSP presumes that an initial transfer of a financial asset and a repurchase financing are considered part of the same arrangement unless four conditions are all met. Transactions that meet all four criteria will be accounted for separately from repurchase financings. Management is currently assessing the impact of this FSP but anticipates that its adoption will not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.

Other Matters

Proposal for Federal Regulation Option

In March 2008, the United States Treasury Department issued a report, “Blueprint for Financial Regulatory Reform”, including recommendations to improve regulatory oversight of the financial services sector. The report includes a proposal that would establish a federal insurance regulatory structure and allow individual insurance companies the option of obtaining a federal charter, similar to the current dual-chartering system for banking. As disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, Congress also has pending proposals regarding optional federal chartering of insurance companies which may be subject to congressional hearings in 2008. Management will continue to monitor these proposals and the potential impact on the Company, insurers of similar size and the insurance industry as a whole.

Other

Ariel Capital Management, LLC, HMEC’s largest shareholder with 15.2% of the common shares outstanding per their SEC filing on Schedule 13G as of December 31, 2007, is the investment adviser for two of the mutual funds offered to the Company’s annuity customers. However, if the percentage of ownership was calculated utilizing the outstanding share count as of December 31, 2007, the percentage would be 15.6%.

 

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Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information required by Item 305 of Regulation S-K is contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 4: Controls and Procedures

Management’s Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of March 31, 2008 pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) that is required to be included in the Company’s periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings. No significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were identified in the evaluation and therefore, no corrective actions were taken. There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A: Risk Factors

At the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, management believes there are no material changes from the risk factors as previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

As previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, $29.3 million remained authorized for future repurchases of Horace Mann Educators Corporation’s Common Stock, par value $0.001, under the September 2007 $50.0 million authorization by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). By February 19, 2008, the Company had completed the $50.0 million authorization described above, resulting in a total of 2,738,376 shares repurchased under this program at an average cost of $18.28 per share. On March 7, 2008, the Board authorized an additional $25.0 million share repurchase program allowing repurchases in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company repurchased shares of HMEC common stock as follows:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   Average Price Paid
Per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
   Maximum Number
(or Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under The
Plans or Programs

January 1 – January 31

   1,049,900    $ 17.79    1,049,900    $ 10.6 million

February 1 – February 29

   576,876    $ 18.43    576,876      —  

March 1 – March 31

   9,600    $ 16.46    —      $ 24.8 million
               

Total

   1,636,376    $ 18.01    1,626,776    $ 24.8 million
               

Item 4: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

Item 5: Other Information

The Company is not aware of any information required to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K during the three months ended March 31, 2008 which has not been filed with the SEC.

Item 6: Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

(a)    The following items are filed as Exhibits. Management contracts and compensatory plans are indicated by an asterisk (*).
  (11)   Statement re computation of per share earnings.
  (15)   KPMG LLP letter regarding unaudited interim financial information.
  (31)   Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
    31.1   Certification by Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC.
    31.2   Certification by Peter H. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer of HMEC.
  (32)   Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
    32.1   Certification by Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC.
    32.2   Certification by Peter H. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer of HMEC.
  (99.1)   Glossary of Selected Terms.

 

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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.

 

    HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
  (Registrant)
Date May 8, 2008  

/s/ Louis G. Lower II

  Louis G. Lower II
  President and Chief Executive Officer
Date May 8, 2008  

/s/ Peter H. Heckman

  Peter H. Heckman
 

Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

Date May 8, 2008  

/s/ Bret A. Conklin

  Bret A. Conklin
 

Senior Vice President

and Controller

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

EXHIBITS

To

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2008

VOLUME 1 OF 1

 

 

 


Table of Contents

The following items are filed as Exhibits to Horace Mann Educators Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008. Management contracts and compensatory plans are indicated by an asterisk (*).

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

   Description
(11)    Statement re computation of per share earnings.
(15)    KPMG LLP letter regarding unaudited interim financial information.
(31)    Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   31.1   Certification by Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC.
   31.2   Certification by Peter H. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer of HMEC.
(32)    Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   32.1   Certification by Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC.
   32.2   Certification by Peter H. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer of HMEC.
(99.1)    Glossary of Selected Terms